In Between Dreams

Although the content is sensitive and, at times, disturbing, this book is wonderfully written. It was an interesting read with unexpected twists. Be forewarned that this book involves themes of incest and child sexual abuse.

Frances is a lonely girl who has no friends. She can be very misunderstood, often vague and cruel at times and can be odd. No one understands why Frances is the way she is.Frances often resents and argues with her mother whilst adoring her father.Frances's father visits her room every night.Frances is sent to boarding school after a few unexpected events happen at home.Here, Frances finally can have time to think alone. She is in the real world now amongst other girls her age.Finally Frances is alone with her thoughts.With reoccurring flashbacks, Frances is starting to realise what has been happening with her father, how it has effected her and how wrong it is. She tries to understand her father's urges and what urges he has created within her.Through Frances's father's eyes, you see the story of his life, flitting between Frances's flashbacks and her current life. You see how and what has brought him to become this person. How he got here. What urges he had to (unsuccessfully) fight and try to resist. The parents journey together until this point.As you see the father's life build up, you see Frances learn to deal with and learn to overcome what terrible abuse has happened to her and what she has been through.There is never an easy way to approach a subject like this. This book is very carefully and delicately written that it helped get through the book.Although at times it was emotionally hard to read, you still find yourself very swiftly getting to the end for how well it has been written and approached.Personally I feel challenged by the ending. To me I think it was summed up too quickly in appearing that Frances is over her ordeal. I read between lines that were not there that she will deal with this emotionally for years to come.It's hard to recommend due to the nature of the book. But the book is so well and carefully written that it is a good read.I liked how you got to read about both sides to the story. Though I still found it hard to have any empathy at all for the father. You have a huge amount of empathy for Frances and are slightly overwhelmed that she is finally out and free

I found this book fascinating and also sad.Frances has parents who adore her and give her so much love.Her father especially.Her mother Marriene loves her as a mother should but her father somewhat different.Frances turns from a loving relationship with her mother to one of indifference.Frances turns rebellious and does lots of hurtful things for no reason whatsoever.Her grandmother who lives with them suddenly dies in the bathroom.Eventually everything gets too much for her parents.They decide to send her away to school.There starts the second phase of her life.I think the author understands the mind of a young person and puts together quite a powerful story.Yes it was odd,it was sad and it was disturbing but nevertheless I enjoyed it

I am not sure that I would have read this book if I had been fully aware of the subject matter – it was bizarrely and inappropriately listed as a romance novel – the description suggested a story about a girl growing up, and of family relationships.Frances, at 14, struggles to relate to others her own age and to make friends. She idolises her loving father, but gradually the shocking nature of their relationship is revealed. The chapters about Frances as a first person narrator are interspersed with the story of her parents’ relationship.While none of the characters are particularly likeable, I found this quite a compelling read.

I was very upset to discover the actual subject matter of this book and found it most upsetting, as it was a trigger for abuse I suffered in my own life, so I did not read it all. I am quite shocked and angered that this was listed as a romance novel at all, when it is about pedophilia and more so, incest between a father and daughter. It should never be listed as a romance!! Very bad of Amazon to do this and a warning to anyone else who may be triggered or upset by the subject matter! Very misleading.