Review: The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley by Shaun Hutchinson

Andrew Brawley was supposed to die that night. His parents did, and so did his sister, but he survived.

Now he lives in the hospital. He serves food in the cafeteria, he hands out with the nurses, and he sleeps in a forgotten supply closet. Drew blends in to near invisibility, hiding from his past, his guilt, and those who are trying to find him.

Then one night Rusty is wheeled into the ER, burned on half his body by hateful classmates. His agony calls out to Drew like a beacon, pulling them both together through all their pain and grief. In Rusty, Drew sees hope, happiness, and a future for both of them. A future outside the hospital, and away from their pasts.

But Drew knows that life is never that simple. Death roams the hospital, searching for Drew, and now Rusty. Drew lost his family, but he refuses to lose Rusty, too, so he’s determined to make things right. He’s determined to bargain, and to settle his debts once and for all.

But Death is not easily placated, and Drew’s life will have to get worse before there is any chance for things to get better.

A partly graphic novel.

Kindle Edition, 336 pages

Expected publication: January 20th 2015 by Simon Pulse 

Genre: Young Adult

Kristine's Thoughts:

I received an advanced readers copy from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! The expected publication date is January 20, 2015.

I was really excited about reading this book. Much love from numerous peers on Edelweiss and a high rating on Goodreads left my expectations high. Did it meet my expectations? Unfortunately not. There are some books that appeal to a wide range of readers regardless of the intended genre but I don't think this is one of them. I feel like a younger audience than myself would get more enjoyment out of it than I did.

I didn't hate the book but I didn't love it either. If I had to choose a word to describe how I felt I guess it would be indifferent. The characters were all right but the only ones I really cared about were Trevor and Lexi and perhaps Arnold. As much as I tried to love Andrew I just couldn't. He just lacked personality (good or bad) and came across quite dull. The plot was unique but a little slow, transparent, and predictable. I was always craving just a little more than what I got. As far as dark reads go it was average at best.

Early reviews for this book are great so I encourage everyone to pick it up and form your own opinion. I wish I had enjoyed it as much as others but I have to be honest. It is just not a book that I will remember.

About the Author

Shaun is a major geek and all about nerdy shenanigans. He is the author of The Deathday Letter, fml, and the forthcoming The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley. He currently lives in South Florida with his partner and dog and watches way too much Doctor Who.

Connect with Shaun

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