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Anne
‘Are you okay, Mummy? Did Daddy hurt you again?’
Anne Mason’s childhood in Richmond emulates suburban bliss, with a wealthy father and a loving mother. But behind the polished windows, Anne’s father terrorizes her mother, shattering their utopian home life with beatings and beer. Home-schooled on a diet of books and museums, knowledge becomes Anne’s only saviour.
One night her dad comes home with the news that her mother has left them forever. Unable to care for his daughter, Anne is sent to live with her kindly aunt and uncle. Struggling to settle into day school, Anne enrolls in Lakeland Boarding School. She meets and falls for gentle Karen, whose friends torment Anne and her troubled roommate Simone.
Forced to confront her traumatic upbringing, Anne learns the horrors of the past and present. Will love, hope, and inner strength prevail?
‘Anne’ is a powerful and dramatic YA tale about life, family and coming-of-age in and outside of London.
Anne Mason’s childhood in Richmond emulates suburban bliss, with a wealthy father and a loving mother. But behind the polished windows, Anne’s father terrorizes her mother, shattering their utopian home life with beatings and beer. Home-schooled on a diet of books and museums, knowledge becomes Anne’s only saviour.
One night her dad comes home with the news that her mother has left them forever. Unable to care for his daughter, Anne is sent to live with her kindly aunt and uncle. Struggling to settle into day school, Anne enrolls in Lakeland Boarding School. She meets and falls for gentle Karen, whose friends torment Anne and her troubled roommate Simone.
Forced to confront her traumatic upbringing, Anne learns the horrors of the past and present. Will love, hope, and inner strength prevail?
‘Anne’ is a powerful and dramatic YA tale about life, family and coming-of-age in and outside of London.
266 pages, Paperback
First published June 3, 2019
3 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
About the author
Zarina Macha
7 books45 followersZarina Macha is an author, blogger, poet, musician, and YouTuber from London, UK. She has currently self-published twenty-one books: six under her name and fifteen as Diana Vale. In 2021, her young adult novel Anne won the international Page Turner Book Award for fiction. In 2023 she released Tic Tac Toe, a young adult dystopian novel that satirises wokeism, identity politics, and political correctness.
She began publishing her work in 2018 while completing a degree in Songwriting and Creative Artistry from The Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM) in Guildford. Her three published YA fiction works are Every Last Psycho (2018), a compilation of two novellas that deal with heavy trauma and mental illness; Anne (2019), a coming-of-age novel about domestic violence, and Around Midnight (2020), a novel about an emotionally abusive teenage relationship.
She has also published two poetry volumes; Art is a Waste of Time (2018) and Single Broke Female (2019). Both explore the essence of womanhood, including sexuality, femininity, and emotional angst. She has performed her poetry at various functions in London, including Poetry Unplugged, the Farrago Slam, and the Global Fusion Music & Arts Spoken Word events.
In 2021 Macha began writing contemporary new adult romance under the pen name Diana Vale. Her Kirk University books are standalone stories about students who find love at university. This fictitious university is based on the real-life University of York in northern England where Macha briefly attended prior to ACM.
She began publishing her work in 2018 while completing a degree in Songwriting and Creative Artistry from The Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM) in Guildford. Her three published YA fiction works are Every Last Psycho (2018), a compilation of two novellas that deal with heavy trauma and mental illness; Anne (2019), a coming-of-age novel about domestic violence, and Around Midnight (2020), a novel about an emotionally abusive teenage relationship.
She has also published two poetry volumes; Art is a Waste of Time (2018) and Single Broke Female (2019). Both explore the essence of womanhood, including sexuality, femininity, and emotional angst. She has performed her poetry at various functions in London, including Poetry Unplugged, the Farrago Slam, and the Global Fusion Music & Arts Spoken Word events.
In 2021 Macha began writing contemporary new adult romance under the pen name Diana Vale. Her Kirk University books are standalone stories about students who find love at university. This fictitious university is based on the real-life University of York in northern England where Macha briefly attended prior to ACM.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
September 18, 2019
To the outside world, Anne Mason’s life looks ideal. Her father is wealthy and her mother is loving. But behind closed doors, her father is a bully. He’s an abusive husband as well as an alcoholic.
Anne is home-schooled because her father wants to have as much control over her as he can. Learning and knowledge soon become her saviour.
One night after years of abuse her father comes home telling her that her mother has left. He places Anne in the care of his sister, her husband, and their children. There she does find some happiness, but the past keeps coming back to haunt her, especially when she is sent to boarding school.
Her ordeal is relieved through the help of a therapist. As she assesses her past you get to witness everything the young Anne endured at the hands of her father and what impact that has had on her young adult life.
Anne is a highly emotional book that will make you understand what it is like to live with an abusive parent. Young Anne is a lovely, sweet girl who didn’t ask to be brought into a world of torture and pain at the hands of someone who should have been there to protect her. Her mother did all she could to isolate her daughter from her father and take the brunt force of his temper but no matter how hard she tried she never fully succeeded.
The book deals with some difficult issues in an accessible way and it is written is a sort of diary/journal style. It will have you reaching for the tissues on more than one occasion as some scenes will have your heart-breaking. I was a little surprised by the ending but can fully understand why the author chose to end the book that way she did.
It was a hard read at times and I wouldn’t choose to read it again, however, it was a decent, slow-paced read with characters that get under your skin and the main character you will take into your heart.
Anne is home-schooled because her father wants to have as much control over her as he can. Learning and knowledge soon become her saviour.
One night after years of abuse her father comes home telling her that her mother has left. He places Anne in the care of his sister, her husband, and their children. There she does find some happiness, but the past keeps coming back to haunt her, especially when she is sent to boarding school.
Her ordeal is relieved through the help of a therapist. As she assesses her past you get to witness everything the young Anne endured at the hands of her father and what impact that has had on her young adult life.
Anne is a highly emotional book that will make you understand what it is like to live with an abusive parent. Young Anne is a lovely, sweet girl who didn’t ask to be brought into a world of torture and pain at the hands of someone who should have been there to protect her. Her mother did all she could to isolate her daughter from her father and take the brunt force of his temper but no matter how hard she tried she never fully succeeded.
The book deals with some difficult issues in an accessible way and it is written is a sort of diary/journal style. It will have you reaching for the tissues on more than one occasion as some scenes will have your heart-breaking. I was a little surprised by the ending but can fully understand why the author chose to end the book that way she did.
It was a hard read at times and I wouldn’t choose to read it again, however, it was a decent, slow-paced read with characters that get under your skin and the main character you will take into your heart.
February 6, 2020
Anne, by Zarina Macha, is one of the best coming of age stories for young adults that I’ve read. Why? Because it addresses so many of the topics currently of major interest and importance to teens, i.e. gender issues and concerns about opening up to family and friends, peer bullying, cutting, suicide and resorting to alcohol and drugs when other solutions to psychological stress aren’t available or aren’t working.
Best of all, since the author herself is only barely out of her teens, her writing style easily captures the attention of young teens: they will readily identify with the people, venues and situations in which Anne, the protagonist, her room-mate, Simone, and her bubbly cousin Zoe find themselves. And while teen readers from North America and Europe most likely won’t be familiar with the places and locations in this British-based novel, that is irrelevant in light of the all-important content.
The plot is simple enough: Anne’s mom is being abused by her father. One night, mom simply disappears. Her father’s explanation is that her mother just up and left. Feeling abandoned, Anne’s situation is worsened by her father’s drinking problem. When he sends her off to live with his sister, the home-schooled Anne finds love and friendship in her aunt’s family, and eventually decides to attend a regular school where she becomes good friends with a gay male classmate whose positive influence helps her cope with her own attraction to a female student. However, when Anne, who is an advanced student, falls prey to the school bullies, her aunt agrees to let her attend a boarding school where ultimately she thrives, despite suffering the heartache and eventual suicide of her room-mate, Simone.
Does Anne ever find out what happened to her mother? Is there any chance her violent father murdered his wife? And does she ever re-unite with her father? Those are questions that will further intrigue readers of Anne.
I couldn’t read this book without recognizing members of my own family on its pages, especially my 17-year-old grand-daughter. While she isn’t the most avid reader, I know she would not be able to put it down because so much of what she has shared with me about herself, her own friends, and her often confused feelings on all the issues explored in this novel are such a major part of her life right now. So I can only say thank you to Zarina Macha for writing Anne. What a great start to your writing career.
Reviewed by Viga Boland, author and book reviewer
http://www.vigaboland.com
Best of all, since the author herself is only barely out of her teens, her writing style easily captures the attention of young teens: they will readily identify with the people, venues and situations in which Anne, the protagonist, her room-mate, Simone, and her bubbly cousin Zoe find themselves. And while teen readers from North America and Europe most likely won’t be familiar with the places and locations in this British-based novel, that is irrelevant in light of the all-important content.
The plot is simple enough: Anne’s mom is being abused by her father. One night, mom simply disappears. Her father’s explanation is that her mother just up and left. Feeling abandoned, Anne’s situation is worsened by her father’s drinking problem. When he sends her off to live with his sister, the home-schooled Anne finds love and friendship in her aunt’s family, and eventually decides to attend a regular school where she becomes good friends with a gay male classmate whose positive influence helps her cope with her own attraction to a female student. However, when Anne, who is an advanced student, falls prey to the school bullies, her aunt agrees to let her attend a boarding school where ultimately she thrives, despite suffering the heartache and eventual suicide of her room-mate, Simone.
Does Anne ever find out what happened to her mother? Is there any chance her violent father murdered his wife? And does she ever re-unite with her father? Those are questions that will further intrigue readers of Anne.
I couldn’t read this book without recognizing members of my own family on its pages, especially my 17-year-old grand-daughter. While she isn’t the most avid reader, I know she would not be able to put it down because so much of what she has shared with me about herself, her own friends, and her often confused feelings on all the issues explored in this novel are such a major part of her life right now. So I can only say thank you to Zarina Macha for writing Anne. What a great start to your writing career.
Reviewed by Viga Boland, author and book reviewer
http://www.vigaboland.com
February 17, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc, which I received in exchange for this honest review:
3.5 stars
There is A LOT happening in this novel.
Poor Anne grows up with a loving mother and with a father who is an alcoholic and an extremely abusive individual. The scenes are specific, so those who are especially sensitive to domestic violence, alcoholism, verbal and emotional abuse, and how these issues might impact a child who witnesses them should be mindful of this content.
Anne's home environment changes when she goes to live with her aunt, uncle, and cousins, and again when she relocates to a boarding school. During these years, Anne experiences quite a bit: uncertainty over both of her parents' current situations, a variety of moments during which she comes out - all with differing results, and various encounters with bullying. Her handling of these situations demonstrates her traumatic past as well as her continued development toward adulthood. It's also fascinating to evaluate Anne's interactions with friends and romantic partners. Despite living a strangely sheltered and unconventional youth, she continues to draw friends and family members who support her, who model what NOT to do, and who teach her about acceptance. Though she is not without struggle, her circumstances do change dramatically from her terrifying beginnings to where she leaves readers at the novel's conclusion.
Macha is ambitious and takes on these issues and more: child abuse, domestic violence, abandonment, neglect, rape, suicide, bullying, and gaslighting. While I appreciate the complexity involved in weaving these topics together, the end result was a bit overwhelming for me. I found the pacing challenging; some events that needed further explanation/development happened so abruptly, and others that could have been economized dragged on a bit. The concept here is great, but some minor restructuring could really change the overall impact.
3.5 stars
There is A LOT happening in this novel.
Poor Anne grows up with a loving mother and with a father who is an alcoholic and an extremely abusive individual. The scenes are specific, so those who are especially sensitive to domestic violence, alcoholism, verbal and emotional abuse, and how these issues might impact a child who witnesses them should be mindful of this content.
Anne's home environment changes when she goes to live with her aunt, uncle, and cousins, and again when she relocates to a boarding school. During these years, Anne experiences quite a bit: uncertainty over both of her parents' current situations, a variety of moments during which she comes out - all with differing results, and various encounters with bullying. Her handling of these situations demonstrates her traumatic past as well as her continued development toward adulthood. It's also fascinating to evaluate Anne's interactions with friends and romantic partners. Despite living a strangely sheltered and unconventional youth, she continues to draw friends and family members who support her, who model what NOT to do, and who teach her about acceptance. Though she is not without struggle, her circumstances do change dramatically from her terrifying beginnings to where she leaves readers at the novel's conclusion.
Macha is ambitious and takes on these issues and more: child abuse, domestic violence, abandonment, neglect, rape, suicide, bullying, and gaslighting. While I appreciate the complexity involved in weaving these topics together, the end result was a bit overwhelming for me. I found the pacing challenging; some events that needed further explanation/development happened so abruptly, and others that could have been economized dragged on a bit. The concept here is great, but some minor restructuring could really change the overall impact.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2019
Anne by Zarina Macha
Audience: young adult-13 and up
Content Warnings: Adult themes, mentions of rape, domestic abuse, sex, self-harm, and bullying
My rating: 5 stars
Zarina Macha is a YA author from the UK. She has published, before Anne, a compilation of two Novellas called Every Last Psycho and a poetry collection called Art is a Waste of Time. I have now had the pleasure of reading all of her published or to be published works. Macha writes stories about teenagers who are in the midst of dealing with issues teenagers do but should never have to. Macha does this with tact and sensitivity, walking readers through the emotional impacts of her character’s choices.
Anne was written as if the main character was writing a journal the readers were allowed access to. The beginning focuses on Anne’s parents’ relationship and the reader sees a child surrounded by violence. Anne’s mother tries to insulate her from the worst, but Anne sees and hears much of what her father does to her mother. Her parents decide to homeschool Anne because her father wants to have as much control over Anne’s education as he can. This changes how Anne experiences school and learning and effects her later in the narrative. Macha reveals several twists about Anne and her parents throughout the book that I do not want to spoil but will say that some took turns I expected and some left me wanting to know more.
All in all, I found the book entertaining and well written. I enjoyed the references Macha made to Narnia (one of my favorite book series growing up) and to high school films such as Mean Girls. In some ways, the conflicts between Anne’s friend group and the “popular” seem derivative, however as I read further, the differences between most high school stories and Anne grew larger. I would definitely recommend this book to any who enjoy stories about high schoolers dealing with real-world problems and anyone who is looking for more LGBT representation in their books.
Zarina Macha’s author page on Amazon can be found here.
To purchase or borrow Anne on Kindle, follow this link.
Anne is available for ebook or paperback purchase on June 3, 2019. Please join me in becoming one of Zarina Macha’s followers.
I received a free ARC of this book, with thanks to the author. The decisions to review and my rating are my own.
Audience: young adult-13 and up
Content Warnings: Adult themes, mentions of rape, domestic abuse, sex, self-harm, and bullying
My rating: 5 stars
Zarina Macha is a YA author from the UK. She has published, before Anne, a compilation of two Novellas called Every Last Psycho and a poetry collection called Art is a Waste of Time. I have now had the pleasure of reading all of her published or to be published works. Macha writes stories about teenagers who are in the midst of dealing with issues teenagers do but should never have to. Macha does this with tact and sensitivity, walking readers through the emotional impacts of her character’s choices.
Anne was written as if the main character was writing a journal the readers were allowed access to. The beginning focuses on Anne’s parents’ relationship and the reader sees a child surrounded by violence. Anne’s mother tries to insulate her from the worst, but Anne sees and hears much of what her father does to her mother. Her parents decide to homeschool Anne because her father wants to have as much control over Anne’s education as he can. This changes how Anne experiences school and learning and effects her later in the narrative. Macha reveals several twists about Anne and her parents throughout the book that I do not want to spoil but will say that some took turns I expected and some left me wanting to know more.
All in all, I found the book entertaining and well written. I enjoyed the references Macha made to Narnia (one of my favorite book series growing up) and to high school films such as Mean Girls. In some ways, the conflicts between Anne’s friend group and the “popular” seem derivative, however as I read further, the differences between most high school stories and Anne grew larger. I would definitely recommend this book to any who enjoy stories about high schoolers dealing with real-world problems and anyone who is looking for more LGBT representation in their books.
Zarina Macha’s author page on Amazon can be found here.
To purchase or borrow Anne on Kindle, follow this link.
Anne is available for ebook or paperback purchase on June 3, 2019. Please join me in becoming one of Zarina Macha’s followers.
I received a free ARC of this book, with thanks to the author. The decisions to review and my rating are my own.
March 19, 2020
As a “survivor” of domestic abuse myself I wanted to read and publicise this book because anything that gets people talking about a tricky subject such as this needs to be shouted about from the “treetops”.
The cover depicts an image of what I think must be Anne, the central character in the book. I love the vibrant purple colour of the cover it fits with the content of the book well. The genres I have seen listed for this book are, Teens & YA but I would add “social issues” to cover the abuse, racism, bullying, peer pressure and sexuality. Perhaps LGBT should also be added to the Teens, YA, and Social Issues.
There is a prologue for this book where Anne is in the “present” talking to a counsellor and then the rest of the book is being told from Anne’s point of view kind of like as if she is reading it out to the reader.
The main character is Anne Mason and to the outside world she is a happy normal little child. She attends church with her parents every week, where they are a popular family and quite well off as her father, John Mason has his own business. Sadly, inside the home life is a different story for Anne, it is not the family bliss that the family project when at church. As the blurb says “behind the polished windows, Anne’s father brutally terrorizes her mother.” As Anne becomes of school age there is disagreement as to how she should be educated, her mother Martinique wants her to attend the local comprehensive, but John wants her to attend private school. In the end and after Martinique receiving a beating for her voicing her opinion, a compromise is found and Anne is to be home schooled. As John has his own business, he can afford to pay private tutors and also for Martinique to take Anne on trips to museums and galleries. Anne has always kept to herself what goes on in her home behind closed doors but accidentally slips and tells the young girl next door that her daddy hits her mummy. So, the next time the neighbours hear an argument they call the Police. Unfortunately, Martinique covers up for her husband and doesn’t tell the Police what is really going on. One evening John is beating his wife and he makes her go out with him in the car, leaving Anne alone in bed. When he returns, he is alone and tells Anne her mother has gone away and she probably won’t see her again. It’s not long after that John suggests Anne should stay with her Aunt Colette and her family. The book then covers Anne settling into her new situation, firstly attending school with her cousin Zoe and then later attending a boarding school.
The book states it is about domestic violence but to be honest it is so much more, it covers other difficult subjects such as bullying, peer pressure and sexuality. Anne the main character goes through the realisation that she likes girls not boys and the book covers her first crush and her first relationship and what that entails. There are relevant references to popular TV programmes, series, films and music too, such as Orange Is The New Black.
Some of the descriptions the author uses really help you visualise what they are explaining. For example, when telling the reader about Martinique about to receive a beating from her husband John. “She cowered in front of him, a rabbit against a hungry tiger.” Then a scene where Anne knows her father is becoming angry and the violence is about to start. “Usain Bolt had been dubbed the fastest man in the world. His sprints couldn’t have surpassed the speed of my heart as I sat next to my mum, who was gnawing away at her thumb.”
I will be honest at times it felt like the author was really trying to pack in as many issues as she could and I was worried it would become like someone preaching about what is right or wrong. I also felt a bit odd about the following reference “Teachers stood around the classroom, walking past us. My imagination ran away with me and I pictured them as Nazi soldiers assessing us at a concentration camp, ready to toss those of us who did badly into the gas chambers and bring those of us who did well in “for effective use.” It felt an over exaggeration and maybe some could see it as trivialising the Holocaust. Though I guess some teenagers do over embellish things they are going through. Having said all that I did read the whole book and found on the whole I quite enjoyed it.
My immediate thoughts upon finishing this book were that it was and unusual, unique book that covers so many issues. Not what I had initially expected from the book when I first read the blurb. So difficult to quantify a 'score' for this book. I feel it's worth more than a 3 but then when I compare it to some 4 star books I have read it just isn't quite a 4. Having said all that, I have enjoyed reading this book even though it kind of meandered off the route I expected it to follow. Honestly parts of it read like realistic journal/diary entries of a young girl, who goes through a heck of a lot!
To sum up I think this book would be a great addition to a school library, and to be read within classes as a conversation starter on abuse, race, bullying, peer pressure and sexuality too.
The cover depicts an image of what I think must be Anne, the central character in the book. I love the vibrant purple colour of the cover it fits with the content of the book well. The genres I have seen listed for this book are, Teens & YA but I would add “social issues” to cover the abuse, racism, bullying, peer pressure and sexuality. Perhaps LGBT should also be added to the Teens, YA, and Social Issues.
There is a prologue for this book where Anne is in the “present” talking to a counsellor and then the rest of the book is being told from Anne’s point of view kind of like as if she is reading it out to the reader.
The main character is Anne Mason and to the outside world she is a happy normal little child. She attends church with her parents every week, where they are a popular family and quite well off as her father, John Mason has his own business. Sadly, inside the home life is a different story for Anne, it is not the family bliss that the family project when at church. As the blurb says “behind the polished windows, Anne’s father brutally terrorizes her mother.” As Anne becomes of school age there is disagreement as to how she should be educated, her mother Martinique wants her to attend the local comprehensive, but John wants her to attend private school. In the end and after Martinique receiving a beating for her voicing her opinion, a compromise is found and Anne is to be home schooled. As John has his own business, he can afford to pay private tutors and also for Martinique to take Anne on trips to museums and galleries. Anne has always kept to herself what goes on in her home behind closed doors but accidentally slips and tells the young girl next door that her daddy hits her mummy. So, the next time the neighbours hear an argument they call the Police. Unfortunately, Martinique covers up for her husband and doesn’t tell the Police what is really going on. One evening John is beating his wife and he makes her go out with him in the car, leaving Anne alone in bed. When he returns, he is alone and tells Anne her mother has gone away and she probably won’t see her again. It’s not long after that John suggests Anne should stay with her Aunt Colette and her family. The book then covers Anne settling into her new situation, firstly attending school with her cousin Zoe and then later attending a boarding school.
The book states it is about domestic violence but to be honest it is so much more, it covers other difficult subjects such as bullying, peer pressure and sexuality. Anne the main character goes through the realisation that she likes girls not boys and the book covers her first crush and her first relationship and what that entails. There are relevant references to popular TV programmes, series, films and music too, such as Orange Is The New Black.
Some of the descriptions the author uses really help you visualise what they are explaining. For example, when telling the reader about Martinique about to receive a beating from her husband John. “She cowered in front of him, a rabbit against a hungry tiger.” Then a scene where Anne knows her father is becoming angry and the violence is about to start. “Usain Bolt had been dubbed the fastest man in the world. His sprints couldn’t have surpassed the speed of my heart as I sat next to my mum, who was gnawing away at her thumb.”
I will be honest at times it felt like the author was really trying to pack in as many issues as she could and I was worried it would become like someone preaching about what is right or wrong. I also felt a bit odd about the following reference “Teachers stood around the classroom, walking past us. My imagination ran away with me and I pictured them as Nazi soldiers assessing us at a concentration camp, ready to toss those of us who did badly into the gas chambers and bring those of us who did well in “for effective use.” It felt an over exaggeration and maybe some could see it as trivialising the Holocaust. Though I guess some teenagers do over embellish things they are going through. Having said all that I did read the whole book and found on the whole I quite enjoyed it.
My immediate thoughts upon finishing this book were that it was and unusual, unique book that covers so many issues. Not what I had initially expected from the book when I first read the blurb. So difficult to quantify a 'score' for this book. I feel it's worth more than a 3 but then when I compare it to some 4 star books I have read it just isn't quite a 4. Having said all that, I have enjoyed reading this book even though it kind of meandered off the route I expected it to follow. Honestly parts of it read like realistic journal/diary entries of a young girl, who goes through a heck of a lot!
To sum up I think this book would be a great addition to a school library, and to be read within classes as a conversation starter on abuse, race, bullying, peer pressure and sexuality too.
March 5, 2020
This is my 2nd book by Zarina Macha and she's done it again got me intrigued. This is one if the best coming of age stories i have read. To the outside world Anne life seems perfect. This is a book that truly hit home with me and resonance as well. Highly emotional and will get you reaching for the tissues. This book deals with alot of hard topics for some readers.
Read
March 25, 2022
Trigger & Content Warnings
Homomisia & homomisic slurs
Slut-shaming
Sexism
Domestic violence & abuse
Alcohol consumption & abuse
Depression
Alcoholism
Suicide
Self-harm mentioned
Bullying
Homomisia & homomisic slurs
Slut-shaming
Sexism
Domestic violence & abuse
Alcohol consumption & abuse
Depression
Alcoholism
Suicide
Self-harm mentioned
Bullying
June 1, 2019
Well, what a brilliant novel. The story follows Anne from a childhood with her devoted if terrified mother and alcoholic and abusive father, through to an adolescence of disconnection, relocation, and a whole new life.
I thought the titular character was well-drawn and likeable. True, she comes from a difficult background, but she’s more survivor than victim. It is fine line to tread but Ms Macha does so very successfully. The relationships between the characters are solid and beautifully conveyed.
I really felt for the lead character. I found the mother’s story very powerful and, its conclusion caught my breath.
I liked the use of contemporaneous news, general elections, new films, etc. I felt this helped to root the story to its time very effectively.
Occasionally, I struggled to keep track of all the characters, especially in dialogue-heavy scenes, but that’s probably my age showing. All in all, a very well-written novel. I enjoyed it a lot.
It is worth noting that there are difficult themes in ‘Anne', including many of the truly heart-rending problems that an adolescent faces, as well as violence within the family home. That said, I enjoyed the writing, and I really look forward to reading this novel again.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I thought the titular character was well-drawn and likeable. True, she comes from a difficult background, but she’s more survivor than victim. It is fine line to tread but Ms Macha does so very successfully. The relationships between the characters are solid and beautifully conveyed.
I really felt for the lead character. I found the mother’s story very powerful and, its conclusion caught my breath.
I liked the use of contemporaneous news, general elections, new films, etc. I felt this helped to root the story to its time very effectively.
Occasionally, I struggled to keep track of all the characters, especially in dialogue-heavy scenes, but that’s probably my age showing. All in all, a very well-written novel. I enjoyed it a lot.
It is worth noting that there are difficult themes in ‘Anne', including many of the truly heart-rending problems that an adolescent faces, as well as violence within the family home. That said, I enjoyed the writing, and I really look forward to reading this novel again.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 5, 2020
In this heartbreaking coming of age story, we follow Anne Mason's childhood through what looks like a picture perfect lifestyle is anything but. Anne's father is a verbally abusive and alcoholic maniac. The only thing saving young Anne is the fact that she's home-schooled as her books and trips to the museums plus her thirst for knowledge allows her to escape.
After her mom escapes the father's abuse, Anne is sent to live with her aunt and uncle who are very kind to her. She's enrolled in boarding school where she is struggling to fit in. Karen, her new friend, is in with the wrong crowd who picks on Anne and her roommate, Simone.
You can't help but to wish Anne the best in this journey of this life of hers. The tale allows her to slowly overcome her past and the traumatic upbringing she had. Anne is the kind of character deserving of a happy ending in this saga of her life. You'll find yourself wanting and wishing her a life of love, hope and strength as she does discover. Pick up this book and it'll keep you entertained in this page-turner.
After her mom escapes the father's abuse, Anne is sent to live with her aunt and uncle who are very kind to her. She's enrolled in boarding school where she is struggling to fit in. Karen, her new friend, is in with the wrong crowd who picks on Anne and her roommate, Simone.
You can't help but to wish Anne the best in this journey of this life of hers. The tale allows her to slowly overcome her past and the traumatic upbringing she had. Anne is the kind of character deserving of a happy ending in this saga of her life. You'll find yourself wanting and wishing her a life of love, hope and strength as she does discover. Pick up this book and it'll keep you entertained in this page-turner.
May 24, 2019
A compelling and thought-provoking coming of age story; Macha's second published YA novel does a brilliant job of speaking to the experiences of young people using an informal, readable style reminiscent of Jacqueline Wilson to tackle the emotionally rich and complex issues faced by teenagers in British schools.
Told from the perspective of an intelligent and introspective gay black teenage girl struggling with PTSD, Anne delivers a frank and refreshing take on a range of themes as diverse as the titular character, as she squares up to bullying and discrimination, mental illness and alcoholism, issues more widespread and relevant to this age group than ever before. The author does a fantastic job maintaining dramatic tension right up until the last page, making this book a surefire hit with both young readers and older adults looking to understand them.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Told from the perspective of an intelligent and introspective gay black teenage girl struggling with PTSD, Anne delivers a frank and refreshing take on a range of themes as diverse as the titular character, as she squares up to bullying and discrimination, mental illness and alcoholism, issues more widespread and relevant to this age group than ever before. The author does a fantastic job maintaining dramatic tension right up until the last page, making this book a surefire hit with both young readers and older adults looking to understand them.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 28, 2019
So I'll admit that diary style books and books about teens navigating adolescence are a favourite of mine in the book pool and this is now on my to recommend list. I work in mental health and any book that addresses this or is diversity inclusive will always be a special read to me . Anne was an easy character to like, I related to her struggles with being just a tad apart from her peer group so from the perspective of character development Zarina has done a beautiful job with Anne. I liked the ending, but not everyone will. I certainly didn't predict how this would play out and that is so RARE for me, I can usually pick the plot, so to speak, by at least a quarter of the way through. Not this book! I hope you will give this debut work your consideration, it won't disappoint.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 31, 2021
Easy to read and captivating the story of Anne is a dramatic story of a generation Z kid from a wealthy but toxic background. I really like how is structured the book and how are named every chapters pointing the most intense part of the chapter. When I first read the book I was just moving to London from Bucharest and was my first fictional interaction with a book about a girl from London/Richmond and made me learning more english while Zarina really has a vast knowledge about english words and phrases. In same time her book made me understand what’s more in the head of British people while the story is so British/London style. For me was a very useful book and I am planning to read another book of her but poetry - Art is a wast of time.
March 24, 2020
Anne by Zarina Macha. This book hit me in all the feels. This isn’t an easy read as it deals with some very difficult subjects but this author wrote it in such a unique way that had me completely lost it the pages. Anne is a character I won’t be forgetting anytime soon because in many ways I felt a connection, and I love when I read a book that can give me that feeling. This story is a coming of age with a character who has to grow up well before she’s supposed to by going through so much so early in life. It’s a story I simply couldn’t put down. This author is quickly becoming a top author for me. Five stars all the way and highly recommended.
June 4, 2019
Anne had me gripped from the moment I started to read it. It opens with a shocking but real life story. I was immediately rooting for Anne to have a good life and keen to see how it unfolded.
Aimed at young adults, it follows the story of Anne through her teenage years. Exactly the type of book I would have loved to read as a younger teenager.
A brilliant third self-published book from Zarina Macha is beautifully written. The craft is exquisite and I know she is destined for bigger things, publishing deals, works in the written press.
Highly recommended
Aimed at young adults, it follows the story of Anne through her teenage years. Exactly the type of book I would have loved to read as a younger teenager.
A brilliant third self-published book from Zarina Macha is beautifully written. The craft is exquisite and I know she is destined for bigger things, publishing deals, works in the written press.
Highly recommended
July 19, 2019
I picked this up as it caught my eye and the blurb sounded very interesting. It pulled me in from the first page, going back through Anne's short life, the trouble she'd faced and the way her life had changed. I adored the character, the way she stood up for herself even when presented with difficult choices, and the way she stayed true to herself. Beautifully written and heartbreaking in places, an amazing story and one that touches very much on mental health and the importance of taking care of yourself and others. I very much recommend it!
January 22, 2020
You know about Anne. You will find out about Anne. I want to talk about Zarina's writing style and how easily I was invested in the story of Anne. There are several layers of every character. There are several questions that the book puts in your mind because of the descriptive and detailed writing of Zarina Macha. I am thankful to her for letting me review her book. The book is a treat for those who know grief,like to know about people's struggles and have encountered the term "others" in their life. Very fulfilling. One of those reads that touch my soul.
December 19, 2023
This world of complex and alluring characters and issues kept me hooked from beginning to end. It was a drama that felt so real, Anne’s journey as she overcomes her struggles to find her own authentic self was honest and inspiring. I loved the diary writing style which made me feel that much more connected to the character and her perspective. It also made the roller coaster of emotions so much more hard-hitting. ‘Anne’ feels like a girl and story that I’ve grown to know and love, quirks and all.
May 26, 2019
Zarina is honestly such a talented writer, first of all. This book really goes into detail about the mental pressures of domestic abuse on a young person, and the message it sends that it really is possible to recover from some of the worst upbringings, and make the most out of what you have. I actually cried reading this, and I don't cry much! Awesome book!
November 2, 2019
I really loved the story. Couldn't stop reading it and ended up reading it all within a five hour train ride.
The main characters have many facets and are not bound to one specific thing or cliché.
The ending is unexpected but not in a bad way more in a realistic way, which I think is very good for a change. We need that more often to make reading more exciting.
The main characters have many facets and are not bound to one specific thing or cliché.
The ending is unexpected but not in a bad way more in a realistic way, which I think is very good for a change. We need that more often to make reading more exciting.
November 24, 2019
Anne by Zarina Macha is a wonderful book which captures the ups and downs of adolescence and family life. It is very well written with strong character developments and real-life situations that surely anyone can relate to at some point. It is a must-read for anyone looking for realistic stories with a bit of everything.
September 15, 2019
*I received a free copy of this book, with thanks to the author. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
As an adult, I was surprised how much I had forgotten about the pressures and emotional strain of adolescence, until Anne brought it all flooding back to me.
The story starts with a teen / young adult Anne deciding whether or not to trust her therapist with what is troubling her, then is told in one long flashback of her recount to him. She begins with the traumatic events of her early childhood, and then takes us through the intervening years, detailing how she coped with the family estrangements, new friendships and budding romances.
Zarina Macha covers a wealth of huge and serious issues as Anne’s story unfolds. We start with domestic abuse, child abuse and addiction issues, and move through various mental health issues, self-harm, pressures related to race and sexuality, bullying and ostracism, underage sex, peer pressure, rape and suicidal thoughts. Listing these out makes it seem like this is an extreme story, but sadly that is not the case, and I have seen some of the events Anne describes during my own (relatively sheltered) teen and young adult years, although thankfully not in my own experiences.
One of the ways in which the author firmly roots her novel in the current and the real world is by referring to world events and popular culture. Talk of the Rainbow Fairies series, One Direction, Narnia and Mean Girls mingles with discussion of the Charlie Hebdo attack and Brexit to give a firm sense of the here-and-now. This also brings home how very possible the events in the book are with sobering effect.
Anne handled the events and situations in the story so maturely throughout that she seemed more of an adult than the adults around her, and I was continually surprised by her age in the text. In fact, most of the teenagers felt and acted more like my experience of older teens/young adults, although this could very well be down to the adult experiences they have to survive and process.
Anne is a great story for teens, about serious issues. The peer pressure elements in particular will likely resonate with many, along with the identity exploration. For adults the story is an eye-opening insight (or reminder) of the pressures young people face and how intense and all-consuming they feel. Something worth remembering when we are older and more world-weary.
There were days when I had to call A&E, especially as the years progressed and Dad’s drinking got worse. She always said the same things. She fell in her heels. She tripped. She walked into a lamppost and banged her head. Not once did she say a word against my father or tell anyone what was happening. She was a butterfly trapped in his cocoon.
– Zarina Macha, Anne
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
As an adult, I was surprised how much I had forgotten about the pressures and emotional strain of adolescence, until Anne brought it all flooding back to me.
The story starts with a teen / young adult Anne deciding whether or not to trust her therapist with what is troubling her, then is told in one long flashback of her recount to him. She begins with the traumatic events of her early childhood, and then takes us through the intervening years, detailing how she coped with the family estrangements, new friendships and budding romances.
Zarina Macha covers a wealth of huge and serious issues as Anne’s story unfolds. We start with domestic abuse, child abuse and addiction issues, and move through various mental health issues, self-harm, pressures related to race and sexuality, bullying and ostracism, underage sex, peer pressure, rape and suicidal thoughts. Listing these out makes it seem like this is an extreme story, but sadly that is not the case, and I have seen some of the events Anne describes during my own (relatively sheltered) teen and young adult years, although thankfully not in my own experiences.
One of the ways in which the author firmly roots her novel in the current and the real world is by referring to world events and popular culture. Talk of the Rainbow Fairies series, One Direction, Narnia and Mean Girls mingles with discussion of the Charlie Hebdo attack and Brexit to give a firm sense of the here-and-now. This also brings home how very possible the events in the book are with sobering effect.
Anne handled the events and situations in the story so maturely throughout that she seemed more of an adult than the adults around her, and I was continually surprised by her age in the text. In fact, most of the teenagers felt and acted more like my experience of older teens/young adults, although this could very well be down to the adult experiences they have to survive and process.
Anne is a great story for teens, about serious issues. The peer pressure elements in particular will likely resonate with many, along with the identity exploration. For adults the story is an eye-opening insight (or reminder) of the pressures young people face and how intense and all-consuming they feel. Something worth remembering when we are older and more world-weary.
There were days when I had to call A&E, especially as the years progressed and Dad’s drinking got worse. She always said the same things. She fell in her heels. She tripped. She walked into a lamppost and banged her head. Not once did she say a word against my father or tell anyone what was happening. She was a butterfly trapped in his cocoon.
– Zarina Macha, Anne
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
March 24, 2020
A coming of age drama and an emotional rollercoaster of a story, although a young adults book, adults like myself will love it as well. From the outside Anne Mason’s childhood is one of luxury, she has both parents, they are wealthy, have a nice house and nice things but behind closed doors it is anything but perfect. Anne regularly sees her mother getting hurt by her drunk father, so much so it’s almost routine for her. The heartbreaking line, “Are you okay, Mummy? Did Daddy hurt you again?” had me reaching for the box of tissues. She is homeschooled so has no break other than visiting museums which she loves, Anne is intelligent and loves to learn so she turns to her books for escape. Her home life suddenly becomes even worse and confusing when her mother suddenly disappears. Then things improve when her father sends her to live with her Aunt and Uncle who are nice and welcoming. She then enrols in Lakeland Boarding School where although her and her friend Simone are tormented by the other girls for being shy and different, Anne finds a friend in Karen and soon falls for her. To be able to live in the present Anne learns she must confront her traumatic upbringing.
This is a wonderfully written story about family, childhood, and past traumas but mostly of coming of age. “Will love, hope, and inner strength prevail?” An emotional read but well worth the tears, the book has a powerful message and is not afraid to touch on difficult and sensitive issues. Another amazing book by Zarina Macha .
This is a wonderfully written story about family, childhood, and past traumas but mostly of coming of age. “Will love, hope, and inner strength prevail?” An emotional read but well worth the tears, the book has a powerful message and is not afraid to touch on difficult and sensitive issues. Another amazing book by Zarina Macha .
April 1, 2020
Anne is a coming of age story by a young British writer Zarina Macha. It is a young adult story that is told in a form of a journal and as a reader you feel you are privileged to have been given access to the innermost thoughts and feelings of a teenage girl.
It is amazing how this young writer who is just out of the teenage years herself is dealing with such themes as domestic abuse and self-harm and bullying and addiction and homophobia and racism and … the way the writer walks us through those emotional experiences, the care she takes, the pictures she paints with her words and all of them told in the journal of the young Anne Mason.
I think we need to remember that this book is how the young Anne experiences life and sees the world, it is meant to be written the way it is, it is not some elaborated mature storytelling, it is raw and packs a punch and if you ask any young teenager who has read it, they will tell you that they can relate and whatever you thought might have been an exaggeration or out of proportion … it is a teenage girl telling her story to her journal!
I think that Anne is one of those young adult stories that would be a great addition to a school library and used in literacy class as a starter for a discussion about all those social issues that it touches upon! Well written Zarina Macha and I am looking forward to your next release!
It is amazing how this young writer who is just out of the teenage years herself is dealing with such themes as domestic abuse and self-harm and bullying and addiction and homophobia and racism and … the way the writer walks us through those emotional experiences, the care she takes, the pictures she paints with her words and all of them told in the journal of the young Anne Mason.
I think we need to remember that this book is how the young Anne experiences life and sees the world, it is meant to be written the way it is, it is not some elaborated mature storytelling, it is raw and packs a punch and if you ask any young teenager who has read it, they will tell you that they can relate and whatever you thought might have been an exaggeration or out of proportion … it is a teenage girl telling her story to her journal!
I think that Anne is one of those young adult stories that would be a great addition to a school library and used in literacy class as a starter for a discussion about all those social issues that it touches upon! Well written Zarina Macha and I am looking forward to your next release!
March 2, 2020
**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review,
The truly hard things in life are difficult to read about. This book contained many of them. Growing up in an abusive household, Anne struggles to be herself. Going from homeschool to a boarding school does a lot to make her see who she really is. The subjects of domestic abuse, suicide, self harm, and depression are embedded in the book. This isn't a warm hearted book, it's full of the struggles of teenagers seen everywhere. However, it show all of these things in a way that shows strength. Anne could become anything, but she becomes strong in the face of all of the adversity and pain she goes through growing up.
The only struggle I had with the book was the writing at times. It felt very segmented and not always cohesive. I found myself lost in the timeline and at times the characters aren't developed enough to mature through their given issues. Many of the side characters felt like caricatures of real people. I wish there was a little more time to really delve into them. However, I would recommend this book if you like a female character who struggles with her sexuality, identity, connections with other people, and rising from difficult circumstances.
The truly hard things in life are difficult to read about. This book contained many of them. Growing up in an abusive household, Anne struggles to be herself. Going from homeschool to a boarding school does a lot to make her see who she really is. The subjects of domestic abuse, suicide, self harm, and depression are embedded in the book. This isn't a warm hearted book, it's full of the struggles of teenagers seen everywhere. However, it show all of these things in a way that shows strength. Anne could become anything, but she becomes strong in the face of all of the adversity and pain she goes through growing up.
The only struggle I had with the book was the writing at times. It felt very segmented and not always cohesive. I found myself lost in the timeline and at times the characters aren't developed enough to mature through their given issues. Many of the side characters felt like caricatures of real people. I wish there was a little more time to really delve into them. However, I would recommend this book if you like a female character who struggles with her sexuality, identity, connections with other people, and rising from difficult circumstances.
March 3, 2020
Anne
By Zarina Macha
5 out of 5 stars
The story Anne by Zarina Macha is a YA/coming of age book. It is a story that follows the life of Anne Mason. It is a book that has powerful moments and also makes you think. There are heartbreaking moments as well as times that made me wonder what I would have done given the same circumstances. Anne is a young girl whose father terrorizes her mother. She is home-schooled and knowledge is her escape. Then her world is upended when her father tells her that her mother has left them. Anne then goes to her aunt and uncle’s home. Read this book to find out more about Anne’s journey. Anne is a character that is likable and one that I could only wish for her to find happiness. While the past haunts her she goes through life by excelling in knowledge. She also has friends that she makes along that way, even falling for someone. Anne’s challenges and accomplishments shape her life. There are times when I couldn’t help but have tears in my eyes. This is an emotional story that had my emotions going up and down the entire time. There are many additional characters that are introduced and many of them are family and good friends with Anne. I enjoyed the interactions between them and Anne. This is a book I would recommend reading.
By Zarina Macha
5 out of 5 stars
The story Anne by Zarina Macha is a YA/coming of age book. It is a story that follows the life of Anne Mason. It is a book that has powerful moments and also makes you think. There are heartbreaking moments as well as times that made me wonder what I would have done given the same circumstances. Anne is a young girl whose father terrorizes her mother. She is home-schooled and knowledge is her escape. Then her world is upended when her father tells her that her mother has left them. Anne then goes to her aunt and uncle’s home. Read this book to find out more about Anne’s journey. Anne is a character that is likable and one that I could only wish for her to find happiness. While the past haunts her she goes through life by excelling in knowledge. She also has friends that she makes along that way, even falling for someone. Anne’s challenges and accomplishments shape her life. There are times when I couldn’t help but have tears in my eyes. This is an emotional story that had my emotions going up and down the entire time. There are many additional characters that are introduced and many of them are family and good friends with Anne. I enjoyed the interactions between them and Anne. This is a book I would recommend reading.
June 23, 2019
Anne is a young adult novel written about a girl who has lived in abused family life. Her parents do not get along, and after witnessing several sessions of ill-treatment from her father, she is severely affected by the whole ordeal. Her mother does attempt to hide some of the nastiness of the truth surrounding the way they live. However, Anne has seen and heard far more than she has known.
Anne is homeschooled as another way for her father to have control over matters. After her mom disappears, she is sent away and then has a whole other issue of teenage bullying and other forms of milestones she has to conquer.
The story is written like a diary, and the literature is descriptive enough, allowing the reader to bond with the protagonist. The pace is decently slow, and the fictional work blends well with the coming of age character Anne has. She definitely can be seen as a victim but also rises above that and becomes a survivor. I believe the material would best suit fictional readers that enjoy this kind of storyline.
Anne is homeschooled as another way for her father to have control over matters. After her mom disappears, she is sent away and then has a whole other issue of teenage bullying and other forms of milestones she has to conquer.
The story is written like a diary, and the literature is descriptive enough, allowing the reader to bond with the protagonist. The pace is decently slow, and the fictional work blends well with the coming of age character Anne has. She definitely can be seen as a victim but also rises above that and becomes a survivor. I believe the material would best suit fictional readers that enjoy this kind of storyline.
March 11, 2020
*3.5
_The e-arc of this book was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review on my request._
It was an emotional, raw book which dealt with a lot of issues. There were times when I felt that it dealt with more than it could handle.
Anne is about a young girl who had an abusive father. It deals with both domestic and child abuse. Anne recalls and reassesses her past with the help of her therapist. The story, narrated by an older Anne, is about the trauma and the things Anne has gone through in her childhood and teens. A part of the book is written in form of journal.
What I didn't like about the book was the way Anne behaved at times, especially her attitude towards Simone. Anne didn't do anything to help Simone, inspite of knowing about her problems. I think her age isn't a good excuse for her behavior, maybe it's just me.
It was still an intense, heartbreaking story, and I'm excited to read more books by the author in the future.
_The e-arc of this book was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review on my request._
It was an emotional, raw book which dealt with a lot of issues. There were times when I felt that it dealt with more than it could handle.
Anne is about a young girl who had an abusive father. It deals with both domestic and child abuse. Anne recalls and reassesses her past with the help of her therapist. The story, narrated by an older Anne, is about the trauma and the things Anne has gone through in her childhood and teens. A part of the book is written in form of journal.
What I didn't like about the book was the way Anne behaved at times, especially her attitude towards Simone. Anne didn't do anything to help Simone, inspite of knowing about her problems. I think her age isn't a good excuse for her behavior, maybe it's just me.
It was still an intense, heartbreaking story, and I'm excited to read more books by the author in the future.
March 24, 2020
Anne
By Zarina Macha
4 stars
I do sometimes read YA novels but they are usually of the romance type so when I saw the blurb for this one I was intrigued, it sounded like it might be a different kind of read and it absolutely was. It was such a powerful read and the author explored so many different situations/topics that can affect young adults and coming of age. I was really impressed by the authors writing, the flow of the story was really good and my interest was kept from beginning to end. I really felt for Anne, she had so much to overcome in her life, there were moments when my heart broke for her. There was a danger the author could have fallen into a stereotypical story with some of the things the character went through but I felt she really planned and thought about the path in which her characters would take.
Anne was in my opinion a well written, powerful and emotional read and one that I would highly recommend!
By Zarina Macha
4 stars
I do sometimes read YA novels but they are usually of the romance type so when I saw the blurb for this one I was intrigued, it sounded like it might be a different kind of read and it absolutely was. It was such a powerful read and the author explored so many different situations/topics that can affect young adults and coming of age. I was really impressed by the authors writing, the flow of the story was really good and my interest was kept from beginning to end. I really felt for Anne, she had so much to overcome in her life, there were moments when my heart broke for her. There was a danger the author could have fallen into a stereotypical story with some of the things the character went through but I felt she really planned and thought about the path in which her characters would take.
Anne was in my opinion a well written, powerful and emotional read and one that I would highly recommend!
March 29, 2020
I absolutely fell in love with this story.
To most people Anne’s life looks like a happy one. Her father provides a good income, and wants to use it to give his daughter the opportunities he never had. She has a loving mother who wants Anne to have life experiences as well as educational ones. Beneath the surface of this family are so many cracks and so much unhappiness, and when it all comes to a head Anne’s life changes forever.
Anne finds comfort from her extended family and also finds new opportunities which see her making the choice to go to boarding school. This then brings its own set of complications, but also happiness too.
I love the character of Anne so much. She is headstrong yet caring, she is smart but still has so much to learn. She goes through so much in her young life that you just want happiness for her.
I’d recommend this story for both adults and young adults.
To most people Anne’s life looks like a happy one. Her father provides a good income, and wants to use it to give his daughter the opportunities he never had. She has a loving mother who wants Anne to have life experiences as well as educational ones. Beneath the surface of this family are so many cracks and so much unhappiness, and when it all comes to a head Anne’s life changes forever.
Anne finds comfort from her extended family and also finds new opportunities which see her making the choice to go to boarding school. This then brings its own set of complications, but also happiness too.
I love the character of Anne so much. She is headstrong yet caring, she is smart but still has so much to learn. She goes through so much in her young life that you just want happiness for her.
I’d recommend this story for both adults and young adults.
May 8, 2020
2.5 stars
***TRIGGER WARNING***
suicide, domestic abuse
This was kind of disappointing. I think the concept and themes discussed in the story were compelling, but lacked execution. Without giving away any spoilers, I felt the author made parts of the last quarter of the book a big cop out. Also, the biggest part of the climax didn't hit until 93% into the book, and then everything was rushed until the end. I would have liked to have seen the aftermath instead of a summary of what happened.
I did think the author did a good job in how she portrayed PTSD through Anne's stutter and panic attacks. However, neither was ever treated or helped. She all of a sudden has a stutter and panic attacks that lead her to faint, wouldn't that lead someone to get her into therapy? She receives no help mentally until the end.
ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
***TRIGGER WARNING***
suicide, domestic abuse
This was kind of disappointing. I think the concept and themes discussed in the story were compelling, but lacked execution. Without giving away any spoilers, I felt the author made parts of the last quarter of the book a big cop out. Also, the biggest part of the climax didn't hit until 93% into the book, and then everything was rushed until the end. I would have liked to have seen the aftermath instead of a summary of what happened.
I did think the author did a good job in how she portrayed PTSD through Anne's stutter and panic attacks. However, neither was ever treated or helped. She all of a sudden has a stutter and panic attacks that lead her to faint, wouldn't that lead someone to get her into therapy? She receives no help mentally until the end.
ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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