Narrator 5 stars

Story 5 stars

What an incredible (and educational) story.
The writing was so beautiful it was hard not to fall inlove with all of the characters.
And I'm not ashamed to say I had a tear in my eyes at the end.

The Second Life of Mirielle West by Amanda Skenandore
Narrated by: Nicole Poole
Publication Date: July 27, 2021
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Description from NetGalley…
“1920s Los Angeles: Socialite Mirielle West's days are crowded with shopping, luncheons, and prepping for the myriad glittering parties she attends with her actor husband, Charlie. She's been too busy to even notice the small patch of pale skin on the back of her hand. Other than an occasional over-indulgence in gin and champagne, which helps to numb the pain of recent tragedy, Mirielle is the picture of health. But her doctor insists on more tests, and Mirielle reluctantly agrees.

The diagnosis—leprosy—is devastating and unthinkable. Changing her name to shield Charlie and their two young children, Mirielle is exiled to rural Louisiana for what she hopes will be a swift cure. But the hospital at Carville turns out to be as much a prison as a place of healing. Deaths far outnumber the discharges, and many patients have languished for years.

At first, Mirielle keeps her distance from other residents, unwilling to accept her new reality. Gradually she begins to find both a community and a purpose at Carville, helping the nurses and doctors while eagerly anticipating her return home. But even that wish is tinged with uncertainty. How can she bridge the divide between the woman, wife, and mother she was, and the stranger she has become? And what price is she willing to pay to protect the ones she loves?”
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Thank you to @netgalley @highbridgeaudio for the ALC in return for my honest review.
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My thoughts…
Interesting and great book. This book was set in the 1920s and based on the Louisiana “Leper Colony.” The narrator was really good and brought the story to life. So much so, that there were some medical descriptions, treatments and physical ailments that were at times challenging to listen. It was heartbreaking to listen to the social prejudices the patients went through due to this health crisis. The story was slow-paced and character driven. I did speed up the audiobook. However, Skenandore did a great job in narrating the lives of the patients, and of the female protagonist. The reader was invited through the doors of Carville, to experience the patients being stripped of their civil rights, life in isolation, enduring experimental treatments, and living the stigma from strangers and families alike. The story opened your eyes to the reality that when diagnosed of leprosy, it was actually a life sentence, living a crude existence, repulsion and struggles. But, it was also a story of resilience and love.

Post World War I Hollywood socialite Mirielle West and her husband, actor Charlie live a charmed life, attending parties and gatherings with the cream of society. And then a small patch of discolored skin on her hand changes everything. Mirielle is shocked she has leprosy, and to protect her husband and children’s reputations, changes her name and relocates to a hospital in Louisiana. She may have been hoping the hospital in Carville would provide a swift recovery, she soon learns that the conditions there are terrible. Mirielle soon realizes the only chance she, and the other patients have, lies in their own hands. Skenandore writes about a little understood disease with sensitivity and provides a fascinating look at the historical treatment of patients with leprosy. Poole is a believable and competent narrator

Mirielle West was grief stricken and living in the past until an unexpected diagnosis forces her to wade through the waters of her future. This is a wonderful story about facing your fears, friendship, family, heartache and self discovery..

The cover of this book is what drew me in, but the amazing storytelling by Ms. Skenandore is was kept me going. I would highly recommend this emotional and powerful story.

Thank you to NetGalley the Author and #jackiesbooksandcocktailvip for allowing me to provide my honest opinion of this story..

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC audiobook to review!
Rating (on a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being excellent)
Quality of writing: 5
Pace: 4
Plot development: 4
Characters: 5
Enjoyability: 4
Ease of Reading: 4
Narrator: 4

Overall rating: 4 out of 5