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Stay With Me
Tess is in trouble. Stuck on a farm outside Byron Bay, cut off from family and friends, Tess knows she must find a way to escape her violent partner to save her life and the life of her child ...
A chance meeting offers a way out - but can she ever trust again? Tess embarks on a desperate road trip back to the heart of her past. But what will be waiting for her at home? Will her family forgive her - and can she forgive them?
A chance meeting offers a way out - but can she ever trust again? Tess embarks on a desperate road trip back to the heart of her past. But what will be waiting for her at home? Will her family forgive her - and can she forgive them?
351 pages, Paperback
First published April 22, 2015
About the author
Maureen McCarthy
37 books103 followersMaureen McCarthy, the ninth of ten children, was born in 1953 in country Victoria. She has worked as a teacher in Victorian secondary schools and has written scripts for television and educational films. Her film credits include 'Skipping Class', he award-winning documentary, 'Eating Your Heart Out', and the SBS mini-series, 'In Between', which was later adapted inot four novels by Maureen. Her latest works includes the novels Ganglands and Cross My Heart, which was published in 1993 and short-listed for the NSW Premier's Prize in that year. An Australian author and scriptwriter, her novels concern the lives of emerging adults, from ages sixteen to early twenties. McCarthy has three sons and lives in Melbourne.
Maureen dedicated her story in the collection 'Family: A Collection of Short Stories' to the memory of her much-loved nephew, Justin Haire, who died tragically in October 1993, aged 21 years.
Maureen dedicated her story in the collection 'Family: A Collection of Short Stories' to the memory of her much-loved nephew, Justin Haire, who died tragically in October 1993, aged 21 years.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
April 30, 2015
When Tess and her siblings, Beth, Salome and Marlon lost first their father then three years later their mother, Tess struggled – she hated high school and was the only student to fail every subject. Big sister Beth, who had taken on the role of carer, didn’t know what to do with Tess. So when some friends invited Tess to Byron Bay for a couple of weeks in the school holidays, Beth agreed she could go. It would do everyone good to have a break – little did Tess know her life would change dramatically by the end of those two weeks.
Seventeen year old Tess loved Byron Bay – the sun, sand and surf; the casual and relaxed air of everyone around; the friendliness of the people at the local café. And the day before they were due to fly back to Melbourne, Tess watched as a young man entered the café with a couple of friends – his eye caught hers; she was intrigued. Her decision not to return to Melbourne and the humdrum, boring life she had been living shocked her friends; Beth was angry – but Tess decided she needed a change and Byron Bay was it.
She settled into the life – working at the café and living in a small flat she was happy. She felt content for the first time in her life. And when the young man began paying her attention, she was interested – very interested. Jay was caring and attentive; but gradually things began to change…
Four years later circumstances meant Tess and three year old Nellie could escape the violence of the life they had been living. The long road trip was terrifying and the continuing and ongoing danger had Tess scared for hers and Nellie’s lives. What could Tess expect when she arrived back at the old family home? Should she confront her family – could she even face them again?
Wow! This psychological thriller by Aussie author Maureen McCarthy was brilliant! The subjects of domestic violence and mental illness were well executed and compellingly written. The main character Tess was a troubled young woman who had her spirit crushed but her strength consistently rose to the surface. I loved little Nellie; she was totally adorable. This is my first book by this author but it won’t be my last. I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Stay With Me highly.
With thanks to Allen & Unwin and Goodreads First Reads giveaway for my uncorrected proof to read and review.
Seventeen year old Tess loved Byron Bay – the sun, sand and surf; the casual and relaxed air of everyone around; the friendliness of the people at the local café. And the day before they were due to fly back to Melbourne, Tess watched as a young man entered the café with a couple of friends – his eye caught hers; she was intrigued. Her decision not to return to Melbourne and the humdrum, boring life she had been living shocked her friends; Beth was angry – but Tess decided she needed a change and Byron Bay was it.
She settled into the life – working at the café and living in a small flat she was happy. She felt content for the first time in her life. And when the young man began paying her attention, she was interested – very interested. Jay was caring and attentive; but gradually things began to change…
Four years later circumstances meant Tess and three year old Nellie could escape the violence of the life they had been living. The long road trip was terrifying and the continuing and ongoing danger had Tess scared for hers and Nellie’s lives. What could Tess expect when she arrived back at the old family home? Should she confront her family – could she even face them again?
Wow! This psychological thriller by Aussie author Maureen McCarthy was brilliant! The subjects of domestic violence and mental illness were well executed and compellingly written. The main character Tess was a troubled young woman who had her spirit crushed but her strength consistently rose to the surface. I loved little Nellie; she was totally adorable. This is my first book by this author but it won’t be my last. I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Stay With Me highly.
With thanks to Allen & Unwin and Goodreads First Reads giveaway for my uncorrected proof to read and review.
May 2, 2015
'Try and leave me and I'll find you. No woman messes with me, babe. I mean it....'
He does mean it. There would be all kinds of ways of disposing of a body on this property. No one in town knows me anymore. His mother and two brothers would die rather than snitch on him.
An issue I've ranted in reviews about more than once has been the glorification of abusive relationships in literature aimed at YA audiences. Of course it's present in adult literature also, but it particularly concerns me when it is directed at young audiences who are still learning about safe and appropriate relationships. Why is it that we, reading audiences, are lapping up books where woman are subjected to violence by their loved one? And why are we accepting that? Is it because, you know, he has his demons? Or because he really loves her underneath it all? And so on. This type of justification for characters in books is sadly reflective of the society we still live in. Go look at the number of women and children affected by domestic violence in Australia each year. Go look at the horrifying statistics for how many Australian women have been killed by their partners this year already. There should be outrage. But instead we have more and more books where women are victimised and it is seen as okay.
That brings me to this book. I rate purely on the reading experience. That is, whether or not I liked a book. I don't rate a book on its subject matter, regardless of how passionately I feel about the issue. This book, as well as being important, is immensely readable and this gives me hope that younger readers will see domestic violence for what it is.
