I'm not sure how to review this book or what my real feelings are.

I read the book in a couple of days and felt engaged enough to finish it but felt a bit let down by the final reveal.

I am sorry but I don't think it was for me, but I am sure other people will enjoy it.

This one is complex to review. It’s a difficult story to read, about a lifetime of love between Maggie and Frank, but packaged up with over protection of each other and their long awaited child both physically and emotionally. It’s the story of how that over protection eventually retards the truth and resultant growth in their relationships, and changes some things forever.
After six months of Frank not speaking to her, Maggie takes action. This book documents the resultant, messy piecing together of what has gone on to bring them to this place. It speaks of love, but shows the flaws, the scrutiny and weighing up of self worth, and the shutting down of communication that can result when judging oneself as unworthy.
I liked this book, and all its characters. They were very real, and each one made me want to reach out and help them in turn. I’ll look out for more from this author!
My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Silent Treatment is a wonderful bittersweet novel! It tells us of Frank and Maggie's 40 year love story. We begin almost at the end of the story and work backwards and forwards through the highs and lows of their lives together. We already know that they haven't spoken to each other for 6 months, but we don't know why. The author teases us through telling the story from all sides but gradually the truth comes out....and the truth when we finally learn it is heartbreaking. This is a thought provoking and poignant well written first novel and I look forward to reading more from Abbie Greaves.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and the author for an advance copy of this novel.

This story is well written and an intriguing story, which sucked me in at the beginning. Written about an older couple it starts by looking back over their life, it was very touching and made me reminiscent of my own early days of marriage. I frequently made me smile reading about their sweet relationship.

Frank and Maggie were lovely characters; in the beginning you can't help enjoy their interactions and romance, though their story isn't without upset and disappointment. Later their life changes and both have to deal with it in their own way.

I found the first half of the book fascinating but towards the end of the story I did feel I wanted it to get on with it; however, this was just a minor annoyance in a good story. This is a debut novel by an author who is one to watch in the future.

This was not what I expected from the initial description, however I did find this an interesting read.. the idea of living with someone who did not talk to me for 6 months is totally abhorrent as. I. personally do not believe in this sort of behaviour. I found the way that the couple handled their daughter very realistic but sad at the same time and it made me wonder if I could be strong enough to handle the same situation. The characters were very well described and as a reader I felt that I was with them and understood the things they did, from the miscarriage through the no children and then on to Ellie. I felt emotionally for all three main characters.

Perhaps because I couldn’t really relate to the story and situation, I struggled to get through this. It was lost on me that a married couple could spend 6 months not speaking to each other but again, perhaps because I’m not in that situation I can’t relate. The writing was good and while I didn’t gel with story, I’d be interested to see what the author does next.

Loved this book - quite unlike anything else. It was lovely yet emotional to experience the whole romance of these characters - and also lovely to finally read that real love sits in wait, rather than prances about with roses and chocolates.

A difficult book to read for many reasons.

This is a sad but believable book about a couple who have been married for a long time but the husband has not spoken to his wife for 6 months.

Told from the couples perspectives, Maggie and Frank and we learn the reason for Frank's silence.

A very detailed story and highly emotional.

This book was well written and I love reading about human interaction and relationships.

This was so hard as it’s focussed on a failing relationship and the perspective is such an interesting one that, although it’s not something I’ve experienced, I felt it with the character.

A slow start but it did get better the more I read.
Found it a little unbelievable in places that a couple would not speak at all for 6 months.
The background story did explain things .Not the best book but not the worst either.

Do you ever feel like you're just the wrong reader for a book? That for some reason a perfectly well written book with an interesting plot just doesn't appeal to you, well that is how I felt with this book, I cannot comprehend how a couple living together don’t speak for 6 months.
I am afraid I just couldn’t empathise with the main characters and found the whole story somewhat difficult to believe. However the book is well written and other people my well

I was super grateful to be sent this by the lovely folk at William Morrow but wasn't sure when I would get around to reading it. Then one day it called to me and it is turns out it is one of the most heartbreaking a hopefully books I've read it a long time. I sobbed uncontrollably while reading and devoured it all in just one sitting. The story of Frank and Maggie. Married all their lives, but can they break the deathly silence that has grown between them before it is too late? Gosh, such a brilliant book. Unfortunately this one isn't out until April, but I promise you it'll be worth the wait!

A difficult book to read - it didn’t immediately capture my interest but I ploughed on and enjoyed it anyway. A strong debut from a writer who will no doubt go on to improve. One to watch out for.

Thought provoking, sad but realistic tale of a devoted couple, deeply in love who adore their long awaited innately troubled daughter . The depth of their devotion, dedication and anguish is heart felt throughout. However, it is the humanely lack of communication that plays throughout the story. Lessons can be learned from this story which pulls at the heart strings; there is humour, compassion, misery but above all there is great love!

At times I found this book rather hard=going, but I am glad I persevered with it. The story is interesting, and the characters believable. The book is a bit long-winded, but I felt that was appropriate for the characters.

The opposite of what I expected but a wonderful read. A loving yet heartbreaking book but leaves you feeling heart warmed. Cosy up with a mug of coffee or glass or wine, a soft blanket and just enjoy the story and love the characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK for this advanced reader's copy. I enjoyed this book immensely. It was beautifully written and heart wrenching. I didn't know what to expect and was pleasantly surprised. Will look out for future books from Abbie Greaves

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

I really wasn’t very keen on this book at the start - I thought it was very slow going and maybe not for me. But the further I read slowly and surely the book began to capture and hold my attention, although I felt it was a little overly long in parts. It was told by the two main characters Maggie and Frank and followed their lives spanning 40 years together and how they dealt with difficult and heartbreaking times. I’m glad I persevered with this book, it wasn’t a book that really wowed me, it did become more enjoyable the more I read. 3.5 stars.

What a heartbreaking tale. Such sorrow and guilt held by both parties. This is why it is good to talk!! I struggled with this to begin with, but so glad I stuck with it and In the end I had tears streaming down my face.

It's not very often that I abandon a book that I can't 'get into', but I tried really hard with The Silent Treatment, but sadly it wasn't for me