I loved this book. I loved this book so hard. I want more chapters. I must know what happens next.
This book had me hooked from the first chapter. I loved the look into Sally's state of mind. I know all too well about turning emotions off due to trauma. She intrigued me.
It bounced between a very hard read and a very light read, which made it a much easier read. If you've got any triggers, this book probably has them. But the trauma felt real, and genuine, as did the relationships.

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC!
This book was so full of twists and turns (some predictable, some not)! If you were a fan of Room I highly recommend this book. It’s a much darker and less triumphant take on a similar story. It explored the deep roots of nature vs nurture in a way that leaves you questioning human relationships in general! A really interesting fast paced read. Definitely check your trigger warnings as there is a lot of dark content.

Strange Sally Diamond has similar vibes to Eleanor Oliphant and The Maid but is much darker.

The book opens with Sally Diamond and her adoptive father laughing about putting him out with the trash when he dies. Sally thinks the joke is that her father says she’ll be crying her eyes out, but she never cries, so har har.

When he dies, Sally, dry-eyed, takes his body out to the barn and puts him in the incinerator, as they do with all the garbage. She doesn’t understand what she did wrong. She was only following her father’s directions.

Soon Sally is in the spotlight, and revelation after revelation comes out about her childhood before her adoption.

This thriller is a fast read and is hard to put down.

I’m slightly surprised that it kept me glued to the pages since I’ve tried to read one of the author’s past releases and could not get into it. This one was engaging from the beginning to the end. Some plot lines were predictable, while others were unexpected.

This is definitely one of the standout thrillers I’ve read so far this year. It is dark and disturbing, but it also incorporates lightness and humour.

It’s sad to think that the experiences in this book are not isolated and that this has happened and probably still does. While I liked the book and storyline, there’s just something that niggles at me about reading a thriller loosely based on real-life situations and trauma for entertainment, ya know? I think the author handles the subject matter well enough, but it could have easily turned gratuitous. I still felt a little icky reading it at times.

But I was completely wrapped up in the story, so there’s that.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

https://booksandwheels.com

I actually am not even sure how to review this book. The words that come to mind are, dark, twisted, unsettling, hopeful. comical and heartbreaking.

We meet Sally, who is different from everyone. The kids call her Strange Sally Diamond, but she pretends to be deaf and doesn't hear them. Sally is odd, her psychiatrist father describes her as Socially Deficient, but as we get to know Sally and the things that have happened to her in her life, we find out she is so much more than just an awkward woman who still has childlike tendencies.

I could not put this book down. I was completely sucked into the world of Carricksheedy and it's inhabitants as well as the the backstory of Sally and her parents. We have a dual POV which is so interesting as the two stories do eventually merge into the same timeline.

I think this is going to be a very popular summer read!

This is an interesting book that had me coming back again and again. It focuses on an unusual main character with a history of unresolved childhood trauma, who understandably, has great trouble with social situations. Less a thriller and more of a slow-developing mystery, this book is , so far, definitely one of the better reads of 2023.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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When I first finished this book, I gave it four stars. There were some highly disturbing themes, such as pedophilia, abduction, manipulation, physical and emotional abuse, rape, imprisonment and extreme hatred toward women. I felt these dark subjects were included to show the effects on two children born under such severe conditions, causing neurodivergent thinking, PTSD, rage, and inability to fit into society. It was an unpleasant but intriguing read. Hours later, I was still bothered by the disappointing and inconclusive ending and lack of resolution and dropped my rating to 3 Stars.

Peter (Stephen) was born to a twelve-year-old girl who had been chained to a room, was inadequately fed, and had to live for years of suffering and hatred from her abductor. Peter was kept separately in his father's house, sometimes locked up. His father convinced him that he had a rare disease and would die in pain if any outsider touched him. This further isolated him from any possible friendships as he grew older. He only met his mother when he was 9; she was heavily pregnant with Mary (Sally). He had to remain in the secret room with her for two days and treated his mother with anger, abuse, and hatred, learned from his father's attitude. Years later, Peter realized that his father had done horrible things, but he still loved him. He resented that his childhood and teenage years had been stolen from him due to the lie that he would die if touched by others.

Mary (Sally)was born shortly after Peter was in the room with their pregnant mother. The location was Ireland. When she was five years old, she and her mother were rescued. They were taken into care by a psychiatrist and his wife, who later adopted Sally. It was too late to help the mother, and Sally's adoptive parents disagreed on her upbringing. The father kept her isolated from possible friendships as a study for his psychiatric papers, while the mother failed to begin socializing her and making her part of the community. When Sally and her mother were rescued, her rapist father fled with Peter to New Zealand on falsified papers.

When Sally was in her early 40's, her adoptive father died. He had jokingly told her she should throw his body out with the trash. She was a literal thinker and didn't understand humour or sarcasm, so she thought this was his wish. When it was learned by the police and community that Sally placed his body in the backyard incinerator and tried to burn it, it raised quite a stir. People realized she didn't know any better, and the police case was dismissed. Now Sally had to make her way into the community. At first, she pretended she was deaf so she didn't have to speak to anyone, but she was encouraged by a psychiatrist to try to make friends. Her conversations were stressful and awkward, but most people accepted her peculiarities, and she made quite a few friends.

Sally had no memories of her life before she was adopted. Now she is getting mail from New Zealand, including a card about her birthday and a parcel containing an old battered teddy bear. She immediately recognized the toy bear and remembered she had called him Toby. Her adoptive father left notes revealing some of her traumatic past. A woman she relies on for advice and an aunt are trying to share what they are discovering about her past life and the New Zealand connection. Sally fears her biological father may be coming to Ireland to harm her. That brings out uncontrollable anger in Sally.


Now Sally has the support of many friends. A good-looking man has moved to the town, and her friends think he has romantic feelings for Sally. She is adamant she will only accept his friendship. Next, she has a visit from Peter, a brother she never knew existed. She recognizes that his background has made him socially and emotionally inept like her, and she values his company. Her friends are suspicious of both men. What are their true motives?

This was an interesting story, despite its repugnant issues. I thought it went way off track at the end. I wondered if this was a setup for a sequel. I hope not, but I would probably read it out of curiosity.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read the advance copy. Strange Sally Diamond is due to be published on July 18.

4.5 ⭐️


At times funny, at times quite disturbing ; definitely not for the faint of heart. It is beautifully written and I loved Sally, with all her strangeness . The ending left me wanting more … and I think that was on purpose

A traumatic story of of a young girl Sally who was born to a young mother who had been kidnapped at 11 and kept in captivity
The mother was shackled, starved, raped and punished if she disobeyed her assailant. For 7 years Sally and her Mom were kept in isolation with no comforts. Her mom was an emancipated wreck when found and Sally had major social, emotional and anger issues.
When Sally became a young lady she was unable to read peoples emotions, or let them touch her. She rarely socialized with anyone. Then she meets Mark and doesn’t know why he is hanging around and asking so many questions. As I continued to read, I became more and more caught up in her story. I highly recommend it, it is very well written.

Not a thriller. It was a little boring for me. It helps me going into starting a book if the genre is correctly classified and this one was more slow burn mystery than a thriller which resulted in me being disappointed by the book.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

After gaining national attention for putting her dead father in an incinerator (she was only following instructions), Sally Diamond finally begins to learn the dark story of her past and the childhood trauma that made her the way she is. As Sally seeks therapy and finally starts to participate in some 'normal' grown up activities such as friendships and parties, someone from her past reaches out with a message, and Sally is back on edge as she worries that the past may never have truly been put to rest.

I loved this book. The storyline was dark and not at all what I expected going in, and I was pleasantly surprised. I adored Sally's character, and the way her loved ones (for the most part) loved and supported her despite her history and social flaws. Her growth was fun to experience, and the effects of her trauma were heartbreaking.
Peter's story also weighed heavily, and I hoped for him the entire book.
The whole story was strange, and the ending was not what I expected, and I wouldn't change a thing.

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada, and Liz Nugent for this ARC!

"Strange Sally Diamond" by Liz Nugent takes readers on a chilling and captivating journey into the mind of an enigmatic protagonist. With her signature style of psychological suspense, Nugent crafts a haunting tale that explores the darkest corners of the human psyche.

