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To My Best Friends
Nicci Morrison was always the first of her friends to do everything…
But she wasn't meant to be the first to die.
Saying goodbye is never easy, but at least Nicci has one last chance to make a difference before she goes. She’s decided to leave letters giving her most treasured possessions to her closest friends.
To her single friend Mona she bequeaths her husband David, little knowing her best friend found The One a long time ago…To childless Jo, Nicci leaves the care of her three-year-old twin daughters. Jo however is finding it hard enough to cope with the fortnightly arrival of her stepsons. To Lizzie she leaves her garden. But while Lizzie is loyally tending Nicci’s plants, the parts of her own life that are in desperate need of attention are falling by the wayside.
But Nicci didn’t always know best, and she couldn’thave imagined the changes and challenges her letters set in motion for the loved ones she’s left behind.
But she wasn't meant to be the first to die.
Saying goodbye is never easy, but at least Nicci has one last chance to make a difference before she goes. She’s decided to leave letters giving her most treasured possessions to her closest friends.
To her single friend Mona she bequeaths her husband David, little knowing her best friend found The One a long time ago…To childless Jo, Nicci leaves the care of her three-year-old twin daughters. Jo however is finding it hard enough to cope with the fortnightly arrival of her stepsons. To Lizzie she leaves her garden. But while Lizzie is loyally tending Nicci’s plants, the parts of her own life that are in desperate need of attention are falling by the wayside.
But Nicci didn’t always know best, and she couldn’thave imagined the changes and challenges her letters set in motion for the loved ones she’s left behind.
426 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2007
13 people are currently reading
229 people want to read
About the author
Sam Baker
19 books77 followersSam Baker grew up in Hampshire and, after a degree in politics at Birmingham University, became a journalist, going on to edit some of the UK's biggest magazines. For six years she was Editor in Chief of Red magazine, where she set up the Red Hot Women Awards recognising achievement across politics, science, tech, the arts, media and charity, as well as championing support for Refuge, the charity for victims of domestic abuse.
In 2015 she co-founded and launched The Pool with Lauren Laverne, the online platform that makes inspiring and original content for busy women.
Sam is married to the novelist Jon Courtenay Grimwood and lives in Winchester. When she’s not working or writing she escapes by devouring crime novels or watching box sets.
In 2015 she co-founded and launched The Pool with Lauren Laverne, the online platform that makes inspiring and original content for busy women.
Sam is married to the novelist Jon Courtenay Grimwood and lives in Winchester. When she’s not working or writing she escapes by devouring crime novels or watching box sets.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
September 12, 2024
A book of mixed emotions.
When I got into the book, I truly loved it. I enjoyed following the journey of David and the girls Jo and Lizzie. I found Mona very difficult to like and even read about. There is heartbreak and grief, but it is an amazing story with happiness and hope for the future.
When I got into the book, I truly loved it. I enjoyed following the journey of David and the girls Jo and Lizzie. I found Mona very difficult to like and even read about. There is heartbreak and grief, but it is an amazing story with happiness and hope for the future.
February 11, 2019
This is the first novel I have read by the literature and fiction writer, Sam Baker. I was keen to read TO MY BEST FRIENDS as I thought the book synopsis looked promising and a little different from my typical book choices. I think this book challenges some ideals that are often uncomfortable for many people.
I liked that, straight-away, Sam Baker introduces Nicci Morrison, who is dying. She wasn’t meant to be the first of her circle of friends to die and she wants her final wishes to be honoured so she writes a series of letters to her husband and her three close friends. Nicci, the owner of her successful business, Capsule Wardrobe, leaves behind her husband, David, and her twin daughters, Charlie and Harrie. I loved Sam Baker’s sympathetic portrayal of David as his grief was laid bare and there was no hidden side to him.
I particularly liked TO MY BEST FRIENDS for the interplay of the different characters - unhappily married Lizzie; Jo, stepmother to her husband’s children but is struggling to conceive her own child; and Mona, the single young mum with commitment issues. Plenty of surprises and dramatic ups and downs along the way. I loved it!
The story follows the months after Nicci’s death and it is nice to see how all the characters progress in the aftermath. I think Sam Baker has done well with not making this novel overwhelmingly depressing.
The book is well-written and I thought, well-paced. TO MY BEST FRIENDS contains some intriguing observations in the storyline about love, family and friendship. The plot structure is clever and original, and every character is interesting and well-thought-out.
Reading this novel was a beautiful, heart-wrenching experience that held my interest from start to finish and the way in which Sam Baker brought some things to a conclusion, yet left others open-ended was very pleasing. I really enjoyed reading TO MY BEST FRIENDS and it has left me eager to read more from this author.
I liked that, straight-away, Sam Baker introduces Nicci Morrison, who is dying. She wasn’t meant to be the first of her circle of friends to die and she wants her final wishes to be honoured so she writes a series of letters to her husband and her three close friends. Nicci, the owner of her successful business, Capsule Wardrobe, leaves behind her husband, David, and her twin daughters, Charlie and Harrie. I loved Sam Baker’s sympathetic portrayal of David as his grief was laid bare and there was no hidden side to him.
I particularly liked TO MY BEST FRIENDS for the interplay of the different characters - unhappily married Lizzie; Jo, stepmother to her husband’s children but is struggling to conceive her own child; and Mona, the single young mum with commitment issues. Plenty of surprises and dramatic ups and downs along the way. I loved it!
The story follows the months after Nicci’s death and it is nice to see how all the characters progress in the aftermath. I think Sam Baker has done well with not making this novel overwhelmingly depressing.
The book is well-written and I thought, well-paced. TO MY BEST FRIENDS contains some intriguing observations in the storyline about love, family and friendship. The plot structure is clever and original, and every character is interesting and well-thought-out.
Reading this novel was a beautiful, heart-wrenching experience that held my interest from start to finish and the way in which Sam Baker brought some things to a conclusion, yet left others open-ended was very pleasing. I really enjoyed reading TO MY BEST FRIENDS and it has left me eager to read more from this author.
June 29, 2013
This was one of those books that really get the waterworks flowing, one of those books that, when you finish it, you kinda' sit back and think about life, one of those books that make you hold everyone you love just that little bit tighter. This was one of those beautiful books.
Nikki has just passed away, and to her three best friends, Mona, Jo and Lizzie, she is leaving some of her most valuable items, within the words of her written letters. To Lizzie, Nikki is leaving her her garden, to love and tend to, even though she's the last person you would want to leave your garden to! To Jo, she is leaving the emotional care of her three year old twin daughters, even though Jo is finding it difficult to cope with her stepsons arriving on her doorstep every two weeks. And to Mona, she is leaving her one and only love, David. But for what reason? It's up to these three women, and David himself, to figure out the messages behind Nikki's letters.
December 14, 2011
Nicci Morrison was always the first of her friends to do everything…
But she wasn't meant to be the first to die.
Saying goodbye is never easy, but at least Nicci has one last chance to make a difference before she goes. She’s decided to leave letters giving her most treasured possessions to her closest friends.
To her single friend Mona she bequeaths her husband David, little knowing her best friend found The One a long time ago…To childless Jo, Nicci leaves the care of her three-year-old twin daughters. Jo however is finding it hard enough to cope with the fortnightly arrival of her stepsons. To Lizzie she leaves her garden. But while Lizzie is loyally tending Nicci’s plants, the parts of her own life that are in desperate need of attention are falling by the wayside.
But Nicci didn’t always know best, and she couldn’t
have imagined the changes and challenges her letters set in motion for the loved ones she’s left behind.
'To My Best Friends' is well-written and full of spot-on observations about friendship, love and family. The plot structure is clever and original, and every character has an interesting, well-thought-out storyline. I loved the fashion reminiscences that stylish Nicci's wardrobe of clothes threw up, along with the depths in Nicci's character that were gradually uncovered. All in all, a great read, and thoroughly recommended.
Reading it was a beautiful, heart-wrenching experience.
But she wasn't meant to be the first to die.
Saying goodbye is never easy, but at least Nicci has one last chance to make a difference before she goes. She’s decided to leave letters giving her most treasured possessions to her closest friends.
To her single friend Mona she bequeaths her husband David, little knowing her best friend found The One a long time ago…To childless Jo, Nicci leaves the care of her three-year-old twin daughters. Jo however is finding it hard enough to cope with the fortnightly arrival of her stepsons. To Lizzie she leaves her garden. But while Lizzie is loyally tending Nicci’s plants, the parts of her own life that are in desperate need of attention are falling by the wayside.
But Nicci didn’t always know best, and she couldn’t
have imagined the changes and challenges her letters set in motion for the loved ones she’s left behind.
'To My Best Friends' is well-written and full of spot-on observations about friendship, love and family. The plot structure is clever and original, and every character has an interesting, well-thought-out storyline. I loved the fashion reminiscences that stylish Nicci's wardrobe of clothes threw up, along with the depths in Nicci's character that were gradually uncovered. All in all, a great read, and thoroughly recommended.
Reading it was a beautiful, heart-wrenching experience.
June 26, 2011
Nicci Morrison has always been first at everything from meeting the
love of her life David, getting married having her 2 twin daughters,
Charlie and Harrie, her business, Capsule Wardrobe and now the first to
die after her battle with Cancer. She has left strict instructions for
the funeral.
She leaves her 3 best friends’ letters
To Jo she leaves her daughters, as she is struggling to have children
of her own, she is step-mum to si’s boys Sam and Tom, and that’s
enough!! Jo is also in charge of Capsule Wardrobe.
Mona – Is a single mum, she has left David to her because she is “too
self – sufficient”. She is a hiding a secret but what is it?
Lizzie- Is married to Gerry, she has left her Garden, however Lizzie
isn’t exactly green fingered!!
Can life ever be the same without Nicci?
I loved this book it was sad, but a great book, I would definitely
recommend.
love of her life David, getting married having her 2 twin daughters,
Charlie and Harrie, her business, Capsule Wardrobe and now the first to
die after her battle with Cancer. She has left strict instructions for
the funeral.
She leaves her 3 best friends’ letters
To Jo she leaves her daughters, as she is struggling to have children
of her own, she is step-mum to si’s boys Sam and Tom, and that’s
enough!! Jo is also in charge of Capsule Wardrobe.
Mona – Is a single mum, she has left David to her because she is “too
self – sufficient”. She is a hiding a secret but what is it?
Lizzie- Is married to Gerry, she has left her Garden, however Lizzie
isn’t exactly green fingered!!
Can life ever be the same without Nicci?
I loved this book it was sad, but a great book, I would definitely
recommend.
March 3, 2015
Puh, ich hätte nicht gedacht, dass ich mit diesem Buch schon nach einem Tag fertig bin. Aber bereits nach den ersten Seiten konnte ich es nicht mehr aus der Hand legen. Auf jeden Fall super geschrieben, auch wenn man das Ende ein wenig erahnen konnte.
December 8, 2021
Not very well written and a bit hard to get through but just entertaining enough to keep reading. Nicci is annoying and Mona's story is just half told.
The book felt like a vehicle that's sputtering and start/stopping and never reaches it full speed.
The book felt like a vehicle that's sputtering and start/stopping and never reaches it full speed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2013
Die vier unterschiedlichen Freundinnen Nicci, Jo, Lizzie und Mona sind unzertrennlich...
...bis Nicci an Krebs erkrankt und stirbt.
Ihr Tod hinterlässt eine große Lücke im Leben der Frauen, doch Nicci wäre nicht Nicci, wenn sie nicht noch eine Überraschung in petto hätte. Sie hinterlässt den drei Freundinnen Briefe mit groteskem Inhalt.
So vererbt sie ihrer Freundin Lizzie den Garten, Jo bekommt ein Anrecht auf die beiden Zwillinge Charlie und Harrie und Mona erbt David, Niccis Ehemann.
Ob sie geahnt hat, welches Chaos sie damit im Leben ihrer Freundinnen anrichtet ?
Meinung:
Das Cover ist recht dezent gehalten und passt durch das Schattenbild, das eine Frau an einem Tisch im Garten sitzend, zeigt, hervorragend zur Geschichte.
Auch der grüne Hintergrund ist geschickt gewählt, denn er lässt mich sowohl an Niccis Garten als auch schlicht und einfach an Hoffnung denken !
Die Handlung ist recht schnell erklärt. Nicci bildet den zentralen Mittelpunkt im Leben der Freundinnen Lizzie, Jo und Mona. Als die Fashionsüchtige Frau an Krebs erkrankt und stirbt, wirft das die drei jungen Frauen komplett aus der Bahn, nicht zuletzt, weil Nicci ihnen diese Briefe hinterlassen hat. Erst sprechen sie nur untereinander darüber, doch als sie merken, das das Verhältnis zu Niccis Ehemann David an der Last der Briefe zu zerbrechen droht, sprechen sie auch mit ihm darüber. Dies bleibt natürlich nicht ohne Folgen, denn sowohl David als auch die drei Frauen verstehen nicht, was Nicci mit ihrem Vermächtnis bezwecken wollte. Während Lizzie damit beginnt, sich um den Garten zu kümmern, versucht Jo ihre Firma Capsule Wardrobe ohne Niccis Hilfe zu führen. Und Mona ? Die versucht sich an David ranzumachen, erfolglos. David seinerseits macht eine Entdeckung die nicht nur sein Leben, sondern auch das der Zwillinge verändern wird...
Die Protagonistin zu der ich am meisten Bezug finde ist Lizzie, ich denke das liegt an ihrer liebenswerten Art. Sie ist einfach knuffig, auch wenn sie oft viel zu naiv handelt. Während mir relativ schnell klar war, was in ihrem Leben falsch läuft, braucht sie furchtbar lange um das zu verstehen. Sie erbt von Nicci den Garten und das obwohl sie gar kein Händchen für das Grünzeug hat. Der Garten wird schon bald für sie zur Flucht aus ihrem anstrengenden Alltag und zu einer neuen Leidenschaft.
Jo ist Geschäftsfrau, mit Zahlen kennt sie sich aus. Mit Niccis Tod hat sie nicht nur ihre beste Freundin, sondern auch ihre Geschäftspartnerin verloren. Nicci hinterlässt nicht nur in Jo's Herzem, sondern auch in der Firma ein großes Loch, das gestopft werden muss. Bestrebt diese Lücke irgendwie zu füllen und auch den Kontakt zu David aufrecht zu erhalten, merkt sie kaum noch was um sie herum geschieht.
Obwohl Nicci tot ist, bildet sie zunächst den Mittelpunkt der Geschichte. Sie hat ihren Freundinnen Briefe mit grotesken Botschaften hinterlassen und versucht sie in meinen Augen, mit diesen unmöglichen Hinterlassenschaften zusammenzuhalten, weil sie um ihren Stand in der Clique wusste. Sie war die treibende Kraft und sie war das Zentrum um das sich alle gescharrt haben. Es gibt einige Flashbacks, die aus Niccis Leben erzählen. Erst war ich mir nicht sicher, ob ich sie gemocht hätte, denn sie wirkt in diesen Rückblenden oft sehr herrisch und egoistisch, aber nach und nach erfährt man mehr aus ihrem Leben und darüber welche Enttäuschungen sie hat hinnehmen müssen, was sie mir etwas menschlicher erscheinen lässt.
Mona ist diejenige mit der ich am wenigsten anfangen kann. Sehr schade, aber von der Autorin vielleicht so gewollt. Sie ist alleinerziehende Mutter, war lange im Ausland und träumt von einem eigenen Restaurant. Sie sieht sich selbst oft als das fünfte Rad am Wagen, weil sie als letztes zur Clique gestoßen ist. Das spürt man leider auch als Leser, sie rückt im Vergleich zu den anderen beiden Freundinnen sehr in den Hintergrund, was es so schwer macht mit ihr klarzukommen.
Die knapp 500 Seiten des Buches wurden erstaunlich gut genutzt, denn die Handlung ist so wahnsinnig komplex und wird nicht einmal auch nur ein Stückchen langweilig. In dieser Geschichte geht es um so vieles: Um Liebe und Freundschaft, um Mut, um Vertrauen, Hoffnung und Vergebung. Um Trauer, Stolz und Geheimnisse und allem voran: Um Zusammenhalt.
Die Autorin fährt in Sachen Schreibstil eine ziemlich gerade Linie.
Es gibt weder verschachtelte Sätze, noch zähe Strecken sondern klare, sensible, optimistische Worte, die mich gefangen nehmen und für ein berührendes Lesevergnügen sorgen.
Obwohl ich es oft als sehr anstrengend empfinde, gerade am Anfang einer Geschichte, wenn die Perspektive zwischen mehreren Personen hin und her wechselt, muss ich sagen, das es Sam Baker hier gelungen ist, die Übergänge so fließend ineinander laufen zu lassen, das es mich überhaupt nicht gestört hat.
Die Handlungen sind nachvollziehbar und man kann sich sowohl mit einzelnen Situationen als auch mit den Protagonisten identifizieren.
"Die besten Freunde meines Lebens" ist literarisch gesehen sicher nicht das herausragendste Werk aller Zeiten, aber es ist genau das was Frauen zwischen 25 und 50 lesen wollen ! Es ist kurzweilige und trotzdem tiefgründige, authentische Unterhaltung, die uns für einige Stunden innehalten und unseren Alltag ausblenden lässt.
Einzige winzig kleine Punkte die mich gestört haben, lagen wohl eher an der Übersetzerin als an der Autorin. Es tut mir leid, aber ich kann dieses Wort WIEWOHL nicht mehr lesen ! Das kam relativ oft vor und wirkte in den meisten Fällen irgendwie deplaziert ! Ebenfalls etwas suspekt erschienen mir solche Sätze wie: "Tom wollte Si noch dazu überreden, ihn die Sportschau ansehen zu lassen..."
( Seite 424, nach einem Videoabend ).
Der Roman spielt in England und diese Dinge erschienen mir so typisch deutsch. Das hat einfach nicht gepasst. Ich weiß es sind nur Kleinigkeiten, die die Intensität der Geschichte auf keinen Fall schmälern ! Ich fand sie dennoch erwähnenswert, weil sie mich einfach gestört haben.
Fazit:
Wer gerne emotionale, berührende Frauenliteratur liest, der sollte sich diesen Roman auf keinen Fall entgehen lassen. Dieses Buch ist absolut wundervoll und empfehlenswert und bietet alles, was ein paar herbstlich graue Abende braucht: Liebe, Freundschaft, Emotionen !
...bis Nicci an Krebs erkrankt und stirbt.
Ihr Tod hinterlässt eine große Lücke im Leben der Frauen, doch Nicci wäre nicht Nicci, wenn sie nicht noch eine Überraschung in petto hätte. Sie hinterlässt den drei Freundinnen Briefe mit groteskem Inhalt.
So vererbt sie ihrer Freundin Lizzie den Garten, Jo bekommt ein Anrecht auf die beiden Zwillinge Charlie und Harrie und Mona erbt David, Niccis Ehemann.
Ob sie geahnt hat, welches Chaos sie damit im Leben ihrer Freundinnen anrichtet ?
Meinung:
Das Cover ist recht dezent gehalten und passt durch das Schattenbild, das eine Frau an einem Tisch im Garten sitzend, zeigt, hervorragend zur Geschichte.
Auch der grüne Hintergrund ist geschickt gewählt, denn er lässt mich sowohl an Niccis Garten als auch schlicht und einfach an Hoffnung denken !
Die Handlung ist recht schnell erklärt. Nicci bildet den zentralen Mittelpunkt im Leben der Freundinnen Lizzie, Jo und Mona. Als die Fashionsüchtige Frau an Krebs erkrankt und stirbt, wirft das die drei jungen Frauen komplett aus der Bahn, nicht zuletzt, weil Nicci ihnen diese Briefe hinterlassen hat. Erst sprechen sie nur untereinander darüber, doch als sie merken, das das Verhältnis zu Niccis Ehemann David an der Last der Briefe zu zerbrechen droht, sprechen sie auch mit ihm darüber. Dies bleibt natürlich nicht ohne Folgen, denn sowohl David als auch die drei Frauen verstehen nicht, was Nicci mit ihrem Vermächtnis bezwecken wollte. Während Lizzie damit beginnt, sich um den Garten zu kümmern, versucht Jo ihre Firma Capsule Wardrobe ohne Niccis Hilfe zu führen. Und Mona ? Die versucht sich an David ranzumachen, erfolglos. David seinerseits macht eine Entdeckung die nicht nur sein Leben, sondern auch das der Zwillinge verändern wird...
Die Protagonistin zu der ich am meisten Bezug finde ist Lizzie, ich denke das liegt an ihrer liebenswerten Art. Sie ist einfach knuffig, auch wenn sie oft viel zu naiv handelt. Während mir relativ schnell klar war, was in ihrem Leben falsch läuft, braucht sie furchtbar lange um das zu verstehen. Sie erbt von Nicci den Garten und das obwohl sie gar kein Händchen für das Grünzeug hat. Der Garten wird schon bald für sie zur Flucht aus ihrem anstrengenden Alltag und zu einer neuen Leidenschaft.
Jo ist Geschäftsfrau, mit Zahlen kennt sie sich aus. Mit Niccis Tod hat sie nicht nur ihre beste Freundin, sondern auch ihre Geschäftspartnerin verloren. Nicci hinterlässt nicht nur in Jo's Herzem, sondern auch in der Firma ein großes Loch, das gestopft werden muss. Bestrebt diese Lücke irgendwie zu füllen und auch den Kontakt zu David aufrecht zu erhalten, merkt sie kaum noch was um sie herum geschieht.
Obwohl Nicci tot ist, bildet sie zunächst den Mittelpunkt der Geschichte. Sie hat ihren Freundinnen Briefe mit grotesken Botschaften hinterlassen und versucht sie in meinen Augen, mit diesen unmöglichen Hinterlassenschaften zusammenzuhalten, weil sie um ihren Stand in der Clique wusste. Sie war die treibende Kraft und sie war das Zentrum um das sich alle gescharrt haben. Es gibt einige Flashbacks, die aus Niccis Leben erzählen. Erst war ich mir nicht sicher, ob ich sie gemocht hätte, denn sie wirkt in diesen Rückblenden oft sehr herrisch und egoistisch, aber nach und nach erfährt man mehr aus ihrem Leben und darüber welche Enttäuschungen sie hat hinnehmen müssen, was sie mir etwas menschlicher erscheinen lässt.
Mona ist diejenige mit der ich am wenigsten anfangen kann. Sehr schade, aber von der Autorin vielleicht so gewollt. Sie ist alleinerziehende Mutter, war lange im Ausland und träumt von einem eigenen Restaurant. Sie sieht sich selbst oft als das fünfte Rad am Wagen, weil sie als letztes zur Clique gestoßen ist. Das spürt man leider auch als Leser, sie rückt im Vergleich zu den anderen beiden Freundinnen sehr in den Hintergrund, was es so schwer macht mit ihr klarzukommen.
Die knapp 500 Seiten des Buches wurden erstaunlich gut genutzt, denn die Handlung ist so wahnsinnig komplex und wird nicht einmal auch nur ein Stückchen langweilig. In dieser Geschichte geht es um so vieles: Um Liebe und Freundschaft, um Mut, um Vertrauen, Hoffnung und Vergebung. Um Trauer, Stolz und Geheimnisse und allem voran: Um Zusammenhalt.
Die Autorin fährt in Sachen Schreibstil eine ziemlich gerade Linie.
Es gibt weder verschachtelte Sätze, noch zähe Strecken sondern klare, sensible, optimistische Worte, die mich gefangen nehmen und für ein berührendes Lesevergnügen sorgen.
Obwohl ich es oft als sehr anstrengend empfinde, gerade am Anfang einer Geschichte, wenn die Perspektive zwischen mehreren Personen hin und her wechselt, muss ich sagen, das es Sam Baker hier gelungen ist, die Übergänge so fließend ineinander laufen zu lassen, das es mich überhaupt nicht gestört hat.
Die Handlungen sind nachvollziehbar und man kann sich sowohl mit einzelnen Situationen als auch mit den Protagonisten identifizieren.
"Die besten Freunde meines Lebens" ist literarisch gesehen sicher nicht das herausragendste Werk aller Zeiten, aber es ist genau das was Frauen zwischen 25 und 50 lesen wollen ! Es ist kurzweilige und trotzdem tiefgründige, authentische Unterhaltung, die uns für einige Stunden innehalten und unseren Alltag ausblenden lässt.
Einzige winzig kleine Punkte die mich gestört haben, lagen wohl eher an der Übersetzerin als an der Autorin. Es tut mir leid, aber ich kann dieses Wort WIEWOHL nicht mehr lesen ! Das kam relativ oft vor und wirkte in den meisten Fällen irgendwie deplaziert ! Ebenfalls etwas suspekt erschienen mir solche Sätze wie: "Tom wollte Si noch dazu überreden, ihn die Sportschau ansehen zu lassen..."
( Seite 424, nach einem Videoabend ).
Der Roman spielt in England und diese Dinge erschienen mir so typisch deutsch. Das hat einfach nicht gepasst. Ich weiß es sind nur Kleinigkeiten, die die Intensität der Geschichte auf keinen Fall schmälern ! Ich fand sie dennoch erwähnenswert, weil sie mich einfach gestört haben.
Fazit:
Wer gerne emotionale, berührende Frauenliteratur liest, der sollte sich diesen Roman auf keinen Fall entgehen lassen. Dieses Buch ist absolut wundervoll und empfehlenswert und bietet alles, was ein paar herbstlich graue Abende braucht: Liebe, Freundschaft, Emotionen !
November 10, 2017
Woman with cancer dies and leaves her best friends, among other things, her children and her husband. The writing wasn't bad but this wasn't for me.
June 8, 2019
Brilliant book, couldn't put it down was hooked from the beginning! Perfect beach read!
September 2, 2019
Amazing read cudnt put it down x
August 1, 2022
So wunderschöne, traurige Geschichte
May 1, 2023
Ein schönes Buch mit vielen wholesome Momenten.
October 27, 2022
I had never read any of Sam Baker’s books but thought that this sounded a little different to the norm’. That is one thing I was right about as this book stretches into areas that people may not be that comfortable reading about.
We meet Nicci very early on and soon realise that she is on her death bed, and her final wishes are put into letters to her husband and her three close friends. Her three friends are Mona, the young single Mum who struggles with commitment. Jo who is stepmother to her husbands kids but struggles to conceive her own, and Lizzie who is very unhappily married.
Very early on I liked Nicci’s husband David as his grief is all too real and there are no hidden agendas with him. The book itself is a little different and because of the sort of storyline it is, it made for really interesting reading.
I liked Lizzie and Jo but if I am honest I never really warmed up to the character Mona. The story spans many months following Nicci’s death and it is nice to see how all the characters progress following the death of Nicci. Having said that, although the grief is clear I think Sam Baker has done a cracking job of not making it too depressing. It is real life with a capital R, but done sensitively and with feeling.
I also liked the fact that although some parts of the ending I was happy with Sam Baker wasn’t frightened to leave some things open ended, much like life itself. I will definitely be looking out for more Sam Baker books as I thoroughly enjoyed this one (albeit a sad story). Her writing style is easy to read and the book flowed well for me. This may not be everybody’s cup of tea but I quite enjoyed it.
We meet Nicci very early on and soon realise that she is on her death bed, and her final wishes are put into letters to her husband and her three close friends. Her three friends are Mona, the young single Mum who struggles with commitment. Jo who is stepmother to her husbands kids but struggles to conceive her own, and Lizzie who is very unhappily married.
Very early on I liked Nicci’s husband David as his grief is all too real and there are no hidden agendas with him. The book itself is a little different and because of the sort of storyline it is, it made for really interesting reading.
I liked Lizzie and Jo but if I am honest I never really warmed up to the character Mona. The story spans many months following Nicci’s death and it is nice to see how all the characters progress following the death of Nicci. Having said that, although the grief is clear I think Sam Baker has done a cracking job of not making it too depressing. It is real life with a capital R, but done sensitively and with feeling.
I also liked the fact that although some parts of the ending I was happy with Sam Baker wasn’t frightened to leave some things open ended, much like life itself. I will definitely be looking out for more Sam Baker books as I thoroughly enjoyed this one (albeit a sad story). Her writing style is easy to read and the book flowed well for me. This may not be everybody’s cup of tea but I quite enjoyed it.
August 5, 2011
'To My Best Friends' . . . I leave my husband, children and garden, each in seperate letters to the benefactors after Nicci's death.
Ummm, realistic I am not so sure. However it was still a page turner as I watched the events unfold, even to the point of standing in the kitchen reading it whilst cooking dinner.
About a quarter of the way through I saw how I felt the bequests would turn out, and though I'd like to think it was down to my wonderful insight, I think that the author led us down a certain path. The individual characters are realistic, it was just the story that they were placed in that seemed unreal. Whilst I don't know that such things would happen in real life, I still enjoyed reading the book, though perhaps not as much as some.
It has left me wanting to explore other books by Sam Baker though, so can't be bad really.
Ummm, realistic I am not so sure. However it was still a page turner as I watched the events unfold, even to the point of standing in the kitchen reading it whilst cooking dinner.
About a quarter of the way through I saw how I felt the bequests would turn out, and though I'd like to think it was down to my wonderful insight, I think that the author led us down a certain path. The individual characters are realistic, it was just the story that they were placed in that seemed unreal. Whilst I don't know that such things would happen in real life, I still enjoyed reading the book, though perhaps not as much as some.
It has left me wanting to explore other books by Sam Baker though, so can't be bad really.
