Don't Stand So Close

By: Luana Lewis

Narrated by: Julia Barrie

A lingering, compulsive debut novel that will keep you tightly in its grip.

What would you do if a young girl knocked on your door and asked for your help?

If it was snowing and she was freezing cold, but you were afraid and alone? What would you do if you let her in, but couldn’t make her leave? What if she told you terrible lies about someone you love, but the truth was even worse?

Traumatized by her final case as a psychologist, Stella only feels truly safe hidden away in the isolated house she shares with her husband, Max. Then Blue appears in the middle of a snow-storm, begging to be let in. As secrets and lies gradually seep out of the young girl, Stella’s tightly controlled world begins to unravel.

©2014 S.L. Lewis (P)2014 Random House Audiobooks

Beautiful intertwining of characters

If you could sum up Don't Stand So Close in three words, what would they be?

A psychiatrist has a traumatic encounter. Instead of dealing with what happened afterwards, she sinks into a grey fog of stagnation and dependency. She presses pause on her life. But then a combative teenager girl rings her doorbell, and it brings a gust of unwanted truth into her haze of a life. The story begins with the girl at the door.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Blue Cunningham. The author really captured a troubled, seductive teenager quite well. I even felt quite sympathetic for the "adult" who mishandled the situation with her.

Have you listened to any of Julia Barrie’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I haven't, but she has a lovely voice, and she captured a sophisticated, troubled woman as well as she captured a emotional, troubled teenager.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not at first, but after a little while, for sure.

Any additional comments?

I felt a little frustrated the main character Stella didn't see more of what happened coming (it was apparent to me that her first client was a narcissist, but she didn't see it right away), and same with another guy in her life, but therapists have their blind spots just like regular people. She was still an observant therapist. So was her boss. The way it went backwards in time worked for me. I'm surprised it worked as well as it did. It felt quite smooth actually- what was revealed was revealed in time, even though the whole of it was not chronological.

Interesting

What made the experience of listening to Don't Stand So Close the most enjoyable?

Going from past to present and it being told from the views of the different characters.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Most of the time. It kept me guessing by only revealing a little bit at a time from different characters. Although I did guess the basic plot it was still enjoyable because of the way it was written.

Any additional comments?

The subject matter was a little dark and could be upsetting to some. The author did a good job of only giving the details that were needed without being overly graphic during the assault scenes.

The Past Comes back to haunt you

Julie Barrie & Luana did very well on the production of this book the overall storyline was actually written well. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this Audiobook.
official review by Deanne DeVille