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Lost Without You
From ABIA award-winning and best-selling author Rachael Johns comes a fresh and poignant novel of family, journeys, past decisions...and dresses.
Four women, one dress and the secret that binds them all....
On a special night, a celebration of new beginnings, Paige MacRitchie’s joy quickly falls away when her mother collapses. Terrified of losing her, Paige decides she wants to make the ultimate tribute to her parents’ perfect she will wear her mother’s wedding dress for her own big day.
There’s just one problem - her mum, Rebecca, no longer has the dress.
As Paige tries to track it down, she discovers that Rebecca has a long-hidden secret that could blow her whole family apart. Her new friend Josie is at a crossroads, too. She met her husband, Nik, when she was singing in an '80s-themed bar, but now she’s wondering if Nik understands her at all.
And then there’s nurse Clara. When she married up-and-coming rock star Rob Jones, she thought she was in it forever. But now Clara needs to make a new life for herself, and Rob can’t seem to understand that it’s over.
When the fates of these four women intertwine in an unexpected and powerful way, none of their lives will ever be the same again.
Four women, one dress and the secret that binds them all....
On a special night, a celebration of new beginnings, Paige MacRitchie’s joy quickly falls away when her mother collapses. Terrified of losing her, Paige decides she wants to make the ultimate tribute to her parents’ perfect she will wear her mother’s wedding dress for her own big day.
There’s just one problem - her mum, Rebecca, no longer has the dress.
As Paige tries to track it down, she discovers that Rebecca has a long-hidden secret that could blow her whole family apart. Her new friend Josie is at a crossroads, too. She met her husband, Nik, when she was singing in an '80s-themed bar, but now she’s wondering if Nik understands her at all.
And then there’s nurse Clara. When she married up-and-coming rock star Rob Jones, she thought she was in it forever. But now Clara needs to make a new life for herself, and Rob can’t seem to understand that it’s over.
When the fates of these four women intertwine in an unexpected and powerful way, none of their lives will ever be the same again.
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First published October 22, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews
October 31, 2018
With the devastating diagnosis of Paige MacRitchie’s mother, Rebecca’s diagnosis of kidney failure, life changed for them all. But it also gave Rebecca a severe jolt – the secret she’d hidden since she was fifteen years old was eating at her. It had never let her go, but she hadn’t even told her beloved husband Hugh, and certainly not her daughter. So, should she tell them now? Or should it remain a secret forever?
Paige with her boyfriend Sol – who was days away from being her fiancé – had discussed their wedding. And Paige was overcome with the need to find her mother’s wedding dress and get married in it herself. Tracking down the dress would be a monumental effort with results that would blow Paige away…
Josie and Nik were relatively new friends of Paige and Sol, but the four of them had clicked and become close friends. Clara was Rebecca’s nurse who also volunteered in a care role. Her recent divorce had left her alone, but her extended family of sisters and brothers-in-law kept her sane. What would bring these four very different women together?
Lost Without You by Aussie author Rachael Johns is a poignant story of secrets, relationships, friendships and love. Of the hurt that one person can cause another, especially a loved one, by the secrets they keep. And of forgiveness and reconciliation. Lost Without You is a gentle story centred around a beautiful dress which I enjoyed very much. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Paige with her boyfriend Sol – who was days away from being her fiancé – had discussed their wedding. And Paige was overcome with the need to find her mother’s wedding dress and get married in it herself. Tracking down the dress would be a monumental effort with results that would blow Paige away…
Josie and Nik were relatively new friends of Paige and Sol, but the four of them had clicked and become close friends. Clara was Rebecca’s nurse who also volunteered in a care role. Her recent divorce had left her alone, but her extended family of sisters and brothers-in-law kept her sane. What would bring these four very different women together?
Lost Without You by Aussie author Rachael Johns is a poignant story of secrets, relationships, friendships and love. Of the hurt that one person can cause another, especially a loved one, by the secrets they keep. And of forgiveness and reconciliation. Lost Without You is a gentle story centred around a beautiful dress which I enjoyed very much. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
June 3, 2019
This was another Rachael Johns book I was underwhelmed with. I have nothing I can pinpoint, but a general lack of interest in the subject matter. I found again, here, that there is nothing to be excited about, nothing to make me want to take an extra trip in my car to keep going with the story.
A wedding dress hunt starts the story, a young woman wants to find her mothers wedding dress by scouring the second hand charity stores, then onto a Facebook search. This happened a little neatly. The two women involved with the hunting down of the dress become intertwined in another familial drama, then many families become involved in the story line. I wasn't taken with any of them, and found it to be quite dull.
I always like important and topical themes to be discussed in fiction; and it was here. Forced adoption in Australia and mental health were quite heavily placed themes. This story was told rather than discovered and lacked definite spark.
A wedding dress hunt starts the story, a young woman wants to find her mothers wedding dress by scouring the second hand charity stores, then onto a Facebook search. This happened a little neatly. The two women involved with the hunting down of the dress become intertwined in another familial drama, then many families become involved in the story line. I wasn't taken with any of them, and found it to be quite dull.
I always like important and topical themes to be discussed in fiction; and it was here. Forced adoption in Australia and mental health were quite heavily placed themes. This story was told rather than discovered and lacked definite spark.
May 28, 2019
4+
Four different women are brought together by life circumstances, and a wedding dress.
When serious illness strikes Paige’s mum, she’s determined to wear her mother’s 80s wedding dress at her upcoming nuptials, so she takes to tracking it down, as her mum had donated it to charity. Rachel, Paige’s mum, has a huge secret that she has kept from her loving husband, Hugh, and Paige.
Another character is Josie, who at thirty-five is feeling depressed about her multiple miscarriages and is worried her marriage to Nick won't survive.
Clara is a nurse and also a counsellor of people who dealt with miscarriages.
The four women’s journeys include illness, miscarriages, divorce, adoption, regrets and starting over, to name just a few of the themes. I liked all the female characters. I did think that some of the men were a little too good to be true.
While it did take me a little bit of time to get my head straight about who was who, once I got better acquainted to the multiple characters, I was flying.
Bestselling author Rachel Johns has written another life lit novel filled with relatable characters whose stories are gripping and quite moving at times.
This novel goes my Aussie Author Challenge on www.bookloverbookreviews.com
Four different women are brought together by life circumstances, and a wedding dress.
When serious illness strikes Paige’s mum, she’s determined to wear her mother’s 80s wedding dress at her upcoming nuptials, so she takes to tracking it down, as her mum had donated it to charity. Rachel, Paige’s mum, has a huge secret that she has kept from her loving husband, Hugh, and Paige.
Another character is Josie, who at thirty-five is feeling depressed about her multiple miscarriages and is worried her marriage to Nick won't survive.
Clara is a nurse and also a counsellor of people who dealt with miscarriages.
The four women’s journeys include illness, miscarriages, divorce, adoption, regrets and starting over, to name just a few of the themes. I liked all the female characters. I did think that some of the men were a little too good to be true.
While it did take me a little bit of time to get my head straight about who was who, once I got better acquainted to the multiple characters, I was flying.
Bestselling author Rachel Johns has written another life lit novel filled with relatable characters whose stories are gripping and quite moving at times.
This novel goes my Aussie Author Challenge on www.bookloverbookreviews.com
January 28, 2019
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Lost Without You by Rachael Johns. (2018).
Four women, one dress, and the secret that binds them all...
Paige is newly engaged after a shock health turn for her mother Rebecca. She decides to wear Rebecca's wedding dress but her mum doesn't have it anymore so she'll have to track it down - but along the way she discovers Rebecca has a hidden secret. In that journey she meets Josie, who is at a crossroads in her marriage. Then there's Clara, who separated from her husband Rob and is trying to make a new life but Rob can't seem to move on. All four women are connected now and life won't be the same.
I am fully aware that that Rachael Johns is a popular author but this is the first book of hers I've picked up - and I thought it was fabulous. My only (very small) negative is that the circumstances these women come together in is one hell of a coincidence but I'm willing to put my disbelief aside haha. The book covers some pretty challenging and emotional themes/life events including a serious health issue, adoption, depression, infertility (including miscarriages and stillbirths), missing persons, suicide and lifelong grief. So prepare yourselves for some emotional triggers! Intertwined with these is the lighter storyline re the wedding dress hunt which is cute. The four women are all great realistic characters - in general lovely women who have some flaws like we all do. I enjoyed that the chapters alternated between the viewpoints of all four ladies. I'd be happy to recommend this excellent novel.
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
Lost Without You by Rachael Johns. (2018).
Four women, one dress, and the secret that binds them all...
Paige is newly engaged after a shock health turn for her mother Rebecca. She decides to wear Rebecca's wedding dress but her mum doesn't have it anymore so she'll have to track it down - but along the way she discovers Rebecca has a hidden secret. In that journey she meets Josie, who is at a crossroads in her marriage. Then there's Clara, who separated from her husband Rob and is trying to make a new life but Rob can't seem to move on. All four women are connected now and life won't be the same.
I am fully aware that that Rachael Johns is a popular author but this is the first book of hers I've picked up - and I thought it was fabulous. My only (very small) negative is that the circumstances these women come together in is one hell of a coincidence but I'm willing to put my disbelief aside haha. The book covers some pretty challenging and emotional themes/life events including a serious health issue, adoption, depression, infertility (including miscarriages and stillbirths), missing persons, suicide and lifelong grief. So prepare yourselves for some emotional triggers! Intertwined with these is the lighter storyline re the wedding dress hunt which is cute. The four women are all great realistic characters - in general lovely women who have some flaws like we all do. I enjoyed that the chapters alternated between the viewpoints of all four ladies. I'd be happy to recommend this excellent novel.
October 24, 2018
What a fabulous read, it took me a bit to really get into the story, but then I was hooked. The characters were great, there was one of the women I liked less than the other three but by the end I felt I warmed to her. This has so many important issues threaded through the story, marriage, secrets, adoption, depression, alcoholism, suicide, organ donation and I'm sure I've missed a few others. It's a story of a wedding dress, but more importantly a secret that effects a vast amount of people in many different ways. It's a story of six degrees of separation and how one decision can have a flow on effect. I think Josie was my favourite character for most of the book, though Solomon and Nik were both great characters too. Whereas we usually hear about how adoption affects the woman giving up her child, this story lets us look at how men are affected by losing the child to adoption. This story had many twists and emotions that we get to experience and many characters we get to meet and care about. I definitely recommend that you make time to read this great novel, don't expect to get much else done once you pick it up, I know I didn't.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for a copy in return for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for a copy in return for an honest review.
November 20, 2018
I didn't quite get into this on an emotional level like other readers have, but I finished it and enjoyed working through to the end. My problem I think came because I found it difficult to buy-in to particularly Hugh and Paige's reaction to Rebecca's secret. I tried to think how I'd react to learning this news, and I just can't see that I'd be so mean! I liked Josie best, and Nik and Solomon were lovely, and I enjoyed how the author worked through the POV characters. One thing I liked was it always felt like a good time to swap in and out of the storyline and I didn't feel that one character got too much airtime and another was forgotten.
February 2, 2019
Warning: spoiler alert and long!
The writing was very superficial and the story line was too coincidental and convenient. Like some of the other negative comments were saying, I found most of the characters pretty selfish except for Paige's husband and Gregg. I didn't understand why Clara would up and leave a perfectly good relationship to have a relationship with her ex-husband's long lost daughter who she doesn't even know that well? I also didn't understand why Rachel Johns kept pushing the idea that women who didn't have children were someone incomplete, lacking purpose, and perpetually sad! Like having children was the only meaning any of them had in life. So much so that this grown woman, who has built a life for herself despite her losses and hardships, ups and leaves a perfectly healthy relationship to be with someone who is practically a stranger to her. She had 0 mourning period for that relationship either. As if it's perfectly normal to be so happy, then break up and never spend any further time and thought on the other person. In fact, this long lost daughter was the reason her firsr marriage didn't succeed. Furthermore, the conflicts miraculously resolved themselves! In literally two pages, Josie goes from not wanting Rebecca present and despising her guts to suddenly wanting to donate a kidney just after hearing her sing! Her hatred for Rebecca was unfounded. Sure, be shocked and be confused for a bit but it's not like Rebecca volunteered to give her up, she was forced into it! She goes on this quest to find her father who she believes is some godsent because he wrote a song about her and "looked for her" his whole life even though he ended up alcoholic, ruining every relationship as he was unable to get passed his grief. He terrorised his ex wife and stalked her and he is the hero?! Funny Clara never really seemed to bother about that in the end. Conveniently forgetting about that. Josie had no patience for Rebecca and why was that? Because women who have "abandoned" their children are awful human beings through and through regardless of their circumstances? Despite knowing the reasons, Josie feels justified in her emotions because she feels that Rebecca should have been miserable mourning her loss like her father was? Yet Josie wasn't even remotely interested in finding her parents at all before this all took place? Lastly, Paige's behaviour towards her mother was appalling to say the least. She sounded like a 13 year old chucking a tantrum instead of a 20 something year old successful author and charity worker. Solomon was right, she had all this compassion for refugees and the less fortunate but not until she ran way to Vegas did she even bother to reflect on how her mother must have felt as well? Cmon!
Rebecca was the only one who I felt some connection to but generally speaking the underlying message about motherhood being the end all and be all of the woman's purpose and hope in life seemed to really put me off.
The writing was very superficial and the story line was too coincidental and convenient. Like some of the other negative comments were saying, I found most of the characters pretty selfish except for Paige's husband and Gregg. I didn't understand why Clara would up and leave a perfectly good relationship to have a relationship with her ex-husband's long lost daughter who she doesn't even know that well? I also didn't understand why Rachel Johns kept pushing the idea that women who didn't have children were someone incomplete, lacking purpose, and perpetually sad! Like having children was the only meaning any of them had in life. So much so that this grown woman, who has built a life for herself despite her losses and hardships, ups and leaves a perfectly healthy relationship to be with someone who is practically a stranger to her. She had 0 mourning period for that relationship either. As if it's perfectly normal to be so happy, then break up and never spend any further time and thought on the other person. In fact, this long lost daughter was the reason her firsr marriage didn't succeed. Furthermore, the conflicts miraculously resolved themselves! In literally two pages, Josie goes from not wanting Rebecca present and despising her guts to suddenly wanting to donate a kidney just after hearing her sing! Her hatred for Rebecca was unfounded. Sure, be shocked and be confused for a bit but it's not like Rebecca volunteered to give her up, she was forced into it! She goes on this quest to find her father who she believes is some godsent because he wrote a song about her and "looked for her" his whole life even though he ended up alcoholic, ruining every relationship as he was unable to get passed his grief. He terrorised his ex wife and stalked her and he is the hero?! Funny Clara never really seemed to bother about that in the end. Conveniently forgetting about that. Josie had no patience for Rebecca and why was that? Because women who have "abandoned" their children are awful human beings through and through regardless of their circumstances? Despite knowing the reasons, Josie feels justified in her emotions because she feels that Rebecca should have been miserable mourning her loss like her father was? Yet Josie wasn't even remotely interested in finding her parents at all before this all took place? Lastly, Paige's behaviour towards her mother was appalling to say the least. She sounded like a 13 year old chucking a tantrum instead of a 20 something year old successful author and charity worker. Solomon was right, she had all this compassion for refugees and the less fortunate but not until she ran way to Vegas did she even bother to reflect on how her mother must have felt as well? Cmon!
Rebecca was the only one who I felt some connection to but generally speaking the underlying message about motherhood being the end all and be all of the woman's purpose and hope in life seemed to really put me off.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2018
I was given this book as an ARC from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
I DNFd this at 67 percent. I really wanted to do the author the courtesy of finishing, but when I found myself highlighting passages to use in this review, just to show how the writing annoyed me, I realised it was time to call it.
There are 4 main characters in this book and 4 main issues with this book:
1) The characters had no interiority. Despite the various viewpoints, the voice of the book is a very surface level third person narration, which more than once, jarringly, judges the protagonists actions. Related to this, all emotions are felt through the body. For example “she grew so anxious she made herself physically ill”. Other symptoms of feelings include headaches, shaking and nausea. I was given no reason to like any of the characters. They are all petulant, selfish and boring. Once reason I could stop 2/3 of the way through was that I didn’t care what happened at all.
2) There is a lot of detail that is completely irrelevant, like what the assistant in the op shop is wearing, what kind of fish was ordered. So much discussion about driving and parking, and descriptions of making tea and coffee. A good editor should have sorted all that out.
3) This book contains weird slightly offensivestatements. One of the pointless asides is about a woman who is knitting “She was not just knitting pointlessly. She was making fiddlemitts”. I’m glad Rachel Johns read a column somewhere about fiddlemitts, but if she’s been knitting baby bootees, or a shawl, or a swatch, would that have been pointless? That’s not nearly as weird as later in the book where she drops this gem “Old people had a lot of wisdom to offer if you bothered to pay attention.”
4) The entire plot is driven by a series of unlikely coincidences. This might have worked in the hands of a more subtle writer, but here it just falls flat. Except for one twist, the mystery is obvious from the beginning, and the not caring overwhelmed any desire to find out if they stop sulking and sort it out of not.
Well, it was honst.. thanks for the ARC, Netgalley.
I DNFd this at 67 percent. I really wanted to do the author the courtesy of finishing, but when I found myself highlighting passages to use in this review, just to show how the writing annoyed me, I realised it was time to call it.
There are 4 main characters in this book and 4 main issues with this book:
1) The characters had no interiority. Despite the various viewpoints, the voice of the book is a very surface level third person narration, which more than once, jarringly, judges the protagonists actions. Related to this, all emotions are felt through the body. For example “she grew so anxious she made herself physically ill”. Other symptoms of feelings include headaches, shaking and nausea. I was given no reason to like any of the characters. They are all petulant, selfish and boring. Once reason I could stop 2/3 of the way through was that I didn’t care what happened at all.
2) There is a lot of detail that is completely irrelevant, like what the assistant in the op shop is wearing, what kind of fish was ordered. So much discussion about driving and parking, and descriptions of making tea and coffee. A good editor should have sorted all that out.
3) This book contains weird slightly offensivestatements. One of the pointless asides is about a woman who is knitting “She was not just knitting pointlessly. She was making fiddlemitts”. I’m glad Rachel Johns read a column somewhere about fiddlemitts, but if she’s been knitting baby bootees, or a shawl, or a swatch, would that have been pointless? That’s not nearly as weird as later in the book where she drops this gem “Old people had a lot of wisdom to offer if you bothered to pay attention.”
4) The entire plot is driven by a series of unlikely coincidences. This might have worked in the hands of a more subtle writer, but here it just falls flat. Except for one twist, the mystery is obvious from the beginning, and the not caring overwhelmed any desire to find out if they stop sulking and sort it out of not.
Well, it was honst.. thanks for the ARC, Netgalley.
December 4, 2018
WOW MS Johns what a story you blew me away, you just have the best voice I felt so close to the four woman in this story, they were like friends I shared their heartache and their joy, there were tears and smiles, I recommend clearing the day when you pick this one up and you should because you won’t want to put it down once you start it.
This story brings together four woman and a wedding dress, Paige is filled with joy at the launch of her book, her loving boyfriend Solomon is there as are her very loved Mum and Dad, but when her mother Rebecca collapses and is diagnosed with a serious illness, Rebecca thinks more about the secret she has kept for thirty five years, should she open up or not? Paige and Solomon get engaged and Paige sets out on a mission to find her mother’s wedding dress so as she can wear it.
The search for the dress brings Paige in contact with Josie a beautiful thirty five year old who has been through a lot with her fabulous husband Nik and is having a few problems but her and Paige hit it off instantly, meanwhile Josie meets a man at a bar who she opens up to about her problems and he gives her a card to seek help from his ex-wife Clara, and again the friendship between these two is instant.
Clara is a nurse a very caring person who goes out of her way to help anyone she can she has been through a lot in her life and now she is divorced from Robert Jones a singer from the eighties it is time to move on, but meeting Josie is about to really change her life.
Rebecca, Paige, Clara and Josie are all connected in some way and I don’t want to say too much other than pick this one up and read it, it really is a beautiful story, lots of emotions happy and sad, it is moving and there were tears and smiles, thank you MS Johns you know how to make a reader happy with your words another for the keeper shelf.
This story brings together four woman and a wedding dress, Paige is filled with joy at the launch of her book, her loving boyfriend Solomon is there as are her very loved Mum and Dad, but when her mother Rebecca collapses and is diagnosed with a serious illness, Rebecca thinks more about the secret she has kept for thirty five years, should she open up or not? Paige and Solomon get engaged and Paige sets out on a mission to find her mother’s wedding dress so as she can wear it.
The search for the dress brings Paige in contact with Josie a beautiful thirty five year old who has been through a lot with her fabulous husband Nik and is having a few problems but her and Paige hit it off instantly, meanwhile Josie meets a man at a bar who she opens up to about her problems and he gives her a card to seek help from his ex-wife Clara, and again the friendship between these two is instant.
Clara is a nurse a very caring person who goes out of her way to help anyone she can she has been through a lot in her life and now she is divorced from Robert Jones a singer from the eighties it is time to move on, but meeting Josie is about to really change her life.
Rebecca, Paige, Clara and Josie are all connected in some way and I don’t want to say too much other than pick this one up and read it, it really is a beautiful story, lots of emotions happy and sad, it is moving and there were tears and smiles, thank you MS Johns you know how to make a reader happy with your words another for the keeper shelf.
November 19, 2018
Rachael Johns is the Queen of characters. She nails the characters in her novels brilliantly: they are real, they are flawed, they are likeable and by the end of the story they become our friends. This is a warm, compelling and great read.
May 1, 2019
Adored the beautifully interwoven friendships & insights into kidney disease, plus Rachael’s trademark easy-to-read writing with warm and relatable characters.
October 23, 2018
There's something really warm and familiar about Rachael Johns' writing and characters. I've not read any of her rural romance novels, but I've enjoyed her recent contemporary novels and each time I turn the first page I settle into a comfortable reverie of sorts. I could be reading about people I know. Friends, family. They're authentic and - even if not always completely likeable - they're relatable.
I've met Rachael Johns a few times in person and she's exactly as you'd imagine from her writing. Warm and friendly. I enjoy her plots and can appreciate underlying themes of her novels - often about love, relationships, secrets, trust and so forth, but all of that emanates from the characters she grows and I think it's the interplay between them that make her books so enjoyable.
I loved the women we meet in this book. Rebecca and Clara are of a similar age to me (slightly older... ahem, of course!). And though I've not been married or had kids - I could relate to much of their lives, including Clara's devastation over her lack of children - as well as Josie's of course. Initially both Clara and Josie feel kinda displaced, as if they don't fit in with those around them. In Clara's case she SHOULD have a partner and grown children by now, and in Josie's: children (and playing happy families).
I appreciated that, when we first meet her, Josie's grappling with her demons and I actually thought the story was going to go in a different direction for a while, but think Johns gives both Josie and Paige AMAZING partners - and I'm insanely jealous of both of them for that reason. (As an aside, I also liked the sound of Gregg, Clara's love interest!)
All four women (and the men we meet incidentally) are complex and felt very real. As I said, I could appreciate Josie's issues when we first meet her, I LOVED the sound of Paige's passion and her picture book. Clara came across like a truly decent person and I was keen for her to get on with her life, and Rebecca just seemed lovely - albeit with her long-kept secret.
I did get somewhat frustrated with the attitude of the other three women towards Rebecca when her secret is uncovered. I think Clara's reaction in particular annoyed the crap out of me, though in fairness her character does confess to a certain amount of jealousy or envy... so it's not as if she's hiding anything from us. But a bit more sympathy wouldn't have gone astray. And I particularly liked the inclusion of Paige's partner (Solomon) and his role in playing 'foil' to her black / white thinking at that point.
Johns again touches on (and skirts around) fraught and sensitive issues - about families and relationships and love and loss. Very specifically also again (as in her last book) about miscarriage, fertility and a woman's ability (or not) to carry a child / give birth... the ease with which some take it all for granted and extent to which it burdens another's life. And of course there's a reminder that loving and parenting a child doesn't necessarily mean they're biologically your own.
I was also interested in the reflections on romantic love here. I've mentioned the love interests of Paige, Josie (and even Clara) but Rebecca eventually surprised me as there's initially a sense that she's 'settled' for less than she wanted.
This would make a great bookclub book. There's an obvious discussion around the coincidence of all of these women meeting in the first place and I think it's important to get past that and realise there'd be no book otherwise. I can imagine discussions around Rebecca's motivations for digging into her past - because I was initially cynical about her justification; Clara's involvement with Josie and her own ex-husband (despite previously being adamant about getting him out of her life); Rebecca's husband's and daughter's reactions to her secret; and Josie's response.
There's also a strong sense of (perceptions of) blame and blamelessness and I think it'd be interesting to have that discussion.
All in all, a lot to think about and a wonderful read.
I've met Rachael Johns a few times in person and she's exactly as you'd imagine from her writing. Warm and friendly. I enjoy her plots and can appreciate underlying themes of her novels - often about love, relationships, secrets, trust and so forth, but all of that emanates from the characters she grows and I think it's the interplay between them that make her books so enjoyable.
I loved the women we meet in this book. Rebecca and Clara are of a similar age to me (slightly older... ahem, of course!). And though I've not been married or had kids - I could relate to much of their lives, including Clara's devastation over her lack of children - as well as Josie's of course. Initially both Clara and Josie feel kinda displaced, as if they don't fit in with those around them. In Clara's case she SHOULD have a partner and grown children by now, and in Josie's: children (and playing happy families).
I appreciated that, when we first meet her, Josie's grappling with her demons and I actually thought the story was going to go in a different direction for a while, but think Johns gives both Josie and Paige AMAZING partners - and I'm insanely jealous of both of them for that reason. (As an aside, I also liked the sound of Gregg, Clara's love interest!)
All four women (and the men we meet incidentally) are complex and felt very real. As I said, I could appreciate Josie's issues when we first meet her, I LOVED the sound of Paige's passion and her picture book. Clara came across like a truly decent person and I was keen for her to get on with her life, and Rebecca just seemed lovely - albeit with her long-kept secret.
I did get somewhat frustrated with the attitude of the other three women towards Rebecca when her secret is uncovered. I think Clara's reaction in particular annoyed the crap out of me, though in fairness her character does confess to a certain amount of jealousy or envy... so it's not as if she's hiding anything from us. But a bit more sympathy wouldn't have gone astray. And I particularly liked the inclusion of Paige's partner (Solomon) and his role in playing 'foil' to her black / white thinking at that point.
Johns again touches on (and skirts around) fraught and sensitive issues - about families and relationships and love and loss. Very specifically also again (as in her last book) about miscarriage, fertility and a woman's ability (or not) to carry a child / give birth... the ease with which some take it all for granted and extent to which it burdens another's life. And of course there's a reminder that loving and parenting a child doesn't necessarily mean they're biologically your own.
I was also interested in the reflections on romantic love here. I've mentioned the love interests of Paige, Josie (and even Clara) but Rebecca eventually surprised me as there's initially a sense that she's 'settled' for less than she wanted.
This would make a great bookclub book. There's an obvious discussion around the coincidence of all of these women meeting in the first place and I think it's important to get past that and realise there'd be no book otherwise. I can imagine discussions around Rebecca's motivations for digging into her past - because I was initially cynical about her justification; Clara's involvement with Josie and her own ex-husband (despite previously being adamant about getting him out of her life); Rebecca's husband's and daughter's reactions to her secret; and Josie's response.
There's also a strong sense of (perceptions of) blame and blamelessness and I think it'd be interesting to have that discussion.
All in all, a lot to think about and a wonderful read.
