A Breathless Place

This novel is a wonderful read. The story may have some triggers for some... But the story takes a wonderful turn and is very inspiring. You can really dive into the characters Harper has made up in these books. You feel as if you truly get to know these people she writes about and so easily get intertwined into their world. I have loved everything that I have read of Harper Bliss...so much so that I have even immediately re-read a couple of the books because I enjoyed them so much! I Highly recommend this book!!!

I always start out these reviews for Harper with a warning! I am a hard core fan and I have biases toward her books. I have watched this author become a force to be reckoned with in the lesbian fiction world! She comes out with a new book, I stop everything I am reading and read her book! This book touched parts of my soul that I can't explain in words. I have dealt with mental health issues most of my adult life and books like this one helps soothe the damaged parts of my soul. Loved the characters, they were brilliantly developed. The plot was gut wrenching and beautifully woven! This is one of those books that changes lives! It certainly changed mine!

This story was heavy with emotion. It's more than a romance. It's a book about rediscovery, rebirth, and the healing power of love and music. I, personally, could not connect with Izzy's intent, but I definitely understood it. With her passion for music, for singing, I understood the magnitude of her losing her ability to sing. It was her identity, and she felt completely lost without it. Enter Leila, who was only supposed to finish her biography, but instead turned Izzy's world upside down. This was carefully but beautifully written. Please read the author's content note.

Well, I got what I asked for here! I’ve said before I’m not as keen on stories that are all sunshine and roses… There’s a time and a place I guess, but generally I favor stories with some angst or whatever. And… here we are. It was pretty intense to read the POV of a character who plans to end their own life. That definitely qualifies as not all sunshine and roses! It’s a tricky one to pull off because it’s so easy to object just on the face of it. But what about all the friends and family you leave behind? Surely there’s something you haven’t thought of when you tell yourself life isn’t worth living! This too shall pass. And so on. Sharing pieces of the letter were crucial for Izzy to justify her decision, and that part worked well even if ultimately I wasn’t 100% sold that she was making the right decision. She certainly felt committed, though. So I was as shocked as the other characters when Izzy stopped holding her secret so tightly. I have to agree that was certainly the end of Plan A. And from that point on was for me, the best and most moving part of the book. I enjoyed the flirting and the getting together… actually I wouldn’t have minded if that was dragged outa bit more… but the part that really hit me was once Izzy started to open herself to other possibilities, and then how some of those possibilities played out. So, bottom line, angst yes, surprises yes, feelings in this reader yes, happy ending yes… there was a lot to like. While I’ve enjoyed a number of…

Although some readers may feel uncomfortable with the main character's plan for suicide, this novel presents a complex, insightful reasoning for her choice in this matter. The loss of her singing voice which was her life's focus during her younger years continues to control who she is at age 59. She has never accepted the loss of her vocal capabilities. What I admired about this book was how she eventually came to terms with the loss, and how she finally opened herself to using her music in a different manner. Very well written----not melodramatic in the least.