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When You Walked Back Into My Life
For eight years Flora's love affair with Fin was a whirlwind of fun and spontaneity - but when Flora wanted to settle down and have children, Fin vanished.
Life moved on and Flora's world filled with other people, other cares. There were benefits to being single - no socks under the bed, no mess in the bathroom - even if the memory of Fin could never be completely erased.
But then suddenly, shockingly, Fin reappears. He's a changed man, he says, and her wants her back. Is this a chance to put right the wrongs? Or a massive mistake?
Life moved on and Flora's world filled with other people, other cares. There were benefits to being single - no socks under the bed, no mess in the bathroom - even if the memory of Fin could never be completely erased.
But then suddenly, shockingly, Fin reappears. He's a changed man, he says, and her wants her back. Is this a chance to put right the wrongs? Or a massive mistake?
424 pages, Paperback
First published October 10, 2013
72 people are currently reading
869 people want to read
About the author
Hilary Boyd
39 books132 followersBoyd was born and spent the first six months of her life in Prestatyn, North Wales, where her father, an army major, was stationed after the war. She was later educated in London, then at the boarding school Roedean. She trained as a nurse at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, and subsequently as a marriage guidance counsellor with Relate before reading English Literature at London University in her late 30s.
After college, Boyd became a health journalist, writing about depression, step-parenting and pregnancy. She began writing fiction as a hobby whilst raising three children and working at various day jobs including running a cancer charity, Survive Cancer, working for an engineering company, and an online vitamin site.
After college, Boyd became a health journalist, writing about depression, step-parenting and pregnancy. She began writing fiction as a hobby whilst raising three children and working at various day jobs including running a cancer charity, Survive Cancer, working for an engineering company, and an online vitamin site.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
October 19, 2024
This. Book. Made. Me. So. MAD.
So, hear me out... Half of this book is a delight and the other half will make you want to tear the book in two. Of course, that's if you are like me... And you necessarily aren't... But to say this book had me raging and frustrated is an understatement. I wanted to DNF this book SO BAD but I really liked the older woman, Dorothea, and I needed to know her fate in the book... But Fin? Get out of here.
Flora and Fin were together for eight years and they've decided to settle down. And then, Fin vanishes. Lives moves on and of course, Fin shows up years later and wants her back. She's barely survived - she's moved into her sister's basement, has taken a job taking care of an older woman and can barely pay her bills, and might have gotten over her depression (but let's be real, her reaction to Fin... she didn't get over him).
Fin is a top tier loser. He sucks. There's no redeeming qualities about this guy. There's other characters too and you'll realize how crappy, dirt, and garbage they are too as you read on. And it made me so disgusted and frustrating. I didn't want to feel like THAT with this book. I expected... light and fluffy? And man, did I NOT get that.
And then the ending just kind of pops out of nowhere and doesn't feel like it belonged with the rest of the story. It was... odd.
Safe to say, not a fan. Hilary Boyd's writing style is awesome and she had a lovely, touching story between all of the ridiculous Fin moments, which is why I stayed.
But Fin can suck an egg.
One out of five stars.
So, hear me out... Half of this book is a delight and the other half will make you want to tear the book in two. Of course, that's if you are like me... And you necessarily aren't... But to say this book had me raging and frustrated is an understatement. I wanted to DNF this book SO BAD but I really liked the older woman, Dorothea, and I needed to know her fate in the book... But Fin? Get out of here.
Flora and Fin were together for eight years and they've decided to settle down. And then, Fin vanishes. Lives moves on and of course, Fin shows up years later and wants her back. She's barely survived - she's moved into her sister's basement, has taken a job taking care of an older woman and can barely pay her bills, and might have gotten over her depression (but let's be real, her reaction to Fin... she didn't get over him).
Fin is a top tier loser. He sucks. There's no redeeming qualities about this guy. There's other characters too and you'll realize how crappy, dirt, and garbage they are too as you read on. And it made me so disgusted and frustrating. I didn't want to feel like THAT with this book. I expected... light and fluffy? And man, did I NOT get that.
And then the ending just kind of pops out of nowhere and doesn't feel like it belonged with the rest of the story. It was... odd.
Safe to say, not a fan. Hilary Boyd's writing style is awesome and she had a lovely, touching story between all of the ridiculous Fin moments, which is why I stayed.
But Fin can suck an egg.
One out of five stars.
December 22, 2013
I found this novel to be mildly entertaining, but no great work of literature. I could see all the plot twists and revelations coming a mile off, and began to get impatient, waiting for things I had guessed at already to be revealed. The pace of this was too slow for me, and I found myself skipping ahead and missing chunks of the book. Perhaps because of this, I was unconvinced by some of the characters, and the love story.
October 28, 2013
I loved this book and the characters with all their faults .Read it in 3 days as couldn't put it down and would definitely like to read more by this author in future.Brilliant.
April 8, 2015
Having read and loved Thursdays in the Park, Hilary Boyd’s first novel, I was excited to pick this one up from the library recently. I loved the cover and couldn’t wait to read it. I happily settled down to what I was sure would be a good read. Sad to say, those feelings did not last long. For the first while I was right there with Flora but as the book progressed I spent most of time wondering, ’Why am I still reading this book?’ Or feeling like throwing it across the room.
The problems for me were the characters primarily. I found them aggravating. Flora nearly drove me crazy the way she overlooked Fin’s obvious faults. In my opinion, Fin was a loser from the beginning and was never going to change. Fin and Flora had spent eight years together before he suddenly walked out without any explanation. Then he comes back into her life. Should he get a second chance? Debatable. Do I believe in second chances? Yes I do. But not in this case. I didn’t understand at all what Flora loved about Fin. For my view, he had no redeeming features. As for Flora’s sister, the less said about her the better. The character I did like was the very elderly patient Dorothea, Flora was nursing. Wanting to see if she was being abused by a carer kept me reading for much of the book. I also liked Flora’s young niece Bel.
I wasn’t convinced by the ending either. Just a little too convenient and neat. Other readers but have a different view but I finished the book extremely disappointed. Will it stop me reading another book by this author? Probably not. See, I do believe in second chances! Hilary Boyd is a better writer than this book showed.Sad to say, only one and a half stars for me on this book.
The problems for me were the characters primarily. I found them aggravating. Flora nearly drove me crazy the way she overlooked Fin’s obvious faults. In my opinion, Fin was a loser from the beginning and was never going to change. Fin and Flora had spent eight years together before he suddenly walked out without any explanation. Then he comes back into her life. Should he get a second chance? Debatable. Do I believe in second chances? Yes I do. But not in this case. I didn’t understand at all what Flora loved about Fin. For my view, he had no redeeming features. As for Flora’s sister, the less said about her the better. The character I did like was the very elderly patient Dorothea, Flora was nursing. Wanting to see if she was being abused by a carer kept me reading for much of the book. I also liked Flora’s young niece Bel.
I wasn’t convinced by the ending either. Just a little too convenient and neat. Other readers but have a different view but I finished the book extremely disappointed. Will it stop me reading another book by this author? Probably not. See, I do believe in second chances! Hilary Boyd is a better writer than this book showed.Sad to say, only one and a half stars for me on this book.
April 30, 2014
After reading a terrifyingly creepy novel, I needed something lighter and opted for this. I hadn't heard of Hilary Boyd before so didn't know what to expect.
I absolutely loved it, I was hooked from page one. Yes it's obvious from early on what is going to happen but I didn't care at all. I just loved Flora, Dorothea, Simon, Mary and Bel.
From the start we learn that the love of Flora's life (Fin) vanished 3 years ago with absolutely no explanation whatsoever. She spent a year being severely depressed because of it and is now living in the basement flat of her sister Prue's house in London. She had previously been a nurse in A&E but for the past two years has worked as a private nurse for the elderly and very frail, Dorothea.
As you can gather from the title of the book, Fin casually walks back into Flora's life and expects to take up where they left off. Flora is torn between her complete and total love for for Fin and the heartache he caused her 3 years previously.
The relationship between Dorothea and Flora is more than just nurse and patient; there is a very strong bond between them and Flora is devoted to Dorothea.
I wept terribly towards the end of the book and didn't really want if to end.
I am now seeking out Hilary Boyd's previous novels as I don't want to miss out on any more of her wonderful books.
Highly recommended.
I absolutely loved it, I was hooked from page one. Yes it's obvious from early on what is going to happen but I didn't care at all. I just loved Flora, Dorothea, Simon, Mary and Bel.
From the start we learn that the love of Flora's life (Fin) vanished 3 years ago with absolutely no explanation whatsoever. She spent a year being severely depressed because of it and is now living in the basement flat of her sister Prue's house in London. She had previously been a nurse in A&E but for the past two years has worked as a private nurse for the elderly and very frail, Dorothea.
As you can gather from the title of the book, Fin casually walks back into Flora's life and expects to take up where they left off. Flora is torn between her complete and total love for for Fin and the heartache he caused her 3 years previously.
The relationship between Dorothea and Flora is more than just nurse and patient; there is a very strong bond between them and Flora is devoted to Dorothea.
I wept terribly towards the end of the book and didn't really want if to end.
I am now seeking out Hilary Boyd's previous novels as I don't want to miss out on any more of her wonderful books.
Highly recommended.
July 25, 2018
Flora has been in a relationship for eight years with Fin and was woken up with a start as her boyfriend Fin had not come home. She automatically tried his mobile phone but got no answer. Flora tried the hospital and went to the police desperately trying find him. As time went by with no Fin appearing Flora fell into deep depression.
But when Flora is shopping in a London supermarket she bumbs into Fin.
Hilary Boyd is one of my favourite authors .
But when Flora is shopping in a London supermarket she bumbs into Fin.
Hilary Boyd is one of my favourite authors .
February 3, 2019
Having re-read this book I still love it as much as the first time of reading it. The book didn't focus too much on romance it was mostly about the hardships in life; we face and how we learn from them. Touching on subjects of grief, depression, love and the fact that its okay to have our flaws because we learn from them.
November 16, 2014
I read this as an audiobook and found that the narrator really couldn't do male voices, which really distracted from the story. She also made most people sound like they were from the 1920s.
3 years ago, Flora spiraled into depression after her boyfriend Finn of 8 years suddenly left her with no explanations as to why. Now,working as a private nurse for an old lady and living in the basement flat of her sisters house, Finn reappears claiming he has changed and wanting her back...
All of the characters annoyed me and seemed to be caricatures-Flora was a complete doormat.Not a great book, but a quick read.
3 years ago, Flora spiraled into depression after her boyfriend Finn of 8 years suddenly left her with no explanations as to why. Now,working as a private nurse for an old lady and living in the basement flat of her sisters house, Finn reappears claiming he has changed and wanting her back...
All of the characters annoyed me and seemed to be caricatures-Flora was a complete doormat.Not a great book, but a quick read.
January 28, 2015
I am actually rooting for Simon since the start of the story. hahaha
P.S. I'm a bit offended how the Filipina nurse, mentioned in the story, acts towards her patient, as i am nurse myself. tsk3!
P.S. I'm a bit offended how the Filipina nurse, mentioned in the story, acts towards her patient, as i am nurse myself. tsk3!
July 7, 2022
predictable, boring. came halfway and already understood what’s going to happen in the end. i liked the relationship between flora and dorothea.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2023
I found the central relationship in this book (flora and fin) so annoying that it was hard to read. The HEA was extremely rushed, and because it hadn’t been developed very much it felt sort of unrealistic. Flora is treated like such crap by the people in her life, and she is so slow to react to it that I found it kinda of a drag to read.
February 23, 2014
I really enjoyed reading this book. You immediately feel for Flora and ultimately end up wishing she could see sense. The only thing I struggled to believe with this book was Flora and Fins ages - my mind just wouldn't believe they weren't in their late twenties to early thirties. A great style of writing.
August 31, 2014
I thought chick lit would make for lighthearted reading but this book is really depressing. it talks about the bad human characteristics as well as growing old and dying.
I picked up this book cause I wanted a break away from stress but I felt even more depressed and frustrated after reading it.
as for the main female character, I felt shes completely characterless and weak.
I picked up this book cause I wanted a break away from stress but I felt even more depressed and frustrated after reading it.
as for the main female character, I felt shes completely characterless and weak.
August 12, 2015
Very disappointing book, read after having enjoyed her previous book, Thursdays in the Park. Fin, the love interest, was the most annoying person and you could not imagine why he was allowed to 're-enter Flora's life. Her relationship with Dorothea was touching and her niece, Bel, came across as believable. The book was too long and very predictable.
July 30, 2014
After reading and enjoying Thursdays in the Park,I thought I'd give her new book a go. It was ok as far as an easy read goes,but it didnt keep me captivated and some of the plot lines were a bit unbelievable at times.
Nothing to write home about!
Nothing to write home about!
October 15, 2016
I enjoyed the unpredictability of this story and I really rooted for Flora to get her life on track and to reach the elusive HEA. This book was a lot less romance and more about other relationships we have; the twists and turns you encounter in life and how they define you. 3.5 stars
November 16, 2020
Review: When You Walked Back Into My Life - Hilary Boyd
Well this happened. I picked up this book and then it was over. 4 hours and 424 pages later and the story was done.
What a ride. Flora enjoyed eight years of bliss with Fin McCrea but when she mentions children he vanishes. Litrally walks out of her life, no note, no phone call, nothing.
Three years later and she's living in her sisters basement and privately nursing for an elderly lady at the end of her life and Fin walks back into her life, apparently a changed man.
The nursing side really resonated with me, it actually says in the book that she has an easy gig with private nursing as most people who are old rather than ill are looked after by carers, who are paid much less.
Being a carer myself I loved how the relationship with her patient was explored and the effect her job has on her loved ones. People's attitudes towards a job like caring were also explored in a very realistic way I thought.
I'm not going to say too much about the romance because spoilers but anyone who's ever been through a traumatic break up will resonate with the emotions Flora goes through.
Well this happened. I picked up this book and then it was over. 4 hours and 424 pages later and the story was done.
What a ride. Flora enjoyed eight years of bliss with Fin McCrea but when she mentions children he vanishes. Litrally walks out of her life, no note, no phone call, nothing.
Three years later and she's living in her sisters basement and privately nursing for an elderly lady at the end of her life and Fin walks back into her life, apparently a changed man.
The nursing side really resonated with me, it actually says in the book that she has an easy gig with private nursing as most people who are old rather than ill are looked after by carers, who are paid much less.
Being a carer myself I loved how the relationship with her patient was explored and the effect her job has on her loved ones. People's attitudes towards a job like caring were also explored in a very realistic way I thought.
I'm not going to say too much about the romance because spoilers but anyone who's ever been through a traumatic break up will resonate with the emotions Flora goes through.
January 3, 2018
Read this in English. It was surprisingly ok for a chick-lit light read. The story wasn't too predictable and the characters were very lifelike and relatable. It was about a woman who worked taking care of an elderly lady and lived in the basement of her sisters home. That was because she had a mental breakdown a few years ago when her boyfriend just disappeared and left her without a note or anything. She plunged into deep depression and now is just about climbed out of that deep hole. And what happens, her ex, Fin, just reappears in a grocery store, and he wants back into her life...What will she do? Can you guess?
July 16, 2021
Varētu teikt - 3 ar pusi zvaigznes.
Mierīga grāmata, bet interesanti lasīt - par attiecībās, raksturiem, emocijām, mīlestību tās dažādajos veidos un izpausmēs. Par cilvēkiem. Patika izlasīt, kā arī spēja aizraut.
