In The Stillness by Andrea Randall

There are those books that are good. You like them, you’re not regretful for the money you spent on them and you feel content about them. Give them their 3 or 3.5 stars and call it a day. But then that book is over, you never think about it again. Then there are the books you just don’t like at all so you either don’t take the time to review them or like some crazy people you shred the author and give a nasty, terrible review and go on and on about how bad the book was. (Not Me) I just don’t review books I don’t like.

 

THEN there are those books that blow your mind! Books that as you read the last line you’re breathless, you’re speechless and you walk away from the story changed forever. This doesn’t happen often for me but let me tell you, In the Stillness rocked me to my core!

 

Andrea Randall rummaged through my brain, comfortable positioned herself in my emotional psyche and took me on a journey that brought me to tears, evoked deeply rooted feelings and caused me to need many chapter breaks just to compose my thoughts in order to keep reading. I “felt” this book from page one all the way to the last line.

 

Let’s just begin with the synopsis shall we:

 

Natalie is a wife.
Natalie is a mother.
Natalie is a cutter.

Clawing at walls built by resentment, regret, and guilt, Natalie cuts as an escape from a life she never planned.

Staying present is only possible when you let go of the past. But, what if the past won't let go?

 

 

See, even the synopsis leaves you in a thought provoked state! The entire book is that way! When I say the ENTIRE book, I mean the entire fucking book! You don’t skim; you don’t miss a mother lovin word of this book because you’re scared you might miss something poignant or moving.

 

“Change never comes slowly, brewing on the horizon. It's always in a second. Balanced on the tip of a razor blade, in empty pill bottles, behind two pink lines, or learning that one of your children is slowly slipping into a world of silence.”

 

I LOVE the fact that Andrea Randall owns her writing voice in this novel. Not only that but she gives Natalie a voice that will echo in your mind for many, many days after you finish the book. Natalie is the most honest, real character that I think I’ve ever read. The realistic nature of this book took me over word by word. I love the brutal honesty that we saw in Natalie and how she so bravely owned her fears and feelings despite the guilt they brought upon her shoulders.

 

“Guilt is intense. Suffocating. A brick, tied quietly around your ankles while you sleep. You never fall slowly into guilt-you wake up with little time to take your last breath before being pulled under.”

 

 

I think that a book like this comes along so very little that when I read it I literally could not review it until now. If I had reviewed this book right after I finished it I would have come off as insane. I was a mess and totally could not put together a decent review that would do this piece of wonderful words it’s  proper justice!

 

This was a love story, yes. It was SOOO much more than that though. It was a life story more than anything else. The raw emotions and grit that you will find in the pages of this book will stay with you and I assure even if you hate the book it will change you in one way or another.

 

Grab a load of damn tissues, have your choice of alcohol nearby and hold the fuck on because you are in for the most intense emotional rollercoaster ride you’ve ever taken when you read this book!

 

Andrea Randall this book pissed me off, chewed me up, spit me out, ripped my heart out of my chest, stomped on it then step by step put me all back together. You’re bravery to write such a raw and controversial topic has me applauding you, cheering for you and loving you even more!

 

That.Is.All

Buy it HERE on Amazon