Fade into the Bright starts with Brooke and Abby getting a surprise letter from their estranged father telling them that he has Huntington’s disease (a fatal degenerative condition that is passed on genetically) and that there is a 50% chance that his offspring also have the gene for Huntington’s disease. As a result, Brooke and Abby agree to get genetically tested. After Abby tests positive for the gene, she decides to travel to Catalina Island to live with her Aunt for the summer to escape her new reality and avoid finalising her college decisions. Things get even more complicated for Abby when she meets Ben, a handsome filmmaker on the island, who seems determined to figure out Abby’s life story. Meanwhile, Brooke, who tests negative for the gene, might have a few surprises of her own.
First off, this book could be a trigger for anyone who is (or knows someone who is) currently battling a degenerative condition such as Huntington’s disease. It also may not be the best fit for anyone diagnosed with severe anxiety and/or depression and it could also be a trigger for anyone who is (or knows someone who is) battling an addiction. With that said, this well-researched and informative book comes across to be really inspiring; the main takeaway for me was that, in the words of the authors, “fear is never a reason to miss out on something you want”.
In my opinion, this book is geared towards teens and young adults, although it could still be enjoyed by an older audience. Fade into the Bright is reminiscent of a lot of popular titles such as Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson, Extraordinary Means by Robyn Schneider, and Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott, Mikki Daughtry, and Tobias Iaconis. It deals with themes such as fate versus free will, family, inner darkness versus light, escapism, life and death, love and sacrifice, knowledge versus ignorance, hope (or losing hope), inner strength, as well as overcoming fears and weaknesses.
This book was very engaging, easy to read, hard to put down, even if it was relatively short. Despite this book dealing with some challenging real-life topics, I liked how it wasn’t overly tear-jerking; there is more to Abby’s story than just her diagnosis (such as her budding romance with Ben) and the novel ends on a mostly hopeful and positive note.
Even though I loved reading about Abby and Ben’s relationship, I thought that the big decisions that were made at the end of the book (after only knowing each other for a couple of months) were a tad far-fetched. Another critique would be that the book was almost too short and more details and descriptions as well as additional scenes (perhaps more insights into what Brooke, Abby’s Mom, or Abby’s friend Nina were up to while Abby was on Catalina Island) would have fleshed it out. Lastly, the novel alternated between before diagnosis and after diagnosis, which came across as a bit confusing at times.
Overall, if you are a teen or young adult who enjoys reading emotional love stories, this book is worth reading! I would also recommend this book to fans of All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven and The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.
Fade Into The Bright is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of April 27th 2021.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
Five Feet Apart meets Tell Me Three Things in this YA contemporary novel about two sisters, one summer, and a diagnosis that changes everything.
Abby needs to escape a life that she no longer recognizes as her own. Her old life–the one where she was a high school volleyball star with a textbook-perfect future–has been ripped away. Abby and her sister, Brooke, have received a letter from their estranged dad informing them he has Huntington’s disease, a fatal, degenerative disorder that you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. And when the sisters agree to genetic testing, one of them tests positive.
Fleeing to Catalina Island for the summer, Abby is relieved to be in a place where no one knows her tragic history. But when she meets aspiring documentary filmmaker Ben–tall, outdoorsy, easygoing, with eyes that don’t miss a thing–she’s thrown off her game. Ben’s the kind of guy who loves to figure out people’s stories. What if he learns hers?
