Title: Life Happens on the Stairs
Author: Amy J Markstahler
Genre: Contemporary YA
Format: E-Book
Length: 298 pages
Publisher: Self-published
Publication Date: 1st September 2018
My Rating: ★★★ (3 stars)
Goodreads | Storygraph
Synopsis:
Life Happens on the Stairs
And there’s no running when it’s your turn…
Winner of the 2018 Breakthrough Novel Awards
3rd Place, Young Adult Romance – 2016 Linda Howard Award of Excellence
Elsie Richardson’s world crumbles when her dad drops from a seizure at the 4th of July festival. The reality that his brain tumor is back with a vengeance slams the 17-year-old aspiring artist and her family into intense hardship. Her mom needs help to make ends meet, forcing Elsie into adulting overnight. On top of that, Elsie’s caustic, grudge-holding brother is on his way home, and Elsie fears he will only make matters worse.
Feeling alone and hopeless, Elsie does as she’s told and goes to work with her mom. That’s when she meets Tyler Vaughn, the grandson of her mom’s wealthiest client.
After he invites her to go jogging at the historical Shiloh National Military Park, Elsie is warned by her mom to stay away from the wealthy, young man. Elsie gets the notice a bit too late, and so she lies about who she’s meeting each morning.
Over the next few weeks, Tyler becomes her secret solace amidst all the uncertainty she’s facing. But when reality strikes and her private world crashes, she’s forced to find her inner strength on her own.
Amy J. Markstahler’s Life Happens on the Stairs will touch your heart in many ways. It’s a hopeful story that reminds us of the miracle of love and family, and the possibility of second chances.
If you enjoy realistic fiction with a love story that will give you all the feels, this award-winning debut novel is a must read.
Life gave her an assignment
One she didn’t choose
Lost for answers
She felt beaten and bruised…
The days dragged on
Hopeless and dark
Until she met the one
Who lit a spark…
She needed a place
Somewhere to hide
He professed his devotion
Yet, she lied and lied…
She was stuck in adulting
Forced to be strong
Time was ticking
Her dad didn’t have long…
Ashamed and embarrassed
She could barely breathe
Torn between family
And a companion she needs.
My Review
I received an ARC copy of the book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Life Happens on the Stairs has a great premise. It’s about a girl who is struggling to help her family while her father is dying of a brain tumour. I loved the portrayal of small-town life and the community aspect of it. I did, however, struggle with the romance between Tyler and Elsie, it felt a little insta-lovey. They seemed to go from strangers to love interests in a couple of chapters. I felt it would’ve been better if we saw it develop. Elsie is also a character who “doesn’t think she’s good enough” for Tyler which frustrates me to no end.
The story left me wanting more, I felt that it had a huge focus on the romance and I wanted more on the family dynamic and how they are coping. We saw her relationship with her dad, and it was beautiful, but I felt that as the romance took off her relationship with her dad and his illness took a backseat.
I felt that the narrative contained a lot more telling than showing, and it disconnected me from the story that was being told. I wanted a story that was a teenager dealing with her father’s declining death, how it affected her and her family and a slow build to a romance. Instead, it seemed to be a romance with a hint of a family tragedy. Don’t get me wrong the scenes with her family are good, but I wanted more of that and less of the romance.
2 Comments
Pingback:
Pingback: