Young and old alike here are both beautiful tales. Particularly Ruth. Her wit and the way she is one of those senior characters we all want in our lives is what I get joy from these kind of books from. Her and kates first meeting to what become between them is a stunning little show of friendship at any age. And also shows how compassion, the will to listen and the will to understand has so much power. The two woman both need to be heard. To be healed. To move forward. And both being at different times in life doesn't change what the act of friendship can do for any old heart.
This is such a wonderful book. The way it's written right down to the layout of chapters and prose is just stunning. It's a book that will have you feeling many many things up and down!
What a swell book for any reader at any time.

Superb. Deep. Women-centric.

An Invisible Tattoo tells the story of Ruth, spanning from her youth in Australia to her twenties in England and finally to her old age back in Australia. The narrative also weaves in the perspective of Kate, a journalist interviewing Ruth about her time in Somerset in 1972—particularly the night when singer James Bennet died in the middle of a dazzling party.

I absolutely loved this book for several reasons, but first and foremost, Ruth’s character—her life, her choices, and her sharp, often funny remarks. Kate, on the other hand, is someone still searching for herself when she meets Ruth, and she evolves into a person I never would have expected at the beginning—but I was so happy to see her become. Beyond the beautifully told story of two women at vastly different stages of life, this is a tale of friendship, growth, betrayal, and love. I cried happy tears, and this is a book that will stay with me for a long time.

There was nothing I disliked—the writing was both beautiful and masterful—but I do want to give a word of caution. Often, trauma is internalized and normalized, meaning that survivors can shift from talking about the weather to something deeply painful in the same breath, without warning. This book explores significant trauma: child abuse, rape, pregnancy loss, domestic abuse, and drug abuse. If any of these topics are triggering for you, please proceed with caution. That said, An Invisible Tattoo does not dwell in trauma—it focuses on moving forward and healing.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book.

Thank you, NetGalley and Echo Publishing, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. An Invisible Tattoo will be published on April 1, 2025. #AnInvisibleTattoo #NetGalley