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Close To Me
She can't remember the last year. Her husband wants to keep it that way.
A stunning debut psychological drama about secrets and lies at the heart of a marriage. It's perfect for fans of The Girlfriend, by Michelle Frances, and Big Little Lies, by Liane Moriarty.
When Jo Harding falls down the stairs at home, she wakes up in hospital with partial amnesia - she's lost a whole year of memories.
A lot can happen in a year. Was Jo having an affair? Lying to her family? Starting a new life?
She can't remember what she did - or what happened the night she fell.
But she's beginning to realise she might not be as good a wife and mother as she thought.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 31, 2017
151 people are currently reading
1408 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Reynolds
5 books68 followersAmanda Reynolds’ debut novel, Close To Me, published in 2017 by Headline, was adapted by NENT Studios UK as a major six-part TV series starring Connie Nielsen and Christopher Eccleston. The series aired in 2021, on Channel 4 in the UK and on Sundance AMC in the US, as well as many other countries worldwide.
She is the author of six psychological suspense novels and is an author coach at The Novelry.
Amanda Reynolds lives in the Cotswolds with her husband and their dog.
She is the author of six psychological suspense novels and is an author coach at The Novelry.
Amanda Reynolds lives in the Cotswolds with her husband and their dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 238 reviews
August 19, 2017
2.5*
After a fall down a flight of stairs, Jo is slowly regaining consciousness in a local hospital. Battered and bruised, she tries desperately to recall why she fell. Could her husband be to blame? She quickly realizes she has virtually no recollection of the fall itself or the entire year leading up to the fall. To make matters worse, her husband Rob and her two children are less than eager to fill in the blanks either. Why not? What don't they want her to remember?
The story-line is told from Jo’s POV from before and after the fall as she tries to regain her memories from the last year. As the 2 timelines converge, the facts surrounding what occurred before vs after the fall became very confusing.
I had a great difficulty connecting with Jo. She wasn't a likable character at all. Truth is, I had a hard time finding any likable character in the book. I found the dialogue frustrating at times. Everyone talking but with no urgency to fill in the gaps of her memory! With this same behavior repeated over and over with very little progress, the book seemed to slow to a crawl.
This one just wasn't for me. There are many great reviews out there so please judge for yourself, this is just my opinion.
Thank you to NetGalley, Quercus (US) And Amanda Reynolds for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
After a fall down a flight of stairs, Jo is slowly regaining consciousness in a local hospital. Battered and bruised, she tries desperately to recall why she fell. Could her husband be to blame? She quickly realizes she has virtually no recollection of the fall itself or the entire year leading up to the fall. To make matters worse, her husband Rob and her two children are less than eager to fill in the blanks either. Why not? What don't they want her to remember?
The story-line is told from Jo’s POV from before and after the fall as she tries to regain her memories from the last year. As the 2 timelines converge, the facts surrounding what occurred before vs after the fall became very confusing.
I had a great difficulty connecting with Jo. She wasn't a likable character at all. Truth is, I had a hard time finding any likable character in the book. I found the dialogue frustrating at times. Everyone talking but with no urgency to fill in the gaps of her memory! With this same behavior repeated over and over with very little progress, the book seemed to slow to a crawl.
This one just wasn't for me. There are many great reviews out there so please judge for yourself, this is just my opinion.
Thank you to NetGalley, Quercus (US) And Amanda Reynolds for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 15, 2017
Jo and Rob have been married for twenty-four years and have two adult children. Jo doesn’t remember the last year of her life and the text goes back and forth between the past and the present, before and after Jo’s accident.
This was an okay read, but it didn’t fully hold my interest and my mind wandered a lot while reading this book. The suspense built to a climax that had me rolling my eyes, as it was reminiscent of other stories I’d already read this year.
You know those characters whose thoughts you don’t mind fishing around in? Well, I was kind of bored with Jo’s and didn’t really connect with her. Her thoughts were on a loop that I couldn’t wait to exit from and the conclusion was unsurprising.
► This book is perfect for domestic thriller lovers and fans of unlikable characters.
* NetGalley copy generously provided by Quercus in exchange for an honest review.
This was an okay read, but it didn’t fully hold my interest and my mind wandered a lot while reading this book. The suspense built to a climax that had me rolling my eyes, as it was reminiscent of other stories I’d already read this year.
You know those characters whose thoughts you don’t mind fishing around in? Well, I was kind of bored with Jo’s and didn’t really connect with her. Her thoughts were on a loop that I couldn’t wait to exit from and the conclusion was unsurprising.
► This book is perfect for domestic thriller lovers and fans of unlikable characters.
* NetGalley copy generously provided by Quercus in exchange for an honest review.
September 7, 2017
2.5 stars
Jo Harding has amnesia. She has been told by her husband Rob that she has fallen down the stairs. He keeps repeating this to her! As snippets of memory begin to come back, she questions the circumstances of her fall.
She is having flashbacks of a certain bedroom scene! Rob and her two adult children don't seem to want to fill in the blanks for her, but why?
Who is the man with the featureless face in her flashback? Was she having an affair? Why does she feel afraid of Rob?
While the story line is good/intriguing, I was confused by the timeline that switched between Before the fall (with different increments of the months) and After the fall. I felt like I was reading different versions of the same events over and over. I also felt the story was being told by Jo, but I wasn't experiencing it. I was never pulled in or interested in finding out the truth.
Fans of domestic dysfunctional families will probably really enjoy this one! It just lacked the "gripping" factor for me!
Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and Quercus publishers
Published July 27,2017
February 23, 2017
Jo Harding wakes up in a hospital with partial amnesia,she has lost a whole year of her life.She is informed that she fell down the stairs but she has no memory of what happened on that night.
Jo begins a frantic quest to unlock her lost memories and discover the truth gradually uncovering secrets that some people especially her husband Rob would prefer remained hidden,at the same time discovering thing about herself that make her start to wonder if she is the perfect wife and mother that she thought she was.
This engrossing story of lies,families,secrets and betrayals is voiced entirely by Jo in the third person pov.It unfolds in chapters that alternate between before and after the fall,the chapters are clearly headed and the story flows along nicely.The characters are well developed and realistic but mostly unlikable apart from Jo`s son Fin and Rose who works in the drop out centre where Jo volunteers.It must be absolutely terrifying to lose a whole chunk of your life and the authors portrayal of Jo`s fear,frustration and confusion was believable and realistic but I found it hard to feel any sympathy for her because of some of her thoughts and actions as the story unfolded.
