S.E. Howard's Reviews > Close the Door

In “Close the Door,” Cassandra O'Sullivan Sachar introduces us to Natalie, a woman struggling (as many of us do) to find a a balance between all of life’s physical and emotional demands. She’s a single mother barely able to make financial ends meet, who tries desperately to maintain a brave and independent facade for friends and family. Her relationship with a mentally ill ex has left her filled with insecurity and self-doubt. She doesn’t invest much in herself or her own needs, but when she starts to suffer from blackout spells, blocks of time during which she indulges in reckless activities she has no memory of in the aftermath, she begins to fear that life’s pressures are driving her crazy. The truth, as it turns out, is a whole lot worse.

Sachar’s compelling narrative and relatable, sympathetic characters help drive this unsettling story to a dark, surprising conclusion. You may never look at a yoga class the same again.