Kat Writes ✍️

by Kat

The Bed I Made written by Lucie Whitehouse

Whitehouse delivers an intense read that carefully excavates the remains of a psychologically abusive relationship and its tumultuous aftershock. We follow the protagonist, Kate, as she desperately avoids the cruel clutches of a sadistic businessman who is hell-bent on dominating her existence. Fearing his unrelenting obsession, Kate abandons her hectic career in London and finds sanctuary in the Isle of Wight, which she associates with happy childhood memories.

I found this novel fascinating for a plethora of reasons.

Firstly, Kate is inherently likeable as a protagonist and I found myself genuinely concerned about what was going to happen to her as the plot unfolded. *SIDE NOTE* I should point out that it was eventually clear that something would have to happen to her in order for Richard (her controlling ex) to be caught. Her humble nature remains intact throughout her harrowing experience. Even whilst living in hiding, she manages to muster acts of kindness and develops genuine friendships with complete strangers.

I appreciated that Whitehouse didn’t reveal the extent of the abuse in one sitting to satisfy shock factor. The frequent flashbacks track the relationship’s development plausibly from its origin as an innocent romance to its ultimate fractured end. We, the reader, experience the descent into dysfunction alongside the unwitting main character. All we are told to begin with is that Kate is running away from something or someone – we later realise this to be Richard. The gradual intensification of the interactions makes the story far more impactful and credible. Recalling her traumatic memories is often initiated by a threatening text or email in the present which makes the reader feel thoroughly involved in Kate’s chaotic recovery. The initial love story is so convincingly written that we are equally duped by Richard’s charm.

I suspect that Whitehouse’s choice of setting was intentional in both timelines. The transition between the bustle of London and the isolated seaside town mirrors the protagonist’s internal struggle towards independence following her abuse. I commend the author for handling the topic sensitively rather than being needlessly graphic. Doing this might have guaranteed a page-turner, but it would have likely distracted from the narrator’s powerful personal arc.

My only small complaint is that such a slow-burning narrative is resolved in less than a chapter which feels slightly rushed. Although none of the novel is badly written, it does seem a shame that the tension is cut short by an anticlimactic final struggle. Despite this feeling, I still thoroughly enjoyed the storytelling and adept characterisation on offer.

Overall – ⭐⭐⭐⭐