Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

An interesting read based around Bryn , Jill and her carer. I must admit from reading the blurb I was expecting a little more. Sadly I found the plot didn’t really deliver.

A unique character study a woman Lila is hired to care for a womanJill who is incapable of doing anything for herself Lila must do it all an intimate touching look at this woman her husband Bryn and Lila the caretaker the woman who comes into their house their lives.Emotional beautifully written literary fiction,#netgalley #serpentstail.

I was really emotionally moved by this book. It was very uniqu to experience life from the eyes of Lila as she is a caretaker for Bryn's wife Jill. Every nuance and facet of the experience is covered from the most minute expressions of love to the view that Lila sees as Byrn expresses love for his brain damaged wife. I have never read anything like this before and the book a feat of humanity. Thanks for the ARC, Net Galley.

I wasn’t too sure what to expect from this book, it sounded intriguing and interesting though!
Nothing really happens, it’s character driven and demonstrates the finely woven interaction between characters at depth, for me at too great a depth. I did not find it an a easy read, the language was too wordy, too chewy, too lengthy. But an interesting concept centred around Ella, the Carer.

This is very much a character-driven novel, focussing on a variety of interpersonal relationships. Ella is a carer, who takes a job with a man called Bryn, whose wife Jill experienced an accident some years ago. The novel follows Ella throughout her time caring for Jill and details her thoughts as she navigates her relationships with Bryn and Jill, as well as with her partner Alix.

For me, there were some interesting moments, but I found the writing style a little intense and vague at times. Although it's a third person narrative, we hear a lot of Ella's introspection and feelings, so she is the only character we really get to know, but I still found it hard to connect with her. While I thought this was an interesting look at the reality of caring for someone, it wasn't for me.

I was intrigued by the description of Lila Savage's first book - it sounded like something I would enjoy. "Say Say Say" is a slow-burner, thought-provoking meditation on oneself, love of many kinds and relationships in general. I quite enjoyed Ella, the main heroine, until (and quite suddenly) I became too tired of her and her exhilarating thoughts... And I am certainly not a fan of this kind of writing:

"Her unsubtlety felt inseparable from her femaleness, the abhorrent softness of her body, the lavishly pantomimed Eros that was the soldered flip side of her placating hesitancy, the infuriatingly routine feeling of supplication, of being coolly assessed and found wanting."

Yep. Decided this kind of language is not something I could enjoy on my morning commute. Not for me.