Happy to Be Alive, Because by Chelsea Jacobs

My Thoughts:

Happy to be Alive, Because is a sweet young adult story.  It's the kind of book you'd like for your teen daughter to read as it tells a tender but tragic tale of a young girl and how she's able to endure with the help of new and unexpected friends.  It's heartache, love, adventure and friendship all tied up in a lovely package.  I particularly appreciated how the author, Chelsea Jacobs, didn't candy coat the reality of grief.  She approached it with realism and respect and her main character, Avery, is richer and more likable because of it.  The quest to uncover happiness again after tragedy is quite the journey and my heart ached for Avery, especially as she "spoke" to her mother before going to bed at night.  This is a book I'd like for my daughters to read but I wouldn't recommend to an adult friend.  

About the book: 

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.

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/xlD3V

About the author: 

Chelsea 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.

Chelsea can be found at: website, Twitter

*I was given this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest opinion.  No other compensation was received.*