Review: Radiate by Marley Gibson

Title: Radiate
Author: Marley Gibson
Series: Stand Alone
Published By: Graphia (April 3, 2012)
Source: ARC Copy From Publisher
Genre: YA Realistic Fiction
My Rating: 5 Stars

Goodreads Description:
 Hayley Matthews is determined to be the best cheerleader she can. She works hard
and pushes herself 110% all the time.
Then Hayley finds a lump on her leg. The diagnosis is cancer. The prognosis is
unclear. She could lose her leg. Or maybe her life.
At first Haley is scared, terrified. In an instant, everything she’s worked for seems
out of reach. But Haley is strong. She’s going to fight this disease. She will not let it
take her life or her dreams.

My Review:

  I knew going into this book that I was going to cry. I mean how could I not with a synopsis like that one? I just knew it was going to be an emotional ride and I wasn't wrong, not at all.

This story is amazing. It is one of those stories that can make you a better person and want to live life to the fullest. To not take anything for granted and to just...love and live like we are meant to do. To be happy, with life and with ourselves.

I absolutely adored Hayley. So strong and brave and just good. One my goodness. She is everything any mother would want their daughter to be. She never gave up or felt sorry for herself. She was a fighter and she knew she was going to fight with all her might or die trying.

Gabriel was just amazing and truly someone I would want in my corner. I loved him.

Lora, Ross, her friends and all her family were just amazing people.

This is one of those books that will bring tears to your eyes. Ones of sorrow and ones of happiness too.

You have to read the Mother's Word at the end, I think I cried just as much through that and the Acknowledgments as I did through the story.

To know this is based on a true story...well that is just inspiring.

This was beautifully written. Raw, gritty and real. Just...yeah. Well done Ms. Gibson.