One of the things I loved so much about Romancing the Dark was how distinct it felt from so much of the YA I've read-how much it felt like the protagonist had aged beyond her time. Until about the midpoint of the book, I wasn't sure about Del.

Still, Del's holding it together-until Fran is diagnosed with cancer, and Del's carefully crafted present and future start to crumble. With a complicated family history and her own struggles with depression, addiction, and anxiety, Del's not sure that her loved ones fully trust her with her life-and she's not sure they should, either.

Set in 2015, The Coldest Winter follows Del, who lives with her aunt Fran in San Francisco. I adored Jacobus's first novel, Romancing the Dark in the City of Light, so I leapt at the chance to read The Coldest Winter I Ever Spent. In fact, the poetry written by Aunt Fran that is interspersed periodically really tugs at the heartstrings and sets your emotions on high.įurther, if you're like me, and are as riveted by the novel's conclusion and find yourself reading the Author's Note, you'll see how this gorgeous book came to pass and I can guarantee your eyes will no longer be dry, if they aren't already waterfalls!Ĥ.5 stars. The writing is beautiful and moving throughout. Del's struggles are so universal and relatable that even if you've never faced addiction or attended AA, you can still feel your soul be moved by her epic journey of self-discovery and growth along the course of the novel. Now left to help tend to Fran's hospice care and one mind-boggling final request from Fran herself, Del is forced to rethink her whole life and face many hard decisions, meanwhile tackling her own demons along the way.Īnn Jacobus writes a courageous story of a brave girl learning to cope with her own problems while being side-swiped by a whole new reality. Living with her beloved aunt and working at a suicide prevention crisis line, Del is making a way for herself in San Francisco.ĭel's progress is upended when her Aunt Fran is diagnosed with terminal colon cancer. In The Coldest Winter I Ever Spent, eighteen-year-old Delilah ('Del') is recovering from her own suicide attempt, getting treatment for her depression and anxiety, and most importantly, maintaining her newfound sobriety.

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