The Blurb
Bonded by their traumatic childhoods, Flora and Sophie are inseparable friends who married brothers.
What they could not have anticipated was their mother-in-law, Cecelia. Disappointed that her children have married beneath them, Cecelia takes every opportunity to belittle and taunt her daughters-in-law.
When Cecelia learns that Flora and her son are moving away, her wrath escalates, and Flora’s world begins to fall apart.
Meanwhile, Sophie’s life is also crumbling around her. Her marriage is not what it seems, and she is desperate to escape the clutches of the poisonous family she has married into.
Is Flora being tormented or is she losing her mind?
Will Sophie and Flora be forced to leave their husbands in order to survive?
With a mother-in-law like Cecelia, anything is possible…
Goodreads Link
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57948793-save-her
My Review
Sophie and Flora have been best friends forever. With a strong bond forged through difficult childhoods, they are now living what many would consider as dream lives. They live next door to each other in beautiful houses, married to rich brothers and have access to all they could ever want. The only cloud on the horizon, and it's a big cloud, is the mother-in-law from hell.
Although best friends, Flora and Sophie are very different. Flora is gentler, softer and doesn't want to rely on her husband's family money in any way. She doesn't buy the beautiful, expensive clothes she could, nor will she accept any funding into the art centre she runs for autistic children. I loved that she takes nothing from the family and I especially love her therapy centre, as someone who has experienced (much less severe) autism in the family. Sophie, on the other hand, has an eye for business and has been able to turn a profit since her early teens. She has joined the Cavendish family firm and is happy to spend the money she is now blessed with. Emotionally tougher than Flora, she will stand up to her mother-in-law in a way Flora won't. But she cares deeply for Flora (and vice versa) and feels very protective of her. Both of these woman are richly described and fleshed out by Osbourne, Flora in particular, for me anyway.
Although best friends, Flora and Sophie are very different. Flora is gentler, softer and doesn't want to rely on her husband's family money in any way. She doesn't buy the beautiful, expensive clothes she could, nor will she accept any funding into the art centre she runs for autistic children. I loved that she takes nothing from the family and I especially love her therapy centre, as someone who has experienced (much less severe) autism in the family. Sophie, on the other hand, has an eye for business and has been able to turn a profit since her early teens. She has joined the Cavendish family firm and is happy to spend the money she is now blessed with. Emotionally tougher than Flora, she will stand up to her mother-in-law in a way Flora won't. But she cares deeply for Flora (and vice versa) and feels very protective of her. Both of these woman are richly described and fleshed out by Osbourne, Flora in particular, for me anyway.
The Cavendish family, oh goodness me! I tell you something, I wouldn't want to be invited to one of Cecelia's Friday Night Dinners! The woman has some serious issues, and Alistair is no saint either. I wonder if Abbie had fun creating this pair of monsters because I certainly had fun reading them. I adored Sam, but wished he would see what was blindingly obvious (at least to the reader) sometimes!
Of course, everything is not all as it seems. Flora has some weird experiences one of which, I guarantee, will have you itching your face and checking your drawers! I guarantee it! As always Sophie is her rock. These chapters, combined with some from Sophie's own point of view, start to ramp up the tension which just steadily builds and builds towards an explosive conclusion. I did have an idea of what might happen but that turned out to be only a small part of the final picture. A family drama at its best! Or worst, depending on how you look at it.
Of course, everything is not all as it seems. Flora has some weird experiences one of which, I guarantee, will have you itching your face and checking your drawers! I guarantee it! As always Sophie is her rock. These chapters, combined with some from Sophie's own point of view, start to ramp up the tension which just steadily builds and builds towards an explosive conclusion. I did have an idea of what might happen but that turned out to be only a small part of the final picture. A family drama at its best! Or worst, depending on how you look at it.
Whilst I did feel there was a little repetition, overall Save Her is an enjoyable, exciting, well written psychological thriller with three strong women at its core. It's a story about family, friendship, love, loyalty, trust and obsession. And it is well worth checking out!
The Author
Abigail is originally from the Lake District but moved to the West Midlands for University where she completed an English Literature & History degree. She lives in Worcestershire with her husband and is a board game fanatic, owning over 70 games. She has a huge collection of books, plays the violin, and used to play the piano until her husband sold it because it was too heavy to keep moving. Save Her is Abigail’s second novel.
Author Social Media Links
Twitter: @Abigail_Author
Instagram: @Abigailosborneauthor
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