Abalone: One woman's courageous journey through abuse & healing

by J.G. MacLeod

J.G. MacLeod’s provocative first novel explores the topic of relationship violence with honesty and grit. Controversial and insightful, Ms. MacLeod delves into the complexity of abuse and describes its impact on the characters in her story.

Eighteen-year-old Liz is in her final year of high school when she meets James Macewan, an older student who is struggling academically and wrestling with his own demons. What begins as a simple tutoring assignment soon grows into her first dating relationship. Liz initially enjoys the excitement of being with James, but it does not take long before she cannot recognize who she is as an individual anymore. As James's own life begins to unravel, he compensates by attempting to control every aspect of Liz's existence. The situation eventually dissolves into a tale of violence and dehumanization that affects the characters' lives forever.

J.G. MacLeod describes the fear and uncertainty that often come with the cycle of violence and allows readers to journey alongside Liz as she attempts to confront her abuser and heal from trauma.

The author understands that the description of abuse can be triggering for some people, so she wishes to inform potential readers that the content in Abalone can be graphic at times. Please be aware of this before ordering your copy.

Genres: Fiction, Dark, Contemporary, New Adult, Ebooks

414 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2019

About the author

J.G. MacLeod is an award-winning, Canadian author who earned a university degree in Honors English and history with a focus on 19th-century British studies. Her novel, Lady Ellen, which is set in Ireland in the 1840s, won the 2018 Breakthrough Novel Award for Historical Fiction, and a Readers' Favorite Book Award (2019). https://mybook.to/LadyEllenBoxset The Future Bride & The Past Love were both named 'Finalist' in the Independent Author Network Book of the Year Awards for 'Romance' (2020 & 2021). https://mybook.to/MacLeodTimeTravelRom

J.G. MacLeod also possesses a university degree in Education with twenty-two years of teaching experience, including creative writing, English literature, literary theory, psychology, and counselling. Her novel Abalone won the 2018 Online Book Club Book of the Year Award for 'Other Fiction', & is a gritty, psychological novel for readers who loved Gone Girl, Safe Haven, & The Lucky One. https://mybook.to/Abalone

J.G. has been writing extensively for years, everything from essays, to short fiction, novels, and biographies. She is a proud supporter of the online Writing Community and has several gigs on Fiverr, including professional book marketing for X (Twitter), proofreading, and beta reading.

J.G. has three young children and resides in southwestern Ontario where she enjoys cottage country, hiking, gardening, and photography.

X (Twitter)
https://x.com/jgmacleodauthor

Author Website
https://www.jgmacleod.com/

Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/stores/J.-G.-M...

Blog
https://www.jgmacleod.com/blog

Fiverr
https://www.fiverr.com/jgmacleod?up_r...

Reviews

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

ABALONE is one of those books that stays with you for a long time after you read it. Liz is an eighteen-year-old senior and a good student, but also comes from a troubled home life where her mother passed away earlier when she was in high school and her father was unable to deal with his depression. Because Liz is such a good student, a teacher asks her to tutor an older student who has been held back for several years and is in danger of failing the year yet again and not graduating. This is how Liz meets James.

One thing ABALONE does so well is in describing the details, from the mundane details of Liz’s life, to the insidious details of how abuse starts. People who have never survived abuse or come from a home life where they feel unsupported often say “well why don’t they just leave?” not understanding that it isn’t that simple. Liz’s situation, from a father who can’t really support her, to a lack of support for her future, to a yearning for someone to love her, make her a prime candidate to fall into James’ arms, even if they are abusive arms, and I thought the narrative showed so well even as various people in Liz’s life (friends, other men who wanted to be something more), tried to help pull her away, it was just so hard for her to break away from his orbit. Very well written.

Trigger Warnings: domestic abuse, loss of pregnancy

[E.G. Radcliff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
It starts small… a disrespectful comment (“just teasing!”), compliments that objectify (“I need your body. You’re so sexy you should turn tricks. You make me crazy”—these are not the compliments they purport to be), a mood swing, jealousy… and progresses to control, possessiveness, emotional abuse, and eventually sometimes physical abuse. Every time a person shrugs it off (he was teasing, he’s vulnerable, he’s hurting, he just loves me), they give away more than their self-esteem. They give away their agency, their thoughts, their body, and sometimes worse.
Drip, drip, drip… and then you’re gone.

I was a knot of tension reading this book, as I recognized the manipulative baby steps toward control from the very first encounter between Liz and James. The way the author chose to write it, in a first person diary-style narrative, ensured you saw the naïve POV of the MC-narrator. Even the dialogue tags (she said *shyly*, he *admitted*—let me be clear that he never *admits* anything) betray the skewed perspective of a girl who expects the best, but keeps getting the worst. Her need to be loved blinds her, confusing lust with love (“good moments”)—which lays the groundwork for the worst moments. One good moment is his currency for 10 horrible moments. Like many young girls, she takes responsibility for trying to please, which is the Achilles Heel that is exploited again and again. For the same reason, she takes responsibility for James’ bad behavior, because he tells her—and she believes him—that his unhappiness is her fault. And, like many young girls—and women—being found physically attractive is confused with caring.

The level of detail of each scene and chapter may not be quite right for standard fiction, but it serves a perfect purpose here, which is to underscore how tiny details and small moments—drips—matter in the step-by-step dismantling of a young girl.

Long ago, my mother said that every 16-year-old girl should read Anna Karenina. She would say the same thing about Abalone.
It’s a must-read that shines a glaringly bright light on how relentless, miniscule boundary violations and insults (veiled and overt) can eventually erode an
entire person.

[Michele Quirke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abalone was by far one of the toughest books for me to read. Don't get me wrong. It's extremely well written, but the emotions it stirs up are powerful and at times, a bit overwhelming. The trauma and abuse Liz goes through are difficult to read about. That, to me, says something about the author's incredible storytelling abilities. MacLeod knows how to tell a compelling story that will stay with you even when you're not reading. This book made me think. It made me cry. And above all, it made me realize just how strong women who escape abusive relationships are.

I honestly believe every woman should read this book. Not only victims of abuse, but all women. Abalone is, at its core, a story of survival. A story of hope. And sometimes, hope is all we have to hang onto.

I applaud MacLeod for writing such an emotional story and look forward to many more books by this remarkably talented author!

[H.M. Holten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Domestic Violence with a Vengeance
Liz is a reticent and shy girl who manages to be a good student regardless of her difficult home life. James is an older boy with apparent learning difficulties. Possibly, his problems are down to a lack of interest in getting an education as he seems reckless rather than stupid. Liz’s English teacher suggests that she should help James to graduate. These are the premises for JG MacLeod’s cautionary tale. What strikes me as strange is that a teacher is the one who, albeit unintentionally, pushes Liz into the arms of her abuser. It is hard to envisage that a teacher would have so little insight into a troubled youngster. Nevertheless, Liz, who already has a young girl crush on James agrees to help him. They soon become sweethearts and from there the story develops into a nightmare for Liz. She gives up school to follow James to the south, but they stopover in a small town and settle there for an unspecified period.
MacLeod is an accomplished author and brings her message across in vivid scenes between Liz and James. There is a large cast of supporting actors, from Liz’ hapless father and James’ abusive mother to schoolfriends, notably Liz’ best friend Jan, Liz’ would-be sweetheart named Cortyn. Add to the mix James’ brother Peter who suffers from Foetal Alcohol Syndrome. Later a prospective saviour turns up, a cowboy clad entrepreneur, Martyn.
MacLeod shows a deep insight into the mechanisms that instigate Domestic Violence. She shows the danger signs and points out how easy it is for a young and insecure girl to get inveigled into an abusive relationship. She shows that without a safety net in the shape of a loving family, this type of girl may have little chance of avoiding her fate.

[S.A. Krishnan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intense story

Liz's life as she enters an abusive relationship with James has been chronicled with great wrenching clarity, which just made me realise how lack of self confidence can be abused by a manipulative partner. Tragic story, written well by the author.

[K.D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abalone by J.G. MacLeod- I applaud MacLeod's courage to write about such a sensitive subject. This story is about a naive girl, Liz, who gets involved in a relationship with James, who through dysfunctional parenting learns to use his anger, fists, and sexual manipulation to control others around him. This book drives deep into the psychological effects of abuse and how some people, in this case, teenagers, get caught in its snare.
It was difficult in some respects for me, as at least a quarter of the book was sexually explicit and I ended up skimming several pages. However, J.G. did an extraordinary job building her characters, drawing the reader into their twisted world of abuse and pain. The story is disturbing and complex and exceptionally written. I highly recommend Abalone. 5 stars.

[Terry Geo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why would an intelligent, young woman ever involve herself with a morally corrupt and dangerous young man, only to find herself trapped in an abusive relationship? From the outside looking in, it seems untenable, yet Abalone demonstrates how easily this can happen.

