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stephfafahh 's review for:
The Safe Place
by Anna Downes
Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
‘I’m sorry I’m such a massive disappointment to you guys,’ she said, ‘but you were the ones who adopted a kid from fuck knows where. If you wanted perfection then maybe you should’ve left me where I was.’
This was an absolute whirlwind of emotion. Anna had me coming up with so many different theories - the most obvious being Munchausen's. Although the "twist" was obvious in hindsight, I vehemently wish that Emily did more to save herself from Nina in the scuffle, and evaded everything on her own, and didn't even contemplate being bought for a second. Whilst this was the catalyst for the ultimate character growth of Emily, I wish that it was carried out differently. I'm still left reeling and with unanswered questions about Amandine: what happened to her? Was she reunited? Why was her birth mother made to look uncaring? Did she just forget her daughter? How did she not learn English while held captive?
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys watered down domestic thriller and suspense novels. The start of the story, with the dual POVs was quite jumpy for me until we reached the crux of the plot - and these early chapters where quite slow for me. When the flashbacks started to clearly indicated the journey the characters would take the reader on, and during the escape scene, I was very much at the edge of my seat.
After reading the author's note, I felt very moved and impassioned. I wish her nothing but the best and success for her and her family.
‘I’m sorry I’m such a massive disappointment to you guys,’ she said, ‘but you were the ones who adopted a kid from fuck knows where. If you wanted perfection then maybe you should’ve left me where I was.’
This was an absolute whirlwind of emotion. Anna had me coming up with so many different theories - the most obvious being Munchausen's. Although the "twist" was obvious in hindsight, I vehemently wish that Emily did more to save herself from Nina in the scuffle, and evaded everything on her own, and didn't even contemplate being bought for a second. Whilst this was the catalyst for the ultimate character growth of Emily, I wish that it was carried out differently. I'm still left reeling and with unanswered questions about Amandine: what happened to her? Was she reunited? Why was her birth mother made to look uncaring? Did she just forget her daughter? How did she not learn English while held captive?
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys watered down domestic thriller and suspense novels. The start of the story, with the dual POVs was quite jumpy for me until we reached the crux of the plot - and these early chapters where quite slow for me. When the flashbacks started to clearly indicated the journey the characters would take the reader on, and during the escape scene, I was very much at the edge of my seat.
After reading the author's note, I felt very moved and impassioned. I wish her nothing but the best and success for her and her family.