There was a new realization that walking away wasn't a simple option after all. I'd tried it and made the mistake of inviting him back. Being still in love with him, the gentle, vulnerable part of it: it was also the dreadful fear of what he might do if I did anything to provoke him. 
It wasn’t about walking away any more. It was about running.
It was about escape.

This story is told in two timelines set four years apart. In 2003 Catherine Bailey is a happy woman in her 20’s who’s living a normal life. She's busy partying and having fun, and has few problems.
Then she meets Lee, who appears to be everything she wants. He’s charismatic, funny and soon enough he’s head over heels in love with her. 
But soon Lee starts showing up at her house at odd times, he decides what she wears and becomes more and more possessive. 

In 2007, Catherine has changed her name and moved. She suffers from severe PTSD and OCD, spends hours checking her flat to make sure the door is locked and that no one can get in, or else she has a panic attack.
She is extremely isolated and has no friends.
In four years, Catherine's life was destroyed. All because of one person; Lee.

I recently read a quote that went something like ''Why do we ask women why they’re staying with their abusive husbands instead of asking the husbands why they abuse?’’

This rings so true and it’s very upsetting.
You see, when Catherine early on in their relationship tells her friends about how Lee is controlling and scares her, they all brush it off because it’s because he cares about her and she’s lucky to have a man who puts her first.
The abuse gets worse and worse. The things Lee does to her are disgusting, and it was hard to read.
Rape, beatings and locking her inside without food and water.
This kind of behavior is so often romanticized, and I felt terrified for Catherine. It made me angry, but I think her friends’ reaction was realistic, because it was ignorant.
I could rant forever about this, but I’ll keep it short: Society has this rule that women are not allowed to break men’s hearts, they’re not allowed to say no, to have their own free will. They get hate for doing what’s best for them and cutting toxic people out of their lives. That's why the ''sweet charismatic boyfriend'' - Lee, in this case - will always be easier for people to feel sorry for, and they blame the victim.
Enough about that, I just needed to say it. Feels like I’m stealing all the quotes from Tumblr posts now, but my point is that the feelings of men are seen as more important than women's safety, and it's disgusting.
Luckily I’ve never been in an abusive relationship, but this hit me hard and made me so angry.

There are moments where you’re just waiting for things to happen and then calm down, thinking the danger is gone but then a shocking twist is thrown in. 
I’ve read a few books similar to this one, but they never managed to grip me like this. Haynes’s portrayal of Lee is both fascinating and grim. 
You can see why Catherine likes him, why she holds onto him and accepts his apologies faster than her bruises fade.
He can be sweet and loving when he wants to, and thats what makes her go back.
Sometimes even I forgot that he was an antagonist, that he was a horrible abuser. The author fools us the same way Lee fools Catherine, and it’s so well done that it scared me.
I never thought I’d be so captivated by this story.
Elizabeth Haynes is a fantastic writer who lets you into the main character’s head and explores her deepest fear.
Into the darkest corner is the kind of book that makes you check the door twice and leave the lights on for longer than necessary.