Recovery Road

Synopsis

Recovery Road is the kind of book you’ll find hard to put down. Not because it’s light reading. In fact, Maddie’s story—about a hardcore addiction she finds difficult to shake—definitely has its heavy moments. Maddie, however, is a compelling protagonist. Maybe not a lovable one at first. But her struggles feel real, her emotions raw and believable, and her quest to stay on the straight-and-narrow both wrenching and suspenseful. How will everything turn out for Maddie? This book will keep you turning the pages until you find out.

Behind the Scenes

Take a quick glance at the cover of Recovery Road by Blake Nelson. Three guesses as to what it’s about.

Drugs?
Rehab?
Love?

Call it a potent cocktail of all three.

Maddie has messed up her life big time. So big time that she’s in rehab—dealing with a drug addiction and anger issues. Maddie doesn’t expect to find a friend among the losers she’s stuck with. But much to her surprise, she finds two: Trish, a girl for whom you know things won’t end well, and Stewart, a vulnerable guy who becomes Maddie’s love interest.

Recovery Road is a journey story—a journey marked more by time than any particular destination. But I think that’s what makes it feel so authentic. Once Maddie’s out of rehab, the unspoken question that hangs over every chapter is this: How long will Maddie stay sober?

I don’t want to give anything away—especially because I think Recovery Road might start to feel plodding if you don’t have the suspense of Maddie and Stewart’s sobriety—but I will say this: I really loved Maddie’s journey. Her struggle felt real. Her observations were both harsh and poignant. And in spite of the heavy topic, Maddie’s story is peppered with plenty of humor.

Recovery Road isn’t an easy read, but it’s a hit of something powerful: It’s a story of persistence, hope, and a terrifying warning about the dangers of drugs.