Clean 
Author: Juno Dawson
Publisher: Quercus Children's Books
Release date: April 2018
Pages: 399 pages
R.R.P: $16.99
'I can feel it swimming through my veins like glitter... It's liquid gold.'
When socialite Lexi Volkov almost overdoses, she thinks she's hit rock bottom. She's wrong. Rock bottom is when she's forced into an exclusive rehab facility.
From there,the only way is up for Lexi and her fellow inmates, including the mysterious Brady.
As she faces her demons, Lexi realises love is the most powerful drug of all...
It's a dirty business getting clean.
My review
Thoughts on the book: MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS
Clean is the new release from Juno Dawson and it is simply amazing. Told from the main character, Lexi Volkov point of view we are taken into what it's like for an addict to overcome their addiction. Right from the opening moments
Face-down on leather. New car smell. Pine fresh.
I can't move.
I'm being kidnapped.
But I can't move.
we are drawn into Lexi's world and you immediately fall in love with the story and Lexi. Lexi has woken up in her brother's car after a night out on the town but she has no idea where she is headed. When they get there it is really the last place she wants to be, a rehabilitation clinic for people with addictions. Lexi is of course horrified and believes that she doesn't need to be here. She is an addict, just because she uses occasionally when she is out doesn't mean that she is addicted to anything. As she goes through the withdrawal process she realises just how horrible it is to actually come down from a high and detox her body from all of the crap that she put into it. Eventually she gets to join the 'real world' in other words she gets to finally meet the other inmates that are at the facility. Slowly they all start to work through their addictions and what caused them in the first place through group therapy, one on one therapy and the friendships that they form with each other. They all go through so much while they are there including a surprising death and a surprising departure from the facility. When their time comes to an end at the facility will they have really beaten their addictions or when they get back to the real world will they go back to being the same people they have always been?
A massive thank you to Ashleigh from Hachette for sending me this amazing book for review I seriously can't thank you enough. Clean was so much more than I was expeceting and kept me enthralled from page one with the amazing real characters and deep moments that we share with them. We are taken through what happens when an addict enters a rehabilitation centre and goes through the process of becoming clean. Most people think that a lot of addicts addictions can be easily broken but that's not the case and Clean certainly makes that clear. It is such an eye opening book that everyone should read and I think copies should also be placed in all schools and all rehabilitation centre to encourage everyone that despite the dark times there is light at the end of the tunnel if you choose to make it work.
I could really identify with Ruby and her love hate relationship with food and binge eating. I love my food and when I do tend to eat a lot it's at night so I can hide it from the kids and eat it all myself, yes I properly could stop eating but food is just so good. I myself can't see that a rehabilitation centre would help me but I think for serve addictions (not that I'm saying overeating food isn't one) they are very very helpful.
Please everyone go and buy a copy of Clean and share it around with everyone once you have finished. This is a book that deserves such high praise and a collection of awards.
Rating: 5/5
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