\\ About the Book \\ Spencer doesn’t have a choice. He can't choose to be different than what he is—the son of the town's worst enemy, the weakling who can't stand up for himself, the loser without friends. He can't change the way things are. Or maybe he can. Immediate confidence. Rapid change. Instant hope. These are the things Spencer believes he needs to fix his life, and that is what the steroids promise—a quick fix. But promises can be broken and shortcuts are often treacherous, and Spencer must decide if those risks are worth the perceived rewards—if “artificial” hope is strong enough for him to be fixed, by force.I was first drawn to Fix by Force by Jason Warne because I thought the cover looked pretty cool. I looked around some online about the book and found many positive reviews, and I even discovered that the author lives very near my hometown. But I still didn't really know what I was getting into.
Spencer Shane hasn't had the most promising life. His drunk dad died in a car accident, his mom's on drugs, and he's being bullied at school. To cope, Spencer escapes into a world of lies, but eventually that doesn't help get him by. When he is given the opportunity to use what he calls his "chemical salvation," he jumps at the chance. In his mind, steroids will make him strong, not just physically, but mentally. Steroids will give him purpose.
At first glance Fix by Force is a classic bully-story filled with self-esteem issues, family life problems, and overwhelming emotion. But Jason Warne crafts the story in a way that really pulls you in, and before long you realize that you are Spencer. You are fighting against the temptation that is steroids, and you are trying to overcome labels and bullies. It's that truth that makes this fictional story so powerful. Maybe it's not steroids, maybe it's not bullies, but there is something that we each struggle with, and that makes Fix by Force an entirely applicable book that never stops grabbing at its readers' emotions.
I wouldn't call this Christian fiction, as God is mostly absent from the story. (At least, He's not directly mentioned.) On the one hand I'm a little disappointed by that, but on the other hand I see strong Christian values without them being spelled out, and that gives more hope to this novel landing in the hands of people who don't want to be preached at. (There's also a very few instances of profanity, but I was really happy with how clean this book is considering the topic.)
Fix by Force is short but powerful. The writing is great, and the added twists and turns in the novel make it all the more enjoyable. It's not an easy read because the topic is not easy, but I dare you to walk away from the book without being changed. I highly recommend it.
ETA: I just found out that you can buy Fix by Force for Kindle for only $0.99. You can also check out the author's website to read or listen to the first few chapters for free. So now you have no excuse for not reading it.
\\ In Case You Were Wondering \\
Title: Fix by Force
