Review Detail

Loud Awake and Lost is the intriguing glimpse into the life of a survivor of a car accident trying to pick up the pieces of her life. Seventeen-year-old Ember Leferrier doesn't remember much that lead up to her horrific accident that nearly took her life. Only bits and pieces come to her, including questions that no-one including her parents, BFF Rachel, or ex-boyfriend Holden will answer. Then she runs into Kai and she gets a spark of something. But will the 'truth' be too devastating for her?

What worked had to be how Ember puts together the pieces of her life before the accident even if it might be too painful to face. Her struggles/conflicts resonate and the reader can't help but want to know what really happened on the night that took away so much from her.

I also liked the chemistry between Ember and Kai. It's sudden and very intense. You want to follow him and discover what he might know but on the same hand can't help but wonder if the key he holds might shatter Ember.

What I had problems with had to be the pacing. There are some passages that felt drawn out and went on for too long. Also some of the descriptions didn't work for me. Now this is just my opinion. There is one scene where Ember compares kissing Kai as not knowing what is happening around her similar to the 'twilight sleep' a dentist puts you under when getting wisdom teeth out. That pulled me out because, I don't know about anyone else, but my own experience was very painful. Now that's just me but I thought that was an interesting way to show what Ember might have felt.

Overall though Ember's quest is one that was intriguing enough for me to want to follow her to the truth which is surprising. Also Ember arcs as a character on realizing what she really wants and draws on her inner strength to confront not only her past but her future.