Toxic Love

Becoming a teenager means saying good-bye to more than just childhood. It can mean abandoning moonstruck notions of romantic love. It can mean facing the fact that sometimes there are no easy answers in a complicated world. And it can mean saying good-bye to a part of oneself that is lost forever.
In this collection of short fiction for young adults, Linda Holeman explores the confusion, frustration, and rewards of growing up. Whatever the setting – a fast food restaurant, a rural school, a suburban recreation room, or a squalid apartment – the ten stories in this collection share a common thread. Each one ends with a moment of sudden clarity that allows the protagonist – and the reader – to better understand themselves.

Toxic Love Reviews

“With a steady hand, Holeman guides the reader through some of the more treacherous aspects of adolescence… Holeman skillfully builds the emotional suspense as each character faces some challenge of the heart, some new understanding of the complexities of love.”
– VOYA, USA

“In this absorbing collection of stories, Linda Holeman explores intricate, heartrending goodbyes. Poignant, tender,haunting and raw, these ten stories share not only emotional qualities and theme, but also exquisite voice.”
– Kliatt, USA

Saying Good-bye Reviews

“Saying Good-bye” is a distinctive and thought-provoking first collection of stories … At her best, (Holeman) creates characters so familiar that it’s almost impossible not to place yourself right in the story. This is a writer who can weave such a spell that a dilemma can become your dilemma …”
– The Globe and Mail

“Holeman shows uncanny understanding of where all her young girls are coming from …the talented, experienced and sensitive author lets each narrator tell her story as she sees and experiences it … More praise may be added for all these stories written by this very talented and insightful Winnipeg author. I will just say that I think it may be the best of the year’s books for young adults in Canada.”
– The Ottawa Citizen

“Her writing succeeds in capturing the nuances of teenage experiences through language that is evocative yet contemporary … This collection is an important addition to Canadian young adult fiction.”
– Resource Links