TITLE INFORMATION

Abandoning the Script

Linda Rosen

Black Rose Writing, 307 pages

9781685137326, 3.5.2026

Overall Rating = 4.08

Storyline & Concept = 3.25

Writing & Delivery = 4

Editorial = 5

Beginning in 1922, Abandoning the Script introduces Lucy, a woman whose hunger for independence and a career as a stage actress clashes with the expectations placed upon her by her controlling husband and a society that offers few options for women. Trapped in a loveless marriage, Lucy struggles with a heartbreaking choice between her own happiness and a young daughter she feels will be better off without her. The narrative shifts to 1951, where Lucy’s daughter, Anna, discovers the secret her family withheld from her. With the help of her grandmother’s journal, she follows the trail to unravel the truth about her past.

The author expertly layers the dual timelines in this novel while respecting the historical significance of both periods. The characters and the settings are well-developed, immersing the reader into a poignant portrayal of women’s lives constrained by social norms. Although I greatly sympathized with the plight of the women in Lucy’s timeline, I had difficulty connecting with Lucy herself and never truly did. Anna, for me, was a much more powerful and realistic character, tying the two timelines together and providing a nice resolution. This novel will appeal to readers who appreciate emotional and layered historical fiction, particularly in relation to women’s rights and freedoms.

Sublime Line: “A moving and emotional historical novel about women’s voices, sacrifices, and courage.”

Sublime Book Review

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