The Choice by Gillian McAllisterMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
June 2, 2020
Edelweiss
G.P.Putnam’s Son
368 pages
Fiction, contemporary women, ARC
ISBN: 9780593188002
Originally pub in UK as: Anything You Do Say
Oct 19, 2017 Penguin UK, 380 pages
6/20/20-6/27/20
First of all, I would text this book so don’t let my 3-star rating dissuade you from reading. My rating is influenced by the manner in which the sliding door technique was used in this story. I found that switching back and forth for each chapter was confusing. Maybe it would have worked better if larger portions of the story were told before switching from Reveal to Conceal. Again, the premise is the same so all the extraneous details only added distraction while trying to determine if I was reading Reveal or Conceal.
Joanna Olivia is enjoying some drink and laughs with her hippie artist friend Laura one night. During the course of the evening they entertain an aggressive stranger, Sadiq Ul-Haq, by taking selfies with him. Unfortunately, Joanna’s timid and self-effacing personality only encourages Sadiq to pursue her even after they change seats.
After the two friends call it a night, Joanna begins to walk home alone with the memories of Sadiq’s harassment still on her mind. Her main coping strategy all her life has been denial so she tries to convince herself that she is not being followed. Eventually, her anxiety overwhelms her as she senses a male behind her and quickly turns and pushes the person down the stones steps.
Appalled at her own behavior she becomes perplexed as to what to do. She slowly descends the stairs and notices the man is injured and in need of immediate care. From this point, the book alternates chapters between Reveal and Conceal which describes the two scenarios with which she is given: call for help or walk away.
Ultimately, whichever decision she chooses only serves to isolates her from her family and friends. Her guilt and feelings of remorse start to erode her mind and spirit as she feels she can’t risk telling anyone the “complete” truth. At times she starts to question the truth herself as she realizes there is no easy way out. In the end she if forced to reevaluate herself in a way she never had.
I always tell my kids, if you choose the behavior and decision then you are choosing the consequences.
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