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Brain Damage
"I couldn't put it down!" --Readers' Favorite After years of hard work, Dr. Charly McKenna finally has it all. Prosperous career as a dermatologist? Check. Spacious apartment overlooking Central Park? Check. Handsome lawyer husband? Double check. Then one night, a bullet rips through the right side of her skull and she loses everything. As Charly struggles to recover from her brain injury, she begins to realize that the events of that fateful night are trapped in the damaged right side of her brain. Now she must put the jigsaw pieces together to discover the identity of the man who tried to kill her... before he finishes the job he started.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 28, 2016
About the author
Freida McFadden
52 books130k followers#1 New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Publisher's Weekly, and Amazon Charts bestselling author Freida McFadden is a practicing physician specializing in brain injury who has penned multiple Kindle bestselling psychological thrillers and medical humor novels. She lives with her family and possessed cat in a centuries-old three-story home overlooking the ocean, with staircases that creak and moan with each step, and nobody could hear you if you scream. Unless you scream really loudly, maybe.
Note that I am maxed out on friends, so I apologize in advance that I can't friend anyone back!
Note that I am maxed out on friends, so I apologize in advance that I can't friend anyone back!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,969 reviews
April 30, 2023
I feel so torn about this book. At times it was a five-star read, but unfortunately I just got so mad in the last 5 chapters. Why? Because Charly simply annoyed me with how she acted before the brain injury. It took forever for her to realize how bad her husband was, and it annoyed me that she was always moaning about how bad she looked and that no one would ever care for her. It also felt unsatisfying how the medical glasses magically made her better, and if they were so amazing, why did they not present her with them earlier in her rehabilitation? The first half of the book however, was amazing. It kept me engaged, and McFadden even made me laugh. So overall a mostly enjoyable read until the ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 14, 2021
Brain Damage by Freida McFadden
About the book:
After years of hard work, Dr. Charly McKenna finally has it all. Prosperous career as a dermatologist? Check. Spacious apartment overlooking Central Park? Check. Handsome lawyer husband? Double check.
Then one night, a bullet rips through the right side of her skull and she loses everything.
As Charly struggles to recover from her brain injury, she begins to realize that the events of that fateful night are trapped in the damaged right side of her brain. Now she must put the jigsaw pieces together to discover the identity of the man who tried to kill her... before he finishes the job he started.
My take:
The book has been described on Amazon as a twisted psychological thriller that will keep you guessing. Well, I was certainly left guessing till the end about what I was reading!
After reading amazing five-star reviews, I purchased this book. And after reading two other psychological thrillers from the same author which I loved reading, I had absolutely no doubt in my mind. But I was in for a very big disappointment. This is easily one of the worst books I have read.
The story is about Dr. Charlotte Mckenna, a dermatologist, who has a great practice and owns a plush apartment overlooking the central park. She marries Clark, a handsome lawyer, who was once her patient, and pursued her till she agreed. One day, she gets shot in the head and develops hemispatial neglect on her left side of the body, along with loss of memory.
I had expected it to be a nice thriller where the story builds to the climax where she gets shot, and we are left wondering who did it and why. However, right from page 1, you easily guess who did it and why.
The main character, Charlotte, is hardly likable in the part before she was shot. She has absolutely no self-esteem and probably that is how she tolerates the jerk of a husband she married without even getting to know him better. Her cat seems to have better intelligence and instincts. Even in the part after she was shot, he is absent from her life for the majority part, and then reappears to make a deal with Charlotte about taking care of her in return for using her disability payments to sponsor his and his girlfriend's stay at Charlotte's apartment, humiliating and insulting her in every way possible. The same girlfriend he was cheating on with before she got shot. And yet Charlotte puts up with him just because she feels she has no other option! This was too spineless for my taste!
There are hardly any other characters to make us even suspect anyone else, and none of the characters is well developed. Almost 80% of the story is like a memoir of a person who is recovering from severe brain injury and focuses on unnecessary details of speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy that lead the story nowhere.
The only character I really liked was Jamie, but again, his character seemed very sporadic, he wasn't any valuable addition to the story, and the way his relationship with Charlotte was stretched till the very end was irritating.
The author being a physician, I can say she has written this part brilliantly, giving us a real picture inside a rehabilitation centre for the brain-damaged. But that is not why I picked this book for. It is very depressing to read and doesn’t add anything to the story at all.
So even though I like the author and the way she writes, this book could have been promoted as a diary of a brain-injured person, and not as a psychological thriller that keeps us guessing till the end. The only thing I kept guessing was when the book would actually end.
I rate it one star, the lowest I have ever rated.
About the book:
After years of hard work, Dr. Charly McKenna finally has it all. Prosperous career as a dermatologist? Check. Spacious apartment overlooking Central Park? Check. Handsome lawyer husband? Double check.
Then one night, a bullet rips through the right side of her skull and she loses everything.
As Charly struggles to recover from her brain injury, she begins to realize that the events of that fateful night are trapped in the damaged right side of her brain. Now she must put the jigsaw pieces together to discover the identity of the man who tried to kill her... before he finishes the job he started.
My take:
The book has been described on Amazon as a twisted psychological thriller that will keep you guessing. Well, I was certainly left guessing till the end about what I was reading!
After reading amazing five-star reviews, I purchased this book. And after reading two other psychological thrillers from the same author which I loved reading, I had absolutely no doubt in my mind. But I was in for a very big disappointment. This is easily one of the worst books I have read.
The story is about Dr. Charlotte Mckenna, a dermatologist, who has a great practice and owns a plush apartment overlooking the central park. She marries Clark, a handsome lawyer, who was once her patient, and pursued her till she agreed. One day, she gets shot in the head and develops hemispatial neglect on her left side of the body, along with loss of memory.
I had expected it to be a nice thriller where the story builds to the climax where she gets shot, and we are left wondering who did it and why. However, right from page 1, you easily guess who did it and why.
The main character, Charlotte, is hardly likable in the part before she was shot. She has absolutely no self-esteem and probably that is how she tolerates the jerk of a husband she married without even getting to know him better. Her cat seems to have better intelligence and instincts. Even in the part after she was shot, he is absent from her life for the majority part, and then reappears to make a deal with Charlotte about taking care of her in return for using her disability payments to sponsor his and his girlfriend's stay at Charlotte's apartment, humiliating and insulting her in every way possible. The same girlfriend he was cheating on with before she got shot. And yet Charlotte puts up with him just because she feels she has no other option! This was too spineless for my taste!
There are hardly any other characters to make us even suspect anyone else, and none of the characters is well developed. Almost 80% of the story is like a memoir of a person who is recovering from severe brain injury and focuses on unnecessary details of speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy that lead the story nowhere.
The only character I really liked was Jamie, but again, his character seemed very sporadic, he wasn't any valuable addition to the story, and the way his relationship with Charlotte was stretched till the very end was irritating.
The author being a physician, I can say she has written this part brilliantly, giving us a real picture inside a rehabilitation centre for the brain-damaged. But that is not why I picked this book for. It is very depressing to read and doesn’t add anything to the story at all.
So even though I like the author and the way she writes, this book could have been promoted as a diary of a brain-injured person, and not as a psychological thriller that keeps us guessing till the end. The only thing I kept guessing was when the book would actually end.
I rate it one star, the lowest I have ever rated.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 8, 2023
This was a re-read of a book I had chosen to read in 2020. I gave it five stars then and I give it five stars now. It is the perfect "happy" read that I've been needing, although what our heroine goes through is not happy at all. Her struggles with a dire brain injury are very sad but her charm and sense of humor make her so very likeable. Loved it!
June 26, 2024
Meet my new favorite Freida McFadden book.
Freida McFadden is a practicing physician and prolific author who has penned over 20 books.
"Brain Damage" is one of her earlier releases (2016) and, IMHO, it's the best of the best.
The book's protagonist is a dermatologist who gets shot in the head in her Central Park West NYC apartment.
Was the shooting a burglary gone wrong or an attempted murder?
The protagonist has brain damage and is unable to identify the shooter.
The book's characterizations were ultra-compelling and the author's scintillating wit was ever-present.
I listened to the audiobook read by Megan Tusing, who gave an Oscar-worthy performance.
From start to finish, I was unable to remove my headphones.
Quite frankly, I never wanted this 10-hour audiobook to end.
One of my besties of 2024!
February 16, 2022
I’m a Freida McFadden fan, but I have to say this is quite possibly one of the worst books I’ve read.
Brain Damage has a plot that is paper thin. The writing is weak and repetitive and there is zero suspense. I expected so much more, especially since this was touted as a “gripping psychological thriller.” The main character, Charly, excuses every horrible thing her husband does because he’s extremely handsome. She mentions how handsome he is at least 500 times in throughout the story, and never acknowledges anything about him other than that. Also, I found it interesting that Charly behaved exactly the same before and after her brain damage. Aside from the effects of the memory loss, which made total sense, Charly remained shallow and immature throughout the whole story. I struggled to feel empathy for her, but I give this two stars because the subject matter was interesting and it started out well.
Brain Damage has a plot that is paper thin. The writing is weak and repetitive and there is zero suspense. I expected so much more, especially since this was touted as a “gripping psychological thriller.” The main character, Charly, excuses every horrible thing her husband does because he’s extremely handsome. She mentions how handsome he is at least 500 times in throughout the story, and never acknowledges anything about him other than that. Also, I found it interesting that Charly behaved exactly the same before and after her brain damage. Aside from the effects of the memory loss, which made total sense, Charly remained shallow and immature throughout the whole story. I struggled to feel empathy for her, but I give this two stars because the subject matter was interesting and it started out well.
June 24, 2024
How did the author manage to make a serious book about a woman shot in the head so FUNNY?!
Dr Charly McKenna is a dermatologist with a successful career, a handsome husband, and an apt overlooking Central Park. Life is good until the night she’s shot in the head, leaving her with left neglect and no memory of what happened.
As she spends her days at a rehab hospital we get to know more about Charly as well as several of the patients & staff. The author is a physician, which lends authenticity to this part of the story.
I LOVED IT!! This is the most fun I’ve had listening to a book in a long, long time.
Although there is a mystery, don’t read this expecting a thriller. It is not, as the resolution is pretty obvious. Come for the characters, the charm, and the humor.
The narrator was superb. She had just the right tone and brought the characters to life. I absolutely recommend listening to those one!
Dr Charly McKenna is a dermatologist with a successful career, a handsome husband, and an apt overlooking Central Park. Life is good until the night she’s shot in the head, leaving her with left neglect and no memory of what happened.
As she spends her days at a rehab hospital we get to know more about Charly as well as several of the patients & staff. The author is a physician, which lends authenticity to this part of the story.
I LOVED IT!! This is the most fun I’ve had listening to a book in a long, long time.
Although there is a mystery, don’t read this expecting a thriller. It is not, as the resolution is pretty obvious. Come for the characters, the charm, and the humor.
The narrator was superb. She had just the right tone and brought the characters to life. I absolutely recommend listening to those one!
July 28, 2023
Dr Charly McKenna is a successful dermatologist with a lovely apartment and a cat waiting for her at home. She feels happy about her life and is not concerned that she is not married. But one day she meets Clar, a very handsome attorney who insists to have a date with her. Soon she is married to him and life is changing at a high speed. Everything seems perfect till one day she is shot in the head, her skull and brain damaged. She cannot move, speak or even remember her name. But she is still alive and wakes first in a hospital and later is transferred to a rehab centre.
I liked the book. It has a lot of funny moments and it is interesting to read about her rehabilitation and all the things she has to deal with. She makes friends, finds true love and starts to remember things. She has on her head a helmet for protection and is called by a friend the Helmet Girl. You would think that her health and state of mind would not bring any happiness to her life, but this is not true. People get used to a lot of things in their life. And can be happy against all odds.
There is a moment in the book where Charly is thinking that being shot in the head maybe was the best event in her life.
This book was a not-put-down for me and I enjoyed it very much.
I liked the book. It has a lot of funny moments and it is interesting to read about her rehabilitation and all the things she has to deal with. She makes friends, finds true love and starts to remember things. She has on her head a helmet for protection and is called by a friend the Helmet Girl. You would think that her health and state of mind would not bring any happiness to her life, but this is not true. People get used to a lot of things in their life. And can be happy against all odds.
There is a moment in the book where Charly is thinking that being shot in the head maybe was the best event in her life.
This book was a not-put-down for me and I enjoyed it very much.
May 12, 2023
Great Read!
Dr. Charly McKenna suffers a gunshot wound to her head upon entering her apartment one day. It leaves her brain damaged and in a rehab center. No one knows who the shooter is. Her husband Clarke makes himself scarce and raises her suspicions.
This was a great book that I hated to put down. It had some really interesting twists!
Dr. Charly McKenna suffers a gunshot wound to her head upon entering her apartment one day. It leaves her brain damaged and in a rehab center. No one knows who the shooter is. Her husband Clarke makes himself scarce and raises her suspicions.
This was a great book that I hated to put down. It had some really interesting twists!
February 27, 2024
This was a very different style compared to the Freida McFadden books I am used too. I didn’t not enjoy this book, but I don’t think it was her best and I prefer her more suspenseful twisty thrillers! Of all of her books I wouldn’t recommend this one as readily and certainly not if the person had read her other books first!
February 12, 2022
There is something about the writing style that kept making me pause, shake my head and then move on. The back and forth in time is usually a great suspense builder but these seemed to be big spoilers instead.
Other things that stood out to me (in no particular order):
How can Charly have been so easily conned, because Clark is handsome? At first, sure, but no job, extra week in Bahamas alone, hates her cat… peace out, pretty Clark!
