The Love of My Life, by Rosie Walsh.

I knew Rosie Walsh had the makings of a great writer – from start to finish.

The Love of My Life by Rosie Walsh

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I noticed that many other GR reviewers went into this believing it would be a standard thriller. (That blurb does come across as ominously dark.) For the most part, Rosie Walsh’s last few novels do have mysterious or thriller elements to them, but what I always go to this author for is emotional and psychological tension and drama. THAT she can do very well!

I loved these characters: Emma in all of her guises and moods. My face almost cracked from the huge grin I had on my face as I read that part about how Leo’s workmates left the office smiling, while Leo interviewed Emma on the phone about her grandmother’s obituary, because they knew that Emma and Leo were already falling in love without having even met. That was, incomprehensibly, soooo romantic! Loved it!

Little Ruby was a chip off of her zany Mom’s block. Very high maintenance but worth all the work. Leo and Emma were Ruby’s slaves, as Leo put it.

This family just captured my heart and had me 110% invested in their future as a unit. Walsh did a fabulous job in creating a world filled with laughter – as well as horrendous mental suffering! – that I could disappear into for the duration of this story. And to think, the author was pregnant and/or had a newborn to take care of while she was writing this book. Respect and Applause, Applause, Applause!

The exploration of trust – and the loss of it – in a marriage was very well examined and portrayed. Poor Leo! But, oh my, poor Emma, too! So tortured, so brave, but at the same time unable to find the courage to tell Leo the truth – for so many valid reasons, of course, but still…..!

I’m rating this engrossing, highly visual novel that came complete with a mutated crab carapace a 5 out of 5 very well earned stars. NB: If you go into this one knowing it is a domestic versus a blood/guts and mutilated bodies thriller, then you will very likely turn the last page as satisfied as I was! For me, this was her very best book by far!!!

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