Wyeburn Station

by Jo Brodie

This is a tale of the healing power of love. Hazel Fauld is twenty-six now and a huge success. The Rock band she started with her sister and named ‘Fauld’, after their surname, has a million-selling third album out and has just completed a triumphant European tour. But as well as being a Rock star she’s also a brilliant designer in her mother’s fashion empire, and she’s both partner and nurse to her beloved wife, Annie, who adores her. It all sounds like bliss, except that much as she tries to conceal it, she’s totally overworked and it’s starting to show as she tries to please everyone, from wife to fans to her Mums. She’s drinking too much and getting dangerously close to a breakdown. She’s also increasingly homesick: a country girl born and bred, living in London but longing to be back in her pretty home village of Wyeburn. Meanwhile, she’s at that stage of life when all her friends are having babies, even her big sister Róisin (well sort of), along with someone else who inexplicably tears at her very soul. There is a solution though, one that Hazel had never even thought of, but which fills her true love with delight. And what of her incorrigible little sister Sofie? She’s nine now and seems to be becoming a teenager a little early. She’s a dyed-in-the-wool tomboy, obsessed with music, football, oh and her primary-school friend Andrew. Meanwhile seven-year-old Danielle has just discovered Elgar much to the surprise of her Rock fixated family.

Kindle Edition

Published November 18, 2023

About the author

Whilst still missing darkest Wiltshire, Jo Brodie is now an accidental Mancunian, having never quite got round to leaving the city after studying at Manchester University. They write widely under various pen names, on topics that range from Roman and Victorian history to Rock music, and Jo has recently become a regular writer for feminist music Web site ‘Hera Says‘. Jo’s lesbian novels and shorter stories, which are collectively entitled ‘The Saltbury Chronicles’, centre on a diverse cast of characters from the mythical Wiltshire market town of Saltbury. They are love stories, but they are more than just escapism, often exploring serious LGBTQ, gender and other issues along the way. In private life, Jo is happily married with two cats. They play bass and guitar (very badly) and yearn to learn drums, if only the neighbours would understand!

The Saltbury books contain a character called Debbie Stewart, a true Rock guitar heroine. Debbie is not based on any particular real life guitarist. In fact Jo’s actual guitar heroine is a very different figure: Marissa Paternoster of the ‘Screaming Females’. Debbie, though, is who Jo wishes they could be – if only – and you can tell a lot about someone from who they would like to be.

Reviews

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Today I'm writing an essay LoL

First of all, I rather enjoyed it (always a given if I'm honest). I felt two main moods going on throughout the story; one quite happy with a few couples getting what they wished (some for a long time) and another more sombre with Hazel and Annie (mostly Hazel) having to get it together.

So after all was said and done, it felt like the gang officially crossed the line into being full fledged adults in my head. And even though I was not amused by some behaviour in the more gloomy part, it was lovely to see how Hazel and Annie's bond grew stronger and what they accomplished by themselves and with a nudge of their safety net. Then you add Tina/Carol and Róisín/Rachel bit et voilà, I'm chuffed to bits for them all.

I think I said this before, but that's the beauty of following established characters, to be able to see their growth, how they deal with life's obstacles and woes and that in different timelines. Because let's face it, life won't stop throwing curves after people get their HEA and Hazel and Annie weren't an exception, so this was their time to show up. So the best part is always the choices they'll make and the next steps. I'm glad ultimately they got it, they are stronger for that.

But my goodness, Hazel took me for ride. I was so worried at first, thinking she'd go a certain path, which is not unheard of among artists, even if previously she went through a bigger hell and never followed this path, but we never know what will trigger people. Yet, because that wasn't her "excuse", for a while there, she wasn't my favourite person. I mean, I felt for her and totally get what she was going through, it's a wonder it didn't happen earlier with her frantic life. But like, considering how strong her love for Annie have been since forever, she behaved very poorly. So I was having a hard time reconciling understanding and crossness. Annie was a real troop here, gave real meaning to "till death do us part".

Okay, if I really give it some thought I know part of the reason I was not having it with her is because I was just a bit like that in my 20s (hahaha), pretending nothing is happening and just avoiding the world, but to watch her acting this way towards the most sweet and devoted person, it was miffing. But I can see she's just a young woman and should have her slack cut a bit. Like, who have their act together at 26? Doesn't mean it hurt less to see things happening the way they did. Gladly, all was well by the end and like always, I'm excited for what's next.

[Jo Brodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jo Brodie writes proper flesh and blood characters and is quite prepared to delve into their inner lives. She's followed Hazel Fauld since she was 16 and still at school. Now Haze has achieved almost all her ambitions, yet she's headed for a breakdown until her beloved wife Annie's love brings her back from the brink. As ever, though, the book is shot through with humour and love.