Fifteen Minutes

by Amanda Prowse

‘One last touch, one last word, one last I love you…’ Fifteen Minutes – the new novella from Amanda Prowse that will take you on the wildest emotional adventure.

It gets us all in the end, time.

What if I told you that time was not as unyielding as you might have believed? What if I told you it was in fact a fluid, bendable thing and that there are gaps in it, if you know where to look.

Interested? You should be.

What if I told you that the makers of time made a small error, an oversight if you will that allows us to give time back.

Fifteen minutes to be precise - gifted to the most deserving, where they get to spend precious time with someone they have lost.

A chance to right a wrong, ask that burning question or maybe just be held, one last time…

I guess the question is, who would you choose or more importantly when?

“Fifteen Minutes – is the new emotional, heartbreaking, life affirming novella from “The Queen of Family Drama” – Amanda Prowse.”

Genres: Novella

115 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 7, 2026

About the author

Welcome 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

Reviews

[Sharon_🌺 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amanda Prowse, you have a gift with words!
Oh, but for a 15 minutes chance like this!
Chen! Pick me,pick me!

🌺Read what you love!🌺

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amanda Prowse knows how to write a book which tugs at the heartstrings and my goodness Fifteen Minutes certainly does!

Seven people are visited by Chen, a man who promises never to tell them a lie and explains they will have the opportunity to spend fifteen minutes with someone they have loved and lost. They’re sceptical: well, you would be wouldn’t you? The seven people are of different ages and have lost their loved ones in various ways, some more traumatic than others. We see just how grief has affected their lives.

I so enjoyed reading about the seven people in the book. In each chapter, we meet a new character and find out about their life now before travelling with them to meet the person they have chosen to spend their fifteen minutes with. It was very touching to see how their loss lived with them and they way their lives had been changed as a result. What was even more poignant though, was reading about their emotions as they reconnected and how what they learned or remembered helped them in their present day. I thought it is so true, as one character says, that “it’s the small things that are actually the big things. These quiet moments. They’re what shape us, what bind us.”.

Fifteen Minutes is such a powerful and emotional read. I don’t think anyone who reads it could fail to be moved. Despite the grief experienced by each character, it’s such an uplifting and hopeful read. Amanda Prowse shows just again what a great insight she has into human emotions and her uncanny ability to connect with her readers. Who would you spend your Fifteen Minutes with if you had the chance?

[Maddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amanda Prowse is one of my very favourite authors, and I devour everything she writes with alacrity. However, this book is in a league of its own and might just be my new favourite of all her novels. Parts of it feel incredibly personal, and my only complaint is that it was far too short.

Chen tells each person, “I promise you that I have never and will never tell you a lie,” and then offers them something extraordinary — fifteen minutes with someone who has passed away. They can’t explain what’s happening, can’t give warnings, and can’t leave the room, or their time ends instantly. Each chapter follows a different meeting, and those brief fifteen minutes change that person’s life in some profound way. It’s impossible not to imagine what you would do with that chance yourself — to say goodbye, to say I love you, or simply to see someone’s face again. The whole concept is just incredible, and so beautifully handled.

I found this book incredibly moving, and each chapter left me thinking about who I would choose and what I would say in those precious minutes. Amanda Prowse writes with such tenderness and insight that it’s impossible not to feel every moment, and the idea behind the story lingers long after you’ve finished. It’s a beautiful, thought‑provoking read that touched me deeply, and one I know will stay with me.

[Ritu Bhathal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a powerful, emotional short by one of my favourite authors, Amanda Prowse. Imagine, indeed, if you could have fifteen minutes with a dear loved one who is no more.
Chen is someone who can give that exact gift to specific people, and though they don't always believe he can, they are thankful for the opportunity.
From a grieving friend who wants permission, to a widower who can't let go of the past, to a father grieving his son... each section of the story brings tears to the reader's eyes.
I was reading on a plane, and it was pretty tough to control my emotions, I tell you!
If you love stories that pull on the heartstrings, then this is for you!

[Teresa Nikolic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chen is a master of time and he has a job to do, he has the ability to select people, but only the most deserving, to spend a short amount of time with someone they've lost, fifteen minutes to be precise and, for those that he selects, they get to decide who that person is and which fifteen minutes of their life they get to revisit. In this book, six people are selected by Chen, all being given the opportunity to see a loved one again and share their stories with us.

Fifteen Minutes is a story like no other by the fabulous Amanda Prowse, imagine being given the opportunity to go back and spend time with a loved one, although I have to say if a stranger stopped me in the street and told me this was actually possible I'd probably think they were crazy! What a ride this was though, i adored every story that I read here today and loved going back with each of them to visit their loved ones. If I was lucky enough to be approached by Chen, I know exactly who I would choose to revisit, to hear their voice, see their smile and hug them one more time and boy, would I make every one of those fifteen minutes count! This is an emotional, uplifting read that I could totally relate to, and it's a must read. Thank you Chen!

[Spacy Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

tissues not included!

Unashamedly I cried at every chapter, but the last one just did me in! An extraordinarily thought provoking book, which makes you examine each angle, each conversation, each person, and actually made me evaluate just how I am with my own family … my 15 minutes? To be able to speak with my jolly mum once more, before the sickness and the cancer took hold… love you mummy xx

[Sammy Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a gorgeous read, and wow if only 🥰

[Brett Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely concept for a story. Loved all the characters, you are able to form an emotional connection with them in and for such a short time

[tals · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was sobbing uncontrollably the entire time

[Marion Sheppard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fifteen Minutes by Amanda Prowse is a much more speculative, almost fable-like story built around a haunting “what if” premise. It opens with Chen, a mysterious, almost otherworldly figure who approaches people at pivotal moments in their lives and offers them a simple but profound choice: an extra fifteen minutes. What follows is a series of interconnected vignettes, each exploring how different individuals use—or misuse—that brief extension of time. Some characters are given the chance to repair relationships, confess long-held truths, or make peace with regrets, while others squander the opportunity or discover that even a few extra minutes can’t undo deeper consequences.

Prowse uses these snapshots of human behavior to examine themes of mortality, regret, forgiveness, and the weight of small decisions. The structure feels reflective and episodic rather than traditionally plot-driven, allowing each story to stand on its own while contributing to a larger meditation on what truly matters at the end of a life. Chen himself remains an enigmatic presence, less a character with clear motives and more a symbolic guide—prompting both the characters and the reader to consider how they would spend their own final moments. The result is a poignant, sometimes unsettling novel that lingers on the idea that time, even in the smallest increments, can carry immense emotional power.

This could be an appropriate book for book club reading and subsequent discussion.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read a lot of books by this author and they are all emotional but this is probably the one that got to me most, albeit it isn’t her usual family drama. This is a novella that imagines you can have fifteen minutes to go back in time to meet someone you have lost. Beautifully written I didn’t want to put this down until that last page.

Briefly, the conduit to these paranormal events is a man called Chen, a master of time, we don’t know exactly who he is but he “will never lie to you”. There are six people visited by Chen and given this gift of fifteen minutes. From an elderly woman who has lived with guilt her whole life to a grieving father who lives with a “what if” question.

I honestly can’t choose a single favourite story as they are all so fantastic. All very emotional and as someone not prone to tears when reading this got me very close, in fact it was only because I was in a plane full of about 300 people that I didn’t! So thought provoking I bet everyone reading this will be thinking about what they would do given this previous fifteen minutes. A poignant novella that makes you feel like you’ve been wrapped in a warm hug. Wonderful.

[Jeanniehay64 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amanda Prowse delivers again, this book tugged at my heartstrings. Anyone who has listened to someone close to them will at some point wish they could see them and talk to them again, what a gift that would be !!

In this short book seven people are visited by Chen, who promises them 15 minutes with someone who they have loved and lost. Each persons story is different all bound together with the shared experience of grief.

This book explores grief so well . I know personally how losing someone suddenly compared to a gradual loss when things can be talked about , can impact you in a very different way. Everyone who has been touched by grief knows how devastating it is but loving someone deeply means it’s something we will have to navigate.

This is a powerful emotional read. Amanda’s ability to understand people and their emotions is exceptional. The story makes you think about what and who is really important in your life. Thank you Amanda for your beautiful storytelling.

[Zoe Costley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Just… wow.
This short reality‑tinted novel completely stopped me in my tracks. A quiet, beautiful reminder that time is the most precious gift we ever get and how the smallest, simplest moments end up becoming the ones we hold closest. It made me slow down, notice the little things, and store them like mental photographs I never want to lose.

There’s a softness to it, a kind of gentle nudge to treasure the now, to appreciate the tiny details we usually rush past. And then there’s the question it leaves lingering long after the final page:
What would you give for just 15 minutes with someone you’ve lost?

It’s a thought that sits heavy in my chest.
For me, it’s always my nan.
My best friend. My safe place. My guardian angel.
The woman whose laugh I can still hear if I close my eyes, whose advice still guides me, whose love still feels like home.

I know exactly what I’d give for 15 more minutes with her and this book reminded me why those moments matter so much.

[Mrs Linda J Kitson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant!!! different but totally unputdownable

I love all Amanda Prowse books, she usually writes about people, normal people, people like me, not moneyed people living in palaces but people who struggle to make ends meet, who work 9-5 for a salary that’s ok but not fantastic, you get my meaning.

When she said she was writing this book I could not have imagined how it would go. No spoilers here though.

Chen, we don’t exactly know who he is, brings a message to people, a message anyone would find bizarre. He offers people a chance to spend 15-minutes with someone they loved and have lost. I know I would be very grateful for that but can you imagine if a total stranger stopped you in the street and offered you this? How will people react? It’s a must-read. I didn’t put it down until I read all of it.

[Liv Jenni Blackburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the only books to bring me to tears.

The concept of this book is so unique. If you could have 15 minutes with a lost loved one, would you want it, would it give answers or allow you to close the chapter of grief?

If you have lost someone, and always asked yourself would the last time I saw them have been different if I knew it would be the last? Would I have said anything different, would I have hugged them tighter, or said I love you until I couldn’t say it anymore? Then be prepared for this book to have you in tears.

