After abruptly leaving art school, Rhianne returns to her childhood home in the West Country to spend the summer with her father, Dominic, and stepmother, Melissa. Art school has shattered her confidence, leaving her with unresolved trauma, and she hopes that working in the fast-paced, high-pressure hotel kitchen will offer a much-needed distraction. Her parents, concerned but unsure how to help, tread carefully around her. Everything changes when Callum, the hotel’s chef, begins to show an interest in her, his intense gaze and controlled demeanor hinting at attraction. But is that all there is between them?

This novel emotionally explores the different faces of abuse within relationships, showing how it can manifest in subtle, varied ways. I was captivated by how the story captures the mundanity of Rhianne’s life while confronting the reader with the complex dynamics of relationships and emotional trauma. The evolving bonds—both familial and romantic—are powerfully depicted. Rhianne's relationships with Dominic and Melissa show different aspects of parenthood, while her passionate connection with Callum slowly reveals changing behaviors, raising deeper questions about desire, control, and vulnerability.

This was a great book! Absolutely brilliant.
The characters are so well written and I can't recommend this book enough!

The Orange Room by Rosie Price is a powerful exploration of self-rediscovery in the aftermath of trauma. It delves into the insidious effects of toxic relationships, particularly toxic masculinity, and how they can erode a person from within, often without their awareness. The story captures the unmaking of one's self in an environment where denial is easier than facing the truth, leading to a loss of confidence, purpose, and identity, until only the toxic relationship remains.

Price’s writing is captivating. The first 100 pages may feel disorienting, but gradually, the theme emerges, pulling you into Rhianne’s world of despair. The subtlety of the pain, which slowly creeps in, mirrors Rhianne’s own descent.

This book resonated with me deeply, evoking a personal reflection on my own experiences.

I really enjoyed this. It was a slow burn but gradually built up and up. Lots of twists and the characters really well developed. Really enjoyed it, kept me interested right to the end.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Thank you to Vintage Books (Penguin Random House), Harvill Secker, and NetGalley UK for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was very excited to see that Rosie Price had a new book coming out after reading and enjoying her debut What Red Was. What Red Was was powerful and important in terms of the themes it dealt with, but it lacked what I like most in books: an extensive look into the characters' psychology and desires. The Orange Room also deals with important themes, and hence I would recommend it if you are interested in the themes outlined in the blurb, e.g., toxic relationships. The writing is really good and while I struggled to get into the book at the beginning as it was a bit confusing, it became much easier to read in the second half. I appreciated Rhianne's (the main character) arc and her strength, which was portrayed beautifully. Unfortunately, the characters didn't overall blow me away, which is probably why I didn't feel very attached to them. I would still recommend this book if you were a fan of What Red Was.

You'll like this if you liked: Bodies by Christine Ann Foley, Antartica (short story) by Claire Keegan.

4.5*

The Orange Room, to me, is such a brilliant character-driven book. I loved reading in Rhianne's - our main character's - POV and how we also got the point of views of her family and friends. This was a quite heavy and reflective book and while it was hard to read sometimes emotionally, it was good to see the journey of Rhianne's character.

What I love most about this book is the complex family dynamics between Rhianne, Dominic and Melissa AND the writing!!! The exploration of the characters remind me a lot of Sally Rooney but I would honestly say I enjoyed this author's better. I'm not sure how to describe why I love the writing in this so much but some things for sure: it's atmospheric and beautiful and I just couldn't take my eyes off the words while reading. I think the way the plot moves forward too is also very subtle which I also really liked.

Thank you Vintage Books for my review copy of The Orange Room. It’s a subtle, elegant and beautifully written book and I highly recommend it.

The main character is Rhianne, a young woman who has to leave her art degree course only a few weeks before graduating due to the actions of her tutor.

She returns to her childhood home in West England to her dad, Dominic, and his partner of 17 years, Melissa. Rhianne’s mum died when she was very young, all she has left of her are photographs which she uses as the basis of her artworks.

We follow Rhianne as she begins work as a waitress at a local hotel, meets Callum, a chef at the hotel and ends up in a toxic relationship with him.

There isn’t a huge plot, as such, the story instead is more emotional and about the characters and their relationship to, and influence on, each other. While Rhianne is the main viewpoint, the novel is multi-perspective and the different interweaving narratives show the family and how they relate to each other. It's very deft in its characterisation and entirely believable in terms of Rhianne and what leads her to be in a coercive relationship.

This might sound heavy and, while it does focus on trauma and abusive relationships, it's also a hopeful, heartfelt portrait of a young woman as she tries to find her way home to herself.

A character-driven novel, dealing with finding confidence and happiness after experiencing trauma, The Orange Room weaves a number of introspective narratives together to create a portrait of Rhianne’s life. It explores relationships, from distanced family connections to toxic relationships with romantic partners, reflecting on the impact these can have.

I love a quiet and reflective book, and this is definitely that, intensely emotional without the need for dramatic moments or plot points. It’s presented as real-life would be, with emotions and pain, but with these mostly being internalised or expressed through small actions and conversations. You feel everything the characters are feeling, both in the tougher moments and the more hopeful, and become completely captivated by their lives.

A beautiful, moving and insightful read. Thank you so much to @harvillsecker @vintagebooks and @netgalley for the gifted copy!

*I was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

The story follows Rhianne, a relatable and endearing character, as she embarks on a journey of recovery after a traumatic event. Set against the backdrop of her emotional turmoil and healing, the narrative delves into the depths of her psyche as she attempts to reclaim the pieces of herself that were lost.

Price’s writing is both evocative and heartfelt, drawing readers into Rhianne's world with vivid descriptions and emotional depth. The pacing of the novel is well-balanced, allowing the story to unfold naturally while maintaining a grip on the reader's attention. One of the book's greatest strengths is its character development, particularly Rhianne's evolution as she navigates her recovery.

The themes of trauma, recovery, and self-discovery are intricately woven into the narrative, providing a profound reflection on the human condition. Rhianne's character is especially noteworthy; her relatability and the raw emotions she experiences make her journey all the more compelling. The relationships she forms and the interactions she has are integral to her development and add layers of complexity to the story.

I love the way the book handles the theme of recovery. The narrative doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of trauma, offering a brutally honest yet compassionate portrayal.

Overall, this is a powerful and moving read that leaves a lasting impact. I would highly recommend it to fans of contemporary fiction and readers interested in themes of resilience and identity. Rosie Price has crafted a story that will resonate with readers, an experience you will devour within hours and be unable to put down.

This one was a poignant exploration of healing and self-discovery. The story follows Rhianne, who returns to her childhood home after a traumatic event during her final year at university. As she navigates her recovery, she takes a job at a local hotel and meets Callum, a new love interest yet things unfold in such a way that we as the reader quickly become concerned.

The multi-perspective narrative adds depth, allowing readers to glimpse into the minds of various characters. This narrative style enriches the story, making Rhianne's journey more compelling. The portrayals of her father Dominic and stepmother Melissa are particularly touching, highlighting their deep care and support for Rhianne.

Overall, "The Orange Room" is a lovely novel, though I personally found it to falter slightly in the final chapters. Despite this, Price's insightful writing and the emotional resonance of Rhianne's story make it a worthwhile read.

Biggest thank you to the publisher for sending me an e-arc!

It must be a new trend that I neither like nor understand. Far too many fiction writers no longer think it's necessary to tell a 'proper' story with a beginning, middle and end. So many novels are like The Orange Room — merely a string of disjointed series of vignettes or backstory about the characters, their appearance, personality traits, past experiences, etc. This kind of writing style, in my opinion, does not constitute a coherent work of fiction. I can't decide whether it feels lazy or merely the author being self-indulgent.

The premise, intriguing and potentially moving and entertaining, sounded like my kind of thing, but sadly it turned out to be a disappointing read — for this reader at least. Hopefully others will think differently about this novel.

Many thanks to the publishers and to Netgalley for the ARC.

The Orange Room is about the narrow line between passion and control, and an insidious kind of violence that is difficult to name. Asking what it means to see clearly, and what courage it takes to be seen, it is the story of a tenacious young woman who – through her art, her strength, her determination – finds her way back to herself.

Requested The Orange Room because I was interested to read Rosie Price's work but this never really grabbed me! A solid three-star because the writing is good and it explores different relationships with nuance – my favourite was a stepmother/stepdaughter relationship – but tbh it didn't really do anything for me (also included my pet hate in contemporary novels, protagonists with only one friend = realistic).

This is a moving story about overcoming trauma. The cover for this book fits perfectly with the narrative. I loved the rawness and exploration of relationships. I think this book has strong themes that can be upsetting to read about but the journey is worth it. The writing is good and it gives off a cold atmosphere and a numbness that I believe mirrors the female main character’s detachment due to her experiences. It’s a powerful story and one I think people will resonate with. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

I enjoyed that this book was well written in a detached sort of way and had good, well rounded characterisation. Overall I personally didn't enjoy the story itself quite as much and unfortunately found myself losing interest at points. I can imagine that it could be relatable and/or engaging for others, so if you feel drawn to the book's premise it is relatively objectively a well written book, and therefore likely worth reading.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.