Review: Ruining You

Ruining You by Nicole Reed
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I'm pretty sure I cried through at least half of Ruining You.. Depression is a silent disease, in some ways worse than anything physical. While you're dying on the inside, no one knows or even suspects that you aren't that smiling face you portray.
Jay lost her innocence to a man that was supposed to protect her. The boy she has loved since they were kids loses his life while attempting to avenge her. Not being able to take another day of the turmoil, she attempts to join him. Waking up alive wasn't in the plans, but now she must attempt to put her life back together. With family, friends, Rhye, and Kane all willing to help her find a reason to go on living.




***Spoilers***
When the secret comes out about Coach Branch raping Jay, which led to an abortion, JT and Cal jump in the car to confront him. Driving recklessly they end up in an accident which kills JT, and the other driver, as well as paralyzes Cal. Jay attempts to kill herself but is found before she succeeds. The next three months are spent in a rehabilitation center, hopefully gaining the tools she needs to put her life back together. She meets Eli there, and they quickly become great friends. He is the gay son of a Baptist preacher, who also lost his boyfriend. The two hit it off, and Eli's friendship does more to help Jay than all of the therapy she has gone through. After being released she finds out that Kane has moved on. She didn't respond to any of his letters, and he couldn't go on waiting. She is devastated but this is what she thought she wanted. The two of them eventually get their shit together, but with the trial coming up, the battle is just beginning. At first, she didn't want to testify but eventually realizes that choosing not to may mean that running into Bruce Branch will continue. His obsession is even worse than anyone imagined, he has followed her for years, and being out on bond hasn't stopped his sick obsession. After an attempted break-in, Branch is on 24hr surveillance. Thinking she is safe she goes to the cemetery early the morning of JT's birthday. Branch's wife shows up, showing all of her crazy, and asking why she couldn't be enough for her husband. She tells Jay that without her in the picture, Branch goes free and she can have her life back. She shoots at Jay, but the bullet on grazes her neck b/c Kip (JT's brother) tackles her from behind. His wife admits to knowing her husband has been stalking Jay for years, and now they may have enough evidence not to need her testimony. She and Kane take off for a vacation on the beach, first stopping in Vegas to get married.

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