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Jedna dobrá věc… a život znovu začíná
V životě není nic jisté. Zrovna když si myslíte, že už jste všechno vyřešily, může se obrátit vzhůru nohama…
Liv Brooksová se ještě nevzpamatovala z bolestivého rozvodu. Nejisté budoucnosti se impulzivně rozhodne čelit tím, že vymění svůj londýnský život za vesnici, kterou zná z dětství, a okolní rozlehlé kopce parku Yorkshire Dales, odhodlaná začít znovu. Ale nové začátky jsou těžší, než se zdá, a tak se osamělá a ztracená Liv rozhodne adoptovat Harryho, starého psa z místního útulku, aby jí dělal společnost.
Brzy však zjistí, že není jediná, kdo potřebuje novy´ začátek. Při každodenních procházkách po vesnici pozná Valentina, starého osamělého muže, který tráví dny koukáním z okna, malého chlapce Stanleyho, který se všeho bojí a schovává se za zahradní brankou, a dospívající dívku Mayu, naštvanou na cely´ svět. Věci se však pomalu začnou měnit…
Zábavný a srdceryvně upřímný román, ve kterém se snadno najdete, vypráví o přátelství, hledání štěstí a o tom, že něco nového přijde, když to nejmíň čekáme. Pokud se vám všechno zhroutí, stačí jedna dobrá věc, aby zase stálo za to žít.
Liv Brooksová se ještě nevzpamatovala z bolestivého rozvodu. Nejisté budoucnosti se impulzivně rozhodne čelit tím, že vymění svůj londýnský život za vesnici, kterou zná z dětství, a okolní rozlehlé kopce parku Yorkshire Dales, odhodlaná začít znovu. Ale nové začátky jsou těžší, než se zdá, a tak se osamělá a ztracená Liv rozhodne adoptovat Harryho, starého psa z místního útulku, aby jí dělal společnost.
Brzy však zjistí, že není jediná, kdo potřebuje novy´ začátek. Při každodenních procházkách po vesnici pozná Valentina, starého osamělého muže, který tráví dny koukáním z okna, malého chlapce Stanleyho, který se všeho bojí a schovává se za zahradní brankou, a dospívající dívku Mayu, naštvanou na cely´ svět. Věci se však pomalu začnou měnit…
Zábavný a srdceryvně upřímný román, ve kterém se snadno najdete, vypráví o přátelství, hledání štěstí a o tom, že něco nového přijde, když to nejmíň čekáme. Pokud se vám všechno zhroutí, stačí jedna dobrá věc, aby zase stálo za to žít.
512 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2022
401 people are currently reading
5785 people want to read
About the author
Alexandra Potter
26 books2,294 followersAlexandra Potter is the best-selling author of fourteen romantic comedy fiction novels including Confessions of a Forty-Something F##k Up (which is now the basis of a major US TV show, NOT DEAD YET on ABC, Hulu and Disney+) MORE Confessions of a Forty-Something F##k Up and One Good Thing. These titles have been published in twenty-five territories and have sold millions of copies worldwide (making the bestseller charts in the UK, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovenia and Serbia).
Yorkshire born and raised, Alexandra lives in London with her Californian husband and their Bosnian rescue dog. When she's not writing or travelling, she's getting out into nature, trying not to look at her phone and navigating this thing called mid-life.
https//www.instagram.com/alexandrapotter
https://www.facebook.com/Alexandra.Po...
Yorkshire born and raised, Alexandra lives in London with her Californian husband and their Bosnian rescue dog. When she's not writing or travelling, she's getting out into nature, trying not to look at her phone and navigating this thing called mid-life.
https//www.instagram.com/alexandrapotter
https://www.facebook.com/Alexandra.Po...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 778 reviews
October 23, 2023
I absolutely loved one good thing. I felt the pain of being left behind, and was fully invested in the new life of the main character. The setting was mesmerizing, a rural place and a cottage she moved into and transformed. Then comes all the other transformations, that felt real and not picture perfect. There was love and friendship and I gobbled it up.
August 18, 2022
Just the book I needed. Heart-warming, emotional and funny. It gave me all the feels. Just perfect.
May 1, 2022
This wonderfully heartfelt story about new beginnings, community and companionship was the perfect uplifting, life affirming and fairly wholesome read that I utterly enjoyed and Harry (the dog) was just the sweetest (and cheekiest) I couldn’t help but love him!
Newly divorced, Liv Brooks is still in shock and facing an uncertain future after her husband leaves her for his Yoga instructor. Now, she’s swapping her life in London for a quieter life in the Yorkshire Dales, a place full of happy memories where she hopes to start fresh. But fresh starts can be scarier than they look and feeling lost and lonely—adopts Harry, an old dog from the shelter to keep her company.
But Liv discovers she’s not the only one looking for a new beginning in her walks with Harry, meets some incredible people: Valentine (an old man suffering from loneliness), Stanley (a little boy who’s scared of everyone) and Maya (a rebellious teen mad at the world). But slowly, with Harry’s help things start to change for the better…
I read this over the May bank holiday and absolutely fell in love with the Village (and people) of Nettlewick and of course, the adorably mischievous Harry who really brings Liv’s new world to life.
I really loved just how interconnected each of the characters were and how their friendship ultimately unites them all at the crossroads of their lives and together find their happiness, and in some cases their true calling. It gave me all the feels watching this rag tag group slowly but surely find their paths after struggling for soo long, plus the found family aspect was pure joy to explore.
I loved every character we encounter but Valentine, Ben, Stanley, Maya and Liv were my absolute faves and I loved that we encounter POV chapters for four of them, which really added much needed insight into their emotions and thought processes. Though I have to admit, the star was definitely old Harry who’s presence really managed to light up the entire village.
Grief does play quite a big role in the story as several characters are struggling with their own grief or loss; for Liv it’s the loss of her former life and the certainty that her marriage brought, for Valentine it’s grieving his wife as her dementia steals more of her each day and the loneliness of living without her, for Stanley it’s the idea of his mum now being a star in heaven and for Maya is the fear and uncertainty of growing up. But, each character journey into overcoming that grief (or sense of loss) was soo inspiring.
I don’t think my words can’t really do justice to this wholesome, emotional and utterly endearing contemporary romance. So, if your looking for something sweet and uplifting for your next read then look no further, you won’t be disappointed!
Also, thanks to Random Things Tours and Pan Macmillan for the ARC.
Newly divorced, Liv Brooks is still in shock and facing an uncertain future after her husband leaves her for his Yoga instructor. Now, she’s swapping her life in London for a quieter life in the Yorkshire Dales, a place full of happy memories where she hopes to start fresh. But fresh starts can be scarier than they look and feeling lost and lonely—adopts Harry, an old dog from the shelter to keep her company.
But Liv discovers she’s not the only one looking for a new beginning in her walks with Harry, meets some incredible people: Valentine (an old man suffering from loneliness), Stanley (a little boy who’s scared of everyone) and Maya (a rebellious teen mad at the world). But slowly, with Harry’s help things start to change for the better…
I read this over the May bank holiday and absolutely fell in love with the Village (and people) of Nettlewick and of course, the adorably mischievous Harry who really brings Liv’s new world to life.
I really loved just how interconnected each of the characters were and how their friendship ultimately unites them all at the crossroads of their lives and together find their happiness, and in some cases their true calling. It gave me all the feels watching this rag tag group slowly but surely find their paths after struggling for soo long, plus the found family aspect was pure joy to explore.
