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The Broken Pane
The Broken Pane is about loss and family when families are broken. Finding yourself in the pieces of memory. About a young woman and her search for answers.
In her early twenties, Tam rushes to her childhood flat only to be confronted by a tragic discovery. Anchored by the weight of family lore, she struggles to come to terms with her loss. As her life spirals, she sets off to find the one person who may hold the answers: her mother.
Tam’s travels take her far from a home which was more broken than she had ever realised.
Walking the line between reliable memory and unreliable narrator, Charlie Roy’s debut novel invites you to consider whether you are shaped by your past ― or if you shape your past yourself?
In her early twenties, Tam rushes to her childhood flat only to be confronted by a tragic discovery. Anchored by the weight of family lore, she struggles to come to terms with her loss. As her life spirals, she sets off to find the one person who may hold the answers: her mother.
Tam’s travels take her far from a home which was more broken than she had ever realised.
Walking the line between reliable memory and unreliable narrator, Charlie Roy’s debut novel invites you to consider whether you are shaped by your past ― or if you shape your past yourself?
327 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2021
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October 27, 2021
3.5 stars
Everyone’s childhood is different and we can’t all be guaranteed a warm, cosy upbringing. The Broken Pane looks at how our families shape who we become, the relationships we build and the choices we make.
I can’t really say that I enjoyed this book, because it’s really sad, with multiple tragic events and ongoing traumatic occurrences that are quite affecting.
The story is intriguing, flipping back and forth between Tam and Nicky’s childhoods and now, as well as other years in-between. She has her memories, but they are predominantly a child’s version of events and it’s clear that she’s misremembered or chosen to embellish the good times rather than face the sad.
Although her recollections really helped to enhance the book, it was a bit confusing as to which year we were reading about, especially as events were referenced at different times.
I also found parts of the book quite irritating and even a little patronising. The author kept reminding us that Tam called her parents Mick and Ange (not mum and dad); I assume the author wanted to get this point across but it was so often I wanted to throw the book across the room.
That said, I was engrossed in the story and wanted to know what happened.
Tam was a conflicted character, at times weak and feeble, with moments of strength. Her fierce loyalty to her brother was admirable, but her desire to believe in her parents’ good in spite of everything was sweet, but naive.
Her grandmother was well-written, and the author did a really good job of keeping our opinions changing. The more we learned of Nana’s own story, the more we sympathised. Her behaviour is not to be condoned, but her thought process and rationale became understandable.
Although the second part was a little rushed, as Tam goes on a journey of self-discovery, I did like the book’s ending. It was stark, real and believable. Unexpected and almost cruel, it was one of the most satisfying endings I’ve read for a while and this book will stay with me for a long time.
I was provided with a copy of the book by Love Book Tours. All opinions my own.
Everyone’s childhood is different and we can’t all be guaranteed a warm, cosy upbringing. The Broken Pane looks at how our families shape who we become, the relationships we build and the choices we make.
I can’t really say that I enjoyed this book, because it’s really sad, with multiple tragic events and ongoing traumatic occurrences that are quite affecting.
The story is intriguing, flipping back and forth between Tam and Nicky’s childhoods and now, as well as other years in-between. She has her memories, but they are predominantly a child’s version of events and it’s clear that she’s misremembered or chosen to embellish the good times rather than face the sad.
Although her recollections really helped to enhance the book, it was a bit confusing as to which year we were reading about, especially as events were referenced at different times.
I also found parts of the book quite irritating and even a little patronising. The author kept reminding us that Tam called her parents Mick and Ange (not mum and dad); I assume the author wanted to get this point across but it was so often I wanted to throw the book across the room.
That said, I was engrossed in the story and wanted to know what happened.
Tam was a conflicted character, at times weak and feeble, with moments of strength. Her fierce loyalty to her brother was admirable, but her desire to believe in her parents’ good in spite of everything was sweet, but naive.
Her grandmother was well-written, and the author did a really good job of keeping our opinions changing. The more we learned of Nana’s own story, the more we sympathised. Her behaviour is not to be condoned, but her thought process and rationale became understandable.
Although the second part was a little rushed, as Tam goes on a journey of self-discovery, I did like the book’s ending. It was stark, real and believable. Unexpected and almost cruel, it was one of the most satisfying endings I’ve read for a while and this book will stay with me for a long time.
I was provided with a copy of the book by Love Book Tours. All opinions my own.
October 18, 2021
This is the type of book that does make you kind of take a step back and reevaluate everything , makes you look at things slightly differently.
In this book we meet Tam , she is an incredible character to read about , the amount of description the author gives us about her gives her great depth and makes the book that bit more amazing . After losing her brother she tries to revisit her past and fill in some of the missing puzzle pieces, the only person who can help her is her mum who left her and her brother 15years ago.
The book is a great way to show you how differently people can remember events from the past, different perspectives, how some people maybe block out certain parts and rebuild it the way they want to remember. The book is very beautifully and respectfully written.
There is some trigger warnings for this book , there is lose/grief, depression, suicide and domestic violence
In this book we meet Tam , she is an incredible character to read about , the amount of description the author gives us about her gives her great depth and makes the book that bit more amazing . After losing her brother she tries to revisit her past and fill in some of the missing puzzle pieces, the only person who can help her is her mum who left her and her brother 15years ago.
The book is a great way to show you how differently people can remember events from the past, different perspectives, how some people maybe block out certain parts and rebuild it the way they want to remember. The book is very beautifully and respectfully written.
There is some trigger warnings for this book , there is lose/grief, depression, suicide and domestic violence
November 3, 2021
The Thank you to the author for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review
Trigger warnings : Suicide, attempted suicide, self-harm, domestic abuse, child neglect, child abuse, post-natal depression, death, and grief
The Broken Pane follows Tam on her journey of discovering the truth beneath her memories, and after suffering a tragic past she is on a journey to find her mother with the hope that her mother can help her heal and discover what is true from her childhood memories.
The world building is great as you really get a feel of Glasgow/the world from a young child’s perspective, and then the development and journey of Tam’s travel across the USA and Spain was interesting and I really found myself wanting to visit some of the places described. This book is formatted through different time jumps, and each chapter is at a different point in Tam’s life, and the perspective is always from Tam which really adds to the character development.
I was left with a realisation that children really do soak up all the behaviours around them and even find coping mechanisms at young ages to deal with what is going on in the environment around them, such as Nicky’s imitations in this book and Tam’s development of constant cleaning to occupy herself.
This feels like a book that could easily be picked apart by a therapist, as there are a number of feelings/personality traits that Tam is displaying which could be because of her trauma, such as her low self-esteem, and the fact that just smelling her partners whisky at the time made her regress into herself, and it feels like more of an emotional journey alongside Tam, who is sharing memories with an audience, there doesn’t actually seem to be much of an actual plot, it’s just a book of self-discovery and reminiscence from Tam, especially as quoted in the book she was “trying on identities like outfits”
I did struggle with the line “Mick, I mean Dad” as I felt this was repeated way too much in the end, I understand that the author/character is trying to show Tam’s dissociation from Mick as the father, but I feel this had already been developed at the start of the book and this line isn’t required as much as it is incorporated.
I feel like there wasn’t many characters in this book that you could fully like as they all had something that made you question their judgement and decisions, especially Nana who at the begin I wanted to go and live with, but as the book progressed and the children grow up their views become more rounded and it was interesting to watch that development throughout this book, I really do feel the characters were so well written, and it was fascinating when Tam finally did meet her mother, however they way that went down really angered me to the point I stopped reading for a while because I couldn’t deal with the emotion, but it’s a great skill as an author to make the characters come across as so realistic, probably more than people realise, but for readers who have some recognition with some of the books scenes it can hit home, it definitely did for me.
This book has more of a consistent melancholy feel about it, especially the main character Tam, which is fantastic character writing as, as the reader I felt I was experiencing all the traumatic times with Tam, I felt like a fly on the wall of her life. It was also refreshing to take a breath in parts when things were going well. It is a very emotional read, with a few uncomfortable scenes in places that I did struggle to read just because of the triggers and the pure grittiness of the book.
This is a very difficult book to rate, and I have really been debating my rating for such a long time, as this feels more than a work of fiction, it is also completely different to what I was expecting when I read the blurb, for me it was a lot darker than I thought it would be. I would recommend this book to those who like a gritty read, but would recommend that they are in a comfortable upbeat place when they read it as it is very triggering and personally, I don’t think I would re-read it.
2.5
Trigger warnings : Suicide, attempted suicide, self-harm, domestic abuse, child neglect, child abuse, post-natal depression, death, and grief
The Broken Pane follows Tam on her journey of discovering the truth beneath her memories, and after suffering a tragic past she is on a journey to find her mother with the hope that her mother can help her heal and discover what is true from her childhood memories.
The world building is great as you really get a feel of Glasgow/the world from a young child’s perspective, and then the development and journey of Tam’s travel across the USA and Spain was interesting and I really found myself wanting to visit some of the places described. This book is formatted through different time jumps, and each chapter is at a different point in Tam’s life, and the perspective is always from Tam which really adds to the character development.
I was left with a realisation that children really do soak up all the behaviours around them and even find coping mechanisms at young ages to deal with what is going on in the environment around them, such as Nicky’s imitations in this book and Tam’s development of constant cleaning to occupy herself.
This feels like a book that could easily be picked apart by a therapist, as there are a number of feelings/personality traits that Tam is displaying which could be because of her trauma, such as her low self-esteem, and the fact that just smelling her partners whisky at the time made her regress into herself, and it feels like more of an emotional journey alongside Tam, who is sharing memories with an audience, there doesn’t actually seem to be much of an actual plot, it’s just a book of self-discovery and reminiscence from Tam, especially as quoted in the book she was “trying on identities like outfits”
I did struggle with the line “Mick, I mean Dad” as I felt this was repeated way too much in the end, I understand that the author/character is trying to show Tam’s dissociation from Mick as the father, but I feel this had already been developed at the start of the book and this line isn’t required as much as it is incorporated.
I feel like there wasn’t many characters in this book that you could fully like as they all had something that made you question their judgement and decisions, especially Nana who at the begin I wanted to go and live with, but as the book progressed and the children grow up their views become more rounded and it was interesting to watch that development throughout this book, I really do feel the characters were so well written, and it was fascinating when Tam finally did meet her mother, however they way that went down really angered me to the point I stopped reading for a while because I couldn’t deal with the emotion, but it’s a great skill as an author to make the characters come across as so realistic, probably more than people realise, but for readers who have some recognition with some of the books scenes it can hit home, it definitely did for me.
This book has more of a consistent melancholy feel about it, especially the main character Tam, which is fantastic character writing as, as the reader I felt I was experiencing all the traumatic times with Tam, I felt like a fly on the wall of her life. It was also refreshing to take a breath in parts when things were going well. It is a very emotional read, with a few uncomfortable scenes in places that I did struggle to read just because of the triggers and the pure grittiness of the book.
This is a very difficult book to rate, and I have really been debating my rating for such a long time, as this feels more than a work of fiction, it is also completely different to what I was expecting when I read the blurb, for me it was a lot darker than I thought it would be. I would recommend this book to those who like a gritty read, but would recommend that they are in a comfortable upbeat place when they read it as it is very triggering and personally, I don’t think I would re-read it.
2.5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 13, 2021
Charlie Roy’s debut novel is being published by are Edinburgh publisher, Leamington books who have twenty books scheduled for publication this year. I would like to thank Leamington books for reaching out and sending me an advanced readers’ copy of this amazing novel.
Charlie’s novel deals intensely with the ways in which trauma affects the mind but especially our recollection of memory. It is easy as a child to romanticise our parents and upbringing to put up a façade that everything is okay – just to keep moving forward. However, as adults the cracks in the façade of our memory begin to appear and we crumble before putting the pieces back together again. Tam can vividly recall happy family memories but then starts to remember small details that she overlooked at the time such as her mother hiding her face with her fringe or being dropped off at her Grandmother’s for days after hearing shouting during the night. The novel’s title ‘Broken Pane’ refers to a broken pane in Tam’s house which she always means to repair or wishes someone else would repair. Tam’s obsessive cleaning in the novel allows her to cope with the “mess” of her life and acts as a distraction from dealing with her trauma. The broken pane then becomes symbolic of the truth – life is messy and broken.
The novel contains heavy topics such as domestic violence, suicide, alcoholism, child neglect and absentee parents. These adverse childhood experiences are handled delicately and expertly to reveal the horror but also enable the reader to understand the domino cause and effect instances that can cause a spiral into chaos. With an alcoholic Dad and a runaway Mum, Tam and Nicky take very different paths and coping mechanisms. Tam’s younger brother Nicky takes up with the wrong crowd at school, becomes drawn to rebellion, smoking, drinking, committing violent acts and expressing himself in controversial artworks. Tam chooses to take on the role of her mother, cooking, cleaning, protecting, fixing and preening to persuade the world around the children that everything is fine. Distressingly, Tam as a little girl blamed herself for her mother leaving and her father falling apart despite being completely blameless. She thinks her existence held them together, forcing them to be unhappy. Tam cleans and cleans symbolically removing the signs of neglect and abuse, keeping it hidden as if somehow they can live a life in the shadows.
As she grows older Tam goes travelling around America, trying on different lives and relationships but she soon discovers the empty truth that you can’t keep running from your past – it must be faced. She finally decides its time to track down her mother and finally put together the pieces of her broken memories. Charlie’s novel is desperately fragile and raw, it will make you want to curl up into a ball and pull your loved ones closer.
Charlie’s novel deals intensely with the ways in which trauma affects the mind but especially our recollection of memory. It is easy as a child to romanticise our parents and upbringing to put up a façade that everything is okay – just to keep moving forward. However, as adults the cracks in the façade of our memory begin to appear and we crumble before putting the pieces back together again. Tam can vividly recall happy family memories but then starts to remember small details that she overlooked at the time such as her mother hiding her face with her fringe or being dropped off at her Grandmother’s for days after hearing shouting during the night. The novel’s title ‘Broken Pane’ refers to a broken pane in Tam’s house which she always means to repair or wishes someone else would repair. Tam’s obsessive cleaning in the novel allows her to cope with the “mess” of her life and acts as a distraction from dealing with her trauma. The broken pane then becomes symbolic of the truth – life is messy and broken.
The novel contains heavy topics such as domestic violence, suicide, alcoholism, child neglect and absentee parents. These adverse childhood experiences are handled delicately and expertly to reveal the horror but also enable the reader to understand the domino cause and effect instances that can cause a spiral into chaos. With an alcoholic Dad and a runaway Mum, Tam and Nicky take very different paths and coping mechanisms. Tam’s younger brother Nicky takes up with the wrong crowd at school, becomes drawn to rebellion, smoking, drinking, committing violent acts and expressing himself in controversial artworks. Tam chooses to take on the role of her mother, cooking, cleaning, protecting, fixing and preening to persuade the world around the children that everything is fine. Distressingly, Tam as a little girl blamed herself for her mother leaving and her father falling apart despite being completely blameless. She thinks her existence held them together, forcing them to be unhappy. Tam cleans and cleans symbolically removing the signs of neglect and abuse, keeping it hidden as if somehow they can live a life in the shadows.
As she grows older Tam goes travelling around America, trying on different lives and relationships but she soon discovers the empty truth that you can’t keep running from your past – it must be faced. She finally decides its time to track down her mother and finally put together the pieces of her broken memories. Charlie’s novel is desperately fragile and raw, it will make you want to curl up into a ball and pull your loved ones closer.
October 23, 2021
This debut novel is a solid 3.5 in my books - it was good with moments of greatness. The story draws you in and has you thinking about the characters in between reads, and there is some subtlety to them that develops over the course of the novel. It felt like the dénouement was going to be obvious for a large part of the narrative, but the last fifth positively subverted by expectations (although I struggled to buy Nicky's art career by age 19). Another review talked about the unrelenting bleakness of the protagonist's life, but I didn't quite feel that - there was always hope and love: despite it being broken, it was there. I liked the idea of memory being a tricky beast and an unreliable way through which we experience life and form our own judgements of people who leave their imprint upon us. I've found that to be very true since my father died a few years ago and that dimension added a deeper reflection to the narrative which I liked.
My biggest gripe with the novel is the very poor editing job on Leamington publishing's part which left me really angry for the author. There are so many typos, word omissions and repeated adjectives in the same sentence that it looks like a very cursory job. I was almost as angry as when I had to write to Vintage for their piss-poor editing of Night Train to Lisbon - anything more than 2 typos in a book is unacceptable, but dozens?? More than anything I'm disappointed for the author who will have put heart and soul into the project to be let down by this part of the process which should ultimately be the easiest. For the reader it's like scratches on a record (yes I'm old) that make you wince whenever you come across them, abruptly affecting the flow of the story and your absorption.
I also didn't like the 'Mick, I mean dad' repetition - I think the point that was being made could have come across with one mention, and not littered throughout which just annoyed me, but that's a stylistic preference.
All in all, I am impressed with this debut novel and I really hope Charlie Roy publishes again, perhaps with a more meticulous publishing company behind her.
My biggest gripe with the novel is the very poor editing job on Leamington publishing's part which left me really angry for the author. There are so many typos, word omissions and repeated adjectives in the same sentence that it looks like a very cursory job. I was almost as angry as when I had to write to Vintage for their piss-poor editing of Night Train to Lisbon - anything more than 2 typos in a book is unacceptable, but dozens?? More than anything I'm disappointed for the author who will have put heart and soul into the project to be let down by this part of the process which should ultimately be the easiest. For the reader it's like scratches on a record (yes I'm old) that make you wince whenever you come across them, abruptly affecting the flow of the story and your absorption.
I also didn't like the 'Mick, I mean dad' repetition - I think the point that was being made could have come across with one mention, and not littered throughout which just annoyed me, but that's a stylistic preference.
All in all, I am impressed with this debut novel and I really hope Charlie Roy publishes again, perhaps with a more meticulous publishing company behind her.
September 4, 2021
The Broken Pane - Charlie Roy
‘𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗸𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿.’
Tam makes a horrifying discovery having rushed to her childhood home. She struggles to come to terms with her loss and is using her memories to make sense of it all; family folklore that she has built in her head. But her life is spiralling so she travels to find one person with answers: her mother.
‘𝗜 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝘂𝗻𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲, 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲.’
We move through multiple different timelines, jumping back and forth in Tam’s memories.
The broken pane created by a banged door, witnessed by her four year old self, in a moment of abuse she shouldn’t have seen. A perfect trip to the beach, sticky with ice cream, hiding under the bed from thundering footsteps, finding the Narackel with her brother Nicky, forever then known as Bugs.
‘𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗱. 𝗔𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱, 𝗺𝘆 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀.’
Slipping into gaps and cracks of memory, it is interesting that we create these memories which can be very unreliable and influenced by so much - photos, other people, time. Life, like a tapestry, may look neat on the front, keeping up appearances but is messy at the back.
‘𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀, 𝗜’𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗲, 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘁, 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘁, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘁.’
This is a quietly powerful and emotive story about families and loss, how we are shaped by our pasts, our memories and how we create idealised pasts through these memories. A really strong debut that will really make you think, I really loved it!
✩✩✩✩
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Thanks so much to Leamington Books for my copy of this book!
‘𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗸𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿.’
Tam makes a horrifying discovery having rushed to her childhood home. She struggles to come to terms with her loss and is using her memories to make sense of it all; family folklore that she has built in her head. But her life is spiralling so she travels to find one person with answers: her mother.
‘𝗜 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝘂𝗻𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲, 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲.’
We move through multiple different timelines, jumping back and forth in Tam’s memories.
The broken pane created by a banged door, witnessed by her four year old self, in a moment of abuse she shouldn’t have seen. A perfect trip to the beach, sticky with ice cream, hiding under the bed from thundering footsteps, finding the Narackel with her brother Nicky, forever then known as Bugs.
‘𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗱. 𝗔𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱, 𝗺𝘆 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀.’
Slipping into gaps and cracks of memory, it is interesting that we create these memories which can be very unreliable and influenced by so much - photos, other people, time. Life, like a tapestry, may look neat on the front, keeping up appearances but is messy at the back.
‘𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀, 𝗜’𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗲, 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘁, 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘁, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘁.’
This is a quietly powerful and emotive story about families and loss, how we are shaped by our pasts, our memories and how we create idealised pasts through these memories. A really strong debut that will really make you think, I really loved it!
✩✩✩✩
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Thanks so much to Leamington Books for my copy of this book!
December 31, 2021
The Boken Pane is a painful novel about loss, family and secrets. The main character, Tam, travels along memory lane, figuring out what her childhood had really been like. The book hops between different time periods, starting with a tragic discovery. That causes Tam to look back through the years, questioning her memories.
Charlie Roy, the author, deals with so many difficult issues in this book. From the young newlyweds to lack of support networks down to social workers and their assessment of the family. Charlie draws us into Tam’s painful memories which have often been glossed up to help her to cope. There is a subtle shift throughout the book, through Tam’s eyes, when she looks at the people around her. There is her Nana, the safe base all throughout, but was she really as kind and good as Tam thought she was?
The Broken Pane is not an easy read, as it deals with loss and childhood hurt. I liked the ending as it doesn’t fix everything, no happily ever after as a smiling family. I don’t like books that don’t end well, but in a strange way, this didn’t end badly. It was a realistic ending, and I appreciated that. The theme of the broken pane was an interesting one, highly symbolic of what went on, and I loved its thread throughout the book.
The characters in The Broken Pane were great, I could really picture them. They’re a colourful bunch, and my favourite is probably George. Near the end of the book, my perspectives on many of the characters shifted quite a bit, which I thought was brilliant. It shows how complex abuse and relationships is, and there is hardly ever an easy explanation or solution. It also shows how people process life differently, choosing a different way to cope with hard situations.
Charlie Roy, the author, deals with so many difficult issues in this book. From the young newlyweds to lack of support networks down to social workers and their assessment of the family. Charlie draws us into Tam’s painful memories which have often been glossed up to help her to cope. There is a subtle shift throughout the book, through Tam’s eyes, when she looks at the people around her. There is her Nana, the safe base all throughout, but was she really as kind and good as Tam thought she was?
The Broken Pane is not an easy read, as it deals with loss and childhood hurt. I liked the ending as it doesn’t fix everything, no happily ever after as a smiling family. I don’t like books that don’t end well, but in a strange way, this didn’t end badly. It was a realistic ending, and I appreciated that. The theme of the broken pane was an interesting one, highly symbolic of what went on, and I loved its thread throughout the book.
The characters in The Broken Pane were great, I could really picture them. They’re a colourful bunch, and my favourite is probably George. Near the end of the book, my perspectives on many of the characters shifted quite a bit, which I thought was brilliant. It shows how complex abuse and relationships is, and there is hardly ever an easy explanation or solution. It also shows how people process life differently, choosing a different way to cope with hard situations.
October 23, 2021
This book was gifted to me in exchange for an honest review.
I have to say, this book wasn’t for me! 😬 firstly, there were some pretty heavy triggers surrounding self-harm, suicide and child/domestic abuse throughout the entire book, which were not mentioned before starting. I think that took away a large part of the enjoyment for me as I was not prepared for the book to be that heavy-going.
The writing was good, particularly for a debut author, and it was a very easy read in terms of language & writing style - I read it in just two sittings. The story itself was a good concept, and I liked the sort of self-development and family relationship improvement elements. However I didn’t warm to any of the characters and there were bits that I felt were overdone, for example the main character says “Mick, I mean Dad” far too much throughout the book. I understand the sentiment is to reflect a poor relationship with her dad, but I felt the amount of times this expression was used was an overkill.
The representation of domestic abuse was very accurate and I felt the author was well-researched in this area. It was very raw and emotional, but a bit too much for me without prior warning.
This is a contemporary fiction novel, so if you like that genre and are ok with the heavy topics discussed, I think you’d actually very much enjoy the book! To be honest I probably would’ve given an extra star at least had I been made aware of the trigger warnings and hard-hitting content beforehand, because the blurb doesn’t really let you in on how much there will be, and no trigger warnings were provided, which has sadly tainted the book for me.
I have to say, this book wasn’t for me! 😬 firstly, there were some pretty heavy triggers surrounding self-harm, suicide and child/domestic abuse throughout the entire book, which were not mentioned before starting. I think that took away a large part of the enjoyment for me as I was not prepared for the book to be that heavy-going.
The writing was good, particularly for a debut author, and it was a very easy read in terms of language & writing style - I read it in just two sittings. The story itself was a good concept, and I liked the sort of self-development and family relationship improvement elements. However I didn’t warm to any of the characters and there were bits that I felt were overdone, for example the main character says “Mick, I mean Dad” far too much throughout the book. I understand the sentiment is to reflect a poor relationship with her dad, but I felt the amount of times this expression was used was an overkill.
The representation of domestic abuse was very accurate and I felt the author was well-researched in this area. It was very raw and emotional, but a bit too much for me without prior warning.
This is a contemporary fiction novel, so if you like that genre and are ok with the heavy topics discussed, I think you’d actually very much enjoy the book! To be honest I probably would’ve given an extra star at least had I been made aware of the trigger warnings and hard-hitting content beforehand, because the blurb doesn’t really let you in on how much there will be, and no trigger warnings were provided, which has sadly tainted the book for me.
September 2, 2021
TW: suicide, domestic violence, depression
📚After losing her brother, Tam revisits her past in her grief. She realises there are holes in her past that she needs to fill in to understand the heartbreaking past she shared with her now dead brother. No longer able to talk to her brother, Tam looks for her estranged mother who left them fifteen years ago. Why did she leave? Where is she now? Is she alive?
It’s a beautiful story about loss and grief, but also how our memories and our interpretation of the past can be unreliable. People don’t always remember the same past the same way. Does the past shape us? Or do we shape the past? That is the question.
Because of the trigger warnings, this is not a book I can recommend to everyone. However, if you are a literary fiction reader and/or appreciate books that deal with very difficult childhood and hard topics (I can think of Shuggie Bain), you might love this book.
But I hope you don’t get scared because of the warnings. It is a sad story, but also life-affirming, so while I personally struggled with Shuggie Bain, I didn’t struggle with this book. It was beautiful to see how Tam stayed resilient to find the truth and to see her grow and find herself during her emotional journey. The writing style itself is beautiful and easy to absorb, which is another factor that made it easier for me to take the sad parts of this story. Short chapters helped too.
I thought this is a wonderful debut by the author. I enjoyed this very much. Thank you @leamingtonbooks for sending me the proof copy.
📚After losing her brother, Tam revisits her past in her grief. She realises there are holes in her past that she needs to fill in to understand the heartbreaking past she shared with her now dead brother. No longer able to talk to her brother, Tam looks for her estranged mother who left them fifteen years ago. Why did she leave? Where is she now? Is she alive?
It’s a beautiful story about loss and grief, but also how our memories and our interpretation of the past can be unreliable. People don’t always remember the same past the same way. Does the past shape us? Or do we shape the past? That is the question.
Because of the trigger warnings, this is not a book I can recommend to everyone. However, if you are a literary fiction reader and/or appreciate books that deal with very difficult childhood and hard topics (I can think of Shuggie Bain), you might love this book.
But I hope you don’t get scared because of the warnings. It is a sad story, but also life-affirming, so while I personally struggled with Shuggie Bain, I didn’t struggle with this book. It was beautiful to see how Tam stayed resilient to find the truth and to see her grow and find herself during her emotional journey. The writing style itself is beautiful and easy to absorb, which is another factor that made it easier for me to take the sad parts of this story. Short chapters helped too.
I thought this is a wonderful debut by the author. I enjoyed this very much. Thank you @leamingtonbooks for sending me the proof copy.
June 8, 2022
A highly accomplished debut, The Broken Pane reads like the work of a far more experienced novelist, so secure in its voice, characterisation and plotting. The non-linear narrative, chapters headed with year dates from the seventies to the millennium, skilfully mirrors the precocious nature of unreliable memory, as the narrator Tam achieves what on the first page she thinks is impossible - to piece together the things that might have contributed to her brother Nicky's death in 1992. As well as its revelation of a terrific backstory, this is a wonderful meditation on how we tell stories, recover memory.
Roy achieves moments of great poignancy when Tam repeatedly has to play responsible adult, never more so that at the pivotal Christmas of 1973. In 1992, Tam's fidgety sentences convey her unsettledness and lack of ease, when she finds herself unable to continue compulsively cleaning the site of her brother's death, the dysfunctional childhood home they shared. Even more compelling is her constant perceptiveness about the nuances and misunderstandings of communication, with her Nana, or her friend Becky.
The settings and all the dialogue feel very authentic - achieved with a lightness of touch that beautifully balances the great weight Tam has to carry. Tam's own narrative is offset with items like the press obituary for Nicky that show a very different version of a person and events from what she remembers and understands. The pieces fit , jaggedly, together in a beautiful and memorable novel.
Roy achieves moments of great poignancy when Tam repeatedly has to play responsible adult, never more so that at the pivotal Christmas of 1973. In 1992, Tam's fidgety sentences convey her unsettledness and lack of ease, when she finds herself unable to continue compulsively cleaning the site of her brother's death, the dysfunctional childhood home they shared. Even more compelling is her constant perceptiveness about the nuances and misunderstandings of communication, with her Nana, or her friend Becky.
The settings and all the dialogue feel very authentic - achieved with a lightness of touch that beautifully balances the great weight Tam has to carry. Tam's own narrative is offset with items like the press obituary for Nicky that show a very different version of a person and events from what she remembers and understands. The pieces fit , jaggedly, together in a beautiful and memorable novel.
September 19, 2021
The Broken Pane - Charlie Roy
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review thanks to the publisher - Leamington Books
The Broken Pane is about loss and family when families are broken. Finding yourself in the pieces of memory. About a young woman and her search for answers.
In her early twenties, Tam rushes to her childhood flat only to be confronted by a tragic discovery. Anchored by the weight of family lore, she struggles to come to terms with her loss. As her life spirals, she sets off to find the one person who may hold the answers: her mother.
Tam’s travels take her far from a home which was more broken than she had ever realised.
This is Charlie's debut novel, it deals with how trauma can affect the recollection of memories. As an adult, Tam recalls memories that as an adult she sees things in a different light. We move through various different timelines as we jump around Tam's memories.
This is a powerful and emotional book about family and loss. Such a strong debut novel! Whilst sad in places, it is also very thought provoking in places. With trigger warnings such as: suicide, domestic abuse and depression, it is difficult to know who to recommend this book to - but if it appeals then you should definitely check it out!
Rating 4/5
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review thanks to the publisher - Leamington Books
The Broken Pane is about loss and family when families are broken. Finding yourself in the pieces of memory. About a young woman and her search for answers.
In her early twenties, Tam rushes to her childhood flat only to be confronted by a tragic discovery. Anchored by the weight of family lore, she struggles to come to terms with her loss. As her life spirals, she sets off to find the one person who may hold the answers: her mother.
Tam’s travels take her far from a home which was more broken than she had ever realised.
This is Charlie's debut novel, it deals with how trauma can affect the recollection of memories. As an adult, Tam recalls memories that as an adult she sees things in a different light. We move through various different timelines as we jump around Tam's memories.
This is a powerful and emotional book about family and loss. Such a strong debut novel! Whilst sad in places, it is also very thought provoking in places. With trigger warnings such as: suicide, domestic abuse and depression, it is difficult to know who to recommend this book to - but if it appeals then you should definitely check it out!
Rating 4/5
November 3, 2021
THE BROKEN PANE by Charlie Roy
The Broken Pane tells the story of a woman called Tam and her family. We first meet her when she is in her early twenties in 1992 and it continues until 2001. The chapter headings are all the years each section is about, and the story travels backwards and forwards to explain her life. This is easy to follow though, not confusing.
The novel opens with a very impactful chapter set in 1992, when we find out something huge happens in Tam’s life, something which changes everything and sets her off on a path to find out about her childhood and her family, to attempt to find answers to her many questions and in so doing, to try to discover if her memories are real or false.
It’s quite a deep novel, it is told in the first person and Tam suffers a lot, her life is never easy, especially with Mick, her alcoholic and abusive father. The writing is often quite poetic, almost stream of consciousness at times – and I wasn’t surprised to discover the author, Charlie Roy, is a poet.
It isn’t an easy read, it can feel very bleak at times and the subject matter is dark and unrelenting in places, but it held my interest throughout and I wanted to follow Tam’s life to find out what happens.
The Broken Pane tells the story of a woman called Tam and her family. We first meet her when she is in her early twenties in 1992 and it continues until 2001. The chapter headings are all the years each section is about, and the story travels backwards and forwards to explain her life. This is easy to follow though, not confusing.
The novel opens with a very impactful chapter set in 1992, when we find out something huge happens in Tam’s life, something which changes everything and sets her off on a path to find out about her childhood and her family, to attempt to find answers to her many questions and in so doing, to try to discover if her memories are real or false.
It’s quite a deep novel, it is told in the first person and Tam suffers a lot, her life is never easy, especially with Mick, her alcoholic and abusive father. The writing is often quite poetic, almost stream of consciousness at times – and I wasn’t surprised to discover the author, Charlie Roy, is a poet.
It isn’t an easy read, it can feel very bleak at times and the subject matter is dark and unrelenting in places, but it held my interest throughout and I wanted to follow Tam’s life to find out what happens.
October 22, 2021
This book is so emotional and I absolutely adored Tam. I got so sucked into the timeline and built a connection to Tam and found myself addicted to know more about her life. I connected with the book more as I felt like it reminded me of my own life growing up. I can fully appreciate that this book may contain a few trigger warnings for those who have experienced everything in life from violence to suicide.
Families are complicated. Every family has ups and downs and this book does centralise on family a lot. The writing style was wonderful and the flashbacks of Tams memories were incredible. The author does an amazing job at revealing secrets and the twists are completely unexpected in anyway.
This book is incredibly raw. I really believe this author has spent a lot of time on how domestic violence situations shape children and people. For me the best part of this book was piecing together the discoveries.
For a debut novel this was outstanding. I can’t wait to read more from this author. This book was an emotional roller coaster and one that will stay with me for a long time.
Families are complicated. Every family has ups and downs and this book does centralise on family a lot. The writing style was wonderful and the flashbacks of Tams memories were incredible. The author does an amazing job at revealing secrets and the twists are completely unexpected in anyway.
This book is incredibly raw. I really believe this author has spent a lot of time on how domestic violence situations shape children and people. For me the best part of this book was piecing together the discoveries.
For a debut novel this was outstanding. I can’t wait to read more from this author. This book was an emotional roller coaster and one that will stay with me for a long time.
October 23, 2021
The Broken Pane is a striking debut, in that no-mans land somewhere between hope and despair. As we go on a journey of self-discovery with Tam, we look back into her past and how it might not be exactly what she'd thought. Raising thought-provoking questions about family, about loss and love - this is the type of story to make you think.
Deeply emotional and moving, this character driven tale has a hard-hitting intensity and power that leaves the reader reeling. Told from multiple timelines, everything slowly comes together like a living, moving tapestry slowly taking form in front of the readers eyes.
Despite the heavy subject matter, there was such an easy flow to the writing that made it so absorbing and I soon found myself running out of pages. I definitely can't wait to see where Roy goes next on her literary journey.
"Once everything has been said and done, stories were all that were left"
Content warnings: This book contains sensitive subjects including depression, suicide, self-harm, abuse, relationship breakdown and grief.
Deeply emotional and moving, this character driven tale has a hard-hitting intensity and power that leaves the reader reeling. Told from multiple timelines, everything slowly comes together like a living, moving tapestry slowly taking form in front of the readers eyes.
Despite the heavy subject matter, there was such an easy flow to the writing that made it so absorbing and I soon found myself running out of pages. I definitely can't wait to see where Roy goes next on her literary journey.
"Once everything has been said and done, stories were all that were left"
Content warnings: This book contains sensitive subjects including depression, suicide, self-harm, abuse, relationship breakdown and grief.
November 3, 2021
Thank you to Love Books Tours and Leamington Books for my spot on the book tour, and for an advance copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
This beautiful story takes us back and forth in moments spanning 1973-2001. Told from the perspective of Tam, who deals with a heartbreaking family tragedy, and later in life begins to examine the different moments in her life, but with the benefit of seeing things through more mature eyes. Despite the many changing time periods, I always had the sense of forward momentum, and each chapter clearly labelled which year Tam was remembering, so I never felt lost. I liked Tam, especially as she re-evaluated her life experiences.
This is definitely not a book I would normally read, but I'm so glad that I did. Overall, this is a book I would happily recommend, although I will add a trigger warning for subject matter such as mental health, domestic abuse, and suicide. I gave The Broken Pane, by Charlie Roy four stars.
This beautiful story takes us back and forth in moments spanning 1973-2001. Told from the perspective of Tam, who deals with a heartbreaking family tragedy, and later in life begins to examine the different moments in her life, but with the benefit of seeing things through more mature eyes. Despite the many changing time periods, I always had the sense of forward momentum, and each chapter clearly labelled which year Tam was remembering, so I never felt lost. I liked Tam, especially as she re-evaluated her life experiences.
This is definitely not a book I would normally read, but I'm so glad that I did. Overall, this is a book I would happily recommend, although I will add a trigger warning for subject matter such as mental health, domestic abuse, and suicide. I gave The Broken Pane, by Charlie Roy four stars.
October 20, 2021
Please be aware of ⛔️ Trigger Warnings ⛔️
Suicide, domestic violence, depression, loss & grief
This book was so incredibly emotional!
I was hooked from the first page and loved everything about it.
Jumping back and forth between multiple timelines in Tam’s life, the reader is taken on a journey with her. A journey about Tam coming to terms with loss and using memories to try and make sense of the situation.
This book is powerful and a great demonstration of how people remember past events from different perspectives. How some individuals block the truth and fill the gaps with what they want to remember.
A HUGE thank you to @lovebookstours, @dayinspace & @leamingtonbooks for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. An amazing debut.
Suicide, domestic violence, depression, loss & grief
This book was so incredibly emotional!
I was hooked from the first page and loved everything about it.
Jumping back and forth between multiple timelines in Tam’s life, the reader is taken on a journey with her. A journey about Tam coming to terms with loss and using memories to try and make sense of the situation.
This book is powerful and a great demonstration of how people remember past events from different perspectives. How some individuals block the truth and fill the gaps with what they want to remember.
A HUGE thank you to @lovebookstours, @dayinspace & @leamingtonbooks for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. An amazing debut.
November 3, 2021
This is a heart breaking and emotional debut novel. Tam's family is completely broken and we follow her on her journey while she is looking for answers. The book spans Tam's childhood to becoming an adult. She has her memories but are they as accurate as she remembers?
The book deals with heavy topics including self harm, suicide and domestic and child abuse. I found it a heavy and emotional read but still enjoyed it. I feel the author has written the characters very well which helps understand them. The chapters jumped back and forward through different time periods and although this suited the book I personally found it made it more difficult for me to concentrate. A very thought provoking and, at times, difficult read.
The book deals with heavy topics including self harm, suicide and domestic and child abuse. I found it a heavy and emotional read but still enjoyed it. I feel the author has written the characters very well which helps understand them. The chapters jumped back and forward through different time periods and although this suited the book I personally found it made it more difficult for me to concentrate. A very thought provoking and, at times, difficult read.
October 6, 2021
After Nickys death, Tam is forced to face her past and find answers about her family and herself. The broken Pane is an exploration of alcoholism and abandonment and how society has a part to play. It also examines how these issue impact the children involved and the mental and emotional trauma that needs to be overcome.
I wasn't sure about this book to begin with, however I became engrossed in Tams search for answers. For me this book was a little disjointed at times and the themes explored were heavy at times.
This is definitely a book for those who enjoyed the likes of Shuggie Bain!
I read this as part of @lovebooktours book tour on Instagram. #Ad #Gifted
I wasn't sure about this book to begin with, however I became engrossed in Tams search for answers. For me this book was a little disjointed at times and the themes explored were heavy at times.
This is definitely a book for those who enjoyed the likes of Shuggie Bain!
I read this as part of @lovebooktours book tour on Instagram. #Ad #Gifted
October 18, 2021
Such a fantastic debut novel, definitely worthy of five stars. A beautifully written story of love, loss & grief. Written in past & present format, with two very troubled main protagonists & one truly vile antagonist this is a book that gives you food for thought & certainly makes you think long after you've finished turning its pages.
Mental health, suicide, domestic violence & child abuse are the main focuses of the book & may be triggers to some.
I can't wait to see what Charlie comes up with next, as I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
Many thanks to Love Books Tours for my tour spot & the publishers for my gifted copy.
𝗜 𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮 5 ⭐ 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴
Mental health, suicide, domestic violence & child abuse are the main focuses of the book & may be triggers to some.
I can't wait to see what Charlie comes up with next, as I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
Many thanks to Love Books Tours for my tour spot & the publishers for my gifted copy.
𝗜 𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮 5 ⭐ 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴
October 28, 2021
This was a good debut novel from Charlie Roy! The writing was good and the chapters were short and easy to follow even with the timeline hoping back and forth from Tams childhood to adulthood.
I do think however that this book should come with content warnings - self-harm, suicide, alcoholism, domestic abuse and child abuse. The book covered some heavy topics and it wasn’t clear from the blurb how deep this book would be.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel and I would definitely be interested in reading any future work produced by this author! If you enjoy a contemporary fiction then this book is one for you ✨
Thank you to @lovebookstours and @leamingtonbooks for a book tour copy in exchange for an honest review.
I do think however that this book should come with content warnings - self-harm, suicide, alcoholism, domestic abuse and child abuse. The book covered some heavy topics and it wasn’t clear from the blurb how deep this book would be.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel and I would definitely be interested in reading any future work produced by this author! If you enjoy a contemporary fiction then this book is one for you ✨
Thank you to @lovebookstours and @leamingtonbooks for a book tour copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 22, 2021
This debut novel was not an easy read, but it is beautifully written, wise, and full of really arresting images and scenes.
Tam as unreliable narrator, constructing her memories by piecing together the little she does remember (mostly horrible traumatic memories) with what she thinks might have happened.
The ending of the story was not quite what I expected and the book was all the better for that.
There were quite a lot of typos - missed or repeated words, year chapter headings that were not quite right and a little confusing - and I felt this could have done with better copy editing by the publisher , which was a shame.
Tam as unreliable narrator, constructing her memories by piecing together the little she does remember (mostly horrible traumatic memories) with what she thinks might have happened.
The ending of the story was not quite what I expected and the book was all the better for that.
There were quite a lot of typos - missed or repeated words, year chapter headings that were not quite right and a little confusing - and I felt this could have done with better copy editing by the publisher , which was a shame.
October 30, 2021
The memories that stay with us are always the most emotive. The best and worst of times stay with us as we go through life.
Roy takes the reader through a journey of high and lows that are real to life. The whole truth as we see it. Over a a forty year span the story is told and as the book says. Sometimes the best stories are our own.
What’s your best childhood memory ?
Lovely read. That provokes memory and thoughts.
Thank you to @dayinspace @leamingtonbooks and
@lovebookstours for the opportunity to read this interesting book
#Ad #Gifted
Roy takes the reader through a journey of high and lows that are real to life. The whole truth as we see it. Over a a forty year span the story is told and as the book says. Sometimes the best stories are our own.
What’s your best childhood memory ?
Lovely read. That provokes memory and thoughts.
Thank you to @dayinspace @leamingtonbooks and
@lovebookstours for the opportunity to read this interesting book
#Ad #Gifted
November 12, 2021
Oh my! What an intense but beautiful read. I really really felt for Tam and Bugs. The idea of having your past shape you or whether you shape your past is really well done throughout this book.
I love the time shifts between current years and Tam’s childhood and I think it’s one of the reasons I flew through this book.
I highly recommend this for anyone who loves an intense read as this is that!!!!
Thank you to Love Books Tours and the author for the opportunity to read this in return of an honest review.
I love the time shifts between current years and Tam’s childhood and I think it’s one of the reasons I flew through this book.
I highly recommend this for anyone who loves an intense read as this is that!!!!
Thank you to Love Books Tours and the author for the opportunity to read this in return of an honest review.
September 7, 2021
This is really thought provoking and really poignant. The family dynamic gets slowly revealed as the book time hops with every chapter and you see more of this family and piece things together like a jigsaw puzzle. Identity and soul searching, sad yet warm through Tam. Time hopping is throughout and you have to keep an eye on that to know where you are. Interesting take on families, the unsaid, and relationships.
November 3, 2021
This book kicks off with a tragedy,tams brother Nicky had taken his own life and she finds him,in the bathtub of there childhood home.
Tam and Nicky had a very hard life their father was abusive to there mother and she leaves,the abuse then get projected on to the children.
The book goes from chapter to chapter in different time periods which is 100% needed to get really connected with the story.
Highly recommend reading this book.
Trigger warning
Suicide
Abuse
Neglect
Abandonment
Alcoholism
Tam and Nicky had a very hard life their father was abusive to there mother and she leaves,the abuse then get projected on to the children.
The book goes from chapter to chapter in different time periods which is 100% needed to get really connected with the story.
Highly recommend reading this book.
Trigger warning
Suicide
Abuse
Neglect
Abandonment
Alcoholism
October 16, 2021
Revisiting a past from an uncertain future. Looking for answers to questions you'd never had the chance to ask. A story of loss, love and let down. An excellent book giving raw and realistic accounts of domestic violence and alcoholism and the effect that this has on the children.
Look forward to reading more of Charlie's work in the future. Another great book published by Leamington Books
Look forward to reading more of Charlie's work in the future. Another great book published by Leamington Books
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2021
Rarely does a novel grab my attention so early on, but the intensity of the events that occur at the beginning of this book is difficult to ignore. Following a non-linear timeline that allows the reader snippets of Tam’s childhood while she navigates the present, I was so engaged by the way her life was pieced together and it made her feel like a complete character that I really cared about. The trauma of her past became a key theme of the book and called into question whether her memories were accurate at all, and if she could be considered a reliable narrator.
As secrets are uncovered, it seems that Tam also wants to find out for herself why her childhood became what it was. I absolutely loved this part of the book, seeming to counter what a reader might expect of remaining stationary in grief. Saying that, the themes of loss are dealt with so well that even without the various plot points that move the story to different places, this would have been an intimate and fragile look at a family affected by violence, trauma and loss.
Clearly there’s a lot of things I loved about this novel, but I think the true test is how often you think about a book after you’ve finished the last page. I read this a few weeks ago and keep thinking back to it. Gorgeous book!
Thank you Leamington Books for the proof copy!
As secrets are uncovered, it seems that Tam also wants to find out for herself why her childhood became what it was. I absolutely loved this part of the book, seeming to counter what a reader might expect of remaining stationary in grief. Saying that, the themes of loss are dealt with so well that even without the various plot points that move the story to different places, this would have been an intimate and fragile look at a family affected by violence, trauma and loss.
Clearly there’s a lot of things I loved about this novel, but I think the true test is how often you think about a book after you’ve finished the last page. I read this a few weeks ago and keep thinking back to it. Gorgeous book!
Thank you Leamington Books for the proof copy!
November 26, 2021
A satisfying read. Hard to read at places and yet the flow of the narrative and ultimately the ending makes for a gratifying reading experience.
http://onerightword.blogspot.com/2021...
http://onerightword.blogspot.com/2021...
November 29, 2021
I found the short chapters circling through the timelines a little difficult at first, but I'm glad I persevered. It is a harrowing story, but Tam's journey towards discovery and self-acceptance is enthralling. Nuanced and well observed characters. I look forward to Charlie's next book.
September 23, 2021
Review to come
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews