In Another Life

by Imogen Clark

How big a lie would you tell to protect the ones you love?

From the million copy bestselling author of In a Single Moment comes a heart-twisting story of family, identity and the cost of truth.

Bronte Ashton thought she knew everything about her mother Loretta — until a stranger appears at her funeral claiming to be Loretta's long-lost sister. But Loretta was an only child.

Grief turns to confusion, then a desire to find out the truth. Because while her siblings dismiss the woman as an impostor, Bronte can't ignore the nagging feeling that maybe they didn't know their mother at all.

As Bronte journeys from Loretta's beloved home in Yorkshire to the heat-soaked hillsides of Sicily, she uncovers more questions than answers. Why did Loretta leave her old life behind? And what secret was worth erasing her entire past to protect? But as Bronte edges closer to the truth, she realizes that some family secrets, once revealed, have the power to shatter not just the past, but everything she holds dear in the present.

Genres: Fiction, Audiobook, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Drama, Family

375 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 26, 2025

About the author

Internationally bestselling author Imogen Clark has sold over one million books. She writes contemporary fiction about families and secrets. Her books have topped Amazon storewide charts eight times and her third book, Where the Story Starts, was shortlisted in the UK for Contemporary Romantic Novel of the year 2020.

Imogen initially qualified as a lawyer but after leaving her legal career behind to care for her four children, she returned to her first love - books. She went back to University, studying English Literature part-time whilst the children were at school. It was a short step from there to writing novels.

Imogen's great love is travel and she is always planning her next adventure. She lives in Yorkshire with her husband and children.

If you'd like to connect then please visit her website at www.imogenclark.com where you can sign up to her monthly newsletter. Imogen can also be found on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as Imogen Clark Author.

Reviews

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a gifted copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the readalong hosted by Tandem Collective UK.

In Another Life is my first Imogen Clark book, and I can't wait to pick up my next by her.
We follow three POV in this story: Bronte (the middle child of Loretta), Loretta, and her sister Natalie back in the 80s.
Bronte is preparing to bury her mother Loretta after a bee sting caused her to die too young. At the funeral, a stranger comes and sits in the row set aside for family only and claims to be Lorettas sister. But Loretta was an only child, so who is this woman?
The story then flicks back and forth between Loretta and Natalie and tells the lead up to their estrangement as well as flicking back to the present and Brontes search to find the mysterious woman and the truth.
This is so beautifully written and travels from London to Sicily in Italy and to the North of England weaving a tale of love, family, friendship, hope, naivety and how one decision can take everything away from you with a ripple effect that can span a lifetime.
My heart broke for both Natalie and Loretta and the lives they could have had if tragedy hadn't sent cracks within their lives. I especially felt for Natalie and her story.
The ending was beautiful and couldn't have been written more beautifully.

[JLR · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, this book was pretty well written and I would have given it 3 stars or maybe 3.5 if the reason Etta and Natalie stopped seeing each other wasn’t so utterly ridiculous and irritating.

Natalie’s situation - I get it - grief, depression and a highly traumatic event. But Etta just agreeing to take on a new identity, lie to her spouse/kids for 30+ years, abandon her career, and never see her sister again for literally zero reason makes no sense. It was such a letdown - even if Etta went along in the beginning to help Natalie’s mental health situation, she stuck it out for three decades for what? UGH. Such a stupid inciting event. Infuriating.

[Amy K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story

A mystery unfolds after Loretta passes away unexpectedly and a strange woman attends her service. The story is told across multiple time lines from multiple perspectives. This was an enjoyable listen. The narrator did a fantastic job.

[Christine Rennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Another Life by Imogen Clark is a masterclass in storytelling, it was a fascinating read.
It was the story of two young sisters, whose parents die in France where they went to celebrate their 21st Wedding Anniversary from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Loretta was the eldest and was working as a journalist in London, her younger sister Natalie struggled after their parents deaths and then was recommended for a job as a nanny in Scicily. It was the first time she had ever left England and it would be many years before she returned.
Natalie saw the children’s father gunned down in his own home and Natalie then spent years running from place to place in fear of her life, apart from everyone she knew in case, the Mafia hurt them.
Her sister Loretta also had to move from London and build a new life for herself.
It was only after Loretta’s death that her daughter Brontë manages to find Natalie and learn of their story.
Highly recommended

[Sherri Thacker · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Another Life by Imogen Clark is a captivating read! The dual timelines are seamlessly woven, and the vivid Italian settings made me feel like I was strolling through Italy myself. I couldn’t put it down, staying up late to devour every page. Absolutely loved it—one of my top 3 books of 2025 so far!

[Steffanie Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75. Started off pretty strong. And then seemed to kind of linger and was a little drawn out for the lackluster ending.

[Janie · Rating 2 out of 5]

First half of this book was intriguing and smart - second part was dumb - and very anti climatic. Like two different people wrote it - disappointing. Did not purchase.

[Helena Halme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing and heartwarming story of loyalty and family

I’m a huge fan of Imogen Clark’s stories and In Another Life certainly doesn’t disappoint! A story of two very different sisters who are torn apart because of loyalty to each other and their loved ones. The story is set in the 1980s and today and has a wonderful sense of time and place. There’s a section set in Sicily where the heat and the blue skies seep out of the page and you can almost hear the cicadas and taste the ravioli. Highly recommended!

[Henriette · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Another Life really took me by surprise. It’s one of those quietly emotional, thought-provoking reads that feels very real — heartbreaking at times — and stayed with me long after I finished it.

It explores choices, chance, and all the “what ifs” that shape our lives, without ever feeling too heavy. The characters feel genuinely human: flawed, well-meaning, and easy to connect with. While some parts were a little predictable, others completely caught me off guard and weren’t what I expected at all.

A gentle, reflective story and solid 4 stars from me

[Cassie Steward · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so hooked on this book! It was so beautifully written and the story was so unexpected. I couldn’t put it down!

[Joan Matla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really intriguing premise. The story started off really good but then it became boring, ridiculous and anticlimactic.

[Maggie McCallie · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lot of missed opportunities. Pacing was slow and then would zoom through parts that needed more detail. There was a thread in Bronte’s storyline about a failed relationship that was just dropped and not explored. So the addition of it felt unnecessary. And the whole mafia hit and subsequent fleeing was just silly and not very well written.

[Casi Willis · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 a very good start but disappointed in the empty time gaps and lack of details at the ending.

[Phyllis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-written and engrossing sort-of-mystery about two sisters with secrets. They don’t keep their secrets from each other, but from everyone else. I agree with the publisher’s summary that this is a “heart-twisting story of family, identity and the cost of truth.”

Told from the alternating points of view of both sisters, with Loretta living in Yorkshire in Northern England and Natalie, who moves to Sicily, the southern tip of Italy. Another point of view is that of Bronte, Loretta’s daughter.

The author explains how “this is a book about loyalty, about carrying someone else’s burden for them.” And how this is “a story about sisters for whom being apart was a choice neither of them wanted to make.” I loved how close these sisters were, even when they were living apart.

I don’t want to share anything more about the plot, to refrain from giving away the big reveal which comes later in the novel.

I’ve read several books by this author and she never disappoints. I highly recommend reading this or anything else written by Imogen Clark

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a roller coaster ride! I loved the back and forth timeline of the two sisters. I was on the edge of my seat by the time I reached the climax. This has everything: family angst; heartbreak; mystery; mafia! I like this author very much!

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first Imogen Clark read and I loved it! A story about family secrets with the Sicilian mafia thrown in for good measure! Engaging throughout.

[Tracey Dovey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Read

I really enjoyed this book although I did find it to drag in places I will let that slip as it does have a unique storyline. Overall I will give it a very solid 4 ⭐️

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous read!

Very well written and very well sequenced. You never know for sure what’s coming around the corner, but it will always be an exciting surprise.

[Joanne Van · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book but it was a bit slow in parts. A lady shows up at a funeral and says she is a sister but the family did not know their now dead mother had a sister. There are the 3 kids, two sisters and the elder brother. The middle daughter starts to investigate to find out who this woman might be. This sister ran away after seeing her employer murdered afraid of the mafia. She continues running the rest of her live and even makes her sister make some major changes. They keep in touch through the years though.

[Amelia Wayland · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t read a lot of contemporary books so wasn’t sure what to expect. It was enjoyable but nothing stood out

[Kelly Barker · Rating 3 out of 5]

nice easy read, although too much of the main plot was loaded towards the end if the book

[Amy Stoyles · Rating 2 out of 5]

2⭐️

I was interested at first but quickly became bored.
Also, the mafia plot twist was not it for me.

[Gayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the description of Sicily.

[Karlie Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

I felt like this should’ve had more, content, depth and development. I understood what the premise of the book was but was expecting more from it.

[robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just, no. This book was so horribly boring and the whole plot was ridiculous. I enjoy this author but this one really tanked.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this style of writing and felt torn between the sisters - who did the right thing? Or who sacrificed too much for family? Especially loved the intrigue in Sicily, it was definitely a great summer read, exciting bit of drama thrown in. I liked the ending but not as impactful as the mid point, I felt it tailed off a bit, hence not giving a full five 🌟

[ANNE MITCHELL · Rating 1 out of 5]

.The whole story is based on the premise that the characters are imbeciles and the least curious people in the world, no one has the slightest interest in each others lives or past and never ask the most obvious questions normal people ask their partners and parents. I found it frustrating and at times patronising to expect readers to believe the frankly crazy behaviour of the protagonists. Utter bilge water!

[Laura Veitch · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ridiculous

[Donna McCaul Thibodeau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bronte Ashton had just arrived at her mother's funeral, to find a woman seated in the front row, which is reserved for family. When her brother Marc told her that she needed to find a seat elsewhere, she replied that she was family, that Etta was her sister. Was it possible that their mother had a sister she had never mentioned?
The first part of this book was great. But then we come to the climax of the plot, and it was, quite frankly, ridiculous. It made no sense that these sisters would go three decades apart, because of an imaginary danger. It was a very unsatisfying ending. Because of this, I subtracted one star.

[Angelica Meigs-Stroud · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay. There’s a few storylines going on and the author kept those alternating with ease for the reader. But one storyline was a lot more compelling than the other so I found myself skimming through the current storyline with Bronte. The book slowed significantly and the ending was lacklustre.

I found the character development disappointing, felt one dimensional.