It's an enjoyable debut mystery that had me hooked from the opening prologue right through to the shocking but not totally unexpected conclusion.I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.
Many thanks to Headline/wildfire for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
Jo begins a frantic quest to unlock her lost memories and discover the truth gradually uncovering secrets that some people especially her husband Rob would prefer remained hidden,at the same time discovering thing about herself that make her start to wonder if she is the perfect wife and mother that she thought she was.
This engrossing story of lies,families,secrets and betrayals is voiced entirely by Jo in the third person pov.It unfolds in chapters that alternate between before and after the fall,the chapters are clearly headed and the story flows along nicely.The characters are well developed and realistic but mostly unlikable apart from Jo`s son Fin and Rose who works in the drop out centre where Jo volunteers.It must be absolutely terrifying to lose a whole chunk of your life and the authors portrayal of Jo`s fear,frustration and confusion was believable and realistic but I found it hard to feel any sympathy for her because of some of her thoughts and actions as the story unfolded.
It's an enjoyable debut mystery that had me hooked from the opening prologue right through to the shocking but not totally unexpected conclusion.I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.
Many thanks to Headline/wildfire for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
February 24, 2018
Ugh.
Another amnesia trope, every character dangerously unlikeable.
I’m sorry to downmark, the authors writing is fine, but the storyline has been done so many times before and so much better.
Please stop writing all men as one-dimensional, evil, cheating, lying predators and all women as helpless, naive, wilfully ignorant victims, it does both sexes a huge disservice.
Another amnesia trope, every character dangerously unlikeable.
I’m sorry to downmark, the authors writing is fine, but the storyline has been done so many times before and so much better.
Please stop writing all men as one-dimensional, evil, cheating, lying predators and all women as helpless, naive, wilfully ignorant victims, it does both sexes a huge disservice.
July 24, 2017
3.5 stars. When Jo Harding fell down the stairs at her home, she wakes up in hospital with partial amnesia. She can't remember anything that's happened in the last year and her husband wants to keep it that way. Was Jo having an affair? Lying to her family? Starting a new life's? She can't remember the night she fell.
This is a story of lies, secrets, families and betrayals. The chapters alternate between before and after the fall. The characters are believable but mostly they are unlikable. The book is fast paced, tense and with just the right amount of drama. The twists and turns will keep your attention. The ending for me was not unexpected. All in, it's a really good debut novel.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Headline and the author Amanda Reynolds for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a story of lies, secrets, families and betrayals. The chapters alternate between before and after the fall. The characters are believable but mostly they are unlikable. The book is fast paced, tense and with just the right amount of drama. The twists and turns will keep your attention. The ending for me was not unexpected. All in, it's a really good debut novel.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Headline and the author Amanda Reynolds for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 17, 2021
I love reading about a problem within a fictional married couple. After a fall down the stairs Jo has lost a year of her life. Her husband has given her a new mobile phone, as her other one got ruined in her fall. The conclusion Jo has come to is was she having an affair with a man before her fall and if so who is he? Without her old mobile phone Jo now has no way of finding out what happened before her fall. Although I liked this story a lot but I did however feel that situation was repeating itself at times. I do recommend reading Close To Me by Amanda Reynolds and I will at some point read the authors new book that is out now. It’s now years later after reading this book, my daughter has stared watching the TV series.
September 21, 2017
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.beckiebookworm.com
Really enjoyed Close To Me by Amanda Reynolds, wasn't sure what to expect this being a debut author but I certainly wasn't disappointed.
Close To Me tells the story of Jo Harding after she falls down stairs hitting her head and losing her memory of the past year.
On coming home things feel different and disjointed, Jo feels there is an undercurrent of deceit, secrets being kept from her by her husband and children and as she unravels the mysteries of the past year things escalate to a shocking conclusion.
So this was a great psychological read, it kept my interest and pulled me in, the writing was superb, and the storyline very easy to follow.
Close to me is told in two parts, real-time and snippets of the past year, though it has a slow build this is not a bad thing as you get to understand Jo's life and how she is the person she is.
The characters here felt real and human, some you could sympathise with others not so much.
If I had to pick my least favourite person in this, it would have to be the daughter I found her very self-centred and immature, but she's a product of her overindulged upbringing.
I myself have grown up children there is no way on this planet I would be paying for their accommodation.
what a right spoilt brat Sash is.
Close to me delves into the dynamics of family and the resulting aftermath when things ultimately implode.
I did kind of guess where this was going but it didn't detract from my overall enjoyment reading this.
Would I recommend this? Hell Yeah!!!
It was an engaging read.
Thank you to NetGalley, publisher and the author for providing me with an arc of Close to me
This is my own honest unbiased opinion.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.beckiebookworm.com/
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
https://www.beckiebookworm.com
Really enjoyed Close To Me by Amanda Reynolds, wasn't sure what to expect this being a debut author but I certainly wasn't disappointed.
Close To Me tells the story of Jo Harding after she falls down stairs hitting her head and losing her memory of the past year.
On coming home things feel different and disjointed, Jo feels there is an undercurrent of deceit, secrets being kept from her by her husband and children and as she unravels the mysteries of the past year things escalate to a shocking conclusion.
So this was a great psychological read, it kept my interest and pulled me in, the writing was superb, and the storyline very easy to follow.
Close to me is told in two parts, real-time and snippets of the past year, though it has a slow build this is not a bad thing as you get to understand Jo's life and how she is the person she is.
The characters here felt real and human, some you could sympathise with others not so much.
If I had to pick my least favourite person in this, it would have to be the daughter I found her very self-centred and immature, but she's a product of her overindulged upbringing.
I myself have grown up children there is no way on this planet I would be paying for their accommodation.
what a right spoilt brat Sash is.
Close to me delves into the dynamics of family and the resulting aftermath when things ultimately implode.
I did kind of guess where this was going but it didn't detract from my overall enjoyment reading this.
Would I recommend this? Hell Yeah!!!
It was an engaging read.
Thank you to NetGalley, publisher and the author for providing me with an arc of Close to me
This is my own honest unbiased opinion.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.beckiebookworm.com/
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
March 12, 2017
I quite liked Close To Me, read it fast, but I have to say these are all becoming a little bit samey.
That's not to say this was without its charms - I was engaged by the relationship between this couple, that had been married for years the dynamic when Jo loses a year of memory and begins to become aware that perhaps her marriage during that time became less than rock solid is intriguing and kept me turning the pages.
I liked the family drama portions much more than the mystery element (did she fall or was she pushed) especially the relationship Rob and Jo have with their two children, growing pains for everyone as they leave home and make questionable choices.
Amanda Reynolds writes beautifully and whilst I can't say that this is unique, or even particularly different to other books in this genre you might read this year - I CAN say that it has that addictive quality and is a story well told so for that reason I would definitely recommend it if you like stories that fall under the psychological thriller umbrella.
That's not to say this was without its charms - I was engaged by the relationship between this couple, that had been married for years the dynamic when Jo loses a year of memory and begins to become aware that perhaps her marriage during that time became less than rock solid is intriguing and kept me turning the pages.
I liked the family drama portions much more than the mystery element (did she fall or was she pushed) especially the relationship Rob and Jo have with their two children, growing pains for everyone as they leave home and make questionable choices.
Amanda Reynolds writes beautifully and whilst I can't say that this is unique, or even particularly different to other books in this genre you might read this year - I CAN say that it has that addictive quality and is a story well told so for that reason I would definitely recommend it if you like stories that fall under the psychological thriller umbrella.
March 31, 2017
Now everyone knows I LOVE a dysfunctional family (rumours that this is because it shows my own family in a slightly better light are of course unfounded!!) so I was totally tempted by the blurb of Close To Me which seemed right up my street, with family secrets lying at the heart of this memory loss suspense.
I wasn’t sure if I would take to Jo but as we shared a name and are of a similar age I wanted to give her a chance. Jo is struggling after a fall has left her with amnesia, not a total memory loss though, just of the last year. And it’s pretty obvious that her family are all keeping secrets about things that have happened in that year. Jo is having a few flashbacks though and although they seem to be rather erotic in nature, she has always been a faithful and loving wife……hasn’t she? Could her lost year really be hiding THAT much? As the plot unfold in the days following her “accident” we also get glimpses of the life Jo was living leading up to it. And as the plot progressed I actually came to like Jo and felt an empathy with her that came easier than I had thought it would.
One of the things I liked about Close To Me was the family dynamics and the rather realistic dramatic reactions to things that were happening. It came across like a reality show at times, with “looks” between different family members, non communicative children and lots of emotional responses once hidden secrets had been revealed. With Jo being of the age she was, she had to deal with “empty nest syndrome” as well which cruelly often coincides with the menopause which can make women more emotional and sensitive as well as having a dramatic effect on their sex life. Jo thinks she may have had an affair but if so who with? And is that the reason that she feels her fall wasn’t an accident? Due to the way the story was set out, sometimes we could see what had lead to events before Jo did but the twists and turns towards the end weren’t the ones that I had been expecting! I trusted nobody in this book and that’s just the way I like it!
I read a lot of books now that have similar themes so it does take a lot to stand out for me but I did rather enjoy Close To Me and even read it in one session which says it all.
I wasn’t sure if I would take to Jo but as we shared a name and are of a similar age I wanted to give her a chance. Jo is struggling after a fall has left her with amnesia, not a total memory loss though, just of the last year. And it’s pretty obvious that her family are all keeping secrets about things that have happened in that year. Jo is having a few flashbacks though and although they seem to be rather erotic in nature, she has always been a faithful and loving wife……hasn’t she? Could her lost year really be hiding THAT much? As the plot unfold in the days following her “accident” we also get glimpses of the life Jo was living leading up to it. And as the plot progressed I actually came to like Jo and felt an empathy with her that came easier than I had thought it would.
One of the things I liked about Close To Me was the family dynamics and the rather realistic dramatic reactions to things that were happening. It came across like a reality show at times, with “looks” between different family members, non communicative children and lots of emotional responses once hidden secrets had been revealed. With Jo being of the age she was, she had to deal with “empty nest syndrome” as well which cruelly often coincides with the menopause which can make women more emotional and sensitive as well as having a dramatic effect on their sex life. Jo thinks she may have had an affair but if so who with? And is that the reason that she feels her fall wasn’t an accident? Due to the way the story was set out, sometimes we could see what had lead to events before Jo did but the twists and turns towards the end weren’t the ones that I had been expecting! I trusted nobody in this book and that’s just the way I like it!
I read a lot of books now that have similar themes so it does take a lot to stand out for me but I did rather enjoy Close To Me and even read it in one session which says it all.
December 6, 2017
What would you do if you woke up after a fall and can't remember the last year of your life, find yourself apprehensive about a husband you think you love and everyone is tip toeing around you?
Traveling from the days after she wakes up from her accident, to the past year as she starts to remember... the author gives us a full on, in depth peek inside Jo's mind. She does a great job transversing in time as we get peeks into what everyone is hoping she won't remember. Her children seem different, her husband is too attentive and the only person who seems to be honest with her, a co-worker, is telling her things that don't make much sense. No one is as they should be and as the memories start coming back, she confronts a reality she didn't expect.
I struggled through the first 200 pages of this book. This is definitely a slow burner of a book but I was intrigued to see exactly what we were going to learn about Jo and her family. As much as I love to dislike characters, I really just couldn't find myself empathizing or feeling bad for Jo on any level. The last 100 pages or so picked up in speed and we finally get some answers... however, by this point, my interest had pretty much waned. I still needed to know what happened but nothing was all that surprising.
Don't get me wrong, the book is a solid debut. I'm intrigued to see what else Amanda Reynolds will bring to the table as I'll surely check out her next book. This one just didn't quite work for me. However, her writing is solid, her character build is on point and I think those who love the slow burn suspense will really enjoy this story line.
Huge thank you to Quercus Books for this copy in return for my honest review.
Traveling from the days after she wakes up from her accident, to the past year as she starts to remember... the author gives us a full on, in depth peek inside Jo's mind. She does a great job transversing in time as we get peeks into what everyone is hoping she won't remember. Her children seem different, her husband is too attentive and the only person who seems to be honest with her, a co-worker, is telling her things that don't make much sense. No one is as they should be and as the memories start coming back, she confronts a reality she didn't expect.
