Sorry, i really did try and read this book, but I found the charaters thoroughly unpleasant and not an enjoyable read. So i gave up about half way through, it just didn’t engage me.

This is probably one of the toughest books I've read yet.

Bad Fruit is the story of Lily, daughter to a Singaporean mother and English father, and the abuse she and her siblings suffer at the hands of their parents.

Lily thinks of herself as the favourite child. She knows how to placate her mother. She serves her, and pre-tastes, the slightly spoiled juice that her mother loves, dyes her hair, wears contacts and the wrong shade of foundation to be more like her mother. But when she starts having flashbacks and hallucinations the summer before she is due to study law at Oxford, more about her mother's life and her own life are revealed. How the trauma spans generations and how her siblings tried to save her from remembering.

This is written beautifully. It is so dark and disturbing that I did have trouble reading it because I felt so sad. I don't want to go into too much detail about the actual story but it is a mix of domestic thriller and psychological thriller. Very well done.

I’m not sure how I feel about this… the first half was pretty slow and quite dull. There were lots of awful things hinted at, but nothing really happened. Around 60% of the way through, it started to improve but by the end of it I felt let down.

Bad Fruit deals with some truly awful things - there is a lot of abuse, but it’s never examined in enough detail and feels glossed over. Perhaps the author didn’t want to be too descriptive but the true horror isn’t realised because of it. The flashbacks were done well, although they were confusing at times when the location changed. It also wasn’t clear why her mother told Lily these stories; perhaps it was another type of abuse to terrorise her…

Characters were fairly two dimensional and never felt believable. The siblings seemed to look out for each other, yet at the same time bullied and reprimanded each other, despite everything. I struggled to get behind this, and why they would let Lily stay in the house after everything they had all been through. As for the father… he clearly broke his Hippocratic oath and was almost worse than the mother - yet throughout most of the story he was merely weak… it was only at the end he became evil, which again felt a bit odd.

It did raise some moral questions. If someone is abused as a child and they then go onto abuse their own children, how does society lay blame? That’s definitely an interesting topic, but is not explored by the author.

Some good elements, but overall it feels a bit unfinished and unrealistic. The formatting was also really bad and made it hard to read at times as words ran together.

A thriller that kept me at the edge of my seat!

I really enjoyed this book! This book highlights trauma and the relationship dynamic between mothers aand their daughters. I was engaged by the writing- it was easy to follow and still quite creepy when it needed to be. I particularly liked the fast pace of this story- it was compelling! I would recommend this if you're looking for a different, thought-provoking read!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an e-arc!

Great read. I’m not sure what genre I’d put it in but it definitely has a psychological aspect because of the plot.

The dynamic of the toxic mother/daughter relationship was well done and you could understand the characters.

I felt for both sides of this story and it did pull at my heartstrings.

Eighteen year old Lily lives at home with her Mama and Father, she has been accepted to read Law at Oxford and the book is set just before her starting university.

What can I say about Mama, she really is something else and Lily’s Dad who has had enough, leaves poor Lily to pander to her every whim which includes some really awful behaviours.

This is a dark and disturbing read, Lily starts to experience flashbacks and she thinks that they must be her mother’s as she has no recollection of the incidents she recalls. She meets Lewis at a party and he becomes a friend and as things take a darker turn Lily starts to realise that maybe everything is not what it seems.

A complex look at mother and daughter relationships but also family dynamics and historical abuse. This is a dark read, a compelling and gripping one but I had to read in small doses.

The abuse that Lily suffers at the hands of Mama is complicated and could be difficult for some to read. I had no knowledge of these types of behaviour so from a psychology perspective it was really interesting.

A disturbing story but one that kept me reading until the end.

4 stars ****

I didn't enjoy this at all. In fact, I thought it was awful.

Firstly, why do authors insist on using present-tense narrative? It rarely works and really, really doesn't in this.

This is a story of secrets and bad family relationships. The relationships in this family are really rather unbelievable. The mother isn't just toxic, she's quite seriously deranged, the father equally so, albeit in a much more subtle way. Not surprisingly, their three children are more than just a little dysfunctional.

But it was all rather unrealistic and unenjoyable. There wasn't a glimmer of joy in any one part of the story. Since I'm not a DNF person, I struggled through to the end, hoping it would improve. It didn't. My displeasure was further aggravated by the terrible formatting of the Kindle version. Many words and phrases had no spaces: makingit veryawkward toread.

Confusing, unsettling, poorly written and badly formatted.

Before I start my review, please note this plot is full of susceptible topics that some readers may find triggering. Please research thoroughly before reading!

A plot based on generational abuse, a dysfunctional family, surrounded by mental health, and a mother and a daughter who are not all they seem. I felt compelled to read this dark, disturbing and uncomfortable story, finding it hard to put down, as awful as that sounds. This is not a thriller, it's much more. I finished this within 24 hours.

Lily and her family members are complex characters. Due to the depth of the plot, this is not a quick, easy read, regardless of being a page-turner. There were moments in the middle where I needed to re-read a few chapters after getting a little lost; however, this was due to my lack of concentration rather than this author's writing style. The creative writing style takes the reader straight into the room; it felt like I was violating these characters' privacy without the ability to look away. This book makes for an unforgettable read.

'Bad Fruit' is Ella King's debut read, and I am intrigued to find out what comes next from her.

Bad Fruit begins by us meeting Lily- an 18 year old who lives with her mum and dad. Her mum seems to be suffering from mental health problems. We also meet Julia and Jacob who are her siblings but who are older and have already moved out the family home. We soon learn that Lily's home life and behaviour is far from normal and we begin to delve into why.

Lily begins to get flashbacks of something bad she thinks has happened to her Mum that may explain why she behaves and treats people how she does.

I liked reading about the different cultures such as Lewisham market for food and spices and also back in Singapore where her and her Mum travel back - her mums birthplace. We learn a lot about the different objects and foods and some asian cultures.

We realise how badly affected the whole family has been due to her mums mental health and how it affects all of the children even as adults - their relationships with other people are not typically normal.

There are themes of child abuse, families, love and obsession. It is quite a sad and moving book.

Bad Fruit I would describe as a character novel with a touch of psychological thriller and I will be recommending to others.

I have just spent about four days with Lilly. Lilly is the perfect daughter, she is going to Oxford, and she makes sure that she looks after her Mama. They have a close relationship, except for the fact that the family holds secrets, Lilly has identity issues, and Mama is a liar...
This is a beautifully written tale about identity, family, and the cycle and trauma of abuse.

This book focuses around the toxic relationship between Lilly and her volatile Singaporean mother, May.

I initially found this book slow-going, but it surprised me with the build-up to the twist. I did get frustrated with Lily, not understanding why she would put up with the poisonous behaviour of her mother, especially when her siblings had escaped, and whilst I was perplexed by her father’s behaviour at the start, by the end I was furious with him.

I didn’t find myself engaging with, or sympathising with any of the characters and I don’t know if that was a deliberate move by the author.

This was a good book with an amazing plot twist.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Excellent read, so gripping I couldn't put it down. Can't wait to read more by King.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me access an advance copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

3/5 • Bad Fruit by Ella King

• no spoiler review •

This was an odd experience reading this, to say the least. Right from the get-go, we are shown Mama, with an ugly side that the family is painfully aware of but that no one seems to be able to challenge. It’s not just Mama though, the whole family are extremely volatile, with what seems to be forever shifting alliances and always needing a target to take the brunt of Mama’s actions, they very clearly care for one another, but not enough to protect each other. This family dynamic was incredibly uncomfortable to read, but I suppose that was the intention - it is done well. Further into the story, we uncover various forms of abuse and generational trauma that just pains the details into the illustration of the damaged family that we already saw. This book, all in all, was heart-wrenching, uncomfortable, disgusting, and important. However, I have only given this book a 3/5, because I felt like it just went a little too far in causing discomfort within me that really took away from my ability to get lost in the story, and the story just hasn’t really stuck with me since I turned the last page. Whilst I wouldn’t consider this a ground-breaking novel or an absolute must-read, I do think this would be worth picking up - if you have a strong stomach and huge emotional strength.

