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L'incredibile ritorno di Norah Wells
Una mattina Norah Wells esce dalla sua casa di mattoni rossi nella piccola cittadina inglese di Holdingwell e non torna più. Il marito Adam e le due figlie piccole rimangono completamente sconvolti. Norah ha lasciato solo una lettera, in cui dichiara loro tutto il suo amore, chiedendo però di non essere cercata. Sono passati sei anni da allora, e un venerdì, senza alcun preavviso, una donna dai folti capelli rossi con accanto un trolley si presenta sulla soglia della villetta. La figlia maggiore, che sta guardando fuori dalla finestra, la riconosce subito: è proprio lei, è la mamma, ed è tornata a casa. Ma nel frattempo tutto è cambiato: i mobili, il colore delle pareti, il letto. A occuparlo ora c’è un'altra donna. La migliore amica di Norah, Fay, che ha consolato Adam e ha fatto da madre alle bambine dopo la sua scomparsa. Ma perché Norah ha deciso di tornare a casa? Quello che accade dopo è raccontato in presa diretta dai protagonisti di questa magnifica storia: ognuno con la propria voce e il proprio modo di interpretare gli eventi.
Dall'autrice bestseller di Quello che gli altri non vedono, un romanzo profondo e toccante su ciò che siamo disposti a sacrificare per le persone che amiamo.
Dall'autrice bestseller di Quello che gli altri non vedono, un romanzo profondo e toccante su ciò che siamo disposti a sacrificare per le persone che amiamo.
436 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2016
34 people are currently reading
1038 people want to read
About the author
Virginia Macgregor
11 books165 followersI was brought up in Germany, France and England by a mother who never stopped telling stories. From the moment I was old enough to hold a pen, I set about writing my own, often late into the night – or behind my Maths textbook at school. My maiden name is Virginia Woods: I was named after two great women, Virginia Wade and Virginia Woolf, in the hope I would be a writer and a tennis star. My early years were those of a scribbling, rain-loving child who prayed for lightning to strike my tennis coach.
After studying at Oxford, I started writing regularly whilst working as an English Teacher and Housemistress. I now write full time for both adults and young adults. My fiction tackles contemporary issues, often through the lens of family life.
My debut novel, 'What Milo Saw,' came out in 2014: it reflects the humour and tragedy of contemporary Britain through four very different voices: 9 year old Milo, 92 year old Lou (Milo’s Gran), 27 year old Sandy (Milo’s mum) and 24 year old Tripi (a Syrian refugee). It explores a range of issues from the nursing home crisis in the UK, coping as a single mum, being a refugee to living with a disability - Milo has a degenerative eye condition called Retinitis Pigementosa which means he has no periphery vision - but, paradoxically, he picks up on more of what's going on than those around him, especially in his Gran's nursing home.
My second novel, 'The Return of Norah Wells' came out in 2016: it tells the story of a mother who walked out on her young family and came back six years later expecting to pick up where she left off . The novel takes place over a May bank holiday and, like Milo, is told through several points of view: Willa (7), Ella (14), Norah (The Mother Who Left), Fay (The Mother Who Stayed) and Adam - the dad. It's a real family drama and I hope that it will lead to some interesting discussions amongst my readers about what it means to be a mum today.
My third novel, 'Born To Be Yours', tells the story of seven year old Jonah, a Kenyan boy abandoned at Heathrow airport. He is taken in by social services and matched with Rosie and Sam Keep, a British couple who long to have child to call their own. As the three of them are brought together they are thrown into a drama which will challenge their notions of what it means to be a family and Rosie and Sam have to confront the hardest question of all: how far are they prepared to go for someone who isn't their own child?
I'm working on my fourth novel for adults, 'Forgetting You', about a man found in Regent's Park with no memory of who he is or where is from. This will be out in 2018.
In 2017 I published my first Young Adult novel, 'Wishbones'. It's been a dream of mine to write for both adults and young adults. The story is also contemporary: it's about fourteen year old Feather Tucker who lives with her morbidly obese mother who has been given six months to live. Feather sees it as her duty to save her mother's life but as she begins to dig into her parents' past to find out why her mother got so sick, Feather's life and that of the people in the small village where she and her family live, change forever.
I live currently live in Concord, New Hampshire, with my husband, Hugh, my two little girls, Tennessee Skye and Somerset Wilder and a wonderful white dogcat (he comes on walks with us), Seb. I love to write in coffee shops and I walk every day, which is as much part of my creative process as putting words on the page. Nothing makes me happier than knowing that readers are enjoying my stories so please get in touch and share your experience of reading my novels.
Do also take a look at my website (www.virginiamacgregor.com) where you can find out more about my life as a writer, upcoming books and events.
After studying at Oxford, I started writing regularly whilst working as an English Teacher and Housemistress. I now write full time for both adults and young adults. My fiction tackles contemporary issues, often through the lens of family life.
My debut novel, 'What Milo Saw,' came out in 2014: it reflects the humour and tragedy of contemporary Britain through four very different voices: 9 year old Milo, 92 year old Lou (Milo’s Gran), 27 year old Sandy (Milo’s mum) and 24 year old Tripi (a Syrian refugee). It explores a range of issues from the nursing home crisis in the UK, coping as a single mum, being a refugee to living with a disability - Milo has a degenerative eye condition called Retinitis Pigementosa which means he has no periphery vision - but, paradoxically, he picks up on more of what's going on than those around him, especially in his Gran's nursing home.
My second novel, 'The Return of Norah Wells' came out in 2016: it tells the story of a mother who walked out on her young family and came back six years later expecting to pick up where she left off . The novel takes place over a May bank holiday and, like Milo, is told through several points of view: Willa (7), Ella (14), Norah (The Mother Who Left), Fay (The Mother Who Stayed) and Adam - the dad. It's a real family drama and I hope that it will lead to some interesting discussions amongst my readers about what it means to be a mum today.
My third novel, 'Born To Be Yours', tells the story of seven year old Jonah, a Kenyan boy abandoned at Heathrow airport. He is taken in by social services and matched with Rosie and Sam Keep, a British couple who long to have child to call their own. As the three of them are brought together they are thrown into a drama which will challenge their notions of what it means to be a family and Rosie and Sam have to confront the hardest question of all: how far are they prepared to go for someone who isn't their own child?
I'm working on my fourth novel for adults, 'Forgetting You', about a man found in Regent's Park with no memory of who he is or where is from. This will be out in 2018.
In 2017 I published my first Young Adult novel, 'Wishbones'. It's been a dream of mine to write for both adults and young adults. The story is also contemporary: it's about fourteen year old Feather Tucker who lives with her morbidly obese mother who has been given six months to live. Feather sees it as her duty to save her mother's life but as she begins to dig into her parents' past to find out why her mother got so sick, Feather's life and that of the people in the small village where she and her family live, change forever.
I live currently live in Concord, New Hampshire, with my husband, Hugh, my two little girls, Tennessee Skye and Somerset Wilder and a wonderful white dogcat (he comes on walks with us), Seb. I love to write in coffee shops and I walk every day, which is as much part of my creative process as putting words on the page. Nothing makes me happier than knowing that readers are enjoying my stories so please get in touch and share your experience of reading my novels.
Do also take a look at my website (www.virginiamacgregor.com) where you can find out more about my life as a writer, upcoming books and events.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
February 2, 2016
Me, while reading family sagas
I don't normally read family drama's, or multiple narratives for that matter, yet this author seems to always be able to pull me in. I thought that this story was very well written and thought provoking. Ms. Macgregor truly is the master of the multiple narrative and I love how she writes children's voices.
While I did enjoy this book, I must say that I absolutely hated the main character of the story. Norah....man I hated her and I tried to keep an open mind while reading this but gah she really made my blood boil. But I must say that I'm impressed that the author managed to keep me engrossed even through all my rage lol.
I would definitely recommend this to fans of family sagas who don't mind a couple frustrating characters in the mix. I think that this would make a great book club read because it is impossible not to go on long tangents while reading this, and talking to a group rather than loudly arguing with yourself on the train is probably the preferable situation.
Buy, Borrow or Bin Verdict: Buy
Note: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
I don't normally read family drama's, or multiple narratives for that matter, yet this author seems to always be able to pull me in. I thought that this story was very well written and thought provoking. Ms. Macgregor truly is the master of the multiple narrative and I love how she writes children's voices.
While I did enjoy this book, I must say that I absolutely hated the main character of the story. Norah....man I hated her and I tried to keep an open mind while reading this but gah she really made my blood boil. But I must say that I'm impressed that the author managed to keep me engrossed even through all my rage lol.
I would definitely recommend this to fans of family sagas who don't mind a couple frustrating characters in the mix. I think that this would make a great book club read because it is impossible not to go on long tangents while reading this, and talking to a group rather than loudly arguing with yourself on the train is probably the preferable situation.
Buy, Borrow or Bin Verdict: Buy
Note: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
January 11, 2016
The Astonishing Return of Norah Wells was an enjoyable, endearing, quirky, and sometimes emotional story.
This is very much a character driven novel, with a great mix of personalities. I expected to connect more with either The Mother Who Stayed or The Mother Who Left, and although I definitely sided more with The Mother Who Stayed, I found myself connecting most with the youngest daughter, 6 year old Willa, closely followed by Louis the dog.
I recommend this book if you enjoy character driven novels that cover family dynamics, and the impact certain actions have on others.
I’m really looking forward to reading What Milo Saw, which I bought in paperback from Waterstones a couple of weeks ago.
I would like to thank the publisher, Sphere for allowing me a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is very much a character driven novel, with a great mix of personalities. I expected to connect more with either The Mother Who Stayed or The Mother Who Left, and although I definitely sided more with The Mother Who Stayed, I found myself connecting most with the youngest daughter, 6 year old Willa, closely followed by Louis the dog.
I recommend this book if you enjoy character driven novels that cover family dynamics, and the impact certain actions have on others.
I’m really looking forward to reading What Milo Saw, which I bought in paperback from Waterstones a couple of weeks ago.
I would like to thank the publisher, Sphere for allowing me a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 28, 2016
A mother does the unthinkable: she takes off and leaves behind a baby girl, an eight-year-old daughter and a husband.
Six years later, Norah comes back to her family home. Her baby girl, Willa, is now almost seven. Ella is fourteen and been looking for her mum on Twitter. The girls' dad, Adam, is now a better dad, mainly due to the positive influence of his new partner.
Norah's return takes everyone by surprise, and they all react differently. Norah didn't expect it to be easy but not that difficult either.
Macgregor showcases everybody's feelings and reactions via alternate point of view chapters. Even the dog gets a little chapter. The writing is matter of fact and very accessible, without many flourishes, and it feels fresh and authentic. The characters are fully flushed and very realistic.
This is a book about relationships, expectations, life getting in the way and about parenting. It's also very much about second chances, about making amends and about forgiveness.
The Astonishing Return of Norah Wells is a tad long. Nevertheless, it was an easy read and I didn't feel like anything should have been discarded. While I enjoyed the author's debut novel " What Milo saw", I thought this one was even better. Looking forward to Virginia Macgregor's next novel.
4-4.5 stars
I've received this novel via Netgalley. Many thanks to the publishers, Little, Brown Book Group UK, for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
Cover: 4 stars
Six years later, Norah comes back to her family home. Her baby girl, Willa, is now almost seven. Ella is fourteen and been looking for her mum on Twitter. The girls' dad, Adam, is now a better dad, mainly due to the positive influence of his new partner.
Norah's return takes everyone by surprise, and they all react differently. Norah didn't expect it to be easy but not that difficult either.
Macgregor showcases everybody's feelings and reactions via alternate point of view chapters. Even the dog gets a little chapter. The writing is matter of fact and very accessible, without many flourishes, and it feels fresh and authentic. The characters are fully flushed and very realistic.
This is a book about relationships, expectations, life getting in the way and about parenting. It's also very much about second chances, about making amends and about forgiveness.
The Astonishing Return of Norah Wells is a tad long. Nevertheless, it was an easy read and I didn't feel like anything should have been discarded. While I enjoyed the author's debut novel " What Milo saw", I thought this one was even better. Looking forward to Virginia Macgregor's next novel.
4-4.5 stars
I've received this novel via Netgalley. Many thanks to the publishers, Little, Brown Book Group UK, for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
Cover: 4 stars
January 13, 2016
I read and was amazed by the writing style of this author in her earlier novel, What Milo Saw, so was delighted to be invited by the publishers to read an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review - many thanks to them for enabling me to do so!
This is another superbly written story, told from the points of view of several different characters, the most endearing of whom has to be six year old Willa - or their dog, Louis. This is definitely a story you need to read for yourself and I’m trying desperately not to give any spoilers away!
The characters are complex, well defined and incredible. The plot is robust, enthralling and full of dilemmas, twists and turns. The whole story is a wonderful exploration of family relationships, expectations, dynamics and actions told in a beautiful, heartwarming, desperate, heartbreaking and emotive manner. It will have you laughing, then crying, riding a roller coaster ride of mixed emotions and experiences. Full of family drama, it is another superbly written, unforgettable story from this extremely talented writer, as story I have no hesitation in highly recommending to anyone who enjoys character led family sagas.
Thanks again to the author, publishers and NetGalley, too, for gifting me an ecopy of this book in exchange for this, my honest review.
This is another superbly written story, told from the points of view of several different characters, the most endearing of whom has to be six year old Willa - or their dog, Louis. This is definitely a story you need to read for yourself and I’m trying desperately not to give any spoilers away!
The characters are complex, well defined and incredible. The plot is robust, enthralling and full of dilemmas, twists and turns. The whole story is a wonderful exploration of family relationships, expectations, dynamics and actions told in a beautiful, heartwarming, desperate, heartbreaking and emotive manner. It will have you laughing, then crying, riding a roller coaster ride of mixed emotions and experiences. Full of family drama, it is another superbly written, unforgettable story from this extremely talented writer, as story I have no hesitation in highly recommending to anyone who enjoys character led family sagas.
Thanks again to the author, publishers and NetGalley, too, for gifting me an ecopy of this book in exchange for this, my honest review.
January 11, 2016
I loved this book and won't be the last person to find it astonishingly good. A fantastic read with hugely endearing characters, from my favourite six year old Willa, to the extraordinary Louis the family dog. Beautifully written it will make you laugh, cry and care. I really can't recommend this enough to you and it’s a must-read for 2016.
The story opens with Norah’s goodbye letter to her family, husband Adam and their two daughters, Ella and Willa. She left them 6 years ago and now she has come back and stands on the doorstep wondering how she will be received. It’s the start of a whirlwind of surprises, confusion, family emotions and more. It is just a delight to read and six year old Willa in her innocence and excitement at her approaching seventh birthday is a constant source of amusement and joy. Norah’s older daughter Ella reacts unexpectedly to her return, while husband Adam and Norah’s best friend Fay have some shocking news for Norah which sends emotions spilling throughout the family.
Everything in the book is perfectly timed to make you smile or tug on your heartstrings. It was difficult to put this down as I needed to know how it all worked out. It involves you in the family drama and leaves you caring for the characters. Some parts are a touch surreal but still fit the overall atmosphere of the unusual but believable story being told. Great stuff from author Virginia Macgregor and I don’t want to say any more other than please read it for yourself. I doubt you will feel disappointed once you reach the end of this wonderful book. (ARC Received)
October 26, 2017
Dopo aver letto la bellezza di quattrocentotrentadue pagine, ancora non ho capito perché Norah Wells se ne sia andata e poi sia tornata.
Non l’ho capito innanzitutto perché tutte le volte che lei si accinge a spiegarlo viene interrotta da qualche accadimento imprevisto oppure le viene risposto “non adesso” o “ne parliamo domattina”. Cioè … questa Norah pianta in asso il marito e due figlie piccole, scompare per sei anni e quando infine torna non c’è uno straccio di persona che abbia la voglia, l’interesse o la mera curiosità di sapere cosa sia successo, dove sia vissuta e cosa abbia fatto in quel periodo di tempo. Questo sì che è incredibile.
In seconda battuta, non l’ho capito perché quando finalmente, ormai al termine del libro, le lasciano dire quello che deve dire, le motivazioni risultano talmente fumose, pretestuose e al di fuori di ogni logica che ti viene voglia di scaraventare il libro dalla finestra.
In pratica, tutto quello che si trova tra l’inizio e la fine del romanzo serve per procrastinare una discussione che qualunque persona normale avrebbe affrontato immediatamente, appena Norah Wells compare sul cancelletto di casa. E di cose da dire ce ne sarebbero state tante. Ma loro niente, preferiscono giocare a “tira e molla” per tutto il libro.
Esasperante e del tutto inconcludente.
Non l’ho capito innanzitutto perché tutte le volte che lei si accinge a spiegarlo viene interrotta da qualche accadimento imprevisto oppure le viene risposto “non adesso” o “ne parliamo domattina”. Cioè … questa Norah pianta in asso il marito e due figlie piccole, scompare per sei anni e quando infine torna non c’è uno straccio di persona che abbia la voglia, l’interesse o la mera curiosità di sapere cosa sia successo, dove sia vissuta e cosa abbia fatto in quel periodo di tempo. Questo sì che è incredibile.
In seconda battuta, non l’ho capito perché quando finalmente, ormai al termine del libro, le lasciano dire quello che deve dire, le motivazioni risultano talmente fumose, pretestuose e al di fuori di ogni logica che ti viene voglia di scaraventare il libro dalla finestra.
In pratica, tutto quello che si trova tra l’inizio e la fine del romanzo serve per procrastinare una discussione che qualunque persona normale avrebbe affrontato immediatamente, appena Norah Wells compare sul cancelletto di casa. E di cose da dire ce ne sarebbero state tante. Ma loro niente, preferiscono giocare a “tira e molla” per tutto il libro.
Esasperante e del tutto inconcludente.
June 17, 2016
The beginning of the book started out quite promising, I liked Ella and Willa and I got positive vibes from the writing style. However the more I read. The more I got frustrated and bored.
My main issue with the storyline was the unbelievability of Norah turning up after being missing for so long and she is just given a bed and run of the house. No one asks why she went, where she's been or why she came back?! I thought maybe there would be a big, dirty secret revealed later on but no, nothing!
There is a lot of repetition and then a bizarre unsatisfying ending.
My main issue with the storyline was the unbelievability of Norah turning up after being missing for so long and she is just given a bed and run of the house. No one asks why she went, where she's been or why she came back?! I thought maybe there would be a big, dirty secret revealed later on but no, nothing!
There is a lot of repetition and then a bizarre unsatisfying ending.
June 6, 2016
I loved this book. Couldn't put it down. The only reason it gets four stars and not five is because of Adam. I did not like him at all and did not get why Norah and Fay, especially Fay loved him so much. Ella and Willa I adored and I absolutely loved Fay and Sai and Mrs. Moore. Did not much care for Norah. Louis, I thought was the true hero of this tale. Loved it.
