After We Were Stolen by Brooke Beyfuss Published by Sourcebooks Landmark Publication Date: July 19, 2022
Pages: 320
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An emotionally wrought debut novel perfect for book clubs about a girl who escapes from a cult after a deadly fire destroys her family’s compound, only to be haunted by That Night as she tries to build a new life for herself.
A fire. Her escape. And the realization her entire life has been a lie.
When nineteen-year-old Avery awakens to flames consuming her family’s remote compound, she knows it’s her only chance to escape her father’s grueling survival training, bizarre rules, and gruesome punishments. She and her brother Cole flee the grounds for the first time in their lives, suddenly homeless in a world they know nothing about. After months of hiding out, they are arrested for shoplifting and a shocking discovery is made—Avery and Cole were kidnapped fifteen years earlier, stolen by cult leaders they knew as Mom and Dad.
Cole is immediately returned to his birth family, leaving Avery alone and desperate. She is uncertain if her “parents” survived the fire and is terrified to find out. The loss of Cole and the trauma of her former life threaten to undo her, but when the police investigation reveals there may be more survivors, Avery must uncover the truth about the fire to truly be free.
Suspenseful, emotionally charged, and deeply thought-provoking, After We Were Stolen delves into the idea of family—those we’re born into and those we make—resilience, and the lengths a cult survivor will go to finally be free of her painful past. Brooke Beyfuss’s powerful debut novel sparkles with heart, grit, and extraordinary characters who will stay with you long after the last page.
Cocktails and Books received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect our opinion of the book or the content of our review.
I’ll start by saying this book may have triggers for certain readers. If cults and rape aren’t your thing, this probably won’t be the book for you.
The blurb for this book intrigued me. I wanted to see what happened with these cult survivors after their world imploded. But really, this was more about Avery understanding her role in what happened with the fire and the impacts it had on all involved. I’m assuming I was supposed to feel sorry for Avery and Cole, and of course part of me was, but I didn’t react to Avery the way I thought I should, given everything she had gone through and what she lost. Not to mention, it felt rather odd that Cole would be so influenced by his parents that he turns his back on his previous life. I should have been riveted by this storyline and emotionally invested in these characters. I wasn’t and I was left with this “meh” feeling when I got to the end.
I have a feeling I’ll be in the small percentage that doesn’t enjoy this book. I’m OK with that.
Shannon
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