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Locked Inside
How much does the power of love matter to someone who has overcome obstacles greater than most people face in a lifetime?
Carly, a beautiful and vivacious young woman, sees something in the semi-comatose Belinda and they form an unusual bond.
Can Carly help Belinda break free from her emotional prison? Will Belinda’s fears allow their relationship to evolve into something deeper?
Find out in this wonderfully evocative romance that is sure to touch your heart.
Carly, a beautiful and vivacious young woman, sees something in the semi-comatose Belinda and they form an unusual bond.
Can Carly help Belinda break free from her emotional prison? Will Belinda’s fears allow their relationship to evolve into something deeper?
Find out in this wonderfully evocative romance that is sure to touch your heart.
263 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 30, 2015
12 people are currently reading
153 people want to read
About the author
Annette Mori
55 books169 followersBiography
One Fan at a Time
Annette is an award-winning author, published by Affinity Rainbow Publications, who lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her wife and their five furry kids. With over thirty published novels, four Lesfic Bard finalist awards, two Lesfic Bard Awards, and one Goldie Award for her fourth novel, Locked Inside, she finally feels like a real author. Annette is as much a reader as a writer and always looking for the next lesfic novel to cue up. She came up with the One Fan at a Time tagline because it rolled off the tongue much better than One Reader at a Time. After pondering who she was at her core, it was all about connecting to each reader on a personal level. She would be the first to admit she doesn't do well with the masses. If someone picks up her book and it touches them she believes she has achieved what she wants with her writing by reaching each reader. It is who she is at her core. Drop her a line she loves to hear from readers: annettemori0859@gmail.com or sign up for her mailing list at: http://eepurl.com/cS3amj You can also catch her latest blogs at: https://annettemori0859.wordpress.com/ or visit the Affinity Rainbow Publications website for her books and many other outstanding authors: https://www.affinityebooks.com
One Fan at a Time
Annette is an award-winning author, published by Affinity Rainbow Publications, who lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her wife and their five furry kids. With over thirty published novels, four Lesfic Bard finalist awards, two Lesfic Bard Awards, and one Goldie Award for her fourth novel, Locked Inside, she finally feels like a real author. Annette is as much a reader as a writer and always looking for the next lesfic novel to cue up. She came up with the One Fan at a Time tagline because it rolled off the tongue much better than One Reader at a Time. After pondering who she was at her core, it was all about connecting to each reader on a personal level. She would be the first to admit she doesn't do well with the masses. If someone picks up her book and it touches them she believes she has achieved what she wants with her writing by reaching each reader. It is who she is at her core. Drop her a line she loves to hear from readers: annettemori0859@gmail.com or sign up for her mailing list at: http://eepurl.com/cS3amj You can also catch her latest blogs at: https://annettemori0859.wordpress.com/ or visit the Affinity Rainbow Publications website for her books and many other outstanding authors: https://www.affinityebooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
June 1, 2021
Belinda spent the last six years in a coma after falling suddenly and mysteriously ill. When she wakes up, she’s sixteen and locked inside her body. Her parents have given up on her ever recovering and it takes a particularly perceptive teenager to notice the small changes. Belinda seems to be reacting to Carly’s voice more than to anything else and an unlikely friendship begins between the two girls.
I liked this book a lot until suddenly I didn’t. The first part, everything about Belinda being locked in, Carly’s belief that she’s awake, the birth of their friendship and the beginnings of Belinda’s feelings for her new friend, all that is really good. Annette Mori handles the topic in a very delicate manner and the way she writes both characters makes them very endearing. The secondary characters – both young women’s families, the friends they meet – are well-written too.
Then a terribly clichéd French character entered, which started to get me out of the story. The way one of the secondary characters’ struggle with alcohol was written didn’t help and the not-acting-on-our-feelings game Carly and Belinda play for all the wrong reasons got old. It felt like the book was trying too hard and it lost me on the way.
I listened to the audiobook and the narration is pretty good, the various young women have distinctive enough voices and the pace is effective.
In the end, this wasn’t a book for me, but other reviewers found themselves sufficiently involved in the first half of the story to enjoy it in its entirety, so give it a try and make up your own mind.
I liked this book a lot until suddenly I didn’t. The first part, everything about Belinda being locked in, Carly’s belief that she’s awake, the birth of their friendship and the beginnings of Belinda’s feelings for her new friend, all that is really good. Annette Mori handles the topic in a very delicate manner and the way she writes both characters makes them very endearing. The secondary characters – both young women’s families, the friends they meet – are well-written too.
Then a terribly clichéd French character entered, which started to get me out of the story. The way one of the secondary characters’ struggle with alcohol was written didn’t help and the not-acting-on-our-feelings game Carly and Belinda play for all the wrong reasons got old. It felt like the book was trying too hard and it lost me on the way.
I listened to the audiobook and the narration is pretty good, the various young women have distinctive enough voices and the pace is effective.
In the end, this wasn’t a book for me, but other reviewers found themselves sufficiently involved in the first half of the story to enjoy it in its entirety, so give it a try and make up your own mind.
April 29, 2021
Love the special bond between them.
I was intrigued by the storyline and special bond the two women have. The story is recounted in the POV of Belinda who spent the first part semi-comatosed. While in locked-in syndrome, a sort of friendship builds between her and a young and beautiful stranger, Carly. The bond Belinda and Carly share is amazing, with Carly being the first to notice Belinda's awareness and ability to communicate. I love Carly's role in all of it, from discovery to recovery. She's the best friend, caregiver and the target of Belinda's crush. And I can see why Carly is easy to fall for.
This story is unrealistic on many counts. For one, Belinda is highly perceptive, sharp and incredibly smart for somebody who had been in a long-term coma since the age of 10. And Carly is too wise and caring for her young age. And let's not go into Belinda's miraculous recovery and reintegration into academic life. But somehow I enjoyed the story and went along with the ride. At least for the first half.
The second half is the reason I avoid YA books but by this time I was so invested in the characters, I had to pursue it until the end despite how little communication the two women suddenly had between them and it was frustrating as hell to watch that special bond between them fade a little in between.
