Madwoman BY Chelsea Bieker

Madwoman is a profound and unflinching exploration of motherhood, trauma, and the lengths to which women will go to protect their loved ones. Clove has meticulously crafted a new identity, one far removed from the fear and chaos of her childhood. Now, with a seemingly perfect life in Portland—a devoted husband and two children—she clings to her carefully constructed facade, attempting to drown out the lingering echoes of her past with self-help books and wellness rituals.

However, her fragile sense of security shatters when she receives a letter from a California women's prison. The letter threatens to drag her buried secrets back into the light, intertwining her present with the dark memories of her tumultuous childhood in a Waikiki high-rise. As Clove grapples with the resurfacing terror, she is pulled into a harrowing game of memory and revelation.

Navigating between her precarious current life and the painful recollections of her past, Clove is forced to confront the day that defined her existence. The cycle of violence that has haunted her threatens to unravel everything she has built. Will revealing the truth dismantle her carefully guarded world, or could it be the key to breaking free from her past and ending the cycle of suffering?

Madwoman is a gripping and evocative tale, a testament to the power of resilience and the complicated, often brutal, nature of survival. It is a story that lingers long after the final page, reflecting the indomitable spirit of women who defy their circumstances.