What do you think?
Rate this book
The Way Home
From the multimillion-copy bestselling author of Waiting to Begin and Ever After comes an evocative, tender story about belonging, community, and the relationships that hold us together.
What if a stranger threatened to take away a lifetime of cherished memories?
Lilly-Bob loves her home by the River Thames in the heart of London. Throughout her childhood, it echoed with music and her father’s love, and for seventy years it’s been her sanctuary through a life well lived. These days, the familiar walls and treasured memories keep loneliness at bay.
But for months she’s been ignoring letters from a building developer, and now a compulsory purchase scheme threatens to take her home by force. Seventeen-year-old Lilly-Bob didn’t fear change, but present-day Lilly refuses to let go.
As the pressure builds, Lilly feels increasingly alone. But as her neighbours rally together, she finds herself drawn into the fold—making new friends, finding purpose, and glimpsing the possibility of something new.
Torn between the comfort of the past and the call of progress, Lilly-Bob must is home made of bricks and mortar, or is it a place inside ourselves?
What if a stranger threatened to take away a lifetime of cherished memories?
Lilly-Bob loves her home by the River Thames in the heart of London. Throughout her childhood, it echoed with music and her father’s love, and for seventy years it’s been her sanctuary through a life well lived. These days, the familiar walls and treasured memories keep loneliness at bay.
But for months she’s been ignoring letters from a building developer, and now a compulsory purchase scheme threatens to take her home by force. Seventeen-year-old Lilly-Bob didn’t fear change, but present-day Lilly refuses to let go.
As the pressure builds, Lilly feels increasingly alone. But as her neighbours rally together, she finds herself drawn into the fold—making new friends, finding purpose, and glimpsing the possibility of something new.
Torn between the comfort of the past and the call of progress, Lilly-Bob must is home made of bricks and mortar, or is it a place inside ourselves?
361 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 28, 2026
About the author
Amanda Prowse
70 books2,129 followersWelcome to my Goodrerads page. If you love relatable, emotionally driven, character lead fiction that shines a light on family life and the trials and tribulations that affect us all, then you’re in the right place!
My name is Amanda Prowse, now nearly sixty, I started writing in my mid-forties. I divide my time between London where I live by the river and our farm in the West Country.
I’m passionate about the representation of women. My characters range in age from six to ninety-six and come from all walks of life.
The women in my stories face adversity head on, they grab opportunity by the handful and run towards the horizon, often doing so with a large dollop of humour.
My stories sometimes punch you in the gut with their realism but also leave you with a glimmer of hope – and the feeling that you are not alone. Tales that will make you ugly cry and laugh out loud – sometimes on the same page!
I’ve sold millions of books, translated into dozens of languages all around the world. Described by the Daily Mail as ‘The queen of family drama’ my novels have won awards, including the coveted Sainsbury's eBook of the year Award and I’ve had two books selected as World Book Night titles; 'Perfect Daughter' in 2016 and 'The Boy Between' (co-written with my son Josiah Hartley) in 2022.
I’m a huge supporter of libraries and am a proud ambassador for The Reading Agency. My ambition is to create stories that keep people from turning the bedside lamp off at night, great characters that ensure you take every step with them and tales that fill your head so you can't possibly read another book until the memory fades...
I’m a passionate advocate of ageing naturally and gratefully, and see every wrinkle, every line, every blemish on my face as a badge of honour – remembering always what a gift ageing is. This part of my wider belief that when women support women, magical things can happen.
When the time comes – this is what I’d like written on my headstone:
‘Wrote great stories, made a cracking roast potato…’ – what more could I ask for?
Praise for Amanda Prowse:
‘Amanda Prowse is “The Queen of Family Drama”’ – Daily Mail
'You'll fall in love with this...' – Cosmopolitan
'Powerful and emotional drama that packs a real punch' – Heat
‘Heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal measure’ – The Lady
'Deeply moving and emotional’ – Red
‘Amanda Prowse handles her explosive subjects with delicate skill’ – Daily Mail
‘Captivating, heartbreaking and superbly written’ – Closer
‘Amanda Prowse is the new Amanda Prowse’ – Mr Prowse
‘Uplifting and positive but you will still need a box of tissues’ – Hello!
List of Amanda Prowse works in order (oldest at top, newest at the bottom)
NOVELS
Poppy Day
What Have I Done
Clover’s Child
A Little Love
Will You Remember Me?
Christmas for One
A Mother’s Story
Perfect Daughter
The Second Chance Café (was 'The Christmas Café')
Three and a Half Heartbeats
Another Love
My Husband’s Wife
I Won’t be Home for Christmas
The Food of Love
The Idea of You
The Art of Hiding
Anna
Theo
Kitty (was ‘How to Fall in Love Again; Kitty’s Story’)
The Coordinates of Loss
The Girl in the Corner
The Things I Know
The Light in the Hallway
The Day She Came Back.
An Ordinary Life
Waiting to Begin
To Love and Be Loved
Picking Up the Pieces
All Good Things
Swimming to Lundy
This One Life
Ever After
Life as Planned
The Way Home (publishing August 2026)
Holding On Tight (publishing January 2027)
MEMOIRS
The Boy Between
Women Like Us
NOVELLAS
The Game
Something Quite Beautiful
A Christmas Wish
The Ten Pound Ticket
Imogen's Baby
Miss Potterton's Birthday Tea
Mr Portobello's Morning Paper
I Wish…
A Whole Heap of Wishes
A Wish for Forgiveness
Fifteen Minutes
COMPILATION OF FIRST SEVEN NOVELLAS
Something Quite Beautiful
Notes on Books.
All books are standalone stories, but some do share characters who pop up for cameo appeara
My name is Amanda Prowse, now nearly sixty, I started writing in my mid-forties. I divide my time between London where I live by the river and our farm in the West Country.
I’m passionate about the representation of women. My characters range in age from six to ninety-six and come from all walks of life.
The women in my stories face adversity head on, they grab opportunity by the handful and run towards the horizon, often doing so with a large dollop of humour.
My stories sometimes punch you in the gut with their realism but also leave you with a glimmer of hope – and the feeling that you are not alone. Tales that will make you ugly cry and laugh out loud – sometimes on the same page!
I’ve sold millions of books, translated into dozens of languages all around the world. Described by the Daily Mail as ‘The queen of family drama’ my novels have won awards, including the coveted Sainsbury's eBook of the year Award and I’ve had two books selected as World Book Night titles; 'Perfect Daughter' in 2016 and 'The Boy Between' (co-written with my son Josiah Hartley) in 2022.
I’m a huge supporter of libraries and am a proud ambassador for The Reading Agency. My ambition is to create stories that keep people from turning the bedside lamp off at night, great characters that ensure you take every step with them and tales that fill your head so you can't possibly read another book until the memory fades...
I’m a passionate advocate of ageing naturally and gratefully, and see every wrinkle, every line, every blemish on my face as a badge of honour – remembering always what a gift ageing is. This part of my wider belief that when women support women, magical things can happen.
When the time comes – this is what I’d like written on my headstone:
‘Wrote great stories, made a cracking roast potato…’ – what more could I ask for?
Praise for Amanda Prowse:
‘Amanda Prowse is “The Queen of Family Drama”’ – Daily Mail
'You'll fall in love with this...' – Cosmopolitan
'Powerful and emotional drama that packs a real punch' – Heat
‘Heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal measure’ – The Lady
'Deeply moving and emotional’ – Red
‘Amanda Prowse handles her explosive subjects with delicate skill’ – Daily Mail
‘Captivating, heartbreaking and superbly written’ – Closer
‘Amanda Prowse is the new Amanda Prowse’ – Mr Prowse
‘Uplifting and positive but you will still need a box of tissues’ – Hello!
List of Amanda Prowse works in order (oldest at top, newest at the bottom)
NOVELS
Poppy Day
What Have I Done
Clover’s Child
A Little Love
Will You Remember Me?
Christmas for One
A Mother’s Story
Perfect Daughter
The Second Chance Café (was 'The Christmas Café')
Three and a Half Heartbeats
Another Love
My Husband’s Wife
I Won’t be Home for Christmas
The Food of Love
The Idea of You
The Art of Hiding
Anna
Theo
Kitty (was ‘How to Fall in Love Again; Kitty’s Story’)
The Coordinates of Loss
The Girl in the Corner
The Things I Know
The Light in the Hallway
The Day She Came Back.
An Ordinary Life
Waiting to Begin
To Love and Be Loved
Picking Up the Pieces
All Good Things
Swimming to Lundy
This One Life
Ever After
Life as Planned
The Way Home (publishing August 2026)
Holding On Tight (publishing January 2027)
MEMOIRS
The Boy Between
Women Like Us
NOVELLAS
The Game
Something Quite Beautiful
A Christmas Wish
The Ten Pound Ticket
Imogen's Baby
Miss Potterton's Birthday Tea
Mr Portobello's Morning Paper
I Wish…
A Whole Heap of Wishes
A Wish for Forgiveness
Fifteen Minutes
COMPILATION OF FIRST SEVEN NOVELLAS
Something Quite Beautiful
Notes on Books.
All books are standalone stories, but some do share characters who pop up for cameo appeara
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
July 30, 2026
My Reviews Can Also Be Found On:
The Book Review Crew Blog
⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Way Home
Amanda Prowse
Publication Date: July 28th, 2026
Amazon Publishing UK | Lake Union Publishing
365 Pages
Amazon | Bookshop.org
Genre: General Fiction | Women's Fiction
This was a very real, poignant, and ultimately uplifting story about a woman named Lilly-Bob, a feisty lady in her seventies who has lived in the same place by the River Thames in London for her whole life. Filled with many much-loved memories, her home is her happy place. But her happiness is brought to a halt when a property developer tries to force her to sell her beloved home.
Lilly-Bob refuses to let it go, and this is where she learns about the strength of community. As her neighbours get together to help her, Lilly-Bob realizes home is more than just the building where you live. I loved how the author showed both Lilly-Bob's current situation and flashbacks from her childhood and young adult years.
This book is a deeply emotional one about family and what we do when life takes a turn we don't expect. I liked how the story showed the path to forgiveness and how hard that can be. The characters felt very real, with emotions and actions that were true to life. The storyline is heartfelt, and anytime a novel can make me feel this much, it’s a win in my book.
There are a lot of heartbreaking moments in the story, but Prowse always manages to balance them out with love, hope, and even joyful moments. This one is slower in pace, but I think that was done on purpose to show how long it takes to heal and forgive. I love character-driven stories when the characters are this well-written. The Way Home is a lovely story of growing old, connection, and what it means to belong.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
The Book Review Crew Blog
⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Way Home
Amanda Prowse
Publication Date: July 28th, 2026
Amazon Publishing UK | Lake Union Publishing
365 Pages
Amazon | Bookshop.org
Genre: General Fiction | Women's Fiction
This was a very real, poignant, and ultimately uplifting story about a woman named Lilly-Bob, a feisty lady in her seventies who has lived in the same place by the River Thames in London for her whole life. Filled with many much-loved memories, her home is her happy place. But her happiness is brought to a halt when a property developer tries to force her to sell her beloved home.
Lilly-Bob refuses to let it go, and this is where she learns about the strength of community. As her neighbours get together to help her, Lilly-Bob realizes home is more than just the building where you live. I loved how the author showed both Lilly-Bob's current situation and flashbacks from her childhood and young adult years.
This book is a deeply emotional one about family and what we do when life takes a turn we don't expect. I liked how the story showed the path to forgiveness and how hard that can be. The characters felt very real, with emotions and actions that were true to life. The storyline is heartfelt, and anytime a novel can make me feel this much, it’s a win in my book.
There are a lot of heartbreaking moments in the story, but Prowse always manages to balance them out with love, hope, and even joyful moments. This one is slower in pace, but I think that was done on purpose to show how long it takes to heal and forgive. I love character-driven stories when the characters are this well-written. The Way Home is a lovely story of growing old, connection, and what it means to belong.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
August 2, 2026
3 1/2 Stars
September 16, 2026
A sweet story….
July 29, 2026
For so many of us home is our safe place & our happy place so a compulsory purchase order on the only home you’ve ever known - for all of your 74 years - would surely be most people’s worst nightmare. For Lilly-Bob (Elizabeth- Roberta) whose years had been lived out beside her great friend, The Thames, and whose home held everything from her life’s work to the memories of her precious parents, it feels as if there could not be a worse fate. However, thanks to friends new and old around her together they find a way through the trauma together - even if it’s not the one they planned.
Amanda Prowse has done it again with this heart-warming story. I loved the format alternating between present day Lillie-Bob and her childhood & teenage years through the 1960’s and 70’s. As the chapters unfold we realise how important her riverside apartment really is to her and how de-railing losing her home could be.
The ending really cements the story & is written skillfully so it is neither predictable or saccharine sweet. I finished this book a couple of days ago but am still thinking about Lillie-Bob, Clodagh & Apollo. . Definitely the sign of a great read.
Many thanks to the author & to Love Book Tours for my gifted copy.
August 22, 2026
Tame
Things don’t always work out the way we expect them to—that is the central lesson after reading The Way Home by Amanda Prowse. 📖✨
It is so hard to lose, to give up, and to realize there isn't another chance to turn back time.
Lilly had a beautiful childhood—the kind of life every kid deserves—until she grew up and real life took over.
When we are suffering, acceptance is hard to find. It often takes a long time to reach a place of forgiveness and peace.
Lilly’s journey was difficult, and she suffered deeply. I found myself relating to several of her experiences, especially the heartbreak caused by the very people you expect to love you most. 💔
This book is a powerful reflection on how tough life can be for women. As Isabel Allende once said in an interview: "The sad part is that younger generations don't know how easy it is for all the rights that we have fought so hard for to be taken away from us."
We need to keep telling our stories—how hard life was and still is, how unexpectedly we can be hurt, and how heartbreaking it is to be afraid to walk alone.
I hope these words encourage you to pick up Lilly’s story.
Stay strong, sisters.
Things don’t always work out the way we expect them to—that is the central lesson after reading The Way Home by Amanda Prowse. 📖✨
It is so hard to lose, to give up, and to realize there isn't another chance to turn back time.
Lilly had a beautiful childhood—the kind of life every kid deserves—until she grew up and real life took over.
When we are suffering, acceptance is hard to find. It often takes a long time to reach a place of forgiveness and peace.
Lilly’s journey was difficult, and she suffered deeply. I found myself relating to several of her experiences, especially the heartbreak caused by the very people you expect to love you most. 💔
This book is a powerful reflection on how tough life can be for women. As Isabel Allende once said in an interview: "The sad part is that younger generations don't know how easy it is for all the rights that we have fought so hard for to be taken away from us."
We need to keep telling our stories—how hard life was and still is, how unexpectedly we can be hurt, and how heartbreaking it is to be afraid to walk alone.
I hope these words encourage you to pick up Lilly’s story.
Stay strong, sisters.
July 28, 2026
Where is home? What defines it? Is it a place? Is it a person or people? Is it internal or external?
For Lilly-Bob it's her precious home on the River Thames; the only place she's ever lived. It holds all of her memories, both good and bad, and the place where she knows she will always find shelter from any storm that life blows her way. But when that storm is one that threatens to take her beloved home from her, Lilly is bereft.