Lily is waiting to take up her place to study law at Oxford in October. Her dad is a consultant forensic pathologist with a love for poetry. He sends poems to Francie who is Lily's brother's ex-wife. Lily's mum, Mae, aged fifty-four, has a fondness for out-of-date juice, orange, grape or blood orange, and she also has a thing for feminity - her bathroom is sorbet pink. Lily's parents argue a great deal and Lily spends a large portion of her time in the attic to escape them. Lily has a sister, Julia who like her brother no longer lives in the family home.

This powerful and emotional début starts off rather comically in the first chapter but it is not long before the reader realises that it's not a funny tale. Psychologically, the siblings, Lily, Julia and Jacob are fascinating. The family toxicity makes for a really riveting read and the pacing is perfectly pitched. A truly terrific début.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from HarperCollins via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

This was an incredible psychological thriller of a book, I was holding my breath in fear at the Mama scenes because she was so unpredictable. Mama is very unpredictable and has such an unhealthy control over Lily and a emotionally draining influence over the whole family, it was quite terrifying.

If this is the quality from Ella King as a debut author then we have an incredibly talented and exciting writer in our midst.

Thank you so much to the publisher and to NetGalley for the advance copy.

Well I loved this book. The complexities of family life….and then some! This book contains some hard hitting topics and some relationships that are more than toxic. Really very unique

A fascinating and complex thriller that explores family dynamics and toxic relationships. Dark, gripping and disturbing this is an excellent read! 5 stars from me.

Lily is just about to start Oxford University and can't wait to get away from her toxic mother. Lily spends every day trying to placate and serve her mother to avoid her wrath, including serving her orange juice that is on the turn between fresh and rancid, taste testing to ensure it's just how her mother likes it. But it may be that her mother isn't as perfect as she tells her family!
This is a slow burn and it's a difficult read in some places. Lily's mother and father are equally toxic in their own ways and I really felt for Lily and the awful circumstances she was in.
3.5 stars - it felt a little slow in the middle and I didn't like Luke's character - that relationship felt odd even though the writer explained his motives!
I'd recommend for fans of Zoje Stage or The Push by Ashley Audrain.
T/W for child abuse, sexual assault, self harm.
I received a free ARC of Bad Fruit from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

Just graduated from high school and waiting to start college at Oxford, Lily lives under the scrutiny of her volatile Singaporean mother, May, and is unable to find kinship with her elusive British father, Charlie. When May suspects that Charlie is having an affair, there’s only one thing that calms May down: a glass of perfectly spoiled orange juice served by Lily, who must always taste it first to make sure it's just right.
As her mother becomes increasingly unhinged, Lily starts to have flashbacks that she knows aren’t her own. Over a sweltering London summer, all semblance of civility and propriety is lost, as Lily begins to unravel the harrowing history that has always cast a shadow on her mother. The horrifying secrets she uncovers will shake her family to its core, culminating in a shattering revelation that will finally set Lily free.

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.

If you’ve read my blog for a while, you’ll know – although I read a bit of everything- I’m primarily a romance reader. Bad Fruit, Ella King’s debut, is not a romance.

The book follows Lily, a 17 year old girl preparing to go to university whilst trying to please her constantly at-war parents and keep her family together.

A thrilling book full of twists and turns, I truly had no idea where the book was heading. Though it was at times difficult to navigate, and the bleak nature of the book made it a challenging read, I was more than thankful to try a different genre.