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The Second Cup: Can someone else steal your suicide? (The Butterfly Effect Book 1) Kindle Edition

3.7 3.7 out of 5 stars 97 ratings

CAN SOMEONE ELSE STEAL YOUR SUICIDE?
...Beth thinks they can.
FAYE knows her heart still belongs to her first love, JACK. She also knows he might have moved on, but when she decides to track him down, nothing prepares her for the news that he's taken his own life.

FAYE is left wondering how to move forward - and whether or not JACK's best friend ETHAN will let her down again. And the news of JACK's death ripples through the lives of her friends too.

ABBIE finds herself questioning her marriage, and wondering if she was right to leave her first love behind. Poor OLIVIA is juggling her job and her boyfriend and trying to deal with a death of her own. And JACK's death has hit BETH the hardest, even though she never knew him.

Is BETH about to take her own life too?

The Second Cup is dark chick-lit and intelligent women's fiction at its best. Perfect for fans of Maggie O'Farrell, Elizabeth Strout, Dorothy Koomson and Amanda Prowse.

----------------

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Suicide, depression, motorcycle accident, ADHD, miscarriage, alcoholism.

----------------

Praise for The Second Cup

"A wonderful heartwarming read, in spite of the difficult topics raised, a book that will stay with you after you finish the last page." - Bookliterati

"Graye takes an intense situation and instead of shying away from it, she strips away the bandage so we can see the raw, oozing wound." - Princess of the Light

"This book was the most beautifully written mental health book I have ever read." - Nerdy Book Life

"It is rare that an author can articulate the type of pain inflicted through the act of suicide. In The Second Cup, Sarah Marie Graye does this, not through one voice, but four." - Waggy Tales

"Tragically woven into the plot is the intense depiction of life's struggles: love lost, divorce, adoption, suicide, bullying, mental illness and disease. Graye takes you into the minds and souls of her characters." - Readers' Favorite

"It's really well written making it an emotional page turner. Be warned though it's not an easy read due to the main topics being depression and suicide." - Heidi, Goodreads

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Editorial Reviews

Review

EDITORIAL REVIEWS

"A truly amazing and well-developed novel that just blew me away with the writer's superior writing skills." - Readers' Favorite

"Emotionally challenging and highly original, The Second Cup proves a powerful debut for Graye and a hard book to put down." - Book Viral

"I couldn't put it down - the story is that enthralling." - Circle Of Books

"For what seems like a relatively simple story, there were a lot of insights into mental health, self-confidence and the insecurities people have in everyday life." - Online Book Club

From the Author

I want to explain why I've released an extended edition of my novel with character interviews, as it's not the normal thing to do.

Shortly after
The Second Cup was published, I had a breakdown and have since been diagnosed with ADHD. I realised I'd accidentally given one of my characters the same condition, and I wanted to give her the chance to get a diagnosis too.

I have dedicated the extended edition of my novel to Dr Helen Read, the psychiatrist who diagnosed me.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B079SFFLWQ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vociferate Press (February 12, 2018)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 12, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.4 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.7 3.7 out of 5 stars 97 ratings

About the author

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Sarah Marie Graye
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Sarah Marie Graye was born in Manchester in 1975, to English Catholic parents. The second eldest of five daughters, to the outside world Graye’s childhood followed a relatively typical Manchester upbringing... until aged nine, when she was diagnosed with depression.

It’s a diagnosis that has stayed with Graye over three decades, and something she believes has coloured every life decision, including the one to write a novel.

Graye wrote The Second Cup as part of an MA Creative Writing practice as research degree at London South Bank University – where she was the vice-chancellor’s scholarship holder.

First published in July 2017, The Second Cup was: longlisted for the Book Viral 2017 Millennium Book Award; a finalist in Read Freely’s Best Indie Book 2017; a finalist in the 12th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards; a semi-finalist in the Online Book Club 2017 Book of the Year Award; and a "distinguished favorite" in the 2017 NYC Big Book Awards.

Graye was diagnosed with late-onset ADHD in 2017... and published an extended edition of The Second Cup in 2018 so she could diagnose one of her characters with the same condition.

Graye's second novel, The Victoria Lie, was published in August 2018, and explores what it mean to be neurodiverse as an adult, looking at both high-functioning Autism and ADHD. The Victoria Lie has been awarded a Chill with a Book Readers' Award and was longlisted for the Book Viral 2018 Millennium Book Award.

Graye lives in Whitstable and is studying a Contemporary Novel: Practice as Research PhD at the University of Kent.

Customer reviews

3.7 out of 5 stars
97 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book well-written and engaging. They describe the story as interesting and powerful. However, some readers feel the editing is poor, with inconsistencies and a wide range of errors. The flow of the book is also criticized as lacking. Opinions differ on the character development - some find them well-developed, while others find them flat and unengaging.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

7 customers mention "Writing quality"5 positive2 negative

Customers appreciate the writing quality. They find the story well-written and recommendable. Readers also mention that the author has great potential as a writer.

"...The quality of the writing itself is great, and if I have any criticism at all, then it is that the tone from each of the characters’ perspectives..." Read more

"...The writer has a very creative way of writing and will keep you going if you admire the ‘art of writing’ when reading a book...." Read more

"...It was choppy (partially due to the numerous typos) but she also penned scenes that were downright confusing. Faye’s first scene was a prime example...." Read more

"...this review rather than down to 2 because I think Graye has great potential as a writer...." Read more

6 customers mention "Pacing"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoyed the book's pacing. They found it engaging and beautiful.

"...'s next novel, because for her first crack at publishing, this is pretty darn good...." Read more

"...It shows a great deal of thought went into the story, which makes every page engaging and beautiful...." Read more

"...Great book and I would recommend reading this one." Read more

"...landscape in which it is set, the calibre of the writing which is excellent and powerful characterization...." Read more

6 customers mention "Story quality"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the story engaging and interesting. However, some feel the structure lacks depth.

"...All in all, a well-written and highly recommendable story thoughtfully woven around a grim topic." Read more

"...character POV and this is one of the reasons I find the novel so interesting because you can go into the mind of the different characters we then we..." Read more

"...Although the premise is certainly interesting, the structure of The Second Cup leaves much to be desired...." Read more

"...It shows a great deal of thought went into the story, which makes every page engaging and beautiful...." Read more

3 customers mention "Power"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book powerful and engaging. They appreciate the author's insight into mental health issues and her characterization. The book is described as credible and thought-provoking.

"...She did an amazing job on this groundbreaking insight into raw mental health issues spread out through the lives of four friends...." Read more

"...it is set, the calibre of the writing which is excellent and powerful characterization. Each of the main characters comes vividly to mind...." Read more

"Highly credible and engaging...." Read more

7 customers mention "Character development"4 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the character development. Some find them well-developed, while others consider them flat and unengaging.

"...Sarah Marie Graye has crafted very interesting characters; you have these four friends: Faye, Beth, Olivia and Abbie...." Read more

"...at all, then it is that the tone from each of the characters’ perspectives is quite similar; this is part of what makes it initially difficult to..." Read more

"...I enjoyed the main character’s train of thought, as I have often found myself going down some of the dark alleyways that the mind creates...." Read more

"...It constantly jumps from first to third person and from character to character, leaving the reader with whiplash from all that moving around...." Read more

3 customers mention "Editing quality"0 positive3 negative

Customers find the book poorly edited with inconsistencies and errors. They say it needs a major editing.

"...Now, there are a number of inconsistencies and a wide range of editing errors I found hard to navigate while reading The Second Cup, but the tagline..." Read more

"...First and foremost, the book needs a big edit. There were words misspelled, words misused, and added words that made sentences confusing...." Read more

"Poorly edited, confusing, with flat characters..." Read more

3 customers mention "Flow"0 positive3 negative

Customers find the book lacks flow.

"...it was hard for me to follow the storyline and it felt as if it lacked flow, but after few chapters you will get the hang of it...." Read more

"...Overall, the flow was just lacking and that was a problem for me. The alternating first and third person POV was probably the biggest issue...." Read more

"...to perhaps give them more substance; however, there was no good flow when transitioning from said past to present...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2017
    The story is set in my hometown of Manchester, and it was clear within the first few pages that it was the author’s too. To this end, for me a lot of the settings might have been more vivid than for many readers, because I know these locales so very well, not to mention the very distinct culture of the place. I think Graye does a fine job of filling in any of the more critical gaps, though.

    Regards the characters, as others have mentioned there are a stack of point-of-view characters and initially it’s easy to be a little hazy over who is who. Certainly after a while, we come to know each of them and their foibles in an intimate fashion, ranging from their trials and tribulations of the present hour, to things that happened in their childhoods to set them on their respective paths — and this latter not in a played-out overblown Freudian fashion, but in each case just small nudges here and there that shaped the development and personality to come.

    The quality of the writing itself is great, and if I have any criticism at all, then it is that the tone from each of the characters’ perspectives is quite similar; this is part of what makes it initially difficult to keep them separate.

