BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Her Silent Husband' by Sam Vickery.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Sam Vickery, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 15th November 2021.

This is the fourth book I have read by this author. I have previously read 'One Last Second', 'My Only Child' and 'Save My Daughter' which I highly recommend.


I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that 'Fans of Jodi Picoult, Kelly Rimmer and Diane Chamberlain will be captivated by this unforgettable page-turner.' I am a huge fan of Jodi Picoult and Diane Chamberlain so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Sam Vickery and if this is half as good as 'One Last Second', 'My Only Child' and 'Save My Daughter' it is sure to be a page turning read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of a prologue and 44 chapters. The chapters are medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is set in Washington, USA 🇺🇸.


This book is written in first perspective and the main protagonists are Beth and Gemma. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. If there are several protagonists you also get to see more of what is going on.

'Her Silent Husband' discusses some topics that may trigger some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Sam discusses/includes suicide, child abuse and drug addiction.

Well, Well, Well, Sam Vickery you have done it again!!! Congratulations on yet another breathe taking novel!! 🎉

This book is extremely well written and the layout with the past and present chapters are perfect. They drip feed you information of what has gone on in the past with just the right amount of information to give you an idea of what is going on but not too much so that you work it all out. The cover and blurb work perfectly with the storyline.

Wow!! What an absolutely breathe taking and heart stopping storyline. Every partners worst nightmare and as a partner and a mother it had me absolutely hooked. It is a beautiful and devastating plot that really shows the true, raw and gripping emotions of how loved ones feel when someone decides to take their own life. I really resonated with this story as my uncle did exactly that and you can't explain the anger, devastation and grief you go through but Sam had it down to a tee. It actually made me wonder if she went through something similar herself as she captivated the feelings I felt absolutely perfectly when I discovered what had happened it is filled with grief, anger, resent, denial, tears and so so so much more!!! . It just completely blew me away and left me sitting there thinking how life can change in a second. It also made me question what would I do and how would I feel if I was in the situation of either Gemma or Beth . Would I forgive Drew?

However, it wasn't just the one heart tugging storyline as you had the other subplots going on at the same time with Gemma and Tristan. I won't say too much as I don't want to give to much away but oh how I felt for Beth, Gemma and Tristan. Have your tissues at the ready ladies and gents cause this one is a complete tear jerker!!!

The storyline was set at a perfect pace, not too fast and not too slow. It gave just the right amount of time for you to be able to take everything in as it was happening and question yourself about what you would do. It really is thought provoking.
It is an absolute roller-coaster ride of emotions and filled with love, deceit, secrets, tension and trust. A very powerful and gripping depiction of the power and intensity of family, love and what you do for you children.. It sucked me in from page one until the tear jerking ending.


It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture

The characters are unique, well defined and realistic. The strength of Beth and Gemma absolutely shine through as does the devastation Drew is going through and also created. Many would dislike Beth for her attitude but if I have been in a similar position and her feelings almost mirrored mine with the anger and grief. Nobody knows how they would react until they are in that situation. I did have a lot of sympathy for Beth but I also had sympathy for Gemma, Tristan and also later on for Drew. This book shows the power and devastation of what one person's actions do to a whole family.

I would absolutely love to see this turned into a movie!!! Another congratulations to Sam Vickery and I do believe that Jodi Picoult and Diane Chamberlain have some strong competition here when it comes to the book charts. Looking forward to her next gripping, and going by all her previous work, what promises to be heart rendering.

Overall an. Emotionally raw, heart breaking, page turning, tear jerking and powerful novel of a parents love and sacrifice and of heartbreak and devastation. Powerful and addictive

Genres covered in this novel include Romance Novel, Domestic Fiction and Romance Fiction amongst others.


I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Jodi Picoult, Kelly Rimmer and Diane Chamberlain.



304 pages.

This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle via Amazon or free on kindle unlimited which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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I must admit that I don’t usually read this type of a book. While there was a sight mystery, it was more about how women handle a crisis. But I am glad I did.

Beth and Gemma are both floored by Drew’s attempted suicide and coma. Beth relies on him to help out with their children including one with special needs. And Drew is Gemma’s rock from back when they were in foster care together and their Mom was unable to care for them.

It tugs on your heart strings as the author captured their emotions of grief and anger well. The struggles of not knowing the future, how Beth will keep her family together and pay the bills and how Gemma copes with possibly having no living relatives. And as I read, there were hints of secrets all were keeping that I just wanted to know what they were. My only issue with the book is both Gemma and Beth were very unlikable and unrelatable characters. This would have been a 5 star review if only I were rooting for Drew to awaken and reunite with his family.

I think this one will appeal to women’s fiction lovers and maybe resonate with mothers working hard to keep their families active and happy.

I enjoyed reading this book, but I wasn’t the biggest fan of Beth.

Beth and her husband appear to have a wonderful life together with their four children. But when Drew attempts to take his life at work one day, the beautiful facade begins to crumble. Beth, a stay-at-home mother, begins to wonder how she will pay the bills and manage their children on her own if Drew never wakes up from the coma.

When Drew’s sister, Gemma, shows up at the hospital, she isn’t surprised to see her, but with the secrets she knows her husband has been keeping, it suddenly becomes all too much for her to handle. She thought she knew her husband, but he’s beginning to feel more and more like a stranger.

At times I found this book frustrating to read. Beth was so caught up in her four children’s lives and their day to day activities, that she didn’t see what was really happening around her. And to make matters worse, she let their needs (or what she thought they needed) overshadow her relationship with her husband. Every time Drew tried to talk to her to her, Beth always seemed to be in a rush and would cut the conversation short. I honestly wanted to slap her whenever she did that.

But looking beyond Beth’s character, it was a good read and I’d recommend this book.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4335221821

This is a story that really does tug at your heart strings (tissues needed) but after all the struggle and trauma it develops into heartwarming story of new beginnings . A lovely story which I highly recommend

Title: Her silent Husband by Sam Vickery
Genre: Domestic Fiction
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Verdict: This book blew me away and I would just like to say thank you to @netgalley for introducing me to this author and that this novel did not disappoint.
It covered everything that is needed to make a domestic fiction novel a success: Drama, conflict, Tension, love and friendship. It ticked it all the boxes for me as an avid reader of this genre.
Can I also applaude this author for tackling subjects so prevalent in society nowadays: Addiction, Childhood Trauma, Raising a child with a disability, Yummy mummy syndrome but first and foremost, Men’s mental health. Vickery has away of gently introducing readers to subjects not often thought about whilst still maintaining realism and grit.
This book is an emotional rollercoaster, there’s moments where you’ll rage, cry and bite your lip. Take a chance on Vickery and she won’t disappoint because she is hot on the heels of Jodi Picoult, Diane Chamberlaine and Leah Mercer, even if it’s a stepping stone to explore darker and more intricate social issues.
Most importantly, if this book teaches you anything, it’s that checking on your loved ones mental health and to never ever discourage their worries, even the small ones.
Family is vital and so is support in a crisis, even if it means getting uncomfortable and facing your past.
———

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“Is a mother’s love enough to save a family?”


More tissues please! That one, small handy-pack, just isn’t enough! Tears of sorrow, turn to tears of sadness, turn to tears of hope, turn to tears of joy – but definitely all tears of the heart-wrenching, very wet variety!

I couldn’t have predicted the coincidence that I would have found myself reading this particular book, at this precise moment in time, you really couldn’t make it up! Setting an objective tone for this review is going to be especially difficult, as the storyline was so very close to home and personal for me right now, so I was able to put myself totally in Beth’s shoes and see so many things from her perspective – and that didn’t always make me feel comfortable, or in a good place, so I hope that doesn’t make me too biased in my thinking! If the ending to my own story is as satisfying as that of the Spencer-Rhodes family, then I shall be more than happy, but I guess that any outcomes for me are going to be what I make them, much as they were for Beth!

No real sense of time or place, no death-defying, action fuelled plot. Just a beautifully fluid and compelling blend of story and characters, with emotions and family tensions providing the rather disturbing backdrop for some wonderfully descriptive, observational narrative, and desperately brutal, painfully honest dialogue.

Although this story was narrated from a few alternative perspectives and travelled back and forth over a period of several years, the chapters were very easy to follow, as the cast was relatively small and easy to keep track of, which meant that the finished book never felt ‘bitty’ or disjointed.

Is it so wrong to want a better start in life and continued financial security for yourself and your family, than you had in your own childhood – no matter that your own upbringing was the best it could possibly have been at the time and in the prevailing circumstances, and that you had never been deprived of that most important of commodities – love, which is free for everyone!

So now you have your own family, what happens when your perfectly constructed and choreographed life comes crashing down round your ears, leaving you disbelieving and devastated, yet angry and wanting revenge. When you and your partner are both left feeling individually hard done by, each convinced that the other is to blame, and each consumed by selfish thoughts of self-preservation and vindication? When you seem to have traded love and affection for security and betterment, and when it turns out that you don’t really know each other after all these years together, as you have never taken the time to allow him to open up about his own past and the demons he carries with him to this day. You give no real thought to the immense pressure you are putting him under to keep you and the children in the style to which you have become accustomed, and you fail to notice the mental anguish you are causing him and the hidden stress you are heaping on the children in your efforts to secure their social status, when all they really want is to spend quality family time with you, have your undivided attention and know that they are loved and accepted unconditionally.

