The Silence Project is the mindblowing debut novel from author Carole Hailey.
Mother. Martyr. Murderer.
On Emilia Morris’s thirteenth birthday, her mother Rachel moves into a tent at the bottom of their garden. From that day on, she never says another word.
Inspired by Rachel’s example, other women join her and together they build the Community. Eight years later, Rachel and thousands of her followers shock the world as they silence themselves forever.
In the aftermath of what comes to be known as the Event, the Community’s global influence quickly grows. As a result, the whole world has an opinion about Rachel – whether they see her as a callous monster or a heroic martyr – but Emilia has never voiced hers publicly. Until now.
I am obsessed with this book. I am completely, utterly, head-over-heels in awe of The Silence Project by Carole Hailey. (We are talking Girl A by Abigail Dean levels of obsession.)It’s the kind of novel that seeps into your bones, lingers in your thoughts, and refuses to be forgotten. Thought-provoking, unsettling, and deeply emotional, this is storytelling at its most powerful.
The premise alone is enough to send shivers down your spine—on her thirteenth birthday, Emilia watches her mother, Rachel, retreat into silence, an act that sparks a movement. What follows is a slow-burning unraveling of a story so gripping, so layered, that you find yourself holding your breath as the pages turn. Who was Rachel really? A visionary? A monster? A mother who loved too much or not at all? And how do you carry the weight of a legacy you never asked for?
Carole’s writing is exquisite—sharp, lyrical, and deeply immersive. The emotional depth she brings to Emilia’s perspective is breathtaking, making this not just a novel, but an experience. It forces you to question everything—about power, sacrifice, belief, and what it truly means to be heard.
I could not put this book down, and when I finished, I just sat there, stunned, letting it all sink in. If you love books that challenge you, that break your heart and rebuild it at the same time, The Silence Project is the book you need to read.
You can get a copy here!
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