What an emotional roller coaster Saving Noah by Lucinda Berry turned out to be. Although this book deals with a very difficult subject it’s a thought provoking read that I would highly recommend to those who enjoy a book that features moral dilemmas.
Book description
Meet Noah—an A-honor roll student, award-winning swimmer, and small-town star destined for greatness. There weren’t any signs that something was wrong until the day he confesses to molesting little girls during swim team practice. He’s sentenced to eighteen months in a juvenile sexual rehabilitation center.
His mother, Adrianne, refuses to turn her back on him despite his horrific crimes, but her husband won’t allow Noah back into their home. In a series of shocking and shattering revelations, Adrianne is forced to make the hardest decision of her life. Just how far will she go to protect her son?
What a heart rending read Saving Noah by Lucinda Berry turned out to be. Reading the book description I thought it would make for an uncomfortable read, but I was surprised by just how emotionally drained I felt after reaching the last page. I found this book to be an incredibly thought provoking read despite the fact the author explores an issue that’s considered taboo by many, and for that reason I think some may find it a difficult book to read. The book focuses on a family in crisis, fragmented through the actions of Noah who molests two little girls during swim team practice, although his crimes are alluded too, the author spares the reader the horrific details.
Don’t think for one minute this is just a story about a teenage sexual offender, this book has hidden depth which looks at the aftermath of Noah’s crimes and the consequences that leave a once close family broken beyond repair. It also explores Noah’s actions and what drove him to commit such awful crimes. Saving Noah challenges everything you think you know about teenage sexual offenders, it will make you question your own beliefs, it’s a book that you will remember long after you’ve reached the last page of this emotionally charged novel. The story is told mostly from the POV of Adrianne, a mother whose unwavering love for her son shines through. I felt so much empathy for her, I found her anger, fear and despair all emotions I could relate to.
This surprising thing about saving Noah was Noah himself, Lucinda Berry has done a remarkable job in creating a character who gains the readers sympathy. Due to the nature of his crimes you would think that’s an impossible task but the author depicts Noah in a sympathetic way that forces the reader to question their own beliefs around a taboo subject, it’s definitely a book that gave me food for thought. Noah’s story will touch the hearts of many readers I’m sure, despite the difficult subject the author has tackled it with a great deal of sympathy and understanding. I know I’m going to continue to think about this book and Noah, in my opinion this is a testament to the authors skills writer in providing the reader with such a complex character. Finding Noah is haunting, emotional and made for a thought provoking read, it would make the perfect book club read as there is so much to discuss and debate. Highly recommended.
Buying links: Amazon UK 🇬🇧 Amazon US 🇺🇸
The book review café 
Although the book might sound heavy, your review points to all the reasons I should read it! I love that the focus isn’t entirely on the assault, but explores and digs into the characters so we can try and get a kind of understanding of a huge family crisis. Love this review!
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Thank you Meggy, x
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I bought this one a month or so ago, and your review has just reminded me about it. And I love that you mentioned it’s more in depth than “just the taboo”
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I thought it was very well done Janel and very emotional x
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I absolutely loved this book but I found absolutely heartbreaking. I’ve never cried so hard reading a book and for the whole day after it, I was so sad 😦 yet I would recommend it. All of Lucinda Berry’s books are very thought provoking but brilliant. You can recognise in her writing that she has a background in psychology. Love reading her books but if you’re looking for something light, avoid!
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