Blog Tour Review: Happy to be Alive, Because by Chelsea Jacobs


Welcome to my tour review stop for Happy to be Alive, Because by Chelsea Jacobs!

Happy to Be Alive, BecauseHappy to be Alive, Because
by Chelsea Jacobs
YA/NA Christian Contemporary Romance
Paperback304 Pages
April 14th 2014 by Nyreepress Publishing                

Summary

Avery is a seventeen-year-old girl whose reality has just been shattered by the death of her mother. Feeling a desperate need to flee from what has become her life, she follows a travel plan meant for her mom and her that leads her to the little beach town where her mom grew up. It’s there that she meets a group of three adventurous friends who adopt her into their circle, allowing her to experience a summer she never thought would be possible after suffering such a great loss. Unfortunately, her summer full of experiences threatens to end abruptly when she realizes that one of the three has a secret that causes her to question everything about the new life she has been building.

Avery must learn to balance her grief and her desire for a future in order to achieve her mother’s final wish for her: That she would be happy to be alive.
    

My Review

Happy to be Alive, Because was full of poignant, reflecting, sad moments. What Avery felt and needed to deal with in her mother passing away wasn't just brushed over. Among it all though, were these poignant, happy, and beautiful moments where Avery was learning to live and love again. I loved the journal where Avery's mom and Avery, herself, wrote down why they were happy to be alive. It was precious and something that bound them together even after death.

I loved these characters! I loved Avery, Rob, Major, and Lily! I loved Raina, Avery's aunt, and Avery's mother's old friend. Mostly I just loved how Avery and her three new friends banded together and built their friendship. They were just great! I loved how Rob was there for Avery. He didn't push or pry. He just supported Avery as she grieved and worked some things out. I loved how Avery developed and changed as the story progressed. How she learned that she could live again and that she needed to face things in order to move on.

This story was sweet and inspiring, with likable characters that you couldn't help but to cheer on. I'm eagerly anticipating the next book in the series where hopefully Avery and Rob's story continues. If you enjoy Contemporary Romance (inspirational or otherwise) I would definitely recommend grabbing a copy of Happy to be Alive, Because.

Content: Clean

Source: I would like to thank Litfuse and the publisher, NyreePress, for my review copy, which did not affect my review in any way.

Chelsea Jacobs
About the Author

Chelsea Jacobs grew up with an immense love for words--both reading them and writing them. She obtained her degree in English and has spent the time since then getting married to her high school sweetheart and chasing adventure so she'll have something to write about. When she's not drinking copious amounts of coffee while writing, she spends her time reading, playing with her puppy named Gatsby, and dreaming, always dreaming."


6 comments

  1. This review has convinced me. I must read this novel. I skipped it because, well, I was probably overwhelmed at the time and since I didn't know anything about it, I figured I wasn't missing anything. I've a feeling I am indeed missing something great. Thanks for sharing, Tressa! :)

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  2. Cali Willette6/17/14, 4:13 PM

    Great review. This looks like a nice summer read. <3

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  3. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  4. Galinda Barefoot6/17/14, 4:50 PM

    Sounds like a great book.

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  5. I'm glad that you really liked this one! I like how Avery keeps a journal about why she is happy to be alive--I think that's awesome. This does look like an inspiring novel. Thanks for your awesome review!

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  6. Charlie Anderson6/18/14, 10:49 AM

    Chelsea had me at the cover. Goodreads had me at the synopsis. You had me at your review, and all these other folks is even more encouragement. Tressa, thanks for sharing this read - I will definitely be getting it!

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