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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
inspiring
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content
Minor: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
To be honest I chose The Day Shelley Woodhouse Woke Up by Laura Pearson to meet the requirements of a challenge to read a book where a character shared my first, middle, or last name, (none of which are exactly common) so I wasn’t sure what to expect from this, but happily I was pleasantly surprised.
The narrative of The Day Shelley Woodhouse Woke Up shifts between ‘Now’ as she physically recovers after waking from a coma in hospital following a traumatic incident, and ‘Then’, as Shelley slowly recalls memories from her past, beginning in her childhood, to understand the present.
“I need to let the memories in bit by bit. Starting with what I’m sure of, what I know.”
Shelley is convinced that a brutal argument with her husband, David, is responsible for her current condition, she remembers his fury with painful clarity - shouting, torn clothes, blood, and a vicious push that sent her tumbling down the stairs. Her memories trace the path to that moment, beginning with the introduction of her mother’s violent boyfriend into her family when she was a child. It’s a tale that exposes how the cycle of domestic violence transfers through generations, and how difficult it can be to break it.
In the Now, as Shelley remains largely bed bound from a brain injury, the present is sometimes confusing for her, but with little energy to spare she glosses over any small inconsistencies. Shelley has two regular visitors, one of whom is her best friend, Dee, who looks a little different but is still also reassuringly the same. The other is Matt, a hospital volunteer who treats her with patience and kindness. Shelley’s difficult journey back to herself is affecting, and I was invested in both her physical and emotional recovery.
As a character driven drama, The Day Shelley Woodhouse Woke Up unfolds at a leisurely but even pace. The ‘twist’ in the plot is unlikely to surprise the average reader but that doesn’t really detract from the story.
Written with compassion and heart, The Day Shelley Woodhouse Woke Up is a poignant and thought provoking novel.
2 comas?! Sign me up for at least one. Will one of my friends shave my legs for me while I’m in a coma?
I’m a big fan of Laura‘s writing, so grabbed this book soon as I saw it was on NetGalley. I didn’t not even read the blurb, so no idea what it’s about.
It quickly becomes clear that this book is about quite serious topic, that of spousal, abuse . Laura manages to walk the fine line between treating the subject too flippantly, and making it too, traumatic, and a potentially harrowing read . There are elements of a thriller within the story but as a whole, I found it optimistic and hopeful..book
There were times when I felt quite sick with anxiety about what’s going to happen next ,it definitely has its exciting moments
The story feels entirely real and his peopled by a set of characters, all beautifully described and all again perfectly real.
The Story is told in a series of flashbacks to different periods in the narrator’s life so that we gradually get to know more about her background and what has put her the hospital ITU which is where we meet her in the first scene
This is a very British book, but I’m sure will appeal to other audiences as the experiences are universal.
Laura really does have a beautiful flowing prose style, and the book was a pleasure to read I only put it down to sleep and then picked it up immediately. I woke up the next morning.
I read an early copy of the book on NetGalley, UK. The book is published in the UK on the 6th of April 2024 by Boldwood books.
This review will appear on Goodreads, NetGalley, UK, and my book blog bionicSarahSbooks.wordpress.com. After publication, it will also appear on Amazon, UK.
It quickly becomes clear that this book is about quite serious topic, that of spousal, abuse . Laura manages to walk the fine line between treating the subject too flippantly, and making it too, traumatic, and a potentially harrowing read . There are elements of a thriller within the story but as a whole, I found it optimistic and hopeful..book
There were times when I felt quite sick with anxiety about what’s going to happen next ,it definitely has its exciting moments
The story feels entirely real and his peopled by a set of characters, all beautifully described and all again perfectly real.
The Story is told in a series of flashbacks to different periods in the narrator’s life so that we gradually get to know more about her background and what has put her the hospital ITU which is where we meet her in the first scene
This is a very British book, but I’m sure will appeal to other audiences as the experiences are universal.
Laura really does have a beautiful flowing prose style, and the book was a pleasure to read I only put it down to sleep and then picked it up immediately. I woke up the next morning.
I read an early copy of the book on NetGalley, UK. The book is published in the UK on the 6th of April 2024 by Boldwood books.
This review will appear on Goodreads, NetGalley, UK, and my book blog bionicSarahSbooks.wordpress.com. After publication, it will also appear on Amazon, UK.
- Awakening isn’t just about the light of day; it’s about finding the light within ourselves.
- Even in the darkest times, the dawn has a way of reminding us that new beginnings are always possible.
- Sometimes we need to lose ourselves to find who we truly are.
- In the stillness of a moment, we can discover the loudest truths.
- Even in the darkest times, the dawn has a way of reminding us that new beginnings are always possible.
- Sometimes we need to lose ourselves to find who we truly are.
- In the stillness of a moment, we can discover the loudest truths.
Good Read
An engaging story about overcoming obstacles, family and friendships. An easy book to read. It is about domestic violence so if that is a trigger for you, maybe don’t read it.
An engaging story about overcoming obstacles, family and friendships. An easy book to read. It is about domestic violence so if that is a trigger for you, maybe don’t read it.
I absolutely loved how this book was written, finding out things at the same time as Shelley, although most of the time I did catch on to things before they were revealed. I have a feeling this might have been the intention of the author but still it was a great read.
My one little niggle (and I know this is supposed to be a feel good story and I’m glad it had a happy ending) is that realistically, the hospital would have found out she was pregnant or it was likely she would miscarry in a car accident, but I’m trying to overlook this as the story as a whole was wonderful. I think that the depiction of DV was realistic and well written, and I hope that Mick gets put in prison too, sad we never get to find that out!
My one little niggle (and I know this is supposed to be a feel good story and I’m glad it had a happy ending) is that realistically, the hospital would have found out she was pregnant or it was likely she would miscarry in a car accident, but I’m trying to overlook this as the story as a whole was wonderful. I think that the depiction of DV was realistic and well written, and I hope that Mick gets put in prison too, sad we never get to find that out!