Things Don't Break on Their Own

Things Don't Break on Their Own cover
Good Books rating 4.25

Technical:
  • ID: 531
  • Added: 2025-09-13
  • Updated: 2025-09-13
  • ISBN: 9780593798355
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 2025-04-29
  • Reviews: 3

Things Don't Break on Their Own is an elegant, twisting novel that explores the deep bonds between sisters, the weight of past trauma, and the ache of the unknown. Twenty-five years after her younger sister Laika disappeared on the way to school, Willa’s life remains defined by that loss. While everyone else believes Laika is dead, Willa is convinced otherwise, seeing fragments of her sister everywhere and refusing to give up hope. The story unfolds around a dinner party that brings together Willa, her first love Robyn, Robyn’s wife Cat, and a cast of characters whose intertwined pasts reveal long-buried secrets. Through shifting timelines and perspectives, the novel delves into themes of grief, family violence, sexual awakening, and the complex dynamics of love and memory. Sarah Easter Collins crafts a beautifully written, character-driven mystery that is both brutal and exquisite in its revelations.

Reviews
Goodreads · 2024-07-16
engaging 4.00

The book shines in its clever structure and strong character development, with engaging moments of multiple perspectives, though some plot twists stretch imagination slightly.

The reviewer appreciated the novel’s clever structure and the depth of its characters, noting that the shifts in perspective, especially during the dinner party scenes, were the most compelling parts that kept them hooked. While the mystery’s reveal was less dark than anticipated and some plot elements required a bit of suspension of disbelief, the exploration of family dynamics such as grief, loss, and coercive control was handled with a light touch, making the story emotionally resonant. The characters were well defined as either likable or dislikeable, and the reviewer valued the definitive ending that the book offered.


Quick quotes

    The book shines in its clever structure and strong characters.

    The moments of connection when we saw different people’s memories and perspective on events were the absolute star and drove my interest.

    The book delves into all sorts of family situations - grief, loss, physical abuse, coercive control etc bit Sarah Easter Collins does it all with a light touch.

Lotus Writing Therapy · 2024-07-02
psychological 4.50

A psychologically complex and philosophical thriller that explores hidden personal histories and resilience through a twisty narrative.

The reviewer found the novel to be a complex psychological thriller that goes beyond just the mystery to delve into the philosophical aspects of personal history and trauma. They appreciated how the story uses the dinner party as a framing device to reveal the characters’ hidden pasts and the metaphor of building a wall with a faulty brick to illustrate unresolved trauma. This adds depth and meaning to the thriller, making it not only a story about uncovering what happened but also about understanding how past experiences shape us and affect our stability and resilience.


Quick quotes

    This is a thriller, finding out what happened to Laika, complex in its psychology and often philosophical too within its twisty thriller structure.

    We each carry hidden histories within us, some aspects of which are subconscious.

    In counselling there’s a brick wall analogy... because of that dodgy brick the wall isn’t stable, it wobbles and might even collapse.

BookPage · 2024-07-01
thoughtful 4.25

A literary thriller that deeply explores the complex emotional journeys of two troubled young women, blending psychological depth with suspense.

This review highlights the novel as more than just a thriller; it is a thoughtful exploration of the emotional and psychological complexities faced by the main characters. The story does not rely solely on suspense but uses it to delve into the bruised lives of the protagonists, making the narrative rich and emotionally engaging. The reviewer seems to appreciate the nuanced character development and the way the novel balances tension with a deeper examination of trauma and relationships.


Quick quotes

    This literary thriller doesn't simply titillate and scare; it thoroughly explores the complex journey of two bruised young women.

    The novel blends psychological depth with suspense effectively.

    It’s a story that balances tension with emotional complexity.

Appears in Lists