Bewilderness

By: Karen Tucker

Narrated by: Brittany Pressley

Set in rural, poverty-stricken North Carolina, this “beautiful, gritty, and piercing” novel follows two young women—best friends—as they “journey through the highs and lows of friendship, love, and addiction,” perfect for readers of Julie Buntin’s Marlena (Erika Carter, author of Lucky You).

Irene, a lonely nineteen-year-old in rural North Carolina, works long nights at the local pool hall, serving pitchers and dodging drunks. One evening, her hilarious, magnetic coworker Luce invites her on a joy ride through the mountains to take revenge on a particularly creepy customer. Their adventure not only spells the beginning of a dazzling friendship, it seduces both girls into the mysterious world of pills and the endless hustles needed to fund the next high.

Together, Irene and Luce run nickel-tossing scams at the county fair and trick dealers into trading legit pharms for birth-control pills. Everything is wild and wonderful until Luce finds a boyfriend who wants to help her get clean. Soon the two of them decide to move away and start a new, sober life in Florida—leaving Irene behind.

Told in a riveting dialogue between the girls’ addicted past and their hopes for a better future, Bewilderness is not just a brilliant, funny, heartbreaking novel about opioid abuse, it’s also a moving look at how intense, intimate friendships can shape every young woman’s life.

I couldn't put it down.

I was intrigued initially by the summary and thought i would listen off and on, but once I started, I couldn't stop listening. Humanizes the struggles of the opoid epidemic and general drug problems in this country. All that aside, this is a great story with relatable and developed characters. A story that draws you in, pleasant narration, and an overall 5-star experience. would recommend.

will make you cry!!

this book is packed to the gills with beautiful moments and tragedies as well. Absolutely amazing.

I was wowed.

Bewilderness is a beautiful and haunting story of codependency. I am not or ever have been an opioid user yet this book drew me into that world with a sense of compassion that I have not seen portrayed elsewhere. It’s a story about friendship, choices and soul dragging consequences. I wrapped my heart around the characters in this book, and they still play in my mind. Touching and gritty, this is a must read.

Beautiful story of friendship and love

This read like a love story about friends, it was really beautiful both in sentiment and in language. Probably more relatable if you have a recovery background, as I do. I rarely revisit books but I think I'll be reading this again. Not enough books deal with the depth of female friendships, and so well. Loved this book! Great narration too.