Vienīgais, kas man negāja kopā - kad izlasīju, ka Finam ir gandrīz 50 gadi. Matemātiski jau tur viss loģiski un pareizi sanāk, bet viņa uzvedība bija kā vēl nenobriedušam cilvēkam. Grūti šo uzvedību bija saistīt kopā ar tēla vecumu. Tomēr tā jau varbūt ir, ka daži cilvēki nekad nepieaug (un tas nav domāts labā nozīmē :D).
Mierīga grāmata, bet interesanti lasīt - par attiecībās, raksturiem, emocijām, mīlestību tās dažādajos veidos un izpausmēs. Par cilvēkiem. Patika izlasīt, kā arī spēja aizraut.
Vienīgais, kas man negāja kopā - kad izlasīju, ka Finam ir gandrīz 50 gadi. Matemātiski jau tur viss loģiski un pareizi sanāk, bet viņa uzvedība bija kā vēl nenobriedušam cilvēkam. Grūti šo uzvedību bija saistīt kopā ar tēla vecumu. Tomēr tā jau varbūt ir, ka daži cilvēki nekad nepieaug (un tas nav domāts labā nozīmē :D).
February 26, 2023
Its February so I thought a romance novel would be appropriate and I wasn’t disappointed. This is a romance novel rooted in reality which I loved.
The relationship between Flora and Finn was interesting in the way it developed throughout the book. The relationship between Flora and her sister is more controlling.
I enjoyed the book, and the author kept me wanting to read the book so much so that I read it in two sittings.
An enjoyable read for those that want a real romance book with a feel-good ending.
The relationship between Flora and Finn was interesting in the way it developed throughout the book. The relationship between Flora and her sister is more controlling.
I enjoyed the book, and the author kept me wanting to read the book so much so that I read it in two sittings.
An enjoyable read for those that want a real romance book with a feel-good ending.
May 25, 2019
Another good book
Third book read since finding this writer. Not the usual sort of romance type book I favour but I love the clever way she weaves her story lines. I wanted to shake Flora into some sense about Flin but as usual you never really know what will happen even though you wish how it would end!
Third book read since finding this writer. Not the usual sort of romance type book I favour but I love the clever way she weaves her story lines. I wanted to shake Flora into some sense about Flin but as usual you never really know what will happen even though you wish how it would end!
August 8, 2024
I love this book. I find it quite sentimental; I have been involved in care and nursing myself. It perfectly describes the relationship between the patient and the carer. Whilst I know this is a love story, which is fab in itself, I love the relationships around the main story. This is my second time reading this book and would happily read it again. ❤️
October 25, 2017
I previously read Thursdays in the Park by this author, which led me to read and review this book. It’s a romance set in London, which deals with the issues of love, loss and moving on, it was well written and a nice story I would recommend.
October 4, 2018
Best de moeite van het lezen waard maar had ook in minder bladzijden gepast
Sommige dingen repeteren zichzelf , jammer want is wel boeiend geschreven maar door dat langdradig uitmeten heb je de neiging bladzijdes over te slaan
Sommige dingen repeteren zichzelf , jammer want is wel boeiend geschreven maar door dat langdradig uitmeten heb je de neiging bladzijdes over te slaan
March 15, 2022
great read
Although you knew where the story was going it was written in such a way you wanted to keep reading so the outcome was what you wanted it to be. Hope to read more by this author.
Although you knew where the story was going it was written in such a way you wanted to keep reading so the outcome was what you wanted it to be. Hope to read more by this author.
August 24, 2023
I needed some light reading and am usually a fan of Hilary Boyd’s books but I didn’t gel with the storyline from the start, finding the characters jarring and the return of the love interest unconvincing.
December 31, 2018
A great light read.
February 14, 2019
This was an enjoyable book that was easy to read. The storylines were predictable but there were some twists and turns along the way.
June 7, 2019
Page Turner
Enjoyable easy read.
Flora 's character has an appealing nature, that you want to be happy. Easy to work out the plot.
Enjoyable easy read.
Flora 's character has an appealing nature, that you want to be happy. Easy to work out the plot.
April 26, 2020
Very good enjoyed it and an easy read in troubled times
Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews