User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
Four StarsWhew! This is a very short, very intense, very sad book.
Still interested?Okay. This book is about a pedophile who is still technically a child himself.
Are you still there?If I haven't scared you away, you will want to read this fictional account of a family in crisis. It is told mostly from Adrianne's (the mother) POV as she tries to help her 16 year old son who is admittedly attracted to MUCH younger girls.
Yes, it is a taboo topic, but in the knowledgeable hands of Lucinda Berry, that subject is spun into an absolutely riveting tale of love, family and motherhood. How far would you go to help your child?
I wish I could give it a 5 star rating, but there are too many cringe inducing moments in the family dynamic that I felt were milked for effect. Otherwise, the book is truly fascinating and gave me tons of new perspective on a subject I had not explored before. The writing is very fast and sucks you in immediately.
This is one of those books like These Violent Delights. It reads a bit like non-fiction, it is relevant, and has so much to offer in terms of educating the reader.
There is a twist that I did not see coming and I straight up cried a couple of times while reading. THAT doesn't happen very often!
Reading doesn't always have to be a guilty pleasure. Sometimes, an interesting take on a most difficult subject is just what the doctor ordered.
Available on Amazon. Saving Noah
Rating: really liked it
This book looks at what happens when your child commits a crime. What happens when the child you love with all your heart and soul is branded a pedophile? As a Mother you still love this person. You will still see the good in them. You still want the best for them. You hurt when they are hurting. When others harm your child seeking retribution, how does this affect you, your family, your relationships, and you children?
Whew!
Noah is an honor roll student and star on the swim team. He is the ultimate all-American boy with a bright future, until the day he confesses to molesting two girls during swim practice. He is arrested and sentenced to eighteen months in a juvenile sexual rehabilitation center. His Mother remains supportive and visits him on a regular basis. His father is disgusted and will not allow Noah to move back into their home after his release. Noah struggles throughout. He is targeted and beaten, has low self-esteem and views himself as a monster. His Mother refuses to give up but as time goes by she is faced with some challenging questions - how will she protect her son? how will she hold her family together? How does she help her young daughter who is struggling? What does the future hold for her son?
This book takes a unique look at the life of a pedophile and what happens to a teenage offender and his family especially his Mother. I found this book to be thought provoking, sad, and has a twist involved. I found the story to be engaging and felt for all the characters. No one wins in these types of situations. This is a very interesting book about a sensitive subject which may be hard for some to read. I found this book hard to put down and had to keep reading until the last page. I'm not sure how I feel about the epilogue but overall, I enjoyed this book; although it feels strange to say so due to the subject matter.
I received a copy of this book from the Author in exchange for an honest review.
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
Rating: really liked it
EXCERPT: Noah being charged as a sex offender sucker punched our entire suburban community. Child molesters were adults - dirty old men who lured children into their cars with promises of candy and treats. They weren't A-honor roll students who ran varsity track and went to mass every Sunday.
THE BLURB: Not since Lionel Shriver brought us We Need to Talk About Kevin has a writer delved into the complexities of a disturbed mother/son relationship. Until now.
Meet Noah—an A-honor roll student, award-winning swimmer, and small-town star destined for greatness. There weren’t any signs that something was wrong until the day he confesses to molesting little girls during swim team practice. He’s sentenced to eighteen months in a juvenile sexual rehabilitation center.
His mother, Adrianne, refuses to turn her back on him despite his horrific crimes, but her husband won’t allow Noah back into their home. In a series of shocking and shattering revelations, Adrianne is forced to make the hardest decision of her life. Just how far will she go to protect her son?
Saving Noah challenges everything you think you know about teenage sexual offenders. It will keep you up at night long after you've read the last page, questioning beliefs you once thought were true.
MY THOUGHTS: Child molestation. Bullying. Suicide. Family relationships. Secrets and lies. Author Lucinda Berry, a clinical psychologist specialising in childhood trauma, tackles some difficult subjects with sensitivity. That is not to say she pussy-foots around them, because she certainly doesn't do that! She tackles everything head on, bravely, but with great sensitivity.
How did a boy who seemed so good do something so bad?
The story of Noah's fall from grace is told mainly from his mother, Adrianne's point of view, and that of Noah himself. It chronicles the fallout following 15 year old Noah's shock admission that he has molested two young girls, the wedge it drives between the family members themselves, their friends and community. It chronicles Noah's treatment and rehabilitation back into 'society' and school. But it doesn’t end there . . .
I don't quite know what I was expecting when I began Saving Noah, but I got far more than I bargained for. I don't quite know how to review this book without major spoilers, so I won't. Nor do I know how to do it justice. Let me just say that it is one of the most touching, emotionally intense and sad books that I have recently read.
Thank you to Rise Press for providing a digital copy of Saving Noah by Lucinda Berry for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions. Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Rating: really liked it
Trigger warning: SA, pedophilia, suicide Writing: 5/5 | Plot: 4/5 | Ending: 4/5 PLOTNoah was accused of inappropriately touching younger girls, was sent to a "pervert rehab" of sorts, and is now getting out. His mom, Adrianne, is still in stage 1 of grief (denial) and refuses to believe her perfect son is really a supreme pervert. Adrianne is committed to "saving" her son and helping him return to a normal life, but is it even possible?
MY OPINION *Heavy sigh* Where do I start? If this kind of topic makes you sick, then do not read it. Some parts of exceptionally graphic and disturbing. I've read several other Lucinda Berry novels, and I love her writing. I was interested to see how she would broach such a sensitive and challenging topic; I wasn't disappointed. Lucinda does a fantastic job of telling it like it is: it's a mental disorder and true pedophilia cannot be rehabilitated.
Ok so let me just say: Adrianne is so f****** annoying. I wanted to shake her sometimes. I'm not a mother so maybe I don't understand the whole concept of turning a blind eye to your kid's wrongdoings out of love... But BROTHAAAAAA, pull your head out of your ass. When she tries to act like Noah touching little girls isn't a big deal and all boys are curious.... EXCUSE MOIIIII??? If I were one of the victim's parents, I would've had to whoop her ass at the dinner table.
The revelation at the end was a doozy. I would've liked more explanation on... how.... If you've read the book, you'll understand what I'm asking. I removed a star because of the unsatisfying ending.
PROS AND CONSPros: Interesting look at a challenging topic, great writing
Cons: Rushed ending
Rating: really liked it
Well written and incredibly thought-provoking read!
***This is a book about child abuse. While the actions are only alluded to, it is the foundation of what this whole book is about, so if this is a trigger, this is not the book for you. Also note that there are scenes that involve the discussion of suicide and bullying. ***
Not everything, or everyone, is as they appear...
The perfect family, the perfect son.
Until one day he confesses to molesting some of the young girls he has been in charge of coaching.
What would you do or how far would you go to protect your son? Does he even deserve your protection?
This is a story that tears into the heart of what goes on behind the scenes, between the four walls, as this family slowly falls apart.
I did this as a buddy read, and I'm really glad I did. This is one of those books that just hits you hard in so many ways. It will make you angry and frustrated, as much as it will make you sad where you want to cry at the hopelessness of it. Being able to write down my thoughts and emotions helped make this subject matter go down a bit easier.
My buddy and I were very much in tune with our feelings throughout, but that's not to say that there weren't a few issues that weren't so black and white. Some of the decisions made by both of Noah's parents confused and angered us. Try as we did to put ourselves in their shoes, the subject matter is just too personal to say how we would react if this happened in our family.
Hats off to the author for tackling this rough subject matter in such a powerful way. I highly recommend, if you can handle the subject matter.
Rating: really liked it
This book is SO sad!! Actually, sad isn’t even the word. It’s absolutely heartbreaking (& terrifying) on so many levels. It’s excellent for what it is, extremely well written, but it is NOT a thriller. It’s more so a character study, or sort of fictional memoir. I couldn’t decide what to rate it because it is so expertly done, & I think it may be perfect if God forbid, you need insight into any of these issues.. But as far as reading it for “entertainment?” No way. I was gutted. Even once I realized what it was (or wasn’t,) i still couldn’t put it down.. But I wouldn’t have picked it up in the first place if i knew what it was.
Rating: really liked it
I would have loved this more if Adrianne would have found out that not only her son but her jackass of a husband was also a pedophile and moved out with Katie.
Rating: really liked it
I struggled with writing a review on this book because of the ending. Mother’s pain an anguish was wayyy too close to my heart.
***Spoilers from this point forward****
Oh my! I have not cried out loud this much reading a book in a very long time. I am guessing anyone reading this review have already read the book, so I will not waste anyones time by writing about the plot of the book. I will jump right into my thoughts…
As a mother who has a son, I completely understood her unrelenting, unconditional love for her son, no matter how awful he is or was. The bond between a mother and a child is very primal and extremely intense. Nothing comes close to it. The moment you hear a heart beat in your tummy, you just fall in love with the baby. From that moment on, you just want to protect your child from the world. I really bonded with Adrianne from the very beginning. She was a mama bear and just wanted to protect Noah, even though he was a pedophile. I can’t imagine if I was ever confronted with such a situation but one thing I know, I would not stop loving my son. I didn’t like Lucas at all! He is a cold hearted, cruel man! Also when we find out he is also a pedophile, really pissed me off!
Let’s get to the end of the book, but before I must tell you a bit about my personal story. Maybe reading from my Goodreads profile, you will know I lost my daughter to leukemia when she was 14 years old. When we found out the last round of chemo didn’t work, my world stopped, my heart become a huge rock, heavy and suffocating. I just wanted the earth to open up and swallow me into the deepest darkest corners of the world. We wanted our daughter to take her last breath at home. That’s what she wanted too. She lived 10 more days after coming home. That week we were all very strong and tried to make the best of our last few days together. The night before she passed away, I hugged her really gingerly and whispered to her gently “I will see you when my time comes, I love you”. She was not conscious but I think she heard me because I saw her sigh. The next day she passed away.
The pain Adrianne was describing of loosing Noah was so close to my heart, I can’t tell you how much I cried. Thank goodness I was alone reading this book otherwise it would have been too painful for my family to watch. They saw me cry way too many times anyway. The ending was so painful but beautifully written. If Adrianne was in front of me, I would have hugged her tightly. I understood her pain and why she did what she did. Sometimes we do the unthinkable to do the best for our children.
After loosing my precious daughter, I read and read. Books saved my life. This book was written very well. I will definitely read more from Lucinda Berry.
A solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rating: really liked it
3.5 Stars rounded to 4.
Rating: really liked it
This is a very uncomfortable and sad read. It is written so realistically. I knew going into it that there couldn't possibly be a positive outcome, but it was still difficult to get through many parts of the book. Author Lucinda Berry paints an honest picture with skill, and doesn't shy away at the tough parts. I applaud her for telling the story given that when you read the synopsis, you know it won't be an easy one to tell.
Rating: really liked it
I’m gonna need a stiff drink after that …
Rating: really liked it
What a heart rending read Saving Noah by Lucinda Berry turned out to be. Reading the book description I thought it would make for an uncomfortable read, but I was surprised by just how emotionally drained I felt after reaching the last page. I found this book to be an incredibly thought provoking read despite the fact the author explores an issue that’s considered taboo by many, and for that reason I think some may find it a difficult book to read. The book focuses on a family in crisis, fragmented through the actions of Noah who molests two little girls during swim team practice, although his crimes are alluded too, the author spares the reader the horrific details.
Don’t think for one minute this is just a story about a teenage sexual offender, this book has hidden depth which looks at the aftermath of Noah’s crimes and the consequences that leave a once close family broken beyond repair. It also explores Noah’s actions and what drove him to commit such awful crimes. Saving Noah challenges everything you think you know about teenage sexual offenders, it will make you question your own beliefs, it’s a book that you will remember long after you’ve reached the last page of this emotionally charged novel. The story is told mostly from the POV of Adrianne, a mother whose unwavering love for her son shines through. I felt so much empathy for her, I found her anger, fear and despair all emotions I could relate to.
This surprising thing about saving Noah was Noah himself, Lucinda Berry has done a remarkable job in creating a character who gains the readers sympathy. Due to the nature of his crimes you would think that’s an impossible task but the author depicts Noah in a sympathetic way that forces the reader to question their own beliefs around a taboo subject, it’s definitely a book that gave me food for thought. Noah’s story will touch the hearts of many readers I’m sure, despite the difficult subject the author has tackled it with a great deal of sympathy and understanding. I know I’m going to continue to think about this book and Noah, in my opinion this is a testament to the authors skills writer in providing the reader with such a complex character. Finding Noah is haunting, emotional and made for a thought provoking read, it would make the perfect book club read as there is so much to discuss and debate. Highly recommended.
All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com
Rating: really liked it
Adrienne’s idealistic family shatters when her teenage son admits to molesting two young girls. With his release from a juvenile therapeutic detention facility on the horizon and her husband Lucas refusing to allow Noah’s, Adrienne will stop at nothing to protect her son, even to Noah’s detriment.
Adrienne’s devotion to Noah blinded her to the seriousness of his crimes, repeatedly minimizing the impact on the victims. Lucas didn’t make matters easier by hating his son, refusing to talk to him. Between his overreaction and her under reaction neither parent met his needs. I understood Lucas wanting to protect their young daughter’s safety. I wouldn’t have let him alone with her either and I wouldn’t trust Noah’s word that he’d never hurt Katie. My hair stood on edge when the little girl said, “I know he touched girls’ private parts. He could touch mine if he wanted. I wouldn’t care.” I would have taken her to therapy, Adrienne wants to make sure Lucas doesn’t find out. WTF??????
The resolution was unlike any I could have imagined with a twist I never saw coming.
I enjoy Lucinda Berry’s writing very much. Her books are impossible to put down and dive into areas few authors dare to go. SAVING NOAH is an uncomfortable, compelling read.
Rating: really liked it
Update:
I seriously CANNOT stop thinking about this one. I still didn’t love it as much as I was expecting, but I can’t get it out of my head. Updated to 4 stars.
Wow, really didn’t like this one as much as I thought I would. It was a quick read, mostly because I had to know what was gonna happen, but it was just sad more than anything. The book kind of hinges on a plot twist that I saw coming close to the start, which almost never happens, so it was just a very straight forward, sad read.
Not a thriller or a novel of psychological suspense (as it’s advertised) in the slightest in my opinion.
Rating: really liked it
such a heartbreaking story, but
one has to appreciate ms berry's
disposition to deal with disturbing
subjects and leave us the echo of
a question: what would YOU do?
