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Blurred Lines
She spoke out. I stayed silent. What would you do?
‘Perfectly paced, the twists and turns and executed with precision’ Woman Home
‘One of the most powerful stay-with-you books that I’ve read in the past year’ Jane Corry, author of I Looked Away
When Becky walks in on her boss with a woman who isn’t his wife, she’s horrified, but says nothing. She owes Matthew too much.
But when the same woman accuses him of rape, Becky is trapped in a nightmare. Was what she saw rape – or is Matthew, her trusted mentor, telling the truth? Becky must try to ignore her own traumatic past and its terrible hold on her.
As Becky attempts to untangle these blurred lines, she risks everything, even her home and family, to find the truth…
‘Perfectly paced, the twists and turns and executed with precision’ Woman Home
‘One of the most powerful stay-with-you books that I’ve read in the past year’ Jane Corry, author of I Looked Away
When Becky walks in on her boss with a woman who isn’t his wife, she’s horrified, but says nothing. She owes Matthew too much.
But when the same woman accuses him of rape, Becky is trapped in a nightmare. Was what she saw rape – or is Matthew, her trusted mentor, telling the truth? Becky must try to ignore her own traumatic past and its terrible hold on her.
As Becky attempts to untangle these blurred lines, she risks everything, even her home and family, to find the truth…
- GenresMystery ThrillerFiction
416 pages, Paperback
First published July 9, 2020
62 people are currently reading
308 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
August 15, 2020
When Becky accidently sees her boss with a woman who isn't his wife, she's horrified. She owes Matthew so much for all that's he's done for her career. But when the same woman accuses him of rape and asks for the witness to come forward, Becky doesn't know what to do.
The story jumps back and forward between Becky's past and the present day. This is a thought provoking read that's hard to read in places. It's descriptivley and sensitively written. Becky is torn. She does not know if it was consenting sex or rape that she witnessed. Will Becky eventually come forward?
I would like to thank NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and the author Hannah Begbie for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The story jumps back and forward between Becky's past and the present day. This is a thought provoking read that's hard to read in places. It's descriptivley and sensitively written. Becky is torn. She does not know if it was consenting sex or rape that she witnessed. Will Becky eventually come forward?
I would like to thank NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and the author Hannah Begbie for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 13, 2021
What an awesome story. So intense and tightly plotted with a brilliant twist. Thrillers rarely have any proper depth to them, but this was a very "real" story and served to explore the fickle and superficial world of celebrity and the affects of hounding celebrities based on gossip alone.
Becky has landed a promising job in the film industry, and is on her way to producing her first feature based on a Greek myth and going to Cannes to scope out some possible actors. One night however, she goes to her boss's house to drop off a celebratory bottle of wine and catches him on the floor having sex with someone that isn't his wife. Fair enough, his boss is entitled to do whatever he wants, it's none of her business, is it? The only trouble is, the woman involved happens to be an up and coming actress who is now accusing Becky's boss of raping her. Can Becky be sure what she saw? And even if she is, can she afford to give up her career to go against her boss?
I love moral tales like this, and like the way the Greek Myth (Medea) is woven into the modern narrative.
Becky has landed a promising job in the film industry, and is on her way to producing her first feature based on a Greek myth and going to Cannes to scope out some possible actors. One night however, she goes to her boss's house to drop off a celebratory bottle of wine and catches him on the floor having sex with someone that isn't his wife. Fair enough, his boss is entitled to do whatever he wants, it's none of her business, is it? The only trouble is, the woman involved happens to be an up and coming actress who is now accusing Becky's boss of raping her. Can Becky be sure what she saw? And even if she is, can she afford to give up her career to go against her boss?
I love moral tales like this, and like the way the Greek Myth (Medea) is woven into the modern narrative.
September 12, 2024
Good idea but the characters don’t fit. As with our British friends, so many times, characters divided by class and money.
Unfortunately I didn’t like the audio narrator.
Ending quite predictable anyway.
And book sort of boring actually.
Unfortunately I didn’t like the audio narrator.
Ending quite predictable anyway.
And book sort of boring actually.
June 6, 2020
I found this book too slow. The premise sounded amazing but it was just not gripping enough for me and I expected more from reading the reviews
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September 14, 2020Becky Shawcross is a producer's assistant in the glamorous (ha!) world of film production. When Becky witnesses her boss having sex with a woman who is not his wife, and when the woman then accuses him of rape, Becky is forced to examine whether she believes the sex she witnessed was consensual, or not. And in doing so, Becky has to confront her own teenage past and the life she's built with her own teenage daughter. Will she speak out against her boss, when her own livelihood depends on his support?
This novel really crept up on me. I'm trying to read all of the #MeToo(-inspired) stories that I can, and Blurred Lines stood out because of the author's background in the industry, plus it's currently 99p on Kindle. A bargain.
As a former talent agent, Hannah Begbie gets the dynamic of producers and agents, assistants and development spot on, and has some fun fictionalising the world of production companies and the Cannes film festival - where Becky connects with a female director in the loos (been there! I met Jojo Moyes in the ladies loos, once). Right at the start of the book, we're plunged into the dilemma of the story: Becky walks in on her boss - the award-winning film producer Matthew Kingsman - having sex with a woman who is not his wife. Rushing from the scene, we soon learn more about Becky and what happened to her in the past, which is uncovered in flashbacks: young, hopeful, awkward Becky from Hounslow is invited to a teenage party in Hampstead, where she's out of place with all the rich kids, and soon gets very drunk. I won't say any more than that but, as with the film scenes, the authenticity shines; I work in the film business in the UK where the novel is set (though I have never experienced anything like this, luckily!), and I also went to school in Hampstead so can say that, yep, this is sometimes what it was like, and yep, those kids really can be that privileged and uncaring. :)
Blurred Lines isn't quite a thriller, at least not as hardboiled as the cover indicates. (As an aside, this is the third HarperFiction novel I've read without its final cover on goodreads. Can the publisher or a librarian please add?)
What this is is a suspense novel about a moral dilemma and a gripping exploration of what it takes to believe women, and how hard it can be to believe your own eyes or to speak out in support. This is a novel about nice men with earnest rationales for their own behaviour. I read it in one morning and would really like to chat to the author, because I suspect we have a lot in common to talk about. Well-written and well told, with some surprising reveals, this had me wondering what I would do in the same situation, and ultimately left me pretty angry at the way the world works, actually, in fact, thank you very much.
This novel really crept up on me. I'm trying to read all of the #MeToo(-inspired) stories that I can, and Blurred Lines stood out because of the author's background in the industry, plus it's currently 99p on Kindle. A bargain.
As a former talent agent, Hannah Begbie gets the dynamic of producers and agents, assistants and development spot on, and has some fun fictionalising the world of production companies and the Cannes film festival - where Becky connects with a female director in the loos (been there! I met Jojo Moyes in the ladies loos, once). Right at the start of the book, we're plunged into the dilemma of the story: Becky walks in on her boss - the award-winning film producer Matthew Kingsman - having sex with a woman who is not his wife. Rushing from the scene, we soon learn more about Becky and what happened to her in the past, which is uncovered in flashbacks: young, hopeful, awkward Becky from Hounslow is invited to a teenage party in Hampstead, where she's out of place with all the rich kids, and soon gets very drunk. I won't say any more than that but, as with the film scenes, the authenticity shines; I work in the film business in the UK where the novel is set (though I have never experienced anything like this, luckily!), and I also went to school in Hampstead so can say that, yep, this is sometimes what it was like, and yep, those kids really can be that privileged and uncaring. :)
Blurred Lines isn't quite a thriller, at least not as hardboiled as the cover indicates. (As an aside, this is the third HarperFiction novel I've read without its final cover on goodreads. Can the publisher or a librarian please add?)
What this is is a suspense novel about a moral dilemma and a gripping exploration of what it takes to believe women, and how hard it can be to believe your own eyes or to speak out in support. This is a novel about nice men with earnest rationales for their own behaviour. I read it in one morning and would really like to chat to the author, because I suspect we have a lot in common to talk about. Well-written and well told, with some surprising reveals, this had me wondering what I would do in the same situation, and ultimately left me pretty angry at the way the world works, actually, in fact, thank you very much.
April 17, 2020
Exceptionally timely, well-written and thought provoking. Not only did Blurred Lines stay with me, so did Medea.
June 15, 2020
This was a surprisingly great novel. It's a very interesting topic as the protagonist is faced with a huge moral dilemma that might just ruin her career. I found it to be a quick read, and throughout the book I wasn't sure how it would end. It was written brilliantly, and I enjoyed it very much.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this E-book to review via Netgalley.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this E-book to review via Netgalley.
November 2, 2023
‘Blurred Lines’ by Hannah Begbie is certainly a tale for our times. Rather than focusing on the perpetrator of a rape or his victim, the author allows us into the mind of an observer who, nearly two decades earlier, was also abused.
Becky is an up-and-coming film producer, keen to launch her film project, a modern day take on ‘Medea’. She finds her director and star at Cannes and, at last, begins to believe in herself. However, at the same time, she has to grapple with the fact that she may have witnessed her boss and influential friend, Matthew, raping an actress. When the latter goes to the police, what is Becky to do? To whom will she be loyal? Where does the truth lie? How does her past influence her judgement?
This is a psychologically convincing portrayal of a vulnerable woman desperate to persuade herself that she is making the right decisions. Begbie is particularly good at showing her readers that what we may think of as morally obvious paths can appear dangerous and complicated, depending on one’s perspective. The depiction of both the men and the women in this novel is entirely believable and the bravely written last pages only make story all the more convincing.
My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review.
Becky is an up-and-coming film producer, keen to launch her film project, a modern day take on ‘Medea’. She finds her director and star at Cannes and, at last, begins to believe in herself. However, at the same time, she has to grapple with the fact that she may have witnessed her boss and influential friend, Matthew, raping an actress. When the latter goes to the police, what is Becky to do? To whom will she be loyal? Where does the truth lie? How does her past influence her judgement?
This is a psychologically convincing portrayal of a vulnerable woman desperate to persuade herself that she is making the right decisions. Begbie is particularly good at showing her readers that what we may think of as morally obvious paths can appear dangerous and complicated, depending on one’s perspective. The depiction of both the men and the women in this novel is entirely believable and the bravely written last pages only make story all the more convincing.
My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review.
November 10, 2020
I was sent a copy of Blurred Lines by Hannah Begbie to read and review by NetGalley. I have to confess I did not finish this book. It goes against the grain for me to abandon a book but I’m afraid I just couldn’t read any further. I had got halfway through and it is possible that the story steps up a pace in the second half but, for me, there just wasn’t anything there that kept me wanting to read on. I couldn’t identify with any of the characters and the same words just seemed to keep going round and round and round. It wasn’t as if the prose itself was engaging enough to keep me interested. I expect that there will be readers out there that can become immersed in the story and the feelings that the protagonist, Becky, has (which is what this novel is all about) but I’m afraid that this just wasn’t for me.
August 21, 2020
An engrossing read. Rape cases are difficult to read about and must be even harder to write about but this one is sensitively handled and highlights the extremely difficult decisions potential witnesses have to make before involving themselves in a trial. It's a thought-provoking, beautifully written, at times uncomfortable, read about power, justice and moral responsibility that feels very relevant. Although I guessed the truth, I really liked the way it was revealed and the story kept me glued to the end.
October 28, 2020
Very slow. I liked the idea of the story. I skimmed it so it could end quicker though as I couldnt gel with the characters.
July 28, 2022
The concept was there….. this is just horribly written and boring. I enjoyed about 20 pages of this 400 page book. Also, lame ending all around
August 15, 2020
Blurred Lines is a very thought provoking story. A type of story that makes you wonder what would you do in that situation?
Becky is just about to embark on living her dream of making a film. And, she has her boss Matthew to thank for this chance. So, when she pops round to his house with a bottle of wine as a thank you gift. She unwittingly walks in on him and another woman in a compromising position. What exactly has she witnessed? Will she speak out about what she saw?
It's clear that Becky is dealing with issues in her personal life. And, what these are become clearer when we read about her teenage life. It also makes more sense as to why she behaves the way she does.
I really enjoyed this story. I like the way it's written so that we can form our own judgement of the characters along the way, and try and piece together who is telling the truth or not. I kept trying to put myself in Becky's shoes but found it very tough to formulate a conclusion.
I did find the story slow in some parts, and a bit repetitive. But, that is obviously to hammer home to us the facts of the story and to give us clarity.
When one of the plotlines started to be uncovered, and I could see in what direction it was going. I was shouting "No No No Way. That cannot be true" it was then that I realised how I'd been duped by a character, and it made me question my ability to judge someone. Obviously, this was down to Hannah Begbie's writing skill. But, it does give you pause for thought that what you see is not entirely what you get.
Becky's idea of her film is based on the ancient Greek myth Medea. A contemporary retelling of a woman who takes back her power in a messy and destructive way. Is her film idea a take on what Becky wants to do in real life? You'll just have to read Blurred Lines to see what has caused Becky to feel this way.
I will definitely be reading more books from Begbie. Thank you to Anne @ Random Things Tours for my spot on the blog tour. And, thanks to Harper Collins for my gifted copy.
Becky is just about to embark on living her dream of making a film. And, she has her boss Matthew to thank for this chance. So, when she pops round to his house with a bottle of wine as a thank you gift. She unwittingly walks in on him and another woman in a compromising position. What exactly has she witnessed? Will she speak out about what she saw?
It's clear that Becky is dealing with issues in her personal life. And, what these are become clearer when we read about her teenage life. It also makes more sense as to why she behaves the way she does.
I really enjoyed this story. I like the way it's written so that we can form our own judgement of the characters along the way, and try and piece together who is telling the truth or not. I kept trying to put myself in Becky's shoes but found it very tough to formulate a conclusion.
I did find the story slow in some parts, and a bit repetitive. But, that is obviously to hammer home to us the facts of the story and to give us clarity.
When one of the plotlines started to be uncovered, and I could see in what direction it was going. I was shouting "No No No Way. That cannot be true" it was then that I realised how I'd been duped by a character, and it made me question my ability to judge someone. Obviously, this was down to Hannah Begbie's writing skill. But, it does give you pause for thought that what you see is not entirely what you get.
Becky's idea of her film is based on the ancient Greek myth Medea. A contemporary retelling of a woman who takes back her power in a messy and destructive way. Is her film idea a take on what Becky wants to do in real life? You'll just have to read Blurred Lines to see what has caused Becky to feel this way.
I will definitely be reading more books from Begbie. Thank you to Anne @ Random Things Tours for my spot on the blog tour. And, thanks to Harper Collins for my gifted copy.
August 20, 2020
Sometimes you read the synopsis of a book and it completely grabs you. It captures your imagination, makes you think "what would I do if…". That's what happened to me with Blurred Lines. As soon as I read the synopsis I knew I desperately wanted to read this book.
The tagline is that "there are two sides to every story". Becky is a budding film producer and one evening she sees her boss, Matthew, having sexual relations with a woman. She's embarrassed but doesn't think too much of it until the woman accuses Matthew of rape. Was it rape? Only Matthew and the woman know the answer to that. But tightly wound up in this is something that happened in Becky's own past and also the fact that Matthew is helping Becky to make her own film, thereby fulfilling her ambitions. There are so many blurred lines in this book that it's a wonder I could see straight to read it!
I was expecting a wow book and I'll be honest and say that I was a little worried in the first chapters that maybe it wouldn't be that for me. Then, all of a sudden, I found myself turning the pages without stopping for breath, so engrossed was I in Becky's story, both past and present. It definitely was a wow book after all.
I had a feeling about how things were going to turn out and I was right but that doesn't take anything away from the plotting. We don't all need major twists; a well-written story is enough. The power of this story is in considering boundaries and how and when they are crossed for different people. I found tears springing to my eyes and I could see it from so many different perspectives, with several moral and ethical dilemmas thrown into the mix. Hannah Begbie has written something so thought-provoking and so incredibly relevant with Blurred Lines.
I thought this was a brilliant read. The characters are so well-drawn I felt as if I knew them and was involved personally in their lives. I was made to care about them. Couple that with a fantastic story and writing that completely pulled me in, and this is a winner in my eyes.
The tagline is that "there are two sides to every story". Becky is a budding film producer and one evening she sees her boss, Matthew, having sexual relations with a woman. She's embarrassed but doesn't think too much of it until the woman accuses Matthew of rape. Was it rape? Only Matthew and the woman know the answer to that. But tightly wound up in this is something that happened in Becky's own past and also the fact that Matthew is helping Becky to make her own film, thereby fulfilling her ambitions. There are so many blurred lines in this book that it's a wonder I could see straight to read it!
I was expecting a wow book and I'll be honest and say that I was a little worried in the first chapters that maybe it wouldn't be that for me. Then, all of a sudden, I found myself turning the pages without stopping for breath, so engrossed was I in Becky's story, both past and present. It definitely was a wow book after all.
I had a feeling about how things were going to turn out and I was right but that doesn't take anything away from the plotting. We don't all need major twists; a well-written story is enough. The power of this story is in considering boundaries and how and when they are crossed for different people. I found tears springing to my eyes and I could see it from so many different perspectives, with several moral and ethical dilemmas thrown into the mix. Hannah Begbie has written something so thought-provoking and so incredibly relevant with Blurred Lines.
