It isn’t for the faint of heart, and it isn’t a feel-good novel by any means. I’m amazed by the impact and hard truth Jennifer Brown revealed in this book. This story is told perfectly, realistically, and powerfully. There are so many things to say about Bitter End. She does gain strength, even though for most of the book she is very, very weak. It was hard for me to feel truly sympathetic for a girl who was in such a low place in her life.īut at the same time, Alex is able to pull out and walk away.

None of those characteristics apply to the much–approved “kickbutt” heroine. She’s weak, needy, too-forgiving, and only sees what she wants to see.

However, as a woman who’s been lucky enough to never be in that situation, and as a reader sitting comfortably on the couch, I wanted to shake Alex. I know that, psychologically speaking, Jennifer Brown was realistically painting the portrait of Alex as a victim of abuse. Then things get a little out of control, and Cole hits her.

As the reader, I knew things weren’t right with Cole, but Alex wasn’t so quick to catch on, and that was frustrating, naturally. But at times she’s made a little uncomfortable by his habit of always being with her, showing up wherever she is, and at one point he does things to purposefully scare her. She meets Cole, who seems to be really nice and sweet, and starts dating him. The main character, Alex, was hard for me. At least, I found it so, to the best of my limited research and experience with domestic abuse. But though this was a difficult book to read, and though, never having been in this sort of situation myself, I couldn’t empathize with the main character, Alex, so much, I believe that Jennifer Brown’s portrayal of this relationship was very realistic. It’s impossible to read about a woman being kicked and called a “dirty slut” by the man who “loves” her and not be affected, I think. In the interest of being honest, I must confess that certain parts of Bitter End made my physically ill. Bitter End is a book that I think many teen girls need to read today Brown’s message is extremely important and, sadly, too often overlooked or laughed at.Īn abusive relationship is, naturally, a difficult thing to write and read about. Rape culture and domestic abuse are two things I’m wildly, wildly passionate about, and, keeping in mind the somewhat frightening acceptance (and promotion) of unhealthy relationships in today’s media, I don’t think Jennifer Brown could have written a book more in need of writing.

So I think it’s significant that Bitter End impacted me as much as it did and caused the reactions it did. As a self-prescribed realistic fiction/“issues” book junkie, I’ve read a lot of novels that deal with tough and uncomfortable situations.

Bitter end by jennifer brown