Common Sense Media Review
By Rachel Sarah
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Authentic, realistic story of addiction, survival, sisters.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In THE ART OF LOSING, 17-year-old Harley Langston's life changes forever the night she walks in on her younger sister, Audrey, hooking up with her boyfriend, Mike, at a party. In a fit of rage, she leaves them at the party, and Mike tries to drive Audrey home. He's so drunk that he crashes, and Audrey ends up in a coma. Mike is barely hurt, and Audrey may never wake up. Harley feels guilty, ashamed, and angry. As the story progresses, Harley reconnects with her childhood friend, Raf, who's recently out of rehab and dealing with his own struggles. In chapters that alternate between the present and the past, Harley faces her complicated feelings with her sister, her ex-boyfriend, her childhood friend, and her parents.
Is It Any Good?
This is an absorbing, riveting story about addiction, family, love, and surviving. It beautifully tackles some tough issues: substance abuse, alcoholism, and families in crisis. The Art of Losing highlights the ripple effects of a drunk driving accident and realistically tells the story of what it's like to battle addiction. The writing is very real and deep, and shows how challenging it can be to forgive, and also how hard recovery can be. Harley's struggles with her sister and her ex are heartbreaking, and it's empowering to see how she forgives them and herself. This is a a story about being honest with yourself, forgiving, and moving on.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how addiction is portrayed and dealt with in The Art of Losing. After her sister's accident, why does Harley feel torn about reconnecting with her childhood best friend, Raf? How does he respond to his addictions differently from her ex?
What do you think of Harley's decision to keep quiet about the details of her sister's accident? Why is it important for teens to read about alcoholism and addiction, even if it makes readers uncomfortable?
How do the adults in Harley's life affect the way she approaches her own relationships? How difficult would it be to face your past, trust yourself, and start over?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Contemporary Fiction
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship , School ( High School )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Soho Press
- Publication date : February 19, 2019
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 18
- Number of pages : 336
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate