Nicole Sewell

Alaina was raised in a cult in the North Georgia mountains. When the cult compound is raided, officials find Alaina beaten and locked in a barn. She is taken away from her mother, and given to her aunt as a foster child. Alaina struggles to reconcile her upbringing with the real world.

I’m not entirely sure how to rate this book. It was an interesting premise, and Alaina seemed realistic. However, when the book shifted to Adam’s point of view, everything became awkward. Parts of the book also seemed superficial. Topics and issues were dealt with very shallowly, as if Alaina was incapable of complex thoughts. Overall, not a book I would reread or recommend.… (mehr)

I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this novel. I read it quickly and it kept me engaged the entire time (waaay past my bedtime!)

The book is written from two POVs - Alaina, who is rescued from a cult compound early in the story, and Adam, one of the friends she makes in the outside world. While the story is mainly about Alaina's abrupt change of lifestyle and her acclimation into mainstream society - with insight from Adam, someone who has lived his life in this outside world.

The story is engrossing. Characters are well developed. It is a quick read.

The only complaint I have is that everything seems to work out, which is a strange comment - we want the protagonist have a happy life, right? I do too - but Alaina has some major adjustments to make and I would have liked to read more in-depth into her struggle with these changes. I would have liked an antagonist in the outside world - I think it would have rounded out the story. Someone to hate besides the cult members.

In short, I would recommend this book. It's well-written and interesting.… (mehr)

I received this ARC from librarything for an honest review.
This book was very well written and kept me interested the entire novel. I enjoyed this book for many reasons. One was the differing points of view, I have read similar books to this one and it is all about the individual trying to adjust but not much is heard from the others trying surrounding this person adjusting to a “normal” life. Having differing points of view allowed you to see the story unfold and the struggles that both parties in the story faced. I also liked the character of Alaina, she was both an innocent who tried to fit in with and stay true to the community she has been born too but also struggling with a spirit of intrigue about the world around her. Which also brings me to the character of Adam, I absolutely loved having her pair up with an imperfect person because the contrast in their personalities worked well to add to the story as well as their connection with having parents that were not the best. The settings were well depicted in the writing as well as I felt every person Alaina encountered had a hand in helping her acclimate herself into society outside the community in a different way. I think the only complaint I would have was that there was not more to the story, although there is something poetic about having an ending where you as a reader have to draw your own conclusions about what happens to the characters after the last page. Great read and I would definitely recommend it.… (mehr)

This book was written well and engrossing enough to be read in one sitting.

After a young girl is 'rescued' from the cult compound she grew up in, she is sent to live with her aunt and cousin. There she has to learn who she is and who she wants to be while deciding which beliefs to keep from her old life.

Both content and reading difficulty make this appropriate for younger YAs.

The perspective is mainly from the young girl Alaina but occasionally it switches to the neighbor boy Adam's perspective. This does help the plot along but it isnt as interesting.

This has excitment, romance, action and drama.… (mehr)