The novel revolves around Sally Diamond, a mysterious woman with a troubled past. Sally's complex and multifaceted character becomes the heart of the narrative, compelling readers to question their own perceptions of identity, morality, and the consequences of our actions. As the story unfolds, Nugent skillfully peels back the layers of Sally's past, gradually revealing the secrets that have shaped her into the complex individual she has become.

Nugent's writing is masterful, filled with atmospheric descriptions that bring the settings to life. Whether it's the eerie streets of a forgotten neighborhood or the oppressive weight of a haunted past, the author creates a palpable sense of unease that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Her prose is sharp and precise, delivering impactful lines that linger long after the page is turned.

One of the novel's strengths lies in its exploration of the human capacity for darkness and the blurred lines between hero and villain. Nugent does not shy away from delving into the disturbing aspects of Sally's psyche, forcing readers to confront uncomfortable truths about the potential for evil within us all. Yet the author also skillfully weaves moments of empathy and vulnerability into Sally's character, allowing readers to glimpse the complexity beneath the surface.

While "Strange Sally Diamond" is a captivating and thought-provoking read, it occasionally suffers from a slow pace, particularly in the middle section. Some readers may find themselves yearning for a more rapid progression of events. Nevertheless, Nugent's meticulous attention to detail and the intricate layers of her narrative compensate for this minor drawback.

Overall, "Strange Sally Diamond" is a compelling and unsettling novel that showcases Liz Nugent's talent for crafting dark and psychologically rich stories. With its complex characters, atmospheric settings, and exploration of human nature, the book immerses readers in a gripping tale that lingers long after the final page. Fans of psychological suspense and character-driven narratives will find themselves thoroughly engrossed in Nugent's latest offering.

I loved this way more than I was expecting. All the little twists were great, nothing was outrageous or crazy over the top. There wasn't a single moment in this book where I was getting bored or found myself wanting to skim ahead to get to a "good part." The things that happened were terrible, but saying any more than that would spoil things. I found that the author did a good job of not going into graphic detail about those parts though, which would have been unnecessary and I think would have taken away from the story.

I think this book would make a great limited series on Netflix or wherever else, I'd love to see that!

Strange Sally Diamond is the latest book by bestselling author Liz Nugent. When we first meet Sally Diamond, she is odd, an outsider who prefers her routine quiet life and pretends to be deaf when interacting with locals. People assume she is on the spectrum because she has great difficulty understanding others and social cues. She lives with her elderly psychiatrist father in a remote house. However, literal thinking Sally’s life is suddenly thrust in the spotlight after the death of her father. Her strange peculiar upbringing is revealed and her traumatic childhood prior to being adopted at age 7 is in the forefront of the news. Her life is in upheaval with many secrets and lies from her past exposed, bringing new people in her life, some with questionable motives.

What I liked about this book:
-loved Sally, her unique voice and quirky and awkward personality- how she views the world is fascinating
-alternating POVs between Sally and Peter and the different timelines
-Sally’s relationship with her townsfolk especially Nadine and Angela as well as the children Abebi, Maduka and their parents Udo and Martha Adebayo who all play a role in helping Sally navigate her expanding new world and add a protective element
-brings up the question of can someone move past childhood trauma and thrive as a member of society particularly in the case of Peter/Steve
-found the Libby storyline particularly intriguing
-enjoyed the complex, well written characters that showed people are multidimensional and are not inherently good or evil but have different degrees of both
-Sally/Mary’s life before being adopted with her birth mother Denise

What I disliked about the book:
-I loved everything about this book with one minor complaint that I would have love to see more story development in the epilogues of Peter and Amanda

My rating 5 out of 5

My final takeaway: I loved this book, at times it was hard to read and devastating and traumatic but other times heartwarming and uplifting. I was enchanted by Sally and her unique view of the world as well as how she managed to come out of her adversity and grow as an individual. Highly recommend this book for fans of Room and other child abduction stories.

Trigger warning: torture, abduction and kidnapping, PTSD, pedophiles, rape, gaslighting and mental illness

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for this eARC.

