Congratulations to Genalea Barker and Vine Leaves Press on the release of Lovehurts. Being a chubby girl in a society that values skinny isn’t just painful. Sometimes, it’s dangerous.
★★★★★ “Even as our hearts are breaking we are falling in love.” ~J.D. Spero, author of Boy on Hold
Lovehurts
NEW RELEASE: July 9, 2024Genre: Teen & Young Adult Fiction
Paperback: $17.99
Ebook: From $4.99
A tactless remark from her boyfriend triggers eighteen-year-old Lena's descent into anorexia and depression. Repeatedly congratulated for her weight loss, Lena’s disordered eating escalates. It isn’t until she hits rock bottom that Lena admits her reckless pursuit of “skinny” might actually be ruining her life.
Determined to break free from the suffocating grip of her disorder and an abusive relationship, Lena embarks on a courageous journey of self-discovery and healing. But the road to recovery is rife with inner demons and past wreckage. To reclaim her identity, Lena must repair a fractured friendship, embrace the support of unexpected allies, and relearn how to trust herself.
If you enjoyed The Way I Used to Be by Amber Smith, Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow, or All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven, you will enjoy Lovehurts.
Praise for Lovehurts
★★★★★ “Powerful and poignant... Even though your heart may hurt while reading, Barker brings you back with Lena's recovery from self-loathing and rediscovery of self-love.” ~Kelly deVos, author of Fat Girl on a Plane and Eat Your Heart Out
★★★★★ “A beautifully written gut-punch of a novel that I devoured in one sitting. Lena is an unforgettable character you will cry for, rage for, and root for. This big-hearted book will stay with me for a long time.” ~Dallas Woodburn, author of Before & After You & Me
About the Author
Genalea Barker is a sleep-deprived mom and—somehow—the author of three books: Life After, A Song I Used to Know, and Lovehurts. Her work has appeared with Broad River Review, WOW! Women on Writing, Watershed Review, Gemini Magazine, The Bookends Review, and more. She resides in Southern Idaho with her four creative children and a needy but adorable dog. Should you ever need to find Genalea in a crowd, simply shout a line from an early 2000s emo song and she’ll be sure to answer back. Learn more at Genalea's website.
About the Publisher
Vine Leaves Press likes to blur the line between commercial and experimental works. They publish book-length vignette collections, writing reference books, short story collections, memoir/autobiography, and character-driven novels with a literary bent. Subscribe to the Vine Leaves Press newsletter to receive FREE advanced review copies of upcoming new releases, news about their authors and subscribers, and/or to read the monthly opinion column, SPILL IT! or a daily dose of 50-word stories. Learn more at VineLeavesPress.com.