Madwoman

by Chelsea Bieker

A gripping story of motherhood and motherloss and the brutal, mighty things women do to keep themselves and each other alive, MADWOMAN marks the arrival of a major fiction talent.

The world is not made for mothers.
Yet mothers made the world…

Clove has gone to extremes to keep her past a secret. Thanks to her lies, she’s landed the life of her dreams, complete with a safe husband and two adoring children who will never know the terror that was routine in her own childhood. If her buried anxiety threatens to breach the surface, Clove (if that is really her name) focuses on finding the right supplement, the right gratitude meditation. 

But when she receives a letter from a women’s prison in California, her past comes screeching into the present, entangling her in a dangerous game with memory and the people she thought she had outrun. As we race between her precarious present-day life in Portland, Oregon and her childhood in a Waikiki high-rise with her mother and father, Clove is forced to finally unravel the defining day of her life. How did she survive that day, and what will it take to end the cycle of violence? Will the truth undo her, or could it ultimately save her?

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Contemporary, Literary Fiction

336 pages, Hardcover

First published September 3, 2024

About the author

Chelsea Bieker is the author of three books, most recently the national bestselling novel, Madwoman, a Book of the Month club pick the New York Times calls “brilliant in its depiction of the long shadows cast by domestic violence.” Her first novel, Godshot, was longlisted for The Center For Fiction’s First Novel Prize and named a Barnes & Noble Pick of the Month. Her story collection, Heartbroke won the California Book Award and was a New York Times “Best California Book of 2022.” Her writing has appeared in The Paris Review, Marie Claire UK, People, The Cut, Wall Street Journal, No Tokens, and others. She is the recipient of a Rona Jaffe Writers’ Award, as well as residencies from MacDowell and Tin House. Raised in Hawai’i and California, she now lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and two children.

Reviews

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book blew me away! It's easily one of the top ten must-reads of the year! Stop reading about the It Ends With Us cast drama and pick up this book if you want to truly experience the terrifying, ugly face of domestic violence and its aftermath—crime, psychological damage, trauma, and survival mechanisms. This book dives deep into all of that, with so many flawed, psychologically damaged, survivor characters! I haven't read something this impactful in ages—it shook me to my core, made me cry out loud, gave me goosebumps, and left me barely breathing through some chapters. So many WTF moments hit hard, and the twists are totally unpredictable! But what I really fell in love with is the empowering, eccentric conclusion, full of women’s strength and resilience.

Lately, production companies are always on the lookout for books to adapt—well, they should absolutely start with this one! With its expertly written plot and meticulously developed characters, it’s a story that brings powerful awareness to domestic violence.

This book offers a raw and gut-punching glimpse into the traumatic experiences of women, teetering between madness and freedom. It’s real, it’s heartbreaking, and the emotional journey is one that you absorb slowly, bit by bit.

The story centers around Clove, a stay-at-home mom of two—Nova, her seven-year-old prodigy daughter, and Lark, her energetic three-year-old son. Clove is committed to an organic, health-obsessed lifestyle, obsessively checking the ingredients in everything she consumes, popping vitamins, using eccentric wellness products, practicing yoga, and grounding herself in a kind of Zen madness. She’s highly creative but instead of sharpening her writing skills—her chosen career path—she imagines endless catastrophic scenarios about her children’s safety, becoming hyper-protective and creating tension in her life.

Everything unravels when she receives a letter from her mother, who is in prison and has finally tracked her down. Clove begins to lose control of her carefully curated life. Then she meets Jane after a minor car accident, and quickly becomes obsessed with befriending her. Jane sparks wild thoughts in Clove, like considering her as a nanny for her kids after only knowing her for minutes. But Clove is terrified her secret will get out. What if her mother starts talking? What if people learn that her mother killed Clove’s abusive father in self-defense and Clove fled the scene, changed her identity, and started a new life? Even her husband doesn’t know—he thinks she’s an orphan.

Could Clove’s ex, Butcher, have connected with her mother? He’s the only one she ever confided in about her past. Now Clove must do whatever it takes to stop her mother from revealing the truth. She’s worked too hard to build the life she has now, and she won’t let it slip away. But Jane, her new best friend, keeps digging into Clove’s past, pushing her out of her comfort zone, and pressuring her to help Jane become a mother.

But how can Clove help someone else become a mother when she’s barely managing her own motherhood, and her real mother is crying out for help?