This was a well structured, intense, multi-layered story, completely immersive, wonderfully textured and with powerful moral values and family ethics at its heart. As the storyline was busy taking shape, moments of anything resembling light-hearted banter or god forbid, humour, were so few and far between, as to be almost be non-existent. So to feel the tensions ease and the entire aura surrounding the family lift and lighten as the climax of the book was reached and the plot began to wind down, was quite something to behold, and was so deeply visual, that I could almost feel myself letting go of that long-held breath and all that claustrophobic angst and grief; breathing in the fresh air of new beginnings.

Sam has created a cast of well drawn and defined characters, who develop and grow into their roles as their individual stories unfold and are brought to life. Yes, they are complex and emotionally starved, often raw and passionate, sometimes unreliable and volatile; however they are basically genuine and vulnerable, addictive and believable, and authentically true to the life they have been conditioned for. Their latent inner strength of humanity and passion, their joie de vivre and enthusiasm for life, has luckily not been lost though, and evolves as they are afforded the new found freedom to be themselves.

The one small niggle I did have, was that whilst the heart-warming future of new beginnings was satisfyingly wrapped up for Beth, Drew and the children, with Drew’s sister Gemma also finding a new and exciting focus for her life, I was left to ponder and wonder what became of Beth’s parents and her sister, who were so very pivotal to the storyline, and in fact, caused much of the stress and tension between Beth and Drew, albeit not in any way deliberately. However, that in no way diminished the emotional intensity and power of this storyline, so it still gets the big 5 star thumbs up! from me.

For me personally, reading is always such a joy, as each new book and story takes me on a journey which will offer me a unique experience whilst I am reading. This is definitely one of those storylines which has so many different perspectives, that I recommend you read it for yourself and see where your journey leads you.

And remember, never judge someone until you have walked a mile in their shoes!

I loved Her Silent Husband. Initially, I thought the main character, Beth was obnoxious, a pushy mum and a lousy wife while her sister-in-law is the exact opposite. But as I kept reading, I began to to understand and like her. She had to deal with 4 children, one of whom lived with Downs Syndrome, whilst Drew lay in a coma. I really felt like I was a fly on the wall, looking in on this seemingly real-life family. Highly recommend

WOW! Just WOW! My Silent Husband was such a great read! This book is jam packed with all kinds of real life like people and families with real life like problems, my favorite kind of book!

Drew is husband to Beth, stay at home mom of their four kids, the youngest with Down’s syndrome, and a hole in her heart. Drew has not been OK for a long time. Sixteen days went by without his wife asking how his day was, no one really pays any attention to him, no one listens to him unless he raises his voice. He admitted to himself that he wasn’t strong enough to go on, that what he did was never enough, and felt that no one would notice if he was gone. Beth had no idea he felt this way until after he attempted suicide, but after she learned so much more from his sister Gemma. Drew confided in Gemma so Gemma felt strong feelings against her sister in law. After experiencing Beth’s absence and then short silent stays, she finally blurted awful (but very possibly true) accusations and remarks to her, much to Beth’s surprise. Beth, holding her own judgments against her sister in law who has been struggling to stay clean and sober for years, not only retaliates with her own accusations, but also begins to self-reflect and start to see a different side to her husband, her life, and herself. Meanwhile while Drew is in the hospital, Beth is trying to juggle being a mom to her kids, one who is a difficult teen clearly going through his own issues (which open up as the book progresses).

This all reminds me that everyone handles grief and emotions differently. Family requires time and attention. When your life needs to change, be open and honest with each other. Slow down. Don’t take each other for granted or assume everything and everyone is OK. Communicate, talk, share, love.

Sam Vickery is such a fantastic author and I am a big fan. After reading “A Letter from Sam” at the end of the book, her inspiration as to why she wrote it, and her thoughts and input on several controversial and important topics addressed in her book, I can easily see why I am drawn to her books. Please keep on writing these books, Sam!

I completely loved Her Silent Husband. Sam Vickery owns a powerful, beautifully flowing prose and uses it sublimely to draw wonderfully cut characters who are raw, flawed, relatable and so real you completely feel their emotions.
I was hooked right away from the prologue and it has been an exceptional journey, heart wrenching yes, but beautiful.
I've never been disappointed by this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Her silent husband by Sam Vickery.
This was a emotional and heartwrenching read. I really felt for Beth. I just wanted to go into the book and give her a hug. We'll done to the author. The words written are very powerful. I didn't connect with any of the characters Beth pulled my heart strings. 5*.
Trigger warning-attempted suicide,depression, drug use.
Thanks to Sam Vickery and Bookouture and netgalley.

