Review Detail

Smashed is a gritty and hard hitting book. I connected with Katie and it was hard to watch her spiral down and lose so much and be in so much pain. I could predict what would happen, just not how she would get there, but it was still a hard and emotional journey.
Smashed is for mature teens because of the drinking, drugs, and hard and dark issues. While Lisa handles everything with finesse, it is still a dark book. It is laced with hope and healing, but it is a long journey to get there.
I was invested in Katie and the characters, especially her best friends Matt and Cassie. I really loved their friendship and how it is not perfect but they are there for each other no matter what. I can't imagine being in their shoes, seeing Katie in so much pain, and not knowing what to do, especially when she starts withdrawing, and looking so bad.
I can totally understand though where Katie is coming from, the rough home, the questions of being loved because of her father abandoning them and her absent mom. On top of the roller coaster of a relationship with Alec, and the guilt that comes from "the event."
Smashed deals with some important issues, drinking and its negative consequences, bullying, and how things can escalate... intentionally or not. There are some omissions of truth that Katie lets happen, and it snowballs on her and leaves her with a lot of guilt and a sense of owing someone that gets her into worse positions.
The pacing was good, there was always something going on and character development. I didn't want to put it down, and I wanted the best for Katie.

Bottom Line: Darkly beautiful journey that led Katie down a hard road and to her healing.