Can't Look Away by Donna Cooner - ADVISABLE

Cooner, Donna  Can’t Look Away, 272 pgs.  Point, 2014.  $17.99  Content: Language: G; Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG.   

Torrey Grey is a beauty blogger and has a big following on You Tube.  One day she convinces her sister Miranda to come to the mall with her so they can record a video. Torrey and Miranda get in a fight and Miranda is killed by a drunk driver when she goes home alone.  Torrey’s family is suffering from the loss and Torrey’s dad moves them to Texas.  Torrey has to establish her popularity and reinvent herself on her blog, but she is drowning in her guilt and she has to learn to cope.   

If you can get over the main character’s shallow judgmental ways, which gets exhausting, this is a very interesting look at two important topics.  First, being able to tell our real self apart from our virtual self.  Second, dealing with the death of a loved one and the guilt when things are left unsettled.  I enjoyed watching the character develop and cheering for her to figure it out.  There is a little bit of romance and I enjoyed this read.  It’s clean and easy to recommend.   

MS, HS-ADVISABLE.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.