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The Leftovers
A saga about power, consent, and the myth of the perfect victim.
Callie’s life is spent caring for others – for Frey, her client, and for Noah, her brother. When a tragic car accident shatters her family, she’s left alone with her mother Vanessa. Vanessa's favourite child was Noah; Callie's favourite parent was her dad. Now they're stuck with each other - the leftovers of their family - and they'll have to confront the ways they've been hurt, and the ways they've passed that hurt on to others.
Callie’s life is spent caring for others – for Frey, her client, and for Noah, her brother. When a tragic car accident shatters her family, she’s left alone with her mother Vanessa. Vanessa's favourite child was Noah; Callie's favourite parent was her dad. Now they're stuck with each other - the leftovers of their family - and they'll have to confront the ways they've been hurt, and the ways they've passed that hurt on to others.
324 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2021
6 people are currently reading
188 people want to read
About the author
Cassandra Parkin
14 books133 followersCassandra Parkin grew up in Hull, and now lives in East Yorkshire. Her short story collection, New World Fairy Tales (Salt Publishing, 2011), won the 2011 Scott Prize for Short Stories and her work has been published in numerous magazines and anthologies.
The Summer We All Ran Away (Legend Press, 2013) was Cassandra's debut novel.
Her work has been published in numerous magazines and anthologies. The Beach Hut (Legend Press, 2015) is her second novel.
Visit Cassandra at cassandraparkin.wordpress.com or on Twitter @cassandrajaneuk
The Summer We All Ran Away (Legend Press, 2013) was Cassandra's debut novel.
Her work has been published in numerous magazines and anthologies. The Beach Hut (Legend Press, 2015) is her second novel.
Visit Cassandra at cassandraparkin.wordpress.com or on Twitter @cassandrajaneuk
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
September 29, 2021
I’ve sat on this review to get my thoughts in order.
I’ve still failed
This book isn’t going to be stomached by everyone, it’s very very dark, it’s sometimes twisted in that you might not understand the motives or decisions of this character.
All I’m going to say is….
Was she a monster?
Was she trapped within her circumstances?
Is she a victim?
Or is she ill?
Wow!
I’ve still failed
This book isn’t going to be stomached by everyone, it’s very very dark, it’s sometimes twisted in that you might not understand the motives or decisions of this character.
All I’m going to say is….
Was she a monster?
Was she trapped within her circumstances?
Is she a victim?
Or is she ill?
Wow!
Read
December 18, 2021*Book received from NetGalley in return for a review. This review may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without explicit consent from the author*
Trigger warnings for death of family members, sexual and emotional abuse, gaslighting and emotional manipulation, exploitation of people with disabilities.
Oh holy God, was this dark. I mean, I guess I should have got that from the book announcing itself to me as “A saga about power, consent, and the myth of the perfect victim.” Which is, to be fair, a reasonable description but also felt a bit unnecessary: let me decide what you’re about for myself, book.
In any case, it’s about that.
The protagonist, Callie Taggart, is a nurse and a residential career: she splits her time between caring for her father and mentally ill brother, Noah, and her client, Frey. Callie’s own family is deeply fractured, between Noah’s illness, her parents’ divorce, and Callie’s conviction that her mother doesn’t love her. When Noah and Callie’s father die in a car accident, this brings Callie back into proper contact with her mother for the first time in years. The story flows fluidly from the present (Callie staying with her mother, both of them dealing with their grief) to the near past (Callie’s current job, caring for Frey), the distant past (Callie’s childhood) and occasionally even into hypothetical or speculative scenarios where Callie attempts to reconstruct the accident or explore Frey’s experiences of the world.
This book hit me incredibly hard, and has haunted me since I read it, though I’m having a hard time knowing how to talk about it. But let me start with what drew me in. Although I should make clear I do not have standing to talk about fictional representations of people with disabilities: to me, however, it felt like the book gave Frey and Noah a lot freedom to be themselves, focused on allowing readers to understand their relationship to the world and the people in it (and the ways they have been failed by the world and the people in it, even those who love and care for them), and to present them as whole people with interiority, individuality and agency. For example, we’re never told the diagnosis for either of them: we are invited to view them as who they are, not as symptoms or a medical condition, and to adore Frey for his kindness, and his care, and Noah for his intelligence and charm. Of course, it’s also relevant that these perspectives come to us from Callie. For all her empathy and her willingness to speculate, to re-create, to dwell in hypothetical spaces, she is still the narrator of the novel. In that respect she has all the power of the story and this is especially relevant to Frey because it reminds us of the other power dynamics in play here (that of carer and client).
Ultimately this is a story of endless ambiguities, with cruelty and kindness, power and vulnerability, love and abuse, memory and madness, truth and lies, all hopelessly tumbled together. The control the book exercises over its own ambiguities, though, is absolutely masterful. For example, there’s a section in the middle where a relationship appears to be going to a very, very troubling place and I was increasingly concerned the book didn’t seem to be offering space to acknowledge that: but, thankfully, it did. And the way it did was one of the many emotional sucker punches The Leftovers has to offer. Fun times.
I wish I had a good conclusion here but I’m honestly still reeling a bit. This was bleak and powerful and utterly devastating. I think what make it possible to get through was the facility of the writing, along with the care and compassion of the character work. For all this is a story about abuse—the capacity we all have, perhaps, to become abusers ourselves even when we are victims—I did, in the end, find hope in it. We leave the heroine almost at a literal crossroads, a little freer than was at the beginning of the book, and armed with greater self-knowledge: I like to think she made the right choice. That abuse may feel like an endless cycle but that we also have the power, sometimes, to be selfless. And to make different choices than the ones that may have shaped us.
Trigger warnings for death of family members, sexual and emotional abuse, gaslighting and emotional manipulation, exploitation of people with disabilities.
Oh holy God, was this dark. I mean, I guess I should have got that from the book announcing itself to me as “A saga about power, consent, and the myth of the perfect victim.” Which is, to be fair, a reasonable description but also felt a bit unnecessary: let me decide what you’re about for myself, book.
In any case, it’s about that.
The protagonist, Callie Taggart, is a nurse and a residential career: she splits her time between caring for her father and mentally ill brother, Noah, and her client, Frey. Callie’s own family is deeply fractured, between Noah’s illness, her parents’ divorce, and Callie’s conviction that her mother doesn’t love her. When Noah and Callie’s father die in a car accident, this brings Callie back into proper contact with her mother for the first time in years. The story flows fluidly from the present (Callie staying with her mother, both of them dealing with their grief) to the near past (Callie’s current job, caring for Frey), the distant past (Callie’s childhood) and occasionally even into hypothetical or speculative scenarios where Callie attempts to reconstruct the accident or explore Frey’s experiences of the world.
