Lizzie Petrie thought she’d gotten her life under control, but everything seems to be unravelling right before her eyes.
As COVID-19 starts to recede, Lizzie has new battles to fight in epic Lizzie fashion.
Whether it involves getting the twins ready for kindergarten, the threat to the planet, or starting a new media company, Lizzie is being pulled in so many directions she doesn’t know which way is up.
There’s one fear in particular that’s threatening to upend her world as she knows it.
Is Lizzie strong enough to conquer the A-word, or will it be the thing that wrecks her grasp on reality?
T. B. Markinson is an American writer, living in England. When she isn't writing, she’s traveling the world, watching sports on the telly, visiting pubs in England, or taking the dog for a walk. Not necessarily in that order.
**'Prolonging a storyline once it's of interest to readers can be fatal to the writer, in a good way -- it's sometimes unconscionable to the writer too..'
Delightful read! An enjoyable and well written book #9 of this 'A Woman Lost' series. Also highly recommended book and series!
Since I know that I’m on the spectrum I always look out for more wlw books with characters that are also on the spectrum. Almost my whole life I didn’t know that this is the reason why I always felt different. Looking back I get now why I always felt close to Lizzie. Lizzie also always felt different and as it seems not even TB knew at first what it is that makes her different. The conclusion makes so much sense and me so very happy.
The story is set in the middle of the pandemic. Lizzie and Sarah still have roommates in Willow and Maddie but at least for Lizzie Sarah‘s mum and Troy moved out. Lizzie is still coming to terms if her suspicion of being on the spectrum is a good thing or not.
And then there is also a new work opportunity together with Willow and Lizzie wanting to save the planet. So once more she has a lot do deal with. As usual we get to see so much of Lizzie’s thinking and the way she handles things. We also get to see that Sarah is just perfect for her. Sarah gets her like no one else. She really sees Lizzie and how wonderful she is. And most of all she is one of the reasons Lizzie starts opening up more and more which leads to making their relationship an even better one. At least that’s how I felt. For me Sarah finally realised some things that she didn’t before. Another reason their relationship improved even more during the book.
I also loved the moments Lizzie has with Willow. Willow gets and accepts Lizzie which isn’t something Lizzie is used to but definitely deserves. Lizzie’s past has made her wary which I totally understand. So Willow was totally refreshing for me in this story.
It really hit me how much Lizzie’s journey reminded me of my own. Minus several differences of course because no one is the same. Like it’s often perfectly said if you meet one person on the spectrum you have met one person on the spectrum. TB describes her difficulties and doubts in the most perfect way. Also Lizzie’s doctors visit and how women on the spectrum still often don’t get recognised. Personally I was very lucky with my therapist that was amazing and never doubted me. But unfortunately the way it’s described in the book is still more often true than not.
My heart went out to Lizzie so many times and I just wanted to hug her. I admit that I had to cry several times because I was touched so much or got reminded about things I endured as well. The self-doubts, the wanting to belong, the feeling out of place, others that made fun of you because you were different than the norm and so many other things that goes through your mind. Because even if we are often quiet, our mind is not.
The story also challenged me like when I was questioning myself if the knowing someone is on the spectrum should make a difference. I get that knowing helps to understand why someone acts differently. It most definitely made a difference to myself because I finally knew why I was this way. But about others I’m somehow still not sure. I somehow wish that the diagnosis wouldn’t even be necessary because we can be open and accepting of other people. That it wouldn’t need a label to make others stop making fun of someone. If that even makes them stop. But well I know we are not there yet and if the diagnosis at least helps some people to understand us better that’s a win right? Or if the diagnosis helps that a child gets the help it needs it’s also a win.
And then there were the moments where I got reminded of all the positive sides someone on the spectrum has. Like how we see the world in a unique way and that’s ok. Or like not everyone can be truly honest but being sincere and honest actually is our superpower. Personally for me this isn’t something special. It’s just how someone on the spectrum is. But on the other hand I learned in my life that not many are able to be honest. And that’s just Lizzie.
I could go on and on about how much this story has touched me. In the end I was cried out and drained. But I was also so happy and proud of Lizzie for her journey to heal and accept herself for the wonderful person she is. And last but not least for finally speaking up. 😊
I hope many other Lizzie fans will enjoy this story as much as I did. For me this was so far the best in the whole series and I hope there will be more.
A lifetime of pain surfaces to provide communication, understanding and maybe healing
I say this every time i read a Lizzie book but this one needed Kleenex. There are the great moments where her antics provide laughter, smirks and always smile. The dialogue is priceless. This time the journey was about understanding and acceptance. Dealing with the world as the pandemic has eased to allow outings creates a whole new Ser of missteps. Willow taps into a new venture and is searching for solid ground with Maddie. Sarah is trying to find sanity with 4 kids (5 if you count Lizzie) 24/7. I believe the most poignant moment give glimpses at Lizzie learning to accept herself. Some very heartfelt confessions opens everyone's eyes to what has filled Lizzie's head her whole life. I come to love Lizzie more with each book but this one grabbed my heart hard. I could feel the hurt, pain and question she has always had. To have her open up with those closest to her brought both joy and pain. I can not say how much this book brought healing and love. The characters are so complicated and yet open to figuring out how to love each other better. Bravo TB Markinson this is one of the very best in the series.
I love reading these books and experiencing Lizzie’s view on things. She makes me laugh and think. Sarah is so in tune with her moods and emotions. I love how they interact with the whole extended family. Lizzie her loves her family and does everything she can to make people happy. She grows and learns more in each story. I look forward to books in the series.
I received an arc copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
A brilliant, beautiful and heartfelt story about understanding and acceptance
Every book about Lizzie is a masterpiece, but TB knocked this one out of the park, making this book one of my most loved ones. As usual, the ending leaves me wanting more. I can’t get enough of Lizzie
My review can’t do this book justice. The book is simply extraordinary. The storyline moved along flawlessly and kept me involved — definitely a page-turner.
The book was magnificent. I laughed. I almost cried (that’s something hard to achieve but, I found myself on the brink of tears). I experienced every emotion possible by a human while I read this story. I was on an emotional rollercoaster—a powerful example of a book that reaches the reader’s heart.
Even with the different lives and upbringing between myself and Lizzie, I relate to her in ways that no other character ever has and maybe that is why this book touched me so much. My heart went out to Lizzie, and I just wanted to be there for her and give her a warm tight hug. There were so many unexpected turns, Lizzie’s journey wasn’t easy, but she proved herself a fighter. TB did a magnificent job showing us the deepness and beauty of Lizzie’s soul. She is one of the most extraordinary characters ever written.
With every new book, the great chemistry between Lizzie and Sarah is confirmed. I’m always glad to see that they are perfect for each other, Lizzie needed something good in her life, and her wife and kids bring that joy. It was great to see that she finally revealed all she had been bottling up for years to her father. I could feel the moment she freed herself from the burden. It was also great to see she has a friend like Willow. We all need that friend that will bring us out of our comfort zone and give us confidence, and this is precisely what she does for Lizzie.
There is so much to say about this book, but I don’t want to spoil it, so I’ll say this. A Woman Unhinged is a gem of a book that is not to be overlooked, and I highly recommend it. You won’t be disappointed.
I am looking forward to reading more about Lizzie.
I received an ARC copy of the book and voluntarily left my review.
Lizzie and Sarah are getting life back to normal after the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions start easing. With life moving on, the kids getting ready for kindergarten and Lizzie dealing with the A-word, everything is, as always with Lizzie, up in the air and causing drama.
I’m so sad this is the last book in the A Woman Lost series, and really hope, maybe in future there will be more. Lizzie is one of my all-time favourite characters because I find her so relatable. Lizzie is completely unique and while she is further seeking explanation for why she feels so different to everyone else in this story, she is special and totally amazing. Everything she says and does is fascinating, and the fact she can be humorous so effortlessly adds light relief when they are dealing with heavier subjects.
As usual, T.B. Markinson has delivered a brilliantly funny story, where Lizzie has the most fantastic moments and shares amazing insights that help all of us to realise there is no shame in not understanding something or being horrified by something we learn about our world. It was lovely how Sarah playfully keeps their relationship alive and supports Lizzie through everything, while having that comradery only two people truly in love can achieve. Once again Lizzie grew greatly as a character and it’s been an honour to join her on this journey and be present for all her successes, from relationships, to parenting, to her career.
