We Spread by Iain Reid REVIEW

 We Spread

by Iain Reid

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Blurb:

Penny, an artist, has lived in the same apartment for decades, surrounded by the artifacts and keepsakes of her long life. She is resigned to the mundane rituals of old age, until things start to slip. Before her longtime partner passed away years earlier, provisions were made, unbeknownst to her, for a room in a unique long-term care residence, where Penny finds herself after one too many “incidents.”

Initially, surrounded by peers, conversing, eating, sleeping, looking out at the beautiful woods that surround the house, all is well. She even begins to paint again. But as the days start to blur together, Penny—with a growing sense of unrest and distrust—starts to lose her grip on the passage of time and on her place in the world. Is she succumbing to the subtly destructive effects of aging, or is she an unknowing participant in something more unsettling?

Expected Publication Date: Sept. 9, 2022

Review:

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for my review copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Iain Reid has been on my TBR for awhile, but this is my first time reading his work. Now that I have I'm kicking myself for waiting so long to experience such an amazing storyteller.

In 'We Spread' we follow Penny, an elderly woman whose long term partner passed away a few years ago. After a fall Penny moves into a long-term care residence where she doesn't remember agreeing to go but soon makes friends with other residents. When she starts to feel uneasy about the residence it's hard to tell if she is having difficulties due to aging or if the residence may not be the safe place she thought. Told from Penny's point of view We Spread will seep into your soul as it messes with your mind giving you a taste of fear you won't soon forget.

Wow...

To start the writing is so eerie and delicious! The story is incredibly written with tender moments swirled in with confusion and fear. When Penny was happy I was happy, when Penny was afraid I felt her fear. My emotions were bounced around as the chapters progressed and suddenly I was just as unsure as Penny about how I was supposed to feel. What an absolutely stunning portrayl of someone facing the end of their lives. I really can't say enough how incredible literally everything about this book is.

Reid did an amazing job with this one. If you want a story that messes with your emotions and scares you in a completely realistic way then give this one a shot.