This book hit me incredibly hard, and has haunted me since I read it, though I’m having a hard time knowing how to talk about it. But let me start with what drew me in. Although I should make clear I do not have standing to talk about fictional representations of people with disabilities: to me, however, it felt like the book gave Frey and Noah a lot freedom to be themselves, focused on allowing readers to understand their relationship to the world and the people in it (and the ways they have been failed by the world and the people in it, even those who love and care for them), and to present them as whole people with interiority, individuality and agency. For example, we’re never told the diagnosis for either of them: we are invited to view them as who they are, not as symptoms or a medical condition, and to adore Frey for his kindness, and his care, and Noah for his intelligence and charm. Of course, it’s also relevant that these perspectives come to us from Callie. For all her empathy and her willingness to speculate, to re-create, to dwell in hypothetical spaces, she is still the narrator of the novel. In that respect she has all the power of the story and this is especially relevant to Frey because it reminds us of the other power dynamics in play here (that of carer and client).
Ultimately this is a story of endless ambiguities, with cruelty and kindness, power and vulnerability, love and abuse, memory and madness, truth and lies, all hopelessly tumbled together. The control the book exercises over its own ambiguities, though, is absolutely masterful. For example, there’s a section in the middle where a relationship appears to be going to a very, very troubling place and I was increasingly concerned the book didn’t seem to be offering space to acknowledge that: but, thankfully, it did. And the way it did was one of the many emotional sucker punches The Leftovers has to offer. Fun times.
I wish I had a good conclusion here but I’m honestly still reeling a bit. This was bleak and powerful and utterly devastating. I think what make it possible to get through was the facility of the writing, along with the care and compassion of the character work. For all this is a story about abuse—the capacity we all have, perhaps, to become abusers ourselves even when we are victims—I did, in the end, find hope in it. We leave the heroine almost at a literal crossroads, a little freer than was at the beginning of the book, and armed with greater self-knowledge: I like to think she made the right choice. That abuse may feel like an endless cycle but that we also have the power, sometimes, to be selfless. And to make different choices than the ones that may have shaped us.
October 26, 2021
I was left reeling by the absolute power of this novel. I finished it a few days ago yet the characters still linger in my head. They are the sort of characters that one wants to question, to interrogate and to ask more of. The perfect characters, in the perfect story.
I've been reading Cassandra Parkin's novels for a long time now and have always admired her style. She's poetic, yet compulsive. She takes some of the darkest issues in society and weaves them so beautifully to create the most powerful, sometimes disturbing stories. I think The Leftovers is her darkest, yet most brilliant novel to date.
Callie has always been a carer. Even though her brother Noah is older than her, she's spent much of her life protecting him. Noah has to be protected from his own world and his own mind. Callie and Noah's parents split up when they were younger and they both live with their Dad whilst their Mother lives in a cottage overlooking the sea, on her own.
Callie is also a carer in her professional life. Previously a nurse in A&E, she's been working as a private carer for the last year or so. Two weeks on, two weeks off. She and her fellow carer Josh care for Frey. Frey is non-verbal, intelligent and gentle. His family love him, but cannot care for him. They have the money to ensure that Frey has everything that he needs.
Callie and her mother have a toxic relationship, and she always loved her Dad far more. Noah and their mother adored each other. When a terrible accident happens, Callie and her mother are the only ones left .... the leftovers. Trying to make sense of what happened and what is to come.
The reader sees this story only through the eyes of Callie and she appears to be very authentic, we believe her, she cares about people and she's hurting. However, as the narrative moves on, one begins to wonder about Callie's reliability. It's clear that she's a damaged woman, but we are never quite sure why, although Callie will insist it's because of the way that her mother treated her.
There's a darkness in this story that could become uncomfortable but the brilliance of the author's gentle and sensitive writing adds such a layer of empathy that the reader is compelled to find out more. I'm not sure that we do actually find out the truth here though. Callie certainly begins to recognise parts of her behaviour that could be damaging, but what she eventually does about that is left to the reader to imagine.
A very difficult book to talk about without going into detail that would spoil it for potential readers, but it's a really stunning piece of writing, nuanced, comfortable at times but incredibly powerful. Highly recommended.
I've been reading Cassandra Parkin's novels for a long time now and have always admired her style. She's poetic, yet compulsive. She takes some of the darkest issues in society and weaves them so beautifully to create the most powerful, sometimes disturbing stories. I think The Leftovers is her darkest, yet most brilliant novel to date.
Callie has always been a carer. Even though her brother Noah is older than her, she's spent much of her life protecting him. Noah has to be protected from his own world and his own mind. Callie and Noah's parents split up when they were younger and they both live with their Dad whilst their Mother lives in a cottage overlooking the sea, on her own.
Callie is also a carer in her professional life. Previously a nurse in A&E, she's been working as a private carer for the last year or so. Two weeks on, two weeks off. She and her fellow carer Josh care for Frey. Frey is non-verbal, intelligent and gentle. His family love him, but cannot care for him. They have the money to ensure that Frey has everything that he needs.
Callie and her mother have a toxic relationship, and she always loved her Dad far more. Noah and their mother adored each other. When a terrible accident happens, Callie and her mother are the only ones left .... the leftovers. Trying to make sense of what happened and what is to come.
The reader sees this story only through the eyes of Callie and she appears to be very authentic, we believe her, she cares about people and she's hurting. However, as the narrative moves on, one begins to wonder about Callie's reliability. It's clear that she's a damaged woman, but we are never quite sure why, although Callie will insist it's because of the way that her mother treated her.
There's a darkness in this story that could become uncomfortable but the brilliance of the author's gentle and sensitive writing adds such a layer of empathy that the reader is compelled to find out more. I'm not sure that we do actually find out the truth here though. Callie certainly begins to recognise parts of her behaviour that could be damaging, but what she eventually does about that is left to the reader to imagine.
A very difficult book to talk about without going into detail that would spoil it for potential readers, but it's a really stunning piece of writing, nuanced, comfortable at times but incredibly powerful. Highly recommended.
October 28, 2021
I have read quite a few of novels by writer Cassandra Parkin, because I’m a big fan of the characters and different topics that Cassandra finds to write about.
