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Into My Arms
When Skye meets Ben their attraction is instantaneous and intense. Neither of them has ever felt more in synch - or in love - with anyone in their lives. What happens next will tear them both apart. Into My Arms is a searing love story and a gripping family drama - a shocking, haunting novel in the tradition of Jodi Picoult and Caroline Overington.
The kiss ignited something, blew it into being, and afterwards, all Skye could think about was Ben. One day a woman meets a man and falls instantly and irrevocably in love with him. It hits her like a thunderbolt, and she has to have him, has to be with him, regardless of the cost, of the pain of breaking up her existing relationship. She has never felt more in synch-or in love-with anyone in her whole life. So this is how it feels, she thinks to herself, this is what real love feels like.
It's like that for him too; he wants her in a way he's never wanted anything or anyone before: obsessively, passionately, all-consumingly.
She has found her one true love, her soulmate, and he has found his. What happens next will tear them apart and unleash havoc onto their worlds.
This brave, brilliant, electrifying novel from the acclaimed author of After the Fall and Last Summer, will move you deeply and shock you to your core. Love, lust and longing have rarely wielded such power, nor family secrets triggered such devastation.
The kiss ignited something, blew it into being, and afterwards, all Skye could think about was Ben. One day a woman meets a man and falls instantly and irrevocably in love with him. It hits her like a thunderbolt, and she has to have him, has to be with him, regardless of the cost, of the pain of breaking up her existing relationship. She has never felt more in synch-or in love-with anyone in her whole life. So this is how it feels, she thinks to herself, this is what real love feels like.
It's like that for him too; he wants her in a way he's never wanted anything or anyone before: obsessively, passionately, all-consumingly.
She has found her one true love, her soulmate, and he has found his. What happens next will tear them apart and unleash havoc onto their worlds.
This brave, brilliant, electrifying novel from the acclaimed author of After the Fall and Last Summer, will move you deeply and shock you to your core. Love, lust and longing have rarely wielded such power, nor family secrets triggered such devastation.
352 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2013
13 people are currently reading
452 people want to read
About the author
Kylie Ladd
14 books169 followersKylie Ladd is a novelist and freelance writer. Her essays and articles have appeared in The Age, Griffith Review, O Magazine, The Sydney Morning Herald, Good Medicine, Kill Your Darlings, The Hoopla and MamaMia, among others. Kylie's first novel, After the Fall , was published in Australia, the US and Turkey, while her second, Last Summer, was highly commended in the 2011 Federation of Australian Writers Christina Stead Award for fiction. Her previous books are Naked: Confessions of Adultery and Infidelity and Living with Alzheimer's and Other Dementias. Kylie’s third novel, Into My Arms, has been selected as one of Get Reading’s Fifty Books You Can’t Put Down for 2013. She holds a PhD in neuropsychology, and lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her husband and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
July 1, 2014
Skye has been going out with Hamish for a few years now and the pair are in a loving relationship, but that's until, Ben Cunningham walks into, Skye's classroom where she is teaching. When Skye and Ben first met it seemed there was an instant connection between them. Skye tries to avoid her feelings, but the more she sees, Ben the stronger her feelings become.
Breaking up with, Hamish may have been hard for Skye, but she knows she wants to be with, Ben. Their feelings for each other grow stronger by the day. Then suddenly their world's are turned upside down when they receive some very unexpected information. Ben leaves immediately after receiving the information and without saying goodbye to, Skye. Skye is left heartbroken, devastated and feels torn apart as she wonders if she'll ever see or hear from, Ben again. She also knows in her heart that this is probably the best thing for both of them.
This was a difficult story to write a review on without giving away too much of the actual story line. What I can tell you is that it's a beautiful and very moving love story and so much more. For me personally I must say the subject matter in this novel was a bit hard going at times, but in saying that it was still a fabulous read. I have no hesitation in HIGHLY recommending this book.
Breaking up with, Hamish may have been hard for Skye, but she knows she wants to be with, Ben. Their feelings for each other grow stronger by the day. Then suddenly their world's are turned upside down when they receive some very unexpected information. Ben leaves immediately after receiving the information and without saying goodbye to, Skye. Skye is left heartbroken, devastated and feels torn apart as she wonders if she'll ever see or hear from, Ben again. She also knows in her heart that this is probably the best thing for both of them.
This was a difficult story to write a review on without giving away too much of the actual story line. What I can tell you is that it's a beautiful and very moving love story and so much more. For me personally I must say the subject matter in this novel was a bit hard going at times, but in saying that it was still a fabulous read. I have no hesitation in HIGHLY recommending this book.
March 14, 2018
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
4.5 stars
A few months ago Australian author Kylie Ladd blew me away with her powerful new release novel, The Way Back. After being moved by this novel, I thought it was high time I explored some of Ladd’s back catalogue. So I dusted Kylie Ladd’s third novel off my bookshelf and delved into the book, which I devoured quite quickly.
Into My Arms is the story of a fateful love affair that has far reaching implications for the couple involved. When Skye, a talented artist completes an in residence class with students of a local school, she meets Ben, a teacher at the school. Sparks immediately fly between the two and a passionate love affair ensues. As quickly as this romance begins it is shut down by a shocking revelation. The revelation has far reaching implications for not only Ben and Skye, but for all those close to them. Kylie Ladd explores difficult and confronting territory in her third novel.
Into My Arms is a brilliant but confronting read. Initially, it reads like a romance novel but it soon morphs into a hard hitting family drama with psychological elements. While reading this 2013 release, I was reminded of the sheer force of Ladd’s writing, it really is quite incredible. Kylie Ladd is a writer who leaves no stone unturned in the topics she chooses to write about and Into My Arms is no exception.
It did not take long for me to take to main character Skye. Although I didn’t always agree with her actions and thought processes it somehow made her more real. Ladd’s characters are well drawn and human, this extends to Skye’s twin brother Arran, Ben’s mother Mary and Hamish. We see the talents and well as the flaws of Ladd’s characters very clearly. I was soon consumed by Skye and Ben’s love story, it was utterly believable. The big twist, which is one I cannot discuss for fear of spoiling the novel for potential readers, completely blew me apart. I felt so very sad for Skye, Ben and all those impacted by this shocking revelation. The odds of this scenario happening were almost off the scale belief wise, but the science behind it all makes it plausible. Nevertheless, the coincidence was truly awful for Ben and Skye. Although the revelation of this terrible situation may shake some readers to their core and make them feel uncomfortable, for me in increased the brevity of the novel.
It is worth noting there is a side or sub plot included in Into My Arms that examines family, displacement and belonging. It involves the main character Skye, Ben and their encounter with a young Iranian boy who has just settled in Australia. It is a timely and relevant narrative thread that provides a solid commentary on life in Australia, especially the refugee experience. It does link to the characters of the novel quite well but I do have to confess I was so consumed by Skye and Ben’s story I couldn’t wait to get back to it. By the time I reached the end of their journey, I felt like I had experienced every emotion possible. The ending however, has a redeeming quality after so much despair touched this promising couple.
For those who appreciate a thought provoking read that will make you consider how you would react if you were placed in the same shoes as the characters a novel, then Into My Arms would be a great reading choice. For me, it solidified my appreciation for the courage of talented Kylie Ladd, who writes with impressive conviction and insight for the contentious issues that arise in life.
4.5 stars
A few months ago Australian author Kylie Ladd blew me away with her powerful new release novel, The Way Back. After being moved by this novel, I thought it was high time I explored some of Ladd’s back catalogue. So I dusted Kylie Ladd’s third novel off my bookshelf and delved into the book, which I devoured quite quickly.
Into My Arms is the story of a fateful love affair that has far reaching implications for the couple involved. When Skye, a talented artist completes an in residence class with students of a local school, she meets Ben, a teacher at the school. Sparks immediately fly between the two and a passionate love affair ensues. As quickly as this romance begins it is shut down by a shocking revelation. The revelation has far reaching implications for not only Ben and Skye, but for all those close to them. Kylie Ladd explores difficult and confronting territory in her third novel.
Into My Arms is a brilliant but confronting read. Initially, it reads like a romance novel but it soon morphs into a hard hitting family drama with psychological elements. While reading this 2013 release, I was reminded of the sheer force of Ladd’s writing, it really is quite incredible. Kylie Ladd is a writer who leaves no stone unturned in the topics she chooses to write about and Into My Arms is no exception.
It did not take long for me to take to main character Skye. Although I didn’t always agree with her actions and thought processes it somehow made her more real. Ladd’s characters are well drawn and human, this extends to Skye’s twin brother Arran, Ben’s mother Mary and Hamish. We see the talents and well as the flaws of Ladd’s characters very clearly. I was soon consumed by Skye and Ben’s love story, it was utterly believable. The big twist, which is one I cannot discuss for fear of spoiling the novel for potential readers, completely blew me apart. I felt so very sad for Skye, Ben and all those impacted by this shocking revelation. The odds of this scenario happening were almost off the scale belief wise, but the science behind it all makes it plausible. Nevertheless, the coincidence was truly awful for Ben and Skye. Although the revelation of this terrible situation may shake some readers to their core and make them feel uncomfortable, for me in increased the brevity of the novel.
It is worth noting there is a side or sub plot included in Into My Arms that examines family, displacement and belonging. It involves the main character Skye, Ben and their encounter with a young Iranian boy who has just settled in Australia. It is a timely and relevant narrative thread that provides a solid commentary on life in Australia, especially the refugee experience. It does link to the characters of the novel quite well but I do have to confess I was so consumed by Skye and Ben’s story I couldn’t wait to get back to it. By the time I reached the end of their journey, I felt like I had experienced every emotion possible. The ending however, has a redeeming quality after so much despair touched this promising couple.
For those who appreciate a thought provoking read that will make you consider how you would react if you were placed in the same shoes as the characters a novel, then Into My Arms would be a great reading choice. For me, it solidified my appreciation for the courage of talented Kylie Ladd, who writes with impressive conviction and insight for the contentious issues that arise in life.
April 25, 2019
Review to follow. I have about 11 to write 😔
February 17, 2017
I have mixed feelings about this one. It was a great beginning, a good ending, but the middle dragged a bit for me. I couldn't help but feel that the author threw a few too many story lines in for fillers.
July 18, 2013
There has been a bit of buzz around Kylie Ladd's new book Into My Arms, so I was excited to pick it up from the library yesterday. I love a book where you can really sink your teeth into the ideas and characters featured and I thought this book club darling was going to be the next dinner-party must-read. Into My Arms opens strongly, when the impetuous headstrong Skye, who is dating Hamish, meets teacher Ben Cunningham at a school. Skye falls in love with Ben and leaves Hamish. However, problems arise when Skye introduces Ben to her mother Nora and her gay brother Arran, who has just broken up with Mark, who cheated on him, and Nora realises that Ben and Skye are actually brother and sister - Ben was conceived using fertilised eggs left over after Nora and her husband Charlie, who just died of dementia, used IVF to have Arran and Skye. Ben didn't know he wasn't his parents' genetic child and becomes estranged from his mother Mary, although he stays in touch with his sister Kirra.
Sound complicated? That summary sums up just about every single problem with this very average book. After its strong beginning, the story just goes nowhere. The characters lack any depth at all, do not develop over the course of the novel and there are so many different characters with a stake in this story it's overwhelming, especially since their narrative voices are exactly the same.
On top of the laundry list of characters, this book is not afraid to acknowledge multiple ideas. As well as the incest storyline, there is a dementia storyline, a gay storyline, a cheating storyline, a squatting/freegan storyline, an asylum seeker storyline, a widow storyline and, just so nothing gets left out, a religious storyline as well. On top of that there are the broader overarching themes of family, motherhood, home and belonging. Simply put, that's too many storylines! Ladd would have been much better served to strip back the unnecessary stuff and focus on the important characters and stories so we care about the people she is writing about. Instead, she makes something a big deal - like Charlie having dementia - that has absolutely nothing to do with the rest of the story. This is Basic Writing 101 - if it doesn't add to the story, take it out. What's even worse is that Ladd's metaphors are so laboured it's almost painful to read - for example, after finding out that Skye is his sister, Ben has explosive diarrhoea and the only thing he had to wipe his arse on is the letter from the genetics company telling him the results of the sibling test. You have seriously got to be kidding.
There are interesting ideas in this book. The consequences of IVF and sperm/egg donation are real - there are concerns about genetic siblings hooking up because they don't realise they are related. The integration of asylum seekers into Australian society and the processing of refugee visas is a big problem. It is horrible to lose a family member to dementia and it must be awful to discover that your partner is cheating on you. However, you get absolutely nothing from reading this book that you wouldn't get from reading a really detailed plot summary, so read a couple of reviews of Into My Arms that contain spoilers so you know enough about it to get by at dinner parties and spend your time reading another better book instead.
