Book Review ~ Being Jade by Kate Belle

Title: Being Jade
Author: Kate Belle
Release Date: June 1st 2014
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Source: Received from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review
 
A tragic death. A family divided. Only truth can set them free.
 
Banjo Murphy is killed on the night he finally walks away from his wife, Jade, after twenty-five years of her adultery. In the aftermath, Banjo is bewildered to discover he still exists, and in despair he watches Jade collapse into deep depression and his daughters, Lissy and Cassandra, struggle with their unexpected loss.
 
Lissy is tortured by the mystery surrounding her father’s death. What compelled Banjo to leave the night he died? And why won’t Jade talk about what happened? Despite their volatile relationship, Lissy believes her parents’ love to have been enduring, but sensible
 
Cassandra sees things differently. When Cassy discovers a sketchbook chronicling Jade’s affairs, the truth of their parents’ relationship begins to unfold and Lissy’s loyalties are divided.
 
Searching for answers, Lissy contacts Jade’s ex-lovers. And watching from afar, Banjo aches as he discovers what these men meant to Jade – until Lissy’s quest reveals an explosive truth …
 
One that will finally set their family free.

My Thoughts
 
Being Jade by Kate Belle has taken me on one of the most heartfelt and emotional journey’s I’ve experienced from a book so far this year.
 
I am a tear drenched, ragged mess of emotional goo, surrounded by soggy tissues and desperately in need of a restorative cup of tea.
 
I am emotionally spent.
I am exhausted.
I am overwhelmed by a myriad of emotions and feelings.
But mostly, I am elated at the author’s ability to make me feel so damn much.
 
Jade is a selfish bitch.
She thinks of herself first, her children, her lovers, and when pushed to, her husband. But all is not as it seems in Jades life.
 
Jade is an enigma, a misunderstood and lost soul.
She dances to the beat of her own drum, and nobody really seems to understand her.

Banjo, her husband has flashes of clarity, sees her true self, but he is so caught up being the good father, the great provider, the best man he can be, he forgets that Jade isn’t like other women. Jade requires constant attention and she’s hard work emotionally, but Banjo loves her and so goes above and beyond to make everything perfect for her, and Jade is seemingly happy for everyone else to put in all the effort – and then there are her numerous infidelities and frequent absences that further strain the family. Through it all, Banjo is the glue that holds them all together.
 
Being Jade is full of emotionally disabling writing that left the page, spearing my heart with its intense and honest grief. At times those emotions were hard to stomach, causing an almost physical pain that wouldn’t ease and I can’t praise Kate Belle enough for invoking my response; she is a master manipulator of words, thoughts and feelings and I am beyond impressed with her talented writing.
 
This fierce and raw story will stay with me for quite some time to come, 5 stars.