An uncomfortable read about cults, power and the abuse of it, and how easy it is to lose yourself in someone else's beliefs.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

DNF. I tried and tried to get through this one, but unfortunately, I couldn't do it. The writing isn't the problem. The story just didn't grab me like I needed it to. I'll keep this one in mind, I might try again one day. This rating doesn't reflect the authors talent in any way, it just wasn't meant for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I don't particularly like to trash books or be overly critical when I post any reviews. I mean I have never published a book-I imagine how difficult that must be. But in my opinion, this book misses the mark. It is extremely confusing and choppy. The main plot involves Stef, a selfish and self absorbed woman approaching mid life. Stef has two healthy daughters and parents and a loving grandmother, Gran. Unfortunately, she has a husband who she believes is straying and a hateful boss who wants her out of a job. All the business about her husband Mark and his "other woman" and these mysteriously hateful texts she receives throughout the book are never fully explained --ever. Could they be guilt feelings from her own infidelities? Who knows--by the end of this book I don't really care anymore. Under the guise of saving her marriage, she ends up booking some kind of weird meetings for her and her husband with Oliver. Stef is introduced to Oliver through her friend Rachel. Oliver also runs this "cult-like" gathering place and convinces Stef and Mark to come out there and stay. I felt slightly like what I would imagine a trip on lsd must feel like as I read this book. Through a very oddly worded series of chapters Stef ends up becoming brainwashed by Oliver-I will not rehash this predictable tale but to make this story even more confusing the chapters that Stef narrates are separated by chapters that Gran, a German woman who lived through the Nazi years, narrates. Gran's (Hilda's) chapters warrant the extra star because the only reason I finished this book was to find out what happened to her during the war years and what her secret was and it was pretty horrible.
Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read and give an honest review of this book.