Fix Me

by Lisa M. Cronkhite

Penelope Wryter's life has been a mess ever since her sister committed suicide a year ago. Now Pen's hooked on Fix, an illegal drug that makes her feel, think, and see differently. The hallucinations are intense, but there's one vision that keeps Pen coming back for more--Nate. He's the only person who cares about her. Too bad he's just a side effect of the drug. Pen knows she's going nowhere fast. She's desperate to change. But when she tries to say goodbye to Nate, he professes his love for her making her more confused than ever. Then, when a girl from school goes missing during a bad Fix trip, Pen realizes she may be in a lot more danger than she ever imagined. Unless Pen straightens up and faces reality quick, she might be the next missing girl on the list.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Contemporary, Mystery

205 pages, Paperback

First published November 28, 2017

About the author

Midwest Author Lisa M. Cronkhite’s love for writing started when she was a teen, journaling of her torrid romance with her first boyfriend then and now husband of over two decades. She picked up writing again after her first bipolar episode and psychotic break when her doctor recommended it as a coping skill. Once again, with pencil in hand, Lisa dove herself into crafting poetry. Through the years, Lisa has published her poems in print and online magazines such as Poetry Repairs, Grey Sparrow Press, Sacramento Poetry Center, Poetry Salzburg Review and many more. Lisa also has short stories in magazines like Suspense Magazine and YA Fiction magazine Suddenly Lost in Words.

Her novels include Dreaming a Reality, Demon Girl and Deep in the Meadows. Disconnected is her fourth novel. Lisa is currently working on her next novel, Blackwood Lake.

Reviews

[Carrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

After Penelope Wryter's sister committed suicide a year ago her life has become a big mess. Hooked on the same illegal drug Fix that her sister had been on Pen knows she needs to find a way to stop using. But if Pen stops the drug that gives such realistic hallucinations she will lose Nate that she only sees when on Fix and Pen really cares about Nate even though she knows he just isn't real.

As Pen tries to say goodbye to Nate and give up using Fix Nate tells her that he really cares and she just can't let go yet making her even more confused than ever. But when a girl from school goes missing after a Fix trip Pen really starts to realize she may be in a danger and that there is more to Nate than just her imagination.

Well, my review for Fix Me could really be an extremely short one and just state the obvious with this book that it just wasn't for me. As much as I wanted to get into a young adult mystery read this one was a bit iffy already with the drug use but I was hoping with the description that the author would be rather creative with this imaginary drug that people could see things using but that fell short right off the bat really.

The book somewhat read more along the lines to me like a twisted drug PSA with the it's bad, but I need to, no it's bad back and forth which distracted me from enjoying any of the mystery/paranormal aspects that are included. The story itself was just an alright one under that annoyance really so I was also hoping for an amazing end to bring my rating up but again that hope just fell flat with what actually happens in the story. I found the ending really sort of a rush job but quite unrealistic to me too. So overall, as I said to begin this one just wasn't my cup of tea but maybe the younger crowd may enjoy it a bit more.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....

[Bex (Beckie Bookworm) · Rating 2 out of 5]

So Fix Me By Lisa M Cronkhite was the first book I have read by this author.
I really wasn't sure what to expect of this as wasn't quite sure what it was about from the book blurb. I found this a trifle vague in style if I’m honest.
So firstly, Fix Me is a YA novel and it follows Penelope Wryter's life after the suicide of her older sister a year ago.
Ever since this tragic event Pen's life has been in a tailspin shes split up from her boyfriend and she's addicted to the illegal drug Fix.
While under the influence of this drug Pen makes what she thinks is an imaginary friend "Nate" and he seems to be the only person who cares what happens to her.
So I can't really say more than this without giving the plot away, but its safe to say the anticipation is better than the actual conclusion.
The whole time I was reading this I kept waiting for the shoe to drop.
But it never did.
Fix me was very good at building the actual moment, while not delivering on the promise.
And though "Fix Me" wrapped itself up nicely it all felt a bit flat.
I found it rather predictable with very few surprises.
I know this is aimed at a YA audience but the young readers of today are a savvy bunch and as such expect a lot more complexity nowadays in their fiction.
This was an easy read and it is well written, so "Fix Me" has these pluses in its favour.
It was just I felt lacking in its overall originality.
I found this such a shame as the onset held such promise.
So, in conclusion, This was just an alright read for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an ARC of "Fix Me" of which I have reviewed voluntary.
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Pen's life has been wreck since her sister committed suicide last year. Now, she's hooked on Fix, a drug that changes how she thinks and sees. Although the drug has horrific side effects, she keeps coming back for more because she sees hallucinations of a guy called Nate. Even though she's knows Nate is only in her head, he seems to be the only person who cares about her future. She knows she has to change, but she's more confused than ever when Nate professes his love for her. Then, during a Fix trip one of her classmates goes missing and Pen quickly realizes that she's in more danger than she thought. If she doesn't get her act together quick, she may be next on the missing persons list.

