(Trigger warning: CSA, SA, Suicide/ideation)
To say I adore Lucinda Berry would be an understatement. I first listened to her audiodrama One Of Our Own on Everand last year and have been hooked ever since. Saving Noah by Lucinda Berry is a dark and twisted story that forces all of us to take an uncomfortable look at ourselves and a mother’s worst fear. The book is not for the faint of heart, but that’s really what we do best at Read By Daylight!
The book follows a mother who is preparing for her son’s return from treatment. The catch? Noah’s treatment was court-ordered after the assault of two local girls. While dealing with the incredibly tough subject of CSA, Saving Noah examines a mother’s journey of acceptance and a son’s desire to be seen for what he really is.
A DARK AND CHALLENGING READ
This was a tough book for me. It’s definitely something that you need to be in the right headspace for because Lucinda Berry does not pull her punches. The story primarily follows Adrienne, Noah’s mother, throughout the treatment and return of her son, the dissolution of her family, and the eventual collapse of her world. Adrienne is living through a nightmare for any mother, and as you watch her try to hold out hope for her son, it’s impossible not to feel some type of connection. She’s equal parts frustrating and heartbreaking, but I don’t know that I could blame her. There are entire chapters of the book where I felt like I wanted to scream at her, where I wanted to grab her by the shoulders and shake her, but I think that’s the element that made this book a five star read for me. No one knows how to handle these situations. No one knows how to stop loving your child, and no one knows how to recover from something so awful. As much as you hate Adrienne, there’s a part of you that just feels grateful that you’re not her, and it’s that pity that brings the book alive.
RESPECT THE TRIGGER WARNINGS
I will say that the trigger warnings posted at the beginning of my post and the beginning of the book really do need to be adhered to. This is not the light novel to read on a Sunday afternoon. As with many of Lucinda Berry’s books, it’s tense, it’s dark, and it makes you face a lot of uncomfortable questions. There were a handful of times I wanted to put the book down out of both frustration and heartbreak, but if you are willing to take the dive, it’s a great read.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Saving Noah is an enjoyable read– albeit not for everyone. If you beware of the trigger warnings and get ready to tackle some tough topics, it can be challenging, disturbing, and downright heartbreaking. This book’s available on KU and on Everand as an audiobook, so plenty of ways to pick your poison (that joke will be funnier later, I promise).
Read it? Let me know what you think in the comments or join the book club for more dark reads!