January 12, 2012
I read this as a couple of columnists who I really respect had raved about it and also to see what makes books like this popular. It was quite interesting. It's a strange concept as a woman leaves her husband to her friend, and her children to another friend, upon her death, which didn't strike me as massively realistic. I thought it was quite a good portrayal of female friendship and the small hurts as well as the positive things, however the friendships didn't really progress in the way I thought they might over the course of the book, or really give the reader much insight into them. It seemed unrealistic that people would take over the home of a widow that disrespectfully or that when a woman gets together with their friends widow, it doesn't ruffle some feathers. Overall, I was a bit bewildered why there was such raving about the book, and could only think its because the writer is the editor of a national magazine that it even got published at all.
February 18, 2013
I really loved this book, as unrealistic as it was and everything but it wad really sweet
I like mona in the end, she just takes a while to warm up to i guess but later, I admired her
lizzie I absolutely loved fromthe beginning because she is sorta like me really indecisive, afraid of confrontations, the works
and jo was amazing as well, she was a very strong character
si is really funny and david is amazing
it is quite sad that we only know a little about nicci and I really hope that her mum knew that she tried even though that would hurt more because it is too late
I loved the book though
I like mona in the end, she just takes a while to warm up to i guess but later, I admired her
lizzie I absolutely loved fromthe beginning because she is sorta like me really indecisive, afraid of confrontations, the works
and jo was amazing as well, she was a very strong character
si is really funny and david is amazing
it is quite sad that we only know a little about nicci and I really hope that her mum knew that she tried even though that would hurt more because it is too late
I loved the book though
November 20, 2013
Such an emotional read, got very much into the characters and felt like I was watching their journeys. It was strange to have the protagonist of the story, the person who has brought all of the others together as a sort of shadow, as the book starts after her death so there's no interaction with her just the memory of her. Was able to pick it up in breaks between work, and before bed. Enjoyable storyline, had never read any Sam Baker but this was recommended, I enjoyed it but would probably not read it again.
July 21, 2012
I was able to get right into this book from the start, which doesn't always happen when you have just finished another really good book. I think Nicci was strangely manipulative, and very much in the story even though she had died.
That idea held the story together, and it worked pretty well, and of course I didn't like Gerry either.
In the end even though I should have been doing other things, I just couldn't put the book down till I'd finished it.
That idea held the story together, and it worked pretty well, and of course I didn't like Gerry either.
In the end even though I should have been doing other things, I just couldn't put the book down till I'd finished it.
August 23, 2013
Nicci is the dominant member of a group of four women who are 'framily' (friends/family). Nicci dies prematurely and leaves a letter for each friend handing the responsibility for her family over to each one (leading from the grave). The tasks she allots creates chaos.
The novel deals with issues of fidelity, grief, infertility and independence. Who we fall in love with is a random event and cannot be prearranged, so it seems.....
The novel deals with issues of fidelity, grief, infertility and independence. Who we fall in love with is a random event and cannot be prearranged, so it seems.....
January 4, 2012
I'm actually a little dissappointed in this one. I loved Sam Bakers other novel The Other Mothers CLub and was really looking forward to this read. Felt it was a bit too clustered and a little stretched out. I'm hoping her next book will be as great as the first
December 17, 2012
not life changing, no booker prize literature and no unforgettable proze. But then again, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. So yeah, call it a guilty pleasure, but I enjoyed this book: it was a great escape from daily life and hey, it brings you in Christmas spirit! :-)
November 7, 2013
Es ist nett geschrieben, aber ich konnte keine richtige emotionale Bindung zu den Personen im Buch aufbauen und es hat mich deshalb nicht so richtig berührt. Aber im großen und ganzen ein gut zu lesendes Buch und zu empfehlen.
June 22, 2011
Cant fault this book to be honest - loved it. It was a lovely "chick-lit" book where you were drawn into the story and felt the love and sadness.
June 12, 2011
One of them rare books when you dont know how its going to end until the last chapter!! excellent!
January 18, 2012
I loved this one..........
June 24, 2012
I enjoyed the book, I just expected more from it. However it was still very enjoyable.
July 23, 2012
I didn't like it much. I read like 1/4 of it until I could not take it any further. I guess it lacked suspense or it was kind of slow which is totally a turn off. Oh well .....
December 15, 2012
Brilliant and heartwarming.
November 20, 2013
Couldn't make it through the whole book, totally lacked the grab me in suspense, back on the bookshelf
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