Fix Me by Lisa M. Cronkhite is one of those novels where I definitely preferred the concept of the story to the overall execution of the novel. At least 95% of the novel is Pen high on Fix and hallucinating, or suffering from all sorts of insane side effects. Now, I've read a lot of selfish characters but Pen really takes the cake. She truly thinks of nothing but herself - not to mention that she's astoundingly unreliable. I was also hoping for a little more in terms of the mystery, especially one that makes a little more sense and is less contradictory. I also would have preferred a little bit more clarity when it comes to that paranormal aspect - was that just a figment or what? Quite a few events just seem to crop up with zero warning making me scratch my head and wonder if I missed something along the line. Finally, I also wanted to mention that tonally Pen doesn't really sound like a modern teen (to my ears anyway).

Overall, Fix Me wasn't for me in the long run - I enjoyed the basic premise more than the final result. The story covers dark, heavy themes, but doesn't really handle them in a satisfactory manner. There's so much more that I wish would have been done or could have been explored by our cast.

Thanks for the opportunity, NetGalley.

[Dianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Drugs, addiction and the ease that minors can obtain their next high, their next escape into oblivion. This is Penelope’s story of loss, emotional and physical dependence and her fear of recovery, another form of loss in itself. Her sister committed suicide, and we wonder why Penelope doesn’t take that as a wake-up call to sobriety, but we forget she is a teen, emotionally immature and worse, floundering in a dysfunctional one parent family.

FIX ME by Lisa M. Cronkhite is dark, heavy with tension and a stifling atmosphere as we witness one teenaged addict’s life through her twisted thoughts and skewed perceptions. Penelope’s perspective is often mired in the haze of a drug-induced fog. The illogical becomes logical, the unreal becomes believable and the thought of never having her next fix is terrifying. Will the ghosts that haunt Penelope cut her loose and allow her to get clean or is it too late for her, no matter who has her back?

There is no great epiphany for Penelope, she knows throughout this tale she has a problem, she caves to her weakness and her craving as easily as a knife cuts butter. Dark and moving at a ponderous pace, this is a stark and raw tale of human weakness as mere children become willing lambs to slaughter in the hands of addictive drugs and the lies they tell themselves. While I felt Pen’s inner turmoil, it took little for her to repeat her mistakes over and over, at any cost. She never came across as one who could succeed in redeeming herself, making her less than an ideal role model for hope and the hard work she would face to stave off the instant gratification of drugs.

I received an ARC edition from Flux.

Publisher: Flux (November 28, 2017)
Publication Date: November 28, 2017
Genre: Drug Abuse | Dark Fiction
Number of Pages: 256
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t think this book was made for me. It is a bit too much based on drug use (well it IS in the book synopsis eh), which I haven’t really done. I felt uneasy throughout the read. Still, it has potential.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the author via NetGalley.

[BabyLunLun · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got the ARC of this book from NetGalley

This book has potential. The writing is pretty well done for a mystery book although I wish it delve deeper into Penelope's depression.


I suspects this book is set in the future because Fix sure as hell didn't act like the drugs we currently know of. Or this book is actually paranormal because Nate is a ghost, but a rather powerful ghost I might add since he is able to send Candace and Kelly's ghost to warn Penelope

The whole mystery is just ludicrous. We know Fix can cause hallucinations. Hallucinations means that it isn't real and only a fickle of Penelope's imagination. Yet apparently Nate who only appear to Penelope when she take Fix hence we can conclude that Nate is a part of Penelope's hallucinations. But Nate, who I emphasis that its a hallucination is able to communicate with Penelope and tell her who the killer is and how strange that she believe him, a ghost and lemme emphasize again, a part of her hallucination. Why would Penelope believe a hallucination? that's strange and doesn't make any sense

Instead of using the traditional way of solving a murder mystery, the author uses Fix drug to do it, so convenient that the drug cause Nate the ghost to appear to give hints on who is the killer. And we don't know much about this Fix drug. It would at least make the story more belivable if the readers have a basic idea of how Fix works. Weirdly, dipping Fix into a cough syrup would disrupt the Fix cycle. I find this really hard to believe if u gonna call Fix a drug. We know the effects of a drug and I don't think there is any drug out there would cause a Fix cycle like Fix does. Fix isn't a drug, its more like a magic pill or something. Calling it a drug but it doesn't act like a drug just feels contradictory and ruin the story

[Lisa Cronkhite · Rating 5 out of 5]

FIX ME is my 5th novel. It was a long road to publication with this one. Lots of rejections, but also lots of praise—enough to keep me going and pushing it out there. It’s been a dream to connect with Flux Books. My editor made me love my book more! When I think of FIX ME, I think purple and poetic. When I first started writing, it began with poetry and everything grew from there. I sincerely hope you enjoy it!

Preview pages coming soon! Thank you so much for your interest.

Lisa

[Aneta Bak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pen knows she needs to quit, but the thought of Nate keeps her hooked on Fix, a drug that causes hallucinations. As her trips get worse, and more girls from school go missing after taking Fix, Pen tries her hardest to stop taking the drug, until Nate is in trouble, and as the only girl that can see him, its up to Pen to try to save him.

This book was really interesting and has so much potential, but it just didn't come together like I wanted to. There was a mystery aspect with the death of other girls, and there was obviously lots of parts about drug use, and hallucinations.

