Spotlight Tour: The Sister Pact by Stacie Ramey (Young Adult, 10/10E) Review + Competition (US/Canada only)

3rd November 2015, Sourcebooks Fire, 320 page, Ebook, Review copy from NetGalley 

Content: grief, poor coping methods, prescription drugs addiction, some alcohol use,  tissues most definitely needed,

Book Summary:

Who holds your secrets?

Allie is devastated when her older sister commits suicide- and it’s not just because she missed her. Allie feels betrayed. The two made a pact that they’d always be together, in life and in death, but Leah broke her promise and Allie needs to know why.

Her parents hover. Her friends try to support her. And Nick, sweet Nick, keeps calling and flirting. Their sympathy only intensifies her grief.

But the more she clings to Leah, the more secrets surface. Allie’s not sur which is more distressing: discovering the truth behind her sister’s death or facing her new reality without her.

Nayu's thoughts

I was drawn to this book because sadly I have been touched by both successful and unsuccessful suicide from friends, so wanted to see how Allie reacts when her sister succeeds in taking her own life, as well as her family and friends. It is a gripping read delving deep into mental illness which comes in all shapes and forms, and is rarely simple to deal with. I felt both the raw emotions, and the need to block out what happened in Allie's life, which made me cry and want to hug her tightly. The questions she had were eventually answered, but surprised both her and myself. 

Suicide is a such a huge thing to deal with on it's on, but add in Allie's prescription drug addicted mother and Allie has an awful lot to cope with. She doesn't always make the right decisions, but given how strong her emotions are that's no surprise. Even when she did head off in a direction I didn't think wise I still cared for her, and wanted to know where she ended up emotionally by the end of the book. She used her art as a coping method - having a hobby can be an outlet for emotions, either to take your mind off whatever's going on in your life, and/or be a way to explore your emotions in a safe environment.

I hope this opens up talking points for friends, that those touched by suicide need friends more than ever, that you don't have to say anything about it but just be there. Don't ignore them, as they may already be facing opposition for what their loved one did. 

As well as your doctor there are plenty of organisations who help with mentall illness wherever you are in the world. In the UK this includes the Samaritans who can be contacted by phoning the following

• 116 123 (UK)
• 116 123 (ROI)

and by email jo@samaritans.org You are never alone.

Find out more on Stacie's website.

Suggested read

Another touching book about drug related suicide is Even Angels Fall by F L Darbyshire (New Adult, 10E/10E, semi short 'n' sweet review) 

Goodreads Link:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23510106-the-sister-pact?from_search=true&search_version=service

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About the Author:

Stacie Ramey learned to read at a very early age to escape the endless tormenting from her older siblings. She attended the University of Florida where she majored in communication sciences and Penn State where she received a Master of Science in Speech Pathology. When she’s not writing, she engages in Netflix wars with her children or beats her husband in Scrabble. She lives in Florida with her husband, three children, and two rescue dogs

Social Networking Links:

Website

Twitter

Excerpt from The Sister Pact:

Liquid inspiration from the Nyquil bottle makes me feel like I should paint something for Leah. Let her know I get it now. Maybe I didn’t always when she was alive. Maybe I didn’t listen when she tried to tell me things.

I open the door and look out into the hallway. Lights off, TV on downstairs. Mom’s check-out gives me the clear shot I need. In the garage I find the white paint from the trim in my room and the tools and brushes. Everything seems really clear right now. And brilliant. I feel sort of brilliant. Like every part of my brain is working.

Back in my room I shake the can of paint and open it with a screwdriver and hammer, trying hard not to spill it on my hardwood floors. Too late.

My curtains are in the way, so I rip them off the rod. I have to stand on my window bench to reach as high as I need. I start to paint, not knowing what I’m doing until the image forms on the wall, like magic. By the time I’ve painted the point of convergence on my window where the pink diamond goes, I recognize it. I painted it like it was burned into my brain. But I guess I knew all the time even as it materialized. I’ve made Leah’s ring.

I sit back and admire my work. I hope wherever she is, she sees this and knows I’m sorry. A shooting pain goes through my head and my eyes try to adjust to the blinding light the sun throws as it sets. Spiky rays of light come from the sunburst that flashes through my painting, making it seem like it’s alive.

I blink away the brightness and try to let my eyes settle. When I open them again I’m confused. Because I see Leah standing there. Really standing there. I steady my gaze and look again. I’m not imagining it. She’s there, surrounded by light, kind of outlined in it. Like one of my rendering sketches.

I want to reach for her, ask her if she’s really here, but when I blink again, her image disappears and I know it’s just my guilt and my need that’s bringing her to me. Even if she can’t stay.

I close up the paint cans and take them and the medicine bottle downstairs. The paint and tools go back into the garage and the brush gets washed in the sink and left to dry on a bottom shelf of the garage. I turn the water on in the sink and run my hand over its stainless steel surface, careful to wash all the remnants of my painting party down the drain. Finally I wrap the medicine bottle in newspaper and push it to the bottom of the trashcan, making certain that it’s completely covered. One thing Leah taught me was how to hide your party.

When I’m done, I walk back up to my bathroom, and brush my teeth, trying not to look in the mirror too long. As if my crazy would show somehow. I crawl into bed, setting my alarm for the morning. First day of school. I put my hands together in the prayer position and put them under my cheek.

I think about what I just did and try not to worry about what it means. It’s too much allows the headache to creep back in, crouching and ready to spring. I’ll close my eyes and go to sleep, and hope that tomorrow will be okay. I know it’s not what I should be doing. I know I’m copping out, but I can’t help it.

I’m living my life in tiny squares. Checker board moves. I go forward. I go backward. I jump. Each play means something. Each turn matters. The most important thing is to keep moving. To not get jumped. Sometimes a little Nyquil helps that. They don’t call it medicine for nothing.

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