Adrift: A Novel

Peggy, Drew, and their son, Samson, live on a canal boat while Drew attempts to write a novel. They don’t have much money, causing Samson to be bullied at his school. Drew continues to move their boat farther from town, claiming there are too many distractions and noises. As their isolation increases, so does the tension. The family, Adrift on a peaceful canal, is anything but peaceful, and circumstances only get darker.

I’m a bit conflicted about this story. It is well written, with complicated characters, but there are dark themes, so it feels wrong to say I enjoyed it. If you’ve ever been gaslighted, this book will be a hard read. The author really showcases what that’s like for someone and how you can’t help but question everything. Again, the word enjoy seems wrong in this situation, but if you enjoy slow-burning thrillers that are more realistic than they should be, this is a book for you to read. I would also encourage you to speak up if you think someone might be in this type of situation and not dismiss them as crazy. It’s a form of abuse and should be recognized as such.