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Infinite Stranger
On a snowy February morning in 1978, eighteen-year-old Leah Cavanagh meets Brother Matthew Haddon while on a retreat with her Catholic girls’ school. The four days she spends at Greystones Abbey in the wilds of North Yorkshire will have a profound impact not only on her own life, but also on that of her single mother Molly, who never recovered from the murder of her fiancé in 1956.
Leah and Brother Matthew start writing to each other. Soon a tentative friendship develops, with a hint of more. The longing that Leah feels is shared vicariously by Molly, who sees something of her late fiancé in a photo of the handsome monk. When Leah leaves home to study at music college, her feelings for Matthew deepen and she has difficulty committing to other relationships.
Over the coming years Leah keeps returning to Greystones Abbey, spurred by her infatuation for Matthew. The forbidden desire between them grows in intensity with each visit, until it seems impossible that the monk’s vows of chastity will remain unbroken. Soon Leah finds herself unable to break free - neither from her controlling mother nor her enigmatic yet tortured monk - and realises that she will have to make a choice.
Leah and Brother Matthew start writing to each other. Soon a tentative friendship develops, with a hint of more. The longing that Leah feels is shared vicariously by Molly, who sees something of her late fiancé in a photo of the handsome monk. When Leah leaves home to study at music college, her feelings for Matthew deepen and she has difficulty committing to other relationships.
Over the coming years Leah keeps returning to Greystones Abbey, spurred by her infatuation for Matthew. The forbidden desire between them grows in intensity with each visit, until it seems impossible that the monk’s vows of chastity will remain unbroken. Soon Leah finds herself unable to break free - neither from her controlling mother nor her enigmatic yet tortured monk - and realises that she will have to make a choice.
- GenresRomance
414 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 19, 2023
About the author
Wendy Skorupski
2 books18 followersWendy Skorupski had an international upbringing in Cyprus and Vienna and graduated from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in England. She lives in the beautiful historic city of Krakow in Southern Poland and works in the field of international education. Her first dream was to be a concert pianist, just like Leah Cavanagh in her latest novel, Infinite Stranger, therefore she writes about this little-known world from first-hand experience. Infinite Stranger was also inspired by the murder of Wendy’s late mother’s fiancé, Peter Fox - a tragic event that changed the course of her life and provided the backdrop to the novel.
Wendy is the mother of three wonderful children and the owner of a stubborn but loveable Belgian Malinois. During her daily brisk walks with this high-energy dog, ideas for her writing abound. Wendy is also the author of the novel, Once Upon a Thousand Hills, available on Amazon. She is currently working on her next novel.
Wendy’s blog can be found on: wendyskorupski.com.
Wendy is the mother of three wonderful children and the owner of a stubborn but loveable Belgian Malinois. During her daily brisk walks with this high-energy dog, ideas for her writing abound. Wendy is also the author of the novel, Once Upon a Thousand Hills, available on Amazon. She is currently working on her next novel.
Wendy’s blog can be found on: wendyskorupski.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
September 2, 2023
What a story! I was quite intrigued to read this story of the relationship between a mother and daughter which is closely based on the author's own life story. In 1978 Leah Cavanagh attends a retreat at a Benedictine monastery where she meets the attractive Brother Matthew Haddon. This meeting has a profound impact not only on Leah, but also on that of her single mother Molly, who seemingly has never recovered from the murder of her fiancé in 1956.
Over the ensuing years, Leah corresponds with Matthew and a friendship develops between the two which ebbs and flows. However, it is Molly who encourages Leah to pursue this romantic liaison whenever she doubts her feelings. Eventually, Leah leaves home to study at music college, her feelings for Matthew deepen and she has difficulty committing to other relationships.
Despite having a number of relationships, Leah keeps returning to Greystones Abbey, and Matthew. They both try to fight the growing desire between them but it becomes inevitable that Matthew will break his vows. Leah finds herself unable to break free from her mother's constant need to control her life and realises she will need to decide what she wants.
This is a really well written book which tackles a difficult topic beautifully. There are dark moments but also fun parts too and the sense of time and place add to the story. However, I admire the author for writing something so personal and doing it in a way that is so honest. Highly recommended.
Over the ensuing years, Leah corresponds with Matthew and a friendship develops between the two which ebbs and flows. However, it is Molly who encourages Leah to pursue this romantic liaison whenever she doubts her feelings. Eventually, Leah leaves home to study at music college, her feelings for Matthew deepen and she has difficulty committing to other relationships.
Despite having a number of relationships, Leah keeps returning to Greystones Abbey, and Matthew. They both try to fight the growing desire between them but it becomes inevitable that Matthew will break his vows. Leah finds herself unable to break free from her mother's constant need to control her life and realises she will need to decide what she wants.
This is a really well written book which tackles a difficult topic beautifully. There are dark moments but also fun parts too and the sense of time and place add to the story. However, I admire the author for writing something so personal and doing it in a way that is so honest. Highly recommended.
April 5, 2024
It’s 1978 and on a cold February day, Leah Cavanagh meets someone who will change her life. This person will infatuate her, drive her to the point of obsession, ruin future relationships and cause her undue doubt in her life choices. For the person she meets and shares an instant attraction with is Brother Matthew, a monk at Greystones Abbey and whose commitment to God and life at the Abbey is never in doubt. But Leah’s mother disagrees and encourages Leah to follow her heart, despite the risks. Is her mother right?
A riveting read, telling the story of this doomed attraction in a linear style, alongside flashbacks to Leah’s mother’s own tragic love affair which happened long before Molly was born. Both plots were fascinating but the more I got to know Leah’s mother the more she infuriated me. In fact, although I went into this thinking it was a story about Leah and Brother Matthew, I soon realised there was a much stronger theme bubbling away under the surface as the mother/daughter relationship was explored. Which actually interested me just as much. Why was her mother so interested in Leah’s love life? What business was it of hers? It made me consider the relationship I have with my own mother and my own daughter. Would I impact on my daughter’s future relationship? Did my mother ever impact on any of mine?
A thought provoking read and a great plot, Leah’s journey is a fascinating one that will keep you engaged all along the way.
A riveting read, telling the story of this doomed attraction in a linear style, alongside flashbacks to Leah’s mother’s own tragic love affair which happened long before Molly was born. Both plots were fascinating but the more I got to know Leah’s mother the more she infuriated me. In fact, although I went into this thinking it was a story about Leah and Brother Matthew, I soon realised there was a much stronger theme bubbling away under the surface as the mother/daughter relationship was explored. Which actually interested me just as much. Why was her mother so interested in Leah’s love life? What business was it of hers? It made me consider the relationship I have with my own mother and my own daughter. Would I impact on my daughter’s future relationship? Did my mother ever impact on any of mine?
A thought provoking read and a great plot, Leah’s journey is a fascinating one that will keep you engaged all along the way.
August 9, 2023
FIVE STARS.
I've been honored to have read Wendy Skorupski's previous written work, but nothing has prepared me for the whirlwind of a book Infinite Stranger turned out to be. There are some aspects that ring familiar with Skorupski's other pieces: a unique (almost unfathomable) premise that somehow not only works, but works remarkably well, characters that could be sitting at the kitchen table enjoying a cuppa, and the delicately painted set of locations that stoke the embers of wanderlust in the reader.
In short, Skorupski has managed to give readers the engrossing reading experience they crave.
Infinite Stranger interweaves generational stories together in such a way that its roughly 400 pages feel like a brisk walk in the Lake District. Structurally speaking, the book tackles Leah's evolving narratives of the heart in the late 70s/early 80s and the kismet-defining love story of her mother Molly in the 1950s. This back and forth deepens both characters in a way that a straightforward telling simply could not. This herculean task is done seamlessly and purposefully, masterfully showing the parallel nature of one to the other without bludgeoning the reader over the head. Neatly tied into this is the intriguing premise of a sixth former falling hard for a man of God, for the unobtainable.
This, in fact, is a story of striving for that which is out of reach, or rather, because of its unique structure, I should say: these are the stories of striving for that which is out of reach.
How Skorupski managed to do justice to both character arcs is something to examine closely. I believe part of her success is the combination of describing the worlds her troubled characters inhabit as well as giving them authentic voices in the dialogue, which not only show relationship between the characters, but use words and phrases from the period so well that the reader feels transported to the era. I know I did.
One small example is her recreation of 1950s England where the images in my head seemed to turn black and white, with the well placed light of classic cinema softening the features of the protagonists: a fedora propped gingerly upon the hero's head, a shapely Vivien-Leigh-like Molly throwing natural, raw jabs at her incorrigible lover. Ye Gods, when reading there were more than a few times I felt like I was witnessing a film reel from another era.
I think more importantly, though, is that something deep is buried under the surface of a clever premise and masterful world building. This something can be seen in the many times I had to simply stop and reflect upon a particularly well crafted sentence, an authentic action done by a character, or a slightly veiled philosophy that allows the reader to wrestle with the bigger questions of the universe disguised as a simple coming of age story.
I've been honored to have read Wendy Skorupski's previous written work, but nothing has prepared me for the whirlwind of a book Infinite Stranger turned out to be. There are some aspects that ring familiar with Skorupski's other pieces: a unique (almost unfathomable) premise that somehow not only works, but works remarkably well, characters that could be sitting at the kitchen table enjoying a cuppa, and the delicately painted set of locations that stoke the embers of wanderlust in the reader.
In short, Skorupski has managed to give readers the engrossing reading experience they crave.
Infinite Stranger interweaves generational stories together in such a way that its roughly 400 pages feel like a brisk walk in the Lake District. Structurally speaking, the book tackles Leah's evolving narratives of the heart in the late 70s/early 80s and the kismet-defining love story of her mother Molly in the 1950s. This back and forth deepens both characters in a way that a straightforward telling simply could not. This herculean task is done seamlessly and purposefully, masterfully showing the parallel nature of one to the other without bludgeoning the reader over the head. Neatly tied into this is the intriguing premise of a sixth former falling hard for a man of God, for the unobtainable.
This, in fact, is a story of striving for that which is out of reach, or rather, because of its unique structure, I should say: these are the stories of striving for that which is out of reach.
How Skorupski managed to do justice to both character arcs is something to examine closely. I believe part of her success is the combination of describing the worlds her troubled characters inhabit as well as giving them authentic voices in the dialogue, which not only show relationship between the characters, but use words and phrases from the period so well that the reader feels transported to the era. I know I did.
One small example is her recreation of 1950s England where the images in my head seemed to turn black and white, with the well placed light of classic cinema softening the features of the protagonists: a fedora propped gingerly upon the hero's head, a shapely Vivien-Leigh-like Molly throwing natural, raw jabs at her incorrigible lover. Ye Gods, when reading there were more than a few times I felt like I was witnessing a film reel from another era.
I think more importantly, though, is that something deep is buried under the surface of a clever premise and masterful world building. This something can be seen in the many times I had to simply stop and reflect upon a particularly well crafted sentence, an authentic action done by a character, or a slightly veiled philosophy that allows the reader to wrestle with the bigger questions of the universe disguised as a simple coming of age story.
August 3, 2024
This book was really beautiful and uniquely told. I really enjoyed it. It’s a story that once you start you won’t want to stop.
This was my first book that I’ve read by Wendy Skorupski and it won’t be my last. I really enjoyed the way she writes. The relationship between Leah and her mother is one that is more common than you would imagine. Leah’s mother has an emotional past one that I cannot imagine having gone through. There is so much emotion in this story, it really puts you in your feels while reading it. Leah falls for Matthew but they rightfully cannot pursue a relationship without him breaking his promised vows as a brother.
I highly recommend this book. It’s very touching and moving.
This was my first book that I’ve read by Wendy Skorupski and it won’t be my last. I really enjoyed the way she writes. The relationship between Leah and her mother is one that is more common than you would imagine. Leah’s mother has an emotional past one that I cannot imagine having gone through. There is so much emotion in this story, it really puts you in your feels while reading it. Leah falls for Matthew but they rightfully cannot pursue a relationship without him breaking his promised vows as a brother.
I highly recommend this book. It’s very touching and moving.
September 25, 2023
Absolutely loved this book! I loved the parallels between mother and daughter and thought this was so thoughtfully done. Both the romance and the intricacies of Leah and Molly’s relationship were very gripping. It’s definitely a book that can stand alone, but I would love to read a sequel, particularly one exploring the development of the mother-daughter relationship in later life.
Leah’s voice is so relatable, and she overall was a very likeable and funny main character. The story telling and writing was overall very vivid, and told at a pace that immersed you into the different timelines depicted but covers a wide period without it feeling rushed.
I would recommend this book to anyone, particularly those drawn to forbidden romance. There is a good mixture for me of the tragic and the uplifting which made it an overall gripping as well as moving read.
Leah’s voice is so relatable, and she overall was a very likeable and funny main character. The story telling and writing was overall very vivid, and told at a pace that immersed you into the different timelines depicted but covers a wide period without it feeling rushed.
I would recommend this book to anyone, particularly those drawn to forbidden romance. There is a good mixture for me of the tragic and the uplifting which made it an overall gripping as well as moving read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2025
This book……. I was unsure when I started it what it was about, what genre I knew nothing about I went into reading it not even reading the blurb. And oh my what I beautiful story.
It’s a story about love, lost love, unrequited love. It’s such a sad story.
It was also about a mother’s love and how that can be so strong and powerful but yet not in the most productive maternal way it should be.
The main character Leah really pulled at my heart strings and it was such an emotional read.
Theo power of love and the things it can make you do is actually quite scary and this book went through all the emotional roller coasters of love.
It’s a story about love, lost love, unrequited love. It’s such a sad story.
It was also about a mother’s love and how that can be so strong and powerful but yet not in the most productive maternal way it should be.
The main character Leah really pulled at my heart strings and it was such an emotional read.
Theo power of love and the things it can make you do is actually quite scary and this book went through all the emotional roller coasters of love.
October 24, 2025
Here is my review for Infinite Stranger by Wendy Skorupski
I found this book to be an intriguing and character driven story of failed relationships, teenage forbidden desire and a very intense mother-daughter relationship between Molly and Leah. When Leah is an impressionable teenager of eighteen years old, in February 1978 she meets Brother Matthew Haddon when her Catholic girls school goes for a retreat. He helps her find the psalms she needs for the service and that week she can’t keep her eyes off him, trying to get time with him as much as possible. She gets to practice the piano for her music audition that is soon coming up and he says he will pray for her but she must write to him to let him know her result. Hence, a tentative friendship grows between them when they start writing to each other. Molly fully supports this and pushes Leah to chase her first love so she succeeds whereas her mum lost her first love in 1956, when he was murdered abroad.Whenever Matthew sends a letter to Leah she shares it with Molly and they analyze it together, to see if there is any secret code in it. Leah kept all of Matthews' letters to her, as well as a copy of what she sent to him. Leah gets into music college at Birmingham and finally leaves home with Molly helping her take her belongings to Birmingham by train. They dropped Leah’s stuff at her Hall’s and spent the rest of the day together. She would ring Molly every Sunday and tell her about her week. She had her first boyfriend, Gus, who was a policeman. He dropped her because she wouldn’t do what he wanted and she had a few other flings as well. She found she couldn’t commit to anyone as she was in love with Matthew. There was a lot in the story about Molly’s life too. How her first love has affected the decisions she has made throughout her life and who she married. What isn’t in doubt is the closeness between Molly and Leah but something has happened, for Leah is feeling very bitter. She is spending the evening before her wedding day, alone, drinking and reminiscing over her life so far. I got so engrossed in this story of true events that I found I couldn’t put the book down. The story would seamlessly go between Leah’ and Molly’s stories. Leah’s story was set about after 1978 and Molly’s after 1956. The story drew me in as I felt so much empathy for each character and heart-broken for them. It’s beautifully written and will stay with me for a while as I don’t usually read true life stories. There is great detail in the story and the original names have been changed to protect their identity which I believe is only fair. When I read the synopsis for this story, it appealed to me as I’m trying to widen the genres I read and I have only recently started to read romance stories so what better than lost love and forbidden desire?
Blurb :
A mother's lost love. A daughter's forbidden desire. A tale of obsession, inspired by true events.
"A memorable, poignant novel perfect for readers who love character-driven, woman-centric drama." - Kirkus Reviews
On a snowy February morning in 1978, eighteen-year-old Leah Cavanagh meets Brother Matthew Haddon while on a retreat with her Catholic girls’ school. The four days she spends at Greystones Abbey in the wilds of North Yorkshire will have a profound impact not only on her own life, but also on that of her single mother Molly, who never recovered from the murder of her fiancé in 1956.
Leah and Matthew start writing to each other. Soon a tentative friendship develops, with a hint of more. The longing that Leah feels is shared vicariously by Molly, who sees something of her late fiancé in a photograph that Leah shows her of the handsome young monk. When Leah leaves home to study at music college, her feelings for Matthew deepen and she has difficulty committing to other relationships.
Over the coming years Leah keeps returning to Greystones Abbey, spurred by her infatuation for Matthew. The forbidden desire between them grows in intensity with each visit, until it seems impossible that the monk’s vows of chastity will remain unbroken. Soon Leah finds herself unable to break free - neither from her controlling mother, nor her enigmatic yet tortured monk - and realizes that choices will have to be made.
I found this book to be an intriguing and character driven story of failed relationships, teenage forbidden desire and a very intense mother-daughter relationship between Molly and Leah. When Leah is an impressionable teenager of eighteen years old, in February 1978 she meets Brother Matthew Haddon when her Catholic girls school goes for a retreat. He helps her find the psalms she needs for the service and that week she can’t keep her eyes off him, trying to get time with him as much as possible. She gets to practice the piano for her music audition that is soon coming up and he says he will pray for her but she must write to him to let him know her result. Hence, a tentative friendship grows between them when they start writing to each other. Molly fully supports this and pushes Leah to chase her first love so she succeeds whereas her mum lost her first love in 1956, when he was murdered abroad.Whenever Matthew sends a letter to Leah she shares it with Molly and they analyze it together, to see if there is any secret code in it. Leah kept all of Matthews' letters to her, as well as a copy of what she sent to him. Leah gets into music college at Birmingham and finally leaves home with Molly helping her take her belongings to Birmingham by train. They dropped Leah’s stuff at her Hall’s and spent the rest of the day together. She would ring Molly every Sunday and tell her about her week. She had her first boyfriend, Gus, who was a policeman. He dropped her because she wouldn’t do what he wanted and she had a few other flings as well. She found she couldn’t commit to anyone as she was in love with Matthew. There was a lot in the story about Molly’s life too. How her first love has affected the decisions she has made throughout her life and who she married. What isn’t in doubt is the closeness between Molly and Leah but something has happened, for Leah is feeling very bitter. She is spending the evening before her wedding day, alone, drinking and reminiscing over her life so far. I got so engrossed in this story of true events that I found I couldn’t put the book down. The story would seamlessly go between Leah’ and Molly’s stories. Leah’s story was set about after 1978 and Molly’s after 1956. The story drew me in as I felt so much empathy for each character and heart-broken for them. It’s beautifully written and will stay with me for a while as I don’t usually read true life stories. There is great detail in the story and the original names have been changed to protect their identity which I believe is only fair. When I read the synopsis for this story, it appealed to me as I’m trying to widen the genres I read and I have only recently started to read romance stories so what better than lost love and forbidden desire?
Blurb :
A mother's lost love. A daughter's forbidden desire. A tale of obsession, inspired by true events.
"A memorable, poignant novel perfect for readers who love character-driven, woman-centric drama." - Kirkus Reviews
On a snowy February morning in 1978, eighteen-year-old Leah Cavanagh meets Brother Matthew Haddon while on a retreat with her Catholic girls’ school. The four days she spends at Greystones Abbey in the wilds of North Yorkshire will have a profound impact not only on her own life, but also on that of her single mother Molly, who never recovered from the murder of her fiancé in 1956.
Leah and Matthew start writing to each other. Soon a tentative friendship develops, with a hint of more. The longing that Leah feels is shared vicariously by Molly, who sees something of her late fiancé in a photograph that Leah shows her of the handsome young monk. When Leah leaves home to study at music college, her feelings for Matthew deepen and she has difficulty committing to other relationships.
Over the coming years Leah keeps returning to Greystones Abbey, spurred by her infatuation for Matthew. The forbidden desire between them grows in intensity with each visit, until it seems impossible that the monk’s vows of chastity will remain unbroken. Soon Leah finds herself unable to break free - neither from her controlling mother, nor her enigmatic yet tortured monk - and realizes that choices will have to be made.
September 2, 2024
Leah is 18 years old when she visits Greystones Abbey for the first time and it’s during this visit that she meets Brother Matthew. After leaving Greystones Abbey Leah’s mother encourages Leah to continue to communicate with Brother Matthew. It’s this communication that will shape Leah’s life forever.
I would describe the storyline as filled with emotion, love, longing and relationships. I thought this was a truly unique story and I’ve not read anything like it before. One of my favourite aspects of the book was how the story was told. The story is narrated by Leah as if she is writing in her diary and at times it did feel like Leah was speaking directly to the reader as she wrote down what was happening in her life and around her.
The story moved between the past and the present. In the past a young Leah who is an aspiring musician is introduced to Brother Matthew at Greystones Abbey. In the present Leah, now an adult and due to get married, sees a letter from Matthew arrive addressed to her mother, Molly. It’s this letter that stirs up memories of the past and Leah starts to recall her life and her relationship with not only Molly but also Matthew.
At the heart of the story is the relationship between a mother and daughter and it’s what I can only describe as very complex. Molly and Leah’s relationship is certainly very different and I was intrigued to learn more about them. From the beginning it was clear that Molly and Leah were very close. Molly raised Leah alone whilst also looking after her elderly mother and running a B&B. When Leah is younger she always ensures that Molly is in the loop about what is going on in her life, whether that is in her music career or otherwise. But that relationship becomes complicated when Matthew comes onto the scene and it’s this that hangs over all of their lives like a dark cloud for many years to come. When Leah speaks about Matthew it’s very obvious that she has a crush on him and then she starts to write to him. It did feel like Leah had a teenage crush on Matthew but rather than that staying as a crush, as soon as Leah tells Molly about Matthew, Molly seems to encourage and want something to happen between them. Molly urges Leah to continue to communicate with Matthew which causes Leah to become more confused as she gets older as to how she feels about Matthew. Especially when she shares the letters that Matthew has sent with Molly and Molly appears to read more into what is being said and gives her own interpretation of Matthew’s intentions.
It was interesting to see how the relationship between Leah and Molly progressed over the years. They start off very close but as soon as Molly starts to push Leah towards Matthew their relationship starts to become strained. The distance between them grows especially when Leah learns that Molly has been writing to Matthew and didn’t tell her. Molly believes that Matthew is Leah’s one true love. She lost her own true love which she’s never got over and appears to be projecting her own feelings of love and loss onto Leah. It did make me feel a little uncomfortable when Molly was encouraging Leah to pursue Matthew because it did feel like Molly was inadvertently manipulating and influencing her daughter. It also meant that Leah was unable to give any other romantic prospects a fair chance because as soon as she forgot about Matthew, a memory about him would reappear and Molly would insist that Leah reopen the communication between them either by writing to him or going to see him.
I would describe the storyline as filled with emotion, love, longing and relationships. I thought this was a truly unique story and I’ve not read anything like it before. One of my favourite aspects of the book was how the story was told. The story is narrated by Leah as if she is writing in her diary and at times it did feel like Leah was speaking directly to the reader as she wrote down what was happening in her life and around her.
The story moved between the past and the present. In the past a young Leah who is an aspiring musician is introduced to Brother Matthew at Greystones Abbey. In the present Leah, now an adult and due to get married, sees a letter from Matthew arrive addressed to her mother, Molly. It’s this letter that stirs up memories of the past and Leah starts to recall her life and her relationship with not only Molly but also Matthew.
At the heart of the story is the relationship between a mother and daughter and it’s what I can only describe as very complex. Molly and Leah’s relationship is certainly very different and I was intrigued to learn more about them. From the beginning it was clear that Molly and Leah were very close. Molly raised Leah alone whilst also looking after her elderly mother and running a B&B. When Leah is younger she always ensures that Molly is in the loop about what is going on in her life, whether that is in her music career or otherwise. But that relationship becomes complicated when Matthew comes onto the scene and it’s this that hangs over all of their lives like a dark cloud for many years to come. When Leah speaks about Matthew it’s very obvious that she has a crush on him and then she starts to write to him. It did feel like Leah had a teenage crush on Matthew but rather than that staying as a crush, as soon as Leah tells Molly about Matthew, Molly seems to encourage and want something to happen between them. Molly urges Leah to continue to communicate with Matthew which causes Leah to become more confused as she gets older as to how she feels about Matthew. Especially when she shares the letters that Matthew has sent with Molly and Molly appears to read more into what is being said and gives her own interpretation of Matthew’s intentions.
It was interesting to see how the relationship between Leah and Molly progressed over the years. They start off very close but as soon as Molly starts to push Leah towards Matthew their relationship starts to become strained. The distance between them grows especially when Leah learns that Molly has been writing to Matthew and didn’t tell her. Molly believes that Matthew is Leah’s one true love. She lost her own true love which she’s never got over and appears to be projecting her own feelings of love and loss onto Leah. It did make me feel a little uncomfortable when Molly was encouraging Leah to pursue Matthew because it did feel like Molly was inadvertently manipulating and influencing her daughter. It also meant that Leah was unable to give any other romantic prospects a fair chance because as soon as she forgot about Matthew, a memory about him would reappear and Molly would insist that Leah reopen the communication between them either by writing to him or going to see him.
October 8, 2023
‘Infinite Stranger’ by Wendy Skorupski is a novel inspired by real events. The story starts in 1983 on the eve of Leah’s wedding on which her mother Molly should be with her, but apparently something has happened. The daughter stole a letter addressed to her mother before she had a chance to see it. It was from ‘him’. Who is ‘he’, and why did she take the letter? This is how it all starts – and I was immediately hooked.
The book is written in the second person, Leah addressing her mother: “Then you and I can time-travel to the days when you were the most important person in my life, the best mother in the world. The days when we both believed in love and its illusory dream.”
Then Leah starts to narrate how it all started in 1978 when she spent a summer in Greystones Abbey, a catholic girl’s school run by nuns. One day Leah looks out of the window and sees a monk who smiles up to her. “Little did I know, as I watched him disappear into the shadowed entrance to the Gatehouse, that this day would change my life forever.”
Curious? You should be – after she left Greystones Abbey, Leah writes a letter to the monk, Brother Matthew, and Brother Matthew writes back …
The reader also learns about how Leah lives with her mother and grandmother in a house in Lyne-on-Sea. “Three females of three generations all dwelling under the same roof isn’t exactly the most balanced recipe for life.” Leah later gets enrolled at the Birmingham College of Music, that’s why music plays a central part in the book. I have made it a habit to listen to the music that is mentioned in the books I read as it helps get immersed in the story and feel it. Here it was Tony Bennett’s ‘Stranger in Paradise’ – the song that Leah usually heard when she entered her home, and Tchaikovsky’s first piano concerto in B flat minor which Leah played for a competition. I love it when a book really resonates with me, and with this concerto being one of my favourite pieces of classical music it happened again.
Molly also narrates her story in alternating chapters, how she gets a letter that her fiancé Peter Fox would never be coming home when she was only 26 at the time. Molly cannot forget him, and as he was her one and only true love, she always tells Leah about him. “I was brought up on stories of Peter: the tall, haunted-eyed journalist with a sharp intellect, a wry humour, and a global conscience.” It seems Molly thinks that things would have been perfect if Peter had not died and constantly interfered with her daughter’s love life. The relationship between mother and daughter is skilfully developed by the author, Wendy Skorupski. It takes Leah many years and a number of unsuccessful love affairs to realise this about her mother: “It’s more like she’s trying to force my destiny, wanting me to be romantically fulfilled in a way that she herself never was.”
I devoured this book in a few days and recommend it to anyone interested in stories based on real events.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The book is written in the second person, Leah addressing her mother: “Then you and I can time-travel to the days when you were the most important person in my life, the best mother in the world. The days when we both believed in love and its illusory dream.”
Then Leah starts to narrate how it all started in 1978 when she spent a summer in Greystones Abbey, a catholic girl’s school run by nuns. One day Leah looks out of the window and sees a monk who smiles up to her. “Little did I know, as I watched him disappear into the shadowed entrance to the Gatehouse, that this day would change my life forever.”
Curious? You should be – after she left Greystones Abbey, Leah writes a letter to the monk, Brother Matthew, and Brother Matthew writes back …
The reader also learns about how Leah lives with her mother and grandmother in a house in Lyne-on-Sea. “Three females of three generations all dwelling under the same roof isn’t exactly the most balanced recipe for life.” Leah later gets enrolled at the Birmingham College of Music, that’s why music plays a central part in the book. I have made it a habit to listen to the music that is mentioned in the books I read as it helps get immersed in the story and feel it. Here it was Tony Bennett’s ‘Stranger in Paradise’ – the song that Leah usually heard when she entered her home, and Tchaikovsky’s first piano concerto in B flat minor which Leah played for a competition. I love it when a book really resonates with me, and with this concerto being one of my favourite pieces of classical music it happened again.
Molly also narrates her story in alternating chapters, how she gets a letter that her fiancé Peter Fox would never be coming home when she was only 26 at the time. Molly cannot forget him, and as he was her one and only true love, she always tells Leah about him. “I was brought up on stories of Peter: the tall, haunted-eyed journalist with a sharp intellect, a wry humour, and a global conscience.” It seems Molly thinks that things would have been perfect if Peter had not died and constantly interfered with her daughter’s love life. The relationship between mother and daughter is skilfully developed by the author, Wendy Skorupski. It takes Leah many years and a number of unsuccessful love affairs to realise this about her mother: “It’s more like she’s trying to force my destiny, wanting me to be romantically fulfilled in a way that she herself never was.”
I devoured this book in a few days and recommend it to anyone interested in stories based on real events.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 15, 2026
*Infinite Stranger* is one of those rare novels that quietly works its way into your heart and stays there long after the final page. Wendy Skorupski has crafted a deeply emotional and beautifully written story that explores love, longing, faith, grief, and the difficult choices that shape our lives. What struck me most was the emotional depth of the characters. Leah Cavanagh feels incredibly real, young, vulnerable, hopeful, and often torn between what her heart desires and what life demands of her. Her connection with Brother Matthew Haddon is handled with remarkable sensitivity. Rather than relying on dramatic twists, Skorupski allows their relationship to develop gradually, making every interaction feel meaningful and authentic. The tension between devotion and desire is palpable throughout the novel, creating an emotional pull that kept me fully invested. Equally compelling is the character of Molly, Leah's mother. Her unresolved grief and emotional dependence on her daughter add another layer of complexity to the story. I found her character both frustrating and heartbreaking at times, which is a testament to how skillfully she is written. The parallel themes of love lost, love forbidden, and the search for emotional freedom are woven together seamlessly. The setting of Greystones Abbey is wonderfully atmospheric. The isolated Yorkshire landscape, the quiet rhythms of monastic life, and the sense of spiritual reflection create a rich backdrop that enhances the novel's emotional intensity. Skorupski's writing is elegant without being overly elaborate, allowing the story and characters to shine. What I appreciated most was that *Infinite Stranger* never takes the easy route. It asks difficult questions about sacrifice, commitment, faith, and personal happiness without offering simplistic answers. The emotional conflicts feel genuine, and the characters' struggles remain relatable even when their circumstances are unique. This is not just a romance; it is a thoughtful and moving exploration of human connection, loss, and self-discovery. Readers who enjoy character-driven fiction with emotional depth and beautifully developed relationships will find much to admire here. Overall, *Infinite Stranger* is a captivating and memorable novel that combines heartfelt storytelling with profound emotional insight. It is a book that lingers in the mind long after it is finished, and one that I would highly recommend to anyone who appreciates thoughtful, emotionally rich fiction.
July 2, 2023
Wendy Skorupski is a remarkably talented author. I first encountered her first novel, "Once Upon a Thousand Hills," which I loved. I was so engrossed in the protagonist that I devoured it within days.
"Infinite Stranger" showcases the profound depth of her immense abilities. She wields mastery over language, character development, setting, and plot. Her classical music education resonates throughout the book. The lead character, Leah Cavanagh, falls intensely in love with a handsome monk, Brother Matthew, during a visit to a Benedictine order in her sixth form. Leah's narrative intertwines with that of her mother, Molly, who was in a deep relationship with a journalist who passed away before she met Leah's absentee father.
The brilliance of Skorupski lies in her ability to delve into relationships and their multifarious forms. Molly's affection for Leah may be about a profound inner need that she repurposes into a love that turns manipulative as Leah attempts to extricate herself. It's a mother who projects her profound longings onto her daughter and fails to distinguish between her daughter's lived experiences and her own unfulfilled dreams.
She clings to her daughter, using her unreciprocated love for a monk as the only tether to keep Leah close. It's as if the mother desires for Leah to grasp onto this fantasy indefinitely, just as she herself clings to the memory of her deceased lover, Peter.
As a reader, I, too, was captivated by the love Leah harboured for Brother Matthew, but I was also cognisant of his deep commitment to his monastic calling, which might prevent him from reciprocating Leah's affection.
It appears that Molly's tactic to maintain her bond with Leah was to tether her to a man who might never fully love her in return. Skorupski's meticulous narrative control meant that I became so immersed that I began to root for Leah. I longed for her to pursue her own joy and craft a life beyond the suffocating love of her mother. "Infinite Stranger" prompts us to question the myriad facets of love and to explore their implications in our relationships. At present, there is not a single book penned by Wendy Skorupski that I wouldn't eagerly devour.
"Infinite Stranger" showcases the profound depth of her immense abilities. She wields mastery over language, character development, setting, and plot. Her classical music education resonates throughout the book. The lead character, Leah Cavanagh, falls intensely in love with a handsome monk, Brother Matthew, during a visit to a Benedictine order in her sixth form. Leah's narrative intertwines with that of her mother, Molly, who was in a deep relationship with a journalist who passed away before she met Leah's absentee father.
The brilliance of Skorupski lies in her ability to delve into relationships and their multifarious forms. Molly's affection for Leah may be about a profound inner need that she repurposes into a love that turns manipulative as Leah attempts to extricate herself. It's a mother who projects her profound longings onto her daughter and fails to distinguish between her daughter's lived experiences and her own unfulfilled dreams.
She clings to her daughter, using her unreciprocated love for a monk as the only tether to keep Leah close. It's as if the mother desires for Leah to grasp onto this fantasy indefinitely, just as she herself clings to the memory of her deceased lover, Peter.
As a reader, I, too, was captivated by the love Leah harboured for Brother Matthew, but I was also cognisant of his deep commitment to his monastic calling, which might prevent him from reciprocating Leah's affection.
It appears that Molly's tactic to maintain her bond with Leah was to tether her to a man who might never fully love her in return. Skorupski's meticulous narrative control meant that I became so immersed that I began to root for Leah. I longed for her to pursue her own joy and craft a life beyond the suffocating love of her mother. "Infinite Stranger" prompts us to question the myriad facets of love and to explore their implications in our relationships. At present, there is not a single book penned by Wendy Skorupski that I wouldn't eagerly devour.
June 24, 2023
Put simply, I could easily have finished this book in one sitting (but university, work, exams... life gets in the way).
What I loved most in this book was how it engulfed you in its universe. Everyday I looked forward to being back in Leah's world. Whether it be her cosy yet claustrophobic life at the B&B run by her mother, or her vibrant days at music college, I always felt like I was there - and wanted to be there! As someone who frequently skims through descriptions, I never once did that in this book.
Perhaps more notable is how real and authentic the characters were. Leah, in particular, struck a real chord with me - being close in age, I was able to relate to her on many levels. I will always remember the description of her first impressions of Brother Matthew especially - I'm not one to go for monks, but even I found myself almost fancying him! But she was so vivid and real that I probably would have felt whatever it was she was feeling.
To say I was emotionally invested would be an understatement - the characters' complexities and vulnerabilities resonated with such power that I would challenge anyone reading to not form some strong opinions. Delving into their stories had me experiencing a myriad of emotions. I felt pure sorrow as I helplessly observed the gradual demise of Leah's relationship with her mother. I felt immense frustration at her mother's toxic and sanctimonious actions - to the point where at times I wished I could jump into the pages and talk some sense into her! However, despite this frustration my heart also wept for Molly, who ultimately was simply a flawed human with deep emotional scars. I sincerely appreciate that this book did not paint anything black and white - ultimately, no one was evil, and no one was perfect, yet they all ended up complete strangers to one another.
I could go on and on, but without revealing too much, all I can say is reading this was a treat. It is vivid, raw, beautifully written - and it gets you thinking. None of the characters are one-dimensional. I'm not sure I'll ever completely understand the characters or their motivations, but I'll certainly enjoy trying to figure it all out.
What I loved most in this book was how it engulfed you in its universe. Everyday I looked forward to being back in Leah's world. Whether it be her cosy yet claustrophobic life at the B&B run by her mother, or her vibrant days at music college, I always felt like I was there - and wanted to be there! As someone who frequently skims through descriptions, I never once did that in this book.
Perhaps more notable is how real and authentic the characters were. Leah, in particular, struck a real chord with me - being close in age, I was able to relate to her on many levels. I will always remember the description of her first impressions of Brother Matthew especially - I'm not one to go for monks, but even I found myself almost fancying him! But she was so vivid and real that I probably would have felt whatever it was she was feeling.
To say I was emotionally invested would be an understatement - the characters' complexities and vulnerabilities resonated with such power that I would challenge anyone reading to not form some strong opinions. Delving into their stories had me experiencing a myriad of emotions. I felt pure sorrow as I helplessly observed the gradual demise of Leah's relationship with her mother. I felt immense frustration at her mother's toxic and sanctimonious actions - to the point where at times I wished I could jump into the pages and talk some sense into her! However, despite this frustration my heart also wept for Molly, who ultimately was simply a flawed human with deep emotional scars. I sincerely appreciate that this book did not paint anything black and white - ultimately, no one was evil, and no one was perfect, yet they all ended up complete strangers to one another.
I could go on and on, but without revealing too much, all I can say is reading this was a treat. It is vivid, raw, beautifully written - and it gets you thinking. None of the characters are one-dimensional. I'm not sure I'll ever completely understand the characters or their motivations, but I'll certainly enjoy trying to figure it all out.
October 9, 2023
"A beautiful, complex, tender story about a mother and a daughter, about love, living, and the choices we have to make when it comes to matters of the heart." These words from bestselling author Louise Douglas aptly capture the essence of this mesmerizing literary journey titled "Infinite Stranger."
The narrative unfolds in the wintery backdrop of 1978, introducing us to Leah Cavanagh, an eighteen-year-old girl whose life intersects with Brother Matthew Haddon during a retreat at Greystones Abbey. This chance encounter sets in motion a sequence of events that will shape not only Leah's destiny but also the course of her mother Molly's life. Molly carries the weight of a painful past, having lost her fiancé in a tragic incident in 1956. The connection between mother and daughter runs deep, and Leah's association with Brother Matthew fuels a longing that reverberates through both their lives.
The novel beautifully explores the evolution of Leah and Matthew's relationship through letters and subsequent visits to Greystones Abbey. What begins as a tentative friendship evolves into a profound connection, fraught with forbidden desires and the complexities of chastity vows. The author adeptly delves into the emotional depths of her characters, capturing the intricacies of their longings and the turmoil that ensues.
As Leah pursues her passion for music at college, her feelings for Brother Matthew deepen, challenging her ability to form other relationships. She grapples with her loyalty to her controlling mother and her growing infatuation for the enigmatic monk. The tension between duty and desire becomes palpable, setting the stage for a series of choices that will define their fates.
"Infinite Stranger" is a poignant exploration of love, sacrifice, and the profound connections that bind us. The narrative gracefully weaves together the lives of its characters, delving into their vulnerabilities and aspirations. Readers will be transported to the atmospheric setting of Greystones Abbey, where the enduring echoes of love and longing linger.
The narrative unfolds in the wintery backdrop of 1978, introducing us to Leah Cavanagh, an eighteen-year-old girl whose life intersects with Brother Matthew Haddon during a retreat at Greystones Abbey. This chance encounter sets in motion a sequence of events that will shape not only Leah's destiny but also the course of her mother Molly's life. Molly carries the weight of a painful past, having lost her fiancé in a tragic incident in 1956. The connection between mother and daughter runs deep, and Leah's association with Brother Matthew fuels a longing that reverberates through both their lives.
The novel beautifully explores the evolution of Leah and Matthew's relationship through letters and subsequent visits to Greystones Abbey. What begins as a tentative friendship evolves into a profound connection, fraught with forbidden desires and the complexities of chastity vows. The author adeptly delves into the emotional depths of her characters, capturing the intricacies of their longings and the turmoil that ensues.
As Leah pursues her passion for music at college, her feelings for Brother Matthew deepen, challenging her ability to form other relationships. She grapples with her loyalty to her controlling mother and her growing infatuation for the enigmatic monk. The tension between duty and desire becomes palpable, setting the stage for a series of choices that will define their fates.
"Infinite Stranger" is a poignant exploration of love, sacrifice, and the profound connections that bind us. The narrative gracefully weaves together the lives of its characters, delving into their vulnerabilities and aspirations. Readers will be transported to the atmospheric setting of Greystones Abbey, where the enduring echoes of love and longing linger.
July 7, 2023
Wendy Skorupski is an exquisite author. This is the first of her books that I have read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was immediately captivated and finished reading the book in a few short days.
‘Infinite Stranger’ is a deeply moving novel that highlights the author’s world-building ability. The characters and emotions depicted in the novel are highly believable. At the heart of the book lies a loving yet tumultuous relationship between Leah Cavanagh, the novel’s protagonist, and her mother, Molly.
During a visit to Greystone Abbey, Leah falls for Brother Matthew, a young monk. Spurred by her mother’s obsessive tendencies, Leah and Brother Matthew form a relationship by writing letters to each other. The unrequited love between Leah and Brother Matthew mirrors that of her mother’s own unfulfilled relationship with her first love, a journalist who tragically dies before they could get married.
As a reader, I was fascinated by the toxic yet loving portrayal of Leah and Molly’s relationship. Molly projects her unrealised longings and desires onto her daughter. In her attempts to unite Leah and Brother Matthew, she hopes that her own tragic love story can somehow be undone. The novel switches seamlessly between past and present, a testament to the author’s deft hand. These glimpses into Molly’s former life present the image of a fragmented woman and offer both Leah and the reader a better insight into Molly’s actions, without absolving her of the manipulative tactics she uses on her daughter.
In addition to its exceptional character development, the novel contains vivid descriptions of landscapes in the Midlands and those surrounding Greystone Abbey which are reminiscent of Bronte’s ‘Jane Eyre.’ These descriptions have an immersive quality, allowing you to completely lose yourself in the novel’s world.
I cannot sing the praises of this book enough and would highly recommend ‘Infinite Strangers’. I look forward to reading more books by Wendy Skorupski.
‘Infinite Stranger’ is a deeply moving novel that highlights the author’s world-building ability. The characters and emotions depicted in the novel are highly believable. At the heart of the book lies a loving yet tumultuous relationship between Leah Cavanagh, the novel’s protagonist, and her mother, Molly.
During a visit to Greystone Abbey, Leah falls for Brother Matthew, a young monk. Spurred by her mother’s obsessive tendencies, Leah and Brother Matthew form a relationship by writing letters to each other. The unrequited love between Leah and Brother Matthew mirrors that of her mother’s own unfulfilled relationship with her first love, a journalist who tragically dies before they could get married.
As a reader, I was fascinated by the toxic yet loving portrayal of Leah and Molly’s relationship. Molly projects her unrealised longings and desires onto her daughter. In her attempts to unite Leah and Brother Matthew, she hopes that her own tragic love story can somehow be undone. The novel switches seamlessly between past and present, a testament to the author’s deft hand. These glimpses into Molly’s former life present the image of a fragmented woman and offer both Leah and the reader a better insight into Molly’s actions, without absolving her of the manipulative tactics she uses on her daughter.
In addition to its exceptional character development, the novel contains vivid descriptions of landscapes in the Midlands and those surrounding Greystone Abbey which are reminiscent of Bronte’s ‘Jane Eyre.’ These descriptions have an immersive quality, allowing you to completely lose yourself in the novel’s world.
I cannot sing the praises of this book enough and would highly recommend ‘Infinite Strangers’. I look forward to reading more books by Wendy Skorupski.
July 7, 2023
A captivating portrait of the mother-daughter relationship and misconstrued love.
Infinite Stranger is a captivating coming-of-age saga focusing on a tumultuous mother-daughter relationship. The story spans several decades, from the 1950s to the 1980s, with two main characters, Molly, the narcissistic mother, and Leah, the love-starved daughter.
As the daughter Leah comes of age, several male characters are introduced, and Leah uses her sexual prowess to gain independence from her controlling mother and to increase her self-worth. However, this is not an explicit book.
Unrequited and toxic love is a big theme throughout the novel as Leah falls into an infatuation-type love with a Monk she meets on a school trip in her youth. Brother Matthew is devoted to his faith, so the relationship that Leah wants is impossible. However, her mother, Molly, encourages her to continue correspondence with the monk under the guise of fulfilling and healing her trauma of losing her fiance several decades prior.
This book will make you want to cheer for Leah as she embarks on a journey to find herself and separate herself from an antagonistic and manipulative relationship with her mother.
One thing that would improve the readability is to add in character titles when the time period and main character shifts from Molly in the 1950s to Leah in the 1970s and 80s. There were a few times when I needed to figure out who was narrating; however, this is my preference as it can be helpful, especially in a time-driven novel, where the decade is as much a character as Leah, Molly, and Brother Matthew.
Overall I recommend this book, with its eloquent cadence and engaging writing style. There was slight stagnation in a few chapters, but nothing significant. The author did an excellent job with the length and Leah's character progression.
Ultimately this book paints a picture of healing toxic family dynamics and Leah's pursuit of peace and fulfillment.
Infinite Stranger is a captivating coming-of-age saga focusing on a tumultuous mother-daughter relationship. The story spans several decades, from the 1950s to the 1980s, with two main characters, Molly, the narcissistic mother, and Leah, the love-starved daughter.
As the daughter Leah comes of age, several male characters are introduced, and Leah uses her sexual prowess to gain independence from her controlling mother and to increase her self-worth. However, this is not an explicit book.
Unrequited and toxic love is a big theme throughout the novel as Leah falls into an infatuation-type love with a Monk she meets on a school trip in her youth. Brother Matthew is devoted to his faith, so the relationship that Leah wants is impossible. However, her mother, Molly, encourages her to continue correspondence with the monk under the guise of fulfilling and healing her trauma of losing her fiance several decades prior.
This book will make you want to cheer for Leah as she embarks on a journey to find herself and separate herself from an antagonistic and manipulative relationship with her mother.
One thing that would improve the readability is to add in character titles when the time period and main character shifts from Molly in the 1950s to Leah in the 1970s and 80s. There were a few times when I needed to figure out who was narrating; however, this is my preference as it can be helpful, especially in a time-driven novel, where the decade is as much a character as Leah, Molly, and Brother Matthew.
Overall I recommend this book, with its eloquent cadence and engaging writing style. There was slight stagnation in a few chapters, but nothing significant. The author did an excellent job with the length and Leah's character progression.
