Pre-release review of Girl on the Brink by Christina Hoag

I was immediately drawn to Girl on the Brink by its exquisite cover which bears the legend “sometimes the one you love isn’t the one you’re meant to be with.” There is a bittersweet quality to both which draws a potential reader in. Ms. Hoag delivers a sweet and poignant tale of a first love that transforms into an abusive and controlling relationship. As a school librarian and the mother of a teenaged daughter, I have struggled with the power differentials in the literary relationships in some recent, very popular fiction. In the Twilight series, Edward and Bella share a deeply troubling relationship. As the pair grow closer together, Edward effectively places distance between Bella and her family and friends. He is very controlling. I have advised countless young girls to pay attention to the “red flags” in this relationship which make it clear that it is not an entirely healthy one. I also try to point out more empowered heroines, like Katniss Everdeen of the Hunger Games, who demands that the men in her life accept her on her own terms. As mentors to young women, we should seek to give them the skills and the knowledge to recognize an abusive relationship and then to extract themselves. Works like Girl on the Brink are important for this reason.

It is my belief that Girl on the Brink is a must have for every high school and public library. Young girls can relate to Chloe and the beauty of her love for Kieran. They are going to “save” each other. When the relationship goes horribly wrong, Chloe finds the courage and the support to extract herself from it. This story truly resonated with me in part because I was also in an abusive relationship in my first year of college. Chloe’s experience was mine, as were her words and thoughts. Hoag does a masterful job of representing the elements and experiences that are common to women in abusive relationships, regardless of age, socioeconomic status, and race. Hoag uses a sensitive and deft touch on the highly charged issue.

I was too young and uninformed to extract myself as quickly and efficiently from my abusive relationship. Chloe is stronger and more determined, but she does admit to having some doubts and longing for Kieran, even when it is clear she would never be able to survive with him.

I plan on having my daughter read this book so that we can discuss the issues it presents. The love affair draws a reader in, but the story is really about courage and the fact that even when you feel like you have no place to turn and the person who loves you most is hurting you, you are not alone. 

For more information, please check out the author's website: http://www.christinahoag.com/ .