I found this story easy to get into because I believed in every word.
The Leftovers is my favourite as it held my attention in believing everything about how Callie and her mother that are thrown into stricken grief .
The Storyline is so strong and emotional I don’t think it will ever leave me.
Cassandra Parkin is a very talented author, one that I can fully recommend reading all of her books.
The Leftovers is a hugely sad moving tale, and is impossible to stop turning the pages.
I found this story easy to get into because I believed in every word.
The Leftovers is my favourite as it held my attention in believing everything about how Callie and her mother that are thrown into stricken grief .
The Storyline is so strong and emotional I don’t think it will ever leave me.
Cassandra Parkin is a very talented author, one that I can fully recommend reading all of her books.
The Leftovers is a hugely sad moving tale, and is impossible to stop turning the pages.
December 8, 2021
This book intrigued me after seeing posts about it in a book group on Facebook. The premise fascinated me, a woman loses her brother and father in an accident and she is only left with her mother, who hates her and preferred the woman's brother. What happened between the mother and daughter to cause such hatred and animosity to each other?
The mother's behaviour to her daughter is extremely painful to read, and I couldn't wait to hear about what happened.
Then the Frey chapters started, and I did lose some interest in that storyline. I couldn't see it's relevance to the main story, and preferred the other one much more. Having said that, now I have finished, it's relevance is hugely important to the ending, and this book will stay with me for a long time.
Highly recommend.
The mother's behaviour to her daughter is extremely painful to read, and I couldn't wait to hear about what happened.
Then the Frey chapters started, and I did lose some interest in that storyline. I couldn't see it's relevance to the main story, and preferred the other one much more. Having said that, now I have finished, it's relevance is hugely important to the ending, and this book will stay with me for a long time.
Highly recommend.
October 9, 2021
A totaly unexpected end to a book that was already dark.
I always think that going into a book oblivious to the plot and to triggers is the best way for me personally. The shock factor is so much more blunt and hard hitting.
I felt an unease through out the book, but I didn't quite figure out what was happening and when it was revealed I was sick to the stomach.
Written in a rich poetic way, this is a story of loneliness, sadness, and deep hurt rooted inside a person's consciousness.
For me, this was Callie's story, although she would make it out to be her brother Noah's. She is just as oblivious as the reader, and this made my heart bleed for her.
There is a moment where my eyes just came out of their sockets at what she does, but, when it became apparent as to why and what- my god, I felt so sad for her.
'I'm going to put on my new red dress, and dance on your bastard grave'
A really great read but deeply upsetting. I recommend to all who like the morbid, shocking, dark themed books.
I always think that going into a book oblivious to the plot and to triggers is the best way for me personally. The shock factor is so much more blunt and hard hitting.
I felt an unease through out the book, but I didn't quite figure out what was happening and when it was revealed I was sick to the stomach.
Written in a rich poetic way, this is a story of loneliness, sadness, and deep hurt rooted inside a person's consciousness.
For me, this was Callie's story, although she would make it out to be her brother Noah's. She is just as oblivious as the reader, and this made my heart bleed for her.
There is a moment where my eyes just came out of their sockets at what she does, but, when it became apparent as to why and what- my god, I felt so sad for her.
'I'm going to put on my new red dress, and dance on your bastard grave'
A really great read but deeply upsetting. I recommend to all who like the morbid, shocking, dark themed books.
November 1, 2021
Nurse Callie is giving up her job to be better able to care for her brother. For years now, Noah has been suffering from mental illness and apart from their father, Callie is the only one he trusts and who is able to calm him when he gets in a state of emergency. To have more time, she leaves the hospital and becomes a carer for Frey, a young man who does not talk and needs strict daily routines to cope with life. Thus, Callie spends two weeks with her father and brother and the other two together with a colleague with Frey. When she returns one night from work, she receives an awful message: both her beloved ones have died in an accident and now she has to face her mother again. The woman who left them, who always hated Callie and the single person she does not want to see. It is a confrontation which is not only hurtful but which also lets lose monsters which have been kept locked up for many years.
Cassandra Parkin’s novel is a dark tale which play with the big question if the narrator is reliable or not and if what we remember is actually how things really happened or if our brain might play tricks on us. “The Leftovers” is great in making you high alert for the half-sentences, the things implied, all that is not said and questions all characters. Whom can you trust? Who is willingly misleading? Who is misled by their brains? From a point where all is clear, you enter an abyss where everything is possible.
Callie appears to be a selfless young woman who has destined her life to care for others. She is great with Frey as she has a long history of living with her brother and noticing nuances, slight changes which might be signs for dramatic events. She can well adapt to Frey’s needs and sync herself with his life which makes her perfect for the job. Yet, after some time, things slightly change and it takes some time for the reader to figure out why that is.
In the confrontation with her cool and repellent mother, childhood memories come up. Not only did her mother not show any affection towards her and clearly preferred her brother, she definitely neglected the girl. In Callie’s recollections, it all makes sense and fits together perfectly, yet, the more you get to know, the more you start to wonder if she, too, might see things that are not there just like her brother. Even though from what she tells, it all seems right and yet, doesn’t the understanding from the world of somebody suffering from paranoia normally form a consistent picture?
A great read I can only recommend but you should be aware that some contents might feel like triggers for a highly sensitive reader.
Cassandra Parkin’s novel is a dark tale which play with the big question if the narrator is reliable or not and if what we remember is actually how things really happened or if our brain might play tricks on us. “The Leftovers” is great in making you high alert for the half-sentences, the things implied, all that is not said and questions all characters. Whom can you trust? Who is willingly misleading? Who is misled by their brains? From a point where all is clear, you enter an abyss where everything is possible.
Callie appears to be a selfless young woman who has destined her life to care for others. She is great with Frey as she has a long history of living with her brother and noticing nuances, slight changes which might be signs for dramatic events. She can well adapt to Frey’s needs and sync herself with his life which makes her perfect for the job. Yet, after some time, things slightly change and it takes some time for the reader to figure out why that is.
In the confrontation with her cool and repellent mother, childhood memories come up. Not only did her mother not show any affection towards her and clearly preferred her brother, she definitely neglected the girl. In Callie’s recollections, it all makes sense and fits together perfectly, yet, the more you get to know, the more you start to wonder if she, too, might see things that are not there just like her brother. Even though from what she tells, it all seems right and yet, doesn’t the understanding from the world of somebody suffering from paranoia normally form a consistent picture?
A great read I can only recommend but you should be aware that some contents might feel like triggers for a highly sensitive reader.
April 6, 2022
This is such a difficult book to review because the different storylines though compelling are both disturbing and controversial.
I was very happy that the schizophrenic brother of the MC was not scary, was a loving brother who wanted the best for his sister, but also wasn't idealized. I liked that the real/not real struggle of schizophrenia was clearly shown. Despite the fact he commits it wasn't because of his mental illness or because of any underlying violent tendencies.
The autistic character the MC was caretaking for was also compellingly written. Also not idealized but with a loving sister who knew that he wasn't meant to be prodded or forced into acting neurotypical.
This novel was very aware so it didn't feel exploitative of the disabled characters or anti-#MeToo.
I was very happy that the schizophrenic brother of the MC was not scary, was a loving brother who wanted the best for his sister, but also wasn't idealized. I liked that the real/not real struggle of schizophrenia was clearly shown. Despite the fact he commits it wasn't because of his mental illness or because of any underlying violent tendencies.
The autistic character the MC was caretaking for was also compellingly written. Also not idealized but with a loving sister who knew that he wasn't meant to be prodded or forced into acting neurotypical.
This novel was very aware so it didn't feel exploitative of the disabled characters or anti-#MeToo.
October 15, 2021
The Leftovers is Cassandra Parkin's new release and explores love, family and grief in a dark, compelling and thoughtful way. I have always loved Cassandra's writing style and The Leftovers Is no different.
Callie is a nurse and residential carer caring for a young man called Frey, splitting her time between also caring for her Father and brother Noah who has a mental illness, the load can feel hard to carry at times.
Callie hasn't had it easy, her parents are divorced and she has an estranged relationship with her Mother believing that her Mum doesn't love her. Noah was always the favourite, Always got his Mother's attention whereas Callie always felt closer to her Dad.
When there's an unexpected phone call from Vanessa, Callie's Mother saying that both Noah and her Dad have been a fatal car accident Callie's world comes crashing down. Left with only her Mother she doesn't know how she's going to cope...
I loved this exploration of family life and the darker side of familial relationships. It's uncomfortable to read at times and although Callie isn't necessarily likeable we get a real insight into the pain and loneliness of having a fractured childhood.
Its a complex story where nothing is as it originally seems and there's twists and turns that will leave you re-examining everything you thought you knew about these characters. Written in Cassandra's poetic style you are drawn into this story and made to feel deep empathy for this family and their lives.
There's a lot of disability rep and labels are never given. I felt this was done with great sensitivity and being a parent of a child with a disability I appreciated this.
This a dark and disturbing story but equally compelling and moving. It does come with several trigger warnings such as sexual violence and death of a family member so please be aware of those. I would highly recommend The Leftovers it's thought provoking and perfect for people who love a character driven story.
Callie is a nurse and residential carer caring for a young man called Frey, splitting her time between also caring for her Father and brother Noah who has a mental illness, the load can feel hard to carry at times.
Callie hasn't had it easy, her parents are divorced and she has an estranged relationship with her Mother believing that her Mum doesn't love her. Noah was always the favourite, Always got his Mother's attention whereas Callie always felt closer to her Dad.
When there's an unexpected phone call from Vanessa, Callie's Mother saying that both Noah and her Dad have been a fatal car accident Callie's world comes crashing down. Left with only her Mother she doesn't know how she's going to cope...
I loved this exploration of family life and the darker side of familial relationships. It's uncomfortable to read at times and although Callie isn't necessarily likeable we get a real insight into the pain and loneliness of having a fractured childhood.
Its a complex story where nothing is as it originally seems and there's twists and turns that will leave you re-examining everything you thought you knew about these characters. Written in Cassandra's poetic style you are drawn into this story and made to feel deep empathy for this family and their lives.
There's a lot of disability rep and labels are never given. I felt this was done with great sensitivity and being a parent of a child with a disability I appreciated this.
This a dark and disturbing story but equally compelling and moving. It does come with several trigger warnings such as sexual violence and death of a family member so please be aware of those. I would highly recommend The Leftovers it's thought provoking and perfect for people who love a character driven story.
November 19, 2021
This is the fourth novel I've read by this author. I loved them all. This time around the author explores care-giving, and how those in need of care were affected by the pandemic. Also, she explores a dysfunctional family, and how the withholding of maternal love for one child impacted the entire family. How having a 'favorite' child, affects the family dynamic.
The story is told by Callie who says: "I have to be careful how I tell you this story. This is a story with a monster in it, but it's possible that monster isn't always my mother."
The author displays an acute understanding of those who are outcasts in society. She also has a keen knowledge of the sacrifice and patience it takes to be a full-time carer. In addition to family secrets, this book contains myriad very serious and sensitive themes. The novel is both compelling and dark. I was fully immersed in Callie's story, then at about the 80% mark, the narrative turned very sad and unsettling. I found I was quite uncomfortable reading towards the end. It speaks to the skillful and poetic writing that I felt this way.
The plot is 'open-ended' with the reader having to decide what Callie might have done next. This type of ending is not to everyone's taste, though it seemed perfect here.
The title was spot-on. Not only were Callie and her mother the 'leftovers' of her family, but it also spoke to how those with mental disabilities are the 'leftovers' of society.
Highly recommended to readers who enjoy realistic and brilliantly written literary fiction.
The story is told by Callie who says: "I have to be careful how I tell you this story. This is a story with a monster in it, but it's possible that monster isn't always my mother."
The author displays an acute understanding of those who are outcasts in society. She also has a keen knowledge of the sacrifice and patience it takes to be a full-time carer. In addition to family secrets, this book contains myriad very serious and sensitive themes. The novel is both compelling and dark. I was fully immersed in Callie's story, then at about the 80% mark, the narrative turned very sad and unsettling. I found I was quite uncomfortable reading towards the end. It speaks to the skillful and poetic writing that I felt this way.
The plot is 'open-ended' with the reader having to decide what Callie might have done next. This type of ending is not to everyone's taste, though it seemed perfect here.
The title was spot-on. Not only were Callie and her mother the 'leftovers' of her family, but it also spoke to how those with mental disabilities are the 'leftovers' of society.
Highly recommended to readers who enjoy realistic and brilliantly written literary fiction.
March 7, 2022
This is the sort of book that I feel I'm going to be turning over in my mind for some time and still have questions. It was dark, incredibly dark, and I read most of the book with a feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach. Callie was an absolute enigma of a narrator (it becoming increasingly apparent throughout the book that she was also an unreliable narrator) and I loved the structure of the book, feeling like such a natural exploration of Callie's feelings as she works through her grief through the present, memories and projecting onto situations she wasn't present in just to try and make some sense of an apparently senseless situation. The revelations about the true reasons behind the toxicity between Callie and her mum and why the family dynamics had so starkly formed the way that they had didn't come as a surprise, but were written in such a way that I was completely immersed in that moment of feeling both Callie's horror and detachment. Callie is one of the most fascinating protagonists I've ever read, keeping the reader at an arm's length for much of the book but in a way that completely draws you into her world and leaves you so very conflicted with the close of the book. A hard read at times, but an utterly brilliant novel from Parkin.
November 15, 2022
Okay. I just finished, my mind is still reeling.
This book, without a doubt, is one of my favourite books of this year.
I COULD NOT STOP READING
Books like this is what makes me absolutely adore being a reader and let me just say this book does not disappoint.
Boy oh boy it is dark, its not for those who read for a sunny escape, but the narration, writing style, plot and characters wholeheartedly draw you in and keep you whizzing through the pages!!!
Callie is a deeply damaged, flawed character with a very dark past and seemingly is battling with her mind daily. I liked how the author portrayed Frey, the communications between characters and the overall essence of: what do we believe and who do we trust??? (Upon completion, still no clue on that)
ANYONE WHO READS THIS REVIEW OR IS READING AND READ THIS BOOK REACH OUT BECAUSE I NEED SOMEONE TO DISCUSS PLEASE AND THANKS!
This book, without a doubt, is one of my favourite books of this year.
I COULD NOT STOP READING
Books like this is what makes me absolutely adore being a reader and let me just say this book does not disappoint.
Boy oh boy it is dark, its not for those who read for a sunny escape, but the narration, writing style, plot and characters wholeheartedly draw you in and keep you whizzing through the pages!!!
Callie is a deeply damaged, flawed character with a very dark past and seemingly is battling with her mind daily. I liked how the author portrayed Frey, the communications between characters and the overall essence of: what do we believe and who do we trust??? (Upon completion, still no clue on that)
ANYONE WHO READS THIS REVIEW OR IS READING AND READ THIS BOOK REACH OUT BECAUSE I NEED SOMEONE TO DISCUSS PLEASE AND THANKS!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2024
Oooof.
The writing is incredible and snagged me from the very beginning so for better or worse I knew I had to finish this book but Christ does it get bleak. The blurb does a dire job of capturing this book for what it is, and when all the sickening details come to light I genuinely found it hard to stomach and continue. If I had known truly what this book was about, (TW of rape, abuse, severe mental illness, abuse of power, suicide etc) would I have read it? Maybe not. But Parkin’s writing is so so good that I still feel glad that I stuck with it. 3.5/5
The writing is incredible and snagged me from the very beginning so for better or worse I knew I had to finish this book but Christ does it get bleak. The blurb does a dire job of capturing this book for what it is, and when all the sickening details come to light I genuinely found it hard to stomach and continue. If I had known truly what this book was about, (TW of rape, abuse, severe mental illness, abuse of power, suicide etc) would I have read it? Maybe not. But Parkin’s writing is so so good that I still feel glad that I stuck with it. 3.5/5
September 18, 2021
Wow. This is hard hitting from the very first few words and doesn't stop there. Incredibly thought provoking, masterful and poignant. Not an easy read at times, and I felt very emotionally invested in this. A wonderfully crafted character driven piece.
June 27, 2022
A dark and twisted story with a lot of trauma and manipulation.
Not for the faint of heart.
Not for the faint of heart.
October 21, 2021
Oh my god this book took me completely by surprise.
Whilst this is a very dark book and contains a lot of trigger warnings I ended up reading it in one sitting. Callie is an interesting main character but also somewhat unreliable in her narration of her life and the events that transpire.
I want to write so much more but if you're going to read this one then it's better to go in blind. This book is not for the faint of heart. The Leftovers is a heartbreaking and shocking story that is hard hitting but so brilliantly written.
Whilst this is a very dark book and contains a lot of trigger warnings I ended up reading it in one sitting. Callie is an interesting main character but also somewhat unreliable in her narration of her life and the events that transpire.
I want to write so much more but if you're going to read this one then it's better to go in blind. This book is not for the faint of heart. The Leftovers is a heartbreaking and shocking story that is hard hitting but so brilliantly written.
October 16, 2021
When I was working towards my degree in Psychology, I often had professors assign fiction novels for us to read and then write a paper about it, put together a group project, or something like that. The Leftovers is a perfect novel for such circumstances and is one of the rawest examples of psychological fiction that I have read.
The novel is based around Callie who works as a live-in caregiver two weeks per month and then lives at home with her father the other two weeks per month caring for her mentally ill brother, Noah. During her two weeks on, she works together with Josh in providing 24-hour care for a young adult man, Frey, whose illness is never actually labeled. We learn that Frey is non-verbal, very routine-oriented, and has numerous issues with cleanliness and tactile issues such as touch (possibly somewhere on the Autism Spectrum). Callie's brother Noah is the life of the party that the entire family adores, but struggles determining reality from fantasy hears voices, creates people and situations that are not there (possibly Schizophrenia). Callie and Noah's parents have been divorced for many years and Callie has not had a relationship with her mother until there is a tragic accident and they are suddenly forced together.
Told entirely from Callie's point of view, you come to realize that she isn't the most reliable narrator as the novel goes back and forth between her childhood, her life leading up to and then caring for Frey, and then the present. It doesn't take long to realize that things aren't right. There was emotional abuse when she was a child, a laundry list of family issues, and slowly we begin to see that Callie's quiet and caring nature is a bit off somehow. Despite knowing that things aren't right, there are some moments that were truly shocking and uncomfortable. Even worse, the ending is incredibly ambiguous, leaving you to wonder what comes next for Callie, Frey, and Josh.
I gave this novel a 4-star rating on Amazon in spite of the uncomfortableness of the plot simply because of Parkin's writing. Whether it was an inward memory, a conversation between characters, or even an exchange of glances between characters - everything was so amazingly descriptive that I felt I was right there witnessing it in real-time. I was frustrated with a recent book that I read because at the end of the novel I realized I had no idea what the main character looked like. After reading this, I feel like I can see Callie's fingertips as she was passing a piece of a jigsaw puzzle to Frey. I can picture Noah sitting on the rooftop when anxious and hear Callie's calm, quiet voice trying to calm him. I can see Callie's mom dropping her hand at the zoo when Callie was small and trying to share her excitement with her mom, and I can feel her rejection.
The Leftovers certainly won't leave you smiling with a warm and fuzzy feeling, but I feel that it's worth reading to experience Cassandra Parkin's way with words. She painted a picture from beginning to end that, although the picture wasn't a happy one, will stay with me for quite some time.
*Thanks to NetGalley and Legend Press for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
The novel is based around Callie who works as a live-in caregiver two weeks per month and then lives at home with her father the other two weeks per month caring for her mentally ill brother, Noah. During her two weeks on, she works together with Josh in providing 24-hour care for a young adult man, Frey, whose illness is never actually labeled. We learn that Frey is non-verbal, very routine-oriented, and has numerous issues with cleanliness and tactile issues such as touch (possibly somewhere on the Autism Spectrum). Callie's brother Noah is the life of the party that the entire family adores, but struggles determining reality from fantasy hears voices, creates people and situations that are not there (possibly Schizophrenia). Callie and Noah's parents have been divorced for many years and Callie has not had a relationship with her mother until there is a tragic accident and they are suddenly forced together.
Told entirely from Callie's point of view, you come to realize that she isn't the most reliable narrator as the novel goes back and forth between her childhood, her life leading up to and then caring for Frey, and then the present. It doesn't take long to realize that things aren't right. There was emotional abuse when she was a child, a laundry list of family issues, and slowly we begin to see that Callie's quiet and caring nature is a bit off somehow. Despite knowing that things aren't right, there are some moments that were truly shocking and uncomfortable. Even worse, the ending is incredibly ambiguous, leaving you to wonder what comes next for Callie, Frey, and Josh.
I gave this novel a 4-star rating on Amazon in spite of the uncomfortableness of the plot simply because of Parkin's writing. Whether it was an inward memory, a conversation between characters, or even an exchange of glances between characters - everything was so amazingly descriptive that I felt I was right there witnessing it in real-time. I was frustrated with a recent book that I read because at the end of the novel I realized I had no idea what the main character looked like. After reading this, I feel like I can see Callie's fingertips as she was passing a piece of a jigsaw puzzle to Frey. I can picture Noah sitting on the rooftop when anxious and hear Callie's calm, quiet voice trying to calm him. I can see Callie's mom dropping her hand at the zoo when Callie was small and trying to share her excitement with her mom, and I can feel her rejection.
The Leftovers certainly won't leave you smiling with a warm and fuzzy feeling, but I feel that it's worth reading to experience Cassandra Parkin's way with words. She painted a picture from beginning to end that, although the picture wasn't a happy one, will stay with me for quite some time.
*Thanks to NetGalley and Legend Press for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
October 12, 2021
This is a tricky book to encourage others to read as its subject matter means its not a light read. In fact, its a dark, uncomfortable read dealing as it does with the cycle of abuse.
It centres around Callie a former nurse now working as carer for Frey for two weeks every month; the other two weeks are spent caring for her brother Noah. Callie has no personal life to speak of and is a dedicated carer. Both Frey and Noah have mental health issues and rely on Callie. Following a car accident in which her beloved brother and father both die Callie is left to try and rebuild her relationship with her mother Vanessa. Callie has grown up believing that her mother didn’t love her and now questions her mother’s motivation and actions as they come to terms with the tragic accident. Family secrets are revealed and Callie has to deal with the fact that her childhood memories may not be as reliable as she thought they were. She also starts to question her emotions/behaviour and the impact its has on her ability to care effectively for Frey.
What I liked about this book was the vivid depiction of the central characters who I found to be empathetic, even frosty Vanessa. In addition, the mental health issues are never named or identified, we just see how they affect Noah and Frey as well as their families. I particularly liked the chapter where we heard Frey’s voice - he doesn’t communicate verbally so this chapter gave an insight into his world. His depiction of his time in the care home during lockdown is particularly topical and a damning indictment of the lack of real care the staff can give its residents.
More of this would have been welcome. Overall, this book was a tough but interesting read and powerfully showed the impact of parental neglect and how it can change a child’s life as well as the cycle of abuse.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this in return for an honest review.
It centres around Callie a former nurse now working as carer for Frey for two weeks every month; the other two weeks are spent caring for her brother Noah. Callie has no personal life to speak of and is a dedicated carer. Both Frey and Noah have mental health issues and rely on Callie. Following a car accident in which her beloved brother and father both die Callie is left to try and rebuild her relationship with her mother Vanessa. Callie has grown up believing that her mother didn’t love her and now questions her mother’s motivation and actions as they come to terms with the tragic accident. Family secrets are revealed and Callie has to deal with the fact that her childhood memories may not be as reliable as she thought they were. She also starts to question her emotions/behaviour and the impact its has on her ability to care effectively for Frey.
What I liked about this book was the vivid depiction of the central characters who I found to be empathetic, even frosty Vanessa. In addition, the mental health issues are never named or identified, we just see how they affect Noah and Frey as well as their families. I particularly liked the chapter where we heard Frey’s voice - he doesn’t communicate verbally so this chapter gave an insight into his world. His depiction of his time in the care home during lockdown is particularly topical and a damning indictment of the lack of real care the staff can give its residents.
More of this would have been welcome. Overall, this book was a tough but interesting read and powerfully showed the impact of parental neglect and how it can change a child’s life as well as the cycle of abuse.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this in return for an honest review.
November 13, 2021
With an air of foreboding that settles immediately from the first page, The Leftovers is a character-driven story that seems harmless but holds some very dark elements to it that one would not expect from such a story.
Oddly enough, I somewhat enjoyed it because it tackles a variety of issues related to disability, which comes in many forms, but also the experience for both the carers and the disabled people in the book. There are no labels attached except for one or two mentions of mental health to Noah. Frey, who seems to be the enigma, is equally given his perspective and viewpoint as the cared-for by Callie which turns the tables and prevents him from being the silently observed object in the book. His emotions and thoughts are brought to life through eloquent writing allowing us a glimpse into his experience and life overall.
Callie is a tortured soul and I couldn't help but feel acutely for her. I couldn't bring myself to like her, which is absolutely fine, because not every character must be likeable. However, you can't help but sympathise with her for being the unloved child of her mother and her struggle in trying to find answers as to why Vanessa has never loved her. There is intensely profound trauma on both sides and it comes from the most unlikely source.
I loved the relationship between Callie and Noah. For all of Noah's difficulties, you can tell they care deeply for each other as siblings and hold their best interests at heart. I did note that although Callie shares a great deal with Noah, she doesn't tell him very much about Frey which is indicative of many red herrings and well thought out by @cassandraparkinwrites.
There is so much more to say about The Leftovers but I'll stop right here. I wanted to keep reading and I'm glad that Callie makes the decision to break a toxic cycle.
Oddly enough, I somewhat enjoyed it because it tackles a variety of issues related to disability, which comes in many forms, but also the experience for both the carers and the disabled people in the book. There are no labels attached except for one or two mentions of mental health to Noah. Frey, who seems to be the enigma, is equally given his perspective and viewpoint as the cared-for by Callie which turns the tables and prevents him from being the silently observed object in the book. His emotions and thoughts are brought to life through eloquent writing allowing us a glimpse into his experience and life overall.
Callie is a tortured soul and I couldn't help but feel acutely for her. I couldn't bring myself to like her, which is absolutely fine, because not every character must be likeable. However, you can't help but sympathise with her for being the unloved child of her mother and her struggle in trying to find answers as to why Vanessa has never loved her. There is intensely profound trauma on both sides and it comes from the most unlikely source.
I loved the relationship between Callie and Noah. For all of Noah's difficulties, you can tell they care deeply for each other as siblings and hold their best interests at heart. I did note that although Callie shares a great deal with Noah, she doesn't tell him very much about Frey which is indicative of many red herrings and well thought out by @cassandraparkinwrites.
There is so much more to say about The Leftovers but I'll stop right here. I wanted to keep reading and I'm glad that Callie makes the decision to break a toxic cycle.
September 20, 2021
Callie Louise Taggart is a nurse, living two weeks at home caring for her brother Noah with the help of her father, and two weeks away caring for her client Frey Malmberg with co-carer Josh, and Floss the therapy dog. Chapters alternate much like her life does, offering illuminating flashbacks of the miserable childhood Callie blames her emotionally abusive mother for completely, and showing how she got her extremely lucrative job.
In the beginning I was caught up by the similarities between Callie and her boss, Frey's sister Linnea who monitors everything via secret camera from Stockholm; they're both children of divorce and fiercely protective sisters of severely disabled brothers. But then things shifted and I realized how much Callie and Frey have in common: how isolated they both are, that they've experienced hating things that their loved ones love, that they both feel responsible for their parents' divorces. The more I read, the more I loved this story, the mystery, the suspense, the drama, and ultimately the ending!
I love that we aren't given detailed physical descriptions of these characters and that I managed to read it before it (inevitably I'm sure) gets made into a film.
In the beginning I was caught up by the similarities between Callie and her boss, Frey's sister Linnea who monitors everything via secret camera from Stockholm; they're both children of divorce and fiercely protective sisters of severely disabled brothers. But then things shifted and I realized how much Callie and Frey have in common: how isolated they both are, that they've experienced hating things that their loved ones love, that they both feel responsible for their parents' divorces. The more I read, the more I loved this story, the mystery, the suspense, the drama, and ultimately the ending!
I love that we aren't given detailed physical descriptions of these characters and that I managed to read it before it (inevitably I'm sure) gets made into a film.
Read
September 23, 2021Book received from NetGalley in return for a review // TW: death, sexual and emotional abuse, emotional manipulation, exploitation of people with disabilities.
This is the first book I got from NetGalley and I definitely started with a bang!
In The Leftovers, Callie Taggart is a nurse working as a residential carer for Frey with co-carer Josh. At home she cares for her brother Noah, who battles with mental illness, with her father. In a twist turn of events, both her father and brother die in a car accident which leaves Callie alone in the world with the one person she believes doesn't love her, her mother, Vanessa.
Told between the past and the present through Callie's perspective, the reader starts to assemble the puzzle that is her personality, her relationship with others and her life in general. It's a character driven story where each character gets more palpable and complex with each chapter. It's a game of memory and how we rely on what we remember, what we think is the truth and real in our lives; and maybe how we change what we know in order to make reality more pleasant.
It's a dark and strikingly vivid tale that will probably stay with you even after its ending; especially after its ending.
This is the first book I got from NetGalley and I definitely started with a bang!
In The Leftovers, Callie Taggart is a nurse working as a residential carer for Frey with co-carer Josh. At home she cares for her brother Noah, who battles with mental illness, with her father. In a twist turn of events, both her father and brother die in a car accident which leaves Callie alone in the world with the one person she believes doesn't love her, her mother, Vanessa.
Told between the past and the present through Callie's perspective, the reader starts to assemble the puzzle that is her personality, her relationship with others and her life in general. It's a character driven story where each character gets more palpable and complex with each chapter. It's a game of memory and how we rely on what we remember, what we think is the truth and real in our lives; and maybe how we change what we know in order to make reality more pleasant.
It's a dark and strikingly vivid tale that will probably stay with you even after its ending; especially after its ending.
October 24, 2021
Whilst well written, easy to follow and leaving you wondering where it was going and the backstory to the dynamics of the relationships, and had an interesting take on the reliable narrator theme and if we can trust our own memories, this book left me feeling so uncomfortable.
I blame the synopsis which I don’t think does a good enough job of out laying what this book is actually about or what it will cover. Had I gone in to it knowing the many trigger and content warnings that it should come with then I would have been prepared but it didn’t and instead I went in and was confronted with; suicide, sexual abuse, rape, consent, mental illness, the COVID-19 pandemic, child neglect, drugging of others and molestation. I may have forgotten some others.
I think it’s only fair to give a more complete picture of what to expect in a novel, without giving the whole plot away, to allow readers to make an informed decision on whether or not a book is for them. Had I had all the information I’d have gone in to it prepared for those topics but I hate to think of what someone who may have first hand experience of any of those I’ve mentioned above would feel having come across these unprepared.
I blame the synopsis which I don’t think does a good enough job of out laying what this book is actually about or what it will cover. Had I gone in to it knowing the many trigger and content warnings that it should come with then I would have been prepared but it didn’t and instead I went in and was confronted with; suicide, sexual abuse, rape, consent, mental illness, the COVID-19 pandemic, child neglect, drugging of others and molestation. I may have forgotten some others.
I think it’s only fair to give a more complete picture of what to expect in a novel, without giving the whole plot away, to allow readers to make an informed decision on whether or not a book is for them. Had I had all the information I’d have gone in to it prepared for those topics but I hate to think of what someone who may have first hand experience of any of those I’ve mentioned above would feel having come across these unprepared.
November 26, 2022
‘The Leftovers’ is part of this month’s “Box of Stories” subscription, and it also fits perfectly with the Book Shelf Raiders monthly prompt: Woman on the Cover.
Before I begin my review, it’s important to say that this could trigger some readers. I can’t include precisely what, as I don’t want to add spoilers, but a lot is going on in this, which can be described as disturbing.
At first, I wasn’t sure if this book would be for me, and it is a book of two halves. I’m so glad I stuck with it, as the second half is fast-paced, gripping, and extremely twisted. My opinions of all the characters (apart from Frey and Josh) changed by the end of the book, and I was able to understand their perspectives a lot more. The story is very different from anything I have read before, and to say it’s an “enjoyable” read feels slightly wrong.
If you enjoy reads that are morally corrupt and darker than most, this is, without a doubt, a book for you!
‘The Leftovers’ by Cassandra Parking, published by Legend Press, is available now.
Before I begin my review, it’s important to say that this could trigger some readers. I can’t include precisely what, as I don’t want to add spoilers, but a lot is going on in this, which can be described as disturbing.
At first, I wasn’t sure if this book would be for me, and it is a book of two halves. I’m so glad I stuck with it, as the second half is fast-paced, gripping, and extremely twisted. My opinions of all the characters (apart from Frey and Josh) changed by the end of the book, and I was able to understand their perspectives a lot more. The story is very different from anything I have read before, and to say it’s an “enjoyable” read feels slightly wrong.
If you enjoy reads that are morally corrupt and darker than most, this is, without a doubt, a book for you!
‘The Leftovers’ by Cassandra Parking, published by Legend Press, is available now.
October 12, 2021
This book is stunning. It just gets better and better. I hope it goes on to win awards. And if you hadn’t already guessed, I absolutely loved it.
What is true memory and where lies madness? When does love permit one to pass the boundaries of sexual consent? The opening chapters are a fascinating insight into Callie’s instinctive understanding of damaged minds, and I’d have been perfectly happy for the book to meander along without a whole lot happening. Cassandra Parkin, as always, writes from the heart.
But then everything shifts. Suddenly I found myself urgently addicted to the darkness and doubts, more and more tense as the book was nearing the end, totally absorbed into the darkness of troubled thoughts and evil memories. And still, one particularly crucial thing still hadn’t happened. Would it?
The most powerful read in years… Wow!
What is true memory and where lies madness? When does love permit one to pass the boundaries of sexual consent? The opening chapters are a fascinating insight into Callie’s instinctive understanding of damaged minds, and I’d have been perfectly happy for the book to meander along without a whole lot happening. Cassandra Parkin, as always, writes from the heart.
But then everything shifts. Suddenly I found myself urgently addicted to the darkness and doubts, more and more tense as the book was nearing the end, totally absorbed into the darkness of troubled thoughts and evil memories. And still, one particularly crucial thing still hadn’t happened. Would it?
The most powerful read in years… Wow!
January 4, 2022
I got access to this book via NetGalley's library, and I'm so glad I did!
It's the first book I'm reading set during the COVID pandemic. There is so much going on in this story. At first I thought it was just that Callie felt like she was always getting "the leftovers" of whatever love her mother had given to her brother ; but it's so much more than that.
There are so many layers to this story. It ends with Callie coming to a hard realization.
Would definitely recommend this book.
PLEASE NOTE : If stories about rape and/or mental illness are a trigger for you, then you should skip this one.
It's the first book I'm reading set during the COVID pandemic. There is so much going on in this story. At first I thought it was just that Callie felt like she was always getting "the leftovers" of whatever love her mother had given to her brother ; but it's so much more than that.
There are so many layers to this story. It ends with Callie coming to a hard realization.
Would definitely recommend this book.
PLEASE NOTE : If stories about rape and/or mental illness are a trigger for you, then you should skip this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2025
I truly don’t know how to rate this book - was it a 2 or a 3 or a 1?
Here’s what I do know:
- This books reads like a thriller, but isn’t.
- Our narrator is semi-unreliable & uncomfortable.
- It leaves you sad. For everyone just a little bit.
Overall, it was good - it pulls on your emotions; dives into family, mental illness, consent, neurodiversity... It just isn’t something I’d pull for myself because of its dark and disturbing content.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book (and I’m so sorry it’s taken me so long to review BUT also maybe there’s pros in review/timeframe)
Here’s what I do know:
- This books reads like a thriller, but isn’t.
- Our narrator is semi-unreliable & uncomfortable.
- It leaves you sad. For everyone just a little bit.
Overall, it was good - it pulls on your emotions; dives into family, mental illness, consent, neurodiversity... It just isn’t something I’d pull for myself because of its dark and disturbing content.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book (and I’m so sorry it’s taken me so long to review BUT also maybe there’s pros in review/timeframe)
September 19, 2021
This one was all dark and twisty. It was obviously going to be dark and grief field and it delivered. It was both really fast paced and slow paced at the same time, with a lot of inner dialogue. This really came down to it being a character driven story. Callie and Vanessa were both complex characters and I had a love/hate relationship with both of them.
I just reviewed The Leftovers by Cassandra Parkin. #TheLeftovers #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]
I just reviewed The Leftovers by Cassandra Parkin. #TheLeftovers #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]
November 13, 2021
I finished the book but at times I found it deeply uncomfortable. By the end, I had experienced a range of emotions from sadness, anger, to disgust. There is a degree to which I feel there are unanswered questions but I did consider the writing to be clever, even though the storyline was at times difficult, hence persevering to the end. I would say as others have done that there this should have some trigger warnings attached as you wouldn't necessarily guess the content from the blurb.
August 27, 2024
This novel left me speechless, the twists and turns are all so unexpected and beautifully executed. The characters are compelling, the writing style is lyrical and the themes are intensely dark. I love the unreliable narrative and how each chapter pieces the puzzle of this messed up story together. What an excellent read.
November 23, 2021
4.5 stars. Wow this was such a dark and twisted book the whole way through. It was wonderfully written but hard to read at some parts. Such an unexpected ending. I’ve never read anything by this author before but will definitely look out for more in the future.
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