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Lizand31: LitPick Book Reviews, 2025
Escape by Alison Bellringer is the third book in the trilogy and focuses on a young teenager who follows the unpredictable path of love. The protagonist, Kaylee, only sixteen, wants to marry her boyfriend Carlos, but her parents want her to wait. She needs to navigate complex emotions and intense pressure from those around her. The story exposes the risks and consequences of running away from problems, demonstrating that every action can have a lasting effect. Will Kaylee be able to find her way and make sense of the world around her? This book is written in the first-person point of view. The reader is able to experience Kaylee's thoughts and emotions as they progress through the story. I liked how this made the narrative more personal and built empathy towards the main character. Additionally, I was able to feel the urgency and intense emotions in each of the situations presented. The tone of the story is tense and emotional. Throughout the book, there are undertones of urgency and vulnerability. The author creates a realistic and empathetic aura for the difficult situations presented. I enjoyed the build-up of the tone from urgent to hopeful as the story progressed. This provided a balance between the difficult topics and the resolution… I would recommend this story to middle school students or young adults looking for an emotionally driven story. Each book in the trilogy explores a different character, which comes fully together with this last book
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Paul Zietsman: Readers’ Favorite, 2025
Escape by Alison Bellringer is an adventure story that deals with serious life issues. When sixteen-year-old Kaylee's parents disapprove of her marrying Carlos, the boy she has known and loved most of her life, she and Carlos decide to leave their village and get married without her parents' blessing. They plan their escape and get married in a village where they hope they will not be found. Kaylee keeps probing Carlos on when they will return to their childhood village, but Carlos keeps putting it off, saying that the time isn't quite right. Years that feel like only months go by, and Carlos transforms into a cruel and abusive husband, a shadow of the man Kaylee once admired and loved so much. When she falls pregnant, Kaylee puts her daughter's safety before her own, to the extent that she sends her away to find a better family… Escape, although part of a series, can be read as a standalone short story. It has an air of adventure about it and explores themes like betrayal, disillusionment, and forgiveness. I appreciated Bellringer's ability to compress important issues into this short story. I found it easy to read in one sitting, as the adventurous side kept me entertained. However, the story lingered with me for quite some time after reading: a testament to good writing that inspires on a deeper level. The question of whether Kaylee should forgive Carlos, who beat her and endangered their child, is important and challenging. The last time they saw each other, he had knocked her unconscious and left her close to death. Should the reader consider whether they can give second chances to past antagonists if they were to ask for forgiveness and change their ways? Full marks for an entertaining and engaging read.
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Pikasho Deka: Readers’ Favorite, 2025
Alison Bellringer's Escape continues the story of Kaylee Rodgers from the previous installment of this series, Lucas. Kaylee was sixteen years old when she left her parents and her home to marry Carlos… despite parental disapproval… However, after marriage, Carlos's personality started to change… Soon, Kaylee gave birth to a baby girl named Britney. But Carlos's abusive nature forced her to send her daughter away from home… Will Kaylee ever forgive him? Escape is another captivating tale by Alison Bellringer. This is a story about human resilience and hope in the face of adversity. This installment puts the finishing touches on the story arcs of some of the prominent characters of the series. The narrative primarily focuses on Kaylee, but the secondary characters also have important roles to play in the story, especially Lucas, Maisie, Ruby, and Britney. To me, Escape is the perfect book to wrap up this trilogy. If you enjoy short stories, this is a must-read for you. This world and its characters will stay with you long after you've put the book down… A fantastic short story. Highly recommended.
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Jamie Michele: Readers’ Favorite, 2025
Escape by Alison Bellringer follows Kaylee, who leaves home at night with Carlos, certain they will return after a quick union in a distant village. Their early plan expands into long travel, scarce money, and increasing strain as Carlos’s behavior changes and isolation surrounds Kaylee. A child, Britney, is born, shaping every choice Kaylee makes while she manages food, shelter, and safety. When household conditions worsen, Kaylee sends Britney away along a forest path, hoping the child will reach help… Kaylee's fear disrupts her efforts to rebuild a new life and reconnect to a safer past. Escape is book three in the series, but it reads fine as a stand alone, offering a warm novel centred on Kaylee’s quiet resourcefulness as she finds small pockets of comfort during the really hard years with Carlos. Bellringer does an excellent job of holding onto the narrative with beautifully grounded scenes… As a lead protagonist, Kaylee's continued adaptation to each shift in her life is what shines through the arc. Bellringer moves the story toward a climax that is in line with the rapid rising action, with an outcome that leaves an opening for more. Recommended.
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Keana Sackett-Moomey: Readers’ Favorite, 2025
In Escape by Alison Bellringer, Kaylee marries Carlos, her childhood sweetheart, even though her parents think she is too young. Kaylee and Carlos' early days as a couple feel bright and full of dreams. But their reality becomes difficult as they struggle with issues, such as money, housing, and growing responsibilities. Carlos slowly turns from a caring partner to a controlling one. His behavior becomes abusive, especially after their daughter, Britney, is born. When Kaylee realizes Britney is no longer safe, she makes a difficult decision that changes everything… As she tries to rebuild her life, she is forced to face painful memories and the man she once trusted. Will Kaylee ever be able to build a life that feels safe again? Escape has the tone of a personal story because of the first-person writing, which brings Kaylee’s thoughts and fears close to the reader… I was deeply moved by the smaller moments, like the times when Kaylee tries to hold her family together, even when everything around her seems to be falling apart. The setting is believable, and the characters change in ways that match their situations, not just the plot. The book brought to mind other stories about second chances and inner strength. If you relish realistic fiction about forgiveness, family struggles, and healing, Escape will speak to you. Fans of books like Big Little Lies and Safe Haven will enjoy this stunning tale, too.
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Carol Thompson: Readers’ Favorite, 2025
“Escape (Book Three) by Alison Bellringer continues the author’s multigenerational story with a tender yet emotionally complex tale that follows Kaylee’s journey from headstrong adolescence to adulthood, marked by difficult choices, deep love, and personal growth. The novel opens with sixteen-year-old Kaylee insisting on marrying Carlos despite her parents’ hesitation, a scene vividly depicted in chapter one, where family tension drives her toward a decision that shapes her future. What starts as a youthful dream gradually becomes a story defined by consequences, resilience, and the complicated way feelings can change over time. Early chapters follow Kaylee’s impulsive elopement and the excitement of exploring distant villages with Carlos. As their married life develops, however, the story shifts into more emotionally intense territory. Alison Bellringer structures the novel as a character-driven journey. One of the most powerful parts of the book is an encounter between Kaylee and the injured dog she names “Old Tangle”, described as a moment of comfort during a difficult turning point in her life. Bellringer uses these quiet moments to explore bravery, maternal strength, and the grounding effect of small acts of kindness. What sets Escape apart from similar family-oriented stories is Bellringer’s commitment to portraying life’s turning points through gentle introspection rather than spectacle. The novel deals with themes of young marriage, emotional hardship, family separation, and personal transformation. These elements make it best suited for mature teens or adults who appreciate historical storytelling centered on growth and survival.
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The Children’s Book Review, 2025
Together with its prequel, Whisper, Escape introduces more characters and stories that span this multigenerational story of two interlinked families. When Kaylee runs away from home to marry Carlos, she is certain it is the right thing to do—no matter what her parents say. Soon, however, Kaylee realizes her mother’s warning that she might regret her hasty marriage was spot on… After their daughter is born, things go from bad to worse until finally, Kaylee realizes there is only one thing she can do—send her vulnerable little daughter away. Readers will learn the history of the runaway daughter who breaks Seth’s heart in Lucas, coming to understand that trauma can cross lives and generations but can also be healed when conscious decisions are made to change. Kaylee grows from a naïve teenager into a courageous and caring young woman, and her story will teach readers that there is often more to people than is apparent on the surface. The message of the story is that people can change and that offering love and care to those around you can only ever make the world a better place. This novel will particularly resonate with readers who enjoy emotional family sagas that explore themes of redemption, intergenerational trauma, and the complex bonds between family members.
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Charlotte: City Book Review
Escape is an amazing end to this series! After reading Whisper and Lucas, I was so excited to see how everything would come together. I loved how each book was told from a different point of view… One of the best parts of the book was when Kaylee saw Britney again. It was such a powerful moment, and I could picture it so clearly in my head. I actually had to stop reading for a second because my heart was beating so fast! I wasn’t sure if Britney would remember her, but she did, and it made me cry happy tears! I also loved that Lucas was there to help bring them together. He has been such a great character since Whisper, and I liked seeing how he was still looking out for Britney… This book had a perfect mix of sad moments, happy moments, and exciting moments. The writing was so good that I felt like I was right there with the characters the whole time. If you loved Whisper and Lucas, you HAVE to read Escape! It brings everything together in such a beautiful way, and it made me love Britney, Lucas, and Kaylee even more. I will always remember this series!
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