Blog Tour: Flawed by Kate Avelynn. Interview with Sarah O' Brien

Hello everyone, today I'm delighted to be part of the Flawed blog tour. Flawed by Kate Avelynn was one of my favourite reads from last year, you can read my review for this book here. Today I have Sarah O' Brien answering a few of my questions. First here's a little bit about the book.

Sarah O’Brien is alive because of the pact she and her brother made twelve years ago—James will protect her from their violent father if she promises to never leave him. For years, she’s watched James destroy his life to save hers. If all he asks for in return is her affection, she’ll give it freely.

Until, with a tiny kiss and a broken mind, he asks for more than she can give.

Sam Donavon has been James’s best friend—and the boy Sarah’s had a crush on—for as long as she can remember. As their forbidden relationship deepens, Sarah knows she’s in trouble. Quiet, serious Sam has decided he’s going to save her. Neither of them realize James is far more unstable than her father ever was, or that he’s not about to let Sarah forget her half of the pact…

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Interview with Sarah O' Brien

You come across as a really strong person after everything you've been through, what helps you to get up each day and battle through everything?

Sarah: James. Always James. He does so much for me that I can’t stand the thought of letting him down or not being there for him. He needs me just as much as I need him.

Your relationship with James has helped you through quite a lot, you must be hugely grateful for having a brother like James around.

Sarah: Grateful isn’t a strong enough word. If it wasn’t for James, I wouldn’t be here. There’s nothing I could ever do to repay him, but I’ll always be here for him, protecting him from himself and smoothing things over after one of his fights with our dad. It’s the very least I can do.

How did it feel like when you realized Sam felt the same way about you?

Sarah: Oh my god. I didn’t know whether I was going to burst into a million pieces of glittery happiness or curl up in a ball and die. I mean, I’ve wanted this forever, but I knew what James would say. What he’d do. Knowing how Sam feels about me is a lot like standing on an old teeter totter in the dark. You can lean one way and be okay, but if you lean too far, everything will crash to the ground.

How would you describe your relationship with Sam in 5 words?

Sarah: Beautiful. Pure. Hot. Overwhelming. Terrifying.

Do you think James can be a little overprotective at times? Don't you sometimes feel like doing your own thing?

Sarah: He’s way overprotective, but can you blame him? We’ve been hiding from everyone for so long, it’s hard to know who to trust. Sometimes I wonder what it’d be like if I ran away and lived my own life, but then I remember what he’s done for me. What he’s still doing for me. It’s hard to walk away from someone who’s destroyed their life to save yours. If being there for him means I have to sacrifice a few of my own dreams, I’ll do it.

It must be tough keeping your relationship with Sam away from your brother James. I know you love both of them dearly, so trying to keep two important men in your life must be difficult.

Sarah: It’s the hardest part of this whole thing. How do you balance what you need with what you want? I wish James could let go just enough to trust his best friend with me. Sam could help him. He wouldn’t always have to worry when he goes to work or wants to hang out with his friends because I wouldn’t be alone. But there’s no convincing my brother. He thinks me being with Sam is the same thing as me deserting him, and he can’t handle that. It makes him a little crazy.

Where do you see yourself in the future? Anything you want to aspire to? Things you want to achieve?

Sarah: I’ve spent so much time walking through the woods with Sam and working at his mom’s floral shop that I think I want to do something that combines the two. Sam pointed me toward botany, so if I can ever get out of Granite Falls, I might try to do that. I also think I want to work with kids that come from homes like the one I live in. Not right now—it’s too soon for me—but someday. No one believed me or James when we tried to get help, so I want to be that for someone. I want to be the person who believes them.

Thank you Sarah for stopping by on The Readers Den, for those of you who haven't picked up this brilliant debut I highly recommend you do so now. 

About the Author: Kate Avelynn lives in Central Oregon with her husband, whom she fell in love with at eighteen after realizing he shared her obsession with music, sports, and psychoanalysis. When not devouring books, holding down her editing gig, or attempting to coax life out of the weed patch she calls a “garden,” Kate writes dark, young adult romance that blends first love, betrayal, and danger. FLAWED is her debut novel.

And now for the prizes! Kate is giving away either a small book charm on a bracelet or a larger book charm on a necklace to one lucky commenter. The book charms are the popular charms made by Sophie’s Beads. All you have to do is leave a comment about the YA heroine whose character arc you loved most and why, along with your email address. Today’s giveaway is only open to US residents, but keep an eye out for International giveaways scheduled throughout the tour.

Kate is also running an Ultimate FLAWED Fan Pack contest via the Rafflecopter listing below. Enter daily for a chance to win some really cool stuff! (US only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway