After I finished reading Try Not to Breathe by Holly Seddon, I sat stunned from some time absorbing the feelings I had about the story. There aren’t many stories that I can say that about. You may even say this story left me breathless.

The story begins with a series of flashbacks from a then, fifteen-year-old Amy Stevenson. Then flash forward about fifteen years to more present day and the reporter who is trying desperately to get her life back after a series of disasters and struggles with addiction. Alex Dale, the reporter, is a believable and sympathetic character. Alex is the same age as Amy who is now what we might consider a vegetable because of a brutal attack that left her in that condition when she was fifteen.

As the story unfolds we jump from Alex’s increasingly fragile existence to the POV of Amy who flashes through “wake” and “sleep” periods as do some “vegetative” patients. The suspense builds as we readers try to figure out who did it and why we need to worry that whoever did it is about to do something equally horrifying. There are many layers and folds as this story pivots and twists into what it becomes – a complex story with believable characters who left me rooting for them.

I won’t ruin the story for you by telling any more than that but just know this – if you are privileged to get this book as soon as it comes out, do so. You won’t regret it.

I was fortunate to receive the book from Net galley for a fair and honest review.

Five Big Stars for a lovely engaging read.