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The Real Katie Lavender
At 30, Katie Lavender thinks she is better than most when it comes to dealing with life's surprises. But when she gets a request to visit a solicitor, she's not expecting the dramatic turn her life is about to take. There, she receives a letter from her deceased mother that literally changes everything she ever knew about herself... The Real Katie Lavender is the delightful, sparkling new novel from Sunday Times bestseller Erica James.
439 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
139 people are currently reading
971 people want to read
About the author
Erica James
55 books1,059 followersWith an insatiable appetite for other people's business, Erica James will readily strike up conversation with strangers in the hope of unearthing a useful gem for her writing. She finds it the best way to write authentic characters for her novels, although her two grown-up sons claim they will never recover from a childhood spent in a perpetual state of embarrassment at their mother's compulsion.
The author of nineteen bestselling novels, and the winner of the 2006 Romantic Novel of the Year Award, Erica divides her time between Suffolk and Lake Como in Italy.
The author of nineteen bestselling novels, and the winner of the 2006 Romantic Novel of the Year Award, Erica divides her time between Suffolk and Lake Como in Italy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 219 reviews
August 3, 2012
Oh dear. this was poor.
So many things didn't work for me in this story. The most irritating by far was the narration. There were pages upon pages of description and inner thoughts for every few lines of dialogue; so much, in fact, I found myself skipping over whole sections. The thing was, every character - from the older businessman to the younger artisan chap to the usual old person who speaks their mind - all seemed to speak with the inner voice of a middle aged woman.
Then there was the 'romance'. The build up was barely one chapter and then instead of building up the tension between the characters, there was a 'can I kiss you?' (and if you have to ask, the answer should be no in my opinion) and they were all loved up (although both 'thinking' as a middle aged woman as above). I've read every Erica James and enjoyed them, so this was a real disappointment.
So many things didn't work for me in this story. The most irritating by far was the narration. There were pages upon pages of description and inner thoughts for every few lines of dialogue; so much, in fact, I found myself skipping over whole sections. The thing was, every character - from the older businessman to the younger artisan chap to the usual old person who speaks their mind - all seemed to speak with the inner voice of a middle aged woman.
Then there was the 'romance'. The build up was barely one chapter and then instead of building up the tension between the characters, there was a 'can I kiss you?' (and if you have to ask, the answer should be no in my opinion) and they were all loved up (although both 'thinking' as a middle aged woman as above). I've read every Erica James and enjoyed them, so this was a real disappointment.
October 26, 2014
Ok, this is certainly not the kind of book I read, much less one I'd normally want to comment on - I picked it up at the airport, for my flight to the Uk to see family. I've read one or two other Erica James novels, all pretty similar but pleasant in a mild, good-natured slightly too sugary and simplistic way. I'd read these books, usually at airports or planes or trains or, maybe, sunbathing on holiday - then promptly forget all about them. Period.
But this one is staying with me -- and annoying me. Not because it's especially bad or even worse than any other book of is sort (it isn't -- they're all alike) but because the absurd, stranding suspense of disbelief soap opera cliches, one piled atop the other relentlessly, simply got to be too much, to the point that I actually found myself, astounded, flipping pages as I scanned as quickly as possibly to the end of the story in a useless attempt to see if, at some point, the author would redeem herself. And nope, she never did.
Every character is cliche, as is every single storyline, bar none. Not only cliches -- annoying, unpleasant cliches. Including the absurd fake names.
The lonely, alone Orphan Annie-Katie (complete with "hated" flame-red hair -- hated though secretly made "special" by it! Oh yes, because red-haired people are Special!!) is called by a kindly, sympathetic solicitor who has a bombshell to drop - one that will, of course, save Cinderella from doom and loom. Our Plucky Heroine has a Silly Job (of course), a Silly Boyfriend (of course), thus 2 easily discarded things as soon as her life turns around - she also has a Best Friend who mouths every Best Friend Bteween Bookcovers cliche known to man, and a Zanny Gay Friend, yay! Katie's backstory is also straight out of Cliche Land: Larger Than Life Mom (who had weight problems! Who loved gardens!) dies in a car accident and so patient, steadfast and true that it smacks of pastiche Dad knew all about his wife's indiscretion (to put it mildly) but was A-Ok with it all because, y'know, HE LOVED HER!! And y'know: love means never having to say you're sorry ... It also, apparently, means never having to expect others to say they're sorry too!! Love, as per Erica James' life philosophy, is seemingly an emotion that demands no morality, no self-discipline, no control and no observance of boundaries: it is a feeling that allows you to overlook every failing in the other person - thus never forcing the other person to finally f-g grow up.
So Snappy Mom leaves Orphan Annie -sorry- Katie! a letter detailing, you name it, that nothing is as it seemed to be.
And when Katie The Redhead thoughtlessly, ruthlessly, rudely and incredibly selfishly barges into her new family unannounced, all mayhem breaks loose -- to the tune of ever-more cliches. So many that just when you thought you'd heard the last one, James Rams you in with yet another! The all-seeing, all-encompassing Maggie Smith ripoff Matriarch, a woman who dares to tell another woman she has no right to feel indignation or moral disgust at her husband's, the Mariarch's son's, infantile betrayal. Because, as we said earlier loves means... yeah, yay, yep. One gets the drift. If you truly, really, absolutely love him ... Then we have the ditzy with a heart of gold character who lost all interest in sex, and is ready to embrace her dead husband's mistress as her new BFF (yep, she loved him all right!). This woman was so downright stupid I wanted to reap into the book pages and shake her till her teeth rattled. And the philandering husband (with a name and last name straight out of a 60s Harlequin) all Chianti-loving and silver-haired, as cardboard as a UPS container, whom we are led to believe has been brilliantly successful for 30-odd years and yet just as his wife and kids discover his long-ago "mistake" (and she did arrive with Red Hair!) has zero self-control to the point that he immediately in one full scoop gets into bed with his dead brother's mistress. Now THAT 's clever! But it gets worse - because the story is presented as if this were an entirely understandable development, as if his wife's horror and rage at this news were the problem -- not the lies and betrayal.
Ok - I'm not going to add anything more because 1) it's not worth it, 2) it makes me too annoyed and 3) I'm hungry...
Although, considering that the great majority of readers here has given it prett high reviews, it does at least show that this writer has her audience down pat. And we'll, good for her ... I guess I'm just not the intended audience.
This makes it very clear why I will thankfully return to my usual reading, now.
But this one is staying with me -- and annoying me. Not because it's especially bad or even worse than any other book of is sort (it isn't -- they're all alike) but because the absurd, stranding suspense of disbelief soap opera cliches, one piled atop the other relentlessly, simply got to be too much, to the point that I actually found myself, astounded, flipping pages as I scanned as quickly as possibly to the end of the story in a useless attempt to see if, at some point, the author would redeem herself. And nope, she never did.
Every character is cliche, as is every single storyline, bar none. Not only cliches -- annoying, unpleasant cliches. Including the absurd fake names.
The lonely, alone Orphan Annie-Katie (complete with "hated" flame-red hair -- hated though secretly made "special" by it! Oh yes, because red-haired people are Special!!) is called by a kindly, sympathetic solicitor who has a bombshell to drop - one that will, of course, save Cinderella from doom and loom. Our Plucky Heroine has a Silly Job (of course), a Silly Boyfriend (of course), thus 2 easily discarded things as soon as her life turns around - she also has a Best Friend who mouths every Best Friend Bteween Bookcovers cliche known to man, and a Zanny Gay Friend, yay! Katie's backstory is also straight out of Cliche Land: Larger Than Life Mom (who had weight problems! Who loved gardens!) dies in a car accident and so patient, steadfast and true that it smacks of pastiche Dad knew all about his wife's indiscretion (to put it mildly) but was A-Ok with it all because, y'know, HE LOVED HER!! And y'know: love means never having to say you're sorry ... It also, apparently, means never having to expect others to say they're sorry too!! Love, as per Erica James' life philosophy, is seemingly an emotion that demands no morality, no self-discipline, no control and no observance of boundaries: it is a feeling that allows you to overlook every failing in the other person - thus never forcing the other person to finally f-g grow up.
So Snappy Mom leaves Orphan Annie -sorry- Katie! a letter detailing, you name it, that nothing is as it seemed to be.
And when Katie The Redhead thoughtlessly, ruthlessly, rudely and incredibly selfishly barges into her new family unannounced, all mayhem breaks loose -- to the tune of ever-more cliches. So many that just when you thought you'd heard the last one, James Rams you in with yet another! The all-seeing, all-encompassing Maggie Smith ripoff Matriarch, a woman who dares to tell another woman she has no right to feel indignation or moral disgust at her husband's, the Mariarch's son's, infantile betrayal. Because, as we said earlier loves means... yeah, yay, yep. One gets the drift. If you truly, really, absolutely love him ... Then we have the ditzy with a heart of gold character who lost all interest in sex, and is ready to embrace her dead husband's mistress as her new BFF (yep, she loved him all right!). This woman was so downright stupid I wanted to reap into the book pages and shake her till her teeth rattled. And the philandering husband (with a name and last name straight out of a 60s Harlequin) all Chianti-loving and silver-haired, as cardboard as a UPS container, whom we are led to believe has been brilliantly successful for 30-odd years and yet just as his wife and kids discover his long-ago "mistake" (and she did arrive with Red Hair!) has zero self-control to the point that he immediately in one full scoop gets into bed with his dead brother's mistress. Now THAT 's clever! But it gets worse - because the story is presented as if this were an entirely understandable development, as if his wife's horror and rage at this news were the problem -- not the lies and betrayal.
Ok - I'm not going to add anything more because 1) it's not worth it, 2) it makes me too annoyed and 3) I'm hungry...
Although, considering that the great majority of readers here has given it prett high reviews, it does at least show that this writer has her audience down pat. And we'll, good for her ... I guess I'm just not the intended audience.
This makes it very clear why I will thankfully return to my usual reading, now.
August 27, 2012
A chicklit - Within the first half dozen pages the reader is thrown staight into this story. It's quite fast flowing and unusually for me, I read this book within a couple of days - it had me gripped. I appreciated the way the Author understood the many feelings of bereavement. There are a lot of characters in this book, but I didn't get confused with who is who, which can sometimes be the case.
I was a little disappointed in what seemed like a rushed final few chapters. It was obvious she was tying up the loose ends - re characters changing their opinions for the sake of the end of the book.
This only negative wouldn't put me off recommending the book to other readers though.
I was a little disappointed in what seemed like a rushed final few chapters. It was obvious she was tying up the loose ends - re characters changing their opinions for the sake of the end of the book.
This only negative wouldn't put me off recommending the book to other readers though.
May 30, 2013
Not a great book.
The characters were rather one-dimensional - the bitter wife, the selfish son, the selfish daughter who turns into the unselfish daughter when her own child is born, the feisty straight-talking matriarch, the quirky friend, the gay hairdresser. They were all cliches.
The story wasn't super-interesting. It all worked out in the end but I didn't care enough about any of them to be that invested in the ending.
Not very well written either.
Two stars as I finished it to the end but maybe I should have given it one.
The characters were rather one-dimensional - the bitter wife, the selfish son, the selfish daughter who turns into the unselfish daughter when her own child is born, the feisty straight-talking matriarch, the quirky friend, the gay hairdresser. They were all cliches.
The story wasn't super-interesting. It all worked out in the end but I didn't care enough about any of them to be that invested in the ending.
Not very well written either.
Two stars as I finished it to the end but maybe I should have given it one.
February 22, 2025
It's the best of slow burn read. It was by far not by quickest read however I loved it all the more for it. Katie Lavender finds the real her and most of all she is happy.
April 2, 2017
The book starts with Katie finding out that her dad was not her real dad. Her mother's letter explains it at all, and now, does she want to find him? Well duh, the book is almost 500 pages of course she goes to find him and there is a lot of drama.
She meets a bitchy family, I mean seriously, they acted like 4 year olds. "My dad wont love me anymore!" Omg, pull it together, you are a grown woman! I get that it was done for drama but I wanted to slap those horrid siblings.
It really is a family drama and follows her "new" family and cousin's family. Things are happening, I will not say more there. But we get a short insight into everyone. They do have their issues.
Katie has her own issues. Her job, her boyfriend that is pretty meh, being alone in the world with no family and then this big secret coming out.
Conclusion:
There is drama, there is romance and there is one messy family. I enjoyed it, even if I wanted to slap the S%¤t out of a few people.
She meets a bitchy family, I mean seriously, they acted like 4 year olds. "My dad wont love me anymore!" Omg, pull it together, you are a grown woman! I get that it was done for drama but I wanted to slap those horrid siblings.
It really is a family drama and follows her "new" family and cousin's family. Things are happening, I will not say more there. But we get a short insight into everyone. They do have their issues.
Katie has her own issues. Her job, her boyfriend that is pretty meh, being alone in the world with no family and then this big secret coming out.
Conclusion:
There is drama, there is romance and there is one messy family. I enjoyed it, even if I wanted to slap the S%¤t out of a few people.
July 17, 2017
I stopped reading at this:
"For instance Ian was a big U2 fan. Katie had never liked the band or their music. She especially disliked their constant save-the-planet posturing. Couldn’t they do it quietly? Couldn’t they save the planet without banging on about it? She should have told Ian this the very first time he had played one of their CDs. But be But because she hadn’t, because she’d been too polite ten months ago when they’d met to be honest with him, he now believed her to be as big a fan as he was.
Honesty. It was the bedrock of a relationship. Of any relationship."
Our special snowflake can't listen to a CD cause the lead had said something about planet somewhere and she is too good for anyone that listens to it.
"For instance Ian was a big U2 fan. Katie had never liked the band or their music. She especially disliked their constant save-the-planet posturing. Couldn’t they do it quietly? Couldn’t they save the planet without banging on about it? She should have told Ian this the very first time he had played one of their CDs. But be But because she hadn’t, because she’d been too polite ten months ago when they’d met to be honest with him, he now believed her to be as big a fan as he was.
Honesty. It was the bedrock of a relationship. Of any relationship."
Our special snowflake can't listen to a CD cause the lead had said something about planet somewhere and she is too good for anyone that listens to it.
September 15, 2012
Poor, predictable, twee, trite, full of inaccuracies (by which I mean we are told facts which contradict facts we were given only pages earlier). Some people have rated this book very highly so there must be something to it, but I failed to see what.
January 30, 2018
This endearingly silly novel was a romp through the life of Katie Lavender, a girl whose life is turned upside down when her real parentage is revealed. Katie doesn't know how to react to her new dad and his large, posh, dysfunctional family, but then the family hardly know what to do with Katie, either. Not something I'll remember for long, but perfectly entertaining and an easy holiday read.
February 3, 2020
What a wonderful book. I was hooked from page 1
August 27, 2022
Sometimes the route to finding the real "you" is the "you" you were all along.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2025
I loved this! A different kind of story for me. Not a thriller or obvious from the start romance saga. Wanted to keep on reading. Thoroughly enjoyed.
September 26, 2017
Een super gaaf boek om te lezen. Dit gaat over familie, vertrouwen, liefde, en eerlijkheid. Mooi omschreven hoe een affaire van 30 jaar geleden na veel verdriet en pijn toch tot een mooi eind kan komen.
October 14, 2013
Twelve months after her mother’s death, which occurred not that long after her father’s death, Katie Lavender receivers an unexpected letter from a solicitor that leaves her questioning all she ever believed about herself and her family.
In true Erica James tradition this is a joyful read about family and with a touch of romance thrown in. I liked the character of Katie and also of Cecily, the wise elderly matriarch of the Nightingale family. Any family would, I think appreciate a grandmother figure like Cecily. I also liked Pen, Cecily’s daughter in law and Pen’s son Lloyd.
I wasn’t as keen on Stirling, Cecily’s son, and thought in many ways he was rather weak. I liked Katie’s friend Tess but her brother Zac was a cliché. However he is not a major character in the novel so I tended to ignore him. Other characters in the novel are definitely unlikeable and had me wanting to hit them, but that was exactly how the reader is meant to respond. Even Stirling at times produced similar feelings in me.
Although I would classify this as a light read, it still manages to cover such issues as family secrets, suicide, forgiveness, unconditional love, adultery, what constitutes a family, friendship, and of course a romance.
I didn’t think there was an Erica James I hadn’t read so was delighted when I discovered this one. Some of hers I have liked better than others. This one didn’t disappoint. It was exactly what I was looking for at the time.
In true Erica James tradition this is a joyful read about family and with a touch of romance thrown in. I liked the character of Katie and also of Cecily, the wise elderly matriarch of the Nightingale family. Any family would, I think appreciate a grandmother figure like Cecily. I also liked Pen, Cecily’s daughter in law and Pen’s son Lloyd.
I wasn’t as keen on Stirling, Cecily’s son, and thought in many ways he was rather weak. I liked Katie’s friend Tess but her brother Zac was a cliché. However he is not a major character in the novel so I tended to ignore him. Other characters in the novel are definitely unlikeable and had me wanting to hit them, but that was exactly how the reader is meant to respond. Even Stirling at times produced similar feelings in me.
Although I would classify this as a light read, it still manages to cover such issues as family secrets, suicide, forgiveness, unconditional love, adultery, what constitutes a family, friendship, and of course a romance.
I didn’t think there was an Erica James I hadn’t read so was delighted when I discovered this one. Some of hers I have liked better than others. This one didn’t disappoint. It was exactly what I was looking for at the time.
October 25, 2014
2.5*
At 30, a year after the death of her mother, Katie Lavender receives a letter from a solicitor that literally changes everything she ever thought about herself and her family.
I have mostly enjoyed Erica James' books.
This one held few surprises, and was fairly predictable.
I did like the characters of the matriarch of the Nightingale Family, Cecily and one of her daughters-in-law Pen. They were each in their own way compassionate, strong women, and were the highlight of this book for me.
I may have enjoyed it more had I not been listening to Henrietta Who? by Catherine Aird, which deals with the same subject, but in a totally different but far more interesting manner.
At 30, a year after the death of her mother, Katie Lavender receives a letter from a solicitor that literally changes everything she ever thought about herself and her family.
I have mostly enjoyed Erica James' books.
This one held few surprises, and was fairly predictable.
I did like the characters of the matriarch of the Nightingale Family, Cecily and one of her daughters-in-law Pen. They were each in their own way compassionate, strong women, and were the highlight of this book for me.
I may have enjoyed it more had I not been listening to Henrietta Who? by Catherine Aird, which deals with the same subject, but in a totally different but far more interesting manner.
March 18, 2012
I love this author and this was definitely one of her best. Usually her books are about Cheshire and Derbyshire and that became more poignant to me when I moved to the area 5 years ago. This one is about Henley-on-Thames which is well-known to me from childhood but there was even a mention of Meganisi and sailing flotillas which are also very close to my heart!
The characters and the plot were extremely well-developed, so much so that you don't want to put the book down.
I hope I get a chance to meet the author again and tell her how much I enjoyed it.
Would definitely recommend for those who like this genre.
The characters and the plot were extremely well-developed, so much so that you don't want to put the book down.
I hope I get a chance to meet the author again and tell her how much I enjoyed it.
Would definitely recommend for those who like this genre.
November 30, 2018
Not my favourite book of Erica James'. To be honest it's probably a perfectly good book, I just didn't bond with the characters. They were all a bit wishy washy and convenient. Stirling in particular I found infuriating and totally, wildly self centred and a wee bit too pathetic. Had no sympathy for him. It's a shame, but it won't stop me reading another of Erica James' books as normally I really enjoy her books.
August 11, 2012
Someone lent me this book to read and I'm glad they did,I couldn't put it down. It was easy to read with an interesting story line and okay I figured the love interest out before it happened but that's fine by me.
October 20, 2021
I enjoyed this book more than I thought. It covers some serious topics and has a wide range of characters that made me go between really disliking or liking them.
It's a borderline chic-lit novel. Not quite as gushy and simplistic as one but definitely an element of it and an easy read. Enjoyable.
It's a borderline chic-lit novel. Not quite as gushy and simplistic as one but definitely an element of it and an easy read. Enjoyable.
September 21, 2019
Good, light-weight reading. Enjoyable.
August 20, 2013
I wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did. Thought it was a bit predictable, cheesy and unrealistic in places but I loved it !! A great easy read with characters I cared about
October 6, 2015
Very enjoyable easy read.
Believable characters and well written.
Believable characters and well written.
October 17, 2021
This is definitely an emotional book and I’m so glad I read it
November 1, 2021
Made me laugh made me cry so many emotions ran though me reading this book
The best book I've read by far in this genre
Looking forward to reading the rest of Erica james books
The best book I've read by far in this genre
Looking forward to reading the rest of Erica james books
March 27, 2022
A bit long but not the worst I've read. Quite an easy read.
June 20, 2022
I nice easy read with lots of interesting characters.
June 20, 2024
Not bad. I like Katie just fine, and felt for all she had to go through.
But I honestly felt bad for Gina Nightingale.
Like, she was so villainized here, but is it really so evil to not be okay with your husband suddenly revealing a kid from a 30-year-old affair? Stirling just kinda expected her to be okay with it from the get-go, and she wasn't really given much space to come to terms with it in her own time.
Worse, Gina is rightly furious at him for not being around, and Rosco is rightly furious because he knows the truth of his father's whereabouts, and yet, the way the story is set up, we're supposed to feel sorry for Stirling and see Gina and Rosco as villains??? Um, no thank you. Both were totally justified for their responses, and Stirling is a coward for not fessing up and facing the consequences of his actions.
In contrast, Pen's immediate forgiveness of her dead husband and acceptance of his mistress (Simone) is treated as the ideal response. And honestly, good for her for being all emotionally mature, but I just feel like the story's version of a happy ending has the men in this book get away with their bad behaviour simply because the women in their lives love them too much to hold them accountable.
And in the end,
But I honestly felt bad for Gina Nightingale.
Like, she was so villainized here, but is it really so evil to not be okay with your husband suddenly revealing a kid from a 30-year-old affair? Stirling just kinda expected her to be okay with it from the get-go, and she wasn't really given much space to come to terms with it in her own time.
Worse, Gina is rightly furious at him for not being around, and Rosco is rightly furious because he knows the truth of his father's whereabouts, and yet, the way the story is set up, we're supposed to feel sorry for Stirling and see Gina and Rosco as villains??? Um, no thank you. Both were totally justified for their responses, and Stirling is a coward for not fessing up and facing the consequences of his actions.
In contrast, Pen's immediate forgiveness of her dead husband and acceptance of his mistress (Simone) is treated as the ideal response. And honestly, good for her for being all emotionally mature, but I just feel like the story's version of a happy ending has the men in this book get away with their bad behaviour simply because the women in their lives love them too much to hold them accountable.
And in the end,
April 28, 2025
2,5 звезди
Книгата е слаба, нереалистична, а в Тайната история на Кейти Лавендър всъщност няма нищо тайно, защото е адски праволинейна. Тук нямаме и един обрат. Сюжетът бързо набира скорост с поредица от събития, някои от които предполагат, че ще ги последват разкрития и неочаквани за читателя обрати. Но! Изненада. Такива няма. Всичко си е така, както е. И така цели 500 страници, в които почти нищо не се случва.
