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lucyrambles's review
4.0
Behind Closed Doors is a twisty, thrilling read that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
Alliott draws you into Lucy’s world with ease. Lucy is tired of battling with her manipulative husband, Michael every single day. She’s very protective of her children so takes the majority of his verbal abuse on herself in an attempt to save them. There is a trigger warning to consider before reading this book as there are several instances of verbal, mental, and emotional abuse that could be problematic for some readers.
I’d be lying if I said the fact the main character’s name being Lucy didn’t pique my interest initially. However, I’m extremely glad I don’t live the life she has to because she deals with a lot. It would be inhumane to not feel her pain because it is harrowing to watch it unfold. To watch her strength whittle away was heart-breaking. Her family is so supportive of everything she does even if they’re skeptical of her choices at first.
Her children, Ned and Imogen, are complete opposites but they have a very strong bond. Ned is kind, and timid in comparison to his fire-cracked sister, Imogen. I loved Imogen as I felt she would stop at nothing to protect those she loves. Whatever opinions she has she is not afraid to share, and that raw honesty made her character stand out to me. Then there was her sister, Helena, with who it seems Lucy has some level of natural sibling rivalry. That doesn’t stop them from being each other’s rocks in times of need. They also do their utmost to look out for their elderly parents who Lucy moves back in with after her issues with Michael become too much to deal with. Behind Closed Doors really highlights the importance of family.
Read the full review on lucyrambles.com
Alliott draws you into Lucy’s world with ease. Lucy is tired of battling with her manipulative husband, Michael every single day. She’s very protective of her children so takes the majority of his verbal abuse on herself in an attempt to save them. There is a trigger warning to consider before reading this book as there are several instances of verbal, mental, and emotional abuse that could be problematic for some readers.
I’d be lying if I said the fact the main character’s name being Lucy didn’t pique my interest initially. However, I’m extremely glad I don’t live the life she has to because she deals with a lot. It would be inhumane to not feel her pain because it is harrowing to watch it unfold. To watch her strength whittle away was heart-breaking. Her family is so supportive of everything she does even if they’re skeptical of her choices at first.
Her children, Ned and Imogen, are complete opposites but they have a very strong bond. Ned is kind, and timid in comparison to his fire-cracked sister, Imogen. I loved Imogen as I felt she would stop at nothing to protect those she loves. Whatever opinions she has she is not afraid to share, and that raw honesty made her character stand out to me. Then there was her sister, Helena, with who it seems Lucy has some level of natural sibling rivalry. That doesn’t stop them from being each other’s rocks in times of need. They also do their utmost to look out for their elderly parents who Lucy moves back in with after her issues with Michael become too much to deal with. Behind Closed Doors really highlights the importance of family.
Read the full review on lucyrambles.com
kazza27's review
5.0
Lucy looks like she has a wonderful life on the outside but the reality is much different. Ageing parents, an unfaithful husband and a career that has seen better days.
She has put up with Michael’s affairs and even confronted the women he has been seeing, but she is tired. Tired of his cruelty, his infidelity and she really wants to leave him but she just doesn’t seem to be able to make herself. Helena,her sister wills her to do it but she is so low and downtrodden she can’t.
Events take this decision out of her hands and she ends up going to live with her parents. The story takes the reader back through Lucy and Michael’s relationship and the warning signs that were there and her family were really concerned for her. However they married quickly as she was pregnant with their first child Imogen.
Her family was right to be concerned as his protectiveness becomes much more than that and his rages are terrifying for the whole family. They have to set up secret accounts and he checks her phone. As with many coercive relationships you ask, why don’t you leave ? and it really isn’t that simple, as the author shows us through Lucy. Sometimes it is just easier to stay but now she can leave.
Her children are horrified that she is going to live in the country and Imogen begs her to stay in London but she has made up her mind. She needs time to adjust to her new status and this seems like the easiest place to be at this time.
This is a wonderfully crafted book that really took me by surprise with its twists and turns. It is very different to other books I have read by this author which made it all the more interesting. It is a page turner in every sense of the word as I never knew what was coming next. There is drama, loss, regrets and humour. I really liked Lucy as a character and really enjoyed going on her journey as she swaps one life for another which is not without its challenges. The book has so many great characters and Lucy’s parents are hilarious and I think many will recognise the challenges of looking after parents who think they are fine.
