Hush

I wish I could give this title more than 5 stars. It’s an exceptional debut from a gifted writer who has packed a lot of emotional content into this multi generational tale. I was particularly drawn by the artwork on the cover; it created an immediate sense of place. The story switches between New York and London and the central character is Sadie. She’s talented, single, late thirties and wants a child. But she’s not keen on having a man in her life. Sadie is pivotal to every scene in the narrative; her friendships, employer, sisters, parents and others all shape her life in different ways.

She moves to NY where she has an elder sister who’s successful but troubled. There’s another sister in the UK who is the parents’ favourite. This is very much character driven as Kate Maxwell explores Sadie’s conflicts, challenges and dilemmas. This isn’t my usual genre; I usually go for psychological thrillers, crime, historical fiction or non fiction. But Hush is so beautifully written, I was immediately invested in Sadie’s life and more than once my heart went out to her as she tried to overcome challenges. There’s a brilliant twist at the end which I didn’t see coming and the plotting throughout is accomplished. This is an amazing debut and I’ll be looking for more from this talented writer.

There was no way I could give this any less than 5 stars. It’s a stunning debut novel. Split between Stevie’s life now in London and Stevie’s life then in New York. The two ran flawlessly side by side.

It’s a raw honest and say times hard to listen to account of longed for motherhood and how sometimes it’s just not as easy as you hoped it would be, or necessarily wanted it to be. The characters were so well formed, it felt like an observation of a personal chat with a best friend. You know the type of chat where you know they have something to tell you, your sure you know what the something is, but you have to hear the whole story to get to where it’s going? There’s a twist towards the end, and that’s just how it felt. Maybe that’s just me, it felt like such a personal novel. I loved it.

A beautiful book, expertly narrated by Elizabeth Brennan. Due for release May 12th.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bolinda Audio for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in return for an honest review.

I didn’t know what to expect from this story as, being an avid crime fiction lover this was a step outside of my usual guilty pleasure but I simply cannot deny the sheer compelling appeal of this beautifully crafted book.
Without doubt, this will be a highly relatable and relevant read for brave single mothers everywhere and not to narrow down it’s brilliance, a compulsive read for anyone of an age where having a career, a family and navigating through life’s challenges would understand.
It is a story about life, love, families and insecurities. It is a story of sadness and hope.
It is a novel that really deserves my 5 Star rating and I can honestly highly recommend it.
Did I mention the twists?

I'd already read this brilliant book, but had whizzed through it last summer. I decided to listen to the audio book because wanted to be reminded of it and the narration added to my enjoyment. It worked well with the split-timeline structure and it was sensitively done. This was also a good reminder that the best books will endure and you always find something newly resonant on a reread or, in this case, a listen. Kate Maxwell's characters shine through and the plot unfolds beautifully. Thank you for the opportunity.

Thirty-eight-year-old Stevie loves her high-powered job and her glamorous life in New York but she’s also desperate to become a mother. When I job opportunity becomes available in London, she jumps at the chance to move to London to be closer to family and embark on the journey to motherhood through IVF as a single woman.

When Stevie welcomes her child into the world, she quickly realizes her expectations of motherhood are nothing like the reality of it. She misses her job, her life in New York and she’s lonely. As Stevie struggles with being a mother, she reminisces about the identity she has lost and wonders if she has made a huge mistake.

TW ‼️This book may be a very difficult book for some readers. It felt honest, real and completely heartbreaking. I feel like it’s the past of motherhood that happens to women that is not often talked about‼️

Also, since it is very character driven some readers may find it slow or boring. I really enjoy these types of books and I can’t wait to see Kate Maxwell writes next.

The audiobook was narrated by Elizabeth Brennan who does an amazing job. I would highly recommend the audio version.