The main character and supporting characters were all interesting and well developed. Pen was a very complex character, and watching her character development was absolutely fantastic. She was really great.

This book was extremely short, I read the whole thing in a few hours. There was very little world-building, and the mystery aspect could have been more developed and better.

Overall, this book was so creative and had a lovely message and concept, but there were lots of little details that could have been fixed up and made the book so much better.

[Sian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Fix Me I feel it was well written... it tells the story of Penelope who has become addicted to a drug called fix, after her sister has committed suicide.

we as a audience find how Penelope comes to terms with her relationship with nate, the boy who she sees when she takes fix. Also, how she battles to overcome her addiction and eventually attend rehab and gets off of fix

I recommend Fix Me to everyone it will open your eyes up to coming to terns with things

[Karen Barber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pen is, to put it bluntly, a mess. Since her sister committed suicide a year ago, Pen has done everything she can to avoid dealing with her feelings about it. She and her friend Rose have spent the last year experimenting with Fix, a once legal anti-depressant that has become the go-to drug since it produces intense hallucinations.
When we first meet Pen she is high. She spends most of her time high, getting into more dangerous situations. While she recognises that she is playing a dangerous game, Pen is addicted to Nate - the 'imaginary' guy she sees during her highs.
Initially this seemed like an odd read. Pen is not a likeable character, but as we start to get hints of odd things happening around her she becomes a little more intriguing. At one point I wondered if she was doing something while under the influence, but her unreliability keeps us uncertain.
As one girl after another disappears it becomes clear that something very dangerous is going on. We question everyone, and there were moments when it seemed that Pen's life was in danger for reasons other than the drug-taking.
I did feel that there were elements of the ending that were less satisfactory, but it was definitely an engaging story that will get under your skin.
Thanks to publishers and NetGalley for allowing me to read this in advance of publication in exchange for my review.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd probably give this book 1.5 stars.

Penelope is not an interesting character has no redeeming qualities. It's the same way with her friends. Most of this book revolves around the drug "Fix" which was supposed to be a mood-stabilizer, but causes hallucinations so it was taken off the market. Penelope and her friends take Fix to get high and have fun. Most of the book is actually just a bunch of teenagers getting high.

While Pen is high, she sees Nate. Nate is supposedly a figment of her imagination that she's also in love with. Really.

Along with the drug use, there are two other revolving storylines. One is that Penelope wants to know why her sister killed herself, and the other is that other teenage girls have gone missing.

So, the big ending comes and all the questions are answered in a weird way. There's a character that didn't show up until halfway through the book who is supposed to be the villain, the realization that Nate *was* real (he's a spirit now and that's how he communicates with Pen), and all of Pen's terrible friends aren't that terrible at all.

I'm sure, maybe, these plotlines mixed together will make sense to others. To me it lacked creativity and was too simple.

Thanks to NetGalley and Flux for the ARC

[Khristina Chess · Rating 5 out of 5]

What if the hallucinations are real?

Fix Me starts as a simple story about a girl using drugs. The drug has properties that cause strange hallucinations, but lots of drugs do that. Pen is a realistic teen character dealing with addiction in that her mind is constantly thinking about Fix, thinking about quitting Fix or taking more Fix or worrying about what happened while she was on Fix, and all of that was very, very compelling.

But what was up with this Nate character? The intriguing mystery in the novel is a slow burn, but I thought the conclusion was worth the journey. I wish the mom hadn't been such a jerk. It happens.

Fix Me is a great book if you like reading about addiction and the complications surrounding drug use. It is also an important book about sibling grief as Pen's sister committed suicide, and Pen is still mourning that loss--as well as her dad--without any real support structure.

These are important topics that resonate with readers of all ages.

[LucyLui · Rating 1 out of 5]

Fix Me by Lisa M Cronkhite

Title: Fix Me
Author: Lisa M Cronkhite
First Published: Sept 17
Publisher: Flux
Pages: 256
Price on Amazon: Paperback £9.27
ISBN: 1635830087

Can it be love if he's only real in my drug fuelled state?

Pen is addicted to the illegal drug called Fix. Fix changes your perception of everything and causes extremely vivid hallucinations. When Pen take Fix she sees a guy called Nate, the problem is Pen thinks she is in love with Nate but can it be love if he's only a figment of her drug fuelled imagination? Pen wants to stop taking Fix but when she tried Nate tells her he loves her too.

When a girl who also takes Fix goes missing can Pen stop taking Fix before she's the next girl who goes missing?

I got this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I didn't finish this book as it didn't grab me and make me want to read on. The book didn't hook me in and make me feel like I needed to read on know what happened next. Because of this I wouldn't read it again or recommend to anyone, therefore, I am going to give this book a single star rating.

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[Manon the Malicious · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I can’t even summarize this book. The plot was all over the place.
Basically, everyone is doing drugs and having weird ass hallucinations.

The characters were all incredibly annoying, especially the main one. Pen was really into slutshaming, which I hate but more than that, she also used Internet Explorer and that really put me over the edge in my dislike of her.
The plot made no sense in my humble opinion and it found such an easy conclusion that came out of nowhere.
I was mostly annoyed throughout the whole thing.

