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A review by holmstead
Between You and Me by Lisa Hall
4.0
In the back of my mind I had remembered reading a snippet of reviews about this couple. However, I tried to keep that thought at bay and read it at face value. So as I do, I begin to feel very empathetic for the character who is being abused. And yet at around 30% into the story, I notice that there are words and phrases eluding to the situation surrounding this couple. No pronouns are being used. Gender neutral names are tossed around. So that nagging feeling of what I think is the truth turns out to be the "twist" behind this book. Regardless, I had a crazy time reading it. I had butterflies in my stomach and my heart would beat rapidly. The comeuppance of the "bad guy" was good....sooooo good. I found myself trying to find any free time to read this so I can get that much further: in line at the grocery store, at the million stop lights on my way home from work, anywhere!
I also think that if you have experienced ANY type of similar situation in your household, the circumstances make it feel that much more real to you. Without going into mundane detail, I lived with an alcoholic who caused a lot of mostly mental abuse (10+ years). And for A LONG time after I left, I never believed my self worth, until that right person came into my life. So the character in the book fighting the struggle of the abuser starts to repeat every mantra I did. The first instance, "Oh that was an accident, that won't happen again. He's not THAT kind of person." The second time, "It was my fault. If I would only behave and do this, then he'll be happy." After the third or fourth, you think "He said he's really sorry, he loves me and the kids. He'll never do it again." Thus it becomes part of your every day life, and then it becomes "Well it's better that we are together and the kids have 2 parents. Is it really that bad?.....I could never leave. I have nowhere to go, no money or support." On and on the vicious cycle continues. Until one day you FINALLY reach your breaking point.
I think this writer executed the situation very well, and it was a nail-biter. Had I not been thinking about the "crazy twist" and read reviews beforehand, it would have been even better. But when an author can cause the reader to feel that sense of panic and turmoil, and the constant need to gobble up more story like a hungry-hungry hippo, they are doing something right.
I also think that if you have experienced ANY type of similar situation in your household, the circumstances make it feel that much more real to you. Without going into mundane detail, I lived with an alcoholic who caused a lot of mostly mental abuse (10+ years). And for A LONG time after I left, I never believed my self worth, until that right person came into my life. So the character in the book fighting the struggle of the abuser starts to repeat every mantra I did. The first instance, "Oh that was an accident, that won't happen again. He's not THAT kind of person." The second time, "It was my fault. If I would only behave and do this, then he'll be happy." After the third or fourth, you think "He said he's really sorry, he loves me and the kids. He'll never do it again." Thus it becomes part of your every day life, and then it becomes "Well it's better that we are together and the kids have 2 parents. Is it really that bad?.....I could never leave. I have nowhere to go, no money or support." On and on the vicious cycle continues. Until one day you FINALLY reach your breaking point.
I think this writer executed the situation very well, and it was a nail-biter. Had I not been thinking about the "crazy twist" and read reviews beforehand, it would have been even better. But when an author can cause the reader to feel that sense of panic and turmoil, and the constant need to gobble up more story like a hungry-hungry hippo, they are doing something right.