Reviews

An impressive debut that explores family dynamics and the limits of human resilience.
Cea Sunrise Person
Author of: North of Normal

5.0 out of 5 stars... lots of unexpected twists and turns and moments of joy and sorrow
By Amazon Customer on May 15 2016
Format: Kindle Edition
With lots of unexpected twists and turns and moments of joy and sorrow, When I Became Invisible is intriguing and captivating. The reader is reminded about how different people can see things in quite different ways, and how the choices that people make, even with best intentions, can have profound and unanticipated consequences

5.0 out of 5 starsThe novel takes you on a journey of how one decison can affect many lives.
By Amazon Customer on May 4 2016
Format: Paperback
"The novel takes you on a journey of how one decison can affect many lives. Loved it and couldn't put it down until I knew the end of the story!"

5.0 out of 5 starsgreat first novel
BySSEon April 25, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition|
"I could not put it down until I finished, great first novel."

Jun 29, 2016 Fiona Duncanson Rated 5 stars
Goodreads
I loved this book. I couldn't put it down. The author pulled me into the story by doing such a great job at character development. I felt many emotions while reading the book which for me is the main ingredient in telling a great story. I recommended it to my bookclub and everyone loved it. We had powerful discussions at our last meeting. Thank you Maret for writing this book.

Jun 28, 2016 Wendy Pitt-Brooke rated 5 stars It was amazing
Goodreads
I actually read this book twice, because the first time I read it I couldn't put it down and felt like I had missed a lot reading through so quickly. Turns out the second reading was much the same - I couldn't put the book down! I did, however, take it a bit slower the second time, so that I could savour the writing. This is a lovely story of loss, hope and redemption, weaved together through the voices of the various characters over time. They are characters that you grow to love and admire, each doing the best they can under many adverse circumstances. The author has done a wonderful job of tackling a difficult story line. I must say I was sorry when I finished the book (both times!) and hope that there is a sequel in the works. Bravo!!

When I Became Invisible, is an ambitious first novel about a young family of three and their complicated relationship with a troubled girl, hired from a neighboring farm. In the voices of each of the four main characters we struggle with them through the compelling themes of parenthood, depression, incest, shame, betrayal and independence. Each character comes to feel invisible (emotionally or physically) at various points throughout the story. Resolution comes through unexpected events to help them accept, if not forgive, personal betrayals and find redemption.
A compelling page turner. Well done!

Shelley Harrison Rae
Author: Life Leaves Stains
Director Sunshine Coast Festival of Written Arts
Columnist, Deep Cove Crier

Jul 09, 2016 Lynn Harrison rated i5 stars
Goodreads
I thoroughly enjoyed When I Became Invisible. The complex lives of the characters are interwoven in a way that kept me turning the pages, wondering what was to unfold, and wanting more

Jul 20, 2016 Cathy rated it 5 stars
This lovely little book was a quick read for me, which is unusual. What compelled me to keep turning the pages was that I really cared about these characters and couldn't leave them in despair! I believe this is the author's first novel.......Bravo!

a
5.0 out of 5 starsA compelling read
Dr. Kjell Rudestam July 20, 2016
Author : Treating the Multi Problem Family
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Written in the first voice (from multiple perspectives) it opens as a child's story about growing up. But in short order a straightforward story about familiar themes becomes progressively more complicated, more sophisticated, and increasingly compelling. As a first novel, Maret Johanson is to be commended for her clear writing, her understanding of psychological dynamics, and her powerful and gripping plot. Highly recommended.

Book Review. “When I became Invisible”

Maret Johanson brings to this psychological thriller her own experiences, from counseling troubled families for over three decades. For a first novel, this is a remarkable book. Those who know about these things will tell you that a good novel must have canny character development, a plot that forces the reader to turn the pages to find out what will happen next, tension, suspense and, above all be credible, with characters who behave the way real people behave. This book is host to all these ingredients, necessary for a first class novel.
There are four voices that tell this story. This is a rarely used technique and it doesn’t always work. An example is Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel, where readers are confused until they can guess whose voice is being used; a distraction we can do without. Maret Johanson’s use of this technique works, because she tells you who is taking up the tale. Each voice develops the plot from a different point of view, which makes for intriguing reading.
The tension explodes on the second page. Molly, five years old, lives on her parents’ farm. She sees her father being taken into custody. Maret Johanson makes you wait until well into the book before the reason for the arrest is disclosed. Molly’s reaction to her father’s arrest and her mother’s hospitalization for what appears to be clinical depression, is cleverly revealed. We are taken back to be shown what led up to the father’s arrest. He has hired a fifteen year old girl from the neighbouring farm, who is seriously troubled by her dysfunctional family.
It is after her father’s wrongful conviction for a crime he did not commit, that we follow the lives of the cast of characters; Molly growing up with her unstable mother and a humourless martinet of a step-father, Nell, the farm girl, bringing up her child and building herself an acting career, which later becomes entwined with Molly’s and Molly’s eventual reunion with the father she never stopped loving. A minor character in the book is Molly’s dog, Rex, whom we come to love and for whose welfare the reader constantly worries.
This story is what is known in the trade as a page-turner. You are driven to continue reading, far into the night; you must find out what happens.

David Roberts
Author: Letters to his Children

5.0 out of 5 starsMust read
By Amazon Customer on September 18, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition
An excellent read!
A story told from multiple perspectives, it begins from a child's point of view then moves onto more sophisticated adult view points.
The author has woven complex threads of events, assumptions, reactions and false conclusions to create a gripping, captivation story. Well done! This book was hard to put down.
Highly recommended

5.0 out of 5 starsCould not put it down
By Amazon Customer on October 8, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition
I read Maret Johannson’s book “Invisible” with great interest. It is a page turner. The different characters are so well described they will long be remembered.
The book is essentially about overcoming very hurtful events of different children, adolescents and adults described in the book. How to function when faced with very difficult circumstances.
This book could become a best seller and could be made suitable for a translation into a film.
It is of interest for adolescents and for adults of all ages.

☆☆☆☆☆5 out of 5 stars.
lou_lou_bel

Great first book!Interesting new author for me. Enjoyed the story - nice change of pace. Definitely recommend!

✔ Yes,
I recommend this product.

5.0 out of 5 starsA great read!
By Amazon Customer on November 22, 2016
Format: Paperback
A powerful, emotional human story as Molly rises above the dysfunctional characters that shape her life. A great read !

By Amazon Customer on Nov. 14 2016
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
Lots to keep you going in this book. Some turns I did not expect

5.0 out of 5 starsTotally enjoyed it and will recommend it to all my friends
By MarilynPruesse on June 2 2017
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
I started this book to read while traveling back and forth to London Ontario. Problem was I started it and could not put it down. Totally enjoyed it and will recommend it to all my friends !!