J. L. Berg

As hinted by the blurb, Tattered Gloves is a heavy book with mature themes. Honestly, I prefer to read more light-hearted novels, but once in a while I pick up something more angst ridden. I was definitely intrigued when I saw JL Berg's latest novel. I loved Within These Walls, so I thought I jumped on the opportunity to read Tattered Gloves and I can happily say that it lived up to my expectations.

What I Liked:
Tattered Gloves revolves around the main character Willow, along with her eccentric aunt and newfound friends Sam and Allison. One of my favorite parts of the novel were the characters. It was refreshing to see the plot focus on such positive characters. I feel like in many books set in high school, the main character faces people who use her/him as gossip fodder or just treats her/him badly all around because of their differences. It was nice to see Willow surround herself by people who truly wanted the best for her. The characters helped build to the themes of trust, acceptance, and overcome found in the novel.
The character development for Willow was crafted well too. In time, she finds the strength to battle her demons with a large help from her friends and aunt who show her unwavering love and support. I especially loved Allison and her optimistic personality, and Sam with his kindness and determination.

Things I Disliked:
While the overall plot of the novel was well paced, I felt like the ending was a bit too coincidental and rushed.

But other than that, I enjoyed Tattered Gloves and recommend it for others looking for a touching story about strength, acceptance, and love.… (meer)

3.5 Stars

I love a good contemporary. This one hits on some pretty intense issues which I loved. I was not expecting everything that happened between August and Everly from the start.

This does touch the topic around domestic violence and emotional abuse. I really shows the side of DV that is not as prevalent since it did not focus as much on physical abuse but more so emotional/psychological. It also hits on one characters eating disorder. These small sections could also be a trigger for someone.

This does leave off with a cliff hanger, so I am happy to have book two ready to go. Overall, I enjoyed this one.… (meer)