A compelling read, with a powerful message at its heart.
This is such a powerful story and one that is going to stay with me forever. It has really made me reflect and challenge myself on some of the thoughts I previously held and the ending especially left a lump in my throat.
I feel like I have been taught so much about life for the staff working in women’s refuges like our leading character Ria and also about the women who are subjected to abuse, both emotionally and physically by the person who is meant to love them the most. The difficulties faced by each of these women is just truly awful to imagine, and it is people like Ria who can make such a difference to their lives.
Throughout the story Ria was forced to face her own demons from the past as she struggled to piece together who was sending her sinister messages and photos, watching not only her but her children’s moves too. The fear and frustration felt so real and her bravery was inspiring! The reveal and the connection of the perpetrator to Ria was extremely clever and my heart sunk when the feeling I had about their identity became true.
The differing chapter perspectives between Ria and a lady named Tanya who was introduced after chapter five, made this a gripping and addictive read for me. I found myself desperate to get back to each character to find out what would happen next. I liked that I managed to work out who Tanya was too! The things she suffered were horrendous and although this book is fiction I found it quite hard at times knowing that these things happen to real people.
I am so grateful to Jacqueline Ward for taking me on this journey with such wonderful and inspiring characters. This is such an important story and one that I believe everyone should read!
I feel like I have been taught so much about life for the staff working in women’s refuges like our leading character Ria and also about the women who are subjected to abuse, both emotionally and physically by the person who is meant to love them the most. The difficulties faced by each of these women is just truly awful to imagine, and it is people like Ria who can make such a difference to their lives.
Throughout the story Ria was forced to face her own demons from the past as she struggled to piece together who was sending her sinister messages and photos, watching not only her but her children’s moves too. The fear and frustration felt so real and her bravery was inspiring! The reveal and the connection of the perpetrator to Ria was extremely clever and my heart sunk when the feeling I had about their identity became true.
The differing chapter perspectives between Ria and a lady named Tanya who was introduced after chapter five, made this a gripping and addictive read for me. I found myself desperate to get back to each character to find out what would happen next. I liked that I managed to work out who Tanya was too! The things she suffered were horrendous and although this book is fiction I found it quite hard at times knowing that these things happen to real people.
I am so grateful to Jacqueline Ward for taking me on this journey with such wonderful and inspiring characters. This is such an important story and one that I believe everyone should read!