Title: Brave Enough
Author: Kati Gardner
Publisher: Flux
Publication Date: 21 August 2018
I received an ARC from Net Galley and Flux in exchange for my complete and honest review.
All her life, the only thing Cason Martin has known is dancing. She’s been working toward one goal–becoming a ballerina in a dancing studio in New York. But lately, Cason’s been having trouble with her leg, an injury that she’s done her best to hide from everyone. When the injury gets to be too much, Cason learns that it was hiding something much more sinister: she has an aggressive form of cancer.
First of all, the cover of this book is absolutely gorgeous. It was one of the reasons I requested it from Net Galley (I know, I know, don’t judge a book by its cover. But how can you not like this one?). Luckily, the story ends up being just as beautiful as the cover. Throughout the novel, we switch between Cason’s and Davis’s points of view. Cason is just starting her cancer journey, where Davis is in remission from his, now recovering from a drug addiction. The two meet, and inevitably, romance brews.
Overall, not much plot wise happened in the book; it was a much more character driven story. While I’m all for character driven books, adding a plot point or two would have pushed this book even further. However, Cason’s voice in particular felt so authentic that the extra plot wasn’t completely necessary.
The author herself is a cancer survivor, and she said that she wanted to write a book that reflected her own experiences. Her book stands out from other cancer young adult texts, especially since it is filled with such hope; hope that is infectious long after the book has ended.
All in all, a deeply character driven book that will tug at your heartstrings the entire time.