Sound complicated? That summary sums up just about every single problem with this very average book. After its strong beginning, the story just goes nowhere. The characters lack any depth at all, do not develop over the course of the novel and there are so many different characters with a stake in this story it's overwhelming, especially since their narrative voices are exactly the same.
On top of the laundry list of characters, this book is not afraid to acknowledge multiple ideas. As well as the incest storyline, there is a dementia storyline, a gay storyline, a cheating storyline, a squatting/freegan storyline, an asylum seeker storyline, a widow storyline and, just so nothing gets left out, a religious storyline as well. On top of that there are the broader overarching themes of family, motherhood, home and belonging. Simply put, that's too many storylines! Ladd would have been much better served to strip back the unnecessary stuff and focus on the important characters and stories so we care about the people she is writing about. Instead, she makes something a big deal - like Charlie having dementia - that has absolutely nothing to do with the rest of the story. This is Basic Writing 101 - if it doesn't add to the story, take it out. What's even worse is that Ladd's metaphors are so laboured it's almost painful to read - for example, after finding out that Skye is his sister, Ben has explosive diarrhoea and the only thing he had to wipe his arse on is the letter from the genetics company telling him the results of the sibling test. You have seriously got to be kidding.
There are interesting ideas in this book. The consequences of IVF and sperm/egg donation are real - there are concerns about genetic siblings hooking up because they don't realise they are related. The integration of asylum seekers into Australian society and the processing of refugee visas is a big problem. It is horrible to lose a family member to dementia and it must be awful to discover that your partner is cheating on you. However, you get absolutely nothing from reading this book that you wouldn't get from reading a really detailed plot summary, so read a couple of reviews of Into My Arms that contain spoilers so you know enough about it to get by at dinner parties and spend your time reading another better book instead.
March 9, 2013
Just finished Into My Arms and highly recommend it. Anyone who has read and enjoyed Caroline Overington's novels or Jodi Picoult's will love it. Kylie Ladd engages the reader from the first page to the very last. Interesting and moving.
May 4, 2013
What can I say? Love love loved it. I felt guilty for finishing it so quickly!
June 25, 2013
This is a story about Love. A story about Family. And as everyone else has already stated – it’s hard to write an indepth review without spoiling it for you. The twist is heartbreaking and although it comes on quite early in the book it keeps the pages turning to see how everything turns out in the end. I would have given the book 5 stars, and it's a good 4 1/2 for sure, but I like stories to not leave me with any questions and although I was nearly satisfied, I’m still thinking about what may have happened to a few of the characters. But that might be just me! There’s also a bit of crude language through the book, which makes me hesitate giving it to my Mum to read, but I think she will like the storyline so I will hand it on!!! Kylie Ladd is a very talented author and this storyline is modern, contemporary romance at its best, and I do recommend it.
May 24, 2013
This is a love story with a twist - a contemporary romance set against the background of a uniquely modern dilemma. Kylie writes so beautifully, and her characters live on well after you put the book down. I raced through Into My Arms, needing to know where Skye and Ben's relationship would lead. A brilliant read.
May 4, 2013
In her previous novels, Kylie Ladd has written with compelling insight into uncomfortable issues including adultery in After the Fall and death and grief in Last Summer. Into My Arms, her third novel, is similarly confronting while examining the complexities of family, love and desire.
It's incredibly difficult to articulate my thoughts about Into My Arms while avoiding spoilers. The back cover hints at love at first sight followed by a passionate relationship which is then shattered by a shocking revelation but it is much more than that. Skye and Ben are nearly destroyed by a phenomena that challenges moral and societal conventions and Into My Arms explores it's devastating effects on both the couple and their families.
What could have been a tawdry, sensationalistic subject, is dealt with carefully, shedding a compassionate light on a little known issue that is particularly relevant in modern society. There is no getting away from the fact that most readers will find it confronting but I think Ladd does a terrific job in humanising the issue by placing ordinary people at the center of the maelstrom.
While the controversial main plot will garner the most attention, there is a prominent subplot in the book not alluded to in the blurb. Zia is a pupil of Ben and Skye, a young boy from an immigrant Iranian family who is struggling to adjust to his new life. While Zia's story is linked by the themes of family and estrangement, and he develops connections with the main characters, I thought it out of place somehow. Don't get me wrong, it is interesting in and of itself, but I didn't find it necessary and I wondered if it's purpose was to blunt the confronting nature of Ben and Skye's circumstance.
Regardless, I found Into My Arms to be a fascinating and thought provoking novel. I devoured it in hours and I suspect it will stimulate discussion amongst all who read it.
May 4, 2013
4 for plot. 5 because i could not put it down.
February 13, 2022
Into my arms | Kylie Ladd
>Where do I even start?!! This whole entire read is like a can of worms.. very left of centre and electrifying, from all angles. In life we dream of meeting the one, our soul mate, a raw and beautiful in synch connection.. but what if that comes at you like a force? An obsession? Is this what it feels like? To be utterly consumed no matter what the cost. An itch that needs to be scratched.. yesterday. It’s not healthy. In fact it’s toxic. And they know it’s more than wrong but it’s this impulse.. a need that is hard to explain. It takes over and no matter how hard they try, they always find themselves thinking of the other. For Skye and Ben it started off with a kiss and that’s when it all started to come undone. Havoc has been unleashed over a family decision gone wrong and worlds are about to be torn apart. Strap yourself in- is all I can say! This highlighted in a brave and brilliant way the fragility of human relationships and their connection across the board. It is written with such passion yet without judgement in regards to what we as humans accept life to be as ‘normal.’ It’s fast paced, honest first approach adds this level of intensity to the storyline giving the reader this sense of ‘all or nothing’ mentality, yet it’s rawness provides this layer of sensitivity that is deeply refreshing. It’s emotionally driven in all aspects of love, longing, loss, grief, and jealousy.. acutely aware of the everyday feels. However I didn’t feel it needed to touch on revenge.. ‘should I do this to get even’ ‘if only he could see me now.’ I personally didn’t like the light this view added to the story line- but each to their own. It had a few 50 shades moments that gave the story even more charge, amplifying each characters personality and desire. It will get you thinking for sure in a lot of ways, particularly in how the mind works and will have you questioning morals and how we face everyday challenges. Keep an open mind and your in for a good ride! Loved!
