Title: GIRL A
Author: Abigail Dean
ISBN: 978 0008 4393 30
Publisher: Harper Collins
Pages: 323
Source: Private Copy
‘Girl A,’ she said. ‘The girl who escaped. If anyone was going to make it, it was going to be you.’
Lex Gracie doesn’t want to think about her family. She doesn’t want to think about growing up in her parents’ House of Horrors. And she doesn’t want to think about her identity as Girl A: the girl who escaped. When her mother dies in prison and leaves Lex and her siblings the family home, she can’t run from her past any longer. Together with her sister, Evie, Lex intends to turn the House of Horrors into a force for good. But first she must come to terms with her six siblings – and with the childhood they shared.
Official Summary
26 July 2023
I have been having loads of fun reading the hard-copy books that are sitting on my TBR shelf this month. Girl A has been sitting there for almost a year. I cannot believe it has taken me so long to get to this book. What a fantastic read! When you reach for this one, be ready for a heartbreaking thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Reading this book, it is hard to believe that it is a debut novel. The author tells a moving story that is full of twists and turns. The things that happened in the house of horror will leave you cringing – while the author explains what happened to the kids, she never creates graphic details, leaving the finer details to the reader’s imagination. This makes it a book that even the most sensitive reader can pick up and enjoy. I cannot wait to see what this author has in store for us next.
Lex Gracie grew up in a house of horrors – a past she has left behind. However, when her mother dies in prison, Lex and her siblings are left the house and Lex is forced to face her past. With the help of her sister Evie, they want to turn the house of horrors into something good. But to do that, Lex needs all her siblings to agree. Something that is not so easy considering they do not all like each other very much.
I started this book during a rather hectic time and it bugged me that I could not read it faster. It is a sad, moving story that leaves the gory details to your imagination and you will not want to close this one before you reached the very last page. I loved that the author was not overly graphic in her telling of this tale. If she was, this would have been a very difficult read.
Lex Gracie is a brilliant character. Even as a child, this character was strong, determined and loyal to her siblings. Her bond with Evie breaks your heart. When she finally escapes, you are left cheering her on, wishing only the best for her. While this story is dark, you are left understanding everyone’s actions and while it seems cruel that the siblings are separated, you soon understand the importance of this decision.
While this might not be the latest release, it is a fabulous read and I am sorry it took me so long to get to it. I loved this book and it has earned a place on my loved list for the year.
If you are looking for a thriller that will keep you reading late into the night, and do not mind reading a story centred around child abuse, then this is a book you do not want to miss. I am sure you have read this one already – but if like me you have it sitting on the TBR – please make time for it. You will not be disappointed.
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Abigail Dean is a writer from Manchester, living in south London. Her first novel, GIRL A, was published in the UK in January 2021 and was an instant Sunday Times Bestseller. GIRL A will be published in the US on February 2 2021.
Thank you for stopping by to read my review. Have you read this book? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below. If you haven’t yet, be sure to add this one to your TBR. Feel free to suggest a book that either Alicia or I may like – we will do our best to add it to the pile.
