In Her Defense (A Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick)
A Novel
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3.5 • 205 Ratings
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
A REESE WITHERSPOON BOOK CLUB SELECTION!
As a sensational celebrity libel trial unfolds, a young woman at the periphery secretly wields the power to make or break the case. But with her own hidden past, will she dare to speak up?
Everyone is watching. Only one person knows the truth.
The whole country has been riveted by the trial: Beloved TV star and national treasure Anna Finbow, standing in court, accusing her daughter’s therapist Jean Guest of brainwashing her daughter Mary for her own financial gain. Jean insists Mary’s traumatic memories arise from her upbringing and her time studying at a prestigious art school in Rome; wounds only Jean’s therapy can heal. But as the trial unfolds, it’s Augusta “Gus” Bird, Anna’s former employee—a seemingly insignificant bystander, a nobody—who holds the key to unraveling the tangled web of lies and deceit.
What really happened to Mary in Rome? And if her memories can’t be trusted, how will they ever uncover the truth behind her estrangement? Twisty and propulsive, In Her Defense is a compulsively readable debut for fans of Lucy Foley and Laura Dave.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
In this juicy thriller, a celebrity lawsuit exposes a web of dysfunction where nobody comes out looking innocent. TV star Anna Finbow has barely spoken to her daughter Mary since Mary began seeing a new therapist named Jean Guest. Now embroiled in a very public trial, Anna’s convinced that Jean brainwashed Mary into hating her. The only one who knows the truth is the weirdly fascinating Augusta, Mary’s casual friend, occasional hookup, and part-time dog walker, who’s seen this messy situation from both sides—including the therapist’s office. Every path in Philippa Malicka’s dark tale leads to something toxic, inappropriate, or unhinged. After all, Jean (whose approach to her job resembles that of a cult leader) first heard about nepo baby Mary from Augusta herself—in therapy. But is Jean’s pressure on Augusta to introduce her friend any worse than Augusta’s own manipulative plans? It’s easy to lose yourself in this brilliantly sordid mystery.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Malicka's bewitching debut revolves around a sensational London libel trial, told from the perspective of the defendant's former assistant turned witness. Anna Finbow, star of a kitschy cooking show and purveyor of signature ceramic cookware, found fame by promoting a "lost vision of Britain: rosebuds over the door, cricket on the village green, a huge kitchen filled with happy children. A myth, basically." Now, she's being sued by Jean Guest, an unlicensed psychotherapist whose treatment of Anna's 22-year-old daughter, Mary, led her to cut off contact with Anna and begin a romance with Jean. Anna triggered the suit by publicly criticizing Jean, calling her a charlatan and manipulator. The story unfolds from the perspective of aspiring ceramicist Augusta "Gus" Bird, who idolized Anna and landed a gig as her assistant before the mother and daughter's rupture. It's while working for Anna that Gus learns about her ongoing conflict with Mary, whom Gus met earlier in Rome while studying art. Malicka keenly portrays Jean's predatory nature, showing how she ingratiates herself into Mary's life. The crackling story toggles effortlessly from past to present as the depth of the characters' betrayals and manipulations comes out in open court, especially once Gus takes the stand. This serpentine courtroom drama will captivate readers.
Customer Reviews
Frustrating to read
Reading this felt like running in circles and never reaching a destination. Narrator had such a scattered and immature view of everything around here that it became frustrating waiting for some sort of big reveal that just never came. It became difficult to even like the main character. I have read and loved all the books from Reese’s book club except this one.
Disappointing
Pretentious and boring. Never went anywhere. Unlikeable cast of characters. Ended abruptly,