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All the Salt in the Sea
In her first year of medical school, Abby West’s goals for the future were derailed by an unexpected pregnancy. Reluctantly, she discarded her dream of becoming a physician in favor of being a wife to one.
Nineteen years later, Abby discovers her powerful, well-connected husband has been keeping a secret—an eight-year-old son from an old affair. Devastated by the betrayal, she flees to her grandmother’s hometown on the Amalfi coast.
There, Abby meets Daniel Quinn, a former American soldier turned photographer. As she travels across Europe with him, she begins to imagine a new life, one without a controlling and unfaithful husband.
Empowered by a newfound sense of freedom and courage, Abby returns to St. Augustine to settle things with her husband. But nothing goes as planned, and what awaits may very well destroy her.
Nineteen years later, Abby discovers her powerful, well-connected husband has been keeping a secret—an eight-year-old son from an old affair. Devastated by the betrayal, she flees to her grandmother’s hometown on the Amalfi coast.
There, Abby meets Daniel Quinn, a former American soldier turned photographer. As she travels across Europe with him, she begins to imagine a new life, one without a controlling and unfaithful husband.
Empowered by a newfound sense of freedom and courage, Abby returns to St. Augustine to settle things with her husband. But nothing goes as planned, and what awaits may very well destroy her.
308 pages, Paperback
Published December 6, 2021
283 people are currently reading
952 people want to read
About the author
Tammy L. Harrow
1 book59 followersABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tammy Harrow is an international solo traveler, writer, and photographer. She’s spent much of her life in the publishing industry, the first half in newspapers and more recently working for various Florida magazines.
Every couple of months, she escapes to a new city or country in search of adventure. Along the way, she often finds interesting stories to share with the world.
With dreams of domestication and finding satisfaction within the continental US, she and her husband recently bought a commercial high-top van named Vincent Van Gogh. They’re in the process of converting it into a campervan for cross country travel.
Tammy’s work has appeared in Woman’s Day, Budget Travel, Social, and Old City Life magazines, Bacopa Literary Review, and on CNN, MSNBC, and National Geographic. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Maryland.
Tammy lives in historic downtown Saint Augustine, Florida, with her husband, two freeloading cats, and one disobedient dog. Her three children have flown the nest but still visit frequently.
To follow her on Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/tammy...
Tammy Harrow is an international solo traveler, writer, and photographer. She’s spent much of her life in the publishing industry, the first half in newspapers and more recently working for various Florida magazines.
Every couple of months, she escapes to a new city or country in search of adventure. Along the way, she often finds interesting stories to share with the world.
With dreams of domestication and finding satisfaction within the continental US, she and her husband recently bought a commercial high-top van named Vincent Van Gogh. They’re in the process of converting it into a campervan for cross country travel.
Tammy’s work has appeared in Woman’s Day, Budget Travel, Social, and Old City Life magazines, Bacopa Literary Review, and on CNN, MSNBC, and National Geographic. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Maryland.
Tammy lives in historic downtown Saint Augustine, Florida, with her husband, two freeloading cats, and one disobedient dog. Her three children have flown the nest but still visit frequently.
To follow her on Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/tammy...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
September 4, 2022
Read this courageous story about Abby who ventures to beautiful scenic Europe, who takes her first step of freedom and perseveres through love. You will read and realize how Abby slips into a life with a narcissistic husband. In Europe she discovers her grandmother’s roots and makes new friends. Abby meets Daniel and discovers how a woman should be treated. Back in the states, Abby’s world is her daughter and protecting her from everything negative is her goal. Through this story Abby’s courage and strength lead the way.
This is a MUST-READ for ALL WOMEN!!!
This is a MUST-READ for ALL WOMEN!!!
January 19, 2022
From the outside looking in, Abby West might seem like she has the perfect life. She’s married to a successful doctor, and the mother to a beautiful college bound daughter. Then a marital secret upends Abby’s world, setting off a chain of events that lead her to question everything she thought she ever knew. Desperate to escape it all and reset, Abby leaves the country.
While abroad, Abby meets Daniel Quinn, a talented and handsome photographer. But Daniel too has his fair share of demons to contend with. With both of them running from the truth, they end up running into the arms of one another. Happy and content, Abby returns home to tell her husband their marriage is over. But the best laid plans go awry as soon as Abby gets there. When life dishes out one curve ball after another, Abby is left wondering if her bliss was short lived, and if she will ever see Daniel again.
All the Salt in the Sea was a wild ride of a book that is very hard to summarize. This is because so much happened in its 300 plus pages. In the beginning, the reader thinks the focus is going to be on uncovering a mystery from her grandmother’s past. Then the reader is led to believe the mystery is in her newfound relationship with Daniel. When she returns home the reader gets a few more twists and turns before landing on morphing into a suspenseful novel, rooted in domestic abuse.
If I’m being honest, it was a little much to pack into one book. I was entertained for sure. The sight seeing alone left me envious and intrigued. However, this story very shakily walks the line between fictional freedom and far fetched frivolity. Nothing but praise for the writer’s imagination. All the Salt in the Sea at times still left me out to sea, looking for a life raft.
While abroad, Abby meets Daniel Quinn, a talented and handsome photographer. But Daniel too has his fair share of demons to contend with. With both of them running from the truth, they end up running into the arms of one another. Happy and content, Abby returns home to tell her husband their marriage is over. But the best laid plans go awry as soon as Abby gets there. When life dishes out one curve ball after another, Abby is left wondering if her bliss was short lived, and if she will ever see Daniel again.
All the Salt in the Sea was a wild ride of a book that is very hard to summarize. This is because so much happened in its 300 plus pages. In the beginning, the reader thinks the focus is going to be on uncovering a mystery from her grandmother’s past. Then the reader is led to believe the mystery is in her newfound relationship with Daniel. When she returns home the reader gets a few more twists and turns before landing on morphing into a suspenseful novel, rooted in domestic abuse.
If I’m being honest, it was a little much to pack into one book. I was entertained for sure. The sight seeing alone left me envious and intrigued. However, this story very shakily walks the line between fictional freedom and far fetched frivolity. Nothing but praise for the writer’s imagination. All the Salt in the Sea at times still left me out to sea, looking for a life raft.
March 11, 2022
Abby West put her future of being a physician on hold when she finds out she is pregnant and gets married. Now years later she finds out her husband has been keeping a secret. A big one! A son from an affair. Wounded and destroyed Abby heads to her grandmothers hometown in search of her grandmothers friend. While there, Abby also meets Daniel, a former soldier and photographer. She connects with Daniel and realizes there is more to life than what she imagined. She falls for Daniel. Abby knows her marriage is over. It's easier said than done when she returns home to end it and the dark side of her husband emerges. This was an excellent read. So much more than I thought going in. A suspensful, engaging story with a good many twist.
Dawnny Ruby
Hudson Valley NY
Dawnny Ruby
Hudson Valley NY
September 30, 2024
4,0 ✨✨✨
(Audiobook)
(Audiobook)
December 17, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed reading an ARC copy of this debut novel!
All The Salt In The Sea initially lulls you into a scenic journey through Europe (and so much yummy-sounding food!) as Abby takes a sabbatical from her disastrous marriage.
Her marriage is over— according to her— but her controlling, manipulative husband, Alex, has other ideas. Abby finds romance in Europe, but can't move on until she closes the door on her marriage. Back in Florida, Alex refuses to let Abby move on, and the author pulls the curtain back on real-life horrors, things we'd rather sweep under the rug.
The more Abby tries to break free, the more dangerous her world becomes. Betrayal and lies catapult the reader through this fast-paced story’s chilling twists and turns.
All The Salt In The Sea initially lulls you into a scenic journey through Europe (and so much yummy-sounding food!) as Abby takes a sabbatical from her disastrous marriage.
Her marriage is over— according to her— but her controlling, manipulative husband, Alex, has other ideas. Abby finds romance in Europe, but can't move on until she closes the door on her marriage. Back in Florida, Alex refuses to let Abby move on, and the author pulls the curtain back on real-life horrors, things we'd rather sweep under the rug.
The more Abby tries to break free, the more dangerous her world becomes. Betrayal and lies catapult the reader through this fast-paced story’s chilling twists and turns.
January 20, 2022
Wow! This book has a bit of everything that is all woven together to make one intense, emotional roller coaster ride. Tammy Harrow has a gift of description, which we know is my favorite! Especially when she is describing the decadent food that her characters are eating, you can feel the fresh, firm tomato bursting on your tongue, as you gaze over the mesmerizing Amalfi Coast. Her characters are exposed layer by layer until they lay before you fully exposed, each richly developed. The story is broken into sections, each part unique and tantalizing. The twist at the end will get you, it builds so slowly that you are in shock when the unimaginable occurs.
Abby has escaped her marriage from her manipulative, narcissistic husband. She has run to the coast of Italy searching for her grandmother's best friend. Not only does she find her, but she also discovers her true self and the power to finally leave her husband and the acceptance and healing that will provide for her. She meets Daniel and quickly they fall in love. Finding their natural rhythm and opening up to one another about their painful pasts. Abby must go home and confront Alex for a divorce. This is where there is a switch, and the book turns to thrills and chills, that does not disappoint.
This book will capture your attention, first with its exquisite details that transport you to all the countries that Daniel and Abby explore. Toward the middle of the book, Abby started to get under my skin. Push through because the last hundred pages are an intense thrill ride that does not let up. Thank you to Tammy Harrow and Let's Talk Books Promo for sending me this delicious, spine tingling read.
Abby has escaped her marriage from her manipulative, narcissistic husband. She has run to the coast of Italy searching for her grandmother's best friend. Not only does she find her, but she also discovers her true self and the power to finally leave her husband and the acceptance and healing that will provide for her. She meets Daniel and quickly they fall in love. Finding their natural rhythm and opening up to one another about their painful pasts. Abby must go home and confront Alex for a divorce. This is where there is a switch, and the book turns to thrills and chills, that does not disappoint.
This book will capture your attention, first with its exquisite details that transport you to all the countries that Daniel and Abby explore. Toward the middle of the book, Abby started to get under my skin. Push through because the last hundred pages are an intense thrill ride that does not let up. Thank you to Tammy Harrow and Let's Talk Books Promo for sending me this delicious, spine tingling read.
March 26, 2022
REVIEW: All The Salt In The Sea is a compelling read about an all too real heart breaking situation. I found the writing poignant addressing issues of abuse and family secrets, and then the story takes off with lots of twists and turns, sprinkling a bit of romance, some mystery, and even some adventure. I am so captivated by Abby’s every turn and decision, surprises, and suspense, that made this fast paced read unputdownable. I highly recommend!!
April 14, 2022
2.5 STARS
I felt like I was reading several different books here. It's divided into three parts, and they all have a very different tone. It was entertaining, but not very believable.
The first part is an insta-love romance with lots of travel/food porn. Abby and Daniel go from acquaintances to soul mates in a matter of a few weeks while they travel around Europe. Daniel has a lot of emotional baggage and Abby is annoyingly pushy for him to divulge all his secrets.
The second part is Abby coming back to Florida, where she is met with family drama. The subplot with Abby's daughter seemed to exist only to keep Abby from Daniel, because it was too serious a subject for the glossing over it got.
The third part of the book veers entirely into Lifetime movie drama, complete with mustache twirling villain (how does the chief of staff at a hospital have that much free time for stalking?). Abby makes one poor decision after another and I found myself constantly rolling my eyes at her. She's apparently smart enough to have been a teenager in her first year of medical school (did she skip high school or graduate college at 18?), but she kept doing so many dumb things that by the end I wanted Daniel to run back to Italy without her.
I felt like I was reading several different books here. It's divided into three parts, and they all have a very different tone. It was entertaining, but not very believable.
The first part is an insta-love romance with lots of travel/food porn. Abby and Daniel go from acquaintances to soul mates in a matter of a few weeks while they travel around Europe. Daniel has a lot of emotional baggage and Abby is annoyingly pushy for him to divulge all his secrets.
The second part is Abby coming back to Florida, where she is met with family drama. The subplot with Abby's daughter seemed to exist only to keep Abby from Daniel, because it was too serious a subject for the glossing over it got.
The third part of the book veers entirely into Lifetime movie drama, complete with mustache twirling villain (how does the chief of staff at a hospital have that much free time for stalking?). Abby makes one poor decision after another and I found myself constantly rolling my eyes at her. She's apparently smart enough to have been a teenager in her first year of medical school (did she skip high school or graduate college at 18?), but she kept doing so many dumb things that by the end I wanted Daniel to run back to Italy without her.
March 17, 2022
I loved how the author was able to take the reader across multiple countries, but also through so many emotions and feelings.
This is a story of what a high socioeconomic intelligent woman goes through when she finds out her husband of 17 years has a 8yo sold he has been hiding from her, and what happens as she begins the divorce proceedings and begins to find herself again.
Second chance love, suspenseful, heartbreaking, hopeful and resilient! ♥️
This is a story of what a high socioeconomic intelligent woman goes through when she finds out her husband of 17 years has a 8yo sold he has been hiding from her, and what happens as she begins the divorce proceedings and begins to find herself again.
Second chance love, suspenseful, heartbreaking, hopeful and resilient! ♥️
July 13, 2022
There is so much to this book. It's a story of emotional abuse; if you don't know what that is, you'll soon see it in all its un-glory. For those of you who do recognize it, you'll see the truth.
All The Salt In The Sea is a story of making choices and taking chances and absolutely luscious descriptions of food and the deepest desire to travel to unknown places. It's the story of trust.
You will be filled with emotions when you reach the last page.
All The Salt In The Sea is a story of making choices and taking chances and absolutely luscious descriptions of food and the deepest desire to travel to unknown places. It's the story of trust.
You will be filled with emotions when you reach the last page.
December 21, 2021
I appreciated the innovative approach of this story. Often novels start at home in a character’s normal life and then after life changes, the main character escapes to a foreign location. All the Salt in the Sea reverses this.
The story opens with Abby having escaped to Italy to visit her beloved grandmother’s hometown on the Amalfi coast. It’s full of the sensual as she falls in love with the locale, the food, and meets Daniel Quinn, an expat who steals her heart. The author is clearly a lover of travel and the first half of the novel has major Eat-Pray-Love travel vibes.
Abby draws strength from this new relationship when she returns to Florida to divorce the husband who has deceived her. But as she reintegrates into life in Saint Augustine, we learn more of her old relationship. Her husband is a successful doctor who, behind the scenes, is controlling and emotionally abusive. He’s willing to fight the divorce and will turn dark before he’ll let her go. The second half of the novel has many elements of successful domestic suspense.
The question is whether Abby will move past the impact of years of anxiety, and the story she tells herself about who she has become and what she deserves.
Ultimately, her ability to escape the situation and her husband will be as much about her own psyche and whether she truly believes she deserves a better life.
The novel takes on difficult topics around manipulation and control in a marriage. I was thoroughly engaged with the main character, and at points frustrated as I prayed for Abby to make the right choices for her future. A realistic portrayal of the age-old story of why many women stay in abusive relationships that don’t serve us.
Recommended as a novel for book club discussion, with fascinating questions posed by each of Abby’s decisions along the way, and by the ending.
A sweeping novel that takes the reader from a malfunctioning coach on an Italian mountain top to Paris to Switzerland and to Saint Augustine, Florida. Full of heartbreak and longing, and romance, but also tinged with the distressing truth of how difficult it is to leave a relationship after abuse. Harrow has created a vivid, detailed, realistic and compelling universe.
The story opens with Abby having escaped to Italy to visit her beloved grandmother’s hometown on the Amalfi coast. It’s full of the sensual as she falls in love with the locale, the food, and meets Daniel Quinn, an expat who steals her heart. The author is clearly a lover of travel and the first half of the novel has major Eat-Pray-Love travel vibes.
Abby draws strength from this new relationship when she returns to Florida to divorce the husband who has deceived her. But as she reintegrates into life in Saint Augustine, we learn more of her old relationship. Her husband is a successful doctor who, behind the scenes, is controlling and emotionally abusive. He’s willing to fight the divorce and will turn dark before he’ll let her go. The second half of the novel has many elements of successful domestic suspense.
The question is whether Abby will move past the impact of years of anxiety, and the story she tells herself about who she has become and what she deserves.
Ultimately, her ability to escape the situation and her husband will be as much about her own psyche and whether she truly believes she deserves a better life.
The novel takes on difficult topics around manipulation and control in a marriage. I was thoroughly engaged with the main character, and at points frustrated as I prayed for Abby to make the right choices for her future. A realistic portrayal of the age-old story of why many women stay in abusive relationships that don’t serve us.
Recommended as a novel for book club discussion, with fascinating questions posed by each of Abby’s decisions along the way, and by the ending.
A sweeping novel that takes the reader from a malfunctioning coach on an Italian mountain top to Paris to Switzerland and to Saint Augustine, Florida. Full of heartbreak and longing, and romance, but also tinged with the distressing truth of how difficult it is to leave a relationship after abuse. Harrow has created a vivid, detailed, realistic and compelling universe.
September 4, 2022
2.5 🌟
Don’t have the energy to rate this book.
Don’t have the energy to rate this book.
October 23, 2023
All the Salt in the Sea by Tammy L. Harrow brilliantly contrasts relationships with men in a woman’s life. Abby West’s daughter is about to head off to college while Abby’s marriage falls apart when an affair is discovered. Betrayed, Abby takes the trip to Europe she longed for.
Abby explores Italy, Paris, and Amsterdam on her way to self-discovery. Inviting descriptions of seaside villages on the Amalfi Coast lure the reader to experience quaint restaurants and stunning views. Abby’s struggles with Italian make her an empathetic and charming tourist who seeks to honor her beloved late grandmother by visiting the village where she grew up. The connections she encounters make the world feel smaller.
Abby is full of regrets and blames herself for her unhappiness. Gradually, she examines her life at a tipping point and decides to redirect her life through drastic changes.
The repercussions of her decisions create mounting tension that dangerously escalates. Her husband, a physician from a prominent family, refuses Abby’s choice. His true nature emerges.
Readers of Colleen Hoover and Ruth Ware will devour All the Salt in the Sea, and recommend it as I have.
This book won the Royal Palm Literary Award in 2022.
Abby explores Italy, Paris, and Amsterdam on her way to self-discovery. Inviting descriptions of seaside villages on the Amalfi Coast lure the reader to experience quaint restaurants and stunning views. Abby’s struggles with Italian make her an empathetic and charming tourist who seeks to honor her beloved late grandmother by visiting the village where she grew up. The connections she encounters make the world feel smaller.
Abby is full of regrets and blames herself for her unhappiness. Gradually, she examines her life at a tipping point and decides to redirect her life through drastic changes.
The repercussions of her decisions create mounting tension that dangerously escalates. Her husband, a physician from a prominent family, refuses Abby’s choice. His true nature emerges.
Readers of Colleen Hoover and Ruth Ware will devour All the Salt in the Sea, and recommend it as I have.
This book won the Royal Palm Literary Award in 2022.
April 8, 2022
Awesome writing.Book is so spot on. Riveting.loved it.full of suspense tragic events and sweet endings
March 27, 2022
Abby has been married to Alex, who is controlling and a cheater, for far too long. Now that the truth is out about his son from another woman, Abby leaves for Italy, the home of her beloved grandmother, to clear her head.
In Italy, she meets Daniel, the grandson of her grandmother’s best friend. A former soldier, now photographer, he invites Abby to travel Europe with her on his shoots. Abby and Daniel soon fall for one another, but both have pasts that must be dealt with, secrets haunting them.
When Abby returns to Flordia, she intends to deal with Alex, divorce him and move on. But a storm has been building, and her life may just be ripped apart.
When I saw the cover, I thought this might be more of a historical fiction read, but no! A note: this is about a psychologically abusive marriage that escalates; it has gaslighting, rape scenes, and the death of family members in accidents. But, I loved all the travel, food, and the hopefulness of a new romance! I didn’t want to put this book down; I had to know how things turned out.
Thank you to @suzyapprovedbooktours and @tammyharrow for a spot on tour and a gifted copy.
In Italy, she meets Daniel, the grandson of her grandmother’s best friend. A former soldier, now photographer, he invites Abby to travel Europe with her on his shoots. Abby and Daniel soon fall for one another, but both have pasts that must be dealt with, secrets haunting them.
When Abby returns to Flordia, she intends to deal with Alex, divorce him and move on. But a storm has been building, and her life may just be ripped apart.
When I saw the cover, I thought this might be more of a historical fiction read, but no! A note: this is about a psychologically abusive marriage that escalates; it has gaslighting, rape scenes, and the death of family members in accidents. But, I loved all the travel, food, and the hopefulness of a new romance! I didn’t want to put this book down; I had to know how things turned out.
Thank you to @suzyapprovedbooktours and @tammyharrow for a spot on tour and a gifted copy.
April 28, 2022
Absolutely Fantastic Book! I loved it. I read it in one sitting and am recommending it to all my book loving friends! It will be a favorite of 2022~!
February 24, 2022
What a story! I didn’t know what to expect going into this book but I was pleasantly surprised! Emotional, suspenseful and action packed I couldn’t put it down! I loved the descriptions of the locations and I definitely want to go to the Amalfi Coast sometime in my life.
March 7, 2022
This book was so surprising. I'm a huge fan of reading a book without reading the whole synopsis so that I can be surprised while reading and boy was this one surprising. For the first third of the book I thought Abby would be uncovering secrets from her late Italian grandmother's past and healing from a separation from her husband while traveling the Italian countryside. After she meets Daniel, it's a beautiful love story waiting to happen. By the second half of the novel it is clear that this is not just a cutesy book. Instead, Abby is fighting for her life as she tries to rebuild it. There were many times in the second half of the book that I wanted to shake her for the way she was handling her situation but I think that speaks volumes to the fear many women feel when faced with a situation of domestic abuse. This book surprised me in the best way and it was a wild ride.
February 18, 2022
When a book opens with a location for its chapter heading, you know you're in for a great journey, which is exactly how this book unfolds as we travel not only physically with Abby (the main character), but emotionally, too. I loved getting to know Abby and her new romantic interest while also nervously anticipating what was to come with the subtle hints Harrow dropped in along the way. Great page-turner!
February 12, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4/5
This book is jammed pack with a little bit of everything from Romance and drama to suspense. This definitely took me on an intense, emotional roller coaster. It had my attention from start to finish and it was a quick read for me because I was so engrossed with the characters and story.
Abby is trapped in a marriage with a man who is controlling, manipulative, unfaithful and a narcissist. She decides to take some time away to heal from her broken marriage. She escapes on a trip to Italy’s Amalfi Coast, where her grandmother grew up. While there she meets Daniel, who is a photographer.
She decides to travel Europe with Daniel, and their budding relationship blossoms. Abby and Daniel open up to one another about their painful pasts. Abby knows she must return home and confront her husband, she knows she wants to leave him, but he refuses to make it easy for her.
Can Abby’s love and desire for Daniel be the glue that holds her together when the world comes crashing down around her?
The author does an outstanding job with being able to paint a vivid picture for the reader, and I loved every bit of it, especially the details of Europe’s food and scenery. At times I could close my eyes after reading a chapter and I can vividly picture myself in the scene of the book-I love that!
The characters are all very well developed and have a lot of depth. Abby is such a relatable character to many, and I really admired her strength and perseverance.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, although at times it was hard to read because it’s very relatable. I highly recommend this one, as it touches on so many different aspects, and it took my emotions on a wild ride.
⚠️TW: abuse, gaslighting, manipulation, rape, traumatic birth.
This book is jammed pack with a little bit of everything from Romance and drama to suspense. This definitely took me on an intense, emotional roller coaster. It had my attention from start to finish and it was a quick read for me because I was so engrossed with the characters and story.
Abby is trapped in a marriage with a man who is controlling, manipulative, unfaithful and a narcissist. She decides to take some time away to heal from her broken marriage. She escapes on a trip to Italy’s Amalfi Coast, where her grandmother grew up. While there she meets Daniel, who is a photographer.
She decides to travel Europe with Daniel, and their budding relationship blossoms. Abby and Daniel open up to one another about their painful pasts. Abby knows she must return home and confront her husband, she knows she wants to leave him, but he refuses to make it easy for her.
Can Abby’s love and desire for Daniel be the glue that holds her together when the world comes crashing down around her?
The author does an outstanding job with being able to paint a vivid picture for the reader, and I loved every bit of it, especially the details of Europe’s food and scenery. At times I could close my eyes after reading a chapter and I can vividly picture myself in the scene of the book-I love that!
The characters are all very well developed and have a lot of depth. Abby is such a relatable character to many, and I really admired her strength and perseverance.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, although at times it was hard to read because it’s very relatable. I highly recommend this one, as it touches on so many different aspects, and it took my emotions on a wild ride.
⚠️TW: abuse, gaslighting, manipulation, rape, traumatic birth.
January 28, 2022
What will you do if after almost 2 decades of marriage you find out that your husband had an affair and is hiding an 8 y/o son?!?
Abby’s reaction was to go away to Italy and look for her deceased grandmother’s best friend. She wanted to get away and clear her head before she divorce her husband.
During her unprecedented “adventure”, Abby met Daniel, a complete opposite of her husband, but equally feeling lost and yearning for love like her. The 2 fell into a whirlwind romance and if you are thinking this book will all be roses and second chance love, then you are sadly mistaken. While the first half of the book will awaken your travel bug and tastebuds, the second half will shake your emotional core to shreds. Just a warning: there’s violence/sexual assault involved in the story so this might not be for everyone.
I deeply felt for Abby — from being a medical school dropout to fulfill her duties as a mom, to being a trophy wife to her manipulative husband, to finally having the strength to free herself in her gilded cage.. Abby’s story is one heck of an emotional rollercoaster! I had serious book hangover after!
Daniel, on the other hand, is also a troubled character. Although the book is not really about him, his own tragic past was equally heartbreaking.
It wasn’t easy reading this, especially after that quick turnaround from romantic European getaway spiralling to domestic violence. However, I think it is still a good story, especially as it focused on mental illness and victims of domestic abuse/sexual assault.
Abby’s reaction was to go away to Italy and look for her deceased grandmother’s best friend. She wanted to get away and clear her head before she divorce her husband.
During her unprecedented “adventure”, Abby met Daniel, a complete opposite of her husband, but equally feeling lost and yearning for love like her. The 2 fell into a whirlwind romance and if you are thinking this book will all be roses and second chance love, then you are sadly mistaken. While the first half of the book will awaken your travel bug and tastebuds, the second half will shake your emotional core to shreds. Just a warning: there’s violence/sexual assault involved in the story so this might not be for everyone.
I deeply felt for Abby — from being a medical school dropout to fulfill her duties as a mom, to being a trophy wife to her manipulative husband, to finally having the strength to free herself in her gilded cage.. Abby’s story is one heck of an emotional rollercoaster! I had serious book hangover after!
Daniel, on the other hand, is also a troubled character. Although the book is not really about him, his own tragic past was equally heartbreaking.
It wasn’t easy reading this, especially after that quick turnaround from romantic European getaway spiralling to domestic violence. However, I think it is still a good story, especially as it focused on mental illness and victims of domestic abuse/sexual assault.
January 25, 2022
I am so excited to talk about this one!! Five star read for me, without a doubt. I went into it blind (I read the synopsis but my memory is terrible so it was quickly forgotten) and after the first few pages, I did not want to put it down!
Abby is our main character, and she flies off to Italy to find some peace and self-reflection after coming to the conclusion that her marriage is over. She meets Daniel and the connection is instant. They travel together and are living their best lives, but Abby soon goes back home to be with her daughter and sooo much unfolds after she arrives home. I can’t talk about it because you just need to read it for yourself. I’m telling you, so much happens!
I loved the depth of all the characters and found myself invested in all of their stories. Alex (Abby’s ex) absolutely infuriated me. It was a love to hate relationship until the last section of the book…then it just became blood boiling hatred that was not good for my health. This man, I’m telling you.
There are lots of trigger warnings for this book so if you’re nervous, please look them up. I won’t list them here for the sake of spoilers but it covers a wide range of sensitive and dark topics.
I could go on and on about this one but I’m trying my hardest not to ruin anything for you guys. Ugh, I feel like I’m not doing the book justice. All I can say is that I definitely recommend you give it a try!
Abby is our main character, and she flies off to Italy to find some peace and self-reflection after coming to the conclusion that her marriage is over. She meets Daniel and the connection is instant. They travel together and are living their best lives, but Abby soon goes back home to be with her daughter and sooo much unfolds after she arrives home. I can’t talk about it because you just need to read it for yourself. I’m telling you, so much happens!
I loved the depth of all the characters and found myself invested in all of their stories. Alex (Abby’s ex) absolutely infuriated me. It was a love to hate relationship until the last section of the book…then it just became blood boiling hatred that was not good for my health. This man, I’m telling you.
There are lots of trigger warnings for this book so if you’re nervous, please look them up. I won’t list them here for the sake of spoilers but it covers a wide range of sensitive and dark topics.
I could go on and on about this one but I’m trying my hardest not to ruin anything for you guys. Ugh, I feel like I’m not doing the book justice. All I can say is that I definitely recommend you give it a try!
January 19, 2022
Abby Montgomery escapes a controlling husband and travels to the Amalfi coast of Italy hoping to clear her mind and to connect with an old friend of her grandmother’s. While there she meets Daniel Quinn and immediately feels a connection. They fall in love and she travels with him throughout Europe. After a month they know they want to be together forever and Abby realizes she needs to return home to formally end her marriage. However, she is unprepared for the terrifying lengths her controlling husband will go to in order to keep her as his wife.
𝑴𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔: I thoroughly enjoyed this captivating story. The first half of the book is devoted to Abby and Daniel’s romance as they travel through some of Europe’s most beautiful locations: Paris, Amsterdam, and Switzerland. The author does an excellent job describing the locations, customs, and the delicious foods of each area. I was totally drawn into the light-hearted feelings of traveling in beautiful places, making new discoveries, and discovering new love.
The second half of the book, I was swept up by the emotions of a terrified wife and mother as she struggles against a powerful husband and fights for what she knows she must do. Read this if you enjoy a good story with beautiful descriptions and deep emotions.
My thanks to the author @tammyharrow and @letstalkbookspromo for my gifted copy. My thoughts are my own.
𝑴𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔: I thoroughly enjoyed this captivating story. The first half of the book is devoted to Abby and Daniel’s romance as they travel through some of Europe’s most beautiful locations: Paris, Amsterdam, and Switzerland. The author does an excellent job describing the locations, customs, and the delicious foods of each area. I was totally drawn into the light-hearted feelings of traveling in beautiful places, making new discoveries, and discovering new love.
The second half of the book, I was swept up by the emotions of a terrified wife and mother as she struggles against a powerful husband and fights for what she knows she must do. Read this if you enjoy a good story with beautiful descriptions and deep emotions.
My thanks to the author @tammyharrow and @letstalkbookspromo for my gifted copy. My thoughts are my own.
March 11, 2022
Romance, drama, suspense, this book has it all! The suffocating feeling of finding out her husband has been cheating on her and the 8 year old child he's been hiding from her. Abby escapes to the Amalfi coast to seek comfort with her grandmother and finds the answers to questions she never knew she needed the answers to. The food and scenery were so vivid, I'd love to visit someday! Such an intense book!
January 15, 2022
When Abby discovers her husband has an eight-year-old son from an old affair. Devastated, she leaves to stay with her grandmother.
When Abby meets Daniel, a photographer and decides to travel to Europe with him she starts to imagine a life without a controlling and unfaithful husband.
Empowered by a newfound sense of freedom and courage, Abby returns to St. Augustine to settle things with her husband. But nothing goes as planned, and what awaits may very well destroy her.
A fast paced chilling read! I couldn't put it down! I had to know what Abby would do or decide next! But also to see her character grow and become more confident in who she is and what she deserves! The author masterfully weaves a twisted tale of control and abuse in a marriage. The descriptions of the different places she travels with Daniel are absolutely beautiful! Great book! Happy reading everyone!
When Abby meets Daniel, a photographer and decides to travel to Europe with him she starts to imagine a life without a controlling and unfaithful husband.
Empowered by a newfound sense of freedom and courage, Abby returns to St. Augustine to settle things with her husband. But nothing goes as planned, and what awaits may very well destroy her.
A fast paced chilling read! I couldn't put it down! I had to know what Abby would do or decide next! But also to see her character grow and become more confident in who she is and what she deserves! The author masterfully weaves a twisted tale of control and abuse in a marriage. The descriptions of the different places she travels with Daniel are absolutely beautiful! Great book! Happy reading everyone!
January 20, 2022
I enjoyed the first half when Abby travels (drool worthy food descriptions). The second half has a lot going on. It's fast paced, chilling, and truly got under my skin. I found myself trying to negotiate with Abby as her husband got more and more controlling, to take it more seriously, but having never experienced abuse I can't say what I would do in said situation.
There are a lot of trigger warnings for this one:
gaslighting, narcissism, manipulation, emotional abuse, implied drugged rape, rape, strangulation, traumatic birth.
There are a lot of trigger warnings for this one:
gaslighting, narcissism, manipulation, emotional abuse, implied drugged rape, rape, strangulation, traumatic birth.
January 28, 2022
This book is almost like 2 books in one. We start with an amazing tour through Europe, where Abby begins a romantic relationship with Daniel. The sights and food described will you have you looking for airfare to book your own food tour through Europe. Then she returns home to Florida to end things with her husband and we have a completely different book which includes domestic drama, thriller, and suspense. Because of these drastic differences in tone, I think this could be the right book for many different types of readers.
February 26, 2024
This book was painful to get through. I will start with the good, the telling of the beautiful areas of Italy, France and Europe were magical. It certainly made me want to jump on a plane and tour the areas by bus. So for the bad: unrealistic insta love affair starts pretty much immediately. Abby, the main character, is so unlikeable. She comes across as a demanding must tell me everything to the point of annoying, to a weak, self scarifying for the well being of others. It doesn’t jive. This was a book with three parts of too much.
March 2, 2022
The story is about Abby traveling to Amalfi coast to escape her controlling husband. while away she finds love. the story has two parts, the first part is about Abby finding herself again and experiencing love, the second part is about her going home and having to decide what to do.
This was a well-written story taking you on a journey around Europe, with a very normal character that you can easily connect with. I liked the detail and the descriptions and how the story ended.
This was a well-written story taking you on a journey around Europe, with a very normal character that you can easily connect with. I liked the detail and the descriptions and how the story ended.
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