[Synopsis]
How far would you go to protect your child? When her daughter is bullied, Laura makes a terrible mistake…
Laura loves her daughter more than anything in the world.
But nine-year-old daughter Autumn is being bullied. Laura feels helpless.
When Autumn fails to return home from school one day, Laura goes looking for her. She finds a crowd of older children taunting her little girl.
In the heat of the moment, Laura makes a terrible choice. A choice that will have devastating consequences for her and her daughter…
[My Review]
Bone by Bone is Sanjida Kay’s debut novel, and combines a gripping psychological-thriller storyline packed full of emotion and those moments where you think to yourself, ‘What would I do in this situation’. If I’m honest, I have no idea- and it made for really interesting, riveting reading.
The story opens with a hugely impactful scene where Laura is desperately searching for her 9 year old daughter Autumn- and is horrified to find her body lying in some grass. After this powerful start, we then move back in time, to before the series of events that have lead to this situation, occurred and follow the build up of tension as it happens. We read chapters from both Laura and Autumn’s point of view, which helps you understand exactly how the situation is affecting both mother and daughter. It’s a dark and disturbing tale, and really brings home how bullying can escalate into something far more sinister.
I don’t want to give too much away about the story, but Sanjida Kay effectively manages to make you feel a bit shocked and disapproving at what Laura has done, whilst simultaneously (and for me, for the most part) feeling so sorry and worried for her and Autumn.
The writing is the perfect mix of being well written whilst also easy to read. Kay uses descriptive language to evoke the feelings and emotions that Laura must be feeling without overdoing it; the story moves quite quickly which kept me really intrigued. I read the whole book in 2 sittings and only, once finished, felt like I’d actually taken a proper breath! The tension really builds as you read on and I feel like Sanjida Kay has shown what a skilled and effective writer she really is, in creating such a fantastic debut novel.
I will definitely be reading any of her future releases I can get my hands on!
[Rating: 5/5]
** Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy of this novel in return for an honest review **
Have you read Bone by Bone? What did you think?
Great Review! This has made me want to go straight out to the shop to purchase it! Even when I have a long list to read at the moment. It is definitely on my list, I need to find out what Laura did! 🙂 x
Thanks- definitely worth adding your ‘to read’ list I think! It’s not as ‘thriller-y’ as the books I often read but it’s got just as much tension in my opinion 🙂 well worth a read, if you do I’ll look out for your review ???? x
This sounds fantastic, thank you for an awesome review! ????
Thanks for your comment- I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend so I hope if you read it you enjoy it too! ????
[…] Favourite Books: Bone By Bone – Sanjida Kay*: I loved this book! So full of suspense but also so relatable- I could imagine how I’d feel in both Laura and Autumn’s positions (well, try to imagine anyway!) and it really sucked me in. I couldn’t put it down! My review here. […]
[…] fan of Sanjida Kay, having raved about Bone by Bone and The Stolen Child [read my 5* reviews here and here]. So I was really excited to see that she has a new release, My Mother’s Secret […]