The Outsider by C.R. Howell

The Outsider by CR Howell
Published on 13 February 2025
by Joffe Books

Domestic Suspense

Zooloo’s Book Tours- Book Tour Schedule (13-19 February)

Purchase Link

Goodreads

A passionate affair. A marriage in crisis. A painful family secret.

Megan’s marriage is hanging on a knife-edge. The remote Welsh farm she loved so much when she and Noah were newlyweds has become a millstone around their necks. After thirteen years, Megan still feels like an outsider. People round here look at her strangely. They make it clear she doesn’t belong.

It's not only lack of money that’s threatening Megan’s relationship. After three failed rounds of IVF, her longing for a child is all-consuming.

It’s then she meets Gethin, an intense, complicated young man almost twenty years her junior.

Against her better judgement, Megan embarks on a passionate affair. But this unhappy farmer’s wife is unleashing forces she cannot control.

Because there are secrets in her husband’s family. Unwittingly, Megan has unearthed long-buried tensions that lurk within this isolated, fiercely proud community. The dark past is about to come to light. And there’s far more than Megan’s marriage at stake . . .

About the author

C.R. Howell is a writer of psychological women’s fiction, exploring themes such as motherhood, family, trauma and abuse.

Her first novel, The Woman in My Home, was published by Joffe Books in 2024.

She is completing an MLitt on women’s lament in the poetic tradition and lives in northwest Wales with her partner, three children and two dogs.

The author can be found on Instagram

My thoughts on The Outsider

The Outsider by C.R. Howell is a beautifully written and emotionally complex novel that explores themes of identity, family, and the weight of secrets.

Set in the stunning Welsh countryside, the story revolves around Noah and Megan, whose marriage has been strained by years of financial struggles, the emotional toll of failed IVF attempts, and a sense of disconnect within their rural community.

Megan, despite being born in Wales, has always felt like an outsider in the tight-knit village, struggling with her inability to master the Welsh language. Her longing for a sense of purpose leads her to take a Welsh language course, where she meets Gethin, a younger man with whom she embarks on a passionate affair. This affair not only threatens Megan’s already fragile marriage but also sets off a chain of events that unearth long-buried family tensions and secrets, particularly within Noah’s family.

Noah has poured his heart and soul into making the farm successful, but his commitment is severely tested when he wakes one morning to find a number of his lambs have been slaughtered in the field overnight, an act that almost shatters him emotionally and pushes him to the brink of despair.

The dynamics between Noah, Megan, and his family—including Noah’s sister, Imogen, who lives with schizophrenia—are explored with remarkable sensitivity. Imogen’s struggles with mental health add another layer of complexity to the family’s already fraught relationships, highlighting Howell’s compassionate approach to such themes. The novel also touches on broader societal issues, including the clash between preserving local culture and the pressures of tourism.

Howell’s descriptions of the Welsh countryside are vivid and evocative, adding an almost atmospheric quality to the story. The pacing, while steady, builds towards a gripping conclusion as secrets come to light, and relationships are tested to their breaking point.

The Outsider is a compelling and thought-provoking read that expertly blends personal drama with larger cultural themes. Howell’s empathetic portrayal of the characters, particularly Megan, Noah, and Imogen, ensures the emotional core of the novel resonates deeply. Though the pacing could have been tighter, the rich setting and complex family dynamics make this a rewarding read. Fans of character-driven stories with emotional depth will find much to appreciate in this evocative and emotionally charged novel.

💫 I’m thrilled to be sharing my #bookreview of The Outsider by C.R. Howell as part of the blog tour hosted by Zooloo’s Book Tours! 📚 This compelling and atmospheric novel weaves together themes of love, betrayal, and belonging against the stunning backdrop of the Welsh countryside. 💫

A huge thank you to Zoé of Zooloo’s Book Tours for including me on this book tour. The tour runs 13 – 19 February and I look forward to seeing what other readers thought of this book!

Tags: #TheOutsider #CRHowell #JoffeBooks #ZooloosBookTours #VirtualBookTour #DomesticSuspense #CrimeThriller #BookReview

All views expressed are my own. This review, or parts of it, may also be shared on my social media channels and various book platforms. Links are accurate at the time of publication.

MoMoBookDiary