First of all, let’s get this out of the way:
Trigger warnings galore – this book doesn’t hold back on themes like infidelity, addiction, domestic violence, coercive control, graphic scenes (both violent and sexual), and some seriously heavy mental health struggles. If you need to be in the right headspace for that kind of read, maybe park this one for another day.
Now. The tagline says Alison has it all… but within the first few pages, you know she definitely does not have it all. She has a strained marriage, a reckless affair, and a very unhealthy relationship with alcohol, and that’s just Chapter One (I’m honestly not kidding!). She’s also just taken on her first murder case, which could have been the making of her… but instead we spiral.
Here’s the thing: this book could have been a deep, feminist thriller about a smart woman breaking free from the men ruining her life. Instead, I ended up hate-reading it with gritted teeth and some very loud and annoyed sighing.
Alison’s choices made no sense. She’s a high-flying barrister earning big money, she’s clearly very intelligent, otherwise she wouldn’t be a barrister. And yet, somehow she’s crashing at a Travelodge like..I don’t know, because I don’t want to offend anyone – Travelodge are lovely, but let’s call a spade a spade; they are budget hotels. They’re not where someone goes if they are a barrister.
So yes, she moves out of her marital home while still paying the bills. THEN, this highly intelligent woman invites her affair partner over for dinner like it’s not a disaster waiting to happen. I just… no.
What frustrated me most is that Blood Orange had so much potential. The themes – coercion, domestic abuse, gaslighting – are important. But the execution? Meh. Every single character was either awful, manipulative, or just plain dull. No one to root for. No spark. And it could’ve been so much more powerful if it had leaned into Alison’s inner strength instead of drowning her in bad decisions and wine.
That said… I did finish it. I flew through it, in fact. It’s pacy, it’s readable, and I can absolutely see it working as a beach read if you want something twisty but not too taxing. Just don’t expect a heroine you’ll fall in love with.
Leanne’s Take: She found it gripping and appreciated the way it tackled serious topics like coercive control. Fair. I agree it raises the issues – I just wish it dug deeper.
Final verdict? If you’re in the mood for drama, dysfunction, and a lot of red wine, go for it. But don’t expect a tidy or empowering resolution. This one’s more of a “shout at the page” kind of read.