Another Sally Hepworth book about a dysfunctional family. I was able to guess quite early what this would be about. Let’s take it one by one. The dysfunction of the characters in this book was fairly grave and needed a lot of care in addressing them. In that sense it felt like making the book a bit longer would have done the job just fine. Next we come to the family and their dynamics with each other. As usual sisters take the front seat. I loved how they bonded. But again it felt somewhat lacking compared to how sisters’ relationships are portrayed in Hepworth’s other books. Here, adult sisters trauma bonded in their later life. They weren’t close in childhood and suddenly just because their father was getting married to a younger woman, the sisters became each other’s confidante. But I loved the characters individually. They were all so different and had their own issues and responses towards life. I loved Rachel more but I liked Tully’s development better. Heather was an interesting character too. Sonny and Darcy (love interests of both the sisters) were so good too. The way they were supportive of the women in their lives, understanding towards them and helped them was amazing. 

Lastly, the DV issue, on which the book is built on. In relation to that, I will address the ending. In my opinion, I don’t think it was meant as an open ending. We are sure that Stephen was an abusive and manipulative asshole. It left no rooms for that discussion. Maybe the ending meant that sometimes women are broken down so much by their abusers, their confidence is taken away bit by bit, that they are left with only confusion and hurt. It takes time to process and even accept the fact that you have being abused. Because society still links abuse with shame. Having said that, I would love Hepworth to give her own explanations regarding the epilogue.