The Art of Losing - Book Review

Boy, if you want an honest book, then you won't be disappointed in The Art of Losing. Lizzy Mason's debut novel focuses on teen drug and alcohol abuse and all the consequences that come from using.

When 17-year-old Harley's younger sister, Audrey, gets badly injured in a car accident, Harley's life spirals out of control. The driver of the car was her drunk boyfriend, Mike, who can't seem to see that his drinking is a problem, and Audrey has to be put into a coma to help her brain heal. Harley feels bad for her sister but also resents her sister because right before the car accident, Harley had found Audrey and Mike making out. Feelings of guilt, betrayal, anger, and sadness flood into Harley's life, and she ends up turning to the neighbor boy, who himself is struggling with emotional confusion and addiction. Harley has to learn who she can trust, and try to find her own place in the world instead of just being a part of everyone else's world.

As you can probably guess, this book features a lot of teens drinking and smoking. But there is a message behind it, one that the author learned in her own personal experiences as a teen addict and tries to weave through this story. The novel presents an honest look at recovery from addiction and how hard it can be, as well as the real consequences that can occur when drinking gets out of control. This would definitely be a book for older teens to read, and parents may even want to get their own copy to read along.

The Art of Losing is published by Soho Teen and is available on bookstore shelves today! I received a free advance review copy at BookExpo.