I have to give huge applause to Chelsea Bieker! This book is a masterpiece that belongs in every reader’s library. I loved it so much! If I could give it ten stars, I would.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for sharing this fantastic book’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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[emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

it's so important to see yourself represented on page

reading this book felt like itching a mosquito bite.

you know what's going to happen, and you're not excited about that outcome, but at the same time it's the only thing that staves off the ever-present itching that would otherwise drive you insane.

in other words, it was annoying and predictable, but i enjoyed the process anyway.

bottom line: a good beach read type book for people who hate gwyneth paltrow.

(3.5 / rthanks to the publisher for the copy)

[♥︎ Heather ⚔ (New House-Hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

An expertly written story about intertwining lives, motherhood, grief, rage, and what it means to heal.

✶⋆.˚ 4 𝓢𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓼 ✶⋆.˚

Let me start by saying - I skimmed over the synopsis prior to starting this book but... I'm not sure what I expected because it wasn't this. I was pleasantly surprised by this story and often found myself unable to even articulate my thoughts and feelings as I was reading...

✶ ⋆｡˚ ⁀➷ ꕤ 𝓠𝓾𝓲𝓬𝓴 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂 ༊*·˚

Clove has a past that's connected to domestic violence, her father physically, mentally and emotionally abused her mother for years while she was growing up. One evening, during a physical altercation, her father is pushed from their 33rd floor balcony to his death.

After her father's death, Clove takes off on her own, to start her own life. A family friend is able to provide her with an alternate name along with documents, social security card etc because her daughter is sick and on the verge of passing away.

The story is told between the present - Clove is now a mother of two, married to a good man who has never so much as raised his voice to her. Her children are extremely well cared for and loved.

She's kept them safe. Her husband doesn't have the full story though, he believes both of Clove's parents were killed in a car wreck when she was younger.

The other part of the story is told in flash backs of the past - when she was growing up with both of her parents back in Hawaii and all of the struggles they endured.

One day, Clove receives a letter in the mail from her mother who's currently serving a life sentence for murdering her husband/Clove's father... But was it self-defense? Will Clove's carefully constructed life completely fall apart now that her mother has made a reappearance?

✶ ⋆｡˚ ⁀➷ ꕤ 𝓜𝔂 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 ༊*·˚

When I first started this book, I'll be honest... I was expecting something a little more fast paced with several twists and turns. A standard thriller you could say. But what I got instead was a slower paced story with almost the most mundane of day-to-day tasks/errands.

When I say mundane, I don't mean that the story itself was boring because I couldn't seem to put it down although all of the health-nut idiosyncrasies did get a bit redundant at some point.

₊˚.જ⁀➴ There was constantly an ominous, shadowy feeling as the story unfolded. I knew something was not quite right but couldn't put my finger on exactly what it was. Was it Clove, her mother, her current husband- I couldn't figure out where I wanted to point my finger and say 'you're the sketchy one.'

Clearly, her father is the bad guy of the story but there's so many layers here. Layers on top of layers - this is a character driven story done right. The development and construction of these characters was second to none. I was completely blown away.

₊˚.જ⁀➴ Clove, is totally relatable in every aspect of her life through this story - the range of emotions I felt reading this was all over the place. The anger, the skepticism, the humor, the neurotic behavior. It's not a typical edge of your seat mystery but I was on the edge of my seat.

When I say that Clove was unhinged - I mean, I never knew what to expect from her and for me, as the story progressed and her life seemed to unravel more and more. The sheer boldness that she started to display was unnerving, I just didn't know what she was going to do.

While some things were a little predictable for me, others were not. The fact that even though the pacing was slow and I found myself questioning where on earth is this story even going several times, yet couldn't put the book down speaks volumes as to how powerful the characters truly are.

₊˚.જ⁀➴ I was captivated for the entirety of the story and highly recommend. Please check trigger warnings as there are heavy themes of domestic abuse, murder and guilt.


➽──────────────❥


✨ A huge thanks to Little, Brown and Company for reaching out and tempting me with this last minute advanced digital copy via NetGalley; All thoughts are my own. ✨

[Adrianna Imbriano · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is what Colleen Hoover thinks she did when she wrote It Ends with Us

[Melissa (Semi Hiatus Until After the Holidays) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intriguing story with good themes but I called every twist before it happened.

This is the story of Clove, a married mother of two who is hiding secrets from her past. One day in the post office she receives a letter from her mother and the past comes roaring back.

The reason I liked this book was because there was a lot I could identify with as a mother. I felt like I deeply understood Clove's desire for everything to be better and more perfect than her own life growing up. The writing in the book is strong, giving the reader a real sense of Clove's trauma and how it affects every choice she makes in life. She's not an extremely likable character--she makes poor choices and decisions--but even so, she is quite relatable because it is an innate thing as a mother to try to create the best possible outcome for your children.

What I didn't like was that I found all of the twists to be incredibly predictable. And since the story could have been an impactful and moving tale of overcoming domestic abuse, the twists seemed forced and way too convenient to propel the story in a believable way. I wanted to be more surprised than I was. The pacing is also very slow. We know from the beginning that Clove has secrets about her past, but the story of what happened is doled out very slowly and causes the narrative to drag.

That said, the ending is good and left me with a positive feeling. I'm glad I read this book, but if you're going to read it realize that it does have some flaws, particularly with pacing.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

[Rachel Hanes · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars ⭐️

Normally when I read a book, I tend to take down a few notes here and there to keep track of characters, events, etc… With this book, I did not take one note. This book just sucked me in, and I kept on reading without the need to write anything down. I wanted to absorb all the words, and feel every emotion that our main character Clove was feeling. This book dealt with some heavy topics, and I think many mothers and daughters might be able to resonate with some of these.

This story deals with Clove living a “perfect” life with a husband and two children in Portland, Oregon. Then one day she receives a letter from a woman’s prison that basically sends Clove into a downward spiral. Clove believes her hormones are acting up from weaning her youngest child from breastfeeding, but at the same time Clove is frightened that letter might set the truth free and disrupt her perfect life. Although, does Clove even know what the truth is? From here, we go back and forth from present day to Clove’s younger days in Hawaii growing up with her less than perfect parents.

I will say that I was mesmerized by some of these pages, as the author’s writing is so vivid and descriptive. On the other hand, I felt that the book was too wordy and repetitive in some parts (or maybe I was just ready for the conclusion). I felt every emotion while reading this book, and I hope that the women out there who need help reach out and get it.

While I didn’t give this book five stars, I still highly recommend it. This is also one author that we need to watch out for, because her writing is top notch!

This was my September, 2024 BOTM pick 📚

[Marlo Ashley Chapman · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I had to read one more line about kombucha, her “matcha buzz,” prebiotic fiber gummies, or how “brown rice syrup is an easily digestible vegan and macrobiotic glucose-based sweetener metabolized by all the body’s cells without overtaxing the liver like its fructose cousins, honey or maple syrup. Or, god forbid, white sugar,” I myself would become a madwoman.

The plot was predictable, the dialogue contrived, the characters’ actions unbelievable, and the protagonist rather dull. I wanted to like it, but it wasn't for me.

[emilybookedup · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded to 5 for GR—easily one of my favorite reads this year!

HIGHLY recommend the audio version. per usual, Saskia Maarleveld nails the narration. she might just be my favorite narrator!! (she also does all of Kate Quinn’s books)

on the surface this is a psychological thriller. but it’s really so much more: the impact of childhood trauma on your adulthood (hello TELL ME LIES vibes), taking down the patriarchy, how far a woman will go to protect herself and her kids, lots and lots of secrets … just a big fat YES

if you are turned off by mommy/kid drama in thrillers (i.e. THE PUSH), don’t let that deter you from this. it’s much different and more suspenseful and twisty. also it’s semi hilarious—certain parts had me dying laughing (chapter 19😂)

i was so addicted that i was trying to listen to this at any time i could. loved the twists at the end but in hindsight i think they could be obvious if you’re trying to figure it out.

so sad to learn this book was semi-based on a true story of the author’s family life 😭 trigger warnings: domestic abuse and violence

this is a new to me author but i can’t wait to dive into her backlist now :)

[Brandice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clove will do whatever it takes to keep dark secrets in her past, where they belong. Clove is trying to be a good mom and wife, focusing on a healthy lifestyle, full of supplements, while hiding her online shopping addiction. Until she receives a letter from a women’s prison in California, threatening to expose the careful web she’s weaved. ⁣
⁣
Madwoman moves back and forth between Clove’s present day life in Portland, OR and her past, growing up in Hawaii with her parents who were in a toxic, abusive relationship. ⁣
⁣
Madwoman was my first book by Chelsea Bieker and I enjoyed her writing style. The story is a slow burn yet intense, unsettling yet compelling.

[Jaime Fok · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

A frustrating story, but a meaningful one. I’m honestly a bit conflicted on my rating! I can’t say I “enjoyed” this book, but I do think it’s an important read and there is some powerful messaging in it.

Definitely more lit fic vs mystery thriller, don’t go in expecting a fast paced plot!

[lauren‎♡₊˚ 🦢・₊✧ (semi-ia) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3💫

i enjoyed this novel! i haven't read much literary suspense before, but i enjoyed it and definitely want to read more from this genre. i audiobooked this one and am glad i did because it was pretty slow moving. the chapters were a bit long, too. i predicted mosts of the twists which was a little disappointing, but not all of them and i was still shocked by some of the revelations.

glad that i knocked this one off the tbr since its been on it for forever!

[Melanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF - insufferable narrator with her damn wellness podcasts I couldn’t do it anymore. And the POV where she’s talking to her mother annoyed me.

[kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story where the rage and fear and anxiety are palpable; a story that is remarkably suspenseful, terrifying, and stimulating all at the same time.

It’s slow moving throughout—though still enthralling and dynamic—very literary in its prose and reflective passages, which might be an issue for some readers expecting a thriller. It’s similar to a thriller in ways with its dark undertones and high stakes but this would fall more under the literary suspense genre. I only caution this because Goodreads loves to attach the “thriller” label to books that are not so and it muddies readers’ perception and acceptance of a book and, in turn, the ratings for said book.

Retrospective in its delivery for much of the novel; focusing on the rights and the wrongs, the traumas and events of the narrator’s upbringing because, after all, that’s what this story hinges on: the past finally catching up to the present.

Profound in its message and depiction of domestic violence and CPTSD, it’s an emotionally taxing read but one that will leave its mark and be difficult to forget.

Thank you Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review! Available 09/03/2024

[thebookwasbetter · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. WOW. wow wow wow wow wow. I was notttt expecting any of that. This book is haunting, it is devastating, it is beautiful, it is heartbreaking, it is inspiring. This is a painful read, but I truly could not put it down. I was hanging onto every single word. This is some of my favorite writing I’ve ever come across, so I will absolutely be reading more from this author. Will be thinking about and talking about this book for years to come.

[Larissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

More like 1.5 stars.

I think Madwoman is just an sadly forgettable read for me, which is unfortunate as I went into this story expecting something far more emotional and profound.

The pacing of this story is quite slow. This is not helped by the many over written/purple prose like moments present in Clove's narration that frankly came off as awkward and contrived. Furthermore, I felt the novel was constantly flipping in between the past and present in a very jarring way. It felt as though the utilization of the second person narration was quite random, and it only served to further distance me from the characters. While I can understand that it may have been done to represent how Clove's past and present lives were blending together, as well as her trauma, it was not done in a way that was easy to read and once again came across as being awkwardly written.

I struggled with Clove's narration in other aspects as well - while incredibly painful scenes of domestic violence occurred I still felt detached which was certainly not the author's intent. The writing made it even more difficult to connect with Clove, who honestly quite a unlikeable character in her present life (haha, I am very much not a "new age"/ pseudoscientific alternative-medicine sort of person so I could not help but cringe and quickly skim those scenes).

The ending and one of the multiple twists present in the last like 50 pages of this novel story were unbelievable and quite sudden for me. I think things were tied up far too neatly in the ending, and honestly the ending/twists detracted from the larger overarching story of domestic violence. If anything, I feel as though I will remember them more so than the story of domestic violence.

Overall being detached seems to be this story's theme for me, I could not fully emotionally connect to the story nor characters. This made the message the novel was trying to convey weaker, with the unbelievable ending further cementing my dislike sadly. I truly do not think I would have finished the book if I had not bought a hard copy of it. Despite my issues, it does seem others have enjoyed this novel more than me so perhaps my reasons for disliking it are on the more personal side of things.

[Book of the Month]

Why I Love It
By Brianna Goodman

First, an apology: To the woman whose grocery cart I accidentally rammed into with mine, I’m sorry. But really, it’s not my fault. I was too busy reading Chelsea Bieker’s Madwoman, a novel so visceral, so harrowing and propulsive, that I couldn’t possibly put it down long enough to buy my groceries.

This story begins with a mother who is trying not to come undone. Clove has worked hard to build a perfect life for herself. She has a kind and loving husband, two children, and a stable roof over her head. But when she receives a letter from her imprisoned mother from whom she thought she’d never hear again, the devastating childhood memories she thought she’d long buried force themselves back to the surface. Clove is not who she says she is, and what unfolds is a deeply harrowing story of a woman haunted by the violent past she fought tooth and nail to escape.

This is one of the most skillfully drawn portraits of the fallout from long-buried traumas, of cycles of abuse, and of mothers and daughters that I have read in a while. With the pacing and propulsion of a thriller and the humanity of an insightfully drawn character study, Madwoman had me with my heart in my throat. I won’t spoil it, but suffice it to say you won’t end this story the same as when you began. This is a special book, and I hope it resonates with you as deeply as it did me.

[Celine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Does a perfect mother exist? Clove is determined to find out.
She has two children and an adoring husband, and they live a lovely, ordinary life. Perfection, she believes, can be achieved — if she keeps everything exactly as it is.
This proves impossible when a letter arrives from a state prison, with news from her own mother that is going to change her life, forever.
Every secret Clove has kept about herself and how her mother ended up in prison, starts to untangle, to come to the surface and breathe. Whether she likes it or not.
Told with heart-pounding tension, this is a rare (perfect) thriller, which keeps you unable to guess what’ll happen next. A deliciously twisted novel, impossible to put down or forget.

Thank you to the publisher for an early copy in exchange for a review!

[Trisha · Rating 2 out of 5]

"The world is not made for mothers."

This one just didn't work for me. It got weird, it took turns that I didn't love and we spent way too long with Clove as she spiraled out of control.

I know this book will work for others and there are definitely some really great statements in here about violence, survival, safety. This book will connect with others and I love that. It brings awareness and a voice to some that are struggling - and I love that too.

But it just wasn't for me.

[Tell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably will be my favorite book of the year. A dark, skewering look at wellness culture driven by a traumatized woman destroying her own after a destabilizing event.
Trigger warning: this book is so dark. I don't want to spoil, since the book dives into it fairly early, but please be warned!
Clove's voice: "self aware", evasive, submerged and incapable of seeing herself clearly made this book such a pleasure to read. The thread of motherhood as sacrifice, as gift, as blessing, and as a healing was so well done throughout the book- the ending made me WEEP.

[Chelsey (a_novel_idea11) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a unique read that had my anxiety flaring and my interest piqued. Clove was such a dynamic character - a devoted mother, a strong feminist, self-aware, and yet totally consumed by the hauntings of her past.

Flashing back between past and present, we learn of Clove's history and how some of her anxieties have come to be. An abusive father, a mother in jail for killing said father, and a past that doesn't exist to her current family, Clove is deep and mysterious and wildly flawed.

Seeking answers outside of herself for stability and safety, Clove prefers the safe choices - with her husband, her abstinence from alcohol, and her insulated world. She protects her children the best way she knows how which is to pretend her past never existed and do everything exactly opposite the way her mother did. But when her mother contacts her from jail and risks exposing her in order to give herself a fighting chance at freedom, it seems as though Clove will be forced to confront her demons and come clean to her devoted husband. Instead, she further retreats and finds solace in a random woman she rear-ends and then befriends at the local supermarket.

What transpires is a dark look at motherhood and the ramifications of our choices on those we love. Deep and complex, this novel is thought-provoking and at times challenging to read.

Admittedly, it was fairly slow moving and I didn't become fully invested or involved until Jane became a more prominent character and the plot livened up a bit. This was about halfway through. The second person narrative is also a bit jarring and definitely isn’t my favorite. However, the ending was incredibly strong and there were some total surprises so I'm glad I stuck with it and I definitely recommend!

Thank you to Little Brown for the advanced copy. Madwoman is a powerful debut and I'm excited to see what Bieker comes up with next!

Madwoman is available September 3, 2024.

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s nothing like a mad woman
What a shame she went mad
No one likes a mad woman
You made her like that
And you’ll poke that bear ‘til her claws come out
And you find something to wrap your noose around
And there’s nothing like a mad woman
- Taylor Swift, mad woman

Was it possible he understood why a woman would do this? That she was no madwoman at all, but a Mad Woman, a for-years-and-years abused woman?
- Chelsea Bieker, Madwoman

Mothers and daughters and the devastating, resonating effects of abuse and trauma are at the center of Chelsea Bieker’s new novel, Madwoman. And it is, simply put, a masterpiece.

After a childhood and adolescence filled with violence and dysfunction, Clove is determined to make a life completely different from the way she was raised. She lives in a lovely home with her mild, kind husband and two young children; she meditates and does yoga and takes supplements and drinks green smoothies and posts photos of it all (no faces) for her 10,000 Instagram followers. But when she receives a letter from a women’s prison, her carefully constructed façade begins to crack, leaving Clove to reckon with a past that won’t stay buried.

In an emotionally resonant, evocative, unflinchingly intimate narrative that almost reads as autobiographical, Bieker takes us back in time from Clove’s peaceful life in Portland, Oregon, to her fraught youth in Waikiki, Hawai’i. The layers of Clove’s past are peeled back slowly, in horrifying detail, while we simultaneously watch her self-destruct in the present day. Clove is not necessarily a likeable character, but Bieker has written her so intricately that it’s easy to understand why she makes the choices she does. Readers should be aware that this book deals, overtly and on the page, with domestic violence: the act itself as well as its long shadow. Certain passages are incredibly difficult to read because Bieker writes with so much emotion and urgency: You can feel the rage, the desperation, and the fear so palpably.

Madwoman is being classified as a mystery/thriller, but it didn’t read to me like either of those genres. Instead, it’s a deeply psychological and suspenseful literary character study about motherhood, grief, and the complicated process of healing from trauma. It does have some twists, which are easily predicted – and the more I think about it, the more I think that Bieker wanted the reader to predict them. Because we see what Clove doesn’t, it further illustrates the effects of the trauma that she endured for so long, turning her so far inward that she isn’t aware of what’s happening around her, what should be obvious.

Madwoman shines a spotlight on the ugliest, most devastating aspects of domestic violence, in a narrative that is as enthralling as it is upsetting. It’s profound and affecting and raw, cementing Bieker’s status as one of our most dynamic contemporary writers. Thank you to Little, Brown and Company for the early reading opportunity.

[Gabrielė|Kartu su knyga · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nesugebu niekaip atsispirti naujiems trileriams 😎 Visuomet smalsu kuo gi autorius mus nustebins.

Šiame trileryje susipažįstame su Klouv. Ji gyvena saugų, tačiau melais apipintą gyvenimą. Apie jos praeitį nieko nenutuokia nei jos vyras, nei vaikai.
Kuomet moteris sulaukia laiško iš kalėjimo Kalifornijoje, ji supranta, jog jos praeitis ją pasivijo. Klouv prisimena vaikystę ir tai, kaip viskas galiausiai baigėsi..

Knygos pradžia man pasirodė šiek tiek chaotiška. Šokinėjama nuo praeities prie dabarties, bei kalbama apie daug skirtingų temų bei prisiminimų. Klouv man pasirodė labai neurotiška asmenybė, tačiau žinant ką jai teko išgyventi, manau, jog tai galima lengvai pateisinti.
Man patiko, jog autorė kalba apie smurtą artimoje aplinkoje. Tikrai reikia apie tokius dalykus kalbėti bei priminti, jog pagalbos ieškoti bei prašyti tikrai nėra jokia gėda. Kas vis dėlto nepatiko? Tas prieš tai minėtasis chaosas šį kartą man nepatiko. Labiau patinka, kuomet pasakojimai turi tam tikrą nuoseklumą. Net vietomis buvo man ir nuobodoka skaityti. Nepasakyčiau, jog autorė mane šiuo savo trileriu nustebino, tačiau knyga buvo greitai perskaityta, tad pliusas jai už tai. Tačiau šis trileris tikrai ilgai nepasiliks mano atmintyje.

[Indieflower · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clove has two small children, a loving husband and a comfortable life, yet is crippled with an almost palpable anxiety. She is also unhealthily obsessed with "wellness" products and ideas.
Interesting themes of motherhood, anxiety and the after effects of cyclic domestic violence are covered here, and it's disturbing at times. Even though I found it quite compelling some of the twists and turns required a little suspension of disbelief, nevertheless it kept me turning the pages, 4 stars.

[Jessi ❤️ H. Vojsk [if villain, why hot?] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ich war noch klein, vielleicht acht, und hatte die Hoffnung, jemand würde das einzig Richtige tun und meinem Vater eine Kugel zwischen die Augen jagen.
Wir erlösen kranke Tiere von ihrem Leid, damit sie keine Qualen erleiden, damit sie den Rest der Gruppe nicht anstecken.
Männer lassen wir leben.

