Lush
By Natasha Friend
178 pages
5/5 =)

Natasha Friend is the author of Perfect, which I loved. But this one was a teeny bit better. I loved the entire book, while I didn't like the endng of Perfect. It was kinda unrealistic. But this one's really good.

The main character's name is Samatha Gwynn. Her father is an alchoholic; she knows it (so does her mother, but not her little brother) but he never admits it. He hides bottles and stuff around the house, thinking that nobody will look in places like, behind the toilet.

She wants to talk to someone who is willing to help her. Someone her age, who will listen and understand. "Between pages 32 an 33", she sends and recieves messages from "A.J.K." Hm.. who could it be? She doesn't know, but keeps sending messages to this A.J.K. person. This whole messaging thing leads Samantha to a big surprise, when finds out who it is.
It's not like she doesn't have friends to talk to, but.. it's just not the same.

She can't make her father stop drinking, because well.. it's just uncontrollable... cuz he's an addict. He ends up doing stupid things without remembering that he did them. She gets really annoyed sometimes. He always acts as if he's normal, and everythings fine, while deep down inside every knows that things are far from fine.

Her dad's problem causes a mistake that he will probably regret for the rest of his life - it has to do with Samantha's brother, Luke, who's 4.

This book was AWESOME!! and it didnt take long to read. I find it cool how a book can be so short, yet so touching. Highly reccomend it. =)

--Jessica--
would have been 75 hours
*can be published in a teen newsletter