Natasha Sinel

4.5 stars.

The Fix by Natasha Sinel is an emotional story of healing for main protagonist Macy Lyons. After a serious discussion one night with one of her classmates, Sebastian Ruiz, Macy can no longer hold her memories from a series of traumatic childhood events at bay. When she discovers Sebastian has been hospitalized for a drug problem, they strike up an unlikely friendship that is just the beginning of a series of changes for Macy.

On the surface, Macy seems to have it all. She is from a well to do family, she has a marvelous boyfriend and although her relationship with her mom is tense, she is close to her dad and younger brother. However, after her conversation with Sebastian, cracks begin to appear in her facade. Her life is thrown into further turmoil when their annual family vacation has been postponed and she begins working as a counselor with preschool age children. Macy's anxiety increases after learning her cousin Scott is returning for a visit and vague but somewhat disturbing flashbacks begin to hint at a dark secret from her not too distant childhood.

Macy is a strong young woman who appears to have it all together. She is planning for life after high school and working towards her goal of going to college on the west coast. She and her boyfriend, Chris, are childhood friends and she loves spending time with him and his family. Although her best friend, Rebecca, sometimes drives her crazy, she would do anything for her. But soon Macy is spending more time with Sebastian than Chris or Rebecca and her unexpected feelings for him become an added complication to her life.

While Macy and Sebastian initially concentrate on his recovery, he eventually turns the focus of their conversations to her. A delicate dance ensues as she deflects his questions, ignores his observations and redirects the discussion back to his problems. But when she is away from Sebastian, Macy's memories haunt her and she is very confused about her feelings regarding what happened to her when she was younger. As more information is revealed about her past, it becomes clear that Macy has been using unhealthy and risky behavior to cope with her unresolved feelings.

The Fix is a perfect blend of heartbreak and hope as Macy comes to terms with the trauma from her past. Natasha Sinel deftly handles very difficult subject matter with a great deal of sensitivity. Macy's flashbacks are never overly graphic but as the story progresses, her vague memories become more concrete and there is little doubt about what happened to her. I highly recommend this well-written, captivating young adult novel to teen and adult readers.… (mer)