The story of Tess is a cautionary tale. We see her flattered by the attention of an attractive older man. Slowly we see Tess become trapped as he exerts increasing amounts of control over her, and the inevitable violence once she is isolated and has no escape. The book follows Tess' attempt to get herself and her daughter away; the constant fear and hyper-vigilance she lives with; and her need to learn to trust again. There is no glorification here. Tess is a young woman who (quite rightly) fears for her life, and for that of her daughter.
Perhaps I've given the impression in my review that this is a heavy handed treatise on domestic violence. It's not. The story is told with shifts back and forth in time as Tess remembers what she has left. It is a simple, but powerfully told tale, but one that captures very important subject matter.
Read this book. It's a good book. And like me live in hope that there are other authors out there like McCarthy who will write books that don't glorify abuse.
He does mean it. There would be all kinds of ways of disposing of a body on this property. No one in town knows me anymore. His mother and two brothers would die rather than snitch on him.
An issue I've ranted in reviews about more than once has been the glorification of abusive relationships in literature aimed at YA audiences. Of course it's present in adult literature also, but it particularly concerns me when it is directed at young audiences who are still learning about safe and appropriate relationships. Why is it that we, reading audiences, are lapping up books where woman are subjected to violence by their loved one? And why are we accepting that? Is it because, you know, he has his demons? Or because he really loves her underneath it all? And so on. This type of justification for characters in books is sadly reflective of the society we still live in. Go look at the number of women and children affected by domestic violence in Australia each year. Go look at the horrifying statistics for how many Australian women have been killed by their partners this year already. There should be outrage. But instead we have more and more books where women are victimised and it is seen as okay.
That brings me to this book. I rate purely on the reading experience. That is, whether or not I liked a book. I don't rate a book on its subject matter, regardless of how passionately I feel about the issue. This book, as well as being important, is immensely readable and this gives me hope that younger readers will see domestic violence for what it is.
The story of Tess is a cautionary tale. We see her flattered by the attention of an attractive older man. Slowly we see Tess become trapped as he exerts increasing amounts of control over her, and the inevitable violence once she is isolated and has no escape. The book follows Tess' attempt to get herself and her daughter away; the constant fear and hyper-vigilance she lives with; and her need to learn to trust again. There is no glorification here. Tess is a young woman who (quite rightly) fears for her life, and for that of her daughter.
Perhaps I've given the impression in my review that this is a heavy handed treatise on domestic violence. It's not. The story is told with shifts back and forth in time as Tess remembers what she has left. It is a simple, but powerfully told tale, but one that captures very important subject matter.
Read this book. It's a good book. And like me live in hope that there are other authors out there like McCarthy who will write books that don't glorify abuse.
June 5, 2015
'Mummy the moron!' she snarls. 'Shit for brains!'
I recoil in shock. It comes back so clearly that I feel like I'm still there. I see her kneeling by the low table concentrating on her drawing, Barry propped up next to her. Your mummy has got shit for brains, kiddo... he said lightly, ruffling her hair.
Right from the first page of Stay With Me, the reader is drawn into Tess's story. We're immediately invested in her survival as she runs away in the wee small hours of the morning with her daughter, escaping her abusive partner.
Emotions run high at the start of the piece, and the reader can't help but feel as paranoid as Tess does, as worried that maybe this stranger who has agreed to help her out is actually playing some sick game with her, and is going to rat her out to her partner.
Jay had inserted himself into Tess's life, ignoring her requests that he not go to her flat when she wasn't there...
I'm back in my flat at Duncan and Amy's, searching frantically for the pink notebook I kept under my pillow.
Sure, I took it. What's the big deal? Baby, I'm your guy, right? I need to know what's going on in that little head of yours. What chance have we got if you keep secrets, Tess?
The rest of this review can be found here!
(Link now fixed.)
May 9, 2016
Maureen McCarthy has done a wonderful job of depicting domestic abuse in "Stay With Me"- almost too well! As a victim of abuse myself (emotional abuse, mainly), I sometimes found it emotionally distressing as I saw some similarities between my own relationship with my ex and that of Tess and Jay's. Sometimes I had to put this book down and take a breather because it was quite frightening for me. Which is why I loved it. This is a no-holds-barred look at an all-too-common occurrence in Australian society and I am glad that we have this book to rip open the wound and speak up for victims of abuse. I can never know how a victim of such severe physical violence feels- I left before my relationship got that bad- but I would like to thank Ms. McCarthy for this bold novel. Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!!
June 23, 2015
Tess is desperate. She hasn't spoken to her family in years, no one in town knows she exists and her partner's lifestyle isn't healthy for anyone - let alone Tess' three year old daughter. Feeling alone and frightened, Tess does something drastic. She hitches a ride with a half-blind one legged former musician with no real plan except to be as far away as possible.
Stay With Me is a beautifully written, heartfelt and heartbreaking story about one woman's journey home. This is a book which will stay with me (no pun intended) for a long time. I think it's a testament to the author that for most of this book I was whole heartedly afraid for Tess and her daughter. The danger they are in is palpable and I loved the emotions I felt whilst reading their story.
This book is realistic new adult fiction at its best. Tess is twenty one and already feels trapped by the decisions she made. She alienated herself from her family for a much older boy in a town thousands of kilometers away. She has a little girl who depends on Tess for everything and a partner who is handy with his fists. Haunted by her family's past, Tess makes the difficult decision to try and find her way back and find a future.
Tess' past, an ancestor with whom she shares a name and Tess' current situation are interwoven beautifully to deliver a rich and emotional read. I was surprised to like Tess as much as I did. She's very much a victim of life yet despite everything she's not defeated. Nell, her daughter, was the quintessential toddler complete with darling moments and times when she is just fed up with everything. Harry, their getaway driver, was almost too good to be true yet he was a perfect addition to the story.
Stay With Me was a pleasure to read. Vividly realistic, heartbreaking and terrifying all at the same time - this beautiful novel was gripping and a must read for fans of well written intelligent young adult fiction.
Many thanks to Allen and Unwin for the review copy.
Stay With Me is a beautifully written, heartfelt and heartbreaking story about one woman's journey home. This is a book which will stay with me (no pun intended) for a long time. I think it's a testament to the author that for most of this book I was whole heartedly afraid for Tess and her daughter. The danger they are in is palpable and I loved the emotions I felt whilst reading their story.
This book is realistic new adult fiction at its best. Tess is twenty one and already feels trapped by the decisions she made. She alienated herself from her family for a much older boy in a town thousands of kilometers away. She has a little girl who depends on Tess for everything and a partner who is handy with his fists. Haunted by her family's past, Tess makes the difficult decision to try and find her way back and find a future.
Tess' past, an ancestor with whom she shares a name and Tess' current situation are interwoven beautifully to deliver a rich and emotional read. I was surprised to like Tess as much as I did. She's very much a victim of life yet despite everything she's not defeated. Nell, her daughter, was the quintessential toddler complete with darling moments and times when she is just fed up with everything. Harry, their getaway driver, was almost too good to be true yet he was a perfect addition to the story.
Stay With Me was a pleasure to read. Vividly realistic, heartbreaking and terrifying all at the same time - this beautiful novel was gripping and a must read for fans of well written intelligent young adult fiction.
Many thanks to Allen and Unwin for the review copy.
January 23, 2016
I love Maureen McCarthy however this just wasn't a favourite of mine. It was well written as always, the characters were fleshed out and the story itself was interesting. In part it might be because I have read quite a few YA novels where domestic violence is involved and I'm a little over it. But mostly I think I just found it hard to relate to Tess and the decisions she was making because I'm just not like that. I could definitely empathise, and it was hard to read in some parts but we are just so fundamentally different that I also just couldn't understand. I suppose that is part of her story as well and the disconnect she felt from other people her age. I did really like her sisters, Marlon and Jack. And I just LOVED Nellie! She was adorable. All in all a good read, just not amazing.
July 25, 2023
So good!
The last chapters had me on the edge of each page hoping Tessa gets to escape that horrible /abusive ex!
The last chapters had me on the edge of each page hoping Tessa gets to escape that horrible /abusive ex!
September 4, 2016
Maureen McCarthy treads important ground in her novel aimed at young adults, exploring themes of domestic violence and mental illness in her latest novel, Stay With Me.
Stay With Me is the story of Tess, a young woman with a three year old daughter, who lives on an isolated farm on the outskirts of Byron Bay. Tess has no control of her life, with no sense of self sufficiency, as it was taken away by her abusive husband Jay and his watchful family. Tess longs to escape for the safety of her and her young daughter. When a kind stranger offers Tess a chance to risk it all and escape the clutches of Jay, she takes up his offer. Tess and her daughter ride with the stranger back to Tess’ family, whom she hasn’t seen for many years. However, the ride to safety is no walk in the park, as Tess finds it isn’t easy to escape undetected from Jay and his allies. She is then faced with the issue of trying to reconnect with her estranged family. Intertwined with Tess’ story is the history of her great grandmother, who acts as a guardian angel over Tess. Through the progression of the novel, it is revealed that Tess’s great grandmother underwent a life of much suffering at the hands of her husband and her suspected mental illness.
Stay With Me signals my introduction to the writing of Maureen McCarthy, who is an established Australian author in the field of young adult fiction. McCarthy takes on a tough but important subject matter – mental illness and domestic violence in her novel, Stay With Me. McCarthy handles these sensitive subjects with the treatment they deserve. Certainly McCarthy makes no attempt to water down the rawness of these aspects of our society. Through Tess’s story, I feel McCarthy is able to reach out and hopefully touch those who are or have been a victim of domestic abuse. She also highlights how domestic violence and mental illness can be seen as mutually exclusive of one another. What I appreciated about the novel was the examination of mental illness in the past, as through the retelling of Tess’ great grandmother’s story, the reader gets a picture of life for these sufferers in the past. My only quibble with the book lies in this very part, I just wanted more from this fascinating story and piece of history. McCarthy chooses to places this thread in the background, dipping in and out of the past story at various points in the story. Despite this, Tess’ story is strong and her journey to safety is fraught with moments of both sheer terror and relief. McCarthy also chooses to shape her narrative around Tess’s past and how she came to meet Jay, connecting it to her current escape situation and the thread involving her great grandmother. On the whole, this is a novel that has impact and will not leave my mind for some time.
Stay With Me is a multiple strand novel, that confronts the issue of abuse and mental illness head on. Stay With Me is an insightful novel, that is able to reach out to adults and young adults alike. I feel it is also an essential read for our current generation.
This review also appears on my blog: https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com...
Stay With Me is the story of Tess, a young woman with a three year old daughter, who lives on an isolated farm on the outskirts of Byron Bay. Tess has no control of her life, with no sense of self sufficiency, as it was taken away by her abusive husband Jay and his watchful family. Tess longs to escape for the safety of her and her young daughter. When a kind stranger offers Tess a chance to risk it all and escape the clutches of Jay, she takes up his offer. Tess and her daughter ride with the stranger back to Tess’ family, whom she hasn’t seen for many years. However, the ride to safety is no walk in the park, as Tess finds it isn’t easy to escape undetected from Jay and his allies. She is then faced with the issue of trying to reconnect with her estranged family. Intertwined with Tess’ story is the history of her great grandmother, who acts as a guardian angel over Tess. Through the progression of the novel, it is revealed that Tess’s great grandmother underwent a life of much suffering at the hands of her husband and her suspected mental illness.
Stay With Me signals my introduction to the writing of Maureen McCarthy, who is an established Australian author in the field of young adult fiction. McCarthy takes on a tough but important subject matter – mental illness and domestic violence in her novel, Stay With Me. McCarthy handles these sensitive subjects with the treatment they deserve. Certainly McCarthy makes no attempt to water down the rawness of these aspects of our society. Through Tess’s story, I feel McCarthy is able to reach out and hopefully touch those who are or have been a victim of domestic abuse. She also highlights how domestic violence and mental illness can be seen as mutually exclusive of one another. What I appreciated about the novel was the examination of mental illness in the past, as through the retelling of Tess’ great grandmother’s story, the reader gets a picture of life for these sufferers in the past. My only quibble with the book lies in this very part, I just wanted more from this fascinating story and piece of history. McCarthy chooses to places this thread in the background, dipping in and out of the past story at various points in the story. Despite this, Tess’ story is strong and her journey to safety is fraught with moments of both sheer terror and relief. McCarthy also chooses to shape her narrative around Tess’s past and how she came to meet Jay, connecting it to her current escape situation and the thread involving her great grandmother. On the whole, this is a novel that has impact and will not leave my mind for some time.
