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Us Two
When Florence met Rowena, they knew for sure that they would always be friends.
Wayward parents, boring teachers, teenage crushes, first heartbreaks – anything and everything could be faced as long as Florence had Rowena by her side.
But then she didn’t.
And life had to be redrawn and reconsidered.
Being a grown-up has its perks, but as Rowena faces the biggest challenge of her life, and Florence wonders if it’s time to stop running away from hers, there’s a wise soul who knows the one thing that can help them both. Some friendships are meant to last forever, and it’s never too late for forever to start again.
Joyous and heart-breaking, laugh-out-loud funny, life-affirming and unforgettable, join Flo and Ro on a journey that will warm your heart and perhaps make you wonder about those old friends who knew you so well.
Wayward parents, boring teachers, teenage crushes, first heartbreaks – anything and everything could be faced as long as Florence had Rowena by her side.
But then she didn’t.
And life had to be redrawn and reconsidered.
Being a grown-up has its perks, but as Rowena faces the biggest challenge of her life, and Florence wonders if it’s time to stop running away from hers, there’s a wise soul who knows the one thing that can help them both. Some friendships are meant to last forever, and it’s never too late for forever to start again.
Joyous and heart-breaking, laugh-out-loud funny, life-affirming and unforgettable, join Flo and Ro on a journey that will warm your heart and perhaps make you wonder about those old friends who knew you so well.
354 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 19, 2023
266 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 6, 2023
Janet Hoggarth’s Us Two is a wonderful exploration of female friendship, hope and love that will raise your spirits and make you laugh and cry.
When Florence met Rowena, she immediately knew that she had found a friend for life. The two had bonded so quickly and they both knew that whatever curveball life threw their way, they would always be there for one another ready to lend a hand or a shoulder to cry on. From boring teachers to hormonal teens and wayward parents, Florence thought that Rowena would always be by her side – until the day she wasn’t and she found herself having to figure everything out by herself…
As Rowena finds herself faced with the hardest decision of her life, Florence begins to wonder whether whether she should stop running away from the truth and face all of her challenges head on. Life and circumstances might have taken these two friends down two very different paths, but could they find their way back to one another again? Or has too much water flown under the bridge for the two of them to ever be friends again?
Janet Hoggarth’s Us Two is a brilliant read written with warmth, candour and sensitivity. Witty, astute, feel-good and immensely relatable, Us Two plucks at the heartstrings, brings a tear to the eye and will make you chuckle as you find yourself completely drawn into this fantastic page-turner.
Enjoyable, believable and uplifting, Janet Hoggarth’s Us Two is a book you will want to tell all your friends and family about.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
When Florence met Rowena, she immediately knew that she had found a friend for life. The two had bonded so quickly and they both knew that whatever curveball life threw their way, they would always be there for one another ready to lend a hand or a shoulder to cry on. From boring teachers to hormonal teens and wayward parents, Florence thought that Rowena would always be by her side – until the day she wasn’t and she found herself having to figure everything out by herself…
As Rowena finds herself faced with the hardest decision of her life, Florence begins to wonder whether whether she should stop running away from the truth and face all of her challenges head on. Life and circumstances might have taken these two friends down two very different paths, but could they find their way back to one another again? Or has too much water flown under the bridge for the two of them to ever be friends again?
Janet Hoggarth’s Us Two is a brilliant read written with warmth, candour and sensitivity. Witty, astute, feel-good and immensely relatable, Us Two plucks at the heartstrings, brings a tear to the eye and will make you chuckle as you find yourself completely drawn into this fantastic page-turner.
Enjoyable, believable and uplifting, Janet Hoggarth’s Us Two is a book you will want to tell all your friends and family about.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 2, 2023
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What a charming book about everlasting friendship and love. Florence and Rowena grew up together, thick as thieves. FloRo lived near each other, have troubled relationships with their parents, and rely upon each other through thick and thin. The go to Uni together, but Flo gets involved with a guy, who breaks it off with her right before finals and she flunks out.
Eventually the young ladies end up living together, working and going out and drinking and partying often. That was one thing I didn’t personally like about the book; Flo gets so drunk at times she can’t remember the night before. But I realize that many in their early 20s do this and it’s my personal hang-up from living in the state of Wisconsin, which has 7 of the top ten drunkest cities, something to hang our hat on. 😦
One night the girls are out and Rowena and Florence both spot a hot guy. Rowena calls dibs and makes her move. The next thing you know, it’s the next morning, Flo is in the toilet puking away, and Clinton, the guy, is in the apartment. Florence naturally thinks he and Rowena hooked up, only to find out later that they didn’t. She runs into Clinton elsewhere, where he makes his intentions known: he’s interested in Flo, not Rowena, and did not sleep with her roommate.
Florence begs Clinton to give Rowena another chance, all the while surreptitiously meeting up with Clinton to talk about her best friend. You can see where this is heading. Florence and Clinton sneak around behind Rowena’s back until they get caught, and the friendship is irretrievably broken.
Flo is alone, so one wonders what happened to Clinton, but she’s clearly running away from some memories. Years pass, and how and why Florence and Rowena come back together is an interesting story that involves a high school teacher that becomes a psychic and a VW van and a treasure hunt. Ultimately, it turns out that a man can come between two best friends, but they can always come back together again.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Boldwood Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
What a charming book about everlasting friendship and love. Florence and Rowena grew up together, thick as thieves. FloRo lived near each other, have troubled relationships with their parents, and rely upon each other through thick and thin. The go to Uni together, but Flo gets involved with a guy, who breaks it off with her right before finals and she flunks out.
Eventually the young ladies end up living together, working and going out and drinking and partying often. That was one thing I didn’t personally like about the book; Flo gets so drunk at times she can’t remember the night before. But I realize that many in their early 20s do this and it’s my personal hang-up from living in the state of Wisconsin, which has 7 of the top ten drunkest cities, something to hang our hat on. 😦
One night the girls are out and Rowena and Florence both spot a hot guy. Rowena calls dibs and makes her move. The next thing you know, it’s the next morning, Flo is in the toilet puking away, and Clinton, the guy, is in the apartment. Florence naturally thinks he and Rowena hooked up, only to find out later that they didn’t. She runs into Clinton elsewhere, where he makes his intentions known: he’s interested in Flo, not Rowena, and did not sleep with her roommate.
Florence begs Clinton to give Rowena another chance, all the while surreptitiously meeting up with Clinton to talk about her best friend. You can see where this is heading. Florence and Clinton sneak around behind Rowena’s back until they get caught, and the friendship is irretrievably broken.
Flo is alone, so one wonders what happened to Clinton, but she’s clearly running away from some memories. Years pass, and how and why Florence and Rowena come back together is an interesting story that involves a high school teacher that becomes a psychic and a VW van and a treasure hunt. Ultimately, it turns out that a man can come between two best friends, but they can always come back together again.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Boldwood Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
July 19, 2023
Originally reviewed for Chick Lit Central (www.chicklitcentral.com)
I like the parallels that are drawn between the friendship that Florence (Flo) has with Rowena (Ro), and the relationship between Florence’s former teacher, Cassie, and a friend of Cassie’s. At the root of things, there is miscommunication and other factors that play into both sets of characters experiencing a breakdown between them, which ultimately leads to severing ties. It’s what weighs on Cassie, enough to bequeath a campervan to Flo, in the hopes that maybe she can right the wrongs that maybe Cassie felt she never really got to do.
Flo has a tough time when it comes to trust. So much so, that she doesn’t even trust herself enough to rely on herself 100% of the time. It’s a big reason that she still lives at home with her parents, going on long trips out of the country in order to escape reality. Never really putting down roots. Her parents plan on selling their home and insist that she finally find her own way, and then the campervan is there, as though it was meant for her all along. We get glimpses of the past, when she used to love that kind of life, when she had her own campervan–before the horribleness of life changed everything.
Cassie has presented Flo with a scavenger hunt, the type of shenanigans that she used to set up for her classroom all those years ago. The type of experiences that would instill interest in her students. That’s where the parallels come into play. Cassie’s past, and Flo’s too. I thought it was great that we had some flashbacks from Cassie, from Flo, and we’re also getting to see where Ro is now in the present time, too.
There is plenty of mention of romantic love, but the bigger focus is on the strong friendship bonds that can form in our youth, and despite the troubles that might come and unravel those close bonds, there is hope for reconciliation. It was a very touching read.
I like the parallels that are drawn between the friendship that Florence (Flo) has with Rowena (Ro), and the relationship between Florence’s former teacher, Cassie, and a friend of Cassie’s. At the root of things, there is miscommunication and other factors that play into both sets of characters experiencing a breakdown between them, which ultimately leads to severing ties. It’s what weighs on Cassie, enough to bequeath a campervan to Flo, in the hopes that maybe she can right the wrongs that maybe Cassie felt she never really got to do.
Flo has a tough time when it comes to trust. So much so, that she doesn’t even trust herself enough to rely on herself 100% of the time. It’s a big reason that she still lives at home with her parents, going on long trips out of the country in order to escape reality. Never really putting down roots. Her parents plan on selling their home and insist that she finally find her own way, and then the campervan is there, as though it was meant for her all along. We get glimpses of the past, when she used to love that kind of life, when she had her own campervan–before the horribleness of life changed everything.
Cassie has presented Flo with a scavenger hunt, the type of shenanigans that she used to set up for her classroom all those years ago. The type of experiences that would instill interest in her students. That’s where the parallels come into play. Cassie’s past, and Flo’s too. I thought it was great that we had some flashbacks from Cassie, from Flo, and we’re also getting to see where Ro is now in the present time, too.
There is plenty of mention of romantic love, but the bigger focus is on the strong friendship bonds that can form in our youth, and despite the troubles that might come and unravel those close bonds, there is hope for reconciliation. It was a very touching read.
July 19, 2023
The Blurb :
When Florence met Rowena, they knew for sure that they would always be friends.
Wayward parents, boring teachers, teenage crushes, first heartbreaks – anything and everything could be faced as long as Florence had Rowena by her side.
But then she didn’t.
And life had to be redrawn and reconsidered.
Being a grown-up has its perks, but as Rowena faces the biggest challenge of her life, and Florence wonders if it’s time to stop running away from hers, there’s a wise soul who knows the one thing that can help them both. Some friendships are meant to last forever, and it’s never too late for forever to start again.
My Thoughts :
Here we meet childhood friends, Rowena and Florence. Living near to each other, they went to school together and later attended uni together. They know each other inside and out.
Hitting their 20s, the girls ended up living together. They both worked to make ends meet and regularly went out pubing and clubing.
Then they met a boy named Clinton, and it all changed.
The Years have now passed and Florence and Rowena reunite with the help of an old school teacher turned Psychic and a VW Camper.
Can the friends bury what went wrong all those years ago and move on or is everything still as raw as it once was!?.
Janet Hoggarth seems to write from the heart and this is such a feel good story. There is some great descriptive details throughout that puts the reader right into the action.
I really enjoyed the element of the old English teacher from their school days who has now turned into a psychic.
Overall, Janet Hoggarth has written a beautiful story about love, family, friendships and forgiving one another.
Looking forward to more from this Author.
When Florence met Rowena, they knew for sure that they would always be friends.
Wayward parents, boring teachers, teenage crushes, first heartbreaks – anything and everything could be faced as long as Florence had Rowena by her side.
But then she didn’t.
And life had to be redrawn and reconsidered.
Being a grown-up has its perks, but as Rowena faces the biggest challenge of her life, and Florence wonders if it’s time to stop running away from hers, there’s a wise soul who knows the one thing that can help them both. Some friendships are meant to last forever, and it’s never too late for forever to start again.
My Thoughts :
Here we meet childhood friends, Rowena and Florence. Living near to each other, they went to school together and later attended uni together. They know each other inside and out.
Hitting their 20s, the girls ended up living together. They both worked to make ends meet and regularly went out pubing and clubing.
Then they met a boy named Clinton, and it all changed.
The Years have now passed and Florence and Rowena reunite with the help of an old school teacher turned Psychic and a VW Camper.
Can the friends bury what went wrong all those years ago and move on or is everything still as raw as it once was!?.
Janet Hoggarth seems to write from the heart and this is such a feel good story. There is some great descriptive details throughout that puts the reader right into the action.
I really enjoyed the element of the old English teacher from their school days who has now turned into a psychic.
Overall, Janet Hoggarth has written a beautiful story about love, family, friendships and forgiving one another.
Looking forward to more from this Author.
June 21, 2023
Florence and Rowena have been friends forever until they drifted apart through life changes. Florence now lives with her parents despite being in her thirties and has so much clobber there which needs to be sorted out. They have given her an ultimatum- they are moving house and downsizing so there won’t be room for all of her stuff or even her. Things have to change. Years ago Flo had an English teacher whom she admired. Years later she saw this teacher in a new light as she was giving palm readings having found a new interest in clairvoyance. When Flo gets left a campervan in a will she thinks she will do it up, sell it and set off for Costa Rica- the land of her dreams. Rowena meanwhile has been having a fling with whom she now knows is a married man. When she falls pregnant her life changes. Maybe the two friends can come back and support each other?
This is a wonderful easy read and a life lesson with a smile with those ups and downs of life-there is tragedy involved. It’s a well written read, a descriptive one which puts the reader alongside the narration. A story of friendship transcending time, of coming together with whom you can trust and that someone who will see you through whatever. For me this was a little slow but that said this did build the characters and scenes for what was to come. An enjoyable read to ponder on life.
This is a wonderful easy read and a life lesson with a smile with those ups and downs of life-there is tragedy involved. It’s a well written read, a descriptive one which puts the reader alongside the narration. A story of friendship transcending time, of coming together with whom you can trust and that someone who will see you through whatever. For me this was a little slow but that said this did build the characters and scenes for what was to come. An enjoyable read to ponder on life.
July 23, 2023
Friendship can come and go, but true friends are like a treasure. Ultimately this book is about second chances. It is psychic Cassie's last wish that Florence take ownership of Cassie's beloved yellow VW camper, Nellie. Cassie was one of Florence's teacher in school and had reconnected with her at an event. Cassie's hope is that Florence reconnect with her former best friend Rowena. They had a falling out years ago over a man. Cassie saw a kindred spirit in Florence as she and her best friend Tracey had fallen out decades earlier and with Cassie's loss, there was no chance of a reconcilement.
Florence is more interested in selling the camper than anything, but when she discovers a letter addressed to Tracey from Cassie, she decides this is a sign to hand deliver the letter to Tracey. Cassie has orchestrated a reunion for FloRo (Florence and Rowena), but has too much time and hurt damaged their friendship beyond repair?
This was such an unexpectedly emotional book. Just so well done!
Florence is more interested in selling the camper than anything, but when she discovers a letter addressed to Tracey from Cassie, she decides this is a sign to hand deliver the letter to Tracey. Cassie has orchestrated a reunion for FloRo (Florence and Rowena), but has too much time and hurt damaged their friendship beyond repair?
This was such an unexpectedly emotional book. Just so well done!
January 7, 2024
Upon meeting Rowena, Florence sensed an instant connection that signaled a friendship for life. Their bond was swift, and they pledged mutual support through life's challenges. From tedious teachers to teenage angst and tumultuous parents, Florence believed Rowena would always be her steadfast companion—until the day she wasn't. Faced with life-altering decisions, Rowena's choices prompt Florence to confront her own challenges head-on. Despite divergent paths, can these friends rediscover their connection, or have the twists of life created an insurmountable divide? This book is compelling and heartwarming narrative, written with warmth and insight. Witty, perceptive, and immensely relatable, it tugs at heartstrings, evokes tears, and elicits chuckles, immersing readers in a captivating story.
July 13, 2023
I love Janet Hoggarth books! This one is a story about two childhood friends, Florence and Rowena, and their relationship while growing up - navigating love, loss, betrayal, boyfriends, parents and their own friendship. This book deals with some very emotional issues, so a box of tissues will definitely come in handy whilst reading this rollercoaster ride of a story. I would love to see a second book as I was left with quite a few unanswered questions - particularly about Frank - which I would love to have answers to!
July 23, 2023
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this insightful book
this is the story about florence and rowena two childhood friends...friends for life....until....adulthood and a man....
this is a slow build up and at times could have been a bit shorter but when the big things start to be revealed you can understand why it was written like it was....
but this book is about the friendship that had started from childhood and even though adversity hit that friendship came through
its a feel good book and a reminder of what is important in life
this is the story about florence and rowena two childhood friends...friends for life....until....adulthood and a man....
this is a slow build up and at times could have been a bit shorter but when the big things start to be revealed you can understand why it was written like it was....
but this book is about the friendship that had started from childhood and even though adversity hit that friendship came through
its a feel good book and a reminder of what is important in life
March 23, 2024
The Journey Through Life with School Friends
There is a lot of switching of characters. A chapter is allocated to each of them. Once the reader figures out how each personality fits as the story develops it becomes fascinating. There is trauma, friendships shattered, and years of coming together again. The central characters are Rowena and Florence, who as teenagers were joined at the hips. The grief and anxiety experienced by each of them keep the readers in suspense. I enjoyed Us Two by Janet Hogarth once I had familiarized myself with the characters.
There is a lot of switching of characters. A chapter is allocated to each of them. Once the reader figures out how each personality fits as the story develops it becomes fascinating. There is trauma, friendships shattered, and years of coming together again. The central characters are Rowena and Florence, who as teenagers were joined at the hips. The grief and anxiety experienced by each of them keep the readers in suspense. I enjoyed Us Two by Janet Hogarth once I had familiarized myself with the characters.
