The Snowball Effect By Holly Nicole Hoxter

Summary: 18-year-old Lainey Pike can tell you everything you need to know about the people in her family just by telling you how they died. Her reckless stepfather drove his motorcycle off the highway and caused the biggest traffic jam in years. Her long-suffering grandmother lived through cancer and a heart attack before finally succumbing to a stroke. And Lainey's mother, still devastated over her husband's death, hung herself in the basement just days after Lainey's high school graduation. Now Lainey's five-year-old brother is an orphan and her estranged older sister moves back home to act as his guardian. Dealing with her brother has always been a struggle, but sharing the responsibility with her sister is proving to be just as challenging. Lainey knows that this is all her mother's fault, but she also knows that she eventually has to move out of the "anger" phase of the grieving process. What she can't figure out, though, is how to make peace with a dead woman.

My Thoughts: YES! YES! YES! Its been a little while that I read a book that I absolutely loved. I had seen a few buddies reading this a few months ago, and knew I had to give it a chance from their words on goodreads. I'm so happy I did. It was a great book. We meet Lainey who is 18 but has her whole life ahead of her. She gets thrown into a world of responsibility. Her mother takes her own life which leaves her 5 year old brother and a sister she never knew. We also meet her perfect boyfriend. I really liked Lainey's boyfriend. I loved their relationship and he just seemed so together, I wish I could have dated him at 18. She also meets another guy, who she is drawn too. She is so confused between the two. I also really liked him as well. That is usually what happens, you get stuck between two great guys!!! They are complete opposites! Honestly I'm happy who she chooses in the end. Lainey has to deal with everything, money, family, boys, best friends, drama, confusion, hurt. I could totally relate to Lainey. She did hold it together most of the time. I would have probably broke down if I had been through everything at her age. I really loved this book. I loved the characters. I loved the way she treated her brother. I loved the how the relationship with her sister blossomed. I loved the two guys. I loved Lainey. She was just a special girl. Please read this book! Its wonderful!

Overall: Loved It! It was one that was worth staying up at night for!

Cover: Its awesome! I love the way the authors name is across the cups. Its one of the more creative covers I've seen in a while!

What I'd Give It: