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The Lifesaver
“As I drop to my knees beside him, I feel a spark of recognition: Tristan Chevalier. From my school, my grade. Way too young to die.”
When Avery Taylor stumbles across an unconscious classmate in the river, he fears a life is at stake. Although his quick actions are enough to save Tristan, Avery’s left with more questions than answers about that fateful night:
What was Tristan doing in the river in the first place? Could all the rumors about him be true? And why should Avery care so much, anyway?
Joyful and raw, THE LIFESAVER is an emotional look at the human connection and how it can change a life in more ways than one.
When Avery Taylor stumbles across an unconscious classmate in the river, he fears a life is at stake. Although his quick actions are enough to save Tristan, Avery’s left with more questions than answers about that fateful night:
What was Tristan doing in the river in the first place? Could all the rumors about him be true? And why should Avery care so much, anyway?
Joyful and raw, THE LIFESAVER is an emotional look at the human connection and how it can change a life in more ways than one.
- GenresYoung Adult
360 pages, Paperback
Published July 12, 2025
1 person is currently reading
3833 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
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June 2, 2021Edit 6/2/2021: The author contacted me and is going to rewrite (parts of) the book. I’m very curious about that because done in the right way, this could be a wonderful book about friendship, bullying, love, (attempt to) suicide and more.
- - - - - - -
Why was Tristan in that river?
A fall? A push? A suicide attempt?
Was the story just about friendship?
Or would it be a queer love story?
The blurb of this story gripped me so much that I couldn’t control my curiosity and immediately started reading. Wrong. So wrong. I flew through the pages. I forgot the other book I was reading. I desperately wanted to know more about Tristan and Avery.
And in the meanwhile ...
I felt something nagging in my chest, an unease that became worse while reading the story. And I hated the ending. It’s wrong, so wrong!
Although I loved the premise and what the author tried to tell, I believe this story is not ready for publication yet. Because it’s an indie-published book, I hope the author decides to edit and rewrite it once more. Therefore I’m not going to rate it right now.
The most important issues I had:
The atmosphere, especially in the first part of the story. I cringed many times, and I believe some things could have been handled more subtly with the same outcome.
This is a raw and harsh story, and there should be trigger warnings. A lot of trigger warnings!! I don’t get triggered that easily myself. Still, I’m sure many YA readers do, especially those who experienced bullying, trash-talking, homophobia, (attempt to) suicide, abuse, mental illnesses.
The writing is more telling than showing and not always adjusted to teens. Furthermore, the writing seems to be more for younger YA readers, but the themes in the book and the way those themes are being handled are definitely not! And please skip the iPods! I know a lot of teens, and none of them still own an iPod.
The ending!!! Like I said above, it’s wrong, so wrong! Please, please change the ending! I’m still so angry about it!
I received an ARC from Hidden Shield Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
- - - - - - -
Why was Tristan in that river?
A fall? A push? A suicide attempt?
Was the story just about friendship?
Or would it be a queer love story?
The blurb of this story gripped me so much that I couldn’t control my curiosity and immediately started reading. Wrong. So wrong. I flew through the pages. I forgot the other book I was reading. I desperately wanted to know more about Tristan and Avery.
And in the meanwhile ...
I felt something nagging in my chest, an unease that became worse while reading the story. And I hated the ending. It’s wrong, so wrong!
Although I loved the premise and what the author tried to tell, I believe this story is not ready for publication yet. Because it’s an indie-published book, I hope the author decides to edit and rewrite it once more. Therefore I’m not going to rate it right now.
The most important issues I had:
The atmosphere, especially in the first part of the story. I cringed many times, and I believe some things could have been handled more subtly with the same outcome.
This is a raw and harsh story, and there should be trigger warnings. A lot of trigger warnings!! I don’t get triggered that easily myself. Still, I’m sure many YA readers do, especially those who experienced bullying, trash-talking, homophobia, (attempt to) suicide, abuse, mental illnesses.
The writing is more telling than showing and not always adjusted to teens. Furthermore, the writing seems to be more for younger YA readers, but the themes in the book and the way those themes are being handled are definitely not! And please skip the iPods! I know a lot of teens, and none of them still own an iPod.
The ending!!! Like I said above, it’s wrong, so wrong! Please, please change the ending! I’m still so angry about it!
I received an ARC from Hidden Shield Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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October 4, 2021I have read some reviews that this author is rewriting parts of this book, but I don't think I ever got an email to that effect. With that in mind, I am going to refrain from giving this an in depth review or a rating at this time.
**ARC Via NetGalley**
**ARC Via NetGalley**
July 3, 2021
I feel like I have so much to say about this book. But, at the same time, I can't find the words to do it. So, here's my best try:
The Lifesaver tells the story of Avery Taylor. A high school senior, the best player on the baseball team, Taylor has a perfect girlfriend, an incredible best friend, the scouts would love to recruit him. But then, coming back home from a game, Avery finds an unconscious boy in the river and saves his life. And that changes Avery's life forever.
I'm going to try my best, though there might be some spoilers from now on:
I believe that "The Lifesaver" could have been such a great book, but it was not well developed, so fingers crossed that this will change on the rewriting.
My opinions about the characters:
I got attached to both Avery and Tristan. These boys deserved so so so much better.
I wish we could have seen more about Ashley because I can't figure her out. I don't know who she is but the jealous girlfriend, the mean girl who's picking on Tristan at every opportunity. I think she lacks a bit of personality.
I thought Drake was another character I wish had been more present, but because I liked him a lot. He was the best friend Avery could ask for, but sometimes it felt like he was only there to help Avery's storyline go on, not much about him.
I'm going to wait until we have the new ending so I can comment about it.
The Lifesaver tells the story of Avery Taylor. A high school senior, the best player on the baseball team, Taylor has a perfect girlfriend, an incredible best friend, the scouts would love to recruit him. But then, coming back home from a game, Avery finds an unconscious boy in the river and saves his life. And that changes Avery's life forever.
I'm going to try my best, though there might be some spoilers from now on:
I believe that "The Lifesaver" could have been such a great book, but it was not well developed, so fingers crossed that this will change on the rewriting.
My opinions about the characters:
I got attached to both Avery and Tristan. These boys deserved so so so much better.
I wish we could have seen more about Ashley because I can't figure her out. I don't know who she is but the jealous girlfriend, the mean girl who's picking on Tristan at every opportunity. I think she lacks a bit of personality.
I thought Drake was another character I wish had been more present, but because I liked him a lot. He was the best friend Avery could ask for, but sometimes it felt like he was only there to help Avery's storyline go on, not much about him.
I'm going to wait until we have the new ending so I can comment about it.
August 27, 2024
Ebook provided by NetGalley for review. Thank you.
Content warnings for homophobia, bullying, abuse, suicide.
Avery Taylor has it all. He's popular, good looking, has a gorgeous girlfriend and is being scouted for pro Baseball, but he's not sure if that's what he wants. Then one day he pulls school loner Tristan out of the lake. Did he fall, was he pushed or did he jump?
Avery and Tristan start talking and Tristan starts teaching Avery piano. Their friendship grows but there are people, namely Avery's girlfriend Ashley, that aren't happy due to the rumours that Tristan is gay...
I thought that the way things developed in this were beautiful and real and I really enjoyed it. There seem to be some reviews that disliked the ending but although it was sad I didn't dislike it's inclusion. It shows that love can't fix everything.
Regarding the ending there's an assumption that it was going to change. As far as I know the ARC was never updated and the book seems unavailable now so I don't know if it was pulled instead?
Content warnings for homophobia, bullying, abuse, suicide.
Avery Taylor has it all. He's popular, good looking, has a gorgeous girlfriend and is being scouted for pro Baseball, but he's not sure if that's what he wants. Then one day he pulls school loner Tristan out of the lake. Did he fall, was he pushed or did he jump?
Avery and Tristan start talking and Tristan starts teaching Avery piano. Their friendship grows but there are people, namely Avery's girlfriend Ashley, that aren't happy due to the rumours that Tristan is gay...
I thought that the way things developed in this were beautiful and real and I really enjoyed it. There seem to be some reviews that disliked the ending but although it was sad I didn't dislike it's inclusion. It shows that love can't fix everything.
Regarding the ending there's an assumption that it was going to change. As far as I know the ARC was never updated and the book seems unavailable now so I don't know if it was pulled instead?
June 29, 2025
*I was gifted an eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review*
To quote a section from my full review:
I don’t think teen years are easy for anyone. But especially for those of us that don’t fit into the mould that society expects or those of us that simply choose not to fit in in the first place. I do think, despite it’s trauma, that this book also shares an element of hope. Because by the end, despite what both Avery and Tristan had to go through.. I was hopeful for them and their future.
This is definitely a book that makes you think. And despite not connecting fully with the characters I can see this book being an important read for many. It does feature a lot of topics that would make people uncomfortable but make others feel seen. And that’s so important, especially in this day and age where so much is expected of young people, being seen, being heard can mean life or death. Even as adults we still experience that, societal pressure, expectations, moulds.
All I can say is.. be kind, you don’t always know what someone’s going through or the full, true story.
Full review: https://mediashadowreads.wordpress.co...
To quote a section from my full review:
I don’t think teen years are easy for anyone. But especially for those of us that don’t fit into the mould that society expects or those of us that simply choose not to fit in in the first place. I do think, despite it’s trauma, that this book also shares an element of hope. Because by the end, despite what both Avery and Tristan had to go through.. I was hopeful for them and their future.
This is definitely a book that makes you think. And despite not connecting fully with the characters I can see this book being an important read for many. It does feature a lot of topics that would make people uncomfortable but make others feel seen. And that’s so important, especially in this day and age where so much is expected of young people, being seen, being heard can mean life or death. Even as adults we still experience that, societal pressure, expectations, moulds.
All I can say is.. be kind, you don’t always know what someone’s going through or the full, true story.
Full review: https://mediashadowreads.wordpress.co...
May 30, 2021
This is such a powerful novel about high school, bullying, and relationships. TW: it is also about attempted suicide. When Avery, star athlete, saves Tristan, a loner, from drowning, their friendship is born. Both are high school seniors, but they each have their own stories to tell. It is heavy, it is deep, it is beautiful, and it is unforgettable.
June 20, 2021
I was granted an advanced copy of this text by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book was great for the first 80%, but it fell off the rails past then. Mr. Steinhour, please write a different ending to this book! I would love to recommend it to my high school students, but as is, it is disappointing.
September 2, 2025
Are you kidding me!?!? I need to know what happens!! Please tell me there will be a second book the love these two have for each other is stunning. Such an amazing story about coming into your own and standing up for not only yourself, but what is right!
April 10, 2022
The Lifesaver is a book that has lots of promise in becoming an emotive and powerful read if the author does as they have stated and changes the ending.
July 30, 2025
Tender, thought-provoking, and deeply human, The Lifesaver is a powerful story about unexpected connection, courage, and the quiet ways we save each other.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews