Cut Me Free
Author: J.R. Johansson
Series: None
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Mystery, Thriller
Release Date: January 27, 2015
Publisher: Farrar, Straus Giroux (BYR)
Summary:
Seventeen-year-old Charlotte barely escaped from her abusive parents. Her little brother, Sam, wasn’t as lucky. Now she’s trying to begin the new life she always dreamed of for them, but never thought she’d have to experience alone. She’s hired a techie-genius with a knack for forgery to remove the last ties to her old life. But while she can erase her former identity, she can’t rid herself of the memories. And her troubled history won’t let her ignore the little girl she sees one day in the park. The girl with the bruises and burn marks.
That’s when Charlotte begins to receive the messages. Threatening notes left in her apartment – without a trace of entry. And they’re addressed to Piper, her old name. As the messages grow in frequency, she doesn’t just need to uncover who is leaving them; she needs to stop whoever it is before anyone else she loves ends up dead.
First Sentence: The city embraces me.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
My Review:
I don’t know why I thought Cut Me Free was a book about a serial killer (don’t ask me why – I definitely read the summary when I requested it). Imagine my surprise when I found out that no, Cut Me Free isn’t a serial killer book, but rather a book about abuse. Awkward. My excitement for Cut Me Free drastically decreased when I learned what it was really about, but I redundantly gave it a chance it’s not the book’s fault I got it wrong and because Cut Me Free deserves a chance at least. In the end, I’m glad I requested Cut Me Free.
I push my fingertips hard over my eyelids. No more thinking about them. They couldn’t have survived. Impossible.
Not them. No, not them again. Never again. (ARC 90)
I’ve read tons of books about people being abused both physically and mentally and books about people being killed (yes, I love any kind of issue and horror book), but absolutely none of them have ever made me tear up or cry before. Not only did Cut Me Free make me cry, it did it pretty early on. I cried for what Charlotte had to go through and I especially cried for Sam. My heart literally ached for them and what they had to go through.
The pacing of Cut Me Free is pretty slow at the beginning and slowly builds up to a really fast pacing by the end of the book. At first, Cut Me Free just introduces us to all the events Charlotte has been through and introduces us to a new character. Then the pacing of the book steadily increases as Charlotte finds the threatening notes and tries to find out who left all the notes. By the end of the book, the pacing of Cut Me Free was pretty fast.
“What happened to our door?” When I see the fear in her eyes, my pulse races.
…
Only one word escapes my lips.
“No.” (ARC 176)
Cut Me Free was definitely going to be a four star book until the ending, specifically the last thirty or so pages, came along. The big reveal at the end sadly had the most obvious, glaringly big plot hole that I just couldn’t look past it. I pretty much deducted half a star off the original four star rating after that.
Overall, I will definitely recommend Cut Me Free to fans of issue books and books about abuse. It will definitely open your eyes to problems still happening today and how it could be prevented if we just notice it.
Oh boy. I was excited reading this review until the end. The plot hole you mentioned- is it huge enough to annoy readers as it did you, or just be a point of controversy?
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i am looking forward to reading this book because it just looks so interesting
It’s okay Kelly, sometimes I add books to my TBR list without ever having read the synopsis and later on I sometimes regret it. Not exactly the same thing you went through, but close, right? And I don’t think I’ve ever read an issue book. Well, I did, but that was back in high school, senior year. I think it was called Cut but I forgot who the author was. But yes, those type of books make me cry too and I think that’s the reason I don’t read them. I’d rather choose YA any day because they give me the #feels, but not always sad #feels. I’m glad you still enjoyed Cut Me Free though. Imagine having to endure a non-interesting book you didn’t mean to pick? It probably would have been rated less.
I was wary about reading this book initially, but after reading your review and a few others I am seriously wanting to read this book! It sounds heartbreaking, but it sounds like it does a great job at it! So, yes, as soon as possible, this one is coming home to me. Thank you for your wonderful review!
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i tend not to read a lot of books that depicts issues such as abuse…because it always tear me up inside. especially when it concerns about abuse of young children…for they are ultimately helpless and it is a horrible thing to be betrayed like that in the hands of the very person/people that are supposed to care, love and protect them. i’ve read an arc review of this from another blogger so i had an idea already what it is about. I know it is a very moving read but i just don’t know if i will be putting this in my tbr list anytime soon. But i also like the element of mystery thriller on this one perhaps this aspect will make me change my mind sometime in the future. Thanks for the review Kelly :)
This sounds like an amazing book that I had heard nothing about so far but god does your review make me want it! I really like books that make you really think about issues and just generally tear you up inside. I can’t wait to pick this book up, thanks for the awesome review.
I don’t usually read books like this but your review makes it sound so good! It seems like it had a good intro to the characters and scene and then a fast pace as it gets to the heart of the story. I’m very curious about the plot hole you mention at the end! You still gave it a good rating though. Thanks for your great review!
The summary does kind of have a serial killer feel to it. The book sounds pretty good but I’m not sure if it’s one for me. I’m not a fan of the genre but if given the chance I’d probably give it a go because I like to read more out of my comfort zone. Great review!
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this sounds emotional
Even after reading the synopsis and your review, does still sound like a serial killer book.