The Image Of You By Sonia Velton

‘The Image Of You’ is the latest book by Sonia Velton.

Stella lives with her mother, a smothering narcissist. Her world has shrunk since the terrible accident that left her a shut-in. Her days are broken up by deliveries from a courier that she always returns and by the irresistible urge to watch the life of a stranger – beautiful Connie – unfold on social media. But why is she so drawn to a woman she has never met? And what caused the accident she doesn’t want to speak about? Connie is an expat living in Dubai with her partner, Mark, and their two children. On the face of it she wants for nothing and yet she fears that her husband is turning into a stranger. When she finds herself drawn into the lives of the local domestic helpers, she discovers that there are dark secrets in this glittering city.

This story is a fascinating one, seen through the narrative of two women living in different sides of the world but have one thing in common.

Stella is housebound after an accident and never leaves the house. She’s obsessed with Connie who leads a glamorous life in Dubai with her husband and two children. Stella spends her days ordering deliveries only to return them whilst watching Connie’s life on social life.

The story is seen through the narrative of the two women written in the past and the present tense. Stella’s had a difficult with a narcissistic and wicked mother who regularly put Stella down and lead her to believe her that she’d be worthless without her mother and just as Stella finally gets the chance to lead her life, her mother’s dementia sets in and Stella has to give away her independence. To help her deal with the aftermath of an accident, Stella finds solace in the Connie’s life.

Behind social media, Connie’s life is far from perfect. She wants more from her life than attending pool parties and being a house wife and fitting in with the glamorous lifestyle. And when she gets a housekeeper to help around the house, she can’t help but get involved to help her maid’s friend, who gets in trouble with her boss. Connie has a big heart and cares for others, unlike the other socialites who disregard their staff. She’s unhappy in her life and is counting down the days until she can return to England.

This story is a fascinating one, Stella’s obsession with Connie makes for compulsive reading and I found myself speeding through the book. It’s cleverly crafted with a plot line with protagonists that are both relatable. I found myself intrigued with Connie’s story, she’s sympathetic, lonely and keeps herself away from people and odd moments that she has with other people, really does make for tender reading, particularly the moments with Evengi the delivery driver who takes her parcels. These moments makes for sweet reading, as we see rare glimpses of the really Stella, a warm and witty character who’s not used to human interaction.

A moving and original of love, life and new beginnings, ‘The Image Of Her’ is a thought provoking and fascinating story about two women who have never met but their lives become irreversibly intertwined forever.

You can buy ‘The Image Of Her’ from Amazon and is available to buy from good bookshops.