One Year Later
By Sanjida Kay
Genre: Psychological Fiction, Thriller
Publisher: Corvus
*Gifted*
The breakdown
The death of Amy's daughter, Ruby-Mae, has left family members shell-like and consumed with grief. Ruby-Mae died at the age of three in a preventable accident. The one year anniversary of her death is fast approaching so the family decide to book a last-minute trip to an island in Italy, hoping a getaway will reduce the pain of their loss and rectify slippery relationships.
One family member didn't get the memo that they weren't on the invite list, and as the holiday kicks off it becomes clear that the holiday repair dream is far from the reality. Something is definitely off on the island, and someone from the family is hiding a big secret.
Will everyone make it off the island? And can the fragile family deal with another blow?
Seasoning Level
CO2 | Salt | Pepper | Mixed Herbs | All Purpose Seasoning
Is that how you're feeling yeah!?
It took me a long time to get into this book, for the first quarter of the book-length I was disengaged and tempted to put it down. But… I'm glad I didn't because once the story warmed up it gripped me like I was on a rollercoaster and I didn't want to get off.
Sanjida tricked me on so many occasions. I had my thinking hat securely on and on so many occasions I was dead sure that I'd solved a mystery or question and then BOOM the story would flip and I was back to square one mad puzzled. That's how I like my thrillers, unpredictable and various steps ahead of me. I can't say too much of how I'm feeling because there's so much I want to say but can't because I don't want to spoil anything ahhh!
It hit me when
It hit me when I took a step back from the book and really processed what was going on and how fragile the family was. Also, it made me realise how tense and on edge I felt whilst reading the book because of the disturbing layers. Yoo lies can be the undoing of a lot of things but lies within the family that's some real deep madness.
Favourite Character
I didn't form a massive attachment to any of the characters, but I found Nick's chapters to be really engaging. An interesting dynamic that Nick was the youngest of his siblings and very much the family glue that simmered down many situations.
Length
327 pages, including acknowledgement and book club questions. Keep a note pad, and don't be put off by the quiet part at the beginning.
Big quote
"There is no greater sorrow than to recall happiness in times of misery."
Gifted by Atlantic Books*