Noreen is in her late 20s and a married mother of toddler Evie. She’s also nearing the age of how old her aunt and closest relative, Nonie, was when she took her own life. At the time of the incident, Noreen was eight years old and didn’t understand what happened to her special person or why. Now, as an adult, she experiences anxiety attacks similar to what her aunt experienced. She’s also questioning her marriage to her husband George, constantly add odds with reality and reason. Flashbacks to Nonie’s point of view show a more tragic reality of what she endured. Without You Here by Jody Hobbs Hesler is a contemporary drama in which Noreen attempts to reconcile with her current life while still struggling with losing the best person she’s ever known decades ago.
Book
Shortly before Nonie took her own life, Noreen had an accident on her watch that resulted in a hospital trip for both of them. Naturally, Nonie blames herself. And she never forgives herself for what happened under her watch. Weeks later, when Noreen loses her aunt, she’s still confused as she overhears whispers from adults about what really happened and what Nonie was going through. Now, as an adult, Noreen finds herself in an unbalanced relationship, feeling trapped and having to scheme in order to get the occasional freedom she craves. The lingering question remains if she’s destined to repeat history and continue the cycle that only brings heartbreak.
Review
Without You Here switches timelines throughout. Readers get insight into both Nonie’s and Noreen’s point of view from the months leading up to the accident that cemented Nonie’s downfall. Nonie was kind of a hot mess. Substance abuse, lack of impulse control, and her unpredictable anxiety attacks earned the poor image her family had of her. Yet through her chapters readers understand how much she was truly trying to get her shit together. Especially for her niece. Noreen, as a somewhat unreliable narrator, is relatable to those who share similar struggles. Having similar anxiety attacks, she wonders if she is destined to follow in her aunt’s footsteps. She feels confined to her current life, while sympathizing with her husband’s attempts to maintain a connection.
With a sense of guilt, I’ll say that I struggled with this one. While it explores a connection between reality and mental health, it was slow and underwhelming. I’m beginning to think that contemporary or women’s fiction just don’t click with me. But the bouncing between inconsistent timelines and two unreliable narrators made the book hard to get through. I give credit to the author for tackling a challenging subject matter (be aware of content warnings), but the delivery fell short. Which made it hard for me to appreciate the deeper nuances that Without You Here had to offer.
