Saturday, April 23, 2022

The Word Game

For overprotective parent Alyson Ward, any time her daughter, Lyla, is out of sight is reason to panic. So it’s a big step for her when she lets Lyla attend a sleepover at her cousin’s house. Comforted by the knowledge that her sister, Tricia, is the chaperone, Alyson does the one thing she never thought possible: she lets go and trusts that her daughter will be safe.

But Alyson’s sense of peace is short lived. When Lyla comes home the next morning, she reveals something that could tear apart not only their family but also the entire community. Now, Alyson and Tricia must confront their painful shared past as they come together to help a little girl who they fear might be harboring terrible secrets similar to their own. Will the sisters be strong enough to face their demons in order to protect the child, even if it means telling their most private truths?



I received a complimentary electronic copy of this book from NetGalley in return for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

You get this story from four different viewpoints: Alyson, Tricia (her sister), Ida (Tricia and Alyson's mom) and Tricia's best friend Myah. I found the transitions between each of their stories smooth enough to understand. There are some books were it's very jarring going from one person to the next, this isn't one of those books.

This book was a little difficult for me to read. It deals with a helicopter mom who just wants to make sure her child is safe. When something happens at a sleepover (her daughter's first one!) she wants to make sure the girls are all safe. What Alyson's daughter tells her is something that could tear her family apart. I don't want to get into it much, but it was a good book.

What happens at the sleepover affects all the girls. The writer seems to have some kind of insight into the way that girls handle secrets. It resonated with me because I have three girls of my own. It was a serious book and quite deep for my night-time reading.

I can't really say much more without giving something away, but this was a great book. Not one I would ever read again, but it was one that I am glad to have read. This book is for adults only, it deals with issues that are beyond that of even a high school reader (in my opinion).

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