Title: Fighting Silence
Author: Aly Martinez
Series: On The Ropes (Standalone)
Release Date: February 23, 2015
Sound is an abstract concept for most people. We spend our lives blocking out the static in order to focus on what we believe is important. But what if, when the clarity fades into silence, it's the obscure background noise that you would give anything to hold on to?
I've always been a fighter. With parents who barely managed to stay out of jail and two little brothers who narrowly avoided foster care, I became skilled at dodging the punches life threw at me. Growing up, I didn’t have anything I could call my own, but from the moment I met Eliza Reynolds, she was always mine. I became utterly addicted to her and the escape from reality we provided each other. Throughout the years, she had boyfriends and I had girlfriends, but there wasn't a single night that I didn’t hear her voice.
You see, meeting the love of my life at age thirteen was never part of my plan. However, neither was gradually going deaf at the age of twenty-one.
They both happened anyway.
Now, I'm on the ropes during the toughest battles of my life.
Fighting for my career.
Fighting the impending silence.
Fighting for her.
Every night, just before falling asleep, she sighs as a final conscious breath leaves her.
I think that's the sound I'll miss the most.
6 The Silencer Stars
ARC received for an honest review
“No matter how bad I fuck things up, we make this work. Forever.”
Aly Martinez, you did it again and fighting silence? I want to shout at the rooftops at how much this book surprised me!!! I’m not surprised that Aly Martinez wrote yet another fascinatingly emotional story with Till and Eliza. I’m not also not surprised that I thoroughly enjoyed and devoured Fighting Silence. I guess what I was surprised about was how fast-paced yet captivating it was at the same time. I honestly didn’t get much from the synopsis that was posted, you can say I went in sort of blind into the book but it was one blind moment that I do not regret having experienced.
Till Page and Eliza Reynold’s story began when they were only thirteen years old. It was an unconventional friendship between them at first, only having their moments in private, away from other people. Not because one is popular and the other is not. Both of them are each other’s escape from their reality. When they’re together, nothing else matters. It doesn’t matter that both of their parents are irresponsible and neglect their children. It doesn’t matter that they are poor and can barely eat and pay rent. What matters is the friendship that they have, that the short moments they spend with each other gives them the strength they need in their young minds to go on with life, that it’s not all that bad after all. It was a sad and raw friendship and it was real, rare and genuine.
Their friendship lasted for years and when high school was done and Eliza was off to college and Till was to stay in town, their last night together was spent showing how much they love each other and not just as friends. That part had me smiling and tearing up all at once. it was a touching scene and I just wanted to hug them both. But that didn’t last long. And I absolutely love how the author weaved their story in a way that it spreads out into a few years after and then several months after that and still manage to be flawless. It was like the past years and months only happened yesterday yet the emotional impact still gutted me at time. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.
I can personally relate to Eliza in a way, he loved Till since they were young but she was okay to be just friends with him while they live their lives separately. She was always there for him, cared for him, and spends whatever free time she has with him but it wasn’t like Till was just using her or that she’s a doormat or a pushover. She just have a huge golden heart. But a person can only take so much hot and cold, and when Till started to freely show deeper feelings for her and still won’t take things further into reality, Eliza put her foot down and stood her ground. That’s my kind of girl! Knowing when enough is enough and when to know to ask for more and not settle for less than what she deserve. But Eliza being Eliza, she didn’t let what happened between her and Till to affect her relationship with Tills younger brothers, Flint and Quarry (who are both extremely adorable, by the way), she was still wants to help out and be a sister to them. That was easy enough since they live in the same apartment building, Till’s being just a floor above hers.
The Page brothers work in Slate’s gym, you remember Slate? Yes, that same Slate for Among The Echoes. Boxing was where Till was good at. Boxing helped him out when he was younger, it disciplined him and gave him direction in life. He believes that’s the only thing he’s good at and what he can do for as long as he’s healthy and strong. But something’s going on with him that’s deeper than being hot and cold with Eliza. He knows what he wants, he knows he loves her, he knows what she wants from him, for them, and it’s not because he’s indecisive that’s why he can’t do what Eliza asks of him, but because he’s scared. He’s scared things will change and that he will end up losing her not just as a lover but as a friend as well. I wanted to just push Till to do it but I feel his vulnerability and all I wanted to do was just cheer him on and tell him “Dude, you can do it!”. It doesn’t help that he’s also keeping a secret, one that will affect not just him but his family, his brothers and Eliza, as well. Fighting Silence? This title made me think it was all about the silence in their lives, the loneliness they felt before they found each other that day, but what it actually was broke my heart. Aly Martinez is a genius writing love stories that will break your heart with sadness and pain and still make you googly-eyed and dreamy sigh and want to be in love all over again.
Till was a very protective guy, and I’m not talking about the alpha caveman type, I’m talking about the do everything he can to provide for his loved ones type of protectiveness. He wants to protect them from pain, from suffering, he wants to provide security for their future. Till was a tough boxer but he’s a real softy inside. Shh. Don’t tell anyone! I love how he loves his brothers and Eliza. I love how he is an emotional guy. I love how he prioritizes his family. If stepping up for his brothers didn’t seal the deal for me, or when he finally used the door with Eliza, then it was the the decision he made to quit what he loves doing for him and for the Page family.
Fighting Silence is a complete treat, another unforgettable work by Aly Martinez and it’s safe for me to say that whatever Aly writes, I will read. She’s now on my still short-list of “auto-read” authors and if you haven’t read any of her books yet, you can start now. Each book, each story, each characters get better and better and better.
Stars: 6 stars
Recommended to: Everyone, really. Want a hot but still a gentleman hero? Till. Want a loving heroine who can stand up on her own? Eliza. Want secondary characters you’ll love and would want to read more of? Flint, Quarry and cameos from Slate, Erica, Leo and the rest of Aly Martinez’ earlier characters. Fighting Silence, wonderful story, amazing characters, captivating storytelling. Read it.
POV: First person. Dual POV.
Series: Yes. Standalone with interconnected characters.
Extra Comment: Flint… Aly Martinez, my hands are ready for him. My heart not so much but I’ll take him!!
Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, Aly Martinez is a stay-at-home mom to four crazy kids under the age of five, including a set of twins. Currently living in South Carolina, she passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a glass of wine at her side.
After some encouragement from her friends, Aly decided to add “Author” to her ever-growing list of job titles. Five books later, she shows no signs of slowing. So grab a glass of Chardonnay, or a bottle if you’re hanging out with Aly, and join her aboard the crazy train she calls life.
$50 AMAZON GIFT CARD (2 Winners)