December 25, 2015
Absolutely loved this simple yet engaging and endearing tale of two girls and their two mothers. An insight into real relationships - and what it takes to be a mother. The usual twists and turns of such a story are handled deftly and the girls' voices are well-portrayed. Virginia McGregor should be commended for her writing -- seemingly simple prose, but it is difficult to so accurately portray the voice of a 7 year old and a 13 year old.
I adored What Milo Saw but I think this is an even better book and look forward to reading more from this author.
I really enjoyed this book and was delighted to receive an advance review copy from the publisher. Highly recommended.
I adored What Milo Saw but I think this is an even better book and look forward to reading more from this author.
I really enjoyed this book and was delighted to receive an advance review copy from the publisher. Highly recommended.
December 23, 2015
A lesson in why adults should ALWAYS tell their children the truth!
Norah Wells dropped Ella, at the school gates six years ago. Left Willa, just a baby with her friend Fay and a note for her husband Adam saying “I love you. Tell Ella and Willa I love them too. And take care of Louis. If you need help, ask Fay, she’ll know what to do. Please don’t try to find me. Norah”. Ella has spent the past six years desperately trying to find her mother, using twitter @findingmum in her campaign. Fay (Norah’s best friend) did step in. She became “the mother who stayed”. She is the only mother Willa has ever known. Ella has fought with her from day one, even though it is Fay who helps the family recover from the huge trauma that Norah “the mother who left” has created for all of them.
Then one Friday morning, the family wake up to find Norah on the doorstep clutching her trumpet and a case asking to be let back in as if the past six years never happened. This sudden reappearance is hard for the whole family but especially Ella, now a teenager, who has for all this time been under the illusion that her mother was kidnapped. Now she has to come to terms with the truth and so does Willa. And what about Adam and Fay? They have built up a life. How can they come to terms with this woman breezing in as if the past six years never happened?
I have been waiting for this second book by Virginia Macgregor, hoping that it would be as good as WHAT MILO SAW. It is and maybe even better! There are so many lessons to be learnt through this somewhat chaotic unfolding story. Ella, the rebellious teenager, having to come to terms with facing reality. Fay, the dependable, wonderful woman who has kept the family together. Is she just going to be discarded? Adam, never one to take responsibility before, now having to make the stand of being a responsible adult. Norah, well, Norah is Norah! And then there’s Willa about to turn seven, still seeing the world as a beautiful place, full of hope and happy families.
Virginia Macgregor, I think everyone, should read this book! You have managed to capture and tell a story of such power through the beautiful portrayal of the people who have had their worlds thrown into turmoil. One thing I will hold onto forever, is Ella’s description of what it feels like when under stress – she describes it as “The crow flaps and claws at Ella’s ribcage. She tries to gulp it down but it pushes up higher and higher”. Finally, I know what’s been going on inside my ribcage when I’m stressed – I also have a crow flapping and clawing away there! Thank you! Please hurry up and write your next book.
Treebeard
Breakaway Reviewers were given a copy of this remarkable book to review. Thank you!
Norah Wells dropped Ella, at the school gates six years ago. Left Willa, just a baby with her friend Fay and a note for her husband Adam saying “I love you. Tell Ella and Willa I love them too. And take care of Louis. If you need help, ask Fay, she’ll know what to do. Please don’t try to find me. Norah”. Ella has spent the past six years desperately trying to find her mother, using twitter @findingmum in her campaign. Fay (Norah’s best friend) did step in. She became “the mother who stayed”. She is the only mother Willa has ever known. Ella has fought with her from day one, even though it is Fay who helps the family recover from the huge trauma that Norah “the mother who left” has created for all of them.
Then one Friday morning, the family wake up to find Norah on the doorstep clutching her trumpet and a case asking to be let back in as if the past six years never happened. This sudden reappearance is hard for the whole family but especially Ella, now a teenager, who has for all this time been under the illusion that her mother was kidnapped. Now she has to come to terms with the truth and so does Willa. And what about Adam and Fay? They have built up a life. How can they come to terms with this woman breezing in as if the past six years never happened?
I have been waiting for this second book by Virginia Macgregor, hoping that it would be as good as WHAT MILO SAW. It is and maybe even better! There are so many lessons to be learnt through this somewhat chaotic unfolding story. Ella, the rebellious teenager, having to come to terms with facing reality. Fay, the dependable, wonderful woman who has kept the family together. Is she just going to be discarded? Adam, never one to take responsibility before, now having to make the stand of being a responsible adult. Norah, well, Norah is Norah! And then there’s Willa about to turn seven, still seeing the world as a beautiful place, full of hope and happy families.
Virginia Macgregor, I think everyone, should read this book! You have managed to capture and tell a story of such power through the beautiful portrayal of the people who have had their worlds thrown into turmoil. One thing I will hold onto forever, is Ella’s description of what it feels like when under stress – she describes it as “The crow flaps and claws at Ella’s ribcage. She tries to gulp it down but it pushes up higher and higher”. Finally, I know what’s been going on inside my ribcage when I’m stressed – I also have a crow flapping and clawing away there! Thank you! Please hurry up and write your next book.
Treebeard
Breakaway Reviewers were given a copy of this remarkable book to review. Thank you!
January 21, 2016
One of my favourite books of last year was the beautiful and haunting “What Milo Saw” by Virginia Macgregor. When I realised that she had a second book out this year there was a certain amount of trepidation on my part because it couldn’t possibly match up to the brilliance of Milo. I had nothing to worry about on that score. “The Astonishing Return of Norah Wells” is already looking like it’s going to be one of my top books for 2016. I laughed out loud, I shed a tear and above all there was such emptiness when I reached the end and said goodbye to 77 Willoughby Street.
Six years ago Norah dropped Ella off at the school gates and left baby Willa with her best friend Fay. She left a note for her husband Adam telling him that she loved him and not to try and find her and then Norah disappeared. In the six years that have passed she has made no effort to try and contact them.
The story is narrated in the third person but each chapter is from the perspective of a different member of the family; The Mother Who Left, The Father, The Mother Who Stayed, Ella and little Willa. Macgregor just has this affinity for crafting real people and even for animals. Louis, the family dog, is every bit a character in this tale and he worms his way into your heart. It is written so beautifully that the family relationships and the ties that bind them together are almost palpable. The real strength of this author is the way that she writes about people and relationships, describing ordinary family situations that wriggle under her fingertips and burst into glorious technicolour in the pages of her story.
In the days running up to Willa’s seventh birthday a strange red headed woman is standing in Willoughby Street. Willa doesn’t recognise her and is told by Ella that she is No One. Teenage Ella has been searching for her mother since she left and is overjoyed at the sight of the slender woman in the street. Her wishes have been answered. She just has to talk to Dad and make sure that he accepts her home. Then Fay, the friend, godmother and only mother that Willa has known, can move aside and let Norah come home. Except that life really isn’t that simple.
In addition to being a wonderful study in relationships and family this is a book that asks us to think about our definitions of what it means to be a mother, to be a father. The mechanics of what or who makes the family tick are under scrutiny. It would make a great choice for a book group with lots of interesting discussions to be had on the nature of family.
I can’t recommend this book highly enough. Just go out and buy it. Buy it for everyone that you know!
Supplied by Net Galley and the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Six years ago Norah dropped Ella off at the school gates and left baby Willa with her best friend Fay. She left a note for her husband Adam telling him that she loved him and not to try and find her and then Norah disappeared. In the six years that have passed she has made no effort to try and contact them.
The story is narrated in the third person but each chapter is from the perspective of a different member of the family; The Mother Who Left, The Father, The Mother Who Stayed, Ella and little Willa. Macgregor just has this affinity for crafting real people and even for animals. Louis, the family dog, is every bit a character in this tale and he worms his way into your heart. It is written so beautifully that the family relationships and the ties that bind them together are almost palpable. The real strength of this author is the way that she writes about people and relationships, describing ordinary family situations that wriggle under her fingertips and burst into glorious technicolour in the pages of her story.
In the days running up to Willa’s seventh birthday a strange red headed woman is standing in Willoughby Street. Willa doesn’t recognise her and is told by Ella that she is No One. Teenage Ella has been searching for her mother since she left and is overjoyed at the sight of the slender woman in the street. Her wishes have been answered. She just has to talk to Dad and make sure that he accepts her home. Then Fay, the friend, godmother and only mother that Willa has known, can move aside and let Norah come home. Except that life really isn’t that simple.
In addition to being a wonderful study in relationships and family this is a book that asks us to think about our definitions of what it means to be a mother, to be a father. The mechanics of what or who makes the family tick are under scrutiny. It would make a great choice for a book group with lots of interesting discussions to be had on the nature of family.
I can’t recommend this book highly enough. Just go out and buy it. Buy it for everyone that you know!
Supplied by Net Galley and the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
January 2, 2016
I have a new hero. He is caring. He is protective. He senses feelings, knows when to touch, when to love, when just his presence is enough. He is big and warm with caramel hair and he might just be the best dog in the world. I am totally in love with Louis.
The plot of The Astonishing Return of Norah Wells drew me right in. The mother who stayed and fixed a broken house and a broken man versus the mother who went away. A mother idolised by teenage Ella but unknown to 6 soon to be 7 Willa.
Everything about this book just works. Written in present tense it follows each of the main characters, but the little summaries at key points waking, sleeping in the big red house on Willoughby Road, those were the parts that set this book apart for me.
The cast of supporting characters, just like in What Milo Saw are perfectly thought out from Lily and Rose Pegg, the nosy neighbours with a penchant for purple, to the rainbow clad busker who loves Louis Armstrong.
I admit to being torn about how I wanted the story to end but Virginia Macgregor got it spot on.
A great read and a perfect start to my 2016 reads.
My favourite quotes:
"You don't get to be away for ages and ages and expect people and dogs to love you again straight away."
"There are times when a shift happens, when one small join in the great scaffolding of life comes loose and nothing ever looks the same again."
"Loneliness isn't about being without people, it's about being with people who make you feel alone."
"She knows that sometimes you only get to love someone for a while and that you'd better love them as much as you can before they go away, otherwise you'll regret it."
I received an ARC from Netgalley for an honest review.
The plot of The Astonishing Return of Norah Wells drew me right in. The mother who stayed and fixed a broken house and a broken man versus the mother who went away. A mother idolised by teenage Ella but unknown to 6 soon to be 7 Willa.
Everything about this book just works. Written in present tense it follows each of the main characters, but the little summaries at key points waking, sleeping in the big red house on Willoughby Road, those were the parts that set this book apart for me.
The cast of supporting characters, just like in What Milo Saw are perfectly thought out from Lily and Rose Pegg, the nosy neighbours with a penchant for purple, to the rainbow clad busker who loves Louis Armstrong.
I admit to being torn about how I wanted the story to end but Virginia Macgregor got it spot on.
A great read and a perfect start to my 2016 reads.
My favourite quotes:
"You don't get to be away for ages and ages and expect people and dogs to love you again straight away."
"There are times when a shift happens, when one small join in the great scaffolding of life comes loose and nothing ever looks the same again."
"Loneliness isn't about being without people, it's about being with people who make you feel alone."
"She knows that sometimes you only get to love someone for a while and that you'd better love them as much as you can before they go away, otherwise you'll regret it."
I received an ARC from Netgalley for an honest review.
January 31, 2016
Oh my goodness me. I really don't know what Virginia Macgregor has that makes her writing so special to me, but I just want to bottle it up and keep it forever. Every time I read her books I get a warm, fuzzy feeling in my heart and I just adore everything about the book. What Milo Saw will always be special to me, it struck a chord with me that no other book has ever done.
I cried. I actually cried. The characters in this book had me and my heart swelling for them, especially Willa. Beautiful, caring seven year old Willa. And Louis, oh my goodness, Louis.
A story of separation, love and family.
The Mother Who Left comes back to 77 Willoughby Street, where unbeknown to little Willa, The Mother Who Stayed is not her real mummy. A heart breaking story of loyalty, love and what it really means to be a family.
Home is most definitely where the heart is.
'I'm the one who stayed. That doesn't make me her mother'.
'In the lounge, The Mother Who Left kisses her little boy and tucks him in. At least it's all said now, she thinks. She looks out at the stars and the moon and wishes, like she's wished since she was a little girl, that she could fly away, that the sky would take her up, up and away'.
'But Willa learnt something this last year of being seven years old: adventures don't have beginnings and endings, and they aren't about going away or staying in one place. They're happening all the time, every second: you just need to open your eyes to see them'.
I cried. I actually cried. The characters in this book had me and my heart swelling for them, especially Willa. Beautiful, caring seven year old Willa. And Louis, oh my goodness, Louis.
A story of separation, love and family.
The Mother Who Left comes back to 77 Willoughby Street, where unbeknown to little Willa, The Mother Who Stayed is not her real mummy. A heart breaking story of loyalty, love and what it really means to be a family.
Home is most definitely where the heart is.
'I'm the one who stayed. That doesn't make me her mother'.
'In the lounge, The Mother Who Left kisses her little boy and tucks him in. At least it's all said now, she thinks. She looks out at the stars and the moon and wishes, like she's wished since she was a little girl, that she could fly away, that the sky would take her up, up and away'.
'But Willa learnt something this last year of being seven years old: adventures don't have beginnings and endings, and they aren't about going away or staying in one place. They're happening all the time, every second: you just need to open your eyes to see them'.
January 14, 2016
I received a copy of this via NetGalley in return for a fair and honest review.
The clue is in the title with this book - an astonishing story that had me captivated from start to finish!
Norah gets up one day and leaves her husband and 2 daughters behind and nobody knows why. Fast forward to six years later and she returns! Life has moved on for everyone she left behind and through this book we see how it affected her and the family and friends she left behind. And we uncover the reasons why she left in the first place
It's an absolutely absorbing and emotional story (yes it made me cry!) as we the differences in how each person deals with her return is beautifully described. From the sweet 6 year old Willa, to teenager Ella who strived so long to find her mum and to the Dad who was struggling before she left and how he found a way of bringing up his daughters with the help of Norahs' best friend Fay. And you can't help but fall in love with Louis, the family pet dog, who is so perceptive and knows when he's needed and who to be around.
Highly recommended for readers who love a story that revolves around a compelling family drama with some amazing characters.
The clue is in the title with this book - an astonishing story that had me captivated from start to finish!
Norah gets up one day and leaves her husband and 2 daughters behind and nobody knows why. Fast forward to six years later and she returns! Life has moved on for everyone she left behind and through this book we see how it affected her and the family and friends she left behind. And we uncover the reasons why she left in the first place
It's an absolutely absorbing and emotional story (yes it made me cry!) as we the differences in how each person deals with her return is beautifully described. From the sweet 6 year old Willa, to teenager Ella who strived so long to find her mum and to the Dad who was struggling before she left and how he found a way of bringing up his daughters with the help of Norahs' best friend Fay. And you can't help but fall in love with Louis, the family pet dog, who is so perceptive and knows when he's needed and who to be around.
Highly recommended for readers who love a story that revolves around a compelling family drama with some amazing characters.
January 20, 2016
Last year I read and loved Virginia Macgregor's debut novel "What Milo Saw" - this book was so incredibly touching and I couldn't forget it for a long time. So impatiently and with bated breath I was waiting for my review copy of her second book, "The Astonishing Return of Norah Wells", to finally land on my doorstep - and eventually this day came, and this beautiful, eye - catching hardcover copy reached me and my greedy mittens.
The first thing that I noticed when started "The Astonishing Return on Norah Wells" was the fact that it was so similarly built to "What Milo Saw" - the chapters were told from the main characters' points of view, in turns, so that we got a brilliant chance to get to know their thoughts and insight into their souls. Also, the writing style, the storytelling stayed the same and you can without hesitation recognize that the author must be Virginia Macgregor - which, as it's only her second book, I think is a fantastic thing. I love Virginia's writing style, started to love it already when reading Milo. It's very unique, warm and the author has a great talent to describe feelings and emotions - she can easily make you cry and in the next second smile. And there were many parts in this book that had me in tears - especially after the incident with Louis. The use of present time when telling the characters' stories made the whole return even more realistic and the story to flow, and I don't know, somehow it just gave me a real sense of this whole situation, the tension.
I loved how complex and not too obvious did the author make the plot, and that she allowed it to slowly untangle, all the time adding small details that were helping me to change my mind. Nevertheless, I didn't change my opinion about one thing: about Norah thinking that she could came back home - just like that. No matter what brought her back, she had left home, her family, and disappeared, and then she came back, expecting everything to be the same, to come back where she had left. She gave the impression that she's really surprised with the fact that her family moved on and led their lives without her. Sure, I get why she left in the first place, and the lesson she wanted to teach her husband but then she was away for 8 years. Eight years. And after coming back expected to start as if nothing happened.
The most poignant parts in the books were the chapters told from Ella and Willa's points of view. It is amazing to what degree Virginia Macgregor was able to get into their minds and to describe their most hidden fears and feelings, and this all so wonderfully adequate to their ages. And Louis. You know me, you already know I can't watch Disney films as I cry all the time seeing Bambi loosing his mum or Simba his dad, and it's the same with books, no matter what happens, no matter if it's good or bad, if there is a dog, it is programmed in advance that I'm going to cry my eyes out. I loved Louis, please move over all other dogs, he made my eyes well and my heart beat faster, and I think I am never going to forgive Virginia!
The characters were truly complex and all of them had their own personalities. I am not sure if it was intended but I sided with Fay, the Mother Who Stayed, even though the passages told by Willa did make me well a little - but there was not a single moment, not even when Norah let out why she came back, that I felt sorry for her. No. I was sharing my feelings with Ella. Even Louis couldn't change my mind.
I guess that probably the readers are going to fell for Willa, the young, innocent Willa and her perspective, but what tugged at my heartstrings was Ella and her point of view. She grew up believing in this what wasn't true, and when she eventually came to know this truth, it just broken her. It just put her whole world upside down. Add to this her age, her being a troubled teenager, and you have a trouble in the making - which, in my opinion, is not a wonder. She felt deceived, confused and I just wanted to hug her and tell her that everything is going to be OK. Then we have Fay, who, in my eyes, has never done anything wrong. She kept her feeling under control, she's never done anything against her friend Norah, and then, when she thought she can be happy ever after, Norah returned. I felt so outraged!
The plot itself is not as straight - forward as we could think at first. It is full of turns and twists, and dilemmas, problems that it's not so easy to find a solution for. It wonderfully explores the family relationships but also exposes that weakest points in those relationships. It also brilliantly shows us the difference in the straight - forward thinking of a child and the much more complex way of adults'. It brilliantly captures the differences in each person's way to deal with the astonishing and unexpected return of Norah.
I am not sure about the end of this novel. Firstly, it seemed much too rushed, after the whole drama and the book taking place over only few days it just was too quick for my liking. Secondly, as much as I like happy ends in the books, was this not too happy? I don't know what I was expecting but I think something different, something more challenging. Also, I couldn't help thinking that there were passages in the book that really dragged on too much, that they were used as a filler, and I was willing the story to move on.
This story may seem chaotic on the surface, but the timing there is perfect, and all the elements of the puzzle slowly find their own right places. The author can get into characters' worlds and into their heads and then put their thoughts into words for us to read. "The Astonishing Return of Norah Wells" is a family story, and Virginia Macgregor truly knows what it is that makes a family, gets right through to the heart of it. It is a very perceptive novel about love, hope and forgiveness and I really enjoyed it.
Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for a review.
January 14, 2022
Un romanzo che mi è stato donato tanto tempo fa, e che per titolo e per copertina ha saputo catturarmi all’istante. Nonostante Virginia MacGregor fosse un’autrice di cui non conoscevo nemmeno il nome, la lettura de “L’incredibile ritorno di Norah Wells” (Giunti, 2016; trad. O. Crosio) si è rivelata un’inaspettata e piacevole scoperta, grazie alla profonda vena intimista che caratterizza la sua penna, equamente bilanciata fra passaggi narrativi intensi, profondi, a tratti crudi, e una narrazione più delicata, commovente, che arriva a toccare in più punti una lieve forma di lirismo.
La storia che l’autrice propone al lettore rappresenta un incisivo e penetrante affresco di vita capace di riflettere da vicino dinamiche familiari e d’amicizia attuali, contemporanee, in cui ciascuno di noi può riflettersi e ritrovarsi, uno scrigno prezioso che sa condensare in oltre 400 pagine tutta la volontà di indagare, senza fare sconti a nessuno, le complesse e contraddittorie costanti e incognite che contraddistinguono qualsiasi legame umano.
“Quando le persone si aiutano ad uscire da una crisi, si forma un legame. E a volte il legame si trasforma in amore”.
Avvalendosi di una prosa diretta, lineare, incisiva e magnetica, Virginia propone un’innegabile verità di intenti a cui è difficile sottrarsi, perché attraverso la storia di una famiglia comune a tante altre ci incoraggia costantemente nella ricerca di spunti di riflessione e ragionamento e ci invita ad abbracciare senza alcuna esitazione stati d’animo ed emozioni profondi.
Inevitabile perciò entrare in empatia con ogni singolo personaggio, adulto o bambino che sia, non farsi catturare da ciò che il destino può riservare a due figlie piccole, Ella e Willa, e a un marito, Adam, abbandonati da un giorno all’altro senza alcuna (apparente) spiegazione dalla protagonista Norah Wells, rispettivamente madre e moglie, e il cui improvviso ritorno a casa a distanza di anni saprà assumere pieghe e risvolti inattesi e imprevedibili, svelando un intreccio narrativo ricco di chiaroscuri e colpi di scena.
Attraverso questa recensione vorrei poter offrire un piccolo contributo, con il proposito di omaggiare un’autrice che inspiegabilmente non ha ricevuto in ambito narrativo italiano la giusta e meritata attenzione e considerazione, e che ha saputo donare al lettore un’altra emozionante e coinvolgente storia di vita attraverso le intense pagine del suo romanzo d’esordio “Quello che gli altri non vedono” (Giunti, 2014), a riprova di quanto in lei sia radicato e forte l’intimo richiamo ai messaggi universali di amore, bene, paura, rabbia, forza, coraggio e speranza.
La storia che l’autrice propone al lettore rappresenta un incisivo e penetrante affresco di vita capace di riflettere da vicino dinamiche familiari e d’amicizia attuali, contemporanee, in cui ciascuno di noi può riflettersi e ritrovarsi, uno scrigno prezioso che sa condensare in oltre 400 pagine tutta la volontà di indagare, senza fare sconti a nessuno, le complesse e contraddittorie costanti e incognite che contraddistinguono qualsiasi legame umano.
“Quando le persone si aiutano ad uscire da una crisi, si forma un legame. E a volte il legame si trasforma in amore”.
Avvalendosi di una prosa diretta, lineare, incisiva e magnetica, Virginia propone un’innegabile verità di intenti a cui è difficile sottrarsi, perché attraverso la storia di una famiglia comune a tante altre ci incoraggia costantemente nella ricerca di spunti di riflessione e ragionamento e ci invita ad abbracciare senza alcuna esitazione stati d’animo ed emozioni profondi.
Inevitabile perciò entrare in empatia con ogni singolo personaggio, adulto o bambino che sia, non farsi catturare da ciò che il destino può riservare a due figlie piccole, Ella e Willa, e a un marito, Adam, abbandonati da un giorno all’altro senza alcuna (apparente) spiegazione dalla protagonista Norah Wells, rispettivamente madre e moglie, e il cui improvviso ritorno a casa a distanza di anni saprà assumere pieghe e risvolti inattesi e imprevedibili, svelando un intreccio narrativo ricco di chiaroscuri e colpi di scena.
Attraverso questa recensione vorrei poter offrire un piccolo contributo, con il proposito di omaggiare un’autrice che inspiegabilmente non ha ricevuto in ambito narrativo italiano la giusta e meritata attenzione e considerazione, e che ha saputo donare al lettore un’altra emozionante e coinvolgente storia di vita attraverso le intense pagine del suo romanzo d’esordio “Quello che gli altri non vedono” (Giunti, 2014), a riprova di quanto in lei sia radicato e forte l’intimo richiamo ai messaggi universali di amore, bene, paura, rabbia, forza, coraggio e speranza.
March 5, 2018
I had high hopes for this one, I really did. It started off so promisingly with a fantastic premise for a book that tugs on the heart strings. A mother that walks away and abandons her two young children with their inept father. A woman who has since become part of that family and loved those children as if they were her own. Six years later the absentee mother returns - surely, if ever there was a plot line worthy of the Eastenders 'doof doof da-da da-da', this was going to be it.
I found this book neither insightful or compelling (as quoted from 'Woman & home'). In fact it was severely lacking in both those respects. Why did no one behave like a normal human being in this book? Why did they keep having the same conversations repeatedly? Why did they keep asking themselves inane questions in their head? WHY?
The 6 year old daughter in this book is the character equivalent of nails down a chalk board. And this seemed to be written by someone that had never met a 6 year old child in their life - I'm not sure that children really do ask themselves so many existential questions....
And was she seeing things or was there supposed to be some kind of element of magic going on...does anyone know?
The teenage daughter, although portrayed with adequate teenage angst, was given the literary device of having her feelings shown through her use of twitter. Again, does this writer actually know how twitter works?! Having her write her feelings through hashtags just felt incredibly clunky and was just one of many things that made me cringe.
There was an ensemble of various additional characters that appeared with tenuous links to the rest of the family and their existence added nothing to the story. (Can someone explain to me why a group of people who had followed someone on twitter would show up outside of her house and camp out there...? Let's put aside the logistics of finding the address...but WHY?) To top it all off, this is a book that just stops in the middle of nowhere, without any type of satisfactory ending, probably one of my biggest pet hates.
I'm only giving it 2 stars because the idea behind the plot was quite good and because I thought the father character was quite well fleshed out. This is a classic example of what I get for picking up a book because I liked the cover.... must stop being a magpie.
All my reviews can be found at hintonhitsthebooks.wixsite.com/blog
I found this book neither insightful or compelling (as quoted from 'Woman & home'). In fact it was severely lacking in both those respects. Why did no one behave like a normal human being in this book? Why did they keep having the same conversations repeatedly? Why did they keep asking themselves inane questions in their head? WHY?
The 6 year old daughter in this book is the character equivalent of nails down a chalk board. And this seemed to be written by someone that had never met a 6 year old child in their life - I'm not sure that children really do ask themselves so many existential questions....
And was she seeing things or was there supposed to be some kind of element of magic going on...does anyone know?
The teenage daughter, although portrayed with adequate teenage angst, was given the literary device of having her feelings shown through her use of twitter. Again, does this writer actually know how twitter works?! Having her write her feelings through hashtags just felt incredibly clunky and was just one of many things that made me cringe.
There was an ensemble of various additional characters that appeared with tenuous links to the rest of the family and their existence added nothing to the story. (Can someone explain to me why a group of people who had followed someone on twitter would show up outside of her house and camp out there...? Let's put aside the logistics of finding the address...but WHY?) To top it all off, this is a book that just stops in the middle of nowhere, without any type of satisfactory ending, probably one of my biggest pet hates.
I'm only giving it 2 stars because the idea behind the plot was quite good and because I thought the father character was quite well fleshed out. This is a classic example of what I get for picking up a book because I liked the cover.... must stop being a magpie.
All my reviews can be found at hintonhitsthebooks.wixsite.com/blog
December 28, 2015
Having read What Milo Saw, I was really excited to receive an advance copy of this novel. I was in no way disappointed - this book is amazing on so many different levels. Once again 's Mcgregor's quirky style has conjured up a very special read, which explores family relationships in a uniquely innovative way . Right from the start, the storyline unfolds and surprises in such a clever way and draws the reader in instantly and effortlessly. I am already singing the praises of this wonderful book and am convinced that it will quickly become a bestseller in 2016.
April 15, 2017
This is one amazing book - I loved it!!
In brief, Norah walked out on her husband & daughters & returns out-of-the blue six years later. Is she wanting to carry on where she left off? Well things aren't that easy as her best-friend Fay - or maybe that should be ex-best friend - is ensconced in her home with Norah's youngest daughter believing that Fay is her mother.
The story explores the event by telling it from the view of each member of the family over the space of a week. I loved this format & thought it worked really well, giving you a real sense of each person's tboughts & character. Little Willa was full of optimism, with a child's belief that everyone could/should get along (if only! wouldn't the world be a better place?), while elder sister Ella was full of teenage angst, though I did find it hard to see her as only 14 she seemed more 16ish to me.
There are plenty of secrets being kept between varying family members & plenty of ructions as these are revealed. In another author's hand I'd have been rolling my eyes as yet another revelation was disclosed ( "The Courage Tree" is a prime example!) but - with the exception of one which I felt was a bit dodgy - they all fitted into the story beautifully.
A really wonderful story that I could go to great lengths discussing but best thing is just read it yourself & enjoy :o)
I do have one criticism....*CARE - spoiler coming up!*... & that
is the ending. Okay, to be fair part of it may have been the fact that I was nearing the end of a thoroughly enjoyable book but I was a tad disappointed in the happy ending scenario. I don't know what I was expecting but after finding the rest of the book so original it somehow seemed to be a bit of a cop out for them all to be reconciled in a happy-ever-after fashion.
In brief, Norah walked out on her husband & daughters & returns out-of-the blue six years later. Is she wanting to carry on where she left off? Well things aren't that easy as her best-friend Fay - or maybe that should be ex-best friend - is ensconced in her home with Norah's youngest daughter believing that Fay is her mother.
The story explores the event by telling it from the view of each member of the family over the space of a week. I loved this format & thought it worked really well, giving you a real sense of each person's tboughts & character. Little Willa was full of optimism, with a child's belief that everyone could/should get along (if only! wouldn't the world be a better place?), while elder sister Ella was full of teenage angst, though I did find it hard to see her as only 14 she seemed more 16ish to me.
There are plenty of secrets being kept between varying family members & plenty of ructions as these are revealed. In another author's hand I'd have been rolling my eyes as yet another revelation was disclosed ( "The Courage Tree" is a prime example!) but - with the exception of one which I felt was a bit dodgy - they all fitted into the story beautifully.
A really wonderful story that I could go to great lengths discussing but best thing is just read it yourself & enjoy :o)
I do have one criticism....*CARE - spoiler coming up!*... & that
is the ending. Okay, to be fair part of it may have been the fact that I was nearing the end of a thoroughly enjoyable book but I was a tad disappointed in the happy ending scenario. I don't know what I was expecting but after finding the rest of the book so original it somehow seemed to be a bit of a cop out for them all to be reconciled in a happy-ever-after fashion.
June 5, 2017
I had never read anything by Macgregor before picking up The Astonishing Return of Norah Wells. I am incredibly impressed. This is her second novel, and it kept me interested from start to finish. Macgregor's prose is engaging, and the whole piece has been incredibly well structured. Whilst The Astonishing Return... is quite easy to read, it has a lot of depth to it. Several threads of mystery underpin the whole, and make one eager to read on. The family drama which plays out is complex, and the twists and turns throughout kept me guessing.
September 4, 2018
Really adored Macgregor's writing, and the beautiful complex family relationships. Would definitely read more from this author.
January 13, 2016
I was really excited to receive an invitation, via Netgalley, to read this book. I loved What Milo Saw, it was one of my 5* reads last year. I'm happy to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed The Astonishing Return of Norah Wells also.
Norah is married to Adam and is mum to Ella and Willa. She has a best friend called Fay, who is Ella's Godmother. One day, when Willa is just a baby, Norah asks Fay to look after her for a while, but she never returns. Six years later she's back and it seems she thinks she can just pick up where she left off! However, during the six years she's been gone a lot has changed. Fay and Adam are now together and Willa has always believed that Fay is her mother.
I really felt for Fay and Adam. They had believed that they would never see Norah again (she had left a note asking them not to attempt to find her) so they had had to get on with life the best they could. Ella on the other hand, had never given up hope of her mother returning. She has always believed her mum was kidnapped and has had a twitter campaign going for quite some time. Because of this she has never truly accepted Fay as a mother figure.
I felt really angry and sorry for Fay. She had been the one to pick up the pieces after Norah left. She had sorted Adam out, looked after the girls and turned them in to a family. She felt like she was going to lose everything now Norah was back. The hold she has on Adam is obvious and she is the girls real mother so who is she to stand in her way?
Adam doesn't know what to do when he's faced with Norah after all this time. He's made a new life with Fay. She's made him in to a better man. Been there through thick and thin. But, he never stopped loving Norah. He had firmly believed she was gone from their lives forever.
Ella is over the moon, until she learns that Norah had chosen to leave. What sort of mother chooses to leave her family?
Soon to be 7 year old Willa is totally confused, bless her. She has no idea who this 'no one woman' is, although she looks a lot like Auntie Norah who moved to Australia. Ella has pictures of her. Why is everyone acting strange? Surely they should all be happy she's come to visit. She can't be a stranger because Louis, their dog, seems to love her.
As the story progresses, we learn Norah's reasons for leaving and her reasons for returning. I don't want to say too much as I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but it's an emotional roller-coaster of a read.
I love this authors style of writing. I love how each chapter of the book is written from the perspective of a different character. I especially enjoyed Willa's chapters. I also loved that Louis was as much a main character as any of them.
This book is full of interesting characters, all of who play an important part in the story, regardless of how big or small that part is.
An easy 5 stars for me. I highly recommend! I can't wait to read whatever Virginia Macgregor writes next.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for my kindle copy.
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Norah is married to Adam and is mum to Ella and Willa. She has a best friend called Fay, who is Ella's Godmother. One day, when Willa is just a baby, Norah asks Fay to look after her for a while, but she never returns. Six years later she's back and it seems she thinks she can just pick up where she left off! However, during the six years she's been gone a lot has changed. Fay and Adam are now together and Willa has always believed that Fay is her mother.
I really felt for Fay and Adam. They had believed that they would never see Norah again (she had left a note asking them not to attempt to find her) so they had had to get on with life the best they could. Ella on the other hand, had never given up hope of her mother returning. She has always believed her mum was kidnapped and has had a twitter campaign going for quite some time. Because of this she has never truly accepted Fay as a mother figure.
I felt really angry and sorry for Fay. She had been the one to pick up the pieces after Norah left. She had sorted Adam out, looked after the girls and turned them in to a family. She felt like she was going to lose everything now Norah was back. The hold she has on Adam is obvious and she is the girls real mother so who is she to stand in her way?
Adam doesn't know what to do when he's faced with Norah after all this time. He's made a new life with Fay. She's made him in to a better man. Been there through thick and thin. But, he never stopped loving Norah. He had firmly believed she was gone from their lives forever.
Ella is over the moon, until she learns that Norah had chosen to leave. What sort of mother chooses to leave her family?
Soon to be 7 year old Willa is totally confused, bless her. She has no idea who this 'no one woman' is, although she looks a lot like Auntie Norah who moved to Australia. Ella has pictures of her. Why is everyone acting strange? Surely they should all be happy she's come to visit. She can't be a stranger because Louis, their dog, seems to love her.
As the story progresses, we learn Norah's reasons for leaving and her reasons for returning. I don't want to say too much as I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but it's an emotional roller-coaster of a read.
I love this authors style of writing. I love how each chapter of the book is written from the perspective of a different character. I especially enjoyed Willa's chapters. I also loved that Louis was as much a main character as any of them.
This book is full of interesting characters, all of who play an important part in the story, regardless of how big or small that part is.
An easy 5 stars for me. I highly recommend! I can't wait to read whatever Virginia Macgregor writes next.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for my kindle copy.
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January 6, 2016
Having read and completely loved "What Milo Saw" I was very excited to get my hands on this new book from the same author.
Six years ago things changed when Norah Wells walked out of her family's life. She failed to pick up eldest girl Ella from school and left baby Willa with best friend Fay. To her husband Adam, she left a note asking him not to try and find her. After a while, Adam and the girls slowly rebuild their life to include Fay as she had been instrumental in picking up the pieces. Willa even calls her Mummy as she is, so far, unaware that things are any different. Ella, unaware that her mother simply walked out and doesn't want finding, is manning a missing person campaign mostly on Twitter.
And then, one day, Norah comes back...
The book then follows each character and what they do and think about the return of "the mother that left" as their lives are totally upended by the lies that are uncovered when each truth comes out. And, believe me, Norah reappearing is only just the tip of the iceberg.
One of the things I really loved about Milo was the way that Ms MacGregor wrote the different characters. The same happens in this book. Each character (even the small ones) has their own individual and distinct voice. As chapter narration flits between each of them, there was not one moment that I had to go back and check who was "speaking" they were all so well defined. I especially loved the chapters narrated by the children.
Again, as with Milo, I found this to be a very emotional read. Another rollercoaster ride all the way through. There were several places where just when I thought that things were about to settle down, along comes something else to fan the flames and take the story somewhere completely different. I changed my opinion of most of the characters so much during this book. Mind you, so did they about each other! Once again, I found that rather than just observing as a reader, I was actually going through the journey along with the characters. That's how involved I really did get!
Usually when I finish a book I pretty much dive into the next one. I couldn't with this book, I finished it in the morning and then it took me the rest of the day before I was able to let it go enough to start something else.
With two great books now under her belt I really can't wait to see what Ms MacGregor serves up next.
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Six years ago things changed when Norah Wells walked out of her family's life. She failed to pick up eldest girl Ella from school and left baby Willa with best friend Fay. To her husband Adam, she left a note asking him not to try and find her. After a while, Adam and the girls slowly rebuild their life to include Fay as she had been instrumental in picking up the pieces. Willa even calls her Mummy as she is, so far, unaware that things are any different. Ella, unaware that her mother simply walked out and doesn't want finding, is manning a missing person campaign mostly on Twitter.
And then, one day, Norah comes back...
The book then follows each character and what they do and think about the return of "the mother that left" as their lives are totally upended by the lies that are uncovered when each truth comes out. And, believe me, Norah reappearing is only just the tip of the iceberg.
One of the things I really loved about Milo was the way that Ms MacGregor wrote the different characters. The same happens in this book. Each character (even the small ones) has their own individual and distinct voice. As chapter narration flits between each of them, there was not one moment that I had to go back and check who was "speaking" they were all so well defined. I especially loved the chapters narrated by the children.
Again, as with Milo, I found this to be a very emotional read. Another rollercoaster ride all the way through. There were several places where just when I thought that things were about to settle down, along comes something else to fan the flames and take the story somewhere completely different. I changed my opinion of most of the characters so much during this book. Mind you, so did they about each other! Once again, I found that rather than just observing as a reader, I was actually going through the journey along with the characters. That's how involved I really did get!
Usually when I finish a book I pretty much dive into the next one. I couldn't with this book, I finished it in the morning and then it took me the rest of the day before I was able to let it go enough to start something else.
With two great books now under her belt I really can't wait to see what Ms MacGregor serves up next.
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
January 11, 2016
The return of Norah Wells one ordinary morning six years after leaving her family was indeed astonishing and unexpected. This book looks at the turmoil caused by her return, over a very dramatic few days. Norah walked out on her family when Ella was 8 and Willa just about one. She left a note asking her husband Adam not to try to find her and to tell the girls she loved them. Her best friend Fay was left to pick up the pieces and has become very much a part of the family.
What I really liked about this book was the characters. It is told from the perspectives of Norah, Adam, Willa, Fay, Ella and even Louis the family dog. The use of present tense made the story flow well and you really got a sense of just how dramatic Norah's return was and how it affected all the members of the family. I especially loved little Willa who had no idea who Norah was and believed Fay to be her mummy. She was such a sweet wee girl who just wanted one big happy family and I just wanted to give her a hug. I also wanted to hug troubled teenager Ella. She had spent so long longing for and trying to find her real mother and was so disillusioned and confused when she discovered the truth about her leaving. I was totally outraged on behalf of Fay! Fay had kept the family together and loved them all as her own. I felt really angry with Norah who seemed to think she could just come back as though nothing had happened and expect everyone to welcome her with open arms. But of course, Norah has her own story and reasons for leaving which are gradually revealed throughout the story. By the end I did have some sympathy for her and I was pleased with the way the story resolved.
I must also mention some of the supporting characters in the book - the wonderfully nosy neighbours the Pegg sisters, Ella's boyfriend Sai, not trusted by Adam but a caring, compassionate character and Sai's mother, the wise and kind Mrs Moore. All added another layer and depth to the story.
A wonderfully perceptive story of the relationships within a family and what binds people together. It's an endearing story with characters you will come to care about and I'm already looking forward to seeing what Virginia MacGregor will write next.
(I was given a review copy via Netgalley)
What I really liked about this book was the characters. It is told from the perspectives of Norah, Adam, Willa, Fay, Ella and even Louis the family dog. The use of present tense made the story flow well and you really got a sense of just how dramatic Norah's return was and how it affected all the members of the family. I especially loved little Willa who had no idea who Norah was and believed Fay to be her mummy. She was such a sweet wee girl who just wanted one big happy family and I just wanted to give her a hug. I also wanted to hug troubled teenager Ella. She had spent so long longing for and trying to find her real mother and was so disillusioned and confused when she discovered the truth about her leaving. I was totally outraged on behalf of Fay! Fay had kept the family together and loved them all as her own. I felt really angry with Norah who seemed to think she could just come back as though nothing had happened and expect everyone to welcome her with open arms. But of course, Norah has her own story and reasons for leaving which are gradually revealed throughout the story. By the end I did have some sympathy for her and I was pleased with the way the story resolved.
I must also mention some of the supporting characters in the book - the wonderfully nosy neighbours the Pegg sisters, Ella's boyfriend Sai, not trusted by Adam but a caring, compassionate character and Sai's mother, the wise and kind Mrs Moore. All added another layer and depth to the story.
A wonderfully perceptive story of the relationships within a family and what binds people together. It's an endearing story with characters you will come to care about and I'm already looking forward to seeing what Virginia MacGregor will write next.
(I was given a review copy via Netgalley)
January 15, 2016
MacGregor's first book, What Milo Saw, was a hit for me, showing how close MacGregor can get to her characters' inner worlds and to the heart of families as well. Family is also at the heart of The Astonishing Return of Norah Wells but this novel also allows MacGregor to spread her prosaic wings a little bit more. Thanks to Netgalley, Sphere and Little, Brown for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Astonishing Return of Norah Wells is, above all, an incredibly touching family story. MacGregor makes the Wells family come to life for the reader through her incredibly eye for little, seemingly irrelevant details that everyone will immediately recognize from their own family life, whether it's how quickly a kitchen becomes cluttered or how obstinate teenage girls are. MacGregor gets right to heart of what makes a family tick and what can throw it off balance. She explored the fragility of families in What Milo Saw as well but pushes it further in Norah Wells by allowing the reader to witness an active breakdown. Too often in novels about family-life the parents are Parents with a capital P who have no depth or background themselves, or the children are Children who run around causing havoc without, seemingly, any kind of awareness of the family. But families are incredibly complex things, where each person is tied to every other family member by invisible strings that can get twisted. The balance between love and dependency, the past and the present, the future and the unknown, all of these can shift and tear holes in the fabric of families. MacGregor sketches a beautiful and touching portrait of how a family can both break and heal itself, repeatedly.
The Return of Norah Wells is an incredibly sensitive portrayal of the complexities of family life, of love and of the complexity of forgiveness. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and whizzed through it, incapable of putting it down for too long. Virginia MacGregor is quickly on her way towards becoming one of my favourite contemporary authors. I'd recommend this to fans of family dramas and Magical Realism.
For full review: http://universeinwords.blogspot.co.uk...
The Astonishing Return of Norah Wells is, above all, an incredibly touching family story. MacGregor makes the Wells family come to life for the reader through her incredibly eye for little, seemingly irrelevant details that everyone will immediately recognize from their own family life, whether it's how quickly a kitchen becomes cluttered or how obstinate teenage girls are. MacGregor gets right to heart of what makes a family tick and what can throw it off balance. She explored the fragility of families in What Milo Saw as well but pushes it further in Norah Wells by allowing the reader to witness an active breakdown. Too often in novels about family-life the parents are Parents with a capital P who have no depth or background themselves, or the children are Children who run around causing havoc without, seemingly, any kind of awareness of the family. But families are incredibly complex things, where each person is tied to every other family member by invisible strings that can get twisted. The balance between love and dependency, the past and the present, the future and the unknown, all of these can shift and tear holes in the fabric of families. MacGregor sketches a beautiful and touching portrait of how a family can both break and heal itself, repeatedly.
The Return of Norah Wells is an incredibly sensitive portrayal of the complexities of family life, of love and of the complexity of forgiveness. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and whizzed through it, incapable of putting it down for too long. Virginia MacGregor is quickly on her way towards becoming one of my favourite contemporary authors. I'd recommend this to fans of family dramas and Magical Realism.
For full review: http://universeinwords.blogspot.co.uk...
January 22, 2016
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
The return of Norah Wells was not astonishing, it was selfish and cruel. Most of the time I spent reading this book, I kept a silent monologue rant going in my head. Blood ties do not necessarily reign supreme, and being a birth-mother does not give someone the right to mess up the lives of their progeny, however valid they feel their reasons for their actions are. Rant over.
A good book makes you think, and its influence remains even when you have finished reading. This book certainly did that. It was a well-crafted tale of family dynamics stretched to their limit, a family divided by The Mother who Stayed and The Mother who Left. You can probably guess whose side I was on.
The book was written in the third person, but the focus switches with each new chapter onto a different character – conveniently signalled by the person’s name in the heading – and the writing style reflects the personality of the character. The Little Girl/Willa’s chapters are bouncy, easily distracted and eternally optimistic. The Father/Adam’s chapters are stressed and fearful, while The Teenage Girl/Ella’s are full of anger and teenage angst.
Each of the main characters has a personal name and also a Label designating their place in the family – that is, all except Louis, who never seems to be referred to as The Dog. Louis transcends his doggyness, and at times seems to be more of an individual than all the others, and is the glue that somehow keeps them all together. The Labels are never used as chapter headings (only names), but frequently appear in the text. It is a sort of Brechtian device indicating the universality of the family’s problems.
I never fully got over my extreme dislike of Norah, but I did love the book. It was very moving, especially near the end, and an altogether excellent portrayal of a family in crisis.
The return of Norah Wells was not astonishing, it was selfish and cruel. Most of the time I spent reading this book, I kept a silent monologue rant going in my head. Blood ties do not necessarily reign supreme, and being a birth-mother does not give someone the right to mess up the lives of their progeny, however valid they feel their reasons for their actions are. Rant over.
A good book makes you think, and its influence remains even when you have finished reading. This book certainly did that. It was a well-crafted tale of family dynamics stretched to their limit, a family divided by The Mother who Stayed and The Mother who Left. You can probably guess whose side I was on.
The book was written in the third person, but the focus switches with each new chapter onto a different character – conveniently signalled by the person’s name in the heading – and the writing style reflects the personality of the character. The Little Girl/Willa’s chapters are bouncy, easily distracted and eternally optimistic. The Father/Adam’s chapters are stressed and fearful, while The Teenage Girl/Ella’s are full of anger and teenage angst.
Each of the main characters has a personal name and also a Label designating their place in the family – that is, all except Louis, who never seems to be referred to as The Dog. Louis transcends his doggyness, and at times seems to be more of an individual than all the others, and is the glue that somehow keeps them all together. The Labels are never used as chapter headings (only names), but frequently appear in the text. It is a sort of Brechtian device indicating the universality of the family’s problems.
