Euphoria is told from the imagined first person perspective of Sylvia Plath. It gives a glimpse (that feels all too real) into her thoughts and struggles. It touches on so many conflicts faced by women who are trying to do and be all the things: wife and mother, but also being so much more than that.

I was given a NetGalley widget for this one a year ago and I just got around to reading it and dangit it was so good. I am so thankful for the opportunity to have consumed this wildly relevant fictional tale, which felt not at all fictional, more like historical fiction, due to the times. The cover initially was what drew me in, but I'm so thankful to have stuck with it because the outcome was magical. I always love listening to audiobooks and when they sweep me off my feet, I'm just utterly captivated! I always really enjoy multi-cultural thrillers, for I embark on a journey through a land unknown to me, while still getting spooked.

"You use words to design your own reality. You write about it until it suits you."

Euphoria is a fictionalized first-person narration of Sylvia Plath's final year. The constant internal monologue and observations turned projections create quite an ominous and at times frantic mood throughout the book. A story of motherhood, mental health, and marital disillusionment, Cullhed pulls you right onto a cliff of emotions with Sylvia.

I went into this audiobook without knowing much about the personal history of Sylvia Plath. For fans of her work, Euphoria can provide a possible perspective into the motivations of some of her poetry and writings. For those unfamiliar, you can take it as a character study of a woman filled with longing who reaches the frequent quandary of "Is this it?" as she ages and experiences things she had only imagined.

I liked how the writing enveloped you in Sylvia's mind and I would recommend this to readers who enjoy historical fiction, translated literature, themes surrounding mental health, and dark reads. It is characterized as a romance but I wouldn't take it as that. Be warned that it is a bit depressing and has adult content.

As an educator, I wouldn't use the book in a class but have facilitated similar writing tasks of taking on the persona of a historical figure and writing from their perspective. The idea is creative, well-executed, and bordering on eclectic. I listened to this as an audiobook and the narration was excellent.

3.5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and author for this copy of the book.

This was a really interesting historical fiction look at Sylvia Plath's life. I learned a lot and really enjoyed listening to this story about a troubled woman dealing with very relatable issues. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

"Euphoria" by Elin Cullhed is a Women's Literary Fiction Story!

I knew little about Sylvia Plath before I decided to listen to this audiobook. I've heard of her only novel "The Bell Jar", which I've never read, and I'm aware she wrote poetry, and lastly, that she took her own life at a fairly young age.

Despite the few things I did know about Sylvia Plath, listening to this story, with its beautiful prose and exceptional narration, is both disturbing and enlightening. It's deeply thoughtful, thought-provoking, and smothered in the mid-century "yin and yang" of marriage.

However, the reader is told up front that this is a fictive story of Sylvia Plath. This Sylvia wants a perfect marriage and family, to be the perfect wife and mother, all while striving to keep pace with her artistic side, her writing, and her brilliance.

This re-imagined story is of the last year of the fictive Sylvia's life. The audiobook narrator, Kelley Burke, is so believable in her voicing as the main character in a manic state while attempting to be a ceaseless voice of reason. She's bursting with unfiltered emotion and her tirades on the contrasting juxtapositions in her life are often hard to listen to.

With that said, this reader enjoyed the heck out of this story. It drew me in and has made me hungry to discover more about the real Sylvia Plath, the woman, the gifted artist and writer, and I couldn't imagine a better introduction. I highly recommend this audiobook!

Thank you to NetGalley, HighBridge Audio, and Elin Cullhed for an ALC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.

Unfortunately was not able to listen to this due to it being approved one day before it was archived, but I'm giving it 4 stars for the premise.

I don't know what to say about this one. I loved the narrator and the book definately invoked emotions in me. At first I loved this version of Sylvia Plath more than the version we know.
But as the book went on I got more and more uncomfortable. I think this is a personal thing and also that the whole point is to feel uncomfortable. Her experience was not comfortable.
I think my issue is that I do not get being obsessed with a man at all ever. Am I gay? Maybe. I just do not get this obsession she has with Ted Hughes. I do not get the obsession any women have with any men.
I think she would have felt relieved to see him go.
It was it was a lot.
I mean that is likely the entire point and I have something fundamental I need to work out.
But listen to it. I is really good.

This book was about the last year of Sylvia Plaths’s life. Very interesting and worth the listen. You won’t regret reading this one.

Euphoria is a fictional account of Sylvia Plath in the final year of her life, primarily focusing on motherhood, creative expression, and her separation from her unfaithful husband Ted Hughes. I've read other books about Sylvia Plath's life that I've enjoyed more, but Euphoria does a good job at finding and communicating Plath's narrative voice.