Cover Image: The Silent Treatment

The Silent Treatment

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Member Reviews

Thank you to Netgalley for a pre publication copy. In return for an honest review! #thesilenttreatment #netgalley

Frank and Maggie have been married for 40 odd years and have fallen into the known mundane routine of married life but 6 months ago they both stop talking to each other. Maggie has had enough and suddenly tries to end it all. Will Maggie survive? Will Frank and Maggie find out the truth.

The description of the book drew me in however I dont re read the synopsis when I choose a book from my shelf and sadly this book has sat on it way too long because the cover never drew me back.

This book covers some very emotional but modern topics which is essential to be spoken about. This book really turns traditions, old beliefs and values on their head to fit into modern society showing that the best plans don't always work. Some of these topics include drug addiction, suicide, death, infertility, mental health, domestic abuse snd posy natal depression amongst other things. All of these topics are written with power and strength in a book that shows the individual challenges couple can separately be dealing with in a joint situation.

The characters are all relateable in their own way. You can see they are all clawing at the pages for their story, thoughts, feelings and ideas to be heard which the author gives airtime to each one of them separately. So you really feel that you are getting to know them.

This book is an art form. It is written in such a way that you are getting slightly more from the characters from each page but a question is asked at the end and you must keep reading to find the answer..

This is a special book and I will be checking put other books from this author.

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This was so unique and gripping and immersive. What a surprising little novel. I would definitely recommend this to my followers!

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It is a bit of slow burner but you do need to bear with it because it is worth it.
It is beautifully written.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for gifting me a copy,

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This is a debut novel. It is so beautiful and moving.
The pacing is so slow which ruined it a bit for me.

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This book deals with difficult topics; drugs, grief and guilt and the story is well written but I don't think it was for me. As Maggie is lying in a coma in hospital, we hear Frank talk about their whole lives together and the reason why he has been silent for the last 6 months. It was intriguing to hear about their life together and the struggles they faced especially with their daughter and I wanted to know what Frank had done but it was a bit too slow getting there.
Overall a powerful story about love, loss and guilt but a bit slow paced for me.

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Thank you to the publisher for my eARC copy of this book. Unfortunately I didn’t love this book and therefore didn’t finish, I just didn’t connect with this one. Not for me, sorry.

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I was a little bit disappointed by this novel and DNF. I felt that it was quite slow, and I just wasn't interested in what the characters had to say. Unfortunately it wasn't for me, but I have seen lots of people love this book so it's definitely worth giving it a go!

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Thank you Random House UK and Netgalley and I really wish I'd read this sooner.
This is the first book I've read this year which made me cry.
This was a really thought-provoking story and I found it sad at times. The book kept me intrigued and I loved the characters. The only reason there was no 5 stars as I sometimes wondered if this would really happen - not speaking to someone for over 6 months! I did think a few times "if only they would talk to each other".
A great book and definitely recommend.

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This beautiful book revolves around a family in crisis. Frank hasn't spoken to his wife for six months and the couple live together in silence with nothing but their secrets for company.

It is a beautiful, thought provoking book, but it could have benefited from a faster pace and stronger payoff.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC without obligation.

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This is a beautiful book. The way the story developed throughout the book was so well written. A really heart rending story that kept me engrossed throughout. I highly recommend this book.

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I thought this was a good book which was quite thought provoking, the ending was what the best part and I really felt for Frank, even though it wasn’t a thriller I found myself a grossed in it all the same, loved it thank you

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A fantastic thought-provoking read that I really enjoyed. Throughout the story I was intrigued and I loved the characters. The only reason I haven't given it five stars is because of plausibility - at times, I did want to shout at the characters, 'just talk to each other!', but that's how real the writer made them to me - a great job!

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It took me a minute to get into this but once I read a few chapters I was hooked! Really interesting premise. The payoff was a little disappointing or anticlimactic for me but it may be because I'm not a parent! Really enjoyable read and a very original take on the ordinary struggles of everyday people

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Great book, leaves you on tenterhooks for Frank's confession right at the end, but it ended exactly as you wanted.
Really enjoyed reading this and would definitely recommend.

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Abbie Greaves writes a story of a family growing and changing over the years of a little girl’s birth and her life that follows.

It has been six long months since Frank spoke to his wife. They live together in silence, each shrouded in misery with painful secrets held close.

I liked the writing but I think Greaves dragged the story telling. The unravelling of the main plot was lengthened unnecessarily.

I received this book through Netgalley for review consideration.

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A beautiful book that really gripped me. This is one of those books that will stay with me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an honest and unbiased opinion.

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Beautifully told story which felt real. It gripped me right up to the end. The characters were amazingly real.

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A book about not talking to your spouse could have gone either way, but Greaves captured such affection within silence it was impossible not to enjoy it.

When Maggie ends up in a coma after attempting to take her life, Frank finds himself compelled to explain how his six months of silence began. Alternating between past and present The Silent Treatment explores Frank and Maggie's relationship and marriage, the highs and the lows, and their obvious adoration for one another. The latter half of the book is written from Maggie's perspective on the silence, through a series of writings and Frank's reaction to them. The dual perspective element of The Silent Treatment unpacks their relationship and their love for each other in such a way that the reader couldn't but feel for them.

Written almost in a thriller style; with an event happening at the beginning and a lead up to the explanation at the end, with a lot packed into the last 25% of the book, it had somewhat of a slow start and I didn't find myself gripped for quite a while. Once I was hooked it was difficult to put down, and I devoured it; feeling every heartbreaking moment and willing for it not to be the beginning of the end.

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This book is really well written but for some reason I really struggled to get into it?
It is about a husband and wife of 40 years who have some kind of family trauma which causes them to drift apart. The wife takes drastic measures and the husband is left trying to release the silence they have been holding onto for the last 6 months.
It’s deals with infertility, parenting and spousal relationships.
I think I was expecting more excitement than what I got.
I would still read another of this authors books as the writing was good. I just didn’t connect with the characters in this one

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The Silent Treatment by Abbie Greaves is a beautifully written story about an ordinary family dealing with painful experiences. The author’s technique of telling the story in two parts from the perspectives of the two main characters is particularly effective and so well done.

However, it is just too sad and for me and, although I never considered abandoning it, I kept hoping it would become more uplifting as I read on.

My thanks to Netgalley and Century part of Penguin Random House publishers for the opportunity to read this book.

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