November 17, 2018
Loved this intricately woven story of people all connected through a wedding dress. Each character felt entirely different and I loved how the sensitive subjects in the story were dealt with. This is a touching, heartwarming and a tiny bit sad story of how lives intertwine and touch each other. Couldn’t stop turning the pages.
October 27, 2018
Great book, a wonderful intertwined story. Even though i worked the story out before the end it still was a great read. I was there in the people's lives.
December 3, 2018
I tore through this almost 500p book in a few hours in an afternoon. It’s a complex story but also an easily read one, with relatable characters and although some of the situations rely on coincidence and close proximity, it’s easy to set this aside and just enjoy the story that is being told here.
Paige is a devoted daughter to Rebecca and Hugh and when Rebecca falls ill at Paige’s book launch and is diagnosed with quite a severe illness, Paige has the bright idea to wear her mother’s wedding dress to her own up and coming wedding. Honestly Rebecca must have the only 80s wedding dress that transcends that decade because my mother got married in the 80s and her dress was definitely not something I could’ve worn at my 2011 wedding without looking like I was playing dress up! But the idea is lovely and Paige is singleminded in her attempts to track down the dress.
Whilst Paige is busy with all that, Rebecca is ruminating on a deep and dark secret she’s been keeping for 35 years and having regrets brought on by her diagnosis. She knows that it’s time to come clean but when she does, it’s going to have devastating repercussions for her family. For me, this was a seriously strong part of the book. Both Rebecca’s daughter and her husband react strongly to Rebecca’s news and the fact that she’s kept it a secret for so long and their reactions are ugly and bitter and hurtful and well, real. It’s how I think I’d imagine reacting if I found out my husband or parents had kept something from me like that, because I’m the sort of person that knee-jerk reacts to something and then has to calm down. I found it so sad for Rebecca at times, but I could also understand the intense hurt and frustration from both Hugh and Paige at discovering this news. It’s raw and for me, believable and true. It takes a while for each of them to work through their feelings and you can tell that it is something they do have to really work at. Rather than just being shocked and then being fine with it moments later.
Rebecca and Paige meet Clara and Josie throughout the book (and Clara and Josie also meet through other avenues) and the four of them become incredibly entangled in ways that strengthen them individually and also together as they forge friendships but there’s also a lot of hidden secrets that come tumbling out which also complicates their connections as well as changing and evolving them. I loved some of the reveals in this, they were all so well done and (I have always said this) show how well Rachael Johns excels at writing relationships and interactions between people. She just gets the way that people connect and also how they fall apart. There’s a lot of emotion in this book but it never feels over the top or cheesy, not does it feel contrived. There are several couples in this – two already married, one engaged and one couple are divorced. The couple that are divorced, Clara and Rob, have endured a lot of loss and heartache in their lives and Rob in particular has never quite been able to learn to cope with that or find a successful way to deal with the feelings it evokes in him. He turns to the bottle and when he and Clara eventually divorce (at Clara’s instigation) it seems that Rob continues to spiral downward, clinging to Clara and what they shared (and lost) while Clara just wants to move on. She wants a clean break, a fresh start, the potential for companionship and laughter again. Rob, although he only really appears in the book a couple of times, was very well written. His dependency on alcohol is given background and context and he becomes a truly sympathetic character as the depth of his regret and pain is realised. I feel as though the choice for him was the brave one, but the right one in terms of the story being told and the set up. It seemed the only (unfortunately) logical conclusion and because of that, it would allow the other characters to connect and move forward.
This was beautifully heartwarming and full of emotional depth. There are a few coincidences pinning the story together, not going to lie but they’re easy to just go with because the story is so well written. A good book can make you believe anything and this book had no trouble convincing me.
***A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for the purpose of an honest review***
Paige is a devoted daughter to Rebecca and Hugh and when Rebecca falls ill at Paige’s book launch and is diagnosed with quite a severe illness, Paige has the bright idea to wear her mother’s wedding dress to her own up and coming wedding. Honestly Rebecca must have the only 80s wedding dress that transcends that decade because my mother got married in the 80s and her dress was definitely not something I could’ve worn at my 2011 wedding without looking like I was playing dress up! But the idea is lovely and Paige is singleminded in her attempts to track down the dress.
Whilst Paige is busy with all that, Rebecca is ruminating on a deep and dark secret she’s been keeping for 35 years and having regrets brought on by her diagnosis. She knows that it’s time to come clean but when she does, it’s going to have devastating repercussions for her family. For me, this was a seriously strong part of the book. Both Rebecca’s daughter and her husband react strongly to Rebecca’s news and the fact that she’s kept it a secret for so long and their reactions are ugly and bitter and hurtful and well, real. It’s how I think I’d imagine reacting if I found out my husband or parents had kept something from me like that, because I’m the sort of person that knee-jerk reacts to something and then has to calm down. I found it so sad for Rebecca at times, but I could also understand the intense hurt and frustration from both Hugh and Paige at discovering this news. It’s raw and for me, believable and true. It takes a while for each of them to work through their feelings and you can tell that it is something they do have to really work at. Rather than just being shocked and then being fine with it moments later.
Rebecca and Paige meet Clara and Josie throughout the book (and Clara and Josie also meet through other avenues) and the four of them become incredibly entangled in ways that strengthen them individually and also together as they forge friendships but there’s also a lot of hidden secrets that come tumbling out which also complicates their connections as well as changing and evolving them. I loved some of the reveals in this, they were all so well done and (I have always said this) show how well Rachael Johns excels at writing relationships and interactions between people. She just gets the way that people connect and also how they fall apart. There’s a lot of emotion in this book but it never feels over the top or cheesy, not does it feel contrived. There are several couples in this – two already married, one engaged and one couple are divorced. The couple that are divorced, Clara and Rob, have endured a lot of loss and heartache in their lives and Rob in particular has never quite been able to learn to cope with that or find a successful way to deal with the feelings it evokes in him. He turns to the bottle and when he and Clara eventually divorce (at Clara’s instigation) it seems that Rob continues to spiral downward, clinging to Clara and what they shared (and lost) while Clara just wants to move on. She wants a clean break, a fresh start, the potential for companionship and laughter again. Rob, although he only really appears in the book a couple of times, was very well written. His dependency on alcohol is given background and context and he becomes a truly sympathetic character as the depth of his regret and pain is realised. I feel as though the choice for him was the brave one, but the right one in terms of the story being told and the set up. It seemed the only (unfortunately) logical conclusion and because of that, it would allow the other characters to connect and move forward.
This was beautifully heartwarming and full of emotional depth. There are a few coincidences pinning the story together, not going to lie but they’re easy to just go with because the story is so well written. A good book can make you believe anything and this book had no trouble convincing me.
***A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for the purpose of an honest review***
November 5, 2018
2 stars. I had such high hopes for this book as I loved Rachael Johns’ previous book, The Greatest Gift. I just did not like any of the characters and found them all very selfish and self involved. The story was basically non existent and all the coincidences that occurred were pretty ridiculous and not particularly well thought out. Unfortunately the “twist” (if you can call it that) was revealed pretty early on and the rest of the book was basically just relaying this “twist” to all the secondary characters. Another issue I had was that there were a lot of useless details and even some useless characters (why are we introduced to the 2 bridesmaids at the beginning only to not hear about them again? Gregg being another example and probably the only sensible character in the whole book!). I simply did not care about the characters in this book and therefore didn’t particularly care what happened to them. Don’t think I will bother with this author again sadly.
Thanks kindly to Netgalley, publisher and author for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Thanks kindly to Netgalley, publisher and author for the opportunity to read and review this book.
November 16, 2018
Reading a Rachael John’s novel is like curling up with a good friend.....and sometimes there is something that you don’t agree with but all is well in the end.
In ‘Lost Without You’ there is definitely a case of six degrees of separation.
The main characters of Rebecca, Paige, Josie and Clara are all seemly unrelated/unconnected until the tale is told.
With themes of loss, miscarriage, adoption, alcoholism, loneliness to friendship and feeling needed, there seems a lot going on but it is all explored very well.
A very enjoyable story which I think would lend it self well to a book club discussion.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read.
In ‘Lost Without You’ there is definitely a case of six degrees of separation.
The main characters of Rebecca, Paige, Josie and Clara are all seemly unrelated/unconnected until the tale is told.
With themes of loss, miscarriage, adoption, alcoholism, loneliness to friendship and feeling needed, there seems a lot going on but it is all explored very well.
A very enjoyable story which I think would lend it self well to a book club discussion.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read.
March 19, 2019
Lost Without You by Rachael Johns is a fantastic Mega read about relationships, life in general filled with laughter, sadness and real to life situations. It's funny and sad at the same time. I loved the part about The Wedding Dress (without giving too much away). I would recommend this book and also the Audio, if you can get a hold of it as the voices stay with you throughout the book.
November 26, 2018
This was a very beautiful writing about a wedding dress that traveled but there is a secret that comes to light through the search of the dress. Paige MacRitchie mother Rebbeca is diagnosed with kidney failure so she decides to search for her mother's wedding not realizing that her mother is carrying a secret for over 30 years for when she was fifteen years old before she met her father Hugh. Rebecca has now been diagnosed with kidney failure thinks that maybe its time to reveal her secret of given birth to her childhood sweetheart Robbie a singer in a time rock band of the eighties One track mind and forced by her parents to give the baby up for adoption.
Clara a nurse she was married to Robbie and divorced from. She ends up caring for Rebecca in the hospital and also volunteers at the center that helps women deal with grief after miscarriages.
Josie a teacher who moved from Perth with her husband who has suffered many miscarriages and wonders if her marriage is okay.
As Paige search for the dress leads her to Josie who now has the dress, it when she takes her mother to see the dress that she see a baby photo of her baby she gave up. When she asks Josie who the baby is she replies it is her. Rebecca now knows she had a girl baby, not a boy as her parents told her.
Through the book, we see the emotions that the characters go through as they each discover the truth of Rebecca's secrets affects them all. Including Clara, Robbie's depression losing his child over the years has hurt him, Paige dealing with the discovery of a sister, Rebecca' guilt of giving her baby up and the effect her parent's decisions for her has on her and her family now, Josie finding her biological family but also never forgetting her adoptive family. And what becomes of the dress as well in the end is also fitting to the story. Another one Rachael Johns great written novels.
Clara a nurse she was married to Robbie and divorced from. She ends up caring for Rebecca in the hospital and also volunteers at the center that helps women deal with grief after miscarriages.
Josie a teacher who moved from Perth with her husband who has suffered many miscarriages and wonders if her marriage is okay.
As Paige search for the dress leads her to Josie who now has the dress, it when she takes her mother to see the dress that she see a baby photo of her baby she gave up. When she asks Josie who the baby is she replies it is her. Rebecca now knows she had a girl baby, not a boy as her parents told her.
Through the book, we see the emotions that the characters go through as they each discover the truth of Rebecca's secrets affects them all. Including Clara, Robbie's depression losing his child over the years has hurt him, Paige dealing with the discovery of a sister, Rebecca' guilt of giving her baby up and the effect her parent's decisions for her has on her and her family now, Josie finding her biological family but also never forgetting her adoptive family. And what becomes of the dress as well in the end is also fitting to the story. Another one Rachael Johns great written novels.
January 4, 2020
Love Rachael Jones. This is the third book I've read of hers and very impressed. Got The one wish for my birthday so looking forward to starting this one soon
March 14, 2019
Entertaining but not deep or riveting. Superficial and unrealistic characters who at times I wanted to shake because they were selfish and immature. Strange relationships that were far too convenient and again lacked depth. I was expecting more from this author and found the language used writing very ‘light on’.
January 12, 2021
Loved this book! I really identified with the characters and the story moved along at a good pace, never leaving you bored. An emotional tale of what a woman goes through when giving up a baby.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2018
Review to follow
November 18, 2018
With Lost Without You, Rachael Johns demonstrates her brilliance as a writer yet again. The story has a tangled, convoluted plot with some less than nice emotions displayed by the characters but she makes it all a pleasure to read. There are moments of anger and heartbreak but overall the book offers hope and love.
The story is primarily about the MacRitchie women, Rebecca and Paige. Rebecca collapses just as Paige’s boyfriend is about to propose but it’s not something simple. It’s a life changing – and potentially limiting – illness. Rebecca has got a lot to face in the coming months and she starts thinking about her deepest secret that not even her husband knows. Meanwhile, Paige said yes and is thinking about how great it would be to get married in her mother’s wedding dress. Unfortunately, her mother donated it to charity but Paige manages to track it to Josie. Josie’s life is in a bit of a mess after turning to drinking and smoking after multiple miscarriages. Paige is just the friend she needs, but it’s a chance meeting with a stranger that leads Josie to Clara. Clara is a volunteer counsellor and nurse and they help each other through the bumps in their lives. Then things become even more complex than any of them thought…
Lost Without You does contain some absolutely amazing coincidences and that’s one of the reasons I read and enjoy fiction. It would be mundane if there weren’t any links between the women and the coincidences were nice and twisty so I didn’t guess most of them! I think the links between the main characters helped to make the story more cohesive and easier for the reader to enjoy. Knowing the links between the women also made their reactions to various events more realistic. Some of the revelations were pretty deep – particularly one involving Paige – and I think her spectacular reaction was great. Not great for Rebecca, who had to deal with the fallout, but great for making her character flawed and vulnerable. Likewise, some characters have difficulty with forgiveness and/or acceptance but that’s life. You can’t forgive everything and expect it all to be sunshine and roses. I respected the characters a lot more for their hissy hits and honest, if unpopular, emotions. These are all strong, independent women and they can make their own choices without having to pander to anyone else. I think Rebecca was a great example of that. Her secret once revealed put her on the outer with many other people, but she stuck to her guns to satisfy what she wanted. She was also pragmatic about everyone not forgiving her straightaway, knowing there was a process to go through.
This novel is also officially a chunkster, but don’t let that put you off. The pages fly by because both the plot and characters are fascinating. Rachael Johns states that she writes life lit, but Lost Without You is not the five-day grind, but the unexpected in book form. This novel allows the reader to learn about several serious issues, but also have some fun. (If you’re an eighties enthusiast, there is plenty here for you!) The dialogue is convincing as it reads how people actually speak and overall, it’s just a winner. Expect Lost Without You to be on many beach towels this summer!
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
The story is primarily about the MacRitchie women, Rebecca and Paige. Rebecca collapses just as Paige’s boyfriend is about to propose but it’s not something simple. It’s a life changing – and potentially limiting – illness. Rebecca has got a lot to face in the coming months and she starts thinking about her deepest secret that not even her husband knows. Meanwhile, Paige said yes and is thinking about how great it would be to get married in her mother’s wedding dress. Unfortunately, her mother donated it to charity but Paige manages to track it to Josie. Josie’s life is in a bit of a mess after turning to drinking and smoking after multiple miscarriages. Paige is just the friend she needs, but it’s a chance meeting with a stranger that leads Josie to Clara. Clara is a volunteer counsellor and nurse and they help each other through the bumps in their lives. Then things become even more complex than any of them thought…
Lost Without You does contain some absolutely amazing coincidences and that’s one of the reasons I read and enjoy fiction. It would be mundane if there weren’t any links between the women and the coincidences were nice and twisty so I didn’t guess most of them! I think the links between the main characters helped to make the story more cohesive and easier for the reader to enjoy. Knowing the links between the women also made their reactions to various events more realistic. Some of the revelations were pretty deep – particularly one involving Paige – and I think her spectacular reaction was great. Not great for Rebecca, who had to deal with the fallout, but great for making her character flawed and vulnerable. Likewise, some characters have difficulty with forgiveness and/or acceptance but that’s life. You can’t forgive everything and expect it all to be sunshine and roses. I respected the characters a lot more for their hissy hits and honest, if unpopular, emotions. These are all strong, independent women and they can make their own choices without having to pander to anyone else. I think Rebecca was a great example of that. Her secret once revealed put her on the outer with many other people, but she stuck to her guns to satisfy what she wanted. She was also pragmatic about everyone not forgiving her straightaway, knowing there was a process to go through.
This novel is also officially a chunkster, but don’t let that put you off. The pages fly by because both the plot and characters are fascinating. Rachael Johns states that she writes life lit, but Lost Without You is not the five-day grind, but the unexpected in book form. This novel allows the reader to learn about several serious issues, but also have some fun. (If you’re an eighties enthusiast, there is plenty here for you!) The dialogue is convincing as it reads how people actually speak and overall, it’s just a winner. Expect Lost Without You to be on many beach towels this summer!
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
December 20, 2018
My Thoughts
Lost Without You is a novel that will make you laugh, cry, wonder and reminisce. It would have to be the best book I have read this year! Having been lucky enough to meet Rachael, I am honoured to be reviewing her latest book!
I really enjoyed how each chapter started with a different character’s name and began with their story. Rebecca was the central character and all the other characters
somehow weaved into her story. This was done so well that I just had to keep turning the pages and I often read late into the night (sometimes even into early morning!)
There were many different controversial issues dealt with in the story and they were well researched. I laughed and I cried along with the characters and they became an everyday part of my life that I couldn’t wait to get back to!
I especially enjoyed reading about Josie. As an 80’s fan myself and a teacher, I identified with her the most.
“In reality she planned a night in bed with a bottle of wine and one of her favourite movies from the eighties playing on her laptop. Big bold hair, outrageous fashion, feel-good music and a little Molly Ringwald had been her medicine of choice for as long as she could remember.”
There were so many twists and turns in this book and Rachael did an amazing job of linking all the characters together. The secret that Rebecca was keeping from her family was the link with all the characters and by using a wedding dress Rachael brought all the characters together.
“...‘Dad-what happened to Mum’s wedding dress? Is it packed away at the house somewhere?’...’I think she gave it away to charity.’...Paige’s heart sank and she couldn’t hide the disappointment in her voice; the grand plan that had entered her head a few seconds earlier was gone as soon as it arrived.”
Every single character in this book is likeable and some are even lovable.Their stories are unique and written very well. While Paige is looking for her Mum’s wedding dress, there are other stories being developed along the way. You would think, this would make it difficult to follow, but the talented way Rachael writes and links them together makes it very easy to follow and an extremely enjoyable read.
“...’I do remember that dress...I put it up in the window and in less than an hour, it had sold’...’Do you know who bought it?’...’I remember it was a man. Pretty young. Tall, dark, handsome…”
I highly recommend this book. It was such an enjoyable read and I was very sad when I got to the end, I wanted more!
“...’Thankyou’..said in unison, before they turned to each other and enjoyed a celebratory group hug.”
Lost Without You is a novel that will make you laugh, cry, wonder and reminisce. It would have to be the best book I have read this year! Having been lucky enough to meet Rachael, I am honoured to be reviewing her latest book!
I really enjoyed how each chapter started with a different character’s name and began with their story. Rebecca was the central character and all the other characters
somehow weaved into her story. This was done so well that I just had to keep turning the pages and I often read late into the night (sometimes even into early morning!)
There were many different controversial issues dealt with in the story and they were well researched. I laughed and I cried along with the characters and they became an everyday part of my life that I couldn’t wait to get back to!
I especially enjoyed reading about Josie. As an 80’s fan myself and a teacher, I identified with her the most.
“In reality she planned a night in bed with a bottle of wine and one of her favourite movies from the eighties playing on her laptop. Big bold hair, outrageous fashion, feel-good music and a little Molly Ringwald had been her medicine of choice for as long as she could remember.”
There were so many twists and turns in this book and Rachael did an amazing job of linking all the characters together. The secret that Rebecca was keeping from her family was the link with all the characters and by using a wedding dress Rachael brought all the characters together.
“...‘Dad-what happened to Mum’s wedding dress? Is it packed away at the house somewhere?’...’I think she gave it away to charity.’...Paige’s heart sank and she couldn’t hide the disappointment in her voice; the grand plan that had entered her head a few seconds earlier was gone as soon as it arrived.”
Every single character in this book is likeable and some are even lovable.Their stories are unique and written very well. While Paige is looking for her Mum’s wedding dress, there are other stories being developed along the way. You would think, this would make it difficult to follow, but the talented way Rachael writes and links them together makes it very easy to follow and an extremely enjoyable read.
“...’I do remember that dress...I put it up in the window and in less than an hour, it had sold’...’Do you know who bought it?’...’I remember it was a man. Pretty young. Tall, dark, handsome…”
I highly recommend this book. It was such an enjoyable read and I was very sad when I got to the end, I wanted more!
“...’Thankyou’..said in unison, before they turned to each other and enjoyed a celebratory group hug.”
November 12, 2018
I must say that this is the first time I have read a book by this Author even though I have met and had a book signed by her over a year ago. I was very delighted to get the chance to read and review this new book of her’s that I was given an ARC from NetGalley. This story was an intertwined story about four women and a Wedding Dress, they will all learn the world is a small place. The book does hit some difficult issues like adoption, organ transplant, illnesses, infidelity, lies within a marriage, death and depression. A story of secrets, relationships, friendships and love all bundled together to give us hours of enjoyment.
Rebecca, Hugh, Paige, Soloman, Clara, Josie, Nick, Rob and Brenda will all find out just how secrets can affect your lives now, in the past and what the future might bring because of them. The search for one wedding dress will change so many lives some will be good and some will have new issues to overcome.
I did find the start a bit difficult to get my head around with four different characters point of view but soon found these characters interesting and the story flowed much better for me. I love reading a book set in Australia and this one did not disappoint at all with great reference to our way of living I could almost feel I was at a few of there places along the way. I must now go and read the book that Rachael Johns signed for me so I can review that book as well.
If you are looking for a great Australian author please check out Rachael Johns many books as I highly recommend this book and her writing style.
Rebecca, Hugh, Paige, Soloman, Clara, Josie, Nick, Rob and Brenda will all find out just how secrets can affect your lives now, in the past and what the future might bring because of them. The search for one wedding dress will change so many lives some will be good and some will have new issues to overcome.
I did find the start a bit difficult to get my head around with four different characters point of view but soon found these characters interesting and the story flowed much better for me. I love reading a book set in Australia and this one did not disappoint at all with great reference to our way of living I could almost feel I was at a few of there places along the way. I must now go and read the book that Rachael Johns signed for me so I can review that book as well.
If you are looking for a great Australian author please check out Rachael Johns many books as I highly recommend this book and her writing style.
November 15, 2018
An interesting book about 3 women who are connect in a way none of them could imagine.
A teenage pregnancy, an ex-wife and an unknown daughter, their lives are brought together by love, loss and retribution. Rebecca lost the love of her teenage life Robbie, when she becomes pregnant but her Father threatens Robbie with a jail sentence if he does not leave.
Clara is Robbie's nurse and later becomes his wife but because of his loss of Rebecca and his unborn child, his regrets steer him to alcohol and he eventually loses Clara as well.
Josie is the child who was given up for adoption and through her meeting with Clara who also volunteers as a Grief Counsellor, builds a wonderful bond and friendship with another woman who knows the loss of miscarriage.
This was a very intense read and it did take me quite a way into the book to finally work out how all these people connected with each other.
I did sympathise mostly with Rebecca who unfortunately seemed to have everyone turn against her when they found out about her tightly kept secret, especially when she was battling a life threatening illness. I found I was leaning towards disliking her daughter Paige and husband Hugh and the lack of understanding of the situation that a 15 year old child finds themselves in.
A well written book that will certainly leave you thinking about it after finished.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia, HQ (Fiction, Non Fiction, YA) & MIRA for the opportunity to read and review.
A teenage pregnancy, an ex-wife and an unknown daughter, their lives are brought together by love, loss and retribution. Rebecca lost the love of her teenage life Robbie, when she becomes pregnant but her Father threatens Robbie with a jail sentence if he does not leave.
Clara is Robbie's nurse and later becomes his wife but because of his loss of Rebecca and his unborn child, his regrets steer him to alcohol and he eventually loses Clara as well.
Josie is the child who was given up for adoption and through her meeting with Clara who also volunteers as a Grief Counsellor, builds a wonderful bond and friendship with another woman who knows the loss of miscarriage.
This was a very intense read and it did take me quite a way into the book to finally work out how all these people connected with each other.
I did sympathise mostly with Rebecca who unfortunately seemed to have everyone turn against her when they found out about her tightly kept secret, especially when she was battling a life threatening illness. I found I was leaning towards disliking her daughter Paige and husband Hugh and the lack of understanding of the situation that a 15 year old child finds themselves in.
A well written book that will certainly leave you thinking about it after finished.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia, HQ (Fiction, Non Fiction, YA) & MIRA for the opportunity to read and review.
November 11, 2018
I remember lying in a hospital bed a few years ago, post lumbar puncture, when a nurse and I got in a conversation about books. She recommended a book called Jilted, by a new WA author Rachael Johns. A few weeks later I got that book, and have been hooked on the works of her ever since.
Johns' stories have changed a bit over the years, going from rural romance into the life lit category. Lost Without You is her latest work.
It tells the story of four women:
Rebecca, a woman who collapses at the book launch for her adult daughter
Paige, Rebecca's daughter
Clara, a nurse and ex-wife of an 80s rock star
Josie, a school teacher struggling with infertility
Four very different women with nothing in common, until Rebecca receives her unexpected diagnosis. Struggling with the idea of losing her Mum, Paige decides she wants to wear her mother's wedding dress when she walks down the aisle. The problem is, Rebecca donated the dress years ago, and Paige faces the arduous task of tracking it down.
As with all Johns' books, Lost Without You is an easy read. We are draw into these women's lives, and their stories were all so varied and unique. Their stories wove into each other well, and unfolded at a steady pace.
A thoroughly enjoyable read.
Johns' stories have changed a bit over the years, going from rural romance into the life lit category. Lost Without You is her latest work.
It tells the story of four women:
Rebecca, a woman who collapses at the book launch for her adult daughter
Paige, Rebecca's daughter
Clara, a nurse and ex-wife of an 80s rock star
Josie, a school teacher struggling with infertility
Four very different women with nothing in common, until Rebecca receives her unexpected diagnosis. Struggling with the idea of losing her Mum, Paige decides she wants to wear her mother's wedding dress when she walks down the aisle. The problem is, Rebecca donated the dress years ago, and Paige faces the arduous task of tracking it down.
As with all Johns' books, Lost Without You is an easy read. We are draw into these women's lives, and their stories were all so varied and unique. Their stories wove into each other well, and unfolded at a steady pace.
A thoroughly enjoyable read.
November 29, 2018
I’ve read all of Rachael Johns’ ‘Life Lit’ books (and a couple of her romances), and thoroughly enjoyed them, so I was excited when ‘Lost Without You’ was being released. At first, it felt like there were lots of characters to keep track of, but by the end, I knew them all so well! Rachael did a great job of revealing each of the character’s stories and their connections to the ‘travelling’ wedding dress. The stories of Paige, Rebecca, Clara and Josie show new connections, old connections, and the stories tell of the current time, and also memories of the past. There’s a bit of an 80s focus in this book, and that’s an era I love the music and movies of, but even if you didn’t, it’s certainly not the main focus of the book. The characters, and their life stories are the focus. If you enjoy a book where the characters are richly portrayed, and interactions between them are shown… well… this is a book for you! Rachael’s forte is introducing us to characters we feel we’ve gotten to really know and care about.
I don’t want to give too much away, but I will say this is a fabulous story, beautifully told, and one I’m recommending to friends and family.
Thanks to Beauty and Lace and HQ Fiction for a copy of this book for an unbiased review.
I don’t want to give too much away, but I will say this is a fabulous story, beautifully told, and one I’m recommending to friends and family.
Thanks to Beauty and Lace and HQ Fiction for a copy of this book for an unbiased review.
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