Blog Tour: Between the Tides by Susannah Marren #BookReview

I recently received the book Between The Tides by Susannah Marren & am posting along with the Blog Tour for it. 

Susannah Marren’s debut novel crackles with the tensions of real life—rivalries, betrayals, shaky marriages and the challenges of mothering—in a way that simultaneously resonates and illuminates. It’s no surprise that BETWEEN THE TIDES (St. Martin’s Press; July 2015) has such insight into the lives of women: their challenges, their triumphs and their inner yearnings.

Told against the backdrop of the Selkie legend – enchanted seals who shed their skins to live on land as women – Marren’s unique style peels back the layers of a ‘ perfect world’ to reveal the shifting tides of marriage, family, career and friendships. Her protagonist, Lainie Smith Morris, moves against her will out of her beloved New York City for the affluent suburbs of New Jersey with her surgeon husband and four children. The dark side of the American dream begins to consume her as Lainie starts to unravel.  Does Lainie depend too much on her twelve year old daughter, Matilde, and her art work as her only comforts?  Her isolation is interrupted by the serendipitous meeting of an old friend, who at first seems like a godsend, but proves to be anything but. Will the earth-shattering consequences of her friend’s betrayal drive Lainie past the breaking point? Readers should prepare themselves for a shocking surprise ending to this original, fast-paced novel.

SUSANNAH MARREN is originally from Long Beach Island, New Jersey. She currently lives in Manhattan with her family and still spends her summers on the Jersey Shore. BETWEEN THE TIDES is her first novel.

my review

this review is a little late. I am behind on reading everything lately. but I was away last week and brought this book along to read. I read almost 200 pages last week and finished the rest since. I like to thoroughly read these books so I can give an honest review so that is why I am late posting.

my thoughts on this book are somewhat mixed actually. it is hard to describe the writing style of this book. it is written alternating between Lainie and then Jess's narrative. The language and terminology used throughout the book are slightly weird. Not sure, it is hard to describe actually.

The two main characters are more like frenemies and when they meet again Jess is, I guess, jealous of Lanine from their old days as friends from their past summers. And Jess unbeknownst to Lainie starts something with Lainie's husband. 

I wasn't feeling too sympathetic for either of the two main characters. I didn't really feel for either of their sides. The only one you kind of feel sorry for is Lanie's daughter Matilde. The ending is sort of a surprise and I am not really sure if what they lead you to believe, really happened to Lainie. I don't want to give it away, but I am not sure about the ending.

If you are looking or a different/unique book then you should check out Between the Tides, by Susannah Marren. this book will kind of leave you thinking, which I guess isn't a bad thing.

Purchase: You can buy Between the Tides on Amazon.com

disclosure: free book received to review
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