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The Day We Disappeared
Annie has a secret. It's a heartbreaking secret she wishes she didn't have - yet Annie isn't broken.
Kate has run away. It's proving difficult to reinvent herself, however, with one person always on her mind. Nobody is really who they seem.
Even Annie and Kate aren't entirely sure who they are anymore. Can they work it out before their pasts catch up with them for good?
Kate has run away. It's proving difficult to reinvent herself, however, with one person always on her mind. Nobody is really who they seem.
Even Annie and Kate aren't entirely sure who they are anymore. Can they work it out before their pasts catch up with them for good?
432 pages, Paperback
First published March 24, 2015
77 people are currently reading
3034 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Robinson
21 books283 followersThe Day We Disappeared is Lucy Robinson's fourth novel, following hot on the heels of the widely-acclaimed The Unfinished Symphony of You and Me - a Book of 2014 for several online and print media publications.
Lucy worked in theatre and then television documentaries before starting a blog for Marie Claire about her laughably unsuccessful foray into the world of online dating. She did not meet a man during this time but she did become a novelist: every cloud has a silver lining. She now lives in Bristol with her partner, The Man, whom she met when she took off to Buenos Aires to become a bohemian writer in 2010. She still works in television when time permits and does a lot of walking and strange healthy cooking, which you can laugh at via her social media channels:
TWITTER: @lucy_robinson
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/lucyrobinsonwriter
INSTAGRAM: @robinsonwriter
WEBSITE: www.lucy-robinson.co.uk
Lucy worked in theatre and then television documentaries before starting a blog for Marie Claire about her laughably unsuccessful foray into the world of online dating. She did not meet a man during this time but she did become a novelist: every cloud has a silver lining. She now lives in Bristol with her partner, The Man, whom she met when she took off to Buenos Aires to become a bohemian writer in 2010. She still works in television when time permits and does a lot of walking and strange healthy cooking, which you can laugh at via her social media channels:
TWITTER: @lucy_robinson
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/lucyrobinsonwriter
INSTAGRAM: @robinsonwriter
WEBSITE: www.lucy-robinson.co.uk
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 255 reviews
March 21, 2015
This is the story of two friends who are each running from their past. Kate wants to keep a low profile, she is terrified that her past is going to catch up with her but we don’t know what that past it. Annie’s problems go a lot further back, to her childhood, and she has never allowed herself to get close to men or have a long term meaningful relationship. They are both starting new jobs, new starts with new bosses who are going to have a big impact on them.
When I first started reading this book I was aware that there was quite a buzz about it and I must admit that for the first half of the read I was wondering why. It was certainly enjoyable, an easy to read book with big hints of romance but I couldn’t see why everyone was getting so excited about it. Then, I got to the “reveal” and I realised exactly why! It is a book that is well worth sticking with because when you get to that point and everything all makes sense is when you really start to enjoy the read. I loved the second part of the story, which suddenly turned much darker and more intricate, although was still easy to read and very much a page turner.
I liked both parts of the story equally and there is a cast of characters who are really fun to read about. My only real gripe about the story is the character of Ana Louisa, a six year old with a vocabulary way beyond her years. She is meant to be precocious and cute but to me she just came across as an obnoxious little brat. I really did pause a little when I got to the section where her parents were allowing her to use her toy kitchen to role play Gordon Ramsay and Hells Kitchen, complete with the “F” word, whilst they were in the room. It just made me feel a little uneasy as I cannot imagine any parent condoning that. That aside though, this is a really good read. Many thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
When I first started reading this book I was aware that there was quite a buzz about it and I must admit that for the first half of the read I was wondering why. It was certainly enjoyable, an easy to read book with big hints of romance but I couldn’t see why everyone was getting so excited about it. Then, I got to the “reveal” and I realised exactly why! It is a book that is well worth sticking with because when you get to that point and everything all makes sense is when you really start to enjoy the read. I loved the second part of the story, which suddenly turned much darker and more intricate, although was still easy to read and very much a page turner.
I liked both parts of the story equally and there is a cast of characters who are really fun to read about. My only real gripe about the story is the character of Ana Louisa, a six year old with a vocabulary way beyond her years. She is meant to be precocious and cute but to me she just came across as an obnoxious little brat. I really did pause a little when I got to the section where her parents were allowing her to use her toy kitchen to role play Gordon Ramsay and Hells Kitchen, complete with the “F” word, whilst they were in the room. It just made me feel a little uneasy as I cannot imagine any parent condoning that. That aside though, this is a really good read. Many thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
June 7, 2015
I'd heard great things about this novel from several trusted sources so it accidentally dropped into my basket during a recent book shopping trip - and boy was I in for a treat.
This is simply superb - totally captivating, storytelling genius, with unforgettable characters that I loved with all my heart. Two brilliantly drawn and utterly gripping strong female leads, with a supporting cast that makes for a rollicking good read, often darkly humerous and completely addictive from first page to last.
Kate has run away from her life and is living incognito on a farm - Annie is facing huge potentially life changing differences in hers - told in alternating chapters between the two we start to learn about their current lives, their past lives, their friendships and the reasons behind their actions. It is perfectly paced, perfectly constructed and is one of those novels that you just know you will remember for the rest of your life and probably read several times.
The mystery element is intriguing - you know there are secrets hovering just below the surface but you tend to forget about those as you get totally caught up in the lives of these two women, one of whom has a dark past and you watch them head into an uncertain future. There is a beautifully done romantic aspect (and I usually don't do romance but this was authentic and rather lovely) but added to that is a story of deep friendships and lasting ties which is emotionally stunning. The vibrant characters live and breathe in your imagination as you read, there really is no downside.
And gosh if that was not enough the author floored me with a beautiful little twisty turn that I absolutely did not see coming. Yes, mea culpa this time I was caught out but it is so brilliantly perfect that I'm not even cross with myself. I had to put the book down for a moment while my brain caught up to the authors genius, then I rocketed through the rest in record time, couldn't wait to see how it all panned out for Kate and Annie.
Plus horses. The book has horses. Really is there anything else to say?
Sheer brilliance. Highly HIGHLY recommended.
Happy Reading Folks!
This is simply superb - totally captivating, storytelling genius, with unforgettable characters that I loved with all my heart. Two brilliantly drawn and utterly gripping strong female leads, with a supporting cast that makes for a rollicking good read, often darkly humerous and completely addictive from first page to last.
Kate has run away from her life and is living incognito on a farm - Annie is facing huge potentially life changing differences in hers - told in alternating chapters between the two we start to learn about their current lives, their past lives, their friendships and the reasons behind their actions. It is perfectly paced, perfectly constructed and is one of those novels that you just know you will remember for the rest of your life and probably read several times.
The mystery element is intriguing - you know there are secrets hovering just below the surface but you tend to forget about those as you get totally caught up in the lives of these two women, one of whom has a dark past and you watch them head into an uncertain future. There is a beautifully done romantic aspect (and I usually don't do romance but this was authentic and rather lovely) but added to that is a story of deep friendships and lasting ties which is emotionally stunning. The vibrant characters live and breathe in your imagination as you read, there really is no downside.
And gosh if that was not enough the author floored me with a beautiful little twisty turn that I absolutely did not see coming. Yes, mea culpa this time I was caught out but it is so brilliantly perfect that I'm not even cross with myself. I had to put the book down for a moment while my brain caught up to the authors genius, then I rocketed through the rest in record time, couldn't wait to see how it all panned out for Kate and Annie.
Plus horses. The book has horses. Really is there anything else to say?
Sheer brilliance. Highly HIGHLY recommended.
Happy Reading Folks!
January 16, 2023
3 stars i expected a little more drama and conflict overall was good
April 14, 2015
Having never read a Lucy Robinson book before (shocking, I know), I was very excited to receive a review copy of The Day We Disappeared. Some of my favourite bloggers are huge Lucy Robinson fans, so I went into this book with very high expectations. I also went into the book expecting it to be the norm for this genre and thought I had an idea of where the book would go. How wrong I was, The Day We Disappeared was such a different read from what I was expecting. It's a story that will remain in my memory for a long time. Lucy Robinson is a born storyteller and she has written a book that is just impossible to review.
I became totally invested in the lives of both of our main characters really quickly, and so felt for them throughout the book as if I knew them. This is because of Lucy Robinson's ability to create realistic and believable characters that feel like people you could know in real life. The villains of the piece are also believable, scarily so at times. It's clear that for those parts of the story Lucy has carried out meticulous research, using it to tell a gripping and authentic story that will have you thinking about the book long after you've finished it. Lucy is a wonderful writer, and The Day We Disappeared is full of humorous moments and characters that help to lighten the mood in what was at times a darker read than the cover and blurb suggests. It's not just Annie and Kate who are standout characters, but their friends as well, all of whom have their role to play in the telling of this story.
It isn't often that a book leaves me speechless, or makes my jaw literally drop but The Day We Disappeared managed both of those things and I was so glad I could talk to fellow bloggers and Lucy herself about this book because I needed to talk to somebody else that had read it about how amazing it was after I'd finished it. Thinking back to my reaction at certain events in this book is almost comical, I imagine my face was a picture. I can only apologise for the briefness and lack of detail in this review but with a book like this it's almost impossible to discuss in any detail without giving things away, it's very much about discovering the book for yourselves, which I hope you will. I think this is going to be one of 2015's best books, and fans of Lucy Robinson, or those like me who are new to her work, are going to absolutely love it. I can imagine some might find the start a little slow going, but seriously, it soon gets really good.
The Day We Disappeared is a book you will want to recommend to strangers in the street, and scream at anybody looking at it in a supermarket or bookshop to buy it. You will finish reading it, and immediately want to tell the world about it. It is a truly inspirational, heartwarming and at times heartbreaking read with such a satisfying ending, Lucy has written an incredible novel that I can't recommend enough and I now need to read her other books ASAP. Don't let this one sit on your TBR too long though, it won't be long before someone spoils it! The cover and the blurb do perhaps give off that Women's Fiction vibe, yet the big discussion amongst bloggers and authors recently on Twitter has been #ReviewWomen2015 and this is a book that can and should be used to strengthen that argument, it's so much more than a book for women (I'm not a woman!) and really, this book has to be a bestseller.
I became totally invested in the lives of both of our main characters really quickly, and so felt for them throughout the book as if I knew them. This is because of Lucy Robinson's ability to create realistic and believable characters that feel like people you could know in real life. The villains of the piece are also believable, scarily so at times. It's clear that for those parts of the story Lucy has carried out meticulous research, using it to tell a gripping and authentic story that will have you thinking about the book long after you've finished it. Lucy is a wonderful writer, and The Day We Disappeared is full of humorous moments and characters that help to lighten the mood in what was at times a darker read than the cover and blurb suggests. It's not just Annie and Kate who are standout characters, but their friends as well, all of whom have their role to play in the telling of this story.
It isn't often that a book leaves me speechless, or makes my jaw literally drop but The Day We Disappeared managed both of those things and I was so glad I could talk to fellow bloggers and Lucy herself about this book because I needed to talk to somebody else that had read it about how amazing it was after I'd finished it. Thinking back to my reaction at certain events in this book is almost comical, I imagine my face was a picture. I can only apologise for the briefness and lack of detail in this review but with a book like this it's almost impossible to discuss in any detail without giving things away, it's very much about discovering the book for yourselves, which I hope you will. I think this is going to be one of 2015's best books, and fans of Lucy Robinson, or those like me who are new to her work, are going to absolutely love it. I can imagine some might find the start a little slow going, but seriously, it soon gets really good.
The Day We Disappeared is a book you will want to recommend to strangers in the street, and scream at anybody looking at it in a supermarket or bookshop to buy it. You will finish reading it, and immediately want to tell the world about it. It is a truly inspirational, heartwarming and at times heartbreaking read with such a satisfying ending, Lucy has written an incredible novel that I can't recommend enough and I now need to read her other books ASAP. Don't let this one sit on your TBR too long though, it won't be long before someone spoils it! The cover and the blurb do perhaps give off that Women's Fiction vibe, yet the big discussion amongst bloggers and authors recently on Twitter has been #ReviewWomen2015 and this is a book that can and should be used to strengthen that argument, it's so much more than a book for women (I'm not a woman!) and really, this book has to be a bestseller.
April 5, 2015
Where to start? Where on earth to start? It's not often that I am left speechless, but oh my goodness, words totally failed me when I came to the end of this extremely clever and quite captivating story. Lucy Robinson is one hell of a talent, she's created some characters, made a plot and then smashed the reader straight in the face with a great big unexpected twist.
I started reading The Day We Disappeared with no preconceptions at all, I vaguely thought that it would be a kind of romantic comedy, and the early chapters seemed to prove that. There's certainly a lot of humour in Robinson's writing, and romance features quite heavily.
I can't say much about the story, it's one of those books that would be so easy to spoil in a review, and I'm damned if I'm going to spoil this one for anyone. Let's say that it's a story of secrets, of friends, of family and of running away. Both Kate and Annie are well-formed characters with their own problems, their own demons, things that have shaped them. Lucy Robinson doesn't disclose these secrets easily, so I'm certainly not going to either.
Take two scarred and vulnerable women. Hide them away from their family, their friends, and from themselves really. Create two new worlds for them - an eventing yard and a city business, populate both of these with charismatic characters and then add some darkness to the plot. Deal with some pretty scary and very serious issues, and deal with them sensitively and compassionately, but keep the humour going too.
That is exactly what you've got from The Day We Disappeared, and I loved it. It's one of those books that stay there, in the corner of your mind, niggling away, making you think and wonder, and yes, making you feel a little bit uneasy.
This really is perfect storytelling, warm and funny, and mysterious and downright terrifying in places.
I started reading The Day We Disappeared with no preconceptions at all, I vaguely thought that it would be a kind of romantic comedy, and the early chapters seemed to prove that. There's certainly a lot of humour in Robinson's writing, and romance features quite heavily.
I can't say much about the story, it's one of those books that would be so easy to spoil in a review, and I'm damned if I'm going to spoil this one for anyone. Let's say that it's a story of secrets, of friends, of family and of running away. Both Kate and Annie are well-formed characters with their own problems, their own demons, things that have shaped them. Lucy Robinson doesn't disclose these secrets easily, so I'm certainly not going to either.
Take two scarred and vulnerable women. Hide them away from their family, their friends, and from themselves really. Create two new worlds for them - an eventing yard and a city business, populate both of these with charismatic characters and then add some darkness to the plot. Deal with some pretty scary and very serious issues, and deal with them sensitively and compassionately, but keep the humour going too.
That is exactly what you've got from The Day We Disappeared, and I loved it. It's one of those books that stay there, in the corner of your mind, niggling away, making you think and wonder, and yes, making you feel a little bit uneasy.
This really is perfect storytelling, warm and funny, and mysterious and downright terrifying in places.
July 5, 2021
The book blurb sounded intruging and kinda exciting but I wasn't able to connect or focus with the story. It wasn't simply for me. A very forgettable book for me.
April 23, 2015
Man alive, this book is one of the best books I've read all year! Lucy Robinson writes with such confidence and wit, add this to an utterly stellar plot-line (like seriously, very clever) and jump-off-the-page characters (Kate Brady was my girl) and it is a real winner. I gulped this book down in about two days and highly recommend it! Top notch.
April 26, 2015
I've been excited about this books for weeks and weeks. Finally it was our on ebook and I was able to download it, I didn't start it immediately, I saved it for my journey to Florida. Lucy got me hooked from the start and I degoured every second of this book. I will definitely buy this as a pape back, because first of all it was brilliant and second of all the cover is stunning!!!
Kate and Annie are old friends and we get to read about both their stories. The chaoters vhange from Annie to Kate and back. This gives the stiry a great miscture, but whenever I was reading about one of them, I missed the other one. Both women have difficult past, that's why Annie keeps it as a secret and Kate just runs away! This gives the book a mysterious spark, which I really enjoyed.
In the story a lot changes for both of themand they can finally see some sunshine again.
And then: Lucy left me totally SPEECHLESS!! Un unexpected twist takes this brilliant novel to a whole different level. You're a genius Lucy!
Lucy's style of writing has always been kne of my faves, it's funny, hilarious, clever, warm, catchy, young, down to earth, fresh and also reaklly deep, heartbreaking and emotional, this comes across in this book really well. The storyline and all the ideas are genuine, realistic and it all flows perfectly. I felt like being there with the characters, so vivid and detailed
I really liked Annie's friends in this story, a great bunch and they also had their own story to tell, which is always wonderful.
What the characters go through in this book is heavy, emotional and so close to the heart, i wanted to be there for them and help.
The ending is wonderful as well. This is definitely a story I won't forget, just pure genius, a masterpiece!!!! You surprise me everytime Lucy, you're stories are incredible and unique.
This is definitely one of the best books of this year, a must read!!!
Kate and Annie are old friends and we get to read about both their stories. The chaoters vhange from Annie to Kate and back. This gives the stiry a great miscture, but whenever I was reading about one of them, I missed the other one. Both women have difficult past, that's why Annie keeps it as a secret and Kate just runs away! This gives the book a mysterious spark, which I really enjoyed.
In the story a lot changes for both of themand they can finally see some sunshine again.
And then: Lucy left me totally SPEECHLESS!! Un unexpected twist takes this brilliant novel to a whole different level. You're a genius Lucy!
Lucy's style of writing has always been kne of my faves, it's funny, hilarious, clever, warm, catchy, young, down to earth, fresh and also reaklly deep, heartbreaking and emotional, this comes across in this book really well. The storyline and all the ideas are genuine, realistic and it all flows perfectly. I felt like being there with the characters, so vivid and detailed
I really liked Annie's friends in this story, a great bunch and they also had their own story to tell, which is always wonderful.
What the characters go through in this book is heavy, emotional and so close to the heart, i wanted to be there for them and help.
The ending is wonderful as well. This is definitely a story I won't forget, just pure genius, a masterpiece!!!! You surprise me everytime Lucy, you're stories are incredible and unique.
This is definitely one of the best books of this year, a must read!!!
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May 6, 2015
4.5 stars
I generally don't read Woman's Fiction, but the blurb of this novel catched my interest, and now I'm glad I gave ventured out of my comfort zone!
From the blurb:
Annie has a secret. But if she's not going to tell, we won't either. It's a heart-breaking secret she wishes she didn't have - yet Annie isn't broken, not quite yet. Especially now there's someone out there who seems determined to fix her.
Kate has run away. But she's not going to tell us why - that would defeat the point of running, wouldn't it? It's proving difficult to reinvent herself, however, with one person always on her mind.
Scratch beneath the surface and nobody is really who they seem. Even Annie and Kate, two old friends, aren't entirely sure who they are any more. Perhaps you can work it out, before their pasts catch up with them for good . . .
I read some other reviews and I must agree: the lives of these two women are connected in a way that no one can guess. Really, maybe you'll get a strange feeling when you've read on and on, but the plot twist does really surprise, and I agree with the blurb and dare you to guess the plot twist, because that would take hours and you wouldn't guess right.
I really liked the main characters and all the secondary characters as well, and combined with an exciting, sometimes light, sometimes angsty and dramatic writing style I devoured this read.
The relationships between Kate and Annie and their bosses were enticing, too. I especially liked Mark, who is your typical cold, stubborn Alpha on the outside and a mushy, actually sweet and caring guy. But there were many other layers and it was a delight to read about all these relationships with their quirks, not only those of the main characters but also of the secondary characters. I felt like every character was real and authentic.
Lucy Robinson has a true writing talent that goes beneath a realistic and witty narrative voice, but also extends to creating a seriously unique story line, which is hard to find in that combination nowadays.
ARC via NetGalley
I generally don't read Woman's Fiction, but the blurb of this novel catched my interest, and now I'm glad I gave ventured out of my comfort zone!
From the blurb:
Annie has a secret. But if she's not going to tell, we won't either. It's a heart-breaking secret she wishes she didn't have - yet Annie isn't broken, not quite yet. Especially now there's someone out there who seems determined to fix her.
Kate has run away. But she's not going to tell us why - that would defeat the point of running, wouldn't it? It's proving difficult to reinvent herself, however, with one person always on her mind.
Scratch beneath the surface and nobody is really who they seem. Even Annie and Kate, two old friends, aren't entirely sure who they are any more. Perhaps you can work it out, before their pasts catch up with them for good . . .
I read some other reviews and I must agree: the lives of these two women are connected in a way that no one can guess. Really, maybe you'll get a strange feeling when you've read on and on, but the plot twist does really surprise, and I agree with the blurb and dare you to guess the plot twist, because that would take hours and you wouldn't guess right.
I really liked the main characters and all the secondary characters as well, and combined with an exciting, sometimes light, sometimes angsty and dramatic writing style I devoured this read.
The relationships between Kate and Annie and their bosses were enticing, too. I especially liked Mark, who is your typical cold, stubborn Alpha on the outside and a mushy, actually sweet and caring guy. But there were many other layers and it was a delight to read about all these relationships with their quirks, not only those of the main characters but also of the secondary characters. I felt like every character was real and authentic.
Lucy Robinson has a true writing talent that goes beneath a realistic and witty narrative voice, but also extends to creating a seriously unique story line, which is hard to find in that combination nowadays.
ARC via NetGalley
June 20, 2015
I do have to be careful reviewing this one. The reason it is so good is a massive spoiler, but just let me tell you all is not as it seems and there are some serious issues underneath Lucy’s fabulous, entertaining writing. It’s partly about how we appear on the outside isn’t always our real selves. As I started to read, it seemed a perfectly pleasant romantic story, with two storylines I couldn’t quite fit together, other than the two women were friends. All I can say is, keep reading!
We are introduced to two women; Kate who has escaped her life physically, by running away to a remote eventing stable in Exmoor, and Annie who has been trying to escape her life since she was seven and her mother died. Annie suffers from severe anxiety which hampers her everyday life and makes it hard for her to form relationships. As the story progresses, we learn in short flashbacks what happened on her seventh birthday to make her this way.
Being a horse person, I also loved Kate being on the farm and the star of the show is undoubtedly Stumpy, Mark’s star event horse. Where would any of them be without the love of Stumpy? The book is well-researched, enough that Kate’s complete ignorance of horses does not go un-noticed and she confides in someone early on. This makes it so much more believable that she wouldn’t be outed, although there is more to this than just that.
And oh I cried! I also laughed, Lucy’s books being that wonderful combination that get all your emotions going. There’s tension, there’s a dash of fear, but all-in-all wonderful, real feeling characters. And when they don’t quite feel real enough, maybe there’s a good reason for that…
Review copy provided by publisher.
We are introduced to two women; Kate who has escaped her life physically, by running away to a remote eventing stable in Exmoor, and Annie who has been trying to escape her life since she was seven and her mother died. Annie suffers from severe anxiety which hampers her everyday life and makes it hard for her to form relationships. As the story progresses, we learn in short flashbacks what happened on her seventh birthday to make her this way.
Being a horse person, I also loved Kate being on the farm and the star of the show is undoubtedly Stumpy, Mark’s star event horse. Where would any of them be without the love of Stumpy? The book is well-researched, enough that Kate’s complete ignorance of horses does not go un-noticed and she confides in someone early on. This makes it so much more believable that she wouldn’t be outed, although there is more to this than just that.
And oh I cried! I also laughed, Lucy’s books being that wonderful combination that get all your emotions going. There’s tension, there’s a dash of fear, but all-in-all wonderful, real feeling characters. And when they don’t quite feel real enough, maybe there’s a good reason for that…
Review copy provided by publisher.
June 22, 2015
The Day We Disappeared is sad, funny and keeps you guessing. It's a brilliantly written book with a clever plot, fast pace and intrigue. It's a combination of love story and psychological thriller.
There are two parallel stories - Annie in London and Kate in Somerset. The chapters alternate between the two women, each one falling for her handsome boss. Kate is clearly running away or hiding from something, but is gradually making friends and building a new life for herself. Annie has a tragic past, which is clear from the outset, but has a great network of friends to rely on and keep her focused.
It took me a couple of chapters to get into the book. It reads like chick lit, which is no bad thing, but chick lit has to be very well written to keep me reading all the way through. In this case, I was sucked into the story soon enough, with its humour, romance and suspense. Then there's the sudden twist (which I have to admit, I had already suspected but not completely sussed out).
The Day We Disappeared is an excellent choice for fans of I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh. It's very easy to get so engrossed in the story that you forget the time - and then to shout OMG when the twist arrives.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
There are two parallel stories - Annie in London and Kate in Somerset. The chapters alternate between the two women, each one falling for her handsome boss. Kate is clearly running away or hiding from something, but is gradually making friends and building a new life for herself. Annie has a tragic past, which is clear from the outset, but has a great network of friends to rely on and keep her focused.
It took me a couple of chapters to get into the book. It reads like chick lit, which is no bad thing, but chick lit has to be very well written to keep me reading all the way through. In this case, I was sucked into the story soon enough, with its humour, romance and suspense. Then there's the sudden twist (which I have to admit, I had already suspected but not completely sussed out).
The Day We Disappeared is an excellent choice for fans of I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh. It's very easy to get so engrossed in the story that you forget the time - and then to shout OMG when the twist arrives.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 29, 2018
Rating:
4.3/5
What a lovely read! I was in the mood for a Mystery and my friend told me about his book that had a really cool twist! Say the words “huge twist” and I’m in! And yes, oh, yes, did it take me by surprise! But more wonderful than any twist is that this book had deep friendship, love, self healing (I liked that one of the MC’s struggled with mental health and it was an important part of her story), and it was engaging (and at a certain point, intense) from start from finish!
The story centers around two girls (who know each other), each one with her own journey, secrets, struggles, relationships — and I don’t want to say more because you need to read this and see what it’s all about! The writing is gripping and clever - with layers and subtleties building up the story and characters! And the characters and relationships are perfect!
I won’t say more — but if you want a book that allows you to connect with the characters, be happy and wrecked and terrified with them, and totally surprised at the same time then try this book!
Also, I’m not usually a fan of Contemporary books, so I’m so happy this one worked out for me!
What a lovely read! I was in the mood for a Mystery and my friend told me about his book that had a really cool twist! Say the words “huge twist” and I’m in! And yes, oh, yes, did it take me by surprise! But more wonderful than any twist is that this book had deep friendship, love, self healing (I liked that one of the MC’s struggled with mental health and it was an important part of her story), and it was engaging (and at a certain point, intense) from start from finish!
The story centers around two girls (who know each other), each one with her own journey, secrets, struggles, relationships — and I don’t want to say more because you need to read this and see what it’s all about! The writing is gripping and clever - with layers and subtleties building up the story and characters! And the characters and relationships are perfect!
I won’t say more — but if you want a book that allows you to connect with the characters, be happy and wrecked and terrified with them, and totally surprised at the same time then try this book!
Also, I’m not usually a fan of Contemporary books, so I’m so happy this one worked out for me!
Read
March 3, 2015A warm, effortless read about two women who are running away from their lives, with an unexpected twist. Reminds me of Marian Keyes in the way it deals with a dark subject in an often funny, readable way. My first Lucy Robinson book but it won't be my last—I love her style.
March 9, 2015
DON@T WAIT FOR MY REVIEW JUST GO AND BUY IT!! ( review still to come though lol!) xx
July 16, 2020
Raamatule tagasi mõeldes, sirvisin oma Goodreads lugemispäevikut ja veendusin, et ma loen romantilisest armastusest pigem harva. Mitte, et kuidagi põhimõtteliselt, pigem põhjusel, et tihti kirjutatakse sellest nii hullult magedalt või väljakannatamatult suhkruselt. Siis aga meenus enda esimene armastus. Suudlesime tundide viisi trepikoja varjus lumes. Tuisune õhtu, noormees võttis oma mütsi peast ja pani mulle pähe. Ja unustas ja mina unustasin ja läksin sellega koju. Kodus peitsin padja alla ja käisin seda siis iga natukese aja tagant nuusutamas. Mulle tundub, et mäletan siiani seda mõistustviivat tunnet.
Ja siis sirvisin oma päevikuid, leidsin mh järgmised katked:
istun köögi laual, päike paistab selga, me joome veini pika jalaga klaasist … sa tõstad mu elutuppa diivanile ja paned käima multika, ma uinun jõudmata vaadata lõpuni … kummised kardinad, usteta aegruum, vaikus ja rahu ja Pariisi metroo pileti kujuga käterätt …
“Kui me nüüd kohe ei peatu, ei lenda sa täna kuhugi”, ma mõistan esimest korda elus, et mul on lennukist ükskõik, ükskõik tervest mõistusest, peaasi, et ei peaks peatuma … “Ma ootasin kaua, ma võin veel” … sõidame lennujaama, suudleme kiirelt ja ma mõtlen lennukis, et kõik on nii ebareaalne … nagu klassikalises seriaalis … kõige põnevama koha peal …
*
kohvi ja seenetäidisega pannkoogid voodis, suvi, palav, õhu- ja muidu tühi linn, inimesed ja tänavad – veidi paokil uks võõrasse ellu … maailma, millises mina, ja ma tean seda täpselt, olen juhuslik ja ajutine külaline … me suudleme tanklas, kohvikus, kaubamajas … esimest korda elus kallistatakse mind unes ja ma tean täpselt, et see kõik on episoodid, pärlid, piisad … killud, milliseid ma kunagi vihmasel sügisööl vaatan … pikalt ja “proovin selga” suutmata öelda kiusatusele “ei” …
– Mahuvad?
– Mhm.
*
“Vabandage, meil on tehnilised rikked. Lennuühendus on katkenud! Te võite sõita tagasi hotelli või kasutada rongi” …
Võõras linn, päike, õunapirukas vahukoore ja šokolaadiga, meil on kuus tundi vaba aega … ma ütle elus esimest korda sõnad “Tahan sind” ja kuus tundi hiljem, istudes üksi väsinuna hotellitoa aknalaual, tunnen end võrksukkade ja leopardi-mustrilist miniseelikut kandva tüdrukuna … purgiõlu enne und … heidan veel meie järgi lõhnavasse voodisse … ärgates avastan, et keha on täis eilsest jäänud märke ja viimseni kõik lihased valutavad … naeratan päevi totakalt …
*
vahtrad ja surnute linn … hotellid ja pildid hotellitubade akende taga vahetuvad … esimest korda elus seksin järjest mitmel järjestikusel päeval, vaatamata tugevale külmetusele … telefonid on väljas, postkasti sisu ei huvita … maailm lakkab olemast, mul on hea ja ma mõtlen, et nii võin olla lõputult: päevad läbi voodis, rääkida ja kallistada ja armatseda vaheldumisi … sulan puudutustest nagu jäätis suvisel asfaldil, ei saa enam aru, kust sa täpselt puudutad, annan lihtsalt järele, iga rakuga, palun, et see ei lõppeks kunagi … sa naeratad … naeratad … naeratad, naeratad … naerad..
*
võõras linn, helesinine taevas, päike, hommik – õhk lõhnab kaneelivahvlite, kohvi ja õnne järele … me magame koguaeg sisse ja jääme kuhugi hiljaks, räägime voodis lugusid, naerame, magame, ärkame, naerame ja meil on kõik lihtne ja selge … me sõidame trammiga keskusesse ja kui tramm vingerdab tänavatel, kallistame teineteist säilitamaks tasakaalu, me käime jalutamas, istume jõe kallastel ja räägime tihti “Küll oleks lahe, kui …” …
Ja veel, võimalik, et minu lemmiklugu:
ükskord ma unistasin, et lagi kukuks mulle peale … lagi, mis minu unistuse kohaselt oleks pidanud mulle peale kukkuma, oli imekõrge ornamentidega nurkades ja lühtritega keskel … lae kohal pesitses katus, kah kindlasti raske – mõttes, kui lagi tõesti oleks mulle peale kukkunud ja seejärel (imestusest, arvatavasti) ka katus, siis ei tuleks mul iial enam ühtegi probleemi lahendada … st, ma pikutasin voodis ja unustasin, et küll oleks hea, kui lagi kukuks mulle peale …
ei, mul ei olnud sugugi paha …
vastupidi, mul oli kirjeldamatult hea …
mul oli KÕIK…
/—/ pikem tekst minu blogis
Ja teate, ma andsin Rosie Walshile andeks kõik selle veidi veniva hala: „Armastab?“, „Ei armasta?“ ja „Kas ma ikka olen normaalne?“. Sest armastus noh, eriti alguse, ongi selline, veidi haige ja teisiti saab mõelda vist ainult inimene, kes ise iial ei ole … haha, nuusutanud teise inimese mütsi või teinud midagi samaväärselt tobedat.
Igas muus mõttes oli see tore lugemine. Kiire ja põnev. Kaks mineviku eest põgenevat sõbrannat, Annie ja Kate, alustavat uut elu. Üks hobusefarmis, teine massöörina suures firmas. Mõlemad armuvad oma ülemusse ja alguses tundub, et kõik hakkab justkui laabuma, kuni … kui selgub, et mõnikord on armastus kaugelt enam haige kui „veidi“ ja mõnikord see, mis armastusena näib, ei ole seda teps mitte.
Rosie Walsh on suurepärane süžeemeister, oskab intriigi punuda ja pinget hoida. Vaatamata sellele, et tegu on pigem kergemat sorti kiire lugemisega, on raamatusse põimitud tõsiseid, mõtlema panevaid ja kahjuks elulisi probleeme. Aga peamine on ikkagi see, et Rosie kirjutab hirmus põnevalt. Mulle meeldis tema “Ilma ainsagi sõnata” täpselt samal põhjusel.
Tõe huvide, armastus armastuseks, aga kes kurat kutsub oma kallimat “pupsikuks”? – see, noh, oli ikka üle minu mõistmisvõimete, sry 🙂
Suur tänu, kirjastus Helios, üllatuse eest!
Ja siis sirvisin oma päevikuid, leidsin mh järgmised katked:
istun köögi laual, päike paistab selga, me joome veini pika jalaga klaasist … sa tõstad mu elutuppa diivanile ja paned käima multika, ma uinun jõudmata vaadata lõpuni … kummised kardinad, usteta aegruum, vaikus ja rahu ja Pariisi metroo pileti kujuga käterätt …
“Kui me nüüd kohe ei peatu, ei lenda sa täna kuhugi”, ma mõistan esimest korda elus, et mul on lennukist ükskõik, ükskõik tervest mõistusest, peaasi, et ei peaks peatuma … “Ma ootasin kaua, ma võin veel” … sõidame lennujaama, suudleme kiirelt ja ma mõtlen lennukis, et kõik on nii ebareaalne … nagu klassikalises seriaalis … kõige põnevama koha peal …
*
kohvi ja seenetäidisega pannkoogid voodis, suvi, palav, õhu- ja muidu tühi linn, inimesed ja tänavad – veidi paokil uks võõrasse ellu … maailma, millises mina, ja ma tean seda täpselt, olen juhuslik ja ajutine külaline … me suudleme tanklas, kohvikus, kaubamajas … esimest korda elus kallistatakse mind unes ja ma tean täpselt, et see kõik on episoodid, pärlid, piisad … killud, milliseid ma kunagi vihmasel sügisööl vaatan … pikalt ja “proovin selga” suutmata öelda kiusatusele “ei” …
– Mahuvad?
– Mhm.
*
“Vabandage, meil on tehnilised rikked. Lennuühendus on katkenud! Te võite sõita tagasi hotelli või kasutada rongi” …
Võõras linn, päike, õunapirukas vahukoore ja šokolaadiga, meil on kuus tundi vaba aega … ma ütle elus esimest korda sõnad “Tahan sind” ja kuus tundi hiljem, istudes üksi väsinuna hotellitoa aknalaual, tunnen end võrksukkade ja leopardi-mustrilist miniseelikut kandva tüdrukuna … purgiõlu enne und … heidan veel meie järgi lõhnavasse voodisse … ärgates avastan, et keha on täis eilsest jäänud märke ja viimseni kõik lihased valutavad … naeratan päevi totakalt …
*
vahtrad ja surnute linn … hotellid ja pildid hotellitubade akende taga vahetuvad … esimest korda elus seksin järjest mitmel järjestikusel päeval, vaatamata tugevale külmetusele … telefonid on väljas, postkasti sisu ei huvita … maailm lakkab olemast, mul on hea ja ma mõtlen, et nii võin olla lõputult: päevad läbi voodis, rääkida ja kallistada ja armatseda vaheldumisi … sulan puudutustest nagu jäätis suvisel asfaldil, ei saa enam aru, kust sa täpselt puudutad, annan lihtsalt järele, iga rakuga, palun, et see ei lõppeks kunagi … sa naeratad … naeratad … naeratad, naeratad … naerad..
*
võõras linn, helesinine taevas, päike, hommik – õhk lõhnab kaneelivahvlite, kohvi ja õnne järele … me magame koguaeg sisse ja jääme kuhugi hiljaks, räägime voodis lugusid, naerame, magame, ärkame, naerame ja meil on kõik lihtne ja selge … me sõidame trammiga keskusesse ja kui tramm vingerdab tänavatel, kallistame teineteist säilitamaks tasakaalu, me käime jalutamas, istume jõe kallastel ja räägime tihti “Küll oleks lahe, kui …” …
Ja veel, võimalik, et minu lemmiklugu:
ükskord ma unistasin, et lagi kukuks mulle peale … lagi, mis minu unistuse kohaselt oleks pidanud mulle peale kukkuma, oli imekõrge ornamentidega nurkades ja lühtritega keskel … lae kohal pesitses katus, kah kindlasti raske – mõttes, kui lagi tõesti oleks mulle peale kukkunud ja seejärel (imestusest, arvatavasti) ka katus, siis ei tuleks mul iial enam ühtegi probleemi lahendada … st, ma pikutasin voodis ja unustasin, et küll oleks hea, kui lagi kukuks mulle peale …
ei, mul ei olnud sugugi paha …
vastupidi, mul oli kirjeldamatult hea …
mul oli KÕIK…
/—/ pikem tekst minu blogis
Ja teate, ma andsin Rosie Walshile andeks kõik selle veidi veniva hala: „Armastab?“, „Ei armasta?“ ja „Kas ma ikka olen normaalne?“. Sest armastus noh, eriti alguse, ongi selline, veidi haige ja teisiti saab mõelda vist ainult inimene, kes ise iial ei ole … haha, nuusutanud teise inimese mütsi või teinud midagi samaväärselt tobedat.
Igas muus mõttes oli see tore lugemine. Kiire ja põnev. Kaks mineviku eest põgenevat sõbrannat, Annie ja Kate, alustavat uut elu. Üks hobusefarmis, teine massöörina suures firmas. Mõlemad armuvad oma ülemusse ja alguses tundub, et kõik hakkab justkui laabuma, kuni … kui selgub, et mõnikord on armastus kaugelt enam haige kui „veidi“ ja mõnikord see, mis armastusena näib, ei ole seda teps mitte.
Rosie Walsh on suurepärane süžeemeister, oskab intriigi punuda ja pinget hoida. Vaatamata sellele, et tegu on pigem kergemat sorti kiire lugemisega, on raamatusse põimitud tõsiseid, mõtlema panevaid ja kahjuks elulisi probleeme. Aga peamine on ikkagi see, et Rosie kirjutab hirmus põnevalt. Mulle meeldis tema “Ilma ainsagi sõnata” täpselt samal põhjusel.
Tõe huvide, armastus armastuseks, aga kes kurat kutsub oma kallimat “pupsikuks”? – see, noh, oli ikka üle minu mõistmisvõimete, sry 🙂
Suur tänu, kirjastus Helios, üllatuse eest!
April 3, 2015
This book is clever piece of storytelling that has plenty of twists and can even be a bit shocking!? Annie and Kate’s stories are engaging and their friends and acquaintances are all well written. Some are fun and others might scare you.
Both Annie and Kate have something to hide in the past which Lucy Robinson has decided we aren’t going to know about until she’s ready to tell us. It gives the book an air of suspense that lurks throughout and encourages you to read on to find out what it is.
It begins with Kate as she starts a new job as a trainee at a stable yard. We discover she has little experience with horses but has to make a success of it as she has nowhere else to go. She is skittish and doesn’t want the world to know where she is.
Annie is an exhausted masseur running around London, until she meets Stephen who makes her an offer she can’t refuse. Suddenly Annie’s life is a dream, but her friends think it’s all happening a bit quick. We wonder if they are right.
The author’s storytelling is wonderful and this is easy to read. The characters can be lovable, sad, frightening and funny. It makes this really enjoyable and I can’t imagine you wouldn’t find it worthwhile. You’ll be delighted and surprised by this book.
I have no trouble in recommending The Day We Disappeared.
March 30, 2015
4.5 stars
An expertly plotted novel that builds in momentum. Would have been a 5 star if I hadn't of guessed the twist a few chapters before it happened. Warm and funny with a lurking darkness that shadows the characters. This is my first Lucy Robinson and will not be my last! Best of the genre that I've read this year.
An expertly plotted novel that builds in momentum. Would have been a 5 star if I hadn't of guessed the twist a few chapters before it happened. Warm and funny with a lurking darkness that shadows the characters. This is my first Lucy Robinson and will not be my last! Best of the genre that I've read this year.
May 23, 2015
My first Lucy Robinson - and what a treat! Expertly paced and plotted and yes, wow, what a twist! You need to bump this up your TBR before it gets everywhere and you get spoiled for the ending. I totally understand everyone's praise now. Not the romcom the cover makes you think it is, this is a lot more - part mystery, part psychological thriller, part love story - 100% compelling.
April 7, 2015
This is love. Period.
"The Day We Disappeared" is Lucy's fourth book, and fourth that I have read, and all of them were rated by me with 5 starts. If I could, I would probably rate them with 10, 20 or more stars, because what this woman writes totally kills me with its greatness, writing style and plotting.
I am trying to figure out how to summarize this book for you and probably will not do this because it scares the shit out of me that something will sneak away and I will let the twist out and spoil the read for you. And I abso - bloody - lutely don't want to do this because you are for a real treat! I would so, so love to be able to read this book again for the first time!
But OK, here it goes. "The Day We Disappeared" is about Kate and Annie. Kate has just arrived in Exmoor to begin a new job as trainee yard assistant, although she - as we are going to learn soon - has no idea about horses. Annie, after trying to keep her head above the water and working as a masseuse in many places in London, is finally going to have her own practice, thanks to one of her clients, Stephen, who sets her up in the offices of his IT empire.
Annie and Kate are friends. Annie and Kate both have secrets. Annie wants to forget her past, Kate is running away from something... or somebody.
You could ask, what do they have in common? Well, they do...
As always, the book is full of brilliant characters that all has this characteristic "something" from Lucy, and all of them, even the background characters, add so much to this phenomenal story. There are two main characters, Kate and Annie, and I loved them both immensely, but it was Kate's story that drew me more. Maybe because there are horses involved, and I was a total horse - freak in my teens, and cleaning the big piles of horses' poo meant free riding lessons for me, so I adored this activity, really, and would then give A LOT to have Kate's job. Yes, I was this typical teenager following those who had more luck and either had their own horse or were much higher in the horse - hierarchy than me, but I loved those times. So, Kate and Annie, yes. So it's not that I liked Kate more than Annie, no, it was Kate's story that had me hooked totally, although this of Annie was absolutely gripping too.
Annie, Kate and her friends, it was love at first sight. I so admired Kate, running into the wilds to start working for Mark Waverley, the champion eventer, even if she has no idea of horses and even if she knows he's looking only for the best groomers. The way Kate was falling in love with her new work, her surrounding, with the handsome, clever Stumpy and maybe someone else, way described in such a beautiful, moving, gentle way, and it felt so realistic! And we immediately know that there is some big secret hidden, as Kate was so twitchy at the slightest mention of her past, and at the thought that somebody can recognize her.
Annie is still coming to terms with her past, and because of this she was never closed with a man. Describing her, her inner thoughts, Lucy outdone herself, as all what Annie said and done felt so incredibly realistic and true.
Apart of these two girls there is of course a bunch of other great characters, that Lucy has so wonderfully written. They all felt absolutely like real people and I had a feeling that I can stretch out my hand and touch them. We have Becca, the lovely Becca who helped Kate to settle in in her new job, and who was so incredibly understanding and honest, sex - obsessed but adorable Joe, Mark Waverley, OH MY GOD Mark Waverley, Claudine who told everything as it was, and let's not forget Ana Lucia, 6 - years - old but with a mouth bigger than more than one adult. All of them had their own lives of course but I so felt like a part of those lives! This is one of Lucy's characteristics, that she creates a group of wonderful, supporting friends, and in this book it was Le Cloob, which I would so love to be a part of. Even with Claudine. It was just a group of incredibly honest, awesome friends that you must be really lucky to have them.
It is dramatic, but I can't even say that I had some suspicions about one character because it's going to spoil you the reading, and I would hate myself to do this to you!
The book is told through alternating chapters and different points of view, those of Annie and Kate's. It is a tool often used in books that I read, and I always enjoy this way of telling the story, and Lucy here has done a perfect job as well. The action is moving and the story is intertwining, and Lucy slowly, oh so slowly, reveals all the secrets, until she hits us with her revelation, which was unexpected and thought - provoking.
Now, please do not hate me Lucy, but I figured out the twist, and I'm not telling this because I feel cleverer or better! Nononono. But you know why? I'm guessing it's because so many bloggers were gushing and swooning about how clever it was, how unexpected, and I focused so hard on not overlooking anything, on eventually spotting this, that I just went and guessed. But nevertheless, I was bewitched by this twist, it has blown my mind, knickers and socks, and it fulfilled and exceeded all my expectations. Yes, I guessed the biggest twist but don't mind me and let yourself go with the flow, and making up this twist deserves for standing ovation. Really.
Lucy keeps us in suspense for a long time, and there is an overwhelming feeling that something bad is going to happen, that it hangs over the characters' heads like the proverbial sword of Damocles. But it's really worth waiting, because when she eventually drops the bomb it's like: wow. Just wow. Even if I guessed what the twist might be, I was not absolutely sure, so when it turned out I was right I felt in fact proud of myself, and not at all disappointed. I knew something is going to surprise me, but even with this knowledge it just came and smashed me hard on my head, telling: See, little pet?
The way Lucy writes is just amazing. It's so down to earth and absolutely realistic, Lucy just writes how it is. The dialogues are short and sharp yet you get all the necessary details and information. I have no idea how Lucy does it but her every book has this "wow" - effect to it, and no matter what she writes, she always leaves me speechless for a long time, and I must first gather my thoughts and feelings. Her stories seem to be so effortless, yet there is a lot hidden in them, and hats off to Lucy for writing such complex, yet so smooth and easy to follow books. I, as always with Lucy's books, was hanging on her every word, on every dialogue and didn't want to let go. And the way Lucy described the horses, and especially Stumpy, and how much they were all loved, it just had me in tears. And there was one scene in Stumpy that had me in pieces...
Lucy has this incredible talent to write stories that stay with you for long, you just can't stop thinking about them. She has also the ability to make you laugh out loud with her witty one - liners and comments about life. And it's only Lucy who can write such perfectly worded books, she in fact can describe things that I would never pay attention to in absolutely new, refreshing way, and she can also write things that I know exist, but am not able to describe.
I guess I have already told everything what is to be told about Lucy and her writing in my reviews of her previous books, and I was sure she can't surprise me anymore, and that it's impossible to love her and her novels more, but that's not true - this everything is possible. Lucy did it again, she has written a story that left me speechless for a longer part of the next days and I couldn't come to terms that I don't have any new book by Lucy to read for the next year or so. This gem of a book is absolutely touching, gentle and funny and it is going to be a MUST READ this spring, summer, autumn, winter and next years, too, and I'm sure it's going to make a Book of the Year on more than few blogs. There is not a flat moment in this story, it keeps you on your tenterhooks and you want to finish it as soon as possible, to see what's going to happen and how it's going to end, but on the other hand you don't want it to come to an end.
It's really only Lucy who can deal with such gentle, vulnerable issues in such a way, and still keep the humour going too. It's also only Lucy who can so perfectly switch the moods, from the sunny fields and friendly people to the darkest and deepest parts of human's personality. It touches at all the right heart - strings and is about issues that I don't often read about in women's literature, and this all in this beautiful, beautiful, way, with Lucy wearing her heart on the sleeve, Lucy being honest to the very end.
Each time I pick up Lucy's novel I know it's going to be so different from the previous one, but so much Lucy - like, there is no doubt who has written these books. She has already found her voice and thanks heaven for Lucy and for her incredible, exceptional stories.
"The Day We Disappeared" is an incredible story of secrets, friends, family and honesty. I can only say, drop everything you do and go and buy this book - and you don't have to thank me for recommendation this time.
Copy received from publisher in exchange for a review.
"The Day We Disappeared" is Lucy's fourth book, and fourth that I have read, and all of them were rated by me with 5 starts. If I could, I would probably rate them with 10, 20 or more stars, because what this woman writes totally kills me with its greatness, writing style and plotting.
I am trying to figure out how to summarize this book for you and probably will not do this because it scares the shit out of me that something will sneak away and I will let the twist out and spoil the read for you. And I abso - bloody - lutely don't want to do this because you are for a real treat! I would so, so love to be able to read this book again for the first time!
But OK, here it goes. "The Day We Disappeared" is about Kate and Annie. Kate has just arrived in Exmoor to begin a new job as trainee yard assistant, although she - as we are going to learn soon - has no idea about horses. Annie, after trying to keep her head above the water and working as a masseuse in many places in London, is finally going to have her own practice, thanks to one of her clients, Stephen, who sets her up in the offices of his IT empire.
Annie and Kate are friends. Annie and Kate both have secrets. Annie wants to forget her past, Kate is running away from something... or somebody.
You could ask, what do they have in common? Well, they do...
As always, the book is full of brilliant characters that all has this characteristic "something" from Lucy, and all of them, even the background characters, add so much to this phenomenal story. There are two main characters, Kate and Annie, and I loved them both immensely, but it was Kate's story that drew me more. Maybe because there are horses involved, and I was a total horse - freak in my teens, and cleaning the big piles of horses' poo meant free riding lessons for me, so I adored this activity, really, and would then give A LOT to have Kate's job. Yes, I was this typical teenager following those who had more luck and either had their own horse or were much higher in the horse - hierarchy than me, but I loved those times. So, Kate and Annie, yes. So it's not that I liked Kate more than Annie, no, it was Kate's story that had me hooked totally, although this of Annie was absolutely gripping too.
Annie, Kate and her friends, it was love at first sight. I so admired Kate, running into the wilds to start working for Mark Waverley, the champion eventer, even if she has no idea of horses and even if she knows he's looking only for the best groomers. The way Kate was falling in love with her new work, her surrounding, with the handsome, clever Stumpy and maybe someone else, way described in such a beautiful, moving, gentle way, and it felt so realistic! And we immediately know that there is some big secret hidden, as Kate was so twitchy at the slightest mention of her past, and at the thought that somebody can recognize her.
Annie is still coming to terms with her past, and because of this she was never closed with a man. Describing her, her inner thoughts, Lucy outdone herself, as all what Annie said and done felt so incredibly realistic and true.
Apart of these two girls there is of course a bunch of other great characters, that Lucy has so wonderfully written. They all felt absolutely like real people and I had a feeling that I can stretch out my hand and touch them. We have Becca, the lovely Becca who helped Kate to settle in in her new job, and who was so incredibly understanding and honest, sex - obsessed but adorable Joe, Mark Waverley, OH MY GOD Mark Waverley, Claudine who told everything as it was, and let's not forget Ana Lucia, 6 - years - old but with a mouth bigger than more than one adult. All of them had their own lives of course but I so felt like a part of those lives! This is one of Lucy's characteristics, that she creates a group of wonderful, supporting friends, and in this book it was Le Cloob, which I would so love to be a part of. Even with Claudine. It was just a group of incredibly honest, awesome friends that you must be really lucky to have them.
It is dramatic, but I can't even say that I had some suspicions about one character because it's going to spoil you the reading, and I would hate myself to do this to you!
The book is told through alternating chapters and different points of view, those of Annie and Kate's. It is a tool often used in books that I read, and I always enjoy this way of telling the story, and Lucy here has done a perfect job as well. The action is moving and the story is intertwining, and Lucy slowly, oh so slowly, reveals all the secrets, until she hits us with her revelation, which was unexpected and thought - provoking.
Now, please do not hate me Lucy, but I figured out the twist, and I'm not telling this because I feel cleverer or better! Nononono. But you know why? I'm guessing it's because so many bloggers were gushing and swooning about how clever it was, how unexpected, and I focused so hard on not overlooking anything, on eventually spotting this, that I just went and guessed. But nevertheless, I was bewitched by this twist, it has blown my mind, knickers and socks, and it fulfilled and exceeded all my expectations. Yes, I guessed the biggest twist but don't mind me and let yourself go with the flow, and making up this twist deserves for standing ovation. Really.
Lucy keeps us in suspense for a long time, and there is an overwhelming feeling that something bad is going to happen, that it hangs over the characters' heads like the proverbial sword of Damocles. But it's really worth waiting, because when she eventually drops the bomb it's like: wow. Just wow. Even if I guessed what the twist might be, I was not absolutely sure, so when it turned out I was right I felt in fact proud of myself, and not at all disappointed. I knew something is going to surprise me, but even with this knowledge it just came and smashed me hard on my head, telling: See, little pet?
The way Lucy writes is just amazing. It's so down to earth and absolutely realistic, Lucy just writes how it is. The dialogues are short and sharp yet you get all the necessary details and information. I have no idea how Lucy does it but her every book has this "wow" - effect to it, and no matter what she writes, she always leaves me speechless for a long time, and I must first gather my thoughts and feelings. Her stories seem to be so effortless, yet there is a lot hidden in them, and hats off to Lucy for writing such complex, yet so smooth and easy to follow books. I, as always with Lucy's books, was hanging on her every word, on every dialogue and didn't want to let go. And the way Lucy described the horses, and especially Stumpy, and how much they were all loved, it just had me in tears. And there was one scene in Stumpy that had me in pieces...
Lucy has this incredible talent to write stories that stay with you for long, you just can't stop thinking about them. She has also the ability to make you laugh out loud with her witty one - liners and comments about life. And it's only Lucy who can write such perfectly worded books, she in fact can describe things that I would never pay attention to in absolutely new, refreshing way, and she can also write things that I know exist, but am not able to describe.
I guess I have already told everything what is to be told about Lucy and her writing in my reviews of her previous books, and I was sure she can't surprise me anymore, and that it's impossible to love her and her novels more, but that's not true - this everything is possible. Lucy did it again, she has written a story that left me speechless for a longer part of the next days and I couldn't come to terms that I don't have any new book by Lucy to read for the next year or so. This gem of a book is absolutely touching, gentle and funny and it is going to be a MUST READ this spring, summer, autumn, winter and next years, too, and I'm sure it's going to make a Book of the Year on more than few blogs. There is not a flat moment in this story, it keeps you on your tenterhooks and you want to finish it as soon as possible, to see what's going to happen and how it's going to end, but on the other hand you don't want it to come to an end.
It's really only Lucy who can deal with such gentle, vulnerable issues in such a way, and still keep the humour going too. It's also only Lucy who can so perfectly switch the moods, from the sunny fields and friendly people to the darkest and deepest parts of human's personality. It touches at all the right heart - strings and is about issues that I don't often read about in women's literature, and this all in this beautiful, beautiful, way, with Lucy wearing her heart on the sleeve, Lucy being honest to the very end.
Each time I pick up Lucy's novel I know it's going to be so different from the previous one, but so much Lucy - like, there is no doubt who has written these books. She has already found her voice and thanks heaven for Lucy and for her incredible, exceptional stories.
"The Day We Disappeared" is an incredible story of secrets, friends, family and honesty. I can only say, drop everything you do and go and buy this book - and you don't have to thank me for recommendation this time.
Copy received from publisher in exchange for a review.
October 17, 2019
Inhalt
Eine parallelhandelnde Geschichte über Kate und Annie. Zwei beste Freundinnen, die auf der Suche nach Glück und Freiheit erkennen, wie wertvoll und empfindlich diese Dinge sind.
Annie arbeitet als Massagetherapeutin und lernt in ihrer Praxis den erfolgreichen und gutaussehenden Stephen Flint kennen, für den sie kurzerhand auch anfängt zu arbeiten. Sie verliebt sich in ihn, obwohl sie Probleme hat Männern zu vertrauen und sich zu öffnen.
Doch Stephen scheint genau der zu sein, der ihr diese Angst nehmen und bei dem Annie ihre tragische Vergangenheit hinter sich lassen kann.
Kate möchte einen Neuanfang starten und entschließt sich auf dem Hof des berühmten Springreiters Mark Waverley damit zu beginnen. Obwohl Mark, ihr Chef, zu Beginn ziemlich arrogant und eingebildet wirkt, entpuppt er sich im Nachhinein als das komplette Gegenteil.
Meine Meinung
Die Geschichten von Kate und Annie laufen parallel und wechseln sich kapitelweise ab.
Kates Sicht hat mir persönlich besser gefallen.
Sie flieht zwar vor ihrer Vergangenheit und wagt einen Neuanfang, hat dennoch eine starke Persönlichkeit und ist standhaft. So konnte ich mich besser in ihre Person hineinversetzen und ihren Entscheidungen folgen.
Annie hingegen ist verunsichert, nicht sehr selbstbewusst und hat Probleme mit vertrauen.
Ich konnte mich nicht ganz mit ihr identifizieren, weshalb es mir schwer fiel ihre Handlungen und Gedankengänge zu verstehen und zu akzeptieren. Vieles ihrer Vorgehensweisen sind mir bisher auch
unschlüssig und unverständlich geblieben.
Die Story begann für mich eher schleppend und ich hatte mich oft begeistern müssen weiterzulesen.
Besonders das drum herum um „Le Club“, die Bezeichnung für die regelmäßigen Treffen mit Annies engsten Freunden, hat mir zuerst nicht gut gefallen, letztendlich bin ich aber froh, dass die Autorin den Charakteren um Annie und Kate, mindestens genau so viel Beachtung geschenkt hat.
Nach einigen Kapiteln, nahm die Geschichte erst mal fahrt auf und ich musste mich konzentrieren, die ganzen Puzzleteile zusammenzusetzen. Das hat mir gut gefallen, denn so hat die Autorin meine volle Aufmerksamkeit wiedererlangt.
Das Ende, war über alle Kapitel hinweg so was von unvorhersehbar, dass mir einige Male der Mund vor staunen offen stehen blieb.
Wie die Handelsstränge der beiden Protagonisten am Ende zusammenführen ist super ausgetüftelt und lässt keine Fragen offen.
Ich habe den Überraschungseffekt auf jeden Fall genossen und finde die Geschichte letztendlich gut gelungen.
Fazit
Das Ende der Story hat mich umgehauen und mich zum staunen gebracht.
Ich habe mit den Protagonisten mitgefühlt, mitgezittert und mitgefiebert.
Lucy Robinson hebt sich mit diesem Roman, in jedem Fall, von üblichen Liebesgeschichten ab und hat eine ganz eigene Note kreiert.
Es geht nicht nur um die große Liebe oder die Romantik, Nein. Die hervorstechendsten Themen sind die der Freundschaft, der Nächstenliebe, Selbstliebe und des Familienzusammenhalts.
Alles in Allem, hat der Roman mich letztendlich doch tief in seinen Bann gezogen und mir, bei so viel Nächstenliebe, das Herz erwärmt.
Eine parallelhandelnde Geschichte über Kate und Annie. Zwei beste Freundinnen, die auf der Suche nach Glück und Freiheit erkennen, wie wertvoll und empfindlich diese Dinge sind.
Annie arbeitet als Massagetherapeutin und lernt in ihrer Praxis den erfolgreichen und gutaussehenden Stephen Flint kennen, für den sie kurzerhand auch anfängt zu arbeiten. Sie verliebt sich in ihn, obwohl sie Probleme hat Männern zu vertrauen und sich zu öffnen.
Doch Stephen scheint genau der zu sein, der ihr diese Angst nehmen und bei dem Annie ihre tragische Vergangenheit hinter sich lassen kann.
Kate möchte einen Neuanfang starten und entschließt sich auf dem Hof des berühmten Springreiters Mark Waverley damit zu beginnen. Obwohl Mark, ihr Chef, zu Beginn ziemlich arrogant und eingebildet wirkt, entpuppt er sich im Nachhinein als das komplette Gegenteil.
Meine Meinung
Die Geschichten von Kate und Annie laufen parallel und wechseln sich kapitelweise ab.
Kates Sicht hat mir persönlich besser gefallen.
Sie flieht zwar vor ihrer Vergangenheit und wagt einen Neuanfang, hat dennoch eine starke Persönlichkeit und ist standhaft. So konnte ich mich besser in ihre Person hineinversetzen und ihren Entscheidungen folgen.
Annie hingegen ist verunsichert, nicht sehr selbstbewusst und hat Probleme mit vertrauen.
Ich konnte mich nicht ganz mit ihr identifizieren, weshalb es mir schwer fiel ihre Handlungen und Gedankengänge zu verstehen und zu akzeptieren. Vieles ihrer Vorgehensweisen sind mir bisher auch
unschlüssig und unverständlich geblieben.
Die Story begann für mich eher schleppend und ich hatte mich oft begeistern müssen weiterzulesen.
Besonders das drum herum um „Le Club“, die Bezeichnung für die regelmäßigen Treffen mit Annies engsten Freunden, hat mir zuerst nicht gut gefallen, letztendlich bin ich aber froh, dass die Autorin den Charakteren um Annie und Kate, mindestens genau so viel Beachtung geschenkt hat.
Nach einigen Kapiteln, nahm die Geschichte erst mal fahrt auf und ich musste mich konzentrieren, die ganzen Puzzleteile zusammenzusetzen. Das hat mir gut gefallen, denn so hat die Autorin meine volle Aufmerksamkeit wiedererlangt.
Das Ende, war über alle Kapitel hinweg so was von unvorhersehbar, dass mir einige Male der Mund vor staunen offen stehen blieb.
Wie die Handelsstränge der beiden Protagonisten am Ende zusammenführen ist super ausgetüftelt und lässt keine Fragen offen.
Ich habe den Überraschungseffekt auf jeden Fall genossen und finde die Geschichte letztendlich gut gelungen.
Fazit
Das Ende der Story hat mich umgehauen und mich zum staunen gebracht.
Ich habe mit den Protagonisten mitgefühlt, mitgezittert und mitgefiebert.
Lucy Robinson hebt sich mit diesem Roman, in jedem Fall, von üblichen Liebesgeschichten ab und hat eine ganz eigene Note kreiert.
Es geht nicht nur um die große Liebe oder die Romantik, Nein. Die hervorstechendsten Themen sind die der Freundschaft, der Nächstenliebe, Selbstliebe und des Familienzusammenhalts.
Alles in Allem, hat der Roman mich letztendlich doch tief in seinen Bann gezogen und mir, bei so viel Nächstenliebe, das Herz erwärmt.
July 7, 2020
http://www.hyperebaaktiivne.ee/2020/0...
Rosie Walsh "Päev, mil me kadusime" saabus mulle ühes toredas üllatuspakkis kirjastuselt. Esimesena võlus mind teose värv, sest nii erksaid raamatuid on mul riiulis vähe. Muidugi võtsin ta kohe esimesel võimalusel käsile, sest sama kirjaniku eelmine raamat oli hea. Enne lugema asumist ei vaadanud ma isegi tagakaanelt, millest üldse juttu tuleb, et veel põnevam lugeda oleks.
21. sajand, Somerset & London. Kate põgeneb oma mineviku eest ning otsides kohta, kus madalat profiili hoida, jääb talle silma töökuulutus Mark Waverley, ühe Suurbritannia parima ratsaniku tallis. Kuigi naine pole varem hobustega kokku puutunud, võetakse ta vastu. Tööandja Mark on küll nägus, aga mitte eriti meeldiva iseloomuga. Tall pakub aga kõike, mida naine soovib - rahmeldamise kõrvalt ei ole tal aega oma probleemidele mõelda. Kate'i sõbranna Annie on sarnases olukorras - ka tema tahab minevikku selja taha jätta ning on alustamas uuel töökohal. Ta on küll massöör ning inimkeha pole naisele mitte teps võõras, kuid lapsepõlvest saadud trauma tõttu pole ta siiani suutnud pika-ajalist suhet luua. Nüüd on Anniel viimaks tunne, et ta on valmis end avama.
Raamatus vahelduvad peatükid Kate'i elust tallis ning Annie' omast Londonis. Ma ei ole eriline hobusearmastaja, õieti pole ma üldse kunagi ratsutanud. Tegelikult oli mulle samavõrra võõras ka Annie elu. Ma ei ole nimelt kunagi massaažis ka käinud. Neist kahest meeldis mulle aga tunduvalt rohkem lugeda Kate'ist. Kuna ta on samasugune võhik nagu mina, siis natuke seletatakse kogu seda hobuste maailma. Näiteks sain ma selgeks, mis on kolmevõistlus ja kui ohtlik see võib olla.
Annie peatükid olid veidi igavavõitu. Seal peale Suure Armastuse muud nagu polnudki. Nii sõpradekamp, kellega naine restoranis käis, kui ka uus kallim mõjusid mõlemad ülepakutult. Nad ei ärganud minu jaoks ellu ja mul oli raske toimuvat uskuda. Ka Kate'i tallis oli üksikasju, mis mind silmi panid pööritama, kuid need ei olnud nii vastukarva.
Romaani esimene pool tundus nagu tavaline mesimagus armastusromaan, mis mind väga ei vaimustanud. Ootasin väga loopööret, aga seda ei tulnud ega tulned, seega tekkis üks hetk tuline soov piiluda, mis lõpus saab. Ma ei tee seda kuigi tihti, aga tuleb välja, et Rosie Walshi teosed on üks erand, sest "Ilma ainsagi sõnata" puhul toimisin täpselt samamoodi. Arvasin, et Kate'i ja Annie saladused ei kõiguta mind, aga muidugi ma eksisin. Sellist lahendust ei osanud ma kuidagi oodata, väga mõnus ahhaa!-moment. Lugemiselamust see teadmine õnneks ei rikkunud, pigem oli põnev tekstist mingeid nüansse ja vihjeid märgata, mis muidu oleksid tabamatuks jäänud.
"Päev, mil me kadusime" räägib kahest sõbrannast ja minevikust, mille eest nad põgenevad. Saab lugeda elust tipptasemel hobusetallis ning massöörist, kes kohtub unistuste mehega. Teoses oli detaile ja tegelasi, mis olid mulle vastukarva, aga kõik miinused korvas üllatav loopööre. Soovitaksin seda romaani kindlasti suviseks lugemiseks, kui on isu millegi kerge järele, kus on nii armastust kui ka saladusi!
Aitäh, Helios kirjastus, raamatu eest!
Rosie Walsh "Päev, mil me kadusime" saabus mulle ühes toredas üllatuspakkis kirjastuselt. Esimesena võlus mind teose värv, sest nii erksaid raamatuid on mul riiulis vähe. Muidugi võtsin ta kohe esimesel võimalusel käsile, sest sama kirjaniku eelmine raamat oli hea. Enne lugema asumist ei vaadanud ma isegi tagakaanelt, millest üldse juttu tuleb, et veel põnevam lugeda oleks.
21. sajand, Somerset & London. Kate põgeneb oma mineviku eest ning otsides kohta, kus madalat profiili hoida, jääb talle silma töökuulutus Mark Waverley, ühe Suurbritannia parima ratsaniku tallis. Kuigi naine pole varem hobustega kokku puutunud, võetakse ta vastu. Tööandja Mark on küll nägus, aga mitte eriti meeldiva iseloomuga. Tall pakub aga kõike, mida naine soovib - rahmeldamise kõrvalt ei ole tal aega oma probleemidele mõelda. Kate'i sõbranna Annie on sarnases olukorras - ka tema tahab minevikku selja taha jätta ning on alustamas uuel töökohal. Ta on küll massöör ning inimkeha pole naisele mitte teps võõras, kuid lapsepõlvest saadud trauma tõttu pole ta siiani suutnud pika-ajalist suhet luua. Nüüd on Anniel viimaks tunne, et ta on valmis end avama.
Raamatus vahelduvad peatükid Kate'i elust tallis ning Annie' omast Londonis. Ma ei ole eriline hobusearmastaja, õieti pole ma üldse kunagi ratsutanud. Tegelikult oli mulle samavõrra võõras ka Annie elu. Ma ei ole nimelt kunagi massaažis ka käinud. Neist kahest meeldis mulle aga tunduvalt rohkem lugeda Kate'ist. Kuna ta on samasugune võhik nagu mina, siis natuke seletatakse kogu seda hobuste maailma. Näiteks sain ma selgeks, mis on kolmevõistlus ja kui ohtlik see võib olla.
Annie peatükid olid veidi igavavõitu. Seal peale Suure Armastuse muud nagu polnudki. Nii sõpradekamp, kellega naine restoranis käis, kui ka uus kallim mõjusid mõlemad ülepakutult. Nad ei ärganud minu jaoks ellu ja mul oli raske toimuvat uskuda. Ka Kate'i tallis oli üksikasju, mis mind silmi panid pööritama, kuid need ei olnud nii vastukarva.
Romaani esimene pool tundus nagu tavaline mesimagus armastusromaan, mis mind väga ei vaimustanud. Ootasin väga loopööret, aga seda ei tulnud ega tulned, seega tekkis üks hetk tuline soov piiluda, mis lõpus saab. Ma ei tee seda kuigi tihti, aga tuleb välja, et Rosie Walshi teosed on üks erand, sest "Ilma ainsagi sõnata" puhul toimisin täpselt samamoodi. Arvasin, et Kate'i ja Annie saladused ei kõiguta mind, aga muidugi ma eksisin. Sellist lahendust ei osanud ma kuidagi oodata, väga mõnus ahhaa!-moment. Lugemiselamust see teadmine õnneks ei rikkunud, pigem oli põnev tekstist mingeid nüansse ja vihjeid märgata, mis muidu oleksid tabamatuks jäänud.
"Päev, mil me kadusime" räägib kahest sõbrannast ja minevikust, mille eest nad põgenevad. Saab lugeda elust tipptasemel hobusetallis ning massöörist, kes kohtub unistuste mehega. Teoses oli detaile ja tegelasi, mis olid mulle vastukarva, aga kõik miinused korvas üllatav loopööre. Soovitaksin seda romaani kindlasti suviseks lugemiseks, kui on isu millegi kerge järele, kus on nii armastust kui ka saladusi!
Aitäh, Helios kirjastus, raamatu eest!
April 6, 2015
When the twist in this story is what makes this book so dramatically different, it's also the thing that makes it really, really difficult to review. If I ruined this book for anyone, I'd be mortified - so I'm not even going to try to tell the story, just tell you how I felt about the book. And this really is a quite superb read, and really unexpected. It starts as a pretty conventional romantic read - well drawn characters, a few secrets to be revealed as it progresses - but it's only lulling you into a false sense of comfort and security, because the book soon changes into something quite different.
There's a superb cast of characters - Lucy Robinson really is so good at drawing real people in a few deft strokes. Kate and Annie are excellent well-rounded characters, both hiding secrets and problems that we know are going to be part of the story. The settings are fascinating too. Kate works at a stables, full of the most wonderful individuals: Stumpy is magnificent (and I'm really not a horsey person at all), but Becca also won a place in my heart. Annie takes her massage business into a new corporate setting, unable to believe the change in her fortune. Her support network, the wonderful Le Cloob, can't believe it either - another wonderful group of characters.
Lucy Robinson does something so clever with this book - the gentle humour is there throughout, but that just throws the dark moments (and some moments are very dark indeed) into sharper relief. The ability to do that is a real gift - this book is so much more than the fluffy romance it looks like being at the start. I never really expected to be saying that there were issues raised in this book that will stay with me for some time, but I'm still thinking about it. Wonderful stuff.
There's a superb cast of characters - Lucy Robinson really is so good at drawing real people in a few deft strokes. Kate and Annie are excellent well-rounded characters, both hiding secrets and problems that we know are going to be part of the story. The settings are fascinating too. Kate works at a stables, full of the most wonderful individuals: Stumpy is magnificent (and I'm really not a horsey person at all), but Becca also won a place in my heart. Annie takes her massage business into a new corporate setting, unable to believe the change in her fortune. Her support network, the wonderful Le Cloob, can't believe it either - another wonderful group of characters.
Lucy Robinson does something so clever with this book - the gentle humour is there throughout, but that just throws the dark moments (and some moments are very dark indeed) into sharper relief. The ability to do that is a real gift - this book is so much more than the fluffy romance it looks like being at the start. I never really expected to be saying that there were issues raised in this book that will stay with me for some time, but I'm still thinking about it. Wonderful stuff.
February 3, 2016
My Pretend Review:
I decided to read The Day We Disappeared by Lucy Robinson when I was feeling proper dead sorry for myself and badly needing cheering up. I have four very favourite authors and LR is one of them, so I knew it was going to be good and put a smile on my mush before I even started. And, I’d also seen loads of reviews online saying that it was pretty great like. Anyway, What I didn’t know though was that I was about to be chewed up and spat out in just one sitting! Honest to god, no lie, proper ragged into the pages dead hard by your hair, slapped across the face, chewed up, laughed at, then spat right out. Right out! Like right out leaving you speechless and seriously fucking overwhelmed.
I was that impressed at how LR had not just given us her usual fast-paced, laugh-a-minute work that we all idolise her for, but she actually opened up and let us dip our feet into the darker and more complex side to her fabulous mind too. For all of that I decided I wasn’t going to write her a review, but an open letter. I did as well and I sent it to her via Twitter, it read…
Dear Lucy Robinson,
You absolutely slippery twatting snake you! I’m not even writing a proper review for you at all. You can piss right off with all your scheming plots and glorious characters and laugh-out-loud humour and complete fucking awesomeness. How dare you think it’s acceptable to put people through hell and then just quickly hit them with a cricket bat right across the choppers in shock? You are one mean mother-fucker.
Regards
Batalie
(Inside joke there with the Batalie reference, me and LR are proper BFF’s. Eee, we are though. Jealous bastards!)
So yeah, this book is an absolute fucking delight.
GO. BUY. IT.
5/5
P.S.. Apologies for the bad language. Sorry mum x
I decided to read The Day We Disappeared by Lucy Robinson when I was feeling proper dead sorry for myself and badly needing cheering up. I have four very favourite authors and LR is one of them, so I knew it was going to be good and put a smile on my mush before I even started. And, I’d also seen loads of reviews online saying that it was pretty great like. Anyway, What I didn’t know though was that I was about to be chewed up and spat out in just one sitting! Honest to god, no lie, proper ragged into the pages dead hard by your hair, slapped across the face, chewed up, laughed at, then spat right out. Right out! Like right out leaving you speechless and seriously fucking overwhelmed.
I was that impressed at how LR had not just given us her usual fast-paced, laugh-a-minute work that we all idolise her for, but she actually opened up and let us dip our feet into the darker and more complex side to her fabulous mind too. For all of that I decided I wasn’t going to write her a review, but an open letter. I did as well and I sent it to her via Twitter, it read…
Dear Lucy Robinson,
You absolutely slippery twatting snake you! I’m not even writing a proper review for you at all. You can piss right off with all your scheming plots and glorious characters and laugh-out-loud humour and complete fucking awesomeness. How dare you think it’s acceptable to put people through hell and then just quickly hit them with a cricket bat right across the choppers in shock? You are one mean mother-fucker.
Regards
Batalie
(Inside joke there with the Batalie reference, me and LR are proper BFF’s. Eee, we are though. Jealous bastards!)
So yeah, this book is an absolute fucking delight.
GO. BUY. IT.
5/5
P.S.. Apologies for the bad language. Sorry mum x
November 3, 2015
This book is full of mystery, secrets and twists. It keeps you reading. We follow two girls- Annie and Kate. Both are harbouring secrets from their past- but what is the link between them? The stories alternate and provide more details.
It’s a great read- keeps you turning the pages and wondering what will unfold next. The characters are so well drawn and full. They will stay with you for a long while- always a sign of a great read.
I am keen to read more by this author.
With many thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
It’s a great read- keeps you turning the pages and wondering what will unfold next. The characters are so well drawn and full. They will stay with you for a long while- always a sign of a great read.
I am keen to read more by this author.
With many thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 30, 2015
I loved this book. It had everything you want for a good story. Great, believable characters, fantastic storyline & a twist. I didn't want the book to end! Well done to Lucy Robinson for writing such a brilliant story
March 24, 2015
Originally posted on http://beccasbooooks.blogspot.co.uk/
This is the first book by Lucy Robinson that will have been reviewed on Becca's Books, and I'm super excited to share it with you all because, quite simply, The Day We Disappeared blew my bloody mind, and then some. Since beginning my book blog, I haven't really had the chance to read my self-purchased copies, what with a mountain of a to-read pile to get through, and sadly, The Unfinished Symphony of Me and You is somewhere in that pile! So, I was very eager to get started on Lucy's newest release and I was so far away from being disappointed, I don't think there's even a word to describe it.
To be honest, I'm going to have to be very careful with this review because, you see, The Day We Disappeared is a bookish Rubik's cube, and if I was to give anything away about the story then I wouldn't be able to forgive myself. If I were to ruin the magnificence of this book for any potential readers out there, I would be the most terrible book blogger of all time, and frankly, I'm not okay with that happening! Not okay at all.
The first thing that struck me when I began reading The Day We Disappeared was how down to earth Lucy's style and dialogue is. There's nothing showy-off or pretentious about it, it's relaxed, easy and completely laid-back, and that in turn made me feel so much better about reading it. It flowed smoothly, sort of like I was sitting in one of those rubber dingies and floating down the lazy river at a water-park, bobbing along and enjoying the scenery. Lucy doesn't beat about the bush, but at the same time, when writing, you're given maximum detail without the author bombarding you with all manner of sensory aspects. The dialogue between Lucy's characters didn't go on and on, yet still managed to provide me with all of the things that I needed to know. I honestly haven't got a clue how Lucy does what she does, but she's one of those writers that make you sit back and think, "Wow", once you've finished reading their work. I'm sure it wasn't effortless on Lucy's part, but when reading, from my perspective, the story was just so seamlessly, pristinely put together, I found myself admiring every single page.
The Day We Disappeared had such a fantastic, twisting, turning plot and I have no choice but to applaud Lucy with what she has achieved within this book. It was insanely, incredibly, absolutely fascinating to experience the authors imagination in action. I flew through the pages without hesitation, taking everything in, trying to fit the pieces of the puzzle together, failing, and then trying again. It had my brain whirring with all sorts of possibilities and scenarios, my mind working overtime, and by the end of it, I felt like I'd run some sort of marathon! Breathless, hand to chest, eyes wide... It was phenomenal, the sort of book that should be forced upon people who have never read before, just to prove to them how absolutely amazing reading can be! Lucy had me hanging onto the edge of her every word, every paragraph, and every chapter. Pretty sure my knuckles grew white during a few scenes too, due to gripping my Kindle to death! The entire book was a guessing game. I couldn't bear to tear my eyes away for fear of missing some sort of clue or hint, and as I felt myself nearing the moment of revelation, I swear my breath caught in my throat. It was absolutely fantastic, and I swear, I've never be so eager to finish a book, but not want to finish at the same time.
There were plenty of characters within The Day We Disappeared, but Lucy's two main characters were the ones to really take into consideration. We're introduced first to Kate, who has just arrived in Exmoor to begin a new job as a live-in trainee yard assistant, surrounded by lush countryside, stables and horses. Annie is introduced to the reader not long after, and she's back home in London, also about to start a new job after a chance meeting with handsome Stephen. Two women, two completely different circumstances in completely different areas. What Lucy achieves with these two women is something that I am still completely in awe of. You know when you read something, and you sit there and think to yourself, "How has the author managed to do this because I'd never be able to?" Yeah. That. That exactly. As well as Kate and Annie, there was a whole cast of other characters who I found effortlessly engaging and were real people almost immediately in my mind. From Becca, who also works at the stables in Exmoor, to Claudine, a ruthless French woman who is not afraid to say it like it is, to Mark Waverley, the intriguing horse-rider with a face like a slapped arse most of the time. Each and every single one of these fictional people were quickly shaped up and brought to life in my imagination. Each character's own life became a thing of interest and I just couldn't wait to see where Lucy would take them next.
I think that The Day We Disappeared by Lucy Robinson is a real treasure of a book. A masterpiece, even. I was held captive to Lucy's storytelling abilities right from the very first page to the very last. This is one book that needs to be added to everybody's to-read list this year, without a shadow of a doubt! My experience of reading this book will stay with me for a very long time. I really, truly didn't want it to end, and even now, as I write my review, I'm sat here thinking about it. About everything that happened, about that crazy, exhilarating moment when realisation hit, and when I realised that I was at the hands of a one-of-a-kind author who took me on an amazing journey that I will never, ever forget.
Becca's Books is rating The Day We Disappeared by Lucy Robinson with FIVE GLORIOUS CUPCAKES! I honestly would not be able to give this story any less of a rating. This is right up there with some of my favourite books of all time. I just can't get my head around Lucy's talents and abilities when it comes to words. She manipulates and moulds them into something that can only ever be done once, and only ever by one person. Lucy Robinson, you are incredible, and I am already looking forward to your next release. I cannot wait to see what you do next!
This is the first book by Lucy Robinson that will have been reviewed on Becca's Books, and I'm super excited to share it with you all because, quite simply, The Day We Disappeared blew my bloody mind, and then some. Since beginning my book blog, I haven't really had the chance to read my self-purchased copies, what with a mountain of a to-read pile to get through, and sadly, The Unfinished Symphony of Me and You is somewhere in that pile! So, I was very eager to get started on Lucy's newest release and I was so far away from being disappointed, I don't think there's even a word to describe it.
To be honest, I'm going to have to be very careful with this review because, you see, The Day We Disappeared is a bookish Rubik's cube, and if I was to give anything away about the story then I wouldn't be able to forgive myself. If I were to ruin the magnificence of this book for any potential readers out there, I would be the most terrible book blogger of all time, and frankly, I'm not okay with that happening! Not okay at all.
The first thing that struck me when I began reading The Day We Disappeared was how down to earth Lucy's style and dialogue is. There's nothing showy-off or pretentious about it, it's relaxed, easy and completely laid-back, and that in turn made me feel so much better about reading it. It flowed smoothly, sort of like I was sitting in one of those rubber dingies and floating down the lazy river at a water-park, bobbing along and enjoying the scenery. Lucy doesn't beat about the bush, but at the same time, when writing, you're given maximum detail without the author bombarding you with all manner of sensory aspects. The dialogue between Lucy's characters didn't go on and on, yet still managed to provide me with all of the things that I needed to know. I honestly haven't got a clue how Lucy does what she does, but she's one of those writers that make you sit back and think, "Wow", once you've finished reading their work. I'm sure it wasn't effortless on Lucy's part, but when reading, from my perspective, the story was just so seamlessly, pristinely put together, I found myself admiring every single page.
The Day We Disappeared had such a fantastic, twisting, turning plot and I have no choice but to applaud Lucy with what she has achieved within this book. It was insanely, incredibly, absolutely fascinating to experience the authors imagination in action. I flew through the pages without hesitation, taking everything in, trying to fit the pieces of the puzzle together, failing, and then trying again. It had my brain whirring with all sorts of possibilities and scenarios, my mind working overtime, and by the end of it, I felt like I'd run some sort of marathon! Breathless, hand to chest, eyes wide... It was phenomenal, the sort of book that should be forced upon people who have never read before, just to prove to them how absolutely amazing reading can be! Lucy had me hanging onto the edge of her every word, every paragraph, and every chapter. Pretty sure my knuckles grew white during a few scenes too, due to gripping my Kindle to death! The entire book was a guessing game. I couldn't bear to tear my eyes away for fear of missing some sort of clue or hint, and as I felt myself nearing the moment of revelation, I swear my breath caught in my throat. It was absolutely fantastic, and I swear, I've never be so eager to finish a book, but not want to finish at the same time.
There were plenty of characters within The Day We Disappeared, but Lucy's two main characters were the ones to really take into consideration. We're introduced first to Kate, who has just arrived in Exmoor to begin a new job as a live-in trainee yard assistant, surrounded by lush countryside, stables and horses. Annie is introduced to the reader not long after, and she's back home in London, also about to start a new job after a chance meeting with handsome Stephen. Two women, two completely different circumstances in completely different areas. What Lucy achieves with these two women is something that I am still completely in awe of. You know when you read something, and you sit there and think to yourself, "How has the author managed to do this because I'd never be able to?" Yeah. That. That exactly. As well as Kate and Annie, there was a whole cast of other characters who I found effortlessly engaging and were real people almost immediately in my mind. From Becca, who also works at the stables in Exmoor, to Claudine, a ruthless French woman who is not afraid to say it like it is, to Mark Waverley, the intriguing horse-rider with a face like a slapped arse most of the time. Each and every single one of these fictional people were quickly shaped up and brought to life in my imagination. Each character's own life became a thing of interest and I just couldn't wait to see where Lucy would take them next.
I think that The Day We Disappeared by Lucy Robinson is a real treasure of a book. A masterpiece, even. I was held captive to Lucy's storytelling abilities right from the very first page to the very last. This is one book that needs to be added to everybody's to-read list this year, without a shadow of a doubt! My experience of reading this book will stay with me for a very long time. I really, truly didn't want it to end, and even now, as I write my review, I'm sat here thinking about it. About everything that happened, about that crazy, exhilarating moment when realisation hit, and when I realised that I was at the hands of a one-of-a-kind author who took me on an amazing journey that I will never, ever forget.
Becca's Books is rating The Day We Disappeared by Lucy Robinson with FIVE GLORIOUS CUPCAKES! I honestly would not be able to give this story any less of a rating. This is right up there with some of my favourite books of all time. I just can't get my head around Lucy's talents and abilities when it comes to words. She manipulates and moulds them into something that can only ever be done once, and only ever by one person. Lucy Robinson, you are incredible, and I am already looking forward to your next release. I cannot wait to see what you do next!
December 19, 2019
I must admit that I really love a good plot twist and boy, did this book deliver! Absolutely loved it from start to finish - sweet and funny at the same time as dark and twisted, it's a book I'd recommend to anyone and everyone. I've just added Lucy Robinson's other books to my Amazon basket and can't wait to get reading!
December 17, 2014
Review originally posted to my blog:
http://www.pagetostagereviews.com/201...
I've read a lot of novels in 2014, but out of the 100+ titles I have spent many hours devouring the pages of there are only a handful I found truly exceptional and I still find myself thinking back on and recommending extensively to friends (and strangers). One of those is the incredible The Unfinished Symphony of You and Me by Lucy Robinson and so when I have the opportunity to pick up a proof of her new novel The Day We Disappeared, not out until April 2015, at the Penguin Annual Women's Fiction Evening a few weeks ago I was absolutely thrilled – there may have been some squealing when I spotted the neon pink cover of the proof pop out of the piles of books on display.
Having high expectations of a novel before having even read a single page is always risky as I could set myself up for disappointment rather than enjoyment, but I needn't have worried as Lucy Robinson has done it again and delivered a beautiful, clever, moving, thoughtful and, most of all, powerful book, which I once again will be rambling on and on about to friends, and strangers on the train.
The novel centers on two friends; Kate Brady and Annie Mulholland. While Kate suffers from severe stress at her high-flying job at Google in Dublin and decides to take a much-needed break by working on a equestrian farm in the countryside, Annie's professional and romantic life is finally moving forward as she's hired by a big corporation and she falls in love with her generous and supportive new boss, Stephen Flint.
Even though Kate has little experience of working on an equestrian yard, with her off-the-charts confidence and loud Irish attitude she charms her fellow grooms and even manages to de-ice her new boss, Olympian Mark Waverley, somewhat. Annie, on the other hand, comes out of her shell as she gets romantically close to someone of the opposite sex for what feels like the first time in her life. Midway through the novel the lives of both friends seem to be grand but that's when everything starts to go very, very wrong.
This is not the first time I've read a book which in alternating chapters tells the story of two people while slowly moving together and intertwining their interactions to create a single entity, but Lucy Robinson is so very clever. I know she is and I didn't expect to be reading a straightforward romance, so I do admit that I read between the lines for the entirety of the novel while trying to guess what was really going on with Annie and Kate. But it wasn't until very near the actual revelation that it finally hit me. And it was good. So good. It was unexpected, heartbreaking and thought-provoking all at once.
The excellent, completely compelling story aside, I am absolutely in love with Lucy Robinson's witty writing. The way Kate always talks about the Bad Shit (caps are hers, not mine) and Annie's group of friends are nicknamed Le Cloob (which is French(ish) for The Club), make that the novel is not only genuinely good but also a lot of fun to read. And her characters are so loveable (Joe, Becca, Tim and Ana Lucia I am looking at you), it's heartwarming to be reading about such kind and hilarious characters, I just wanted to be friends with them all myself.
And the story is incredibly powerful, just wow. I cannot reveal why as that would be spoilerific, but just trust me when I say that The Day We Disappeared will make you think as a reader long after turning the final page. It touches upon some subjects not often explored in women's fiction, though they should – especially in the beautiful, sensitive way they've been handled in this book.
Lucy Robinson is one of the most brilliant women's fiction writers right now and each one of her novels (at least the ones I've read so far, I still need to pick up her debut The Greatest Love Story of All Time) is vastly different from the others, and so as a reader – and fan – you never know what to expect from her next and that makes it a very exciting journey indeed.
http://www.pagetostagereviews.com/201...
I've read a lot of novels in 2014, but out of the 100+ titles I have spent many hours devouring the pages of there are only a handful I found truly exceptional and I still find myself thinking back on and recommending extensively to friends (and strangers). One of those is the incredible The Unfinished Symphony of You and Me by Lucy Robinson and so when I have the opportunity to pick up a proof of her new novel The Day We Disappeared, not out until April 2015, at the Penguin Annual Women's Fiction Evening a few weeks ago I was absolutely thrilled – there may have been some squealing when I spotted the neon pink cover of the proof pop out of the piles of books on display.
Having high expectations of a novel before having even read a single page is always risky as I could set myself up for disappointment rather than enjoyment, but I needn't have worried as Lucy Robinson has done it again and delivered a beautiful, clever, moving, thoughtful and, most of all, powerful book, which I once again will be rambling on and on about to friends, and strangers on the train.
The novel centers on two friends; Kate Brady and Annie Mulholland. While Kate suffers from severe stress at her high-flying job at Google in Dublin and decides to take a much-needed break by working on a equestrian farm in the countryside, Annie's professional and romantic life is finally moving forward as she's hired by a big corporation and she falls in love with her generous and supportive new boss, Stephen Flint.
Even though Kate has little experience of working on an equestrian yard, with her off-the-charts confidence and loud Irish attitude she charms her fellow grooms and even manages to de-ice her new boss, Olympian Mark Waverley, somewhat. Annie, on the other hand, comes out of her shell as she gets romantically close to someone of the opposite sex for what feels like the first time in her life. Midway through the novel the lives of both friends seem to be grand but that's when everything starts to go very, very wrong.
This is not the first time I've read a book which in alternating chapters tells the story of two people while slowly moving together and intertwining their interactions to create a single entity, but Lucy Robinson is so very clever. I know she is and I didn't expect to be reading a straightforward romance, so I do admit that I read between the lines for the entirety of the novel while trying to guess what was really going on with Annie and Kate. But it wasn't until very near the actual revelation that it finally hit me. And it was good. So good. It was unexpected, heartbreaking and thought-provoking all at once.
The excellent, completely compelling story aside, I am absolutely in love with Lucy Robinson's witty writing. The way Kate always talks about the Bad Shit (caps are hers, not mine) and Annie's group of friends are nicknamed Le Cloob (which is French(ish) for The Club), make that the novel is not only genuinely good but also a lot of fun to read. And her characters are so loveable (Joe, Becca, Tim and Ana Lucia I am looking at you), it's heartwarming to be reading about such kind and hilarious characters, I just wanted to be friends with them all myself.
And the story is incredibly powerful, just wow. I cannot reveal why as that would be spoilerific, but just trust me when I say that The Day We Disappeared will make you think as a reader long after turning the final page. It touches upon some subjects not often explored in women's fiction, though they should – especially in the beautiful, sensitive way they've been handled in this book.
Lucy Robinson is one of the most brilliant women's fiction writers right now and each one of her novels (at least the ones I've read so far, I still need to pick up her debut The Greatest Love Story of All Time) is vastly different from the others, and so as a reader – and fan – you never know what to expect from her next and that makes it a very exciting journey indeed.
May 16, 2015
Two friends Annie Mulholland and Kate Brady are at a crossroads in their lives, both running away from their past which has a habit of resurfacing and threatening to catch up with them, both desperate for new beginnings.
This sets the pace of the novel really and both the characters narrate throughout the story. Having left their past lives behind them Kate ends up at a riding stables after answering an advertisement for a groom and applies for the job even though she has no experience she gets it. Once she's at the stables she knows she will be discovered and confides in Becca also a groom that she has no idea what she's doing. Becca then helps her and teaches her on the quiet.
Annie Mulholland was a masseuse and reiki healer who having lost her own business in the recession was now practicing in London during the week days and evenings and at the weekends travelling to Kent and Surrey. After having done this punishing schedule for 3 years one of her clients Stephen Flint changed her life forever by offering her to work for his organisation FlintSpark as an in-house wellbeing associate. New beginnings for the two girls who became friends on a backpacking trip to Asia.
Ok the scene is set and now the plots begin; each girl has their demons to exorcise and each one appears to be on a collision course. The author builds suspense and you can feel something significant is about to happen for each girl but it is not easy to second guess this plot. They both predictably get a love interest but not all is what it seems and both their lives become increasingly complicated as the past draws ever closer.
Good secondary characters pepper this story creating good sub-plots and all characters are believable and authentic.
Annie seems to be gaining confidence and appears to be blossoming in her relationship with Stephen Flint and Kate although playing her cards closer to her chest revealing little to her new friends, does appear to relax a little as time goes on.
Everything is going along nicely for both girls but there is still the underlying unease of knowing something is about to blow and it does just that about 3/4 of the way through the book. I didn't guess the curve ball that was thrown and how both lives become intertwined. I don't want to say more than this as it will definitely spoil the novel to reveal at this point. All I do want to say is that I didn't see it coming, it was a great twist and one I know you will enjoy.
I would have given this book 5 stars except that I am not really into horsey or equestrian linked books and found this aspect of the novel a bit boring. I almost didn't read the novel because of the equestrian element which would have been a shame to have missed it.
A good read, perfect for holiday reading by the beach or by the pool, easy read in terms of pace, a quick read, and of course the unexpected plot twist is a winner. A well deserved 4.5 stars from me.
I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.
This sets the pace of the novel really and both the characters narrate throughout the story. Having left their past lives behind them Kate ends up at a riding stables after answering an advertisement for a groom and applies for the job even though she has no experience she gets it. Once she's at the stables she knows she will be discovered and confides in Becca also a groom that she has no idea what she's doing. Becca then helps her and teaches her on the quiet.
Annie Mulholland was a masseuse and reiki healer who having lost her own business in the recession was now practicing in London during the week days and evenings and at the weekends travelling to Kent and Surrey. After having done this punishing schedule for 3 years one of her clients Stephen Flint changed her life forever by offering her to work for his organisation FlintSpark as an in-house wellbeing associate. New beginnings for the two girls who became friends on a backpacking trip to Asia.
Ok the scene is set and now the plots begin; each girl has their demons to exorcise and each one appears to be on a collision course. The author builds suspense and you can feel something significant is about to happen for each girl but it is not easy to second guess this plot. They both predictably get a love interest but not all is what it seems and both their lives become increasingly complicated as the past draws ever closer.
Good secondary characters pepper this story creating good sub-plots and all characters are believable and authentic.
Annie seems to be gaining confidence and appears to be blossoming in her relationship with Stephen Flint and Kate although playing her cards closer to her chest revealing little to her new friends, does appear to relax a little as time goes on.
Everything is going along nicely for both girls but there is still the underlying unease of knowing something is about to blow and it does just that about 3/4 of the way through the book. I didn't guess the curve ball that was thrown and how both lives become intertwined. I don't want to say more than this as it will definitely spoil the novel to reveal at this point. All I do want to say is that I didn't see it coming, it was a great twist and one I know you will enjoy.
I would have given this book 5 stars except that I am not really into horsey or equestrian linked books and found this aspect of the novel a bit boring. I almost didn't read the novel because of the equestrian element which would have been a shame to have missed it.
A good read, perfect for holiday reading by the beach or by the pool, easy read in terms of pace, a quick read, and of course the unexpected plot twist is a winner. A well deserved 4.5 stars from me.
I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.
April 9, 2015
Originally posted on Paris Baker's Book Nook.
Okay now before we get into it, just LOOK HOW BEAUTIFUL THESE COVERS ARE. Seriously, WOW. Okay, good, that’s out of my system.
This is the first Lucy Robinson book I’ve managed to get round to reading (though The Unfinished Symphony of You and Me has been calling to me for a long time!) but let me tell you now, by no means will it be the last.
Now, as this book is a fantastically intriguing puzzle, full of mystery, I don’t want to go and spoil anything here in my review. You need to read it for yourself to understand its full wonderfulness.
What I will tell you, is that this girl can seriously write. The whole story, both Kate’s and Annie’s parts, flowed absolutely seamlessly. Every aspect of their stories felt real and believable, every conversation read as if I was physically listening to it myself. From the idiosyncrasies of each character and there origin, to the raw emotions at times displayed, every little thing I believed with all my being. Not a page of this book felt forced or over-indulgent, rather entirely natural and believable. I can only imagine the work that Lucy must have put in to make it seem so effortless!
The plot unfurls around you, drawing you in deeper until you’re held captive till the very last page. As the story finally started to unfold in full, the cards fully on the table for the reader to see, it was one of those spectacular moments where I just had to stop for a minute and go over what I’d read. Ideas had been swirling around my mind, a few little breadcrumbs had been laid that I wasn’t quite sure whether to follow, but when it was all there I just couldn’t quite get over the magnificence of it all. To be honest, my first thought was probably something along the lines of ‘you sneaky bugger’ (and a few other choice words!), but all with the utmost admiration.
The characters themselves are fantastically built, true to their nationalities and each with their own quirks, habits and flaws. Kate, the breezy Irish lass setting up a new life for herself in the West Country, away from everyone, and Annie, finally seeming to find her feet in her London life – I quickly loved them both. From Kate’s adorable friends Becca and Joe, and her gorgeously brooding boss Mark, to Annie’s caring and protective friends and sister, the whole cast of characters were utter perfection. Claudine, Annie’s prickly French friend, was one of my favourite characters, even if she had me totally riled up at times, she was just so blunt it was hilarious.
I really could gush all day, but I really don’t want to risk ruining anything. Do yourself a favour and put yourself at the mercy of Lucy Robinson’s literary genius – it’s not a decision you’re going to regret.
Okay now before we get into it, just LOOK HOW BEAUTIFUL THESE COVERS ARE. Seriously, WOW. Okay, good, that’s out of my system.
This is the first Lucy Robinson book I’ve managed to get round to reading (though The Unfinished Symphony of You and Me has been calling to me for a long time!) but let me tell you now, by no means will it be the last.
Now, as this book is a fantastically intriguing puzzle, full of mystery, I don’t want to go and spoil anything here in my review. You need to read it for yourself to understand its full wonderfulness.
What I will tell you, is that this girl can seriously write. The whole story, both Kate’s and Annie’s parts, flowed absolutely seamlessly. Every aspect of their stories felt real and believable, every conversation read as if I was physically listening to it myself. From the idiosyncrasies of each character and there origin, to the raw emotions at times displayed, every little thing I believed with all my being. Not a page of this book felt forced or over-indulgent, rather entirely natural and believable. I can only imagine the work that Lucy must have put in to make it seem so effortless!
The plot unfurls around you, drawing you in deeper until you’re held captive till the very last page. As the story finally started to unfold in full, the cards fully on the table for the reader to see, it was one of those spectacular moments where I just had to stop for a minute and go over what I’d read. Ideas had been swirling around my mind, a few little breadcrumbs had been laid that I wasn’t quite sure whether to follow, but when it was all there I just couldn’t quite get over the magnificence of it all. To be honest, my first thought was probably something along the lines of ‘you sneaky bugger’ (and a few other choice words!), but all with the utmost admiration.
The characters themselves are fantastically built, true to their nationalities and each with their own quirks, habits and flaws. Kate, the breezy Irish lass setting up a new life for herself in the West Country, away from everyone, and Annie, finally seeming to find her feet in her London life – I quickly loved them both. From Kate’s adorable friends Becca and Joe, and her gorgeously brooding boss Mark, to Annie’s caring and protective friends and sister, the whole cast of characters were utter perfection. Claudine, Annie’s prickly French friend, was one of my favourite characters, even if she had me totally riled up at times, she was just so blunt it was hilarious.
I really could gush all day, but I really don’t want to risk ruining anything. Do yourself a favour and put yourself at the mercy of Lucy Robinson’s literary genius – it’s not a decision you’re going to regret.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 255 reviews