I struggled through the first 200 pages of this book. This is definitely a slow burner of a book but I was intrigued to see exactly what we were going to learn about Jo and her family. As much as I love to dislike characters, I really just couldn't find myself empathizing or feeling bad for Jo on any level. The last 100 pages or so picked up in speed and we finally get some answers... however, by this point, my interest had pretty much waned. I still needed to know what happened but nothing was all that surprising.
Don't get me wrong, the book is a solid debut. I'm intrigued to see what else Amanda Reynolds will bring to the table as I'll surely check out her next book. This one just didn't quite work for me. However, her writing is solid, her character build is on point and I think those who love the slow burn suspense will really enjoy this story line.
Huge thank you to Quercus Books for this copy in return for my honest review.
April 18, 2017
The idea for the plot is good: a memory loss is always intriguing and the story goes back and forth adding more tension to the drama.However, I had a hard time finishing this book and felt truly sad after reading it.
This is novel about a dysfunctional family whose members don't love each other the way they should. We don't really know why or if they ever had a good relationship except for in their holiday pictures. We only know that they seemingly ignore this fact and they keep on interacting with each other until the situation becomes unbearable.
If you are looking for an entertaining novel about the ups and downs of a happy family with a positive outcome, this novel may not appeal to you . On the other hand, if you enjoy reading about troubled families and unloving relationships with a little bit of mystery and twisted characters, this may be a good book for you.
www.theleisurediaries.blogspot.com
This is novel about a dysfunctional family whose members don't love each other the way they should. We don't really know why or if they ever had a good relationship except for in their holiday pictures. We only know that they seemingly ignore this fact and they keep on interacting with each other until the situation becomes unbearable.
If you are looking for an entertaining novel about the ups and downs of a happy family with a positive outcome, this novel may not appeal to you . On the other hand, if you enjoy reading about troubled families and unloving relationships with a little bit of mystery and twisted characters, this may be a good book for you.
www.theleisurediaries.blogspot.com
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January 22, 2018*Review to come.
December 1, 2017
Jo Harding wakes up on the way to the hospital in an ambulance. Everyone around her is telling her she fell down the stairs. The last thing Jo can remember is taking her son, Fin, to university with her husband, Rob. The problem is that was a year ago.
Jo has no recollection of what happened in the last year of her life. She can’t remember the night of her fall, but she has an overwhelming sense of dread and fear towards her husband. Rob seems to have convinced her children to not to mention what has happened over the course of the last year. He is constantly reiterating to Jo how happy they are in their marriage. If all of this is true, why does Rob insist on hiding the last year? Why is Jo feeling this way towards the man she has been married to for the last 24 years? Is it possible that Rob pushed her down the stairs?
Amanda Reynolds does a stunning job of drawing the reader in to Jo Harding’s life in CLOSE TO ME. Each chapter is broken down between present day and a flashback from the last year of Jo’s life. As the novel progresses the reader is inched closer to the day of the fall, until we’re finally able to learn what has happened. Reynolds presents the reader not only with an unreliable narrator, but a cast of unreliable secondary characters as well. The reader is never sure who to trust with the information they’re revealing to Jo about her life, as each person she talks to has individual motives to spin their stories in their best light. At the end of the novel Reynolds creates a masterful ending where each loose end is neatly tied and the reader is left feeling fulfilled. CLOSE TO ME is a slow-burn psychological thriller presented in a unique style with chapters containing both past and present, in which the reader is give a web of lies they must work to untangle while trusting the less than accurate mind of a woman suffering from partial amnesia.
A special thank you to Quercus USA and Amanda Reynolds for providing me a copy of CLOSE TO ME in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
Jo has no recollection of what happened in the last year of her life. She can’t remember the night of her fall, but she has an overwhelming sense of dread and fear towards her husband. Rob seems to have convinced her children to not to mention what has happened over the course of the last year. He is constantly reiterating to Jo how happy they are in their marriage. If all of this is true, why does Rob insist on hiding the last year? Why is Jo feeling this way towards the man she has been married to for the last 24 years? Is it possible that Rob pushed her down the stairs?
Amanda Reynolds does a stunning job of drawing the reader in to Jo Harding’s life in CLOSE TO ME. Each chapter is broken down between present day and a flashback from the last year of Jo’s life. As the novel progresses the reader is inched closer to the day of the fall, until we’re finally able to learn what has happened. Reynolds presents the reader not only with an unreliable narrator, but a cast of unreliable secondary characters as well. The reader is never sure who to trust with the information they’re revealing to Jo about her life, as each person she talks to has individual motives to spin their stories in their best light. At the end of the novel Reynolds creates a masterful ending where each loose end is neatly tied and the reader is left feeling fulfilled. CLOSE TO ME is a slow-burn psychological thriller presented in a unique style with chapters containing both past and present, in which the reader is give a web of lies they must work to untangle while trusting the less than accurate mind of a woman suffering from partial amnesia.
A special thank you to Quercus USA and Amanda Reynolds for providing me a copy of CLOSE TO ME in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
December 14, 2017
In this very well executed debut thriller, Jo Harding wakes from a head injury with no memory of the past year. Things have changed drastically with her husband and two adult children, and Jo wonders what they are keeping from her. This novel switches between two time periods. The first is the present with Jo slowly remembering parts of the last year. The second starts a year back telling her story from there forward. I thought Amanda Reynolds did a great job marching these two storylines toward each other, building suspense along the way. I really enjoyed the dynamics of Jo's relationships with her family members and her reactions to the memories as they came forth. .
I look forward to reading more from Amanda Reynolds. Thank you to Quercus USA for sending me a review copy.
I look forward to reading more from Amanda Reynolds. Thank you to Quercus USA for sending me a review copy.
June 21, 2018
Close to me is a suspenseful psychological thriller. The premise is intriguing: a woman (Jo) has brain injury after a fall down the stairs, losing her memory of the previous year prior to the fall. The structure of the novel is also intriguing: each chapter alternates between days after "the fall" and the months prior to "the fall" as Jo seeks to reclaim her memory. The trauma of the brain injury pales in comparison to the trauma of her life as she attempts to "remember". Close To Me Is a dark story of a terribly dysfunctional family, riddled with lies, secrets, fabrications, and betrayal, to others and oneself. The plot feels more menacing with every page.
This is Amanda Reynold's first novel, and a good one. The lower rating is due to the execution: the litany of the lost memories become drawn out and their reveal is too wordy; the pieces of the puzzle revealed too slowly; too many extended descriptive details of non essential scenes - all of which caused the plot to falter ,the pace to become sluggish, and the reader to lose interest. Deleting 50+ pages would have helped to propel the plot along. However , an unexpected occurrence toward the last quarter of the book was brought to light and a shot of life boosted the sagging plot! The climax is terrific, and it is a humdinger! The denouement is most satisfying and stunning on many levels.
Ma. Reynolds has something to say and I look forward to her future works. In CLOSE TO ME she blows the door wide open on familial issues: indifference in relationships, the solitary life couples lead once they are empty nesters, realizing the family glue is the children and no effort has been taken to preserve the first love. Strong, thought provoking messages, unraveled in a tragic setting, but is is an important read.
I would be interested in reading more of Reynold's works, however!
My thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read CLOSE TO ME in exchange for an honest review.
This is Amanda Reynold's first novel, and a good one. The lower rating is due to the execution: the litany of the lost memories become drawn out and their reveal is too wordy; the pieces of the puzzle revealed too slowly; too many extended descriptive details of non essential scenes - all of which caused the plot to falter ,the pace to become sluggish, and the reader to lose interest. Deleting 50+ pages would have helped to propel the plot along. However , an unexpected occurrence toward the last quarter of the book was brought to light and a shot of life boosted the sagging plot! The climax is terrific, and it is a humdinger! The denouement is most satisfying and stunning on many levels.
Ma. Reynolds has something to say and I look forward to her future works. In CLOSE TO ME she blows the door wide open on familial issues: indifference in relationships, the solitary life couples lead once they are empty nesters, realizing the family glue is the children and no effort has been taken to preserve the first love. Strong, thought provoking messages, unraveled in a tragic setting, but is is an important read.
I would be interested in reading more of Reynold's works, however!
My thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read CLOSE TO ME in exchange for an honest review.
January 18, 2018
3.5🌟
This was a quick & mysterious read! The story went differently than I expected for it to go, but I think that was the plan. If you like mysteries with unlikable / questionable / unreliable characters, this is 100% the book for you. Thank you so much to @quercus_usa for sending me an early copy of Close to Me!
This was a quick & mysterious read! The story went differently than I expected for it to go, but I think that was the plan. If you like mysteries with unlikable / questionable / unreliable characters, this is 100% the book for you. Thank you so much to @quercus_usa for sending me an early copy of Close to Me!
July 19, 2017
**RATING 4.5**
Instantly hooked, CLOSE TO ME by Amanda Reynolds threw me into the story and I didn't resurface until I had reached the end - and boy, what an ending!
In this story, we meet Jo who has fallen down the stairs and taken a nasty bang to the head. When she recovers the next day in hospital, she cannot remember what has happened to her or anything from the previous year. Worried, horrified, and anxious at this development she returns home under the watchful eye of her devoted husband. But not only is Jo missing her memories, she cannot shake the feeling of unease around her husband or the fact that her picture perfect family seem to have fallen apart at the seams. Why are her kids so distant and what exactly are they all hiding from her? What happened in the past year that has blown her world apart? And can she trust the people that she has loved forever? As fleeting glimpses of memory flash through her mind, Jo will have to slowly piece it together one block at a time, but sometimes the truth is worse than anything you could ever imagine...
The plot is fast-paced, the drama superb, and the twists and turns in this novel are all excellent and are sure to keep you on your toes. While the characters are not exactly likeable, they are compelling, and as different scenarios ran through my head I wasn't sure which way the story was going to go - and I love the fact that I was kept guessing!
The story moves easily from past to present and it really worked as the reader gets to learn the events of the past year before Jo actually remembers it and this really adds to the momentum and tense atmosphere of the book overall. There were a few times where I felt that the story dragged out just a little bit, but overall it was a well-paced and riveting read. If you like psychological thrillers with plenty of creepy undertones, then you should definitely read CLOSE TO ME by Amanda Reynolds.
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from Netgalley.com
Instantly hooked, CLOSE TO ME by Amanda Reynolds threw me into the story and I didn't resurface until I had reached the end - and boy, what an ending!
In this story, we meet Jo who has fallen down the stairs and taken a nasty bang to the head. When she recovers the next day in hospital, she cannot remember what has happened to her or anything from the previous year. Worried, horrified, and anxious at this development she returns home under the watchful eye of her devoted husband. But not only is Jo missing her memories, she cannot shake the feeling of unease around her husband or the fact that her picture perfect family seem to have fallen apart at the seams. Why are her kids so distant and what exactly are they all hiding from her? What happened in the past year that has blown her world apart? And can she trust the people that she has loved forever? As fleeting glimpses of memory flash through her mind, Jo will have to slowly piece it together one block at a time, but sometimes the truth is worse than anything you could ever imagine...
The plot is fast-paced, the drama superb, and the twists and turns in this novel are all excellent and are sure to keep you on your toes. While the characters are not exactly likeable, they are compelling, and as different scenarios ran through my head I wasn't sure which way the story was going to go - and I love the fact that I was kept guessing!
The story moves easily from past to present and it really worked as the reader gets to learn the events of the past year before Jo actually remembers it and this really adds to the momentum and tense atmosphere of the book overall. There were a few times where I felt that the story dragged out just a little bit, but overall it was a well-paced and riveting read. If you like psychological thrillers with plenty of creepy undertones, then you should definitely read CLOSE TO ME by Amanda Reynolds.
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from Netgalley.com
April 18, 2017
2.5 stars
This is a decent psychological thriller with a good story and good pacing.
Our protagonist Jo has had a fall which means she is unable to recall the last year of her life - we follow along with her as her memories slowly return and reveal all is not well with her husband and family.
What spoilt this for me was the childish and spoilt behaviour of Sasha especially (Jo's 'adult' daughter) and Jo herself. I mean they're just so self absorbed, weepy and whingey. Towards the end of the book they were really pissing me off and I was beginning to lose patience.
To be fair Jo has every right to be upset after everything she's been through but Sasha has NO excuses! What a dreadful woman.
And Rose deserves a medal!
This is a decent psychological thriller with a good story and good pacing.
Our protagonist Jo has had a fall which means she is unable to recall the last year of her life - we follow along with her as her memories slowly return and reveal all is not well with her husband and family.
What spoilt this for me was the childish and spoilt behaviour of Sasha especially (Jo's 'adult' daughter) and Jo herself. I mean they're just so self absorbed, weepy and whingey. Towards the end of the book they were really pissing me off and I was beginning to lose patience.
To be fair Jo has every right to be upset after everything she's been through but Sasha has NO excuses! What a dreadful woman.
And Rose deserves a medal!
January 31, 2018
Jo Harding fell down some stairs, and lost the memory of the past year. Her husband would prefer she not remember the last year, but Jo feels she needs to find out what has happened in her life and family.
An interesting psychological thriller. The book flipped between "before the fall" and "after the fall" chapters. The story was told from Jo's point of view, and I enjoyed discovering what had happened over the year along with Jo.
Jo was relatable. She and her husband had been married for over twenty years, their kids had left home and started their own lives, and Jo and her husband were adjusting to their new lives. Jo started to suspect that things were not as perfect as she was led to believe, and she started to followup on her suspicions.
A quick and easy read. Good for fans of domestic thrillers.
I received a copy of this book from Quercus and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
An interesting psychological thriller. The book flipped between "before the fall" and "after the fall" chapters. The story was told from Jo's point of view, and I enjoyed discovering what had happened over the year along with Jo.
Jo was relatable. She and her husband had been married for over twenty years, their kids had left home and started their own lives, and Jo and her husband were adjusting to their new lives. Jo started to suspect that things were not as perfect as she was led to believe, and she started to followup on her suspicions.
A quick and easy read. Good for fans of domestic thrillers.
I received a copy of this book from Quercus and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 7, 2017
One fast paced gripping mystery! Loved the alternating time periods which kept the story moving along. Until the last page I didn’t guess for sure what had happened. No book mark needed for this page turner!
Thanks to Quercus for this ARC in exchange for review:)
Thanks to Quercus for this ARC in exchange for review:)
April 6, 2017
Warning! Make sure you have a clear few hours when you begin this book. I don't know about other readers but I do this thing, between all the other stuff I need to do, where I'll say "I'll read 50 pages then I'll hoover the bedroom" or "30 pages then I'll make dinner". I wouldn't get anything else done otherwise if I didn't set these limits.
So, when starting Close To Me a few days ago, while having a break from attempting to tame my overgrown garden, I gave myself 50 pages. Well, when I checked to see how I was doing I was stunned to find I'd just devoured almost 100! Seriously, this book's pages turn themselves. Amanda Reynolds' writing just flows in a gripping and compelling stream, making for a very, very readable story.
The book is told in alternating chapters of the days following Jo's accident and the year leading up to it. It works so well, as the reader discovers what led to the breakdown of her family at the same time as Jo. You get to know Jo almost as she gets to know herself and I found I really connected to her and could relate to some of what she is experiencing in the early days before her fall. Jo is going through a time of change, her youngest child has just left home for university and she needs to redefine herself and purpose - something familiar to me as both my children begin to move on. But unlike myself, Jo is surrounded by manipulating people, taken advantage of by her husband, her kids and then others who sense her vulnerability. I loved the subtle development of her character right through the book, and by the end felt satisfied that this now strong and purposeful woman was going to be ok.
The subtle tension created in this book holds right through, with clever twists revealed at just the right moments, keeping me intrigued. Jo's memory loss ensures that the reader is kept guessing about what really lead to the night of the accident along with Jo herself, with clues and suggestions coming in flashbacks. But with sketchy memories and some confusion, how much can we believe of Jo herself? Is her husband Rob trying to protect her or manipulate her? I couldn't stop reading and had to know what was going on, frantically turning pages to fit in just a little bit more and ended up finishing it within a day.
Close To Me is not a heart pumping, edge of your seat thriller. The tension and twists are far more subtle than that. This is a dark story of a marriage and family gone stale, emotional abuse, manipulation and mistrust from those nearest. It's the story of a woman loosing herself even before she looses her memory and a journey of rediscovery and redefining as she finds the strength to gain control of her life . It is compulsive, one-more-chapter reading and I highly recommend it.
So, when starting Close To Me a few days ago, while having a break from attempting to tame my overgrown garden, I gave myself 50 pages. Well, when I checked to see how I was doing I was stunned to find I'd just devoured almost 100! Seriously, this book's pages turn themselves. Amanda Reynolds' writing just flows in a gripping and compelling stream, making for a very, very readable story.
The book is told in alternating chapters of the days following Jo's accident and the year leading up to it. It works so well, as the reader discovers what led to the breakdown of her family at the same time as Jo. You get to know Jo almost as she gets to know herself and I found I really connected to her and could relate to some of what she is experiencing in the early days before her fall. Jo is going through a time of change, her youngest child has just left home for university and she needs to redefine herself and purpose - something familiar to me as both my children begin to move on. But unlike myself, Jo is surrounded by manipulating people, taken advantage of by her husband, her kids and then others who sense her vulnerability. I loved the subtle development of her character right through the book, and by the end felt satisfied that this now strong and purposeful woman was going to be ok.
The subtle tension created in this book holds right through, with clever twists revealed at just the right moments, keeping me intrigued. Jo's memory loss ensures that the reader is kept guessing about what really lead to the night of the accident along with Jo herself, with clues and suggestions coming in flashbacks. But with sketchy memories and some confusion, how much can we believe of Jo herself? Is her husband Rob trying to protect her or manipulate her? I couldn't stop reading and had to know what was going on, frantically turning pages to fit in just a little bit more and ended up finishing it within a day.
Close To Me is not a heart pumping, edge of your seat thriller. The tension and twists are far more subtle than that. This is a dark story of a marriage and family gone stale, emotional abuse, manipulation and mistrust from those nearest. It's the story of a woman loosing herself even before she looses her memory and a journey of rediscovery and redefining as she finds the strength to gain control of her life . It is compulsive, one-more-chapter reading and I highly recommend it.
January 6, 2019
This book was a slow burner for me. I slowly was introduced to each character and I was drawn into their lives. When Jo Harding fell down the steps at home, she wakes up groggy and sore and without a memory of the last year and her husband wants to keep it that way. The last few memories she has is dropping her son off at the university. Jo is having difficulties remembering the night she fell and what she does remember are bits and pieces she does know she keeps getting the feeling of fear towards her husband Rob and a relief every time he goes to work. Rob keeps reminding her how happy they were and how their the perfect couple. If this was true why does their daughter inform her that he told her not to bring up the last year. Rob informs Jo that her phone broke when she fell and gives her a new one with just his number in it and she keeps having nightmares of her fall and Rob pushing her. Jo decides to investigate the last year of her life and it starts with her children and the place she previously volunteered at and she does this without her husband knowing. The more she digs the more she starts to realize maybe they weren’t the perfect couple or family and her husband may be hiding more than she realizes. This book was definitely a psychological thriller that evolves around family drama.
December 5, 2017
Thank you to Quercus USA for sending me an Arc of this book, in exchange of an honest review.
I give this book a 3 out of 5 stars.
I am not sure where I want to start with this review. I had a very hard time connecting with this book. I did enjoy it, but I had a very hard time connecting, or liking any of the characters. I also felt that the first 3/4 of the book read extremely slow. But the last 1/4 of the book I really enjoyed, I loved seeing how it all came together, and finding out what happened the day of Jo's fall, and the nice little twist on the very last page was a nice surprise too. Kind of redeemed itself of my struggle getting through the book. I had almost DNF'D this book, and I am very happy that I decided not to. I feel like the ending was worth it.
Buy On Amazon, Here.
I give this book a 3 out of 5 stars.
I am not sure where I want to start with this review. I had a very hard time connecting with this book. I did enjoy it, but I had a very hard time connecting, or liking any of the characters. I also felt that the first 3/4 of the book read extremely slow. But the last 1/4 of the book I really enjoyed, I loved seeing how it all came together, and finding out what happened the day of Jo's fall, and the nice little twist on the very last page was a nice surprise too. Kind of redeemed itself of my struggle getting through the book. I had almost DNF'D this book, and I am very happy that I decided not to. I feel like the ending was worth it.
Buy On Amazon, Here.
December 27, 2023
2,25/5⭐
Bardzo długo czytałam tę książkę, aczkolwiek jej treść czy sposób pisania autorki nie był tego przyczyną. Mianowicie leżała ona w mieszkaniu brata i podczytywałam ją tylko wtedy, gdy, u niego byłam. Książka napisana jest dość przyjemnym i lekkim językiem, więc gdy już po nią sięgałam, to strony leciały mi w miarę szybko. Natomiast cała historia bez żadnego "wow". Dość przewidywalna, dodatkowo bez wielkiego plot twistu. Główna bohaterka była momentami denerwująca, tak jak w sumie większość osób, które się tam pojawiały. Wykorzystanie motywu utraty pamięci dość słabe, liczyłam na naprawdę coś więcej, na jakąś bardziej uknutą intrygę.
Bardzo długo czytałam tę książkę, aczkolwiek jej treść czy sposób pisania autorki nie był tego przyczyną. Mianowicie leżała ona w mieszkaniu brata i podczytywałam ją tylko wtedy, gdy, u niego byłam. Książka napisana jest dość przyjemnym i lekkim językiem, więc gdy już po nią sięgałam, to strony leciały mi w miarę szybko. Natomiast cała historia bez żadnego "wow". Dość przewidywalna, dodatkowo bez wielkiego plot twistu. Główna bohaterka była momentami denerwująca, tak jak w sumie większość osób, które się tam pojawiały. Wykorzystanie motywu utraty pamięci dość słabe, liczyłam na naprawdę coś więcej, na jakąś bardziej uknutą intrygę.
October 5, 2017
I tried to read this one a little while back and I couldn't get into it at all.
Read
March 29, 2017Close to Me is hugely addictive. It’s a fabulously twisty novel that forces you to keep the pages turning. I loved the family dynamic - it was more their relationship that kept me glued to the book than the mystery. This story flows fluently across the pages, keeping us locked down tight in its grip, with surprise and shock marking off the moments to its conclusion.
Jo Harding is suffering with partial amnesia, which prevents her from remembering the last year of her life. She is told it was caused by a simple accident - falling down the stairs - but Jo has no recollection of that evening. And as she readjusts, she is shocked by the stark contrast from the life she led a year ago to the one she leads now. But soon, the whole truth of her reality is set to blow her fragile existence into utter chaos. In a tale of secrets, darkness and betrayals, Close To Me unravels beautifully right up to the last chilling sentence.
"I turn away from my husband, shifting my weight on to my side, as far from him as the bed will allow. The movement is instinctive, dulled by the fact I'm only half awake, in the place between reality and unreality."
As you can see, straight away from the very first sentence, there is a chasm siting between these two people. Some unknown trouble that lurks there. And, you will see, what follows, as you delve into this book, grows and grows into something so much more than a simple grim miasma.
Told through he eyes of protagonist Jo Harding, this story alternates between past and present - before the fall and after. I really loved how Amanda Reynolds has told this story - the before and after chapters are clear and easy to follow. Flashing back and forth, it gives you enough back-story to fully realise how much the past has influenced the future.
This is a very addictive read. It isn’t as original as some of the books in it’s genre but the writing is fabulous - engaging and engrossing. Really looking forward to Amanda Reynolds’ next book!
Engrossing. Dark. Addictive.
I received my review copy via the publisher.
Jo Harding is suffering with partial amnesia, which prevents her from remembering the last year of her life. She is told it was caused by a simple accident - falling down the stairs - but Jo has no recollection of that evening. And as she readjusts, she is shocked by the stark contrast from the life she led a year ago to the one she leads now. But soon, the whole truth of her reality is set to blow her fragile existence into utter chaos. In a tale of secrets, darkness and betrayals, Close To Me unravels beautifully right up to the last chilling sentence.
"I turn away from my husband, shifting my weight on to my side, as far from him as the bed will allow. The movement is instinctive, dulled by the fact I'm only half awake, in the place between reality and unreality."
As you can see, straight away from the very first sentence, there is a chasm siting between these two people. Some unknown trouble that lurks there. And, you will see, what follows, as you delve into this book, grows and grows into something so much more than a simple grim miasma.
Told through he eyes of protagonist Jo Harding, this story alternates between past and present - before the fall and after. I really loved how Amanda Reynolds has told this story - the before and after chapters are clear and easy to follow. Flashing back and forth, it gives you enough back-story to fully realise how much the past has influenced the future.
This is a very addictive read. It isn’t as original as some of the books in it’s genre but the writing is fabulous - engaging and engrossing. Really looking forward to Amanda Reynolds’ next book!
Engrossing. Dark. Addictive.
I received my review copy via the publisher.
December 8, 2017
CLOSE TO ME by Amanda Reynolds -
Thank you so much to Quercus for my free advance copy - all opinions are my own.
“I have no frame of reference for what just happened and no idea what to do next. He’s my husband of twenty-four years; I thought I knew everything about him.”
My Review:
Let me just start by saying this book has a VERY slow start. It took me about 100 pages before I got sucked in but it was completely worth it. I was incredibly frustrated the entire time I was reading this novel but I believe that was author’s intention. I felt as if I was in Jo Harding’s mind as she was trying to figure out what happened during her lost year and what happened the day of the fall. The chapters alternate between days after the fall and months before the fall, up until you reach the point where the two collide.
As a reader you experience everything from Jo’s perspective. However, she relies heavily on her husband Rob and two children for much of her memory, so needless to say she is a very unreliable narrator. I found myself getting anxious because I needed to know how this played out. I needed to know what and when Jo would remember. But like I said before, the book is moves slowly at first, but definitely picks up the pace rapidly, and has a fantastic ending! I highly recommend for those who enjoy psychological domestic thrillers!
Thank you so much to Quercus for my free advance copy - all opinions are my own.
“I have no frame of reference for what just happened and no idea what to do next. He’s my husband of twenty-four years; I thought I knew everything about him.”
My Review:
Let me just start by saying this book has a VERY slow start. It took me about 100 pages before I got sucked in but it was completely worth it. I was incredibly frustrated the entire time I was reading this novel but I believe that was author’s intention. I felt as if I was in Jo Harding’s mind as she was trying to figure out what happened during her lost year and what happened the day of the fall. The chapters alternate between days after the fall and months before the fall, up until you reach the point where the two collide.
As a reader you experience everything from Jo’s perspective. However, she relies heavily on her husband Rob and two children for much of her memory, so needless to say she is a very unreliable narrator. I found myself getting anxious because I needed to know how this played out. I needed to know what and when Jo would remember. But like I said before, the book is moves slowly at first, but definitely picks up the pace rapidly, and has a fantastic ending! I highly recommend for those who enjoy psychological domestic thrillers!
December 6, 2017
Thanks to Quercus for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
What would you do if you woke up and couldn't remember anything from the last year of your life? CLOSE TO ME by Amanda Reynolds follows Jo Harding as she struggles to find out what happened to her the night she fell as well has the year of memories she has lost.
We start off with Jo waking up in the hospital. She finds out she has partial amnesia from falling down the stairs. The last thing she can remember - dropping her son off at college - happened a year ago. As she tries to piece together her life from the last year, things don't feel right. Her husband and her children don't feel familiar. Was she the attentive wife and mother she thought she was? As she begins to remember, she quickly realizes that she wasn't who everyone thought she was.
This is definitely more of a "diving inside the mind of the character" type mystery. It's a slow burning mystery/thriller and I felt that Reynolds did a good job pulling me along through the novel. What happened to Jo? I couldn't imagine not knowing what happened for a year of my life and having everyone around me feel foreign. I know that this won't be for everyone - if you're looking for a fast-paced thriller then this won't fit the bill. However, if you like the slow build of tension with a faster paced ending, then you'll have to grab this debut!
Overall, this was a solid debut. It felt a little slow in parts, but that's expected when it's a more character focused suspense. I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for more from Amanda Reynolds in the future!
I give this 4/5 stars
What would you do if you woke up and couldn't remember anything from the last year of your life? CLOSE TO ME by Amanda Reynolds follows Jo Harding as she struggles to find out what happened to her the night she fell as well has the year of memories she has lost.
We start off with Jo waking up in the hospital. She finds out she has partial amnesia from falling down the stairs. The last thing she can remember - dropping her son off at college - happened a year ago. As she tries to piece together her life from the last year, things don't feel right. Her husband and her children don't feel familiar. Was she the attentive wife and mother she thought she was? As she begins to remember, she quickly realizes that she wasn't who everyone thought she was.
This is definitely more of a "diving inside the mind of the character" type mystery. It's a slow burning mystery/thriller and I felt that Reynolds did a good job pulling me along through the novel. What happened to Jo? I couldn't imagine not knowing what happened for a year of my life and having everyone around me feel foreign. I know that this won't be for everyone - if you're looking for a fast-paced thriller then this won't fit the bill. However, if you like the slow build of tension with a faster paced ending, then you'll have to grab this debut!
Overall, this was a solid debut. It felt a little slow in parts, but that's expected when it's a more character focused suspense. I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for more from Amanda Reynolds in the future!
I give this 4/5 stars
September 29, 2017
Jo Harding is a good wife, with a loving husband, Rob and two grown up children, Sash and Fin.
When Jo finds herself at the bottom of the stairs, after a violent fall, the paramedics asking her endless questions, her only thought is that she doesn't want her husband near her. But why? He's trying to help? Isn't he?
The following morning, Jo realises that she has somehow forgotten all that has happened in the past year. Her Son hasn't just left for University, he has in fact left University early. Her Daughter has a boyfriend that the family don't really approve of, but she can't work out why.
Although there is something awfully familiar about him...
And then there's the mystery of her mobile phone. Jo is sure that she didn't break it during her fall. But she has no reason to believe that anything her husband is telling her isn't the truth.
So why does she feel so uneasy around him suddenly?
And why on earth can't she remember volunteering at a drop in centre with a lovely lady called Rose, whose messages she has found, and who seems extremely concerned about Jo.
Jo's only thought seems to constantly be why? And no one is giving her the answers that she so desperately needs.
When Jo finds herself at the bottom of the stairs, after a violent fall, the paramedics asking her endless questions, her only thought is that she doesn't want her husband near her. But why? He's trying to help? Isn't he?
The following morning, Jo realises that she has somehow forgotten all that has happened in the past year. Her Son hasn't just left for University, he has in fact left University early. Her Daughter has a boyfriend that the family don't really approve of, but she can't work out why.
Although there is something awfully familiar about him...
And then there's the mystery of her mobile phone. Jo is sure that she didn't break it during her fall. But she has no reason to believe that anything her husband is telling her isn't the truth.
So why does she feel so uneasy around him suddenly?
And why on earth can't she remember volunteering at a drop in centre with a lovely lady called Rose, whose messages she has found, and who seems extremely concerned about Jo.
Jo's only thought seems to constantly be why? And no one is giving her the answers that she so desperately needs.
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