My Final Breath

This book was another hit from the author. A bit different from her usual stories but enjoyable none the less. Interesting and captivating dialogue throughout. A book that I would certainly recommend to others.

My Final Breath is a gripping and captivating novel, with an original plot that keeps you guessing. As YA psychological thrillers go, it's a very good one and well worth a read.

Molly, after loosing her life, finds herself stacked in Limbo, in order to find peace she has to go through everything that lead her to her death. Gladly she won’t be alone while doing so, but she will be helped by her guardian Gwen.
This book is so powerful, bringing to light topics which I have to say could be difficult to digest. The author want to bring awareness around the Münchausen syndrome, and she does it perfectly describing what Molly and partially her sister go through. Other important topics as Slavery, Nazi concentration camps and homelessness are present even if not deeply explored as the syndrome, so if you don’t feel comfortable with any of those topics probably this isn’t the book for you.
The whole story is presented from Molly point of view and it’s heartbreaking reading how all her world get shuttered, how she loved unconditionally till the end the person that has killed her.

I hesitated reading this book because I was unsure what exactly it was about. Do not wait - read this book! I literally could not put this book down until I finished. A psychological thriller/horror book with an unusual premise. A dead girl named Molly must watch her short life unfold before she can move on, aided by her assistant, Gwen. Massive spoilers for childhood and sexual abuse, torture, mental illness - yet it was so very worth the read. Molly learns that things are not always as they appear, and sometimes the people you trust most betray you in the worst kind of way. There is no HEA, but there is justice and vindication. Very satisfying read. Highly recommended!
Thank you to Netgalley, Ms. Dearth and publishers for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Fiction With Meaning LLC and the author, Paige Dearth, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of My Final Breath in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
This is the first book I have read by this author. After what I just read, it certainly won't be the last.
This is just an incredible read. It's raw, emotive and incredible take from the point of view of a young 12 year old girl, Molly, who has just died, I was incredulous. Molly's acceptance of her untimely death and the circumstances surrounding it left me emotionally drained.
The storyline was well thought out and written. The characters are well drawn and intriguing . To read a story from the POV of the victim was compelling and certainly hooks you from the start.
This is one story that will stay with me for a long time to come. It certainly highlights what victims must endure and breaks my heart to think that this has happened in the past and continues to happen today.
Certainly well worth a read.

I could not put this book down, I finished it in a day. I like how the characters from another book pop up, like her other books.

Will Molly ever feel better. She is sick all the time. In and out of hospitals, always tests and more tests. She is miserable. Believe it or not all she really would like is to be able to go to school again. She is lucky though that at least she has a close and loving family. Especially her mom. She is a trooper!! Always by her side. Helping with meds and her appointments. Her little sister Ava and her dad doing all the can to show their love and support. Thank goodness for family's!
Heartbreaking, heartwarming, heartwrenching. A real tear jerker with courage, strength and determination.

OMG!!!! I couldn't put this down, I was drawn in from the very beginning even knowing it would be heartbreaking.

I will never understand the evilness of some and the blindness of others!!! My heart was broken, but the ending was so worth it!!!!

I am a huge fan of Paige Dearth and have read all of her books. It takes a special person to write these types of books and a special reader who is willing to read with eyes wide open.

#MyFinalBreath, #NetGalley, #Evil, #Karma, #Limbo, #Molly, #Gwen,

The book gives an unusual perspective on a child’s death. It points out the ways we are all blind to things around us the author does a nice job revealing Molly’s life both as remembered and as it actually was. And manages to not draw a conclusion permeated with gloom. Very nice beach read.

I’ve read several books by author Paige Dearth, so when she emailed me asking if I’d be interested in reading Her Final Breath, I jumped at the chance! She writes books about topics that may be hard for some people to read but I like them because I believe they bring so much awareness to the public. I think the fact that Paige herself was a victim of child abuse is why she has chosen to write these types of stories, hoping that by making others see what it’s like, might in some small way, make it better for others. Her books cover abuse, homelessness and many other topics. This particular story with Molly Roslin, is about Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy. It’s told mainly from Molly’s point of view after she has died and has moved on to Limbo, a place you go to before you go to Heaven. There with the help of Gwen, her guardian, she learns the complete truth as to how she died and that it was at the hands of her mother who was a very mentally sick woman. This was very hard at first for Molly to believe because when she was living, she loved and adored her mother. I’ve read other books recently that covered this same topic, but the way this story is written, it made it easier for me to imagine what these people are like with this sickness. The mother really has no empathy and only cares about herself and what attention she can receive. I was very pleased with the way the book ended and I’m sure other readers will like it too. This is a book I can’t recommend enough. Honestly, for someone who is afraid of dying like myself, it made me feel a little better about my own demise. I only hope that it’s something close to the way the author has depicted it in this story. I’d like to thank author Paige Dearth for the invitation and NetGalley for the arc to read and review. All opinions are my own. I’ve got to give this a 5 star rating!

Beautifully written considering the subject was so dark and painful. Molly is 12 years old when she died. She had been in and out of hospitals since she was 8. Doctors were baffled by her illnesses. After death Molly ends up in Limbo. She has a guardian friend Gwen, who died when she was just sixteen. Molly is able to look back at her life and discover why she was always so ill and who was responsible for that and for her death. I thought it was so well done, with such compassion.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wow. This was a really rough read for me. I have 3 wonderful sons and couldn’t in my wildest nightmare imagine ever hurting them. There were times I had to stop reading, due to being upset or teary eyed. That being said it was written so well, I had to keep reading. Paige Dearth, due to her unfortunate upbringing, is amazing at making you feel the pain that comes with abuse. Whether it’s physical abuse, mental abuse, or Munchausen’s Syndrome you are feeling everything that is going on in her books. Hopefully this book will do some good someday with the knowledge of it.

As a fan of Paige Dearth's books, I was not let down with this new release. It's told from a slightly different view and I wasn't sure if I would like it, but it is as compelling as any of her others. I couldn't stop reading! And I was so happy when the story crossed paths with characters from another book! That is one of my favorite things about reading a Paige Dearth book - they are stand-alone novels, but if you've read her others, you'll have Ah-Ha moments and I-see-what-you-did-there grins across your face!

In exchange for my honest review, I was allowed a free copy of this book. I would gladly pay to read this story and I highly recommend that any fans of disturbing-yet-empowering novels add this to the top of their list. I do wish that this story would have come BEFORE Joon's, though. I might have been better prepared to read about the streets of Philadelphia and Joon & Lulu with the peek that I received here in Molly's story.

This book was absolutely amazing. I discovered Paige dearths books a year ago and every single one I read keeps me intrigued until the very end. This book grabbed me from the get go. The book takes place from limbo and we are watching past and future events that happened in Molly's life. Gwen the new friend Molly is accompanied by in limbo is by her side showing molly things that went on in her life that she couldn't see clearly at the time . Sadness, happiness and relief are all the emotions that you'll feel while reading this book. I highly reccomend this book.

Told through the heartbreaking eyes of innocence, Paige Dearth’s MY FINAL BREATH is a brittle and brutal tale of abuse, mental illness and the selective blindness of adults to look into the unthinkable, to go beyond the surface until it was too late and a young girl was dead. It was from beyond the grave that Molly could finally tell her story, a story she did not even know the truth of until she was beyond help.

Paige Dearth has never shied away from writing in such a manner that makes readers uncomfortable, appalled, fearful and enraged. Her stories are shocking, eye-opening and raw. Molly’s story is no exception and while appropriate for young adult readers, this story is one that no adult should miss either.

Brilliantly told, the emotional pull is huge and if one child is spared, one adult helped, then she has done both her job, and a great service to the world.

I was invited to accept a complimentary copy from Fiction With Meaning, LLC! This is my honest and voluntary review.

Wow, this was such a heart felt book so emotional and gripping this book actually brought me to tears and to think this kind of child abuse actually goes on is heart breaking this is a must read

Another heartbreaking story by Paige Dearth. This one is about a mother with Munchausen by Proxy.. She kills her own mother, then her eldest child and on the way to doing the same with her second child.. I would have expected the doctors to have picked up on her illness but they were completely bamboozled. I did enjoy the second part of the story. What a lovely idea of a way to find closure. A thoroughly absorbing story.

Intriguing and very disturbing. A child's death is always sad, but when they have been ill most of their young lives, it seems so much worse. Now imagine if they didn't have to die. This author can show the dark side of society in such a thought provoking way.
As you read you'll find yourself shaking your head at the evil people can do. I've read several of her books and they always deliver an unique dark tale you can't put down.

I was so excited to read this book because it reminded me a little bit of "the lovely bones" by Alice Sebold which is my favourite novel ever. As soon as I picked it up I was happy because it is along the same lines however the author takes a little bit of a darker turn to it. The characters in this book were very well written and I really loved the main character, Molly. Even Molly's mother Rona who I disliked greatly was very well written. The book starts out with the death of our main character Molly. When she awakes in limbo she starts trying to figure out what happened to her and what really caused her death in the first place. I loved the innocence that Molly's character possessed and how they didn't make her seem any older than she was. I really liked how the author took very serious and sad subjects like, concentration camps, and Munchausen syndrome, and presented them in a way that didn't hide how dark and terrible they are but put a little bit of a lighter feel on them since it was being described by a child. Molly meets a girl in Limbo named Gwen who becomes a sort of guide to her and helps her on her way to discovering the real truth of her death and helps he come to terms with things she couldn't accept or see when she was alive. I really liked the friendship that these two shared even if it was in limbo. This is one book that will jump to the top of my favourite list and will now be one of the first that I recommend to my friends. I was very pleased with how original the subject was and I can't wait to read more by Paige Dearth. If they all come out like this I know I will devour them all.

This was an emotional rollercoaster of a read. So hard to put down. Knowing that Paige Dearth herself was an abused child it is hard to believe she is able to incorporate that into her books. She writes from her heart and her characters are completely believable. Molly a twelve year old girl who was slowly drained of life by her mother is living in limbo after her death having to watch her life back before she can move on. As she revisits her time on earth she learns that her illness' were all instigated by her mother. Once Molly is dead her mother then menacingly starts to do the same to Ava, Molly's younger sister. The father is totally unaware that his wife is slowly killing his children.
In limbo Molly has a guardian called Gwen who helps Molly accept her past to enable her to move on. The reader also gets insight into Gwen's past life. The story is told from Molly's perspective. It's tragic, heartbreaking, heartwarming and sensitive.
I am a huge fan of Paige Dearth and look forward to the next one.

Shockingly I loved this book. It was intriguing from the first page. It was heartfelt and equally heartbreaking. Justice was served!

A heartbreaking and beautiful story. I was very moved by Molly's journey. I loved the vivid descriptions of Limbo. I have always enjoyed any of the books I have read by this author.

This is an unusual story that takes you deep into the mind of a young woman who has died. The author does a great job of defining the characters and describing their behaviors. Be prepared to become very emotionally involved as she investigates the life she has experienced. You will experience great relief as the pieces begin to come together. The writing is smooth and easy to read.. The style is simple and direct, guiding the reader through some difficult times. Molly is guided in her review by a woman who died in a Nazi gas chamber, and we get to experience that death with her as the story unfolds. Just about every person in Molly's life experiences pain and suffering. .This book provides an experience for the reader that will stay long after the reading is over.

An honest look at the past... by a 12 year old girl...

Twelve year old Molly has been ill for four years. After constant medicines and even surgeries, she loses the fight.

Molly ends up in Limbo and meets her Guide - Gwen. Gwen had died during WW2 in a concentration camp gassing.. Now, Molly needs to relook at her past - with the help of Gwen - to find the truth of how/why she was ill. And how this ultimately led to her untimely death.

Although I am not familiar with this author, I took the chance to review this book - and I am glad that I did.

This read is not your normal horror/domestic thriller /suspense story. A dark premise leads to an intellectually challenging and solid story.

I had no problem keeping interest or reading quickly!

Thanks to Fiction and Meaning, LLC and NetGalley for a thought-provoking book.

Ms. Dearth has done it again. This is another page turner and intriguing story. Ms. Dearth has the ability to take child abuse as a subject of her books and she makes her readers feel the fear and suffering of the child. In this story Ms. Death tackles mental illness that takes the form of Munchhausen by proxy. The characters in this book are believable and the story could be ripped from today's headlines. This book shows us not only the torture and pain and illness that leads to the death of Molly she also gives us a glimpse of what it might be like when you die with unresolved issues. Ms. Dearth lets us experience the pain that Molly suffered alive and then after her death when all the secrets of her short life with a maniacal mother that slowly was poisoning Molly. This would be a good read for anyone that works with children. This book will keep you thinking and remembering things from this story for a long time.