Looks seem very important to everyone in this book. I can appreciate that looks might be an initial attraction, but part of me wishes Jamie were ugly or didn’t get to look completely normal once healed. And Clark was getting away with, well, attempted murder there for a minute because he was SOOO handsome. Charly entertaining the thought of letting him and his gf take care of her in exchange for her disability money? No… frickin… way… And looks aren’t what keeps a relationship going. So, Clark’s attitude should have caused a divorce WAY before she found out about Haley.
Clark: Yeah I cheated, let’s have a baby.
Charly: Sounds cool.
Me: WTAF?! Almost stopped reading right there.
Charly: Oh and by the way, I didn’t mention a major past event about having a gun pointed at me.
Me: Ummm, that’s probably a good enough reason to veto the gun. Tell the pretty husband no, Charly!
Did we know Charly was Chelsea’s godmother before the end? That seemed like an odd little bit of info. Maybe to show they were back in their bestie groove?
What happened to fungus patient guy? Were we supposed to think he was a suspect? Other than that, I am not sure why that whole -seeing him everywhere- part was added. Honestly, Clark’s inability to take no for an answer was far more creepy.
Bridget didn’t call Charly’s mom after hearing Clark give some wild excuse about Charly refusing to see anyone? I get she is a busy new mom and was trying to respect what she thought were her friend’s wishes, but I didn’t think that was believable. Maybe, but not likely since Bridget knew there was cheating and secret money. Screw you, Clark, I am visiting my bestie!
A year?! Even after Jamie sent those flowers and that note before her surgery? An. Entire. Year. Come on!
Other things that stood out to me (in no particular order):
How can Charly have been so easily conned, because Clark is handsome? At first, sure, but no job, extra week in Bahamas alone, hates her cat… peace out, pretty Clark!
Looks seem very important to everyone in this book. I can appreciate that looks might be an initial attraction, but part of me wishes Jamie were ugly or didn’t get to look completely normal once healed. And Clark was getting away with, well, attempted murder there for a minute because he was SOOO handsome. Charly entertaining the thought of letting him and his gf take care of her in exchange for her disability money? No… frickin… way… And looks aren’t what keeps a relationship going. So, Clark’s attitude should have caused a divorce WAY before she found out about Haley.
Clark: Yeah I cheated, let’s have a baby.
Charly: Sounds cool.
Me: WTAF?! Almost stopped reading right there.
Charly: Oh and by the way, I didn’t mention a major past event about having a gun pointed at me.
Me: Ummm, that’s probably a good enough reason to veto the gun. Tell the pretty husband no, Charly!
Did we know Charly was Chelsea’s godmother before the end? That seemed like an odd little bit of info. Maybe to show they were back in their bestie groove?
What happened to fungus patient guy? Were we supposed to think he was a suspect? Other than that, I am not sure why that whole -seeing him everywhere- part was added. Honestly, Clark’s inability to take no for an answer was far more creepy.
Bridget didn’t call Charly’s mom after hearing Clark give some wild excuse about Charly refusing to see anyone? I get she is a busy new mom and was trying to respect what she thought were her friend’s wishes, but I didn’t think that was believable. Maybe, but not likely since Bridget knew there was cheating and secret money. Screw you, Clark, I am visiting my bestie!
A year?! Even after Jamie sent those flowers and that note before her surgery? An. Entire. Year. Come on!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2024
Imagine waking up with a distorted head, unable to move, speak, or remember who you are. That’s the nightmare that Dr. Charly McKenna faces in Brain Damage by Freida McFadden.
The book follows Dr. Charly McKenna, a successful dermatologist who suffers a severe brain injury after a violent attack. She is admitted to a rehab center where she has to relearn basic skills and cope with her memory loss. But as she gradually recovers her past, she realizes that her life was full of secrets, lies, and danger. She also learns that someone confessed to the crime, but she is not sure if he is the real culprit or if there is a bigger scheme behind it. And will they try to silence her again?
Brain Damage is a well-written and engaging book that blends medical facts and fiction to create a realistic and compelling scenario. The author, who is a physician herself, shows the challenges and the triumphs of patients and doctors in a rehab center, with accuracy and empathy. The book has some flaws, such as the lack of depth and development of some of the secondary characters, the predictable plot, the occasional use of clichés and stereotypes, and the convenient and unrealistic resolution of some of the issues. The protagonist’s obsession with good looks and her love-is-blind syndrome are annoying sometimes. The book also relies on lucky breaks to move the story forward, such as the culprit confessed to the protagonist and try to kill her IN PUBLIC?!?💀
I would recommend this book to readers who are looking for a quick and easy read that combines medical drama and romance with a touch of mystery, or to those who are interested in the topics of brain injury, memory loss, and rehabilitation. I would not recommend this book to readers who are looking for a complex and realistic thriller, or a profound and insightful exploration of brain injury and its effects. It’s not a bad book, but it’s just not my type.