Another great addition to the series that I just cannot wait to read again and again.
I absolutely love this series. I would have been fine with it ending at book #7. But the continuing two books have enriched my understanding of Lizzie and her life struggles. Suspecting she is on the spectrum Lizzie doesn't find help when she reaches out to a medical doctor. Which is sadly all too real in diagnosing adults. Sarah is always supportive. And the two still have a sizzling connection. But even she is unprepared for all the things coming to the surface as Lizzie comes to understand herself. And the near ending scene with between Lizzie and her father made me want to curse the author and KU that there aren't all ready other novels continuing the story. My current KU expires next week but I'll sign up again or purchase when ever the next book appears.
This one was slower paced then the previous books in the series. I absolutely love this series T.B. Markinson tells. I love Lizzie and Sarah chemistry and passion. The family and Maddie bring me joy and laughter. I look forward to the next in the series.
In short: great novel, wonderful series. Read these books in order!! I have about a dozen reviews on this series already so I'm going to keep this one short. This series has wonderful and well-developed characters that demonstrate incredible growth over the course of the series. There is wacky soap-opera style drama, heartwarming moments, spicy bedroom scenes, and a lot of exploration of different types of relationship dynamics. There is also some great autism representation.
This novel gave me the Lizzy and Willow content that I didn't realize I was craving. There was plenty of Lizzy's runaway internal monologue that I love so much, as well as Lizzy coming to terms with why she thinks and acts this way. The struggles dealing with the medical system were frustrating in a very realistic and important way. There were many heartwarming and heart wrenching moments in this novel where the author used the solid foundation of well-developed characters to great effect.
Lizzie just keeps growing in each book. This is another dive into all the worries Lizzie holds on to – from her undiagnosed (possible) autism to her feelings about her family, and all the people living in her house. But even while she’s worrying, she dives into new activities, opens up to Sarah and her dad, and has many interactions with the kids, some of which are pretty funny. I feel like I got a deeper look at Lizzie in this novel, and her friends. There’s a lot of laughs in this book, too, from the cows to Mars.
I love this series. The dynamics of the characters are refreshingly unexpected and then, viewing those characters through the eyes of a family-woman living on the fringes of the neuroatypical spectrum in the middle of a pandemic... The results are as funny as they are frustrating while also providing a bit of insight on living with Autism. I'm thrilled that the author plans on writing more books in this series.
You’d think readers would grow tired of this series after nine books, seeing as how fickle people can be sometimes. Not here though—not with Lizzie, and certainly not with Markinson. In fact, the evidence seems to suggest neither are in jeopardy of being ditched anytime soon. The loyalty is as strong as ever, and the writing is too.
The Petrie household is as readers last saw it; filled with people, noise and pets. Trying not to lose their sanity in a world filled with the ever rising concerns of an ongoing Pandemic, the Petrie clan gets creative in their efforts to stay ahead of this thing. While Sarah continues to hold down the fort, Lizzie continues to worry and obsess over the future of those that reside in it. So many concerns and no clear answers. Too much to worry about and too much to avoid…
I have loved every one of the books in this series, but this one really tugged at my heart. Markinson taps into Lizzie’s vulnerabilities in a way she hasn’t before. Lizzie’s insecurities are splayed wide opened in book nine. It’s a bit unsettling at times; readers feel a deep sense compassion for her as she confronts her past and considers her future. As she wades through her fears, frustrations and disappointments, readers see an emotional honesty that’s simultaneously endearing and heartbreaking. They are drawn to her like never before. That’s pretty impressive when one stops for a moment and considers the impact of Markinson’s development of this quirky character. After eight years she can still make readers care passionately about Lizzie and the trajectory of her story.
Final thoughts…
After nine books, Markinson manages to keep things fresh and interesting. The series is as entertaining and compelling as it ever was. Lizzie, Sarah and crew continue to grow, change and surprise readers. Eight years, nine books and it seems no one wants it to end any time soon.
Strengths…
Well-written Entertaining Engaging Fantastic characters Fantastic series
When I read the last book in the “A Woman Lost” series, I thought that Lizzie and T.B. Markinson had taken me as far as they could on their journey. I was so wrong and glad to say that I am (for those who know me, please write this down as it does not happen very often (chuckle)). I am wrong and Markinson proves it with A Woman Unhinged.
Markinson picks up where we left Lizzie and the Petrie family though they are now actually cautiously venturing out into our new pandemic world. For anyone who knows Lizzie this is a process for everyone involved and not just Lizzie. Markinson explores this new world through Lizzie’s eyes and tells her story with humor and sarcastic wit.
I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.
Check out the rest of my review at Phoebe's Randoms. Link in bio.
Lizzie is unhinged she is trying to look into ways to get to Mars and to safe the earth by making better choices. She see a Dr to fine out things regarding her health and if she has the "A - word". She tries to keep things quite but always some way tells her thoughts or her secrets. When it come to talking with her father regarding her younger years she lets it all out and surprised that he is on her side now. A beautiful story of how to let things go and communicate with that person no matter what may happen..
Throughout her journey Lizzie struggled. She didn't understand how she had the love of her life and the family of her dreams. Would it all be put at risk? Would she finally get the answers she so desperately needed and wanted? I loved each and every one of the books in this series. The author has done a fantastic job in developing each and every character so that they are part of my family now. Highly recommend. I want to invest in hardcopies of the whole series.
I love this book series, it is my all time favorite! Following Lizzie through her life will make you laugh out loud and have you crying with heartbreak. This book is just another in this fantastic series. Lizzie dealing with a new self awareness in her own unique way. Sarah standing by her side with such love and understanding, that I hope everyone finds their own Sarah to love them they way she loves Lizzie. The rest of the characters are just as interesting.
There’s something so real and so relatable about Lizzie and Sarah, that I just want to invite them over for dinner! I guess the realness comes from the fertile imagination of T.B. Markinson, whose humor infuses these characters . I know, when I chuckle out loud, or when I feel a character’s excitement or sadness, that I’m reading a good, good book. I can honestly say that for this book, and really, every Markinson book I’ve ever read.
First I have to say that I’m glad T.B. Says she is continuing the series as I’m not ready for it to end. With COVID still being real in and outside of the book I feel for the characters. Also love how Lizzie is figuring out more about herself and while it is difficult still pushes through (well Sarah helps with that as well). I love the ice cream/cow discussion as I laughed so much. Can’t wait for the next installment.
Getting into the head of Lizzie Petrie is a real trip and acknowledging that she may have Autism is a revelation for some, but not for all. Oh my, the five year plan just tore my heart in half. The way in which TB writes Lizzie's emotions is so... I'm at a loss for words! What a wonderful ending, for now - validation, at last! I LOVE this series!!!
I love this series. Lissy is a really remarkable character. The love between lizzy and Sarah is beautiful. The characters in this series are very well developed and interesting. This is one of my favorite series of books. Thanks for another winner.
I can really relate to Lizzie and her quirky behavior in this series. These last 2 books are exactly how I would expect Lizzie to react to covid lockdowns and the aftermath. I was delighted to see the author's note that Lizzie's story isn't over yet. I highly recommend this series for your must read list!
This one is a well crafted story. I think it's remarkably exceptional how TB writes her stories. The way she crafts her characters is just beyond me. Its hard not to have a connection with Lizzie. I see a lot of me in her and i think many does. This book is simply the best.
I was so pleasantly surprised when another book in this series came out. And, no surprise, I loved it. I laughed. I cried. Sometimes I laughed and cried at the same time. Excellent book in an excellent series.
For literally making me laugh out loud. For keeping Lizzy true to herself. For the angst and love that only a true partner can give. I can only imagine what Lizzy may find when she gets to Mars.
I was glad to see that the Lizzie character and all her quirks, along with her wife Sarah and how she handles them has lived on. I am always anxiously awaiting their next family adventure
This book is funny, sad and romantic. The story is well written. I would definitely recommend reading this book. It is a fast read as it is hard to put the book down once you start reading
Lizzie is such an interesting character. Even with all her personal issues, she still pushes through and enjoys life to its fullest. Thanks for another great book in the series.
Loved it, I love Lizzie, her character is so believable I read the first and second book in the serious, then this. I’d forgotten how good the series is so I’m going to start again.