ARC Review: Drowning is Inevitable by Shalanda Stanley

Olivia has spent her whole life struggling to escape her dead mother’s shadow. But when her father can’t even look at her because Olivia reminds him of her mother, and her grandmother mistakenly calls her “Lillian,”  shaking a reputation she didn’t ask for is next to impossible. Olivia is used to leaning on her best friend, Jamie; her handsome but hot-tempered boyfriend, Max; and their wild-child friend, Maggie, for the reality check that her small Louisiana town can’t provide. But when a terrible fight between Jamie and his father turns deadly, all Olivia can think to do is grab her friends and run.

In a flash, Olivia, Jamie, Max, and Maggie become fugitives on the back roads of Louisiana. They’re headed to New Orleans, where they hope to find a solution to an unfixable problem. But with their faces displayed on all the news stations, their journey becomes a harrowing game of hide-and-seek from the police—and so-called allies, who just might be the real enemy.
 
Shalanda Stanley’s breathtaking debut novel explores the deep ties between legacy, loyalty, and love, even as it asks the question: How far would you go to save a friend?

★★★★ (4 stars)

I have received an advance readers copy of this novel from Netgalley and Random House Children’s for an honest review.

Imagine your best friend, accidentally killing his father because of a fight he never intended to have. You were there. You are a witness.You know the truth. But it’s not just that. You did something more than what they know is true and all you have to do is run. As fast as you can, without turning back.

Then one day.

You saw your faces in the national television, informing every one of the crime that has been done. A dead man, his unresponsive wife and their missing son who is a subject for further investigation.

This is a story about friendship, family, love, betrayal and sacrifices that would surely make you question:To what extent are you willing to sacrifice in order to save your best friend, whom you believe is innocent enough of the crime he has committed?

• The story itself is beautifully crafted. Reality inscribed on paper. A story of how friendship can lead into the greatest sacrifice of all. (smiles)

• There is so much symbolism in the characters. If you read the book, you will see the different stereotypes these teenagers have in the society they are living in. How the people see them because of who their parents are and what they have done.

Honestly, there is not much to talk about in this book. Saying that it has a good storyline and the characters very well depicted are enough.

But I have a little problem with the writing style. Yes, it’s good. I liked it. But in some parts, it is detailed enough to make me feel sleepy and bored, a feature that drastically changed the way I rated the book. (sighs)

Anyways, this book has been in my ‘to be read’ list even before I started blogging. I was so thrilled and honored when my request was approved on Netgalley and received an ARC.

I would really recommend this book to everyone. It is one epic read that would really make you say, indeed, Drowning is Inevitable. (smiles)