Book Review: Broadstreet Bastard

"Broadstreet Bastard" by Chad Lutzke. I was sent my copy in exchange for an honest review. 

"Alcohol was my demon. Weed was its less attractive sister. She kissed a whole lot different but still had a nice tongue." 

Jex is eighteen, in recovery, and living in his first apartment. Staying out of trouble isn't something he's good at, and he's even worse at forming and maintaining relationships. While working his twelve steps, Jex finds himself in a murderous situation, begging the question, who could possibly want him dead? 

Just one question of many, Jex struggles to maintain his sobriety and schooling, taking us on a journey of relapse, self discovery, and grief. 

"And then she unknowingly ruined the moment by pulling a small bowl from her purse, as well as a baggie that held a single green nugget. I hadn't been near the stuff in six months. When I saw it, I knew I wouldn't say no and that tomorrow would bring another day of grief, where I mourned the loss of dignity I thought I had."

Jex is yet another character of Lutzke's that just completely rips your heart out. His recovery and addiction journey really resonated with me, as I'm in recovery myself. He was a relatable character, while maybe not the most likeable. 

I appreciated the elusiveness of Moonie's character. She's mentioned just enough to keep you guessing on what she's about to bring to the table. 

When it comes to Jex, I have a lot of unanswered questions. Did he finish school? Is he still sober? Did Jason ever find out about what Jex did? Was he angry? I need answers!! 

Thankfully, Lutzke said some of these answers can be found in "Slow Burn On Riverside". and "The Same Deep Water As You". All of these books can be read as a stand-alone and are available on Amazon!