    In terms of research, I do tend to notice when something is not as described, and in this case the greatest hitch I could note is that a character “files for divorce” in a prompt and unilateral fashion; in the UK one doesn’t file for divorce, one petitions, and the Government has a very narrow view of what constitutes acceptable reasons, and in the situation in the book, it’s clear that no such reason could apply at that juncture. I suppose this could be justified if we imagine that she simply filled in the petition form incorrectly and sent it to the appropriate court, imagining this to constitute “filing”. In any case, it is a truly minor issue, and if anything, my referencing it as the greatest research failure I could find highlights the quality of the rest of the book in that regard.

    All in all, a well-written and highly recommendable story thoughtfully woven around a grim topic.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2017
    A story that is being narrated from different people’s perspective. Plot revolves around lives of four friends with some flashbacks. It ranges from graduation to workplace and married life. It clearly depicts the hard fact of life that things don’t usually turn out the way we dream such as not everyone finds the Mr Right and it requires a bit of experimenting to know what one really desires. You know sort of tasting different flavours of food till you find the perfect one. Even that is not enough for what one may like today, may lose interest in it tomorrow, typical human nature. Only that marriage is not tasting food but deals with emotions of people that can result in divorce. And at times when people lose something, they realise that it was the only thing that mattered the most in life. Ah well just one of the messages from this book.
    In the beginning it was hard for me to follow the storyline and it felt as if it lacked flow, but after few chapters you will get the hang of it. The writer has a very creative way of writing and will keep you going if you admire the ‘art of writing’ when reading a book. This book is for those who like stories related to human struggles and emotions in day to day life.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2018
    I’d heard so much about this story and after falling head over heels with the cover, I decided to take a chance on it. As a brand new author for me, and knowing the stories rep, I instantly had high hopes for it.

    An emotive story following four girls - four friends; Faye, Abbie, Beth and Olivia.

    For me, the story was really jumpy and difficult to stick with, flitting between the various angles and aspects to the story...very “confused”, a lot like the characters at points.

    Having said that, the story highlighted some really pertinent aspects to mental health and the issues women face in our modern society and I must praise the author for this. Opening the dialogue for not only suicide, but other medical ailments (from ADHD to life-limiting heart conditions).

    I stuck with this story and sadly never fully got into it. I think the character interviews at the very end were, for me, the most insightful and made me really appreciate each of the characters on their own merit. But like much of the story, I think I was left with more questions than answers. Overall, not an awful story, but not what I expected. I wanted to love it, but just didn’t sadly “get” it.
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2017
    I rarely read women’s fiction and I felt somewhat apprehensive before I started reading the book, but after a couple of chapters I couldn’t put it down – the story is that enthralling.

    Sarah Marie Graye has crafted very interesting characters; you have these four friends: Faye, Beth, Olivia and Abbie. They are very believable characters masterly fleshed out by the author. They have their quirks, early life traumas to cope with – their own marked personalities that sometimes clash with each other but they overcome all problems and stick together helping one another no matter what – what real friendship is about and these days this is getting rarer and rarer! This novel won’t leave you indifferent it will make you think about life, death, relationships and all that surrounds you. It certainly did that for me, during the day I found myself thinking about Faye, her friends and their dilemmas!

    I like the way Sarah has put the novel together, from each chapter we get a different character POV and this is one of the reasons I find the novel so interesting because you can go into the mind of the different characters we then we can appreciate how good the author is at weaving all the story together.

    The plot is centered around Faye and a lost love, she suffered greatly with this loss and she never completely overcomes it and one day after an incident she decides to look for that man and see how’s he doing… (Circle of Books)

Top reviews from other countries

  • M. Fraser
    5.0 out of 5 stars Pivotal to the story is the discovery that Faye’s first love and ‘one that got away’ Jack
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 22, 2018
    Written from multiple points of view The Second Cup tells the story of four friends, Faye, Beth, Abbie and Olivia. A mixed bunch, the friends have found themselves thrown together despite their different backgrounds and life experiences. Each facing challenges and decisions in their own lives the different narrative from each character’s perspective gives a detailed insight into both past and present inner thoughts and feelings.

    Pivotal to the story is the discovery that Faye’s first love and ‘one that got away’ Jack, has committed suicide sending shock waves through the close-knit group, triggering a multitude of reactions and emotions. Beth seems to be the hardest hit and the story deals not only her grief and depression, but also gives a fabulously realistic, gritty insight into the impact mental health issues have on not only those affected but also their wider circle.

    Mental health is a difficult and rarely discussed topic and as such The Second Cup is in no way a light, fluffy read. Hard hitting and thought provoking I’m assuming the author has first hand experience of depression and mental health issues as they are so realistically written. As someone who has suffered with issues for as long as I can remember I could totally relate to Beth and felt myself nodding along as I read knowing exactly how she was feeling.

    What I found particularly interesting was the way in which the girls see each other’s lives in a different light to the way they view it themselves. It served as a fantastic reminder for me that what I think about myself isn’t always the way others see me and that I shouldn’t dwell on what my anxiety ridden brain wants me to believe.

    The beginning of the book jumps straight into the story and the chapters come thick and fast, chopping and changing between the characters which I initially found hard to follow. Don’t let this put you off though as after a few chapters I got into the swing of the story and things began to make sense.

    I find it hard to believe that this is Sarah Marie Graye’s debut novel, it’s such a strong and well-written offering. I whizzed through it, always wanting to find out what happened next and particularly enjoyed the post-story interviews with each character, it’s a fabulously unique way to conclude. I hope to see more in the future from this incredibly talented author.
  • Helen
    3.0 out of 5 stars A good story, sensitively told
    Reviewed in Italy on July 31, 2018
    I loved the idea of this book. Four friends, who have met at various stages of their lives, are devastated by the news of a suicide. The story is told from all four points of view, each chapter relating to a different person. Beth, who has never even met Jack, is the one most affected by his death, for reasons which become clear as the story develops.
    The story is sensitively told, and the reader can feel each character's anguish, and their struggle to overcome this tragic event. However, I found the change from third person to first person a bit confusing, and the timeline jumped about a bit, which made the story hard to follow at times.
    That said, overall, it was a good story and a book I would recommend. I look forward to reading the sequel.
  • Stacey
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Sensitive Examination of Mental Health
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 21, 2018
    I do like a book with an interesting premise and the strapline on The Second Cup – ‘Can Someone Else Steal Your Suicide’ – definitely got me interested.

    What struck me first about the book is that it focuses on a group of women – obviously men play a large part in their stories, but the voices are theirs and the relationships among the group are those which any woman with a small circle of friends will recognise. Each member of the group fulfills a unique role – be it caregiver, or the one who needs extra handling, but the dynamics are interesting throughout and it’s revelatory to see just how each responds in a time of crisis.

    For a book with that strapline, it’s clear that there is a spotlight on the mental health of the characters but, most likely due to the author’s own diagnosis of depression, it is handled with sensitivity and a great level of understanding. Never mawkish or sensationalised, depression is addressed as a part of life and never put into the terms we very often hear of it being a battle to be won or lost.

    Although a tragic events weave through the story, I look on this book very much more as a character-led piece – it is the characters’ reactions to situations that provide the drama, rather than the events themselves and as the book progresses and we see positive change among the group, it’s really heartening.

    I always say that ‘enjoy’ is the wrong word when reading books that address important subjects but, while there are some sections that are hard to read, there is much to enjoy in the book. Beth’s character for instance was a great character to read and proof in a way that we can never really know what is going on inside a person’s head.

    I would definitely recommend The Second Cup as, as I have said, you will struggle to find a book with such a strong group of women that so sensitively addresses mental health issues.
  • Susan Scott
    2.0 out of 5 stars Just didn't 'feel' this story or its title
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 29, 2018
    I’d heard so much about this story and after falling head over heels with the cover, I decided to take a chance on it. As a brand new author for me, and knowing the stories rep, I instantly had high hopes for it.

    An emotive story following four girls - four friends; Faye, Abbie, Beth and Olivia.

    For me, the story was really jumpy and difficult to stick with, flitting between the various angles and aspects to the story...very “confused”, a lot like the characters at points.

    Having said that, the story highlighted some really pertinent aspects to mental health and the issues women face in our modern society and I must praise the author for this. Opening the dialogue for not only suicide, but other medical ailments (from ADHD to life-limiting heart conditions).

    I stuck with this story and sadly never fully got into it. I think the character interviews at the very end were, for me, the most insightful and made me really appreciate each of the characters on their own merit. But like much of the story, I think I was left with more questions than answers. Overall, not an awful story, but not what I expected. I wanted to love it, but just didn’t sadly “get” it.
  • Rebecca McKay
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, I loved this book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 21, 2017
    This is an amazing story. It grabbed me really quickly, which I didn't expect as that rarely happens. And when I finished it, I miss the characters as if they are friends. They are proper multi-dimensional personalities, with their own stories, not just padding for one main player.

    At first I got a bit confused, but quickly realised the chapter is named after the character whose story it's telling. There are switches between past and present, between first and third person, which I think are very clever and remove some restrictions that other authors get around less skilfully.

    The tea motif throughout is charming, and quite enjoyably educational.

    This is deep and moving, but not dark. I can't believe this is her first book; and I really hope it's not her last!

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