Massive thanks to Laura Sherlock (publicist) and Pan Macmillan for an ARC of what has been my favourite book of 2023 to date. It is going to take something HUGE to knock this book off of the top! I’d also like to apologise for my running up to the author like a complete nutter at Harrogate and screaming how phenomenal this book was in her face… as if she didn’t already know and needed a banshee cry to confirm it… my bad! 🙈😂 Saying that, I think Jo from My Chestnut Reading Tree and I convinced quite a few people to buy a copy as we shouted out about how PHENOMENAL this book is!
Summary: In the picturesque Scottish Highlands, the Hardwicke family, still grappling with a harrowing past year, hopes to find solace on their holiday. However, tranquility eludes them as they unknowingly step into the crosshairs of a volatile young couple with a twisted sense of love, a thirst for infamy, and a mysterious, dark history waiting to be unearthed. Racing against time, Detective Saul Anguish is fervently pursuing leads, determined to apprehend this dangerous pair before more lives are irreversibly shattered. But as events spiral, a mother confronts a heart-wrenching decision, one that will challenge the very essence of love, trust, and sacrifice.
Ok readers! Prepare to be utterly shattered, emotionally stripped bare, and relentlessly captivated by Fiona Cummins’ hauntingly evocative novel, “All of Us Are Broken.” This book is not just a story; it’s an immersive experience that will leave you feeling utterly broke in the most profound way possible.
From the very first page of this atmospheric book, I was drawn into the lives of these people, each burdened with their own demons and struggles – Saul, the mother with an impossible choice, Blue, Missy & Fox… bejeezus! The layers of vulnerability that Cummins bestows upon her characters (and I haven’t even mentioned them all) make them achingly real, leaving you empathizing with their pain, shocked by their choices and rejoicing in their triumphs, even those you may find quite unlikeable!
By christ what a story!
You will find loss, redemption, being misunderstood, secrets, sacrifice and the frailty of the human spirit within the pages and I’m not kidding when I say, this is not a story that simply entertains; it delves deep into the recesses of your heart, causing fissures that will stay with you forever. I mean OMFG Callum… 😯😭 and that’s just one of many… shut up, Noelle! You need to read this book to find out more!
The author delves deep into the darkest corners of society, exploring the depravity that can lurk in even the most ordinary of places. The chilling crimes depicted in the book will send shivers down your spine, leaving you with a lingering sense of unease. However, amidst the darkness, there’s a glimmer of hope that shines through, demonstrating the resilience of the human spirit.
“All of Us Are Broken” tugs at your heartstrings and leaves you emotionally spent. This was my first foray into Fiona Cummins’ work, and it will most certainly not be my last.
Would I recommend this book? You bet your friggin arse I would. Fiona Cummins comes in like a wrecking ball with “All of Us Are Broken” and I loved every moment of this read! If you’re prepared to be taken on a rollercoaster of emotions, to have your heartstrings expertly plucked, and to emerge from the experience forever altered, then this book is an absolute must-read.
You won’t come out unscathed, but I assure you, it’s an experience you won’t regret. Highly recommended!
