#BookReview: The Silent Treatment by Abbie Greaves

Publisher: Cornerstone Digital / Arrow Publishing
Publication Date: 2 April 2020

Blurb

A lifetime of love. Six months of silence. One last chance.

Frank hasn’t spoken to his wife Maggie for six months.

For weeks they have lived under the same roof, slept in the same bed and eaten at the same table – all without words.

Maggie has plenty of ideas as to why her husband has gone quiet, but it will take another heartbreaking turn of events before Frank finally starts to unravel the secrets that have silenced him.

Is this where their story ends?

Or is it where it begins?

My Thoughts

For some unknown reason, THE SILENT TREATMENT kept falling further down my TBR pile. I think lockdown made me focus more on romantic comedies or crime thrillers – anything for a bit of escapism! Well, I have now gotten around to reading it and I thought it was really wonderful.

Frank and Maggie have been married for 40 years. Whilst, like any couple, they’ve had their ups and downs, they have a strong and loving relationship. However, for the past 6 months their marriage has been silent. One day Frank simply stopped talking and Maggie has no idea why. There is now a secret between them, something that Frank cannot bring himself to vocalise, and that silence may be the one thing from which their relationship cannot recover.

When Frank finds Maggie unconscious, she is rushed to hospital and a kind nurse tells Frank that he should talk to Maggie, and so begins the gradual telling of Frank’s tale and the reason for his prolonged silence. Could hearing Frank’s voice guide Maggie back from the brink? Will Frank and Maggie get more time together or will Frank be left bereft and forever regretting those silent months…?

The narrative is told in two threads – Frank’s story and Maggie’s story – and alternates between past and present.  It takes the reader on a journey through Frank and Maggie’s relationship, showing how they met, their life together and, finally, to the 6 months of silence between them. Beautifully written and utterly captivating, this is a tale of love, resilience and parenthood. It tenderly examines how disappointment and tragedy can impact a relationship and how relationships can grow and strengthen under the weight of shared joys and shared sadness. It provides an insightful portrayal of a lengthy marriage, with all the ups and downs that life send, and reminds us of the importance of communication. Whilst we may worry that vocalising our thoughts could hurt someone we care about, holding them in will prove more harmful in the long run.

THE SILENT TREATMENT is original, clever, charming and poignant. A beautifully written and memorable debut from author, Abbie Greaves, and one which is definitely worth a read.

Huge thanks to Georgina Moore at Midas PR and Arrow Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book for review purpose.

About the Author

Abbie Greaves studied at Cambridge University before working in a literary agency for a number of years. She was inspired to write her first novel, The Silent Treatment, after reading a newspaper article about a boy in Japan who had never seen his parents speak to one another before. Abbie lives in Brighton with her boyfriend.

Author Links
Website: abbiegreaves.com
Twitter: @AbbieGreaves1
Instagram: @abbiegreavesauthor

BUY LINKS

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