Stay With Me is a multiple strand novel, that confronts the issue of abuse and mental illness head on. Stay With Me is an insightful novel, that is able to reach out to adults and young adults alike. I feel it is also an essential read for our current generation.
This review also appears on my blog: https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com...
May 14, 2015
Engrossing from the very beginning, McCarthy’s latest page-turner Stay With Me delivers a story that will definitely stay with you even once you’ve put it down. Seventeen year old Tess takes a break in Byron Bay with some friends. Raised by her three older siblings, she struggles to live up to their expectations of her and find her place in the world. Directionless, isolated and looking for an adventure, it’s when Tess meets Jay that her life turns upside down. He’s a man quite a few years older than her who pays her special attention and it’s this fascination with the budding attraction that instigates an impulsive decision to remain in Byron rather than returning to her family; much to their disappointment. Their relationship quickly becomes serious and Tess realises she’s in way over her head. Jay is controlling, manipulative and isolates her from the few friends she’s made in the town. She’s pregnant shortly after and that’s when the violence begins to escalate beyond psychological to physical. Tess does whatever she can to survive and protect her young daughter Nellie.
The story is told through Tess’s viewpoint in the present moment when she’s aged twenty-one and makes the brave choice to flee the situation, and through a serious of flashbacks and memories of her childhood and adolescence. Though it was sad, it was also completely believable that a vulnerable young teen would naively be seduced into an abusive relationship. McCarthy sensitively and realistically portrays Tess’s experience of domestic violence in this novel. The story oozes anxiety which reflects the impact of the trauma on Tess and the fear of the repercussions upon leaving the situation with her daughter. It adds a suspenseful element to the story also.
Stay With Me is very well written and adequately explores the difficulties faced by young women and their children who are abusive households. It also demonstrates just how hard it is for women in these situations to leave, and that when they do, their lives are endangered. I also felt McCarthy fleshed out the sibling relationships in a very relateable way and the tense dynamics when Tess is reunited with them. A very engrossing read.
The story is told through Tess’s viewpoint in the present moment when she’s aged twenty-one and makes the brave choice to flee the situation, and through a serious of flashbacks and memories of her childhood and adolescence. Though it was sad, it was also completely believable that a vulnerable young teen would naively be seduced into an abusive relationship. McCarthy sensitively and realistically portrays Tess’s experience of domestic violence in this novel. The story oozes anxiety which reflects the impact of the trauma on Tess and the fear of the repercussions upon leaving the situation with her daughter. It adds a suspenseful element to the story also.
Stay With Me is very well written and adequately explores the difficulties faced by young women and their children who are abusive households. It also demonstrates just how hard it is for women in these situations to leave, and that when they do, their lives are endangered. I also felt McCarthy fleshed out the sibling relationships in a very relateable way and the tense dynamics when Tess is reunited with them. A very engrossing read.
July 2, 2015
This book got me in with the first paragraph. Know Byron well, and relatives live on Old Bangalow Road. The trains don't go through anymore but I've driven over the railway line many many times. I really enjoyed the book. Had me on the edge of my seat a few times, waiting for Jay to find Tess. I borrowed the book from our school library and would recommend it to older students, some of whom may end up in a situation like Tess.
October 14, 2015
'A seven year old and his grandmother allegedly murdered by an uncle in Western Sydney - my home town. A mother allegedly belted to death by her enraged husband on the Gold Coast. A woman shot dead at a McDonalds nearby. This is not the Australian way. There is a huge problem lurking behind the front doors of Australia and its name is domestic violence. To me there is simply no excuse, no reason to ever hurt a woman. For someone to hurt a woman is a thought process I can't comprehend.' Michael Clarke, September, 2015.
So the recently retired test captain wrote for the press after returning from a post-Ashes holiday with his wife Kyly. He's only one of a number of prominent Aussie blokes 'manning-up' to make their revulsion clear. Our Australian of the Year, the remarkable Rosie Batty, has become the face of this one of the scourges of the nation, along with obesity and the so-called ice epidemic. The latter two are newish and seemingly intractable issues needing to be confronted. Domestic violence has always existed and maybe always at this present day level - but that doesn't mean it is in any way acceptable. That it's being dragged out into the light and into our collective consciousness can only be beneficial - a start.
And domestic violence features prominently in Maureen McCarthy's new offering 'Stay With Me'. It is quite a read; quite a journey the author takes her many, many fans on with this.
Tess, emanating from a not entirely functional family situation herself, leaves Melbourne for a schoolies-type break up in Byron. There she encounters a much older man in Jay - he's not a toolie as such, but is a local with similar intent. And he focuses on young Tess. He is quite unsavoury. We can pick it but she is too naive to know - despite her new found friends on the far north coast trying to warn her off him. With his car, a ready supply of dollars and attentive charm she is quite smitten and decides her future is with this fellow. Big mistake. In the blink of an eye she is trapped and realises too late his true controlling colours. A child, Nellie, comes along. Far from improving matters, Jay's behaviour becomes more drug addled and violent - not only towards her, but the little one as well. Jay's whole family is dodgy, but for a while his mother provides the only none-to-sympathetic refuge. However, a chance meeting provides the most unlikely of ways out, thus commencing a road trip back to family and a possible escape from the horrors of life with a truly horrible man. But can she really hide from her vicious partner with distance? Or will this new male, who takes her under her wing, cause more problems than he solves?. Can she trust any male?
Harry, who has the makings of her saviour, is somewhat battered too in ways - but eventually delivers her to the succour of the remains of her family. Now, finally, is she safe, particularly as Jay's past has caught up with him? Even though she knows he's under lock and key, his threat still casts an unnerving shadow over the remainder of the tale. The reader is fully aware that how it all pans out may not be pretty. We expect the odious fellow to reappear at any tick of the clock. In this case, fiction is little different to reality.
'Stay With Me' is compulsive reading. Previously McCarthy has gifted the nation the irrepressible young women of 'Queen Kat, Carmel and St Jude Get a Life', but as a character Tess wins our hearts as much. If the prose is a little over-cooked initially, once the novel is in its stride this scribe was reluctant to put it down. McCarthy has been a tad uneven in her offerings of late - but here she is at her out and out best. I defy any reader not to be riveted, willing Tess on as she, Harry and Nellie wend their way down inland highways to the perceived safety of the family homestead outside Leongatha. We all delight as her formerly estranged rellies gather around to shield her from her constant fear of her worst imagined outcome. Unfortunately many women, as scarred and scared as the courageous Tess, have no out. In the real world, as in the fictional, total safety may only be fleeting. I know this book will surely 'stay with me'. In our current climate it is almost essential reading.
So the recently retired test captain wrote for the press after returning from a post-Ashes holiday with his wife Kyly. He's only one of a number of prominent Aussie blokes 'manning-up' to make their revulsion clear. Our Australian of the Year, the remarkable Rosie Batty, has become the face of this one of the scourges of the nation, along with obesity and the so-called ice epidemic. The latter two are newish and seemingly intractable issues needing to be confronted. Domestic violence has always existed and maybe always at this present day level - but that doesn't mean it is in any way acceptable. That it's being dragged out into the light and into our collective consciousness can only be beneficial - a start.
And domestic violence features prominently in Maureen McCarthy's new offering 'Stay With Me'. It is quite a read; quite a journey the author takes her many, many fans on with this.
Tess, emanating from a not entirely functional family situation herself, leaves Melbourne for a schoolies-type break up in Byron. There she encounters a much older man in Jay - he's not a toolie as such, but is a local with similar intent. And he focuses on young Tess. He is quite unsavoury. We can pick it but she is too naive to know - despite her new found friends on the far north coast trying to warn her off him. With his car, a ready supply of dollars and attentive charm she is quite smitten and decides her future is with this fellow. Big mistake. In the blink of an eye she is trapped and realises too late his true controlling colours. A child, Nellie, comes along. Far from improving matters, Jay's behaviour becomes more drug addled and violent - not only towards her, but the little one as well. Jay's whole family is dodgy, but for a while his mother provides the only none-to-sympathetic refuge. However, a chance meeting provides the most unlikely of ways out, thus commencing a road trip back to family and a possible escape from the horrors of life with a truly horrible man. But can she really hide from her vicious partner with distance? Or will this new male, who takes her under her wing, cause more problems than he solves?. Can she trust any male?
Harry, who has the makings of her saviour, is somewhat battered too in ways - but eventually delivers her to the succour of the remains of her family. Now, finally, is she safe, particularly as Jay's past has caught up with him? Even though she knows he's under lock and key, his threat still casts an unnerving shadow over the remainder of the tale. The reader is fully aware that how it all pans out may not be pretty. We expect the odious fellow to reappear at any tick of the clock. In this case, fiction is little different to reality.
'Stay With Me' is compulsive reading. Previously McCarthy has gifted the nation the irrepressible young women of 'Queen Kat, Carmel and St Jude Get a Life', but as a character Tess wins our hearts as much. If the prose is a little over-cooked initially, once the novel is in its stride this scribe was reluctant to put it down. McCarthy has been a tad uneven in her offerings of late - but here she is at her out and out best. I defy any reader not to be riveted, willing Tess on as she, Harry and Nellie wend their way down inland highways to the perceived safety of the family homestead outside Leongatha. We all delight as her formerly estranged rellies gather around to shield her from her constant fear of her worst imagined outcome. Unfortunately many women, as scarred and scared as the courageous Tess, have no out. In the real world, as in the fictional, total safety may only be fleeting. I know this book will surely 'stay with me'. In our current climate it is almost essential reading.
October 19, 2017
J'ai bien aimé la première partie de l'histoire sur la fuite de Tess et de sa fille. J'avais peur pour elles et je voulais qu'elles s'en sortent. Malgré le manque flagrant d'action et de vrais rebondissements, l'angoisse me tenait accrochée au livre.
En revanche, le dernier tiers du livre retombe comme un soufflé avec toutes ces histoires de famille qui ne sont pas le cœur du récit.
C'est donc un thriller avec du potentiel mais qui, au final, ne sera juste qu'une bonne lecture. Sans plus.
En revanche, le dernier tiers du livre retombe comme un soufflé avec toutes ces histoires de famille qui ne sont pas le cœur du récit.
C'est donc un thriller avec du potentiel mais qui, au final, ne sera juste qu'une bonne lecture. Sans plus.
December 9, 2015
A gripping look at a young woman fleeing an abusive relationship. We see how she fell for her partner and all the ways control slowly set in, and also how hard it was to leave. The characters are real and engaging and the bonds of family are pushed as her sisters try to help her after her flight, which is obviously only part of the struggle.
May 30, 2015
A good insight into domestic violence. The writing is beautiful.
May 21, 2015
Like all Maureen McCarthy's books this one included. One of those ones you cant put down as you have to know what happens.
October 24, 2016
DISSAPOINTED TBH.
March 23, 2018
I haven't read a Maureen McCarthy book for close to a decade, and I'm so glad I picked this up from the library for nostalgia's sake. I was hooked on this book from the first page, and finished it in a day and a half.
I love the way Tess's past and present are woven throughout the book, slowly filling in pieces of the puzzle. My heart broke for Tess and for little Nellie over and over again as more pieces fell into place.
While the content is sometimes hard to read, it's real and raw, and a story that far too many women have to actually live.
McCarthy is an excellent author, and reading this makes me want to go back and visit some of my old favourites.
I love the way Tess's past and present are woven throughout the book, slowly filling in pieces of the puzzle. My heart broke for Tess and for little Nellie over and over again as more pieces fell into place.
While the content is sometimes hard to read, it's real and raw, and a story that far too many women have to actually live.
McCarthy is an excellent author, and reading this makes me want to go back and visit some of my old favourites.
March 24, 2017
A beautiful and harrowing novel about Tess and her escape from a violent partner. I loved the motif of the legacy her great-grandmother left and the family dynamics that led to her fateful decisions.
July 2, 2017
Such a powerful, eerie book. I read this in one sitting because I had to know what happened. The characters are so raw and real and the storyline just grips you the whole time. I absolutely love this author's work. If you haven't read one of her books yet, you need to.
October 15, 2020
Well-written book of how a woman gets caught up in an abusive relationship and how she escapes it. Her paranoia is believable and unsettling. It leads one to wonder how do women escape these relationship without help?
August 6, 2023
I read this book not long after it came out when I was about 14-15... I am now 22 and still think about this book quite often. That is the mark that a good book leaves on you! I would love to see this book turned into a film!
Shelved as 'dnf'
November 9, 2019DNF.
I guess the story had its roots in something worthwhile because it seemed promising, but it just didn't grab at me as I expected it to. Just not for me.
I guess the story had its roots in something worthwhile because it seemed promising, but it just didn't grab at me as I expected it to. Just not for me.
March 16, 2021
This book is very confronting but in the best way possible. A story of fleeing, fear and discovery
June 12, 2015
Maureen McCarthy is famous for her award winning Australian family sagas that focus on the ways in which her female characters gain their independence, confidence and strength in the adult world. Here again, I am not disappointed and meet the large family of Tess aged from 17 to 21 in this novel and hear the talk with her two older sisters and a younger brother around a campfire by their grandfather's old timber farmhouse in country Victoria. This is McCarthy's favourite setting that I have enjoyed in her previous novels. The house evokes many memories with both sadness and fear in Tess because of past and present guilt and psychological isolation.
However, these scenes come much later as the opening pages grip me with the tension of Tess escaping before first light from her violent controlling husband with her three year old daughter, Nellie. The setting is an isolated farmhouse in the hills behind Byron Bay and McCarthy gives me instant empathy with Tess. What follows is the story of her flight, her fear that her husband will catch her and the back story of how her attempt at escaping from her past brought her to Byron at age 17 when she shocked her school friends by staying on and working in a cafe. This early sign of independence in Tess is quickly shown to be naive and slowly becomes dangerous when she is drawn in to what she thought was her love for Jay who is 27.
These revelations about her past are made by Tess as she travels south with Harry, a kind musician who is recovering from a motorbike accident that has ended his career. A further complication is the fear that Jay will catch her and be given custody of her daughter as he will claim that she is 'crazy' as he knows about the great grandmother of Tess who was locked away in an asylum for the insane and died there in 1924. McCarthy supports this theme in the stories with facsimile documents from the asylum and the coroners court. Tess was brought up by her sisters and McCarthy shows how early independence is not the strength that it appeared to be. The mystery of why she became estranged from her sisters is yet one more pattern that the writer explores in this intriguing story of families with their faults, secrets and joys.
I enjoyed the complications as past events are revealed in brief memories, dreams and explanations that Harry manages to draw out of Tess on their three day journey and the climax in the final family gathering. McCarthy moves the stories back and forth in time to keep the action flowing and to create characters of depth and interest while the flight, the chase, the violent events and the victimisation both past and present kept me reading longer than I planned each day. Recommended for mature readers aged about fifteen plus.
However, these scenes come much later as the opening pages grip me with the tension of Tess escaping before first light from her violent controlling husband with her three year old daughter, Nellie. The setting is an isolated farmhouse in the hills behind Byron Bay and McCarthy gives me instant empathy with Tess. What follows is the story of her flight, her fear that her husband will catch her and the back story of how her attempt at escaping from her past brought her to Byron at age 17 when she shocked her school friends by staying on and working in a cafe. This early sign of independence in Tess is quickly shown to be naive and slowly becomes dangerous when she is drawn in to what she thought was her love for Jay who is 27.
These revelations about her past are made by Tess as she travels south with Harry, a kind musician who is recovering from a motorbike accident that has ended his career. A further complication is the fear that Jay will catch her and be given custody of her daughter as he will claim that she is 'crazy' as he knows about the great grandmother of Tess who was locked away in an asylum for the insane and died there in 1924. McCarthy supports this theme in the stories with facsimile documents from the asylum and the coroners court. Tess was brought up by her sisters and McCarthy shows how early independence is not the strength that it appeared to be. The mystery of why she became estranged from her sisters is yet one more pattern that the writer explores in this intriguing story of families with their faults, secrets and joys.
I enjoyed the complications as past events are revealed in brief memories, dreams and explanations that Harry manages to draw out of Tess on their three day journey and the climax in the final family gathering. McCarthy moves the stories back and forth in time to keep the action flowing and to create characters of depth and interest while the flight, the chase, the violent events and the victimisation both past and present kept me reading longer than I planned each day. Recommended for mature readers aged about fifteen plus.
Read
June 11, 2015Stay With Me is a compelling, but slightly uncomfortable read. The novel follows 21-year-old Tess as she escapes from an abusive relationship and reconnects with her estranged siblings. Intertwined is the story of her great-grandmother, the woman she’s named after, who was committed to an asylum in the 1920s. It’s hard to say I enjoyed the novel, but I was certainly moved by Tess’s story.
Stay With Me explored similar themes to What Came Before, without the same very dark scenes depicting abuse and violence. Like What Came Before, much of the novel is spent contemplating how Tess came to be in such a dangerous relationship. However, the abuse Tess suffered is portrayed at points throughout the novel. Domestic violence, as uncomfortable as it is to talk about, is an incredibly important issue. It was impressive to see McCarthy explore this through a 21-year-old character in a mature young adult/new adult novel.
Within the frame of Tess’s escape from Byron, McCarthy has woven an intriguing family history. The complicated past is one of the things Tess was running from when she fell for Jay in the first place, so going back to her childhood felt right. It also felt incredibly apt to slowly explore Tess’s great-grandmothers story, which ultimately proves to be a saving grace.
I immediately connected with Tess and felt instantly afraid for her and daughter Nellie. I felt so anxious for them reading the first few chapters, before Tess is even really introduced as a character. For me, that’s great storytelling. Stay With Me flowed quite fast for the first half, but things slowed a little once Tess was reunited with her family. It was by no means less interesting though, as it’s here that her family history and the personalities of each sibling starts to shine. As a reader I was happy with the conclusion, which left me quite satisfied. But honestly part of me felt it was a little too easy, with too many women in violent relationships not lucky enough to be able to escape their partners.
Stay With Me is a strong, moving read. The parts exploring Tess’s abusive relationship were difficult to read, but McCarthy strikes a great balance, weaving in a deep exploration of complicated family histories. Despite the more confronting aspects, Stay With Me is hopeful as Tess and her family learn to forgive and make a fresh start.
This review and many more can be found at The Unfinished Bookshelf.
Thank you to Allen & Unwin for providing a copy of the book for review.
Stay With Me explored similar themes to What Came Before, without the same very dark scenes depicting abuse and violence. Like What Came Before, much of the novel is spent contemplating how Tess came to be in such a dangerous relationship. However, the abuse Tess suffered is portrayed at points throughout the novel. Domestic violence, as uncomfortable as it is to talk about, is an incredibly important issue. It was impressive to see McCarthy explore this through a 21-year-old character in a mature young adult/new adult novel.
Within the frame of Tess’s escape from Byron, McCarthy has woven an intriguing family history. The complicated past is one of the things Tess was running from when she fell for Jay in the first place, so going back to her childhood felt right. It also felt incredibly apt to slowly explore Tess’s great-grandmothers story, which ultimately proves to be a saving grace.
I immediately connected with Tess and felt instantly afraid for her and daughter Nellie. I felt so anxious for them reading the first few chapters, before Tess is even really introduced as a character. For me, that’s great storytelling. Stay With Me flowed quite fast for the first half, but things slowed a little once Tess was reunited with her family. It was by no means less interesting though, as it’s here that her family history and the personalities of each sibling starts to shine. As a reader I was happy with the conclusion, which left me quite satisfied. But honestly part of me felt it was a little too easy, with too many women in violent relationships not lucky enough to be able to escape their partners.
Stay With Me is a strong, moving read. The parts exploring Tess’s abusive relationship were difficult to read, but McCarthy strikes a great balance, weaving in a deep exploration of complicated family histories. Despite the more confronting aspects, Stay With Me is hopeful as Tess and her family learn to forgive and make a fresh start.
This review and many more can be found at The Unfinished Bookshelf.
Thank you to Allen & Unwin for providing a copy of the book for review.
October 24, 2015
Stay With Me is such a well-written book, diving into the murky, complex reasons as to why someone would stay in an abusive relationship. It starts with Tess finally making her bid to escape her horribly charming, manipulative and violent partner, Jay, and his twisted family. She possibly would have gone long before this, except she has Nellie, her 3 year old daughter. Jay is Nellie's father, and he is not going to let either of them go easily. It's excruciating from the first page onwards as the reader is convinced (like Tess) that Jay will catch them. She knows she will die if he does.
McCarthy has used an interesting method of blending Tess' family history - both her unhappy childhood and the previous generations - to weave through the story. Tess' great-grandmother had been confined to an asylum in the early 1900s by her own husband, dying there miserably. She had mentioned this to Jay, who uses the sadly-common abusers' technique of telling Tess and everyone else that she is also crazy ('it's in her DNA'), and not to believe a word she says. There's also a lovely, clever play on words with the phrase 'stay with me' which recurs throughout the book, related to Tess' great-grandmother.
The characters are complex and interesting, from Tess, who thinks she is worthless, to her older siblings, her run-away mother, and Harry, who takes the random leap of helping Tess and Nellie. And of course, Nellie herself, the complete picture of a 3 year old, charming everyone, adoring her Mamma, throwing horrific temper tantrums, and above all confused by their escape and her Daddy, whom she adores but is terrified of.
While the book does slow a little when Tess reaches her family, it keeps evolving with the complexity of their relationships and their past. Tess has to work very hard to convince everyone else that Jay will come after her, and will kill her. The reader is put in the same position of waiting in fear. No spoilers here, but it was one of those terrifying reads where I skimmed the last pages both wanting and not wanting to find out what happens.
This is one of those books that is not only a gripping read, but should be on school lists and must-read lists. It's a tribute to McCarthy that I winced and swore and laughed while reading!
McCarthy has used an interesting method of blending Tess' family history - both her unhappy childhood and the previous generations - to weave through the story. Tess' great-grandmother had been confined to an asylum in the early 1900s by her own husband, dying there miserably. She had mentioned this to Jay, who uses the sadly-common abusers' technique of telling Tess and everyone else that she is also crazy ('it's in her DNA'), and not to believe a word she says. There's also a lovely, clever play on words with the phrase 'stay with me' which recurs throughout the book, related to Tess' great-grandmother.
The characters are complex and interesting, from Tess, who thinks she is worthless, to her older siblings, her run-away mother, and Harry, who takes the random leap of helping Tess and Nellie. And of course, Nellie herself, the complete picture of a 3 year old, charming everyone, adoring her Mamma, throwing horrific temper tantrums, and above all confused by their escape and her Daddy, whom she adores but is terrified of.
While the book does slow a little when Tess reaches her family, it keeps evolving with the complexity of their relationships and their past. Tess has to work very hard to convince everyone else that Jay will come after her, and will kill her. The reader is put in the same position of waiting in fear. No spoilers here, but it was one of those terrifying reads where I skimmed the last pages both wanting and not wanting to find out what happens.
This is one of those books that is not only a gripping read, but should be on school lists and must-read lists. It's a tribute to McCarthy that I winced and swore and laughed while reading!
June 12, 2015
I love Maureen. Before I go any further I have to say that. I picked up an ARC of this for old times’ sake, not expecting to think much of it at all (I like to pretend that I’m past the age where anguish and angst control my thinking), but was happily surprised.
There is something so honest and genuine about her novels. As a teenager I devoured Queen Kat, Carmel and St Jude Get a Life; Chain of Hearts; Cross My Heart and others, relating to the strength within fragility that defines many of her characters. She writes of country towns, the need for escape and vulnerability impeccably. She never talks down to younger readers, which, having delved back into some childhood favourites as an adult, I’ve discovered is actually quite rare in authors.
That being said, it isn’t perfect. The family madness subplot is bizarre and overdone. The historical notes about Tess’ great grandmother are unnecessary and uninteresting, distracting from the main plot, which is strong enough to stand on its own. I remember this feature in Maureen’s novels and used to enjoy the intrigue of delving into the past, so I’m not sure if my taste has changed, or if this one is just poorly done.
It was otherwise engaging though, in a gently, ambling kind of way, despite the dark subject matter. Maureen (I like to think we’re on a first name basis) speaks to the heart, and I’m glad I picked it up, as it was a chance to reacquaint with my angsty, passionate fifteen-year-old self, so in love with reading and angry at anyone who got in the way of that. That girl would be happy to know that I can still list Maureen as one of my favourite Australian authors.
There is something so honest and genuine about her novels. As a teenager I devoured Queen Kat, Carmel and St Jude Get a Life; Chain of Hearts; Cross My Heart and others, relating to the strength within fragility that defines many of her characters. She writes of country towns, the need for escape and vulnerability impeccably. She never talks down to younger readers, which, having delved back into some childhood favourites as an adult, I’ve discovered is actually quite rare in authors.
That being said, it isn’t perfect. The family madness subplot is bizarre and overdone. The historical notes about Tess’ great grandmother are unnecessary and uninteresting, distracting from the main plot, which is strong enough to stand on its own. I remember this feature in Maureen’s novels and used to enjoy the intrigue of delving into the past, so I’m not sure if my taste has changed, or if this one is just poorly done.
It was otherwise engaging though, in a gently, ambling kind of way, despite the dark subject matter. Maureen (I like to think we’re on a first name basis) speaks to the heart, and I’m glad I picked it up, as it was a chance to reacquaint with my angsty, passionate fifteen-year-old self, so in love with reading and angry at anyone who got in the way of that. That girl would be happy to know that I can still list Maureen as one of my favourite Australian authors.
July 7, 2015
Maureen McCarthy has written another wonderful story that pulls your emotions in many directions. In Stay with Me she brilliantly portrays the complexity of dysfunctional families, family loyalty, different types of friendships and the harsh reality of domestic violence. It is a book with a powerful message as it quietly shows the subtle changes and manipulative power plays that typify many violent relationships and the helplessness of many victims.
Spoiler alert
In Stay with Me, Tess is young and desperate to find her place in the world after finishing high school and so the chance to remain in Byron Bay seems like a fantasy too good to be true. Nevertheless, her naivety and lack of future focus mean that she is ripe to be picked up and seduced by any male such as the older, handsome Jay. Initially Tess is swept up by Jay's attention and her need to be "loved" and is prepared to override his domineering ways because she believes he loves her. Tess like many domestic violence victims, is isolated and trapped by the time she realises that she needs to leave. By the time her situation is untenable she does not have the means or courage to leave. It is only through a lucky chance meeting that she manages to escape but like many true domestic situations she is eventually tracked down.
Spoiler alert
In Stay with Me, Tess is young and desperate to find her place in the world after finishing high school and so the chance to remain in Byron Bay seems like a fantasy too good to be true. Nevertheless, her naivety and lack of future focus mean that she is ripe to be picked up and seduced by any male such as the older, handsome Jay. Initially Tess is swept up by Jay's attention and her need to be "loved" and is prepared to override his domineering ways because she believes he loves her. Tess like many domestic violence victims, is isolated and trapped by the time she realises that she needs to leave. By the time her situation is untenable she does not have the means or courage to leave. It is only through a lucky chance meeting that she manages to escape but like many true domestic situations she is eventually tracked down.
August 7, 2015
I know there are people who read the last page of a book first, and then go back to the beginning because otherwise they get too tense to enjoy the story. I am not one of those people. But Stay With Me is so suspenseful, I did find myself on occasion scanning the pages ahead, terrified of what might happen to the narrator, 21 year old Tess Browne, as she flees with her three-year-old daughter from a violent and abusive relationship.
With a Royal Commission into Family Violence currently underway in Victoria, Stay With Me helps address important issues associated with this topic, such as why women in abusive relationships 'don't just leave', and why women should not be treated as unreliable narrators in their own experience of violence.
That said, there is nothing preachy about the novel. Maureen McCarthy shows the brutal reality of family violence in the context of an absolutely thrilling read, with a cast of characters I could really care about.
With a Royal Commission into Family Violence currently underway in Victoria, Stay With Me helps address important issues associated with this topic, such as why women in abusive relationships 'don't just leave', and why women should not be treated as unreliable narrators in their own experience of violence.
That said, there is nothing preachy about the novel. Maureen McCarthy shows the brutal reality of family violence in the context of an absolutely thrilling read, with a cast of characters I could really care about.
January 15, 2017
Stay With Me by Maureen McCarthy is compelling reading. Tess the protagonist has a story, connections to the past and ancient past, however she lives in the present. Circumstances find her in a violent marriage, estranged from her family, the mother of a young daughter and unsure of her state of mind.
After Tess's father dies and her mother goes missing, the relationship with her 3 older siblings becomes strained and Tess moves to Byron Bay from the outskirts of Melbourne. She makes a life there, working in a cafe and falling for a man ten years older than she is. From this point, Tess and her story begin to unfold.
McCarthy moves back and forth between the present day and the past, allowing the reader to become a part of Tess's emotions, experiencing her angst, terror and lack of confidence.
This novel held my attention throughout. The underlying tension has been written beautifully, painting an extraordinary picture of domestic violence and the ongoing impact and fear it has on victims and their families.
After Tess's father dies and her mother goes missing, the relationship with her 3 older siblings becomes strained and Tess moves to Byron Bay from the outskirts of Melbourne. She makes a life there, working in a cafe and falling for a man ten years older than she is. From this point, Tess and her story begin to unfold.
McCarthy moves back and forth between the present day and the past, allowing the reader to become a part of Tess's emotions, experiencing her angst, terror and lack of confidence.
This novel held my attention throughout. The underlying tension has been written beautifully, painting an extraordinary picture of domestic violence and the ongoing impact and fear it has on victims and their families.
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