I never fully got over my extreme dislike of Norah, but I did love the book. It was very moving, especially near the end, and an altogether excellent portrayal of a family in crisis.
December 30, 2015
This is an absolutely delightful story, beautifully written in a style unique to Virginia Macgregor. I have named What Milo Saw in my top 20 books of 2015, so I was absolutely delighted when I was invited to read an advance copy of The Astonishing Return of Norah Wells.
Norah's daughters, Ella and Willa, are such vibrant characters that they were an absolute pleasure to read. I found it hard at first to remember who was who as their names are so similar, but once they made it into my heart I could tell them apart. Ella remembers her Mum, Norah. She didn't know why Norah had left them and had set up a Twitter campaign to find her Mum. Willa was just a baby when Norah left and Norah's friend, Fay, is the only Mummy that she knows. Their lives are thrown into turmoil when Norah returns.
Norah's story is so emotional. It is clear that she never stopped loving her family so it's really hard, as the reader, to understand why she left. Virginia Macgregor tells Norah's story so compassionately that, by the time all of the jigsaw pieces fell into place, the whole Wells family felt very dear to me.
The conflicting emotions of Ella and Willa were portrayed so sympathetically. Ella is so angry that her Mum doesn't appear to have a good reason as to why she left. Willa, on the other hand, is quite accepting and is more than happy to have two Mums. They are both amazing girls and Ella is a perfect example of how we lash out at those we love whereas Willa reminds us to accept people for who they are.
This is a truly magical book with an unconventional family that you will surely fall in love with. Without a doubt, The Astonishing Return of Norah Wells is sure to become one of the big hits of 2016.
I received this e-book from the publisher, Sphere, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Norah's daughters, Ella and Willa, are such vibrant characters that they were an absolute pleasure to read. I found it hard at first to remember who was who as their names are so similar, but once they made it into my heart I could tell them apart. Ella remembers her Mum, Norah. She didn't know why Norah had left them and had set up a Twitter campaign to find her Mum. Willa was just a baby when Norah left and Norah's friend, Fay, is the only Mummy that she knows. Their lives are thrown into turmoil when Norah returns.
Norah's story is so emotional. It is clear that she never stopped loving her family so it's really hard, as the reader, to understand why she left. Virginia Macgregor tells Norah's story so compassionately that, by the time all of the jigsaw pieces fell into place, the whole Wells family felt very dear to me.
The conflicting emotions of Ella and Willa were portrayed so sympathetically. Ella is so angry that her Mum doesn't appear to have a good reason as to why she left. Willa, on the other hand, is quite accepting and is more than happy to have two Mums. They are both amazing girls and Ella is a perfect example of how we lash out at those we love whereas Willa reminds us to accept people for who they are.
This is a truly magical book with an unconventional family that you will surely fall in love with. Without a doubt, The Astonishing Return of Norah Wells is sure to become one of the big hits of 2016.
I received this e-book from the publisher, Sphere, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 3, 2016
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Having just named Virginia Macgregor’s debut novel, What Milo Saw, as one of my 8 favourite reads of 2015, I was super excited when I found out her second novel was due for release in January! I began counting down the days until it’s release so I was delighted to discover it on NetGalley and immediately sent off my request to read / review it! On top of that, it just so happened to be my first read of 2016! And what a great start to my year it was!
This is a heart-warming, easy to read story with intricately crafted characters who connect with one another very authentically and each face realistic problems. The novel explores family relationships that will be recognisable to all readers in some shape or form. Each of the narrating characters are portrayed perfectly and they each had their own distinct, definitive voice. I had a particular fond spot for Willa – her innocence, naivety and vulnerability is truly brilliant and she most definitely is “bonker cute”!
Not only are the plot and characters contained within this novel completely unique and thoroughly enjoyable, but I just love the way Virginia writes. There is something about her writing style that feels so familiar and comforting.
I would definitely recommend this novel as much as I have What Milo Saw. It has something for everything and is a real feel-good novel. I really cannot wait for the author to write her next novel but in the mean time I know I will be re-reading both of her existing novels at least once each!
The Astonishing Return of Norah Wells is out on the 14th January and can be purchased from Amazon here:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Astonishing-R...
Having just named Virginia Macgregor’s debut novel, What Milo Saw, as one of my 8 favourite reads of 2015, I was super excited when I found out her second novel was due for release in January! I began counting down the days until it’s release so I was delighted to discover it on NetGalley and immediately sent off my request to read / review it! On top of that, it just so happened to be my first read of 2016! And what a great start to my year it was!
This is a heart-warming, easy to read story with intricately crafted characters who connect with one another very authentically and each face realistic problems. The novel explores family relationships that will be recognisable to all readers in some shape or form. Each of the narrating characters are portrayed perfectly and they each had their own distinct, definitive voice. I had a particular fond spot for Willa – her innocence, naivety and vulnerability is truly brilliant and she most definitely is “bonker cute”!
Not only are the plot and characters contained within this novel completely unique and thoroughly enjoyable, but I just love the way Virginia writes. There is something about her writing style that feels so familiar and comforting.
I would definitely recommend this novel as much as I have What Milo Saw. It has something for everything and is a real feel-good novel. I really cannot wait for the author to write her next novel but in the mean time I know I will be re-reading both of her existing novels at least once each!
The Astonishing Return of Norah Wells is out on the 14th January and can be purchased from Amazon here:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Astonishing-R...
January 3, 2016
The Astonishing Return of Norah Wells is another beautifully written novel from Virginia Macgregor and after having been so captivated by her debut book What Milo Saw, I was thrilled to receive an advanced copy.
Six years ago Norah left her life and family behind. She left her youngest daughter Willa with her best friend Fay, dropped her eldest daughter Ella off at the school gates, left a note for her husband Adam and then disappeared from their lives, but now she's back.
Life at Willoughby Road has changed now though. Fay has not only held her family together, she's taken her place with both her daughters and her husband. So why has Norah come back as if nothing has happened?
Everyone has questions. How is Norah's return going to affect them, why did she leave, where has she been and why has she come back now after six years of silence? Is she hoping to pick up her life where she left off?
This is an emotional novel that will tug at your heart strings the more you read. The characters are superbly written and Macgregor has deftly portrayed Ella, the turbulent teenager, who now resents her mum for coming back, Willa, who talks to her dog and sees the world as being full of hope, Fay, who has harboured her feelings for so long and finally Norah, who made the tough decision to leave the family she loved so dearly. It's a wonderful story about growing up, self-discovery and family relationships. I think this is a book that will become a favourite for many readers and Virginia Macgregor is definitely an author to watch out for.
With kind thanks to Netgalley and publisher Sphere for the review copy.
Six years ago Norah left her life and family behind. She left her youngest daughter Willa with her best friend Fay, dropped her eldest daughter Ella off at the school gates, left a note for her husband Adam and then disappeared from their lives, but now she's back.
Life at Willoughby Road has changed now though. Fay has not only held her family together, she's taken her place with both her daughters and her husband. So why has Norah come back as if nothing has happened?
Everyone has questions. How is Norah's return going to affect them, why did she leave, where has she been and why has she come back now after six years of silence? Is she hoping to pick up her life where she left off?
This is an emotional novel that will tug at your heart strings the more you read. The characters are superbly written and Macgregor has deftly portrayed Ella, the turbulent teenager, who now resents her mum for coming back, Willa, who talks to her dog and sees the world as being full of hope, Fay, who has harboured her feelings for so long and finally Norah, who made the tough decision to leave the family she loved so dearly. It's a wonderful story about growing up, self-discovery and family relationships. I think this is a book that will become a favourite for many readers and Virginia Macgregor is definitely an author to watch out for.
With kind thanks to Netgalley and publisher Sphere for the review copy.
January 6, 2016
I loved Virginia Macgregor's first novel, What Milo Saw, so I was excited to read her newest, the Astonishing Return of Norah Wells, and I wasn't disappointed.
Norah Wells walked out on her family one ordinary morning, leaving her eldest daughter Ella bereft, and her youngest, Willa, unable to remember her.
When she returns six years later she finds her eldest daughter all grown up, her best friend, Fay, living with her husband Adam (who she could barely be in the same room with when Norah left) and Willa calling Fay 'Mummy'.
Ella is delighted by her Mothers sudden return. She has spent the last six years desperately trying to find her Mother and has longed for the day she returns.
But just why is she back?
And why on earth did she leave in the first place?
These are just a few of the questions that the Wells family would like Norah to answer.
But Norah has some questions of her own.
Just when did her husband and her best friend actually start liking each other?
And what will they do when they discover the real reason that Norah fled?
The Astonishing Return of Norah Wells is a lovely warm novel with some wonderful characters and I really look forward to seeing what this author has up her sleeve next!
Norah Wells walked out on her family one ordinary morning, leaving her eldest daughter Ella bereft, and her youngest, Willa, unable to remember her.
When she returns six years later she finds her eldest daughter all grown up, her best friend, Fay, living with her husband Adam (who she could barely be in the same room with when Norah left) and Willa calling Fay 'Mummy'.
Ella is delighted by her Mothers sudden return. She has spent the last six years desperately trying to find her Mother and has longed for the day she returns.
But just why is she back?
And why on earth did she leave in the first place?
These are just a few of the questions that the Wells family would like Norah to answer.
But Norah has some questions of her own.
Just when did her husband and her best friend actually start liking each other?
And what will they do when they discover the real reason that Norah fled?
The Astonishing Return of Norah Wells is a lovely warm novel with some wonderful characters and I really look forward to seeing what this author has up her sleeve next!
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