The Custody Battle by Ellie Monago

Published: February 21, 2024
Bookouture
Genre: Domestic Thriller
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free and leave my review voluntarily.

I love Ellie Monago. This brilliant human knows how to write a novel that sucks you in and holds you hostage.

This was so well done. I’ve never been divorced. But the mental and emotional chaos was so well developed. I went through the wringer of emotions.

This book was impossible to put down. Once things started rolling, there were no stopping points. The use of emotion was beautifully done. I would love to listen to the audiobook. I have a feeling the story would hit differently.

The twists were choreographed perfectly. Anytime I thought I knew where this book was going, I was proven wrong, and I don’t think I’ve ever alternated between angry and upset so much in my life.

Ellie makes you feel like you are in the book, and man, was I IN THIS book. If you are looking for a thriller that will hold you hostage, look no further.

What I really liked about this book was the diary entries. The pace unfortunately was just too slow which led me to being able to put it down.

This book is so incredibly sad. When Lola asked What's going to happen to me? I lost it. I also got lost in the story and when I wasn't reading it I was thinking about it!

where should I begin with this book? I’m not sure I have the words to do this justice. Monago has created a gem with this book.

I was hooked instantly, from the very first page I was captive. This resulted in me devouring this book in just one sitting. I was completely unable and unwilling to put this down.

Greg and Madeline are separating. Madeline has it all planned out to be a quick, amicable and friendly process. However, Greg has other ideas. As a reader, we quickly witness a battle between the two. Each one prepared to play dirtier than the other.

This is well written and perfectly paced. I found myself unable to predict where this would go and completely unsure of who to like. This book is my introduction to Monago and I can safely say, I will be reading more.

The Custody Battle is definitely dark and full of suspense. I found myself pulled in and hooked by the events unfolding. Everything about this read has been brilliant.

There have been moments in this book I’ve gasped. Greg and Madeline are both shocking and unexpected. I’ve really felt for Lola in this book. As with most custody battles, she is the innocent party in this.

There is nothing negative I can say about this book. It’s brilliant from beginning to end and I will absolutely be recommending this book to other readers.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Madeline wants a divorce. Greg agrees to cooperate but has a plan to delay the proceedings in order to win back his wife and daughter...
The Custody Battle is a family drama about divorce proceedings.
Madeline has decided she wants a divorce and nothing will stop her. But Greg is going to try his best! They both want the best for their daughter Lola but things turn nasty as they compete to be the best parent. Secrets are ready to be revealed...
Initially, I thought Madeline was quite selfish. She hints that she has met someone else but is keeping this quiet so that the divorce can proceed quickly. Greg is completely blindsided by her announcement that their marriage is over and his kneejerk reaction is to fight to save his family. Lawyers and therapists soon get involved and both sides battle to sway opinion. My sympathy for Greg started to wane as his selfishness is also revealed.
The book is written through the alternating first person perspectives of Madeline and Greg so we are privy to their personal thoughts and feelings as the plot develops. This is extremely effective in aligning us with each character in turn so we perceive the other's actions as unreasonable. I thought the representation of the family was realistic and the competition to 'win' the divorce felt authentic. It was so easy to see both sides and the value both of them added to the marriage yet how this was skewed during the divorce proceedings.
The Custody Battle is a vividly dramatic tale of divorce.

Separation and divorce brings out the worst in Madeleine and Greg. They both think they have Lola's best interest at heart but it all spirals out of control I found the book a little tedious to read at the beginning, but it all comes good with a great twist.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC

So good that even man-flu allowed me to enjoy it

Last week, I finally managed to reach a milestone on a big project that’s been dominating the day job and stressing m out for most of this year. And my body promptly responded by allowing my immune system to weaken enough that I caught a cold.

Obviously, being a man, this was debilitating. And it was a problem for two reasons. Firstly, paying attention to a book that you’re trying to read – no matter how good the book is – is more difficult when, depending on when you last took decongestant, your nose is either blocked to the extent you can’t breathe through it or running as though someone left a tap turned on. And secondly because, when you have a cold – and I’ll take no argument on this – it’s impossible to like anything.

For example. Normally I love my morning walks with my dog, but all I’ve been able to think on them this week is ‘can I go back to bed now’? Favourite food? When you can’t taste it properly, there’s no such thing. And pity my very friendly and chatty work colleague, whose presence in the office is normally something to enjoy. But I reached the point this week where I started to wonder what she would look like if her head were cut off.


All in all, then, it hasn’t been the best week for me to review Ellie Monago’s debut novel, The Custody Battle. However, I’ve tried. And given that I not only read it, but stayed interested to the end without too much difficulty, I can only think that it must be good.

Through the points of view of just two characters – Madeleine and Greg – the book explores a theme that sadly, is one that’s been experienced by so many people: that of the amicable divorce. Only how ‘amicable’ can a divorce be when one of the two partners fundamentally doesn’t want it? We see just how quickly disagreement turns to bitterness, and how nasty two people’s behaviour towards each other can get. We also see the cost to them – financially and a lot more besides.

As I continued to read, I began to dislike both Madeleine and Greg so much that I was tempted to put the book down just so I could escape them for a while. And it took until the end of the book for me to realise that this was just how Ellie Monago meant me to feel. The reason I didn’t put the book down before the end was because of one extra special ingredient. The couple have a daughter: ten-year-old Lola. She has her father’s sense of fun but also her mother’s ability to analyse. And she doesn’t like what she’s seeing. But is her siding with her father simply as a result of him spoiling her, whilst Madeline tries to maintain discipline? Or is there something else going on? And how far will either parent go to ensure that they get custody, when they’ve both started to hate each other more than they love their daughter?

It’s very, very well-written, but I had just a couple of issues. Firstly, I found myself wishing for a bit more depth. I wondered whether the author might have done better making one character clearly in the right and the other in the wrong, so that I could have taken a side, shared that person’s journey and finish the book feeling as though I had been through the wringer. As it is, it doesn’t manage to be that involving. And secondly, the ending. Yes, it includes a shock but there seemed to be a fairly obvious way that it could have been made more shocking. I wished the author had been brave enough to do it.

So, on the downside, I thought that the book could have been made more powerful. But on the upside, let’s be clear: it’s still a darned fine debut. Ellie should take that as praise indeed from a man who, for the last week, hasn’t been able to find a good word to say about anything else.

My thanks to Bookouture for my inclusion on the blog tour, and to Netgalley for the digital ARC. I will post my review on Goodreads, Amazon and my social media pages.

This was quite the page turner - I couldn't put it down! I was really intrigued by the characters and the game of back and forth between them. I wasn't sure how it would end but was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the ending and how satisfied I was by it. I thought the characters were really relatable and the story itself felt very natural and true to real life and how messy things can get. This was very intriguing and I never found myself losing any interest. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When Madeline tells Greg she wants a divorce the horns and the claws come out and little Lola is stuck in the middle but while the parents are trying to outdo their self and make the other look horrible there’s something else at work trying to intervene and Lola is the one at risk will the parents come together in time to keep their daughter safe or have they gone too far already. This was a great twisty read that I thoroughly enjoyed and definitely recommend I’d love great domestic thrillers in the Twistin this one I can honestly say I didn’t see it coming. I loved it and can’t say enough about it. I want to thank Bookoucher and net galley for my free hardcopy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Totally griping pov story. Told by the couple the wife wants a divorce and her husband doesn't and eventually a custody battle endures. This was true to life you were compelled to read on to find out what happened. You were lead to believe things and then bang. Im blown away by all the twists and turns especially the ending. Would have loved a chapter from the brst friend.
Sad when this came to a end biut look forward to any spin off.
Thank you netgallery and publisher and author for this 5 star read.

