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motherjuggler's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Mental illness and Pregnancy
Moderate: Alcoholism and Abandonment
kelly_e's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Author: Rosie Walsh
Genre: Mystery
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: March 1, 2022
T H R E E • W O R D S
Entertaining • Twisty • Propulsive
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Emma loves her husband Leo and their young daughter Ruby: she’d do anything for them. But almost everything she’s told them about herself is a lie.
And she might just have got away with it, if it weren’t for her husband’s job. Leo is an obituary writer; Emma a well-known marine biologist. When she suffers a serious illness, Leo copes by doing what he knows best – researching and writing about his wife’s life. But as he starts to unravel the truth, he discovers the woman he loves doesn’t really exist. Even her name isn’t real.
When the very darkest moments of Emma’s past finally emerge, she must somehow prove to Leo that she really is the woman he always thought she was...
But first, she must tell him about the other love of her life.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I included The Love of My Life on a list of 23 books to read in 2023 because it was one of the 2022 releases that intrigued me, but that I never got around to picking up. I wasn't exactly sure where this story would take me, yet it ended up taking me to the right place at the right time.
Combining elements of a variety of genres (mystery, suspense, romance, literary) flawlessly this book was an entertaining exploration of marriage, motherhood, and whether we ever really know the people we love. Well rounded complex characters are the foundation of this novel. Switching between Emma and Leo's perspectives, there's a slow suspenseful pace where everything unravels at the perfect moment. I didn't ever quite know where things were going to go next, which is why I ended up enjoying my time with this book.
The Love of My Life was another enjoyable GMA pick. Despite this having a slower pace, it was still a page turner that kept my interest. If you're looking for something thrilling, this isn't it. I look forward to reading Ghosted next year.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• domestic suspense lovers
• readers who loved The Last Thing He Told Me
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"When we have experienced more loss than is bearable she says, we hold on to everything."
"I don't know anything, other than that it's only when something's damaged beyond repair that we realize how beautiful it was."
Graphic: Mental illness and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Infidelity, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Stalking, Abortion, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
bethanyearle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Cancer, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Death, Infertility, Stalking, and Death of parent
Minor: Suicide attempt
gellyreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Kidnapping, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
megkrouse's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Terminal illness and Suicide attempt
Minor: Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy
bitesizedbeet's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol
booktwinning's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Minor: Mental illness, Kidnapping, and Abandonment