Full of unique stories, some which broke me more than others.

I giggled and I cried. You go through all the emotions.

My first 5 ⭐️ of the year and this will stay with me forever.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow a thought provoking read. If you could have 15 minutes with someone you loved that had passed, who would you pick? I have sadly lost both my parents but I think if I had a visit from Chen it would be my Mum. Wouldn’t it be lovely just to check in one last time. This is a story of all different people, from different walks of life and different ages. They all had their own special reasons to talk to that person again. Just before my Dad died he rallied had had a good afternoon. He suddenly looked at the bottom of his bed and said “Joan what are you doing here”. Joan was his sister that had already passed,and I’m sure she had come to take him with her. I think there are many people who would love a visit from Chen. A great read that I recommend

[Jody · Rating 5 out of 5]

a wonderful short read

Never one to miss a book by Amanda Prowse, I have been waiting for this to be released and picked it up quick sharp!

A short story, I read in one sitting. Not your normal kind of book and probably not for someone newly grieving but definitely a good read for later. Really heart touching stories and very thought provoking… what would you do with your 15 minutes, who would you spend them with and when? I know mine instantly!

Imagine 15 more minutes what a loved one. What would you say or do? If only it were real or perhaps it is and Chen will eventually get to visit us all!

Another amazing book Amanda, thank you!

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is unique, I've never read or will probably never read another book quite like it. Imagine being given the opportunity to have 15 minutes with a loved one who has passed. How special would that be. It made me think of who I would love to see again and go back to a particular day and time I had with them. To hear their voice, hold their hand, smell their familiar scent and give them one last kiss and hug and tell them I love them. This author has the amazing ability to make you forget what's going on around you when you're reading her stories. I'll never forget this book, ever.

[Susanne Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderfully written story.
A fantastic concept, having an extra 15 minutes with someone who has passed away , an opportunity to reconnect with a loved one to have closure or just to be with them was so emotionally charged.
Loved the different characters and their choices - they all had specific experiences to relive with their loved ones, and I was enthralled by their stories.
Although an emotional experience, it was also incredibly heartwarming and uplifting too. And of course it made me consider who I wanted to have 15 minutes more with…..

[Sherralynne Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful series of stories

I really loved this series of stories. They're a little different from what I normally read, but Amanda has caught my attention and I will continue to read her stories.

For any future readers, keep and open mind and be prepared to unlearn what you have learned in the past about dying. You won't regret it.

Highly recommended

Thanks Amanda from a New Zealand fan.

[Maja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply beautiful

Amanda Prowse has managed to write a story about grief in such an uplifting and heart-warming way. Fifteen minutes is told from the viewpoint of different protagonists who have one thing in common except Chen. Chen will never lie to you,but he will allow you fifteen minutes of precious time to be with a lost loved one.
From a writer who understands the crippling pain of grief, Fifteen Minutes is a beautiful gift of storytelling.

[Trish Hills · Rating 5 out of 5]

The concept of this story is so unique and I fell in love instantly! The most deserving people can be granted 15 minutes to spend with a loved one who has passed away. What a gift! I felt connected to each of the characters and absolutely devoured this book! Another beautiful one from Amanda Prowse!

[Jean Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

another winner for Amanda

A different type of book but always filled with thoughtful emotions and lots of times you find yourself aligning your story with hers. An insight that only someone who has lost will appreciate how special 15 minutes would be to re-live. Well done special lady. X

[Margaret Chambers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and thought what an unusual subject matter it had. It made me think about who I would like to spend 15 more minutes with if I could. This person had to have died, and you weren’t allowed to tell them anything about the 15 minutes you were allowed to have with them.

It was very poignant, and I highly recommend it.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moving possibilities💟

Thought-provoking dive into the lives of a handful of characters of varied ages and walks of life who get a fantasy opportunity to revisit fifteen minutes with a departed loved one and give them new insights and hope. All vignettes were moving. Short, poignant, glad I fell upon this title by an author whose work moves and inspires.

[Karin Menzies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Believe!

Wow this. Ok is truly amazing. It popped up on my kindle and as I had never read the Authors before I dove straight in. It’s uplifting and I for one was immensed in all the stories. Th k you ‘Chen’ x x

[Kate B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A series of short encounters during which people are gifted an unexpected, bonus fifteen minutes with a loved one, bringing understanding and inner peace.

My first book by Amanda Prowse; it won’t be my last.

[Barbara Boyles · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really interesting emotional read. I loved the idea of this book could only be the wonderful Amanda Prowse's beautiful writing and brilliant Storytelling. Really enjoyable different from her usual style but brilliant as usual and highly recommended

[Sue Rouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

If Only

A different style of book I felt but with glimmers of Amanda’s trademark writing. If you could have 15 minutes with someone who had died. A standalone book so easy to pick up. Thanks Amanda and her publisher.

[Lozzie Bye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazingly thought provoking and really well written.
A beautiful concept so well executed.
How many of us would give anything for 15 minutes with someone we have loved and lost.
Despite the emotive topic it was actually very uplifting and feel good.
Highly recommend