Demon Copperhead

This book was a hard, sad read. It's because of that that I wasn't sure if I wanted to rate it a 4 or 5. I wasn't sure if I would recommend this to everyone given just how sad it is. That said, upon reflection, it deserves the 5 stars. This book kept me in its clutches the whole time, which is so surprising to me given its length.

The real excellence, though, is in the craft of the story. As an addict, much of this was familiar to me. The slow creep. The excuses. The “how did we even get here?!” Thought process as you move further towards rock bottom. This book brings the reader along in that journey—engaging them in the hero's journey and making something that may not be as familiar to everyone very accessible. Scarily so.

So many of my childhood friends are dead due to overdose, heroin and fentanyl. This book was relatable, touching and made something that disgusts so many (drug addiction) much more approachable.