The Wisdom to Know the Difference

The  Wisdom to Know the  Difference

By Leesa Freeman

Buy it  here

Reviewed by Deana Wolstenholme

The  coffee had, as always, one thing going for it: it  was hot.

Thus begins Leesa Freeman’s debut novel, The Wisdom To Know the Difference.  The reader is immediately introduced to Todd, a recovering drug addict. A high school sports injury led him to an  oxi-contin addiction.  But now,  five  years  sober and attending college, Todd meets Shawna, a photographer who is honest and compassionate.

The  connection  between them is instant and  electric. Shawna  accepts  Todd for who he is and  where he has been. However, Todd continues to struggle with his self-worth.  He  wrestles  with it for most of  the book; it was so beautifully written that I   couldn’t help but feel his  pain. His struggle is almost physical and it made me  love his character even  more. 

 As their relationship  progresses, tragedy hits them hard,  leaving them broken once again.  They both  struggle  to  recover- ultimately forced apart  by their inability to cope. 

It was absolutely heartbreaking.

Leesa Freeman  writes the  story from Todd’s point of view, which surprised me.  I actually  did a  double  take when I  saw that the  author  was a female-she writes the male perspective beautifully.  

My only critique is the cover. I don’t understand the connection between the boy walking on the beach and Todd’s story. But don’t let that stop you from reading this novel.   The Wisdom To Know The Difference has fantastic characters and a  story  that will make  you  ache for Todd and  Shawna.

This is definitely a book you won’t want to  put down and a story that will stay with you long after you’ve  finished reading it.