A great read that totally immersed me in Lucy’s world and I was willing her to have a happy ending after such an awful life with Michael. I loved being transported the Catherine’s world again.
5 Stars *****
Thank you to Sriya at Michael Joseph Books for my invitation to the tour and for my gifted copy of the book in return for a fair and honest review.
She has put up with Michael’s affairs and even confronted the women he has been seeing, but she is tired. Tired of his cruelty, his infidelity and she really wants to leave him but she just doesn’t seem to be able to make herself. Helena,her sister wills her to do it but she is so low and downtrodden she can’t.
Events take this decision out of her hands and she ends up going to live with her parents. The story takes the reader back through Lucy and Michael’s relationship and the warning signs that were there and her family were really concerned for her. However they married quickly as she was pregnant with their first child Imogen.
Her family was right to be concerned as his protectiveness becomes much more than that and his rages are terrifying for the whole family. They have to set up secret accounts and he checks her phone. As with many coercive relationships you ask, why don’t you leave ? and it really isn’t that simple, as the author shows us through Lucy. Sometimes it is just easier to stay but now she can leave.
Her children are horrified that she is going to live in the country and Imogen begs her to stay in London but she has made up her mind. She needs time to adjust to her new status and this seems like the easiest place to be at this time.
This is a wonderfully crafted book that really took me by surprise with its twists and turns. It is very different to other books I have read by this author which made it all the more interesting. It is a page turner in every sense of the word as I never knew what was coming next. There is drama, loss, regrets and humour. I really liked Lucy as a character and really enjoyed going on her journey as she swaps one life for another which is not without its challenges. The book has so many great characters and Lucy’s parents are hilarious and I think many will recognise the challenges of looking after parents who think they are fine.
A great read that totally immersed me in Lucy’s world and I was willing her to have a happy ending after such an awful life with Michael. I loved being transported the Catherine’s world again.
5 Stars *****
Thank you to Sriya at Michael Joseph Books for my invitation to the tour and for my gifted copy of the book in return for a fair and honest review.
sammy_3004's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
kirstytlr's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
leesh_reads's review against another edition
2.0
Very dark deep themes however I found it fairly boring. Story dragged on and I couldn’t connect to the vast amount of characters.
katyw's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
kaygee_reads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-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
5.0
katiadublin's review
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
A well read audio book but not overly exciting and with an end that felt very flat to me.
nickimags's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book left me with a huge smile on face, but it didn’t start that way as it’s quite dark and sad in places.
The story was told from Lucy’s point of view, as she comes to terms with life living with her elderly parents, following the sudden ending of her marriage. I loved Lucy, such a lovely warm person, who didn’t deserve what life had thrown at her. The plot took me through a myriad of emotions, learning about her life with her husband Michael and their two grown-up children Imo and Ned.
There were some very colourful characters in this book, particularly Lucy’s parents and their friends, aka drinking buddies. Her sister Helena and her twin girls, also made me laugh out loud on numerous occasions! 😀
I haven’t read a Catherine Alliot novel in years and this reminded me how much I enjoy her books and really must read more of her back catalogue.
I definitely recommend this if you enjoy family dramas that make you laugh, but also don’t shy away from the dark side of life.
The story was told from Lucy’s point of view, as she comes to terms with life living with her elderly parents, following the sudden ending of her marriage. I loved Lucy, such a lovely warm person, who didn’t deserve what life had thrown at her. The plot took me through a myriad of emotions, learning about her life with her husband Michael and their two grown-up children Imo and Ned.
There were some very colourful characters in this book, particularly Lucy’s parents and their friends, aka drinking buddies. Her sister Helena and her twin girls, also made me laugh out loud on numerous occasions! 😀
I haven’t read a Catherine Alliot novel in years and this reminded me how much I enjoy her books and really must read more of her back catalogue.
I definitely recommend this if you enjoy family dramas that make you laugh, but also don’t shy away from the dark side of life.