This Stolen Life

I was really looking forward to reading this book!

The book brings in diversity from Sri Lanka, one of my favourite places in the world and I wanted to see how things pan out for the innocent, wronged , low caste Sri Lankan girl who commits a crime to get away from her perpetrators and I have to say, the book had me hooked.

Admittedly, the first 30% of the book feels like bland narration but the writing gets better later on. The book however could do with more descriptions, more juices if you may instead of just story telling the incidences. Towards the end though, things get really good and I was on edge while reading.

It's a simple book, a good one time read and enjoyable emotional swing.

Mistaken identity is one thing.
Stealing an identity is a whole other issue
But is there ever a time when it is right?

I was captured by this story of a young Sri Lankan girl, Jaya, who was running away from a terrible life, and within another awful tragedy, is plummetted into a self-inflicted whirlwind as she chooses to take the path less trodden, and steps into the life of another soul, Soma.

Name changed, she arrives in a new country and is set to work for a Sri Lankan family who want her to be able to look after their baby Louis, teaching him Sinhalese as she works.

The mother, Yamuna, is another interesting character who is struggling with first-time motherhood, and in the throes of undiagnosed Post Natal Depression.

With so many secrets bound within her, Soma tries her best to lead a simple, straightforward life, until she meets Sahan, cousin of her employer, and someone who she forms an irreversible bond with.

I could go on and on, and end up telling you what happens, but I won't do that.

What I will say is that I really enjoyed the book. It was a simple story with plenty of twists to keep a reader hooked, and the added dash of culture that may be unfamiliar to some, but gives it the spice to make you savour it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Hera Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed reading about these two women, Soma and Yamuna, whose lives started out so differently but ended bringing them together thanks to a lovely baby names Louie. The author drew from her cultural background and, according to the author notes, her experiences with post partum depression to make the story realistic. This was a really good mix of tragedy and optimistic new beginnings for Soma, a poor and abused girl desperate for a better, safe life. The opening was tense and exciting, and there was a definite pageturner aspect to the story as I waited for Soma's past to catch up with her. I thought the use of changing perspective was key in bringing the worries and hopes of principal characters Soma, Sahan, and Yasmuna to the reader and creating an admirable depth of character.

The writing is well-paced and easy to follow, the characters complex and interesting, and the plot a bit suspenseful, but the best part was the satisfying ending for Soma and Sahan's sweet romance.

What a captivating story......it pulled me instantly with it's heart wrenching emotion and complete desperation. Soma's plight was laced with a sincere determination to escape a life of pain and suffering and her journey is one that moved me greatly.

The writing is beautiful and moves seamlessly between character's points of view to create an all round entrancing tale that had me on the edge of my seat needing answers and resolutions. The narrative swept me away with the entwined stories of Soma and Yamuna. Their connection was complex and complicated which created a compelling story filled with pain and secrets...it truly was a story to behold.

This Stolen Life is a journey that is not to be missed.....this story moved me beyond measure with it's sense of desperation and emotion and I just know it will be one book that will stay with me in the coming months.

Drama and Angst
This is a drama about conflicting culture, self-worth, and societal demands. It is fairly serious reading and a bit dark and dense for me. It is a great piece of emotional fiction, but I need more escape than drama. If you have been in a new situation where you write your own rules, you will be able to identify with this book. I received this ARC book free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

This book really took me by surprise. It's so different, so delicate and yet so poignant. it gave me a very deep insight into a culture I didn't know yet providing good food for thought that is universal. I was a foreign student in Hull myself, 30 years ago and I must admit this is what drew me to this book at first as I was curious to see if I could find any similarities, but clearly didn't face the cultural shock that the protagonists faced.
The story is gripping, emotional and really unique. The pace is fast and the only respite is given by the love that is slowly building between the two leading characters. Oh, the love story! So delicate. So olden times. Two pure souls finding each other. We need more of that.
I loved it and I heartily recommend it.
I had the great pleasure to be able to read this book through NetGalley, before it was published. Many thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley.
#ThisStolenLife #NetGalley

I just loved this Book......This Stolen Life by Jeevani Charika it was just beautifully written throughout and from the very first few pages I was hooked and Just loved the way it flowed.

Born in a beautiful country Sri-Lanka a shy young woman who lives with her mum and her step father, gets her chance to escape from her Step father clutches. Whilst traveling on the local bus hopefully to her new life, she meets a young girl called Soma on the bus who is going on a big adventure to Yorkshire in the UK to become a nanny and look after a sweet baby boy called Louis
The bus crashes and Soma is killed.
This is when the big adventure takes a big turn and she begins and uses Soma's passport, her identity is used to start a new life in the UK.............."Soma" tries to settle into her new life and identity in the UK, however, every day becomes a bigger challenge, getting to grips with the language even to getting to like the english food she has never tried before.
One thing Soma never counted on, was to meet her employers cousin who was also born on Sri-Lanka. Who's family is very wealthy and he's a student at the local universiity.
Sahan teaches Soma how to speak English and to read and write. As the days go by Soma falls in love with Sahan, he is feeling the same about her as they become closer.

Is it going to last?

Is something going to happen to burst their bubble?

Is her Bug Secret who she is come out?

Just Beautiful. I have never read anything form Jeevani before and I will be looking out for her books. This was just beautiful in many ways. Perfect for a holiday read.

Big 5 stars from me.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Hera Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Review on Amazon UK, and Goodreads

I will admit that this is probably a book that I would not have normally considered reading but I can honestly say that I thoroughly enjoyed it and found myself racing though it as I became engaged with the characters and their lives.
Jaya is hoping to make a new life for herself away from her abusive stepfather. Making her escape once her family is asleep she meets Somavathi who is travelling to the UK to take up a position as a nanny to a Sri Lankan family living in Hull. When the bus crashes and Somavathi is killed, Jaya makes a snap decision to take on the dead girls identity and disappear for good.
This Stolen Life is a very touching story not just of Jaya as she becomes Somavathi or Soma as she decides to shorten her name to but also that of Yamuna, the mother of the child that she is looking after and Sahan, Yamuna’s cousin who is studying at Hull University.
Each one of them is struggling with life in England and their upbringing. Exploring prejudices within their own culture based upon status and how as their lives become more intertwined they challenge these ideals even if it does mean disappointing family and going against tradition.
Despite the fact that Soma stole an identity to create a new life for herself I still found myself hoping that she would find peace with her actions even though you knew at some point her secret would be discovered and she possibly have to pay for her deception. Essentially she was not a bad person but circumstance and opportunity led her to make a bad decision.
The author has created truly engaging characters that are believable and a story that is applicable the world over. I found myself not wanting to put the book down. I found it refreshing to read a story where rather than the threats to Soma starting over coming from outside influences, they were in fact from someone from Sri Lanka who had his own agenda and a big chip on his shoulder regarding his own background and status in life.
This is the first book I have read by this author but based on what I have read I look forward to seeing what comes next. If you are looking for something a little bit different then I would recommend you pick up this book hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

4☆ A Compelling, Passionate, Emotive and Captivating Must Read!

This Stolen Life is a Compelling and Poignant Read of starting over, Finding Love and Overcoming Boundaries.

Soma is trying to escape her terrible past.
So when she finds herself in the UK looking for a new start, she quickly realises it's not going to be easy.
With a new identity can she every truly feel safe and belong.

Soma finds herself in a strange country, not knowing much English and working for Yamuna and her husband Bim as a Nanny for their four month old baby Louie.

But what she doesn't expect is to find a growing friendship with her Yamuna's younger cousin Sahan.
There is obviously an instant attraction between them but Soma knows they are both very different people and she can't help hiding her past.
So they meet in secret.

But secrets have a way of coming out.
Can Soma and Sahan ever truly be together?
Will Sahan still want her after he uncovers her past?

It highlights on several aspects including social stature and cultural differences. It tells of two very different people from two very different backgrounds falling in love and how they face their differences and learn to find their place in a new country.

This Stolen Life is a Compelling, Passionate, Emotive and Captivating read that I was engrossed in from the first few pages. The chapters flow together seamlessly.
The Characters are complex, likeable, well thought out and enthralling.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this beautiful book, I Highly Recommend it, especially if you love Contemporary Romances filled with secrets, new beginnings and forbidden romance.

Thank you to Tracy at Compulsive Readers Tours for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

This Stolen Life is so different than what I usually read. There is a deep look into the culture of Sri Lanka, a look into the college life of students from foreign lands, and a look at the way society sees people of different races. I opened the book and opened my eyes also to a world that I didn’t know much about.

The story kept me entertained but it also helped me to understand some of the trials that people, young and old, can go through with their families, their education, and with society. The story was not complex, it was not simple, it was just perfect. The characters were relatable and real. I could relate to both the college students and their families. Very quickly I became invested in the characters finding a way to respect their families, tell their truths, but still be free to love each other.

The secrets that Soma kept were heart wrenching. My heart broke for her so many times but I loved how strong she became as she learned about a country that was new to her. She became more sure of herself, more comfortable in a foreign world, and more open to learning how to succeed in life.

This Stolen Life is the first book I have read by Jeevani Charika.m. I found it to be very well written with a bit of suspense. The characters were well developed as the book goes on and brings to light cultural differences from my own. They are very well explained so you know why some things are forbidden. I was fascinated by the plot development and the emotions found in this story. It is a wonderful, insightful read that I truly enjoyed.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and I voluntarily wrote an honest review.

Great read. The author wrote a story that was interesting and moved at a pace that kept me engaged. The characters were easy to invest in.

This Stolen Life drew me in from the very first page and didn’t let go until the final page had been turned. A beautiful and heart wrenching read that put me through an emotional wringer as we follow Soma’s journey from poor Sri Lankan girl trying to escape an abusive home, to her new life in England as nanny to recently married new parents Yamuna and Bim.

This book took me by surprise with its beautifully written and poignant storyline. I liked Soma from the moment she was introduced and understood why she made the decision to do what she did, even though it wasn’t easy for her to keep such a huge and dangerous secret. Her shock and bewilderment at her new surroundings were palpable as she tried to acclimatise herself to her new life as nanny to baby Louie.

Soma’s new employer, Yamuna, was a fascinating and integral part of this story. Her struggle to cope as a new mum with obvious postnatal depression was heartbreaking, as was her relationship with her new husband which hadn’t been a match made out of love, but was an arranged marriage that she is doing her best to make work.

When Soma meets Sahan, Yamuna’s cousin, there’s an instant chemistry between them, but as two people from very different Sri Lankan backgrounds will their relationship ever be accepted? And what will happen when the truth about Soma finally emerges?

Sahan teaches Soma how to read and speak English, secretly meeting at the local park during Soma’s daily walks with baby Louie. They slowly fall in love, but with so many obstacles in their way will they ever get the happy ending they both deserve?

I loved Soma and Sahan’s relationship. It developed at a natural pace that felt very authentic to me. From the tense and gripping opening right through to the very last word this was a brilliant and intriguing page turner of a book, but it was Soma and Sahan’s story that stole my heart. I was desperate for them to somehow be able to make it through the storm together, even though I knew it wouldn’t be an outcome that would be easy to achieve.

Yamuna’s battle with postnatal depression was a part of the story that also struck a chord deep within me, and I had so much empathy for this woman who felt so lost and alone. Her story was as important to me as Soma’s, these two women from very different backgrounds struggling to make sense of the world around them.

A beautiful and moving tale filled with emotional turmoil and love, this is a story that took me completely by surprise. A gorgeous and memorable gem of a book with well written and likeable characters who will stay with me for some time to come.

Actual Review: 4.5/5
I had previously read one of Jeevani's books, Christmas at the Palace (review here) which was a very lighthearted romcom. I expected This Stolen Life to be similar. Whilst there were some very sweet romantic plot points weaved throughout this novel, it also touches on so many heartbreaking topics and I didn't anticipate how deeply this novel would affect me.

To begin we are introduced to Jaya, a young girl on the run from Sri Lanka and her abusive household. After her transportation crashes she loses her papers but is able to take on the identity of one of the victims of the crash and heads to the UK to become a nanny under this new identity. Hence the title, This Stolen Life.

Jaya, now Soma is the kind of character you read about and you want them to succeed. Every little step for her, being able to use a cash machine, learning to use a mobile, picking up English with help filled me with so much joy. But her past was always nipping at her heels. From how she put a chair under the door latch, couldn't sleep in the dark and had nightmares. It was heartbreaking.

Her employer, Yamuna, though kind was very detached but for a reason. She struggled to form a bond with her newborn son which was explored throughout the novel in a very sensitive way. I know very little about Post Natal Depression aside from hearing about it but felt that this representation was brilliant.

Consent was a big theme in this novel too which I was so happy to see. I would definitely say trigger warnings for sexual assault. What was different with this novel though it also focused on a male being assaulted by a female which you rarely see in media but obviously is something that happens. Male vulnerability is rarely spoken about and often feels like a taboo subject. I'm thrilled to have found a book that explicitly talks about it and how damaging it is.

This book filled me with so much happiness despite its sad themes. The characters were all well rounded and fully formed with complex emotions. Stereotypes were challenged and I left the book wishing that I could just watch every character continue on with their lives. I won't be forgetting this book any time soon.

A beautiful story about 2 gentle souls who find each other in the midst of attempting to navigate the landscape of a country far from home, where everything seems strange. They instantly recognise in each other a familiarity and comfort, while at the same time realising that their relationship is one that will not meet with approval in the eyes of those who matter to them.

Jaya decides to leave her home in a Sri Lankan village when it is no longer a safe haven for her. A terrible bus accident offers her an opportunity that she never thought she’d receive, and in a split second, she decides to grab it. And so, she becomes Soma and travels to England to become the nanny to Yamuna and Bim’s baby boy Louis. They want their baby to have a nanny who can talk to him in the language of their birthplace, Sri-Lanka, so Soma has been hired to look after him and teach him Sinhalese while they continue to converse mainly in the English that they’ve become more accustomed to.

As Soma settles into her new life, she realises there are many things she didn’t take into account when she suddenly decided to take on someone else’s life. It takes quite some time for her to adjust to the new country she’s living in; the new culture, foods, customs and most of all, remembering to answer to a new name! One of the biggest things she didn’t count on was meeting her employee’s lovely cousin Sahan and finding that she could possibly be developing feelings for him!

Sahan, despite having lived in England for a few years already is still slightly uncomfortable there. He just can’t get used to the relaxed way that other young people of his age are able to interact. They don’t understand him, and he certainly doesn’t understand them. But when he sees Soma for the first time, he knows instantly that he’s spotted a kindred spirit. However, it’s complicated. She works for his cousin as a nanny! His parents back home have his entire life mapped out for him, including the fact that nothing he does should ever embarrass them and his father’s political aspirations. So in the beginning he conspires to try and see Soma as much as possible under the guise of teaching her English – but in secret.

I loved this book, and the genuine innocence of Soma and Sahan who had been brought up in a seemingly completely different stratosphere to the one they now found themselves in, but who were attempting, against all odds, to make the most of the hand that life had dealt them. The author artfully displays this in sharp contrast to the casual way most young adults deal with relationships today.

But this book is not only a charming love story. It also examines the complexities of the relationship between Yamuna and Bim, whose marriage was arranged. They have a child together and view life as something that they just need to get on with. They don’t really connect and they don’t exactly think about whether they should or shouldn’t – nobody ever offered them any guidance as to how their married life would be after they were paired up, so they have no understanding of how their communication should work. So on a different level to Soma and Sahan, the 2 relationships are actually quite similar.

Jeevani Charika (also known by her pen name, Rhoda Baxter) has created such soulful characters that they make reading this book an absolute pleasure. I just wanted to immerse myself in it as I got to know them better: Soma, whose shy wariness conceals her innate wisdom, strong, dedicated Sahan and Yamuna, whose tough exterior hides her warm and caring heart.

This is a heart-warming 5 star read.