I loved every character we encounter but Valentine, Ben, Stanley, Maya and Liv were my absolute faves and I loved that we encounter POV chapters for four of them, which really added much needed insight into their emotions and thought processes. Though I have to admit, the star was definitely old Harry who’s presence really managed to light up the entire village.
Grief does play quite a big role in the story as several characters are struggling with their own grief or loss; for Liv it’s the loss of her former life and the certainty that her marriage brought, for Valentine it’s grieving his wife as her dementia steals more of her each day and the loneliness of living without her, for Stanley it’s the idea of his mum now being a star in heaven and for Maya is the fear and uncertainty of growing up. But, each character journey into overcoming that grief (or sense of loss) was soo inspiring.
I don’t think my words can’t really do justice to this wholesome, emotional and utterly endearing contemporary romance. So, if your looking for something sweet and uplifting for your next read then look no further, you won’t be disappointed!
Also, thanks to Random Things Tours and Pan Macmillan for the ARC.
April 29, 2022
A feel good book with lots of food for thought.
January 9, 2025
Saldūs romanai nėra mano arkliukas, bet kartais pasitaiko tokių sušildančių ir jaukių, kad norisi veidu pasinert į puslapius ir užmiršt visas gyvenimo problemas. Va tokia man buvo ši knyga. Paprasta, bet ne prasta, jaudinanti, o kartu ir juokinga. Neperspausta drama, o labai labai gyvenimiška istorija.
Ir nors paskaičius anotaciją galima numoti ranka pagalvojus, kad ai, viskas skaityta girdėta, bet nedarykit taip. Taip, vėl skyrybų įskaudinta moteris pradeda gyvenimą nuo nulio. Taip, vėl veiksmas vyksta atokiam, mažam miestelyje. Taip, galimai grįžta buvusios meilės, BET. Bet viskas kas vyko šalia mano išvardintų klišių yra labai tikra ir miela. JUK VIENAS PAGRINDINIŲ KNYGŲ VEIKĖJŲ - SENAS IR LIGOTAS ŠUO!! 🥹 Susiduriam čia ir paaugliškomis problemomis, ypatingais vaikais, senoliais, gedinčiais praeitų dienų.
Nesitikėjau, bet su didžiulių susižavėjimu ir lengva šypsena veide perskaičiau. Buvo vietų ir pasijuokti, buvo vietų ir pasigraudinti. Tikrai geras, kokybiškas, bet jei ir čiut nuspėjamas, skaitinys.
Ir nors paskaičius anotaciją galima numoti ranka pagalvojus, kad ai, viskas skaityta girdėta, bet nedarykit taip. Taip, vėl skyrybų įskaudinta moteris pradeda gyvenimą nuo nulio. Taip, vėl veiksmas vyksta atokiam, mažam miestelyje. Taip, galimai grįžta buvusios meilės, BET. Bet viskas kas vyko šalia mano išvardintų klišių yra labai tikra ir miela. JUK VIENAS PAGRINDINIŲ KNYGŲ VEIKĖJŲ - SENAS IR LIGOTAS ŠUO!! 🥹 Susiduriam čia ir paaugliškomis problemomis, ypatingais vaikais, senoliais, gedinčiais praeitų dienų.
Nesitikėjau, bet su didžiulių susižavėjimu ir lengva šypsena veide perskaičiau. Buvo vietų ir pasijuokti, buvo vietų ir pasigraudinti. Tikrai geras, kokybiškas, bet jei ir čiut nuspėjamas, skaitinys.
April 29, 2022
I don’t read much in the way of ‘light’ literature, but when I do, it’s because I need a break from my usual fare of fiction that’s either nerve jangling or brain sapping. And this wholesome, life-affirming tale from Alexandra Potter was just the ticket. It’s an ‘all the feels’ kind of story, about kindness, connections and community, and about how just ‘one good thing’ is often all it takes to turn a life around.
The story revolves around Liv, a middle-aged divorcée, who abandons her home and teaching career in London, and heads off to the Yorkshire Dales to reinvent herself. Liv is bruised, lonely and adrift, and struggling to adjust to her new circumstances, when she adopts aging rescue dog, Harry. And it’s Harry that turns out to be her ‘one good thing’.
Liv’s other big distraction is the renovation of her cottage, a task that serves as the perfect metaphor for her own step-by-step transformation as she rebuilds her life.
There’s so much to enjoy in this simple tale, not least the delightful cast of diverse characters. As well as Liv, we get septuagenarian Valentine, whose wife is in a care home with Alzheimer’s, rebellious teenager Maya, and seven year-old Stanley, who’s trying to get used to the idea of his mum being a star in heaven. Yes, they are all clichés, but it is exactly this that makes them so wonderfully human and relatable.
All four are at different, but equally difficult, crossroads in their lives. They make an unlikely bunch, but brought together by Harry, the four of them forge a beautiful alliance that sees them finding a shared path forward. And the icing on the cake? A delicious and unexpected romance for Liv.
Did I say this was just the ticket? Well, I’ll say it again for good measure. Buy the ticket, go on the journey! The scenery is stunning and the company first class.
The story revolves around Liv, a middle-aged divorcée, who abandons her home and teaching career in London, and heads off to the Yorkshire Dales to reinvent herself. Liv is bruised, lonely and adrift, and struggling to adjust to her new circumstances, when she adopts aging rescue dog, Harry. And it’s Harry that turns out to be her ‘one good thing’.
Liv’s other big distraction is the renovation of her cottage, a task that serves as the perfect metaphor for her own step-by-step transformation as she rebuilds her life.
There’s so much to enjoy in this simple tale, not least the delightful cast of diverse characters. As well as Liv, we get septuagenarian Valentine, whose wife is in a care home with Alzheimer’s, rebellious teenager Maya, and seven year-old Stanley, who’s trying to get used to the idea of his mum being a star in heaven. Yes, they are all clichés, but it is exactly this that makes them so wonderfully human and relatable.
All four are at different, but equally difficult, crossroads in their lives. They make an unlikely bunch, but brought together by Harry, the four of them forge a beautiful alliance that sees them finding a shared path forward. And the icing on the cake? A delicious and unexpected romance for Liv.
Did I say this was just the ticket? Well, I’ll say it again for good measure. Buy the ticket, go on the journey! The scenery is stunning and the company first class.
September 3, 2025
/..Neišmanau daug apie stebuklus, bet jei tai, ką matau, ne stebuklas, nežinau, kas dar tai gali būti../
Kartais gyvenimas ima ir sugriūva. Taip nutinka Olivijai – keturiasdešimtmetei moteriai, kurią palieka vyras, o karjera Londone nebeturi jokios prasmės. Tačiau vietoj to, kad pasiduotų, ji pasirenka pradėti iš naujo – išvyksta į mažą miestelį, kur kadaise praleido vaikystės vasaras.
Naujame gyvenime ją lydi senas, iš prieglaudos paimtas, šlubčiojantis šuo Haris. Ir būtent jis tampa Olivijos tiltu į naująjį pasaulį - vedžiodama jį, moteris sutinka įvairių žmonių, kurie, kaip ir ji, nešiojasi savo skaudulius, svajones ir viltis.
„Paprasti džiaugsmai“ – graži, jautri ir gyvenimiška istorija apie antrą šansą, apie tai, kaip iš naujo atrasti save, ir apie tai, kad tikros vertybės ir laimė slypi ne dideliuose įvykiuose, o mažose kasdienėse akimirkose.
Man labai patiko! Knygą pasiėmiau atostogoms ir taip buvo pats geriausias mano pasirinkimas - labai greitai mintimis apsigyvenau naująjame Olivijos miestelyje, o kiekvienas naujas sutiktas veikėjas, patiko vis labiau. Ypač Valentinas - jo istorija į širdį įsirašė ilgam ❤️ #teamValentinas
Tokias knygas aš vadinu Backman'iškomis - nes jos šiltos, smagios, bet ir mokančios pagraudinti. Užvertus paskutinį puslapį, liko jausmas, tarsi būčiau grįžusi iš vietos, kur norėčiau pabūti dar ilgiau. Tokių knygų neieškai – jos pačios tave randa. Labai linkiu, kad atrastų ir jus.
Kartais gyvenimas ima ir sugriūva. Taip nutinka Olivijai – keturiasdešimtmetei moteriai, kurią palieka vyras, o karjera Londone nebeturi jokios prasmės. Tačiau vietoj to, kad pasiduotų, ji pasirenka pradėti iš naujo – išvyksta į mažą miestelį, kur kadaise praleido vaikystės vasaras.
Naujame gyvenime ją lydi senas, iš prieglaudos paimtas, šlubčiojantis šuo Haris. Ir būtent jis tampa Olivijos tiltu į naująjį pasaulį - vedžiodama jį, moteris sutinka įvairių žmonių, kurie, kaip ir ji, nešiojasi savo skaudulius, svajones ir viltis.
„Paprasti džiaugsmai“ – graži, jautri ir gyvenimiška istorija apie antrą šansą, apie tai, kaip iš naujo atrasti save, ir apie tai, kad tikros vertybės ir laimė slypi ne dideliuose įvykiuose, o mažose kasdienėse akimirkose.
Man labai patiko! Knygą pasiėmiau atostogoms ir taip buvo pats geriausias mano pasirinkimas - labai greitai mintimis apsigyvenau naująjame Olivijos miestelyje, o kiekvienas naujas sutiktas veikėjas, patiko vis labiau. Ypač Valentinas - jo istorija į širdį įsirašė ilgam ❤️ #teamValentinas
Tokias knygas aš vadinu Backman'iškomis - nes jos šiltos, smagios, bet ir mokančios pagraudinti. Užvertus paskutinį puslapį, liko jausmas, tarsi būčiau grįžusi iš vietos, kur norėčiau pabūti dar ilgiau. Tokių knygų neieškai – jos pačios tave randa. Labai linkiu, kad atrastų ir jus.
August 8, 2024
Ach.....was war das schön!
Einfach ein guter Unterhaltungroman.....leicht, stimmungsvoll und wirklich herzerwärmend.....! Bravo!
Liv ist Mitte vierzig, Lehrerin und....geschieden.
Ihr Mann brennt mit einer jüngeren Frau durch....und Liv steht vor den Scherben ihres Lebens.
Doch sie gibt nicht auf und kauft ein renovierungsbedürftiges Cottages auf dem Land.
In ihrer neuen Umgebung angekommen, nimmt sie den Kampf um ein lesenswertes Leben auf....und schließt bald gute, neue Freundschaften.
Ein wirklich lesenswertes Buch!
Einfach ein guter Unterhaltungroman.....leicht, stimmungsvoll und wirklich herzerwärmend.....! Bravo!
Liv ist Mitte vierzig, Lehrerin und....geschieden.
Ihr Mann brennt mit einer jüngeren Frau durch....und Liv steht vor den Scherben ihres Lebens.
Doch sie gibt nicht auf und kauft ein renovierungsbedürftiges Cottages auf dem Land.
In ihrer neuen Umgebung angekommen, nimmt sie den Kampf um ein lesenswertes Leben auf....und schließt bald gute, neue Freundschaften.
Ein wirklich lesenswertes Buch!
August 22, 2024
Gražus, lėtas, švelnus romanas. Ne tik apie meilę, gal labiau apie santykį su savimi, su kitais ir kaip keičiasi gyvenimas, kai į juos ateina kiti žmonės. Gražus kūrinys ir vienintelis stiprus minusas, jog knygą reikėjo bent ant 100psl sumažinti - buvo gale ištęstų vietų kurios tikrai jau buvo nereikalingos. Lyg rašyta pratempti kas tikrai kiek apgadino kūrinį.
Bet kas ieško šilto, jautraus, romantiško kūrinio - čiupkit!
Bet kas ieško šilto, jautraus, romantiško kūrinio - čiupkit!
March 7, 2024
A cozy, warm, gentle book.
November 10, 2023
4.4 stars
July 1, 2022
Heart-tugging, humorous, and affecting!
One Good Thing is an uplifting, engaging tale that takes you to the Yorkshire Dales and into the lives of many, including Liv Brooks, who is still trying to come to grips with her cheating ex, relocation to a cottage in need of TLC, and adoption of a loyal, four-legged friend named Harry; Valentine, an elderly man struggling with the slow decline of the woman he’s loved for sixty years; Maya, a teenager discontent with almost everything in her life; and Stanley, a young boy who prefers routine and the safety of his own home.
The prose is sincere and vivid. The characters are quirky, genuine, and supportive. And the plot is an astute, absorbing tale that takes you on a heart-wrenching rollercoaster ride of love, loss, friendship, family, community, thoughtfulness, dementia, grief, companionship, new love, and moving on.
Overall, One Good Thing is a beautifully written novel that made my heart fill with joy and break with heartache. It’s a sentimental, comforting, compelling tale by Potter that ultimately reminds you that kindness is incredibly powerful and life is truly what you make it.
Thank you to PGC Books for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
One Good Thing is an uplifting, engaging tale that takes you to the Yorkshire Dales and into the lives of many, including Liv Brooks, who is still trying to come to grips with her cheating ex, relocation to a cottage in need of TLC, and adoption of a loyal, four-legged friend named Harry; Valentine, an elderly man struggling with the slow decline of the woman he’s loved for sixty years; Maya, a teenager discontent with almost everything in her life; and Stanley, a young boy who prefers routine and the safety of his own home.
The prose is sincere and vivid. The characters are quirky, genuine, and supportive. And the plot is an astute, absorbing tale that takes you on a heart-wrenching rollercoaster ride of love, loss, friendship, family, community, thoughtfulness, dementia, grief, companionship, new love, and moving on.
Overall, One Good Thing is a beautifully written novel that made my heart fill with joy and break with heartache. It’s a sentimental, comforting, compelling tale by Potter that ultimately reminds you that kindness is incredibly powerful and life is truly what you make it.
Thank you to PGC Books for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 20, 2023
More reviews: https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogsp...
After finding out her husband of ten years was having an affair Olivia runs away to the quiet country town of her childhood to start afresh.
One Good Thing is a highly engaging and heartwarming story of starting over, finding that 'one good thing' in your life that keeps you going everyday. That reason to get out of bed and face each new day.
Told through numerous points of view there is bound to be a character everyone will find relatable. I was eager to see how each of the characters would connect with the main character Olivia.
Olivia's world changes when she adopts an old abandoned dog and through him she connects with other people in the community and learns, through Harry, to leave the hurt of the past behind and live for the moment.
Alexandra Potter is a new author to me and after reading One Good Thing I am eager to explore her backlist.
One Good Thing is a story of grief, moving on, getting out of your comfort zone,navigating different relationships, family dynamics and accepting help from others.
I loved the small community of Nettlewick in the Yorkshire Dales and how everyone came together when needed.
Potter effortlessly adds diversity through her characters without any of it coming across as contrived.
After finding out her husband of ten years was having an affair Olivia runs away to the quiet country town of her childhood to start afresh.
One Good Thing is a highly engaging and heartwarming story of starting over, finding that 'one good thing' in your life that keeps you going everyday. That reason to get out of bed and face each new day.
Told through numerous points of view there is bound to be a character everyone will find relatable. I was eager to see how each of the characters would connect with the main character Olivia.
Olivia's world changes when she adopts an old abandoned dog and through him she connects with other people in the community and learns, through Harry, to leave the hurt of the past behind and live for the moment.
Alexandra Potter is a new author to me and after reading One Good Thing I am eager to explore her backlist.
One Good Thing is a story of grief, moving on, getting out of your comfort zone,navigating different relationships, family dynamics and accepting help from others.
I loved the small community of Nettlewick in the Yorkshire Dales and how everyone came together when needed.
Potter effortlessly adds diversity through her characters without any of it coming across as contrived.
April 29, 2022
If you’ve ever cried at a John Lewis Christmas ad then you need this book in your life. It is a beautifully sentimental tale of one woman transforming her new home and with it her life and herself and how a scruffy dog called Harry will show her the way.
Both Liv and Harry have been abandoned, finding solace in each other they slowly but surely start to reach out to the wider world and it opens up new connections and possibilities. I’m not even a dog person, cats are more my bag but if you don’t fall in love with Harry then there’s clearly something wrong with you.
He wasn’t the only one I fell in love with either, there was Valentine who is feeling lonely now his wife has succumbed to Alzheimer’s and gone into care. He reminded me so much of my grandad that every time he appeared I was either smiling with fondness or crying my heart out. Then there was little Stanley, his dad Ben the builder and misunderstood teenager Maya. I loved them all and I am bereft to have left them now I have finished the book.
Liv the protagonist was wonderfully relatable as I have been in her position and it’s not easy but as mentioned in the prologue “life happens at the edge of your comfort zone”.
The evocative setting of the Yorkshire Dales and many literary mentions gave more depth and the quiz night team naming, naked wild swimming and decorating dances gave it a lightness. There are so many emotions packed in this book I feel it should come with a warning on the cover – 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲𝘀.
I can’t recommend this enough as from the very first pages I knew that this book would be my new one good thing!
Both Liv and Harry have been abandoned, finding solace in each other they slowly but surely start to reach out to the wider world and it opens up new connections and possibilities. I’m not even a dog person, cats are more my bag but if you don’t fall in love with Harry then there’s clearly something wrong with you.
He wasn’t the only one I fell in love with either, there was Valentine who is feeling lonely now his wife has succumbed to Alzheimer’s and gone into care. He reminded me so much of my grandad that every time he appeared I was either smiling with fondness or crying my heart out. Then there was little Stanley, his dad Ben the builder and misunderstood teenager Maya. I loved them all and I am bereft to have left them now I have finished the book.
Liv the protagonist was wonderfully relatable as I have been in her position and it’s not easy but as mentioned in the prologue “life happens at the edge of your comfort zone”.
The evocative setting of the Yorkshire Dales and many literary mentions gave more depth and the quiz night team naming, naked wild swimming and decorating dances gave it a lightness. There are so many emotions packed in this book I feel it should come with a warning on the cover – 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲𝘀.
I can’t recommend this enough as from the very first pages I knew that this book would be my new one good thing!
May 4, 2022
This book is like a snuggly blanket.
I found this book so easy to read. It's not thrilling, or suspenseful, or sexy, or overly comedic, but what it is is so incredibly comforting.
I never once expected the little twist at the end, and audibly gasped when I read it.
This book reminds me of comfort food. It's not overly fancy, or over the top, but it's just what I felt like.
I found this book so easy to read. It's not thrilling, or suspenseful, or sexy, or overly comedic, but what it is is so incredibly comforting.
I never once expected the little twist at the end, and audibly gasped when I read it.
This book reminds me of comfort food. It's not overly fancy, or over the top, but it's just what I felt like.
May 13, 2022
I'd have given this 4 if it weren't for the really in your face inspirational epiphanies the MC had on every other page.
May 5, 2022
Alexandra Potter is a new author for me and this book One Good Thing was a gorgeous, positive and life affirming read. It was lovely to take a break from my usual genre of choice – historical fiction - and to read something completely different. It felt like a warm hug of a book, embracing you from the very first page which began with an inspirational email packed with advice. Subsequently, throughout the book the advice flowed and there are so many life lessons to be taken from it.
Primarily, the book follows Liv as she tries to come to terms with her new life. She threads a path she had never expected to walk as she believed her marriage was solid and long lasting. But her husband’s affair put paid to all that and following her divorce she makes an impulsive decision to quit her teaching job in London and she sells her home and moves to the Yorkshire Dales. The new slow pace of life takes an awful lot of getting used to especially as she knows no-one and only has memories of time spent there with her grandparents. Liv has certainly made a bold and brave life choice and she questions her decision all the time. She is sensible and cautious, so this is really stepping out of her comfort zone. Will her new life have her quickly running back to London or will the varied cast of characters she meets along the way give her the push to step out of her comfort zone and embrace what life is now offering her?
Liv was a wonderfully written character. She is not perfect by any means and wrestles with her emotions and choices daily. You can see how lost and bewildered she is now that she must navigate life solo and she constantly questions as to whether she has made the right decision. She feels rejected and heartbroken and that she has been thrown away like a piece of rubbish. Her best friend Naomi, who still lives in London, urges her on and I knew she wouldn’t let Liv flee back to London at the first sign of an obstacle. They were a great support system for each other. When Liv was married, she had a clear direction in life, and she knew where she was going but now that’s all gone. She has no job and has bought a run-down cottage that needs extensive work. She begins to think she has taken on more than she bargained for especially as funds look like they could run low.
It’s a chance meeting with a young girl collecting for a rescue shelter that changes things for Liv. She donates some money but decides to visit the centre where she falls in love with a dog named Harry who was abandoned on the moors. Harry captures a place in Liv’s heart. Similar to Liv he is wounded, lost and afraid. Liv also has something else playing on her mind apart from the divorce and her big move. It’s hinted at throughout the book and I dreaded what the eventual outcome would be given the tone of the emails dotted throughout the book. This storyline wasn’t the sole focus of the book but it was vital to Liv’s development and path to hopefully happiness and fulfilment.
What follows is the blooming of a unique relationship that Liv really didn’t know she needed. Having to exercise Harry daily she finds herself walking the same paths through the village of Nettlewick and in doing so she starts to see the same familiar faces. What are their stories? Being outdoors in the country Liv is forced to slow down, to stop, look and listen. The friendships she forges are wonderful and each character is grappling with their own issues. It’s like slowly they become a small unit and although they may be varied in ages and come from completely different backgrounds and are dealing with such varied problems and anxieties it’s Harry who unites them. These people are lost, lonely and desperate to find a connection and they do so in the most remarkable of ways that will bring a smile to your face and make you realise there is still goodness to be found in the world amongst all the bad that exists.
The chapters alternate between Liv and the people she meets who go on to become firm friends. Sometimes, I can find it confusing and disjointing moving between several characters and trying to keep their various backstories straight but here it all blended so seamlessly and naturally. Valentine watches life through his window. He is lost and afraid and doesn’t know how to function without his wife Gisele by his side. She may as well be gone forever as Alzheimer’s has taken her away to a place he cannot reach. He visits her daily at her care home and there are brief, spontaneous moments of recognition and a memory is explored but these are growing few and far between. Valentine is eaten by guilt that he couldn’t look after her at home. After all, when their marriage vows were made they promised to look after each other in sickness and in health until death they do part but he has tried his best and he knew they couldn’t go on with the way things were going at home.
Valentine’s story will be familiar to many and it is truly heart-breaking. What is his life now without the one he loves so dearly by his side? He has retreated into himself preferring to stay indoors rather than being a part of the community as he once was. When Liv meets him on one of her walks as she passes by his garden a tentative conversation is struck. I loved how boom they weren’t the best of friends instantly and all the problems of the world were put to rights. That wouldn’t have worked at all and would have felt contrived and forced. Instead, things occurred at a natural pace and again Harry is the link that binds them. There’s a lot to be said for the human/dog relationship and throughout the book it’s reinforced time and time again. Valentine was a lost and vulnerable soul but perhaps all you need is one good thing in life to help you turn things around.
Maya is a young girl studying for her A Levels but she seems more consumed by her boyfriend and saving the world than going for the degree her parents wish her to do. Liv seeks work as a tutor and Maya is her first student. To be honest, Maya was the character I connected the least with, I just found Liv, Valentine and Stanley to have stronger storylines and I wasn’t as absorbed by Maya. If she hadn’t been included I think the story would have worked perfectly fine without her. The other characters and their plots were strong enough to speak for themselves without the presence of Maya. But it’s little Stanley that will capture a piece of every readers heart. Life is tough for him as his every moment is dominated by routine, structure and order. He is scared of noises and school isn’t easy for him and he is lost without his mum.
Stanley is on the autism spectrum and he spoke to me in volumes as I have had experience of children with autism through my teaching. Stanley’s dad Ben is a builder who turns out to be working on Liv’s cottage renovation and in fact there is a history between them as they weren’t exactly the best of friends when they meet each other in Nettlewick as teenagers. Ben was the perfect Dad to Stanley, he really understood him and wanted to make his life the best it could be. An anxious free world wasn’t achievable for the little boy but meeting Liv and Harry the trio helped lift each other up and they were trying to bear life’s heavy load.
One Good Thing is a fantastic read which has definitely made me want to read more from Alexandra Potter. You get a real sense of the character’s inner feelings throughout the story and you are rooting for them from the get go. You are taken in by the story and feel as if the characters are talking directly to you offering advice for your own life whilst navigating new and uncertain territory themselves. Through the connections that are made the characters become stronger and more resilient, especially Liv. She can embrace uncertainty but also use her many talents and her thoughtful, kind and caring nature to help others. I loved the unique friendships that developed and which blended together so well and in turn combined to make a story that will provide the perfect slice of escapism that so many of us are desperately seeking.
Primarily, the book follows Liv as she tries to come to terms with her new life. She threads a path she had never expected to walk as she believed her marriage was solid and long lasting. But her husband’s affair put paid to all that and following her divorce she makes an impulsive decision to quit her teaching job in London and she sells her home and moves to the Yorkshire Dales. The new slow pace of life takes an awful lot of getting used to especially as she knows no-one and only has memories of time spent there with her grandparents. Liv has certainly made a bold and brave life choice and she questions her decision all the time. She is sensible and cautious, so this is really stepping out of her comfort zone. Will her new life have her quickly running back to London or will the varied cast of characters she meets along the way give her the push to step out of her comfort zone and embrace what life is now offering her?
Liv was a wonderfully written character. She is not perfect by any means and wrestles with her emotions and choices daily. You can see how lost and bewildered she is now that she must navigate life solo and she constantly questions as to whether she has made the right decision. She feels rejected and heartbroken and that she has been thrown away like a piece of rubbish. Her best friend Naomi, who still lives in London, urges her on and I knew she wouldn’t let Liv flee back to London at the first sign of an obstacle. They were a great support system for each other. When Liv was married, she had a clear direction in life, and she knew where she was going but now that’s all gone. She has no job and has bought a run-down cottage that needs extensive work. She begins to think she has taken on more than she bargained for especially as funds look like they could run low.
It’s a chance meeting with a young girl collecting for a rescue shelter that changes things for Liv. She donates some money but decides to visit the centre where she falls in love with a dog named Harry who was abandoned on the moors. Harry captures a place in Liv’s heart. Similar to Liv he is wounded, lost and afraid. Liv also has something else playing on her mind apart from the divorce and her big move. It’s hinted at throughout the book and I dreaded what the eventual outcome would be given the tone of the emails dotted throughout the book. This storyline wasn’t the sole focus of the book but it was vital to Liv’s development and path to hopefully happiness and fulfilment.
What follows is the blooming of a unique relationship that Liv really didn’t know she needed. Having to exercise Harry daily she finds herself walking the same paths through the village of Nettlewick and in doing so she starts to see the same familiar faces. What are their stories? Being outdoors in the country Liv is forced to slow down, to stop, look and listen. The friendships she forges are wonderful and each character is grappling with their own issues. It’s like slowly they become a small unit and although they may be varied in ages and come from completely different backgrounds and are dealing with such varied problems and anxieties it’s Harry who unites them. These people are lost, lonely and desperate to find a connection and they do so in the most remarkable of ways that will bring a smile to your face and make you realise there is still goodness to be found in the world amongst all the bad that exists.
The chapters alternate between Liv and the people she meets who go on to become firm friends. Sometimes, I can find it confusing and disjointing moving between several characters and trying to keep their various backstories straight but here it all blended so seamlessly and naturally. Valentine watches life through his window. He is lost and afraid and doesn’t know how to function without his wife Gisele by his side. She may as well be gone forever as Alzheimer’s has taken her away to a place he cannot reach. He visits her daily at her care home and there are brief, spontaneous moments of recognition and a memory is explored but these are growing few and far between. Valentine is eaten by guilt that he couldn’t look after her at home. After all, when their marriage vows were made they promised to look after each other in sickness and in health until death they do part but he has tried his best and he knew they couldn’t go on with the way things were going at home.
Valentine’s story will be familiar to many and it is truly heart-breaking. What is his life now without the one he loves so dearly by his side? He has retreated into himself preferring to stay indoors rather than being a part of the community as he once was. When Liv meets him on one of her walks as she passes by his garden a tentative conversation is struck. I loved how boom they weren’t the best of friends instantly and all the problems of the world were put to rights. That wouldn’t have worked at all and would have felt contrived and forced. Instead, things occurred at a natural pace and again Harry is the link that binds them. There’s a lot to be said for the human/dog relationship and throughout the book it’s reinforced time and time again. Valentine was a lost and vulnerable soul but perhaps all you need is one good thing in life to help you turn things around.
Maya is a young girl studying for her A Levels but she seems more consumed by her boyfriend and saving the world than going for the degree her parents wish her to do. Liv seeks work as a tutor and Maya is her first student. To be honest, Maya was the character I connected the least with, I just found Liv, Valentine and Stanley to have stronger storylines and I wasn’t as absorbed by Maya. If she hadn’t been included I think the story would have worked perfectly fine without her. The other characters and their plots were strong enough to speak for themselves without the presence of Maya. But it’s little Stanley that will capture a piece of every readers heart. Life is tough for him as his every moment is dominated by routine, structure and order. He is scared of noises and school isn’t easy for him and he is lost without his mum.
Stanley is on the autism spectrum and he spoke to me in volumes as I have had experience of children with autism through my teaching. Stanley’s dad Ben is a builder who turns out to be working on Liv’s cottage renovation and in fact there is a history between them as they weren’t exactly the best of friends when they meet each other in Nettlewick as teenagers. Ben was the perfect Dad to Stanley, he really understood him and wanted to make his life the best it could be. An anxious free world wasn’t achievable for the little boy but meeting Liv and Harry the trio helped lift each other up and they were trying to bear life’s heavy load.
One Good Thing is a fantastic read which has definitely made me want to read more from Alexandra Potter. You get a real sense of the character’s inner feelings throughout the story and you are rooting for them from the get go. You are taken in by the story and feel as if the characters are talking directly to you offering advice for your own life whilst navigating new and uncertain territory themselves. Through the connections that are made the characters become stronger and more resilient, especially Liv. She can embrace uncertainty but also use her many talents and her thoughtful, kind and caring nature to help others. I loved the unique friendships that developed and which blended together so well and in turn combined to make a story that will provide the perfect slice of escapism that so many of us are desperately seeking.
July 1, 2023
4,5/5
Od Alexandry Potter som v minulosti čítala dve knihy. Príbehy s originálnymi, neobvyklými nápadmi, ale v podstate priemerné. Preto je táto kniha jedna z najväčších prekvapení tohoto roka.
Vôbec neviem, prečo som chcela skúsiť čítať od autorky niečo ďalšie. Neprišlo mi to nevyhnutné. No som strašne rada, že som sa k tejto dostala. Po jej priemerných knihách, hoci zaujímavým nápadom totiž napísala niečo, čo je v podstate jednoduché a predsa veľmi bohaté.
Máme tu ženu Oliviu, ktorá sa práve rozviedla po tom, čo jej manželova nevera rozbila život. Zrazu prišla o svoju budúcnosť, akú si predstavovala a tak sa rozhodla urobiť veľké zmeny. Z Londýna sa presťahovala do malej anglickej dedinky, kde spoznáva jej ďalších obyvateľov. Starého pána Valentina, ktorý po 60 rokoch s milovanou manželkou je zrazu sám, kým ona je v ústave s demenciou a nespoznáva ho. Malého chlapca Stanleyho, ktorý je na automatickom spektre. Svoj crush z tínedžerských čias Bena. Tínedžerku Mayu, ktorá chce zachrániť svet a nevie ako. A tiež si adoptuje úžasného psa Harryho, ktorý ich začne spájať dohromady.
Je to úžasný príbeh o láske v rôznych podobách, o priateľstve, o strate, o živote. O tom, ako žiť ďalej, keď sa vám rozpadne život. O tom, že niekedy stačí jedna dobrá vec, aby vám spravila deň krásnym. O veľkej podpore v komunite.
Je to príbeh, v ktorom si každý môže niečo nájsť. Je to príbeh, ktorý môžete čítať vtedy, keď cítite beznádej zo života a potrebujete povzbudiť, pretože toto je proste krásne a heartwarming. Tak trochu mi to pripomínalo Oveho tým, ako spája spolu rôznorodých ľudí, ktorí navonok spolu nič spoločné nemajú.
Ak čakáte klasickú romantickú knihu, hľadajte inde. Má síce taký idealistický koniec, ale to je celé. Táto kniha síce romantiku obsahuje, ale skôr je to román o tom, čo je v živote dôležité a že aj keď sa vám rúca svet, vždy v ňom možno nájsť aspoň jednu dobrú vec.
Od Alexandry Potter som v minulosti čítala dve knihy. Príbehy s originálnymi, neobvyklými nápadmi, ale v podstate priemerné. Preto je táto kniha jedna z najväčších prekvapení tohoto roka.
Vôbec neviem, prečo som chcela skúsiť čítať od autorky niečo ďalšie. Neprišlo mi to nevyhnutné. No som strašne rada, že som sa k tejto dostala. Po jej priemerných knihách, hoci zaujímavým nápadom totiž napísala niečo, čo je v podstate jednoduché a predsa veľmi bohaté.
Máme tu ženu Oliviu, ktorá sa práve rozviedla po tom, čo jej manželova nevera rozbila život. Zrazu prišla o svoju budúcnosť, akú si predstavovala a tak sa rozhodla urobiť veľké zmeny. Z Londýna sa presťahovala do malej anglickej dedinky, kde spoznáva jej ďalších obyvateľov. Starého pána Valentina, ktorý po 60 rokoch s milovanou manželkou je zrazu sám, kým ona je v ústave s demenciou a nespoznáva ho. Malého chlapca Stanleyho, ktorý je na automatickom spektre. Svoj crush z tínedžerských čias Bena. Tínedžerku Mayu, ktorá chce zachrániť svet a nevie ako. A tiež si adoptuje úžasného psa Harryho, ktorý ich začne spájať dohromady.
Je to úžasný príbeh o láske v rôznych podobách, o priateľstve, o strate, o živote. O tom, ako žiť ďalej, keď sa vám rozpadne život. O tom, že niekedy stačí jedna dobrá vec, aby vám spravila deň krásnym. O veľkej podpore v komunite.
Je to príbeh, v ktorom si každý môže niečo nájsť. Je to príbeh, ktorý môžete čítať vtedy, keď cítite beznádej zo života a potrebujete povzbudiť, pretože toto je proste krásne a heartwarming. Tak trochu mi to pripomínalo Oveho tým, ako spája spolu rôznorodých ľudí, ktorí navonok spolu nič spoločné nemajú.
Ak čakáte klasickú romantickú knihu, hľadajte inde. Má síce taký idealistický koniec, ale to je celé. Táto kniha síce romantiku obsahuje, ale skôr je to román o tom, čo je v živote dôležité a že aj keď sa vám rúca svet, vždy v ňom možno nájsť aspoň jednu dobrú vec.
December 1, 2022
I seem to have found a new favourite sub genre - 40 something woman starts again after divorce, so that coupled with small town setting this one was bound to hit the mark.
Liv has escaped back to Yorkshire after divorcing from her cheating husband and buys a ramshackle house.
It doesn't take long for Liv to start coming out of her shell, talking to residents and even adopting a dog (obviously I loved this character too, yey for Harry)
I loved the community, the secondary characters - hooray for intergenerational friendships.
A few CW including Alzheimers, mental health, grief / Loss
Go read it, you won't regret it
Liv has escaped back to Yorkshire after divorcing from her cheating husband and buys a ramshackle house.
It doesn't take long for Liv to start coming out of her shell, talking to residents and even adopting a dog (obviously I loved this character too, yey for Harry)
I loved the community, the secondary characters - hooray for intergenerational friendships.
A few CW including Alzheimers, mental health, grief / Loss
Go read it, you won't regret it
March 7, 2022
If you’re looking for a book to lift you up and make you realise there are good people in the world (even if they are fictitious) then this is the book for you. It’s full of warmth and humour revolving around some of the residents in a Yorkshire village where Liv (Olivia) has arrived. Lost and feeling rejected after her divorce, she’s decided to return to the place where she grew up many years ago in an attempt to make a new life for herself.
Not long after Liv moves into her dilapidated cottage she realises just how alone she feels. After living in London for so long she soon begins to notice how quiet it is in the countryside on her own, and so enters Harry the rescue dog. Between them they rescue each other, with Harry giving Liv a reason to get up in a morning and get out meeting people, and poor Harry who suffers terrible separation anxiety as Liv finds out every time she comes home to Harry’s destructive ways.
Each of the characters Liv meets along the way have all lost something or someone in their life and the story is of a coming together of community, of helping each other along lonely paths, that really needn’t be lonely if only people can accept others’ offers of help.
It has humour, sadness, hope and a real positive feel to the book. I also loved hearing all the descriptions of the building work and renovations to the cottage Liv moved into. With some evocative descriptions, a picture of chaos, dust and rubble is transformed over time into something that sounded idyllic. Just like the cottage renovations, with time, Liv rebuilds her own life into something much better than it ever was, while helping others in the village to see there is still life after loss, it’s just a different life.
I loved this book so much. It has all the feel good vibes from the author’s last book A Forty Something F*ck Up and has you laughing one minute, then shedding a tear or two the next. Brilliant!
Not long after Liv moves into her dilapidated cottage she realises just how alone she feels. After living in London for so long she soon begins to notice how quiet it is in the countryside on her own, and so enters Harry the rescue dog. Between them they rescue each other, with Harry giving Liv a reason to get up in a morning and get out meeting people, and poor Harry who suffers terrible separation anxiety as Liv finds out every time she comes home to Harry’s destructive ways.
Each of the characters Liv meets along the way have all lost something or someone in their life and the story is of a coming together of community, of helping each other along lonely paths, that really needn’t be lonely if only people can accept others’ offers of help.
It has humour, sadness, hope and a real positive feel to the book. I also loved hearing all the descriptions of the building work and renovations to the cottage Liv moved into. With some evocative descriptions, a picture of chaos, dust and rubble is transformed over time into something that sounded idyllic. Just like the cottage renovations, with time, Liv rebuilds her own life into something much better than it ever was, while helping others in the village to see there is still life after loss, it’s just a different life.
I loved this book so much. It has all the feel good vibes from the author’s last book A Forty Something F*ck Up and has you laughing one minute, then shedding a tear or two the next. Brilliant!
July 9, 2022
Das Cover hatte mich gleich neugierig gemacht, denn irgendwie sieht es fröhlich aus, was man im ersten Moment vielleicht gar nicht direkt mit dem Klappentext in Verbindung bringen würde, aber es passt zum Buch und auch zu dem gelben Farbschnitt.
Auch der Schreibstil von Alexandra Potter hat mir gut gefallen, denn er ist flüssig, stellenweise lustig, emotzional und dadurch, dass auch die anderen Charaktere ihre eigenen Kapitel haben, abwechslungsreich. So lernt mal viele der Charaktere besser kennen, was superist, denn irgendwie gehören sie alle zusammen. Mir hat es gefallen, dass es eine Weile gedauert hat, bis die Charaktere einander vertraut haben und auch, wie sie miteinander umgegangen sind - das hat die Autorin wirklich toll beschrieben. Nur an einer Stelle am Ende ging es mir leider etwas zu schnell - da ging es aber anderen Lesenden wieder ganz anders.
Die Charaktere habe ich tatsächlich fast alle ins Herz geschlossen, etwas was ich nach dem Klappentext gar nicht gedacht hätte. Besonders toll ist natürlich Harry, der es eigentlich war, der sie alle zusammengeführt hat. Ein Hoch auf tolle tierische Begleiter in Büchern (und natürlich auch im echten Leben). Liv wird nach und nach klar, was sie eigentlich möchte und schafft es nach und nach auch wieder andern Mitmenschen mehr zu vertrauen. Valentine... oh man, sehr emotionale Geschichte. Über Ben habe ich gerne gelesen - vielleicht hätte ich sogar gerne noch mehr über ihn gelesen. Und dann wären da natürlich auch noch all die anderen Personen im Dorf, die doch irgendwie alle eine wichtige Rolle gespielt haben.
Insgesamt also ein wirklich schönes und emotionales Buch, das mich wirklich überrascht hat. Jetzt möchte ich natürlich auch noch mehr von Alexandra Potter lesen, da sie mich mit ihren Charakteren und ihrem Schreibstil sehr überrascht hat. Klarer Lieblingscharakter aus diesem Buch war natürlich Harry, der unwiderstehliche Adoptivhund :D.
Auch der Schreibstil von Alexandra Potter hat mir gut gefallen, denn er ist flüssig, stellenweise lustig, emotzional und dadurch, dass auch die anderen Charaktere ihre eigenen Kapitel haben, abwechslungsreich. So lernt mal viele der Charaktere besser kennen, was superist, denn irgendwie gehören sie alle zusammen. Mir hat es gefallen, dass es eine Weile gedauert hat, bis die Charaktere einander vertraut haben und auch, wie sie miteinander umgegangen sind - das hat die Autorin wirklich toll beschrieben. Nur an einer Stelle am Ende ging es mir leider etwas zu schnell - da ging es aber anderen Lesenden wieder ganz anders.
Die Charaktere habe ich tatsächlich fast alle ins Herz geschlossen, etwas was ich nach dem Klappentext gar nicht gedacht hätte. Besonders toll ist natürlich Harry, der es eigentlich war, der sie alle zusammengeführt hat. Ein Hoch auf tolle tierische Begleiter in Büchern (und natürlich auch im echten Leben). Liv wird nach und nach klar, was sie eigentlich möchte und schafft es nach und nach auch wieder andern Mitmenschen mehr zu vertrauen. Valentine... oh man, sehr emotionale Geschichte. Über Ben habe ich gerne gelesen - vielleicht hätte ich sogar gerne noch mehr über ihn gelesen. Und dann wären da natürlich auch noch all die anderen Personen im Dorf, die doch irgendwie alle eine wichtige Rolle gespielt haben.
Insgesamt also ein wirklich schönes und emotionales Buch, das mich wirklich überrascht hat. Jetzt möchte ich natürlich auch noch mehr von Alexandra Potter lesen, da sie mich mit ihren Charakteren und ihrem Schreibstil sehr überrascht hat. Klarer Lieblingscharakter aus diesem Buch war natürlich Harry, der unwiderstehliche Adoptivhund :D.
June 24, 2022
What starts off as introductions to seemingly unlinked characters, in fact so unlinked, I had to check the blurb to make sure there might be any logic too it, turns into a really heartwarming story.
These turn into unlikely friendships with Livie and arguably her rescue dog Harry at the heart of it all.
Harry is definitely the star of the book, and I also really enjoyed Valentine's and Stanley's stories.
I wish we had seen more of Stanley as he was so incredibly well written.
There are some surprising turns of events at the book progresses and I really enjoyed discovering them.
A highly enjoyable novel filled with real and relatable characters and situations that you can identify with.
Thank you to MacMillan and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
These turn into unlikely friendships with Livie and arguably her rescue dog Harry at the heart of it all.
Harry is definitely the star of the book, and I also really enjoyed Valentine's and Stanley's stories.
I wish we had seen more of Stanley as he was so incredibly well written.
There are some surprising turns of events at the book progresses and I really enjoyed discovering them.
A highly enjoyable novel filled with real and relatable characters and situations that you can identify with.
Thank you to MacMillan and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
September 25, 2022
A lovely, feel-good read with poignant and funny moments - perfect to remind you that life can change in an instant and to be grateful for everything you have. 💗
My favourite quote as it resonates to my own life experience:
"I feel like, after all I've been through, I've been stripped back, polished and now have reinforced steel joints running right through me."
My favourite quote as it resonates to my own life experience:
"I feel like, after all I've been through, I've been stripped back, polished and now have reinforced steel joints running right through me."
June 28, 2022
Chick lit crap, repetitive, predictable, all the cliches. Glad I bought it only as it supports the new bookshop in town
July 29, 2023
It took a little while to get into. Was worth persisting as you felt with the characters as the story flowed. The back story of Liv and Ben was a highlight. So was hero Harry.
March 23, 2024
4,8 al zou ik m niet perse aanraden want ik ben bang dat anderen hem niet perse leuk vinden maar t heeft gwn mn hartje geraakt
March 21, 2023
Loved this book! Was something different from the crime and thriller genres I normally pick up! This hit me in all the feels..I cried multiple times and laughed out loud and related to many of the situations that came up in the book..will definitely read another of Alexander Potter’s books!
April 23, 2022
I don’t want to write this review. Because then I have to admit I’ve actually finished this book, and have finished reading the intertwined stories of Liv, Ben, Valentine, Stanley and Maya. Oh and Harry! Who could forget Harry!
I loved how such a mish mash of characters all ended up becoming so important to one another. A divorced woman, a single dad, a child on the spectrum, a wayward teenager, and a grumpy old man. It was just the perfect mix of characters, and it melted my heart how they all got their happiness in the end, with a few bumps in the road, but they all got there.
I really feel like this book needs a sequel. (Please?!) It tied up in the end, but I really want to know what happens to them all. I got so invested in this story, I got tears at the sad parts, I got tears at the happy parts. I know it sounds silly to be so ‘into’ a book, but I really was. The fact that it was also set in the beautiful Yorkshire countryside, I loved too, as it’s one of my favourite parts of the world to be in!
This was a gifted book in exchange for my honest review. With gifted books, I always feel such a pressure to ‘like’ them, because if I don’t, I feel ungrateful. There was none of that with this book. I genuinely loved it, I didn’t want to stop reading, but I also didn’t want to read it too fast because I didn’t want it to end! If I could rate it higher than five stars I honestly would. It was such a feel good book, about starting again, and I just honestly loved it so much.
I don’t feel like my words can justify how much I truly enjoyed and loved this book. Thank you so much Alexandra for writing such a wonderful book!
I loved how such a mish mash of characters all ended up becoming so important to one another. A divorced woman, a single dad, a child on the spectrum, a wayward teenager, and a grumpy old man. It was just the perfect mix of characters, and it melted my heart how they all got their happiness in the end, with a few bumps in the road, but they all got there.
I really feel like this book needs a sequel. (Please?!) It tied up in the end, but I really want to know what happens to them all. I got so invested in this story, I got tears at the sad parts, I got tears at the happy parts. I know it sounds silly to be so ‘into’ a book, but I really was. The fact that it was also set in the beautiful Yorkshire countryside, I loved too, as it’s one of my favourite parts of the world to be in!
This was a gifted book in exchange for my honest review. With gifted books, I always feel such a pressure to ‘like’ them, because if I don’t, I feel ungrateful. There was none of that with this book. I genuinely loved it, I didn’t want to stop reading, but I also didn’t want to read it too fast because I didn’t want it to end! If I could rate it higher than five stars I honestly would. It was such a feel good book, about starting again, and I just honestly loved it so much.
I don’t feel like my words can justify how much I truly enjoyed and loved this book. Thank you so much Alexandra for writing such a wonderful book!
June 28, 2022
Das war mein erstes Buch von Alexandra Potter und ich habe mich sofort in ihren wundervollen Schreibstil verliebt, der mir ganz besonders schöne Lesestunden beschert hat.
Ich habe alle Protagonisten in mein Herz geschlossen und es war so berührend, teilweise auch traurig, ihre Lebensgeschichten zu erfahren.
Liv ist geschieden und muß erst wieder Fuß fassen, daher zieht sie in ein kleines Dörfchen in Yorkshire. Um ihrer Einsamkeit zu entgehen, adoptiert sie Harry einen älteren Hund aus dem Tierheim. Auf ihren Spaziergängen lernen sie die neue Nachbarschaft kennen. Stanley ist Autist und fürchtet sich vor allem Neuen, Valentin ist ebenfalls sehr einsam, seine Frau ist an Alzheimer erkrankt und er besucht sie täglich im Heim. Maya ist ein aufmüpfiger Teenager und kann sich momentan selbst nicht leiden.
Es war so schön zu lesen, wie sie sich alle durch Harry verändern und wie die ganze Dorfgemeinschaft zusammenwächst.
In der ganzen Geschichte herrscht so eine angenehme Atmosphäre, was es mir fast unmöglich machte, das Buch aus der Hand zu legen.
Fazit: Eine wunderschöne Geschichte, die sehr warmherzig, ergreifend und auch humorvoll erzählt wird und den Leser wie eine warme Decke umhüllt.
Das Buch hat es auf Platz 1 meiner Bestenliste geschafft und ich habe mir sofort das andere Werk der Autorin gekauft.
Ich vergebe 10/5 Sterne und eine unbedingte Leseempfehlung.
Ich habe alle Protagonisten in mein Herz geschlossen und es war so berührend, teilweise auch traurig, ihre Lebensgeschichten zu erfahren.
Liv ist geschieden und muß erst wieder Fuß fassen, daher zieht sie in ein kleines Dörfchen in Yorkshire. Um ihrer Einsamkeit zu entgehen, adoptiert sie Harry einen älteren Hund aus dem Tierheim. Auf ihren Spaziergängen lernen sie die neue Nachbarschaft kennen. Stanley ist Autist und fürchtet sich vor allem Neuen, Valentin ist ebenfalls sehr einsam, seine Frau ist an Alzheimer erkrankt und er besucht sie täglich im Heim. Maya ist ein aufmüpfiger Teenager und kann sich momentan selbst nicht leiden.
Es war so schön zu lesen, wie sie sich alle durch Harry verändern und wie die ganze Dorfgemeinschaft zusammenwächst.
In der ganzen Geschichte herrscht so eine angenehme Atmosphäre, was es mir fast unmöglich machte, das Buch aus der Hand zu legen.
Fazit: Eine wunderschöne Geschichte, die sehr warmherzig, ergreifend und auch humorvoll erzählt wird und den Leser wie eine warme Decke umhüllt.
Das Buch hat es auf Platz 1 meiner Bestenliste geschafft und ich habe mir sofort das andere Werk der Autorin gekauft.
Ich vergebe 10/5 Sterne und eine unbedingte Leseempfehlung.
January 2, 2024
i was going to give this book a 3, but then right at the end they gave us that cheeky little twist which i LOVED and i didn’t see it coming so it made me feel all fuzzy and warm
it made me sob multiple times, msybe i was just extra fragile, but it was just a really pure and sweet read
all the characters were likeable with their own lil thing going on which you loved them for and it all just made so much sense
i finished this book feeling very full of warmth and love for their little world, i am very jealous to be honest
word summary: SWEET💝💝💝
it made me sob multiple times, msybe i was just extra fragile, but it was just a really pure and sweet read
all the characters were likeable with their own lil thing going on which you loved them for and it all just made so much sense
i finished this book feeling very full of warmth and love for their little world, i am very jealous to be honest
word summary: SWEET💝💝💝
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