I do still like this book overall. It is one of those that will leave an impression on me for a while. The narration was okay though I thought that Bindhammer could have done a better job making Belinda and Carly's voices a bit more distinguishable.
This audiobook was given to me for free at my request and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
I was intrigued by the storyline and special bond the two women have. The story is recounted in the POV of Belinda who spent the first part semi-comatosed. While in locked-in syndrome, a sort of friendship builds between her and a young and beautiful stranger, Carly. The bond Belinda and Carly share is amazing, with Carly being the first to notice Belinda's awareness and ability to communicate. I love Carly's role in all of it, from discovery to recovery. She's the best friend, caregiver and the target of Belinda's crush. And I can see why Carly is easy to fall for.
This story is unrealistic on many counts. For one, Belinda is highly perceptive, sharp and incredibly smart for somebody who had been in a long-term coma since the age of 10. And Carly is too wise and caring for her young age. And let's not go into Belinda's miraculous recovery and reintegration into academic life. But somehow I enjoyed the story and went along with the ride. At least for the first half.
The second half is the reason I avoid YA books but by this time I was so invested in the characters, I had to pursue it until the end despite how little communication the two women suddenly had between them and it was frustrating as hell to watch that special bond between them fade a little in between.
I do still like this book overall. It is one of those that will leave an impression on me for a while. The narration was okay though I thought that Bindhammer could have done a better job making Belinda and Carly's voices a bit more distinguishable.
This audiobook was given to me for free at my request and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read
February 4, 2016I wanted to like this one. Based on the reviews and the premise, I was sure I was going to like it. Sadly, I couldn't bring myself to finish it. The premise was really intriguing, even if I already had some familiarity with locked-in syndrome from the film version of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. The horror of being trapped inside your own body, ignored like a piece of furniture, is almost unimaginable. The book was barely about that, though. Ultimately, the protagonist spent very little time in that condition.*
Quality of writing was an issue for me. If I had to pick one word to describe it, I'd cheat and use a hyphen: heavy-handed. The beginning sections of the story, specifically those that dealt with being locked-in, felt as if the author was writing to hit points on an outline. Character actions and dialogue felt as if they were being nudged along, jostled in attempt to force the characters into predetermined situations, emotional states, etc.
Strangely, it felt as if the opposite were true of the middle and late-stage portions of the story. The characters just wandered along aimlessly, failing spectacularly to communicate with one another while the author invented one reason after another to keep them apart. The missed moments and hidden feelings went on for well over 130 pages in a 199-page book.
There were issues of a smaller scale, too. The characters never really seemed to be their stated ages; their dialogue had a strange formality to it that caused them to present as older than they actually were. Part of that may be due to the fact that the narrator is essentially telling you the story of her life, so it's possible that, upon looking back, she just doesn't remember what it was like to be a teenager. Even so, it added to the feeling of artificiality. Worse yet, there was an utterly tone-deaf characterization of a visiting bisexual student from France that read like the very worst kind of stereotype (both of bisexuals and of the French).
This had the potential to be an incredibly powerful story. All of the elements were there: a protagonist facing a huge physical and emotional challenge, a best friend who saves her from oblivion and falls in love in the process, a coming out story with unusual complexity due to the six lost years of emotional growth Belinda suffered while in her coma. And yet, I felt none of it. Maybe I'm a living corpse (I certainly dress the part), but my heart just wouldn't beat for any of this. I spent the better part of 200 pages watching characters move through a tired plot about poor communication, when what I wanted was to watch people in love fighting to overcome overwhelming physiological adversity. Didn't really happen. The biggest adversity in the book was the characters' complete inability to talk honestly with one another.
Did not finish at 81%.
(By the way, writing this review made me feel like I should be wearing a coat made out of Dalmatian fur. I hate being a villain.)
*
Quality of writing was an issue for me. If I had to pick one word to describe it, I'd cheat and use a hyphen: heavy-handed. The beginning sections of the story, specifically those that dealt with being locked-in, felt as if the author was writing to hit points on an outline. Character actions and dialogue felt as if they were being nudged along, jostled in attempt to force the characters into predetermined situations, emotional states, etc.
Strangely, it felt as if the opposite were true of the middle and late-stage portions of the story. The characters just wandered along aimlessly, failing spectacularly to communicate with one another while the author invented one reason after another to keep them apart. The missed moments and hidden feelings went on for well over 130 pages in a 199-page book.
There were issues of a smaller scale, too. The characters never really seemed to be their stated ages; their dialogue had a strange formality to it that caused them to present as older than they actually were. Part of that may be due to the fact that the narrator is essentially telling you the story of her life, so it's possible that, upon looking back, she just doesn't remember what it was like to be a teenager. Even so, it added to the feeling of artificiality. Worse yet, there was an utterly tone-deaf characterization of a visiting bisexual student from France that read like the very worst kind of stereotype (both of bisexuals and of the French).
This had the potential to be an incredibly powerful story. All of the elements were there: a protagonist facing a huge physical and emotional challenge, a best friend who saves her from oblivion and falls in love in the process, a coming out story with unusual complexity due to the six lost years of emotional growth Belinda suffered while in her coma. And yet, I felt none of it. Maybe I'm a living corpse (I certainly dress the part), but my heart just wouldn't beat for any of this. I spent the better part of 200 pages watching characters move through a tired plot about poor communication, when what I wanted was to watch people in love fighting to overcome overwhelming physiological adversity. Didn't really happen. The biggest adversity in the book was the characters' complete inability to talk honestly with one another.
Did not finish at 81%.
(By the way, writing this review made me feel like I should be wearing a coat made out of Dalmatian fur. I hate being a villain.)
*
February 18, 2025
I really loved this book - and yes, understand why reviewers thought it dropped off in the 2nd half but by then I was totally engrossed and believed the story so I totally brought the story.
February 11, 2016
Simply Beautiful
Locked Inside is such a wonderful and heart warming story about acceptance, inner strength and the power of love.
Belinda wakes up after six years in a coma. Its not like the movies where one minute you're gone and the next minute you're ready to pick up where you left off. Belinda is locked inside her body. The only way she has so communicate is by blinking her eyes, the rest of her body is just a shell. Carly had been spending her lunch hours reading to Belinda and notices something is different with Belinda. She does everything within her power to reach the girl. Soon Belinda is on her way to a very slow recovery with Carly by her side every step of the way.
I had not had the pleasure of reading anything my Ms Mori prior to this book. I read the blurb for it and am so very glad I gave it a go. It was both a pleasure and privilege. This woman is so gifted!! The story wrapped me in a cocoon of warmth and awww on a cold winter's night. This is one of those books where you don't so much as read the tale but experience and absorb it. It lulls you in and before you know it hours have passed. When you reach the end you are left happy and peaceful if not just a little sad that the journey with these special characters has come to an end. I am still excited as I write this review two days later. This book is firmly on my To Be Read Again list. Thank you for sharing your magic with me Ms. Mori.
Locked Inside is such a wonderful and heart warming story about acceptance, inner strength and the power of love.
Belinda wakes up after six years in a coma. Its not like the movies where one minute you're gone and the next minute you're ready to pick up where you left off. Belinda is locked inside her body. The only way she has so communicate is by blinking her eyes, the rest of her body is just a shell. Carly had been spending her lunch hours reading to Belinda and notices something is different with Belinda. She does everything within her power to reach the girl. Soon Belinda is on her way to a very slow recovery with Carly by her side every step of the way.
I had not had the pleasure of reading anything my Ms Mori prior to this book. I read the blurb for it and am so very glad I gave it a go. It was both a pleasure and privilege. This woman is so gifted!! The story wrapped me in a cocoon of warmth and awww on a cold winter's night. This is one of those books where you don't so much as read the tale but experience and absorb it. It lulls you in and before you know it hours have passed. When you reach the end you are left happy and peaceful if not just a little sad that the journey with these special characters has come to an end. I am still excited as I write this review two days later. This book is firmly on my To Be Read Again list. Thank you for sharing your magic with me Ms. Mori.
June 1, 2021
The first half was five stars, the second around three. So it averaged at about four to me
February 17, 2025
It's absolute love at first read for me with this author. I couldn't put this book down at all, and it took me less than 24 hours to devour it. Loved, loved it.
April 30, 2016
This is an unusual tale and definitely caught my attention. Belinda has been in a comatose state for 6 years when a doctors daughter, Carly, notices the slightest of reactions to her voice. Carly devotes her volunteer time and persistent energy into not only helping Belinda begin the long road to recovery, but to ensuring her carers and family recognise that she is awake inside the paralysed shell of her body. As Belinda and Carly work together their bond grows along with their love for each other. The only questions are how far can Belinda go, and what form that love will take.
The concept of this story is intriguing and extremely thought provoking. Watching Belinda fight to regain her life, seeing the world through the retrospective viewpoint of a paralysed teenager is a tale that I suspect many authors would find daunting. Annette Mori has handled it extremely well. Without the viewpoint of a person who has suffered a disabling illness it is hard to speak for that section of society, but it felt extremely sympathetic and positively portrayed.
Carly and Belinda are well rounded, interesting individuals, and they are well supported both literally and figuratively by a cast of friends and family we would all love to have behind us. The romance has enough twists and turns to make it interesting as a sweet exploration of coming out and first love, but for me the story of Belinda’s rebirth was far more compelling.
This is my first Annette Mori read and I can’t therefore tell if the writing style of this book is her normal tone, but here she certainly pulled off the voice of a teenager coming to terms with a ginormous personal challenge on top of the normal teenage growing pains of finding out who we are and how love works.
Entertaining and absorbing, definitely one I found hard to put down.
The concept of this story is intriguing and extremely thought provoking. Watching Belinda fight to regain her life, seeing the world through the retrospective viewpoint of a paralysed teenager is a tale that I suspect many authors would find daunting. Annette Mori has handled it extremely well. Without the viewpoint of a person who has suffered a disabling illness it is hard to speak for that section of society, but it felt extremely sympathetic and positively portrayed.
Carly and Belinda are well rounded, interesting individuals, and they are well supported both literally and figuratively by a cast of friends and family we would all love to have behind us. The romance has enough twists and turns to make it interesting as a sweet exploration of coming out and first love, but for me the story of Belinda’s rebirth was far more compelling.
This is my first Annette Mori read and I can’t therefore tell if the writing style of this book is her normal tone, but here she certainly pulled off the voice of a teenager coming to terms with a ginormous personal challenge on top of the normal teenage growing pains of finding out who we are and how love works.
Entertaining and absorbing, definitely one I found hard to put down.
December 14, 2015
No one can climb those mountains alone!
I have no idea where to start and I do not know if my words do justice to this story but I'll give it a try. This is a story with brilliant and outstanding characters. Each character I respect, admire and root for. They showed a huge amount of strength, courage, passion, love and they have a lot of depth. They are my heroines. A very inspiring, gripping, emotional and hopeful storyline. I was drawn in and hooked from the very first page. Well written, great character development and full of heartwarming moments. This is definitely one of my favorite reads for 2015 and an amazing addition to my collection. No need to say I loved it.
I have no idea where to start and I do not know if my words do justice to this story but I'll give it a try. This is a story with brilliant and outstanding characters. Each character I respect, admire and root for. They showed a huge amount of strength, courage, passion, love and they have a lot of depth. They are my heroines. A very inspiring, gripping, emotional and hopeful storyline. I was drawn in and hooked from the very first page. Well written, great character development and full of heartwarming moments. This is definitely one of my favorite reads for 2015 and an amazing addition to my collection. No need to say I loved it.
January 3, 2018
4.5 rounded up.
July 15, 2020
Very moving, extremely beautiful!
Carly is intrigued when she meets Belinda at a rehab facility. Belinda has been trapped in her body for a long time after falling unexpectedly ill, and it’s Carly that manages to note that there is still someone trapped inside this beautiful young woman whose life has been impacted so dramatically. With Carly’s support, Belinda faces many obstacles if she is to overcome all she has been through.
Such an emotional story that really tugged at the heartstrings and made me feel so much for the main characters. It really was such a beautiful story. I really admire how Annette picks the concepts for her stories. She really isn’t shy about taking a sensitive subject and underrepresented people and giving them a voice. I have never read anything like this and it wasn’t what I had expected either. The story was fantastic but it gave great insight into a situation that many will never likely experience and I love that Annette has been brave in daring to represent this.
Any story like this completely fascinates me. The research it must take to deliver a story like this, but also the emotional investment and the time it must take to carefully portray the characters and be sensitive with the subject. Annette Mori has very delicately and sensitively handled this and been very careful in explaining all the reader needed to truly understand. The point of view for this story ultimately helps to personalise Belinda’s character. Her interactions with Carly and other characters was so personal and I could easily put myself in her shoes, empathising and sympathising with Belinda and Carly. It was fantastic to be able to feel so included and be able to support them so intimately on their journey.
I really enjoyed this story, it had so many fantastically celebratory moments to balance the more emotional and moving moments, and created an all round truly beautiful story. I absolutely loved it and hope that Annette will treat us to more from Belinda and Carly as they really do have their whole lives ahead of them. I can’t recommend this story enough, just amazing!
Carly is intrigued when she meets Belinda at a rehab facility. Belinda has been trapped in her body for a long time after falling unexpectedly ill, and it’s Carly that manages to note that there is still someone trapped inside this beautiful young woman whose life has been impacted so dramatically. With Carly’s support, Belinda faces many obstacles if she is to overcome all she has been through.
Such an emotional story that really tugged at the heartstrings and made me feel so much for the main characters. It really was such a beautiful story. I really admire how Annette picks the concepts for her stories. She really isn’t shy about taking a sensitive subject and underrepresented people and giving them a voice. I have never read anything like this and it wasn’t what I had expected either. The story was fantastic but it gave great insight into a situation that many will never likely experience and I love that Annette has been brave in daring to represent this.
Any story like this completely fascinates me. The research it must take to deliver a story like this, but also the emotional investment and the time it must take to carefully portray the characters and be sensitive with the subject. Annette Mori has very delicately and sensitively handled this and been very careful in explaining all the reader needed to truly understand. The point of view for this story ultimately helps to personalise Belinda’s character. Her interactions with Carly and other characters was so personal and I could easily put myself in her shoes, empathising and sympathising with Belinda and Carly. It was fantastic to be able to feel so included and be able to support them so intimately on their journey.
I really enjoyed this story, it had so many fantastically celebratory moments to balance the more emotional and moving moments, and created an all round truly beautiful story. I absolutely loved it and hope that Annette will treat us to more from Belinda and Carly as they really do have their whole lives ahead of them. I can’t recommend this story enough, just amazing!
December 29, 2015
Locked Inside is my second Annette Mori book, and I couldn't be more pleased! The main character, Belinda, initially awakes from an extended coma with 'locked-in' syndrome, wherein the patient has brain function but is trapped in a non- or partially-functioning body. I felt like I had that syndrome too, as I constantly wanted to shout out my encouragements and fouls to the characters, but of course my words fell silent, as if being surrounded by a pine forest with feet of snow on the ground muffling out my every sound. Having worked as a volunteer as a young teen, I got very emotional when there were professional caregivers who we not only sub-par but negligent in their attention, feeling that 'the vegetables' wouldn't know any difference anyway, which some forty years later has still left some scars on me, and has been instrumental in my lifelong devotion to charities. It found it particularly realistic in the fashion Ms. Mori systematically had Belinda's character attack her frailties, as you would expect in a real-life situation. You quickly find yourself attracted to certain characters in this book, and cheering for them actively from your chair! I also quite loved the way the loving method that Ms. Mori essentially redirected the characters that would by lesser authors be simply written off, and instead rewoven into the fabric of the story. Brilliantly done, Annette, brilliantly done. Tomorrow I start on the third book I have by her. I have no doubt whatsoever I'll be as pleased with it as with the first two. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anybody who has a gentle soul!
May 6, 2016
Five Stars: f/f romance
I was sent this book by Inked Rainbow Reads in exchange for an honest review.
A very empathic novel which I felt was beautifully written. The author treated this difficult subject with great sensitivity and compassion. The author has obviously researched this syndrome well.
I thought the way the author broached the subject, explained what was happening and then slowly progressed with the recovery and the story line made this an excellent novel. As Belinda recovered and her body awakened her emotions and feeling also awoke. Ms Mori wove a passionate love story with an enlightening insight into "locked in syndrome".
I thought the characters were beautifully crafted and it was a delight to see them grow and mature emotionally and sexually. I also liked the different supporting characters who were introduced, the straight talking friends, the bigots, the weak ones and the strong ones. I particularly enjoyed the way both girls families reacted to Belinda, each very differently but each enriching the story line.
This was one of those books that you begin to read and then find it almost impossible to put down. After reading this I will certainly be looking for further books by this accomplished writer.
I was sent this book by Inked Rainbow Reads in exchange for an honest review.
A very empathic novel which I felt was beautifully written. The author treated this difficult subject with great sensitivity and compassion. The author has obviously researched this syndrome well.
I thought the way the author broached the subject, explained what was happening and then slowly progressed with the recovery and the story line made this an excellent novel. As Belinda recovered and her body awakened her emotions and feeling also awoke. Ms Mori wove a passionate love story with an enlightening insight into "locked in syndrome".
I thought the characters were beautifully crafted and it was a delight to see them grow and mature emotionally and sexually. I also liked the different supporting characters who were introduced, the straight talking friends, the bigots, the weak ones and the strong ones. I particularly enjoyed the way both girls families reacted to Belinda, each very differently but each enriching the story line.
This was one of those books that you begin to read and then find it almost impossible to put down. After reading this I will certainly be looking for further books by this accomplished writer.
April 23, 2016
WARNING: This book is emotionally satisfying...More than just a tale of a woman overcoming adversity to realize her own potential to love, Locked Inside is also a story about learning to be vulnerable. It will remind you to make the most of our human condition by putting yourself out there, despite your fears and insecurities, because doing so is the most certain way to find your happy endings. So if you're not in the mood to be inspired, or want to believe your doomed to live without love, don't read this book. Otherwise, enjoy the read and get ready to discover an author you're sure to want to follow--and when you do, I recommend Annette's previous romance Out Of This World next.
July 13, 2016
It was the synopsis of this book that intrigued me at first, plus the fact that another author recommended the book. However, when I started to read the book and realised the main characters were teenagers I had my doubts, but after the first chapter I was hooked. What a lovely uplifting story about Belinda, who struggles with locked-in syndrome, and her friend Carly who never gives up on her. I found the story of Belinda' gradual recovery and their unfolding relationship totally captivating! It is not surprising that the book was nominated for and won a GCLS Goldie award.
December 20, 2015
Wow! Just Wow! I finished reading Locked Inside by Annette
Mori. What an amazing book about “Locked In” syndrome. A
young girl goes into a coma at the age of ten. Six years later she
awakens, but is only able to move her eyes. The story is about her
struggle to resurrect herself. In the midst of her battle she falls in
love with her best friend who’s believed in her since the beginning.
Great Read. I highly recommend this book
Mori. What an amazing book about “Locked In” syndrome. A
young girl goes into a coma at the age of ten. Six years later she
awakens, but is only able to move her eyes. The story is about her
struggle to resurrect herself. In the midst of her battle she falls in
love with her best friend who’s believed in her since the beginning.
Great Read. I highly recommend this book
April 29, 2016
This book should probably be rated 3,5.
I've loved the starting point of this book. What a refreshing surprise compared to our typical plain lesbian romance stories!
However the last part of it was a bit of a deception as the story becomes a bit pedictable and also kind of boring.
The writting and editing are good though.
I've loved the starting point of this book. What a refreshing surprise compared to our typical plain lesbian romance stories!
However the last part of it was a bit of a deception as the story becomes a bit pedictable and also kind of boring.
The writting and editing are good though.
July 22, 2019
This was such a great book!! Just wished it was longer
February 8, 2023
Locked Inside is the first book I read by Annette Mori. This book remains as a favorite. The writing style flowed and was consistent. As with all of Annette's books, the characters were believable and rounded. You can tell that a lot of research went into the medical aspect of Belinda's condition and recovery. I'm a fan of happy endings and this story did not disappoint.
July 30, 2016
Hello and good afternoon to you all. Thank you for stopping by. Today I'm featuring my review for Lesfic author, Annette Mori's, 'Locked Inside.' This one is very unique, and rich in the storyline. This is one that you don't want to miss. Annette is an awesome storyteller and knows how to draw the viewer in. So read on.
Belief is a powerful force.
From 'Locked Inside'
The main character, Belinda has been in a comatose for over six years and one day regains consciousness, but has no control over anything else. She is observant and hears everything and understands it. The reader gets to see her confusion and frustration when she was trying to communicate. On the inside she is crying, feeling desperate for love.
I was appalled over the lack of care Belinda had in the beginning of the story. Some people just don't get it and it made me sad to see her caretakers watching TV while she lay there soiled. It's sad to know that this often happens to comatose patients who's caretakers just don't understand how to care for people like them.
Thank goodness one young woman nurse's aide, Carly, came into play. Her dedication and love was enough for Belinda to understand that there was hope out there. This person treated our young heroine with respect and talked to her in a normal fashion about things that were normal for teens. She set the tone for others.
I found Carly to be very strong, loving and caring. Her faith in Belinda goes way deep and her heart aches for her. She is intelligent and very wise and inspirational. I applaud the author for creating this angel.
The author did a wonderful job showing the reader the inside of Belinda's head. Here I got to see her secrets and desires. I know that many comatose patients are aware of their environment, including recognizing loved ones and understanding conversations. I really felt her emotions and felt a connection to her. It was as though I could communicate with her. I felt like I was in her shoes and understood her.
The relations between Carly, and Belinda's sister, Fran were priceless. Fran believes in Belinda and is excited to help.
The author showed a nice sense of humor throughout the story. There was one sibling rivalry scene that had me rolling in laughter. Also the dynamics between the characters was priceless and heartwarming.
It was beautiful watching Belinda develop during the story and I thank the author for showing us that this is a process that takes time. With each step of Belinda's recovery, I was there watching how relations in her life strengthened. It was Belinda herself who changed the family dynamics. Her selflessness and strong faith changed the course of her fate.
Belinda is a normal teen on the inside, complete with raging hormones. It is here that she is confronted with her sexuality. Her family is traditional so up until that moment, she just thought that she'd be with a man.
During the story, Belinda falls into love, and this made my heart melt. The way the author describes the romance scenes is addicting.
I have included an excerpt:
I desperately wanted to have the same effect on her as she had on me, but I was very inexperienced in the art of making love. When you can’t ask questions without a bloody tablet in the middle of the experience, it’s a lot harder to communicate. I had to depend on non-verbal clues, physical reaction, and whatever vocalizations she gave to propel me in the right direction. I depended on my other finely tuned senses to lead me to the promised land, but it wasn’t pretty. We fumbled quite a bit with one another, but that didn’t make the experience any less glorious. I tried to feel, smell, and hear when I was on the right track.
It was impressive to read the awareness the author provided with ADA. To see one of the characters dancing in a wheelchair was uplifting. At the same time I got to learn more about the locked in syndrome, which I had never heard of. By the time I was done reading, I had a very clear picture and appreciation for other's who are in Belinda's shoes.
Keep your tissue box close by as there are a lot of touching scenes. Also you may want to dedicate a day to read since it is so deep and meaningful. I found myself thinking about Belinda even when I wasn't reading and when I was done, I felt like I'd made a new friend. This journey enriched my life and I highly recommend this book for everyone.
Belief is a powerful force.
From 'Locked Inside'
The main character, Belinda has been in a comatose for over six years and one day regains consciousness, but has no control over anything else. She is observant and hears everything and understands it. The reader gets to see her confusion and frustration when she was trying to communicate. On the inside she is crying, feeling desperate for love.
I was appalled over the lack of care Belinda had in the beginning of the story. Some people just don't get it and it made me sad to see her caretakers watching TV while she lay there soiled. It's sad to know that this often happens to comatose patients who's caretakers just don't understand how to care for people like them.
Thank goodness one young woman nurse's aide, Carly, came into play. Her dedication and love was enough for Belinda to understand that there was hope out there. This person treated our young heroine with respect and talked to her in a normal fashion about things that were normal for teens. She set the tone for others.
I found Carly to be very strong, loving and caring. Her faith in Belinda goes way deep and her heart aches for her. She is intelligent and very wise and inspirational. I applaud the author for creating this angel.
The author did a wonderful job showing the reader the inside of Belinda's head. Here I got to see her secrets and desires. I know that many comatose patients are aware of their environment, including recognizing loved ones and understanding conversations. I really felt her emotions and felt a connection to her. It was as though I could communicate with her. I felt like I was in her shoes and understood her.
The relations between Carly, and Belinda's sister, Fran were priceless. Fran believes in Belinda and is excited to help.
The author showed a nice sense of humor throughout the story. There was one sibling rivalry scene that had me rolling in laughter. Also the dynamics between the characters was priceless and heartwarming.
It was beautiful watching Belinda develop during the story and I thank the author for showing us that this is a process that takes time. With each step of Belinda's recovery, I was there watching how relations in her life strengthened. It was Belinda herself who changed the family dynamics. Her selflessness and strong faith changed the course of her fate.
Belinda is a normal teen on the inside, complete with raging hormones. It is here that she is confronted with her sexuality. Her family is traditional so up until that moment, she just thought that she'd be with a man.
During the story, Belinda falls into love, and this made my heart melt. The way the author describes the romance scenes is addicting.
I have included an excerpt:
I desperately wanted to have the same effect on her as she had on me, but I was very inexperienced in the art of making love. When you can’t ask questions without a bloody tablet in the middle of the experience, it’s a lot harder to communicate. I had to depend on non-verbal clues, physical reaction, and whatever vocalizations she gave to propel me in the right direction. I depended on my other finely tuned senses to lead me to the promised land, but it wasn’t pretty. We fumbled quite a bit with one another, but that didn’t make the experience any less glorious. I tried to feel, smell, and hear when I was on the right track.
It was impressive to read the awareness the author provided with ADA. To see one of the characters dancing in a wheelchair was uplifting. At the same time I got to learn more about the locked in syndrome, which I had never heard of. By the time I was done reading, I had a very clear picture and appreciation for other's who are in Belinda's shoes.
Keep your tissue box close by as there are a lot of touching scenes. Also you may want to dedicate a day to read since it is so deep and meaningful. I found myself thinking about Belinda even when I wasn't reading and when I was done, I felt like I'd made a new friend. This journey enriched my life and I highly recommend this book for everyone.
March 10, 2016
I received a copy of this book from Inked Rainbow Reads in return for an honest review.
I was pretty intrigued by this book. So much so that I actually inquired if it was a book that was available to us. This story delivered. I really enjoyed reading about this phenomenon and the recovery through Belinda's viewpoint. It gave the story an immediacy and a sort of inherent empathy to be able to experience the things that Belinda did. Although I'm not really a fan of first person pov, it really worked, and actually enhanced the story for me. That being said, some things I almost wished I'd gotten to experience more of. I would have like more about why it happened in the first place, or if that wasn't feasible, perhaps an explanation from one of the doctors about why they couldn't find a cause. Instead there was almost a throwaway line from Belinda about how they never discovered a reason and that was it. I did like the neurological explanation of how Belinda was able to come back. The brain finds a way to create new pathways. It speaks to the miracle of the human body, and how much we don't know even about ourselves, much less the universe. I love that Carly not only believes in Belinda, but sticks by her no matter what. I love that they become so intertwined that their families do as well. I would have liked to hear a bit more about her recovery through actual scenes though, not simply her relating what happened. The other thing I would have liked is some resolution about what she goes on to do in life. There was so much foreshadowing of this, and so many hints and casual references to it throughout Belinda's story, but we never really found out at the end what she went on to do. I also didn't care for the things that Belinda said and did that kept her from telling Carly how she really felt. I understand it had to be done for the story to go the way it did, but it just doesn't seem like she'd have kept making the decision to remain silent so many, many times. The one reason that I could accept for this, that Belinda didn't believe she was worthy of Carly because she was stuck in a wheelchair, seemed like it was diluted by Belinda believing she couldn't ever be Carly's type. All in all, this was a well-written book that kept me engaged and turning pages. I definitely recommend it to anyone who likes YA books.
I was pretty intrigued by this book. So much so that I actually inquired if it was a book that was available to us. This story delivered. I really enjoyed reading about this phenomenon and the recovery through Belinda's viewpoint. It gave the story an immediacy and a sort of inherent empathy to be able to experience the things that Belinda did. Although I'm not really a fan of first person pov, it really worked, and actually enhanced the story for me. That being said, some things I almost wished I'd gotten to experience more of. I would have like more about why it happened in the first place, or if that wasn't feasible, perhaps an explanation from one of the doctors about why they couldn't find a cause. Instead there was almost a throwaway line from Belinda about how they never discovered a reason and that was it. I did like the neurological explanation of how Belinda was able to come back. The brain finds a way to create new pathways. It speaks to the miracle of the human body, and how much we don't know even about ourselves, much less the universe. I love that Carly not only believes in Belinda, but sticks by her no matter what. I love that they become so intertwined that their families do as well. I would have liked to hear a bit more about her recovery through actual scenes though, not simply her relating what happened. The other thing I would have liked is some resolution about what she goes on to do in life. There was so much foreshadowing of this, and so many hints and casual references to it throughout Belinda's story, but we never really found out at the end what she went on to do. I also didn't care for the things that Belinda said and did that kept her from telling Carly how she really felt. I understand it had to be done for the story to go the way it did, but it just doesn't seem like she'd have kept making the decision to remain silent so many, many times. The one reason that I could accept for this, that Belinda didn't believe she was worthy of Carly because she was stuck in a wheelchair, seemed like it was diluted by Belinda believing she couldn't ever be Carly's type. All in all, this was a well-written book that kept me engaged and turning pages. I definitely recommend it to anyone who likes YA books.
