Meredith, Alone

Meredith Maggs has not stepped outside her home for almost four years. Following a devastating trauma, the 40 year old woman has retreated from the world, not because she is incapable or irrational, but because crossing her own doorstep has become utterly terrifying. Told from Meredith’s POV, the story moves between her present self-isolation and flashbacks to her childhood with her sister, Fiona, and their emotionally and verbally abusive mother. Gradually, we come to learn what happened to Meredith and why remaining inside her home feels like her only choice. This is undeniably a sad story, but it is written with sensitivity and compassion. Meredith is intelligent, funny, and real. The author puts us completely inside her mind which is filled with fears that feel real and understandable. The handful of people trying to help Meredith bring warmth to the story and remind us that we truly are a village. This novel explores trauma, isolation, and mental health issues with remarkable insight for a debut novel. It feels strange to say I “enjoyed” such a heartbreaking story, but I found it absorbing and extremely well done. ⭐⭐⭐⭐