Trust Me

I found this book slow and tedious, even, dare I say it, boring. I didn't warm to the main character, and found myself berating her (aloud on a few occasions) for her ridiculous decision making and actions. The book was only saved from a one star when it livened up in the latter part, during which one of the characters morphed into the baddie from the film Fatal Attraction.

At the age of 27, Lizzie is living in the Lake District with Jonty, her partner, and his son, Sam. Jonty is much older than Lizzie which means that she is nearer in age to Sam (aged 17) than she is to Jonty but this has never really caused an issue, until now. Lizzie has built up a good relationship with Sam over the years, although she had to work hard to gain his trust at first when he unexpectedly came to live with them. For some reason Sam is now starting to withdraw into himself and behave in inappropriate ways towards her. Even worse, some of her close friends and acquaintances seem to be implying that this is her fault and she starts to doubt not only her actions, but her own sanity.

This is a very well-rounded book that is not just a great story, but also has depth to it, tackling many issues which raise their heads in today’s world. In modern day society where divorce is commonplace, subsequent partners are often expected to take on the role of parenting teenage children. This book looks at the complex relationships that can develop and the potential pitfalls which may arise or be perceived to have arisen which, as this book reveals, is not necessarily the same thing. It is a thought-provoking study of one aspect of these relationships (age differences) and it also takes a look at child grooming, which adds another whole set of challenging issues. The plot is extremely well thought out and is often fast-paced and gripping. The characters are also entirely plausible and well developed.

My only criticism would be that I found the first half a little repetitive at times, even to the point where I was becoming a bit bored. However, the book gains pace towards the end and the denouement is so superbly executed that I can forgive it almost anything.

I would certainly recommend this book to anybody who enjoys a gripping narrative, but also to those who enjoy an interesting read. Apparently Zosia has written other books and if they even come close to being as good as this one I will certainly be looking out for them.

There were so many absurd moments when I could’ve shouted at Lizzie to speak up and stop being so ridiculous, had I not been clear she was very much a fictional character. Apart from that, most threads were obvious and clear to follow, no major surprises ‘thriller’ wise, apart from the funny five minutes towards the end. It did raise some thought provoking scenarios & I’m hoping these were well researched, as my instinct would be that they would’ve been dealt with differently given my understanding of real life safeguarding practises. Overall a steady and reasonable read, feel rather neutral about it.

So I caused some controversy at my Book Club by giving this book 5* ...but I LOVED it.

I thought the first chapter was a very clever device that lured you into thinking/feeling that Lizzie and Sam were in a relationship and made you feel the same doubts that all the other characters felt throughout the book. You didn’t trust her, but then, that was the whole point. We weren’t supposed to. Even though you wanted to be on her side and you accepted that, in any other situation, all the acts on her behalf were totally innocent and maternal, there was something that held you back. It was thought-probing and had me second guessing/checking myself throughout the entire story. I couldn’t put it down.

Admittedly, the ending got a little ridiculous. The whole debarcle with Rebecca stabbing herself and then the way she suddenly flipped and turned psychotic when Fi just happened to sleeping in Lizzie’s car (despite the fact that she hadn’t been able to stand being anywhere near Lizzie in previous chapters, let alone take advantage of a tenuous hospitality) seemed a bit fantastical. But not enough for me to knock a star off because it had me gripped from start to finish. A really good read.

This was an easy to read book, but I found it really hard to relate to the main character of Lizzie. I was particularly uneasy with the way the author described Sam from Lizzie's viewpoint, and thought that the relationship between them was unsettling.

I did like the descriptions of the places in the Lake District, it definitely made me want to visit again, but I hope I don't meet any Lizzies on my travels.

I want to write ‘what utter piffle’ but it’s not utterly piffle and the writing style is fine. I just wonder at books where we are trapped in the mind of someone who is so hopelessly soppy. She can organise events, suggests she could be making a living doing something really prestigious yet she spends her time mooning over two children in a way that any woman who is holding down a more than full time job, having a social life and running a home would laugh at. As to her behaviour, well, whether you consider it appropriate or not it’s unreal to me. Yes I have nestled a child under my chin (not the other way round) when the child was under 10. If this woman is 27 and working with children she would be security checked (as would Rebecca) and would be mindful of what was appropriate, even at home. Don’t even get me started on the intense relationship with Nell formed in a few weeks to the point where it’s an insult to her actual mother, Kay. Poor Kay, both her parents die, her son doesn’t want to live with her and her daughter dotes on a live in girlfriend of her ex-husband who was a useless waste of space. Now there’s a story. And the repetition- I love him, I love him, I love him, I love him........
Also, how did they imagine she got broken ribs, and she certainly couldn’t have moved the way she did with them.
As to the positive, the way Rebecca insinuated herself into their lives was well done, the responses of the schools appalling but possible. The description of Cumbria very nice and realistic.

I’m not sure why this book is described as a thriller, because it falls far from the mark and doesn’t really provide any of the twists and turns you expect from a good thriller. After reading the blurb, I was quite excited to read the book but was left cold and disappointed.

The opening chapter or so made me feel very uncomfortable in its description, and I had to actually reread the blurb to remind myself who was the ‘step son’ and who was the boyfriend. This didn’t bode well if I was supposed to be on the narrator’s side. In a book which was discussing the blurring of boundaries, I think it started off negatively and had no real place to go after that.

I found Lizzie unlikeable and very immature, and some of her thoughts confusing. Linking back to the first chapter, I found some of her thoughts inappropriate, then when she realised how she felt, it was really rammed home to remind the reader that she was never in the wrong. She also predictably does the obvious which leads to ‘problems’ a bit like the female victims do in horror films.
The character of Jonty is just awful.

I found the book very repetitive and drawn out. Very disappointed.

I wanted to like this as Zosia Wand is a local author. However, I was disappointed as I found the story line weak and drawn out and the character of Jonty was lacking in depth. There was a lot of repeating of information and Lizzie's thoughts about her relationship with Sam. Needed editing.