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bookbloggerjanine's review against another edition
4.0
The Image of Her by Sonia Velton
I give this book 4.5 stars
Stella lives with her mother, a smothering narcissist. When she succumbs to dementia, the pressures on Stella's world intensify, culminating in tragedy.
Connie is an expat living in Dubai with her partner, Mark, and their two children. On the face of it she wants for nothing and yet ... something about life in this glittering city does not sit well with her.
Two women set on a collision course. When they finally link up, it will not be in a way that you, or I, or anyone would ever have expected.
This is going to be one of my highly recommended reads for 2021! I went into this book thinking l was going to enjoy my next thriller but this unexpected page turner made me feel so many emotions l wasn’t prepared for..A poignant and thought provoking storyline with 2 totally compelling characters, made this book easy to read and difficult to forget.
I give this book 4.5 stars
Stella lives with her mother, a smothering narcissist. When she succumbs to dementia, the pressures on Stella's world intensify, culminating in tragedy.
Connie is an expat living in Dubai with her partner, Mark, and their two children. On the face of it she wants for nothing and yet ... something about life in this glittering city does not sit well with her.
Two women set on a collision course. When they finally link up, it will not be in a way that you, or I, or anyone would ever have expected.
This is going to be one of my highly recommended reads for 2021! I went into this book thinking l was going to enjoy my next thriller but this unexpected page turner made me feel so many emotions l wasn’t prepared for..A poignant and thought provoking storyline with 2 totally compelling characters, made this book easy to read and difficult to forget.
emmasbookishcorner's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
4.5
book_worm23's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I felt misled. This is NOT a thriller. It’s a contemporary drama. Rather boring and slow, with a disappointing ending.
mazza57's review
3.0
I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The subject matter of the narrative is unique BUt it is difficult to say what that uniqueness is as it will surely spoil the unfolding of the story.
The narrative is told in two voices; those of Stella and connie. There is almost a 3rd person feeling aboutt Connie's narrative. I went through several scenarios of How Stella and Connie are connected before the eventual reveal. The story-line is clever and the author has included lots of emotional turbulence, attempted suicide, dementia, possible infidelity, abuse of the vulnerable and perhaps therin lies the problems I had with the novel. It did not fully hold my attention and I struggled at times to see where it was going. I think it is very narrative driven and I found it difficult to really get to grips with either of the main characters.
I am glad I pushed through to finish and it is a decent enough read just not up there in my favourites
The narrative is told in two voices; those of Stella and connie. There is almost a 3rd person feeling aboutt Connie's narrative. I went through several scenarios of How Stella and Connie are connected before the eventual reveal. The story-line is clever and the author has included lots of emotional turbulence, attempted suicide, dementia, possible infidelity, abuse of the vulnerable and perhaps therin lies the problems I had with the novel. It did not fully hold my attention and I struggled at times to see where it was going. I think it is very narrative driven and I found it difficult to really get to grips with either of the main characters.
I am glad I pushed through to finish and it is a decent enough read just not up there in my favourites
annarella's review against another edition
3.0
I think it's one those "it's me not the book" cases as I started it 3 times and struggled to go on.
The style of writing is excellent, the characters are interesting but somehow I didn't care for them.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
The style of writing is excellent, the characters are interesting but somehow I didn't care for them.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
natalier3's review
5.0
I am seriously struggling to know how to explain my feelings about this book, and do it justice. It deserves every award going.
The words currently going round my head are: mesmerising, stunning, breathtaking, heart-breaking, heart warming, spell-binding.
I have absolutely devoured this, thinking about it constantly even when not reading, getting ready for work early just so I can go back to Stella and Connie's lives.
This was a few genres seamlessly blended together- mainly literary fiction (the beautiful writing literally speaks for itself) but it was thrilling too, and I couldn't put the book down (even though I didn't want it to end).
The characters were wonderful, intriguing and fascinating, and when Stella and Connie's connection is finally explained, I gasped. Their lives were so real, their struggles and pain so well crafted I felt their every emotion too.
Honestly, this book will stay with me for a seriously long time and I am now Velton's biggest fan. A definite contender for my top reads of 2021.
Utterly spectacular.
The words currently going round my head are: mesmerising, stunning, breathtaking, heart-breaking, heart warming, spell-binding.
I have absolutely devoured this, thinking about it constantly even when not reading, getting ready for work early just so I can go back to Stella and Connie's lives.
This was a few genres seamlessly blended together- mainly literary fiction (the beautiful writing literally speaks for itself) but it was thrilling too, and I couldn't put the book down (even though I didn't want it to end).
The characters were wonderful, intriguing and fascinating, and when Stella and Connie's connection is finally explained, I gasped. Their lives were so real, their struggles and pain so well crafted I felt their every emotion too.
Honestly, this book will stay with me for a seriously long time and I am now Velton's biggest fan. A definite contender for my top reads of 2021.
Utterly spectacular.
geekylou's review
4.0
Brilliant! I love the writing style of this author and a really good story with so many twists and turns. Gripped throughout and I want more.
bookmadjo's review
5.0
Having loved Sonia Velton’s debut novel Blackberry and Wild Rose I could not wait to read this. I was initially surprised that The Image of Her does not fall into the category of historical fiction. What it did provide me with was a dual timeline masterpiece which absolutely blind-sided me with such a finely nuanced and intricately woven contemporary story.
The story arc of both women created such a compelling and dramatic narrative.
Stella spent her life being constantly put down by her narcissistic mother. She does not get to live her own life the way that she would have liked when she becomes a full-time carer to her mother who develops dementia in later life. Following the death of her mother, Stella remains a recluse, hiding in her home with only the delivery of clothes she will send back as her only enjoyment. As she tries to recall her past, she finds that her own memory of events has framed both her past and her present. The only person she feels truly connected to is Connie, an expat living a glamorous life in Dubai, and her only knowledge of Connie is what she sees on social media.
Connie’s life in Dubai is not quite as exotic or as happy as it seems on social media, and she gets caught up in concerns about modern day slavery in the housemaids who support the exotic lifestyles. In the same way that Stella gave up her life to care for her mother, Connie sacrificed a successful career to support her husband’s career.
The parallels between Connie and Stella, and what links them are spoilers that I am not willing to even hint at. You will need to read this incredible novel for yourself.
The ending of the novel and the inspiration for the novel itself really touched me, and prompted me to do some research, giving me food for thought.
The Image of Her is a stunning second novel by Sonia Velton and one that will stay with me for a long time.
The story arc of both women created such a compelling and dramatic narrative.
Stella spent her life being constantly put down by her narcissistic mother. She does not get to live her own life the way that she would have liked when she becomes a full-time carer to her mother who develops dementia in later life. Following the death of her mother, Stella remains a recluse, hiding in her home with only the delivery of clothes she will send back as her only enjoyment. As she tries to recall her past, she finds that her own memory of events has framed both her past and her present. The only person she feels truly connected to is Connie, an expat living a glamorous life in Dubai, and her only knowledge of Connie is what she sees on social media.
Connie’s life in Dubai is not quite as exotic or as happy as it seems on social media, and she gets caught up in concerns about modern day slavery in the housemaids who support the exotic lifestyles. In the same way that Stella gave up her life to care for her mother, Connie sacrificed a successful career to support her husband’s career.
The parallels between Connie and Stella, and what links them are spoilers that I am not willing to even hint at. You will need to read this incredible novel for yourself.
The ending of the novel and the inspiration for the novel itself really touched me, and prompted me to do some research, giving me food for thought.
The Image of Her is a stunning second novel by Sonia Velton and one that will stay with me for a long time.
whatfionareads's review
4.0
This is a difficult one to review without giving away a major part of the novel!
A two perspective novel following Connie and Stella as a twist of fate makes their lives collide.
I enjoyed this for the most part, it wasn't the most hooked on a book I've ever been but as the story progressed I was really intrigued as to where it was going. I did figure out the plot twist, but I don't think that would be that difficult to do.
An easy read with an unusual storyline.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review
A two perspective novel following Connie and Stella as a twist of fate makes their lives collide.
I enjoyed this for the most part, it wasn't the most hooked on a book I've ever been but as the story progressed I was really intrigued as to where it was going. I did figure out the plot twist, but I don't think that would be that difficult to do.
An easy read with an unusual storyline.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review