Alternating between the present and the past, in which we follow Lilly's growth from a child into an adult, this gorgeous story once again confirms that Amanda Prowse is the Queen of Storytelling, especially when it comes to characterisation.
Her characters are people just like those you'd meet in your everyday life, and she infuses them with warmth and humour.
I adored Lilly-Bob and her ongoing endeavours to capture the perfect image of 'Mother Thames'. The towpath she painted from certainly ensured that her life was never dull!
She's surrounded by a cast of truly special people, but I think my favourite might just be Norman (tough choice between him and Bertie - talk about polar opposites!!). But honestly, this entire story is one of hope, resilience and survival against all odds.
Cannot recommend it highly enough!!
For Lilly-Bob it's her precious home on the River Thames; the only place she's ever lived. It holds all of her memories, both good and bad, and the place where she knows she will always find shelter from any storm that life blows her way. But when that storm is one that threatens to take her beloved home from her, Lilly is bereft.
Alternating between the present and the past, in which we follow Lilly's growth from a child into an adult, this gorgeous story once again confirms that Amanda Prowse is the Queen of Storytelling, especially when it comes to characterisation.
Her characters are people just like those you'd meet in your everyday life, and she infuses them with warmth and humour.
I adored Lilly-Bob and her ongoing endeavours to capture the perfect image of 'Mother Thames'. The towpath she painted from certainly ensured that her life was never dull!
She's surrounded by a cast of truly special people, but I think my favourite might just be Norman (tough choice between him and Bertie - talk about polar opposites!!). But honestly, this entire story is one of hope, resilience and survival against all odds.
Cannot recommend it highly enough!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Time taken to read - in and out over 3 days
Pages - 361
Publisher - Lake Union Publishing
Source - ARC
Blurb from Goodreads
From the multimillion-copy bestselling author of Waiting to Begin and Ever After comes an evocative, tender story about belonging, community, and the relationships that hold us together.
What if a stranger threatened to take away a lifetime of cherished memories?
Lilly-Bob loves her home by the River Thames in the heart of London. Throughout her childhood, it echoed with music and her father’s love, and for seventy years it’s been her sanctuary through a life well lived. These days, the familiar walls and treasured memories keep loneliness at bay.
But for months she’s been ignoring letters from a building developer, and now a compulsory purchase scheme threatens to take her home by force. Seventeen-year-old Lilly-Bob didn’t fear change, but present-day Lilly refuses to let go.
As the pressure builds, Lilly feels increasingly alone. But as her neighbours rally together, she finds herself drawn into the fold—making new friends, finding purpose, and glimpsing the possibility of something new.
Torn between the comfort of the past and the call of progress, Lilly-Bob must is home made of bricks and mortar, or is it a place inside ourselves?
My Review
Lilly-Bob is in her seventies, she has been through a lot in her life and she is in the family home in London overlooking the Thames, once her dads, now hers. A big company is forcing her out of her home, the house she grew up in is now under a compulsory buy order. As Lilly fights against it we flip back and forth in time to when she was a wean, growing up, adulthood and everything that shaped who she is today, back to present day. We see her relationship with her neighbour and the neighbours wee boy, Lilly doesn't have kids, her fight with the building developers.
The past as with Prowse's previous books, tackles some hard hitting emotive topics, love, loss, relationships, dynamics, coercion, lies, manipulation. Things that many of us have endured, survived and of course shapes us into the adults we are today. Her relationship with her mother is very strained, she adores her father, idolises him so when her mother makes choices that impact on him and the young Lilly-Bob it changes and shapes their relationship, or lack of, going forward.
For me, what Lilly-Bob endured with her relationships/friendships you can tell marked and shaped who she became but in the present day we get to see how those experiences left their mark and impact upon future relationships. The other main thread is the big company trying to get Lilly-Bob to agree to selling up and then when she isn't for negotiating, forcing the sale, we feel the rage and fury she feels and the attachment to the house and memories.
I think the thing with Prowse is she creates characters that you can identify with, sympathise or empathise with. It makes the characters real, vivid and you invest in them and their lives pretty much from the get go or early bells, 4/5 from us for this one. She has quite a back catalogue and we have a fair few on the tbrm and a few more I need to buy. Her characters tend to stay with you long after you have put the book down!
Pages - 361
Publisher - Lake Union Publishing
Source - ARC
Blurb from Goodreads
From the multimillion-copy bestselling author of Waiting to Begin and Ever After comes an evocative, tender story about belonging, community, and the relationships that hold us together.
What if a stranger threatened to take away a lifetime of cherished memories?
Lilly-Bob loves her home by the River Thames in the heart of London. Throughout her childhood, it echoed with music and her father’s love, and for seventy years it’s been her sanctuary through a life well lived. These days, the familiar walls and treasured memories keep loneliness at bay.
But for months she’s been ignoring letters from a building developer, and now a compulsory purchase scheme threatens to take her home by force. Seventeen-year-old Lilly-Bob didn’t fear change, but present-day Lilly refuses to let go.
As the pressure builds, Lilly feels increasingly alone. But as her neighbours rally together, she finds herself drawn into the fold—making new friends, finding purpose, and glimpsing the possibility of something new.
Torn between the comfort of the past and the call of progress, Lilly-Bob must is home made of bricks and mortar, or is it a place inside ourselves?
My Review
Lilly-Bob is in her seventies, she has been through a lot in her life and she is in the family home in London overlooking the Thames, once her dads, now hers. A big company is forcing her out of her home, the house she grew up in is now under a compulsory buy order. As Lilly fights against it we flip back and forth in time to when she was a wean, growing up, adulthood and everything that shaped who she is today, back to present day. We see her relationship with her neighbour and the neighbours wee boy, Lilly doesn't have kids, her fight with the building developers.
The past as with Prowse's previous books, tackles some hard hitting emotive topics, love, loss, relationships, dynamics, coercion, lies, manipulation. Things that many of us have endured, survived and of course shapes us into the adults we are today. Her relationship with her mother is very strained, she adores her father, idolises him so when her mother makes choices that impact on him and the young Lilly-Bob it changes and shapes their relationship, or lack of, going forward.
For me, what Lilly-Bob endured with her relationships/friendships you can tell marked and shaped who she became but in the present day we get to see how those experiences left their mark and impact upon future relationships. The other main thread is the big company trying to get Lilly-Bob to agree to selling up and then when she isn't for negotiating, forcing the sale, we feel the rage and fury she feels and the attachment to the house and memories.
I think the thing with Prowse is she creates characters that you can identify with, sympathise or empathise with. It makes the characters real, vivid and you invest in them and their lives pretty much from the get go or early bells, 4/5 from us for this one. She has quite a back catalogue and we have a fair few on the tbrm and a few more I need to buy. Her characters tend to stay with you long after you have put the book down!
July 30, 2026
A beautiful and cosy book that ebbs and flows just like the River Thames featured in the story. There were some sad moments but also lots of humourous, light-hearted moments.
I loved reading Lilly-Bob's stories, both past and present. She is an interesting and endearing character. The supporting cast of characters were also great, each was unique and had their own intriguing backstory.
It's a character-driven story with a relaxed pace and I really enjoyed it.
I loved reading Lilly-Bob's stories, both past and present. She is an interesting and endearing character. The supporting cast of characters were also great, each was unique and had their own intriguing backstory.
It's a character-driven story with a relaxed pace and I really enjoyed it.
July 18, 2026
The Way Home is the story of Elizabeth-Roberta; witty, independent and affectionately known as Lilly-Bob. She loves her home in London, next to the River Thames. It’s been her sanctuary for 70 years and is filled with her life’s memories. It’s where she belongs. But now building developers are threatening to take her home via a Compulsory Purchase Order.
Present day chapters are interspersed with chapters from the past; prominent moments particularly in Lilly’s childhood and teenage years that have defined her life and shaped who she is.
But this story is so much more than developers wanting to take Lilly’s home. It’s the story of Lilly’s life; a life filled with friendship, love, loss, upheaval, and a huge amount of hurt and shame that Lilly has carried for decades.
There was something really beautiful in sharing Lilly’s journey of discovery; as she learns that things change, people change, and life goes on. Those flawed, imperfect people that have caused Lilly a lifetime of hurt and regret…..it’s time to forgive, let go and find peace.
I adored Lilly and my eyes definitely filled at the end! A story packed with heart and emotion, let Lilly’s story prove to you that life can still be full of hope and joy when you’re seventy years old!
Present day chapters are interspersed with chapters from the past; prominent moments particularly in Lilly’s childhood and teenage years that have defined her life and shaped who she is.
But this story is so much more than developers wanting to take Lilly’s home. It’s the story of Lilly’s life; a life filled with friendship, love, loss, upheaval, and a huge amount of hurt and shame that Lilly has carried for decades.
There was something really beautiful in sharing Lilly’s journey of discovery; as she learns that things change, people change, and life goes on. Those flawed, imperfect people that have caused Lilly a lifetime of hurt and regret…..it’s time to forgive, let go and find peace.
I adored Lilly and my eyes definitely filled at the end! A story packed with heart and emotion, let Lilly’s story prove to you that life can still be full of hope and joy when you’re seventy years old!
August 10, 2026
Beautiful as always x
September 19, 2026
I related to so many things in this book, some triggering, some gut wrenching.
September 11, 2026
A lovely story of past and present!(although there are some tricky life stories that are dealt with)
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.5 Stars
What if a stranger threatened to take away a lifetime of cherished memories?
Lilly-Bob loves her home by the River Thames in the heart of London. Throughout her childhood, it echoed with music and her father’s love, and for seventy years it’s been her sanctuary through a life well lived. These days, the familiar walls and treasured memories keep loneliness at bay.
But for months she’s been ignoring letters from a building developer, and now a compulsory purchase scheme threatens to take her home by force. Seventeen-year-old Lilly-Bob didn’t fear change, but present-day Lilly refuses to let go.
As the pressure builds, Lilly feels increasingly alone. But as her neighbours rally together, she finds herself drawn into the fold—making new friends, finding purpose, and glimpsing the possibility of something new...
I love Amanda Prowse's books so much. She has such a talent for weaving immersive, emotional stories with relatable characters that you can emotionally connect with, guaranteed to keep you turning those pages.
This is a novel full of wisdom, and it is layered with rich emotional texture. As always, Amanda brings us a cast of well drawn, relatable characters who feel so lifelike, fully rounded and human. I loved Lilly-Bob, who is fiercely independent and spirited, witty, stylish, talented, a good friend and neighbour - such a positive depiction of an older woman. And there are so many other brilliant characters too, from Bertie and Glenda to Clodagh and Apollo. You grow to love them all.
Lilly-Bob might have lived her whole life in her beloved family home by the Thames, but she also lives within the walls of her very own emotional fortress. Defences formed by the maternal abandonment of her childhood; by teenage heartbreak; by self doubt, shame, and the harsh judgement of others. She has all this mental and emotional trauma to carry with her, along with the threatened compulsory purchase of her cherished home by redevelopers.
Over the course of the novel we see a woman fighting to save this home as well as embarking on an emotional journey which will allow her to come to terms with life events, find closure and leave the past that has shaped her behind.
The new Lilly-Bob is going to embrace life, the present, and every opportunity. Seizing happiness in the most Carpe diem of ways.
As Alfie says to her:
"...people change, things change, you just have to figure out how to change with it! Give life a chance!"
This poignantly heart-warming, satisfying, and ultimately uplifting novel is built around the theme of Found Family and the importance of community and belonging. It asks the question, what is home? Is it a physical space bounded by bricks and mortar, or is it something else? Something that transcends a physical location: something inside us?
I'll leave you to mull that question over and end this review by saying that this is another wonderful read from Amanda Prowse, and comes highly recommended!
What if a stranger threatened to take away a lifetime of cherished memories?
Lilly-Bob loves her home by the River Thames in the heart of London. Throughout her childhood, it echoed with music and her father’s love, and for seventy years it’s been her sanctuary through a life well lived. These days, the familiar walls and treasured memories keep loneliness at bay.
But for months she’s been ignoring letters from a building developer, and now a compulsory purchase scheme threatens to take her home by force. Seventeen-year-old Lilly-Bob didn’t fear change, but present-day Lilly refuses to let go.
As the pressure builds, Lilly feels increasingly alone. But as her neighbours rally together, she finds herself drawn into the fold—making new friends, finding purpose, and glimpsing the possibility of something new...
I love Amanda Prowse's books so much. She has such a talent for weaving immersive, emotional stories with relatable characters that you can emotionally connect with, guaranteed to keep you turning those pages.
This is a novel full of wisdom, and it is layered with rich emotional texture. As always, Amanda brings us a cast of well drawn, relatable characters who feel so lifelike, fully rounded and human. I loved Lilly-Bob, who is fiercely independent and spirited, witty, stylish, talented, a good friend and neighbour - such a positive depiction of an older woman. And there are so many other brilliant characters too, from Bertie and Glenda to Clodagh and Apollo. You grow to love them all.
Lilly-Bob might have lived her whole life in her beloved family home by the Thames, but she also lives within the walls of her very own emotional fortress. Defences formed by the maternal abandonment of her childhood; by teenage heartbreak; by self doubt, shame, and the harsh judgement of others. She has all this mental and emotional trauma to carry with her, along with the threatened compulsory purchase of her cherished home by redevelopers.
Over the course of the novel we see a woman fighting to save this home as well as embarking on an emotional journey which will allow her to come to terms with life events, find closure and leave the past that has shaped her behind.
The new Lilly-Bob is going to embrace life, the present, and every opportunity. Seizing happiness in the most Carpe diem of ways.
As Alfie says to her:
"...people change, things change, you just have to figure out how to change with it! Give life a chance!"
This poignantly heart-warming, satisfying, and ultimately uplifting novel is built around the theme of Found Family and the importance of community and belonging. It asks the question, what is home? Is it a physical space bounded by bricks and mortar, or is it something else? Something that transcends a physical location: something inside us?
I'll leave you to mull that question over and end this review by saying that this is another wonderful read from Amanda Prowse, and comes highly recommended!
August 7, 2026
This book took me a long time to get into. I nearly abandoned it several times. In the end it was a good story.
August 2, 2026
Flat 6, Waide House, Vauxhall in London has been seventy year old Lilly-Bob Cooper's home since she was born, all her cherished memories are wrapped up in that flat and the surrounding area running along the River Thames, where she loves nothing more than to set up her easel on the towpath and paint the view she sees daily from her window but, letters that she's chosen to ignore up to now, have been arriving from a property developer who is going to shatter the sanctuary she loves, by forcing her to sell her home so they can redevelop and she's refusing to let go. But, after discovering some things from her past and, with the love of her friends and neighbours, can Lilly find peace and move on?
The Way Home is the latest novel by the Queen of Women's Fiction and, once again, Amanda Prowse brings us a story packed with characters that are relatable to the reader. Lilly-Bob's story begins in the present day but takes us back to her life growing up in alternate chapters, living in Waide House with both her parents when she was very young and later with her dad, who she adores and she's his world. Lilly has faced many things throughout her life but, as she's got older she doesn't like change and the thought of losing the only home she's ever known terrifies her, and I can relate to that as my mom still lives in my childhood home, which was also her childhood home and I will be totally bereft when the day comes that I won't be able to go 'home' anymore. This is not just a tale of bricks and mortar though, it's one of love, hope, friendship and knowing that change isn't always a bad thing, sometimes it can bring happiness when you least expect it. I adored all the characters in this beautifully written story, but Lilly-Bob captured my heart and the relationship she developed with Clodagh and little Apollo was magical. I've compared Amanda's stories in the past to putting on a cosy cardigan and immediately feeling like you've been wrapped in a lovely hug, this book had all that and so much more, I loved every heartwarming minute of it.
The Way Home is the latest novel by the Queen of Women's Fiction and, once again, Amanda Prowse brings us a story packed with characters that are relatable to the reader. Lilly-Bob's story begins in the present day but takes us back to her life growing up in alternate chapters, living in Waide House with both her parents when she was very young and later with her dad, who she adores and she's his world. Lilly has faced many things throughout her life but, as she's got older she doesn't like change and the thought of losing the only home she's ever known terrifies her, and I can relate to that as my mom still lives in my childhood home, which was also her childhood home and I will be totally bereft when the day comes that I won't be able to go 'home' anymore. This is not just a tale of bricks and mortar though, it's one of love, hope, friendship and knowing that change isn't always a bad thing, sometimes it can bring happiness when you least expect it. I adored all the characters in this beautifully written story, but Lilly-Bob captured my heart and the relationship she developed with Clodagh and little Apollo was magical. I've compared Amanda's stories in the past to putting on a cosy cardigan and immediately feeling like you've been wrapped in a lovely hug, this book had all that and so much more, I loved every heartwarming minute of it.
August 9, 2026
Lilly-Bob’s home is under threat from developers. But can she save her home before it’s too late?
This is the second book I have read by this author and it was brilliant. The storyline was heartwarming, heartbreaking, about history, relationships, love and moving forward. I really liked Lilly-Bob. She had so much character and was unforgettable. There was something about her that the more I read the more I became attached to her. She started to feel very real to me and I wanted to help her.
The story is told in a dual timeline format moving between the past and the present. In the present Lilly-Bob is trying to save her home which is subject to a compulsory purchase order. She has no intention of moving and has made her feelings known to Joshua, who works for the developer. In the past we meet Lilly-Bob at different stages in her life from childhood, teenage years to adulthood. Her life with her parents, meeting the love of her life and her first steps in the art world. I can understand why she is reluctant to give into the developers. She has been burying her head because her flat isn’t just part of a building. It’s where she grew up, every corner and room holds a memory that is linked to her past but also to her parents. A lot of Lilly-Bob's past experiences do have a significant impact on the woman she is in the present especially when it comes to love. There were certain scenes that really broke my heart and the ones that come to mind are her relationship with Wilkie. Out of the two timelines it was the past narrative that I found really interesting.
In addition the story is also about community and includes the found family trope. Lilly-Bob has no family but she finds a family in those that live in her building including Clodagh and her son Apollo, and her friends Glenda and Bertie.
Essentially this is Lilly-Bob’s journey in discovering that home might not be a building but memories that will be part of her life and live in her heart forever.
This is the second book I have read by this author and it was brilliant. The storyline was heartwarming, heartbreaking, about history, relationships, love and moving forward. I really liked Lilly-Bob. She had so much character and was unforgettable. There was something about her that the more I read the more I became attached to her. She started to feel very real to me and I wanted to help her.
The story is told in a dual timeline format moving between the past and the present. In the present Lilly-Bob is trying to save her home which is subject to a compulsory purchase order. She has no intention of moving and has made her feelings known to Joshua, who works for the developer. In the past we meet Lilly-Bob at different stages in her life from childhood, teenage years to adulthood. Her life with her parents, meeting the love of her life and her first steps in the art world. I can understand why she is reluctant to give into the developers. She has been burying her head because her flat isn’t just part of a building. It’s where she grew up, every corner and room holds a memory that is linked to her past but also to her parents. A lot of Lilly-Bob's past experiences do have a significant impact on the woman she is in the present especially when it comes to love. There were certain scenes that really broke my heart and the ones that come to mind are her relationship with Wilkie. Out of the two timelines it was the past narrative that I found really interesting.
In addition the story is also about community and includes the found family trope. Lilly-Bob has no family but she finds a family in those that live in her building including Clodagh and her son Apollo, and her friends Glenda and Bertie.
Essentially this is Lilly-Bob’s journey in discovering that home might not be a building but memories that will be part of her life and live in her heart forever.
August 1, 2026
The Way Home by Amanda Prowse is an intriguing novel of aging, and memories. Elizabeth Roberta, otherwise know as Lilly-Bob had lived in this apartment her entire life. Now, after months of throwing the missives from the developer in the recycling, they had resorted to sending a person to tell her she had to vacate her apartment. The apartment he father had purchased years earlier and was totally paid off. It appears she would have no choice, but she was not going down without a fight. She was seventy years old and had a right to her memories. And memories she had, many good, some not so good. The memories hit the high points of her life. The ones that marked her. But she had friends, Clodagh, a young woman with a little boy named Apolloo, and Glenda, whom she had known since her college days. Many more had lived and died and were gone now. This story hits the memories that have shaped her.
Lilly-Bob is a young seventy. She paints every day and works in her art gallery many days, mainly doing the administrative work at this point. She had inherited the B’Art Gallery from her good friend, and second father, Bertie Barnes, when he had died of AIDS many years earlier. He had always supported her, even when she was being immature, even ridiculous. Her mother had left them many years earlier and was now dead. That had left an indelible scar. As had some men. She was an incredible character, so well-written. The elderly don’t get much credit these days, but Lilly-Bob didn’t allow that in her life. Not much of a plot, really, but more a coming-of-age, which she did several times. It was also a story of the misogyny of fifty years earlier, the damage secrets could do, and a mother’s love for her child. An amazing novel.
I was invited to read The Way Home by Amazon Publishing UK. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #AmazonUK #AmandaProwse #TheWayHome
Lilly-Bob is a young seventy. She paints every day and works in her art gallery many days, mainly doing the administrative work at this point. She had inherited the B’Art Gallery from her good friend, and second father, Bertie Barnes, when he had died of AIDS many years earlier. He had always supported her, even when she was being immature, even ridiculous. Her mother had left them many years earlier and was now dead. That had left an indelible scar. As had some men. She was an incredible character, so well-written. The elderly don’t get much credit these days, but Lilly-Bob didn’t allow that in her life. Not much of a plot, really, but more a coming-of-age, which she did several times. It was also a story of the misogyny of fifty years earlier, the damage secrets could do, and a mother’s love for her child. An amazing novel.
I was invited to read The Way Home by Amazon Publishing UK. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #AmazonUK #AmandaProwse #TheWayHome
August 2, 2026
I was blown away by the beauty of this book and how it pulled me in so I had a front row seat to Lilly-Bob’s life.
And what a life she has had.
The story is effortlessly told via dual timeline where we see how the events of the past, shaped Lilly-Bob’s future. And how the events of now and forcing Lilly-Bob to revisit the past through older, wiser eyes.
And let me tell you, my heart ached for Lilly-Bob as a child, as a teenager and as an adult. The heartache and pain she goes through broke me and had me crying on a number of occasions.
You’d expect that, with a past as heartbreaking as her’s, Lilly-Bob would be miserable and bitter but that’s not the case. Lilly-Bob is warm, kind, loving, feisty and the most remarkable character ever.
There are some difficult themes dealt with in this book but they are told in a sensitive and honest way that adds to the authenticity of the story.
And, of course, there is a wonderful array of characters that melt your heart and had me smiling throughout.
I love the special relationship/bond Lilly-Bob has with Clodagh and Apollo especially the end as it brought happy tears to my eyes.
And I LOVE the relationship Lilly-Bob has with Old Mother Thames. The heart of the story.
Read it and you’ll understand.
Before you know it it’s the end and your heart has been broken and healed all in the pages of this incredible book.
An exquisite story about love, resilience, community and the place we call home.
I wish I’d discovered Amanda’s stories sooner but I’m so grateful that there is an incredible back catalog for me to dive into.
This might be the first book of Amanda’s I’ve had the privilege of reading but from the way it made me feel, Amanda is an auto-buy/read author.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Amanda and Love Books Tours. I will treasure my copy. 🥰
#Ad #LBTCrew #Bookstagram #FreeBookReview
And what a life she has had.
The story is effortlessly told via dual timeline where we see how the events of the past, shaped Lilly-Bob’s future. And how the events of now and forcing Lilly-Bob to revisit the past through older, wiser eyes.
And let me tell you, my heart ached for Lilly-Bob as a child, as a teenager and as an adult. The heartache and pain she goes through broke me and had me crying on a number of occasions.
You’d expect that, with a past as heartbreaking as her’s, Lilly-Bob would be miserable and bitter but that’s not the case. Lilly-Bob is warm, kind, loving, feisty and the most remarkable character ever.
There are some difficult themes dealt with in this book but they are told in a sensitive and honest way that adds to the authenticity of the story.
And, of course, there is a wonderful array of characters that melt your heart and had me smiling throughout.
I love the special relationship/bond Lilly-Bob has with Clodagh and Apollo especially the end as it brought happy tears to my eyes.
And I LOVE the relationship Lilly-Bob has with Old Mother Thames. The heart of the story.
Read it and you’ll understand.
Before you know it it’s the end and your heart has been broken and healed all in the pages of this incredible book.
An exquisite story about love, resilience, community and the place we call home.
I wish I’d discovered Amanda’s stories sooner but I’m so grateful that there is an incredible back catalog for me to dive into.
This might be the first book of Amanda’s I’ve had the privilege of reading but from the way it made me feel, Amanda is an auto-buy/read author.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Amanda and Love Books Tours. I will treasure my copy. 🥰
#Ad #LBTCrew #Bookstagram #FreeBookReview
August 19, 2026
“Maybe it’s because I’m a Londoner
That I love London so
Maybe it’s because I’m a Londoner
That I think of her wherever I go…”
“Maybe It’s Because I’m a Londoner”, Hubert Gregg (1944)
Oh gosh, where to begin?
Sometimes you read a book that you don’t want to end. A book that stays with you for days after you’ve finished it and is all that you think about. The Way Home by Amanda Prowse is just this, for me.
Not just because I am a Londoner, although this may be part of it. It is very special to read a book about somewhere you know, have visited and where memories were made. It was wonderful to visualise this particular stretch of our spectacular River Thames.
But wait!! You do not have to be a Londoner to enjoy The Way Home.
Amanda Prowse tells the story of Elizabeth Roberta Cooper, nicknamed Lilly-Bob by her Dad. We follow Lilly-Bob through 64 years of her life, from the age of six to “present day”, when she is 70. The chapters move backwards and forwards through different periods of her life, allowing us to see how the experiences of her childhood, adolescence and adulthood shape the woman she becomes.
The story explores redevelopment and how Lilly-Bob’s little block of flats, where she has lived all her life, becomes a victim of regeneration. Lilly-Bob’s flat, with its view of the River Thames, was a council flat that her Dad bought from the Government in 1983 under the Right to Buy scheme.
Like the Thames, there are twists and turns in Lilly’s life, and I adored her at every stage.
I found The Way Home a very emotional read. It made me remember my first love and contemplate everyone I have loved and lost.
And this is why Amanda Prowse is “The Queen of Family Drama” (Daily Mail).
I definitely recommend The Way Home and I give it five stars.
That I love London so
Maybe it’s because I’m a Londoner
That I think of her wherever I go…”
“Maybe It’s Because I’m a Londoner”, Hubert Gregg (1944)
Oh gosh, where to begin?
Sometimes you read a book that you don’t want to end. A book that stays with you for days after you’ve finished it and is all that you think about. The Way Home by Amanda Prowse is just this, for me.
Not just because I am a Londoner, although this may be part of it. It is very special to read a book about somewhere you know, have visited and where memories were made. It was wonderful to visualise this particular stretch of our spectacular River Thames.
But wait!! You do not have to be a Londoner to enjoy The Way Home.
Amanda Prowse tells the story of Elizabeth Roberta Cooper, nicknamed Lilly-Bob by her Dad. We follow Lilly-Bob through 64 years of her life, from the age of six to “present day”, when she is 70. The chapters move backwards and forwards through different periods of her life, allowing us to see how the experiences of her childhood, adolescence and adulthood shape the woman she becomes.
The story explores redevelopment and how Lilly-Bob’s little block of flats, where she has lived all her life, becomes a victim of regeneration. Lilly-Bob’s flat, with its view of the River Thames, was a council flat that her Dad bought from the Government in 1983 under the Right to Buy scheme.
Like the Thames, there are twists and turns in Lilly’s life, and I adored her at every stage.
I found The Way Home a very emotional read. It made me remember my first love and contemplate everyone I have loved and lost.
And this is why Amanda Prowse is “The Queen of Family Drama” (Daily Mail).
I definitely recommend The Way Home and I give it five stars.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I love books by Amanda Prose and this is one of my favourites so far. The Way Home really pulls at the heart strings and is a particularly poignant read.
The story is told through the life of the main character, Lilly-Bob Cooper, a seventy year old spinster who has lived all her life in a flat overlooking the Thames. As each page is turned the reader learns more about Lilly-Bob’s life and why the flat is so important to her as it reminds her of her childhood and the happy times with her parents but also of the most difficult times of her life when her mother left and when her first love let her down. These two losses have shaped her life and the constant in her life is clearly her father and her home.
When her young neighbour, Clodagh talks of shame Lilly-Bob’s reply, “Shame is a hard one to wash of the skin,” is a reference to the shame Lilly has carried ever since she was let down as an 18 year old and had to go through the most harrowing experience of her life. So when Lilly hears that a property developer wants to tear down her apartment and build a big new block Lilly cannot imagine leaving the only place she had ever known as home. It would be too big a loss to bear.
As Lilly looks back over her life, she starts to realise that perhaps not everything can stay the same. Her old friend Glenda, her new friend Clodagh and little Apollo, Clodagh’s five year old son and even Alfie, the property developer make her realise that sometimes you have to be ready to let go.
I loved all the characters in this book and the sign of a good book to me is one where you don’t want to leave the characters behind when the book ends.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced reading copy in return for an honest review.
The story is told through the life of the main character, Lilly-Bob Cooper, a seventy year old spinster who has lived all her life in a flat overlooking the Thames. As each page is turned the reader learns more about Lilly-Bob’s life and why the flat is so important to her as it reminds her of her childhood and the happy times with her parents but also of the most difficult times of her life when her mother left and when her first love let her down. These two losses have shaped her life and the constant in her life is clearly her father and her home.
When her young neighbour, Clodagh talks of shame Lilly-Bob’s reply, “Shame is a hard one to wash of the skin,” is a reference to the shame Lilly has carried ever since she was let down as an 18 year old and had to go through the most harrowing experience of her life. So when Lilly hears that a property developer wants to tear down her apartment and build a big new block Lilly cannot imagine leaving the only place she had ever known as home. It would be too big a loss to bear.
As Lilly looks back over her life, she starts to realise that perhaps not everything can stay the same. Her old friend Glenda, her new friend Clodagh and little Apollo, Clodagh’s five year old son and even Alfie, the property developer make her realise that sometimes you have to be ready to let go.
I loved all the characters in this book and the sign of a good book to me is one where you don’t want to leave the characters behind when the book ends.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced reading copy in return for an honest review.
August 2, 2026
Seventy year old Lily has lived in her flat for a long time. It’s more than just a home to her, it’s filled with a lot of memories also. I felt for her being forced to move out, not only as it’s all she has known for such a long time but the views and where it is situated also has a draw of its own. She has no family but has her best friend and a new friend in a single mum who hasn’t been living in one of the other flats for long.
The story flicks from the past where we see Lily in her younger years and what happens in her life to make her the person she is in present day. It definitely held some surprises and my heart went out to her many a time throughout the story. It covers a lot of hard hitting topics that had me reaching for the tissues. Lily is a shining light through it all though, I loved her personality, her immaturity whilst growing up as well as the wonderful yet vulnerable adult she is now. Some of the characters we meet a long the way really stand out in their own right and it was an absolute pleasure getting to know them all.
The Way Home is a thoughtful, moving and emotive read. Amanda Prowse writes from the heart and that comes across in all her books. She creates the most wonderful and quirky characters that you never want to say goodbye to when you get to the inevitable ending. They stay with you for long after you have turned the last page and that is the sign of a great writer for me. This was a truly heartfelt story that plays on your heart strings yet leaves you feeling upbeat and positive. A thought provoking read about what’s important in life!
The story flicks from the past where we see Lily in her younger years and what happens in her life to make her the person she is in present day. It definitely held some surprises and my heart went out to her many a time throughout the story. It covers a lot of hard hitting topics that had me reaching for the tissues. Lily is a shining light through it all though, I loved her personality, her immaturity whilst growing up as well as the wonderful yet vulnerable adult she is now. Some of the characters we meet a long the way really stand out in their own right and it was an absolute pleasure getting to know them all.
The Way Home is a thoughtful, moving and emotive read. Amanda Prowse writes from the heart and that comes across in all her books. She creates the most wonderful and quirky characters that you never want to say goodbye to when you get to the inevitable ending. They stay with you for long after you have turned the last page and that is the sign of a great writer for me. This was a truly heartfelt story that plays on your heart strings yet leaves you feeling upbeat and positive. A thought provoking read about what’s important in life!
August 4, 2026
Amanda Prowse is one of my favourite authors, and her books are always a joy to read. She writes about real life situations and how real people deal with them, with characters who feel true to life and instantly relatable. The Way Home is no exception — heartfelt, honest and beautifully told, it’s the kind of story that stays with you long after you’ve finished.
Lilly Bob has lived in the same council flat since childhood, sharing it with her beloved father and growing up with a view of the river that became part of her identity. The flat itself may be modest, but the community around her has become a kind of chosen family — especially the single mum in the block and her little boy, who have both become very dear to her. Her father bought the flat from the council so he could leave her something secure, a place filled with memories and love. Now in her seventies, Lilly Bob is devastated to receive a compulsory purchase notice: the council plans to sell the block to a developer, and she’s terrified of losing her home, her view, and the last tangible link to her father.
It’s a beautifully told story about home, belonging and the quiet strength it takes to stand up for the life you’ve built. Amanda Prowse writes Lilly Bob’s journey with such tenderness that you feel every worry, every memory and every moment of hope. It’s moving without ever being heavy, and full of the small, human details that make her books so relatable. A warm, thoughtful read that reminds you how much a place — and the people in it — can mean.
Lilly Bob has lived in the same council flat since childhood, sharing it with her beloved father and growing up with a view of the river that became part of her identity. The flat itself may be modest, but the community around her has become a kind of chosen family — especially the single mum in the block and her little boy, who have both become very dear to her. Her father bought the flat from the council so he could leave her something secure, a place filled with memories and love. Now in her seventies, Lilly Bob is devastated to receive a compulsory purchase notice: the council plans to sell the block to a developer, and she’s terrified of losing her home, her view, and the last tangible link to her father.
It’s a beautifully told story about home, belonging and the quiet strength it takes to stand up for the life you’ve built. Amanda Prowse writes Lilly Bob’s journey with such tenderness that you feel every worry, every memory and every moment of hope. It’s moving without ever being heavy, and full of the small, human details that make her books so relatable. A warm, thoughtful read that reminds you how much a place — and the people in it — can mean.
Review of advance copy
Everything I read by this author is beautiful, and this is no exception. Told over a dual timeline of present day and recounting Lily-Bob's formative years, we discover the tale of a little flat along the river Thames, and the secrets it holds.
The relationships throughout are of great importance, they shape who Lily became, the friendship of people like Bertie and Clodagh have had profound impacts on her. I love seeing wonderful friendships like these represented in stories, its truly magnificent.
Lily undergoes so much sadness, finding a family with Clodagh and little Apollo with his amazing stick collection is so heartwarming.
I cried so many times, in sadness, and in happiness. I also had a number of giggles throughout. This author is certainly one who knows how to make you really feel.
I love the resolution in this, seeing Lily finally capture that feeling and gain some peace was beautiful.
I could barely put the book down, I just wanted to keep reading to see what would happen next. I love that while we see a happy final chapter, many threads are still left untied, so we can draw our own conclusions of what is next for all these characters. I usually prefer an epilogue with things fully explained, but this ending suits the story so much better.
The cover is simple, but it is effective. The writing is wonderfully emotive. The tale is sweet. I really liked everything about this and would absolutely recommend it.
The relationships throughout are of great importance, they shape who Lily became, the friendship of people like Bertie and Clodagh have had profound impacts on her. I love seeing wonderful friendships like these represented in stories, its truly magnificent.
Lily undergoes so much sadness, finding a family with Clodagh and little Apollo with his amazing stick collection is so heartwarming.
I cried so many times, in sadness, and in happiness. I also had a number of giggles throughout. This author is certainly one who knows how to make you really feel.
I love the resolution in this, seeing Lily finally capture that feeling and gain some peace was beautiful.
I could barely put the book down, I just wanted to keep reading to see what would happen next. I love that while we see a happy final chapter, many threads are still left untied, so we can draw our own conclusions of what is next for all these characters. I usually prefer an epilogue with things fully explained, but this ending suits the story so much better.
The cover is simple, but it is effective. The writing is wonderfully emotive. The tale is sweet. I really liked everything about this and would absolutely recommend it.
July 29, 2026
When you sit down to read a book by this author you know you are going to get emotionally involved with at least one person in the story and in this one it is 70 year old Lilly-Bob Cooper. Lilly-Bob has lived happily, mostly, in her home by the River Thames all her life but now this is threatened. Told from Lilly-Bob’s POV and in multiple timelines this is a heartwarming read about a life well lived.
Briefly, Lilly-Bob has had two big losses in her life, her first love and her mother and her father and her home became so important to her. Now she is at risk of loosing her only remaining comfort in her life. But the fight to keep her apartment building from falling into the hands of developers, very unexpectedly, gives her a new lease of life as she enjoys new experiences, meets new people and becomes close to some of them.
The earlier timelines were full of moving events, both sad and happy, and explained why Lilly-Bob was so attached to the place full of her memories. There are so many wonderful characters but Clodagh and her son Apollo really stole my heart. A beautiful moving story about relationships; family, friends and community and the final decision Lilly-Bob has to make about what really constitutes home. All the emotions!
Briefly, Lilly-Bob has had two big losses in her life, her first love and her mother and her father and her home became so important to her. Now she is at risk of loosing her only remaining comfort in her life. But the fight to keep her apartment building from falling into the hands of developers, very unexpectedly, gives her a new lease of life as she enjoys new experiences, meets new people and becomes close to some of them.
The earlier timelines were full of moving events, both sad and happy, and explained why Lilly-Bob was so attached to the place full of her memories. There are so many wonderful characters but Clodagh and her son Apollo really stole my heart. A beautiful moving story about relationships; family, friends and community and the final decision Lilly-Bob has to make about what really constitutes home. All the emotions!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really cherish my home and feel safe and happy when I spend time there so I could relate to Lilly-bob who is having to give up the security of the only home she has lived in, as a property developer intends to knock down the block of flats she lives in to make a new development.
Lily Bobs home has a spectacular view of the Thames and it’s the backdrop to her life. Having spent many hours painting by the riverbank it has been the such an enormous part of her own personal life story.
I know personally how difficult it is to move from a home which holds special memories and as we read about lily's life, we understand how important her home is to her.
So many life stages, decisions, regrets and misunderstandings are unraveled on the pages. Her relationship with her mother finally being resolved was one I loved. This book will resonate with anyone who loves a multi layered family drama. Full of wonderful characters which will have you cheering for the wonderful 70 year old main character.
Lily Bobs home has a spectacular view of the Thames and it’s the backdrop to her life. Having spent many hours painting by the riverbank it has been the such an enormous part of her own personal life story.
I know personally how difficult it is to move from a home which holds special memories and as we read about lily's life, we understand how important her home is to her.
So many life stages, decisions, regrets and misunderstandings are unraveled on the pages. Her relationship with her mother finally being resolved was one I loved. This book will resonate with anyone who loves a multi layered family drama. Full of wonderful characters which will have you cheering for the wonderful 70 year old main character.
August 4, 2026
Every time,
She gets me every time.
Amanda Prowse has written ANOTHER cracker here!
The story of Lilly Bob, an older woman, single, living in the flat she has always lived in, suddenly finds that her life may be about to be uprooted as a big development company threatens to take everything she has always known away.
Written with a dual timeline, we learn all about Lilly Bob, from her younger years to the present, as everything falls into place and the reader connects events from her past to how she thinks now.
I loved the entire premise of the story. Lilly Bob, and her attachment to the River Thames, her relationship with her parents, and different partners who shape how she handles life as she gets older.
I was a little bit in love with this independent woman, who had a vulnerable past.
The other characters help to round this story perfectly, but Clodagh and her little boy, Apollo, definitely made a special place in my heart. The young woman, closed off to anyone, finding a friend in Lilly Bob, and little Apollo with his obsession over sticks. Oh, so cute!
She gets me every time.
Amanda Prowse has written ANOTHER cracker here!
The story of Lilly Bob, an older woman, single, living in the flat she has always lived in, suddenly finds that her life may be about to be uprooted as a big development company threatens to take everything she has always known away.
Written with a dual timeline, we learn all about Lilly Bob, from her younger years to the present, as everything falls into place and the reader connects events from her past to how she thinks now.
I loved the entire premise of the story. Lilly Bob, and her attachment to the River Thames, her relationship with her parents, and different partners who shape how she handles life as she gets older.
I was a little bit in love with this independent woman, who had a vulnerable past.
The other characters help to round this story perfectly, but Clodagh and her little boy, Apollo, definitely made a special place in my heart. The young woman, closed off to anyone, finding a friend in Lilly Bob, and little Apollo with his obsession over sticks. Oh, so cute!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When my Mum died and my family had to clear out and pack away all our memories of our childhood home I know exactly how Lilly-Bob was feeling after receiving those letters. Having owned her flat that she’d lived in her whole life, Lilly-Bob didn’t realise that they weren’t just doing up the flats, but they were actually going to knock them down and rebuild there. This book is set in two time lines. The first when Lilly-Bob was a young girl, and the second now. It was interesting to discover things that happened to her as a young girl, and how it had shaped her life as she got older. When you are young you think you know it all in black and white, but looking back she realised that she hadn’t looked at the bigger picture. Things weren’t always how they seemed. It was a lovely read, and it makes you remember that things don’t stay the same. Things move on and change, sometimes for the better and sometimes not. I highly recommend this book, it’s a great read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What a beautiful touching story of a Londoner’s life and experience by the River Thames with their unique history, nature, community and life.
Lilly Bob has lived by the Thames all her life, as a child with her parents, and latterly on her own. Her life could be so ordinary but actually it’s extraordinary. The book unfolds with the tale of her life from the 1960’s to the present day. It is a fascinating account covering how the landscape has changed literally, and what it feels like to be in your 70’s and largely unheard.
This is sensitive enlightening moving and poignant.
Thoroughly enjoyable and a great read for anyone who knows and loves London. Some great references to the art and music appreciated at these times, making it easy to be immersed in the book. I found myself checking so much out online to remind myself of the buildings and art!
This is a great read and hugely recommended. Love this author and this book!
Thank you to NetGalley for the early read.
Lilly Bob has lived by the Thames all her life, as a child with her parents, and latterly on her own. Her life could be so ordinary but actually it’s extraordinary. The book unfolds with the tale of her life from the 1960’s to the present day. It is a fascinating account covering how the landscape has changed literally, and what it feels like to be in your 70’s and largely unheard.
This is sensitive enlightening moving and poignant.
Thoroughly enjoyable and a great read for anyone who knows and loves London. Some great references to the art and music appreciated at these times, making it easy to be immersed in the book. I found myself checking so much out online to remind myself of the buildings and art!
This is a great read and hugely recommended. Love this author and this book!
Thank you to NetGalley for the early read.
July 29, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this novel.
What if a stranger threatened to take away a lifetime of cherished memories?
This novel revolves around Elizabeth-Roberta, who is referred to as Lilly-Bob, who has lived her entire life in a flat right on the Thames. This flat holds all her memories - good and bad - and now a developer is "forcing" her to sell her flat because they are tearing down this historic building to build a large modern skyscrapper. The story is told in a dual timeline - present (when Lilly-Bob was 70 years old) and the past (different times during her life in which events happen that affect her life and the flat). The author does a fantastic job of weaving the past and present to tell a story that is something that really could happen to anyone (a big developer coming in and forcing people to sell).
I really liked the novel and found that the characters were all well developed and relatable.
What if a stranger threatened to take away a lifetime of cherished memories?
This novel revolves around Elizabeth-Roberta, who is referred to as Lilly-Bob, who has lived her entire life in a flat right on the Thames. This flat holds all her memories - good and bad - and now a developer is "forcing" her to sell her flat because they are tearing down this historic building to build a large modern skyscrapper. The story is told in a dual timeline - present (when Lilly-Bob was 70 years old) and the past (different times during her life in which events happen that affect her life and the flat). The author does a fantastic job of weaving the past and present to tell a story that is something that really could happen to anyone (a big developer coming in and forcing people to sell).
I really liked the novel and found that the characters were all well developed and relatable.
Review of advance copy
Amanda Prowse is one of my favourite authors because she writes with so much heart and emotion, and her storytelling is usually so easy to become immersed in. Unfortunately, this one didn't quite capture me in the same way.
I found the pacing a little slow, and the constant switching between the past and present became confusing at times, making it difficult to stay fully engaged. Amanda's writing is, as always, beautifully crafted, but I struggled to connect with the characters and never truly fell in love with them.
I also found myself wanting more from the ending. I was particularly hoping to learn what happened to Lilly-Bob and Alfie, and their stories felt a little unfinished, leaving me with more questions than answers.
Although this wasn't my favourite Amanda Prowse novel, I'll definitely continue to read her books because she's an author whose writing I genuinely admire.
I found the pacing a little slow, and the constant switching between the past and present became confusing at times, making it difficult to stay fully engaged. Amanda's writing is, as always, beautifully crafted, but I struggled to connect with the characters and never truly fell in love with them.
I also found myself wanting more from the ending. I was particularly hoping to learn what happened to Lilly-Bob and Alfie, and their stories felt a little unfinished, leaving me with more questions than answers.
Although this wasn't my favourite Amanda Prowse novel, I'll definitely continue to read her books because she's an author whose writing I genuinely admire.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews