The Thread that binds by Alice Hayes - [Book review]

Book Details:

Title: The Thread that binds
Author: Alice Hayes
Genre: Fiction, Women's fiction, Contemporary fiction
Source: A free review copy from author through iread tours

Blurb:

Sherice is a new mother, a sonographer, quilter, and wife; an overworked young woman whose elderly mother is slipping away from her.

Sylvie is a newlywed and recent immigrant, unemployed and virtually penniless. Her husband’s paycheck can’t even cover prenatal care, let alone a baby, and her due date is only drawing nearer…

Joanne’s unconventional pregnancy turns her world upside down, redefining her career and relationships, and even bringing to the surface long-buried demons from her past.

Payton is seventeen, pregnant, and on the run. She flees to her uncle in Georgia with the hope of making a fresh start, but discovers making it on her own is harder than she could ever have imagined.

 Gloria is trapped in an unhappy marriage; in love with someone else. Her life is falling apart. With a baby on the way, would it be selfish to flee?

 Five women, once strangers, form bonds. Set in modern day Georgia, this is the story of friendship that blossoms in the land of country music, sweet tea, and secrets kept locked tight behind closed doors. Moving, funny, and at times heartbreaking, The Thread That Binds is a lesson in empathy, strength, and the beauty of love.

Buy the book : Amazon

My Review:

I like reading #Womensfiction and that made me choose this book for review. I am glad that I picked up this one. As blurb mentions, the story covers  lives of 5 different women, their problems,  their friendship and how brilliantly the author connects these stories together. 

I liked the way the author has chosen or portrayed each character.
For ex: Payton symbolizes a teenage girl and Sherice represents a matured individual. Joanne's character is very much different, whereas, we empathize Sylvie for her immigration problems. Gloria is a mystery initially and we gradually understand her.

The story is narrated in the perspective of each woman in every chapter. So this seems interesting to read, as we understand how each character feels or what go throughs in her mind while facing the difficult situation. 

I loved Payton. She is a teenage girl, gets pregnant and her parents send her out of the house. I loved the way she understands the situation, tries to maintain a good relationship with Joanne, works in her uncle Marty's office, makes friends and finds happiness in her own way. 

The Narration is gripping. I didn't like to pause in the middle while reading, enjoyed the flow and was guessing on how these characters will be connected and help each other. I would recommend this to every woman who loves to read a story which is nearer to reality and covers a range of emotions. 

Few lines from the book about the true love and missing the loved one :

IF YOU WANT TO know whether someone is the love of your life, you only needlook at the way that they make you feel when they are not around. Anyone can come along and make sparks fly; any handsome face can make your heart flutter for a few seconds or a few minutes or even a few hours. When a man loves you, the time you spend together will feel all too short, and you would rather spend a minute with him than live another hour without. If a man is the love of your life, you will know it by what happens to you when he is not around: when he is on a business trip; or at work; or visiting family somewhere.

First, of course, there is the pain. The pain that comes with loving someone whoisn’t there is unlike anything else. At times, it is almost a sweet, enticing kind ofpain: when you feel the pang of their absence, it only reminds you of what you have, of how deep and beautiful and powerful your love is. You might even smile. Other times, it is the worst thing you have ever felt. You may find yourself cuddling close to a pillow at night, wishing it were him. You may take out their photograph and just stop to stare for a little while. You will be reminded of them at every turn. A song on the radio, a show on television, a special place where you once made memories: all of these things will bring them back to the front of your mind. In everything that you do, the love of your life follows you, reminding you not only that he exists, but of your love. After all, who but the love of your life could spring to your mind just by hearing a certain song? If they are not the love of your life, why do you see them everywhere that you turn?

My Rating: 5/5
I couldn't see any reason to give a lesser rating than this :-)

About the Author:

Originally from Winchester, England, Alice’s plans to read law at a British university were disrupted when she fell deeply in love with Georgia, USA, while studying abroad. After moving all over Georgia, Alice has finally settled in Athens and has no plans to go anywhere else.

She is a single mother to a three-year-old girl and a 65 lb hound dog. She likes coffee, wine, and anything edible with the words ‘salted caramel’ in its description.

 At the time of publication, Alice is a 24-year-old history student working full time in a law office, and writing fiction at every stolen moment. She hasn’t slept in approximately two years. Her first published novel, The Thread That Binds won third place in World's Best Story contest.

Connect with the author: Website Twitter

Alice’s Interview on World’s Best Story

Prizes:  

Win 1 of 5 copies of The Thread That Binds (choice of print or ebook) (USA & Canada)
a Rafflecopter giveaway



PS: Received this book for free through iread tours in exchange of an honest review. This is my unbiased opinion.

Until next time,