Aaisha suffered from postpartum psychosis following her two pregnancies. This is her story.
Misdiagnos4 stars!
Raw. Emotional. Eye-opening. Informative.
Aaisha suffered from postpartum psychosis following her two pregnancies. This is her story.
Misdiagnosed countless times after seeking medical support, Aisha wrote this book to educate others, reduce stigma and let other women feel less alone. I believe anyone who reads this book will surely be impacted and gain empathy for those individuals, and family members of individuals, suffering from this.
Mental health illnesses are often misdiagnosed, brushed off and/or judged which prevents patients from receiving proper treatment. Women who show postpartum psychosis symptoms after pregnancy, are often told they have the “baby blues” and it will subside on its own with time (as is what happened to the author multiple times). This is a large problem that needs attention and this book addresses this important topic.
Postpartum psychosis has a variety of symptoms and is a treatable illness that women can make a full recovery from. Unfortunately this illness can be judged harshly as most often it happens during a time when a woman has a newborn and “should” be happy and thankful. Women often feel guilt for having these symptoms, making a strong support system critical to recovery.
Told through the perspective of someone in the depths of suffering the symptoms of postpartum psychosis as well as after a full recovery, this narrative was brutally honest and so very powerful.
I applaud the author for being brave enough to share her story which will, no doubt, comfort many who may be going through a similar situation and inspire and empower them to seek proper support. Proper mental health support is critical to surviving this illness and making a full recovery.
The more people who read and learn about this means there will be less victims we lose to this illness in the future.
Thank you to the publisher for my review copy!...more
Two women connected by a baby and the mothers’ death.
This highly anticipated thriller has been sitting on my shelf for years during which time2 stars.
Two women connected by a baby and the mothers’ death.
This highly anticipated thriller has been sitting on my shelf for years during which time I have read nothing but raving reviews. Perhaps my expectations were set too high but this didn’t work for me on any level.
From the first chapter, there was a disconnect for me with the writing. It didn’t flow or pull me in. The dialogue lacked natural ease and felt disjointed. The storyline itself was intriguing and it is what kept me from DNF’ing the novel. I wasn’t invested in the characters but I was curious enough to keep pushing through to see how the story would all come together. There are many unrealistic elements within these pages but this can be expected with popcorn thrillers.
On the positive side, it was a quick read that could easily be done in one sitting.
Overall, this was a dud for me but I’m clearly the outlier. Check out the countless favourable reviews before deciding on this one....more
This novel started off with a bang! I was fully invested and wholly engrossed from the sta3.5 stars.
An easy and entertaining historical fiction read.
This novel started off with a bang! I was fully invested and wholly engrossed from the start. London, 1748: Bess is a young woman whose family barely makes enough to survive. She registers her newborn baby at the London Foundling Hospital on the day of her birth since she knows, as a teenage single unwed mother, she cannot possibly provide for her. Bess has every intention of coming back for her baby once she gets enough money saved and can create a more stable life. Six years later when Bess returns to the hospital to pick up her daughter, she is shocked and devastated by what she discovers.
This book is split into four parts. If I could rate individual parts of the novel, Part 1 would get 5+ stars! It consumed me and had me feeling extreme sympathies for Bess and her situation. The atmosphere was thick and the tension was high. I loved it.
As the novel progressed, it lost steam. I enjoyed the story, but that strong connection I felt at the start faded (which is always disappointing). After Part 1, I felt as though as I was emotionally removed from the characters and simply reading an entertaining story. One of the main characters introduced in Part 2 distracted me from connecting with the storyline.
I enjoyed learning about this time in history. I did not know much about these types of hospitals. I found that storyline aspect very interesting and informative. I enjoyed the authors writing, although I think the pace of the book could have been quicker after Part 1 finished. The characters were unique and charming and I couldn’t help but root for Bess from start to finish.
Overall, an informative and interesting read that I would recommended to historical fiction fans who want a lighter, entertaining story, rather than a richly detailed intense plot.
Thank you to NetGalley for my review copy!
Merged review:
3.5 stars.
An easy and entertaining historical fiction read.
This novel started off with a bang! I was fully invested and wholly engrossed from the start. London, 1748: Bess is a young woman whose family barely makes enough to survive. She registers her newborn baby at the London Foundling Hospital on the day of her birth since she knows, as a teenage single unwed mother, she cannot possibly provide for her. Bess has every intention of coming back for her baby once she gets enough money saved and can create a more stable life. Six years later when Bess returns to the hospital to pick up her daughter, she is shocked and devastated by what she discovers.
This book is split into four parts. If I could rate individual parts of the novel, Part 1 would get 5+ stars! It consumed me and had me feeling extreme sympathies for Bess and her situation. The atmosphere was thick and the tension was high. I loved it.
As the novel progressed, it lost steam. I enjoyed the story, but that strong connection I felt at the start faded (which is always disappointing). After Part 1, I felt as though as I was emotionally removed from the characters and simply reading an entertaining story. One of the main characters introduced in Part 2 distracted me from connecting with the storyline.
I enjoyed learning about this time in history. I did not know much about these types of hospitals. I found that storyline aspect very interesting and informative. I enjoyed the authors writing, although I think the pace of the book could have been quicker after Part 1 finished. The characters were unique and charming and I couldn’t help but root for Bess from start to finish.
Overall, an informative and interesting read that I would recommended to historical fiction fans who want a lighter, entertaining story, rather than a richly detailed intense plot.
This book is based on the most notorious criminal from my local area of the Niagara Region. He s4 stars!
I’ll be thinking of this book for a long time.
This book is based on the most notorious criminal from my local area of the Niagara Region. He started his sexual crimes in the late 1980’s in Scarborough earning the name the Scarborough Rapist and then moved on to the Niagara Region to capture, torture and kill his victims. This book does not state his name and I refuse to name him as well to avoid giving him any further glory or fame for his unfathomable crimes. Growing up in Niagara in the 90’s, I lived through the extreme fear and anxiety that this horrific man and his accomplice brought to the local area. Although this book focuses on his crimes in the Scarborough area (not the Niagara Region where I grew up), it sheds light on a society filled with constant fear and worry and shows how debilitating one man can be to an entire community.
This dual timeline fictionalized novel goes back and forth between the main character as a child living in Scarborough where this criminal was capturing his victims, to the present day when she is a film editor working on a true crime series that features this killer who is now in prison. Working on this film brings back memories and flashbacks back to the time the crimes were happening.
The narrative took me a few chapters to get into and connect with but once I did, I was addicted. Having personally lived the fear this infamous killer created surely made it even more impactful and relatable for me. The author gives voice to a community threatened and living in paranoia. The writing created an atmosphere that was palpable with tension, fear, doubt and paranoia.
This book is also an impactful coming-of-age story about a young queer girl who is searching for her true sense-of-self and belonging.
Thank you to my IG friend @sloane_reads for bringing this book to my attention, as I never would have picked it up had she not raved about it and explained what criminal this story was based on.
Thank you to my lovely local library for the physical loan!...more
A backwoods, witchy, atmospheric mountain magic tale.
The premise of this book really appealed to me. I love stories revolving around Appalachia2 stars
A backwoods, witchy, atmospheric mountain magic tale.
The premise of this book really appealed to me. I love stories revolving around Appalachian small towns, especially ones with witchy elements and natural healing. The dark and foreboding atmosphere was palpable and one of the best parts of my reading experience.
The main characters were unique, well-developed and intriguing. I was invested in their situation for the first third of the book. This book carries some heavy themes of addiction, poverty, neglect and abuse, but it also showcases a strong nature focused theme which I loved.
This debut novel had a lot of potential but unfortunately after a promising start, it fell flat for me. It started off a lot stronger than it ended.
I guess I should have taken my cue from the title, Strange Folk, because strange is a great way to describe this story overall. I lost my connection by the halfway point when several scenes became too much for me to buy into. I’m not sure if the story should have had more editing to tighten up the plot or if this just comes down to a “me” problem. The author included random elements which felt completely out of place and the storyline lost its direction. I struggled with some unclear flashback scenes that had me confused with what timeline it was.
Overall, I loved the idea behind this book, but it didn’t work for me and I cannot recommend it. The best thing about it is the beautiful cover!
Thank you to the publisher for my review copy!...more
Mysterious and suspenseful with gothic atmosphere.
A woman opens a posh seaside resort that only the very wealthy can afford. Enveloped by a lu4 stars!
Mysterious and suspenseful with gothic atmosphere.
A woman opens a posh seaside resort that only the very wealthy can afford. Enveloped by a lush forest and nestled in the English countryside, the hotel is fully booked for summer solstice opening weekend. Guests enjoy the buildings and grounds but quickly learn there are many deeply buried secrets among the beautiful landscape.
This book immediately grabbed my attention with its eerie atmosphere and tension-filled sense of foreboding. Told in multiple perspectives, I really liked the main characters right from the start and felt an immediate connection and investment in the storyline. I found the characters unique and highly entertaining especially with their conniving and vindictive inner thoughts.
There is a shadow of witchiness and natural healing sprinkled throughout the storyline which I loved and is perfect for this time of year. The tension and suspense consistently pulls the plot forward and creates a longing to read just one more chapter.
There are journal entries scattered throughout the storyline which offer a peek into the history of the land that the hotel lies on. These were a refreshing and enlightening break in the narratives and slowly revealed the missing pieces of the puzzle.
Although the ending was OTT, I still thoroughly enjoyed this suspenseful and gothic tale and highly recommend it to thriller lovers.
This is the second book I’ve read by this author and it’s my favourite so far. Looking forward to reading more of her backlist!...more
I know this is a well loved book, but it’s not for me. I should have taken my cue from the reviews that describedDNF @ 14%
Too cute and preachy for me.
I know this is a well loved book, but it’s not for me. I should have taken my cue from the reviews that described this as a “cute” and “feel good” story. Cute books most often don’t work for me and this is the perfect example.
A large issue was that I didn’t click with the humour which is on the cheesy and silly side. I can see how many readers would love this aspect and read with a big smile on their face (as many reviewers have noted) but this wasn’t the case for me.
Another issue was that I didn’t buy into the entire idea behind this book — an elderly man being mistaken for a nursing home patient. Carers and nurses who were familiar with dealing with this man would have noticed he wasn’t the same as they dress, feed and bathe him daily. So I couldn’t buy into the entire plot.
I also found a preachiness to the writing. I know this is a me-issue, but I found the kindness lessons and themes were forced with eye-rolling dialogue and inner thoughts. I am all about spreading kindness but this didn’t feel genuine to me.
Overall, this was miss for me, but I’m happy so many readers are connecting with this novel as I think this “feel good story” will have a positive impact on whoever connects with the writing....more
Phoebe checks into a posh seaside hotel with the intention of quietly ending her life. She has not4 stars!
A thought-provoking, character driven story.
Phoebe checks into a posh seaside hotel with the intention of quietly ending her life. She has nothing left to live for. A wedding party is checking in at the same time which changes everything for Phoebe.
This book was much different, much more serious, than I expected. This is a wedding storyline, but the wedding is not the main focus. The plot is heavy with many thought-provoking themes that were relatable. This book explores familial relationships and friendships and the expectations behind them. I enjoyed experiencing the unexpected relationships unfold while the characters moved toward a better sense of self.
This is a slow burn. I found myself enthralled for the first third, my attention lessened slightly in the middle, but picked back up toward the end. I was invested throughout and curious to see how all things would come together in the end. Even though there are many hard and heavy themes within these pages, I found it an easy read - the writing was smooth. The author presents countless questions that made me stop and think about how I would react.
I enjoyed the characters and thought they were well developed, each adding an important layer to the story. I laughed out loud a few times at the witty inner thoughts and happenings. There was something very fresh and “real feeling” about the writing and inner thoughts of the characters. There are several ramblings and tangents which some readers may find distracting, but I enjoyed these and all that they brought to the storyline. Though this book didn’t “blow my mind” as I had expected, it took me on an unexpected slow burn journey with a cast of characters I won’t soon forget.
Overall, I really enjoyed this! It isn’t gripping or suspenseful. It’s a slow burn, moody, character driven exploration of one woman’s quest to self discovery and true happiness. I think most readers will get some great take-aways from spending time within these pages. I look forward to reading more by this author. ...more
I want to start by saying this author is a favourite of mine. I have loved her writing since before the 3 stars.
A atmospheric, nature focused mystery.
I want to start by saying this author is a favourite of mine. I have loved her writing since before the release of her debut grit-lit novel, Fallen Mountains. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC before that release and she has stood out as a top favourite author since. I had high hopes for this book, but it fell short of what I have come to expect from her writing.
I will start with the good — the atmosphere. As usual, the atmosphere was palpable. The vast wilderness was a huge part of what drives this novel forward and the author did an amazing job creating a setting so vivid, I could clearly picture the nature focused backdrop of every scene. The forest was like a character of its own.
For me, the biggest letdown was the characters. I didn’t care for them. I wasn’t invested. I was curious enough to keep reading, but had no connection to the characters situations or suspense. The storyline and “mystery” that pulls the plot forward was lacking for me and the path the characters take to unravel the story was somewhat implausible. I have not had believability issues with this authors writing in the past, so this was a letdown.
Overall, this was not the authors best work, by a long shot. I highly recommend her previous two novels, Fallen Mountains and These Silent Woods which were both gritty, addictive, unforgettable stories.
Thank you to my lovely local library for the physical loan! ...more
An easy read with a heavy storyline and a quirky main character.
Lenny receives a letter in the mail that starts an unraveling of her routinel3.5 stars
An easy read with a heavy storyline and a quirky main character.
Lenny receives a letter in the mail that starts an unraveling of her routinely organized life.
Lenny was an awkward, endearing, lovable main character who I enjoyed spending time with. Her inner thoughts and over analyzing were entertaining and often humorous. Her daily rituals and personal interactions were an eye opening look into her intricately detailed and planned out life. The secondary characters were unique and added interesting side stories to the narrative.
There are some extremely heavy themes explored within this storyline (domestic violence, murder, loss of a parent, childhood abandonment, among several others). I usually love quirky characters, but for me, the extreme quirkiness of Lenny’s character somewhat took away from my connection to the heavier topics. Lenny’s character should have lightened the heavy tones of the book providing a balance between serious and silly, but for me, her silliness lessened the novels overall impact. Lack of plausibility was also an issue for me.
I thoroughly enjoyed following Lenny’s journey, but didn’t fall in love with the book quite as much as I expected. I think that my recent reading experience of another novel affected this one. Earlier this month, I read and LOVED Interesting Facts About Space which follows another eccentric main character who I connected more strongly with. Perhaps if I had spaced these books out more so, I would have enjoyed this more as my direct comparison of the two novels wouldn’t have been as strong and fresh in my mind. Timing can make all the difference.
Overall, this was a “like”, not a “love”. I recommend you try it out and experience Lenny’s journey yourself!
Thank you to my lovely local library for the physical loan!...more
Too cutesy for me. I was expecting a thrilling historical fiction mystery, but this failed to deliver that. Recommended to cozy mystery read2.5 stars.
Too cutesy for me. I was expecting a thrilling historical fiction mystery, but this failed to deliver that. Recommended to cozy mystery readers, which is not my preferred reading genre....more
A husband goes missing in the wilderness, leaving his wife and son devastated and desperate to find him. Locals wo2.5 stars
Atmospheric and mysterious!
A husband goes missing in the wilderness, leaving his wife and son devastated and desperate to find him. Locals work together to try to find any trace of what happened to him.
This was a highly atmospheric, nature focused book. The wilderness theme was strong and palpable. The vivid earthy imagery was done well, drawing the reader easily into the vast, isolated, wintry forest landscape.
As great as the atmosphere was, the characters seemed to lack something for me. I never quite felt invested in what was happening to them. The suspense and worry should have drawn me into the situation, but it didn’t. I enjoyed following the story and finding out how it all came together in the end, but even the ending was lacking for me as it all tied up too neatly and felt somewhat cheesy.
Overall, this was a miss for me, but I’m glad I read it as I had been curious about it since its release.
Audio rating: 3 stars. The audio narrator was decent but didn’t stand out or enhance my overall enjoyment.
Thank you to my lovely local library for the audio loan!...more
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