Review: Watching Glass Shatter, by James J. Cudney

My Review:

5 of 5 stars

I’m completely in awe that Watching Glass Shatter is James J. Cudney’s debut novel. As a strong supporter of up and coming new authors, I read several debuts a year. This one has blown the rest completely out of the water. I ugly cried and everything, multiple times. There are actually a few reasons why Watching Glass Shatter has become my favorite debut. Obviously the plot plays the biggest part (it’s uniquely brilliant), but also because the quality of writing is wonderfully well-polished.

This story is complex, with so many twists, and so many characters and personal dynamic to each one of them. Being able to develop and unravel the story so flawlessly, leaving no loose ends untied is an excruciatingly intricate task, and in my opinion James nailed it. This book has an authentic, rich, and elegant feel to it. The kind of feel that I’ve only came across by very seasoned, big name authors. In a mere few weeks time since it’s release, Watching Glass Shatter has accumulated an extremely impressive collection of shining five star reviews, and for great reason. This book deserves every single rating and positive review that it’s received so far, and everyone that it’s bound to receive in the future. It’s inevitable, this book is fantastic. Hands down one of the best family dramas I’ve ever experienced, now let me tell you why.

Watching Glass Shatter isn’t all tears, it’s also very modern and chic. Olivia and Benjamin Glass are the parents in a very upscale family. Ben, being a lawyer and founder of his own firm, has always loved his wife dearly and together they have raised five children. Ben was the rock, the mentor, and the confidant of the entire family, so when he dies and leaves Olivia with his outrageously heart wrenching secret (my first ugly cry) she is forced to open up her heart and her mind to each of her sons.

The secrets, traumas and struggles of each one of Olivia’s boys and their own families are the type of secrets that many families face yet sadly choose to keep buried. They’re deep rooted, impactful, and very authentically drawn out. Each secret intertwines with another, and all the son’s affect each other in so many ways and on so many levels. Olivia forces everything to the surface in a much needed and healing way in order to deal with the bigger picture that Ben left her to handle.

Watching Glass Shatter is about grief, trauma, healing, and family ties that go beyond that of any other family story I’ve read. It’s far from average… it’s a beautiful read in every way. It even raises awareness for more than one topic that are often misunderstood. This is a debut that is worth the rapidly growing attention it’s getting. Go read this book!

DESCRIPTION:

After 40 years of marriage, Olivia Glass thought she could handle the unexpected death of her husband, but when Ben’s will reveals a long-held, life-altering secret, she suffers a blow no widow should ever experience.

Olivia learns that she gave birth to a baby who later died in the nursery. Instead of telling his wife what happened, Ben switched the child with another. And as if that’s not enough, Ben’s will doesn’t reveal which of their five sons is truly not hers.

While an attorney searches for the answers, Olivia visits each of her sons to share a final connection before facing the truth that will change the dynamics of an already grief-stricken family. During the visits, Olivia learns that each of her sons has been harboring a painful secret, just like his father.

Olivia challenges herself to re-assemble and save their relationships. But will the secrets destroy their family beyond repair?