[Karoline Tyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check out my review on my blog!

https://karolinesbookreviews.wordpres...

A big thank you to NetGalley and Flux for providing me this ARC to review!

Just as Penelope was addicted to Fix, I was addicted to this novel. I loved it. I haven’t read many books that touch on addiction so this was a nice change for me.

In my opinion, the plot had great pacing. I was never bored and always wanting to find out what happened next. It was really interesting to read about how Pen perceived her highs – they were incorporated into the story well and didn’t overtake the plot. The mystery aspect of the novel was captivating and I was totally shocked when the big reveal came at the end. I honestly did not see that one coming and I was completely blindsided by who the killer was.

I really liked Pen – I felt sorry for her and wanted to help her overcome her addiction. Every time she said that she was going to quit Fix I desperately hoped that she would follow through. But overcoming addiction is never that simple, is it? In that aspect, the book felt very realistic. Nate irritated me, mostly because I viewed him as an obstacle that stood in the path of Pen and Walker’s relationship. I will say that I really liked the mystery surrounding him, Pen, and her sister Tabatha. I really loved Walker. He cared for Pen so much, he just didn’t know how to express it in a way that would breakthrough to her. Rose and her attitude made me so angry; I wanted Pen to stand up to her and confront her controlling ways.

One thing I will say is that I wish that the ending had a bit more detail. It didn’t necessarily feel rushed but it also didn’t quite feel finished. I wanted a little bit more information in regards to the disappearances.

I would recommend this book to those who enjoy mysteries and a narrator who struggles with addiction.

[Emily Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

The blurb of this novel really intrigued me. The book had great premise as it delved into Penelope's life after she becomes hooked on Fix. I loved how the book is narrated by Penelope, leaving you to wonder how accurate her account. As she is on Fix for the majority of the book, you so wonder how true her perceptions of the world really are. I found the book completely fascinating. Sometimes confusing as her world is blurred with reality, but fascinating non the less. Pen needs to come off Fix to truly understand what is happening around her, but as with any drug, that is not as easy as it sounds.

I did find it a little hard to warm to the characters and didn't find Pen particularly likeable. I was concerned about her, and the situation she'd got herself in, but she didn't really do anything to merit these feelings of concern. However, as Pen is overcoming some very difficult times in her life, such as her sisters suicide, I had to factor these into my opinion of her actions. The book made drug additions very unappealing, which I think was the authors intention, so therefore as a YA book it hit the mark. I certainly wouldn't try drugs after reading this as it's very graphic and off putting.

There were some issues with continuity as the book progressed, probably down to Penelope's state of mind, but I found these made the story stop and start and I kept looking back to check I'd read it correctly. It truly shows how disturbing on your health drug taking is.

This was a thought provoking read and I'll look out for this author again.

[Katie Kaleski]

When I saw the cover reveal for this book on YA Interrobang not too long ago, I knew I had to add it to my TBR. It doesn't come out until Nov. but hopefully the time will go by quick so I can dive on in.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book to read and review from Netgalley

The description of this book is the initial reason I picked it up. I can relate to wanting to escape from the pain of grief all too well and found myself drawn to read this novel. Fix Me makes for an interesting story about a circle of addicts and a bit of a murder mystery. Lisa Cronkhite does a good job capturing the mind of an addict in the crux of their addiction. She also does a great job capturing and conveying the emotions of the characters. The writing really made the story great.

Right away the book exposes you to the ugly side of addiction. The sickly parlor, jittery nerves and bones protruding from two addicts who can't seem to kick the habit. They're addicted to "Fix" a drug that sounds similar to acid with its hallucinogenic properties. It enhances the five senses and causes the main character to see people who aren't really there.

The relationship between addicts are often complicated and I think that this was portrayed very well. Rose, for example, was clearly lonely and wanted to have friends, but it was clear that her addiction took priority over anything else. I found Fix Me to be a relatively realistic portrayal of addiction, even though "fix" is a made-up drug.

I found the climax to kind of come out of left field and the ending was a bit to "happily ever after "for me. But the harsh reality of addiction is that getting clean is much harder for most, although some get so do get sober abruptly like this novel portrayed. I would definitely read another book by Lisa Cronkhite as she brought these characters and this story to life for me.

[Daniella Spriggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fix me By Lisa M. Cronkhite is now one of my favorite books but before reading I do recommend asking your parents before reading because it has a couple of bad words and bad things. There is a teen name Penelope going through some things. I do recommend if you want to find out want happens.

[Nichole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fix Me was another quick read with a fantastic cover. Between the vibrant cover art and the book synopsis, I was immediately intrigued and so I requested to review a copy. And I liked the book, I really did. I just didn’t love it.

Penelope Wryter is addicted the drug Fix. Once legal and used to help patients with mental illnesses, this now illegal drug is heavily abused and the side effects are frightening. Pen’s struggle with Fix, the pain of losing her sister to suicide a year before, dealing with her current relationships, and trying to decipher her hallucinations takes the reader through an intense and difficult journey. There’s even a little mystery nestled in, amongst these pages. I do appreciate a bit of mystery!

Here’s the thing, Fix Me is not for everyone. Don’t get me wrong, the characters are very well written and the story moves at a decent pace. However, this story is messy and painful – as dealing with drug use and addiction would be. I was perfectly fine with all of that. Where I personally struggled was with the end of the book. The mystery. And because I do not like to give spoilers in my reviews, I will just say that there are a few twists and turns that I didn’t find to be very convincing. The direction that the story took was unexpected and just a bit confusing. So many questions!!

The other bit that bugged me a bit is that the synopsis and what I read in the actual book seemed a bit off. Maybe it was my own interpretation but still… I felt the synopsis was a tad misleading.

What I do appreciate is that Fix Me does not glorify drug use. This is so important! Addiction and mental illness is awful and Fix Me does not tread lightly on the realities of either subject. Too often, this isn’t the case. Major kudos to Lisa Cronkhite for delivering a book that is both enjoyable and honestly brutal.

I gave Fix Me 3/5 stars
★★★


Thank you to Netgalley and Flux for providing me with a copy of Fix Me in exchange for my honest review!

[Schizanthus Nerd · Rating 2 out of 5]

If I had ever wanted to consider taking drugs this book would stop me from trying them. While the images of purple skies and the thought of being able to manipulate what you see and hear during hallucinations sounds intoxicating and inviting, I'd much rather use my imagination to do the same thing minus the side effects.

I found it so hard wanting to continue reading when there wasn't a single character I liked or cared about. Pen, our protagonist, is one of the most self centred characters I've ever come across. Her self esteem is in the toilet (unlike her vomit which invariably ends up wherever she is at the time) and while she gets used by almost every other person in the book it was hard to feel sorry for her as she was in turn using everyone else as well.

Overall I was disappointed by this book. What started out promising turned into a series of descriptions of people getting high and the last quarter of the book felt rushed. I rarely ever work out who the murderer is in books until the big reveal, yet I figured out not only who they were but their motive early on. Hint: it's the only person in the book with a motive.

The lack of attention to detail really annoyed me, with contradictions consistently made with what we'd already been told, sometimes even as recently as the page before. Also, why is Pen continually surprised that she is hallucinating the day after she takes Fix when it's already been established early in the book that Fix's side effects can last for a significant period of time after you stop taking it?

What I wanted to eat while reading this book:
* Absolutely nothing! Between the frequent descriptions of Pen wanting to vomit and what her vomit looked like there was no way I was going to eat while reading this book. I guess those descriptions do make a valid point about drug addiction though ... no matter how disgusting the side effects, if you're hooked on a drug they pale in comparison to the need to get high.

I was so excited about this book after reading the blurb and the first couple of chapters but if I'd borrowed it from the library I doubt I would have made it past chapter 4. However, as I'd received a free copy from NetGalley (thank you to NetGalley and Flux) in exchange for an honest review, I felt I needed to persevere.

[J.M. Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fix me is a Contemporary mystery novel that follows Pen Wryter as she struggles with an addiction to the drug 'Fix,' which she started taking after the death of her sister. When she is on the drug, she sees visions of an imaginary boy, Nate, whom she has strong feelings for. As she decides to drop the drug, her visions of Nate start to fade and ultimately things get pretty weird.

Overall, I liked the book. It was a quick read that didn't ever feel like the pacing dragged, which I appreciated. There were a few continuity issues that I struggled to follow, but I think most of that can be attributed to Pen's spotty memory from the drug abuse. This coupled with a few plot devices that I wasn't crazy about detracted from the overall rating from me, but I would not say the book is bad, just not exactly my cup of tea.

If you are interested in thrillers, mysteries, and don't mind reading about substance abuse, you might enjoy Fix Me. Minus a few small things, I did too.

[Ayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book. I also apologise if this review is all over the place! I tried to put my thoughts into words as best as I could.

The author contacted me through Twitter to tell me about her book. It's not really the kind of book I usually read, but since I want to read more different books, I thought I'd give it a shot. Fix Me is alright. It really makes you think about drugs and the consequences and while reading some parts of the book, I actually thought it would be really helpful and educational in a drugs prevention program kind of thing.

It was written well, but also a bit inconsistent. Sometimes it was really good and other times it felt a little off. It wasn't bad per se, but some scenes could've used a bit more dialogue instead of 'He told me this than that, etc...' if that makes sense. I also wasn't quite sure of the time period of story. In the beginning, there's a scene that makes you think it's winter, since 'it's cold and icy'. Later on, there's talk of Autumn leaves and colours... Obviously this wouldn't be a problem if there were time jumps, but there aren't. Another thing that I really liked, but kinda disappointed me later on, was the fact that this book takes place in 2017. Like, it's actually mentioned and that was pretty cool! But then our main character used Internet Explorer on a computer and well... Who still used that in 2017 when there's Chrome and Safari?

I totally didn't connect with the characters in this book. I don't really know why that is. Maybe it's because they are so unlike me? Although that wouldn't make a lot of sense, since I can sort of relate to assassin's? Hehe, I swear I'm not an assassin! Penelope/Pen really irritated me sometimes. She was in a constant cycle of "I'm going to quit taking fix." and "Let's take another pill." And I get that I mean, she's addicted and it makes perfect sense, but I felt like she didn't even really try. Her friend offers/forces her to swallow a pill and Pen would be like "Suuuure!" Also, in the end she has a depression, and I really would've liked so see more of that and dive deeper into it. I think I would've liked a little more drugs drama and a little more rehab stuff, but that's just personal taste. As for the other characters, they're not very memorable and/or special to me, which is unfortunate! I think the characters could've had a little more dept to them.

Let's talk about Fix for a minute. The pills/drugs that are so important in this book. I like the backstory and how Pen researched it. Like how it was originally some sort of anti-depressant but it had too many side-effects and it has been a dangerous drug ever since. That way, it became more than just some weird, dangerous drug. Another thing I found really interesting, were these "Fix Circles" It was literally a circle of people swallowing a pill and holding hands. It kinda felt like a ghost summoning/ouija thing and it was sort of brilliantly messed up.

The mystery didn't really come into play until about half way through the book, and thank goodness it did, because that's when things got interesting! I'm going to talk about it in this spoiler tag because it's slightly spoilery! I won't reveal big stuff, but it's easier to talk about it this way. The effects of Fix got out of hand and it was pretty scary. Plus, people were disappearing and found murdered! In the end, the murders were all about bullying. About a girl being bullied. I love how it was al little foreshadowed yet such a plot twist! I had to say I don't really like how the bullying was handled, though. As if it justifies the murders? This person actually needed some serious help coping with her emotions... I was actually a little let down by this revelation. As for the mystery surrounding Pen's "imaginary friend", he wasn't so imaginary after all? It gave the book a paranormal feel and it felt very out of place to me.

Overal, Fix Me wasn't the best book, but it definitely wasn't the worst either. I liked reading something so different for a change, but I doubt I'll be picking it up again. If you're into mysteries, this book is definitely one for your TBR!

[Bookish Delights · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book cover is mind-blowing, being vibrant and telling of the way Fix trips your mind. This book definitely hooked me from the start and took me on a mind trip journey along with Pen. Pen is addicted to a drug called Fix, also known as Phixeedifore, ever since her sister Tabatha committed suicide a year ago. Her sister's death takes a toll on her and she starts hanging out with the wrong crowd. Her circle of friends are also hooked on Fix and encourage her to keep taking it, especially her friend Rose. Pen also deals with issues at home with her mother, with whom she has a strained relationship with. So Pen finds comfort in Nate, the person she feels she has a connection with and who cares about her. She is constantly drawn to him. He is an addictive hallucination from the drug Fix, which is part of the reason why it's hard for her to quit it. The book also includes a mystery involving some missing female classmates from Pen's high school, the most recent one being Candace after a Fix trip.

This is a very fast read, but deals with heavy topics, such as mental disorders (depression), suicide, drug-use/drug abuse, bullying, and issues that go along with a neglectful parent and a broken home. This story packed in a lot of things in terms of the storyline, and intertwined them in a way that made sense, but it made the story a little less focused. There is a lot to follow and while the ending brings everything together, I was thrown a little off balance and taken aback by the revelations at the end, especially when it came to Nate. My perspective regarding him changed towards the end because of his actions in the story, despite enjoying his character in the beginning of the book. Despite some of these issues I had, I still enjoyed reading the book. There was never a dull moment and you were always drawn to the next chapter. The book itself becomes its own addiction for the reader, at least for me. I did not figure out the mystery until it was finally revealed, which always makes things more exciting to read for me! That means the writing was very clever and smart. And going back I see the well groomed hints, so it all made sense. The writing was seamless, and flowed very well. I definitely felt a connection to Pen and felt empathy towards her.

The descriptions of Pen's Fix trips and hallucinations were well done, from the way the she felt, to her heightened senses based on what she was seeing, hearing, smelling, and experiencing. Cronkhite really focused on the visual and auditory stimulations, with vibrant colors and intense sounds, and detailed visions. You are definitely transported into a difference world and really feel as if the drug Fix also took a hold of you as well. It was as if you had infiltrated Pen's brain as it was being affected. It was incredibly fascinating in terms of a biological or psychological perspective, to dive into a world that you otherwise would never experience or understand. Pen's experience was specific to her and what made Fix unique was that she had some control over it, unlike other mainstream drugs.


By the end of the book, the term "Fix Me" ends up having a double meaning, which was really clever. Drug abuse is never easy to read about, but in a world where addiction is a big problem, it's extremely important to discuss. There is always a learning lesson. And sometimes initiating a talk with someone about it isn't always the easiest thing to do. So that's why having literature that deals with real issues is important because it can possibly spark the mind of someone facing a similar burden and encourage them to talk to someone to try to get some help. Because usually the drug abuse is caused by a traumatic issue much deeper than the drug abuse itself. It's never too late to get help, whether facing depression, suicidal thoughts, bullying, or addiction.

[Katherine Philbrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of the book from Flux via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. Make sure to read more reviews at Katherine's Book Reviews.

Fix Me by Lisa M. Cronkhite is a young adult novel that centers around the powerful drug called Fix. A young girl named Penelope Wryter AKA Pen finds herself becoming dependant on Fix after her sister commits suicide. Not only does the drug make her feel good, it also makes her have very life-like hallucinations that seem to control her. Pen constantly sees Nate, a boy who truly cares about her and even falls in love with her- of course, only until the drug wears off. Pen understands the consequences of Fix but also knows she can’t go off it. It makes her feel alive. However, when a girl from her class goes missing after a bad Fix trip, she realizes she must wake up. To truly feel alive, she must begin to solve not only the mysterious disappearance, but the problems in her own life as well.

Fix Me is exhilarating from start to finish. I really like that this novel is overall focused on addiction- rarely do I read a young adult novel that handles teen addiction in an honorable way. Pen is an unreliable narrator due to her fascination with Fix which again, I thought was really well done. I enjoyed reading what Pen had to say and then taking the time to think about if what she said was truly real or not. The plot overall is very interesting and original and I think this book has a lot of promise.

I do like this book but I think there is lots of room for improvement. Cronkhite writes well but there are a few errors that are hard to overlook, such as continuity issues. While reading, I found myself becoming confused very quickly because at certain points I felt like I was missing parts of the story. Maybe it is supposed to feel that way due to the drug addiction but I thought it just did not fit well with this story. Along with that, most of the time the pacing feels right but there are sports that it is just completely off. I think the mysterious tone shown throughout the novel does have something to do with this. It works most of the time, but sometimes there are “big reveals” that did not shock or surprise me at all. I also did not like most of the characters. I found it hard to relate to most of them, and although I like Pen the best, I do wish there was more depth to her. Before reading this book, I was hoping it would be less predictable and a little more focused on the depression leading up to the addiction. Although I did enjoy this book start to finish and I think most people will too. I suggest this book to any teens or adults who are struggling or know someone who is struggling with addiction. This book teaches you that it is okay to acknowledge your inner demons and ask for help when you need it.

[Deama · Rating 1 out of 5]

Spoilers ahead! Prepare yourself for a bit of ranting.

This girl has literally been taking this drug for a year and only now decides to look up the side effects? *eye roll*. Plus I'm finding some things to be inconsistent, such as timing. She goes to school, leaves school practically as soon as she's arrived, then a bit later says it's like 10:45am, then asks her ex an hour after that shouldn't he be in his fifth period lesson? Aren't all lessons around an hour long? He can't have been in his fifth lesson by that time. I dunno. And she might as well not even be in school since she's skipping ALL of her classes. How much leeway does this girl have? And she gets handed a hall pass without questions, and all is la-di-da. And what's with the horrible attitudes of all these characters? Even her ex is bitchy. These are my thoughts 21% into the book so boy, let's see what's next.

Then comes Jenelle. She hasn't seen this girl Jenelle since she's been taking and then calls her and it's just like hey girl, let's hang out tonight no questions asked. And then thanking her. This is not normal. And their meet up is so short and so effing awkward. These convo's are so pointless and dull.

On to Rose. Why's she friends with Rose when she doesn't even know anything about her.. Rose bullied Janelle, Rose was friends with a girl on Fix who went missing, Rose was friends with ditzy Candace, Rose has a much more girly room than one would expect. Wow, Rose, I'm shook.

So, Penelope says she'll come into school for third period. Because obviously she can just walk in whenever she likes. (Additional comment: omg as I was reading this back -since these were notes I took whilst actually reading- I was thinking who the eff is Penelope! And then after a few seconds realised that's the MC's name - yeah, I'm really not invested in this.)

Wtf, she gets to class (as it skips all the way to seventh period), has to leave as soon as it's started to talk to the counsellor or whatever which literally takes all of five seconds. Then arrives back at class once it's ended. Yeah fucking right. Why is this pissing me off so much? And she doesn't even see her friends until after school! So was she alone at lunch? And all the way from third period until the end of school?

Another problem. Penelope finds three pills her dead sister had stashed away. She's already taken two of them. She'd only have one left. So why, when she tries to OD with said pills all three of them are there ready for her to take?.. This sounds like a maths problem.

I have no sympathy. I have no empathy. Maybe I have no soul.

I seriously don't know why I read this until the very end. I think I needed to see just how more ridiculous it could get.

Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a lot to unpack with this book, it's one that covers some pretty difficult issues such as grief, addiction and mental illness. Pen is a difficult character to evaluate because she's dealing with the aftermath of her sister's suicide, her father's subsequent death, and her mother mentally checking out. The abandonment leads Pen to become addicted to a mind altering drug known as Fix. What makes Pen a challenge to understand is that she's an incredibly unreliable narrator, and it's hard to distinguish her actual personality from that of an addict. It's entirely possible that we don't get to see Pen's actual personality, but the one we do get is a very passive and meek one. Pen would go along with anyone and everything, which nearly leads to her own demise.

The only interesting supporting character in a cast that is largely forgettable is Nate. Nate is the figure who comes to Pen as a drug induced hallucination. Nate kind of acts as Pen's guardian angel though not an incredibly good one as he doesn't interact with Pen very much over the course of the book. That said, I was still incredibly curious about him and his relationship with Pen because at the beginning of the book there was a suggestion of romantic feelings between the two, but then towards the end, everything changes course. Pen, herself, could hardly decide if she was in love with him or not, which is why I was taken aback when Nate's true connection to Pen is revealed. I actually wish the author did go there with Nate and Pen because there is certainly a foundation for it and it would have been much more interesting than the dry and forced relationship Pen has with her ex-boyfriend, Walker.

