Book Review:
Sleep Sister by Laura Elliot
Published by Bookouture, 31st March 2016
⭐️⭐️⭐️

Synopsis:
Beth ran away from her family when she was a teenager. She left behind a terrible evil that took her innocence. She also left behind her sister, Sara.
When Beth returns home, she is shocked to discover her terrible secret is not just hers alone…she shares it with Sara. Under the shadow of a remote headland, the sisters make an oath they promise never to break.

Eva’s birth is a mystery that remains unsolved. Years later with her marriage in ruins, and her future uncertain, she realizes that to move forward with her life, she must first understand her past.
But while Eva is drawing closer to the truth about her roots, Beth and Sara’s lives are falling apart, crushed under the weight of the secret they carry. They must confront the past and face the darkness once more. But this time, their story will be heard.

Review:
Reading more as a family saga than the psychological thriller it was pegged as and that I was expecting, Sleep Sister's strengths lie in Laura Elliot's innate character building and strong storytelling that grabbed me from the first few chapters.
Things grew a little muddled for me in the middle section, but became clearer as the conclusion began to be reached, albeit it in rather a roundabout fashion.
Fans of slow burners will adore this.

*Thanks to Bookouture and Laura Elliot for the eARC via NetGalley. This is my unbiased review.

#BookReview #SleepSister #LauraElliot #Bookouture

A brand new author to me - I do like finding a new author. An enjoyable read and would be interested in reading more by this author.

This was a tough read but very meaningful. Child abuse is never an easy topic, but I thought the author handled it delicately and respectively. I never felt like the book was exploitive. The book really shows how much abuse can affect generations and how the cycle can be hard to break. There was a lot of characters, which did make it hard to follow along at times. Otherwise, I thought the book was really good and I would certainly read more from the author.

I never got to finish this.

Two childhoods destroyed.
One story they will never tell.
Until now.

Beth ran away from her family when she was a teenager. She left behind a terrible evil that took her innocence. She also left behind her sister, Sara.

Full review to be posted soonish.

I would like to thank the publisher and netgalley for providing me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

A good psychological thriller that kept my interest the whole way through. There was plenty of twists and turns throughout.

Trigger warning: Child sexual abuse

I read a lot, and I’ll be honest - I was looking forward to this as a fairly nice, easy, quick read. But it isn’t any of these. It is SO much more! It reminded me of both John Boyne’s The Hearts Invisible Furies and Jeanette Winterson’s Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit yet with an entirely unique voice. I became completely involved in the lives of these characters – so much so that I miss them now I’ve finished it.

‘Sometimes it’s necessary to carry secrets inside us so that those we love don’t suffer our pain.’

The book is split into four parts, all of which show events from a different character’s perspective and from a different time. This is a book that spans a generation and delves deep into the lives of those involved – it is about, family, lies, shame, power, corruption and love in all its forms. I couldn’t read it too fast – there is too much to soak up. It is NOT an easy read, but oh boy, is it gripping.

At the very start of the story, we learn of the suicide of Sara Wallace, and the rest of the book seeks to explain what exactly led to that event. It is far from simple…

Anaskeagh, Ireland. Meet the Tyrell family through the eyes of 8 year old Beth – the eldest daughter. Barry, the father, is a musician who is desperately trying to support his family by following his passion, much to the disappointment of his wife. Beth is a daddy’s girl and his number one fan. Marjory – genius seamstress – is a cold, harsh wife and mother – at least to Beth. She is much more maternal and nurturing to her younger sister, Sara. Right from the start, we learn that something is not quite right: ‘The monster lived upstairs in the wardrobe…’ Is this the usual flight of fancy of a young girl, or something much more sinister?

The Grant Family. Albert is married to May and they have two sons – Kieran and Conor. Albert is Marjory’s brother and is the most important man in the town. He is well respected – owning both a factory and a furniture shop and later, having a successful career in politics. He helps the Tyrell family out financially, constantly trying to convince Barry to go and work for him so that he can support his family better. Albert’s constant refrain is that, ‘family is everything’ which leads him to make some incredibly hurtful decisions and unfortunately, his power over everyone allows him to see them through.

The O’Donovan Family. Frank works full time and then some, on their farm. Catherine, his wife, works on the farm during the day and at the local hospital at night to make ends meet. Their daughter Jess is Beth’s best friend – a friendship that lasts a lifetime despite their entirely different paths in life. Beth finds peace and happiness at the O’Donovan Farm that she never finds at home. Ultimately, a decision that Beth makes involves the O’Donovan family and links the families together forever.

Oldport, Ireland. The McKeever Family – Barry finds a second chance at happiness after he leaves Marjory and his children and falls in love with Connie. They move in together with her two children – Stewart and Marina - and Beth joins them when she finally has enough and runs away from Marjory’s sharp tongue. Connie and Stewart work at a clothes factory and after a time, Beth joins them there and starts to gain her independence.

The Wallace Family – Della owns and manages Della Designs, a successful clothes factory that employs Connie, Stewart and later, Beth. Her son Peter is known for having, ‘a tongue that would charm snakes from a basket’. They live in a large country house – Havenstone – and both Peter, and Havenstone, become central to the story.

26 years later… and the character’s situations have changed and moved on. Some of them have come together in ways I really hadn’t seen coming. I don’t want to say much more than that and spoil the read but I will say that Beth is now married with children of her own. Sara has a successful career as a photographer and is also married.

This is a true family epic of a read. I loved it and so wish it wasn’t over.

‘There was a time when silence was more important than honesty’.

I would like to thank both Net Galley and Bookouture for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Good read. Liked the different characters and story flow. Difficult subject at times. Author does a great job with characters and describing what they go through. Entertaining read.

3.5*

I’ve read a few books by this author and enjoyed them.

This one took me by surprise as I found it so easy to get into, the subject matter isn’t entertaining as it’s about child abuse, but, I “enjoyed “ if that’s the right word for it, the way it was handled.

The differing ways that these sisters were handled by their mother was disturbing too.
Not much paternal love lost there!

I found the middle of the story dragged, I’m not sure how to explain it, maybe the repetitive referrals to “Charlie” the “monster” which I had already as a reader digested that long before I got the middle section.

The ending redeemed itself though.

Not the best book I’ve enjoyed by this author.

I did think this more of a domestic drama than a thriller though.

My thanks to Bookoutour via Net Galley for my copy

Sleep sister by laura elliot.
Beth ran away from home when she was a teenager. She left a terrible evil that took her innocence. She also left her sister Sara behind. What is their secret? Can they both confront the past?
A very good read. Gets a bit slow in places but I still enjoyed this book. 4*.

loved the first part of this book but then I'm afraid I lost interest after a while. It really dragged on.

I really enjoyed this book (if that is the right thing to say) although it centred around a harrowing tale of child abuse which was hard to read at times. This is a strong family saga book which will keep you thinking long after you have finished the book itself.