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A review by melaniesreads
The Life She Left Behind by Nicole Trope
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.