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Hideaway
What if home is the most dangerous place you can be? For fans of Room and readers of Shari Lapena.
Gloria Janes appears to be a doting suburban mother and loving wife. But beyond her canary-yellow door, Gloria controls her husband, Telly, as well as seven-year-old Maisy and her older brother Rowan, through a disorienting cycle of adoration and banishment.
When Telly leaves, Gloria turns on Rowan. He runs away, finding unlikely refuge with a homeless man named Carl, with whom he forms the kind of bond he has never found with his parents. After they are menaced by strangers, Rowan follows Carl to an isolated cottage, where he accidentally sets off a burst of heightened paranoia in Carl, and their adventure takes a dark turn.
Gloria is publicly desperate for the safe return of her son while privately plotting ever wilder ways to lure Telly home for good. Her behaviour grows more erratic and her manipulation of Maisy begins to seem dedicated toward an outcome that only she can see. The two storylines drive relentlessly toward a climax that is both shocking and emotionally riveting.
Suspenseful, unsettling, and masterful, Hideaway explores the secrets of a troubled family and illuminates an unlikely hero and a source of unexpected strength.
Gloria Janes appears to be a doting suburban mother and loving wife. But beyond her canary-yellow door, Gloria controls her husband, Telly, as well as seven-year-old Maisy and her older brother Rowan, through a disorienting cycle of adoration and banishment.
When Telly leaves, Gloria turns on Rowan. He runs away, finding unlikely refuge with a homeless man named Carl, with whom he forms the kind of bond he has never found with his parents. After they are menaced by strangers, Rowan follows Carl to an isolated cottage, where he accidentally sets off a burst of heightened paranoia in Carl, and their adventure takes a dark turn.
Gloria is publicly desperate for the safe return of her son while privately plotting ever wilder ways to lure Telly home for good. Her behaviour grows more erratic and her manipulation of Maisy begins to seem dedicated toward an outcome that only she can see. The two storylines drive relentlessly toward a climax that is both shocking and emotionally riveting.
Suspenseful, unsettling, and masterful, Hideaway explores the secrets of a troubled family and illuminates an unlikely hero and a source of unexpected strength.
317 pages, Paperback
First published July 9, 2019
80 people are currently reading
4161 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Lundrigan
11 books441 followers“Lundrigan’s skillfully balanced blend of psychological thriller and haunting coming-of-age story is infused with creepy, small-town atmospheric suspense. . . . [Her] writing is both elegant and darkly humorous, delivering bareknuckle social commentary that will appeal to fans of Gillian Flynn, Karin Fossum, and Laura Lippman.”
Booklist, Starred review
Nicole is the author of eight novels including THE SUBSTITUTE, HIDEAWAY, and AN UNTHINKABLE THING. Her work has been selected as a Top 10 pick by Canada’s national newspaper the Globe & Mail, a top 100 on amazon.ca, a top 10 by Now Magazine, and was shortlisted for the Arthur Ellis Award (best crime novel).
If you'd like to connect with Nicole, you can do so through her website.
Booklist, Starred review
Nicole is the author of eight novels including THE SUBSTITUTE, HIDEAWAY, and AN UNTHINKABLE THING. Her work has been selected as a Top 10 pick by Canada’s national newspaper the Globe & Mail, a top 100 on amazon.ca, a top 10 by Now Magazine, and was shortlisted for the Arthur Ellis Award (best crime novel).
If you'd like to connect with Nicole, you can do so through her website.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
July 28, 2019
3.5 stars.
An unsettling book about a dysfunctional and abusive family, Lundrigan’s most recent novel, Hideaway, is both attention-grabbing and heart-wrenching. It is told from two perspectives: that of thirteen-year-old Rowan, and his seven-year-old sister, Maisy. On the surface, their mother Gloria is a devoted parent, however, behind closed doors, she is controlling and manipulative, especially after Telly (her husband and the children’s father) moves out. Gloria is desperate and will stop at nothing, even at the risk of her children, to win Telly back.
I enjoyed Lundrigan’s decision to write the novel from the children’s perspectives, as it allowed me to see what the narrators could not due to their naivety. However, the overlapping narratives and writing style were a bit confusing at times and there were several paragraphs that I had to re-read in order to make sure that I understood what was happening (but this could have just been a personal problem, not an issue with the book). Overall, this book was suspenseful and dark, and I enjoyed it (even though using the word “enjoy” to describe a book like this feels wrong).
I finished reading this book prior to the publication date (July 9, 2019), but I did not have a chance to review it. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada/Viking for providing me with an eARC of Hideaway in exchange for an honest review.
An unsettling book about a dysfunctional and abusive family, Lundrigan’s most recent novel, Hideaway, is both attention-grabbing and heart-wrenching. It is told from two perspectives: that of thirteen-year-old Rowan, and his seven-year-old sister, Maisy. On the surface, their mother Gloria is a devoted parent, however, behind closed doors, she is controlling and manipulative, especially after Telly (her husband and the children’s father) moves out. Gloria is desperate and will stop at nothing, even at the risk of her children, to win Telly back.
I enjoyed Lundrigan’s decision to write the novel from the children’s perspectives, as it allowed me to see what the narrators could not due to their naivety. However, the overlapping narratives and writing style were a bit confusing at times and there were several paragraphs that I had to re-read in order to make sure that I understood what was happening (but this could have just been a personal problem, not an issue with the book). Overall, this book was suspenseful and dark, and I enjoyed it (even though using the word “enjoy” to describe a book like this feels wrong).
I finished reading this book prior to the publication date (July 9, 2019), but I did not have a chance to review it. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada/Viking for providing me with an eARC of Hideaway in exchange for an honest review.
August 6, 2019
*4.5 Stars
This is my second go-around with Nicole Lundrigan and I continue to be impressed. She has a unique approach to her subject matter. Hideaway kicks off with a “you can’t do that,” but quickly escalates to a “what the *@#* do you think you’re doing?!”
Hideaway is told from two points of view: Rowan and his little sister, Maisy; the two unfortunate children of Gloria and Telly Janes. Lundrigan catapulted me directly into their dysfunctional family dynamic. All at once, I was disgusted, appalled, and repulsed by the behavior of these two parents. Great job bringing these feelings out so quickly.
What I have learned about Nicole Lundrigan as an author is that she is skilled and fearless, two essential qualities in creating fantastic fiction. She attacks taboo subjects that are realities of life which we all need to pay attention to. In addition, she develops twists that have all the subtlety of a Mack truck when they are finally revealed.
Hideaway contains an incredible cast of characters. Each one brings something special to the book, revealing the evil lurking within the Janes family. I couldn’t get over the selfishness of these parents and the lengths they went to for their own desires.
An author who can make you feel and think, is one well worth reading.
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher (via NetGalley).
This is my second go-around with Nicole Lundrigan and I continue to be impressed. She has a unique approach to her subject matter. Hideaway kicks off with a “you can’t do that,” but quickly escalates to a “what the *@#* do you think you’re doing?!”
Hideaway is told from two points of view: Rowan and his little sister, Maisy; the two unfortunate children of Gloria and Telly Janes. Lundrigan catapulted me directly into their dysfunctional family dynamic. All at once, I was disgusted, appalled, and repulsed by the behavior of these two parents. Great job bringing these feelings out so quickly.
What I have learned about Nicole Lundrigan as an author is that she is skilled and fearless, two essential qualities in creating fantastic fiction. She attacks taboo subjects that are realities of life which we all need to pay attention to. In addition, she develops twists that have all the subtlety of a Mack truck when they are finally revealed.
Hideaway contains an incredible cast of characters. Each one brings something special to the book, revealing the evil lurking within the Janes family. I couldn’t get over the selfishness of these parents and the lengths they went to for their own desires.
An author who can make you feel and think, is one well worth reading.
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher (via NetGalley).
May 19, 2020
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3.5/5 Stars
Gloria Janes puts up the front of a loving, caring mother to her neighbours, but behind closed doors she is calculating and manipulative. When her husband Telly leaves her for another woman, she takes it out on her two children, thirteen-year-old Rowan and seven-year-old Masiy. After running away from home, Rowan finds himself in the unlikely company of a homeless man named Carl. Gloria pleads to the world to return Rowan to his loving home while silently plotting ways to make Telly return home as well.
I could not stop reading about this very dysfunctional family... Every time something new happened with them, I was shocked to think that there are children out there that go through things like this at the hands of their parents. I was shocked about some of the things Gloria did to these children and saw nothing wrong with it what so ever. I really enjoyed the two POVs between Maisy and Rowan. I liked knowing what was happening to Rowan on his adventure with Carl, but I also liked knowing that Maisy was okay(ish) at home without him as well. It was really interesting having the book told from the children's perspective because you could see things as a reader that the kids didn't understand due to their age and naivety.
I was going to give it a 4 star but ended up dropping it to a 3.5 instead. At times, Maisy's chapters kind of annoyed me, in the sense that her voice seemed a bit younger than the 7 years old she was supposed to be. I still really enjoyed the story though!
This was my first book by this author, but I'm definitely interested in picking up more of their work!
3.5/5 Stars
Gloria Janes puts up the front of a loving, caring mother to her neighbours, but behind closed doors she is calculating and manipulative. When her husband Telly leaves her for another woman, she takes it out on her two children, thirteen-year-old Rowan and seven-year-old Masiy. After running away from home, Rowan finds himself in the unlikely company of a homeless man named Carl. Gloria pleads to the world to return Rowan to his loving home while silently plotting ways to make Telly return home as well.
I could not stop reading about this very dysfunctional family... Every time something new happened with them, I was shocked to think that there are children out there that go through things like this at the hands of their parents. I was shocked about some of the things Gloria did to these children and saw nothing wrong with it what so ever. I really enjoyed the two POVs between Maisy and Rowan. I liked knowing what was happening to Rowan on his adventure with Carl, but I also liked knowing that Maisy was okay(ish) at home without him as well. It was really interesting having the book told from the children's perspective because you could see things as a reader that the kids didn't understand due to their age and naivety.
I was going to give it a 4 star but ended up dropping it to a 3.5 instead. At times, Maisy's chapters kind of annoyed me, in the sense that her voice seemed a bit younger than the 7 years old she was supposed to be. I still really enjoyed the story though!
This was my first book by this author, but I'm definitely interested in picking up more of their work!
April 9, 2019
This was a heart-wrenching and difficult book to read, not because of the writing but the subject matter--parental neglect and abuse. Thirteen-year-old Rowan and seven-year-old Maisy live with their mother Gloria whose husband Telly has recent left them for another woman. On the surface Gloria seems to be a loving mother but she appears to only have affection for one child at a time and in Maisy's words can make either one of them "disappear" when the other is in her favor. When Rowan is forced to stand in the woods overnight for a minor incident, he meets Carl, a homeless man with mental illness; later forced to stand outside in a storm, Rowan will seek him out for solace. And now we see a dysfunctional family at its worst; Gloria manipulates things in an attempt to win Telly back and Maisy is told an alternate truth about events. As a parent and grandparent, this was painful to read, and my heart broke a little with every selfish move Gloria made to rewrite the story of their lives. I just kept taking deep breaths and reminded myself it was fiction--though I know it exists too often in real life. So if you want an emotional book that will tug at your heartstrings, this is the book for you!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
January 31, 2024
This truly was a horrific book in the sense of the parents and their actions (especially Gloria's). The author captured and wrote both of them perfectly, creating two of the most disliked characters I've ever read.
Even though thrillers tend to be graphic and explicit in nature with similar themes, I do want to mention a few trigger warnings for parental abuse (verbal, emotional, physical). As well, there is a character that struggles with a mental illness and although not negatively portrayed, it's obvious to see how much this character is struggling.
This really was a great thriller that kept me in anticipation for what was going to happen next. With each page, it felt as if the story became more and more wild.
Sometimes I can find thrillers can become quite similar to each other but I'm happy to say this was very different to what I expected.
***I received a physical copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review***
Even though thrillers tend to be graphic and explicit in nature with similar themes, I do want to mention a few trigger warnings for parental abuse (verbal, emotional, physical). As well, there is a character that struggles with a mental illness and although not negatively portrayed, it's obvious to see how much this character is struggling.
This really was a great thriller that kept me in anticipation for what was going to happen next. With each page, it felt as if the story became more and more wild.
Sometimes I can find thrillers can become quite similar to each other but I'm happy to say this was very different to what I expected.
***I received a physical copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review***
June 21, 2019
I won a copy of Hideaway through a Goodreads giveaway which was pretty exciting in itself but it turned out to be a really good book which is a bonus. I've never read anything by Nicole Lundrigan before but I'll be keeping an eye out for her in the future. It's always nice to discover yet another talented Canadian author. I found the story to be realistic but sad and my heart was breaking for Maisy and Rowan. Gloria was very shallow and manipulative and easy to dislike. I was very appalled by some of her actions. The tension was ratcheting up with each chapter in the last 1/3 or so of the book until the big ending. I'd recommend this book to a friend but some people might find it difficult reading due to the subject matter. Many thanks to Goodreads and Penguin Random House Canada for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.
October 1, 2019
I think I’ve found my next go-to author in the thriller genre. Nicole Lundrigan spins a tale that is both engrossing and emotional. Some parts of this book are difficult to get through, simply because of the child abuse (mostly psychological). That Gloria character is one piece of work. Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the ARC. It was great!
December 31, 2019
TW: neglect and abuse. Gut-wrenching, Heart-wrenching, engrossing mystery thriller. Told in the points of view of the children, Maisy and Rowan. Gloria was making her family a living hell. Her total control drove her husband Telly to a divorce and Rowan to run away from home.
June 12, 2019
I got this as part of a good reads giveaway. I enjoyed reading it. It had a good story to it. I liked the variety of characters in it. It is my first book read by this author. I hope to read more books by this author. It is a arc copy as this book isn't released to book stores till July 9th.
August 22, 2019
Oh Nicole Lundrigan, you have a frightening imagination! I simply could not put down your latest release, Hideaway! Start to finish on a recent day off.
Gloria is a devoted wife to her husband Telly and mother to her teenaged son Rowan and young daughter Maisy. That's what you would see from the outside looking in. But inside it's a different matter. Gloria's moods swing from high to low with little warning. She either loves her children or 'disappears' them by banishing them to a room or a place and not speaking to them. When Telly leaves Glow for another woman, it tips her over the edge. One night Rowan has had enough and runs into the woods. And there, under a bridge, he meets Carl - a kind man who is battling his own demons - and Rowan decides to stay. And Gloria? I just don't want to say any more and spoil your discovery of the lengths a jilted (and unstable) woman will go to to get her husband back. (But he too is, as my gran used to say, a piece of work) Yep, this is where things get downright terrifying.......
Lundrigan's character building is so very good. I don't even know how to describe Gloria. She's a master manipulator, devious, cunning and cruel. We see her actions, but don't really get a look at her inner thought processes. Instead we see them - and the aftermath - through the eyes of Rowan and Maisy. And yes, these are heartbreaking to read. It was the 'what is going to happen to Rowan and Maisy ?' that kept me reading for the whole day. Lundrigan takes her story places I couldn't have imagined .The tension was unbearable in parts and I really had to fight myself to not skip to the last chapter to make sure things turned out the way I needed them to.
It seems a little off for me to say how much I enjoyed this book given the darkness it explores. But there are patches of light as well. An easy five stars and one of my most addictive reads this year.
Gloria is a devoted wife to her husband Telly and mother to her teenaged son Rowan and young daughter Maisy. That's what you would see from the outside looking in. But inside it's a different matter. Gloria's moods swing from high to low with little warning. She either loves her children or 'disappears' them by banishing them to a room or a place and not speaking to them. When Telly leaves Glow for another woman, it tips her over the edge. One night Rowan has had enough and runs into the woods. And there, under a bridge, he meets Carl - a kind man who is battling his own demons - and Rowan decides to stay. And Gloria? I just don't want to say any more and spoil your discovery of the lengths a jilted (and unstable) woman will go to to get her husband back. (But he too is, as my gran used to say, a piece of work) Yep, this is where things get downright terrifying.......
Lundrigan's character building is so very good. I don't even know how to describe Gloria. She's a master manipulator, devious, cunning and cruel. We see her actions, but don't really get a look at her inner thought processes. Instead we see them - and the aftermath - through the eyes of Rowan and Maisy. And yes, these are heartbreaking to read. It was the 'what is going to happen to Rowan and Maisy ?' that kept me reading for the whole day. Lundrigan takes her story places I couldn't have imagined .The tension was unbearable in parts and I really had to fight myself to not skip to the last chapter to make sure things turned out the way I needed them to.
It seems a little off for me to say how much I enjoyed this book given the darkness it explores. But there are patches of light as well. An easy five stars and one of my most addictive reads this year.
May 21, 2019
3.5 great writing
This is a horrific story. It will stick with me for a while.
I know these things really do happen and these people do exist but it didn’t make it any easier to read about it. The hopelessness of the situation was heartbreaking.
This story is well written and plotted. The characters and dialogue are layered. It was fascinating and I couldn’t put it down but it wasn’t an enjoyable read. The conclusion helped to an extent.
I would read more by this author if the next topic was a bit lighter. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Penguin Random House Canada for a copy in exchange for a review.
This is a horrific story. It will stick with me for a while.
I know these things really do happen and these people do exist but it didn’t make it any easier to read about it. The hopelessness of the situation was heartbreaking.
This story is well written and plotted. The characters and dialogue are layered. It was fascinating and I couldn’t put it down but it wasn’t an enjoyable read. The conclusion helped to an extent.
I would read more by this author if the next topic was a bit lighter. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Penguin Random House Canada for a copy in exchange for a review.
April 6, 2019
A dysfunctional family and the lies that go with it...
Gloria and Telly (Theodore) are the parents of Rowan (13) and Maisy (7). Telly and Gloria are estranged - he is living with his "lady friend", Dian. In front of others, Gloria tries to appear to be a stand-up parent and working mother. (Most likely everyone sees through this fascade). At home, Gloria treats her kids (and their dog, Chicken) terribly. Selfish Gloria only wants Telly back and it becomes obvious that she is obsessive about this. Maisy has to lie constantly to everyone to fit Gloria's needs and wants. Gloria forces her into it. Rowan is a bit more forthcoming so he sustains the most punishment. While spending the night in the woods as a punishment, Rowan meets Carl, a vagabond, who is nice to him. Rowan visits Carl regularly. Eventually, the tension in the house and his father's disinterest in Rowan force him to run away and stay with Carl.
Carl and Rowan are friends - yet Carl is off. He talks to others in his head and is extremely paranoid. Eventually Carl and Rowan are forced from their campsite to go to a cottage on a lake. Carl's paranoia ramps up and Rowan becomes scared of him. Then Carl takes Rowan on a canoe ride and the story really shows its colors!!!
A good read - a disturbed family with parents who put themselves first. Almost at all costs... A MUST READ domestic thriller.
Many Thanks to Penguin - Random House Canada and NetGalley !
Gloria and Telly (Theodore) are the parents of Rowan (13) and Maisy (7). Telly and Gloria are estranged - he is living with his "lady friend", Dian. In front of others, Gloria tries to appear to be a stand-up parent and working mother. (Most likely everyone sees through this fascade). At home, Gloria treats her kids (and their dog, Chicken) terribly. Selfish Gloria only wants Telly back and it becomes obvious that she is obsessive about this. Maisy has to lie constantly to everyone to fit Gloria's needs and wants. Gloria forces her into it. Rowan is a bit more forthcoming so he sustains the most punishment. While spending the night in the woods as a punishment, Rowan meets Carl, a vagabond, who is nice to him. Rowan visits Carl regularly. Eventually, the tension in the house and his father's disinterest in Rowan force him to run away and stay with Carl.
Carl and Rowan are friends - yet Carl is off. He talks to others in his head and is extremely paranoid. Eventually Carl and Rowan are forced from their campsite to go to a cottage on a lake. Carl's paranoia ramps up and Rowan becomes scared of him. Then Carl takes Rowan on a canoe ride and the story really shows its colors!!!
A good read - a disturbed family with parents who put themselves first. Almost at all costs... A MUST READ domestic thriller.
Many Thanks to Penguin - Random House Canada and NetGalley !
July 20, 2019
3.5 Stars
Seven-year-old Maisy and her teenage brother Rowan live with their mother Gloria. She has always used unique, extreme ways of parenting, but her methods have become worse and more focused on Rowan since their father Telly left her for another woman. One night after a round of Gloria’s inhumane punishments, Rowan runs away, and finds solace with a homeless man who lives under the bridge. As the whole city begins to look for him, Gloria’s manipulations of her family members increase to a breaking point.
Hideaway touches on difficult topics such as homelessness, mental illness, parental influence and abusive relationships. The ending is strong and truly shows the influence of a controlling parent on young children, but gives hope for their ability to persevere! That said, from the cover and the synopsis, I was expecting this to be a suspense thriller. It is suspenseful, but there is very little mystery in this book. It’s clear to the reader what is happening the entire time, so it can be a bit frustrating waiting for the characters and the community to figure it out.
I am so happy to have had the opportunity to review Hideaway, which is written by Canadian author Nicole Lundrigan. She has a very clear, invoking way of describing the child abuse that is endured by Maisy and Rowan. It was fascinating (and horrifying) to read the events of this novel from the children’s perspective. I found it to be very realistic, and a good reminder to take any small signs seriously as we never know what is going on behind closed doors.
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Seven-year-old Maisy and her teenage brother Rowan live with their mother Gloria. She has always used unique, extreme ways of parenting, but her methods have become worse and more focused on Rowan since their father Telly left her for another woman. One night after a round of Gloria’s inhumane punishments, Rowan runs away, and finds solace with a homeless man who lives under the bridge. As the whole city begins to look for him, Gloria’s manipulations of her family members increase to a breaking point.
Hideaway touches on difficult topics such as homelessness, mental illness, parental influence and abusive relationships. The ending is strong and truly shows the influence of a controlling parent on young children, but gives hope for their ability to persevere! That said, from the cover and the synopsis, I was expecting this to be a suspense thriller. It is suspenseful, but there is very little mystery in this book. It’s clear to the reader what is happening the entire time, so it can be a bit frustrating waiting for the characters and the community to figure it out.
I am so happy to have had the opportunity to review Hideaway, which is written by Canadian author Nicole Lundrigan. She has a very clear, invoking way of describing the child abuse that is endured by Maisy and Rowan. It was fascinating (and horrifying) to read the events of this novel from the children’s perspective. I found it to be very realistic, and a good reminder to take any small signs seriously as we never know what is going on behind closed doors.
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 16, 2024
*whips out dictionary*
*flops it on the table and turns to page at random*
de·lu·sion·al
adjective
characterized by or holding false beliefs or judgments about external reality that are held despite incontrovertible evidence to the contrary, typically as a symptom of a mental condition.
Hmm…
!!!!
holy mother of christ *crosses self*
i’ve seen these behaviors in real life just not quite to this degree
because man [redacted] fk this woman!!!! why i outta
[redacted] [redacted]
*fbi adds me to a watch list*
*fbi investigates*
*removed from watchlist due to being a book review*
people are A W F U L.
some people are so warped, twisted, and manipulative; especially to young unknowing persons, who haven’t learned better, when it’s all they’ve known.
this book rocked me to the core and killed me and revived me and made me choke up and want to bawl like a baby
i loved it to pieces even though it hurt
unlike the teachings of certain parents, no, love isn’t meant to hurt, but in cases such as this i welcome the hurt because it was real even though it wasn’t real, if you know what i mean. words on pages in a book, but it does happen, and that’s what hurts the most. these poor children.
the dogs and kids in this book i just want to hold and love.
i’m sad
but at least im not on an fbi watchlist
*flops it on the table and turns to page at random*
de·lu·sion·al
adjective
characterized by or holding false beliefs or judgments about external reality that are held despite incontrovertible evidence to the contrary, typically as a symptom of a mental condition.
Hmm…
!!!!
holy mother of christ *crosses self*
i’ve seen these behaviors in real life just not quite to this degree
because man [redacted] fk this woman!!!! why i outta
[redacted] [redacted]
*fbi adds me to a watch list*
*fbi investigates*
*removed from watchlist due to being a book review*
people are A W F U L.
some people are so warped, twisted, and manipulative; especially to young unknowing persons, who haven’t learned better, when it’s all they’ve known.
this book rocked me to the core and killed me and revived me and made me choke up and want to bawl like a baby
i loved it to pieces even though it hurt
unlike the teachings of certain parents, no, love isn’t meant to hurt, but in cases such as this i welcome the hurt because it was real even though it wasn’t real, if you know what i mean. words on pages in a book, but it does happen, and that’s what hurts the most. these poor children.
the dogs and kids in this book i just want to hold and love.
i’m sad
but at least im not on an fbi watchlist
July 8, 2019
3.5 STARS - To say that I enjoyed this book makes me feel a little yucky because its subject matter isn't for the faint of heart - a dysfunctional family that is impacted by mental health issues and the abuse and neglect of two children at the hands of their parents.
Lundrigan, a new-to-me Canadian author, depicts a family in turmoil and takes her readers behind a mother's façade of pasted on smiles and kind words to neighbours and into their real family life. The Janes family is rife with dysfunctional relationships with mom Gloria's destructive and paranoid actions consistently manipulate events to suit her own self-absorbed desires and father Telly runs away to put his head in the sand. To the two children, Maisy and Rowan, this is the only family life they've ever known so they've learned to live in constant turmoil, hopelessness and, sadly, acceptance of the abuse, neglect and erratic behaviour of their parents. That is the saddest part of this book for this mom of three.
The Hideaway is a suspenseful and disturbing story that goes much darker than I'm typically feel comfortable reading. But I appreciate that Lundrigan doesn't hold back as she describes the sometimes obsessive, dark side of 'love' and the repercussions of undiagnosed mental health issues.
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Viking Books for sending me a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Lundrigan, a new-to-me Canadian author, depicts a family in turmoil and takes her readers behind a mother's façade of pasted on smiles and kind words to neighbours and into their real family life. The Janes family is rife with dysfunctional relationships with mom Gloria's destructive and paranoid actions consistently manipulate events to suit her own self-absorbed desires and father Telly runs away to put his head in the sand. To the two children, Maisy and Rowan, this is the only family life they've ever known so they've learned to live in constant turmoil, hopelessness and, sadly, acceptance of the abuse, neglect and erratic behaviour of their parents. That is the saddest part of this book for this mom of three.
The Hideaway is a suspenseful and disturbing story that goes much darker than I'm typically feel comfortable reading. But I appreciate that Lundrigan doesn't hold back as she describes the sometimes obsessive, dark side of 'love' and the repercussions of undiagnosed mental health issues.
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Viking Books for sending me a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
July 2, 2019
4-5 stars! This was an intense read, that really had my heart aching in spots. Seeing the amount of disturbing family circumstances could be a tough thing for many to read, but I enjoy the more disturbing and demented books. It was well written with many thrills, chills, shocks, and disturbing themes, but also heart wrenching read. Will definitely read more by this author.
Will recommend to the members of Chapter Chatter Pub.
Will recommend to the members of Chapter Chatter Pub.
December 15, 2019
Child abuse. Child neglect. Mental abuse. Bullying. These don't even begin to broach the sadness that is this novel. Told from the point of view of 2 children who endure things no child ever should.
April 27, 2020
I really enjoyed this book..
July 9, 2019
When I started this book, I definitely did not see the insane storyline coming. I was expecting a fairly basic sort of thriller where the mom is a bit out there - and let me tell you, this was anything but your regular old garden variety thriller. I was gripped from the beginning and the book didn't let go until the last, terrifying page.
Thanks so much to Penguin Random House Canada for sending me a copy of this book for an honest review. As always, all opinions are my own.
The story follows the Janes family - the mother Gloria, father Telly, and two children, seven-year-old Maisy and thirteen-year-old Rowan. On the outside, their family seems normal enough. But when Telly leaves, the rifts of the family are soon made visible. Gloria's manipulative affection reaches a breaking point and Rowan runs away. Outwardly, Gloria seems desperate to find her son but inward it is clear she has a plan set in motion to 'save' her family - a plan only she seems to understand.
Interestingly, the book is told from two perspectives - the two children, Maisy and Rowan. Each child has a distinctive voice and provides their own account of what is happening. I think Lundrigan did a really great job of writing their voices and creating a story from the lens of children. As a reader, you are able to see Gloria's manipulations and twisted affection in ways that the children, or at least, Maisy, cannot. That really adds to the suspense of the story - you are able to see what's going wrong but the narrators cannot.
In terms of how things panned out with Rowan's disappearance, I was shocked by the ending. Looking back on it now, I probably shouldn't be so surprised, but, in the moment, I was completely flabbergasted. I'm not sure if other readers will be as surprised as I was, but I still think it was well done nonetheless.
Overall, this was an amazing thriller and I highly recommend it!
Thanks so much to Penguin Random House Canada for sending me a copy of this book for an honest review. As always, all opinions are my own.
The story follows the Janes family - the mother Gloria, father Telly, and two children, seven-year-old Maisy and thirteen-year-old Rowan. On the outside, their family seems normal enough. But when Telly leaves, the rifts of the family are soon made visible. Gloria's manipulative affection reaches a breaking point and Rowan runs away. Outwardly, Gloria seems desperate to find her son but inward it is clear she has a plan set in motion to 'save' her family - a plan only she seems to understand.
Interestingly, the book is told from two perspectives - the two children, Maisy and Rowan. Each child has a distinctive voice and provides their own account of what is happening. I think Lundrigan did a really great job of writing their voices and creating a story from the lens of children. As a reader, you are able to see Gloria's manipulations and twisted affection in ways that the children, or at least, Maisy, cannot. That really adds to the suspense of the story - you are able to see what's going wrong but the narrators cannot.
In terms of how things panned out with Rowan's disappearance, I was shocked by the ending. Looking back on it now, I probably shouldn't be so surprised, but, in the moment, I was completely flabbergasted. I'm not sure if other readers will be as surprised as I was, but I still think it was well done nonetheless.
Overall, this was an amazing thriller and I highly recommend it!
September 29, 2019
One thing this author is extremely skilled at is writing multi-faceted characters...characters that evoke real feelings for the reader...feelings of empathy, disgust, sadness, and rage (at least, in my experience).
This was not an easy book to read...it centers around a missing teenager and the circumstances that led to his disappearance...throughout the book the reader follows Rowan, the missing teenager, so they know where he is, which I found soothing as I sometimes become very anxious when reading stories where the missing person's whereabouts are completely unknown.
A slow burning mystery, I found myself sometimes struggling to pick it up because I really despised some of the characters. Normally, despicable characters don't bother me but I think I was in the mood for a "happier" book when I read this one...I'm going to go with the "it's not you, it's me" theory on this one.
Overall, this was a solid story with vivid descriptions and very real characters. I highly recommend it to fans of the gritty, dark genre of books.
I received an e-arc of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was not an easy book to read...it centers around a missing teenager and the circumstances that led to his disappearance...throughout the book the reader follows Rowan, the missing teenager, so they know where he is, which I found soothing as I sometimes become very anxious when reading stories where the missing person's whereabouts are completely unknown.
A slow burning mystery, I found myself sometimes struggling to pick it up because I really despised some of the characters. Normally, despicable characters don't bother me but I think I was in the mood for a "happier" book when I read this one...I'm going to go with the "it's not you, it's me" theory on this one.
Overall, this was a solid story with vivid descriptions and very real characters. I highly recommend it to fans of the gritty, dark genre of books.
I received an e-arc of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 30, 2020
After being blown away by the The Substitute, I decided to read everything that this author writes. Lundrigan is such a beautiful and powerful storyteller, even when it is the darkest of subjects. The Hideaway did not disappoint!
Rowan and Maisy live in an abusive household filled with lies, manipulation and punishment. When the trust is broken between parent and child, who can they turn to? Rowan finds comfort from a homeless man and sets events into motion that threaten to topple this dysfunctional family.
The Hideaway is a very dark and disturbing story of neglect and abuse. It is filled with slow burn suspense, and I couldn’t wait to get to the reveal. I would have given this book 5 stars, but I had a difficult time getting through reading Carl’s unintelligible ramblings. I did guess the twist, but I was so invested in the story that I couldn’t put it down. It is a gut wrenching read, that will leave you feeling very unsettled.
4/5 stars
Rowan and Maisy live in an abusive household filled with lies, manipulation and punishment. When the trust is broken between parent and child, who can they turn to? Rowan finds comfort from a homeless man and sets events into motion that threaten to topple this dysfunctional family.
The Hideaway is a very dark and disturbing story of neglect and abuse. It is filled with slow burn suspense, and I couldn’t wait to get to the reveal. I would have given this book 5 stars, but I had a difficult time getting through reading Carl’s unintelligible ramblings. I did guess the twist, but I was so invested in the story that I couldn’t put it down. It is a gut wrenching read, that will leave you feeling very unsettled.
4/5 stars
February 13, 2022
I can’t believe I finished this book. This should have been my first DNF book.
I didn’t know what I was getting into, but the whole book was just depressing, disturbing and boring.
The only good thing about this book was Nicole Lundrigan’s excellent writing. Maybe that’s why I tried to power through?
If you like very disturbing family drama, you might like this one, but unfortunately, this one wasn’t for me.
This unfortunately made me not want to pick up another Nicole Lundrigan book in the future.
I didn’t know what I was getting into, but the whole book was just depressing, disturbing and boring.
The only good thing about this book was Nicole Lundrigan’s excellent writing. Maybe that’s why I tried to power through?
If you like very disturbing family drama, you might like this one, but unfortunately, this one wasn’t for me.
This unfortunately made me not want to pick up another Nicole Lundrigan book in the future.
October 2, 2019
I didn't like the female narrator. I understand it's from the children's point of view. I think I didn't know that when I started or maybe I didn't know it would sound like it's read by a little girl. It probably wouldn't matter to most people, but I today I'm not interested in hearing a kid read.
April 14, 2019
4.5 rounded up. Very good read, suspenseful and mysterious. Good pacing. Would recommend for readers who enjoy a character intense thriller.
February 14, 2021
The story of a dysfunctional family told by the 14 year old son and his 7 year old sister. Heartbreaking from start to finish.
July 21, 2019
We all want the same thing -- "to be out in the open. To be regarded. To be seen."
Gloria and her two children live together alone in the house on Pinchkiss Circle ever since Telly, husband and father, took off to live with another woman. Rowan is nearly 13 and is big brother to seven-year-old Maisy when events in their home and lives turn from bad to worse. Gloria Janes likes to keep things up for appearance sake, and goes to great lengths to make sure that her children understand that she is in control -- of them, of their daily existence, and of the truth they tell. Manipulative and narcissistic, Gloria uses praise and punishment to create an atmosphere of total subjugation in her children. Or else. When Rowan vanishes after being locked out of the house one night, the repercussions of his time away with the mentally ill Carl have far-reaching detrimental effects that no one could have foreseen for the family. NO SPOILERS.
I had a very hard time writing this review. Did I enjoy this book? No, not really. It was a difficult read because of the subject matter (abuse of children) and also because of the severity of Gloria's psychiatric issues. The relentless despair was palpable and frustrating. The tone was depressing and only partially relieved by the somewhat hopeful conclusion. I think readers will need to be in a certain frame of mind to read this and I hope the novel doesn't haunt my dreams. I realize that there is a significant issue socially in our world with how mental illness is recognized and addressed. I have no answers but don't feel confident at all that we are headed in the right direction for protection and treatment. I was tempted a time or two to mark this as DNF, but I kept going and I'm glad I finished. The imagination and quality of the writing in the book was excellent and rang true as the voices of Rowan and Maisy alternately narrated their story. I did read it in one sitting and am now taking a deep cleansing breath.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this e-book ARC to read and review.
Gloria and her two children live together alone in the house on Pinchkiss Circle ever since Telly, husband and father, took off to live with another woman. Rowan is nearly 13 and is big brother to seven-year-old Maisy when events in their home and lives turn from bad to worse. Gloria Janes likes to keep things up for appearance sake, and goes to great lengths to make sure that her children understand that she is in control -- of them, of their daily existence, and of the truth they tell. Manipulative and narcissistic, Gloria uses praise and punishment to create an atmosphere of total subjugation in her children. Or else. When Rowan vanishes after being locked out of the house one night, the repercussions of his time away with the mentally ill Carl have far-reaching detrimental effects that no one could have foreseen for the family. NO SPOILERS.
I had a very hard time writing this review. Did I enjoy this book? No, not really. It was a difficult read because of the subject matter (abuse of children) and also because of the severity of Gloria's psychiatric issues. The relentless despair was palpable and frustrating. The tone was depressing and only partially relieved by the somewhat hopeful conclusion. I think readers will need to be in a certain frame of mind to read this and I hope the novel doesn't haunt my dreams. I realize that there is a significant issue socially in our world with how mental illness is recognized and addressed. I have no answers but don't feel confident at all that we are headed in the right direction for protection and treatment. I was tempted a time or two to mark this as DNF, but I kept going and I'm glad I finished. The imagination and quality of the writing in the book was excellent and rang true as the voices of Rowan and Maisy alternately narrated their story. I did read it in one sitting and am now taking a deep cleansing breath.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this e-book ARC to read and review.
July 18, 2019
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 - A dark family drama with Bates Motel vibes👏🏼 Hideaway is shocking, unsettling and definitely leaves a lasting impression!
Gloria and Telly may have seemed like good, normal parents but when Telly leaves Gloria for another woman, the flaws in their characters start to show – especially Gloria’s. She controls her children with unpredictable moods of severe punishment and positive reinforcement. One day, her eldest son Rowan decides he’s had enough - and runs away. Gloria uses the situation to her advantage, publically pleading for her son’s return and urging Telly to come home for Rowan. As the search continues, Gloria becomes more and more unstable... and she has a plan.
It's definitely an intense read but I struggled with the pace - it wasn’t as gripping as I had expected. The narrative alternates between the two children which I found impactful, but I also would’ve liked to hear Gloria’s perspective. Her character was deranged and would’ve made for an interesting POV🤷🏼♀️
I’m Canadian and because this is #CanLit I do wish my rating was a *little* higher. That said, I will admit that Lundrigan probably has one of the most interesting author bios I've ever read - she completed a MSc from UofT with a focus on physical anthropology. Her main area of interest? Degredation of DNA in postmoterm skeletal remains💀
Gloria and Telly may have seemed like good, normal parents but when Telly leaves Gloria for another woman, the flaws in their characters start to show – especially Gloria’s. She controls her children with unpredictable moods of severe punishment and positive reinforcement. One day, her eldest son Rowan decides he’s had enough - and runs away. Gloria uses the situation to her advantage, publically pleading for her son’s return and urging Telly to come home for Rowan. As the search continues, Gloria becomes more and more unstable... and she has a plan.
It's definitely an intense read but I struggled with the pace - it wasn’t as gripping as I had expected. The narrative alternates between the two children which I found impactful, but I also would’ve liked to hear Gloria’s perspective. Her character was deranged and would’ve made for an interesting POV🤷🏼♀️
I’m Canadian and because this is #CanLit I do wish my rating was a *little* higher. That said, I will admit that Lundrigan probably has one of the most interesting author bios I've ever read - she completed a MSc from UofT with a focus on physical anthropology. Her main area of interest? Degredation of DNA in postmoterm skeletal remains💀
July 13, 2019
This book was amazing and not necessarily good amazing, thought altering amazing. It’s hard to explain the story in short version but it was emotion invoking. I felt so many different emotions during this book. Sadness, anger, desperation, shock and briefly happiness. This was an incredibly well written book about a very tough subject: child abuse and neglect. Instead of having to turn each page to know what happens it became a desperation to find out if things got better. That was a very different feeling for me reading a novel, it definitely evoked emotions I’m not used to embracing but I recommend this book to everyone. 5 stars.
January 27, 2020
As tough as parts of this book were to read because of the aforementioned child manipulation and abuse, I really loved the character development that the author portrayed during the story. I ended up caring so much about the people (and animals) that featured in "Hideaway" and that was due to her beautiful writing. I loved every minute of this book - even the difficult parts - and highly recommend it!!
June 24, 2020
You have to read this, it is wild and unpredictable! This story is centred around a young boy and girl in a dysfunctional and abusive home. It's disturbing to think that there are kids living this way. How many times have we had bad feelings about a situation and voiced our concerns where they sit unopened on a shelf somewhere. Or do we sometimes quiet our voices thinking it's probably not what we think. How many times have kids covered for parents. Even though this story is disturbing you will love these two kids and their loyalty to each other.
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