Story 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Sind wir dazu verdammt die gleichen leben wie unsere Eltern zu leben? Wiederholen wir den Teufelskreis oder brechen wir heraus?
Was kostet es den Kreis zu brechen? Die Wahrheit? Was ist schon die Wahrheit, unsere Vergangenheit, wenn wir dafür das perfekte Leben führen dürfen?
Aber was ist, wenn uns unsere Vergangenheit einholt und dazu zwingt uns zu erinnern?

Diese Geschichte war voller twist and turns und ich habe alles daran geliebt.
Es war spannend, gefühlvoll und fesselnd.
Ein absolutes Meisterwerk.

Warum ich so lange gebraucht habe um es fertig zu lesen? Das Thema war schwer, sehr schwer. Sowas liest sich für mich nicht schnell.

Charaktere 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Clover ist besessen. Wenn sie nicht über ihre schlechten Gene nachdenkt, die sie vor ihrem Mann und ihren Kindern versteckt, denkt sie über das nächste secondhand Kleidungsstück oder die nächste Vitaminkur nach, die sie zur perfekten Mutter machen.
Aber was mit Selbstoptimierung beginnt, wird langsam zu einer obsessiven Sache. Alles ist eine Gefahr für ihre Kinder (neben der offensichtlichen Gefahr - die Kinder selbst und natürlich sie selbst) und alles muss beseitigt werden.
Ihr Folgen manische Gedanken und von einem Thema fließt sie ins andere. Ihr Kopf hat kaum Zeit eine Pause zu machen, was natürlich auch daran liegt, dass sie Mutter von zwei Kindern ist.
Sie lernt Jane kennen, die sie versteht und zu der sie sich verbunden fühlt. Sie werden Freundinnen und Jane wird ihre Nanny.
Aber ist Jane wirklich die für die sie Clove hält?

Beziehungen 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Während Clover definitiv stark fixiert auf ihren Mann und ihre Kinder ist, weiß ich nicht ob es wirklich Liebe ist, die sie da spürt. Ich kann das natürlich nicht ganz nachvollziehen (kinderlos), aber die Art und Weise wie sie sich weniger um ihre Kinder selbst kümmert als um ihre Sicherheit/mögliche Gefahren etc.
Das gleiche gilt für ihren Ehemann. Sie suchte ihn aus, weil er sicher ist. Weil er sie sicher nicht schlagen würde. Er ist einer der Guten (laut ihr).
Wo ich auf jeden Fall Liebe spüre ist zwischen Clove und ihrer Mutter. Auch wenn sie sich vor ihr versteckt, tut sie es nur um sich selbst zu retten. Ihr aufgebautes, perfektes Leben.
Wobei ich sagen muss, dass ich am Ende doch schon etwas wie Liebe zu ihrer Familie spüre. Zu ihrer gewählten und ihrer biologischen Familie.

Schreibstil 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Die Autorin schreibt in einer unglaublich fesselnden Art und Weise, die gleichzeitig poetisch ist, aber auch den Wahnsinn von Clove spüren lassen.
Die Kapitel haben eine angenehme Länge, während wir die POV von Clover in unterschiedlichen Abschnitten ihres Lebens sehen.

Alles in allem war’s eine fesselnde, faszinierende Geschichte, die eindeutig empfehlenswert ist!

und ich sah ihn, das Gute und das Böse, und ich fragte mich, warum ich als Frau so oft gezwungen war, die gute Seite in schlechten Männern zu sehen und sie über alles andere zu stellen.
Immer die Gesamtsituation zu berücksichtigen. Bei meinem Vater, zum Beispiel. Warum konnte er nicht einfach ein Monster sein?

[em · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
I’m struggling to write up a review for this one. From the get go, it was emotional. Packed full of trauma and heartbreak, I immediately felt for Clove and her past experiences. Bieker writes in such a way that really makes the reader understand what the characters are going through. I wanted nothing more than to reach through the pages and help her.

My struggle came with the writing and the pacing. I enjoyed the writing style for most of the novel, I just felt it to be a little repetitive towards the middle and the end. So much of the focus was on the past, that the plot twist at the end felt almost rushed. In saying that, I did find myself unable to put the book down at around the 70% mark, I had to finish it and find out whether or not Clove and Celine would be okay.

A powerful story about abuse and the strength of women, Madwoman tells a story that is all too familiar for so many women, and a story that still desperately needs to be told.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #Madwoman #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the ARC.

I wanted to love this book, and there were parts I really enjoyed, but it was just “okay” for me.

The main character became less likeable and relatable as the book went on, and made me struggle to connect with the story. I understand that she was going through a crisis, but the choices she made angered me.

There was a twist regarding another character that I predicted, so the excitement fell flat. I think had I not expected it, I may have rated the book higher.

Overall, everything wrapped up too nicely and I just didn’t love it. I did like the author’s writing style, but just don’t think this was the book for me!

[KellyJ1028 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was just sort of middle of the road for me. As a mystery/thriller I didn’t find it entertaining at all and the twists that finally came towards the end were predictable and somewhat underwhelming.
This book reminded me of The Push because of its themes of motherhood, challenges of motherhood, intrusive thoughts etc, but with more focus on domestic violence. I think Madwoman was a very forgettable read
And I went in expecting a lot more.

[riley youngstrom · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. I just really didn’t like this and decided that’s it’s time for me to not force myself to finish books

[Nora|KnyguDama · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

Kitoks, fainas, gal kiek lėtas, bet painias psichologines gijas tyrinėjantis trileris. Čia susipina viskas: nusikaltimas, didžiulės praeities traumos, smurtas šeimoje, motinystės iššūkiai ir bandymas kurti gyvenimą, senąjį besistengiant pakišt po kilimėliu.

Klouv labai bando. Susikurti naują save, nesakyti savo juodžiausių paslapčių vyrui - net savo tikro vardo jam nesako. Auginti vaiką ir apsimesti, kad motinystė jai patinka. Pirkti tik ekologiškus produktus, sportuoti, laikytis rutinos, būti tobula žmona, mama, drauge - juk normalūs žmonės tą daro, taip? Pabūti "normalia" vaikystėje ji nespėjo. Nespėjo, nes šeimos situacija buvo ribinė. Dabar, apsimesdama, kad baisių įvykių nebuvo, ji kuria naują gyvenimą. Bet senasis pasibeldžia atgal ir kruopščiai kurta kaukė pradeda blukti.

Skaitėsi gan lėtai, bet puslapius versti vis ragino smalsumas, kaip ta logiškoji ir viską apskaičiuojanti Klouv išsisuks dar kartą. Didžiausią plot twistą, deja, nuspėjau, bet reikalus kiekvienam skyriuje gerino tikrai stipri psichologinė linija. Vėliau ir linijos, nes traumų čia daaaaaug. Šiaip, fainas trileris. Ne veiksmo pilnas, bet pamąstymų sukelsiantis.

[Gerald Larocque · Rating 4 out of 5]

Madwoman by Chelsea Bieker delivers an exquisite tapestry woven with threads of raw emotion, societal critique, and the complexities of womanhood. From the very first page, I was enveloped in a world where the absurd meets the poignant, and where the characters wrestle with their own realities in a society that often seems indifferent to their struggles.

Bieker's prose is both lyrical and piercing, "We are all madwomen, bursting at the seams with everything we’ve been told to keep inside." Powerful sentiments like these truly encapsulate the essence of the novel and reflect the experiences of women whose voices have been stifled for too long. It acts as a call to arms, urging us to confront our emotions, desires, and truths.

The characterization is profound; each woman in the narrative resonates with a unique blend of vulnerability and strength. “What if madness is just another form of freedom?” This line lingers, highlighting the fine line between sanity and the liberating chaos that comes with embracing one’s identity and desires.

Bieker beautifully explores the themes of motherhood and emotional burden, often depicting the struggle of being torn between societal expectations and personal aspirations. She examines the tumult of emotions that can accompany this role, emphasizing that love often exists in the storm of contradiction and chaos.

Bieker’s ability to articulate the unspoken intricacies of womanhood—its fears, its longings—invites us as readers to reflect on our own realities and the realities of others. This book is not just a story; it’s a mirror held up to society, prompting us to examine our own narratives and the pressures that shape them.

Ultimately, reading Madwoman is an act of catharsis, and Chelsea Bieker's fearless storytelling reminds us that there is strength in embracing our madness. It is a rallying cry for all who find themselves struggling against the confines of expectation.