Review: Center of Gravity by Laura McNeill (audio)

Title: Center of Gravity

Author: Laura McNeill

Narrator: Lisa Larsen 

Published: July 2015, Thomas Nelson on Brilliance Audio

Length: 10 hours 11 minutes

Source: Publisher

The truth could cost her everything.

Her
whole life, Ava Carson has been sure of one thing: she doesn’t measure
up to her mother’s expectations. So when Mitchell Carson sweeps into her
life with his adorable son, the ready-made family seems like a dream
come true. In the blink of an eye, she’s married, has a new baby, and
life is wonderful.

Or is it?

When her
picture-perfect marriage begins unraveling at the seams, Ava convinces
herself she can fix it. It’s temporary. It’s the stress. It’s Mitchell’s
tragic history of loss.

If only Ava could believe her own excuses.

Mitchell
is no longer the charming, thoughtful man she married. He grows more
controlling by the day, revealing a violent jealous streak. His behavior
is recklessly erratic, and the unanswered questions about his past now
hint at something far more sinister than Ava can stomach. Before she can
fit the pieces together, Mitchell files for divorce and demands full
custody of their boys.

Fueled by fierce love for her children
and aided by Graham Thomas, a new attorney in town, Ava takes matters
into her own hands, digging deep into the past. But will finding the
truth be enough to beat Mitchell at his own game?

Center of Gravity weaves a chilling tale, revealing the unfailing and dangerous truth that things—and people—are not always what they seem.

My thoughts: I had my eye on this book for a while – I had heard nothing but good things about it and knew I wanted to read it, but just couldn’t seem to fit it in – and then, I was offered the audio version of it! Problem solved!!! I seem to get through audio books much faster these days than print books.

This book grips you from the very beginning and doesn’t let up until the end. Whether you have children or not, you can’t help but sympathize with Ava and route for her as she fights for her children. It’s so hard not to become completely invested in this book, to feel as if you know Ava and to want to hug little Jack and to want to kick Mitchell to next week and back!

The emotions I went through while listening to this ranged from despair to anger to disbelief to heartbreak to anger to frustration – I think you get the picture. This book is one heck of a roller coaster ride and filled with twists and turns that you just don’t see coming. And what enhances that is the way the story is told – five different narrators, all giving their perspectives on what is going on. This is what really sets the story apart, because it really allows us to know the characters and what motivated them. Especially Jack’s perspective – his parts just about broke my heart, his innocence at what was really going on. 

I have not stopped thinking about this book since I finished listening to it – these characters have become real to me, this story felt like it was acted out in real life and that’s a testament to Laura McNeill’s writing skills. I am absolutely adding Laura to my must-read list from now on…she is one author I do not want to miss! 

Audio thoughts: I loved the audio production of this book…I think Lisa Larsen did a phenomenal job with the storytelling and the voices, especially Jack’s. She was able to give everyone their own unique voice and added just the right amount of tension when needed. I will definitely be seeing what else she has narrated as this was the first time I’ve listened to her.