Published: December 3, 2021

Bookouture

I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Casey Kelleher was born in Cuckfield, West Sussex, and grew up as an avid reader. Whilst working as a beauty therapist and bringing up her three children together with her husband, Casey penned her debut novel Rotten to the Core. Its success meant that she could give up my day job and concentrate on writing full time.

“Nothing will ever be the same.”

Alessia has secrets she doesn’t discuss with anyone. And for the most part, she thinks she is living a beautiful life. Until a brick is thrown through her living room window, suddenly, her past is becoming her present, and Alessia is terrified that she will once again lose everything. Husband. Son. Friends. The truth is about to come out.

This was a slow burn for the first half of the book. I enjoyed how the story was told, flipping between the past and the present, and I liked how the details slowly started to build.

I liked Alessia as a character. She had a lot of heart, and she felt very genuine. Her emotions and desire to be good enough felt very authentic, and as we learned more about her, we realized how strong she is.

Carl was adorable. Such a lovely husband and father. He supported Alessia in every way and doted on their son. I very much enjoyed that Carl chose his family first, always. He was a fantastic advocate for his wife.

Harriet is a solid friend. She was not swayed by emotion, and she was willing to fight for the truth… whatever it may be. Loved this character.

Once the twists started rolling, I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly the story continued. I wish more had been explained with certain areas of Alessia’s past diagnoses, but overall it was well-curated.

I was able to predict the ending, but I’m not mad about it. The story is solid, and the writing is good—a deliciously twisted tale filled with secrets, lies, and the brutal truth.