Punctured by barbed words, submitting to undesirable acts yet bridling your thoughts, guarding your words, always, always in fear of the consequences. Powerlessness, helplessness and hopelessness. Isolation and hiding your reality from those who care. A woman in a controlling relationship, a lived experience rife with emotional abuse, misogyny and gaslighting. The difficulty of breaking the chains, of leaving and of staying away. And then the beginnings of hope and a different future, of friendship and family, of uncovering and nurturing the hidden you.

I like, however, stories to be authentic and so my criticisms of this novel are two-fold. In several instances, the language of the children, particularly Ella, goes way beyond their developmental age which really irked me. And secondly, Ciara has little by way of finances - a tiny handful of squirrelled Euros at the start, a couple of handouts from family, a job for a short while before she takes leave - yet somehow she has enough to keep going particularly at the end where she has major expenses. Mmm. Doesn’t ring true.

Hard-hitting and emotional with O’Donnell capturing the shifting tableaus of Ciara’s life incredibly well.

I’d recommend.

Amazing debut, a fabulously written gripping story that was a pleasure to read. I would absolutely recommend this book, it was brilliant

This is a novel with some hard hitting themes. Domestic abuse and coercian, living in hotel accommodation with three small children because of the abusive relationship and the ever present threat of homelessness. Ciara fights it all and you feel you are with her during the highs and lows. She loves her children and is desperate to protect them and give them a better life. The characters are believable and it really brings home how some people live with abuse and how hard it is to break free. I can highly recommend this book. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair review. Definitely one to read.

A beautifully written and haunting novel, A gripping exploration of domestic abuse, homelessness and a mother's fierce love. Tricky subjects are sensitivly tackle in this novel and the desperation and overall hope shines through the prose. This is a really beautiful book that will stay with you long after you've finished it.

Thanks for the opportunity of reading Roisin O’Donnell’s debut book. I enjoyed reading about all the ups and downs Ciara went through having left her coercive marriage to Ryan with her 2 little girls. It was a book full of feeling and hope.

A book to make you think about how many women feel they are trapped in their marriages.
Ciara is married to Ryan, a complete control freak who keeps her in line with fear.
However one day she packs her bags and along with her small two daughters and pregnant again leaves. She has no money as Ryan controlled that so finishes up on the top floor in one room of a hotel reserved for the homeless. Ryan still continues to try and make her life hell. However after 9 months and with a new born too she gets a lucky break.
She's at breaking point again when she seeks help from a women's refuge. Does she give in and go back to him or is she now brave enough to stand up to him?

If you've ever wondered how a woman who's under the coercive control of her husband manages to break free, with 2 young children and no income, here's your answer.
Ciara manages to secure a room in a hotel, provided as a refuge for women in her position, but humiliation and despair are her constant companions. She can't escape to the sanctuary of her mother and sister in England because her husband puts a stop to it. When he actually gets access rights he can't cope with his daughters. His desperation to control Ciara puts one of the children in grave danger.
A searing tale of courage and resilience in the face of adversity. I rooted for Ciara, and the friends she makes, all the way.

Gripping, beautiful, and haunting. I thoroughly loved this book. It tackled serious topics such as domestic abuse, homelessness, and emotional coercion sensitively and honestly.

I really enjoyed this story it felt so real I felt the pain for what this young girl went through with a young family emotional abuse and coercion is to me far worse than physical it’s on a different level the story made me cry in places thank goodness the ending came through ok Thanks to Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book

Wow! This book is superb. It tells if Ciara & her children should leave the family home. Ciara doesn't feel safe with her husband Ryan so has no choice but to escape. What happens next is a,heartbreaking story of the struggle they face to survive . It highlights the plight & anguish that so many families face. This book will break your heart & is one of the most important & brilliant books I had read in a very long time.