June 18, 2016
Review to come.Title: Locked Inside
Author: Annette Mori
Format: Kindle
Pages: 199
Date(s) Read: April 3-5, 2016
Rating: 4 (up from initial 3)
Summary:
Belinda is semi-comatose, suffering from what is known as locked-in syndrome. Carly sees something special in her, and begins spending time with her. An unusual bond is formed. Can Carly pull Belinda from her own emotional prison? Will Belinda's fears keep their relationship from developing into something deeper, something more?
Review:
Thank you Annette Mori for a copy of this book. It was a surprise and a blessing rolled into one when I was the one chosen in the giveaway.
Yet, for some reason, I was nervous about reading this book...as a member of the LGBT community, and this being my first piece of lesbian fiction...I wasn't sure what to expect. I wasn't sure what was behind the cover. However, the uncertainty faded as I started reading, and I was pulled into the story of Belinda and Carly.
Locked-in syndrome is not something nice, not something that we can fully understand, but we know it exists. The fact that Carly was willing to take a chance on Belinda was something that made me hopeful. After a six-year coma, Belinda surfaces, however her body at this point is nothing more than a shell. Locked inside herself, she can only communicate by blinking her eyes. It was Carly that began noticing the change, as she spent her lunch hours reading to Belinda.
Eventually, Belinda's recovery begins and Carly is by her side every step of the way. Yes, this story made me cry at times, but then again what story like this wouldn't move you to tears at least once. I am very thankful to have read this book, and I will definitely be looking for more of Ms. Mori's work in the future.
Author: Annette Mori
Format: Kindle
Pages: 199
Date(s) Read: April 3-5, 2016
Rating: 4 (up from initial 3)
Summary:
Belinda is semi-comatose, suffering from what is known as locked-in syndrome. Carly sees something special in her, and begins spending time with her. An unusual bond is formed. Can Carly pull Belinda from her own emotional prison? Will Belinda's fears keep their relationship from developing into something deeper, something more?
Review:
Thank you Annette Mori for a copy of this book. It was a surprise and a blessing rolled into one when I was the one chosen in the giveaway.
Yet, for some reason, I was nervous about reading this book...as a member of the LGBT community, and this being my first piece of lesbian fiction...I wasn't sure what to expect. I wasn't sure what was behind the cover. However, the uncertainty faded as I started reading, and I was pulled into the story of Belinda and Carly.
Locked-in syndrome is not something nice, not something that we can fully understand, but we know it exists. The fact that Carly was willing to take a chance on Belinda was something that made me hopeful. After a six-year coma, Belinda surfaces, however her body at this point is nothing more than a shell. Locked inside herself, she can only communicate by blinking her eyes. It was Carly that began noticing the change, as she spent her lunch hours reading to Belinda.
Eventually, Belinda's recovery begins and Carly is by her side every step of the way. Yes, this story made me cry at times, but then again what story like this wouldn't move you to tears at least once. I am very thankful to have read this book, and I will definitely be looking for more of Ms. Mori's work in the future.
April 26, 2021
It's kinda unbelievable. I mean, things always work so fine for her, any kind of difficulty in the way. And when something difficult happens, they just solve it in a blink of an eye. In real life things are not like that. Just don't look like reality. And the plot only works like a background for their lgbt relationship. There's not a better exploration about her fisic deficiency, or the desease that started with all of this.
March 5, 2021
I am giving this 4.6 star ratings mostly for the emotional impressions this has made on me. The writing was good not perfect (who is anyways) and I do remember and quite appreciate the word nuggets the author included.
October 24, 2016
Amazing book! It draws you in from the start and keeps you wanting more. The characters are relatable and the timeline moves at a steady pace. I highly recommend this book!
December 24, 2019
This is a wonderful book that delivers the core message that if you surround with the right people, love can prevail and obstacles can be overcome. I truly recommend this inspirational read.
June 9, 2018
I have lived with a disability all my life. And if there’s one area that’s been deeply affected, it’s my love life. Instead of having the protracted honeymoon phase enjoyed by couples with as much commitment and love as my now-wife and I share, we were confronted with a series of medical trials the likes of which you would insist were fictional. They weren’t - they were real, and painful, and ended our honeymoon phase just over a month after I proposed. She had to practice being the fiancée of a disabled person on a much steeper learning curve than I’d hoped. She nailed it every time and has been my strength and the only reason I’ve made it through the past two years. I always remain grateful, because I would have held absolutely no anger or resentment toward her if she’d decided it was all too much to bear and chose not to go through with our wedding - or the rest of our relationship at all. She stuck, and we’ve been able to recapture that new-lovers feeling here and there.
I tell you my own little romance story here so that you will know just how deeply I appreciate Locked Inside. Not only from a political, “hell yeah, disabled protagonist” standpoint, but also from that experiential “OMG how much do I relate I relate soo much” perspective. It was well written; despite the rare and specific nature of Belinda’s challenge, every step of. her journey felt authentic. Carly and their supporting cast felt like wholly developed characters, which is difficult (or, at least, uncommon) in a work with first-person narration.
I wish we had a better sense of how trapped Belinda felt in the early days. We felt her anguish at not being able to communicate, but somehow the writing didn’t convey enough of a sense of claustrophobia, or confinement. It’s a tiny critique, and maybe more one of personal preference than of any shortcoming of the writer’s.
This is an unmissable story to add to your brain. Stories are how we learn about the types of people we aren’t, or will never meet. In other words, if you don’t identify with one of them or connect one of them to someone in your life, Belinda and Carly are two women you need to get to know!
I tell you my own little romance story here so that you will know just how deeply I appreciate Locked Inside. Not only from a political, “hell yeah, disabled protagonist” standpoint, but also from that experiential “OMG how much do I relate I relate soo much” perspective. It was well written; despite the rare and specific nature of Belinda’s challenge, every step of. her journey felt authentic. Carly and their supporting cast felt like wholly developed characters, which is difficult (or, at least, uncommon) in a work with first-person narration.
I wish we had a better sense of how trapped Belinda felt in the early days. We felt her anguish at not being able to communicate, but somehow the writing didn’t convey enough of a sense of claustrophobia, or confinement. It’s a tiny critique, and maybe more one of personal preference than of any shortcoming of the writer’s.
This is an unmissable story to add to your brain. Stories are how we learn about the types of people we aren’t, or will never meet. In other words, if you don’t identify with one of them or connect one of them to someone in your life, Belinda and Carly are two women you need to get to know!
July 28, 2017
I received this novel from the author in exchange for an unbiased review. At no time did Ms. Mori ever bribe, cajole, wheedle, threaten, intimidate or otherwise influence my decision to read this novel.
She did, however, promise to rate every single book of mine highly for the rest of her life. ***
Okay, to the review. The positives of this novel are many. It's well-written, formatted and edited, moves at a reasonably fast pace (always a plus in my book, no pun intended) and the main characters of Belinda and Carly are very likeable. I prefer to read about sharply defined characters, and Locked Inside delivers. It also has solid dialogue for the most part, and tries its hardest to talk about the locked-in syndrome, something not readily understood by the general populace. I enjoyed it enough to round up my star rating to a five.
However, I should point out a couple of glitches, things that stood out to me. One is the "we only use ten percent of our brain" concept. Medical science has shown we actually use a lot more. It ain't 'Lucy' territory, but we do use more than ten percent.
The second point concerns the narrative. Belinda, our main character (story is told from her perspective) gives us her perceptions in a flashback kind of deal, but in the earlier pages it isn't mentioned. It was somewhat confusing to say the least--maybe I missed something along the way (and I hope I didn't)--and had the author mentioned that Belinda was doing the whole recount-my-recovery deal, it would have worked better.
In spite of these minor drawbacks, what we really have is a portrait of two young people who find each other and care for each other, and in the long run, that's what it's all about.
Highly recommended.
*** (No, she didn't)
She did, however, promise to rate every single book of mine highly for the rest of her life. ***
Okay, to the review. The positives of this novel are many. It's well-written, formatted and edited, moves at a reasonably fast pace (always a plus in my book, no pun intended) and the main characters of Belinda and Carly are very likeable. I prefer to read about sharply defined characters, and Locked Inside delivers. It also has solid dialogue for the most part, and tries its hardest to talk about the locked-in syndrome, something not readily understood by the general populace. I enjoyed it enough to round up my star rating to a five.
However, I should point out a couple of glitches, things that stood out to me. One is the "we only use ten percent of our brain" concept. Medical science has shown we actually use a lot more. It ain't 'Lucy' territory, but we do use more than ten percent.
The second point concerns the narrative. Belinda, our main character (story is told from her perspective) gives us her perceptions in a flashback kind of deal, but in the earlier pages it isn't mentioned. It was somewhat confusing to say the least--maybe I missed something along the way (and I hope I didn't)--and had the author mentioned that Belinda was doing the whole recount-my-recovery deal, it would have worked better.
In spite of these minor drawbacks, what we really have is a portrait of two young people who find each other and care for each other, and in the long run, that's what it's all about.
Highly recommended.
*** (No, she didn't)
July 7, 2019
Incredible story of love & life
“Friendship marks a life even more deeply than love.”
“I don’t know exactly when I fell in love with Carly, maybe it was the first time I saw her walk into the room, or maybe it was on this day”.
“I encouraged her friendship and her exploration of her sexuality. I knew this was important and as her best friend, my support was crucial, even though it broke my heart that I wasn’t the one she would be exploring this new territory with.”
“It seems that what I want and what I can have are two very different things.””
“This was a monumental turning point in my life and the person most responsible for this was Carly. How could I not fall deeply in love with her?”
• ~ • ~ • ~ •
Absolutely beautiful!!! OMG, this story TOTALLY rocked & then some!!
I was hesitant about reading this book but I'm glad I took the chance because 💯 I loved this story!!!!
Its a riveting, emotional journey celebrating the power in the presence of friendship, love, family & belief in all the possibilities!!!
Unlike some of the other books I've read by Annette Mori, this has a serious, dramatic tone that's full of a passion deeper than the physical & independent of sexuality.
“Friendship marks a life even more deeply than love.”
“I don’t know exactly when I fell in love with Carly, maybe it was the first time I saw her walk into the room, or maybe it was on this day”.
“I encouraged her friendship and her exploration of her sexuality. I knew this was important and as her best friend, my support was crucial, even though it broke my heart that I wasn’t the one she would be exploring this new territory with.”
“It seems that what I want and what I can have are two very different things.””
“This was a monumental turning point in my life and the person most responsible for this was Carly. How could I not fall deeply in love with her?”
• ~ • ~ • ~ •
Absolutely beautiful!!! OMG, this story TOTALLY rocked & then some!!
I was hesitant about reading this book but I'm glad I took the chance because 💯 I loved this story!!!!
Its a riveting, emotional journey celebrating the power in the presence of friendship, love, family & belief in all the possibilities!!!
Unlike some of the other books I've read by Annette Mori, this has a serious, dramatic tone that's full of a passion deeper than the physical & independent of sexuality.
October 13, 2017
If you are an avid lesbian fiction reader as I am, you are used to read about the usual struggles and obstacles the different characters face: injuries, childhood traumas, physical and psicological abuse... However in this case, Annette Mori present us with a whole new world of difficulties and obstacles for her main character.
Each of the main characters, Belinda and Carly, show in their very own way the infinite and powerful ability to show love, support and empathy. Locked inside is not an usual love story between two teenagers but a deep and rich love story to two young women who not only have to face the struggles of coming to term with who they are and love but also have to take on the difficulties that brings the locked-in syndrome.
It´s simply mind-blowing and written in such a wonderful way that makes the reader reach deep inside and think about how lucky most of us are. For me, as an avid reader, the chance to read about this type of struggle, it has been really refreshing and stimulating.
Each of the main characters, Belinda and Carly, show in their very own way the infinite and powerful ability to show love, support and empathy. Locked inside is not an usual love story between two teenagers but a deep and rich love story to two young women who not only have to face the struggles of coming to term with who they are and love but also have to take on the difficulties that brings the locked-in syndrome.
It´s simply mind-blowing and written in such a wonderful way that makes the reader reach deep inside and think about how lucky most of us are. For me, as an avid reader, the chance to read about this type of struggle, it has been really refreshing and stimulating.
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