I failed spectacularly at getting the reading done for the April book club selection for Read Between the Wines. Sorry, Robert, I swear I meant to read your pick. So it’s only fitting that I blazed through the May selection at record speed before even the end of April!!! Let’s just hope I remember all the discussion points I wanted to hit by the 28th of May!

Synopsis

Shelley Woodhouse wakes from a coma with injuries she knows were inflicted by her husband, David. However, her pleas to contact the police are ignored by hospital staff, and no one seems to want to give Shelley any information at all. Her only visitors are her long-time friend, Dee, and a mysterious hospital volunteer named Matt who adorably brings her kitkats. As we jump back and forth between the present and the memories that return to Shelley, her past, present, and future become more clear to both her and to us as readers.

Review

First of all, I just want to get the cons out of the way, because there’s a lot to actually like about this book. It is highly predictable, however. I was surprised by nothing. I knew who was who from the get-go and couldn’t believe it took Shelley so long to figure some things out. What I will say, however, is that this book isn’t really about the suspense or the mystery of it all. It’s about Shelley discovering the real her that transcends her past trauma. It’s about facing the hurt, shame, and regret and not bottling it inside. People who are looking for a cozy mystery will find something a bit deeper than that which delves into the cyclical nature of domestic violence and the mark it leaves on all who are affected by it. This will leave you a bit hopeful but also sad about the existence of this hidden world of secrets and pain.

Shelley is a likeable but frustrating character. Honestly, predictability is pretty well-suited for a story about domestic violence, because both an abuser and their victim are predictable characters. The cycle continues on and on and on until the abuser finally kills his victim or she (or he) wakes up and gets the hell out. The title is a not-so-thinly-veiled metaphor for escaping the cycle. A bit cliché, maybe, but not unwarranted.

I liked how Pearson utilized secondary characters. In cases of domestic violence, the support system surrounding someone recovering from abuse is so vital to their being able to comfortably pursue living a normal life. In the case of Shelley, it was very important she see that there are truly good men, like Matt and Liam, and that trust can be earned. These characters were well developed and well placed in her life. Her relationship with her mother is also vital here. Shelley has to come to terms with the ways her mother failed her while forging a connection of understanding and forgiveness. This may be the most powerful aspect of the novel.

There you have it. It’s not exciting or glitzy. It’s not comedic. Rather, it’s a deep human story about connecting with ones inner self and healing old scars. This book could really do some good if it reached the right woman, the one who’s been thinking of leaving but just can’t summon the strength. If even one woman is able to save herself from what she feels is a hopeless situation, this book becomes invaluable.

Published April 6, 2024 by Boldwood Books. ISBN 9781785136405. Runtime 8 hrs 7 mins. Narrated by Julie Maisey.