Thirsty: A Novel
May 2024 · Roaring Brook Press
4.7star
3 reviewsreport
eBook
336
Pages
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About this eBook
A Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee
A Junior Library Guild Selection
From Jas Hammonds, the award-winning author of We Deserve Monuments, comes an electric, heart-wrenching novel about a teen whose desperation to fit in leads to a dizzying relationship with alcohol—and a poignant journey of self-discovery.
"Sensitively wrought and gorgeously written." —Courtney Summers, New York Times bestselling author of Sadie and I’m the Girl
It’s the summer before college and Blake Brenner and her girlfriend, Ella, have one goal: join the mysterious and exclusive Serena Society. The sorority promises status and lifelong connections to a network of powerful, trailblazing women of color. Ella’s acceptance is a sure thing—she’s the daughter of a Serena alum. Blake, however, has a lot more to prove.
As a former loner from a working-class background, Blake lacks Ella’s pedigree and confidence. Luckily, she finds courage at the bottom of a liquor bottle. When she drinks, she’s bold, funny, and unstoppable—and the Serenas love it. But as pledging intensifies, so does Blake’s drinking, until it’s seeping into every corner of her life. Ella assures Blake that she’s fine; partying hard is what it takes to make the cut . . .
But success has never felt so much like drowning. With her future hanging in the balance and her past dragging her down, Blake must decide how far she’s willing to go to achieve her glittering dreams of success—and how much of herself she’s willing to lose in the process.
A powerful exploration of the lengths we go to feel seen, and the devastating consequences of an unquenchable thirst.
A Junior Library Guild Selection
From Jas Hammonds, the award-winning author of We Deserve Monuments, comes an electric, heart-wrenching novel about a teen whose desperation to fit in leads to a dizzying relationship with alcohol—and a poignant journey of self-discovery.
"Sensitively wrought and gorgeously written." —Courtney Summers, New York Times bestselling author of Sadie and I’m the Girl
It’s the summer before college and Blake Brenner and her girlfriend, Ella, have one goal: join the mysterious and exclusive Serena Society. The sorority promises status and lifelong connections to a network of powerful, trailblazing women of color. Ella’s acceptance is a sure thing—she’s the daughter of a Serena alum. Blake, however, has a lot more to prove.
As a former loner from a working-class background, Blake lacks Ella’s pedigree and confidence. Luckily, she finds courage at the bottom of a liquor bottle. When she drinks, she’s bold, funny, and unstoppable—and the Serenas love it. But as pledging intensifies, so does Blake’s drinking, until it’s seeping into every corner of her life. Ella assures Blake that she’s fine; partying hard is what it takes to make the cut . . .
But success has never felt so much like drowning. With her future hanging in the balance and her past dragging her down, Blake must decide how far she’s willing to go to achieve her glittering dreams of success—and how much of herself she’s willing to lose in the process.
A powerful exploration of the lengths we go to feel seen, and the devastating consequences of an unquenchable thirst.
Ratings and reviews
4.7
3 reviews
Danielle Hammelef
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1 June 2024
After loving We Deserve Monuments, I knew I had to read this book too. Once again, the authentic point of view character pulled me in and made me feel every emotion she felt. I felt the pain, the desperation, the elation, the self-doubt that often led to self-loathing. Blake experiences anxiety and often finds herself spiraling, using alcohol to fit in and be seen. Alcohol emboldens her in ways she doesn't know how to do on her own; Blake uses alcohol to mask her desperate fears
Amy Church
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24 May 2024
Tough this book is a raw portrayal of its themes of addiction, trying to fit in, and feeling unworthy, it is written in a way that feels well targeted to its YA audience. Thirsty is great at putting you into the mind of the main character. I urge readers to check the content warnings before reading this story (they are included at the beginning of the book). Hammonds introduced conversations concerning race and gender, and attitudes around drinking, so well.
Elita Rexhepi
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3 June 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this. It's a young adult novel that deals with heavy topics such as alcoholism, classism and racism. It also delves into exploring sexualities, the struggles a child of color can have when being parented by a white person and how friends can negatively influence us. I feel that each topic was handled well and with care. This was an insightful read, to say the least.
About the author
Jas Hammonds was raised in many cities and between the pages of many books. They have received support for their writing from Baldwin for the Arts, the Highlights Foundation and more. They are also a grateful recipient of the MacDowell James Baldwin Fellowship. Their debut novel, We Deserve Monuments, won the 2023 Coretta Scott King John Steptoe Award for New Talent, among many other accolades.
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