And Breathe

by Leonora Meriel

What if your life was spinning out of control? Where would you turn?
A silent meditation retreat, deep in the Thai jungle, promises to restore peace and help its visitors achieve joy in the midst of a chaotic world.
Lured by this tantalising promise, a Brazilian feminist, a neurotic French scientist and a ruthless Ukrainian businessman make their way to the remote forests of Thailand.
As the world around them falls silent and the meditation intensifies, their inner voices grow louder and they are tormented by the deepest fears of their subconscious.
Will any of them survive to restore the balance, happiness and prosperity they have come to seek? Or will the shadows of their past lives bury them forever?
"Enthralling to the end... a grippingly intense, yet beautiful read" - Emma Carmichael , author of Driving Tito

Genres: Literary Fiction

214 pages, Hardcover

Published May 1, 2022

About the author

Leonora Meriel grew up in London, UK, but draws much of her inspiration from her years living in Ukraine, where she was co-founder of Ukraine’s largest bookshop.

Her debut novel, The Woman Behind the Waterfall, is set in western Ukraine and is a celebration of Ukrainian culture, language and custom. Her novel, And Breathe, centers on a Ukrainian oligarch and her latest novel, Mbaquana Nights, explores Ukrainian immigration at the end of the nineteenth century.

Her work has been hailed as “strange and beautiful” by writer Esther Freud, “ambitious and thought-provoking” by Kirkus Reviews, and “a classic work of art” by Richmond Magazine.

Read more about Leonora and her work at www.leonorameriel.com

Reviews

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

And Breathe is a unique and fascinating story where we follow three characters on their journey to a wellness retreat in Thailand to overcome issues in their lives, trauma and let go of things that have caused them to attend the retreat in the first place.
Francis is there due to feeling that his lover is ashamed of him and his job has high risks causing his mental health to suffer uncontrollably.
Laeticia has emotional wounds after finding out her husband has been chasing on her and from being raped.
Ivan has been betrayed by his best friend who has stolen his business out from under him sending him into an uncontrollable spiral.
I enjoyed how the author set out and delivered this book in the form of a day by day blow with POV from each of the characters helping you get to know and understand them, discover what lead up to them coming to the retreat and it was hard to stop reading and put the book down.

[Emma Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/4 stars.
A very intriguing read. You get pulled into the meditative setting of the book and its a realistic look on humanity.

[M.L. Tompsett · Rating 4 out of 5]

And Breathe by the talented Leonora Meriel is a gripping tale. We follow three people on their journey to a Thailand 10-day retreat. We learn about their problems, issues, and what brought them to the retreat. Can they learn to overcome the drama, stress, anger, and problems that lead them to part take in the 10-day retreat with no meat, phones, or speaking?
Can they overcome their issues, or will their past overrule them, causing them to seek revenge? Good world-building and characters. Read to discover what happens to Laeticia, Francis and Ivan - will they make it out of the jungle?

[A.A. Abbott · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gangster, a spy and a feminist walk into a Thai meditation retreat. It could be the start of a joke. Instead, Leonora Meriel begins a gripping novel.

The yogic retreat offers enlightenment and and the opportunity to change. But suppose someone doesn't want to change?

The three characters and their separate journeys are fascinating, with a finale as dramatic as it was unexpected.

[Cherime MacFarlane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can I go there, please? Breathe, let the garbage go. Some at the retreat can't manage it. They are too into other things. But for others, they find the peace they have been searching for. A great read with a good message and, well. I'll stop here because otherwise I might give too much away.

[Joshua Griffith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thought provoking read

I thoroughly enjoyed this one! The story revolves around several different characters, each one having a chapter dedicated to them and their own intense struggles that leads them to the jungle of Thailand, where they embark on a ten day regiment of breathing meditation in an attempt to bring some balance back into their chaotic lives. It's a wonderful exploration into how the Vipassana course can liberate even the most troubled of minds if you can center yourself and breathe. Each character has their own unique situation and will have you fully invested in their stories just to see how it will turn out. I highly recommend it!

[Jo Ullah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It’s written from three different perspectives, with the chapters scrolling through to focus on each of the characters in turn. The reader follows these three individuals, who are staying at a meditation centre in Thailand, while they are learning to meditate and come to terms with the trauma haunting their lives. We get to delve into their heads and eavesdrop on their intimate thoughts as they battle their personal demons.

[Sandra J Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laeticia, Ivan, and Francis, three individuals unknown to each other, embark on a ten-day vipassana course in Thailand. Ten days of silent meditation to reflect on their lives and hopefully restore peace within themselves.

Leonora Meriel pens a different kind of story in, And Breathe. Each chapter is devoted to one character and invites the reader to get inside that particular character’s head as they work through the ten-days of meditation. Readers are taken on a guided tour of what the character is feeling as they focus on their breath and body. But it is when their mind wanders and they ruminate on their past does the reader learn what brought them to this silent retreat in the first place.

I enjoyed this well written and intelligent read. While there’s quite a bit of narration, the style works for this novel. There’s enough action within the character’s heads, as well as some outside, to move the story at a decent pace. And the ending was completely unsuspected.

[T.N. Traynor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A character driven classic - amazing!

Laeticia, wounded emotionally by a cheating husband and from being raped. A mountain of injustice ferments inside her.
Ivan, robbed of his company by his best friend. Imploding at the loss of control.
Francis, a lover who is ashamed of him and a job of seeking risks everyday, has brought him to the brink of madness.
All of them are on the edge.
All of them end up on a 10-day retreat in Thailand.
They’ve come to find themselves before it’s too late.

This story is intelligent and eloquently written.
Each day of the retreat has 3 chapters, on from the POV of the main characters. Each day delves deeper into their psyche and what delivered them to this point in their lives.
Thoroughly gripping - mesmerising.
About love, sin, redemption and the hope of tomorrow.
Brilliant book, highly recommend.

[Herb Randall · Rating 5 out of 5]

"and Breathe" is a gripping read from its opening pages to its shocking conclusion. Like her earlier, equally fine novels, "The Woman Behind the Waterfall" and "The Unity Game", Meriel adeptly creates a unique, fascinating world, and then populates it with characters who leap off the pages. In "and Breathe", the story is told from the separate viewpoints of three strangers who come together at a Vipassana meditation resort in Thailand for a 10 day retreat from the traumas that haunt them. There is Laetica, immediately introducing herself as a rape victim, but who is more defined by her professional ambition and successful career. Ivan, a Ukrainian "biznezman" (of the shadiest variety), recently double-crossed by his best friend and business partner, is sent to the resort to deal with his life-threatening high blood pressure and possibly plot revenge. Finally, we meet Francis, highly-strung, higly-trusted risk management adviser to his government, but who now can't stop seeing risks in everything, great or small. They surrender their phones, leave behind their appetites and vices, friends and family, work, and distracting luxuries for silence, calm breathing, peace, and a chance for positive transformation. In the end, the inner journeys these three strangers take intersect in a conclusion that will leave readers themselves breathless. "and Breathe" would be an ideal selection for a book club, as it is one of those novels that the reader can't help but want to discuss with others.

[Matthew Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

And Breathe is one of the most compelling and well-written books I’ve read this year. Following each character’s inner thoughts as they navigate their personal journeys was truly captivating. The author masterfully captures the complexity of emotions, making it easy to connect with the characters on a deep level.

The pacing is perfect, allowing the story to unfold naturally while keeping the reader engaged from start to finish. The prose is wonderfully crafted, with a flow that feels effortless yet deliberate. Every sentence seems to carry weight, drawing you further into the world of the characters.

And Breathe offers a rich, immersive experience, and its thoughtful exploration of life’s challenges makes it a standout read. Highly recommended for anyone who appreciates well-paced, character-driven stories.

[Rosemary Mairs · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Thai meditation retreat. Three traumatised individuals trying to regain mental and emotional peace. A staunch feminist, who has been the victim of a rape. A scientist, whose work involves developing strategies to cope with global attacks, which makes him oversensitive to the possibility of personal threat. A ruthless business man, who has been betrayed by the person closest to his heart.

