Book Review: Bitter End by Jennifer Brown

Bitter End

Jennifer Brown

359 Pages

Published May 10th, 2011

When Alex falls for the charming new boy at school, Cole -- a handsome, funny, sports star who adores her -- she can't believe she's finally found her soul mate . . . someone who truly loves and understands her.
At first, Alex is blissfully happy. Sure, Cole seems a little jealous of her relationship with her close friend Zack, but what guy would want his girlfriend spending all her time with another boy? As the months pass, though, Alex can no longer ignore Cole's small put-downs, pinches, or increasingly violent threats.
As Alex struggles to come to terms with the sweet boyfriend she fell in love with and the boyfriend whose "love" she no longer recognizes, she is forced to choose -- between her "true love" and herself.

I'm not a big contemporary fan. I rarely read the genre, but when I find one that actually interests me and can hold my attention, I rip through it in a single sitting Bitter End was one of those books that had me captivated, though it was on a hard subject to read about. I found my heart breaking for Alex.. Cole wasn't someone she needed in her life.

Alex is a teenage girl who is pretty average. Her mom died when she was young, and that has affected her in many ways, though she still manages to be normal and have two close friends. She seems strong and is a good student.. everything changes when she starts going out with Cole, a bad boy at her school that pretty much every girl finds herself crushing on.

At first her friends are happy for her, until Cole begins to take over every aspect of her life. Unlike other boyfriends, he is controlling and doesn't like her hanging out with anyone besides him. The relationship quickly turns abusive, and by the end of the book Alex has reason to fear for her life.

Cole was a disturbing character. He had a lot of problems with his home life, including a depressed and often suicidal mother and an abusive father. I feel like he needed help, though it might've been too late for him at that point. I spent half the story feeling sorry for him and the other half thinking he was a monster that needed to be locker away where the sun don't shine.

It was so sad seeing everything about the life Alex had being ripped away from her. For a time she loses her friends, family and even parts of herself. She kept putting the blame on herself, never seeking help until it was too late. Though some people might think she was weak, I know she was strong.. she just got into a situation that I know is hard to get out of.

Bitter End was a heart-wrenching tale that has me consumed. I was biting my nails and praying that Alex made it out safely. All I wanted was a happy ending for her.. that much I knew she needed.