HooksandBooksUK's Reviews > Lioness

The reader meets Therese Thorne, the fifty-something wife of a construction magnate 20 years her senior, on the brink of a lifestyle change. They are planning to relocate from New Zealand to Sydney as her husband Trevor steps back from work for a more relaxed pace of life when a scandal hits. Trevor’s last hurrah, a huge hotel project is hit with allegations of cronyism and historic fraud investigations.

For the last 30 years Therese has been building a lifestyle brand Therese Thorne whilst juggling being the second wife to Trevor and playing house with his adult children. The aspirational lifestyle boutique has grown successful (with Trevor’s backing) but it pales in comparison to the wealth and success of her husband. Together they have lived a charmed and privileged life which is a far cry from Therese’s upbringing. When the scandal hits the couple’s friends and associates dwindle and Therese relies heavily on neighbour Claire for companionship.

Therese seeks the authenticity that her brand emanates so easily but in her gilded life is hard to come by… except Claire. Claire seems free, unbothered and untethered in Therese’s eyes and she hungers for that herself.

This is a transformative story that captures the many roles women play throughout their lives. We see a gentle unfolding of Therese’s experiences as her outlook begins to shift, a series of decisions made with no regard for input where she is dismissed, exploring the time in a woman’s life where she begins to feel invisible. Will Therese break free of the mould of privileged banality she has made for herself or will the lure of old habits prove too strong?

Perkins seeks to cherish the power of female friendship with Therese and Claire’s relationship and explore how feminine companionship can elevate, soothe and foster a sense of belonging.

I enjoyed this book although I found the prose juddered at times. Scenes would be building only to stall and flash back in time which could be challenging to follow. But overall I felt it was a carefully measured and thought provoking story that examines how each decision and exchange filters down through our lives.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bloomsbury and Emily Perkins for providing me with a digital ARC in return for my honest review.