The author transports the reader into the minds of the protagonists as they meditate, dramatically conveying their thought processes and struggle. I probably shouldn’t have preferred Ivan’s story (that of a belligerent egotist) to the other two, but the dark humour was irresistible.

A book to savour, beautifully written, with an unexpected ending.

[Annalisa Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three broken people come together on a spiritual retreat in Thailand to cure their demons. It's a silent retreat so most of the story is told in flashback and daydream, which are two of my favourite storytelling techniques. And the author's use of language is beautiful and captivating and keeps you longing for more, especially as you slide towards the final pages.

The stories of the three characters are harsh and shocking in their own ways, juxtaposed with the serenity of the retreat, and as the silence affects each of them they become more willing to let down their guard.

For people looking for a unique story and style, this novel is perfect.

[Yi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a beautiful, well written book. The words and sentences flow so smoothly. We are following 3 individuals as they start a mediation retreat. Each chapter is a day at the retreat. We follow along with their journey. We learn their background and thoughts as each day progresses.

It is heartbreaking, hopeful, disappointment, angry. The ending surprised me, I didn't see it coming. But it a prefect way to wrap up their stories.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book!

[Hermes_Fang · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book lured me in and haunted me for the whole time while reading it.
The writing is gorgeous. I can really relate to the characters. From the hatred, confusing, angry in the beginning, to the peace and wholeness in the end.
The twist in the end is quite sudden, and it breaks the calmness that the book builds the whole time. Then it concluded in the love and selflessness again.
And Breathe is a must read if you're confused about your life.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Kayla Frederick · Rating 5 out of 5]

"And Breathe" was a very emotional piece following the path of three characters who end up at a mediation retreat that promises peace and prosperity.

The story had a lot of depth and emotions that made it easy to root for the characters, especially Laeticia. I could understand all three characters in a way I don't normally while reading. It was for that reason I had a hard time putting this book down.

I loved the ending.

All in all, this was a compelling literary piece that tackles some rough topics in a very raw and thoughtful way.

[Grace Ong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unique premise

This was a very interesting plot, had no idea what to expect when i picked this up. The three protagonists are so unique from different cultures (ukranian, Brazil and french) and from unique schisms and problems. Throw them into a meditation retreat and enjoy their journey. Reading how each chart struggle with the practice mirrors my own and it was refreshing to read...im not alone in trying to dispell thoughts in my meditation practice! Great and imaginative story. Thank you!

[Mieke Stubbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really loved this book. Original and beautifully written and completely absorbing from start to finish. Set in a Buddhist Thai jungle retreat, the story follows the spiritual journeys of the three main characters purely through the dialogue of their inner thoughts. How they are shaped by their pasts and how they evolve through the story. Compelling and thought provoking and utterly enjoyable. A must-read!

[Alex Orap · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked how masterfully Leonora weaved humor and serious meditation on the human condition. The characters' inner worlds are pictured vividly and will make you laugh at times, but also reflect deeply on life's complexities. This is a great book; I highly recommend it. The narration on Audible is good, too.

[Francesca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent characters and a delicious narrative that weaves them together and apart so artistically. A highly recommended read!

[Kelly Allegretti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unique And Captivating

I loved this book from the very start. The story is so unique and unexpected. I look forward to reading the author's next book

[Jenny Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This took us through the separate tales of three different people, all guided to attend a 10-day silent meditative retreat. You learned their backstories and traumas and saw how they each processed emotions and thoughts differently.

It fascinated me how in a state of silence, how mentally wayward us humans can become; the stories we make up in our heads, how dark anger can drive us to think, the overwhelm of our unhealed experiences. The author did a great job demonstrating very different personalities and anxieties- but I felt all of them. I empathized and was rooting for all of them to find their peace. It actually makes me want to seek out a similar program myself!

But that ending? Oh my goodness does it take you by complete surprise! I did not see that coming. Wow! What a way to end it all (in a good way). Interesting read.

[Steven Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

My New Favorite Book!

As a person who has his own mediation practice, this book took me right there. It is so original and I was able to read the story, and even write in my head my own parallel story that comes from my own experience. So unique and enjoyable!