Addicted to You by Krista & Becca Ritche

Published: 2014

# of Pages: 324

Source: E-Book, Kindle

Favorite Quotes:

• "No one told me you can love someone and still be miserable. How is that possible?"
• "Let me try to be enough for you." 
• "I love all of you." 
• "The fear of losing each other is always stronger than the pain we cause." 

Goodreads Summary/Blurb: 

She's addicted to sex. He's addicted to booze...the only way out is rock bottom. No one would suspect shy Lily Calloway's biggest secret. While everyone is dancing at college bars, Lily stays in the bathroom to get laid. Her compulsion leads her to one-night stands, steamy hookups and events she shamefully regrets. The only person who knows her secret happens to have one of his own. Loren Hale's best friend is his bottle of bourbon. Lily comes at a close second. For three years, they've pretended to be in a real relationship, hiding their addictions from their families. They've mastered teh are of concealing flasks and random guys that filter in and out of their apartment. But as they sink beneath the weight of their addictions, they cling harder to their destructive relationship and wonder if a life together, for begin to infiltrate their guarded lives, and with new challenges, they realize they may not just be addicted to alcohol and sex. Their vice may be each other. New Adult Romance recommended for readers 18+ for mature content. 

My Review/Thoughts:

Addiction is not a word that is unknown to the English language. We frequently hear about celebrities hearkening the doorways of rehab or their meetings in AA. Or maybe you've had a friend and/or family member that has struggled with addiction. It's a nine letter word that leaves a major impact of emotions. Krista and Becca Ritche take the complexity of the word and explore it in their new adult novels. 

Before reading the novel, a brief synopsis made me believe that it was going to be a trashy new adult romance novel that talked about sex and drugs. I was completely and utterly wrong. These two authors were able to beautifully illustrate the issues related to addiction and how it affects individuals and their loved ones. The main characters Lily and Lo illustrate exactly what it means to be an addict and co-dependent. These two need each other to survive and the authors make readers question whether they could actually survive without each other. I really appreciate the manner in which they authors handled the issue of co-dependency and how greatly the characters feared the opposite character's falling into the claws of and ultimately succumbing to their addiction. 

While the scenes in this book are definitely made for individuals 18 and older, they are not lewd or uncomfortable. They are realistic issues that individuals face on a daily basis. Lily, a sex addict has to deal with the compulsions of needing sex to function. What is most interesting is the shame and guilt she feels after the sexual act has been committed. She's shy and truly a victim to her physical desire. The same thing is applicable to Lo. While his scenes with his alcoholism can be drastic, Becca and Krista still allow the readers the opportunity to understand that his alcoholism stems from more complex issues. 

Addiction is not simply a nameless or faceless issue. It affects more people than we realize and Becca and Krista give us a humanized version in the face of Lily and Lo. While I did not expect much going into this novel, I found a  hidden gem, a unique story that genuinely made me more aware of what it is like to not only suffer from addiction, but to love and care about someone who also suffers from addiction. It definitely is the road less traveled in which two individuals have to not only figure out how to love each other, but also love themselves. If you are interested in a book that explores the complexity of addiction and love definitely check this series out. 

Rating: 4/5