Ultimately this book paints a picture of healing toxic family dynamics and Leah's pursuit of peace and fulfillment.
July 29, 2024
If you love complicated romance and family drama, this book will be right up your alley. But, if you have a complicated relationship with the mother figure in your life, you might want to take a look at the description and pay close attention to my review before digging right in.
If you had a weird, complicated relationship with your mother - this might be a hard read for you. Or it might be cathartic. Just know that the relationship with the mother-daughter relationship in this book is toxic AF! I could feel it on a visceral level because many of the issues and experiences reminded me a LOT of my relationship with my own mother.
This is the kind of romance that many will be uncomfortable with. I can promise that because I've written one similar enough and had several people tell me so. But it is important. It shows a portion of our society that isn't talked about much, and I think that's what good writing does. Those who love a good dark romance or a really good romance mixed with family drama will eat this up.
The author has written dynamic characters. Each one is unique, supplied with its own special demons - or ghosts - depending on how you want to look at it. This is one of the best examples of "love hurts" I think I've ever seen. Lest I accidentally turn you off - but let's be honest, we're all looking for a heart-ripper sometimes - it also has a hopeful message. Even with all the flawed, very human characters, all hope isn't lost.
Told through flashbacks, diary entries, letters, and the eyes of an angry young woman on her wedding night, we're left wondering how reliable our narrator is. I'd almost throw #domesticthriller into the mix because the sense of dread and confusion is strong throughout the read. But maybe that's only if you have certain life experiences.
Content Warnings: Religious Ideology, Infidelity, Parental Abandonment, Lost Love, Abuse of Power, Adult Situations, Adult Language, Death
If you had a weird, complicated relationship with your mother - this might be a hard read for you. Or it might be cathartic. Just know that the relationship with the mother-daughter relationship in this book is toxic AF! I could feel it on a visceral level because many of the issues and experiences reminded me a LOT of my relationship with my own mother.
This is the kind of romance that many will be uncomfortable with. I can promise that because I've written one similar enough and had several people tell me so. But it is important. It shows a portion of our society that isn't talked about much, and I think that's what good writing does. Those who love a good dark romance or a really good romance mixed with family drama will eat this up.
The author has written dynamic characters. Each one is unique, supplied with its own special demons - or ghosts - depending on how you want to look at it. This is one of the best examples of "love hurts" I think I've ever seen. Lest I accidentally turn you off - but let's be honest, we're all looking for a heart-ripper sometimes - it also has a hopeful message. Even with all the flawed, very human characters, all hope isn't lost.
Told through flashbacks, diary entries, letters, and the eyes of an angry young woman on her wedding night, we're left wondering how reliable our narrator is. I'd almost throw #domesticthriller into the mix because the sense of dread and confusion is strong throughout the read. But maybe that's only if you have certain life experiences.
Content Warnings: Religious Ideology, Infidelity, Parental Abandonment, Lost Love, Abuse of Power, Adult Situations, Adult Language, Death
July 23, 2025
ARC Review – 3.5⭐️ (rounded up)
Summary:
When 16-year-old Leah Cavanagh visits Greystones Abbey with her Catholic girls school, she meets Brother Matthew, a Benedictine monk. Despite the obvious boundary between them, Leah becomes increasingly infatuated—and what makes things more complicated is that her emotionally entangled mother, still grieving the death of her fiancé nearly 30 years later, encourages Leah to pursue him. What unfolds is a coming-of-age story about first love, obsession, and slowly waking up to the truth about the people you trust most.
Review:
At its core, Infinite Stranger is about the unraveling of a mother-daughter bond, and that’s where the book shines. The narrative structure—like a one-sided conversation with Leah’s mom—gave the story emotional weight, especially as Leah begins to question her mother’s influence and motives. Watching her slowly recognize her mother’s emotional manipulation was difficult and raw, and I can only imagine how painful that realization would be when your single parent is your entire world.
That said, the writing itself wasn’t very polished. The repetitive foreshadowing lines at the end of every chapter—things like “Little did I know…” or *“Too bad I couldn’t leave the falling-in-love part behind”—became distracting. They took me out of the story and felt like a heavy-handed attempt to build tension instead of trusting the reader to feel it. A little more “show, don’t tell” would’ve gone a long way.
Despite that, the “bones” of the story were strong. It kept me engaged, and the central relationship—however uncomfortable—was layered and thought-provoking. It’s not an easy read emotionally, but it’s a meaningful one.
Bottom line: An emotionally complex coming-of-age story with strong themes of grief, control, and awakening identity. The execution needs refining, but the impact of the story still lands.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Summary:
When 16-year-old Leah Cavanagh visits Greystones Abbey with her Catholic girls school, she meets Brother Matthew, a Benedictine monk. Despite the obvious boundary between them, Leah becomes increasingly infatuated—and what makes things more complicated is that her emotionally entangled mother, still grieving the death of her fiancé nearly 30 years later, encourages Leah to pursue him. What unfolds is a coming-of-age story about first love, obsession, and slowly waking up to the truth about the people you trust most.
Review:
At its core, Infinite Stranger is about the unraveling of a mother-daughter bond, and that’s where the book shines. The narrative structure—like a one-sided conversation with Leah’s mom—gave the story emotional weight, especially as Leah begins to question her mother’s influence and motives. Watching her slowly recognize her mother’s emotional manipulation was difficult and raw, and I can only imagine how painful that realization would be when your single parent is your entire world.
That said, the writing itself wasn’t very polished. The repetitive foreshadowing lines at the end of every chapter—things like “Little did I know…” or *“Too bad I couldn’t leave the falling-in-love part behind”—became distracting. They took me out of the story and felt like a heavy-handed attempt to build tension instead of trusting the reader to feel it. A little more “show, don’t tell” would’ve gone a long way.
Despite that, the “bones” of the story were strong. It kept me engaged, and the central relationship—however uncomfortable—was layered and thought-provoking. It’s not an easy read emotionally, but it’s a meaningful one.
Bottom line: An emotionally complex coming-of-age story with strong themes of grief, control, and awakening identity. The execution needs refining, but the impact of the story still lands.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 24, 2023
The story by Wendy Skorupski is based on the relationship between a mother (Molly) & daughter (Leah) which tends the daughter to realise what is right for her & make choices. With the loss of her fiance, Peter Fox, Mother Molly faced a huge tragedy in her life which wasn't easy for her to overcome. Peter was a twenty four years old young reporter, serious by nature and a deep-thinker. The author has mentioned in brief about Peter & Molly's love life. She had a manipulative nature through which she used to fulfill her own desires at the cost of Leah's happiness. As the story unfolds, you can definitely notice mother Molly controlling her daughter's life and decisions. On her journey, Leah Cavanagh meets a monk who she called Brother Matthew and ends up building a bond of friendship with him. She couldn't simply ignore the existence of her single mother in her life. Slowly as time passed, readers get a hint of how her relation with Matthew tends to grow much more than friendship. Leah while leaving home for building her career realises how hard it's for her to stay away from Matthew and how important he has turned out for her. She often kept visiting Greystones Abbey to meet him, her feelings deepens. She now has to make choices and choose what is right for herself rather than simply doing what she's instructed to do. What happens next in the story ?? What had happened to Peter Fox ? Will Matthew accept Leah as his partner ?? It’s fantastic and with short chapters on top of fast-paced writing, this was a genuine page-turner. The way these emotions intertwine with friendship and love creates a captivating narrative that keeps readers emotionally invested. I would definitely love to read more such books by the author. Highly recommended. Overall, a perfect read.
June 19, 2023
This exquisitely written book explores the intricate dynamics of a deeply complex mother-daughter relationship, delving into their intertwined lives and the choices they make. Through the eyes of the daughter, we witness the unfolding narrative that becomes a conduit for her mother's unfulfilled romantic fantasies. The author adeptly navigates the complexities of this bond, eliciting a mix of sympathy and frustration in readers. The story is skilfully crafted, seamlessly blending moments of tenderness, turmoil, and conflict to create a truly compelling narrative.
One of the book's most captivating qualities is the author's approach to paint such vibrant and vivid images that evoke strong emotions. The dialogue is authentic and allows me to delve deep into the motivations and conflicts of the characters, fostering a genuine understanding. I found myself resonating with Leah's inner thought process and emotional journey when it comes to love—the fantasies, the what-ifs, and the inner turmoil. At the same time, I felt a profound frustration with the mother's manipulative tendencies, as she seeks to fulfil her own romantic desires through her daughter, at the expense of her daughter's true happiness.
It is truly uplifting to witness Leah's personal growth as she begins to think for herself, prioritizing what is best for her own well-being. What struck me most about this book was the author's meticulous attention to detail, bringing the words to life with vivid descriptions that truly immerse the reader in the story. The emotional rollercoaster kept me fully engaged in this absolute page-turner.
One of the book's most captivating qualities is the author's approach to paint such vibrant and vivid images that evoke strong emotions. The dialogue is authentic and allows me to delve deep into the motivations and conflicts of the characters, fostering a genuine understanding. I found myself resonating with Leah's inner thought process and emotional journey when it comes to love—the fantasies, the what-ifs, and the inner turmoil. At the same time, I felt a profound frustration with the mother's manipulative tendencies, as she seeks to fulfil her own romantic desires through her daughter, at the expense of her daughter's true happiness.
It is truly uplifting to witness Leah's personal growth as she begins to think for herself, prioritizing what is best for her own well-being. What struck me most about this book was the author's meticulous attention to detail, bringing the words to life with vivid descriptions that truly immerse the reader in the story. The emotional rollercoaster kept me fully engaged in this absolute page-turner.
