Coldest Winter I Ever Spent Book Blog Tour, Audio Book Review, and #Giveaway #LoneStarLit

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Like you, I read the plot synopsis of COLDEST WINTER I EVER SPENT and thought this book was going to be a major downer. But honestly? It’s not. Yes, there are some very sensitive scenes which are uncomfortable to read. But the overall arc of the novel shows life’s possibilities and hope. 

Trigger warning for addiction, anxiety, depression, suicide, end of life decisions, and death. If you or someone in your life needs help, here’s the Suicide Lifeline information.

Plot \ Writing 

Jacobus’s writing in this book shows both the depth and skill and likely some research or personal experience in these topics. The author has the ability to draw the reader into conversations with uncomfortable subjects. From Del’s visceral emotions to Fran’s withering life, I was emotionally drawn into the novel and characters, and compelled to continue reading. 

Minor complaint from me as a reader. It was important to have many of the scenes with Del and Fran, while Del was taking care of Fran. But I would have liked more scenes involving Fran’s end of life plans. These are really glossed over. I have questions! What happened to the museum? Does Del inherit the car? Plus, I’d like to make sure Del was doing ok on her own. 

Characters

At times, I both wanted to hug and to shake some sense into Del. She is very much an 18-year-old. In a way, I can understand her anxiety and depression. But on multiple occasions, Del makes everything about herself. And those temper tantrums remind me why I’ve cut back on reading YA books.

I appreciated Aunt Fran’s moxie and would read her life story any time. Del’s father, Tom, on the other hand, is not a character I wish to know any better. Del’s self-centeredness doesn’t fall far from that apple tree if you ask me. And let’s hope we all have an end of life guru like Harold in our lives when needed. His careful and patient guidance is what this family needs. 

Narration

Jen Zhao’s narration for Del’s voice was spot on. Zhao conveyed Del’s emotions, from the highs and lows, expertly. One scene that certainly stands out for me in the narration is Del’s anxiety attack while driving home from Berkley. I felt every second of those emotions while listening. 

“I’m white-knuckling the steering wheel. The pores of my skin stretch to expel cold perspiration. … Now the bridge buckles beneath my tires.” 

The powerful words combined with Zhao’s performance set my heart racing! 

I also enjoyed Zhao’s take on Aunt Fran’s voice. Fran calls everyone “sugar”, which from Zhao’s different inflections could be affectionate or condescending. 

Zhao’s narration of the male characters was more of a challenge when listening for me. There are few male characters in the novel and their voices are very similar. I used context to note the male characters most of the time. This was a challenge when there was more than one male character in the scene. 

Cool Title Drop alert for COLDEST WINTER I EVER SPENT! I always love a good title drop while reading. And this one is: 

“The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.” 

I did rather wonder why the title was COLDEST WINTER when the book takes place over the summer! 

THE COLDEST WINTER I EVER SPENT is a difficult and emotion read. But also powerful and highly recommended. Just maybe watch for twigs in your eyes while driving or on the treadmill. Trust me on that. Personal experience.

Thanks to author Ann Jacobus and Lone Star Book Blog Tours for providing this opportunity to review COLDEST WINTER I EVER SPENT. I received the novel free in exchange for my honest review.

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Ann Jacobus is the author of YA novels The Coldest Winter I Ever Spent and Romancing the Dark in the City of Light. She earned an MFA in writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts and has published articles, essays, short fiction, and poems. She teaches writing and presents at workshops and conferences. A former suicide crisis line counselor, she’s a mental health advocate and speaks to teens about writing and suicide prevention both. Born in Texas and a life-long Tex-Mex addict, she and her family divide their time between California and Massachusetts.

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