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aliciasliterarylife's review
5.0
Could not put it down
This book had me going late into the night trying to figure out what was going to happen next! It kept me on my toes from start to finish.
This book had me going late into the night trying to figure out what was going to happen next! It kept me on my toes from start to finish.
brieruth13's review
4.0
3.5 rounded to 4. Fast paced, infuriating. This story depicts the horrors that come with domestic abuse and the trauma it brings the whole family involved. Only thing I didn’t like was the abrupt and unlikely ending. That could have been better
kylieeason's review
4.0
Oh, Suzanne
Hush Little Baby isn’t my favorite Suzanne book, as it was a little slow to get going with the excitement.
What I love about Suzanne Redfearn’s writing is that even though the book wasn’t “exciting” and I still didn’t want to put it down. I knew that once the big moment arrived this book would take off, and it did just that.
With psychological or domestic thrillers I like for things to pick up instantly, and to spend the entire book biting my nails. What I found with Hush Little Baby was that, sometimes, I like a little slow burn in these stories too.
Hush Little Baby isn’t my favorite Suzanne book, as it was a little slow to get going with the excitement.
What I love about Suzanne Redfearn’s writing is that even though the book wasn’t “exciting” and I still didn’t want to put it down. I knew that once the big moment arrived this book would take off, and it did just that.
With psychological or domestic thrillers I like for things to pick up instantly, and to spend the entire book biting my nails. What I found with Hush Little Baby was that, sometimes, I like a little slow burn in these stories too.
lindsalwine's review
3.0
A little hard for me to get through- the idea was there but something about it wasn’t for me.
sromero0528's review
5.0
Did it again
You never know the truth unless you have lived it. That’s what this story shows us. Sometimes things aren’t what they seem. This book makes you think! One heck of a story!
You never know the truth unless you have lived it. That’s what this story shows us. Sometimes things aren’t what they seem. This book makes you think! One heck of a story!
life_full_ofbooks's review
3.0
I was so enamored by In an Instant that I couldn’t wait to jump into another book by Ms. Redfearn. Unfortunately Hush Little Baby wasn’t anywhere near as good.
Jillian Kane is married to seemingly the perfect husband and father, Gordon, and together they have 2 children, Drew and Addie. Gordon presents as a wonderful guy, but behind closed doors is a different story. After 9 years, Jillian realizes the time has come to do something, but it’s not so easy to get away.
I hated Jillian as a character. I had a lot of empathy for her, but seeing her berate herself as a mother repeatedly got old after a while.
While this is a very character driven book, I really didn’t believe some of the motivations of the supporting characters. It made it difficult to connect with said characters.
Ms. Redfearn is phenomenal at creating multidimensional characters and I really wish I had enjoyed this more. I am definitely looking forward to reading more of her work, though, since her characters are so real.
Jillian Kane is married to seemingly the perfect husband and father, Gordon, and together they have 2 children, Drew and Addie. Gordon presents as a wonderful guy, but behind closed doors is a different story. After 9 years, Jillian realizes the time has come to do something, but it’s not so easy to get away.
I hated Jillian as a character. I had a lot of empathy for her, but seeing her berate herself as a mother repeatedly got old after a while.
While this is a very character driven book, I really didn’t believe some of the motivations of the supporting characters. It made it difficult to connect with said characters.
Ms. Redfearn is phenomenal at creating multidimensional characters and I really wish I had enjoyed this more. I am definitely looking forward to reading more of her work, though, since her characters are so real.
givemecandles's review
4.0
Solid 3.5
I usually don't read domestic thrillers so I decided to try this out. I feel like only did a more than scratch the surface of the truly horrible things Gordon did and that Jill's whole experience in Laguna was written off to easily. Also my guy, we get it, you have a lot of Kate Spade. Seeing Gordon die was nice tho
I usually don't read domestic thrillers so I decided to try this out. I feel like only did a more than scratch the surface of the truly horrible things Gordon did and that Jill's whole experience in Laguna was written off to easily. Also my guy, we get it, you have a lot of Kate Spade. Seeing Gordon die was nice tho
mirel's review
4.0
Another good read...
Are people either good or evil? How much do we really know about others? Yet again author Redfearn makes us think about complex issues while providing a good read.
Are people either good or evil? How much do we really know about others? Yet again author Redfearn makes us think about complex issues while providing a good read.
wulfwyn's review against another edition
4.0
I listened to the audiobook. Nola Zandry did an awesome job reading this book.
Domestic violence is a difficult topic for me. Those who know me, know I lived it. Listening to this was difficult. I can’t count the number of times I was taken back to that time while listening to it. Even now, writing this, I want to throw up, cry, and my breathing is heavy. That is how realistic this was written. That I listened all the way says a lot about the story. The author captured the emotions of domestic violence. The narrator gave it life with her performance.
There were parts that I felt were added for dramatic effect. I’m not someone who expects complete reality in a fiction book so it didn’t bother me. I mention it because I know some readers want the story to reflect real life. The abuse was enough reality for me. I was good with things being too easy on Jillian at certain points in the book. I know the struggle. It rarely wraps up quickly or easily. I enjoyed the dramatic parts. I do wish the author did a better wrap up with the people who helped Jillian and the children.
*A personal message about domestic violence. The question I was asked was why did you stay. There is no single answer to that. The answer varies from survivor to survivor as well as from those who didn’t make it. The one thing I think the answers have in common is that they are layered. For me, I was afraid to go and afraid to stay. The victim always knows the danger they are in. (I am trying to be gender neutral because the victim can be either gender just as the perpetrator can be either gender.) Please trust them to know how the abuser will react. For me, I knew staying would mean I would be hurt. I also knew leaving would harm my children. I left and, after tearing up the restraining order, he put a gun with a bullet in it in my child’s face and pulled the trigger. He added a bullet for each child then fully loaded the gun for me. (My children, 9 months old, 3 years old and 10 years old, survived but have memories.). He played a game of Russian roulette with them because he knew I would never risk it again. I stayed until they were grown. I live far from him but the scars remain. I startle when someone comes up behind me, I throw up with certain smells, I cry when my name is said in a certain way and the click of a gun destroys me. But we survived with help along the way. If you know someone who is in this situation or someone who has left it, please don’t ask, why did you stay? It’s a judgment. If you care, offer to keep a bug out bag in your house for them, offer to help them get to a shelter, offer to help pick up the kids from school, invite them over to enjoy a safe place to play, or just be there to listen. Call the domestic violence hotline to get professional advice on how to help but please don’t judge them. You may think they should just leave, (which is the most dangerous time), or that if it were you, you would do x,y,z. Unless you have been in that situation, you really don’t know. Final point, abuse comes in many forms. Words do damage that lasts an unbelievable length of time. Without intervention, all forms of abuse will escalate. There may be quiet times or good times but it will happen again and it will get worse with time. If you are in the situation, there are good people who can help you. You can get out. You are strong enough. Call a shelter, the hotline or a counseling center. You are worth it.
Domestic violence is a difficult topic for me. Those who know me, know I lived it. Listening to this was difficult. I can’t count the number of times I was taken back to that time while listening to it. Even now, writing this, I want to throw up, cry, and my breathing is heavy. That is how realistic this was written. That I listened all the way says a lot about the story. The author captured the emotions of domestic violence. The narrator gave it life with her performance.
There were parts that I felt were added for dramatic effect. I’m not someone who expects complete reality in a fiction book so it didn’t bother me. I mention it because I know some readers want the story to reflect real life. The abuse was enough reality for me. I was good with things being too easy on Jillian at certain points in the book. I know the struggle. It rarely wraps up quickly or easily. I enjoyed the dramatic parts. I do wish the author did a better wrap up with the people who helped Jillian and the children.
*A personal message about domestic violence. The question I was asked was why did you stay. There is no single answer to that. The answer varies from survivor to survivor as well as from those who didn’t make it. The one thing I think the answers have in common is that they are layered. For me, I was afraid to go and afraid to stay. The victim always knows the danger they are in. (I am trying to be gender neutral because the victim can be either gender just as the perpetrator can be either gender.) Please trust them to know how the abuser will react. For me, I knew staying would mean I would be hurt. I also knew leaving would harm my children. I left and, after tearing up the restraining order, he put a gun with a bullet in it in my child’s face and pulled the trigger. He added a bullet for each child then fully loaded the gun for me. (My children, 9 months old, 3 years old and 10 years old, survived but have memories.). He played a game of Russian roulette with them because he knew I would never risk it again. I stayed until they were grown. I live far from him but the scars remain. I startle when someone comes up behind me, I throw up with certain smells, I cry when my name is said in a certain way and the click of a gun destroys me. But we survived with help along the way. If you know someone who is in this situation or someone who has left it, please don’t ask, why did you stay? It’s a judgment. If you care, offer to keep a bug out bag in your house for them, offer to help them get to a shelter, offer to help pick up the kids from school, invite them over to enjoy a safe place to play, or just be there to listen. Call the domestic violence hotline to get professional advice on how to help but please don’t judge them. You may think they should just leave, (which is the most dangerous time), or that if it were you, you would do x,y,z. Unless you have been in that situation, you really don’t know. Final point, abuse comes in many forms. Words do damage that lasts an unbelievable length of time. Without intervention, all forms of abuse will escalate. There may be quiet times or good times but it will happen again and it will get worse with time. If you are in the situation, there are good people who can help you. You can get out. You are strong enough. Call a shelter, the hotline or a counseling center. You are worth it.