August 30, 2023
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5🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 review
A rich and deeply enjoyable read with so much character description that by the end, I felt like the characters were almost jumping off page!
Infinite Strangers follows Leah who upon visiting Greystone Abbey falls for Brother Matthew, who is one of the monks. In time, they both form a friendship and begin writing letters to each other. The unrequited love that Leah has for Brother Matthew appears to mirror Leah's mother's past and unfulfilled relationship to a journalist, which as a result sparks the unfortunate demise in their own mother daughter relationship.
One of the most enjoyable but also at times heart-wrenching moments were between Leah and her mother (a complicated, multifaceted woman with so many layers). I wish they could have bonded and not become so fractured, but I guess that added to the depth of the story.
I also loved the references to Leah and her busy days at music college. It reminded me of my years studying music. In these parts you could really tell that the author Wendy comes from a musical background.
Anyone who wants to read a totally immersive story with deep, raw, emotional, real character portrayals, then this is the book for you.
Thank you @randomthingstours for the copy. I will certainly be reading more books by Wendy Skorupski in the future.
5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
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5🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 review
A rich and deeply enjoyable read with so much character description that by the end, I felt like the characters were almost jumping off page!
Infinite Strangers follows Leah who upon visiting Greystone Abbey falls for Brother Matthew, who is one of the monks. In time, they both form a friendship and begin writing letters to each other. The unrequited love that Leah has for Brother Matthew appears to mirror Leah's mother's past and unfulfilled relationship to a journalist, which as a result sparks the unfortunate demise in their own mother daughter relationship.
One of the most enjoyable but also at times heart-wrenching moments were between Leah and her mother (a complicated, multifaceted woman with so many layers). I wish they could have bonded and not become so fractured, but I guess that added to the depth of the story.
I also loved the references to Leah and her busy days at music college. It reminded me of my years studying music. In these parts you could really tell that the author Wendy comes from a musical background.
Anyone who wants to read a totally immersive story with deep, raw, emotional, real character portrayals, then this is the book for you.
Thank you @randomthingstours for the copy. I will certainly be reading more books by Wendy Skorupski in the future.
5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
#infinitestrangers #wendymskorupski #randomttours #bookreview #bookstagrammer #bookstagram
#Littlemiss_booklover #littlemissreader #twitter #romancebooks
June 15, 2023
This book is an absolute masterpiece, a truly captivating read. The author's ability to evoke a wide range of emotions, including love, frustration, pain, and hope, it simply doesn't allow you to close it. I found myself shedding tears not once, but twice, something that does not happen often when reading! The vivid descriptions take you so vividly into the story, spanning different timelines with remarkable clarity to the scenes and setting.
What makes this book even more incredible is its authenticity, as I found through reading Wendy Skorupski's blog. The emotions it conveys are so relatable, resonating deeply. Despite the heartbreak woven, the sheer beauty of the narrative cannot be denied. The parallel stories of Leah and Molly's past romance, intertwined with the tragic death of Peter Fox, add such intense layers to the plot.
I was particularly drawn to the forbidden passions that unfold between Leah and the monk, which definitely add a steamy allure! Despite the frustrations that arise from the characters, their complexities only enhance the vivid experience. This book has the power to keep you captivated from beginning to end, regardless of any initial reservations I initially had with the genre.
I'd wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone seeking an enthralling read. Its ability to evoke emotions, its tantalising forbidden romance, and its ability to maintain captivation make it a great choice.
What makes this book even more incredible is its authenticity, as I found through reading Wendy Skorupski's blog. The emotions it conveys are so relatable, resonating deeply. Despite the heartbreak woven, the sheer beauty of the narrative cannot be denied. The parallel stories of Leah and Molly's past romance, intertwined with the tragic death of Peter Fox, add such intense layers to the plot.
I was particularly drawn to the forbidden passions that unfold between Leah and the monk, which definitely add a steamy allure! Despite the frustrations that arise from the characters, their complexities only enhance the vivid experience. This book has the power to keep you captivated from beginning to end, regardless of any initial reservations I initially had with the genre.
I'd wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone seeking an enthralling read. Its ability to evoke emotions, its tantalising forbidden romance, and its ability to maintain captivation make it a great choice.
April 4, 2025
So this follows Leah Cavanagh and her single mother Molly. Leah is 18 in 1978 and as part of a 6th form school trip she visits Greystones Abbey in Yorkshire and quickly becomes infatuated with Brother Matthew. Upon her return home she starts to write to Brother Matthew, encouraged by her mother. This story follows Leah’s journey to music college, dabbling with relationships along the way, with the spectre of her monk in the background.
Now this is a bit of a deviation from what I normally read and I wasn’t sure about it but wanted to give it a go as I was intrigued and let me tell you I was very quickly hooked, and I think it might be due to the approach Wendy has taken in telling this story, it is told from Leah’s point of view, and I know your probably thinking that’s not new, but let me explain, so yes its told from Leah’s point of view but its different in that Leah is talking directly to the ready who in this is her mother.
I have to say I really enjoyed this book, its well written and I liked the different timelines that allowed me to understand the characters more, and I kept swinging back and forth between supporting Leah or Molly, it was like a tennis match with me flip flopping between them. The flow and pace were great and there were some good plots twists and red herrings along the way. And what an ending!
What a great book, I would definitely recommend this. Its a great 4 star read for me!
Now this is a bit of a deviation from what I normally read and I wasn’t sure about it but wanted to give it a go as I was intrigued and let me tell you I was very quickly hooked, and I think it might be due to the approach Wendy has taken in telling this story, it is told from Leah’s point of view, and I know your probably thinking that’s not new, but let me explain, so yes its told from Leah’s point of view but its different in that Leah is talking directly to the ready who in this is her mother.
I have to say I really enjoyed this book, its well written and I liked the different timelines that allowed me to understand the characters more, and I kept swinging back and forth between supporting Leah or Molly, it was like a tennis match with me flip flopping between them. The flow and pace were great and there were some good plots twists and red herrings along the way. And what an ending!
What a great book, I would definitely recommend this. Its a great 4 star read for me!
July 29, 2024
I found this a steady but really good read. An interesting way to write as well with the POV’s. Don’t recall having read anything written this way before.
The POV from Leah, speaking to and about her mother. Following her first meeting with Brother Matthew on a school trip, which lead to letters being written, going to visit him and all manor of feeling thrown in the mix.
The POV of Leah’s mother Molly with her charisma, charm and sixth sense on all things love-related! Her words of wisdom, beautiful memories of Peter Fox and her unshakable love for Leah.
As the story goes through Leah’s life becoming a student, womanhood, navigating men and college.
After heartbreak from Brother Matthew Leah tries to carry on with her life and focus on her music studies. Meeting new men, having relationships…. But Brother Matthew is always there in the background of her mind.
The story dips in and out of her mother’s past & her experiences. The different men she comes across and of course Peter Fox always seems to be an anchor she pulls back towards. The mother’s loss of her beloved seems to cause her love for her daughter to be even more intense!
No matter what Leah does she’s always drawn back to Matthew…. But which way will her life go?!
No spoilers, great read, steady storyline and an unusual but refreshing writing style for me!
The POV from Leah, speaking to and about her mother. Following her first meeting with Brother Matthew on a school trip, which lead to letters being written, going to visit him and all manor of feeling thrown in the mix.
The POV of Leah’s mother Molly with her charisma, charm and sixth sense on all things love-related! Her words of wisdom, beautiful memories of Peter Fox and her unshakable love for Leah.
As the story goes through Leah’s life becoming a student, womanhood, navigating men and college.
After heartbreak from Brother Matthew Leah tries to carry on with her life and focus on her music studies. Meeting new men, having relationships…. But Brother Matthew is always there in the background of her mind.
The story dips in and out of her mother’s past & her experiences. The different men she comes across and of course Peter Fox always seems to be an anchor she pulls back towards. The mother’s loss of her beloved seems to cause her love for her daughter to be even more intense!
No matter what Leah does she’s always drawn back to Matthew…. But which way will her life go?!
No spoilers, great read, steady storyline and an unusual but refreshing writing style for me!
August 7, 2024
📚📖Book Review📖📚
📚Book Tour📚
Infinite Stranger
by Wendy Skorupski
⭐⭐⭐⭐
How, oh, how do we recognize the love that will last a lifetime? How do we differentiate it from a “youthful, naïve love” versus a “peripheral” or “toxic longing”? How do we know it’s not just a fairy tale but true love in its absolute form?
These are the questions that plagued me as I read this author’s cathartic journey, telling her romance story that has been simmering in her soul, waiting to be heard. I might be dating myself, but the novel is very reminiscence of The Thorn Birds {Colleen McCullough}.
The adage, “like mother, like daughter” is very apparent through the course of this novel, as the author not only relates her own story, but gives us her mum’s own storyline as it relates to her own, seamlessly at times. Skorupski has taken a true story, written from her very heart and soul, and blurred the lines - making it hard to ascertain what is truth and what is fiction. I think it is up to the reader to decide – who is the victim? – Is it Leah or Molly? Or both?
In the grand scheme of things, “we’re the makers of our own destiny.” Not just a coming-of-age novel, but the battle to become your own person in the shadow of your parent(s).
Thank you to @skorpuskiwendy and @lovebooktours for my #gifted copy to review.
📚Book Tour📚
Infinite Stranger
by Wendy Skorupski
⭐⭐⭐⭐
How, oh, how do we recognize the love that will last a lifetime? How do we differentiate it from a “youthful, naïve love” versus a “peripheral” or “toxic longing”? How do we know it’s not just a fairy tale but true love in its absolute form?
