Be Your Somebody (Love in the Suburbs)
$18.99
Cassidy
As a child, Cassidy Andrew’s life was never meant for great things, but when he meets his neighbor Avery Douglas, things change, and Cas starts to envision a better life for himself. That is, until a near-fatal overdose destroyed his friendship with Avery. After receiving a second chance at life–and sobriety–Cas is determined to right his wrongs, starting with the person he hurt the most, Avery. But when his past collides with the present, all the work he’s put in starts to unravel. Will his newfound strength be enough to keep him moving toward a future with Avery, or will everything be so destroyed there’s nothing left to mend?
Avery
Avery Douglas was an average girl next door who struggled with making friends. That was,until she met her new neighbor, Cassidy. After playing second fiddle to Cas’ addictions over the course of a decade, she’s had enough. She finally decides to put herself first, choosing to put her efforts into re-learning Avery the person and not the best friend of an addict. But a now-sober Cas is set on winning her back, and Avery is scared of history repeating itself. Can she learn to trust Cas, the only man she’s ever loved, or will she find herself picking up the pieces of her broken heart once again?
ASIN : B0DPLN8TTP
Publisher : Natalie Knolls (February 21, 2025)
Language : English
Paperback : 309 pages
ISBN-13 : 979-8991961011
Item Weight : 14.7 ounces
Dimensions : 6 x 0.78 x 9 inches
@EnchantingReads_RosyReviews –
These Two Have History
[...]One of my favorite parts of this book was the aftermath of an ov erdo se in the beginning. I know that sounds weird, but Natalie wrote it so vividly that I felt like I was experiencing Cas’s true POV. I could feel his disorientation, I was blinded by the hospital fluorescents, I felt his panic & confusion, all of it. This whole chapter read like a movie & I loved it. Another interesting part? When the “I love yous” are said. I don’t want to spoil it here, but it really fits the relationship dynamic between these characters who started as childhood friends (& secret crushes) working to repair their relationship. It’s super sweet!I will say, while there were many parts I liked, there were moments when I felt like the story was trying too hard. Almost as if there were too many emotional or swoony lines, they lost their impact. And it made it difficult for me to connect to the characters & feel the pull of those heartstrings. However, this is a story about addi ction, sobriety & emotional healing. And these story elements were handled with tender care, teaching us all lessons about self acceptance & support.I picked up this book because emotional stories are ones I really like & because I have a personal connection with the subject material about addi ction & sobriety. Having lots of family members on both sides of this coin, I can understand some of the difficulty that comes with loving someone who is struggling with their addi ction & struggling with their sobriety. In that realm, this book felt like one big therapy session. But the characters made me want to shake them in frustration with their miscommunication, lack of self-worth & constant second guessing of the other’s feelings. And while there were elements of the writing I didn’t connect with, overall this was a slow burn romance filled with funny moments, strong friendships, healing from tra uma & even some cat love.
Crystal Smith –
Beautiful and Emotional
[...]Wow! I was not prepared for this book and not in a bad way. It hit so close to my heart and had me in tears almost the entire book. It was written so beautifully about very deep topics. Having loved someone who was an addict before and then my son losing his father to an overdose, this book had my heart.Avery is such a strong, beautiful, and caring woman. She needed to heal herself and find her strength before she could be open to being friends with her best friend again. The way she grew in the book was inspiring. She found her voice and it was beautiful. Her compassion and the way she loves, so pure. And she is sassy too, loved it.Cassidy almost lost his life to addiction and was given another shot at life. He is determined to become the man that his best friend and the woman he loves deserves. My heart broke for him so many times. He had gone through a lot, which does not justify his actions while he was an addict, but sheesh. But man he has so many people who love him. And the way he grew, had me in tears too. He really found out who he was and wanted to heal and get better. It’s what everyone wishes for when they love or care for an addict. I was cheering for him the entire book.This book had me a ball of emotions. But I loved this very touching and beautiful story. It was written so well and touched on hard subjects that many don’t bring up, but needs to. Emotional, funny, and spicy all wrapped in one.5⭐️3🌶️
Danielle Renno –
I know what withdrawal feels like and I don’t think I can come back from her.
[...]Oh Cassidy….This story pulled on so many of my heartstrings – I don’t even know where to begin.I love the mental health representation in here. We get to walk through anxiety that both of the MCs deal with. Each of them present differently so it was a beautiful picture. However, we also get to walk through the destruction that is a path caused by an addict. I feel like the push and pull of this particular lifestyle was very accurate. It definitely allowed you to feel what it was like from both sides if you have never been graced with either side of that coin.Be Your Somebody is a wonderful book about an addict and best friend who get a second chance to experience life together. Bound to do it right, we get to see Cas step up to the plate and be the healthiest version of himself for Avery, but really for himself.What you will get in this story-Second chance-“It’s always been you” vibes-drug addiction and recovery-anxiety representation-a slow burn that does the story justiceAAAAAAAH. I just cant get over the chokehold on my heart.