Skip to main content

Editorial Content for Other Broken Things

Book

Other Broken Things

Contributors

Leanna R.

Reviewer (text)

Leanna R., Teen Board member

It is rare that books leave me in tears. In fact, the last time I remember crying over a book was four years ago whilst finishing THE FAULT IN OUR STARS by John Green during silent reading in my freshman year English class. Clearly, I have learned nothing from my prior experiences, as I currently find myself blinking back tears at a public library over OTHER BROKEN THINGS by C. Desir.

This is C. Desir’s third young adult novel, and all three deal with difficult issues like drinking, self-harm and sexual abuse. Even though they’re dark, I think it’s important for young adults to gain knowledge of these topics, and C. Desir writes of them beautifully.

OTHER BROKEN THINGS is about a 17-year-old girl named Natalie who, after receiving a DUI, starts going to AA meetings. She meets an older man named Joe whom she ends up falling in love with. She struggles to stay sober, as her family and friends constantly pressure her and seem to hurt more than help her.

Even though they’re dark, I think it’s important for young adults to gain knowledge of these topics, and C. Desir writes of them beautifully.

Seeing the world through Natalie’s eyes is often sad, as she can never seem to win even when it seems like she’s turning her life around. However, OTHER BROKEN THINGS also illuminates the valuable lesson that everyone is going through something, and that peoples’ actions can usually be explained by their past experiences.

I believe that everyone can learn from OTHER BROKEN THINGS, especially teens and their parents. Even if they’re not struggling with a similar issue, teens can definitely take away elements from the story, like finding a true passion, ditching toxic relationships and even dealing with overbearing parents. Parents can gain an understanding of their children’s actions, they ways they might be affecting their kids’ mental health and, if nothing else, sympathize with the unappreciated mother.

I would mainly recommend OTHER BROKEN THINGS to anyone who can relate to the main character in any way, whether it be alcoholism, difficult parents or even forbidden love. I say this not because this book is incredibly inspiring on any of those fronts, but because it truly does tell it like it is. It doesn’t sugarcoat anything, and the ending isn’t fairytale perfect. For this reason, I think it can help those who are struggling stay grounded. 

Teaser

Natalie’s not an alcoholic. She doesn’t have a problem. Still, with six months of court-ordered AA meetings required, her days of vodka-filled water bottles are over.
 
Unfortunately, her old friends want the party girl or nothing. Even her up-for-anything ex seems more interested in rehashing the past than actually helping Nat.
 
But then a recovering alcoholic named Joe inserts himself into Nat’s life and things start looking up. Joe is funny, he’s smart and he calls her out in a way no one ever has.

Promo

Natalie’s not an alcoholic. She doesn’t have a problem. Still, with six months of court-ordered AA meetings required, her days of vodka-filled water bottles are over.
 
Unfortunately, her old friends want the party girl or nothing. Even her up-for-anything ex seems more interested in rehashing the past than actually helping Nat.
 
But then a recovering alcoholic named Joe inserts himself into Nat’s life and things start looking up. Joe is funny, he’s smart and he calls her out in a way no one ever has.
 
He’s also older. A lot older.
 
Nat’s connection to Joe is overwhelming, but so are her attempts to fit back into her old world, all while battling the constant urge to crack a bottle and blur that one thing she’s been desperate to forget.

About the Book

Natalie’s not an alcoholic. She doesn’t have a problem. Everybody parties, everybody does stupid things, like getting in their car when they can barely see. Still, with six months of court-ordered AA meetings required, her days of vodka-filled water bottles are over.
 
Unfortunately, her old friends want the party girl or nothing. Even her up-for-anything ex seems more interested in rehashing the past than actually helping Nat.
 
But then a recovering alcoholic named Joe inserts himself into Nat’s life and things start looking up. Joe is funny, he’s smart and he calls her out in a way no one ever has.
 
He’s also older. A lot older.
 
Nat’s connection to Joe is overwhelming, but so are her attempts to fit back into her old world, all while battling the constant urge to crack a bottle and blur that one thing she’s been desperate to forget.
 
Now, in order to make a different kind of life, Nat must pull together her broken parts and learn to fight for herself.