Bleeds When Broken

by Joy M. Lilley

Our protagonist, Fiona talks early on about her troubled childhood, revealing why she is now plagued by the dangerous habit of self-harming in which she indulges.
She is an intelligent, good looking girl, in her early twenties, with a career in the nursing profession.
Fiona lives with her mother and sister in England. Her father died a few years back.

The habit was difficult to hide and known about by her family. Her mother being so concerned felt that a trip on a cruise maybe what the girl needed to help improve her health issues.
It was on this trip that she meets Charles, a young man looking for love. He makes it a daily quest to begin a courtship with Fiona, who really wants nothing serious in her life at the time.
On this trip Fiona manages to avoid hurting herself and mother is hopeful that her daughters habit may become a thing of the past.

After arriving back home several attempts to self harm are made over the months that follow and she ends up in hospital. She starts to dislike her family and Charles, refuses to return home where the reception will be hostile, when not granted she decides to discharge herself in the middle of the night and flees to the South of France. Her family fail to know her where about’s for some long time and involve an investigator to find her.
She took her self harm kit and medications with her to France and during her time there she was happy and experienced a number of varying encounters. She also did not harm herself. She finds work and accommodation along with kindness. The investigator finds her and relays how concerned her family are to know that she is safe and well. He implores her to at least make contact and advise of her well-being.

Guilt brings Fiona home, and this is where troubles and near death experiences occur.

176 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 8, 2024

Reviews

[Sofia Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bleeds When Broken is a novel that reaches deep into the hidden corners of human suffering and the slow, painful process of recovery. Fiona Richards is a young nurse whose outward grace masks years of unimaginable trauma. The author masterfully captures the invisible scars of childhood abuse and the self-destructive habits that often follow. Fiona’s tendency toward self-harm is not romanticized but portrayed as a desperate form of survival an attempt to feel control over pain that began long before she could understand it.
What makes this book unforgettable is its emotional honesty. The scenes of abuse, loss, and guilt are raw, but the story never loses sight of compassion. By the time Fiona begins to heal, guided by therapy and kindness from others, readers feel as though they have lived every heartbeat of her anguish and triumph. It’s not just a story of survival. it’s a meditation on the power of healing and self-forgiveness.

[Donna Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

While Bleeds When Broken is a story of trauma, it is also a haunting love story. Fiona’s relationship with Joe is tender and transformative the first time she experiences genuine affection. But in 1950s England, interracial love is seen as a scandal. When Joe is attacked by racist men and later forced to return to Nigeria, Fiona’s heart and her spirit are crushed. The tragedy of their love reflects both personal loss and societal failure.
The author uses this relationship to explore themes of acceptance and rejection on multiple levels racial, emotional, and familial. It’s not just society that fails Fiona; her own family’s inability to love her without judgment deepens her isolation. This portion of the novel stands out for its historical realism and its commentary on intolerance that still resonates today.

[Chloe Lambert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Bleeds When Broken is like holding a mirror to the quiet wounds many carry. Fiona’s pain is specific, but her journey speaks universally to anyone who has struggled with shame, loss, or the need to be seen. The book doesn’t promise easy answers; instead, it offers hope through understanding.
By the end, Fiona stands not as a victim, but as proof that broken things can become beautiful again. This is a novel of courage written with empathy, honesty, and the belief that even the deepest wounds can heal with time and love.

[Franca Kentus · Rating 5 out of 5]

The characters in Bleeds When Broken are not heroes or villains they are painfully human. Fiona’s mother, Ruth, is cold and distant, yet shaped by her own hardships. Charles, Fiona’s obsessive lover, is not evil but deeply flawed. Even Fiona herself makes questionable choices, from false accusations to emotional withdrawal.
This moral ambiguity gives the novel depth and realism. Life isn’t simple, and neither is healing. The author’s refusal to sanitize the characters makes them feel alive and haunting. Readers will find themselves angry one moment, sympathetic the next a sure sign of good storytelling.

[Moona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bleeds When Broken is a deeply emotional and thought-provoking novel that delves into the complexities of self-harm, mental health, and personal healing. The story follows Fiona, a young nurse battling the scars of a troubled childhood, whose self-destructive tendencies overshadow her relationships and future.

Lilley crafts Fiona’s journey with raw honesty, making her struggles both painful and deeply human. The narrative takes a turning point when Fiona embarks on a cruise, where she meets Charles, a man eager for love, though she remains emotionally distant. Her brief escape to the South of France adds another layer of introspection, as she experiences moments of peace and self-discovery. However, guilt eventually brings her back home, where her inner turmoil leads to life-threatening consequences.

The novel is a gripping exploration of mental health, self-worth, and the impact of family and love. With its heartfelt storytelling and intense emotional depth, Bleeds When Broken is a compelling read that lingers long after the final page.

[M Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Heart-Wrenching Journey of Self-Discovery

I just finished reading this book and I'm still reeling from the experience. This book is a heart-wrenching, thought-provoking journey into the complexities of mental health.


Fiona's struggles with self-harm and inner turmoil are raw, honest, and relatable. Her story is a powerful reminder that mental health matters.


What I loved:


•⁠ ⁠Courageous exploration of sensitive topics
•⁠ ⁠Engaging narrative with unexpected twists
•⁠ ⁠Authentic characterization


This book is perfect for:


•⁠ ⁠Anyone seeking thought-provoking fiction
•⁠ ⁠Those interested in mental health and self-harm
•⁠ ⁠Fans of character-driven stories

It’s an emotional rollercoaster that sheds light on mental health. Get ready to laugh, cry, and reflect.

[Luke Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Few novels capture the human mind under duress as well as Bleeds When Broken. Fiona’s behavior her self-harm, her guilt, her inability to trust are not just symptoms but reflections of her fractured identity. The narrative feels intimate, almost clinical in its understanding of trauma. Every character around Fiona her cold mother, her patient sister, her manipulative lover Charles acts as a mirror for her internal struggle.
The author handles the psychology of abuse with extraordinary sensitivity. There are no easy solutions, no quick recoveries. Fiona’s progress feels earned through hard emotional work and the courage to face her past. The story reminds us that trauma does not end when the abuse stops it lingers, echoing through every relationship until healing begins.

[Phiona Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

What makes Bleeds When Broken particularly striking is how it depicts mental illness in a time when it was almost never discussed. Fiona’s self-harm, depression, and eventual breakdown are treated by others as moral failings, not medical conditions. The lack of understanding she faces from doctors, family, and colleagues amplifies her pain.
Yet, the novel’s ultimate message is progressive and deeply humane: understanding, not punishment, is the key to recovery. Fiona’s therapy, her time in hospital, and her eventual path to becoming a counsellor serve as both closure and rebirth. This book gives readers insight into how far society has come and how much further it must go in treating mental health with empathy and respect.

[Robert Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though never overtly political, Bleeds When Broken is a feminist novel at heart. Fiona’s entire journey from an abused child silenced by her father’s control to a woman reclaiming her voice represents the struggle of women in patriarchal societies. Her mother’s complicity and silence embody generations of women conditioned to endure rather than fight. Fiona’s eventual defiance her decision to leave, heal, and help others is revolutionary in its quiet strength.
The book becomes a testament to resilience: not the glamorous, triumphant kind, but the raw, trembling survival that so many women live through. By telling Fiona’s story, the author gives dignity to the broken and courage to those still finding their voices.

[Sarah Banks · Rating 5 out of 5]

The prose is vivid, with descriptions that transport the reader from rural England to the bustling streets of 1950s New York and the serene landscapes of France. The cruise scenes are cinematic, capturing both glamour and loneliness. Dialogue feels authentic to the era, while the emotional tone is timeless.
The author balances rich detail with emotional clarity. The pacing allows space for reflection without ever dragging. Each chapter feels like a necessary step on Fiona’s journey painful, necessary, and ultimately redemptive.

[John Podlaski · Rating 4 out of 5]

BLEEDS WHEN BROKEN by Joy M. Lilley is a dark tale about a young woman with mental illness stemming from her father repeatedly raping her for several years, beginning as a child of nine years old. Her father told her that similar encounters occurred in every family and that what they did was normal. It was, however, their secret and not to be said. Fiona believes deep down that her mother knew all along what her father was doing to her, but she refused to stop it. It was her fault! This eventually leads Fiona to depression and episodes of self-mutilation. She harbors a "kit" containing tools that she uses to harm herself and handles it with reverence when moving it from her secret hiding place. As a nurse, she knows how far she can go to avoid real damage and threaten her life.
This tale covers the next two years and offers readers a glimpse into the psyche of this young woman as she lived during the 1950s. She falls in and out of love, and when she escapes to another country, she doesn't feel the need to hurt herself, and Fiona's genuine and loving personality emerges to those surrounding her.
Eventually, Fiona returns home to an unwelcome family and finally learns that her hopes to improve will never happen unless she shares her dark secret. A near-death experience puts her back in the hospital, and with proper treatment, she gets on the road to recovery. As the author states in the story's closing lines, many broken things can be fixed. I gave BLEEDS WHEN BROKEN four stars.