Nikki has been soaking up the culture! She’s been to see My Neighbour Totoro at the theatre, which she absolutely loved, and Pressure at the cinema, starring Andrew Scott. Another highly recommended film! Meanwhile, Hannah is in full nesting mode as autumn approaches. After recovering from work deadlines, she’s looking forward to an exciting author interview next month, which means plenty of reading and research to get through! It’s spooky season, and this week we’re discussing our latest Buddy Read: You Did Nothing Wrong by CG Drews. As ever, spoilers lie ahead as we explore the plot, characters and that twist in detail. The Blurb “The walls are closing in on her perfect new life. Single mother Elodie’s life has become a fairy tale. She’s met Bren, equal parts golden-retriever, devoted and sinfully handsome. He’s whisked her and her autistic son, Jude, to the crumbling family house he’s renovating. She hasa new husband, a new house, and a new baby on the way. Everything is perfect.Then Judeclaims he can hear voices in the walls. He says their renovations are 'hurting'the house. Even Elodie can’t ignore it–something strange is going on. Thequestion is, is it with the house, or with her son? Then the one secret Elodiehas been hiding is revealed, and no one is safe anymore. A pulse-pounding, clever take on the haunted house novel, YOU DID NOTHINGWRONG examines the complexities of motherhood and the twisted bonds of family.” Our Discussion Hannah has some strong opinions about this book, while Nikki, who has more experience with the genre, went in hoping for a gripping haunted house novel. Neither of us was entirely convinced, but for quite different reasons! We explore the novel’s pacing, atmosphere and believability, asking whether the haunted house elements deliver genuine tension and whether the twists work as intended. We also dig into unreliable narration, close third-person perspective and whether Elodie feels like a fully realised character, particularly in her experience of motherhood and parenting a child with additional needs. We spend time discussing the portrayal of autism and the inclusion of Jude’s character, including Hannah’s professional perspective on how autism can affect family relationships and the often-taboo subject of parental resentment. We also consider how the novel handles trauma: do the characters’ experiences feel authentic, or does trauma sometimes become a label or a plot device? Other topics include coercion, control and abusive relationships; the contradictions between characters’ actions and principles; and the portrayal of young, passionate, lustful relationships. Finally, we turn to the ingredients of a successful haunted house novel. What makes a book genuinely scary? How do gore, implication, context and atmosphere work together? When does a twist enhance a story, and when does it undermine it? And does every novel really need a twist? Join us for a spoiler-filled discussion of You Did Nothing Wrong by CG Drews, exploring haunted house horror, character development, motherhood, autism, trauma and the art of a satisfying twist. Main discussion points: Character development and unreliable narration Trauma, motherhood and family relationships Autism and its portrayal in fiction Coercion, control and abusive relationships What makes a genuinely scary haunted house novel? Pacing, reveals and the problem of too many twists Believability, plot twists and whether every story needs one
