I will forewarn you, this book is not for the faint of heart. This book is a raw, unfiltered look into what addiction looks like for the people in it and those around them, and does not pull any punches when it comes to telling the ugly truth. This book can be hard to read sometimes, but I think it is a cautionary tale that is not afraid to show how dark addiction can really get. This is a heartbreaking book to read, but it is also an important one. Addiction is a real problem, and I will say now that if you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, please seek help. This review may have some triggers for substance abuse and drug addiction, so please do not read this if those topics trigger you. 

     Heroine follows a high school baseball star named Mickey who is in a terrible car crash which leaves her in a very serious condition and barely able to walk. Through this process, Mickey becomes addicted to her painkillers and continues to spiral down a deep, dark path from there. Mickey is trying to juggle her addiction with the rest of her life and continue to complete her high school career and finish her final high school baseball season. 

     The thing that this book does really well is that it takes you on Mickey’s entire journey and does not rush anything. Her addiction process is gradual and does not happen all at once, and it allows you to sympathize with her. Mickey is hesitant and she knows that what she is doing is wrong, but by the time she realizes how far in she is, it’s too late. While this is what makes this book so raw and real, it is also what makes it hard to read at times. What makes it so hard to read too is that Mickey is just a normal high school girl. She had a normal upbringing, a good relationship with her family, a promising future, and she still fell victim to the monster. 

     I really respect the cast of characters Mickey McGinnis includes in this book as well, as she shows how completely different people with totally different upbringings are all susceptible to the same situation. The way that McGinnis handles this though is not to make addicts seem like horrible people, but rather shows how completely normal people can all be in the same situation. She shows how substance abuse really changes a person and takes over their life, and she shows this through Mickey’s journey and turmoil. 

     Seeing Mickey be a totally different person around each group of people in her life is heartbreaking and watching how much her choices are hurting the people around her is difficult. The surrounding characters in this book are just excellent and it is easy to see how much they care about Mickey. While most of this book follows Mickey in her solitary journey, the author makes it count when other characters are involved. Seeing the difference between Mickey’s school friends and the new friends she makes through her addiction and how they treat her and act around her is actually kind of scary to watch, but it is just another way that Mindy McGinnis highlights the truth about this situation. 

     The overall story of this book is hard to look away from and I was just entranced the whole time. I do not normally read such heavy books with such dark themes, but I think this is an important one to read. Definitely triggering, so be sure to do your research before picking this one up, but it is a very eye-opening cautionary tale that is not afraid to show the ugly side to life. 5/5 stars to Heroine by Mindy McGinnis.