My biggest issue with this book is the lack of transitions especially toward the end. The biggest moments in the novel would just happen without any lead-up to it. That said, I did enjoy the mystery aspect of it though it could've been juiced up a bit more like most of the novel is just Pen and her friends getting high. Though when we get to the climax and the killer is revealed, I really didn't expect it to be that character. The killer's motives also took me by surprise.

Overall, this was an interesting book, but it missed the mark in almost every way that counts. 2.5 stars

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

[Angel Hatfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

Penelope’s/Pen sister Tabitha had committed suicide a year ago and Pen’s life has become a mess. Pen is hooked on the now illegal drug Fix which was the same thing her sister had been on. Fix was once an FDA approved drug as an antidepressant but was now illegal and very dangerous. Pen does anything she can to not have to deal with her feelings especially about her sister. Pen knows she needs to get away from Fix but it gives you such realistic hallucinations. Pen’s hallucinations seem to control her. Nate was a man Pen seen when she was high on Fix and she didn’t want to lose Nate he seemed to be the only one who cared about her and her future. Pen really cares about Nate even if he isn’t real. Fix changes how Pen thinks and feels but there are some really bad side effects also but Pen still keeps going back for more. Since her sister and father death her mother seemed to be gone somewhere else mentally. Rose and Pen have done Fix together for the last year. As Pen thinks about getting off Fix Nate tells Pen he loves her. But Nate really isn’t a hallucination he is a ghost. Walker cares about Pen he just doesn’t know how to break through to her and let her know how he feels about her. Then a girl from school ends up missing after a Fix trip. Pen realizes she could really be in danger.
I had mixed feelings about this book. Some things i liked and some not so much. I did like reading this for the most part. I liked the plot and how the author portrayed Pen and her addiction. This was mostly about Pen when she was high on Fix and her hallucinations or when she suffered from the side effects. I thought Pen was basically selfish and unreliable but then again that is how addicts really are so that was realistic. This did seem to pop up with no warning. This was a quick read. I liked Nate was a ghost and added a paranormal aspect to this book. But it was hard to know what was real and what wasn’t. I did have some trouble connecting with Pen. I feel Nate stood in between Pen and Walker’s relationship. I would have liked to seen Pen stand up to Rose and her controlling ways. As I said I had mixed feelings on this book.

[Destinee Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I first came across this book, I have to admit I judged it by both its beautiful cover and its enticing summary. It immediately caught my attention because they overall storyline seemed to fall closely to the storylines of books such as "dreamology" and "Made You Up" and maybe my mistake here was that I over anticipated with this book would be like.
In this novel, our main character, Penelope faces a very difficult decision. A decision to either quit the use of a recent drug called fix or continue to use the drug so that she can see a boy who seems to only appear when she is high as a result of the drug.
Of course, there were things that I enjoyed about the novel, for instance, the plot and the representation of how the drug affected not only her mind but her body. Only, I didn't really like the characters all too much. In the beginning, I felt that her friends were not what I would consider being friends. Her best friend encourages her to drugs and her ex-boyfriend seems to attack her verbally about her drug use rather than to be affectionate in terms of helping her steer away from the use. Even at times where he does seem to be wanting to comfort her, his attempts are initially fogged with jealousy and a longing to have her back.
Overall, I found that this book had an interesting plot but the characters were just not of my liking. Of course, there was growth later on in the novel but I feel that if I have read an entire story, I should at least like a few characters from the very beginning.
I was given the opportunity to read this novel by Netgalley in return for an honest review.

[Melanie Farmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly I should say that this novel is very different to novels I would usually pick up and read - I was very fortunate to be contacted by Lisa M. Cronkhite who asked me to take a look, and i'm really pleased I did!

This novel focuses on Penelope, a young girl who is grieving over the death of her sister whilst struggling with her addiction to the latest 'fashionable' drug, Fix.  As a YA genre novel, this book focuses on two incredibly important topics: drug addiction and mental health.  These are important subjects for everyone in my opinion, but getting young adults to read about them and their effects on people is so very important.

In the novel Fix is the most popular illegal drug in the U.S. and it was previously used to treat clinical depression until its effects were known.  We soon learn that Tabitha, Penelope's sister, was clinically depressed before she committed suicide and had been treated with Fix.

We follow Penelope through her highs and her comedowns, as she battles to work out what is real and what is not - she knows she only see's Nate when she's under the influence of Fix, but he seems so real.  With girls going missing, Penelope has to work out what's real and what's not before it's too late.

I definitely enjoyed this novel.  Like I said, it was different to what I usually pick up but sometimes that's a good thing.  The drug abuse and mental health issues are so relevant at the moment, and both are topics that needs to be highlighted.  There is always help out  there if you are just willing to accept it.

Thanks to Netgalley and North Star Editions for an advance reading copy in exchange for my honest review.