This book was emotional on so many levels. The story is related from Molly's point of view. She was naive and innocent to her mothers abuse. The author ties in important topics such as Nazi concentration camps, slavery, and homelessness (Never Be Alone, tie in character was great). If you are sensitive to those topics this is not a book for you!
Grab some tissues and read this book. Discover life, death, Limbo and karma (Harvest).

Wow! What an amazing book. Paige Dearth beautifully tells a heartbreaking story of extreme abuse of a young girl at the hands of her own mother. Molly died because her mother tortured her because she enjoyed the attention she received from other people when her child was ill. At the beginning of the story, Molly dies and awakens in Limbo. There she meets Gwen, who acts as her guardian in Limbo. Gwen helps Molly see what actually caused her death.
This story was hard to read at times. As the parent of a child with a disability, it is unimaginable to think of a mother deliberately causing their child to be sick. Dearth shows not alone this abuse, but highlights other brutal abuses that have happened throughout history, including the Holocaust and slavery. All in all, this is a beautiful and sad tale that absolutely shattered me at times.

I received a copy of MY FINAL BREATH by Paige Dearth thanks to the publisher through NetGalley.

I am still sobbing. The parent in me is shattered and I want to wake my daughter (8) to cuddle with her even though it is.... yep 1 AM. But instead I will cry as I review because she has camp in like 6-7 hours and a tired kid is oof. I’d feel sorry for her and the camp counselors.

So... the review. Also trigger warning for this book as it contains abuse, rape, and murder. You know, the bright happy things every MG book should have. (Sarcasm, but still a powerful read when in the right frame of mind).

This story tackles some really hard aspects of mental illness and child abuse. Pretty early on you can tell something isn’t right with Rona, the main character’s mother. But the loving daughter has no idea, which makes the story that much harder to read. Rona has Munchausen’s by proxy, the mental illness that has a caretaker seeking medical help for false claims of illness. Severe cases can result in the caretaker actually causing the illness in order to gain that attention. Molly, who is 12, has been in and out of hospitals for the past four years without a know reason behind her continued sicknesses and her very loving and protective mother seeks out cures for her. See where this is going? I’m not saying more because you really need to read this one to get the full effect.

This was hard. There were many tears. But it didn’t fully hit until like chapter 45 with the dad scene. It literally kept me up so that I could binge read it in a day.

Extremely recommended for all despite the lower age category, middle grade (albeit upper). However, it is done in a really spectacular way because after you get used to the character’s voice, you can’t tell that it was for that age range. Definitely not for those who struggle with difficult concept plots, but oh so worth it for those who can.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Paige Dearth!

Another emotional read from Paige Dearth. I thought I was going to make it through without crying, but I didn’t. Paige’s books are just so emotional. I love how much I can connect with the characters in her books.

This book was different from the rest of her books. All the rest of her books take place while the character is alive. The book took place after the main character died and showed scenes from her life while she was in limbo. The storyline was the flashbacks were really done.

I highly recommend this book.

# My Final Breath # Netgalley
This is not my normal type of book but something pulled me towards it. .... I am glad it did. Although in some places I found it uncomfortable to read, only in a sense of people causing others pain. I am not going to use spoilers. I never do. Not only is this book heartbreaking it’s also liberating. Although again it’s not just sad it’s really horrifying in parts. It’s hard to understand what make one or two maybe more out there enjoy inflicting pain on anyone. Truly is beyond comprehension. No one should have to feel any type of pain or anything else from someone else’s doing. Let alone death....... how some people can use the word love, when they are just incapable of feelings like that. I would definitely recommend this book it’s a insight to human nature of pain and suffering brought about by someone who are truly truly sick. Having experience of some of the above. Only in a different form. People who enjoy inflicting any type of pain on another human being should die at birth, and not be allowed a life. It may sound harsh but life is harsh what some people are capable of being more than harsh. No I do not think my comment about them dying at birth is harsh at all if anything they are vile creatures.

This was my second book from Paige Dearth, so I was prepared about what I was going to get. I like this author because she writes about difficult topics, in a direct and involving manner, and she's really good in expressing the feelings and the situations.
I wouldn't have chosen to read that book only by the blurb, if I didn't know the author, but I was sure she would find a way to close in a satisfying manner even such a sad and enraging story.
What I loved is that even through the worst situations I was still feeling hope.. and rage and a huge sense of powerlessness, but also hope.
What made me decide to give it only four stars instead of five is that the story felt too long, as if the material would have been better suited to a short story, but I totally understand the need to make it into a full book. Maybe it was even intentional because the sense of dragging on without being able to get to "the point" reflected exactly the feeling of the MC so in a way it made sense.
The ending was satisfying and even if it was a thought read it still was a very good experience

This reminded me a bit of The Lovely Bones in that we are taken on a journey to learn more about the tragic death of a child by the child herself. This book could have tipped the balance and become a bit sentimental but instead it was gripping and honest and sincere in the way it was written. The characters really became people - real people about whom you can’t help caring. Some parts of the story will make you angry, many will make you cry but there is also a sense of quiet resolution. I am keen to read more from this author.

Stunning Book. This story really blew my mind. An emotional roller coaster from start to finish, and I’m so glad that I picked it up to have a read. What a great imagination Paige Dearth has, not that I was surprised after reading a few of her other wonderful stories previously. This one just really stood out.
Molly Roslin had a family that loved her, but unfortunately the twelve-year-old was really sick. Molly had spent so much of time in and out of hospital since she was an eight-year-old, and she just didn’t seem to be able to get better. Her mum has been her rock, constantly by her side offering support and taking really good care of her. However, it doesn’t seem to matter what special medicine she gave Molly, she just wasn’t improving. If Molly doesn’t get a kidney transplant, then the doctors don’t like her chances. I think I’ll remember this story for a long time to come. 5/5 Star Rating.

Childhood illness is sad. Seeing a child ill brings out compassion in even the hardest of hearts. What kind of person would cause illness in a child? Paige Dearth has written an emotional, moving story of a young girl who is the victim of Munchausen syndrome by proxy. Molly Roslin loves her family but since the age of 8, her health has declined. Doctor after doctor, test after test, and no diagnosis. Molly dies and her soul travels to Limbo. She is met by a guide named Gwen who is to help her look at the details of her life and come to terms with them.

Looking back through her life, Molly is confronted with evidence showing her mother's wrongdoing. Understandably, Molly is shaken and denies her mother's actions. As each sickness is examined, Molly sees the actions that her mother takes. The disbelief and heartbreak are vividly described, immersing the reader in the pain.

This story opens your eyes to the elaborate ruse that someone with this horrible condition will perpetrate. It is a mental illness that is difficult to detect. As for treatment? I'm not sure there is any. While this story is disturbing, the ending is the best possible outcome given the circumstances. It is important to learn about these issues and hopefully this education will spread keeping us all vigilant.

Pretty different than your normal thriller books!
This book battles between what's right and what's wrong,light and dark, careful to keep the reader engaged in the story!

Plus,the eerie setting and the character development is nice.

Recommended it!
4/5 stars!

Many thanks to Fiction With Meaning LLC for providing me with an e-ARC of this book!👍

Great book. Several nights I would say one more chapter and myself reading several chapters even though I really needed to go to sleep.

This is a heartbreaking and devastating story to read but as the author states, it is important to be aware and remember the abuse and cruelty that is happening to children every day.

Molly is in limbo after passing away at a young age. Going over her life and remembering things she does not want to remember is part of the process of moving from limbo on to a better place where Molly can finally find peace.

This is not an easy read as I have already stated. It is painful but what is even more painful is the knowledge that this and other abuses are happening to children even as I type this. Why do I read her books then? I read them because it is easy to put aside and forget things that are uncomfortable. I want to remember so that I am aware and watching for children who might be suffering abuse.

This particular story deals with Munchausen syndrome and the effects it has on children. The story itself is graphic and disturbing. I did have to put it down from time to time as it is very dark but I made sure to temper it with lighter novels. This is another story by Paige Dearth that I will not forget.