I thought this was a brilliant read. The characters are so well-drawn I felt as if I knew them and was involved personally in their lives. I was made to care about them. Couple that with a fantastic story and writing that completely pulled me in, and this is a winner in my eyes.
August 21, 2020
This would make such a brilliant book club read, so much of this is thought provoking. It made me question what I would do in that situation and provides some fantastic moral dilemmas.
Would I give up everything I had worked for to save the damage and reputation of a woman I barely know? The answer for me is a resounding yes as I would want someone to do the same for my daughters if they were ever in that situation. But not everything in this book is black and white, with a past that hinders Becky’s decisions and unsure of exactly what she saw there is definitely blurred lines. Hence the perfect title.
The characters were written with such insight that as you read you are quietly forming your own judgements and trying to see beyond what they state to determine the truth. With everything happening regarding the MeToo movement and more recently the accusations being thrown from both sides between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, the only people who ever know the real truth are the ones that lived it and unfortunately personality comes into play when it comes to being believed.
A thoroughly engaging and massively current read that questions the crossing of boundaries, the issue of consent and leaves you with the thought what would I do?
Would I give up everything I had worked for to save the damage and reputation of a woman I barely know? The answer for me is a resounding yes as I would want someone to do the same for my daughters if they were ever in that situation. But not everything in this book is black and white, with a past that hinders Becky’s decisions and unsure of exactly what she saw there is definitely blurred lines. Hence the perfect title.
The characters were written with such insight that as you read you are quietly forming your own judgements and trying to see beyond what they state to determine the truth. With everything happening regarding the MeToo movement and more recently the accusations being thrown from both sides between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, the only people who ever know the real truth are the ones that lived it and unfortunately personality comes into play when it comes to being believed.
A thoroughly engaging and massively current read that questions the crossing of boundaries, the issue of consent and leaves you with the thought what would I do?
September 22, 2020
Quite a read!!!
What a dilemma to find yourself in, not sure how I'd react!
I'd like to think that I'd do the right thing immediately but who really knows until put in that position!
Took me a while to get into it - but glad that I persevered.
What a dilemma to find yourself in, not sure how I'd react!
I'd like to think that I'd do the right thing immediately but who really knows until put in that position!
Took me a while to get into it - but glad that I persevered.
November 5, 2020
Very relevant in todays world. A gripping, hard hitting story. Great twists. Will stay with you for a while.
March 7, 2023
Thought provoking
November 24, 2021
I did not get on with the writing of the book itself, and neither did I like the protagonist. These two things form the brunt of my criticism which I think prevented me from giving this book a 4 or 5 star review. That being said, I did engage with the book’s subject matter and can recognise the significance and importance of its message.
The writing of the book was clunky and cliche at best and at worst it was frustrating and cringey. The use of continuous present tense in combination with the omniscient narrative perspective is a huge pet peeve of mine and makes for quite an irritating read (in my own perspective). Another annoying thing was how the perspective kept changing from young Becky to her older self as a mother but yet it’s in 3rd person perspective all the way even though it’s clearly steeped in her perceptive so my question I guess becomes - why?! The pace of the story was genuinely very slow - it was literally 200 pages in and nothing of substance had quite happened and there was too much time spent on wordy background stories and peripheral fluff. It could have been much more poignant if it was more to the point.
I also definitely cringed quite a few times at Becky’s actions (why is Becky even a protagonist name btw what kind of name is that ahaha just another pet peeve of mine) and toxic ways of coping with her trauma. I understand that trauma survivors often engage in destructive behaviour and self-sabotage but it gets to a point where a lot of it was preventable and avoidable had she just communicated more and sought professional help…. Probably am being very uncharitable here but it is what it is.
That being said though, what stuck with me was the main subject matter of the book - a thought provoking plot and premise that raises crucial questions about what exactly constitutes r*pe and to what extent it is (or isn’t) an intersubjective experience. It is unclear where Becky’s trauma stems from - whether it’s from her narrative of the situation or the situation itself and whether or not it was ultimately really her fault or not. I liked the parallel plots but it could have been a lot more succinct. Just for the fact that the conclusion of the book was so ambiguous, I would recommend it to a reader because I’m dying to discuss this book with someone. Definitely left me feeling very ambivalent and realising how much grey area there is when it comes to s*xual assault and r*pe.
The writing of the book was clunky and cliche at best and at worst it was frustrating and cringey. The use of continuous present tense in combination with the omniscient narrative perspective is a huge pet peeve of mine and makes for quite an irritating read (in my own perspective). Another annoying thing was how the perspective kept changing from young Becky to her older self as a mother but yet it’s in 3rd person perspective all the way even though it’s clearly steeped in her perceptive so my question I guess becomes - why?! The pace of the story was genuinely very slow - it was literally 200 pages in and nothing of substance had quite happened and there was too much time spent on wordy background stories and peripheral fluff. It could have been much more poignant if it was more to the point.
I also definitely cringed quite a few times at Becky’s actions (why is Becky even a protagonist name btw what kind of name is that ahaha just another pet peeve of mine) and toxic ways of coping with her trauma. I understand that trauma survivors often engage in destructive behaviour and self-sabotage but it gets to a point where a lot of it was preventable and avoidable had she just communicated more and sought professional help…. Probably am being very uncharitable here but it is what it is.
That being said though, what stuck with me was the main subject matter of the book - a thought provoking plot and premise that raises crucial questions about what exactly constitutes r*pe and to what extent it is (or isn’t) an intersubjective experience. It is unclear where Becky’s trauma stems from - whether it’s from her narrative of the situation or the situation itself and whether or not it was ultimately really her fault or not. I liked the parallel plots but it could have been a lot more succinct. Just for the fact that the conclusion of the book was so ambiguous, I would recommend it to a reader because I’m dying to discuss this book with someone. Definitely left me feeling very ambivalent and realising how much grey area there is when it comes to s*xual assault and r*pe.
August 12, 2020
I have to say, I’ve found this review a bit hard to write... this book connected with me on a level that I really wasn’t expecting. Usually with a thriller I like them to be explosive, with loads of twists and then a big shock at the end.
This seemed to start off with the big event and shock happening within the first couple of pages and I didn’t know where it was going to go from there. It takes the time to really connect with the character of Becky and you get to see the reasoning behind her actions and decisions.
When Becky walks in on her boss with a women that isn’t his wife she flees. What did she actually witness, was it consensual and he was having an affair or was this something more sinister.
When the female steps out claiming rape and asks for the woman in the kitchen to speak up Becky is trapped. Does she confess to what she saw or does she keep quiet, that way she’ll keep her film, the one thing she’s been working on for years.
When I first started reading this I felt I knew straight away what I’d do but Hannah’s writing takes you back to experience Becky’s last and it leads you to the reasoning behind the decisions she’s made, and is still making.
As you progress and the big secret gets revealed I did start to guess at the ending, but in a ‘no they wouldn’t do that..’ way. I didn’t expect it to actually happen.
This book has left me feeling a bit unsure if I’m honest... it goes so deep and really rattles to the core and touches at the #metoo where women are afraid to speak out about rape.
I wouldn’t exactly call this a thriller but more of a reflective read with an unexpected turn of events.
This seemed to start off with the big event and shock happening within the first couple of pages and I didn’t know where it was going to go from there. It takes the time to really connect with the character of Becky and you get to see the reasoning behind her actions and decisions.
When Becky walks in on her boss with a women that isn’t his wife she flees. What did she actually witness, was it consensual and he was having an affair or was this something more sinister.
When the female steps out claiming rape and asks for the woman in the kitchen to speak up Becky is trapped. Does she confess to what she saw or does she keep quiet, that way she’ll keep her film, the one thing she’s been working on for years.
When I first started reading this I felt I knew straight away what I’d do but Hannah’s writing takes you back to experience Becky’s last and it leads you to the reasoning behind the decisions she’s made, and is still making.
As you progress and the big secret gets revealed I did start to guess at the ending, but in a ‘no they wouldn’t do that..’ way. I didn’t expect it to actually happen.
This book has left me feeling a bit unsure if I’m honest... it goes so deep and really rattles to the core and touches at the #metoo where women are afraid to speak out about rape.
I wouldn’t exactly call this a thriller but more of a reflective read with an unexpected turn of events.
August 14, 2020
When Becky walks in on her boss and another woman, who isn’t his wife, in a comprising position she quickly leaves before he sees her. But the woman got a glimpse of Becky before she disappeared and now she’s asking for that witness to come forward because that act she witnessed wasn’t consensual…
This is an incredibly powerful book, honestly written and difficult to read at times. The themes of rape, consent and the echos of the “me too” movement mean that the narrative is very dark, angry and traumatic plus it will make you feel very uncomfortable at times. But it’s so important that you DO feel like that as you need that feeling to understand the emotions flowing through Becky, disturbing her thought and decision making processes.
Everything is handled well here even the descriptions of what happened to Becky, as the author manages to convey the horror of her past perfectly with the emotions Becky experiences. These “he said/she said” experiences show how people see what they want to see and believe what they want to believe. It’s a terrifying thing to do “the right thing” and many people don’t get involved for a multitude of reasons mostly to do with themselves and not others. But our society is changing and attitudes are changing and this book delivers a well written and thought provoking storyline that was always going to divide its readers.
Hannah Begbie has given us her all here with this breathtaking plotline. I loved her writing in Mother and I have to say that I love it even more here! Engaging and exciting, she’s a writer who needs to be on your radar.
This is an incredibly powerful book, honestly written and difficult to read at times. The themes of rape, consent and the echos of the “me too” movement mean that the narrative is very dark, angry and traumatic plus it will make you feel very uncomfortable at times. But it’s so important that you DO feel like that as you need that feeling to understand the emotions flowing through Becky, disturbing her thought and decision making processes.
Everything is handled well here even the descriptions of what happened to Becky, as the author manages to convey the horror of her past perfectly with the emotions Becky experiences. These “he said/she said” experiences show how people see what they want to see and believe what they want to believe. It’s a terrifying thing to do “the right thing” and many people don’t get involved for a multitude of reasons mostly to do with themselves and not others. But our society is changing and attitudes are changing and this book delivers a well written and thought provoking storyline that was always going to divide its readers.
Hannah Begbie has given us her all here with this breathtaking plotline. I loved her writing in Mother and I have to say that I love it even more here! Engaging and exciting, she’s a writer who needs to be on your radar.
August 14, 2020
Thank you to @netgalley and Harper Collins UK for letting me read this ARC! 😍
' Becky doesn't know what to do when she sees the man who has helped build her career and make her life what it is, with another woman who isn't his wife. Things take a turn when the woman accuses him of rape, was what Becky saw what this woman says? Or is this just another actress making up rumours. And how does Becky's traumatic past come into this? '
So for me, it didn't grip me at first. I was reading it so slowly and I just wasn't getting hooked from the chapters - and in my notes my first thoughts were it isn't gripping me. Fast forward to say around 60% it started getting good. I wasn't to read on and it was getting good.
When the twists started happening and the truth started coming out, I have to admit for once I was actually right about my suspicious 🧐 however I was still shocked at how it unravelled and wasn't sure what the truth was.
I felt so sorry for Becky, and I just wish she had someone there to help her, maybe a friend because she pretty much faced it all alone.
I will say as some people do struggle with certain subjects, this could be a possible trigger as some bits are sensitive but it's a well written book. I would've given it 4 stars, but it lost a star only because it took me til 60% to get into it.
' Becky doesn't know what to do when she sees the man who has helped build her career and make her life what it is, with another woman who isn't his wife. Things take a turn when the woman accuses him of rape, was what Becky saw what this woman says? Or is this just another actress making up rumours. And how does Becky's traumatic past come into this? '
So for me, it didn't grip me at first. I was reading it so slowly and I just wasn't getting hooked from the chapters - and in my notes my first thoughts were it isn't gripping me. Fast forward to say around 60% it started getting good. I wasn't to read on and it was getting good.
When the twists started happening and the truth started coming out, I have to admit for once I was actually right about my suspicious 🧐 however I was still shocked at how it unravelled and wasn't sure what the truth was.
I felt so sorry for Becky, and I just wish she had someone there to help her, maybe a friend because she pretty much faced it all alone.
I will say as some people do struggle with certain subjects, this could be a possible trigger as some bits are sensitive but it's a well written book. I would've given it 4 stars, but it lost a star only because it took me til 60% to get into it.
September 12, 2020
Or perhaps up towards a four.
This is an extremely earnest work. Although it has flashier sections of upmarket fashion and gossip magazines, on the whole it presents, develops and analyses and ultimately resolves a moral problem. It is not too much to say that its lineage goes back to Pilgrim’s Progress, through some sort of Trollopian disquisition in which the hero, probably called John, is called upon to wrestle with a besetting issue of conscience, while ultimately winning a gel with a portion of 50,000. Not that the heroine does. In spite of the snazzy settings and the light footed demi- or belle-monde, it’s a bit drawn out and turgid. And I have to say that I remained unconvinced by the heroine’s development from unmarried teenage mother to world-beating cineaste, with a brilliant script derived from a Greek tragedy. Not that it couldn’t happen – we know examples of women who have developed from such adverse starts to become shadow ministers in the British parliament – but it doesn’t happen in the novel. What’s in the script, how it modernises it, how she obtained all these skills – all posited as givens. Too much to ask? A lot of the maundering about the moral problem could profitably have been skipped in favour of some solid evidence for the claims made.
This is an extremely earnest work. Although it has flashier sections of upmarket fashion and gossip magazines, on the whole it presents, develops and analyses and ultimately resolves a moral problem. It is not too much to say that its lineage goes back to Pilgrim’s Progress, through some sort of Trollopian disquisition in which the hero, probably called John, is called upon to wrestle with a besetting issue of conscience, while ultimately winning a gel with a portion of 50,000. Not that the heroine does. In spite of the snazzy settings and the light footed demi- or belle-monde, it’s a bit drawn out and turgid. And I have to say that I remained unconvinced by the heroine’s development from unmarried teenage mother to world-beating cineaste, with a brilliant script derived from a Greek tragedy. Not that it couldn’t happen – we know examples of women who have developed from such adverse starts to become shadow ministers in the British parliament – but it doesn’t happen in the novel. What’s in the script, how it modernises it, how she obtained all these skills – all posited as givens. Too much to ask? A lot of the maundering about the moral problem could profitably have been skipped in favour of some solid evidence for the claims made.
September 6, 2020
I read this is one morning. It was different to what I was expecting, I was expecting more of a he said/ she said psychological suspense type book. It was really an examination into the after effects of being assaulted. Time goes on and some scars just don't ever heal.
Becky is on her way up. She is a 32 year old mother of a teenage girl and is getting her first movie deal off the ground. Her boss, Matthew, who is the champion of her career and she feels she owes him everything is accused of raping a young actress in his home. Becky saw... Something. This event is the catalyst to a reckoning in Becky's life. She has to reckon with her past and her future. And what trade offs can she live with.
This was a great book. The writing was fantastic and I enjoyed it even more than I was expecting. Highly recommend.
Becky is on her way up. She is a 32 year old mother of a teenage girl and is getting her first movie deal off the ground. Her boss, Matthew, who is the champion of her career and she feels she owes him everything is accused of raping a young actress in his home. Becky saw... Something. This event is the catalyst to a reckoning in Becky's life. She has to reckon with her past and her future. And what trade offs can she live with.
This was a great book. The writing was fantastic and I enjoyed it even more than I was expecting. Highly recommend.
August 2, 2020
Hannah Beggbie has brought to life some of the real life perils some women still face in a man’s world, not only within the workplace but also the courage and bravery of the women’s #MeToo call to arms!
After walking into her bosses’ house, with a hefty priced bottle of wine, as a thank-you gift, she finds a lot more than she bargained for! She catches her boss Matthew in the throw’s of passion with a woman (not his wife!) on his kitchen floor. For a second she is like a deer caught in the headlights, unable to move, and then the woman looked in her direction sending her fleeing the house in a hurry.
Was she seen? Should she say something to her boss? Her bosses’ wife? But she owes so much to Matthew who has helped her in her budding work to become a film director, who is championing her film, Medea, which is set to be an award worthy film, and with some of the big names in the industry coming on board to take her film from script to the big screen, this is the break Becky has been working for, and she owes a lot of that to Matthew.
Deciding to just forget about what she witnessed, life continues as normal. That is until the woman on Matthews kitchen floor, a well known actress Amber Heath, is now saying that she was raped.
As Becky is now searching her memory, going back to that night, what did she actually see? At the time she had no reason to doubt that it was anything more than consensual, only now there are seeds of doubt clouded her judgement. And then there is a break in the case; Amber has remembered seeing a woman briefly that night and asked that woman to come forward.
Does she step up and tell everyone that it was her? What difference would it make to Amber’s case because she doesn’t know the truth of what actually happened that night. She had seen nothing in those few minutes to make her think anything had been wrong, other than it was not his wife.
Things soon start to unravel, not only for Matthew but for Amber, Becky, her daughter Maisie and Adam, Maisie’s father as they all get dragged into Ambers accusations.
The book also switches time frames, taking you back to Becky’s youth and the trauma that ruined her teenage years and still has a powerful hold of her years later.
For such a sensitive subject, this story is written with feeling and compassion as well as strength and all completely believable and is bringing a taboo that happens in the real world to the front and centre of every readers mind.
It will be one book that will give everyone pause for thought and stay with you for a very long time.
I hope that this book will give other women the strength and courage to step forward and have their voices heard and maybe even save a life #MeToo
Hannah Beggbie has brought to life some of the real life perils some women still face in a man’s world, not only within the workplace but also the courage and bravery of the women’s #MeToo call to arms!
After walking into her bosses’ house, with a hefty priced bottle of wine, as a thank-you gift, she finds a lot more than she bargained for! She catches her boss Matthew in the throw’s of passion with a woman (not his wife!) on his kitchen floor. For a second she is like a deer caught in the headlights, unable to move, and then the woman looked in her direction sending her fleeing the house in a hurry.
Was she seen? Should she say something to her boss? Her bosses’ wife? But she owes so much to Matthew who has helped her in her budding work to become a film director, who is championing her film, Medea, which is set to be an award worthy film, and with some of the big names in the industry coming on board to take her film from script to the big screen, this is the break Becky has been working for, and she owes a lot of that to Matthew.
Deciding to just forget about what she witnessed, life continues as normal. That is until the woman on Matthews kitchen floor, a well known actress Amber Heath, is now saying that she was raped.
As Becky is now searching her memory, going back to that night, what did she actually see? At the time she had no reason to doubt that it was anything more than consensual, only now there are seeds of doubt clouded her judgement. And then there is a break in the case; Amber has remembered seeing a woman briefly that night and asked that woman to come forward.
Does she step up and tell everyone that it was her? What difference would it make to Amber’s case because she doesn’t know the truth of what actually happened that night. She had seen nothing in those few minutes to make her think anything had been wrong, other than it was not his wife.
Things soon start to unravel, not only for Matthew but for Amber, Becky, her daughter Maisie and Adam, Maisie’s father as they all get dragged into Ambers accusations.
The book also switches time frames, taking you back to Becky’s youth and the trauma that ruined her teenage years and still has a powerful hold of her years later.
For such a sensitive subject, this story is written with feeling and compassion as well as strength and all completely believable and is bringing a taboo that happens in the real world to the front and centre of every readers mind.
It will be one book that will give everyone pause for thought and stay with you for a very long time.
I hope that this book will give other women the strength and courage to step forward and have their voices heard and maybe even save a life #MeToo
https://inkedbookreviews.co.uk
After walking into her bosses’ house, with a hefty priced bottle of wine, as a thank-you gift, she finds a lot more than she bargained for! She catches her boss Matthew in the throw’s of passion with a woman (not his wife!) on his kitchen floor. For a second she is like a deer caught in the headlights, unable to move, and then the woman looked in her direction sending her fleeing the house in a hurry.
Was she seen? Should she say something to her boss? Her bosses’ wife? But she owes so much to Matthew who has helped her in her budding work to become a film director, who is championing her film, Medea, which is set to be an award worthy film, and with some of the big names in the industry coming on board to take her film from script to the big screen, this is the break Becky has been working for, and she owes a lot of that to Matthew.
Deciding to just forget about what she witnessed, life continues as normal. That is until the woman on Matthews kitchen floor, a well known actress Amber Heath, is now saying that she was raped.
As Becky is now searching her memory, going back to that night, what did she actually see? At the time she had no reason to doubt that it was anything more than consensual, only now there are seeds of doubt clouded her judgement. And then there is a break in the case; Amber has remembered seeing a woman briefly that night and asked that woman to come forward.
Does she step up and tell everyone that it was her? What difference would it make to Amber’s case because she doesn’t know the truth of what actually happened that night. She had seen nothing in those few minutes to make her think anything had been wrong, other than it was not his wife.
Things soon start to unravel, not only for Matthew but for Amber, Becky, her daughter Maisie and Adam, Maisie’s father as they all get dragged into Ambers accusations.
The book also switches time frames, taking you back to Becky’s youth and the trauma that ruined her teenage years and still has a powerful hold of her years later.
For such a sensitive subject, this story is written with feeling and compassion as well as strength and all completely believable and is bringing a taboo that happens in the real world to the front and centre of every readers mind.
It will be one book that will give everyone pause for thought and stay with you for a very long time.
I hope that this book will give other women the strength and courage to step forward and have their voices heard and maybe even save a life #MeToo
Hannah Beggbie has brought to life some of the real life perils some women still face in a man’s world, not only within the workplace but also the courage and bravery of the women’s #MeToo call to arms!
After walking into her bosses’ house, with a hefty priced bottle of wine, as a thank-you gift, she finds a lot more than she bargained for! She catches her boss Matthew in the throw’s of passion with a woman (not his wife!) on his kitchen floor. For a second she is like a deer caught in the headlights, unable to move, and then the woman looked in her direction sending her fleeing the house in a hurry.
Was she seen? Should she say something to her boss? Her bosses’ wife? But she owes so much to Matthew who has helped her in her budding work to become a film director, who is championing her film, Medea, which is set to be an award worthy film, and with some of the big names in the industry coming on board to take her film from script to the big screen, this is the break Becky has been working for, and she owes a lot of that to Matthew.
Deciding to just forget about what she witnessed, life continues as normal. That is until the woman on Matthews kitchen floor, a well known actress Amber Heath, is now saying that she was raped.
As Becky is now searching her memory, going back to that night, what did she actually see? At the time she had no reason to doubt that it was anything more than consensual, only now there are seeds of doubt clouded her judgement. And then there is a break in the case; Amber has remembered seeing a woman briefly that night and asked that woman to come forward.
Does she step up and tell everyone that it was her? What difference would it make to Amber’s case because she doesn’t know the truth of what actually happened that night. She had seen nothing in those few minutes to make her think anything had been wrong, other than it was not his wife.
Things soon start to unravel, not only for Matthew but for Amber, Becky, her daughter Maisie and Adam, Maisie’s father as they all get dragged into Ambers accusations.
The book also switches time frames, taking you back to Becky’s youth and the trauma that ruined her teenage years and still has a powerful hold of her years later.
For such a sensitive subject, this story is written with feeling and compassion as well as strength and all completely believable and is bringing a taboo that happens in the real world to the front and centre of every readers mind.
It will be one book that will give everyone pause for thought and stay with you for a very long time.
I hope that this book will give other women the strength and courage to step forward and have their voices heard and maybe even save a life #MeToo
https://inkedbookreviews.co.uk
September 20, 2020
Found this book a bit of a struggle, though wanted to rush through to find out what happened at the end, had guessed the end fairly early on. Did not find the main character altogether understandable and sympathetic. Not my type of read !!
November 15, 2020
I loved this book. So relevant and thought-provoking with great characters and plot. It really did make me think about all the issues it raises and the title of the book is so appropriate! I couldn’t read it fast enough but at the same time I didn’t want to finish it.
January 2, 2021
Took me several weeks to read this, just could not keep me interested until the last 25% or so. (Read another 6 books in between), plus a little predictable.
November 12, 2020
DNF. Too much backstory and not enough pull to keep me interested.
December 9, 2020
Omg what a book! Now if you haven't read what this book is about a huge TRIGGER WARNING it discusses rape throughout the book in detail and it at times can be a hard read.
Blurred lines is centred around Becky who is a producer in London. She is a survivor although she feels like a victim, she was raped in her mid teens and her life has formed around that trauma. She never reported it because she felt she would get the blame and not believed. That night changed her life Becky walks in on her boss having sex with a women who isn't his wife, Amanda is that woman, so when she claims rape and begs the witness to come forward Bevky is overwhelmed with what she should do.
This is one of those books that will stay with you once you've read it. To cover such a huge topic as rape is brave enough to centre the whole book around it and doing so well is outstanding. The protagonist Becky is a very weak and vulnerable woman, normally rhis isn't what you want for a leas but for this book it is one hundred percent needed. It may be 16 years since she was raped but that has lived with her ever since. As a survivor myself I can honest atone for how realistic this character is. Jot knowing is the problem that Becky has she thinks she knows but she can't be certain. Its not rhe nor knowing that is slowly killing her.
Becky has a nest friend called Adam who is also Maisies father. The family dynamic is amazing. I found myself in tears mid way through the book at how much I just loved this family. Adam is Becky's security blanket he has been there for her when she needed someone the most. He is also the only person who Becky ever confirmed in. At one point I found myself saying everyone needs an Adam.
The novel examines really well the idea of gaslighting and being mansplained issues like rape. It was very interesting to see how Becky handled or didn't handle this. How she wants to create a film about one of the bravest vengeful woman she can find yet she is happy to believe.
As the title says blurred lines for anyone who remembers that God awful song then you wo understand the significance of such a title. What I found really interesting about this book is it covers alot of the issues surrounding consent "you didn't say no but you didn't say yes' so does that make them a rapist? This is a debate that has gone on for centuries.
So I would say read this book. Be ready for some tough parts and some graphic language which is there to shock but is so required. There is a twist near the end which strangely I saw coming but its so left field that I still found myself racing through each of those pages. I rate 5 stars. Thank you to the author for covering such a sensitive subject with the respect and dignity it deserved
Thank you to netgalley, the author Hannah begbie and the publishers for the advanced digital copy.
Blurred lines is centred around Becky who is a producer in London. She is a survivor although she feels like a victim, she was raped in her mid teens and her life has formed around that trauma. She never reported it because she felt she would get the blame and not believed. That night changed her life Becky walks in on her boss having sex with a women who isn't his wife, Amanda is that woman, so when she claims rape and begs the witness to come forward Bevky is overwhelmed with what she should do.
This is one of those books that will stay with you once you've read it. To cover such a huge topic as rape is brave enough to centre the whole book around it and doing so well is outstanding. The protagonist Becky is a very weak and vulnerable woman, normally rhis isn't what you want for a leas but for this book it is one hundred percent needed. It may be 16 years since she was raped but that has lived with her ever since. As a survivor myself I can honest atone for how realistic this character is. Jot knowing is the problem that Becky has she thinks she knows but she can't be certain. Its not rhe nor knowing that is slowly killing her.
Becky has a nest friend called Adam who is also Maisies father. The family dynamic is amazing. I found myself in tears mid way through the book at how much I just loved this family. Adam is Becky's security blanket he has been there for her when she needed someone the most. He is also the only person who Becky ever confirmed in. At one point I found myself saying everyone needs an Adam.
The novel examines really well the idea of gaslighting and being mansplained issues like rape. It was very interesting to see how Becky handled or didn't handle this. How she wants to create a film about one of the bravest vengeful woman she can find yet she is happy to believe.
As the title says blurred lines for anyone who remembers that God awful song then you wo understand the significance of such a title. What I found really interesting about this book is it covers alot of the issues surrounding consent "you didn't say no but you didn't say yes' so does that make them a rapist? This is a debate that has gone on for centuries.
So I would say read this book. Be ready for some tough parts and some graphic language which is there to shock but is so required. There is a twist near the end which strangely I saw coming but its so left field that I still found myself racing through each of those pages. I rate 5 stars. Thank you to the author for covering such a sensitive subject with the respect and dignity it deserved
Thank you to netgalley, the author Hannah begbie and the publishers for the advanced digital copy.
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