Skip to main content

Featured

The Island of Hopes and Dreams by Kate Frost #Review

  Travel to beautiful Sardinia for a summery read. The Island of Hopes and Dreams by Kate Frost was published by Boldwood Books on June 16th.   When the beginning of the end is just the start… Newly single Lola Wild has had her fill of well-intentioned matchmaking friends. Her best friend Mirabel’s hen weekend highlights all that’s wrong with Lola’s life and she knows something has to change. With Mirabel’s luxurious wedding in Sardinia fast approaching, Lola is looking forward to switching off, spending time with her friends and keeping her non-existent love life off everyone’s agenda. Meanwhile, fellow wedding guest Rhys Strickland has his own problems. So when a chance encounter brings Rhys and Lola together they decide to help each other out. To the idyllic backdrop of white sand beaches and azure bays, they bond over shared heartache, and friendship blossoms as they attempt to navigate the hurt and hard truths of past relationships. Opening up their hearts ...
1 comment
Read more
Labels

The Girl I Used To Be by Debbie Howells #Review

 

 Today I am delighted to be featuring Debbie Howell's novel. The Girl I Used To Be on the blog. It was published by Boldwood Books on19th October.

Marie Kondo for the soul.

Anna and Will have been passing in and out of each other’s lives since they were just kids.

Now 20 years later, Anna is married - she has a lovely house, a step daughter in university and a husband with a good job.

What she doesn’t have is joy. When she runs into Will it sparks something in her, a longing for the Anna she used to be.

Together they embark on a journey to find what brings them joy, to discard what doesn’t and to become the people they always wanted to be.

But in finding themselves, can they also find each other?


 

My Thoughts

 This is an emotional read in many ways which takes you along and makes you feel as though you really know the central character. You meet Anna at different times in her life and gradually become acquainted with her and the choices she makes. You also realise that Will is a thoroughly likeable character but that so often in their lives, the timing is not right for them and other things get in the way. The love he has for his daughter and the responsibility he feels for her causes him to put his own desires second.

    Anna’s husband is one of those people who frustrates you with his self centred attitudes and lack of empathy. However he proves to have a redeeming side. I loved Anna’s relationship with her stepdaughter. Friendship is also important in giving people the space to take a risk. Anna faces some challenges but takes confidence from the people she knows. There are so many times that Anna and Will seem to miss their opportunity to be together but you always feel that their stories are linked. This is one of those books which lures you in and I was totally invested in their story. It would make a great film! 

In short: emotional but inspiring 

About the Author

 


Debbie Howells’s first novel, a psychological thriller, The Bones of You, was a Sunday Times bestseller for Macmillan. Four more bestsellers followed, including most recently The Vow, published by Avon. Fulfilling her dream of writing women’s fiction, she has found a home with Boldwood and her first title with them, The Life You Left Behind was published in February 2022.

 

You can follow Debbie here: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram

                                            |  Bookbub profile |  Newsletter Sign Up

Book link: Amazon UK


Thanks to Debbie Howells, Boldwood Books and Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.

Check out these brilliant bloggers!
 
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts