REVIEW: AnguiSH by Lila Felix

Anguish was the status quo, until she walked in.
Breaker James Collins is confined in a prison of his own making. Scarred doesn’t begin to define his hell since finding out his girlfriend had cheated, stolen, and lied two years ago. It led to a single event—one that would blacken his days and his nights from then on. Since then, he hasn’t left his house, crippled by fear of people and any social interaction.
Ashland talks too much and has the voice of a meth-laden prairie dog, or so she’s always been told. She’s been called annoying and irritating all of her life and gave up on having friends for a long time. College has given her a new lease on a social life and she’s embraced who she is. But now she’s waiting for the one guy who can take her breath away and put up with her antics. 
A simple note pinned to a corkboard will lead Ash right to Breaker’s solitary world and she will learn that just because a guy doesn’t fit her ideal, doesn’t mean she won’t fall head over feet in love.

My Thoughts:

If I were a regular person, I could actually walk out of this prison - house, it's a house.

When Lila Felix contacted me to review AnguiSH, I was so keen. I love realistic fiction and once I found out it actually contained a topic that I know a great deal about, I was even more intrigued and excited to jump in.

Breaker James hasn't left his house in two years. Nothing his family does can entice him to leave the confines of the prison he's created for himself inside the walls of the house where he lives. Seeing the conditions he is living under and the low point that Breaker has reached, his Mother's finally had enough and takes matters into her own hands. She advertises for a live in maid to clean Breakers house and the possibility of being able to entice him back to some sort of normal existence. Enter Ashland Cormier. They push each others buttons from their very first encounter, but there is an attraction that neither of them can deny. Will Ash be the saviour that Breaker needs?

My want to be a better man twisted into a need to feel worthy of her hand and her heart.

There were things about Breaker and Ashland that I really liked. And then there were some things, not so much. Separately they each brought something different to the table. When they first cross paths, Breaker is rather timid and reserved, where Ashland is somewhat loud and outgoing. I really felt a connection to Breaker and his situation and was devouring the book waiting to see how he would handle things. Because this is quite a quick read, everything seemed to happen really fast in regards to Breaker dealing with his anxiety and panic attacks. I would have liked to have seen a deeper look at his struggles, but he was a character that I couldn't help but really like. For the most part I liked Ashland as well. She seemed like she could be a whole lot of fun. But when it came to them as a couple, I just didn't feel it. Every now and then, there would be a moment, and I would get it, I would feel that connection between them, but for most of the story, it just wasn't there for me unfortunately. 

A girl like that, obviously a good head on her shoulders and beautiful as all get out; the last thing she needed was a head case like me.

If I take away the romance, Breaker and Ashland had a great friendship. I loved Ashland for helping Breaker through some of his struggles and for having the strength to step back when she needed to. It takes a really strong person to be able to do what she did.

Lila Felix has a real ease about her writing, and I was able to easily immerse myself in the story, but unfortunately, it was just lacking a little something for me to fully love it.

"Whoever made you think that you don't deserve anything you want should have a one way ticket to hell."

3/5 Stars.