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spersephone's review against another edition
4.0
I finished this book and was satisfied to see "mum" used more often later on. It really was a horrible book in some ways. Very understandable why the life was left behind, and why they did what they did. It was nice to see that there was somewhat of an epilogue that addressed the situation of her brother. But I think it would be an extremely difficult thing to get past. Such a creepy thought of people constantly being on the run, afraid that someone will find them.
bhunsberger's review
2.0
Did Not Finish
I found this book very hard to follow. I appreciate that each chapter is told from a different perspective, but it's hard to piece together. I read the first 25% twice and then called it quits.
I found this book very hard to follow. I appreciate that each chapter is told from a different perspective, but it's hard to piece together. I read the first 25% twice and then called it quits.
kristensreadingnook's review
3.0
3.5 stars
The Life She Left Behind really is a page-turner. Each chapter is told from a different character’s perspective - Rachel (the main character), Ben (her husband), Little Bird (Rachel as a young child), and an unnamed character (who you figure out later on in the book).
This is a thriller that’s not too intense. You do want to keep reading to find out what’s going to happen, though I don’t think the point is to figure out who is causing the incidents. If it was, I figured it out very early on.
There was one small thread that wasn’t tied up at the end. It was not a major plot point but could have easily have been addressed in the epilogue.
Trigger warnings include a great deal of domestic and child abuse.
I did enjoy this book and would read more by the author, but don’t go into it expecting an intense thriller.
Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC!
The Life She Left Behind really is a page-turner. Each chapter is told from a different character’s perspective - Rachel (the main character), Ben (her husband), Little Bird (Rachel as a young child), and an unnamed character (who you figure out later on in the book).
This is a thriller that’s not too intense. You do want to keep reading to find out what’s going to happen, though I don’t think the point is to figure out who is causing the incidents. If it was, I figured it out very early on.
There was one small thread that wasn’t tied up at the end. It was not a major plot point but could have easily have been addressed in the epilogue.
Trigger warnings include a great deal of domestic and child abuse.
I did enjoy this book and would read more by the author, but don’t go into it expecting an intense thriller.
Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC!
catreader18's review against another edition
5.0
This book is a heart tugging book. The thought of what Rachel went through is heartbreaking. As the book unfolds, you learn more about Rachel’s past. The story is told in the present with glimpses into her past until the full story is revealed. I would definitely read more books by this author.
mystikai's review against another edition
5.0
Rachel and her mother fled an abusive husband and father when Rachel had just turned seven, sadly they could not wait and left her thirteen year old brother behind. The pact between the mother and child was that it was a secret and they would never tell.
Twenty eight years later troll dolls from Rachel’s childhood keep turning up not just in her new home but in her husband’s car and where her daughter can find them too, she is undoubtedly scared thinking her father had finally found her and worried at what he will do now. She cannot confide in her mother as she is in a hospice now with not much time and drifting in and out of consciousness due to the pain killers, she doesn’t want her last thoughts to be of worry either. She will have to deal with it herself.
This was an emotional read and is very real for some people. Told in a few different points of view past and present we see how it affected not only Rachel’s life as a small child watching and hearing her father abusing her mother and her life now but more importantly the damage done to the brother they left behind, his mental state and how it was for him after they left him.
Nicole Trope wrote a fantastic book and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
Twenty eight years later troll dolls from Rachel’s childhood keep turning up not just in her new home but in her husband’s car and where her daughter can find them too, she is undoubtedly scared thinking her father had finally found her and worried at what he will do now. She cannot confide in her mother as she is in a hospice now with not much time and drifting in and out of consciousness due to the pain killers, she doesn’t want her last thoughts to be of worry either. She will have to deal with it herself.
This was an emotional read and is very real for some people. Told in a few different points of view past and present we see how it affected not only Rachel’s life as a small child watching and hearing her father abusing her mother and her life now but more importantly the damage done to the brother they left behind, his mental state and how it was for him after they left him.
Nicole Trope wrote a fantastic book and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
amandajane8205's review
4.0
This book was called “heartbreaking” and now I see why. This little girl has such a hard life. She went through so much terrible.
I did not understand the letters at the end. Were they meant to be old letters never mailed? They made no sense.
Also wish they had put a little more into the ending of the story with the husband and wife.
Still a good book.
I did not understand the letters at the end. Were they meant to be old letters never mailed? They made no sense.
Also wish they had put a little more into the ending of the story with the husband and wife.
Still a good book.
melaniesreads's review against another edition
4.0
This is a story of families, one family that is loving, safe and protecting while the other family is controlling and dangerous with both physical and mental abuse. Unfortunately Rachel is at the heart of both of them.
Told from multiple perspectives, Rachel’s, her husband Ben’s, little bird who is Rachel as a young girl and an unknown. From little bird we learn that her father is a domineering master in the house and that her mother is beaten. The child’s description of the purple flower on her mother’s cheek meaning a bruise was so very sad and chilling. Rachel, her mother and brother Kevin all suffer at his hands until one day the mother and Rachel escape, leaving Kevin behind. Having to constantly move so her father doesn’t find them and keeping their past a secret.
Flash forward and Rachel is happily married with a daughter of her own. Her husband Ben is everything her father wasn’t. Loving, caring and a wonderful father and so desperate to make Rachel happy. He doesn’t know of her past but senses her sadness. He has been told her father died when she was a child and her mother is now dying of cancer so he puts it down to that. They have recently moved into the dream house Ben always wanted for them and with Ben working late to cover the cost Rachel hears footsteps downstairs and calls Ben who urges her to call the police. Upon hearing the sirens the intruder flees but not before leaving something behind. A stark reminder of her past taunting her….
This was a beautifully harrowing read with characters that are at completely different ends of the spectrum. I am so fortunate that I grew up knowing nothing but love and safety and reading the child’s perspective completely broke me. It is often said that the abused can become abusers and there is also the nature vs nurture debate. Are we what our parents make us? Do we fight against it to make our own children happier than we were? This would make a terrific book club read as it offers so many discussion points.
I did guess the mystery element but in no way did it spoil my enjoyment of the book. Although I’m not sure enjoyment is the right word. As this is a very realistic, emotion wringing tale of the tragedy of domestic violence.
Told from multiple perspectives, Rachel’s, her husband Ben’s, little bird who is Rachel as a young girl and an unknown. From little bird we learn that her father is a domineering master in the house and that her mother is beaten. The child’s description of the purple flower on her mother’s cheek meaning a bruise was so very sad and chilling. Rachel, her mother and brother Kevin all suffer at his hands until one day the mother and Rachel escape, leaving Kevin behind. Having to constantly move so her father doesn’t find them and keeping their past a secret.
Flash forward and Rachel is happily married with a daughter of her own. Her husband Ben is everything her father wasn’t. Loving, caring and a wonderful father and so desperate to make Rachel happy. He doesn’t know of her past but senses her sadness. He has been told her father died when she was a child and her mother is now dying of cancer so he puts it down to that. They have recently moved into the dream house Ben always wanted for them and with Ben working late to cover the cost Rachel hears footsteps downstairs and calls Ben who urges her to call the police. Upon hearing the sirens the intruder flees but not before leaving something behind. A stark reminder of her past taunting her….
This was a beautifully harrowing read with characters that are at completely different ends of the spectrum. I am so fortunate that I grew up knowing nothing but love and safety and reading the child’s perspective completely broke me. It is often said that the abused can become abusers and there is also the nature vs nurture debate. Are we what our parents make us? Do we fight against it to make our own children happier than we were? This would make a terrific book club read as it offers so many discussion points.
I did guess the mystery element but in no way did it spoil my enjoyment of the book. Although I’m not sure enjoyment is the right word. As this is a very realistic, emotion wringing tale of the tragedy of domestic violence.
robinlovesreading's review against another edition
4.0
Rachel has it all, gorgeous and attentive husband, a thriving toddler and a beautiful new house to make their very own. However, she has a troubled past that has suddenly jumped right in front of her. There is also the fact that her mother is in hospice. Rachel wishes her mother could remain with her as long as possible.
Rachel not only has tried to forget her difficult past, to bury it, keeping most of it secret from her husband, even with outright lies. Not only are things beginning to change for her - and not in a good way - she becomes desperately afraid that she will lose her husband if he ever discovered the truth of her past.
As the book moves evenly between the past and the present, we get to see the horrid things Rachel's father did to his family, and how, even years later, Rachel is still tormented by it. As a matter of fact, danger becomes an element of things for Rachel. I also want to add that what Rachel, her mother and her brother experienced at the hands of her father was very difficult to read. Having experienced certain things in my life made me extremely sensitive to the snippets of Rachel's past.
This book had several perspectives. Each time we read Rachel's thoughts, I felt like she was an unreliable narrator. This is where kudos go to Nicole Trope. I love how she dangled Rachel's past in front of us, although rather difficult to read. I also loved the fact that while reading this book I had a certain view of Rachel, and I realized just how good a writer Ms. Trope is. I say this because she reigned me right back in.
This book certainly grabbed my attention, had a couple of intriguing twists to it and delivered a really surprising conclusion. I definitely look forward to seeing what else this talented author has in store for her readers.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Rachel not only has tried to forget her difficult past, to bury it, keeping most of it secret from her husband, even with outright lies. Not only are things beginning to change for her - and not in a good way - she becomes desperately afraid that she will lose her husband if he ever discovered the truth of her past.
As the book moves evenly between the past and the present, we get to see the horrid things Rachel's father did to his family, and how, even years later, Rachel is still tormented by it. As a matter of fact, danger becomes an element of things for Rachel. I also want to add that what Rachel, her mother and her brother experienced at the hands of her father was very difficult to read. Having experienced certain things in my life made me extremely sensitive to the snippets of Rachel's past.
This book had several perspectives. Each time we read Rachel's thoughts, I felt like she was an unreliable narrator. This is where kudos go to Nicole Trope. I love how she dangled Rachel's past in front of us, although rather difficult to read. I also loved the fact that while reading this book I had a certain view of Rachel, and I realized just how good a writer Ms. Trope is. I say this because she reigned me right back in.
This book certainly grabbed my attention, had a couple of intriguing twists to it and delivered a really surprising conclusion. I definitely look forward to seeing what else this talented author has in store for her readers.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
creaseinthespinebooks's review against another edition
4.0
The Life She Left Behind was an enjoyable book. A little slow in the beginning but it picked up.
I liked how the chapters alternated between the different characters in different periods of time. I also was sympathetic with the characters however not all of them I liked. I will read more of Nicole’s books and I recommend this one too all thrill seekers.
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Nicole Trope for the ARC in return for an honest review!
I liked how the chapters alternated between the different characters in different periods of time. I also was sympathetic with the characters however not all of them I liked. I will read more of Nicole’s books and I recommend this one too all thrill seekers.
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Nicole Trope for the ARC in return for an honest review!
carmenna's review against another edition
3.0
La serena vita di Rachel sembra d'improvviso andare a rotoli: sua madre, a cui è legatissima, sta per morire di cancro; il lavoro di suo marito è in pericolo; la loro casa dei sogni, appena acquistata, è in un quartiere ancora disabitato e inquietante, e, quel che è peggio, l'incubo più spaventoso della donna, da cui era riuscita a sfuggire da bambina, si sta lentamente materializzando di nuovo davanti ai suoi occhi...
Blame, Forgotten e My daughter's secret, i romanzi di Nicole Trope che hanno preceduto The life she left behind, mi erano piaciuti moltissimo. Perciò, dopo un attimo di titubanza, ho scelto di leggere questo libro nonostante la trama poco convincente.
Purtroppo, però, ho riscontrato due problemi principali. Innanzitutto, la storia non è per niente originale e, mi duole scriverlo, anche abbastanza prevedibile. Inoltre, la tematica affrontata, ovvero la violenza domestica, è davvero pesante.
Ad essi si sono aggiunti una protagonista piuttosto piatta, per la quale ho provato solo indifferenza, ed un finale troppo frettoloso e buonista.
Ho spesso pensato di abbandonare il romanzo, e di sicuro non morivo dalla voglia di continuare a leggerlo.
Ciò che, nonostante tutto, non mi ha fatto mollare, è stata la prosa della scrittrice. Sempre eccellente, e, se possibile, anche migliorata rispetto ai romanzi precedenti.
Ho apprezzato inoltre il racconto secondo diversi punti di vista, l'impegno della Trope nel cercare di tenere celate le identità di Little bird e del narratore senza nome, l'uso delle bamboline troll per creare una tensione crescente nella protagonista (purtroppo non nel lettore) e, soprattutto, la riflessione sulla scelta compiuta dalla madre di Rachel.
I capitoli in cui è l'"uccellino" a parlare, rappresentano il racconto, da parte di una bambina di soli sei anni, delle reiterate violenze domestiche subite dalla mamma, a cui fa sempre male la testa a causa dei "fiori dolorosi" che il padre le fa sbocciare sul viso. Un padre spaventoso e crudele, a cui si aggiunge un fratello violento, che, piuttosto che essere un porto sicuro, diventa ben presto un'ulteriore fonte di paura.
Il palpabile timore della bimba, il suo vivere in uno stato di continua tensione, ne fanno i capitoli più potenti e devastanti.
The life she left behind è sicuramente una storia ben raccontata e ancor meglio scritta, che affronta tematiche importanti e che può di certo piacere, ma a cui manca quel qualcosa di speciale che aveva reso gli altri romanzi dell'autrice così accattivanti e impossibili da mettere giù.
http://iltesorodicarta.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-life-she-left-behind.html
Blame, Forgotten e My daughter's secret, i romanzi di Nicole Trope che hanno preceduto The life she left behind, mi erano piaciuti moltissimo. Perciò, dopo un attimo di titubanza, ho scelto di leggere questo libro nonostante la trama poco convincente.
Purtroppo, però, ho riscontrato due problemi principali. Innanzitutto, la storia non è per niente originale e, mi duole scriverlo, anche abbastanza prevedibile. Inoltre, la tematica affrontata, ovvero la violenza domestica, è davvero pesante.
Ad essi si sono aggiunti una protagonista piuttosto piatta, per la quale ho provato solo indifferenza, ed un finale troppo frettoloso e buonista.
Ho spesso pensato di abbandonare il romanzo, e di sicuro non morivo dalla voglia di continuare a leggerlo.
Ciò che, nonostante tutto, non mi ha fatto mollare, è stata la prosa della scrittrice. Sempre eccellente, e, se possibile, anche migliorata rispetto ai romanzi precedenti.
Ho apprezzato inoltre il racconto secondo diversi punti di vista, l'impegno della Trope nel cercare di tenere celate le identità di Little bird e del narratore senza nome, l'uso delle bamboline troll per creare una tensione crescente nella protagonista (purtroppo non nel lettore) e, soprattutto, la riflessione sulla scelta compiuta dalla madre di Rachel.
I capitoli in cui è l'"uccellino" a parlare, rappresentano il racconto, da parte di una bambina di soli sei anni, delle reiterate violenze domestiche subite dalla mamma, a cui fa sempre male la testa a causa dei "fiori dolorosi" che il padre le fa sbocciare sul viso. Un padre spaventoso e crudele, a cui si aggiunge un fratello violento, che, piuttosto che essere un porto sicuro, diventa ben presto un'ulteriore fonte di paura.
Il palpabile timore della bimba, il suo vivere in uno stato di continua tensione, ne fanno i capitoli più potenti e devastanti.
The life she left behind è sicuramente una storia ben raccontata e ancor meglio scritta, che affronta tematiche importanti e che può di certo piacere, ma a cui manca quel qualcosa di speciale che aveva reso gli altri romanzi dell'autrice così accattivanti e impossibili da mettere giù.
http://iltesorodicarta.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-life-she-left-behind.html