Love, Kisses and Crazy White Jackets by Amelia Stephen is the love story of two teenagers -Amelia and Mitch, whose relationship seems to be “made in the stars.” In time, Amelia sees another side of Mitch she fears. “He was a picture of contrast, gentle, but yet so full of conflict and rage.” After seeing this side, their relationship changes. She is left to deal with her conflicting feelings. She loves Mitch and yet hates the physical abuse he has inflicted upon her. Now she questions what she should do?

While dealing with the serious issue of teen domestic violence, the author is able to show the humanity of both Amelia and Mitch.  The reader senses Amelia and Mitch’s love for each other despite their difficulties. Both are multifaceted characters shaped by their life experiences. Within the story, Mitch is not just an abuser but also a victim of abuse himself.  The author also shows how Amelia can love the abuser while hating the abusive behavior. This author’s message is powerful because it is based on her life story.

However, the limitations of the author’s telling of this story occur when scenes change. Often the transitions from one time/place to another seem abrupt and unconnected to the main story. The reader was often left to make the connections on their own about the relevance of the scenes. It was not clear how the scenes connected until one reaches the end of her story. The scenes that often appeared random were the author’s way of showing the two separate lives she lived in order to keep the abuse a secret from family and friends. 

Love, Kisses and Crazy White Jackets is a compelling true story about one woman’s ability to love and the challenges that come with love. The author had to make choices that many women, unfortunately, will face, and she gives inspiration and strength to those women that they can move forward and that it is ok to feel hurt at leaving a bad situation. If you enjoy memoirs and stories of survival, this book is for you.

Pages: 226 | ASIN : B079651FQR