Told through the eyes of our protagonist Liz - she's had her fair share of emotional toil leading up to her meeting James, the young man who will soon entangle his life with hers. As an 18-year-old high school student, she’s succeeding academically, yet she’s still incredibly naïve when it comes to love, lust and sex. She mistakes her excited feelings for the older, mysterious and dangerous young man as love, when it appears to be based more on sympathy and empathy for another human being. Reading about the horrific things James does to Liz and her friends, would make anyone run a mile. Yet, he’s also protective of her – saving her from terrifying situations. James opens up about his problems – placing trust in her, is often soft and kind and soon becomes her first, physical love.

There are also deeper issues at play with James’ abusive home life and his apparent learning difficulties. Passion, sympathy and manipulation win out and soon Liz is trapped in her own abusive nightmare, which lasts for years.

I’ll be honest; this is an extremely difficult read. Abalone is a raw, emotional, detailed and often graphic account of a young woman losing herself to the man every parent warns their child about. Perhaps if Liz’s home life had been different this would never have happened – but this isn’t a “what if” story, this is real life and it is heart-breaking and often anger inducing. No one should have to endure a life like this, but unfortunately, far too many people do. I hope this book goes someway to highlight the danger signs to look out and help others to avoid falling into an abusive relationship.

[Tanweer Dar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping, moving and often unsettling book which is masterfully written.

Telling the story of Liz from her perspective, J G MacLeod brings to life the trials of growing up, forming relationships and the horrors of domestic abuse.

Graphic, visceral and raw, this book won't be for everyone. But it is an incredibly powerful story which is as important as it is brilliant.

[S.P. O'Farrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stories of abuse require a skillful hand and Abalone, by J.G. MacLeod is written with sensitivity and courage. It is a stirring, often jarring account of a young woman faced with life-altering circumstances that slowly strip away her self-worth and suffocate her spirit. I applaud the author's resolve to tackle such a painful subject and celebrate the triumph of this well-crafted story.

[Katie Mettner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I downloaded Abalone on the advice of a friend, but I wasn't expecting such a dark, painful, thought-provoking, well-written, knock it out of the park story packed inside the pages of this unassuming novel about domestic abuse. We have all known a 'Liz' and we have all failed her in much the same way Liz's friends did. We all wished we had done more, but at the same time, like Liz's friends, we knew until they were ready to leave their abuser, nothing we did would matter.

I agree with the reviewer that said this book should be given to young people as they embark on dating. Better yet, I would love to see this condensed down into a play that drama clubs could perform for high schools and universities. The atrocities that happen to so many women could be prevented if we arm young ones with the knowledge of how they should and should not be treated.

JG did an amazing job with that message and she did it in a way that told you there was a deep well of emotion there that only someone who has gone through the situation or knows someone who did, could pull from. The imagery of their early lives, their family failings, and their continued ill-fated choices were vivid and easy to understand.

I enjoyed the secondary story of Martyn and Liz. He was her safe place. Her refugee. The arms she could trust, even when we all knew she'd go back to the man she couldn't. He was there for her when she needed him and while it killed him to have to walk away during the times she didn't, he did so with respect and honesty.

I can't say enough about how well-written and deeply moving this story was. It's not for the faint of heart, but it is such a truthful recount of what so many women go through at the hands of their abusers that you can't help but be sucked in from the first page.

[Poulomi Sanyal · Rating 5 out of 5]

MacLeod’s Abalone is a book I wish I had when I was a teenager. I wish my mother had also had it when she was growing up and her mother before that. As for the future generations, they are fortunate, because the young women who are currently in their tender teens now have a book inspired by this author’s personal journey that can serve as a beacon, helping them to choose wisely in love and see the signs of disaster before it’s too late. This story took me back to my own youth, the follies the naiveties, the normalization of abuse, the traumas and after-effects of such abuse that scar you forever no matter what you do later to try and forget them. Sadly, I am not a stranger to such a reality myself and that is all the more reason why I felt a deep connection to the story inscribed in these pages. I find it extremely brave of authors to come forward with stories such as these that desperately need to be told. Ms. MacLeod’s prose is mellifluous and fluid, tugging at our heartstrings with at once the delights as well as the shocks of misguided youthful relationships. This book also bears a cautionary message to society, encouraging us to watch out for negligent parenting and the long-lasting repercussions of domestic and child-abuse on the emotional growth of an individual. It’s a fantastic book that everyone raising a child needs to read and share with their young-adult children.

[Vicky Whedbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heart-wrenching story

Wow. The amount of pain and anguish so adeptly written in this book was very hard to read at times. The author skillfully navigates through a young impressionable girls journey of the worst kind of abuse imaginable, sexual, verbal, physical, you name it.

Though painful to read, I think every young girl should read this book. If they ever found themselves in a situation similar it may give them the insight to foresee it early on, and the courage to end it before it escalated to the point it did in this story.

This is the 5th book I've read by this very talented author and once again, it was a book I found incredibly difficult to put down! She has a knack for writing page turners!

This book will touch your soul!

[R.A. Hutchins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an extremely moving story and a book which I would highly recommend. Sensitively and beautifully written, it highlights the downward spiral of domestic and sexual abuse without shying away from the harsh realities of the subject.

A heartbreakingly powerful read.

[Martha Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this page turner, I was impressed with the author's vivid portrayal of the slow progression of abuse and the victim's blind eye to it until it is nearly too late. The initial physical, sexual reaction to the potential abuser, the excuses made for the perpetrator's hurtful behavior, the gradual growth of fearfulness are just some of the many components of an abusive relationship found within the pages of "Abalone." I fell in love with Martyn, a tender soul, who displays characteristics of goodness and kindness, and who gives readers in similar situations hope. Hope that they too can find good, kind partners who treat them respectfully and lovingly.

I would recommend this well-written book to anyone engaged in relationship struggles. Another person's behavior cannot be viewed in relation to your own. They do not behave the way they do because of you. It has nothing to do with you. MacLeod drives this point home.

[Claudia N. Oltean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreak and Hope

Author J.G. MacLeod’s “Abalone” is a story about a young girl who falls into an abusive relationship, and for some years, is trapped there by the attraction of her abuser and her total loss of self-worth. Reading the story broke my heart and mended it again. The author handles a difficult subject, disturbing scenes, and sexual content with poise, grace and skill. “Abalone” is a brave book on a subject too little discussed, one that affects untold women and, no doubt, some men as well. It’s a cautionary tale that should be told, at least in part, to young impressionable girls who haven’t yet found out who they and what they’re worth. Brava to author J.G. MacLeod.

[Sandra Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking. It sounds a lot like my own story, except I was never beaten except once. Young girl, falls for bad boy. Has her first sexual experience. Leaves her home and friends, to move somewhere new with him. He beats her, puts her down, etc.
He finally gets what is coming to him, and she starts to realize, her own worth.

[Catherine Mellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a gripping, page-turning, well-written story.  A truth-be-told reality, lived by so many young women in this world.  A book that should be read by every young teen prior to their first date.  Not only for themselves, but for the friends who sit on the side lines and witness the hard line between love and abuse.  The psychological and emotional abuse that is disguised as that of a loving heart.  Would you know the signs, see the signs and would it matter? When young Liz begins to tutor a classmate named James, could she ever imagine the dark road her life was about to take?  Without knowing what love really was, how could she ever?  By the time the physical and sexual abuse begins, Liz finds herself already committed to this life she chose to be a part of.  Could she be the reason that James will change his way, or will the act of abuse continue until it leaves Liz with no choice but to fight her way to survive.  Will the small acts of kindness be the stepping stones that Liz needs or will they be buried with every new blow she takes?  This is a heartwarming, heartbreaking and at times, an angrily-deserving story. 
I couldn't put this book down, I had to finish it, I just had to know how this story ends; for Liz and the so many like her outside the pages of this book. 
I'm handed this book over to my granddaughter, who enters high-school next year and I will continue to let all my granddaughters read this book, once they are teenagers themselves.  This should be an 8th or 9th grade book report for all teenagers; females and males.  Jenn MacLeod did a remarkable job writing this story.  A must read story full of friendships, fun and the struggles behind the sugar-coated assumptions of an abusive narcissists hand.  A well-deserved five stars ⭐

[Evelyn Chartres · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abalone is a psychological drama written by independent author J.G. MacLeod. This novel focuses on a young woman, named Liz, whose life takes a dramatic turn during her senior year of high school.

If you’ve read the blurb, you have a good idea on what direction this story takes. MacLeod starts off nearer to the middle of the story, when the character chooses life over death and makes the conscious choice to write out how her life fell off the rails.

The end effect of this choice forces the reader to realise how deep the rabbit hole goes before the character begins her journey. I likened it to witnessing a slow motion train wreck. As the domestic violence escalates, it forced me to accept that Liz’s situation would get much worse.

Abalone is an intense read that brings the horror of domestic violence into the light. You will fall for Liz and hope beyond all hope that she finds a silver lining by the end.

[Laura Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

J.G. MacLeod’s Abalone is a realistically heart-wrenching portrayal of a young woman’s coming of age and the young love that leads to a life of poverty, abuse, and tragedy. Liz is a shy, studious high school student who is so lacking in confidence that it leaves her unaware of how beautiful she is and how men gravitate toward her as the result of it. She comes from a broken home in Abalone, a small town where she lives with her depressed, alcoholic father, and dreams of going to college to make a better life for herself.

Liz is asked to tutor James, an older student who just can’t seem to graduate due to a total lack of desire to show up to class and do his work. He comes from an abusive household, hangs out with a tough crowd, and has a tendency to drink too much. But he opens up to Liz, and she finds herself drawn to the damaged, sensitive boy who appears to be infatuated with her for reasons that she can’t understand.

Tutoring leads to friendship and then romance for the mismatched pair. And despite their ups and downs (between James’ jealousy and Liz’s forgiving nature) the two end up fleeing Abalone together. But James’ drinking, temper, and laziness proves to be a scary and violent combination, and Liz finds herself trapped in a life that she never imagined for herself, and one from which she can’t seem to break free.

This book takes its time exploring the relationship between Liz and James, presenting the warning signs of its toxicity while also painting an understandable reason for why Liz is so attached to him. Liz’s feelings run deep in the classic victim mindset of wanting to help or fix this broken boy, or at least provide a refuge from his troubled life. But as James’ demeanor turns ugly, first with verbal insults and then physical violence, the horror of what unfolds becomes like a wrench tightening in the reader’s mind as the stakes are raised with each new chapter.

As the abuse becomes more violent, Liz’s narration becomes more detached, and you find yourself scolding her like the helpless victim in a horror movie, directing her towards actions that she never takes. Even when she is given opportunities to leave, either through her co-workers at the restaurant where she works or through the kindness of the cowboy-clad business man Martyn, she chooses to stay. Her reasons for doing so become cloudier, mirroring the fact that even she doesn’t understand her actions at a certain point.

The pacing is slow but packed full of changing scenery, a rollercoaster of emotions, and a building of tension that seems to be heading towards a messy, tragic end. Liz’s narration paints a clear picture of both the external imagery and her deepest thoughts in a detailed, delicate balancing act. Sometimes the dialogue becomes a little corny and the narration a bit cliched, but it’s generally a gripping page turner.

The plot, which is so thoroughly laid out in the first half of the book, becomes a little sketchier in the second half, with moments left unfinished, actions left unexplained, and after effects glossed over. This relates to the fogginess of Liz’s mindset as she delves deeper into her predicament. Her desire to prove herself is a confusing element of her personality that isn’t previously set up in the story, but it’s one that many girls can relate to.

The characters are each presented with very distinct personalities and voices. Even minor characters are well-crafted, from her high school friends to the sleezy men who hit on her at the bars and restaurants where she works. Many different types of men appear in Liz’s life, from her zombie-like dad to the innocent high schooler Colyton who crushes on her during her honeymoon period with James to the perfect godsend Martyn who comes to her rescue time and again with no ulterior motives other than to see her safe. This collection of guy characters is well-crafted and shows the many forms that people come in, from the very best of humanity to the very worst and all of the gray areas in between.

I can’t say that Liz changes at all throughout the book. Even after what she has been through, she still remains that shy girl who doesn’t know how to escape a bad situation. Luckily, though, she becomes more aware of what is good for her, and she uses that knowledge to pursue a better life for herself.

When you are done reading, you feel as though you have lived through Liz’s personal struggles yourself. Yet, seeing how easily Liz falls into her trap and how hesitant she is to break out makes the reader wonder if they have learned from her mistakes or if they too could end up just as vulnerable and trapped as she becomes. The book paints a perfect, un-preachy depiction of an unhealthy relationship that portrays both the highs and lows that make the situation easy to fall into and nearly impossible to escape.

I recommend this book to all young girls of dating age who need to be made aware of the warning signs associated with an abusive relationship. It’s a story that isn’t just meant to invoke an intense reaction from its reader through its graphic imagery and psychological storytelling but to help them apply it to their own life. Abuse survivors too may take comfort in Liz’s mistakes and be able to relate the story to their own experiences, though it may also trigger some of their most disturbing memories during the more intense sequences. But it’s a story with an important message told with great care, holding nothing back yet providing an ultimate hopeful message that you deserve and can achieve a better life.

[Kerry Reis · Rating 4 out of 5]

FOR 18+, ALTHOUGH IMPORTANT ISSUES FOR 15-18 WITH ADULT OVERSIGHT DISCUSSION PRESENTED! An intense, personal journal by Melissa, normally known as Liz, begins at the start of her senior year in high school. She is an insecure, but intelligent student, having already faced the departure of her mother for another man two years earlier, but she now must face her senior year at another school, when her local school is closed for renovation, splitting her classmates among other schools in the community of Abalone Lake. At the first day assembly, she is rescued from a new classmate trying to force himself on her by James, a tall, older boy who is two years behind in graduating. She later agrees to help tutor James and begins what at first appears to be a promising relationship, but quickly devolves into an abusive and controlling relationship, yet her fears and insecurities make it difficult for her to leave James. As even the author warns in an opening disclaimer, this story delves into some very graphic and intense issues of abuse and control, and at over 400 pages, some readers may not handle it. As the personal journal shows, the issues are not absolute, as James, the abuser, is himself the victim of abuse from his mother, which engenders sympathy from Liz and the reader. At the same time, the actions of Liz’s best friend, Jan, in trying to control Liz’s dating scene by setting her up with fellow classmates that also seeks to control Liz sexually does not provide Liz with an empathetic out from the relationship she has taken on with James. The story has some harsh relationship lessons for those willing to follow and understand Liz’s journey. However, as the story reaches for a resolution after a long internal and external battle, the author uses a long odds plot device to bring a positive turn for Liz, but may subtly undercut the themes and message for the reader. Yet, the valuable understanding about the underpinnings of abusive relationships still makes this a journal of wonder.

[Allyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story that follows the abused-in many forms. From Liz and the cards she was dealt, to James who continues a cycle of abuse, to Peter a victim of many layers.
The story had me cringing, wishing I could drag Liz out of her life, stop her choices, talk some sense into James. But such is life, those on the outside can only watch, wringing their hands while loved ones suffer, sometimes through the simple act of inaction.
I agree with other reviewers, this is a warning to women, hard wired to fix, to help, to forgive the broken and abusive boys out there. It is a sad state when we must check our own softer natures forf ear of succumbing to the same abuse we intended to heal.
A powerful story, Abelone is a no holds bar window into Liz's life of struggling to keep her head above water as she navigates and endures years of abuse.
Well written, with light at the end of the tunnel, it is worth reading if not only to gain even more empathy for women during this relevant time.

[Cathleen Maza · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Abalone" is a novel that takes the reader, in great detail, through an abusive (emotionally and physically) relationship. As adults, we cringe at the choices that teenager Liz makes along the path she has chosen, but we're powerless to stop her. The feelings that this honest, and sometimes brutal, story evokes are small pieces of what the main character must feel herself. This gripping story is a detailed narrative of a red-flag relationship that should be read by women of every age. Some of the reading may be hard to take for more sensitive readers, but the lesson taught and the message of recovery are both well worth the read. Brilliant writing on a very difficult topic.

[A.L. Norton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read. I could never give a book like this anything less than 5 stars. It's an issue that is ongoing and devastating. Very well written and held my attention from beginning to the end. I could not put it down. 2 thumbs up for Domestic Violence Awareness! Highly recommend!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing emotional ride

This book was so heartbreaking and captivating through and through. The writer did fantastic with pulling the reader into the book's world to feel everything the characters did. 5 full stars.

[Jennifer England · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good. Took a bit in the beginning but glad I finished it. Just do not know what keeps people in abusive relationships. I don’t want to ever be tested to find out. Thankful that this hasn’t been a life experience for me. Not physical anyway.

[Toni Wittus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. I’m sure a lot of women can relate to the characters in this story.

[Lisa Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

RTC

[Jettiep Parrish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mixed feelings

The story is one that needed to be written and needed to be read, but it is hard reading and deep down heartbreaking.

[Lily Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a brave thing indeed for an author to write about domestic violence. J G MacLeod tackles the complexity of emotions with skill. This powerful book is no easy read. I'm glad I read it. I routed for the MC throughout wondering how far things would go. The scary thing is this reflects what is real life for some people and how easily it can happen. Bravo to the author for writing a difficult book people need to read.

[Nora Edington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to be honest, it took me a while to finish this book. Liz’s heart-wrenching story is an emotional rollercoaster that touches every part of your heart. “Abalone” is not an easy read, but it contains a powerful message for every woman who’s stuck in an abusive relationship.
Thank you, J.G. Macleod, for sharing this wonderful, well-written book with the world.