The book follows Dr. Charly McKenna, a successful dermatologist who suffers a severe brain injury after a violent attack. She is admitted to a rehab center where she has to relearn basic skills and cope with her memory loss. But as she gradually recovers her past, she realizes that her life was full of secrets, lies, and danger. She also learns that someone confessed to the crime, but she is not sure if he is the real culprit or if there is a bigger scheme behind it. And will they try to silence her again?
Brain Damage is a well-written and engaging book that blends medical facts and fiction to create a realistic and compelling scenario. The author, who is a physician herself, shows the challenges and the triumphs of patients and doctors in a rehab center, with accuracy and empathy. The book has some flaws, such as the lack of depth and development of some of the secondary characters, the predictable plot, the occasional use of clichés and stereotypes, and the convenient and unrealistic resolution of some of the issues. The protagonist’s obsession with good looks and her love-is-blind syndrome are annoying sometimes. The book also relies on lucky breaks to move the story forward, such as the culprit confessed to the protagonist and try to kill her IN PUBLIC?!?💀
I would recommend this book to readers who are looking for a quick and easy read that combines medical drama and romance with a touch of mystery, or to those who are interested in the topics of brain injury, memory loss, and rehabilitation. I would not recommend this book to readers who are looking for a complex and realistic thriller, or a profound and insightful exploration of brain injury and its effects. It’s not a bad book, but it’s just not my type.
May 13, 2022
https://www.compulsivereaders.com/bra...
I hadn’t heard of Freida McFadden until I read The Housemaid last month (which I absolutely LOVED) and was delighted to learn she has a back catalogue of books so when a member of THE Book Club posted a glowing review of Brain Damage I immediately purchased it and started to read it.
Dr Charlotte Mckenna (Charly) is a doctor specialising in skin conditions. She’s successful, lives in a very prestigious address in New York and at the age of 37 has accepted she will remain single and childless until a patient starts to show interest. Clark is a very handsome lawyer and despite Charly never getting involved with a patient, his determination and good looks eventually win her over.
Fast forward eighteen months and Charly is now in a hospital, having been shot in the head and miraculously survived. With a severe brain injury remembering her name is a struggle and suffering from Left Neglect she also can’t use the left side of her body or see anything unless its on the right side of her. Whilst this is a serious medical condition, there were moments in Charly’s rehabilitation that had me laughing out loud.
Charly is determined to get better despite the odds and also try to work out who shot her and why. The story has dual timelines taking the reader back to the past when Charly met Clark and follows their romance to the present day in the hospital.
Brain Damage ticked almost every box for me personally. I loved the narrator and her wonderful sense of humour and this was one of those books that I couldn’t put down but didn’t want to finish.
I hadn’t heard of Freida McFadden until I read The Housemaid last month (which I absolutely LOVED) and was delighted to learn she has a back catalogue of books so when a member of THE Book Club posted a glowing review of Brain Damage I immediately purchased it and started to read it.
Dr Charlotte Mckenna (Charly) is a doctor specialising in skin conditions. She’s successful, lives in a very prestigious address in New York and at the age of 37 has accepted she will remain single and childless until a patient starts to show interest. Clark is a very handsome lawyer and despite Charly never getting involved with a patient, his determination and good looks eventually win her over.
Fast forward eighteen months and Charly is now in a hospital, having been shot in the head and miraculously survived. With a severe brain injury remembering her name is a struggle and suffering from Left Neglect she also can’t use the left side of her body or see anything unless its on the right side of her. Whilst this is a serious medical condition, there were moments in Charly’s rehabilitation that had me laughing out loud.
Charly is determined to get better despite the odds and also try to work out who shot her and why. The story has dual timelines taking the reader back to the past when Charly met Clark and follows their romance to the present day in the hospital.
Brain Damage ticked almost every box for me personally. I loved the narrator and her wonderful sense of humour and this was one of those books that I couldn’t put down but didn’t want to finish.
June 1, 2023
Another perfect book by Freida McFadden!!!! Dr. Charly McKenna is a dermatologist. She gets shot in the head but by who? She has her whole life ahead of her and now this? Rehab, lots of rehab! Holy heck was this mind blowing and oh so great! The ending was just perfect!!! Another great book of hers to add to my list of now 16 books by Freida, the psychological queen herself!!!! Onto my new next Freida book while I’m vacationing in Costa Rica.
April 10, 2024
I’m about halfway through my quest to read every Freida McFadden book, and this was my latest - it’s also the one I knew would trigger me the most. Having suffered a traumatic brain injury ten years ago (luckily, NOWHERE near as bad as our main character’s) the blurry days of “brain rehab” and the fear I had that “this is forever” came rushing back to me as I read along.
Charly, aka Dr. Charlotte McKenna, is a successful dermatologist married to a gorgeous lawyer. The book starts with her being shot in the head by an intruder, then the story weaves back and forth between past and present events. In the parts before the shooting, we learn how she met her husband and how the dynamics of their relationship worked. In the present, you’re along for the ride as Charly begins the very slow process of recovery.
The mystery in this one is simple: who shot her, and why? The rest of the book is a complex look at the way brain damage affects people of all ages and backgrounds. You’ll meet some people who are also at the rehabilitation facility, and each has their own story and struggles. This one hit differently for me, because I’ve been there. It’s a great mystery/thriller, but because of the author’s medical background, it’s also a pretty honest look at what TBI survivors go through and feel. I have to give it five stars for that alone.
Charly, aka Dr. Charlotte McKenna, is a successful dermatologist married to a gorgeous lawyer. The book starts with her being shot in the head by an intruder, then the story weaves back and forth between past and present events. In the parts before the shooting, we learn how she met her husband and how the dynamics of their relationship worked. In the present, you’re along for the ride as Charly begins the very slow process of recovery.
The mystery in this one is simple: who shot her, and why? The rest of the book is a complex look at the way brain damage affects people of all ages and backgrounds. You’ll meet some people who are also at the rehabilitation facility, and each has their own story and struggles. This one hit differently for me, because I’ve been there. It’s a great mystery/thriller, but because of the author’s medical background, it’s also a pretty honest look at what TBI survivors go through and feel. I have to give it five stars for that alone.
September 24, 2023
⭐️⭐️
there was no suspense. no thrill. no twist. it was just so underwhelming and i am EXTREMELY disappointed. i’m actually shocked this book has a 4 on goodreads.
the only reason why it’s 2 stars is solely because of jamie. he was great and deserved a happy ending. other than that this book was shit i’m sorry
there was no suspense. no thrill. no twist. it was just so underwhelming and i am EXTREMELY disappointed. i’m actually shocked this book has a 4 on goodreads.
the only reason why it’s 2 stars is solely because of jamie. he was great and deserved a happy ending. other than that this book was shit i’m sorry
October 20, 2022
Full disclosure - I love Freida McFadden. She writes characters with an inner monologue that truly makes me laugh. Almost like she has channeled me and my rando sense of humor. Additionally, being a fan of her writing, I checked out her bio. The author is a medical doctor. And an incredible writer. I am in awe.
Brain Damage was a fantastic book. Main character, Charly McKenna is a successful dermatologist, single, until she meets THE PERFECT MAN. Uh huh. You know that's never the case, right? We spend most of our time with Charly during her recovery from a gunshot wound to the head. This is the magic of the book - how interesting can days and days of rehab be for a reader? A lot. The author/doctor does a great job of making this period interesting, sad, emotional, funny....all the feels. I do not expect my heart to literally ache when reading a domestic thriller, but I became invested in Charly and the other patients.
And I loved the ending.
Brain Damage was a fantastic book. Main character, Charly McKenna is a successful dermatologist, single, until she meets THE PERFECT MAN. Uh huh. You know that's never the case, right? We spend most of our time with Charly during her recovery from a gunshot wound to the head. This is the magic of the book - how interesting can days and days of rehab be for a reader? A lot. The author/doctor does a great job of making this period interesting, sad, emotional, funny....all the feels. I do not expect my heart to literally ache when reading a domestic thriller, but I became invested in Charly and the other patients.
And I loved the ending.
July 10, 2023
This was alot less suspenseful and gripping than her other books, but I honestly enjoyed that aspect. It focused more on Charly, and it was beautiful to see her growth after what happened and coming into realization of what really happened. And what the heck -- why can't we all just find a guy like Jamie??? He was so perfect and caring! Absolutely loved it and how Freida wrapped it all up with a bow at the ending. Wonderfully written!
February 19, 2020
Great story! Sad, funny and loved the ending
December 20, 2023
Charly has everything she has ever wanted, a prosperous career as a dermatologist, a good apartment overlooking Central Park. A good looking lawyer husband who loves her for who she is.
Charly's life changes forever one night, a brain injury due to a bullet ripping through the right side of her skull. The result in being memory failure, no vision at all of anything that is down her left side, no feeling down her left side. She can't walk, can't talk, can't do anything for herself at all. No memory of anything that happened to her.
Slowly through physical and mental therapy Charly starts to piece her life together, past and present until that fateful night becomes clear.
The book jumps back and forth between the present and the past a lot leading up to the actual crime, recovery and then finally present day. It was an easy read though. It was easily marked to exactly where in Charly's timeline you are.
Charly's life changes forever one night, a brain injury due to a bullet ripping through the right side of her skull. The result in being memory failure, no vision at all of anything that is down her left side, no feeling down her left side. She can't walk, can't talk, can't do anything for herself at all. No memory of anything that happened to her.
Slowly through physical and mental therapy Charly starts to piece her life together, past and present until that fateful night becomes clear.
The book jumps back and forth between the present and the past a lot leading up to the actual crime, recovery and then finally present day. It was an easy read though. It was easily marked to exactly where in Charly's timeline you are.
May 28, 2022
This is not a psychological thriller. It is a drama in a hospital.
July 21, 2023
Twisted, heart-breaking, unimaginable, devastating, cute, funny, fun and educational.
Monsters are all around us!
I don't think that I would have the patience that the nurses and therapists do, so God bless them and much praise to anyone who is kind enough to work in a field like this.
I stay with and care for my 80yr old Mom with dementia, not an easy life to live.
So this read was also very informative/helpful for me on a personal level.
I loved every minute of this and never wished it to end.
Monsters are all around us!
I don't think that I would have the patience that the nurses and therapists do, so God bless them and much praise to anyone who is kind enough to work in a field like this.
I stay with and care for my 80yr old Mom with dementia, not an easy life to live.
So this read was also very informative/helpful for me on a personal level.
I loved every minute of this and never wished it to end.
April 22, 2024
5⭐️ just for Jamie alone… I love him 😩😩😩😩 I was literally shouting for helmet girl to confess her feelings the entire time, speak up sis!!!!
Parts of this book did really annoy me, like all the flack and insults she took from Clark and how it didn’t occur to her to tell ANYBODY what was going on 🤣
But we love a happy ending so that’s all that matters 🩵👏🏼🩵
Parts of this book did really annoy me, like all the flack and insults she took from Clark and how it didn’t occur to her to tell ANYBODY what was going on 🤣
But we love a happy ending so that’s all that matters 🩵👏🏼🩵
May 3, 2023
This was an audible original. I typically like these books that are written for narration because I’ve found historically they feel more natural. I like my audibles to sound like someone’s telling a story not reading from a script. I liked the voice of this actor. It’s written in single POV so there’s only one voice the entire time.
I’m so interested in psychology and brain science so this book was right up my alley.This is the story of Dr. Charly McKenna. She’s a successful single dermatologist. One horrific event finds her shot in the head and still alive. This is the story of her building her strength and memories and rebuilding her life.
I’ve read a few Frieda McFadden books. She’s an excellent story teller and is brilliant at weaving a brilliant tale. She gives you tiny nuggets to piece together and keeps you thinking the entire time. I love that about her and her books. What I don’t love is her canny ability to make her female main characters so weak and unlikeable at times. Without giving too much away, the hardest part was that she said over and over and over how handsome one of the characters was. Over and over, like 100 times through the course of the book. Maybe I’m exaggerating but I just wanted to scream WE KNOW HE’S HANDSOME!!! That was my only real ick in this book. I hated how Charly acted around the “handsome” character. Know your worth girl. I like to read about STRONG female characters.
Overall this is an excellent story. If you like psychological thrillers that get you thinking “who done it” then this is definitely the story for you.
I’m so interested in psychology and brain science so this book was right up my alley.This is the story of Dr. Charly McKenna. She’s a successful single dermatologist. One horrific event finds her shot in the head and still alive. This is the story of her building her strength and memories and rebuilding her life.
I’ve read a few Frieda McFadden books. She’s an excellent story teller and is brilliant at weaving a brilliant tale. She gives you tiny nuggets to piece together and keeps you thinking the entire time. I love that about her and her books. What I don’t love is her canny ability to make her female main characters so weak and unlikeable at times. Without giving too much away, the hardest part was that she said over and over and over how handsome one of the characters was. Over and over, like 100 times through the course of the book. Maybe I’m exaggerating but I just wanted to scream WE KNOW HE’S HANDSOME!!! That was my only real ick in this book. I hated how Charly acted around the “handsome” character. Know your worth girl. I like to read about STRONG female characters.
Overall this is an excellent story. If you like psychological thrillers that get you thinking “who done it” then this is definitely the story for you.
February 26, 2023
4.25 Stars
July 27, 2018
1,5/5. Very slow pace. Long part of it should have been taken out. Poorly written. Story and characters that are not really interesting. I really don't get the very very high rating this book currently have on good read, almost 4.5, this is ridiculous... The only thing that was a bit interesting was the reconstruction after brain damage, but if you're interested into that, read a informative book or a real life story, not this piece of fiction...
July 17, 2023
4.5*
i was surprised at the romance in this ??? i kept forgetting i was reading a thriller because i was blushing and giggling every time charly and jamie interacted 🤭🤭
the plot twist was super anticlimactic and if there wasn’t a big romance subplot then i prob would’ve rated this 2 stars 😃
i was surprised at the romance in this ??? i kept forgetting i was reading a thriller because i was blushing and giggling every time charly and jamie interacted 🤭🤭
the plot twist was super anticlimactic and if there wasn’t a big romance subplot then i prob would’ve rated this 2 stars 😃
January 11, 2023
Not her greatest
My least favorite Freida book yet. Predictable and suuuuper drawn out storyline that lacked much of a “twist”. I was disappointed with this one.
My least favorite Freida book yet. Predictable and suuuuper drawn out storyline that lacked much of a “twist”. I was disappointed with this one.
April 10, 2023
Given that I have now read too many Freida McFadden books that I have found are just way too similar to or much the same as other books published first that I've read, I have decided to reasses my ratings. I'll leave my original review for what I thought at the time, but I don't want to support this.
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4.5 stars rounded up. This is such a hard book to rate and review! I loved it - mostly in relation to the hospital and rehabilitation story, and re dealing with adversity.
Dr McKenna is the victim of a horrific crime. She is in rehab trying to overcome the damage suffered to her brain. Meanwhile, the lingering question throughout the book is "whodunit"; who shot Dr McKenna?
I wouldn't call this your typical psychological thriller as far as pacing, mystery and twists go. There were, of course, good twists but from that side of things I found it was very predicatable, lots of obvious hints, and rather the main story to me was based on recovery (bit vague as avoiding spoilers). I still liked reading every minute of this book though and seeing relationships develop. I can't say if I'd have enjoyed it if not for my own experience - impossible to know.
Based on my own personal experience in hospitals/rehab (not being shot, nor brain based but with years and years of rehab and many times trying to walk), I think it was extremely well written. The emotional battles and mini wins were so nicely depicted to what I recall feeling myself.
I loved loved loved the amount of times I was laughing throughout it - not sure if intended - it reminded me of the stupid little things I said or would find humour in just to get by.
Nostalgia probably is not the right word to describe how I felt reading this book because I'd not want to go back to where I was, but it certainly gave me all the feels and was very enjoyable. (I also can't think of a more appropriate word than nostalgia!)
Once again, Freida McFadden has not disappointed and I just LOVED the ending.
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4.5 stars rounded up. This is such a hard book to rate and review! I loved it - mostly in relation to the hospital and rehabilitation story, and re dealing with adversity.
Dr McKenna is the victim of a horrific crime. She is in rehab trying to overcome the damage suffered to her brain. Meanwhile, the lingering question throughout the book is "whodunit"; who shot Dr McKenna?
I wouldn't call this your typical psychological thriller as far as pacing, mystery and twists go. There were, of course, good twists but from that side of things I found it was very predicatable, lots of obvious hints, and rather the main story to me was based on recovery (bit vague as avoiding spoilers). I still liked reading every minute of this book though and seeing relationships develop. I can't say if I'd have enjoyed it if not for my own experience - impossible to know.
Based on my own personal experience in hospitals/rehab (not being shot, nor brain based but with years and years of rehab and many times trying to walk), I think it was extremely well written. The emotional battles and mini wins were so nicely depicted to what I recall feeling myself.
I loved loved loved the amount of times I was laughing throughout it - not sure if intended - it reminded me of the stupid little things I said or would find humour in just to get by.
Nostalgia probably is not the right word to describe how I felt reading this book because I'd not want to go back to where I was, but it certainly gave me all the feels and was very enjoyable. (I also can't think of a more appropriate word than nostalgia!)
Once again, Freida McFadden has not disappointed and I just LOVED the ending.
July 4, 2023
I have read numerous Freida McFadden books since the beginning of this year that I thoroughly enjoyed. Her writing style is brilliant.
This book was a struggle for me to get through. I finished it mostly because I have been a little obsessed with her books with all the twists and shocks, so I thought it was going to get better. It had the word handsome in it dozens of times and it was basically a Romance book which is the only genre I don't read.
I will read more of her books. I am just not a fan of this book, but I am a fan of Freida McFadden! I have had to get up to go to work on just 2 to 3 hours of sleep because I couldn't put her books down!
This book was a struggle for me to get through. I finished it mostly because I have been a little obsessed with her books with all the twists and shocks, so I thought it was going to get better. It had the word handsome in it dozens of times and it was basically a Romance book which is the only genre I don't read.
I will read more of her books. I am just not a fan of this book, but I am a fan of Freida McFadden! I have had to get up to go to work on just 2 to 3 hours of sleep because I couldn't put her books down!
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