by C. G. Drews
First published 2018
Beck sits at the piano bench again, his fingers moving across keys he despises. His mother stands behind him, ready to erupt if he makes a mistake. She forces him to practice relentlessly, trying to recreate the musical career that illness stole from her. Beck knows he will never match her former skill, but he dreams of writing his own compositions instead of playing her demanded pieces. His mother's rage turns physical at any hint of defiance. Beck stays silent about his true musical passion because speaking up means bruises and worse. Then August enters his world. She brings laughter and energy that Beck has never experienced. Through her, he discovers what love might feel like. August shows him that escape from his violent home could be possible. But reaching for freedom means confronting his mother's wrath. Beck must choose between the safety of submission and the dangerous hope of a different life.
Genres: fiction, romance, literary-fiction, abuse, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
282 pages · Paperback · Orchard Books
Content warnings: abuse, domestic-violence, physical-abuse