This book started out really strong with two stories of two different couples. Teenagers Patty and Roy and in and abusive relationship while Maggie and William’s relationship is on the rocks. I was really anticipating how the two couple and their stories would cross paths. As the book progressed, I became more frustrated with the abuse Patty was experiencing and frustrated that she didn’t attempt to get away.

Towards the end I began to get frustrated. Without revealing any spoilers, I will say that the ending felt a little unrealistic and rushed. Overall and enjoyable read.

I was hooked with Patty and Roys story. I kept hoping that she was gonna be somebody and have a good life. But Roy is an abusive butt that just wouldn’t let her go.
Bringing in Maggie and William was a plot twist that was confusing. I think the whole story would have been better if those two had been left out and the focus remained on Patty. But that’s just my opinion.
Many thanks to Netgalley for this ARC.

This book started out very intriguing, following Patty's traumatic past with an alcoholic and abusive father and a "monster" mother who recently died in a tragic car accident.

Patty is seeing a therapist after her mother's death and begins sharing details of her past and the abuse she suffered. Once Patty goes to live with her well-meaning Aunt Meredith and moves schools, she meets Roy. Roy is a bad boy through and through, who also comes from an abusive home.

Halfway through the book, things change, and fast forward. The kids graduate? / leave high school and all they have is each other. Part way through the book, mid chapter another narrative suddenly begins weaving in and begs how it will connect with the main story.

Unfortunately the struggles and background of both Patty and Roy are abandoned very quickly, which may have been the most interesting part of the book. The rest of the book feels like a one-sided Bonnie and Clyde. The multiple POV/storylines seem unnecessary, the butterfly metaphor isn't even fully realized.. Patty's love of poetry dies off somewhere along the line, and although Patty is meant to be the main character, she isn't much of a character at all.

What do you get when you take a 19 year old girl who experienced a ton of trauma and give her an abusive boyfriend? More trauma. I was quickly sold on Patty and her story. I wanted the best for her, I wanted her to beat her dreams/recollections of childhood. I wanted her to succeed. I was super confused by the introduction of William and his story and when he was introduced. But I kept voraciously reading to find out all the things. I was sympathetic to William, but Patty and Roy was where the story hooked me.

I was hooked for awhile, but then got annoyed. I wanted more of Patty’s past. Why give us those snippets, if they aren’t really a part of the story. I was annoyed at Maggie, she was just an annoying character. Mostly I was annoyed that nothing brought the storylines together until 70% through the book. Even then, I felt the happenstance was unnecessary and the book could’ve done more with just Patty and Roy.
Easy read, the beginning was fabulous, but overall it missed the mark.

The first half of this book was thrilling, intense, dark and just had to keep on reading. Then I am afraid it seems to have lost it's way. Disjointed in places and having so many storylines was off putting and very confusing. All in all an okay read.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Black Rose Writing for this ARC of Killing the Butterfly by Dale Ward.

I've been hesitant to try this one for a few weeks now and finally decided to just dive in. In the beginning I loved it. It was dark, thrilling, and heartbreaking all at the same time. I was on the edge of my seat and enjoying every word.....until I wasn't. It was about a little more than halfway through and I was getting annoyed at the characters, the plot was getting ridiculous, and implausible. I despise when people say a book was hard to believe because as I have stated before, it's a book, a story, not real life. Well in this case, I have to agree. Unfortunately, overall I just did not care for this one or it's seemingly rushed ending. Two stars for the good start to the book.

Wild: probably the best description I can give this book. Overall, I liked the story. I liked that I didn't know what was actually going to happen or the direction the story was going.

Pros: Survival. I like that in the end, Patty was able to over come everything that she went through. I feel like some of her experiences are relatable as domestic abuse is such an unfortunately common thing in our society.

Cons: There were some pieces that were overly descriptive like the office scene, that usually takes me out of the story for a few minutes. The different storylines sometimes feels a little disjointed, but overall it comes together in the end.