Melissa is pregnant when the lockdown is announced. Her two children are with their father, and Melissa is with her new husband Justin. Before the lockdown, Melissa had already decided that she was going to leave Justin, who is abusive and controlling. Now she’s stuck in a house with this man who expects her to pander to his every need – i.e.sex on demand – and if she says no he shouts at her. Because she is pregnant and asthmatic, Melissa is terrified of the COVID-19 virus. Justin thinks she’s overreacting and does go out at times. And when he’s home, he drinks and makes her life a living hell.
One day, Melissa leaves her computer logged into her bank account, and Justin transfers the money she wanted to use as a deposit for another house into his account. He tells her that she can’t leave him now…
Funny story, I had a similar idea at the beginning of the lockdown – write a novel about an abused woman stuck in a house with her abuser. I didn’t finish it, but thankfully Maria Frankland had an idea like it and she did finish her book! I enjoyed this and was hoping Justin would get his just deserts!
Read for the ShelfReflection Reading Challenge 2025
Prompt 17: A ‘pandemic’ novel
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