>Where do I even start?!! This whole entire read is like a can of worms.. very left of centre and electrifying, from all angles. In life we dream of meeting the one, our soul mate, a raw and beautiful in synch connection.. but what if that comes at you like a force? An obsession? Is this what it feels like? To be utterly consumed no matter what the cost. An itch that needs to be scratched.. yesterday. It’s not healthy. In fact it’s toxic. And they know it’s more than wrong but it’s this impulse.. a need that is hard to explain. It takes over and no matter how hard they try, they always find themselves thinking of the other. For Skye and Ben it started off with a kiss and that’s when it all started to come undone. Havoc has been unleashed over a family decision gone wrong and worlds are about to be torn apart. Strap yourself in- is all I can say! This highlighted in a brave and brilliant way the fragility of human relationships and their connection across the board. It is written with such passion yet without judgement in regards to what we as humans accept life to be as ‘normal.’ It’s fast paced, honest first approach adds this level of intensity to the storyline giving the reader this sense of ‘all or nothing’ mentality, yet it’s rawness provides this layer of sensitivity that is deeply refreshing. It’s emotionally driven in all aspects of love, longing, loss, grief, and jealousy.. acutely aware of the everyday feels. However I didn’t feel it needed to touch on revenge.. ‘should I do this to get even’ ‘if only he could see me now.’ I personally didn’t like the light this view added to the story line- but each to their own. It had a few 50 shades moments that gave the story even more charge, amplifying each characters personality and desire. It will get you thinking for sure in a lot of ways, particularly in how the mind works and will have you questioning morals and how we face everyday challenges. Keep an open mind and your in for a good ride! Loved!
September 8, 2022
Moving story, but very predictable.
May 26, 2013
*Please note that this review is based on the uncorrected proof provided to me by the Publisher and that it may differ slightly to the final published version*
I am not a fan of book reviews that end up spoiling a story for another reader and, while Kylie Ladd doesn’t hesitate to give us some teasers in the first few chapters, and the plot is revealed fairly quickly, I have still been faced with the challenge of writing this review without spoilers which, to say the least, has been difficult because Ms Ladd has indeed created much food for thought, and conversation.
Skye and Hamish have been together for quite a while and although their relationship appears to be set in stone and the path to their future inevitable, everything is threatened when Skye, assisting two Grade Five classes one day a week to create a wall mosaic for their school tuckshop area, meets Ben, a teacher at the same school.
Their first meeting, following a small medical emergency in class, has her feeling sure that she has met him before, but on asking the question, it becomes clear from his reaction that they have not.
Two weeks later, the concern for a young Iranian boy, whom they both teach, brings Skye and Ben together to discuss him, then, after yet another encounter when “the kiss ignited something, blew it into being”, Skye finds her thoughts becoming totally consumed by Ben. Breaking off her relationship with Hamish, Skye and Ben enter into a relationship which smoulders from the pages of this novel. They are totally in-sync with one another and the attraction is like nothing either of them has ever felt before.
Skye’s mother Nell, having lost her husband (Skye’s father) six months prior, only wants happiness for her daughter but, when she meets Ben for the first time, she can’t help the disturbing unease which plagues her. Ignoring her instincts until she can no longer, she begins to make enquiries of her own which lead to a shocking discovery that will have you reeling in both disbelief and sorrow as the strong bond which has developed between Ben and Skye shatters and a family is torn apart by a secret they felt was theirs to keep.
Unable to comprehend how this has happened, Ben quits his job and disappears from Skye’s life and, just as she helped her class build a mosaic from fragmented pieces, she attempts to rebuild her dismantled life with what remains of her, until disaster strikes in another form, ultimately bringing them together again, in more ways than one.
There is a sub-plot to which the blurb gives no allusion, and that is the plight of Zia, a young Iranian refugee boy, who has come to live in Australia with his parents and youngest brother. Living in a commission housing complex and going out of his way to please his father at the expense of his education, while his mother suffers from crippling depression, he is connected to both Ben and Skye through their teaching, as well as Skye’s twin brother, Arran, through his work in social services. While I did feel that Zia’s story was a bit out of place on the whole, there is no doubt that the feelings and emotions he and his family experience on their journey add cohesion to the strong themes of loss, grief, depression and familial ties that bind, which weave their way throughout the narrative.
In the same vein as Jodi Picoult, albeit less formulaic, Kylie Ladd has framed her novel around a morally complex issue which, in today’s world, could quite possibly be a time bomb waiting to go off. With great insight and empathy, Ms Ladd has touched on a subject that some could find confronting, but for this reviewer, the desperation and emotions of her well fleshed out characters touched me to the core and I couldn’t help but feel the deepest sadness for everyone involved.
This deftly woven literary exploration of love in all its forms, longing for the impossible and family secrets long held, is a haunting reminder that seemingly innocent decisions in the past can all too easily shape our futures.
I am not a fan of book reviews that end up spoiling a story for another reader and, while Kylie Ladd doesn’t hesitate to give us some teasers in the first few chapters, and the plot is revealed fairly quickly, I have still been faced with the challenge of writing this review without spoilers which, to say the least, has been difficult because Ms Ladd has indeed created much food for thought, and conversation.
Skye and Hamish have been together for quite a while and although their relationship appears to be set in stone and the path to their future inevitable, everything is threatened when Skye, assisting two Grade Five classes one day a week to create a wall mosaic for their school tuckshop area, meets Ben, a teacher at the same school.
Their first meeting, following a small medical emergency in class, has her feeling sure that she has met him before, but on asking the question, it becomes clear from his reaction that they have not.
Two weeks later, the concern for a young Iranian boy, whom they both teach, brings Skye and Ben together to discuss him, then, after yet another encounter when “the kiss ignited something, blew it into being”, Skye finds her thoughts becoming totally consumed by Ben. Breaking off her relationship with Hamish, Skye and Ben enter into a relationship which smoulders from the pages of this novel. They are totally in-sync with one another and the attraction is like nothing either of them has ever felt before.
Skye’s mother Nell, having lost her husband (Skye’s father) six months prior, only wants happiness for her daughter but, when she meets Ben for the first time, she can’t help the disturbing unease which plagues her. Ignoring her instincts until she can no longer, she begins to make enquiries of her own which lead to a shocking discovery that will have you reeling in both disbelief and sorrow as the strong bond which has developed between Ben and Skye shatters and a family is torn apart by a secret they felt was theirs to keep.
Unable to comprehend how this has happened, Ben quits his job and disappears from Skye’s life and, just as she helped her class build a mosaic from fragmented pieces, she attempts to rebuild her dismantled life with what remains of her, until disaster strikes in another form, ultimately bringing them together again, in more ways than one.
There is a sub-plot to which the blurb gives no allusion, and that is the plight of Zia, a young Iranian refugee boy, who has come to live in Australia with his parents and youngest brother. Living in a commission housing complex and going out of his way to please his father at the expense of his education, while his mother suffers from crippling depression, he is connected to both Ben and Skye through their teaching, as well as Skye’s twin brother, Arran, through his work in social services. While I did feel that Zia’s story was a bit out of place on the whole, there is no doubt that the feelings and emotions he and his family experience on their journey add cohesion to the strong themes of loss, grief, depression and familial ties that bind, which weave their way throughout the narrative.
In the same vein as Jodi Picoult, albeit less formulaic, Kylie Ladd has framed her novel around a morally complex issue which, in today’s world, could quite possibly be a time bomb waiting to go off. With great insight and empathy, Ms Ladd has touched on a subject that some could find confronting, but for this reviewer, the desperation and emotions of her well fleshed out characters touched me to the core and I couldn’t help but feel the deepest sadness for everyone involved.
This deftly woven literary exploration of love in all its forms, longing for the impossible and family secrets long held, is a haunting reminder that seemingly innocent decisions in the past can all too easily shape our futures.
April 28, 2013
See my full review here: http://booksaremyfavouriteandbest.wor...
I recently reviewed Dawn Barker’s Fractured. I went to great lengths not to reveal the critical plot point (and hoped other reviewers would do the same). I’m exercising the same careful approach in this review of Kylie Ladd’s latest novel, Into My Arms.
For that reason, it may not seem much of a ‘review’ however I think when an author and a publisher have gone to great pains to write a jacket blurb that is enticing yet not too revealing, that should be respected. The blurb of Into My Arms reads -
When Skye meets Ben their attraction is instantaneous and intense. Neither of them has ever felt more in synch – or in love – with anyone in their lives. What happens next will tear them both apart.
And I’m not going to tell you much more about the story other than that. And that what happens next is shocking. And a relevant issue in modern society. And your worst nightmare. I hope you are suitably intrigued because Into My Arms is a gripping read.
Ladd is excellent at creating ‘normal’ characters – people who are very likeable but with their share of flaws. Given the particular circumstances created in this story, the main characters acted in a realistic and believable way. As I was reading, I had the terrible feeling that there was no happy ending for these characters.
Ladd has been likened to Jodi Picoult. I’m not a fan of that comparison, simply because I find Picoult’s stories formulaic and Ladd’s are anything but. Ladd’s writing style is clean and straightforward but nevertheless is still emotional and studded with detail.
“He missed his parents too: Mary’s blue eyes, her rosary beads and her soups; his father’s long stride across the paddocks.”
Notably, she takes you to a climatic edge at a few points during the book and at each, leaves you dangling for a few pages, before setting you down safely (although given the subject matter, there is no safe ground) – a true page-turner!
I received an advance copy of Into My Arms from the publisher, Allen & Unwin, in exchange for an honest review.
3.5/5 Last Summer remains my favourite of Ladd’s books however Into My Arms is gripping in a different way, predominantly because of the subject matter.
I recently reviewed Dawn Barker’s Fractured. I went to great lengths not to reveal the critical plot point (and hoped other reviewers would do the same). I’m exercising the same careful approach in this review of Kylie Ladd’s latest novel, Into My Arms.
For that reason, it may not seem much of a ‘review’ however I think when an author and a publisher have gone to great pains to write a jacket blurb that is enticing yet not too revealing, that should be respected. The blurb of Into My Arms reads -
When Skye meets Ben their attraction is instantaneous and intense. Neither of them has ever felt more in synch – or in love – with anyone in their lives. What happens next will tear them both apart.
And I’m not going to tell you much more about the story other than that. And that what happens next is shocking. And a relevant issue in modern society. And your worst nightmare. I hope you are suitably intrigued because Into My Arms is a gripping read.
Ladd is excellent at creating ‘normal’ characters – people who are very likeable but with their share of flaws. Given the particular circumstances created in this story, the main characters acted in a realistic and believable way. As I was reading, I had the terrible feeling that there was no happy ending for these characters.
Ladd has been likened to Jodi Picoult. I’m not a fan of that comparison, simply because I find Picoult’s stories formulaic and Ladd’s are anything but. Ladd’s writing style is clean and straightforward but nevertheless is still emotional and studded with detail.
“He missed his parents too: Mary’s blue eyes, her rosary beads and her soups; his father’s long stride across the paddocks.”
Notably, she takes you to a climatic edge at a few points during the book and at each, leaves you dangling for a few pages, before setting you down safely (although given the subject matter, there is no safe ground) – a true page-turner!
I received an advance copy of Into My Arms from the publisher, Allen & Unwin, in exchange for an honest review.
3.5/5 Last Summer remains my favourite of Ladd’s books however Into My Arms is gripping in a different way, predominantly because of the subject matter.
February 5, 2016
When Skye and Ben meet purely by chance, there is an instant connection between them. Both are a little perplexed by the intensity of it but ultimately they have no choice but to give in to a force that is bigger than both of them. Although this means Skye needs to break off her previously happy relationship with Hamish, she knows that Ben represents the kind of love that only comes along once, if ever.
Although surprised by Skye’s decision, her family are supportive and welcome Ben into their circle. Skye, her twin brother Arran and mother Nell are close, even more so after recently losing Skye’s dad Charlie to the ravages of dementia. It is only after Nell notices a particular trait in Ben that she begins to wonder and worry. The idea seems too unreal to begin with, too fanciful to be possible. The odds of it being true are infinitesimally small – yet she knows she can’t remain silent. As much as she knows it will break her daughter’s heart Nell finally breaks her silence and then the fallout begins.
It is difficult to say too much about the subject matter of this book without giving a major part of the plot away. Suffice to say Kylie Ladd tackles a difficult and uncomfortable subject with wisdom and realism as well as compassion. It is a subject that will continue to haunt individuals, in fact much more so in our modern society. And as much as it does feel abhorrent, it is a reality – with much scientific evidence to back it up.
Confronting subject matter aside, this is a wonderfully written, well paced book. The earlier chapters, which covered Skye and Ben’s meeting are fast moving, mirroring the swiftness of their attraction – while other sections are slower, again moving in rhythm with the story. I wasn’t entirely sure of the significance of the subplot involving an Iranian refugee and his family – it just didn’t seem to have a great bearing on the overall plot. It was a touching story though, also handled with compassion and insight.
