POPPY by Kailee Samuels: Arc Review

Poppy by Kailee Samuels
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"There must be good things on the other side of bad."


Kailee Samuels is still a rather new-to-me author, but each time I open one of her books I'm awestruck by her talent. In Poppy she delves into the psyche of Poppy, a young woman who dreams of leaving her life of abuse under her mom's roof. Working as a waitress when she isn't studying, she meets Kane during one of her shifts. 20 years her senior, he charms and seduces her and in no time, brings her to his home, where she meets his 4 years old son, Abel. Poppy's life will then be changed forever. Or... will it?

“If you take nothing else away from this, take yourself.”


Poppy is a read that deals with the extremely difficult topic of domestic violence. It is definitely not your typical love story, but rather a story about love and selflessness. Utterly unconventional, highly emotional and incredibly dark, it's an experience I'm not going to forget anytime soon. 

I don't know how many times a heart can break but mine broke several times throughout the chapters. I found myself challenged (in a good way) by the level of realism of the story. Besides, the author gave life to characters who touched me and made me think a lot.  Poppy fought with with all her being, heart and soul, I couldn't stop fearing for her life.  At such a young age, she shows an incredible maturity and a poignant determination to finally break the cycle of violence that surrounds her and Abel.

I felt for Abel from the beginning. His courage and resilience know no limits. The beauty of his and Poppy's bond brought out of me both tears of joy and sadness. 

“You’ll get to the top. I promise you. Don’t ever give up.”


Hope and hopelessness, optimism and despair warred all along, in a devastating whirlwind. The brilliant plot and the huge twists and turns absorbed me. If you are familiar with Kailee Samuels' work, then you know that there always is a bigger picture; Poppy is no different. When I eventually connected the dots, it was simply magnificent.

 

If you haven't experienced this author's world yet, Poppy is the book you need, as it can be read as a complete standalone. Give it a try, grab a bottle of wine and a box of Kleenex, and.... enjoy!

"I was no hero, Abel. I was only your temporary shield."


I VOLUNTARILY REVIEWED AN ARC COPY OF THIS BOOK. THANK YOU!!!

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