I love, loved this book! Strange Sally Diamond is strange, dark, quirky and horrifying. It's a book that will hit readers at one extreme or another, Love or Hate. It's also a book that is very difficult to review.

At first meeting, Sally seems to be on the spectrum. But as the story progresses, the reader quickly learns that she is a very damaged person as a result of her past.

Sally's past is horrifying and there are trigger warnings for violence and abuse. As Sally comes to terms with her past, she has to deal with it in the spotlight of the news. Such a challenge, but interesting for the reader to follow.

There are arguments as to whether the story is credible or not. I challenge those reviewers to pick up a newspaper or to just use Google to figure it out. “Truth is stranger than fiction.” So, even though this is fiction, there are events out there that are equally compelling/horrifying. It was a page-turner for me, but it is not a book for every reader.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

I made it to 22 % and had to DNF. The themes of childhood PTSD became too much for me to read.

Up until then, I was enjoying the book. I think trigger warnings should have been added.

Overall this book is kinda heavy- the trauma of family secrets can be a very difficult subject area. Liz Nugent has done an excellent job of unraveling family history/drama/tragedy in this tale. Strange Sally Diamond starts out on somewhat of a humourous note, describing Sally’s quirks and social awkwardness. As the story progresses bits and pieces of her history, and that of an unknown sibling, are revealed and the story masterfully unfolds.
Thank You to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada and Liz Nugent for the opportunity to read and enjoy this ARC.

Liz Nugent has a craft for creating complex, interesting characters and she didn’t disappoint here. Sally’s character development throughout the story is heart-warming and gives the story plenty of hope. It was one I finished very quickly, as it just couldn’t put it down. That being said, I REALLY didn’t like the ending. Honestly, it kind of ruined the entire story for me. It was a massive let down from my perspective, and is the reason I’ve rated this one 3.5 stars. I was still captivated by 95% of the story and I could be the minority here. Overall, a captivating read that just left me feeling a little disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a book that will take you through a whole gamut of emotions, it’ll make you gasp at times yet warm your heart too. The characters are well rounded and come across as believable, whether you love them or hate them. This provocative, dark and twisted story grabs you from the first page and keeps you guessing until the very end! With themes of mental illness, abduction, misogyny, rape, and human cruelty and abuse, this was not a light read. That being said, Nugent’s writing is sharp and clever and despite all the horrors the story has heart, soul and most of all hope.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Shuster Canada who provided me with a copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. I kept picking it up whenever I had a spare minute to find out what was going to happen next.. Sally Diamond reminded me a little of Eleanor Oliphant having social anxiety and not being able to read social cues, but Sally Diamond's problems run far deeper. They all stem from childhood trauma that Sally must confront. The book had many dark themes running through it: pedophilia, sexual abuse and physical abuse, so it is not for anyone that has those as emotional triggers. The book is well written and addresses these issues head on as opposed to using them as a plot device. I really enjoyed Sally and her straightforward take on the world. There are a few surprises in the book, which is always a treat, and the ending does not wrap everything up in a pretty bow, which is something as a reader that I really appreciate. I want to thank Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback. I would strongly recommend this book!!

Sally Diamond is strange. She lives in a remote location with her father. She does not work. She pretends to be deaf so that people won't talk to her. And when her father dies suddenly, she tries to dispose of his body by throwing him out with the trash, because that was what he regularly told her to do when he died. When the town catches wind (literally) of this, a media shitstorm begins, and Sally's bizarre history becomes the focal point of the story. And whatever you think Sally's 'bizarre history' is, I guarantee you are wrong, because it is batsh!t crazy.

Strange Sally Diamond started off odd and got progressively weirder. What I thought was going to be a quaint story about a neurodiverse character got reeeeeally dark and disturbing. Trigger warnings? Yes, all of the trigger warnings! All oft them! But, I was here for it. It was super disturbing, but captivating, and the psychology of trauma and trauma response kept running through my head.

Unfortunately, as the plot moved toward it's conclusion, the story just...fizzled out. No climax. A super disappointing ending to one of the most unique stories I've ever read.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an advanced reader's copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review. Strange Sally Diamond is scheduled to be published in North America on July 18, 2023.