The Silent Patient.

 

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Alicia Berenson’s life is seemingly perfect. A famous painter married to an in-demand fashion photographer, she lives in a grand house with big windows overlooking a park in one of London’s most desirable areas. One evening her husband Gabriel returns home late from a fashion shoot, and Alicia shoots him five times in the face, and then never speaks another word. 

Alicia’s refusal to talk, or give any kind of explanation, turns a domestic tragedy into something far grander, a mystery that captures the public imagination and casts Alicia into notoriety. The price of her art skyrockets, and she, the silent patient, is hidden away from the tabloids and spotlight at the Grove, a secure forensic unit in North London. 

Theo Faber is a criminal psychotherapist who has waited a long time for the opportunity to work with Alicia. His determination to get her to talk and unravel the mystery of why she shot her husband takes him down a twisting path into his own motivations—a search for the truth that threatens to consume him.... 

 

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Haunting. 

I should know. . I have heard people craving about The Silent Patient for a while. I wanted to read it but kept putting it off due to the other books on my TBR pile. Once I started reading, I wished that I had read it sooner. I love thrillers, and I love psychological thrillers even more. I have read a lot of thrillers throughout my life, and few took me by surprise. I should have expected it, primarily based on the book title: The Silent Patient , and yet it was the most unexpected book I have read. I loved that the book was written from the psychotherapist's point of view, giving a different perspective to the story. I felt as if I was in Theo's head, wondering about Alicia and why she decided to murder her husband. Like in a book, you won't get the story out of your mind. I liked how the book was written from the perspective of a psychotherapist, which provided a different perspective on the story. I imagined myself in Theo's head, wondering about Alicia and why she chose to murder her husband.

I wasn't sure what it was about Theo, but I had a feeling there was more to the story; something he wasn't telling me. Alicia's journal and what she told Theo about what happened were two separate stories. As a reader, I attempted to deduce the truth. Like Theo, I wondered what was causing her silence; was it guilt or something else? I liked how Alicia's journal entries were included in the book; it allowed the reader to connect with her more and gain insight into her mind. You can't help but wonder what the character is thinking when they're silent. Despite everything I'd learned in the book, I didn't see that coming.

  I wasn’t sure about that ending. It didn’t feel like a complete end, that there should have been more. I wondered what the author had in mind when he wrote that ending. I’m still wondering what happened with Theo and Alicia. The Silent Patient is the second book that I had read by Alex Michaelides , but it’s my favorite one. I would highly recommend it to any thriller fans.

Every Time You Go Away.

 

 

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  *Thank you to author, Abigail Johnson for  sending the ARC of the  book! *

 

 CONTAINS SPOILERS

Eight years ago, Ethan and Rebecca met, two trouble-making kids sharing secrets and first kisses in a treehouse, until Ethan’s mom returned to take him away. Each and every visit, his only goodbye was a flower on Rebecca’s windowsill. 

Three years ago, Ethan left for the last time to take care of his mother, who’s struggled with addiction his whole life. 

Two years ago, Rebecca was in a car accident that killed her father. She’s been learning to navigate life as a wheelchair user ever since.
Now, they discover if their hardships have torn them apart…or will bring them closer than ever. 

 

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Heartfelt. 

I should have known how this book would make me feel, yet I didn't. I have been reading Abigail Johnson books since 2018, and I have been in love with her stories ever since. I was always excited when she was about to release a new book. She always made you feel connected to her characters. I'm so glad I read an early copy of Every Time You Go Away . I believe this was one of most emotional books she has written. I can't imagine it was easy writing Rebecca's story, considering the author's experience. If I were in her situation, I wouldn't be able to write it. I know that's what made this story so real. I couldn't get enough; every chapter and every page had me carving for more. I loved that the story was written from Ethan and Rebecca's POV, a chance for readers to get to know each character better. I loved that the story had ' before' and 'after' aspects to the story. The readers saw how far Ethan and Rebecca had gone and how those changes affected them. You couldn't help but wonder what would happen next, how it would end for them. 

Rebecca and Ethan. You couldn't help but love them. Their relationship seemed to have more downs than ups. I understood why Ethan kept going with his mom or after his mom because he loved her. I wondered if Rebecca offered Ethan to find her, hoping he wouldn't leave this time. There was part of me that wished for the same thing. I hoped that Ethan would figure out that his mother couldn't be helped at some point. Rebecca tried acting like she understood when Ethan left, but I knew her heart was breaking. My heart for Rebecca broke every time. Not long after reading the book, I understood the message between the title, Every Time You Go Away . Once you start reading, putting the book down will be a challenge. I would read it all day if it weren't for work and school. When I wasn’t reading the book, I was thinking about the book and wondering what would happen next. I couldn’t begin to imagine how Ethan and Rebecca felt, but I felt I could empathize. The characters might have been fictional, but the story was real. 

I can’t get this story out of my mind. I found myself telling my friends and my family about this book. I couldn’t put this book down, but I also didn’t want this story to end because I didn’t want to say goodbye. Every Time You Go Away is not just a love story, but it’s a story about acceptance, courage, second chance, and hope. It’s magical and inspirational and will have you on edge of your seat until the end.

The Woman In Me.

 

 

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4.5 Stars

  In June 2021, the whole world was listening as Britney Spears spoke in open court. The impact of sharing her voice—her truth—was undeniable, and it changed the course of her life and the lives of countless others. The Woman in Me reveals for the first time her incredible journey—and the strength at the core of one of the greatest performers in pop music history. 

Written with remarkable candor and humor, Spears’s groundbreaking book illuminates the enduring power of music and love—and the importance of a woman telling her own story, on her own terms, at last. 

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Motivating .

 I was 12 years old when I saw a music video for Oops!...I Did It Again , and I was quickly captivated by her music. Britney Spears is the first American singer I admired, and I continue to do so. I disliked the way everybody criticized her, especially since they didn't know the whole story. I still have most of her music. I still wish I could see her in person. When I learned about her book, I was excited.  The Woman in Me, which is a suitable title for her memoir. I wanted to hear Britney's story because I was always curious about whether or not what was said about her was true.I wondered how she had survived her father's conservatorship for so long, and why she didn't attempt to get out sooner. Britney Spears  has been through a lot, and even though I don't know her personally, I admire what she has accomplished.

 

 I can't imagine writing something so personal; going through this once was difficult enough. I was skeptical of the media and wondered how much of what they were reporting was accurate. I was furious at her family; she had done so much for them, and they hadn't even shown up when she needed them. I wish I could give her the biggest hug while reading The Woman in Me. Britney Spears is a strong woman who can handle it all. I'm glad I had the opportunity to read her story. I hope she can finally become the woman she desires and find happiness.

Daughters Of Warsaw.

 

 

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*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review*  

1942, Warsaw 

 
Young Sofia finds herself leading a double life when she is enlisted to help the fearless Irena Sendler save hundreds of Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto. Every night, Sofia risks her life to shepherd the children to safety. But when the worst happens, she is forced to make her riskiest journey yet to keep Irena’s mission alive. 

Now, Seattle 

After yet another miscarriage, heartbroken Lizzie returns to the comfort of her childhood home, where she stumbles upon a hidden photograph of her great-grandmother among a mysterious group of people. On a quest to discover more, Lizzie uncovers a buried past darker and more dangerous than she could ever have imagined… 

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A beautiful, heartening story. 

Daughters Of Warsaw Is a story that broke my heart into millions but, at the same time, was inspirational for me. It’s not a book that you will be able to put down once you start reading it. Some parts of the book are hard to read, but you will find yourself to keep turning the pages. I loved that it was another dual-timeline book that connected the characters. Like Lizzie, I was curious about what she was going to discover. I think that finding that hidden photograph of her great-grandmother helped her heal from her loss. I don’t think she expected to find out what she had when she came across her picture. I loved the transition between Lizzie and Sofia and felt I was being transformed into both timelines. 

Through the years, I have read a few books about resistance. Those are my favorite books. Sofia was doing what she knew was right, but hiding from her parents and sister couldn’t be easy. If I were in her position, I wouldn’t been able to hide it, or I would have left because I would be afraid to put my family at risk. Daughters Of Warsaw was such a beautifully written story, and it was clear how much research was put into it. I haven’t read any book by Maria Frances before, and I’m glad I got to check her book out. I would highly recommend this to any historical fiction fans. After reading this book, I’m eager to see what’s next for Maria Frances