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The Long and Winding Road: My Autobiography
Lesley Pearse writes brilliantly about survivors. Why? Because she is one herself . . .
Born during the Second World War, Lesley’s innocence came to an abrupt end when a neighbour found her, aged 3, coatless in the snow. The mother she’d been unable to wake had been dead for days. Sent to an orphanage, Lesley soon learned adults couldn’t always be trusted.
As a teenager in the swinging sixties, she took herself to London. Here, the second great tragedy of her life occurred. Falling pregnant, she was sent to a mother and baby home, and watched helplessly as her newborn was taken from her.
But like so many of her generation, Lesley had to carry on. She was, after all, a true survivor. Marriage and children followed – and all the while she nurtured a dream: to be a writer. Yet it wasn’t until at the age of 48 that her stories – of women struggling in a difficult world – found a publisher, and the bestseller lists beckoned.
As heartbreaking as it is heartwarming, Lesley’s story really is A Long and Winding Road with surprises and uplifting hope around every corner . . .
Born during the Second World War, Lesley’s innocence came to an abrupt end when a neighbour found her, aged 3, coatless in the snow. The mother she’d been unable to wake had been dead for days. Sent to an orphanage, Lesley soon learned adults couldn’t always be trusted.
As a teenager in the swinging sixties, she took herself to London. Here, the second great tragedy of her life occurred. Falling pregnant, she was sent to a mother and baby home, and watched helplessly as her newborn was taken from her.
But like so many of her generation, Lesley had to carry on. She was, after all, a true survivor. Marriage and children followed – and all the while she nurtured a dream: to be a writer. Yet it wasn’t until at the age of 48 that her stories – of women struggling in a difficult world – found a publisher, and the bestseller lists beckoned.
As heartbreaking as it is heartwarming, Lesley’s story really is A Long and Winding Road with surprises and uplifting hope around every corner . . .
351 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2024
353 people are currently reading
449 people want to read
About the author
Lesley Pearse
52 books2,231 followersLesley Pearse is one of the UK's best-loved novelists with fans across the globe and sales of over 2 million copies of her books to date. A true storyteller and a master of gripping storylines that keep the reader hooked from beginning to end, Pearse introduces you to characters that it is impossible not to care about or forget. There is no formula to her books or easily defined genre. Whether crime as in 'Till We Meet Again', historical adventure like 'Never Look Back', or the passionately emotive 'Trust Me', based on the true-life scandal of British child migrants sent to Australia in the post war period, she engages the reader completely.
Truth is often stranger than fiction and Lesley's life has been as packed with drama as her books. She was three when her mother died under tragic circumstances. Her father was away at sea and it was only when a neighbour saw Lesley and her brother playing outside without coats on that suspicion was aroused - their mother had been dead for some time. With her father in the Royal Marines, Lesley and her older brother spent three years in grim orphanages before her father remarried - a veritable dragon of an ex army nurse - and Lesley and her older brother were brought home again, to be joined by two other children who were later adopted by her father and stepmother, and a continuing stream of foster children. The impact of constant change and uncertainty in Lesley's early years is reflected in one of the recurring themes in her books: what happens to those who are emotionally damaged as children. It was an extraordinary childhood and in all her books, Lesley has skilfully married the pain and unhappiness of her early experiences with a unique gift for storytelling.
Truth is often stranger than fiction and Lesley's life has been as packed with drama as her books. She was three when her mother died under tragic circumstances. Her father was away at sea and it was only when a neighbour saw Lesley and her brother playing outside without coats on that suspicion was aroused - their mother had been dead for some time. With her father in the Royal Marines, Lesley and her older brother spent three years in grim orphanages before her father remarried - a veritable dragon of an ex army nurse - and Lesley and her older brother were brought home again, to be joined by two other children who were later adopted by her father and stepmother, and a continuing stream of foster children. The impact of constant change and uncertainty in Lesley's early years is reflected in one of the recurring themes in her books: what happens to those who are emotionally damaged as children. It was an extraordinary childhood and in all her books, Lesley has skilfully married the pain and unhappiness of her early experiences with a unique gift for storytelling.
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February 8, 2024
Born during the Second World War, Lesley's innocence came to an abrupt end when her neighbour found her, age three, coatless in the snow. The mother she'd been unable to wake had been dead for days. Sent to an orphanage, Lesley soon learned adults couldn't always be trusted. As a teenager in the swinging sixties, she took herself to London. Here, the second great tragedy of her life occurred. Falling pregnant, she was sent to a mother-and-baby home and watched helplessly as her baby was taken from her.
I've loved all of Lesley Pearse's fiction books, so when I saw this book, a story of her life, I knew I had to read it too. What's happened in her past has made her a strong, independent woman, and made her dreams a reality. Lesley has left no stone unturned as she tells us everything, warts and all, about her life. Some of the things she had to endure were upsetting, brutal, unbelievable, interesting, unpredictable, open and honest. Lesley also tells us how she started writing and her determination to become a published author despite the many obstacles that stood in her way.
I would like to thank #NetGaley #MichaelJoseph #PenguinRandomHouse and the author #LesleyPearse for my ARC of #TheLongAndWindingRoad in exchange for an honest review.
I've loved all of Lesley Pearse's fiction books, so when I saw this book, a story of her life, I knew I had to read it too. What's happened in her past has made her a strong, independent woman, and made her dreams a reality. Lesley has left no stone unturned as she tells us everything, warts and all, about her life. Some of the things she had to endure were upsetting, brutal, unbelievable, interesting, unpredictable, open and honest. Lesley also tells us how she started writing and her determination to become a published author despite the many obstacles that stood in her way.
I would like to thank #NetGaley #MichaelJoseph #PenguinRandomHouse and the author #LesleyPearse for my ARC of #TheLongAndWindingRoad in exchange for an honest review.
March 3, 2024
Truth is stranger than fiction.
For someone who isn’t really interested in autobiography, I found The Long and Winding Road an absolute belter of a read! Lesley Pearse might be known for writing riveting domestic dramas, but her own life outstrips them all.
What works so well here is the conversational style Lesley Pearse uses. It is as if she is speaking directly and confidentially to the reader alone, making them feel special in the process. Her style is so engaging and The Long and Winding Road opens every bit as dramatically as any of the author’s fiction. It’s one of those books the reader consumes with wide eyes and jaw dropped because the events that befell Lesley were incredible. It seems fitting that her father was once in the navy as the structure of this memoir is very much like being on a stormy sea with great peaks and troughs to the waves of writing and experience.
In amongst the most revealing, honest and heartfelt prose are some fabulous throw away lines that simply stop the reader in their tracks and bring not only Lesley’s existence, but the eras she’s writing about, into sharp focus. Societal attitudes have played a huge part in Lesley Pearse’s life and reading The Long and Winding Road left me with huge admiration for her as a person as well as an author. Indeed, the passages relating to her pregnancy when she was nineteen and what has happened since reduced me to tears.
I loved the references to her fiction titles and how she has drawn on some of her own experiences to create character and plot. I’d like to say more about this aspect, but The Long and Winding Road is every bit as twisty, exciting and imbued with humanity and themes of feminism, poverty, self-resilience and grit as any of Lesley Pearse’s books and I really don’t want to spoil the read for others. What we have here is a person who presents herself with all her flaws and strengths and who makes her reader fall in love with her.
Reading The Long and Winding Road only served to confirm what I already knew – Lesley Pearse is a consummate story teller. However, it also proved that she is the most amazing woman too. As someone not a huge fan of autobiography I’d have to say that this is one simply not to be missed. It’s fabulous – even if it might put you off trifle!
For someone who isn’t really interested in autobiography, I found The Long and Winding Road an absolute belter of a read! Lesley Pearse might be known for writing riveting domestic dramas, but her own life outstrips them all.
What works so well here is the conversational style Lesley Pearse uses. It is as if she is speaking directly and confidentially to the reader alone, making them feel special in the process. Her style is so engaging and The Long and Winding Road opens every bit as dramatically as any of the author’s fiction. It’s one of those books the reader consumes with wide eyes and jaw dropped because the events that befell Lesley were incredible. It seems fitting that her father was once in the navy as the structure of this memoir is very much like being on a stormy sea with great peaks and troughs to the waves of writing and experience.
In amongst the most revealing, honest and heartfelt prose are some fabulous throw away lines that simply stop the reader in their tracks and bring not only Lesley’s existence, but the eras she’s writing about, into sharp focus. Societal attitudes have played a huge part in Lesley Pearse’s life and reading The Long and Winding Road left me with huge admiration for her as a person as well as an author. Indeed, the passages relating to her pregnancy when she was nineteen and what has happened since reduced me to tears.
I loved the references to her fiction titles and how she has drawn on some of her own experiences to create character and plot. I’d like to say more about this aspect, but The Long and Winding Road is every bit as twisty, exciting and imbued with humanity and themes of feminism, poverty, self-resilience and grit as any of Lesley Pearse’s books and I really don’t want to spoil the read for others. What we have here is a person who presents herself with all her flaws and strengths and who makes her reader fall in love with her.
Reading The Long and Winding Road only served to confirm what I already knew – Lesley Pearse is a consummate story teller. However, it also proved that she is the most amazing woman too. As someone not a huge fan of autobiography I’d have to say that this is one simply not to be missed. It’s fabulous – even if it might put you off trifle!
February 8, 2024
Lesley Pearce’s extraordinary biography really is “A Long and Winding Road”. It’s captivating, honest and heartbreaking. Her style of writing is immediately draws you in. Lesley Pearce shares the high and lows of her life. She has suffered more than her fair share of setbacks and heartbreak. But her strength of character, her “never give up” attitude, and her courage in the face of adversity are to be applauded.
I especially enjoyed reading about the author’s life in the swinging 1960s and her references to music from the era. There are many layers to Lesley which she shares with us. There’s the fun loving party girl, the struggling single mother, and a daughter whose abandoned by her family. She shares many fascinating memories with us, including ones about her eclectic bunch of friends.
Thankfully for us, the hardships, traumas, close friends, and lovers from these early days are the inspiration for her novels. The author sounds very down to earth, despite selling over ten million books worldwide. Her rise to best seller author is glossed over. Many self written biographies are quick to highlight every single achievement they ever made (and that can get so boring) Lesley’s made a refreshing change from the norm. I really enjoyed A Long and Winding Road. It’s an uplifting story of Lesley’s fight against the odds to achieve her dreams.
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I especially enjoyed reading about the author’s life in the swinging 1960s and her references to music from the era. There are many layers to Lesley which she shares with us. There’s the fun loving party girl, the struggling single mother, and a daughter whose abandoned by her family. She shares many fascinating memories with us, including ones about her eclectic bunch of friends.
Thankfully for us, the hardships, traumas, close friends, and lovers from these early days are the inspiration for her novels. The author sounds very down to earth, despite selling over ten million books worldwide. Her rise to best seller author is glossed over. Many self written biographies are quick to highlight every single achievement they ever made (and that can get so boring) Lesley’s made a refreshing change from the norm. I really enjoyed A Long and Winding Road. It’s an uplifting story of Lesley’s fight against the odds to achieve her dreams.
You can follow me at
Blog: https://thebookreviewcafe.wordpress.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebookrevi...
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@reviewcafe
September 29, 2025
Brilliant. I’d never read this author but if she writes anything like her autobiography I will seek out her books. More to follow …
This was a fabulous and very interesting autobiography and if I wasn’t so tired I could have stayed up all night reading it. Lesley had led such a tumultuous life but she kept on going no matter what was thrown at her. From an early life she learnt how to cope after losing her mum at age 3 then being put into an orphanage and rebelling the system. This gave her trust issues with her failed marriages and how she somehow managed to bounce back up as she had such a good resilience despite all she’s been through.
The swinging 60s in London was a highlight for her but this with alcohol and drugs led to become pregnant ending up in one of those types of homes we’d rather not talk about. It was a time of freedom for many but it soon caught up.
She had many jobs as it was easier then to find work. Even when she couldn’t find a job she sewed for people and sold items at a market. A true survivor to be admired even if she was rather foolish at times she got to become the author she always wanted to be. All her books are based on things that either happened to her or about people she’d met along the way … with a little bit of fiction thrown in. I’ll have to read some and hopefully her novels are as good as this.
This was a fabulous and very interesting autobiography and if I wasn’t so tired I could have stayed up all night reading it. Lesley had led such a tumultuous life but she kept on going no matter what was thrown at her. From an early life she learnt how to cope after losing her mum at age 3 then being put into an orphanage and rebelling the system. This gave her trust issues with her failed marriages and how she somehow managed to bounce back up as she had such a good resilience despite all she’s been through.
The swinging 60s in London was a highlight for her but this with alcohol and drugs led to become pregnant ending up in one of those types of homes we’d rather not talk about. It was a time of freedom for many but it soon caught up.
She had many jobs as it was easier then to find work. Even when she couldn’t find a job she sewed for people and sold items at a market. A true survivor to be admired even if she was rather foolish at times she got to become the author she always wanted to be. All her books are based on things that either happened to her or about people she’d met along the way … with a little bit of fiction thrown in. I’ll have to read some and hopefully her novels are as good as this.
February 10, 2024
What a life Lesley Pearce has lived! This book had me captivated with her honest account of her life.
We travel from her childhood to the present day she encountered so many trials but still managed to forge on determined to succeed and at the age of 48 she realised her dream of being an author.
There is no doubt that her stories which are so honest come from the heart and life experiences.
A Long and Winding Road is the perfect title for Lesley’s memoir. An uplifting novel which shows that with determination you can fulfil your dreams even when the odds are stacked firmly against you.
We travel from her childhood to the present day she encountered so many trials but still managed to forge on determined to succeed and at the age of 48 she realised her dream of being an author.
There is no doubt that her stories which are so honest come from the heart and life experiences.
A Long and Winding Road is the perfect title for Lesley’s memoir. An uplifting novel which shows that with determination you can fulfil your dreams even when the odds are stacked firmly against you.
September 20, 2024
This was a fabulous story from start to finish. Highly recommend
May 14, 2025
4,5 ⭐️
Lesley Pearse é a minha autora favorita. O primeiro livro que li dela, "Nunca me Esqueças" em 2010 continua a ser o meu livro favorito de sempre. Em cada romance seu publicado há uma parte da vida da autora espelhada. Gostei muito de ler a sua autobiografia, conhecer a sua história de vida e ter ficado com uma admiração maior por esta senhora. Descobri ao longo da leitura que há certos romances que foram escritos há muitos anos que ainda não foram publicados em Portugal, espero que ainda venham a ser.
Lesley Pearse é a minha autora favorita. O primeiro livro que li dela, "Nunca me Esqueças" em 2010 continua a ser o meu livro favorito de sempre. Em cada romance seu publicado há uma parte da vida da autora espelhada. Gostei muito de ler a sua autobiografia, conhecer a sua história de vida e ter ficado com uma admiração maior por esta senhora. Descobri ao longo da leitura que há certos romances que foram escritos há muitos anos que ainda não foram publicados em Portugal, espero que ainda venham a ser.
May 16, 2025
Autobiografia da rainha de vendas de romances envolventes, históricos ou dramáticos, habitualmente com personagens femininas fortes. A vida desta senhora parece um dos seus livros pelas peripécias que lhe aconteceram. O que se destaca é a sua vontade de viver e resiliência, com o pano de fundo dos loucos anos 70. Não sendo propriamente uma obra prima, foi interessante ler sobre a autora.
February 24, 2024
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this absorbing book
oh my goodness me where to start.... well for one i dont think i have lived a life as full as this authors... ..
man oh man she went through the ringer, some good some bad.... what an experience and what a life....from the first chapter when lesley and her brother are found out in the snow with their mother dead in the house, being parted as their father cant at that time take them in and they are separated, the abuse by the nuns and then finally having a home with her father and stepmother
but its the heart breaking chapter about her time in the young mothers home and what they went through and her fight to keep her son that will haunt everyone
what a life and what a book that you cant put it down and the last chapter had me in floods of tears....
well worth a read
oh my goodness me where to start.... well for one i dont think i have lived a life as full as this authors... ..
man oh man she went through the ringer, some good some bad.... what an experience and what a life....from the first chapter when lesley and her brother are found out in the snow with their mother dead in the house, being parted as their father cant at that time take them in and they are separated, the abuse by the nuns and then finally having a home with her father and stepmother
but its the heart breaking chapter about her time in the young mothers home and what they went through and her fight to keep her son that will haunt everyone
what a life and what a book that you cant put it down and the last chapter had me in floods of tears....
well worth a read
March 4, 2025
Gosto muito de ler autobiografias. Ainda por cima quando é de pessoas influentes que me dizem muito.
Já li tantos livros da Lesley Pearse que já perdi a conta. É uma escritora que me diz muito por contar histórias impactantes e fortes. O que não esperava era que a sua história fosse também ela impactante e forte.
A vida de Lesley é surpreendente!
É, sem dúvida, uma mulher forte e resiliente. Viveu num orfanato, andou sozinha em Londres à procura de casa e trabalho, teve de dar um filho para adoção, casou e teve filhos. E, no meio de tudo isto, ainda manteve presente e tornou realidade o seu grande sonho: ser escritora.
Apesar de ter levado uma vida atribulada, Lesley Pearse, é, atualmente, um grande nome na literatura e uma verdadeira inspiração.
Grata X pela cedência deste exemplar. É tão bonito e ainda por cima com capa rija! Gostei bastante de ler um livro com um marcador de cordão!
Já li tantos livros da Lesley Pearse que já perdi a conta. É uma escritora que me diz muito por contar histórias impactantes e fortes. O que não esperava era que a sua história fosse também ela impactante e forte.
A vida de Lesley é surpreendente!
É, sem dúvida, uma mulher forte e resiliente. Viveu num orfanato, andou sozinha em Londres à procura de casa e trabalho, teve de dar um filho para adoção, casou e teve filhos. E, no meio de tudo isto, ainda manteve presente e tornou realidade o seu grande sonho: ser escritora.
Apesar de ter levado uma vida atribulada, Lesley Pearse, é, atualmente, um grande nome na literatura e uma verdadeira inspiração.
Grata X pela cedência deste exemplar. É tão bonito e ainda por cima com capa rija! Gostei bastante de ler um livro com um marcador de cordão!
March 8, 2025
Que livro!! Adorei cada página deste livro em que a escritora nos conta a sua vida cheia de voltas e reviravoltas, amor, perda, sonhos e força. Que nunca é tarde demais, que estamos sempre a tempo, imaginem a minha surpresa ao descobrir que só aos 48 anos conseguiu publicar o seu livro sendo hoje uma escritora de sucesso com vários livros publicados. Para trás ficou uma vida marcada por tanto mas tanto sofrimento, mas uma vida cheia cheia de tantas aventuras, fez de tudo, foi tudo, experimentou tudo. Que felicidade saber que conseguiu alcançar tudo aquilo que sonhou, incluindo o final inesperado que me deixou de lágrimas nos olhos! Obrigada por este livro incrível que nos mostra que a vida não são só rosas, mas que no final somos capazes mesmo de tudo! Ps: acabar este livro no dia internacional da mulher aquece o meu coração de uma maneira que nem tenho palavras! Obrigada por todas as mulheres como a Lesley que nos permitiram chegar onde estamos hoje.
February 7, 2025
Gostar de ler a escrita de determinada autora é sempre prazeroso. Pensamos sempre que tem uma mente brilhante e encantadora e que tem um dom. Mas e se essa escritora além do que já referi, tivesse mesmo vivido e interagido com pessoas que fazem parte das estórias que escreve? Que foram essas pessoas a sua inspiração?
Esta foi sem dúvida uma das autobiografias que mais amei ler e ganhei um respeito enorme pela história de vida de Lesley. É uma história tão bonita como dura (muito dura mesmo) e que assim que se começa a ler já não se consegue parar. Estamos agarrados à vida desta mulher, que nascida durante a WWII, viveu todas as vidas que haviam para viver. Antes de ser Lesley a escritora foi Lesley a faz-tudo, a que se desenrascou como podia, a que nunca baixou os braços mesmo quando tudo parecia perdido. Esta mulher além de ser uma inspiração é uma prova viva da sobrevivência e resistência, nunca desistindo do que sempre quis. Afinal ela teve 48 anos para contar e para inspirar todos os seus livros que salvo raras exceções são sempre maravilhosos. RECOMENDO sem qualquer dúvida esta leitura, para mim foi uma lufada de ar fresco e fez-me querer ler todas as suas obras que ainda não li.
@bibliotecamil_insta
Esta foi sem dúvida uma das autobiografias que mais amei ler e ganhei um respeito enorme pela história de vida de Lesley. É uma história tão bonita como dura (muito dura mesmo) e que assim que se começa a ler já não se consegue parar. Estamos agarrados à vida desta mulher, que nascida durante a WWII, viveu todas as vidas que haviam para viver. Antes de ser Lesley a escritora foi Lesley a faz-tudo, a que se desenrascou como podia, a que nunca baixou os braços mesmo quando tudo parecia perdido. Esta mulher além de ser uma inspiração é uma prova viva da sobrevivência e resistência, nunca desistindo do que sempre quis. Afinal ela teve 48 anos para contar e para inspirar todos os seus livros que salvo raras exceções são sempre maravilhosos. RECOMENDO sem qualquer dúvida esta leitura, para mim foi uma lufada de ar fresco e fez-me querer ler todas as suas obras que ainda não li.
@bibliotecamil_insta
March 5, 2024
Thank you Penguin for sending us a copy to read and review.
Bestselling UK author Lesley Pearse has been in the book biz for over 30 years.
Her historical fiction sagas have been praised around the world.
Lesley has lived a colourful life and her journey to where she is now is a story she could have written herself.
The Long And Winding Road is an honest and inspiring memoir about her own life experiences from her neglect as a child to her celebration of becoming a successful writer.
There’s many highs and lows through the years and some brutal but genuine times.
As well as humour, there’s the raw, the truth and the unbelievable.
A teenager in the 60s, enduring life, the good, the bad and the ugly and coming out the other end a survivor despite the hurdles in the way.
Lesley is one of my favourite authors and I’ve read the majority of her catalogue, except for four very earlier books.
I would have loved more about her books and the tales behind them.
A master at her craft she writes about strong female characters surviving from eras of long ago.
Heartbreaking at times but also uplifting and exhilarating.
Bestselling UK author Lesley Pearse has been in the book biz for over 30 years.
Her historical fiction sagas have been praised around the world.
Lesley has lived a colourful life and her journey to where she is now is a story she could have written herself.
The Long And Winding Road is an honest and inspiring memoir about her own life experiences from her neglect as a child to her celebration of becoming a successful writer.
There’s many highs and lows through the years and some brutal but genuine times.
As well as humour, there’s the raw, the truth and the unbelievable.
A teenager in the 60s, enduring life, the good, the bad and the ugly and coming out the other end a survivor despite the hurdles in the way.
Lesley is one of my favourite authors and I’ve read the majority of her catalogue, except for four very earlier books.
I would have loved more about her books and the tales behind them.
A master at her craft she writes about strong female characters surviving from eras of long ago.
Heartbreaking at times but also uplifting and exhilarating.
June 13, 2024
Remind me not to read any of her novels
January 20, 2024
An honest and at times very emotional read.Lesley Pearse has had a very colourful life and the hard times she's been through have made her into a very determined lady who's set out to make her dreams a reality and in doing so has given much pleasure to millions through her books.
A really good read. Recommended
Thanks to Michael Joseph,Penguin Random House for the ARC.
A really good read. Recommended
Thanks to Michael Joseph,Penguin Random House for the ARC.
August 27, 2025
I’ve always loved her books and have read each one of them, some more than once. When this book was released, not being a fan of non fiction, I decided to give it a miss. I decided to pick it up this year and I did not regret it at all. A glimpse into a life gives background to the type of books she writes and one can see where she drew from her life on her previous books. Absolutely loved it.
June 2, 2025
Demasiado confuso, demasiadas pessoas a aparecer e desaparecer e demasiado dramático. É possível uma vida ser recheada de tanta desgraça? No entanto, adorei a forma livre como a autora viveu sempre. Isso é fascinante.
January 24, 2024
Wow what a life she’s had it was great to read about the 60’s with hot pants etc it took me right back to myself and how naughty we were in those days we had the best of times. It was quite sad at times and really felt for her but now I know why she wrote such fantastic books which I have read, everyone of them.
I’m so glad I read it my daughter can’t wait to read it now as she loves all her books.
Thank you to Netgalley and Michael Joseph,Penguin Random House for an ARC
I’m so glad I read it my daughter can’t wait to read it now as she loves all her books.
Thank you to Netgalley and Michael Joseph,Penguin Random House for an ARC
January 11, 2026
Read this book in 4 days. Really enjoyed it. 🙂
February 6, 2024
I will start by saying I have never read any of Lesley Pearse's books so I came into this with little knowledge of the author or her style.
The writing of this book was very easy to read, very chatty and fast paced. The story of her life is certainly interesting with all sorts of highs and lows, and some extremely difficult experiences. Some of this was quite detailed, particularly in relation to her childhood and having to give her first child up for adoption, but much of it also felt a little like skimming the surface of events, such as her writing - she seemed to go from sitting up typing as her children slept to bestselling author in the blink of an eye! Her life sounds so full of events that perhaps there was too much to go into much detail, perhaps she was protecting people at times - it's her life story and obviously absolutely her right to decide how much detail to include or not, but it left me feeling a little removed from it at times.
An enjoyable read though.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.
The writing of this book was very easy to read, very chatty and fast paced. The story of her life is certainly interesting with all sorts of highs and lows, and some extremely difficult experiences. Some of this was quite detailed, particularly in relation to her childhood and having to give her first child up for adoption, but much of it also felt a little like skimming the surface of events, such as her writing - she seemed to go from sitting up typing as her children slept to bestselling author in the blink of an eye! Her life sounds so full of events that perhaps there was too much to go into much detail, perhaps she was protecting people at times - it's her life story and obviously absolutely her right to decide how much detail to include or not, but it left me feeling a little removed from it at times.
An enjoyable read though.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.
July 6, 2024
What an exhausting read! 350 pages of places, names, flats, famous people, family, more jobs than you can shake a stick at and a smattering of emotion. Have to admit to never having read any of Lesley’s books and after that frenetic life story, I’m probably unlikely to. But each to their own, and you have to admire her determination and indomitable spirit.
November 15, 2024
Time taken to read - 3 days (in and out as able)
Pages - 351
Publisher - Michael Joseph
Source - ARC
Blurb from Goodreads
One of the world’s bestselling storytellers, Lesley Pearse writes brilliantly about survivors. Why? Because she is one herself . . .
Born during the Second World War, Lesley’s innocence came to an abrupt end when a neighbour found her, aged 3, coatless in the snow. The mother she’d been unable to wake had been dead for days. Sent to an orphanage, Lesley soon learned adults couldn’t always be trusted.
As a teenager in the swinging sixties, she took herself to London. Here, the second great tragedy of her life occurred. Falling pregnant, she was sent to a mother and baby home, and watched helplessly as her newborn was taken from her.
But like so many of her generation, Lesley had to carry on. She was, after all, a true survivor. Marriage and children followed – and all the while she nurtured a dream: to be a writer. Yet it wasn’t until at the age of 48 that her stories – of women struggling in a difficult world – found a publisher, and the bestseller lists beckoned.
As heartbreaking as it is heartwarming, Lesley’s story really is A Long and Winding Road with surprises and uplifting hope around every corner . . .
My Review
Pearse has been writing books and taking us on adventures for years, now, this is her story and my what a life it has been so far. The tale opens so sad, her and her brother are found out in the garden, cold, no jackets and in the snow. Their mum having died a few days earlier, her and her brother are split up before finally being reunited with their dad, his new wife and new sister. We then follow Lesley's life growing up, experimenting, marriage, kids, drugs/dabbling, jobs and through to her writing journey and pretty much present day.
I think what makes this different to a lot of the other memoirs we have read is obviously Lesley's childhood, war/post war and growing up in such a different time. Then she has brushed shoulders with a few famous names and had quite a journey with a whole array of people/circumstances. Good people, not so good people, the nicer and not so nice examples of humanity.
There is quite a few emotive parts too, women getting pregnant back then and what happened to them with no husbands/fathers around. Forced adoptions and abuse of those vulnerable young ladies pregnant and their family having turned their backs on them. Pearse wasn't quite in that boat but did still find herself vulnerable and on a path that had lasting effects.
Also folk taking advantage in different situations, Pearse is nobody's fool but even she found herself on the disadvantage of circumstances. That made her push on and always come through but ooft I just wanted to reach out and hug her more than a few times. Honest, raw, emotive and so so many adventures - it is no wonder her books draw you in as she has such a wealth of experience and researches otherwise, she gives us a wee insight into her publishing journey and achievements also, 4.5/5 for me, what a woman!
Pages - 351
Publisher - Michael Joseph
Source - ARC
Blurb from Goodreads
One of the world’s bestselling storytellers, Lesley Pearse writes brilliantly about survivors. Why? Because she is one herself . . .
Born during the Second World War, Lesley’s innocence came to an abrupt end when a neighbour found her, aged 3, coatless in the snow. The mother she’d been unable to wake had been dead for days. Sent to an orphanage, Lesley soon learned adults couldn’t always be trusted.
As a teenager in the swinging sixties, she took herself to London. Here, the second great tragedy of her life occurred. Falling pregnant, she was sent to a mother and baby home, and watched helplessly as her newborn was taken from her.
But like so many of her generation, Lesley had to carry on. She was, after all, a true survivor. Marriage and children followed – and all the while she nurtured a dream: to be a writer. Yet it wasn’t until at the age of 48 that her stories – of women struggling in a difficult world – found a publisher, and the bestseller lists beckoned.
As heartbreaking as it is heartwarming, Lesley’s story really is A Long and Winding Road with surprises and uplifting hope around every corner . . .
My Review
Pearse has been writing books and taking us on adventures for years, now, this is her story and my what a life it has been so far. The tale opens so sad, her and her brother are found out in the garden, cold, no jackets and in the snow. Their mum having died a few days earlier, her and her brother are split up before finally being reunited with their dad, his new wife and new sister. We then follow Lesley's life growing up, experimenting, marriage, kids, drugs/dabbling, jobs and through to her writing journey and pretty much present day.
I think what makes this different to a lot of the other memoirs we have read is obviously Lesley's childhood, war/post war and growing up in such a different time. Then she has brushed shoulders with a few famous names and had quite a journey with a whole array of people/circumstances. Good people, not so good people, the nicer and not so nice examples of humanity.
There is quite a few emotive parts too, women getting pregnant back then and what happened to them with no husbands/fathers around. Forced adoptions and abuse of those vulnerable young ladies pregnant and their family having turned their backs on them. Pearse wasn't quite in that boat but did still find herself vulnerable and on a path that had lasting effects.
Also folk taking advantage in different situations, Pearse is nobody's fool but even she found herself on the disadvantage of circumstances. That made her push on and always come through but ooft I just wanted to reach out and hug her more than a few times. Honest, raw, emotive and so so many adventures - it is no wonder her books draw you in as she has such a wealth of experience and researches otherwise, she gives us a wee insight into her publishing journey and achievements also, 4.5/5 for me, what a woman!
February 20, 2024
I have read a few of Lesley's books and she is a wonderful author. This is not like her fictional works, but it is the story of her life.
Lesley was raised partly in an orphanage until her father remarried and she had a stepmother. Tensions were fraught and it did affect Lesley in later life, but it was not something she realised at the time.
Striking out on her own, Lesley moved and lived in various places, not very grand and often not very habitable. This was in the 60s and my goodness she has got a lot of stories from that period of her life. I get the feeling that even though she tells a lot there is a lot more that has been unsaid. Her time in this decade and the following ones read like something out of a fictional piece of the time or that you would expect to see on the screen. Lesley has had a colourful and also quite a frantic life and she is what I would call affectionately "a heller"!
Lesley has a wonderful way of sharing her story and it seems that she does not shy away from telling the bad as well as the good. I think the bad stuff has helped to shape her but as I mentioned earlier, it did not come without pain and future problems.
The author tells this wonderful tale of some of the best periods of her life and the things that have made her happy. Music was a big part of her life growing up and she does list various soundtracks that she reminisces over like milestones.
The young girl who was born during WWII has taken many different jobs and has lots of different talents and it seems she can turn her hand to most things. She has always been fond of stories and making tales up, but it took her until her late 40s before she finally got her first book published. This has led to some very unexpected doors being opened with some surprising entrances being made.
This is a wonderful book to read, it is full of fun and frivolity but balanced with more down-to-earth struggles of real-world problems. A real eye-opener for sure and one I would definitely recommend.
Lesley was raised partly in an orphanage until her father remarried and she had a stepmother. Tensions were fraught and it did affect Lesley in later life, but it was not something she realised at the time.
Striking out on her own, Lesley moved and lived in various places, not very grand and often not very habitable. This was in the 60s and my goodness she has got a lot of stories from that period of her life. I get the feeling that even though she tells a lot there is a lot more that has been unsaid. Her time in this decade and the following ones read like something out of a fictional piece of the time or that you would expect to see on the screen. Lesley has had a colourful and also quite a frantic life and she is what I would call affectionately "a heller"!
Lesley has a wonderful way of sharing her story and it seems that she does not shy away from telling the bad as well as the good. I think the bad stuff has helped to shape her but as I mentioned earlier, it did not come without pain and future problems.
The author tells this wonderful tale of some of the best periods of her life and the things that have made her happy. Music was a big part of her life growing up and she does list various soundtracks that she reminisces over like milestones.
The young girl who was born during WWII has taken many different jobs and has lots of different talents and it seems she can turn her hand to most things. She has always been fond of stories and making tales up, but it took her until her late 40s before she finally got her first book published. This has led to some very unexpected doors being opened with some surprising entrances being made.
This is a wonderful book to read, it is full of fun and frivolity but balanced with more down-to-earth struggles of real-world problems. A real eye-opener for sure and one I would definitely recommend.
January 16, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
I'm sure that all bibliophiles know of Lesley Pearse, but how many of us actually know who she is as a person rather than an author? I was super excited to receive this book.
Lesley mentions in this that her Father was called Sergeant Arthur Geoffrey Sargent, and that really made me smile as my late Nan's maiden name was Sargent, and so her Father at one time or another would have been Sergeant Sargent too.
She hasn't left anything out in this book, especially from her childhood. It's brutal and upsetting and unbelievable how she was treated and I just wanted to find this little Lesley and comfort her.
I haven't read a Lesley Pearse book in a very long time, but there was something about her writing in this that reminded me of Julie Owen Moylan's writing; this way of writing about human behaviour, especially female human behaviour.
My main criticism is there seemed to be an imbalance of stories. I don't want to call it a criticism really as it's her life story, she knows what she wants to write about, but as a personal comment, I felt it was very heavy on the childhood and upbringing and very light as an adult and a writer, and personally, I would have loved more about her later life and career.
I did find it became a bit fanciful at times. I know she can't help what happened in her life, and the fact that it sounded so unbelievable should have made it even stronger considering it's real. But at times I felt it was just listing one morose thing after another. It grabbed me instantly and I was enjoying it, and then the last 10% maybe I enjoyed, but it lost its way a bit for me in the middle sort of 30% or so. I was finding it a bit tiring to read and I wasn't enjoying it so much.
If it were a fiction book, I'd say the author has put too many things in it and it was becoming too heavy.
Having said all of that, I definitely think it will be an interesting read for Lesley Pearse fans.
I'm sure that all bibliophiles know of Lesley Pearse, but how many of us actually know who she is as a person rather than an author? I was super excited to receive this book.
Lesley mentions in this that her Father was called Sergeant Arthur Geoffrey Sargent, and that really made me smile as my late Nan's maiden name was Sargent, and so her Father at one time or another would have been Sergeant Sargent too.
She hasn't left anything out in this book, especially from her childhood. It's brutal and upsetting and unbelievable how she was treated and I just wanted to find this little Lesley and comfort her.
I haven't read a Lesley Pearse book in a very long time, but there was something about her writing in this that reminded me of Julie Owen Moylan's writing; this way of writing about human behaviour, especially female human behaviour.
My main criticism is there seemed to be an imbalance of stories. I don't want to call it a criticism really as it's her life story, she knows what she wants to write about, but as a personal comment, I felt it was very heavy on the childhood and upbringing and very light as an adult and a writer, and personally, I would have loved more about her later life and career.
I did find it became a bit fanciful at times. I know she can't help what happened in her life, and the fact that it sounded so unbelievable should have made it even stronger considering it's real. But at times I felt it was just listing one morose thing after another. It grabbed me instantly and I was enjoying it, and then the last 10% maybe I enjoyed, but it lost its way a bit for me in the middle sort of 30% or so. I was finding it a bit tiring to read and I wasn't enjoying it so much.
If it were a fiction book, I'd say the author has put too many things in it and it was becoming too heavy.
Having said all of that, I definitely think it will be an interesting read for Lesley Pearse fans.
February 29, 2024
This is certainly a first for me as I have probably only read 4 autobiographies in my lifetime but none of them were the lives of an author so The Long and Winding Road by Lesley Pearse was going to be a new insight for me.
I have loved all of the fictional books I have read by Lesley Pearse and having now read of her colourful and eventful life it is quite easy to see where she gets some of the ideas and inspiration behind her characters and the storylines she creates. She tells us how she was always making up stories as a child some would call it lies few would see it as storytelling.
I fell into this storyline with ease because I am currently living in Chatham and with the early years of Lesley’s childhood she was raised around Chatham and Rochester so a lot of the places she mentioned in her book I have discovered or heard of myself so it made me feel more connected to the storyline. One thing that really shocked me was how often Lesley moved home and not just home different areas too, I actually lost count of how many homes she has had but one thing that shines through is her determination because no matter what the reason for her next move she never seemed to sit and wallow she would storm forward and find her next home and job with defiance she really was quite admirable in this way.
Lesley is also very honest when it came to her relationships, children and drug taking which was all very unexpected and insightful and again where a lot of people may have crumbled Lesley seemed to have a decisive mind and fire in her belly to forge forward in her own way.
There wasn’t a lot about her writing or her publishing journey which I was kind of hoping to have a little more of a glimpse into but that aside I still found myself completely hooked on her every word and actually enjoyed this a lot more than I was expecting. It is quite something to now feel like you know the author behind the book in more light and I was quite fascinated by her and admired her determination.
I have loved all of the fictional books I have read by Lesley Pearse and having now read of her colourful and eventful life it is quite easy to see where she gets some of the ideas and inspiration behind her characters and the storylines she creates. She tells us how she was always making up stories as a child some would call it lies few would see it as storytelling.
I fell into this storyline with ease because I am currently living in Chatham and with the early years of Lesley’s childhood she was raised around Chatham and Rochester so a lot of the places she mentioned in her book I have discovered or heard of myself so it made me feel more connected to the storyline. One thing that really shocked me was how often Lesley moved home and not just home different areas too, I actually lost count of how many homes she has had but one thing that shines through is her determination because no matter what the reason for her next move she never seemed to sit and wallow she would storm forward and find her next home and job with defiance she really was quite admirable in this way.
Lesley is also very honest when it came to her relationships, children and drug taking which was all very unexpected and insightful and again where a lot of people may have crumbled Lesley seemed to have a decisive mind and fire in her belly to forge forward in her own way.
There wasn’t a lot about her writing or her publishing journey which I was kind of hoping to have a little more of a glimpse into but that aside I still found myself completely hooked on her every word and actually enjoyed this a lot more than I was expecting. It is quite something to now feel like you know the author behind the book in more light and I was quite fascinated by her and admired her determination.
January 21, 2024
Great real-life story from this fab fiction writer.
I've read quite a few of Lesley Pearse's fiction books; she certainly knows how to tell a good story, and will doubtless have drawn on her experiences when weaving her characters’ tales-but I was sure her own true life story would make even better reading. I've waited a long time for this author to write a memoir, and it was definitely worth waiting for.
It was interesting and intriguing, unpredictable, shocking, eye-opening, and honest. She tells of all the different jobs she has done. Some famous names are mentioned. There are some terrible, terrible circumstances, and so many highs and lows.
Having read so many of her fiction books, it was easy to forget I was reading her true story, it flowed so easily, and so many happenings that it was easy to think here’s another great story from Lesley Pearse-but then-hey, this really happened, this IS her story. It read so easily, and whizzed along. I liked the mentions of music tracks of the time. Atmosphere, memories associated with these when she heard them again, she said hearing them still transports her back to what was happening in her life.
Lots of events-but I never envisaged she'd had so many things happen to her. So many varied experiences, no wonder she writes so well and makes her characters, and emotions so believable. Written simply, concise, to the point, no long flowery descriptions, which I liked. A quick read, like she was just sat telling us her story, telling it like it was.
A great read.
I've read quite a few of Lesley Pearse's fiction books; she certainly knows how to tell a good story, and will doubtless have drawn on her experiences when weaving her characters’ tales-but I was sure her own true life story would make even better reading. I've waited a long time for this author to write a memoir, and it was definitely worth waiting for.
It was interesting and intriguing, unpredictable, shocking, eye-opening, and honest. She tells of all the different jobs she has done. Some famous names are mentioned. There are some terrible, terrible circumstances, and so many highs and lows.
Having read so many of her fiction books, it was easy to forget I was reading her true story, it flowed so easily, and so many happenings that it was easy to think here’s another great story from Lesley Pearse-but then-hey, this really happened, this IS her story. It read so easily, and whizzed along. I liked the mentions of music tracks of the time. Atmosphere, memories associated with these when she heard them again, she said hearing them still transports her back to what was happening in her life.
Lots of events-but I never envisaged she'd had so many things happen to her. So many varied experiences, no wonder she writes so well and makes her characters, and emotions so believable. Written simply, concise, to the point, no long flowery descriptions, which I liked. A quick read, like she was just sat telling us her story, telling it like it was.
A great read.
February 25, 2024
This was one of the best memoirs I've read. I feel like even if you have the most exciting, full life it really has to be written well to entice the reader and this was written beautifully.
So many things happened in Lesley's life, it's been very chaotic with lots of moves, career changes and putting her baby up for adoption. From when her poor mum passed to then being fostered to a different household to her brother must have been terrifying. Although, Lesley seemed to fight back throughout her whole life and kept pushing for what she deserved and I find that admirable.
When she fell pregnant and had to eventually put Warren up for adoption was so heartbreaking and i couldn't imagine how that must've felt not only in that moment but until she could hopefully reunite with him again.
Learning about her different marriages and her seeming to try lots of different career options until she found her true love of writing was amazing and to find she published her first book at 49! I felt Lesley had so many interesting things happen in her lifetime and definitely her fair share of ups and downs.
I LOVED reading about the stage in her life when she lived in Bristol because that's my home! It was also lovely reading about her children growing up and eventually having families of their own. I also found it heartwarming how many friends she made through her life and how she had so many coincidences when they would reappear again. This book hasn't been released yet but I will say that I thought this was a fantastic memoir and the ending was just perfect!
So many things happened in Lesley's life, it's been very chaotic with lots of moves, career changes and putting her baby up for adoption. From when her poor mum passed to then being fostered to a different household to her brother must have been terrifying. Although, Lesley seemed to fight back throughout her whole life and kept pushing for what she deserved and I find that admirable.
When she fell pregnant and had to eventually put Warren up for adoption was so heartbreaking and i couldn't imagine how that must've felt not only in that moment but until she could hopefully reunite with him again.
Learning about her different marriages and her seeming to try lots of different career options until she found her true love of writing was amazing and to find she published her first book at 49! I felt Lesley had so many interesting things happen in her lifetime and definitely her fair share of ups and downs.
I LOVED reading about the stage in her life when she lived in Bristol because that's my home! It was also lovely reading about her children growing up and eventually having families of their own. I also found it heartwarming how many friends she made through her life and how she had so many coincidences when they would reappear again. This book hasn't been released yet but I will say that I thought this was a fantastic memoir and the ending was just perfect!
February 29, 2024
I've probably been reading this author's books for the last twenty or so years and Lesley Pearse never fails to entertain with stories which tug away at my heart strings and as one story ends, I always want to read more. For the first time we are given the unique opportunity to know more about this successful author in her autobiography which takes us from Lesley's difficult early childhood through to her later life. It’s an emotional read, Lesley has certainly had an eventful life and the autobiography is filled with anecdotal stories and described with all the warmth and wit which is so reminiscent of this author's ability to hold the reader in the palm of her hand.
Aptly titled The Long and Winding Road this autobiography certainly takes us on a convoluted journey through the momentous moments of Lesley’s life, a life which, it must be said, has been far from easy. There has been heartbreak aplenty but also surprising amounts of good humour and the stoical sense that Lesley is one of life’s great survivors and that despite the setbacks she encountered it has only served to make her into the fine writer she is today.
I've thoroughly enjoyed this window into the life of this prolific writer and on finishing the book, with tissues in hand, I can now understand just how Lesley can write such emotional stories. Everything she does is straight from the heart and everything she has learned from her eventful life is reflected in the wonderful stories she writes so very well.
Aptly titled The Long and Winding Road this autobiography certainly takes us on a convoluted journey through the momentous moments of Lesley’s life, a life which, it must be said, has been far from easy. There has been heartbreak aplenty but also surprising amounts of good humour and the stoical sense that Lesley is one of life’s great survivors and that despite the setbacks she encountered it has only served to make her into the fine writer she is today.
I've thoroughly enjoyed this window into the life of this prolific writer and on finishing the book, with tissues in hand, I can now understand just how Lesley can write such emotional stories. Everything she does is straight from the heart and everything she has learned from her eventful life is reflected in the wonderful stories she writes so very well.
November 22, 2025
Making the most of what you are dealt in life
Maybe this autobiography, which was a book club read for me, would have worked better if I had read some of Lesley Pearse's novels. As it was, after a strong gripping start which described the tragic fragmentation of Lesley's family upon her mother's death and her father's subsequent efforts to reclaim his two children from care (or do I mean "care"?), I found my interest waning somewhat when it came to the various boyfriends (about whom just a few days after finishing the book I can remember little) and the numerous homes on which she exercised her interior design skills. I'm afraid I found this part rather repetitive. However, I really admired her indefatigable enthusiasm for setting up her own businesses and felt for her when her shop, "A Little Something", a venture to which she had given her all, eventually failed when the economic climate changed. I have to admit that I would have been interested to learn more about Lesley's career as an author and her writing processes, but it is an author's privilege to reveal - or exclude - whatever they wish in an autobiographical work. As for the ending of the book, I don't think anyone could fault its drama.
Overall, I feel that the book demonstrates that life is, at least partially, what you make of it.
Maybe this autobiography, which was a book club read for me, would have worked better if I had read some of Lesley Pearse's novels. As it was, after a strong gripping start which described the tragic fragmentation of Lesley's family upon her mother's death and her father's subsequent efforts to reclaim his two children from care (or do I mean "care"?), I found my interest waning somewhat when it came to the various boyfriends (about whom just a few days after finishing the book I can remember little) and the numerous homes on which she exercised her interior design skills. I'm afraid I found this part rather repetitive. However, I really admired her indefatigable enthusiasm for setting up her own businesses and felt for her when her shop, "A Little Something", a venture to which she had given her all, eventually failed when the economic climate changed. I have to admit that I would have been interested to learn more about Lesley's career as an author and her writing processes, but it is an author's privilege to reveal - or exclude - whatever they wish in an autobiographical work. As for the ending of the book, I don't think anyone could fault its drama.
Overall, I feel that the book demonstrates that life is, at least partially, what you make of it.
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