Flash Burnout: A Novel by L.K. Madigan

I found this book through greenbeenteenqueen, a fellow book review blogger. Blake is a 15 year old high schooler with a jock older brother and a beautiful girlfriend, Shannon, that he is in love with. He has all the typical emotions, desires, and language of a hormonal teenager trying to figure out girls and make it through high school and family life. He is into photography and has his friend Marissa from photography class that he pairs with. Blake takes a photo of a lady passed out on the street which ends up being Marissa's meth using mother. We follow Blake as he struggles to be a good boyfriend while also helping a friend cope with her mother's meth recovery. Of course Shannon is jealous of the time Blake spends with Marissa even though it is completely innocent until one day that Marissa's mother runs away and they are afraid she is dead. In a moment of comforting Marissa, Blake and Marissa sleep together and weeks later Shannon finds out. We watch Blake struggle to figure out what to do and how to cope with everything especially when Marissa disappears.

This was a good book. If you are sensitive to language and some intimate content or even dead bodies you probably won't want to read this. Otherwise, I think this is a great book about teen relationships and what different kids go through as well as learning about the repercussions of using any drugs or even drinking.