John “Smoke” Conlan is serving time for two murders but he wasn’t the one who murdered his English teacher, and he never intended to kill the only other witness to the crime. A dangerous juvenile rehabilitation center in Denver, Colorado, known as the Y, is Smoke’s new home and the only one he believes he deserves.
But, unlike his fellow inmates, Smoke is not in constant imprisonment. After a near death experience leaves him with the ability to shed his physical body at will, Smoke is able to travel freely outside the concrete walls of the Y, gathering information for himself and his fellow inmates while they’re asleep in their beds. Convinced his future is only as bright as the fluorescent lights in his cell, Smoke doesn’t care that the “threads” that bind his soul to his body are wearing thin-that one day he may not make it back in time. That is, until he meets Pink, a tough, resourceful girl who is sees him for who he truly is and wants to help him clear his name.
Now Smoke is on a journey to redemption he never thought possible. With Pink’s help, Smoke may be able to reveal the true killer, but the closer they get to the truth, the more deadly their search becomes. The web of lies, deceit, and corruption that put Smoke behind bars is more tangled than they could have ever imagined. With both of their lives on the line, Smoke will have to decide how much he’s willing to risk, and if he can envision a future worth fighting for.
Elle Cosimano became one of my favorite authors with her Nearly duology (possibly trilogy?) When I first heard about Holding Smoke, I was extremely excited and immediately added it to my TBR. I got my hands on an ARC and I read it immediately. While it was very different from her first books, I liked the new direction her writing took.
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Overall, Holding Smoke isn’t my favorite from Elle Cosimano but it held up to my expectations pretty well. Elle Cosimano is a name to know if you are a fan of YA suspense. If you were a fan of her Nearly books, check out Holding Smoke. I think you’ll find you enjoy it.
Giveaway
3 winners will receive copies of Holding Smoke. US only.
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