July 9, 2023
This is another stirring and touching story by Janet Hoggarth. Within the pages is a story of loss-of a loved one and of a friend-which greatly impacted the life of a woman at odds. Guided by letters left to her by her high school teacher turned psychic, Florence embarks (reluctantly) on a treasure hunt that returns her life back to her.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 12, 2023
A beautiful story about friendship, true love, family, forgiviness, grief and lost, basically about life. Florence an Rowena's jour ey through life, from their friendship since childhood, to they fall-out, and how can fate bring then together again.
July 19, 2023
A book about a friendship that has hit a rough patch, but Rowena and Florence set out on a journey to reclaim their bond. A funny, emotional and heartwarming read to let you know that some friendships can go the distance.
June 28, 2025
Janet is a new favorite author. Her colorful descriptions and believable characters experiencing real life are so vivid, I felt as if I was there. Twists and turns in the plot were unexpected and kept me turning pages. Well done!
July 26, 2023
a well written book about friendship, family and forgiveness.
a first for me by this author and i will be sure to look out for more
a first for me by this author and i will be sure to look out for more
October 2, 2023
Hard work
Sorry had to give up. Couldn't keep up with all the time swings. Forwards and backwards. maybe it's just me.
Sorry had to give up. Couldn't keep up with all the time swings. Forwards and backwards. maybe it's just me.
December 13, 2023
No spoilers but tissues needed by the end of the story
January 21, 2024
Took a bit of time to get into this one, but was drawn in and wanted to know what had happened...and it wasn't what I was expecting. An easy and enjoyable read. The ending had me in tears.
January 28, 2024
A story of female friendship, lost and found. Read it in a day (on holiday). Really enjoyed it.
February 12, 2024
3.5 🌟 rounded up.
This book got better as it went on. Particularly enjoyed the last third.
This book got better as it went on. Particularly enjoyed the last third.
September 21, 2024
Beautifully real
Just wow - this one really got to me. The characters are so real but the message is deep. Love is the most precious, important thing to all of us.
Just wow - this one really got to me. The characters are so real but the message is deep. Love is the most precious, important thing to all of us.
October 21, 2024
love reading this
Cried and laughed throughout the book. Lovely story, Brilliantly written and will definitely be reading more of Janet Hoggarth’s novels.
Cried and laughed throughout the book. Lovely story, Brilliantly written and will definitely be reading more of Janet Hoggarth’s novels.
May 13, 2025
3.5 stars
February 29, 2024
I've been a fan of Janet Hoggarth for a while and this is one of her best yet!
Florence comes into an unexpected inheritance and from a very unexpected source! A camper van isn't everyone's iedea of heaven - nor is it hers, but she can sell it and get back to travelling; after all, life with the parents is wearing itself out and they are being none too secretive about the need for her to move out! If only she still had her teenage friend, Rowena to talk it all through with; they were inseparable back in the day and shared all their hopes and dreams. She could really do with her in her life now.
This is an awesome read. It's not often I shed a tear when reading but I did with this one - alongside giggling and laughing and every other emotion. The author has really excelled herself with this novel, it is terrifically enjoyable and touches quite a few heartstrings along the way. I chose this as my group challenge for February - a book with two or 2 in the title or second in series - and I would recommend it to everyone. It will lift your spirit and make your heart lighter, trust me. A full five sparkling stars, no doubt about it. *****
Florence comes into an unexpected inheritance and from a very unexpected source! A camper van isn't everyone's iedea of heaven - nor is it hers, but she can sell it and get back to travelling; after all, life with the parents is wearing itself out and they are being none too secretive about the need for her to move out! If only she still had her teenage friend, Rowena to talk it all through with; they were inseparable back in the day and shared all their hopes and dreams. She could really do with her in her life now.
This is an awesome read. It's not often I shed a tear when reading but I did with this one - alongside giggling and laughing and every other emotion. The author has really excelled herself with this novel, it is terrifically enjoyable and touches quite a few heartstrings along the way. I chose this as my group challenge for February - a book with two or 2 in the title or second in series - and I would recommend it to everyone. It will lift your spirit and make your heart lighter, trust me. A full five sparkling stars, no doubt about it. *****
July 24, 2024
A Prime kindle freebie that fit Galentines Day well.
A heart warming, but predictable read that was a great palet cleanser after 2 heavier reads (despite the fact the themes in this were fairly heavy).
A few character relationships felt rushed and a little pointless, and a couple of unfinished storylines, but all in all, not too shabby.
A heart warming, but predictable read that was a great palet cleanser after 2 heavier reads (despite the fact the themes in this were fairly heavy).
A few character relationships felt rushed and a little pointless, and a couple of unfinished storylines, but all in all, not too shabby.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews