I Could Live Here Forever by Hanna Halperin

Many years ago, a friend called me and told me our mutual friend had died. He went on to say this friend died of a heroin overdose. I showed empathy, and sympathy for the friend’s passing. But when I hung up the phone, I thought, “WTF?! We have a friend who was a heroin addict? And now he has died?” I did not know about his secret, and I was truly baffled. “I Could Live Here Forever” by Hannah Halperin is the story of how a Madison, Wisconsin, writing student falls in love with a heroin addict. The tricky part is that she knew about his addiction almost upon their first meeting, yet she did nothing to shy away from their relationship. I wanted to jump inside this book, rescue the young lady, and talk some sense into her. However, she had to live and learn. When Leah meets Charlie in line at the grocery story, sparks fly immediately. When he soon admits he is in recovery, she lets her guard down even more, thinking his struggles are behind him. He promises her he will never use heroin again, and she believes him. He lies again, and she believes him again. Thus begins the roller coast of his erratic behavior, and her isolation from her own family and friends. Leah is a believer in love, yet her co-dependent relationship with Charlie becomes a maze. She needs to find the strength and conviction to find a way out, before it brings them both down. Painfully realistic, this well-written book is a deep dive into the horrors of love and addiction. To buy this book on Amazon click here.