Персонажите имаха някакво израстване, но за мен то беше поднесено на тепсия и сякаш прекалено рязко. Не видях да работят за това израстване. Не ми дойде като естествено последствие от нещо. Буквално - днес яростно се боря, за да се случи това, а утре мисля, че може да приема и другото.
Бащата на Кейти е доста неадекватен за възрастта си персонаж, който ей така си играе със съдбата на детето си - днес те искам, утре - не. Аферата му с бившата любовница на загиналия брат пък е направо смехотворна. И двамата уж скърбящи, а нямаха абсолютно никакви скрупули да си легнат заедно на следващия ден. Тази авантюра също нямаше никакво изграждане.
Хареса ми опита Пен да бъде представена като изключително самоотвержен образ, който е готов да прости всичко и да бъде олицетворение на примирението и опрощението, но наистина ли? Разбираш, че мъжът ти е имал афера и отиваш да прегръщаш любовницата, защото смяташ, че ти си виновна да се стигне до това. И това не е в рамките на месеци премисляне, това буквално се случва в рамките на минути.
Сцената с детето с левкимия ми беше малко ненужна. Просто откакто съм бременна, много изживявам сцените с деца, а тази тук нямаше почти никаква логика и добавена стойност в сюжета освен допълнителен трагизъм без особена връзка към останалата част от историята.
Самата Кейти ... не знам как да се изкажа, но аз не приемам образите на многострадални геновеви, готови да се отрекат от собственото си щастие в името на някого другиго. Поне не в такава степен.
Единственият герой, който беше напълно в час и ми хареса много, всъщност е 90-годишната баба на Кейти, Роско и Скарлет. И бебето Луиза-Мей, като се замисля.
Книгата е слаба, нереалистична, а в Тайната история на Кейти Лавендър всъщност няма нищо тайно, защото е адски праволинейна. Тук нямаме и един обрат. Сюжетът бързо набира скорост с поредица от събития, някои от които предполагат, че ще ги последват разкрития и неочаквани за читателя обрати. Но! Изненада. Такива няма. Всичко си е така, както е. И така цели 500 страници, в които почти нищо не се случва.
Персонажите имаха някакво израстване, но за мен то беше поднесено на тепсия и сякаш прекалено рязко. Не видях да работят за това израстване. Не ми дойде като естествено последствие от нещо. Буквално - днес яростно се боря, за да се случи това, а утре мисля, че може да приема и другото.
Бащата на Кейти е доста неадекватен за възрастта си персонаж, който ей така си играе със съдбата на детето си - днес те искам, утре - не. Аферата му с бившата любовница на загиналия брат пък е направо смехотворна. И двамата уж скърбящи, а нямаха абсолютно никакви скрупули да си легнат заедно на следващия ден. Тази авантюра също нямаше никакво изграждане.
Хареса ми опита Пен да бъде представена като изключително самоотвержен образ, който е готов да прости всичко и да бъде олицетворение на примирението и опрощението, но наистина ли? Разбираш, че мъжът ти е имал афера и отиваш да прегръщаш любовницата, защото смяташ, че ти си виновна да се стигне до това. И това не е в рамките на месеци премисляне, това буквално се случва в рамките на минути.
Сцената с детето с левкимия ми беше малко ненужна. Просто откакто съм бременна, много изживявам сцените с деца, а тази тук нямаше почти никаква логика и добавена стойност в сюжета освен допълнителен трагизъм без особена връзка към останалата част от историята.
Самата Кейти ... не знам как да се изкажа, но аз не приемам образите на многострадални геновеви, готови да се отрекат от собственото си щастие в името на някого другиго. Поне не в такава степен.
Единственият герой, който беше напълно в час и ми хареса много, всъщност е 90-годишната баба на Кейти, Роско и Скарлет. И бебето Луиза-Мей, като се замисля.
October 22, 2018
This is a contemporary, family drama adult fiction that centers around Katie Lavender, who just lost her parents. One day, after getting fired from her lousy job, Katie received a phone call from her solicitor, where she then was given a letter written from her long dead mother. She then found out that her father was not her real father and that her real father has left her a trust fund. Now it's then up to Katie Lavender whether to accept and learn more about him, Stirling Nightingale.
This book is about family drama. As soon as Katie Lavender steps into the life of the Nightingale, everything is chaotic and not one seconds of peace and quite around the house. It's a pile of tragedy on top of another. It is what make this book readable for me, because I like that something is always happening in this book.
However, it is difficult for me to enjoy due to the long rants, inner thoughts and description that I skipped few sections. And unfortunately, it is easily forgettable.
The book took into narration of few characters and from that readers can learn more about them. Distinctive characters that made one hate and like at the same time.
As for the romance part, it is okay. But I don't like the author's take on love. This book seldomly mentions how one truly love someone when one able to forgive the person, no matter how terrible their mistake is. For me, that's just not right. If you think that your partner has made a grave mistake, and you cannot forgive him/her, then that's fine. It doesn't mean that you love them less. You will need time to accept the situation, but to forgive, one might had a difficult time with that. And in this situation, I am totally with Gina Nightingale.
This book is about family drama. As soon as Katie Lavender steps into the life of the Nightingale, everything is chaotic and not one seconds of peace and quite around the house. It's a pile of tragedy on top of another. It is what make this book readable for me, because I like that something is always happening in this book.
However, it is difficult for me to enjoy due to the long rants, inner thoughts and description that I skipped few sections. And unfortunately, it is easily forgettable.
The book took into narration of few characters and from that readers can learn more about them. Distinctive characters that made one hate and like at the same time.
As for the romance part, it is okay. But I don't like the author's take on love. This book seldomly mentions how one truly love someone when one able to forgive the person, no matter how terrible their mistake is. For me, that's just not right. If you think that your partner has made a grave mistake, and you cannot forgive him/her, then that's fine. It doesn't mean that you love them less. You will need time to accept the situation, but to forgive, one might had a difficult time with that. And in this situation, I am totally with Gina Nightingale.
April 29, 2018
The Real Katie Lavender is a delightful story.
After losing both her parents, Katie discovers she is losing her job as well. It’s been a year since her mother’s death and a letter appears in the post. The letter is informing her to visit a solicitor about a personal matter. She is curious and intrigued.
At the appointment she reads a letter from her mother explaining her father is not her real father and she is now entitled to a trust fund.
Another letter is given to her informing her of her father’s true identity, Stirling Nightingale.
Katie’s life has turned upside down and she wonders should she find out who her father really is. Katie decides to drive to Henley to find out more information. She ends up being a waitress at her grandmother’s ninetieth birthday party.
Stirling talks to her and wonders if they have met before. Even his mother thinks she is a delightful young lady. Her identity is discovered and this changes all of their lives forever. When Stirling’s brother dies too he is torn with what should he do. Life is full of surprises and misunderstandings.
After losing both her parents, Katie discovers she is losing her job as well. It’s been a year since her mother’s death and a letter appears in the post. The letter is informing her to visit a solicitor about a personal matter. She is curious and intrigued.
At the appointment she reads a letter from her mother explaining her father is not her real father and she is now entitled to a trust fund.
Another letter is given to her informing her of her father’s true identity, Stirling Nightingale.
Katie’s life has turned upside down and she wonders should she find out who her father really is. Katie decides to drive to Henley to find out more information. She ends up being a waitress at her grandmother’s ninetieth birthday party.
Stirling talks to her and wonders if they have met before. Even his mother thinks she is a delightful young lady. Her identity is discovered and this changes all of their lives forever. When Stirling’s brother dies too he is torn with what should he do. Life is full of surprises and misunderstandings.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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