A review by readivine
The Surface Breaks by Louise O'Neill

5.0

Again, these types of books have thwarted my initial impressions. I never really expected much from this one, to be honest, yet it had completely stumped my meager expectations to no end.

“There was no one there to hear them scream 'no'. Or maybe there was; but that 'no' wasn’t deemed worthy of being heard. Maybe they heard it and they didn’t care. A woman’s 'no' can so easily be turned into a 'yes' by men who do not want to listen.”

This book is a reminder and a portrayal of every ounce of feminism we need in our lives. This does not stray too far from its theme as to point fingers to who the victim and the suspects are; it simply narrates the crucial bitter truths of misogyny in all its facets.

Spoiler

Surprisingly, it turns out that I am inclined to Eleonor's narratives compared to the little mermaid herself. Her suffering as a mother, a wife, and as a woman had really crushed my heart.

This retelling encapsulates fundamental lessons in our every day lives that we had acknowledged yet had not fully understood and applied. It is funny how beneath that colorful and innocent cover lies a dark trail of thorns and tears. I have certain problems with the writing sometimes, but to be honest, I think this book fairly deserves a 5-star rating because of the significant points it had delivered effectively. This is one retelling I would never forget.

“We are women. And women are warriors, after all.”