The Girl in His Eyes

Laura knows what happened to her as a child at the hands of her father. Now her father is spending time with Emma who is the same age Laura was when it happened. Can Laura save Emma from the same life she experienced? The writer does a great job of giving the back story that will inform you of what happened and she does it in such a way that the reader can follow along easily. The book does not contain any irregularities or irrelevant materials. I was hooked from the beginning. The characters are all intwined with a Purpose and I could relate to them all. Overall, I would say this book is amazing and the ending could not be better. Certainly not exactly what I expected but that is a plus.

Thank you to netgalley and the author/publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.

5 ⭐️ out of 5

This is a harrowing tale about child abuse told from the angle of not only the victim but also the abuser and his wife. At times this is an uncomfortable read due to the subject matter but it was well written and my heart broke for the characters in the book and I was very happy with the stories ending. A very powerful read.

Thanks to Netgalley for my copy. 4'5*

This is a tale of grooming and the sexual abuse of a children. Laura is abused by her father when she is 11. He threatens and manipulates her into not divulging this secret to anyone. Fast forward ten years and Laura lives on her own and is struggling to find her career path.

Laura is the appalled to find out her father is tasked with giving swimming lessons to a friend's 12 year old daughter. She is torn between protecting herself and the girl Emma.

This story is told in the POV of Laura, her mother and her father.This is not an easy book to read and some of the details are uncomfortable in their description. The way the author captured the abuser's justification for his behaviour was very believable. She also depicted the mother burying her head in the sand and not seeing what was actually happening to keep the balance in the relationship accurately.

This is a brutal and believable book and was totally believable.

Would give this ten stars if I could, absolutely brilliant and I loved how this was told about the three different characters, my heart went out to all three of them.

This was a bit of an uncomfortable read but brilliantly told and I was gripped from the first chapter, I just couldn't stop reading this exciting page turner which was very sensitively written in my opinion.

I cannot fault the skill of this writer and I will definitely be reading more from Jennie, well done and I eagerly await your next book.

5/5 ⭐️
Wow.
This. Was. Fucking. Disturbing.
Jesus Christ.
I’ve read tons of thrillers with pedophiles in them, but I’ve never read from their point of view and gotten to see what they think and feel and do.
Holy shit.
This was a amazing book though. I’d definitely say to read this when it comes out.

A dark novel about child abuse, molestation, and rape. I couldn't put down - this is one of those stay up all night and finish novels. You know what's happening and there is no mystery involved but you can't put it down because you have to know how it all plays out. From beginning to end, this book held my interest. If you can handle this subject matter, then this book is definitely for you!

Thank you #netgalley and #bloodhound books for the eARC.

This story is about Laura who, from the age of 11, is abused by her father. Fast forward 10 years and Laura suspects her father is doing the same to another girl, Emma. Laura has never told anyone about what her father did to her, and this has completely ruined her life. She now must pluck up the courage to tell the truth about her father to prevent the same thing happening to Emma.

A word of warning – this book is about incest and child abuse. It is a difficult book to read at times, so if you are affected by such topics you may want to give this book a miss. I have to admit, I didn’t really read the blurb before I picked this book up and so was unaware of the subject matter. It is told from several different points of view – Laura’s, Laura’s mother and Laura’s father. An unusual book in the way that it’s not just the abused person’s perspective we get to see, but the perspective of all involved – including the abuser.

Laura is obviously a very troubled girl. Her father’s actions have left her unable to hold down a respectable job and she ends up desperate for money to keep a roof over her head. Laura’s father is a very sly and devious man, seeing the opportunity to groom Emma for his own means. He feels that he control his urges, but his past experiences with his own daughter proves that he can’t. Laura’s mother is completely oblivious to anything and everything that is going on. This book is cleverly and sensitively written despite it being such a taboo subject to write about.

The story gripped me from the very beginning and the ending was, perhaps not unexpected but certainly very shocking. I’m not sure who I felt sorry for most throughout the book and my heart especially broke for the ones who deserved it most. A disturbing read but definitely a recommended one.

Laura is twenty two. She has lost her way in life. She knows it's because of the abuse she suffered at the hands of her father. No matter how much she tries it's getting harder to pretend everything is all right in front of her mother. Then she hears her father is teaching a twelve year old girl how to swim. She knows she must come forward before the abuse starts.
This is a thriller, in the sense of all that Laura goes through in her journey. Sexual abuse, rape and other sexual assaults are prevalent in our society. This is a book that tells about a girl doing the right thing to report it.
Well written. Reccomend.

This is a dark psychological drama that might be too uncomfortable for some to read. The cornerstone of this novel is that the narration alternates between the three main characters, giving you glimpses into their minds and thoughts behind their actions. It examines the story from the view of the victim, the abuser, and the other parent in the family. The content is disturbing yet the story is compulsive.

Laura had tried her whole life to repress the memories of the abuse she was subjected to by her father, Paul, a secret she’d never told anyone before. A family gathering suddenly brings the memories flooding back. Then, when Laura learns that her father has been asked to take a young girl to the pool with him to help her learn to swim, Laura fears that he father will fall back to his old ways. She is distraught and repulsed, and she battles within herself to earn the young girl or confront her father before it's too late.

Laura’s mother, Suzanne, notices that Laura is uncomfortable around her father, but she doesn't really know why. She is oblivious to the abuse Laura suffered at the hands of her father years ago, and she knows nothing about the real man her husband is. Laura learns that there might be a reason that her mother had missed any signs that her father was abusing her, but does it really make up for the pain and suffering she endured?

Paul has had a lifelong affliction for young girls, though his wife has just recently began to suspect something was amiss. Like most couples their age, the romance was gone, and Suzanne worried that as she got older she had become less enticing to her husband. Suzanne fears that Paul might be running around on her with another woman, but she will soon discovers that his secret is much worse than she ever realized.

I would recommend this book to fans of psychological dramas. I received this as a free ARC from Bloodhound Books on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was extremely disturbing. But also probably very honest and real at the same time. It is the story of 22 yo Laura who is struggling to get her life together, hold down a job and just be an adult. Her father abused her when she was 11-12 and she never told anyone, her mom and brother had no clue. It clearly has affected her entire life. She hears that her father is going to spend time with a friend's 12 yo daughter and it really shakes Laura up. She goes to talk to the mom of the girl but ends up talking to the girl and the whole thing backfires because nobody takes it seriously. It is very sad but probably an honest view of how young girls live after being abused. In fear and without any self-respect. The book is narrated from three different points of view, Laura, her mom and her dad also. I have never read a book with a glimpse into the mind of Laura's Dad--the abuser had, so that was definitely a different angle altogether. This book was well-written and kept my interest. I kind of saw the end coming as the story progressed but besides that it was a good story. Keep in mind this book involves child sexual abuse and rape. Not for everyone. Thanks to NG for the ARC!!!

Laura, a college graduate who should be enjoying life but is still haunted by nightmares from the past sexual abuse by her father that started at age 11. Laura is in her early 20s now and she cannot seem to hold a job for very long and just seems to be going through the motions of life. She has never told anyone about the abuse, not even her mother. One day, her mother tells her that her father is going to start taking Emma, the 12-year-old daughter of a friend of hers to swimming on Saturdays. Laura is afraid that her father has another victim in his sights and she visits Emma to warn her about being alone with her father, but will it be too late??? I think this book, which is of a sensitive nature that nobody likes to talk about, is very well written and very tastefully written. Once I started reading this book, I could not put it down. This is a fantastic read..

On just finishing this book I recognise just as at times it has been very difficult to read it will be equally incredibly difficult to give feedback. The storyline deals explicitly with the actions of, and subsequent short and long term damage caused by family abuse. The ultimate reckoning brings to the reader why each individual justifies to themselves and others the reasons and lengths they have gone too, both directly and indirectly in order to hide what is and has happened. The writer has dealt with this complex storyline and family problem in a sensitive professional manner whilst pulling no punches in expertly describing the long term damage done to both the abused and for the extended family. The author also writes explicitly with the implications spread over and beyond the immediate protagonists to innocent parties drawn into and damaged by the actions of the abuser. This story deals with the disintegration of a middle class family more harrowingly than any media coverage I have read on this subject . The final chapters reach a conclusion which retains for the reader, a belief that this book cannot be put down until finished and enlightenment that this piece of fiction could actually happen anywhere to anyone.

Any author tackling the subject of child grooming and sexual abuse deserves alot of respect in my eyes. It is a subject that no one wants to face but I think there needs to be more awareness out there.
The Girl In His Eyes, shows just how manipulative, vindictive and evil child predators can be. Laura was molested as a pre-teen by her father and tried her best to avoid being alone with him even now at the age of 22. When she finds out he has been asked to take Emma, a twelve year old, swimming on a Saturday, Laura has a dilemma, does she finally expose him for what in did in the past or does she give him the benefit of the doubt and keep out of it?

The Girl In His Eyes is a story that flicks between Laura, her father and her mother. Having suffered at the hands of her father, Laura is understandably struggling with life. Having kept it a secret for so many years, which sadly so many do, she is almost on a road to self destruction. My heart really went out to Laura. Having to go through something like that is horrible enough but then when you are put in a situation where it could happen again, do you remain silent or do you speak out?

This is a powerful book for survivors of abuse everywhere. I really hope it helps someone. What makes this book stand out is that we not only hear Laura's voice but her mother, whose world is about to be rocked and her father, who is the abuser. It was interesting to get all perspectives and I think it will have you questioning yourself as to what you would do if you were in the same position. It was very understandable to see the turmoil that Laura is in.

The Girl In His Eyes is a brilliantly written novel. It's hard to say you've enjoyed a novel when it is such a dark subject but I think it's one that will strike a cord with every reader. It really had an impact on me making me feel an array of emotions. Powerful, hard hitting and an absolute must read.

I accidentally rated the wrong one first! This book too, was absolutely heartbreaking to read. I think that any time a child is abused in a heinous manner, it's a tough read, but the author did amazing at doing it in a sympathetic and tone that kept the reader reading. I think that besides the subject matter, which most who enjoy dark thrillers will not mind, it was excellent and very disturbing and taunt. One I will definitely rscommend in Chapter Chatter Pub, as well as using in a daily challenge!

I thoroughly enjoyed this read (if enjoyed is the appropriate word for this story).

This is Laura’s story. We also get her mother and fathers point of view. Laura is struggling to move on from what her father did to her years ago. When she finds out her father is giving swimming lessons to a young girl she knows she must do something. She also knows it will destroy her family.

This story is really well written. I love getting several points of view. I read most of the story in one sitting only taking a break to begrudgingly feed the family. Yes it was that good. Great praise to the author for tackling a difficult topic.

This story really hits hard.
Laura has a secret that she has never told anyone. When she was twelve he said she was special. What they did was special and she mustn’t ever tell. She never had told anyone until now. She knew what he was now and she knew that look, but it wasn’t at her it was at another little girl. Could she save her?
Oh wow! This crept under my skin and made it crawl. Jennie Ensor takes you into the mind of an innocent child, a damaged woman and that of a man with a compulsion that he can’t keep under control. It left me in no doubt about what happens but she skillfully lead me to a point that my own imagination took over at the most heart breaking points and then to the aftermath of how it affected everyone. The reasoning and blame as each saw it.
This must be one of the most difficult subjects to write about and yet Jennie nails it from every side. All of them living a lie to protect someone, even the abuser as he lies to himself to justify his actions, the only way to live with what he does. The story goes back into the past to when Laura was twelve but the real focus of the story is on Emma. Can she be saved from the same ordeal, or worse? The story is tension fuelled from the start but has Laura the courage to face her past or can her step-dad control what he desires more than anything. The alternative doesn’t bear thinking about ………………….
Jennie will set on fire every emotion in you because you will feel it through her characters including the shame. The shame that the victims shoulder that it must be their fault and the shame of the abuser for being found out, not for what they have done.

Laura is having dinner with her mom, dad, brother (and his fiancé). Laura hates her father, it seems. Since college graduation 18 months ago, she has wandered aimlessly from job to job. Her dad, Paul, an accomplished swimmer, has offered to take a friend's 12 year old daughter, Emma, to practice swimming. Laura is not happy about this. She had been molested by her father on a number of occasions when she was 11 & 12 years old...
'
Suzanne had married Paul after only 5 months of courtship, despite her sister's misgivings. Paul became mean and jealous over the years and possessive - focusing on Laura a bit too much. Paul, that week, picks up Emma and they go swimming. He promises to do so again.

Laura gets fired. Since she needs a source of income, living alone, she takes a job as an "exotic dancer".
( A stripper and lap dancer)

After Paul and Emma have another swim, Jane (Emma's mother) calls Suzanne. Emma told Jane that Paul had
invited Emma back to see a movie at his house after the last swim, molested her and had sex with her. Paul, of course, denies this to his wife and tells her that Emma has a crush on him and that she had tried to kiss him. However, Suzanne mulls this situation over and over and decides to visit her daughter. Suzanne tells Laura about Emma - "It's true, isn't it?" The "Emma situation" is brought up and only then Laura spills out her horrid encounters with her father. Suzanne moves out of the house at the same time Paul finds out his job is hanging by a thread. Meanwhile, Laura gets deeper into her job and has been asked to use the "private room" with one of the punters who frequents the Club.
She scratches the bloke as he tries to control her (too much like daddy?) runs away, leaving the job behind.

Both David, Laura's brother, and her mum tell Laura NOT to call the police - too much would get out in the open about the family regardless if Paul was convicted or not. However, Laura has made the decision to go to the police. That evening it is pouring rain. As she walks to the Tube, her father drives up and pleads with her. She answers that she IS going - not smart when you are in the passenger seat... She attempts to get out of the car and run. Her father grabs her and...

Interesting domestic situational read. Sad that the characters are all a bit self-absorbed...some being just plain mean and dangerous...
A MUST READ! Out tomorrow! I enjoyed the book and felt that the characters were very well developed - regardless if I liked them or not. The situation is fragile, and above all, not impossible. Enjoy reading !

My thanks to Bloodhound Books and NetGalley for a truly great read, as always!

This is a very powerful emotional read. The content is obviously very distressing but it is a story that will give an insight into the effects that abuse within the family home has on everyone involved.

Laura is living with the aftermath of being abused by her own father. Her life hasn’t turned out how she expected and she is still living with the memories and effects of being a victim of sexual abuse. She hasn’t told anyone what happened to her but her father is now coaching a 12 year old girl how to swim. What will Laura do ? Will she keep quiet and risk her father abusing another innocent girl or will she finally reveal what happened when she was growing up ?

This book is written really well. Although dealing with a very distressing subject I felt it was a great eye opener to how this abuse can go on, with no one knowing, and the effects this has on not only the victim but also family and friends.

Thank you to Bloodhound Books and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

I discovered Jennie Ensor in 2016 when I read her stunning debut, Blindside, but oh my word is her second book worth waiting for. The Girl In His Eyes is difficult to read because of the subject of child abuse, although it is not in any way graphic, but it is the emotion pouring out of every page that really got to me. Jennie Ensor has poured her heart and soul into this book and it shows as you can't fail to be moved by this story.

Right away I could tell that Laura was very disconnected from her family; she no sooner arrived at her parents' house than she was ready to leave. It must take an unbelievable amount of strength to be in the same room as her father knowing what he did to her as a child. Laura has never told anyone what happened and bottling that up inside has caused such damage to her self esteem that it made my heart break. When her father shows interest in another young girl, Laura must find the strength to speak out whatever it costs.

Superbly written, The Girl In His Eyes is such an intensely emotional book that I had to pause often to catch my breath and keep my emotions in check. I have never felt such a huge spectrum of emotions whilst reading a book, ranging from anger and disgust right though to sadness and hope. The Girl In His Eyes is so exceptional that I could give nothing less than 5 stars for this heartbreakingly emotional book.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My review is written with thanks to Bloodhound Books for inviting me on the tour and providing my copy of the book via Netgalley.
Laura was abused by her father as she was growing up. Now 22, she has horrific memories and flashbacks to that time. She is terrified to learn that her mum's friend has asked her father to teach her young daughter, Emma, to swim. Can Laura face her father and confront him before it is too late?
Ensor does not explain what happened to Laura straight away, but as soon as Laura enters her parents' house for a family dinner on the first page, I could tell that she felt uncomfortable being there and I wanted to know why. The stifling atmosphere that is created here is something that Ensor maintains for the whole novel, and although it means The Girl In His Eyes makes difficult reading, it is very compelling.
The characters in The Girl In His Eyes are a real strength. The chapters are written from the viewpoints of Laura, Suzanne (her mother) and Paul (her father) and this helped me to learn why they acted in the way they did, even if it did not exonerate them. Paul's chapters made me squirm, and as the novel progressed I began to hate him almost as much as Laura did. Suzanne's chapters made me feel sympathetic towards her in a way I might not have done had I not read her side of the story. It is clear that Laura has been deeply affected by what happened to her, and it has influenced the way she feels and behaves in adulthood. There were times I wanted to shake them and scream at them, but all the characters have very real traits, and this allows Ensor to make sure her message is as hard hitting as it possibly can be.

; I’m going to start by saying this is one tough book to read! Very emotional, a hard read for me as parts hit a little too close to home. But nevertheless I read it all and parts can be a bit dark and out there in your face. But it is a good story!

Thinking about it, it’s also a powerful story with a hidden message. I felt all sorts of emotions throughout reading this story and I look up to Lauras character. This is a story that every reader can learn from or take something away from it, a story that makes the reader think! I understand it may not appeal to some readers due to the dark side of the story and abuse involved but it is written brilliantly.

A well deserved four stars from myself.

This book took me through so many emotions!! It is dark, disturbing, gritty and gripped me completely.

I loved the characters in the story and the different view points used to tell it worked very well. The book didn't take me too long to read as soon as I'd started it I knew it was a book that I needed to finish the same day - I was hooked and needed to see how it would end.

It is a story that for me was hard hitting and it did stay with me - the topics in are dealt with really well and it is definitely five stars from me - an excellent story and very highly recommended!!

This was an highly emotional read, often uncomfortable to read due to the subject matter of abuse, but Ensor does a fantastic job of dealing with things in a sensitive and genuine manner. Sexual abuse is never an easy subject to discuss or read about but it’s a valid issue and one that was handled with care here.

What was unique about this one was that you not only hear from Laura and her mother Suzanne, you hear from Paul as well and see what he’s thinking and feeling. It was a disturbing look inside the mind of a pedophile but it was also interesting to see what he was thinking. Laura was such a sympathetic character, she’s never told anyone about the abuse and now she’s faced with a huge moral dilemma as she’s worried her father may be grooming a new victim. I was so empathetic towards her, she broke my heart and had been through so much.

This was one of those books that makes you think and if you can stomach hard hitting subject matter then I can definitely recommend it. Ensor is a gifted writer and this was an emotional read that I won’t soon forget.

The Girl In His Eyes in three words: Harrowing, Dark and Disturbing.

This was an interesting and enjoyable read despite the serious subject matter. The author was able to present the story directly without being 'afraid' of offending. She did not skirt around the primary storyline but presented a realistic presentation of the subject matter.

A very dark,harrowing and uncomfortable story but very well written and told from different perspectives
Disturbing and upsetting and wont be suitable for everyone but as say superbly written

This needed to be able to be rated more than 5 stars. This was such aa dark, emotional, and twisted book. It was definitely a book that you have to brace yourself for. There were so many emotions running through me as I read this story. What would you do, how far would you go if the hell you visited was possibly be thrust upon someone else and you could possibly end it. This was an amazing book that everyone needs to read. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this and write about it.

Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for this arc.
This is the story of child abuse seen through the eyes of the abused, Laura, the abuser Paul and the Paul's wife and Laura's mother Suzanne. It shows the ramifications of child abuse on both the child and those close to her. Laura was a sad, damaged young woman who had never been able to come to terms with what her father did. Paul was a bully and justified his actions by convincing himself that Laura wanted him to do the things he did and Suzanne was a very weak woman who spent her life wallowing in her own sadness but finally finds a backbone.
A sad story of a broken girl who hopefully will find peace and happiness in her future. Not a bad book but not great either.

This has been an “unputdownable” book for me.

It’s very intense, I was full of anxiety reading this from daughters side (Laura) her Mother and the abuser, her Father.

It’s unusual to gain insight to the thoughts of the abuser, but, this author did this and although it’s stomach churningly gross at such illogical and totally off limits subject, she did it well.
It’s not an easy book to digest but an insightful one. Abuse in any form is not acceptable and never forgivable and in just a mini second I felt sorry for the abuser!

Hang on!
Hey up a minute.
His reasons, his excuses his past doesn’t and shouldn’t relay who he is today or excuse the rights and wrongs.

Laura had to live with this abuse and we struggle along with her and her choices in life.

Her friends reactions, her brothers and her mothers.

But then, will her dad do “it” again.

What happens if he does.

I would have given this 5 stars but for the convenience of the ending. I got to where I guessed what would happen. Too convenient for me.

However this was a fabulous ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT read.

Would I recommend it? Yes. But be aware there’s abuse in this