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