Book Review: Until I Find You by Rea Frey

Rea Frey writes such glorious, gut-wrenching, emotionally charged books… They strike every panicked mommy chord in my heart, yet I can’t not read them because her storytelling is so amazing. She has an absolutely lovely and lyrical way with language, even – if not especially – when describing situations that are unbearable to think about.

In this latest installment, her protagonist is confronted with almost literally the kitchen sink of horribles. She’s isolated, heartbroken, vulnerable, and in the throes of new motherhood – a state that brings with it an unbelievable set of highs and lows. Into that mixture, we add unbelievable drama coupled with an absolute dearth of places to turn as no-one believes the things she is saying. It’s a cauldron designed to brew insanity, and yet somehow Frey manages to make this woman feel relatable, even as we all secretly pray to whatever God we believe in that we won’t be confronted with one of her challenges let alone all of them.

It’s a tense book, to say the least, and was difficult to read at times. But because of Frey’s mastery of language, emotion, an human frailty and resilience, the resulting tale was one I literally couldn’t put down. I can’t imagine the process she must go through to craft these books. They are meticulous in detail, capturing every nuance of human emotion and situation, and if they are difficult to read they must be even more difficult to write immersively.

If you aren’t familiar with Frey’s work, you really should be – she tells horribly beautiful tales about the challenges of being a mother, and she does so in a way that captures all of the joys and horrors and fears and delights that particular vocation encompasses. It’s a beautiful thing…

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.