Wandering Feelings - An Intimate Portrait of Love and Emotional Resilience

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Wandering Feelings is a poetic and deeply emotional tale that explores love—and the absence of it—in its raw, unfiltered form. The story follows a young couple who, though deeply connected, must endure neglect and even abuse from those who should care for them most. And yet, in spite of the pain, their relationship becomes a refuge, a place of warmth and meaning.

BookHookup Review: Wandering Feelings

From the very beginning, I was drawn into their private world, witnessing the joy they found in small, intimate moments—like the tender scene where he buys her a teddy bear after he “felt his heart for the first time.” These details, while subtle, carry immense emotional weight.

Boyko Ovcharov’s lyrical and philosophical writing breaks traditional storytelling rules. The characters are nameless, the plot is fluid, and the structure flows more like a meditation than a standard narrative. Yet this unconventional style works beautifully, allowing the reader to reflect on their own emotions and experiences.

Though the characters face real hardship, the story ultimately leaves a lasting sense of hope. Love may be fragile, but here, it endures—and that quiet resilience is what stays with you.

And Then You Were Gone: A raw and emotional read

 Ivy Logan’s And Then You Were Gone is a haunting and thought-provoking exploration of trauma, mental health, and the complicated bond between mother and daughter. Nina, the mother, carries the scars of psychological abuse and abandonment by her narcissistic husband. Her daughter, Sophie, becomes her everything, but then Sophie faces relentless bullying and emotional turmoil.

 

Sophie’s struggles with anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem shape her view of the world, affecting her intimate relationships and sense of self. As Nina desperately tries to help, she creates a fictional narrative to control Sophie’s fate, blurring the line between reality and fiction.

The novel powerfully captures the emotional toll of trauma but offers little hope or resolution, making it an unsettling read for those seeking closure. It challenges readers to consider how the past shapes our present and how the stories we tell ourselves can both protect and harm us. A raw and emotional read, And Then You Were Gone is deeply affecting and, at times, a difficult story.

I give And Then You Were Gone by Ivy Logan a solid 4 out of 5 stars. The novel is powerful and emotionally charged, offering an insightful exploration of trauma, mental health, and the complex dynamics between mother and daughter. Logan’s writing is haunting, and the depth of the characters, particularly Nina and Sophie, draws you in from the start.

However, while the story is beautifully crafted, its lack of hope or resolution left me feeling unsettled. The emotional intensity of the book might be difficult for readers seeking closure or a more optimistic ending. Despite this, the book’s thought-provoking themes about trauma and self-perception make it a compelling and deeply affecting read.

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