A fast paced, unique and addictive read!
The premise of this book instantly captured my attention and from the first chapter alone I was hooked! When the opportunity presents itself for Beth to see Newnham House, the old home of Flora, her former best friend whom she hasn’t seen for 12 years, she cannot resist. Parked up across the street Beth watches and waits in secret, listening to Flora encourage her children out of the car that they have just returned home in. When Beth last saw Thomas and Emily, they were five and three years old respectively. Wondering why Flora would be encouraging them out of the car in much the same way you would do young children of that age, nothing can prepare Beth for what she witnesses. As they step out of the car, they look exactly the same as they did all those years ago; no older and no taller and Beth has just heard Flora call them Thomas and Emily. But how can that be when they should be 17 and 15 years old now? Why haven’t they grown?
I, like Beth, whose perspective this story is told from, became consumed with needing to know just how this was possible and what was going on behind closed doors at Newnham House. The fast paced nature of this story really captured my attention and as Beth uncovered each new piece of information and realised something quite sinister seemed to be happening I really couldn’t find an answer to explain what had happened. Beth also confided in her husband Dom and her two children to try and help her understand what she had seen, especially when Dom and Beth used to be such good friends with Flora and her then husband Lewis.
Nothing could have prepared me though for the truth that was uncovered and the shock I felt, like Beth upon learning the reality of Flora’s life over the last 12 years. It was a phenomenal ending to a fantastic story and so powerful in highlighting just what people are capable of when it comes to family.
This is the first book I have read by Sophie Hannah and after enjoying Haven’t They Grown so much, I cannot wait to read more of her books in the future!
I, like Beth, whose perspective this story is told from, became consumed with needing to know just how this was possible and what was going on behind closed doors at Newnham House. The fast paced nature of this story really captured my attention and as Beth uncovered each new piece of information and realised something quite sinister seemed to be happening I really couldn’t find an answer to explain what had happened. Beth also confided in her husband Dom and her two children to try and help her understand what she had seen, especially when Dom and Beth used to be such good friends with Flora and her then husband Lewis.
Nothing could have prepared me though for the truth that was uncovered and the shock I felt, like Beth upon learning the reality of Flora’s life over the last 12 years. It was a phenomenal ending to a fantastic story and so powerful in highlighting just what people are capable of when it comes to family.
This is the first book I have read by Sophie Hannah and after enjoying Haven’t They Grown so much, I cannot wait to read more of her books in the future!