VeganCleopatra

When you see or hear of someone in an abusive relationship the question inevitably is "Why doesn't he/she just leave?". Well this book explores why that may not be as much of a cut and dry situation as you may think. Told in reverse order, the story of Ann and Conner is rather heartbreaking, for Ann at least. Telling the story in reverse order allows you to get out of the mindset of knowing that the end will either be her leaving or her dying (or major injury etc.) because you see what has happened immediately. But you do not know how she has allowed herself to get into this position. So instead of hearing yourself say his "nice guy" routine is a ruse and run the other way, you sit there waiting to understand the guy she fell for in the beginning.

Overall I felt it was a very realistic tale of an abusive relationship and the situations which can lead to them. Despite Conner's sad tale I could not tolerate him at any point in the novel and wanted to slap him around myself (Ann never does that though). I gained a greater understanding of how one could come to be in an abusive relationship. In Ann's case she was struggling with her own distance from her mother and loss of her father. She was also a very nice and empathetic person, which led her to want to be there for Conner all the more and be the one person in his life to stand up for him.

But I Love Him is a very well written tale of abuse that I feel would be a good warning for anyone, YA or adult.