THE FIRST TIME SHE DROWNED

Jorjeana Marie masterfully narrates this story of mothers, daughters, and fractured relationships. After spending nearly three years in a mental institution against her will, Cassie O'Malley is not sure how to move forward with her life. Marie's narration pulls the listener into Cassie's frame of mind as she attempts to re-enter the world. Cassie spirals between self-reflection and defiance while confronting her unreliable memories and struggling to cope with her charming but toxic mother. Marie's deliberately flat and distant tone throughout most of the audiobook perfectly suit Cassie's internal thought process. This makes the moments when Cassie's rage breaks through all the more heartbreaking and realistic. N.M. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2019]