Riveting domestic drama about a family trying to have it all. There is plenty of dysfunction and hand-wringing and some surprises. Sam Vickery writes emotional domestic scenes like no other and keeps you glued to the page!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

A woman is barely holding it together with four kids and her youngest who has Down syndrome and has recently had heart surgery - has her plate full until she gets the call that her husband is in a coma at the hospital and it is of his own doing as to how he got to the hospital. She must make major changes to their family's rhythms to be able to barely take care of everyone.

This book was a hard reading, mostly due to the subject matter. With drugs, depression and suicide as factors for a few characters, it was hard to see the light at the end of the book until the bitter end. The book changed perspectives mostly between Beth the mother and wife at the center of the story and her sister in law Gemma who has been dealing with her own demons and her brother's brush with death really shook her to the core.

A great read that showed me a life that I could never imagine with a full house and a family dealing with a lot of tough issues. One of my favorite things about reading the family dramas is imagining a life that is so far from mine and experiencing it for the length of a book.

One of the things that I like when I read a book is the way an author has to immerse the reader into several characters at the same time while comprehending their inner spirits as the most personal.
I loved this book just right from the prologue. The characters are strong and the story very well written.
Beth, Drew and Gemma are flawed people trapped in the hurricane of life. Seeking for a way out, they seem to find only closed doors. And tragedy is only one step ahead.
Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Her Silent Husband by Sam Vickery is an emotionally engaging read about a family's struggle in the face of adversity. I have previously read and enjoyed Ms Vickery's work, and this latest certainly met my rather high expectations.

Beth is a busy mother of four and a devoted wife who finds herself in a constant battle to keep all of the balls in the air. When she receives word that her husband has had an accident at work, it is another inconvenience to be added to her already hectic schedule. But to her dismay, Drew now lies in a coma after making an attempt to end his life. As she comes to terms with the implications of this realization, Beth wonders how well she ever really knew the man with whom she has shared her life.

Ms Vickery's strength as a writer is her ability to fully flesh out her protagonist, and Beth is no exception. She is flawed and damaged, while at the same time very real and deserving of empathy. This is an author to keep on your radar.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC.

Beth is the ultra mom. She lives in a very nice neighborhood with her husband and four kids. Her daughter has Downs Syndrome but that does not phase her. She is committed to her family and giving them the best. When she gets a call that her husband is in the hospital after attempting to take his own life, Beth rolls with it and focuses on her family.

This is a book that shows you how your childhood can shape the rest of your life. Beth, her husband, and her sister in law Gemma did not have the best childhoods. An overarching theme in the book is the need to make your and your families life better than you had growing up.

It can be a hard book to read with several hard topics but it is well worth the read. It makes you think especially in todays society where everything is on the move what is really best for your family.

Thank you the the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC for my honest review.

I was given an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a difficult read, full of raw emotion and heart wrenching situations. But the way it was written was really good. The characters are so credible, more so because of their issues and pasts. A compelling read
4 stars

I’d like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Her Silent Husband’ written by Sam Vickery in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

With a hectic life in Notting Hill and four children to chauffeur to their afternoon and weekend clubs, Beth hasn’t a moment to spare to ask her husband Drew about his day and how he’s feeling. So when she gets a phone call telling her Drew’s in hospital, her world is shattered to learn he’s in a coma following an attempt to end his own life. Can Drew possibly survive? And if he does, will Beth ever forgive him for selfishly giving no thought as to how it would affect herself and their children?

‘Her Silent Husband’ is the story of a family whose lives are irrevocably changed by one event that forces Beth to rethink her existence and that of her children’s. It takes some straight-talking from her sister-in-law Gemma and loving advice from her mother for her to realise that all it takes to make a child happy is to give them of her time. The topics raised in this emotional story are of drug addiction, suicide, mental health and the shortcomings of fostering which are handled empathetically. When I began reading I didn’t much like Beth or Gemma but then I became emotionally involved in both the story and the characters themselves and couldn’t help but sympathise with them for their childhoods that, although quite different, shaped their lives as adults. This is a well-written story with an ending so heart-warming and satisfying that I had a tissue in my hand and a smile on my face.

I loved this book.

I can't imagine what it would feel like if my spouse attempted suicide and I had no idea that he was struggling so badly.
I feel like the feelings that Beth felt were realistic. Angry, scared, frustrated, betrayed. I'd likely blame myself for not seeing the signs that my husband was so unhappy.

This book had a realistic look about how a family could heal from something like this, and I look forward to reading other books by this author.

Such a good book! It was emotional and easy to connect with the characters. The storyline was realistic and made you think about the what ifs. I loved the way the author wrote, I look forward to reading more by them!

Her Silent Husband is such an heartbreakingly emotional story that had me gripped throughout. Just excellent and I look forward to reading more by Sam Vickery in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.