A review by xabbeylongx
A Place to Call Home by Carole Matthews

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Spoilers Ahead
Book Review: 
So, we all know this by now, Matthews is one of my absolute favourite authors ever. I have more books from her on my bookshelf than anyone else, and I’m proud of my collection. And this, I’ll admit, is one of the first books I ever read of hers, and it’s the reason I love so many of her books to this day. 
Everything about this book is so well thought out. Obviously, it has to be, to cover serious topics such as domestic violence, but this is one that, I think, is developed with an insane amount of tact. I really can empathise with the characters, especially Ayesha, when she has so many emotions, especially conflicting ones, going on inside her head. To be fair, all of the characters are all absolutely gorgeous, and so well developed. I don’t think there is a character I don’t like - barring Surresh, of course. 
I won’t lie, I’ve sobbed multiple times in this book. The first time Sabina sung, when Hayden first heard her speak for the first time, just watching the relationships between every single character slowly getting tighter and tighter… found family is one of my favourite tropes ever, and this is no exception. It’s a slow-burn romance, with hardly any sex scenes in it, and the budding romance between Hayden and Ayesha is so sweet, so heart-warming, and it’s definitely one of my favourite love stories, especially when Sabina is added into the mix. 
This is definitely a book I would recommend, but if you’re affected by books with abuse and domestic violence in, it isn’t too graphic, but I would give this one a miss.  
 
Book Summary: 
We follow Ayesha and Sabina, a weary mother and her daughter, as they escape from her abusive husband, Surresh. He’s been abusive for a while, and she’s been saving up for a while so that she can save them both from his wrath. After months and months of planning, she slips him a sleeping pill, and then they leave in the dead of night, never to be seen by him again. 
Oh, and I feel like it’s important to know, Sabina once witnessed her mother being beaten so cruelly, that she never spoke a single word again after that. 
Ayesha herself hasn’t been allowed to do much, let alone leave the house, but they find themselves in London, outside of a women’s charity. The charity has given away their last spot, but Ruth - the lady helping them - calls up an old friend and they manage to squeeze her in. 
When they get there, they meet Crystal. She’s very confident, but so lovely, and makes them feel at ease. An elderly lady, Joy, who is miserable as sin at first, also lives there, but the owner of the house belongs to someone called Hayden Daniels. Whilst Ayesha doesn’t know him, Crystal assures her that he was a very good singer, before he returned back into his shell. 
Crystal becomes very close with them. Hayden doesn’t ever leave his room, but Crystal convinces him to come down and see them for Sabina’s birthday, and he soon becomes smitten. Ayesha grows on Joy, as well, and even makes her dishes that are not ‘too spicy’. All of them are an unlikely bunch, but it works, and they soon become a big family. 
Hayden has lots of security, as he used to be a celebrity. In fact, he was very famous, until he decided to slink away from the limelight. His then-girlfriend, Laura, was driving them somewhere, and Hayden was to propose, when they were flashed by paparazzi, and the car ended up crashing. Laura didn’t make it out. He had no interest in singing again, until now. 
When Ayesha and Sabina came, and started healing him. 
Ayesha doesn’t like going out alone, and Hayden doesn’t like going out full stop. They help each other, and they soon start to feel happier. They can enjoy life together, without restraint. Everyone can see they would be great together, and they both love each other - Hayden even helps Ayesha to read more fluently, as English isn’t her fast language, and practice had been futile whilst she was with her husband. Sabina wills them to get together - and she can’t even talk to tell them that!
 One day when everything is going a little too well, she hears Sabina yelling. It’s the first time she’s spoken in a while, and, with Hayden visiting his parents, a few men that Surresh must have hired breaks into the house, and try to take Sabine. They don’t get to her, in the end, but it’s close. Joy has a head wound, and feels very woozy. When Hayden thinks about going back into the limelight again, having found new inspiration (from Ayesha and Sabina) to write music, the first time since Laura’s passing, it breaks Ayesha’s heart to know that they have to leave again. 
Hayden becomes a recluse again. When Joy goes off to visit her son’s halfway across the world, and Crystal moves in with her new beau, Edgar, he’s stuck missing them. However, when a newspaper declares that Surresh had shot himself after getting caught in a robbery, he gives the house to Crystal, and Hayden makes his way back to his favourite people, in his favourite place. 
And finally, their little family is complete. 
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