Oh my goodness WHAT A BOOK! The main character; Betty, later known as Mabel, is a woman like no other, she’s adaptable, resilient and stronger than everyone gives her credit. Like a chameleon, she’s capable of adjusting to her new surroundings and making the most of it. So how did it all start?
Betty’s husband came back from the Great War both physically and mentally injured, whilst Martin is the love of her life, his mother is overbearing and incredibly nasty to Betty. It was decided that it would be best for Martin to recover at his grandfather’s house where his mother also lives, and with Martin unable to hold a conversation or even caring when Betty is in the room… it’s very hard for her.
When her wicked mother-in-law forces her out the house in a treacherous storm, Betty sees an option presented to her, she could go back or she could just slip off into the night…
As Mabel’s journey begins, the story evolves in different directions keeping the reader curious and never able to guess what will happen next. From Bristol to Dorchester, from housemaid to companion to nurse, Mabel’s life has gone from predictable to unpredictable… it’s exciting to read.
A weekend in Bath at a clairvoyant meeting reminds Mabel she can’t run from her past forever…
You’ll Never See Me Again is a book that is in perfect harmony, it’s both charming and complex. It offers the reader an insight into POW camps in WW1 and into the devastation when the Spanish flu arrived in England, there’s so much detail packed in alongside Mabel’s own thoughts that it’s hard to believe the book is only just over 400 pages!
It’s immersive, shocking and wonderful, a true gem of a book.
You’ll Never See Me Again is out now in paperback and eBook versions from Penguin.
*Thank you to Annabelle for sending me a copy*
Until next time, Chloé x
Reviews by Chloé 