The Break by Katie Sise Published by Little A on November 1, 2022
Genres: Domestic Thriller
Pages: 347
Format: eBook
Source: Amazon, Purchased
Buy on Amazon/Bookshop.org
Can she trust the people she loves? Can she trust herself? A new mother is pushed to the edge in a provocative thriller by the Amazon Charts bestselling author of Open House.
After the traumatic birth of her daughter at a New York City hospital, Rowan O’Sullivan returns home to her apartment with her perfect newborn, Lila. At her side are her husband, Gabe, and June, a part-time babysitter hired to help Rowan in any way she can.
But in this time of joy, Rowan can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t right. She feels dread. She’s breaking.
Rowan’s growing instability leads her to accuse June of unspeakable things. And when June disappears just days later, Rowan becomes a suspect. The neighbors heard the screaming. But only Rowan knows what really happened. If her mind can be trusted. Since Lila’s birth, her memory has been both unreliable and frightening.
To uncover what happened to June and protect her new baby, Rowan must try to untangle the deep recesses of her mind and face the dark things she’s so desperate to keep buried. When she does, no one is prepared for where the truth leads.
My Thoughts
The story takes place in New York City, and it is about the life of Rowan O’Sullivan, a former new mother whose life took an interesting twist after experiencing a traumatic birth to her baby.
Rowan’s world at the beginning is one of pure joy and anticipation for motherhood but soon turns into a living nightmare as Rowan begins to question her sanity. The author skillfully depicts the increasing unraveling of Rowan’s mind and painful misgiving that something is wrong. The reader is brought into a world of dread and fear as the protagonist’s mental state worsens.
The plot becomes an interesting twist when Rowan blames her part-time babysitter, June, of unspeakable things. The disappearance of June shortly after deepens the mystery, while Rowan is made to look like a prime suspect. The author masterfully develops the theme of memory and its unsteadiness as Rowan tries to reconstruct sequences for June’s disappearance. The tension in each chapter increases, leaving readers in awe until the truth is revealed.
The ability to create a claustrophobic structure within Rowan’s apartment is one feature that distinguishes this novel. The location becomes a character all its own and adds to the feeling of unease and isolation that runs through everything. As the walls of Rowan’s apartment close in around her, the author describes everything so vividly that readers can see them closing in on her just as they hear about how she continues to worsen.
The characters are highly developed and complicated. Rowan is a multi-layered heroine whose struggles and fears are tangible. The secondary characters, like Rowan’s husband, Gabe, or the mysterious June, add depth and spice to this story. The motivations and actions of each character are presented intricately in the plot to form an interesting set of characters.
While the story’s pacing remains consistent primarily, there are instances where the pace slightly slacks off. These instances are, however, few and far between, but overall, the tension prevalent throughout makes up for all this.
Therefore, the novel is a must-read for fans of the genre due to its good thought-out plot, atmospheric setting, and deep characters. The author made a suspenseful and reflective story that will make readers doubt their imagination of what is real.
About Katie Sise
Katie Sise is a bestselling author of six novels. Her books have been included on best-of lists by Good Morning America, The New York Post, PopSugar, Parade Magazine, and PureWow. Her current novel, The Break, is a Zibby’s Book Club pick for November. Katie is a former TV host and jewelry designer, and lives outside of New York City with her husband, four children, and a golden retriever who has finally calmed down.
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