5++ stars for The Me I Left Behind: Maggie’s Story by Madeleine Jaimes #bookreview #womensfiction #domesticabuse #beachread #newrelease #booksworthreading
- N. N. Light
- Jul 1
- 2 min read
Title: The Me I Left Behind: Maggie’s Story
Author: Madeleine Jaimes
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Book Blurb:
Maggie Oliver has everything—beautiful children, a lovely home, and financial security. Her husband, Max, often reminds her of that fact. So what if he has his share of discreet dalliances?
She’d agreed to the one-sided open marriage out of her own free will, and with careful consideration. He would not give up his freedom. She needed the security he offered. Weighing the consequences, she vowed to make the arrangement work.
But when the baby came, and then two more, things changed. Max became less tolerant and increasingly abusive—emotionally and sometimes physically. Twenty years later, Maggie knows she is losing herself.
At what point did she leave herself behind? And why? She is determined to find out.
When she discovers her husband has a secret family in another country, her life quickly unravels. Then a family tragedy strikes changing everything, and Maggie’s path to finding herself takes an unexpected turn.
My Review:
Maggie is living a lie. Her husband, Max, is a controlling abusive man and Maggie has had enough. Even though Max has a family she knows nothing about, Maggie must stand up to Max in order to save herself and her children. Somehow along the way, Maggie lost herself, and the journey to find herself is fraught with hard truths and tangled emotions. But with the help of her friends who’ll go through fire with her, can Maggie break through the walls of domestic abuse to freedom?
The Me I Left Behind is a poignant women’s fiction that shows the different forms abuse can have on a family. The emotional narration tore my heart out and I cried several times while reading. The characters are realistic, and their trauma is apparent through the storytelling. Madeleine Jaimes takes on a serious topic and weaves an unforgettable story. Every woman needs to read this book.
Maggie is the main character, and I connected with her on so many levels. Her reaction to every situation, whether justified or not, is in response to the abusive nature of her husband. Her fear is real and Madeleine Jaimes plunges readers into Maggie’s mind. The journey from abused wife and mother, both emotionally and physically, to reclaiming her identity as a full-fledged woman is what makes The Me I Left Behind a must-read.
If you’re looking for an emotional women’s fiction that will break your heart and uplift your spirit, you need to read The Me I Left Behind.
My Rating: 5++ stars
Buy it Now:
Google Play https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Madeleine_Jaimes_The_Me_I_Left_Behind?id=7cssEQAAQBAJ
Author Biography:
Madeleine Jaimes writes emotional upmarket women’s fiction, exploring the real-life, complicated issues of women and their relationships through story. She sometimes spends her time writing small town and cowboy romance as Maddie James. Learn more at www.maddiejamesbooks.com
Social Media Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MJNovelist/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maddiejames_1
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/themaddiejames/
Reviewed by: Nancy