Into My Arms is a compelling and thought provoking book that raises many issues that are not as farfetched as they may seem. It certainly educated me on a subject I had only the scantest knowledge of.
Although surprised by Skye’s decision, her family are supportive and welcome Ben into their circle. Skye, her twin brother Arran and mother Nell are close, even more so after recently losing Skye’s dad Charlie to the ravages of dementia. It is only after Nell notices a particular trait in Ben that she begins to wonder and worry. The idea seems too unreal to begin with, too fanciful to be possible. The odds of it being true are infinitesimally small – yet she knows she can’t remain silent. As much as she knows it will break her daughter’s heart Nell finally breaks her silence and then the fallout begins.
It is difficult to say too much about the subject matter of this book without giving a major part of the plot away. Suffice to say Kylie Ladd tackles a difficult and uncomfortable subject with wisdom and realism as well as compassion. It is a subject that will continue to haunt individuals, in fact much more so in our modern society. And as much as it does feel abhorrent, it is a reality – with much scientific evidence to back it up.
Confronting subject matter aside, this is a wonderfully written, well paced book. The earlier chapters, which covered Skye and Ben’s meeting are fast moving, mirroring the swiftness of their attraction – while other sections are slower, again moving in rhythm with the story. I wasn’t entirely sure of the significance of the subplot involving an Iranian refugee and his family – it just didn’t seem to have a great bearing on the overall plot. It was a touching story though, also handled with compassion and insight.
Into My Arms is a compelling and thought provoking book that raises many issues that are not as farfetched as they may seem. It certainly educated me on a subject I had only the scantest knowledge of.
June 23, 2013
I enjoyed the general storyline in this novel, however I found it was difficult to connect emotionally to any of the major characters due to the style of writing. The story moved at a fairly rapid pace, but with the POV changing from character to character with each new chapter, it was hard to really be drawn in. The ideas and moral dilemmas raised in novel were interesting though, and I was engaged enough to read through to the end.
September 24, 2013
This confronting story - taking place over just a few years - could only happen in a very modern society. It is basically the story of two families facing the effects of an IFV embryo donation many years later, and of another family of refugees facing a new society. The families become intertwined - and are all touched by love, loss and longing.
Much in the style of Jodi Piccoult, Kylie involves the reader in a chasm of emotions about social issues. A really good read!
Much in the style of Jodi Piccoult, Kylie involves the reader in a chasm of emotions about social issues. A really good read!
June 24, 2013
Ok in parts, but to me it was a bit disappointing, I was expecting more from all the rave reviews here to be honest. Quite unbelievable plot with twists & final outcome you could see a mile off. Possibly a good plane read.
March 21, 2013
What a ride! Kylie Ladd sure knows how to write a gripping novel and Into My Arms does not disappoint. Devoured this over a weekend.
May 2, 2013
Fantastic, thought provoking, confronting. You will not want to put this book down. Ladd is a brilliant writer. Can not wait for her next book (I really hope there will be a next book!)
Read
May 12, 2013Sorry but I tried to get to this but it just didn't do it for me. I won't tell why because I am not into spoiler alerts but just that there was not much to imagine!
January 2, 2025
Into my arms was a very engaging novel by Aussie author Kylie Ladd. I really enjoyed reading this book about complicated families.
May 7, 2013
Skye is an artist, working at a primary school to create a mosaic when she meets Ben. It’s like nothing she’s experienced before and Skye isn’t exactly a stranger to impulse behaviour. But everything with Ben is different – the pull, the attraction that they both feel towards each other seems to trump everything else in their lives. Skye ends her two year relationship in order to be with Ben when it became obvious that all she wanted was to be with him. For a while they experience perfection together – everything is easy, everything is blissful.
Until it isn’t.
What happens next neither of them could have ever imagined. Both of them are wiped out by their discovery and the subsequent separation. Ben quits his job and disappears and Skye retreats back into her art as she prepares to welcome in changes to her life. But she isn’t the same person anymore, she’s not there like she used to be and neither is Ben. They both have a long way to go before they can begin to get over this and accept the hand that life and fate has dealt them both.
But it’s impossible to stay away forever and when their paths cross again, Ben and Skye have to renegotiate their boundaries. Into My Arms is a powerful novel that tackles a controversial phenomenon It’s about love, it’s about obsession, it’s about finding your soulmate, that one person you’re supposed to be with and having it all go hopelessly wrong. It’s about the power of family and the ties that bind and bring people back together, even after the most terrible secrets have broken them.
This is Australian author Kylie Ladd’s third novel and those who have read her previous work will be familiar with the way in which she tackles relationships. In After The Fall, she chose friendship and how it and marriages were splintered apart by infidelity. In Last Summer she explored the way in which a tight group of friends dealt with the tragic and sudden loss of the larger than life character that glued them all together. And in this book, well, I can’t tell you exactly what she delves into because the reveal is an intricate part of the storyline and best uncovered as you move through the narrative. Some readers will guess before the reveal, some will not but it doesn’t matter. Either way, this story sucks you in and holds you in its power.
When Skye meets Ben, she’s already been in a relationship with Hamish for several years. It’s satisfactory to her and she already knows she’ll say yes if and when he proposes. But all of that is blown away by her feelings for Ben, which surge up immediately upon meeting him. The connection between them is so tangible it should almost be visible, binding them together. Skye moves away from her life with Hamish, towards a life with Ben without a backward glance and the two of them embark on a journey together that’s cut short in the most devastating of ways. I love the way in which Ladd brought them together so passionately and then wrenched them apart.
This is such a clever book from beginning to end. It’s also a book that tells you the ending that you can’t have, rather than the one you can – what you don’t know is how it will resolve. Although Skye and Ben are separated, some time down the track they are brought back together when one of them needs help from the other. I have to wonder what happens to these characters after the book ends. I know a book has really resonated with me when I find myself pondering the fate of characters of books I’ve read when I’m doing menial tasks. I found myself thinking about Skye and Ben a lot and how much it would be possible for them to embrace their new relationship.
Ladd has already written two well received books and has won admirers for her deft style in really rounding out her characters and the way in which she embraces a gritty issue and strips it bare. I think that for me, this could be her best work to date. She embraces more, such as a foreign location and peripheral characters such as Ben’s family who don’t appear in the novel too much, but who are nevertheless just as well written and fleshed out as the main ones. She gives the reader space to come to terms with what she’s portraying and also a little bit of time to think. I remember when I finished After The Fall I wanted to sit down and ask her a specific question about the last page (which I later did when I was fortunate enough to meet her at an event that raised money for charity) but this novel makes me want to sit down and ask her a dozen questions. And that’s not a bad thing at all, quite the contrary. It’s the testament to the strength of these characters and how they’ve ingrained themselves in my mind and how I want to know more. I want to read more.
Until it isn’t.
What happens next neither of them could have ever imagined. Both of them are wiped out by their discovery and the subsequent separation. Ben quits his job and disappears and Skye retreats back into her art as she prepares to welcome in changes to her life. But she isn’t the same person anymore, she’s not there like she used to be and neither is Ben. They both have a long way to go before they can begin to get over this and accept the hand that life and fate has dealt them both.
But it’s impossible to stay away forever and when their paths cross again, Ben and Skye have to renegotiate their boundaries. Into My Arms is a powerful novel that tackles a controversial phenomenon It’s about love, it’s about obsession, it’s about finding your soulmate, that one person you’re supposed to be with and having it all go hopelessly wrong. It’s about the power of family and the ties that bind and bring people back together, even after the most terrible secrets have broken them.
This is Australian author Kylie Ladd’s third novel and those who have read her previous work will be familiar with the way in which she tackles relationships. In After The Fall, she chose friendship and how it and marriages were splintered apart by infidelity. In Last Summer she explored the way in which a tight group of friends dealt with the tragic and sudden loss of the larger than life character that glued them all together. And in this book, well, I can’t tell you exactly what she delves into because the reveal is an intricate part of the storyline and best uncovered as you move through the narrative. Some readers will guess before the reveal, some will not but it doesn’t matter. Either way, this story sucks you in and holds you in its power.
When Skye meets Ben, she’s already been in a relationship with Hamish for several years. It’s satisfactory to her and she already knows she’ll say yes if and when he proposes. But all of that is blown away by her feelings for Ben, which surge up immediately upon meeting him. The connection between them is so tangible it should almost be visible, binding them together. Skye moves away from her life with Hamish, towards a life with Ben without a backward glance and the two of them embark on a journey together that’s cut short in the most devastating of ways. I love the way in which Ladd brought them together so passionately and then wrenched them apart.
This is such a clever book from beginning to end. It’s also a book that tells you the ending that you can’t have, rather than the one you can – what you don’t know is how it will resolve. Although Skye and Ben are separated, some time down the track they are brought back together when one of them needs help from the other. I have to wonder what happens to these characters after the book ends. I know a book has really resonated with me when I find myself pondering the fate of characters of books I’ve read when I’m doing menial tasks. I found myself thinking about Skye and Ben a lot and how much it would be possible for them to embrace their new relationship.
Ladd has already written two well received books and has won admirers for her deft style in really rounding out her characters and the way in which she embraces a gritty issue and strips it bare. I think that for me, this could be her best work to date. She embraces more, such as a foreign location and peripheral characters such as Ben’s family who don’t appear in the novel too much, but who are nevertheless just as well written and fleshed out as the main ones. She gives the reader space to come to terms with what she’s portraying and also a little bit of time to think. I remember when I finished After The Fall I wanted to sit down and ask her a specific question about the last page (which I later did when I was fortunate enough to meet her at an event that raised money for charity) but this novel makes me want to sit down and ask her a dozen questions. And that’s not a bad thing at all, quite the contrary. It’s the testament to the strength of these characters and how they’ve ingrained themselves in my mind and how I want to know more. I want to read more.
January 6, 2014
When i started this book, it had the right ingredients for a Rebecca Berto read: family + relationships. But before going into it, I'd read the blurb and it didn't really say too much. It had me hooked instantly and I wanted to find out what was going to ruin what sounded like a great relationship.
Then i hit that point.
The book is hard to put down from there. I kept thinking back to it and feeling for these characters. So I won't spoil this book for you, but Kylie Ladd has brought this story to life with deep and relatable storytelling and then goes on and breaks your heart and you have no choice but to go along for the ride.
I have to say I was impressed how it was all handled. I felt incredibly [insert words here] silly / guilty / stupid / weird . . . take your pick, but i felt some if not all of those for wanting what Kylie made me root for with that main plot/storyline. it should have felt bad or wrong but i she totally convinced me.
The blurb also describes this book similar to Jodi Picoult and Caroline Overington, and while i haven't read the latter I'd have made the link to Picoult anyway. Excellent writing style.
The only thing was a subplot or two bored me a little towards the end and I began skipping those scenes to get more of the main storyline. That may have been because it was so good and i was so impatient, or because it didn't live up to the gripping nature of the main plot. Either way, would have loved to have equally enjoyed all storylines but it didn't stop me from finishing the book because I had to know what happened to the fate of Ben and Skye.
If you love family drama and love relationships, this book is for you. <3
P.S. I wrote this review 7.5 months after I finished it. That's how vidid the storytelling is.
Then i hit that point.
The book is hard to put down from there. I kept thinking back to it and feeling for these characters. So I won't spoil this book for you, but Kylie Ladd has brought this story to life with deep and relatable storytelling and then goes on and breaks your heart and you have no choice but to go along for the ride.
I have to say I was impressed how it was all handled. I felt incredibly [insert words here] silly / guilty / stupid / weird . . . take your pick, but i felt some if not all of those for wanting what Kylie made me root for with that main plot/storyline. it should have felt bad or wrong but i she totally convinced me.
The blurb also describes this book similar to Jodi Picoult and Caroline Overington, and while i haven't read the latter I'd have made the link to Picoult anyway. Excellent writing style.
The only thing was a subplot or two bored me a little towards the end and I began skipping those scenes to get more of the main storyline. That may have been because it was so good and i was so impatient, or because it didn't live up to the gripping nature of the main plot. Either way, would have loved to have equally enjoyed all storylines but it didn't stop me from finishing the book because I had to know what happened to the fate of Ben and Skye.
If you love family drama and love relationships, this book is for you. <3
P.S. I wrote this review 7.5 months after I finished it. That's how vidid the storytelling is.
February 2, 2015
Into My Arms was a powerful and completely absorbing book, unfortunately, it’s also really difficult to review it without giving away the discovery Ben and Skye make. Let me tell you though, it is absolutely shocking and something which seems almost impossible. Ladd’s exploration of how this discovery affects Skye, Ben and their families is fantastic and truly compelling.
