The Orange Room - Book Review

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The Orange Room by Rosie Price, published in 2023, delves into complex themes of friendship, trauma, and healing. Following Price’s critically acclaimed debut novel, What Red Was, this book further showcases her talent for exploring sensitive issues with nuance and empathy. Set in contemporary England, The Orange Room is a thought-provoking and poignant story that centres on a close-knit group of friends whose lives are irrevocably changed by a traumatic incident, forcing each of them to confront uncomfortable truths about themselves and each other. The novel examines the consequences of trauma on personal identity, the limits of friendship, and the courage it takes to rebuild one’s life after shattering events.

The story opens with a reunion of four university friends—Cara, Laura, Will, and Sam—who have maintained a close bond despite having moved on with their lives after graduation. Cara, the protagonist, is a vibrant and ambitious young woman with a passion for art and photography. She’s fiercely independent, with a sometimes abrasive personality that masks a deeply sensitive interior. Her closest confidant is Laura, a compassionate and introspective individual whose friendship with Cara forms the emotional foundation of the novel. Will and Sam are also part of the group, each bringing unique dynamics that complement and challenge the friendships.

Their reunion takes place at a secluded countryside house owned by Will’s family. This setting, isolated and almost surreal, provides a quiet backdrop for the friends to reconnect and reminisce. However, as the weekend unfolds, the reunion turns into a life-altering experience when Cara experiences a traumatic assault. The incident occurs in the titular “orange room” of the house—a space with vibrant orange walls that become a haunting visual symbol throughout the novel, representing both the trauma Cara endures and the emotional walls she begins to build in its aftermath.

Following the assault, the story shifts to Cara’s struggle to process her trauma and the ripple effect it has on her friendships. Cara faces an internal battle between confronting her pain and retreating into isolation. Her initial reaction is one of anger and denial, and she finds herself withdrawing from her friends, especially Laura, who wants to help but feels helpless and uncertain about how to support her friend. The dynamics between the friends become increasingly strained, as each grapples with their guilt, discomfort, and confusion over what has happened to Cara and how to navigate the situation.

The novel then follows Cara’s journey over the following months and years as she tries to rebuild her life. She becomes increasingly obsessed with the “orange room,” seeing it as both a place of horror and a space that holds the key to her recovery. Through her art, Cara begins to confront her trauma, using photography as a way to reclaim control over her life. However, the healing process is far from straightforward. Cara’s relationships with Laura, Will, and Sam are tested, as her friends struggle with their own reactions to her trauma. The orange room, which once represented connection and shared memories, becomes a symbol of the fissures that develop within the group.

Cara: Cara is a complex protagonist whose experience drives the narrative. She is portrayed as resilient but also vulnerable, oscillating between strength and fragility as she navigates her trauma. Her passion for art becomes a means of self-expression and an outlet for processing her pain, though this process is far from linear. Cara’s journey is portrayed with a raw honesty that captures the complexities of trauma—her anger, shame, and desire for revenge, as well as her moments of hope and determination.

Cara’s relationship with Laura is central to her recovery. Despite their close bond, Cara often pushes Laura away, unsure of how to accept help or communicate her needs. This tension creates a nuanced portrayal of friendship in the aftermath of trauma, revealing the challenges of supporting someone through an experience that’s difficult to fully understand.



Laura: Laura is empathetic and caring, a grounding presence in Cara’s life. However, her response to Cara’s trauma is also marked by uncertainty and fear, as she grapples with her own limitations and insecurities about being a supportive friend. Laura’s character arc is one of self-discovery, as she learns to navigate boundaries and confronts her own feelings of guilt and inadequacy. Her relationship with Cara becomes a source of both comfort and conflict, illustrating the strain that trauma can place on even the closest of friendships.

Will and Sam: Will and Sam, while secondary characters, provide contrasting responses to Cara’s trauma that add depth to the story. Will, as the owner of the house where the incident occurred, struggles with guilt and accountability. He feels a responsibility toward Cara, but his reaction is often misguided, as he tries to “fix” things in ways that ignore Cara’s autonomy and agency. Sam, on the other hand, becomes increasingly distant, uncomfortable with the situation and unsure of how to approach Cara or offer support. These characters highlight the varied reactions people can have to trauma and the challenges of finding genuine ways to support those affected.

At the heart of The Orange Room is an exploration of trauma and the nonlinear path to recovery. Price presents Cara’s trauma with unflinching honesty, capturing the physical, emotional, and psychological impact it has on her life. The orange room serves as both a literal and metaphorical space in Cara’s mind, representing the place where her trauma is rooted but also where she must go to confront and heal from it. Cara’s journey shows that recovery is a deeply personal and often isolating process, marked by setbacks, moments of despair, and flashes of hope.

The novel examines the strength and fragility of friendships in the face of trauma. Cara’s relationship with her friends is tested as she struggles to process her experience. Price explores the ways in which friends can be both a source of support and a reminder of pain, as they try to help Cara but also face their own limitations and discomfort. The tension between Cara and Laura, in particular, highlights the delicate balance between providing support and respecting boundaries, illustrating the challenges of being present for someone while recognizing that you cannot “fix” their pain.

Cara’s art becomes a significant aspect of her recovery. Through photography, she attempts to reclaim control over her life, channelling her emotions into something creative and empowering. Price uses Cara’s artistic process as a metaphor for healing, showing how art can be a powerful tool for self-expression and coping. However, the novel also presents the limitations of art as a form of healing, acknowledging that while creativity can aid recovery, it cannot erase trauma.

The novel explores themes of guilt and responsibility, particularly through Will’s character. Will feels responsible for what happened to Cara, given that the assault took place in his family’s house. His guilt drives him to try to “make things right,” often in ways that are misguided and unhelpful. Price uses Will’s character to examine the complexities of guilt and accountability, raising questions about what it means to take responsibility for another person’s pain and whether such responsibility is ever truly possible.

Price’s writing style is sensitive and evocative, capturing the emotional depth of her characters and the intensity of their experiences. Her prose is both lyrical and direct, striking a balance between conveying the rawness of Cara’s trauma and the beauty of her moments of self-discovery. Price avoids sensationalizing the traumatic aspects of the story, focusing instead on the characters’ internal landscapes and the subtle ways in which they interact with each other.

The tone of the novel is reflective and sombre, with moments of warmth and hope interspersed throughout. Price’s portrayal of trauma is compassionate and nuanced, creating an atmosphere that invites readers to empathize with Cara’s journey while also acknowledging the complexity of her relationships and the limitations of those around her.

The Orange Room by Rosie Price is a deeply moving novel that explores the aftermath of trauma with empathy, sensitivity, and insight. Through the story of Cara and her friends, Price examines the complexities of recovery, the limits of friendship, and the power of art as a means of self-expression and healing. The novel’s rich character development and thought-provoking themes make it a compelling and resonant read, offering a nuanced portrayal of the human capacity for resilience and connection.

Price’s portrayal of the “orange room” as both a physical space and a symbol of trauma adds a haunting layer to the narrative, capturing the way in which traumatic experiences can become embedded in our minds and shape our lives. Ultimately, The Orange Room is a story about finding the courage to confront pain, seek support, and rebuild one’s life, even when the path to healing is fraught with obstacles. Price’s compassionate and honest approach to storytelling invites readers to reflect on the strength of the human spirit and the ways in which we navigate the complexities of life, friendship, and recovery.

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