always_a_happy_ending 's review for:

Irreversible by Chelley St Clair, Jennifer Hartmann
4.0

I'm not sure how to put into words how this book made me feel. It is a dark captive/ imprisonment romance. Love is a thread through the story, but the darkness of the survival of these characters is the truly gripping aspect of Irreversible.

Everly has been held captive for 2 years. She was an up and coming model and influencer with a sweet husband and a happy life. While she has been worn down by her captivity, there is still a spark in her. She wants to escape and survive. Isaac is the latest person to inhabit the room next door to her. She has heard many people come and go over the two years. Nobody has survived but her. But Isaac is different. His quest for vengeance makes him dangerous. And she finds hope in his confidence that they can escape.

The structure of the narrative is so clever. We have duel perspectives but also duel timelines with the main story being sandwiched between a future narrative. I loved how complete this makes the narrative feel and how it ties up loose ends.

If you've read JH before then you'll know what to expect from Irreversible. It is a dark and non conventional love story founded in trauma. These characters have to fight for their humanity and to find a future in which they can be settled. A brilliant and thought provoking love story.