I am a huge fan of this author and one of my goals has been to read all of her books because I am always captivated by the stories she tells. I had high expectations as usual going into reading this book, but my expectations were overly exceeded raised to the power infinity.
This book follows Jo who is mourning the passing away of her best friend of 30 years Ginny and is left with the burden of taking Ginny’s teenage son Victor, to live with her family in a small town in England. Victor’s arrival stirs a lot of controversies both in Jo’s home and in the community at large. Jo suddenly finds herself in the middle of a strange unraveling of sorts which makes her question her marriage, friendships and her life as a whole. This is a gripping and unsettling story about secrets, deceit, betrayal, racism, parenting teenagers, forgiveness and love.
This book kept me up all night. It is a thought-provoking page turner that made me almost forget I was reading fiction. I was intrigued by the entire plot and how the story ended up getting me to question myself on what my decision(s) would have been if I were in Jo’s position. I also liked the way it highlighted how some parents see their children through stained windows, never quite admitting to fact or reality until it is too late. Overall, it was an emotional rollercoaster with a lot of depth and made for great reading. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I highly recommend.
Rating: 5 stars
Published: August 5th, 2020 (first published July 31st, 2020)
Pages: 249
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
The Author:
Kerry Fisher is the bestselling author of five novels, including The Silent Wife and The Secret Child. She was born in Peterborough, studied French and Italian at the University of Bath and spent several years living in Spain, Italy and Corsica. She is married with two children and her dog.
