Hold Still

Hold Still

By: Nina LaCour

Dear Caitlin,

There are so many things that I want so badly to tell you but I just can't.

That night Ingrid told Caitlin, I'll go wherever you go. But by dawn, Ingrid and her promise, were gone, and Caitlin was alone. Ingrid's suicide immobilizes Caitlin, leaving her unsure of her place in a new life she hardly recognizes. A life without the art, laughter, the music, the joy that she shared with her best friend.

But Ingrid left something behind. Devastating and hopeful, playful and hopeless. In words and drawings, Ingrid documented a painful farewell in her journal-just for Caitlin. Journeying through Ingrid's final days, Caitlin fights back through unspeakable loss to find renewed hope.

Summary from book

My Rating: 4.5/5

This book grabbed my attention from the opening sentence. For some reason, I'm always really drawn to novels that deal with loss, accompanied by major character growth and development, everything which Hold Still encompasses. I haven't read many books that deal with suicide and I thought that the author addressed the issue very well and accurately. This novel is very sincere and personal. I love it when you're able to get so wrapped up in a story that you forget it's fictional. That's always how I know that I'm going to fall in love with a particular book.

Hold Still is a heavily character driven novel. The plot is simple yet seamless as you follow Caitlin through multiple ups and downs after Ingrid's death. All of the characters whether they're major or minor are all very well developed and enjoyable. I sympathized with their situations and wanted to know more about each and every one of them. Well fleshed out characters are always crucial to a novel and Nina LaCour did an amazing job with hers.

To be honest, I really have no complaints when it comes to this book. I enjoyed every aspect from beginning to end. Not once was I bored and from the initial start of Hold Still, my attention was fully grasped and held until its well wrapped conclusion.

I can't wait to read more from Nina LaCour. Her writing in all aspects the word is tremendous. Along with plot and character, I greatly enjoyed LaCour's way with words. There were sections in Hold Still that I read multiple times because I loved the poetic and lyrical wording. This book was a pleasure to read.

Also, I wish you guys could see this book in person. It's such a creative concept. There are little sketches all throughout the book that tie into the story. Also, the title Hold Still lettering on the cover is made to look like it was written with pen, the paper indenting below like it often does when you press too hard when writing. I always thought the cover was pretty when gazing at it on the computer but in person, it's really stunning.