Ballads of Suburbia by Stephanie Kuehnert

Ballads of Suburbia by Stephanie Kuehnert

Release Date: July 21, 2009
Publisher: MTV
Pages: 368

Drugs, boys, music and booze were the staples of Kara's summer after a messed up year. Her best friend moved away and was hardly in contact, her parents' marriage was falling apart, and she and her brother were drifting apart.

Losing herself and her pain in the drugs and alcohol, Kara felt like they could be her true escape. She met new friends and even a hot boy, Adrian. Before long, the two are together, and Kara's sure she's in love with him. But her misery is far from over--Adrian has a reputation of being a playboy and guy who wants no attachments. Can their relationship work out? For the time being, Kara doesn't care--all the parties server as temporary distractions and when that doesn't work, Kara can still get away with Adrian through drugs.

But when Kara's life takes a nose dive and her life is falling apart, Kara's inhibitions are lowered, and her drug use and partying increase even more. Before long, she's progressed past pot and booze onto heroine. Drugs and addiction quickly become deadly for Kara and when she overdoses on heroine, will there be anyone there to save her? And if there is, what kind of life will Kara live afterwards?

As dark and (sometimes) depressing this novel was, I really enjoyed Ballads of Suburbia! Stephanie Kuehnert writes with a raw, intense honesty that hooks you in immediately! All the main characters are well developed and realistic, so readers are drawn in and don't want to stop until they've finished! It's a gritty novel and you really feel for Kara (as well as some of the other characters) for what they're going through. Stephanie Kuehnert's novel is blunt, well-written, and definitely worth reading!