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Things Don't Break on Their Own
EDGAR AWARD FINALIST • A BOOKPAGE BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR • A WASHINGTON POST AND BLOOMBERG BEST BOOK OF THE SEASON
A heart-wrenching mystery about sisters, lovers, and a dinner party gone wrong.
Twenty-five years ago, a young girl left home to walk to school. Her younger sister soon followed. But one of them arrived, and one of them didn’t.
Her sister’s disappearance has defined Willa’s life. Everyone thinks her sister is dead, but Willa knows she isn’t. Because there are some things that only sisters know about each other—and some bonds only sisters can break.
Willa sees fragments of her sister everywhere—the way that woman on the train turns her head, the gait of that woman in Paris. If there’s the slightest resemblance, Willa drops everything, and everyone, and tries to see if it is her.
When Willa is invited to a dinner party thrown by her first love, she has no reason to expect it will be anything other than an ordinary evening. Both of them have moved on, ancient history. But nothing about Willa’s life has been ordinary since the day her sister disappeared, and that’s not about to change tonight.
Sarah Easter Collins has written an extraordinary novel about memory, lost love, and long-buried secrets that sometimes see the light of day.
A heart-wrenching mystery about sisters, lovers, and a dinner party gone wrong.
Twenty-five years ago, a young girl left home to walk to school. Her younger sister soon followed. But one of them arrived, and one of them didn’t.
Her sister’s disappearance has defined Willa’s life. Everyone thinks her sister is dead, but Willa knows she isn’t. Because there are some things that only sisters know about each other—and some bonds only sisters can break.
Willa sees fragments of her sister everywhere—the way that woman on the train turns her head, the gait of that woman in Paris. If there’s the slightest resemblance, Willa drops everything, and everyone, and tries to see if it is her.
When Willa is invited to a dinner party thrown by her first love, she has no reason to expect it will be anything other than an ordinary evening. Both of them have moved on, ancient history. But nothing about Willa’s life has been ordinary since the day her sister disappeared, and that’s not about to change tonight.
Sarah Easter Collins has written an extraordinary novel about memory, lost love, and long-buried secrets that sometimes see the light of day.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 16, 2024
1071 people are currently reading
44339 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Easter Collins
2 books246 followersSarah Easter Collins grew up in Kent and studied at Exeter University before moving to Botswana and later Thailand and Malawi. A mother to a wonderful son, she now lives on Exmoor with her husband and two dogs. She is a graduate of the Curtis Brown Creative novel-writing course and holds a diploma in creative writing from Oxford University. When not writing, she works as an artist.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,066 reviews
May 11, 2025
This book is a traumatic, heart-wrenching mystery tale of a dysfunctional family, heartfelt grief, and an unfinished queer love story with a well-executed blend of different timelines and multiple perspectives, all presented in a balanced pace to reveal the vulnerable faces of characters hiding behind invincible facades.
Robyn and Cat, a queer couple with three children (one daughter and twin boys), invite people to a special family gathering, including Robyn’s brother Michael with his new girlfriend Liv, a psychiatrist specialized in false memories. Cat’s brother Nate brings his French girlfriend Claudette, who seems quite different from his regular choices in partners. Also attending is Willa, Robyn’s longtime friend and first lover, who left medical school after their breakup, and her fiancé Jamie, who gives off hostile vibes throughout the dinner gathering.
Throughout the dinner, we realize Willa is still trying to cope with the years-long trauma of her sister Laika’s loss. Laika disappeared when Willa was 13, and for decades, nobody has solved the mystery of her disappearance, despite efforts such as a website dedicated to gathering information. With her sister’s disappearance, Willa also lost pieces of herself and cannot have a fulfilling life until she finds out what happened to her. The dinner gathering may bring out unresolved feelings and help her find surprising closure, as someone at the table holds important information.
The author takes us on a journey between past and present, explaining how Robyn and Willa met at a young age, their family lives, their love story, Willa’s denial of her sexual orientation, and her complex family life before and after her sister’s disappearance, revealing the secrets they harbored behind closed doors and Willa’s desperate search to find out what happened to Laika.
I loved the mystery that gives you an eerie feeling from the beginning, keeping you worried about something tragic happening to Laika that will break your heart. Thankfully, there’s no open ending; the author wraps up the mystery, filling in all the holes, answering the questions, and providing a satisfying conclusion (at least, I'm truly satisfied with how things were revealed and concluded, giving my best happy Villanelle laugh).
Overall, this story starts a little slow, and it takes some time to connect with the characters and their perspectives, but it is a well-developed, honestly written family drama and mystery exploring sisterly bonds, marriage troubles, sexual exploration, and the psychological process of grief. I truly enjoyed it and recommend it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for providing me with this well-written mystery's digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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Robyn and Cat, a queer couple with three children (one daughter and twin boys), invite people to a special family gathering, including Robyn’s brother Michael with his new girlfriend Liv, a psychiatrist specialized in false memories. Cat’s brother Nate brings his French girlfriend Claudette, who seems quite different from his regular choices in partners. Also attending is Willa, Robyn’s longtime friend and first lover, who left medical school after their breakup, and her fiancé Jamie, who gives off hostile vibes throughout the dinner gathering.
Throughout the dinner, we realize Willa is still trying to cope with the years-long trauma of her sister Laika’s loss. Laika disappeared when Willa was 13, and for decades, nobody has solved the mystery of her disappearance, despite efforts such as a website dedicated to gathering information. With her sister’s disappearance, Willa also lost pieces of herself and cannot have a fulfilling life until she finds out what happened to her. The dinner gathering may bring out unresolved feelings and help her find surprising closure, as someone at the table holds important information.
The author takes us on a journey between past and present, explaining how Robyn and Willa met at a young age, their family lives, their love story, Willa’s denial of her sexual orientation, and her complex family life before and after her sister’s disappearance, revealing the secrets they harbored behind closed doors and Willa’s desperate search to find out what happened to Laika.
I loved the mystery that gives you an eerie feeling from the beginning, keeping you worried about something tragic happening to Laika that will break your heart. Thankfully, there’s no open ending; the author wraps up the mystery, filling in all the holes, answering the questions, and providing a satisfying conclusion (at least, I'm truly satisfied with how things were revealed and concluded, giving my best happy Villanelle laugh).
Overall, this story starts a little slow, and it takes some time to connect with the characters and their perspectives, but it is a well-developed, honestly written family drama and mystery exploring sisterly bonds, marriage troubles, sexual exploration, and the psychological process of grief. I truly enjoyed it and recommend it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for providing me with this well-written mystery's digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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August 1, 2024
Touching and meaningful
A number of years ago I read the book Broken for You, which had similar themes of breaking and mending. While these books are nothing alike in their plots, the imagery of things being broken and mended in a different way are mirrored in both.
Willa and Robyn meet as seventeen-year-olds at boarding school. Willa's thirteen-year-old sister, Laika, had disappeared the year before, no trace of her was ever found. Throughout their year at school, Robyn and Willa become very close and start a romantic relationship. In an escape from her melancholy, bereft parents at home, Willa joins Robyn's family for an idyllic summer vacation. The years pass, but Willa never gives up hope of finding Laika again, and she continues her search even after everyone else has given up.
This is such a nuanced story, I cannot believe that it is this author's debut novel. The layers of plot build on each other, with the exploration of grief, loss, abuse, love, rejection, regret, and healing. Yes, there's the mystery of what happened to Laika (and we do find out what happened), but this book is much more than that. It's a coming of age novel, a domestic drama, and a character study all wrapped in one.
It is a story that dug into my consciousness and I couldn't stop thinking about it. Every character, even though there are many, has a purpose and a piece in the mosaic of the tale. This book really resonated with me and I can't wait to see what the author comes up with next.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
A number of years ago I read the book Broken for You, which had similar themes of breaking and mending. While these books are nothing alike in their plots, the imagery of things being broken and mended in a different way are mirrored in both.
Willa and Robyn meet as seventeen-year-olds at boarding school. Willa's thirteen-year-old sister, Laika, had disappeared the year before, no trace of her was ever found. Throughout their year at school, Robyn and Willa become very close and start a romantic relationship. In an escape from her melancholy, bereft parents at home, Willa joins Robyn's family for an idyllic summer vacation. The years pass, but Willa never gives up hope of finding Laika again, and she continues her search even after everyone else has given up.
This is such a nuanced story, I cannot believe that it is this author's debut novel. The layers of plot build on each other, with the exploration of grief, loss, abuse, love, rejection, regret, and healing. Yes, there's the mystery of what happened to Laika (and we do find out what happened), but this book is much more than that. It's a coming of age novel, a domestic drama, and a character study all wrapped in one.
It is a story that dug into my consciousness and I couldn't stop thinking about it. Every character, even though there are many, has a purpose and a piece in the mosaic of the tale. This book really resonated with me and I can't wait to see what the author comes up with next.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
June 22, 2024
EXCERPT: Over dessert, Liv tells us about her research into memory and now I really start to listen. We all do. It's riveting stuff - everything depends on it. To my amazement she tells us how fallible our memories can be, how our minds rework things, how key things we remember from our childhoods may not even be true. Wow, I think, that's a strange thought. No, worse, it's a horrifying thought. I think back to all the things I remember happening as a child, things about which I've always felt so sure. Now I think, 'but what if those memories are wrong?' What if there's another story. buried somehow, underneath the one I think I know?
ABOUT 'THINGS DON'T BREAK ON THEIR OWN': Twenty-five years ago, a young girl left home to walk to school. Her younger sister soon followed. But one of them arrived, and one of them didn’t. Her sister’s disappearance has defined Willa’s life. Everyone thinks her sister is dead, but Willa knows she isn’t. Because there are some things only sisters know about each other—and some bonds only sisters can break.
MY THOUGHTS: Simply stunning!
Things Don't Break on Their Own is a beautifully written character-based story featuring the mystery of a child belonging to an extremely dysfunctional family who simply disappears from the face of the earth.
I quickly became caught up in the lives of the main characters - Willa, sister of the disappeared Laika; Robyn, Willa's schoolfriend and lover; and later Claudette, Robyn's wife's brother's girlfriend. Don't worry - that's as complicated as it gets. The timeline switches between the past and the present as the story of Laika's disappearance is slowly unraveled.
The truth, when revealed, is both brutal and stunning, yet quite exquisite.
Things Don't Break on Their Own begins quite slowly and it is not until the character of Claudette is introduced that the tension is ramped up. A quietly written story of grief, family violence, friendship, sexual awakening, and the bonds between sisters, this debut novel is best gone into with no more information than is given here.
I can't wait to read whatever Sarah Easter Collins writes next.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#ThingsDontBreakOnTheirOwn #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Sarah Easter Collins grew up in Kent and studied at Exeter University before moving to Botswana and later Thailand and Malawi. A mother to a wonderful son, she now lives on Exmoor with her husband and two dogs. When not writing, she works as an artist.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Penguin General UK for providing a digital ARC of Things Don't Break On Their Own by Sarah Easter Collins for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
ABOUT 'THINGS DON'T BREAK ON THEIR OWN': Twenty-five years ago, a young girl left home to walk to school. Her younger sister soon followed. But one of them arrived, and one of them didn’t. Her sister’s disappearance has defined Willa’s life. Everyone thinks her sister is dead, but Willa knows she isn’t. Because there are some things only sisters know about each other—and some bonds only sisters can break.
MY THOUGHTS: Simply stunning!
Things Don't Break on Their Own is a beautifully written character-based story featuring the mystery of a child belonging to an extremely dysfunctional family who simply disappears from the face of the earth.
I quickly became caught up in the lives of the main characters - Willa, sister of the disappeared Laika; Robyn, Willa's schoolfriend and lover; and later Claudette, Robyn's wife's brother's girlfriend. Don't worry - that's as complicated as it gets. The timeline switches between the past and the present as the story of Laika's disappearance is slowly unraveled.
The truth, when revealed, is both brutal and stunning, yet quite exquisite.
Things Don't Break on Their Own begins quite slowly and it is not until the character of Claudette is introduced that the tension is ramped up. A quietly written story of grief, family violence, friendship, sexual awakening, and the bonds between sisters, this debut novel is best gone into with no more information than is given here.
I can't wait to read whatever Sarah Easter Collins writes next.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#ThingsDontBreakOnTheirOwn #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Sarah Easter Collins grew up in Kent and studied at Exeter University before moving to Botswana and later Thailand and Malawi. A mother to a wonderful son, she now lives on Exmoor with her husband and two dogs. When not writing, she works as an artist.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Penguin General UK for providing a digital ARC of Things Don't Break On Their Own by Sarah Easter Collins for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
July 26, 2024
“You can fix anything, given the right tools.”
Gripping, moving, and unputdownable!
This character driven debut is structurally poetic and heart-wrenching in content. Part domestic suspense and part coming of age novel, Easter Collins hypnotizes the reader with the story of a missing girl.
What happened to Laika?
Twenty five years ago, Laika disappeared without a trace on her way to school. Willa has never given up on finding her sister, believing that she is still alive. Easter Collins weaves through past and present timelines and multiple perspectives touching on themes of abuse, grief, sisterhood, friendship, and loss.
I listened to the audiobook in one day! While I did really enjoy it, the reveal was somewhat of a disappointment. My mind was thinking much darker thoughts than what actually occurred. Be warned that the plot is not that kind of mystery. Instead, the book shines in its clever structure and strong characters.
4/5 stars
Thank you to Edelweiss and Penguin Random House for the ARC of Things Dont’ Break on Their Own in exchange for an honest review.
Gripping, moving, and unputdownable!
This character driven debut is structurally poetic and heart-wrenching in content. Part domestic suspense and part coming of age novel, Easter Collins hypnotizes the reader with the story of a missing girl.
What happened to Laika?
Twenty five years ago, Laika disappeared without a trace on her way to school. Willa has never given up on finding her sister, believing that she is still alive. Easter Collins weaves through past and present timelines and multiple perspectives touching on themes of abuse, grief, sisterhood, friendship, and loss.
I listened to the audiobook in one day! While I did really enjoy it, the reveal was somewhat of a disappointment. My mind was thinking much darker thoughts than what actually occurred. Be warned that the plot is not that kind of mystery. Instead, the book shines in its clever structure and strong characters.
4/5 stars
Thank you to Edelweiss and Penguin Random House for the ARC of Things Dont’ Break on Their Own in exchange for an honest review.
May 27, 2024
Another book that requires more stars. I loved it. And a debut novel too. Please write more Sarah Easter Collins.
The story begins with a dinner party held by Robyn and wife, Cat. There are hidden tensions that surface for a time but few explanations other than that Robyn's best friend from school, Willa, had a sister (Laika) who disappeared 20 years before. As more dinner party guests arrive we meet Nate (Cat's brother) and Claudette, his French girlfriend.
We leave the dinner party and travel around to other times in the lives of Robyn, Willa and Laika to explain the relationship between the two friends and what happened to Laika.
There are a few twists that I didn't see coming at all. It does stretch the imagination a little but only a little. The characters are well defined and either likeable or hateable (pretty sure that's not word but you know what I mean). The book delves into all sorts of family situations - grief, loss, physical abuse, coercive control etc bit Sarah Easter Collins does it all with a light touch. Plus if you like a story with a definitive ending then you will love this.
I think the word to use about the narrative is compelling. I was certainly compelled to stop reading anything else and focus on this. I certainly wouldn't call the book a thriller (as some reviewers seemed to think it was) but then I don't recall reading that in the blurb. It is quite fast paced, there's a lot of action (some of it had my fingernails digging into my palms at the injustice) and its an excellent plot.
Highly recommended. It would make an excellent holiday read that you'd fly through.
Thankyou so much to Netgalley and Penguin for the advance review copy. Most appreciated.
The story begins with a dinner party held by Robyn and wife, Cat. There are hidden tensions that surface for a time but few explanations other than that Robyn's best friend from school, Willa, had a sister (Laika) who disappeared 20 years before. As more dinner party guests arrive we meet Nate (Cat's brother) and Claudette, his French girlfriend.
We leave the dinner party and travel around to other times in the lives of Robyn, Willa and Laika to explain the relationship between the two friends and what happened to Laika.
There are a few twists that I didn't see coming at all. It does stretch the imagination a little but only a little. The characters are well defined and either likeable or hateable (pretty sure that's not word but you know what I mean). The book delves into all sorts of family situations - grief, loss, physical abuse, coercive control etc bit Sarah Easter Collins does it all with a light touch. Plus if you like a story with a definitive ending then you will love this.
I think the word to use about the narrative is compelling. I was certainly compelled to stop reading anything else and focus on this. I certainly wouldn't call the book a thriller (as some reviewers seemed to think it was) but then I don't recall reading that in the blurb. It is quite fast paced, there's a lot of action (some of it had my fingernails digging into my palms at the injustice) and its an excellent plot.
Highly recommended. It would make an excellent holiday read that you'd fly through.
Thankyou so much to Netgalley and Penguin for the advance review copy. Most appreciated.
Read
January 5, 2025Read.
Library loan.
You know when you come home from work and find that the new orange and yellow-flowered pillow you scored at TJ Maxx is ripped to shreds and there are pieces of white stuffing floating around the room? You glance over at your beloved dog, Charlie, and say, "Charlie? What did you do? Come here now?" and the dog hangs his head in a dramatic show of repentance as he skulks toward you? Given how many people loved this book, please imagine me doing just that as I tell you what I thought of it.
I loved the beginning. Sucked it in like a sweet drink through a straw. Then, about 1/4 of the way in, my attention lagged. Figured I'd DNF, but when I glanced over at the pile of books on my night stand, I experienced a fit of ADHD confusion (which should I read instead????!!!!) and so returned to this one.
And then suddenly the book took a turn for the better--and I was once again engrossed (Robin and Willa at school together and their time with Robin's family--utterly fabulous scenes, beautifully written).
By the time the denouement scene at the dinner party occurred I'd again grown weary. The long-winded switch to the backstory that EXPLAINED IT ALL felt cumbersome and not-quite-swallowable. Still, I digested it as best i could and picked up my fork, anxiously awaiting the next course (dang, but this metaphor sucks).
And here's where two things happened that caused my brain to explode. One is minuscule and one is massive. I shall list them here. Since they are spoilers I'll add the HTML doohickey so as to hide them:
Library loan.
You know when you come home from work and find that the new orange and yellow-flowered pillow you scored at TJ Maxx is ripped to shreds and there are pieces of white stuffing floating around the room? You glance over at your beloved dog, Charlie, and say, "Charlie? What did you do? Come here now?" and the dog hangs his head in a dramatic show of repentance as he skulks toward you? Given how many people loved this book, please imagine me doing just that as I tell you what I thought of it.
I loved the beginning. Sucked it in like a sweet drink through a straw. Then, about 1/4 of the way in, my attention lagged. Figured I'd DNF, but when I glanced over at the pile of books on my night stand, I experienced a fit of ADHD confusion (which should I read instead????!!!!) and so returned to this one.
And then suddenly the book took a turn for the better--and I was once again engrossed (Robin and Willa at school together and their time with Robin's family--utterly fabulous scenes, beautifully written).
By the time the denouement scene at the dinner party occurred I'd again grown weary. The long-winded switch to the backstory that EXPLAINED IT ALL felt cumbersome and not-quite-swallowable. Still, I digested it as best i could and picked up my fork, anxiously awaiting the next course (dang, but this metaphor sucks).
And here's where two things happened that caused my brain to explode. One is minuscule and one is massive. I shall list them here. Since they are spoilers I'll add the HTML doohickey so as to hide them:
June 27, 2024
Didn’t wow me one bit. The writing and development was well done but the story didn’t have any reveals, the plot wasn’t meaty enough, and the ending was lukewarm. Solid 3 for the audiobook, but don’t expect a wow.
September 4, 2024
3.5 stars
November 11, 2024
Ein außergewöhnliches Debut - eine Geschichte über das Verschwinden eines Mädchens - Laika - und über das, was dies mit ihrer Familie macht. Insbesondere mit ihrer Schwester Willa.
Jahre später vermutet Willa in der neuen Freundin ihres Bekannten Laika wieder zu treffen. Doch könnte die Französin Claudette wirklich Laika sein? Oder spielt ihre Erinnerung ihr einen bösen Streich?
Die Geschichte spielt mit den Perspektiven, wechselt in den Zeiten und erzählt spannend von den Geschehnissen damals zur Zeit von Laika‘s Verschwinden. Das Buch konnte mich überraschen und soviel sollte gesagt sein: Manche Erinnerung kann trügen.
Das Ende war für mich leider nicht ganz passend zum Stil der vorausgegangenen Geschichte. Mehr kann ich ohne Spoiler nicht sagen, daher gibt es einen Stern Abzug.
Jahre später vermutet Willa in der neuen Freundin ihres Bekannten Laika wieder zu treffen. Doch könnte die Französin Claudette wirklich Laika sein? Oder spielt ihre Erinnerung ihr einen bösen Streich?
Die Geschichte spielt mit den Perspektiven, wechselt in den Zeiten und erzählt spannend von den Geschehnissen damals zur Zeit von Laika‘s Verschwinden. Das Buch konnte mich überraschen und soviel sollte gesagt sein: Manche Erinnerung kann trügen.
Das Ende war für mich leider nicht ganz passend zum Stil der vorausgegangenen Geschichte. Mehr kann ich ohne Spoiler nicht sagen, daher gibt es einen Stern Abzug.
September 4, 2024
Things Don't Break on Their Own by Sarah Easter Collins felt very literary mystery to me, and though it is very character-driven I loved it to the max! The bonds of family run deep in this one, and the blend of Willa's quest to find her missing sister plus the alternating viewpoints and general heartbreak and drama created the perfect storm of readability. I listened to this in basically one sitting, and it grabbed me from the first page. I got lost in Collins' writing and I still can't believe this is a debut.
I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Christina Cole, Emily Lucienne & Nathalie Buscombe, and damn was it good! Each of these narrators did an excellent job with their characters and helped to completely envelop me in the story. I feel like I'm being really vague, but the synopsis is also pretty vague, and I don't want to give anything away. Things Don't Break on Their Own is an onion with many layers and excellent characterization, and I teared up and got chills at the same time. Just outstanding, and I can't wait for the author's next book.
Thank you to the publishers for my advanced listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Christina Cole, Emily Lucienne & Nathalie Buscombe, and damn was it good! Each of these narrators did an excellent job with their characters and helped to completely envelop me in the story. I feel like I'm being really vague, but the synopsis is also pretty vague, and I don't want to give anything away. Things Don't Break on Their Own is an onion with many layers and excellent characterization, and I teared up and got chills at the same time. Just outstanding, and I can't wait for the author's next book.
Thank you to the publishers for my advanced listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
August 23, 2024
I’ll be honest, this wasn’t what I was expecting and a lot of my disappoint stems from that. It was definitely more literary than thriller. I don’t even feel like it was a thriller at all. It was barely even a mystery. I saw the potential from this author but it just felt a bit overwritten.
January 15, 2024
This was not what I expected from the synopsis but nonetheless it was an enjoyable, emotional read.
The dinner party in question is attended by 4 couples, some are also siblings, exes etc. but we soon learn Willa's childhood was marred by the disappearance of her sister Laika.
Throughout the dinner, and in Willa's and Robyn's backstory we learn about the secrets of Willa's childhood and what led to the disappearance or Laika but it's clear there is more to the story than meets the eye.
Like I say, this was not what I expected. I thought there would be more of the storyline focused on the dinner party but this actually plays only a minor role in the story. The main story is told via backstory about how Willa and Robyn met and how the disappearance of Laika affected everyone involved
I'm not sure the ending will be delivered without some questions from the reader but it was satisfying and a solid debut novel
Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin General UK - Fig Tree, Hamish Hamilton, Viking, Penguin Life, Penguin Business, Viking for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
The dinner party in question is attended by 4 couples, some are also siblings, exes etc. but we soon learn Willa's childhood was marred by the disappearance of her sister Laika.
Throughout the dinner, and in Willa's and Robyn's backstory we learn about the secrets of Willa's childhood and what led to the disappearance or Laika but it's clear there is more to the story than meets the eye.
Like I say, this was not what I expected. I thought there would be more of the storyline focused on the dinner party but this actually plays only a minor role in the story. The main story is told via backstory about how Willa and Robyn met and how the disappearance of Laika affected everyone involved
I'm not sure the ending will be delivered without some questions from the reader but it was satisfying and a solid debut novel
Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin General UK - Fig Tree, Hamish Hamilton, Viking, Penguin Life, Penguin Business, Viking for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
May 30, 2024
The story of a dysfunctional family with a bit of a mystery thrown in, this is a a character driven story about love, trauma and finding your way in life against the odds.
Told in the present in the form of a dinner party and in the past of the attendees, we get told the story from various viewpoints.
I really enjoyed this one. It was very character driven so they needed to be well written and believable and thankfully they are. Some really vivid characters and settings, the writing here is beautiful without being too wordy.
At under 300 pages it’s also the perfect length for the story it tells.
It’s does border on being over sentimental towards the end but by that time you are so caught up in the characters and their plight that you don’t mind it at all.
A very strong 4 stars from me. This is an author I will be looking out for in the future.
Thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley
Told in the present in the form of a dinner party and in the past of the attendees, we get told the story from various viewpoints.
I really enjoyed this one. It was very character driven so they needed to be well written and believable and thankfully they are. Some really vivid characters and settings, the writing here is beautiful without being too wordy.
At under 300 pages it’s also the perfect length for the story it tells.
It’s does border on being over sentimental towards the end but by that time you are so caught up in the characters and their plight that you don’t mind it at all.
A very strong 4 stars from me. This is an author I will be looking out for in the future.
Thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley
December 5, 2024
I've been binging thrillers and mysteries lately, and was very happy to have come across Sarah Eater Collin's Things Don't Break on Their Own - a truly mesmerizing , atmospheric read!
Willa's younger sister, Laika disappeared over 20 years ago on her way to school one morning. Willa sees potential Laikas everywhere - accosting complete strangers or dropping everything and jumping on a plane to investigate any lead that might reunite her with her beloved sister.
The plot is a slow build. Things are not what they seem, at all, and the flash backs reveal the truth in minute layers. Throw in a diverse cast of attractive, highly appealing (and some not so appealing) characters, and you have a mesmerizing, highly entertaining story.
The TRUTH, when it finally does come out, is totally jaw-dropping. I didn't see that one coming, so points to the author for pulling the wool over my jaded eyes!
I am rating this a 4.5 out of 5, and would have rated it a full 5 stars, but that "coincidence" (no spoilers here) required a suspension of disbelief on my part. Coincidences do happen, of course, in real life. Still, I was quite happy, in the end, to accept the coincidence because this was such a great read and I really wanted to know how it would all end. I highly recommend this great read!
Willa's younger sister, Laika disappeared over 20 years ago on her way to school one morning. Willa sees potential Laikas everywhere - accosting complete strangers or dropping everything and jumping on a plane to investigate any lead that might reunite her with her beloved sister.
The plot is a slow build. Things are not what they seem, at all, and the flash backs reveal the truth in minute layers. Throw in a diverse cast of attractive, highly appealing (and some not so appealing) characters, and you have a mesmerizing, highly entertaining story.
The TRUTH, when it finally does come out, is totally jaw-dropping. I didn't see that one coming, so points to the author for pulling the wool over my jaded eyes!
I am rating this a 4.5 out of 5, and would have rated it a full 5 stars, but that "coincidence" (no spoilers here) required a suspension of disbelief on my part. Coincidences do happen, of course, in real life. Still, I was quite happy, in the end, to accept the coincidence because this was such a great read and I really wanted to know how it would all end. I highly recommend this great read!
September 26, 2024
Absolutely loved this audiobook… it had everything… mystery, drama, love, heartbreak……. Rounding up to 4.5 shining stars 🌟 🌟🌟🌟
August 26, 2024
three cheers for women who support women
February 17, 2024
There is something very comforting about the concept of breaking into pieces, fragments of the self, of things, of memories, and then finding ways, new ways and unique ways, to join those cracks and recreate as something, not quite new, but something built on the strength of those fragments that remained.
This is a story of heartbreak, loss and rebirth. It is hard to read the emerging details of Laika's childhood but her story compelled me to keep going and I couldn't put this down after the half way point, I just had to keep going.
There is a message here also, of the treatment of vulnerable elderly people by greedy relatives and those who should be caring for them but are utterly lacking. I felt that I was in that house with them during that time and I wanted to stay because there was acceptance and compassion there. It was a happy surprise to find out what became of the cats, really nice that was included.
It ends well, and is not just satisfying but gives a warm and heartfelt closure.
This gets five stars from me and joins a very small number of books that make it to my favourite books list. LOVED IT.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.
This is a story of heartbreak, loss and rebirth. It is hard to read the emerging details of Laika's childhood but her story compelled me to keep going and I couldn't put this down after the half way point, I just had to keep going.
There is a message here also, of the treatment of vulnerable elderly people by greedy relatives and those who should be caring for them but are utterly lacking. I felt that I was in that house with them during that time and I wanted to stay because there was acceptance and compassion there. It was a happy surprise to find out what became of the cats, really nice that was included.
It ends well, and is not just satisfying but gives a warm and heartfelt closure.
This gets five stars from me and joins a very small number of books that make it to my favourite books list. LOVED IT.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.
May 28, 2024
Received as a Goodreads giveaway, this is set to be released on 6/11/2024, thank you to the author and Crown publishing for the opportunity to read and review.
The blurb for this one reads as juicy thriller: during a a dinner party discussion of a missing girl is brought up. She left for school 25 years ago and was never seen again. Her sister, Willa, now a dinner party guest, discusses this with a group of friends over dinner. The blurb makes one think hidden knowledge will be exposed and the truth will come out.
And it does, but not in a typical thriller stereotype.
This book is about abuse- I wont even consider that a spoiler, because if domestic and child abuse are a trigger, please stay away from this. It is unflinching, raw and upsetting. While necessary to the story, this makes it more of a literary genre than a thriller. The last book I read that made me squirm like this was Joyce Carol Oates "We Were the Mulvaneys" in the way you knew bad things were happening and could not stop or look away. This book though, while not explicitly graphic, dives much more into detail.
What I did like was how this unfolded in multiple POV, although just like our own lives, everyone's perception of an event is different and I left a little unsure of who was reliable.
A good book, while not a thriller in my opinion, it is worth a read and would make a very good book club pick. I'd love to discuss others opinion's on he characters, the "reveal" and exactly who everyone thinks we should trust.
The blurb for this one reads as juicy thriller: during a a dinner party discussion of a missing girl is brought up. She left for school 25 years ago and was never seen again. Her sister, Willa, now a dinner party guest, discusses this with a group of friends over dinner. The blurb makes one think hidden knowledge will be exposed and the truth will come out.
And it does, but not in a typical thriller stereotype.
This book is about abuse- I wont even consider that a spoiler, because if domestic and child abuse are a trigger, please stay away from this. It is unflinching, raw and upsetting. While necessary to the story, this makes it more of a literary genre than a thriller. The last book I read that made me squirm like this was Joyce Carol Oates "We Were the Mulvaneys" in the way you knew bad things were happening and could not stop or look away. This book though, while not explicitly graphic, dives much more into detail.
What I did like was how this unfolded in multiple POV, although just like our own lives, everyone's perception of an event is different and I left a little unsure of who was reliable.
A good book, while not a thriller in my opinion, it is worth a read and would make a very good book club pick. I'd love to discuss others opinion's on he characters, the "reveal" and exactly who everyone thinks we should trust.
October 10, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
Things Don't Break on Their Own.
When a book is described as 'literary,' I know what it means: great writing, but no suspense or drama. No offense.
I love mysteries and thrillers, it's pretty much the only genres I read, but this was neither a mystery or a thriller.
** Minor non-thrilling spoilers ahead **
The premise does sound thrilling, but the narrative is nothing more than flashbacks about Willa and Robyn's relationship in boarding school, the domestic violence permeating Willa's family life, when Willa met Jamie, etc, etc.
The narrative was mostly filler and Laika's disappearance/reappearance only takes up a quarter of the novel, at best.
The writing is good (like I said, literary) but the story tedious, plodding and the characters unlikable, not detestable, mostly one dimensional.
Let me put it this way, I wouldn't want to have dinner with most of them. Maybe Nate.
But the real kicker, the one that made me stop reading immediately was how Laika finds her way back to Willa and her family.
What are the odds she ends up with Nate?
I don't like when coincidences or deus ex machina or any corny/lame literary device are used to resolve a plot hole(s).
When a book is described as 'literary,' I know what it means: great writing, but no suspense or drama. No offense.
I love mysteries and thrillers, it's pretty much the only genres I read, but this was neither a mystery or a thriller.
** Minor non-thrilling spoilers ahead **
The premise does sound thrilling, but the narrative is nothing more than flashbacks about Willa and Robyn's relationship in boarding school, the domestic violence permeating Willa's family life, when Willa met Jamie, etc, etc.
The narrative was mostly filler and Laika's disappearance/reappearance only takes up a quarter of the novel, at best.
The writing is good (like I said, literary) but the story tedious, plodding and the characters unlikable, not detestable, mostly one dimensional.
Let me put it this way, I wouldn't want to have dinner with most of them. Maybe Nate.
But the real kicker, the one that made me stop reading immediately was how Laika finds her way back to Willa and her family.
What are the odds she ends up with Nate?
I don't like when coincidences or deus ex machina or any corny/lame literary device are used to resolve a plot hole(s).
April 24, 2024
Very much enjoyed reading this, character driven with a mystery thrown in. Totally kept my interest.
Thank you to Penguin Random House for this advanced copy!
Thank you to Penguin Random House for this advanced copy!
May 27, 2024
Things Don't Break On Their Own captured me from the off. For anyone who has been unfortunate enough to live in a dysfunctional family, I suspect you will recognise where the true terror can lie. For those lucky enough not to, enjoy a peek behind the window into Willa's life.
Willa's sister disappeared when she was just 13 and as the older sister Willa has never recovered. The story of what happened next covers her first serious relationship, her hopes and dreams and her longing to know what happened that day when Laika left for school but never arrived.
This book is a quiet, understated read at times, one however where the darkness is never far from the surface and the reality of life slips through in the odd unguarded sentence that peels back the surface, allowing the reader to see what is really happening.
One of my favourite reads of the year so far.
Willa's sister disappeared when she was just 13 and as the older sister Willa has never recovered. The story of what happened next covers her first serious relationship, her hopes and dreams and her longing to know what happened that day when Laika left for school but never arrived.
This book is a quiet, understated read at times, one however where the darkness is never far from the surface and the reality of life slips through in the odd unguarded sentence that peels back the surface, allowing the reader to see what is really happening.
One of my favourite reads of the year so far.
July 29, 2024
"So ist das nie passiert" ist ein fesselnder Roman, in dem es einerseits um das Thema Verlust und die unaufhörliche Suche nach Antworten geht, andererseits um eine Familie, die beim Blick hinter die Kulissen von Schmerz und Gewalt geprägt ist. Der Roman beginnt mit einer Dinnerparty, auf der Willa eine Frau trifft, die sie für ihre verlorene Schwester hält. Willas kleine Schwester Laika verschwand spurlos, als sie ein Teenager war. Seither bestimmt die Suche nach der Schwester Willas gesamte Beziehungen und Lebensentscheidungen.
Die Beschreibung der Dinnerparty aus unterschiedlichen Perspektiven der Gäste zieht sich durch den gesamten Roman, was mir sehr gut gefallen hat. Das Setting des Abendessens erinnert an ein Kammerspiel: Unausgesprochene Konflikte und Spannungen aus Vergangenheit und Gegenwart liegen in der Luft, was die Atmosphäre dicht und intensiv macht. Die Autorin schafft es, die Leser:innen direkt in die Geschichte hineinzuziehen: Die Erzählung entwickelt einen Sog, dem man sich kaum entziehen kann. Die klare und gefällige Sprache macht es leicht, immer weiterzulesen. Die Rückblenden, die die Geschehnisse des Abendessens unterbrechen, sind dabei geschickt eingeflochten und führen nach und nach an die Gründe für Laikas Verschwinden heran, die Gewalt und Schmerz in der Familie offenbaren. Dabei gibt es immer wieder überraschende Wendungen, die geschickt ineinandergreifen, sodass der Roman nie langweilig wird.
"So ist das nie passiert" ist ein spannender Roman über Verlust, Hoffnung und die zerstörerische Kraft von unausgesprochenen Wahrheiten. Die Spannung, die durch die ständige Suche nach der Wahrheit entsteht, und die tiefgehenden Charakterstudien machen das Buch zu einer packenden Lektüre, die man in einem Rutsch durchlesen kann.
Die Beschreibung der Dinnerparty aus unterschiedlichen Perspektiven der Gäste zieht sich durch den gesamten Roman, was mir sehr gut gefallen hat. Das Setting des Abendessens erinnert an ein Kammerspiel: Unausgesprochene Konflikte und Spannungen aus Vergangenheit und Gegenwart liegen in der Luft, was die Atmosphäre dicht und intensiv macht. Die Autorin schafft es, die Leser:innen direkt in die Geschichte hineinzuziehen: Die Erzählung entwickelt einen Sog, dem man sich kaum entziehen kann. Die klare und gefällige Sprache macht es leicht, immer weiterzulesen. Die Rückblenden, die die Geschehnisse des Abendessens unterbrechen, sind dabei geschickt eingeflochten und führen nach und nach an die Gründe für Laikas Verschwinden heran, die Gewalt und Schmerz in der Familie offenbaren. Dabei gibt es immer wieder überraschende Wendungen, die geschickt ineinandergreifen, sodass der Roman nie langweilig wird.
"So ist das nie passiert" ist ein spannender Roman über Verlust, Hoffnung und die zerstörerische Kraft von unausgesprochenen Wahrheiten. Die Spannung, die durch die ständige Suche nach der Wahrheit entsteht, und die tiefgehenden Charakterstudien machen das Buch zu einer packenden Lektüre, die man in einem Rutsch durchlesen kann.
July 17, 2024
2.5 stars - it was mid.
this is pretty heavy on domestic abuse and child abuse. so be aware going in.
in my opinion this leans more literary fiction & mystery. Told in multiple POV & dual timelines, and the story moved really slowly. I'm all for a slow burn but this kind of felt like it was a 400 page book when in reality its only 272 pages LOL.
The "big twist" at the end was pretty anticlimactic, since you kind of saw it coming.
Without giving away spoilers, there were some parts I liked and some I did not. I can't say I hate this book but it'll probably never think about it again post writing this review either.
Thank you to Crown publishing & Netgalley for providing a digital copy. As always, opinions are my own.
this is pretty heavy on domestic abuse and child abuse. so be aware going in.
in my opinion this leans more literary fiction & mystery. Told in multiple POV & dual timelines, and the story moved really slowly. I'm all for a slow burn but this kind of felt like it was a 400 page book when in reality its only 272 pages LOL.
The "big twist" at the end was pretty anticlimactic, since you kind of saw it coming.
Without giving away spoilers, there were some parts I liked and some I did not. I can't say I hate this book but it'll probably never think about it again post writing this review either.
Thank you to Crown publishing & Netgalley for providing a digital copy. As always, opinions are my own.
July 25, 2024
Just…needs more plot and feeling. And not a thriller, but really not deep enough thematically and character-wise to be a literary thriller or literary fiction, either.
2.5 stars
Audio Notes: The audiobook is a nice experience, though.
2.5 stars
Audio Notes: The audiobook is a nice experience, though.
August 28, 2024
Sarah Easter Collins Debütroman ist eine tiefgründige Erzählung, die in die komplexe Beziehung einer Familie eintaucht. Im Zentrum steht Willa, die aus einer wohlhabenden Familie stammt und seit dem spurlosen Verschwinden ihrer Schwester Laika (liebevoll "Lai" genannt) von der Suche nach ihr besessen ist. Diese Obsession hat tiefe Wunden in ihrer Seele hinterlassen.
Die Dialoge im Buch sind intensiv und die zwischenmenschliche Spannung ist greifbar. Besonders eindringlich wird die unerträgliche Erziehungsmethode des tyrannischen Vaters beschrieben.
Ein Kontrast zur düsteren Familiengeschichte bietet die Figur der Robyn, die auf dem Land in einer liebevollen Familie aufwächst. Sie erweist sich als eine loyale und unterstützende Freundin für Willa. Diese Freundschaft bringt Wärme in die ansonsten melancholische Atmosphäre des Buches.
Der Einstieg in die Geschichte fiel mir schwer, doch irgendwann machte es 'Klick' und ich konnte das Buch nicht mehr aus der Hand legen. Auch wenn es keinen großen Spannungsbogen aufweist, entwickelt es dennoch eine gewisse Sogwirkung. Trotz all der dramatischen Ereignisse konnte ich keine tiefere emotionale Verbindung zu den Charakteren aufbauen. Das Ende des Buches ist solide gemacht, aber es hat mich nicht vom Hocker gerissen.
Insgesamt ist es ein fesselndes Werk, das durch seine vielschichtigen Charaktere und die feinfühlige Darstellung von Verlust und Trauma besticht. Doch trotz seiner intensiven Themen und der gelungenen zwischenmenschlichen Dynamik bleibt das emotionale Echo eher verhalten.
Die Dialoge im Buch sind intensiv und die zwischenmenschliche Spannung ist greifbar. Besonders eindringlich wird die unerträgliche Erziehungsmethode des tyrannischen Vaters beschrieben.
Ein Kontrast zur düsteren Familiengeschichte bietet die Figur der Robyn, die auf dem Land in einer liebevollen Familie aufwächst. Sie erweist sich als eine loyale und unterstützende Freundin für Willa. Diese Freundschaft bringt Wärme in die ansonsten melancholische Atmosphäre des Buches.
Der Einstieg in die Geschichte fiel mir schwer, doch irgendwann machte es 'Klick' und ich konnte das Buch nicht mehr aus der Hand legen. Auch wenn es keinen großen Spannungsbogen aufweist, entwickelt es dennoch eine gewisse Sogwirkung. Trotz all der dramatischen Ereignisse konnte ich keine tiefere emotionale Verbindung zu den Charakteren aufbauen. Das Ende des Buches ist solide gemacht, aber es hat mich nicht vom Hocker gerissen.
Insgesamt ist es ein fesselndes Werk, das durch seine vielschichtigen Charaktere und die feinfühlige Darstellung von Verlust und Trauma besticht. Doch trotz seiner intensiven Themen und der gelungenen zwischenmenschlichen Dynamik bleibt das emotionale Echo eher verhalten.
March 4, 2024
Things Don't Break On Their Own by Sarah Easter Collins
I had really high hopes for this book, as I usually really enjoy thriller/mystery books centered around one night and was looking forward to seeing how the dinner party setting would play into the story. Although I did find this an overall enjoyable read, there were a few issues that I felt I couldn't overlook and led to me only rating this a somewhat average 3 out of 5 stars.
Firstly, I did really enjoy the characters and how they were portrayed. I loved getting to know Willa and Robyn especially, and felt immense joy at the inclusion of queer characters, which is not very common in thriller novels. I liked learning about their past and watching them grow from teenagers into the adult women we meet at the dinner party. However, I did find that some of the flashbacks which showed us past events were confusing and I found myself getting lost at certain parts wondering what was happening and why we'd suddenly switched to the past, or vice versa. The scenes set in the past sometimes comes across as long streams of memory/backstory/consciousness which is sometimes pertinent to the plot and sometimes just feels like random added detail. These scenes then abruptly switch back into showing us the scene of the dinner party, and it almost felt like two separate stories that someone was trying to mesh together but that didn't really fit.
Furthermore, we are told different parts of the story through different POV's (mainly Robyn and Willa, but also Claudette towards the end). This is usually something I really enjoy in thriller books as it offers a wider perspective on events and allows us to get an insight into each characters personal thoughts/feelings. The multi POV in this book, however, meant that we saw the dinner party conversations/events through multiple different perspectives and this led to certain scenes feeling repetitive. For example, the argument between Claudette and Jamie is shown to us through Willa's eyes, Robyn's eyes and Claudette's eyes, which means the conversation gets repeated multiple times with very little difference other than offering us the different character's reactions to these events. I think the multi POV worked very well in scenes set in the past, but did not work as well during the dinner party scenes. The multi POV would have been better utilised if the story was set over more than one evening, as this would have lessened the repetitive feel to the dinner party conversations.
I did really enjoy the authors almost lyrical writing. She is brilliant at descriptive writing and manages to paint a picture in your mind that is so vivid you feel like you are experiencing it with your own eyes. My favourite example of this is when the author describes Robyn's house in such a detailed way that I could almost imagine myself walking through the house alongside Willa. The author also does an amazing job at sensitively touching on issues such as domestic abuse and showing the awful effects this has on the victims, showing how the abuse Willa's family experienced has haunted them their whole life. This also gave the reminder, to me at least, that you never know what goes on behind closed doors, and I think that idea became more and more important to the plot as we went on. I also liked how the author explored complex human emotions (such as grief, love, guilt, hate and many more) and also explored human interaction/relationships in a really interesting way. I really liked the way Willa and Jamie's relationship was explored and picked apart by the author as she slowly revealed the issues and lies surrounding them. I felt terribly sorry for Willa during this point, and feel like the author did a great job at showing the subtle control, abuse and fear that both Willa's Dad and Jamie subjected her to. I also liked how Willa's relationship with her family was explored and how she, as the "golden child" held a lot of shame and guilt for being the only one to escape the abuse. The conversation Liv starts about memory, and the memories both Willa and Claudette tell, was also very interesting and a fun addition to the otherwise dry dinner party scene.
I rated this 3 out of 5 stars. Although I enjoyed reading this book and loved the author's choice of underlying topics and themes throughout, there were just a few too many issues that meant I couldn't rate this any higher.. It is a real shame that the flashbacks and multi POV ruined this for me, as otherwise I think this plot (surrounding Laika's disappearance) was really gripping and would have made for a great story! I loved the scenes set in the past but felt that those set in the future, in particular during the dinner party, were disappointing and not as enjoyable compared to the rest of the book. Thank you to Netgalley and Sarah Easter Collins for the ARC.
I had really high hopes for this book, as I usually really enjoy thriller/mystery books centered around one night and was looking forward to seeing how the dinner party setting would play into the story. Although I did find this an overall enjoyable read, there were a few issues that I felt I couldn't overlook and led to me only rating this a somewhat average 3 out of 5 stars.
Firstly, I did really enjoy the characters and how they were portrayed. I loved getting to know Willa and Robyn especially, and felt immense joy at the inclusion of queer characters, which is not very common in thriller novels. I liked learning about their past and watching them grow from teenagers into the adult women we meet at the dinner party. However, I did find that some of the flashbacks which showed us past events were confusing and I found myself getting lost at certain parts wondering what was happening and why we'd suddenly switched to the past, or vice versa. The scenes set in the past sometimes comes across as long streams of memory/backstory/consciousness which is sometimes pertinent to the plot and sometimes just feels like random added detail. These scenes then abruptly switch back into showing us the scene of the dinner party, and it almost felt like two separate stories that someone was trying to mesh together but that didn't really fit.
Furthermore, we are told different parts of the story through different POV's (mainly Robyn and Willa, but also Claudette towards the end). This is usually something I really enjoy in thriller books as it offers a wider perspective on events and allows us to get an insight into each characters personal thoughts/feelings. The multi POV in this book, however, meant that we saw the dinner party conversations/events through multiple different perspectives and this led to certain scenes feeling repetitive. For example, the argument between Claudette and Jamie is shown to us through Willa's eyes, Robyn's eyes and Claudette's eyes, which means the conversation gets repeated multiple times with very little difference other than offering us the different character's reactions to these events. I think the multi POV worked very well in scenes set in the past, but did not work as well during the dinner party scenes. The multi POV would have been better utilised if the story was set over more than one evening, as this would have lessened the repetitive feel to the dinner party conversations.
I did really enjoy the authors almost lyrical writing. She is brilliant at descriptive writing and manages to paint a picture in your mind that is so vivid you feel like you are experiencing it with your own eyes. My favourite example of this is when the author describes Robyn's house in such a detailed way that I could almost imagine myself walking through the house alongside Willa. The author also does an amazing job at sensitively touching on issues such as domestic abuse and showing the awful effects this has on the victims, showing how the abuse Willa's family experienced has haunted them their whole life. This also gave the reminder, to me at least, that you never know what goes on behind closed doors, and I think that idea became more and more important to the plot as we went on. I also liked how the author explored complex human emotions (such as grief, love, guilt, hate and many more) and also explored human interaction/relationships in a really interesting way. I really liked the way Willa and Jamie's relationship was explored and picked apart by the author as she slowly revealed the issues and lies surrounding them. I felt terribly sorry for Willa during this point, and feel like the author did a great job at showing the subtle control, abuse and fear that both Willa's Dad and Jamie subjected her to. I also liked how Willa's relationship with her family was explored and how she, as the "golden child" held a lot of shame and guilt for being the only one to escape the abuse. The conversation Liv starts about memory, and the memories both Willa and Claudette tell, was also very interesting and a fun addition to the otherwise dry dinner party scene.
