Review: Safe with Me by Amy Hatvany

Safe with Me by Amy Hatvany

Published: March 4, 2014

Publisher: Washington Square Press

Format: via NetGalley

Challenges: 2014 NetGalley/Edelweiss

Rating: 5/5

Synopsis

A novel about two mothers and one daughter who are linked by tragedy and bound by secrets, from the acclaimed author of Heart Like Mine. Now, in the provocative Safe with Me, Amy Hatvany explores controversial and timely issues with astonishing emotional complexity.

The screech of tires brought Hannah Scott’s world as she knew it to a devastating end. Even a year after she signed the papers to donate her daughter’s organs, Hannah is still reeling with grief when she unexpectedly stumbles into the life of the Bell family, whose child, Maddie, survived only because hers had died. Mesmerized by this fragile connection to her own daughter and afraid to reveal who she actually is, Hannah develops a surprising friendship with Maddie’s mother, Olivia.

The Bells, however, have problems of their own. Once on the verge of leaving her wealthy but abusive husband, Olivia now finds herself bound to him as never before in the wake of the successful transplant that saved their fifteen-year-old daughter’s life. Meanwhile Maddie, tired of the limits her poor health puts upon her and fearful of her father’s increasing rage, regularly escapes into the one place where she can be anyone she wants: the Internet. But when she is finally healthy enough to return to school, the real world proves to be just as complicated as the isolated bubble she had been so eager to escape.

My Thoughts

Amy Havanty weaves together a tragic yet amazing tale of love, heartache, and having the strength to move on when life has taken everything you live for away.

Safe with Me is the tale of Hannah and her story of moving on after the death of her only child. A single parent who wanted so much to have a child she did it alone. One ordinary day unlike any other her daughter was killed after she was hit by a car. Those moments were the ones nobody, no parent should ever have to deal with. Once she was told she wouldn’t survive she was asked if she wanted to donate her organs, needless to say she was at a loss for words. She decided she would, hoping that this act would make her daughter’s death at least help others.

This leads us to the Maddie, a teen who has dealt with being sick almost her entire life. She is told she needs a transplant really soon if not she won’t have that much longer. Her mother Olivia is always by her side while her father is mainly just working leaving them by themselves. Olivia has some secrets of her own, ones that she has kept for as long as she can remember. You see Olivia is being abused by her husband. From the moment Olivia met him she thought he was the answer to her prays. He was rich, successful and was willing to help her with her mom. He eventually swept her off her feet, they married and from that day on he started hitting her. She changed who she was physically and never uttered her opinions all to satisfy him. After time she grew tired and was ready to leave after she had Maddie but she needed a plan. However Maddie got sick and her plan was put to the back burner because of Maddie’s health.

Call it fate and just a plain coincidence Maddie, Olivia and Hannah’s lives all inserted. They were brought into each other’s lives for a reason. They all helped each other heal and escape all the pain and sadness they were dealing with. This story as heart-wrenching as it may be, it does give us hope. Hope that no matter how bad things may feel at that moment, always know you will come out the other side. We must deal with the pain to truly appreciate all the things we have and to know that we are all brought here for a reason. Big or small all our lives have purpose in this world.

THE BOTTOM LINE... IT'S...