The Day Shelley Woodhouse Woke Up: The uplifting, emotional read from the author of NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER The Last List of Ma

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars | 6,777 ratings

Price: 0.99

Last update: 01-31-2025


About this item

BRAND NEW from the NUMBER ONE bestselling author of The Last List of Mabel Beaumont comes a powerful story of memory, loss, love, and new beginnings. Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Colleen Hoover and Jojo Moyes.

When Shelley Woodhouse wakes up in hospital from a coma, the first thing she says is that her husband must be arrested.

He’s the reason she’s in here. She knows it. She remembers what he did. Clearly as anything.

But there are things Shelley has forgotten too, including parts of her childhood. And as those start to come back to her, so do other memories. Ones with the power to change everything.

But can she trust these new memories, or what anyone around her is telling her? And who is the mysterious hospital volunteer who brings her food and keeps making her smile? Is it possible to find your future when you're confused about your past?

An unmissable and heartbreaking story, guaranteed to have readers reaching for the tissues!

Readers are loving The Day Shelley Woodhouse Woke Up:

‘This is the kind of story that draws you in and will not let you goHeartbreaking, heartwarming and absolutely stupendous. I loved it!’ Celia Anderson, author

Get your box of tissues ready when you read this book. Laura Pearson has written another beautiful story with a great emotional punch, and I loved every minute of it. A tough, eye-opening and important story told with compassion and sensitivity and characters who came alive on the page.An absolute must read.’ Louise Fein, author

Heartbreaking but brimming with hope. This wonderfully original and deftly crafted story hooked me from the first page. Shelley’s story will stay with me for a long time.’ Nicola Gill, author

Heart-wrenching, compassionate and empowering, Laura Pearson has done it again. An emotional five stars from me.’ Zoe Folbigg, author

I absolutely adored The Day Shelley Woodhouse Woke Up. I loved the dual timeline, it kept me guessing throughout, and I loved the cast of characters around Shelley – the friends and family who helped her find herself and her lost memories again. It dealt with some sensitive issues with care, and I was completely lost in Shelley’s world, desperate for her to rediscover her truth.’ Clare Swatman, author

Intriguing, moving and full of compassion… Will stay with me for a long time to come. In Shelley, Pearson has created a character who represents abused women as so much more than the victims of their abuser. Shelley is funny and brave, she’s a friend, a business owner, a daughter, a partner. Her strength shines through from the very first page… Part mystery, part emotional drama and entirely engrossing, I highly recommend you read this book.’ Lisa Timoney, author

Pearson’s characters may not be safe, but her readers always are. You know you’re in good hands when you pick up a book by Laura. In Shelley Woodhouse, we meet another strong and complex woman, who, in her search for the truth about her forgotten recent past, discovers not just facts but love and hope… Another beautiful story with humanity at its heart.’ Amy Beashel, author

Uplifting... The Day Shelley Woodhouse Woke Uphandles a serious topic with empathy and grace.’ Alison Stockham, author

Such an absorbing, compassionate and ultimately optimistic novel. I loved it.’ Kate Eberlen, author


Top reviews from the United States

  • Carol Kessler
    5.0 out of 5 stars Uplifting and A well done Story
    Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2024
    This book engaged me from beginning to end. The experience of domestic violence is penetrating, but not over the top. I learned a lot about the difficulties in escaping such a relationship. I highly recommend the book.
  • jbell
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good read
    Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2024
    Likeable character and believable Heartfelt story. easy read with plenty of character development, plot,and a good setting. Laura has a nice writing style and set a the pace well.
  • Luis R.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Unexpected and emotional
    Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2024
    This book took me down turns that I didn't expect. It was a great read! This was an emotional and intriguing story based on what is a reality for many of us.
  • Book Club Member
    3.0 out of 5 stars Cycle of Domestic Abuse Terrorizes Woman
    Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2024
    Shelley Winter awoke from a coma ready to tell police that her husband had tried to kill her. She was confused when no one came to interrogate her. She lived in fear that her husband David would show up at the hospital, saying her was so sorry that "she fell down the stairs." Author Laura Pearson slowly clued readers in on the complicated truth. She used one technique that I found hard to swallow; namely, that Shelley's friends were honoring her wishes NOT to be told what had happened until she could remember it on her own. Without that ground rule, though, all the suspense in the book would have been impossible.

    Pearson told the stories in alternating chapters of "then" and "now," with generational domestic abuse serving as the dominant link. Shelley's mom had lived with a violent man who also abused Shelley. As soon as Shelley turned 18, she left the house, disgusted that her mother tolerated the abuse of both of them. The "now" chapters started with Shelley's struggles trying to understand what was happening to her as she had to stay in the hospital to recover. She had visits from her best friend Dee and a hospital volunteer named Matt. Even her doctors and psychiatrist withheld important details from her. As the plot progressed, Shelley would learn that her last memories were from seven years ago. She had not been in a coma that entire time, but a recent car accident caused retrograde amnesia that took her back seven years. Pearson revealed the details at an agonizingly slow pace, but when the whole truth came out, it made a satisfying conclusion.
  • Cynthia Hatok
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good Read
    Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2024
    An engaging story about overcoming obstacles, family and friendships. An easy book to read. It is about domestic violence so if that is a trigger for you, maybe don’t read it.
  • Jennifer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful
    Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2024
    I loved this book! The reconstruction of Shelley's memories and the back and forth between present and past, converging to complete the story is very satisfying. The extremely important message it contains is startling and makes me want to do something to help.
  • Donna M. Batton
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Day Shelly Woodhouse Woke Up
    Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2024
    This is a very poignant story of the abuse some women go through in bad relationships. It makes you realize how women can stay in these relationships even when being hurt badly by their spouses. And it’s also the story of how they can overcome the trauma and get out of those relationships and find true love and healing. Highly recommended reading!
  • AlliG
    4.0 out of 5 stars Solid characters but a little cheesy at times
    Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2024
    Nicely written amnesia plot with some solid characters. The back and forth between Then and Now was a little much toward the end. Wrapped up a little to pat for me.

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