I rated this 3 out of 5 stars. Although I enjoyed reading this book and loved the author's choice of underlying topics and themes throughout, there were just a few too many issues that meant I couldn't rate this any higher.. It is a real shame that the flashbacks and multi POV ruined this for me, as otherwise I think this plot (surrounding Laika's disappearance) was really gripping and would have made for a great story! I loved the scenes set in the past but felt that those set in the future, in particular during the dinner party, were disappointing and not as enjoyable compared to the rest of the book. Thank you to Netgalley and Sarah Easter Collins for the ARC.
August 19, 2024
An interesting dark domestic debut that just didn't quite hit the mark for me unfortunately. I found the book started off strong with an abusive father and an alcoholic mother and the two sisters struggling to survive in their troubled home.
Then the book skips forward and one sister is missing while the other keeps searching for her, chasing down rumors that she might have been spotted around the world. Told in alternating POVs from the sisters' perspectives and some of their friends. I liked the focus on queer identity, motherhood and sisterly bonds but the story wasn't as cohesive and tightly paced as I had wanted.
Okay on audio narrated by a full cast. Recommended for fans of authors like Ruth Ware or Shari Lapena. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review! I look forward to seeing what the author writes next.
Then the book skips forward and one sister is missing while the other keeps searching for her, chasing down rumors that she might have been spotted around the world. Told in alternating POVs from the sisters' perspectives and some of their friends. I liked the focus on queer identity, motherhood and sisterly bonds but the story wasn't as cohesive and tightly paced as I had wanted.
Okay on audio narrated by a full cast. Recommended for fans of authors like Ruth Ware or Shari Lapena. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review! I look forward to seeing what the author writes next.
July 13, 2024
Things Don’t Break On Their Own by Sarah Easter Collins ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
At a dinner party, friends and strangers gather, bringing a twenty-five year old secret to the surface.
I would describe this as a quiet but powerful novel. It took a few chapters for me to get into. Once you start looking into the past, you are hooked on the story. There’s a lot of trauma in the history that is slowly revealed. I particularly liked how the same conversations and events were repeated from different perspectives, bringing the concept of memory processing and retainment into the story.
“Some of life’s most important journeys you have to take on your own. Certainly the hardest ones. You just have to be brave.”
Things Don’t Break On Their Own comes out 7/16.
At a dinner party, friends and strangers gather, bringing a twenty-five year old secret to the surface.
I would describe this as a quiet but powerful novel. It took a few chapters for me to get into. Once you start looking into the past, you are hooked on the story. There’s a lot of trauma in the history that is slowly revealed. I particularly liked how the same conversations and events were repeated from different perspectives, bringing the concept of memory processing and retainment into the story.
“Some of life’s most important journeys you have to take on your own. Certainly the hardest ones. You just have to be brave.”
Things Don’t Break On Their Own comes out 7/16.
December 2, 2024
this book caught me completely off guard. it’s a gorgeous literally thriller but it’s so much more than that. it’s an exploration of queerness, grief, timing, shame, and trauma.
“you’ll meet people in your life that you’ll always wish you could have walked with a little longer. you’ll know it when you meet them. […] this was always going to be fleeting, wasn’t it? of course it was.”
“you’ll meet people in your life that you’ll always wish you could have walked with a little longer. you’ll know it when you meet them. […] this was always going to be fleeting, wasn’t it? of course it was.”
November 2, 2023
Going into this I was expecting a mystery with some twists and turns and a central premise of how our memories can all look differently - even when we’re recalling the same event. I was hoping for complex adult exploration of emotions with a captivating mystery from 25 years ago to tie everything together. Well that’s not quite what I got and I definitely wasn’t prepared for what I did read.
In short I think the premise was really interesting but it just didn’t deliver what I was hoping it would.
The blurb describes a dinner party scene, which is where I expected the majority of the novel to take place. In fact the dinner party takes up surprisingly little page and the majority of the book is recollections of the past (which I wouldn’t have minded as flashbacks that were triggered from the dinner party). I went into this wanting a thrilling mystery, possibly some psychological intrigue, or even some emotional turmoil and instead I got a horror show and childhood trauma and abuse. I was not expecting to read the quantity of harrowing descriptions of domestic violence and child abuse in this and truthfully I think things could have been handled better.
When we did finally have some more scenes of the dinner party and we got to see other’s interpretation and recollections it was great. I loved those moments of connection when we saw different people’s memories and perspective on events and for me these elements were the absolute star and drove my interest. I just wish there had been more of a focus on this as these were the moments that kept me hooked.
The premise stringing everything is Willa’s missing sister; The 13 year old girl who suddenly vanishes 25 years ago. While the book does try to explore the impact of this and we do see some of the ramifications I didn’t feel the adult emotional turmoil was handled amazingly and so this didn’t hold my interest. What kept me turning pages was wanting to know what actually happened those 25 years ago. And boy was I disappointed. After all the suspense and build up the actual reveal just didn’t feel real to me.
I feel like if you’re doing this style of book then it has to feel ‘real’, and that means it has to be gritty and the ending just felt overly sweet and like everything is now sunshine and roses.Things Don’t Break On Their Own felt gritty and raw in all the wrong places for me and ultimately just didn’t feel believable to me.
I was conflicted in rating this as there are some elements I really loved but overall I think that the premise was stronger than the delivery and I was left disappointed.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.
In short I think the premise was really interesting but it just didn’t deliver what I was hoping it would.
The blurb describes a dinner party scene, which is where I expected the majority of the novel to take place. In fact the dinner party takes up surprisingly little page and the majority of the book is recollections of the past (which I wouldn’t have minded as flashbacks that were triggered from the dinner party). I went into this wanting a thrilling mystery, possibly some psychological intrigue, or even some emotional turmoil and instead I got a horror show and childhood trauma and abuse. I was not expecting to read the quantity of harrowing descriptions of domestic violence and child abuse in this and truthfully I think things could have been handled better.
When we did finally have some more scenes of the dinner party and we got to see other’s interpretation and recollections it was great. I loved those moments of connection when we saw different people’s memories and perspective on events and for me these elements were the absolute star and drove my interest. I just wish there had been more of a focus on this as these were the moments that kept me hooked.
The premise stringing everything is Willa’s missing sister; The 13 year old girl who suddenly vanishes 25 years ago. While the book does try to explore the impact of this and we do see some of the ramifications I didn’t feel the adult emotional turmoil was handled amazingly and so this didn’t hold my interest. What kept me turning pages was wanting to know what actually happened those 25 years ago. And boy was I disappointed. After all the suspense and build up the actual reveal just didn’t feel real to me.
I feel like if you’re doing this style of book then it has to feel ‘real’, and that means it has to be gritty and the ending just felt overly sweet and like everything is now sunshine and roses.Things Don’t Break On Their Own felt gritty and raw in all the wrong places for me and ultimately just didn’t feel believable to me.
I was conflicted in rating this as there are some elements I really loved but overall I think that the premise was stronger than the delivery and I was left disappointed.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.
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