Silence is golden. That’s what they say, isn’t it dear reader? But what does that actually mean? Does it imply that silence is such a rare thing that it has become priceless? We love nothing more than to gabber away, talking in to the wee hours of the morning. It’s against human nature to be quiet…isn’t it? What could possibly make one remain silent for six months and to the person they love the most?
Today I am on the blog tour for The Silent Treatment (2nd April 2020) By Abbie Greaves. A big thank you to the publishers Century for sending me a copy to review, always appreciated. Also to the lovely Anne for the invite, thank you.
About The Author
Abbie Greaves was born in Oxford in 1992. From an early age, she enjoyed making up miraculous stories for her class’ ‘Weekend Review’, none of which had even the faintest footing in truth. Those six-year olds may have had a pretty good idea of what was to come…
A love of books led her to study English Literature at the University of Cambridge. After graduation, she spent three years in publishing. She wrote her first novel The Silent Treatment (2020) whilst working as an assistant to a literary agent in London. When she told her school friends that she had penned her own book, none of them were altogether surprised.
She currently lives in Edinburgh with her boyfriend, John, and is hard at work on her follow-up novel, The Ends Of The Earth. With the time that isn’t spent writing or reading (the greatest hobby of all), She forces herself to group exercise classes and knit to try and keep her phone-checking habit to a minimum.
The Silent Treatment
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?
With characters that will capture your heart, THE SILENT TREATMENT celebrates the phenomenal power of love and the importance of leaving nothing unsaid.
My Review
I am still in shock dear reader. This book has gripped me from start to finish. It is impossible to put down as you race towards the end to discover what it is that Frank needs to tell Maggie. Why has he stopped talking for six months to his own wife?
We are greeted with a distressing prologue as Maggie counts out her sleep tablets. Frank finds her lifeless on the floor and calls an ambulance. They have spent 40 years together and still so much remains unsaid. Greaves pulls you in with curiosity the moment you start reading as to how this tragic scene came to play out.
The narrative follows both Frank and Maggie. We hear from Frank as he sits at her hospital bed telling their story and building up to why he stopped talking. Later on he discovers Maggie’s journal and she writes out her confessions in the 7 day run up to her overdosing on her sleeping pills. She admits to giving him six months to talk and now there are only 7 days left. I was biting my lip throughout, desperate to know why things have ended up in such a mess. I was all over the place not knowing what I would find out and if I even wanted to know. I was conflicted and could feel my heart racing as the truth slowly unravelled in front of me.
The story of how Maggie and Frank came to be is a beautiful romantic tale filled with heartache and the struggles of reality. When Frank retold moments of the early days, I was an emotional wreck. I am a sucker for romance and Frank is a romantic. He is completely and utterly devoted to Maggie and loves her unconditionally. I was a mess as I saw the many different ways he cared for and looked after her. Picking her up off the floor, running her bath and putting her to bed. I admired how they respected and supported each other through the good, the bad and the ugly. He knew she was his forever girl and likes who he is when he’s with her, spontaneous and fun. I was in love with their story, completely besotted.
The bond between them is so strong that I had to know what it was to make Frank stop talking for six months. The more I heard of their story, the more confused I was about why he would just give her the silent treatment. I wanted these two characters to reconnect as their love danced wildly upon the page and brought romantic images to life. I couldn’t help but swoon.
I enjoyed reading how they each saw each other. Frank saw himself as not good enough for her and loved how wild and carefree she was. Throwing caution to the wind and taking life as it came. Maggie too thought little of herself and worried she was too much for Frank. To her Frank was funny and always living in the moment. Greaves has created two wonderful characters filled with emotion and self-doubt that become a force to be reckoned with when combined. Frank and Maggie take on the world, hand in hand and fight their inner demons together. It was captivating, I loved them as a couple. They were made for each other.
Greaves’ writing celebrates love and how leaving things unsaid can have a domino effect on all involved. She shows the reader how something as small as silence can destroy everything.
This book not only features love but also themes of depression and suicide. When you learn of recent events for the couple you feel your heart break. After following their struggles and witnessing their losses you feel for them as you come to care and love these characters. It’s heart-wrenching to read in parts but you support them all the way, to the end.
I give The Silent Treatment By Abbie Greaves a Five out of Five paw rating.
I could not get enough. I found myself racing to the end like Frank towards the hospital. The build up, the tension and suspicion grips and consumes you until you find out the truth. A heartbreaking story of loss and words left unsaid that can destroy even the strongest of loves. This book will honestly make you cry, make sure you have lots of tissues with you dear reader. You will need them.
Don’t forget to follow the rest of the blog tour, dates below, enjoy!
Links
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@AbbieGreaves1
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Bunny’s Pause 
Thank you so much for this amazing blog tour support. I loved this book xx