The Custody Battle is a great read. It was packed full of twists and turns that kept me turning the pages. Really gripping and really suspenseful.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

I stayed awake till silly o’clock to finish this book because it really became a story I had to know the ending of. What could have been a boring list of events leading up to a divorce was instead a very clever study on human nature and relationships. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know all the characters from the couple getting divorced, their daughter, the friend and especially the divorce lawyers. It was fascinating and then to top it all a great twist at the end which I wasn’t expecting at all.

What begins as an amicable divorce shatters into
pieces with ten year old child in the middle of it all
Great characters, excellent storytelling
Lots of twists and turns to keep the reading going and engaged

Madeline is a Pediatrician and Greg is an Architect and they are divorcing. They have a daughter, Lola, age 10. When Madeline asks for a divorce, Greg is shocked and doesn’t want to lose her. She tells him that she simply doesn’t love him anymore. He has done well in his profession and even built a huge home of them in the side of a cliff in California. While he is totally involved in his profession, Madeline is busy taking care of the things in the house and keeping up with Lola and everything that Greg needs. In addition, she is great at schmoozing his clients.

We see them each get an attorney and watch how they interact with their legal counsel and how quickly the situation turns very acrimonious. Madeline’s good friend, Sidney, likes both of them and is godmother to Lola. She tries to help them keep their perspectives as the tension and hatred builds.

This was very enlightening about what many people go through in a difficult divorce case. I had no idea it could be so in-depth, mind-boggling, and soul destroying. I admit that I was Team Madeline and could not stand Greg. He is a true narcissist. However, both have their faults. The ending was a shocker and one I was not expecting. A good read and quite educational. Enjoy!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Custody Battle' by Ellie Monago.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Elli Monago, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 21st February 2024.

This is the first book I have read by this author nut it most definitely wont be my last. It is the fuirst book written under the authos pen name pen name Ellie Monago.

This novel consists of 66 chapters and an epilogue and is set over 5 parts. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

Wow!!! This book is fantastically written and had me hook, line and sinker from beginning to end. The descriptions were so in depth and vivid that the hair on my arms was standing on the ends and my heart was pounding throughout. The synopsis, title and cover were perfect for the storyline.

I was absolutely absorbed throughout this page turner. It is filled with tension, suspense, lies and omg the ending!!! I DID NOT see coming!!! A MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS Ellie!! It is getting harder and harder to shock me but by God you did that over and over and over!!! What an ending!!! One of the most gripping unputdownable nerve wracking domestic suspense books that I have EVER read!!! You lady have one hell of a talent and I cannot wait to get hold of your previous and future books. I cannot remember the last time I was so hooked by a book but you managed that big time!!! The storyline is filled with drama, shocks, secrets, twists, suspense, tension, deceit and more. There was so much going on and it was very fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. I'm not going to go too much into the storyline as I don't want to give anything away and everything you need to know is in the incredible synopsis. However I do want to say that I absolutely LOVE the fact that this book we get to see the story from Madeline and Greg's perspectives and that it is set over multiple timelines and 5 parts, each named according to what is going on in those chapters, for example two of the parts are called collateral and contempt which are intriguing in themselves! The storyline is about a divorce that should be simple but becomes anything but!! Madeline tells Greg that she wants a divorce and one that is simple and quick to keep it as painless as possible for their daughter Lola. Greg does not want a divorce but wants to fight for his marriage and his family. She says she does not love him but he wants to try to change that. It goes from a simple solution to sorting it out for themselves to an uphill battle of bitterness, stubbornness and filled with drama and tension. Who will win the battle for Lola? How will Lola cope with all this fighting? You will just have to grab a copy of this gripping drama today to find out for yourselves! I have never read a storyline like this one and considering I have read hundreds of books that is quite a feat so a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS Ellie on constructing a unique, intriguing and captivating page turner! Ellie's fantastic evocative writing skills and descriptions really draws the reader into the storyline putting them in the middle of the battle themselves with the characters, emotions and surroundings coming to life in front of their eyes! i am definitely looking forward to reading more books by this fantastic author!!

Clear your schedule before you start as I read this in one sitting as I could not put it down!! Practically every chapter ended on a cliff hanger so no way could I put it down!! Absolutely hooked!! I would absolutely love to see this turned into a movie!!!!

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.

I was completely invested in both the storyline and the characters. Each of the characters had their own unique personalities and I felt differently about each of them. Ellie has managed to create several realistic, flawed, unlikeable and questionable characters that she brings to life with her creative and evocative writing skills and puts them into what should be an everyday storyline but makes the reader question everything and everyone they are seeing, reading and meeting throughout!! As with the storyline I won't go into any details about the characters as I don't want to run the risk of giving anything away and spoiling this incredible storyline for future readers. I will say that I did not have a clue who to trust and I never did work out who was up to what. Ellie has done an amazing job with the multiple protagonists and multiple timelines and weaves all the different timelines and characters stories together perfectly not causing any confusion into whose point of view I read from or what timeline the chapters were talking about. If you want to know more you will just have to click the link below to get a copy!! All in all a great mix of characters that worked well with this storyline and regardless of whether you love them or hate them they all played their parts perfectly along with Ellie's fantastic writing skills making each of them jump out of the pages coming to life in front of your eyes.

Overall an absolutely thrilling and unputdownable addictive domestic suspense!!

356 pages.

This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle, free with kindle unlimited and £9.99 in paperback at time of review via Amazon 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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Today I am delighted to be taking part on the blog tour for The Custody Battle by Ellie Monago.

Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: 21st February 2024

My Review
The Custody Battle is how not to do a divorce really. We meet Greg and Madeline in this story along with their daughter Lola.
Breaking up a family is one of the most difficult things to do. When a relationship is not working, what do you do?
Do you stay where two people are unhappy and not getting on and argue in front of the children or do you leave hoping that the situation might get better if you are apart.
It's not easy, none of it is easy. People are upset, hurt and struggle to move on if they are not ready.
In this story we see that Madeline wants to move on, she's not in love with Greg anymore if she ever really was and feels they would be better off apart. She strives for perfection and organisation in her life so even their divorce seems to be planned rigorously.
Greg doesn't want any of it though. He loves his family but goes along with it hoping she will change her mind.
I couldn't quite figure out was it the divorce attorney that Greg hired who initially upset the apple cart for an amicable divorce or was Greg just beginning to realise how manipulative Madeline was as a person masking it with her efficiency and organisation.
Whatever it was, the gloves were off as both fight to get what they want, the way they want in it the divorce.
And sadly their daughter Lola seems to be caught in the middle of it all..
Plenty of frustration throughout this story.
I enjoyed how the author told the story through viewpoints of both Greg & Madeline.
Clearly not on the same page at all throughout.
What amazes me in any breakup or divorce is how bitter people become and how children are used against each other clearly to hurt the other person.
Full of drama and tension...you will enjoy it..
I always think no one wins in the end though do they...

Thank you kindly to author Ellie Monago and her publisher Bookouture for my copy of this book and inviting me to take part on this blog tour. Much appreciated.

Book Blurb
The Custody Battle: A completely gripping and addictive domestic suspense novel.
“What’s going to happen to me?” my little girl asks, clutching her teddy bear tight. “Daddy and I love you,” I reply. “Nothing is going to change.” But I was so wrong. How far will I have to go to keep my darling daughter?
When Greg and I first decided to separate, we promised to keep it civil for our daughter Lola. So when she stopped wanting to hug me, I thought Lola was just struggling with the divorce. Then she started screaming at me, calling me a liar, and I could hear Greg in her words. I’m certain he’s trying to turn our baby against me.
He’s determined to dig up dirt on me, to make the court think I’m a terrible mother… But two can play that game.
So when he reveals the worst thing I have ever done, my heart pounds in my chest. Because I know Greg’s deep dark secrets, too. But the more we each try to win, the harder it is to turn back. Now I’m terrified that we’ve put Lola in terrible danger…
By the time we realise what we’ve done, will it be too late for us to save her, or ourselves?
A completely gripping dark domestic suspense novel about a family tearing themselves apart, perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty and Sally Hepworth.

About The Author
Ellie Monago is the pen name of an acclaimed novelist and practicing therapist. She’s also a wife and mother, and when you add it all up, she doesn’t wind up with much time for hobbies. But she’s an avid tennis fan, a passionate reader of both fiction and nonfiction—especially memoir (nothing’s as juicy as the truth!)—and she relishes a good craft cocktail.

Purchase Link
https://geni.us/B0CP8932MQcover

What starts as an amicable divorce turns very unpleasant with ten year old Lola stuck in the middle. Well described characters and lots of twists to keep the readers interest. A book well worth reading

A contentious divorce battle starts out amicable and quickly takes drastic turns in this gripping #domesticsuspense novel. Monago crafts the ultimate dark #psychologicalthriller novel in #TheCustodyBattle!

Thank you, Ellie Monago, Bookouture, & netgalley for my copy! All opinions are my own.

They want to protect their child...but what if they're the danger...?

OMG! This book was like a car crash from which you couldn't look away! Let me be clear, this is all about a custody battle. From start to finish. And it gets ugly. It's gets dirty. And not the bedhopping kind, either. Both parties pull no punches to get what they want. And boy, is it ugly!

Madeline had it all planned out. She and Greg would divorce with as little disruption to their ten year old daughter Lola as possible. It would be quick, clean and respectful. But soon their amicable divorce would turn into an acrimonious one filled with allegations and accusations hurled at each other from ten paces.

Greg doesn't want a divorce. He adored the very ground on which Madeline walked. And while she said she loved him, she was no longer in love with him. Bu Greg thought that if he could just remind her how good they are together then she would give up the divorce and welcome him home with open arms.

But Madeline isn't being open and honest with Greg (or her divorce lawyer, for that matter). Waiting at the sidelines of battle is Tarek. The man Madeline has fallen for and he her. She hasn't slept with him or begun an affair - not while she is still married to Greg. No, she is waiting for the divorce which should take six months to be granted.

But Madeline has under-estimated Greg. He wants her back and will stop at nothing to win her back. He has his lawyer stalling her lawyer throughout the entire process at every turn, giving him time to woo her back into his arms. Until he discovers there is another man waiting in the wings. Suddenly, it's all bets are off.

And caught in the middle of their war against each other is Lola. Lola, who has her dad's deep blue eyes and is sense of fun but her mother's looks and analytical mind and stubbornness. She sees all and hears all...and she doesn't like one bit of it. She sides with her dad almost from the first moment that no matter what Madeline does or say, she takes no notice of her. And soon it becomes a clear case of parental alienation. Using their daughter a pawn to score the most points and make the other look bad.

This domestic suspense is an ugly tale. The lengths two people who once loved each other, and claim to have the best interests of their daughter at heart, will go to just to tarnish the other and win sole custody. It's brutal and it's dirty.

Neither parent wins any popularity contests with me as they are both as bad as each other. Madeline wasn't upfront in the first place when she should have been and Greg has blinkers on, the narcissistic personality that he is. It's true, he took Madeline for granted all the years they were married and what he was most missing was her organisational skills and her ability to make his life as smooth as possible. He had the Disneyland dad quality where he would swoop in and do all the fun things with Lola while Madeline did the grunt work - that much is true. But they both played dirty to come out on top. And for what? Where did it leave them in the end?

You'll have to read the book to find out!!

An unputdownable domestic suspense that will keep you glued to the pages until the very end.

I would like to thank #EllieMonago, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheCustodyBattle in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this one. It really is amazing how far parents will go in a divorce, without thinking of the children! this was moderately paced, but not enough action to keep me interested for the whole book.