This book was beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time! I couldn’t put it down!!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

My final breath is the first Paige Dearth book I have read and I have to admit it is a grim novel but lovely at the same time, it focuses on the worst thing you can imagine, a child dying and stuck in limbo and having to come to terms with her untimely demise. Told through flash backs to Mollys life she must accept and let go of her old life to leave the limbo she has found herself in. Apparently Paige Dearth has suffered abuse in her past and this shows in her writing which is powerful and I love her idea of the harvest.

This was a really original premise, and a great read.

As an atheist I don't believe in heaven (or similar), however this premise was a great idea to explore what had happened.

Paige has been poorly for years, and wakes to find herself dead. The book follows her discover how and why she died, as well as trying to ensure it doesn't happen again to someone else. She explores her life, and eventual death in flash backs. So you find out what happened, as well as go on the journey with her to understand what happened.

It does show early on what is going on. So it's not a suspenseful thriller in that sense. It is though a good exploration of the different faces killers can have.

A good book I would recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Paige Dearth has a way with words. She can use her words to make you feel like your heart is being ripped from your chest. With her words, she sheds light on all of the hideous things that stay hidden in the shadows. Her books are brutal, but they are honest and adresses a reality we don’t necessarily want to see.

This novel was well written and described the pain of being an abused child. I could relate to the feelings the author wrote about, as I myself am a survivor of child abuse. There is nothing worse than the loneliness and fear of being alone without a good outcome in sight. Molly was so brave and still had a caring personality, even when she had to acknowledge her mom did not love her. Mom getting her karma was the best part of the book. She wanted attention, now she was getting it in droves.

this was really good.. interesting and kept me curious to see what was going to happen next.. it was dark in spots.. and i enjoyed the writing and it made me sad. very good

I received this book via NetGalley to give an honest review.
I really was not expecting this to go the way it did, but honestly, how could I not? This author writes stories that literally break your heart. You can not help but have all sorts of emotions go through your mind as you read. We are introduced to Molly, who dies unexpectedly and can not think that anyone would hurt her. As her story unfolds, we learn that even those that we think love us can be the ones that hurt us the most. This book was different from her others because Molly is a dead girl who is in limbo, yet you will have the same feelings as you do in the others. The only thing that really threw me off was how we went without any cussing to having a few cuss words thrown in. It was something that I was not expecting, so I was a bit surprised. Especially as we go through the book and then out of now where a cuss word. Not saying anything bad was not expecting that.
There is a quote within a scene that I felt was true. "Like I said, if there is a God, when why make me suffer?" "I think we all suffer in some way. Some people worse than others, but that's just life, I think."
The ending was not what I was expecting, but I am glad the person who hurt Molly the most suffered. Like it is said, karma comes back, and it is either good or bad.

an edge of your seat fast paced thriller that had me asking questions all throughout and trying to figure out what was going to happen next. definitely pulls you in right away and has you really feeling for the main character.

What a heartbreaking but brilliant book. Little Molly does and is stuck in limbo; to get out she just relive her life and death again.

It’s a beautifully written piece of workout but brutal and sad also. Such a powerful novel and one that stays with you.

If I could read it all over again I would,

Just could not put this book down. So sad how a mother can be So cruel to her own child to get attention she craves. This book makes you think how a person can fool everyone and how no one stop to ask questions. The book is so sad but so heart warming in the end. I always say what goes around comes around. This book will not disappoint. The author is so amazing.

What a heartbreaking story. The characters are incredible book and vwry realistic. It is a hard book to read, twisting me up as I read. Amazing and sad that these things actually happen and so many innocents suffer.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley.com and the publisher, Fiction With Meaning LLC in exchange for an honest review.

Trigger warnings for the book: Child abuse/medical abuse, Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy/Fictitious Disorder Imposed on Another, medical scenes, feeding tubes, child death, rape.


"Many people die in cruel ways."

This is what Gwen, who died in a Polish concentration camp says to Molly who is newly in Limbo. Many people die in cruel ways. Molly had been sick for a long time, taken care of by her mother, Rona. But in Limbo, Molly finds out that sometimes things are not as they seem, and sometimes you can't see the cruelty of a situation until it's over.

This book deals with Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy, (now called Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another), wherein a caregiver makes someone sick to achieve a goal. Quite often it's to get attention for having the sick person in their life, or to feel smarter than the doctors. It's a terrible disorder, and one that has fascinated me since I read the true crime novel From Cradle to Grave by Joyce Egginton when I was a young teen, which dealt with the same disorder.

