You’d Be Home Now by Kathleen Glasgow is a book that takes a deep dive into the struggles of addiction and its impact on families, told through the perspective of Emory Ward. While it’s my first time reading a book by Kathleen Glasgow, I have to admit it wasn’t what I expected. Although it does a good job of showing how addiction affects everyone involved, I found myself wishing for more depth and emotional connection.
Table of Contents
Book Overview
Title: You’d Be Home Now
Author: Kathleen Glasgow
Published: September 28, 2021
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Trigger Warnings: Addiction, drug use, grief, bullying, car accidents
The story opens with a strong prologue. Emory, her brother Joey, Joey’s friend Leonard, and a girl named Candy are involved in a car accident. Leonard, who was driving under the influence, crashes the car. Candy dies, Joey overdoses in the back seat, and Emory is left with a banged-up leg. Even though Leonard caused the crash, most people blame Joey because of his reputation as an addict.
After the accident, Emory’s life begins to spiral. She feels guilty because she knew Joey was using drugs and never told their parents, believing that if she had, the accident might not have happened. Meanwhile, Joey goes to rehab, and Emory tries to hold things together at home. She takes on the role of the “perfect daughter,” trying to make her parents’ lives easier while dealing with judgment from people at school. She also struggles with her guilt, her family’s expectations, and her longing to have her brother back the way he was before his addiction took over.
The story slows down in the middle as it focuses more on Emory’s day-to-day life—dealing with a bully at school, her complicated family dynamics, and her attempts to figure out who she is outside of her role in Joey’s story. Emory wants to help Joey, but she realizes that their relationship may never go back to what it once was.
My Thoughts
This book didn’t grab me the way I hoped it would. While it does a great job of showing the struggles that families face when a loved one is dealing with addiction, I felt like it was missing something. The characters were realistic, and I appreciated the way the book showed that addiction can happen to anyone, no matter how “perfect” a family might seem. Joey’s parents had money and tried to control him with rules and restrictions, but it didn’t stop him from struggling.
However, I wish we got more insight into Joey’s side of the story. Why did he start using drugs? What was he feeling throughout everything? A chapter or two from Joey’s perspective would have added so much depth to the story. Without it, his character felt a little flat, and I couldn’t connect with him as much as I wanted to.
The pacing was another issue for me. The beginning starts off strong, but the middle felt slow and repetitive. It focused a lot on Emory’s guilt and her attempts to be perfect for her parents, which were important themes, but it didn’t keep me hooked.
Overall, while You’d Be Home Now does a good job of highlighting the challenges families face with addiction, it didn’t pull at my heartstrings the way I hoped it would.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a book that realistically portrays the impact of addiction on families, this one is worth checking out. However, if you’re hoping for an emotional story that leaves you feeling deeply connected to the characters, it might fall a little short.
Rating: 3/5
Let me know your thoughts if you’ve read You’d Be Home Now by Kathleen Glasgow! Did it meet your expectations?
FAQs
- What is You’d Be Home Now by Kathleen Glasgow about?
The book follows Emory Ward, a high schooler dealing with the aftermath of a car accident involving her brother Joey, who is a recovering addict. It focuses on how Joey’s addiction affects their family and Emory’s personal growth as she tries to navigate her own life. - Is You’d Be Home Now a standalone book?
Yes, it is a standalone novel. - Is You’d Be Home Now good for young adult readers?
Yes, but the book deals with heavy themes like addiction, grief, and bullying, so it’s important to be mindful of the trigger warnings. - Would you recommend You’d Be Home Now by Kathleen Glasgow?
I would recommend it to readers who enjoy books about real-life struggles and family dynamics, but it might not be the best choice if you’re looking for an emotionally gripping story. - What are the main themes in You’d Be Home Now?
The book explores addiction, guilt, family relationships, societal judgment, and self-discovery.
more YA fiction here
