A LOVE LETTER TO WHISKEY by KANDI STEINER : REVIEW

‘I think sometimes life is about embracing what hurts, because pain is one of the most vivid emotions we can feel. Pain reminds us that we are alive, and I’ll always appreciate that stinging reminder.’

They say timing is everything and we were in the mood for a good ol’ bit of angst and on that note, this delivered. Our hearts were in need of some serious R&R after the beating Kandi Steiner put them through! One sip of this Whiskey and we were addicted! We were certainly made to work for this story which demonstrated the flaws and complexities of first love, life and the poor choices we sometimes make.

“You’re not happy. You’re numb. There’s a difference.”

How could we not pick up this book after reading the gripping synopsis for A Love Letter to Whiskey? An eleven year addiction that took eleven years off our lives, put our emotions through the wringer and had us feeling so much frustration, passion, pain and anger. We felt every one of those frenzied years! We were so incensed at times by the decisions Jamie and B (especially B) made we wanted to hurl our Kindles and curse the author (sorry about that) for toying with our hearts the way she did. The fact she elicited such strong feelings from us confirmed she delivered on that angst.

“All we do is hurt each other.”

Jamie and Brecks (B), started out as friends when she was 17 and Jamie was 19. Jamie had fallen for B’s best friend Jenna, with B having feelings for him.  After Jenna breaks up with Jamie, an unrequited love soon turns into an all-consuming lust and love, when Jamie and B admit their feelings for each other. But their timing is off with Jamie about to move away to College. But, the heart knows what the heart wants and it’s a persistent and unforgiving bitch… and so begins a gut churning love story, told in B’s pov that had our emotions all over the show.

“There’s more courage in admitting you love someone and fighting for them than letting them go because it hurts less.”

This was a passionate and burning love that would bring them, and those around them, happiness and despair, hope and devastation. It was a love that would break boundaries, wreak havoc and leave a trail of collateral damage in its wake.  However, despite the fact that Jamie was Jenna’s boyfriend in high school, the friendship between her and B remained solid. Jenna was her constant, her rock, her confidante, her voice of reason, which B so desperately needed!

“Sometimes we’re more terrified of the good things in life than we are of the bad. We feel we don’t deserve the, or that they aren’t real, that they’ll disappear quickly and easily and we’ll be left in the ruins.”

We’re not going to tell you the ins and outs of the story, but will say, for those seeking an angsty, gripping and at times infuriating love story; you’ll be rubbing your hands with glee over this one. Kandi Steiner’s intoxicating prose deliciously teased whilst simultaneously ripping out our hearts. Our stomachs were in knots, our breaths sighing in exasperation over some of their choices and mistakes, making us want to slap some sense into these guys. We were certainly engrossed. The desperation and the addiction of their love was palpable, maddening and unforgiving.

‘He would never be the same, and neither would I.’

We were a little disappointed in the epilogue, considering how engrossing, passionate & emotional the journey had been up until then. For all the turmoil we endured we felt it ended a little too abruptly with no real emotion and  came across as an afterthought of two pages which in our opinion would’ve been more impactful if left out.  However, like a smooth Whiskey, we were completely seduced, held captive and drank in every passionate and vexing sip.

“Remember how you used to say I don’t’ play fair?”
I cocked a brow “Yeah.”
“Just wanted to make sure you didn’t forget.”