𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸: After the Lake 📚
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Mara Mansour ✍️
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The main character of the story is Emma. She is tired, guarded, and practical but she is unforgettable. Her emotional restraint is not coldness; it is survival. Mara writes with a clarity that never softens the harsh realities of Emma’s home life. Alcoholism, neglect, and emotional labor are presented without sensationalism, making the story feel honest. Emma’s devotion to her siblings is moving.
Teddy’s internal conflict adds nuance to the story, revealing how pressure and expectation can become their own kind of cage. The connection between Emma and Teddy grows slowly, built on conversation, observation, and mutual curiosity.
What makes After the Lake powerful is its refusal to offer easy answers. Love does not erase circumstance, and hope does not arrive without fear. I had a great time reading this novel. I strongly recommend it to my fellow readers.
- 𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5
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Sassy Reviews 