This book is very reminiscent of the book The Lovely Bones, mixed with the one ghost in The Sixth Sense. It was interesting, and I read it in less than a day, because I needed to know what happened to Molly and what she would learn about her family from her place in Limbo. The book did explain in detail what happened to Molly, but it handled the subject matter in an appropriate way, without being super graphic.

I can't say I enjoyed the book, because of the subject matter, but it was well-written, and I will look into the author's other books.

This book was outstanding! A young girl dies and is stuck in limbo until she comes to terms with her , life and tragic death. What did her mother do to her and why? What will happen to her little sister? Themes of the afterlife, child abuse and victims guilt. Atmospheric and moody. Beautiful rich characters drive the story. A must read for fans of The Lovely Bones.

This book reminded me a lot of The Lovely Bones. A young girl dies of a prolonged illness and ends up in Limbo, where she meets her guardian. To move on from Limbo, she must come to terms with the things that happened to her in her life. But things get worse when she realizes that her little sister is starting to show symptoms of the same illness that killed her. Can she save her sister? Will she ever move on from Limbo? This book was a difficult read because of the subject matter (child abuse and child death), but it was really well-written and captured my attention. Thank you to the author and publisher for a review copy!

I wasn't sure what to expect with the book and it really made me stop and think about death and what may happen on the other side. I was, obviously, horrified about the way Molly was treated by her mother but felt like I had an inside, rare look into how her mind operated and what drove her to want to kill her daughters. The opening scene left me a little confused as it never linked back to the rest of the story. It set the stage for what an awful person the mother was and what lengths she would go to to get what she wanted, but I expected it to enter the storyline again.
The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because I don't believe a 12-year-old would necessarily talk the way Molly did throughout the book. Her conversations with others were adult-like in many ways and I had a hard time justifying her speech and thoughts with a 12-year-old as they seemed much older.

My Final Breath By Paige Dearth

Oh my god where can I get the rest of her books?!?!?!??? I loved her writing style, the way her characters came together and blended so well together! The only thing I can say that I want more closure to is I wish she would have got to see more her moms story and how she killed her on mom and then got to meet her grandma! I’m currently looking for more free books of hers to read!!!!

5 stars I want more!!!

Parts of this book were extremely and the ending had me so very emotional! Not your usual kind of thriller but just as thrilling. Definitely recommended and worth the read. I hope everyone read this as quickly as I did. I just wanted to take a day or so to complete a review without giving too much away. I was just blown away!

This book was like a screwed up and darker version of The Lovely Bones, which I loved, but it is so much more than that! This book has some tougher topics like sexual abuse, Nazi concentrations, and other kinds of abuse, which may be difficult for other readers. Molly is killed and is left in kind of a limbo and meets Gwen, who becomes like a Guardian Angel, Together they go though key segments in her life and Molly learns what is the truth versus what she thought at the time. She also learns more about her mom, who is a negligent alcoholic. She learns what drove her to alcoholism and what her mom has been dealing with and that she tried to be a mom as best as she could. You also learn about secondary people in Molly's life, what do they really mean to her? Why did these encounters happen?

Thanks to Netgalley, Paige Dearth And Fiction With Meaning LLC for an after published copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

Already available: 6/24/20

My Final Breath by Paige Dearth will not disappoint her readers. Although this was different from what the author normally writes about, it is definitely one that will captivate and hold your attention until the final page. Young Molly wakes in limbo after dying although she has no idea why she died. Now, in order to move on, Molly must watch as her life unfolds. Molly has an angel guide though named Gwen, who will help her get through it. There is one caution though. This book does contain triggers... There are situations where abuse in the form of sexual abuse as well as mental illness. While these may cause triggers to some it is well worth the read. The writer herself has experienced those traumas in her youth and writes stories that contain traumatic issues but does so as eloquently as possible. The characters are well developed and I really came to love Molly and was rooting for her all the way.

Thanks to netgalley as well as the author/publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was absolutely heartbreaking. I had to pause reading this one several times because the subject matter is very difficult to take. It is, however, wonderfully written, and it is a story that will stay with you for a long, long time.

This story has so many content warnings, so if you are easily triggered, please be aware. There is child abuse, homelessness, child murder, Nazi concentration camps, and a brutal rape.

I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

A story that I found an emotional rollercoaster. Molly is a 12 yr old whose mother drained her of her life is now in limbo having to watch her life back before she can move on.As she revisits her time on earth she learns that her illness' were all caused by her mother. Once Molly is dead her mother then menacingly starts to do the same to Ava, Molly's younger sister. Her father is totally unaware that his wife is slowly killing his children.
In limbo, Molly has a guardian called Gwen she is the one who is there to aid Molly in accepting her life in order to move on. We also see Gwen's life too.
The story is heartbreakingly told from Molly's point of view and it makes it even more touching and emotional for me.
An expertly crafted story told from the heart and that is clear. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy of the book.

This is very thought provoking and sad. A tale of abuse, neglect and mental illness. It is an interesting concept and tells the story well, the plot line is not unbelievable and it is clear that the author has done her research. I would recommend to anyone interested in mental health issues.

After four long and horrible years of excruciating suffering, Molly finally dies. She is only twelve years old, and she has regrets that she died so young. She will miss so much that she could have experienced of life! She finds herself in Limbo, where she meets a guide. Her guide helps her to see the terrible truth about her cause of death. Molly does not want to face it, but she must in order to move on. When she discovers that her dear little sister is also a victim of the same disease, she wishes there were something she could do to save her.

This is a gentle and well-written tale that explains a serious, rare, horrific, and unbelievable disease. It is exceedingly difficult to read, but very worthwhile, too. Our author creates very real characters who make this story come alive, giving it even greater impact.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

This story is so heartbreaking and raw and never something I've came across in a book. Even though it's not my usual genre, I couldn't put it down. In many places it's easy to tell where the story is going, but the author just keeps adding more and more.

What an excelent book!
This book was so different from all I've read that I'm still processing all these feelings I got.
It has a lot of powerful messages going on, especially about the people who happened to meet Molly, in life and in death. A mandatory reading not only for teens but for everyone.

As for the story itself, I really liked how the author approached the munchausen by proxy syndrome without resembling the real cases we know off.
I also loved the concept of Limbo and how we get to see the evolution of Molly throughout the whole process. Her guardian is fantastic, I loved that her background story brings awareness to such an important mark of cruelty in our world.

The mother was also an interesting character to see, even though I hated her as a person. On the other side, I felt like the father was under developed. I would have liked to know more of him, even if he's supposedly absent at home due to work matters and we don't get to see him often.

Heartbreaking book, watching as the story unfolds. God. It was incredibly written. I can't recommend this book enough.

Such an amazingly heartbreaking read! The author really delves into a young girls mind and narrates perfectly a tale so twistingly sad.

Molly is twelve years old when she dies. She wakes up in a place she doesn’t recognize. She realizes that she is no longer in pain and her hands are healthy looking.. she is so happy. When she meets Gwen, she finds out that she is in limbo — the place you go after you die. Gwen is her guardian. Gwen will help Molly while she is limbo. Molly is unhappy at being dead. She finds out that she can see her family if she wishes. As she looks down, she sees her dad walk into her bedroom for his nightly chat after coming home from home. Molly decides she can’t watch and stops. Gwen let’s her know that it’s okay. As Gwen and Molly get to know each other, Molly finds out that she must watch her life to get rid of all her bad feelings before going on from limbo. What will Molly see about her life? Will she be able to get rid of her bad feelings?

Do you know what Münchausen syndrome is? Strictly speaking it is a person who has extensive medical knowledge and makes them self sick for attention and sympathy. Factitious disorder is when a person (in the book) abuses another person in order to seek attention or sympathy. It can caused the abused person to be very ill or even unnecessary corrective procedures. Molly’s mom purposely makes Molly sick. The author has Ritter a novel that shows how sad this illness is and how it can affect both the abuser and the abused. It’s discover how a parent can not be aware of the other parent is doing. Besides the novel being about this illness, it is also about how a death of a loved one affects the family. This novel is an excellent springboard to bring up the diseases and the subject of death. It is an emotion filled story. I will not forget it.

Heartwrenching and beautifully written. This one is hard to read at times. Told from the victim's point of view, Molly takes readers on a unique journey. This story will stick with you long after the last page.