I've been sharing and cross-promoting various different YA novels published through Month9Books and I'm really excited to be sharing Where the Staircase Ends by Stacy Stokes today. I was offered the opportunity to read and review this gorgeously compelling novel and I was left almost speechless. It's stunningly heartbreaking, equal parts inspired and hopeful, and has everything that you could want in a book. One of my favorite things about this novel, is that it's not necessarily what you think it's going be once you've read the synopsis for it. If I were going to suggest anything, I would suggest not reading the synopsis and just going in blind.
If you are a fan of emotional contemporary YA novels, that leave you wondering "what if" long after the last page has been turned, then this is the book for you. I hope you enjoy reading my review of this beautifully captivating and inspiring novel and if you're interested in the giveaway, please feel free to fill out the Rafflecopter below to be entered.
Where the Staircase Ends
by Stacy Stokes
Published: April 14, 2015
Publisher: Month9Books
Age Demographic: Young Adult
Pages: 245
After her best friend orchestrates the lie that destroys her reputation, Taylor wants more than anything to disappear from her life. But when an accident turns this unspoken wish into reality, instead of an angel-filled afterlife, Taylor must climb a seemingly endless staircase into the sky.
Instead of going up, the journey plunges her into the past. As she unravels the mystery behind her friend’s betrayal, she must face the truth about life and find the strength to forgive the unforgivable -- unless the staircase breaks her first.
(Note: I received a digital copy of Where The Staircase Ends by Stacy Stokes via the publisher in return for an honest review, which I have provided here as well as Goodreads.)
Beautiful written and richly compelling, Where the Staircase Ends, is a wonderfully thought provoking and eye opening read. Stacy Stokes has penned a gorgeous novel, set against a backdrop of heartache, betrayal, and learning to forgive. I truly loved every moment of this book, it was just breath taking and inspired. The author, really has a way with world building, telling a story that will move you to tears, and inspire to much hope inside of you. This awe-inspiring, captivating novel, definitely put drug my feelings through the gamut and didn't disappoint in any way. If, as a reader, you are looking for a little bit of everything in a book that will leave you reeling with emotions then this is the book for you.
Where the Staircase Ends is a story about the art of love, family, the tragedy of a friendship lost, the harsh realities of a lie, and the act of forgiveness even when you aren't truly ready to offer forgiveness. Wonderfully character driven and full of so much depth in the variety of characters, Stacy Stokes manages to touch on things in the truest sense of feeling. Taylor, is desperately hurting in such a way that it's bone deep, and it makes her just want to disappear as if she never was here. I found myself able to connect with her in such an intense emotional way that I wanted to reach out and hug her and then tell her that it would be alright in the end, just have a little hope. Her method of disappearing and getting what she wants, comes to her in the form of a huge almost never-ending staircase that winds so far up that she can't even see past it and she has no choice but to climb to the top of it, the only thing hitch is that she can't look back and she can only move forward at this point.
The idea behind the concept of this novel is so beautifully brilliant, that it left me stunned and almost speechless. As you follow along with Taylor on her journey up the staircase towards opening herself up for forgiveness to be given, it's not an easy road to take as a reader. There are things about her that will grate on your nerves, just as they did mine when it comes to her character and how she presents herself. However, as you begin to uncover parts of her that make her who she is, you'll begin to understand Taylor a little bit better and will be able to connect with her. This stunningly heartbreaking story of love, hope, and the renewal of understanding, will definitely resonate with you on a deeper level. It's such a wonderful impressive story, told through the eyes of a character so broken that she's doing everything she can to make it better.
Taylor and Sunny's relationship as best friends, was the most compelling part of this amazing novel for me. It was an eye opener of why things happen and the reason behind them. The flashbacks of how they became best friends and how they drifted apart beyond that was wonderfully fleshed out and it brought so many feelings to the surface. Sometimes things happen the way they do for a reason and that's what I think Stacy Stokes did such a fantastic of illustrating in her own poignant way through the story she started weaving from the beginning. I really enjoyed how the love story didn't necessarily evolve into a love triangle, but that even though there were two guys and it was clear from the beginning who readers were supposed to want Taylor to be with, you can't help but feel something for the other guy to and wonder what if? They were both incredibly likable and they both would have brought some pretty amazing things to Taylor's life, if given the chance. It's rare to find a story like this one being told, without there always being the presence of a love triangle and I definitely applaud Stacy Stokes for leaving that out of this one.
Where the Staircase Ends is a truly unforgettable read, that will leave you experiencing all the feels. After reading this beautiful novel, I couldn't stop thinking about it and wonder what it would be like if I was presented with my own staircase. One of the most gorgeous and poignant novels that I've read in quite a while, I would definitely recommend this to anyone that I know or family members I thought might like this.
Giveaway Details
Five (5) winners will receive a digital copy of Where the Staircase Ends by Stacy Stokes (INT)
Winner will be drawn May 8th, 2015.
About the Author
Stacy Stokes grew up in Dallas, Texas, and after spending time in Austin, Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia she's happy to call the beautiful city of San Francisco her home, where she lives with her husband and puppy, Elvis Presley.She has a BBA from The University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from The Wharton School of Business. When not writing, She works in marketing for the packaged goods industry. She also spent three years studying improv comedy at Chicago's Second City and IO theater companies. WHERE THE STAIRCASE ENDS is her debut novel, scheduled for release April 30, 2015 by Month9Books.
