No Ordinary Love is an unputdownable debut novel that delves into the dark realities of intimate partner violence through the stories of three Canadian women: Gabbi, Alex, and Katee. Each storyline gives readers a unique perspective on survival, resilience, and the lasting impacts of abuse. Author B.B. Gabriel, a Canadian social worker and abuse survivor herself, channels her personal experiences into this book. The character and location names have been altered, but much of the story is based on true events she experienced.

Gabbi, a therapist in her late thirties, is determined to share her long-suppressed story in the form of a novel. With her younger sister given a fatal cancer diagnosis, she is desperate to finish her book before time runs out. Alex, a school counselor in her late twenties, grapples with her own trauma from past abuse while helping students. When she starts receiving letters from her abusive ex in prison, she feels threatened again, and her anxiety and panic resurface, affecting her work and personal life. Katee, a high school student, has an unhealthy, dysfunctional relationship with her family. When the family moves to a deadbeat small town, she has a falling out with her mother and moves out. Soon she falls for a seemingly perfect guy, only to discover the nightmare beneath his facade. Their experiences, while distinct, together highlight the insidious nature of intimate partner abuse.

Gabriel’s writing is raw, disturbing, engrossing, and uncluttered. All three narratives of this book perfectly capture the psychological effects of abuse without overdramatizing the victims. The abusers of the women are unnamed, emphasizing that these predators can be anyone and can come from all walks of life. The brutal realities of abuse are not shied away from in this book—instead, they are highlighted with eye-opening details and brutal honesty, making the stories difficult to read and, at the same time, inspiring to see how courageous these women are to break free and heal.

The stories don’t just recount the horrors of abuse the women endure but also highlight the psychological grip their abusers have on them, making their escapes seemingly impossible. There reaches a point in each narrative where each woman finally musters up the courage and strength to fight back, even when the odds are stacked against them. Anyone who’s been a victim of abuse or a witness to someone who’s been abused will find these stories painful, emotionally resonant, and validating. For those who haven’t, it’s an important read to really understand the psychological impact of coercive control and the strength and resiliency required to survive it and break free!

The stories are fast-paced, unpredictable, and full of raw, disturbing dialogue that is not for the faint of heart. Each story features a first-person POV of the set protagonist—since the three women are all at different stages of their lives (Katee a teen, Alex in her late 20s, and Gabbi in her late 30s), each story brilliantly captures different levels of awareness and wisdom when it comes to abuse and predators. The novel often switches between perspectives just after the most disturbing and unsettling scenes, providing readers both a much-needed “breather” and time to digest what transpired.

The stories of Alex and Gabbi, women who have taken steps to heal from the effects of violence and PTSD, provide hope and inspiration to readers. In contrast, Katee’s story is the most difficult to read. Readers should be prepared for triggering content including grooming, psychological manipulation, and graphic violence. As she’s only a teenager when her abuse story takes place, her story is even more unsettling. Her bad relationship with her mother and her strong desire for independence lead her to some very bad decision-making. After the abuse starts, the psychological grip that her boyfriend has on her is alarming and painful to read. Her journey is not an uphill battle but instead a rollercoaster of abuse that readers will want her to get off of—and just when you think she’s about to break free, she makes more poor decisions, clearly fueled by a warped sense of hope that things will change and the strong psychological grip that her manipulative boyfriend still holds. Her story exposes the darkest horrors of what many women have endured and try to forget but offers peace in knowing that she’s not alone and she survived. Her story comes full circle by the end and includes a very dramatic climax that readers won’t soon forget!

Overall, No Ordinary Love is a gripping and brutally honest novel that offers realistic insight into dysfunctional families, loss, the lasting effects of domestic violence, and the power to break free and heal from dark horrors. The author also brilliantly showcases how easily someone can get caught in an abusive relationship and how hard it is to leave. Knowing that this novel is based on the author’s real-life journey makes it even more powerful and thought-provoking. It’s a must-read for anyone who has endured abuse, knows someone who has been abused, or who enjoys emotionally resonant stories that demonstrate the resiliency of the human spirit. If all of this sounds intriguing, don’t hesitate to grab a copy of this book—the stories will stay with you!