These are the questions that plagued me as I read this author’s cathartic journey, telling her romance story that has been simmering in her soul, waiting to be heard. I might be dating myself, but the novel is very reminiscence of The Thorn Birds {Colleen McCullough}.
The adage, “like mother, like daughter” is very apparent through the course of this novel, as the author not only relates her own story, but gives us her mum’s own storyline as it relates to her own, seamlessly at times. Skorupski has taken a true story, written from her very heart and soul, and blurred the lines - making it hard to ascertain what is truth and what is fiction. I think it is up to the reader to decide – who is the victim? – Is it Leah or Molly? Or both?
In the grand scheme of things, “we’re the makers of our own destiny.” Not just a coming-of-age novel, but the battle to become your own person in the shadow of your parent(s).
Thank you to @skorpuskiwendy and @lovebooktours for my #gifted copy to review.
July 29, 2024
Do we ever know the truth about the stories we are told? This is a love story filled with obsession and forbidden relationships. It is a story of a complex relationship between a mother and daughter filled with love and controlling behaviors and what happens when the daughter begins to seek a life of her own. Leah is raised on the story of her mother’s tragic lost love. Molly lives her life mourning the lost love and building up a myth of her love story with her lost fiance Peter. She is obsessed with her tragic love story and wants her daughter to experience the same thing. Molly orchestrates Leah’s correspondence with a monk, Brother Matthew, and encourages Leah to pursue a forbidden relationship with him. As Leah tries to create her own life and starts to question what love is real her relationship with her mother begins to fracture. Will Leah figure out what is real and what is fantasy before destroying her chance at happiness? The characters were so vividly portrayed that I had very strong feelings about them. This is a book for readers that want a story about love and relationships that is not the typical love story.
Thanks to the author and Love Book Tours for providing a copy for my honest review
Thanks to the author and Love Book Tours for providing a copy for my honest review
March 5, 2026
Infinite Stranger by Wendy Skorupski is a beautifully layered novel that explores the powerful intersection of love, faith, memory, and personal freedom.
Set against the atmospheric backdrop of Greystones Abbey in North Yorkshire, the story follows Leah Cavanagh, whose life is profoundly shaped by a chance meeting with Brother Matthew Haddon during a school retreat. What begins as a quiet connection soon develops into a complex and emotionally charged relationship that unfolds over many years.
Skorupski skillfully captures the tension between desire and devotion, creating a narrative that feels both intimate and deeply reflective. Leah’s struggle between her feelings for the enigmatic monk and the influence of her protective mother adds emotional depth and complexity to the story.
The novel’s rich setting, thoughtful character development, and exploration of forbidden love make Infinite Stranger an engaging and memorable read. It is a compelling story for readers who appreciate emotionally driven fiction that examines the boundaries between faith, longing, and personal identity.
Overall, Infinite Stranger is a poignant and thought-provoking novel that stays with the reader long after the final page.
Set against the atmospheric backdrop of Greystones Abbey in North Yorkshire, the story follows Leah Cavanagh, whose life is profoundly shaped by a chance meeting with Brother Matthew Haddon during a school retreat. What begins as a quiet connection soon develops into a complex and emotionally charged relationship that unfolds over many years.
Skorupski skillfully captures the tension between desire and devotion, creating a narrative that feels both intimate and deeply reflective. Leah’s struggle between her feelings for the enigmatic monk and the influence of her protective mother adds emotional depth and complexity to the story.
The novel’s rich setting, thoughtful character development, and exploration of forbidden love make Infinite Stranger an engaging and memorable read. It is a compelling story for readers who appreciate emotionally driven fiction that examines the boundaries between faith, longing, and personal identity.
Overall, Infinite Stranger is a poignant and thought-provoking novel that stays with the reader long after the final page.
April 4, 2024
What an amazing read!!
This is my second book by this author and I must say I was blown away by this one as much as I was the previous. First off the characters are so well done they feel realistic and while reading this book I found myself connected to Leah right off the bat. The relationship between her and her mother was so interesting to read that I found myself entrapped in these two lives. Along with the amazing portrayal of characters Wendy also does an amazing job of transporting you back in time with her vivid descriptions of surroundings and what's taking place, I could see past England in my mind while reading this.
Unique and gripping this was a romance I wasn't sure where the author was taking me most of the time but I was along for the ride. I enjoyed how this story was told, how at the start we get a peak of the future and some clues but we don't get the full picture until we basically get to the end of the book. The many questions I had from the Strat area what kept me hooked into his read and wanting to know what was going to happen next. I will most defiantly be reading more of this authors works in the future.
This is my second book by this author and I must say I was blown away by this one as much as I was the previous. First off the characters are so well done they feel realistic and while reading this book I found myself connected to Leah right off the bat. The relationship between her and her mother was so interesting to read that I found myself entrapped in these two lives. Along with the amazing portrayal of characters Wendy also does an amazing job of transporting you back in time with her vivid descriptions of surroundings and what's taking place, I could see past England in my mind while reading this.
Unique and gripping this was a romance I wasn't sure where the author was taking me most of the time but I was along for the ride. I enjoyed how this story was told, how at the start we get a peak of the future and some clues but we don't get the full picture until we basically get to the end of the book. The many questions I had from the Strat area what kept me hooked into his read and wanting to know what was going to happen next. I will most defiantly be reading more of this authors works in the future.
April 10, 2024
Beautifully written book
What a beautifully written book!
Wendy uses a mixture of ways to tell the story a Leah - initially a teenage who meets Brother Matthew and develops feelings for him all while negotiating having a controlling mother.
We have sections where Leah is addressing her mother, flashbacks as she explains her story of how she Matthew and the fallout from this plus copies of letters.
It is very clever!
I felt for Leah and felt so sorry for her. She's trying to work out what her feelings are, all while having her Mother giving (usually quite unhelpful!) advice!
This story shows Leah navigating the murky waters of relationships - romantic, friendship, and family. It feels very authentic in Leah's approach and Wendy's writing.
We see her as an awkward teenager with what we believe is a crush and how this affects her in her later years.
Her mother has a complex past of her own, and we see Leah trying to make sense of this in her own way to try.
There really is a great deal to unpack with this story, and it makes for some deep thinking on the readers' part.
Very emotional and thought-provoking novel, which I highly recommend.
What a beautifully written book!
Wendy uses a mixture of ways to tell the story a Leah - initially a teenage who meets Brother Matthew and develops feelings for him all while negotiating having a controlling mother.
We have sections where Leah is addressing her mother, flashbacks as she explains her story of how she Matthew and the fallout from this plus copies of letters.
It is very clever!
I felt for Leah and felt so sorry for her. She's trying to work out what her feelings are, all while having her Mother giving (usually quite unhelpful!) advice!
This story shows Leah navigating the murky waters of relationships - romantic, friendship, and family. It feels very authentic in Leah's approach and Wendy's writing.
We see her as an awkward teenager with what we believe is a crush and how this affects her in her later years.
Her mother has a complex past of her own, and we see Leah trying to make sense of this in her own way to try.
There really is a great deal to unpack with this story, and it makes for some deep thinking on the readers' part.
Very emotional and thought-provoking novel, which I highly recommend.
June 26, 2023
WOW is all I can say after reading this book! I devoured it! This book got me right in all the feels. Leah Cavanaugh is struggling with not only her relationship with her mother, her unrequited love but also the relationships that come after. Her mother is struggling with regret and lost love. The story is written from Leah's perspective but also tells of her mother's struggles in chapters from her mother's prospective.
Every time I thought I knew where this book I was going, surprised. I absolutely loved it. I felt for the characters- very well developed and so well written you felt as if you were the one going through and feeling all these feelings. It's been quite a while since a book captivated me like this! The writing was very descriptive and the book was well paced. I was able to immerse myself in Leah’s world from the B&B to the music school and the retreats. As soon as you are able to, I HIGHLY suggest you go out and grab this book! It's joy, it's pain, it's wins and struggles and just all around a phenomenal read.
Every time I thought I knew where this book I was going, surprised. I absolutely loved it. I felt for the characters- very well developed and so well written you felt as if you were the one going through and feeling all these feelings. It's been quite a while since a book captivated me like this! The writing was very descriptive and the book was well paced. I was able to immerse myself in Leah’s world from the B&B to the music school and the retreats. As soon as you are able to, I HIGHLY suggest you go out and grab this book! It's joy, it's pain, it's wins and struggles and just all around a phenomenal read.
April 18, 2024
This is a book to be looked at from many perspectives, which is based upon real life events. There will be aspects that will give you much to think about as far as all the characters are concerned. Also what is reality and whit is myth when dreaming and hope start to take over ?
You will find yourself questioning the "healthy " aspects of all the relationships that we encounter in this powerful and moving read as it moves between reality and illusion. more often than not without a thought as to the effect on others.
It also highlights how obsession can take over you life in heart breaking fashion and block the ability to move on and see beyond it.
Many of us will have experienced infatuations during our teenage years which we generally move on from, however, what happens when you don't ?
I will be honest it took a while for me to get into this book, however, once I did I found myself engaged with how the characters were developing as well as questioning their actions.
Definitely a book I would recommend if you like a book that gets you thinking.
You will find yourself questioning the "healthy " aspects of all the relationships that we encounter in this powerful and moving read as it moves between reality and illusion. more often than not without a thought as to the effect on others.
It also highlights how obsession can take over you life in heart breaking fashion and block the ability to move on and see beyond it.
Many of us will have experienced infatuations during our teenage years which we generally move on from, however, what happens when you don't ?
I will be honest it took a while for me to get into this book, however, once I did I found myself engaged with how the characters were developing as well as questioning their actions.
Definitely a book I would recommend if you like a book that gets you thinking.
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