Try Not to Breathe by Jennifer R. Hubbard

Learning to live is more than just choosing not to die, as sixteen-year-old Ryan discovers in the year following his suicide attempt. Despite his mother’s anxious hovering and the rumors at school, he’s trying to forget the darkness from which he has escaped. But it doesn’t help that he’s still hiding guilty secrets, or that he longs for a girl who may not return his feelings. Then he befriends Nicki, who is using psychics to seek contact with her dead father. This unlikely friendship thaws Ryan to the point where he can face the worst in himself. He and Nicki confide in one another the things they never thought they’d tell anyone—but their confessions are trickier than they seem, and the fallout tests the bounds of friendship and forgiveness.

Try Not to Breathe was really good. Given the subject matter, I expected it to be a heavier read than it was.Try Not to Breathe is Hubbard’s sophomore novel and like her first book, it’s written from the perspective of a boy. I love books written from the perspective of a boy, but it’s really easy for them to be written badly. However, Jennifer R. Hubbard knows how to write a really good male point-of-view. I really liked that Try Not to Breathe wasn’t just about the romance. It was there, but it wasn’t over-powering.

The characters in Try Not to Breathe were all really great. Nicki was one of my favorite characters. She knew what she wanted, and she wouldn’t take no for an answer. She also fit with Ryan perfectly and would force him out of his shell. One of the best things about these characters was how easily it was to relate to them. Throughout the whole book, I was rooting for every character to get better and to conquer the situations they were in.

Jennifer R. Hubbard is a wonderful author. Her writing is enchanting. Try Not to Breathe was heartbreaking, yet hopeful. Hubbard wrote a beautiful, deep, and emotional story.

FTC- Received for review.