In many ways, I found Into My Arms to be similar to my favourite novels by Jodi Picoult. My favourite Picoult novels opened my eyes to all the facets of the issue at hand and the emotional consequences for all involved. This is where Ladd excels. All the characters were both likeable, but realistically flawed and this made the story instantly relatable. Similarly the decisions they made were sometimes frustrating, but realistic given the emotionally charged situation.
The actual moral dilemma of the novel was confronting, but quite timely. The issue is one which will polarise many readers, but Ladd did a brilliant job of exploring some of the psychological impacts it had on each of the characters. Ladd’s writing style was fantastic; simple, but utterly compelling. I was so absorbed by both the characters and the plot that I found it really hard to put this down and read it in a day.
Into My Arms presents a shocking moral dilemma and a deep exploration all the emotions involved. It is a brave, compelling and unforgettable novel of love, lust, and loss and one which I highly recommend.
Thank you to Allen & Unwin for providing a copy of the book for review
This review and many more can be found at Maree's Musings.
In many ways, I found Into My Arms to be similar to my favourite novels by Jodi Picoult. My favourite Picoult novels opened my eyes to all the facets of the issue at hand and the emotional consequences for all involved. This is where Ladd excels. All the characters were both likeable, but realistically flawed and this made the story instantly relatable. Similarly the decisions they made were sometimes frustrating, but realistic given the emotionally charged situation.
The actual moral dilemma of the novel was confronting, but quite timely. The issue is one which will polarise many readers, but Ladd did a brilliant job of exploring some of the psychological impacts it had on each of the characters. Ladd’s writing style was fantastic; simple, but utterly compelling. I was so absorbed by both the characters and the plot that I found it really hard to put this down and read it in a day.
Into My Arms presents a shocking moral dilemma and a deep exploration all the emotions involved. It is a brave, compelling and unforgettable novel of love, lust, and loss and one which I highly recommend.
Thank you to Allen & Unwin for providing a copy of the book for review
This review and many more can be found at Maree's Musings.
July 14, 2013
It is just another normal day when Skye meets Ben. A teacher at the primary school she is completing a special art project at Skye knows she has never met Ben before, but it is obvious pretty much immediately that there is an extremely powerful attraction between them. Skye tries to ignore it at first - after all she is already in a happy relationship - but she soon realises this attraction is like nothing she has ever experienced before and she is powerless to fight it. As far as she is concerned Ben is her destiny, the once in a lifetime kind of love many never experience.
Skye's mother is supportive of her choice (even though she liked her daughters ex Hamish) and welcomes Ben into the family. But there is something about him that concerns her....and after a little more digging she uncovers a shocking, life changing secret that she cannot hold back from Skye. Skye is disbelieving at first, but when presented with solid evidence she knows her life can never be the same again.
Kylie Ladd has taken a contemporary issue and woven it into a story filled with "real" people the reader can relate to. It is an uncomfortable topic and seemingly unbelievable at first, but it is backed by scientific evidence. It is definitely the first time I have come across it in any kind of popular fiction.
The author has approached the topic with empathy and compassion as well as constructing a believable narrative that kept me eagerly turning the pages from start to finish.
Skye's mother is supportive of her choice (even though she liked her daughters ex Hamish) and welcomes Ben into the family. But there is something about him that concerns her....and after a little more digging she uncovers a shocking, life changing secret that she cannot hold back from Skye. Skye is disbelieving at first, but when presented with solid evidence she knows her life can never be the same again.
Kylie Ladd has taken a contemporary issue and woven it into a story filled with "real" people the reader can relate to. It is an uncomfortable topic and seemingly unbelievable at first, but it is backed by scientific evidence. It is definitely the first time I have come across it in any kind of popular fiction.
The author has approached the topic with empathy and compassion as well as constructing a believable narrative that kept me eagerly turning the pages from start to finish.
June 20, 2013
Skye has always been a sensible one and is happy in her long-term relationship with boyfriend Hamish, that is until she meets Ben - a teacher at the school that she is working as an Art Tutor. It is like magnetic fields are at work in the air with these two as Ben and Skye seem connected and drawn together, no matter what happens the pair can't stay apart. So Skye knowing she has met her soulmate breaks up with Hamish and starts dating Ben. All is well till she brings Ben to meet her family, her mum can't help but notice his uncanny likeness to Skye and the story is then split into two - we read as Skye and Ben get closer and closer and Skye's mum Nell's journey to discover Ben's true identity. When Nell discovers the truth of who Ben really is , what will happen to Skye and Ben's perfect relationship - even more so when tragedy strikes and Skye's life is left hanging on the balance of life and death ?
Into My Arms has an edgy content feel to it and is written in the same tradition as authors like Catherine Ryan Hyde, Jodi Picoult, Caroline Overington, Nicole Trope and Ilsa Bick.
Into My Arms is a story that will have your moral compass ticking as you read through the story.
Into My Arms has an edgy content feel to it and is written in the same tradition as authors like Catherine Ryan Hyde, Jodi Picoult, Caroline Overington, Nicole Trope and Ilsa Bick.
Into My Arms is a story that will have your moral compass ticking as you read through the story.
May 28, 2013
Sometimes you read the back of a new book and think you have a bit of an idea of the story you're about to read.
She has found her one true love, her soulmate, and he has found his.
What happens next will tear them apart and unleash havoc onto their worlds.
You already know this book is about love. You know it's about heartbreak. You know it's about family. What you don't know is what will happen that will tear Skye and Ben apart, what will destroy a family. And ultimately, what life will ask of them and what they will do to for those they love.
What would you be prepared to do for your loved ones?
She has found her one true love, her soulmate, and he has found his.
What happens next will tear them apart and unleash havoc onto their worlds.
You already know this book is about love. You know it's about heartbreak. You know it's about family. What you don't know is what will happen that will tear Skye and Ben apart, what will destroy a family. And ultimately, what life will ask of them and what they will do to for those they love.
What would you be prepared to do for your loved ones?
March 4, 2013
Having never read one of Kylie Ladd's books before, I have to say I was more than plesantly surprised with this! Interpersonal family dramas (none of which I can really go into with spoiling the plot for anyone who comes after), with more of a literary writing style than Jodi Picoult's, but not as torturously bleak as some of Anita Shreve's. The sex scenes are described bluntly, with lots of four letter words, so that is something to take into accoutn before you buy if for your mum.
I'll definitely be hunting out some of her others.
I'll definitely be hunting out some of her others.
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