SYNOPSIS
One mistake could cost her everything.
Susannah has two beautiful daughters, a high-flying medical career, a successful husband and an enviable life. Her hair is glossy, her clothes are expensive; she truly has it all.
But when - on the hottest day of the year - her strict morning routine is disrupted, Susannah finds herself running on autopilot. It is hours before she realises she has made a devastating mistake. Her baby, Louise, is still in the backseat of the car and it is too late to save her.
As the press close in around her, Susannah is put on trial for negligence. It is plain to see that this is not a trial, it's a witch hunt. But what will the court say?
Title: Breaking Point
Author: Edel Coffey
Publisher: Sphere
Publication date: January 20, 2022
REVIEW
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
A few months ago I was offered a widget of Breaking Point and grabbed it after just taking a glance at the synopsis. When I started reading it I came into it with no expectations at all and I must say I was pleasantly surprised. This story definitely raises some really interesting questions that made me reflect upon today’s society.
Dr. Susanna Rice is a really successful paediatrician, with books and tv shows about parenting and raising kids. She’s mother of two girls. One morning, after her daily routine is disrupted, she must run into work, forgetting her baby in the car. When she realizes it’s too late to save her and in addition to her guilt and grief she must face what can only be described as a witch hunt.
I must confess that at first I could not feel any kind of sympathy for her, but then I thought “who are you to judge her?”. Juggling a high pressure job with motherhood and childcare must be difficult enough without the added stress of people judging your choices or telling you how to do it.
The story delves into the tremendous pressure on women to return to work after childbirth (I was truly horrified when they talked about women going back to work the day after having a baby, as if that should be the norm), and the lack of support given to them once they do.
During Susanna’s trial there were several moments that made my blood boil at the same time I wondered how it was even possible for the judge and the press to go along with them. The prosecutor was absolutely disgusting!
The ending had a bigger surprise than many thrillers and it left me truly astounded.
The characters were well fleshed out and their grief was really palpable.
Breaking Point is not an easy read because of its subject, but it’s done in a raw and emotional way, bringing to the fore some really thought provoking issues.
Thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown Group/Sphere for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
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