As a disabled person I'm drawn to books where we get to have the HEA which is why I'm excited to give you an early introduction to June 9th by Emha Goliesh. Keep reading to get a tempting glimpse of this angst-filled romance between a disabled young woman with self-esteem issues and a bad boy with hidden depths, along with my impressions of it, and then count down the days until its release date. You can also learn what others think of this book by visiting the other sites hosting this tour. In honor of this book being released on June 9th make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a tote bag, USB charger, flashlight keychain, and print and e-copies of this book too!
June 9th: a night to love or a night to hate? A night to embrace or a night to erase? College freshman, Lacey Shyver, has no clue. Growing up with a neuromuscular disease, Lacey knows people only pretend to be nice—pity her, really, for looking different. That is, until graduating senior, Blake Nivey, enters her life. Breaking down her walls and lifting her spirits with just one touch, he’s not like the others. He cares about her well-being and makes her laugh. He unlocks something within Lacey that captures her soul, yet Lacey’s internal struggles surface. Is she just a charity case for him? Blake can’t possibly like someone with limited mobility when there are prettier girls wrapping their arms around him. Or can he? But when Lacey finally sees where Blake’s heart truly lies with her, everything changes. Because once June 9th begins, it never ends.
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MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
As a quadriplegic it's not often that I find a character that realistically depicts the thoughts, emotions, and ups and downs of living in a world not always accessible. With her creation of Lacey I applaud Ms. Goliesh in opening up dialogue when it comes to the definition of beauty, disability, and HEA. The author continually holds up a mirror and it's not always a pretty reflection as the outside world often treats Lacey as a child constantly in need of help or an inspiration not allowed to to do anything but smile. Through it all Lacey's just trying to find happiness and acceptance, making mistakes along the way that left her in tears, but ultimately growing stronger for all her turmoil and uncertainty.
Lacey's childhood in Belarus had her torn from her family and put into a hospital where loneliness and pain dwelt and set her on a path of insecurities and incessant fears that everyone will leave her because of her disability. Being taken in by her aunt had her living a life her aunt would be proud of to show her gratitude but one that left her unfulfilled. Grabbing the attention of the sexy bad boy musician became a defining moment for her as it opened her up to a world of possibilities, from love to heartbreak to a glimpse of the stars. Hers isn't an easy journey though as she's teeming with self-doubts and her friends tend to perpetuate her insecurities. For every positive move towards independence she made there was a negative in letting herself be consumed by doubts when people didn't act as she expected them to. It ultimately had me labeling Lacey as admirable one moment while leaving me frustrated with her copious tears the next in a story that kept me engaged from start to finish.
Surrounding this unique main character was a colorful cast of secondary characters with reactions to Lacey's disability that sometimes left me cringing but always thinking. With friends who were sometimes supportive, sometimes catty, Lacey was put through the emotional wringer as she not only judged herself but let others judge her too. Ms. Goliesh didn't hold back though, didn't sugarcoat the realities of her disability, which I appreciated. When it came to sexuality Lacey's deformities were dwelt with head-on in a way that was sensitive while retaining the sweet and sexiness of being with someone you love. On a whole this was a story that forged its own path, from a main character who stirred up intense emotions in me to an ending that was equally unconventional, and readers will find it an intriguing read.
Lacey's childhood in Belarus had her torn from her family and put into a hospital where loneliness and pain dwelt and set her on a path of insecurities and incessant fears that everyone will leave her because of her disability. Being taken in by her aunt had her living a life her aunt would be proud of to show her gratitude but one that left her unfulfilled. Grabbing the attention of the sexy bad boy musician became a defining moment for her as it opened her up to a world of possibilities, from love to heartbreak to a glimpse of the stars. Hers isn't an easy journey though as she's teeming with self-doubts and her friends tend to perpetuate her insecurities. For every positive move towards independence she made there was a negative in letting herself be consumed by doubts when people didn't act as she expected them to. It ultimately had me labeling Lacey as admirable one moment while leaving me frustrated with her copious tears the next in a story that kept me engaged from start to finish.
Surrounding this unique main character was a colorful cast of secondary characters with reactions to Lacey's disability that sometimes left me cringing but always thinking. With friends who were sometimes supportive, sometimes catty, Lacey was put through the emotional wringer as she not only judged herself but let others judge her too. Ms. Goliesh didn't hold back though, didn't sugarcoat the realities of her disability, which I appreciated. When it came to sexuality Lacey's deformities were dwelt with head-on in a way that was sensitive while retaining the sweet and sexiness of being with someone you love. On a whole this was a story that forged its own path, from a main character who stirred up intense emotions in me to an ending that was equally unconventional, and readers will find it an intriguing read.
My rating for this is a C+.
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
AUTHOR INFO:
Shy and introverted, I never felt like I fit in, even though everyone saw me as a “social butterfly.” I moved around a lot in California, left people and met new ones, but nothing felt like home. Ever.
Expect for writing. I grew up loving to write in small journals, under a desk, in a secret place. A place known to me and only me. I built a relationship with words in order to escape the reality that wrote about me—documents filled with all of my flaws and weaknesses. The reality that I didn’t understand at a young age and wanted to hide away from because my writing was something I could control. I could live in a secret place where every dream, fear, joy, and risk could be mine and only mine. My home. My safety. My love.
WEBSITE: http://emhagoliesh.com/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/
GOODREADS AUTHOR PAGE: https://www.goodreads.com/
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Great review, Jody! This sounds like a well written read and I like how realistic Lacey sounds!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! Thank you for the chance.
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