Bend Me, Break Me
Chelsea M Cameron
Genre: New Adult
Release Date: February 7, 2016

One girl.
Lonely.
Broken.
Lost.

One boy.
Determined.
Guilty.
Lost.

Two hearts.
One terrible secret.
It will either bring them together or tear them apart.

When I started to read Bend Me, Break Me, I was not sure what to expect because the synopsis was a bit vague. Chelsea has quite an array of storytelling and her mind can jump from one genre to the next. I was curious as to what kind of story I was getting myself into, but as always, I was not disappointed. This book delves into some heavy sadness, a few situations that are horrifying, exemplifying the best and worst of humanity. When you meet Coen and Ingrid you cannot help but be intrigued. The way Chelsea introduces her characters and the story is mysterious. You understand there is so much more than what you see. The story slowly unfolds and the reality is hard to swallow. I will not spoil the details, since they are what makes the story so gripping, but I will say that this book is brimming with suspense in such a way that you are anxious to see where the author leads you.

The maturity, and at times, the lack thereof, and the resilience of these two main characters is well displayed and beautifully written. I loved getting to see who Ingrid is. Her life is full of tragedy and heartache. To see who she is as a result and to see glimpses of who she was before is eye opening. I loved that she digs deep and feels it all. You can tell that Chelsea dug deep into her emotional reservoir to write this character. Ingird is brilliant in her pain and warped world view. She is suffering and learning to cope in new ways every day. Watching her take baby steps throughout the day builds an admiration you cannot deny. Her journey is the beauty of this story and I longed to see her work through the harsh moments and come out stronger than before.

Coen is such a sweet character. You question his motivations from the very beginning, understanding that he is hiding something. When the reveal happens it is like an explosion of heartache and emotions. Coen is the perfect balm to Ingrid’s pain but these two have to decide if their pasts can be overcome. These two are seemingly opposite, but their shared grief and heartache allows the reader to see what could be in numerous different scenarios.

This emotional new adult story is full of conflicting emotions and deep characters. As emotionally charged as Chelsea’s other stories have been, I feel like this book digs deeper than ever before and shows a raw side to her storytelling. This book covers a wide range of human emotions, one that leaves you reeling and feeling. Bend Me, Break Me is a beautiful story of tragedy, hope, heartache, and second chances.