Review: Saving Noah by Lucinda Berry

 

Publisher: Rise Press

Publication Date: Sept 2017

Source: Borrowed from library   [ goodreads]

Blurb: 

We forgive murderers, not pedophiles. Not since Lionel Shriver brought us We Need to Talk About Kevin has a writer delved into the complexities of a disturbed mother/son relationship. Until now. Meet Noah—an A-honor roll student, award-winning swimmer, and small-town star destined for greatness. There weren’t any signs that something was wrong until the day he confesses to molesting little girls during swim team practice. He’s sentenced to eighteen months in a juvenile sexual rehabilitation center. His mother, Adrianne, refuses to turn her back on him despite his horrific crimes, but her husband won’t allow Noah back into their home. In a series of shocking and shattering revelations, Adrianne is forced to make the hardest decision of her life. Just how far will she go to protect her son? 

My 2nd Lucinda Berry books and guys, I think I am going to have to read everything she writes because her books are mind blowingly twisted and insane. The topic of this book was at times so difficult to read, major trigger warning for sexual abuse, child abuse, suicide, mental health and a lot more. 

Adrianne is our main character, the mother of Noah, who is trying to keep everyone's lives together after Noah confesses to being a pedophile. This unimaginable situation destroys her life, her sense of family and leaves her clinging onto the son she raised with detrimental effects. 

The thing that pulled at my heart strings the most was the explosion and destruction of the family dynamic, seeing the parents try to handle that, the kids, their own relationship, the outside world and their youngest daughter. 

The flashbacks to the treatment center and the now had my heart in my throat. Really disturbing, uncomfortable moments throughout the entire book so be prepared for that. 

A lot of people were talking about how they felt sorry for Noah by the end of it, and I have to say I didn't feel sorry for him at all throughout the book at any point. I can understand a mothers' love, but at times Adrianne was blinded by the love she had for her son to a dangerous degree. 

The very ending of the book blew my mind and made me sit there staring blankly at the wall trying to compute what had just happened. If you ever want a book that is super fast paced, will consume your mind and make you feel extremely sick to your stomach - pick this one up.