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The Way Back To Us
'I am a mess of tears on the train. Can't remember the last time a book broke my heart so much...' (Lucy Dillon on Away from You) Perfect for fans of Adele Parks and Maggie O'Farrell.
Since their youngest son, Teddy, was diagnosed with a life-defining illness, Anna has been fighting: against the friends who don't know how to help; against the team assigned to Teddy's care who constantly watch over Anna's parenting; and against the impulse to put Teddy above all else - including his older brother, the watchful, sensitive Isaac.
And now Anna can't seem to stop fighting against her husband, the one person who should be able to understand, but who somehow manages to carry on when Anna feels like she is suffocating under the weight of all the things that Teddy will never be able to do.
As Anna helplessly pushes Tom away, he can't help but feel the absence of the simple familiarity that should come so easily, and must face the question: is it worse to stay in an unhappy marriage, or leave?
Since their youngest son, Teddy, was diagnosed with a life-defining illness, Anna has been fighting: against the friends who don't know how to help; against the team assigned to Teddy's care who constantly watch over Anna's parenting; and against the impulse to put Teddy above all else - including his older brother, the watchful, sensitive Isaac.
And now Anna can't seem to stop fighting against her husband, the one person who should be able to understand, but who somehow manages to carry on when Anna feels like she is suffocating under the weight of all the things that Teddy will never be able to do.
As Anna helplessly pushes Tom away, he can't help but feel the absence of the simple familiarity that should come so easily, and must face the question: is it worse to stay in an unhappy marriage, or leave?
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 10, 2017
4 people are currently reading
263 people want to read
About the author
Kay Langdale
16 books21 followersKay Langdale was born in Coventry, England.
From a young age she loved to read and to write.
She attended Bedford College, London University, graduating with a first class degree in English Literature and then went to Oxford University where she completed a doctorate on Samuel Beckett’s prose fiction. She briefly taught twentieth century literature at St Edmund Hall, Oxford before beginning work as an account handler and copywriter at a brand consultancy.
She is married to a South African entrepreneur, with whom she has four children who are now mostly grown. Kay divides her time between their homes in Oxfordshire and Devon.
Now writing her eighth novel, Kay also works as an editor for the charity The Children’s Radio Foundation which trains young broadcasters in six countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
When not writing Kay enjoys running, ballet barre, yoga, swimming, coastal walking, learning Italian, cooking and reading. Always reading.
From a young age she loved to read and to write.
She attended Bedford College, London University, graduating with a first class degree in English Literature and then went to Oxford University where she completed a doctorate on Samuel Beckett’s prose fiction. She briefly taught twentieth century literature at St Edmund Hall, Oxford before beginning work as an account handler and copywriter at a brand consultancy.
She is married to a South African entrepreneur, with whom she has four children who are now mostly grown. Kay divides her time between their homes in Oxfordshire and Devon.
Now writing her eighth novel, Kay also works as an editor for the charity The Children’s Radio Foundation which trains young broadcasters in six countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
When not writing Kay enjoys running, ballet barre, yoga, swimming, coastal walking, learning Italian, cooking and reading. Always reading.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
July 22, 2017
Kay Langdale is one of my favourite authors I just personally find that I can get into every book that she writes.
Mother Anna is the perfect mother in my eyes. She has a lot to cope with two young children, Isaac and Teddy.
When Teddy was one years old Anna took Teddy to a geneticist. He explained that little Teddy has SMA type 2.
The neurologist explains that in order for the lower motor neurones in the spine to be healthy, there needs to be a protein called SMN. Without it, the lower motor neurones deteriorate, and then the message from the spinal cord can't get through to the muscles, so movement becomes increasingly difficult. The muscles waste due to lack of movement.
When father Tom takes out Teddy and Isaac to fly a kite it ends in disaster. Tom and Isaac tie the kite to Teddy's wheelchair. But Teddy is light and his wheelchair is light. Suddenly the wheelchair started bumping and bouncing down a slope. I will let you find out what happened, but the mothering in us we would be rather angry.
Sadly Tom has been seen with a young woman and someone suspects that he is having an affair.
What I realise is Just how much do we know about anyone?
Tom does love his wife and he tells Anna I want to find the way back to us.
Can they both save their marriage?
Please read this book. I promise that you'll enjoy it and learn a lot more than what I described in my review.
Mother Anna is the perfect mother in my eyes. She has a lot to cope with two young children, Isaac and Teddy.
When Teddy was one years old Anna took Teddy to a geneticist. He explained that little Teddy has SMA type 2.
The neurologist explains that in order for the lower motor neurones in the spine to be healthy, there needs to be a protein called SMN. Without it, the lower motor neurones deteriorate, and then the message from the spinal cord can't get through to the muscles, so movement becomes increasingly difficult. The muscles waste due to lack of movement.
When father Tom takes out Teddy and Isaac to fly a kite it ends in disaster. Tom and Isaac tie the kite to Teddy's wheelchair. But Teddy is light and his wheelchair is light. Suddenly the wheelchair started bumping and bouncing down a slope. I will let you find out what happened, but the mothering in us we would be rather angry.
Sadly Tom has been seen with a young woman and someone suspects that he is having an affair.
What I realise is Just how much do we know about anyone?
Tom does love his wife and he tells Anna I want to find the way back to us.
Can they both save their marriage?
Please read this book. I promise that you'll enjoy it and learn a lot more than what I described in my review.
August 23, 2017
Hello everyone and welcome to my blog tour stop today for this fantastic and emotional novel by Kay Langdale. Thank you so much to Jasmine Marsh and Hodder & Stoughton for inviting me to take part in this tour and providing me with a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review. It's no secret that I love a story that deals with difficult subjects and when I read the synopsis of The Way Back To Us I knew I simply had to be on board. In my day job, I work for Great Ormond Street Hospital where I come across a number of children who have very serious and rare diseases. Reading fiction for me is normally a great escape from the real world that I have to face but, for a change, I thought it would be interesting to read a fictionalised account of a child with a life-limiting illness. I had high expectations and I'm happy to say they were completely fulfilled - this is a moving, addictive read that had me completely wrapped up in the characters lives and even better, it was one hundred percent believable.
The Way Back To Us mainly focuses on Anna, mother of Isaac and Teddy and wife to Tom (although we hear from a number of perspectives, including the boys themselves). When Teddy was born he seemed like a normal, healthy baby until it was noticed that he wasn't quite making those huge developmental milestones. After a barrage of tests and investigations, Teddy is diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 2 (SMA) which is characterised by progressive muscle weakness across the entire body, breathing issues, feeding difficulties and skeletal abnormalities. Teddy cannot stand or walk without help and relies heavily on his wheelchair and the constant loving care of his mother to get through every day and have some sense of normality in his life although what he can do is severely limited compared to his older brother, Isaac.
The story follows Anna as she struggles with daily life looking after Teddy and making sure he has the best possible life despite his sad circumstances. Everybody in the family is affected by Teddy's illness, including Isaac who is often left to manage by himself completely unintentionally because of the level of care and dedication needed to look after Teddy. To add to her worries, Anna and her husband Tom's relationship seems to have hit a new level of "broken beyond repair." She takes all the responsibility of looking after Teddy upon herself and refuses to allow him in or admit that she needs help. As a result, their marriage is incredibly fragile and is teetering on the edge of disintegrating completely. Can Anna and Tom address the issues in their relationship and start to talk to each other again or is has what they once had as a couple disappeared for good?
The Way Back To Us was such a poignant and beautiful read. I adored the characters, especially the boys, Teddy and Isaac and really felt for all parties in their horrific situation. It's true, I did feel like shaking Anna and Tom at points, especially when as a reader you could see everything that was going wrong and what the other person could potentially do to fix it....then they did the exact opposite! This frustration that I mention is only in a good way I assure you, it certainly motivated me to keep reading whilst praying that everything turned out well for the family in the end. The author has obviously done her research into a condition that is obviously distressing and heart-breaking and because of her meticulous plot and flawed but very "real" characters, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey she took me on and found this a hugely powerful read.
For my full review and many more please visit my blog at http://www.bibliobeth.com
The Way Back To Us mainly focuses on Anna, mother of Isaac and Teddy and wife to Tom (although we hear from a number of perspectives, including the boys themselves). When Teddy was born he seemed like a normal, healthy baby until it was noticed that he wasn't quite making those huge developmental milestones. After a barrage of tests and investigations, Teddy is diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 2 (SMA) which is characterised by progressive muscle weakness across the entire body, breathing issues, feeding difficulties and skeletal abnormalities. Teddy cannot stand or walk without help and relies heavily on his wheelchair and the constant loving care of his mother to get through every day and have some sense of normality in his life although what he can do is severely limited compared to his older brother, Isaac.
The story follows Anna as she struggles with daily life looking after Teddy and making sure he has the best possible life despite his sad circumstances. Everybody in the family is affected by Teddy's illness, including Isaac who is often left to manage by himself completely unintentionally because of the level of care and dedication needed to look after Teddy. To add to her worries, Anna and her husband Tom's relationship seems to have hit a new level of "broken beyond repair." She takes all the responsibility of looking after Teddy upon herself and refuses to allow him in or admit that she needs help. As a result, their marriage is incredibly fragile and is teetering on the edge of disintegrating completely. Can Anna and Tom address the issues in their relationship and start to talk to each other again or is has what they once had as a couple disappeared for good?
The Way Back To Us was such a poignant and beautiful read. I adored the characters, especially the boys, Teddy and Isaac and really felt for all parties in their horrific situation. It's true, I did feel like shaking Anna and Tom at points, especially when as a reader you could see everything that was going wrong and what the other person could potentially do to fix it....then they did the exact opposite! This frustration that I mention is only in a good way I assure you, it certainly motivated me to keep reading whilst praying that everything turned out well for the family in the end. The author has obviously done her research into a condition that is obviously distressing and heart-breaking and because of her meticulous plot and flawed but very "real" characters, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey she took me on and found this a hugely powerful read.
For my full review and many more please visit my blog at http://www.bibliobeth.com
May 17, 2025
Beautifully written, deeply human and perfect for readers who appreciate character-driven stories that make you THINK and FEEL.
This isn’t a book driven by plot twists or high-stakes drama. It’s about people, relationships and inner conflict. If you enjoy stories where the emotional journeys of the characters take center stage and where growth, healing and introspection matter more than action, then this is absolutely your kind of read.
This isn’t a book driven by plot twists or high-stakes drama. It’s about people, relationships and inner conflict. If you enjoy stories where the emotional journeys of the characters take center stage and where growth, healing and introspection matter more than action, then this is absolutely your kind of read.
August 20, 2019
Beautiful and poignant
August 25, 2017
With Teddy having a life affecting genetic illness, the impact isn’t just on him, but on the whole family.
Oh dear. Do not read this book unless you are willing to be emotionally broken. I adore emotional reads and loved every word of The Way Back To Us.
I’m not usually a fan of multiple voiced narratives, but in this case, Anna, Tom, Isaac and Teddy held me spellbound for every syllable. Their personalities are vivid, and so delicately drawn that it is impossible not to understand every element of how they think and feel. I didn’t like Anna at all for 95% of the novel because of her self-destructive nature, but she had every ounce of my compassion and, ultimately, my complete understanding so that I changed my mind about her totally. Of all four, however, it was Isaac for whom my heart broke. There is a moment when I could hardly bear his sadness and guilt.
Kay Langdale illustrates with devastating honesty what daily life can be like when a child is ill. I now have a sympathetic understanding of the emotions: the fear, the rage. the guilt, the loneliness, of caring for a child with a life affecting genetic disease. However, The Way Back To Us is more than just a story about a family with a sick child. It is also an exquisite and heartbreaking exploration of the disintegration of a marriage, of parent and child relationships, friendships and family. I felt as if those who are in a spiral of distance from their loved ones would be able to repair their relationships if only they read this book.
The Way Back To Us is a wonderful, story, beautifully and poetically written. The balance of prose to direct speech, for example, mirrors the inability of the characters to communicate with one another effectively. Every emotion and action portrayed is totally believable and real. The Way Back To Us has made me grateful for everything I have and determined never to lose sight of why I love my own wonderful husband.
https://lindasbookbag.com/2017/08/25/...
Oh dear. Do not read this book unless you are willing to be emotionally broken. I adore emotional reads and loved every word of The Way Back To Us.
I’m not usually a fan of multiple voiced narratives, but in this case, Anna, Tom, Isaac and Teddy held me spellbound for every syllable. Their personalities are vivid, and so delicately drawn that it is impossible not to understand every element of how they think and feel. I didn’t like Anna at all for 95% of the novel because of her self-destructive nature, but she had every ounce of my compassion and, ultimately, my complete understanding so that I changed my mind about her totally. Of all four, however, it was Isaac for whom my heart broke. There is a moment when I could hardly bear his sadness and guilt.
Kay Langdale illustrates with devastating honesty what daily life can be like when a child is ill. I now have a sympathetic understanding of the emotions: the fear, the rage. the guilt, the loneliness, of caring for a child with a life affecting genetic disease. However, The Way Back To Us is more than just a story about a family with a sick child. It is also an exquisite and heartbreaking exploration of the disintegration of a marriage, of parent and child relationships, friendships and family. I felt as if those who are in a spiral of distance from their loved ones would be able to repair their relationships if only they read this book.
The Way Back To Us is a wonderful, story, beautifully and poetically written. The balance of prose to direct speech, for example, mirrors the inability of the characters to communicate with one another effectively. Every emotion and action portrayed is totally believable and real. The Way Back To Us has made me grateful for everything I have and determined never to lose sight of why I love my own wonderful husband.
https://lindasbookbag.com/2017/08/25/...
August 17, 2017
I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this novel through a Goodreads giveaway. The blurb attracted me so I was actually really glad to receive this copy. The book deals with the the strains and tensions within family relationships. It sounded like the plot would allow for plenty of room for character exploration in difficult, albeit very much real life, situations. Of course, whether it managed or not would be completely up to the author's ability to spin the tale!
Ultimately, while I liked the book well enough, it was okay firmly in the realms of the okay. And yes, that is a horrible word. For that reason, this review will probably be a bit bland.
See the thing is, I did really want to like this book and I did give it a jolly good try but it just didn't capture me. I'd pick it up and read it quite happily. It was easy enough to read, and never a trudge, but once I put it down I just didn't feel any real desire to pick it up again.
The characters are all going through large conflicts both within themselves and with regard to their relationships to others. The thing is, I just didn't really care. I did enjoy seeing things from different view points as the same interaction would be described by more than one character on occasion. That was an interesting way to see the miscommunications and the mutual pains that came from them. However, I just didn't connect with the characters well enough to become invested in their trials and tribulations. Frankly, I think that was the main problem. The strength of this novel should have been routed in the people. For me, that just was not there.
Overall, I do think there is potential in this book and I do think that it is quite likely that some people will really enjoy it. It wasn't bad. It just wasn't for me. Sorry!
Ultimately, while I liked the book well enough, it was okay firmly in the realms of the okay. And yes, that is a horrible word. For that reason, this review will probably be a bit bland.
See the thing is, I did really want to like this book and I did give it a jolly good try but it just didn't capture me. I'd pick it up and read it quite happily. It was easy enough to read, and never a trudge, but once I put it down I just didn't feel any real desire to pick it up again.
The characters are all going through large conflicts both within themselves and with regard to their relationships to others. The thing is, I just didn't really care. I did enjoy seeing things from different view points as the same interaction would be described by more than one character on occasion. That was an interesting way to see the miscommunications and the mutual pains that came from them. However, I just didn't connect with the characters well enough to become invested in their trials and tribulations. Frankly, I think that was the main problem. The strength of this novel should have been routed in the people. For me, that just was not there.
Overall, I do think there is potential in this book and I do think that it is quite likely that some people will really enjoy it. It wasn't bad. It just wasn't for me. Sorry!
July 9, 2017
Enjoyable read with a well-researched and unfortunately oh-so-relatable storyline, populated by well-rounded and interesting characters.
I feel the reviews around this book about 'crying on the train' do this book a disservice. It is not a weepy, it is a careful examination of depression, facing difficult circumstances, and learning to love one self again; so that one can love others.
Would recommend.
Note to author:
I could happily read about Ruth and Stephen and their 3 boys growing up on the farm. I think Edward and Tabitha's courtship would make an interesting read. I also think there's potential for a sequel with the ongoing relationship between Isaac and Teddy.
I feel the reviews around this book about 'crying on the train' do this book a disservice. It is not a weepy, it is a careful examination of depression, facing difficult circumstances, and learning to love one self again; so that one can love others.
Would recommend.
Note to author:
I could happily read about Ruth and Stephen and their 3 boys growing up on the farm. I think Edward and Tabitha's courtship would make an interesting read. I also think there's potential for a sequel with the ongoing relationship between Isaac and Teddy.
June 10, 2017
4.5 stars. Review to follow...
August 20, 2019
Beautiful and poignant
December 27, 2017
Time taken to read - 3 days on and off
Pages - 274
Publisher - Hodder & Stoughton
Source - Review Copy
Blurb from Goodreads
I am a mess of tears on the train. Can't remember the last time a book broke my heart so much... (Lucy Dillon on Away from You) Perfect for fans of Adele Parks and Maggie O'Farrell.
Since their youngest son, Teddy, was diagnosed with a life-defining illness, Anna has been fighting: against the friends who don't know how to help; against the team assigned to Teddy's care who constantly watch over Anna's parenting; and against the impulse to put Teddy above all else - including his older brother, the watchful, sensitive Isaac.
And now Anna can't seem to stop fighting against her husband, the one person who should be able to understand, but who somehow manages to carry on when Anna feels like she is suffocating under the weight of all the things that Teddy will never be able to do.
As Anna helplessly pushes Tom away, he can't help but feel the absence of the simple familiarity that should come so easily, and must face the question: is it worse to stay in an unhappy marriage, or leave?
My Review
This story centres around Anna's family, her husband Tom and her two sons Isaac and Teddy. Teddy has SMA type 2 and the book gives some education on it without being too heavy in medical jargon or clinical. The bulk of the story is the effect Teddy's condition has on them all, how they interact, cope and go about their days. How the attitude and choices of one impacts on the others and the actions that follow as a result.
I don't know if the author has any experience either with a condition like this or a loved one who has some similar condition. Despite it being a fictional story it has a very real voice on the difficulties of every day life, things we take for granted that someone with a chronic condition could have great difficulty with. Add into that the emotions, strain and focus each family member has, the mother who has to be superwoman, ensuring the rights and safety of her child. The husband who is the bread winner but feels like a spare part at times when it comes to the inner workings of his family and his relationship with his wife. And the brother Isaac, older but still a child himself living with everything revolving around and putting Teddy first at all times.
It is heavily focused on the relationships between the four main characters, marital difficulties, relationships and friendships with those outwith the inner family. Social interactions, those with medical professionals and the outer branch of professionals involved in Teddy's care. The story is multi narrative, all chapters are headed with the person whose view point we will be seeing it from so it is really easy to follow. There is a lot of emotion within the book, it tackles many issues and made for interesting reading, I do enjoy a book where medical conditions pop up. It took me a wee bit to settle into the different view points, easy enough to follow who it is but they have different voices and issues so a wee bit jumpy in some aspects. I did however enjoy the book, Langdale has a nice tone when writing and you can slip into the plot with ease. 3.5 stars for me this time, I have read her before and would read her again, as always my thanks to the publisher.
Pages - 274
Publisher - Hodder & Stoughton
Source - Review Copy
Blurb from Goodreads
I am a mess of tears on the train. Can't remember the last time a book broke my heart so much... (Lucy Dillon on Away from You) Perfect for fans of Adele Parks and Maggie O'Farrell.
Since their youngest son, Teddy, was diagnosed with a life-defining illness, Anna has been fighting: against the friends who don't know how to help; against the team assigned to Teddy's care who constantly watch over Anna's parenting; and against the impulse to put Teddy above all else - including his older brother, the watchful, sensitive Isaac.
And now Anna can't seem to stop fighting against her husband, the one person who should be able to understand, but who somehow manages to carry on when Anna feels like she is suffocating under the weight of all the things that Teddy will never be able to do.
As Anna helplessly pushes Tom away, he can't help but feel the absence of the simple familiarity that should come so easily, and must face the question: is it worse to stay in an unhappy marriage, or leave?
My Review
This story centres around Anna's family, her husband Tom and her two sons Isaac and Teddy. Teddy has SMA type 2 and the book gives some education on it without being too heavy in medical jargon or clinical. The bulk of the story is the effect Teddy's condition has on them all, how they interact, cope and go about their days. How the attitude and choices of one impacts on the others and the actions that follow as a result.
I don't know if the author has any experience either with a condition like this or a loved one who has some similar condition. Despite it being a fictional story it has a very real voice on the difficulties of every day life, things we take for granted that someone with a chronic condition could have great difficulty with. Add into that the emotions, strain and focus each family member has, the mother who has to be superwoman, ensuring the rights and safety of her child. The husband who is the bread winner but feels like a spare part at times when it comes to the inner workings of his family and his relationship with his wife. And the brother Isaac, older but still a child himself living with everything revolving around and putting Teddy first at all times.
It is heavily focused on the relationships between the four main characters, marital difficulties, relationships and friendships with those outwith the inner family. Social interactions, those with medical professionals and the outer branch of professionals involved in Teddy's care. The story is multi narrative, all chapters are headed with the person whose view point we will be seeing it from so it is really easy to follow. There is a lot of emotion within the book, it tackles many issues and made for interesting reading, I do enjoy a book where medical conditions pop up. It took me a wee bit to settle into the different view points, easy enough to follow who it is but they have different voices and issues so a wee bit jumpy in some aspects. I did however enjoy the book, Langdale has a nice tone when writing and you can slip into the plot with ease. 3.5 stars for me this time, I have read her before and would read her again, as always my thanks to the publisher.
March 25, 2020
A beautiful book which each chapter swapping between the perspectives of the four main characters.
Each of Anna's chapters break your heart as she battles with those around her to fiercely protect her son, and Tom's bring a tear to your eye too as no matter what he does, it doesn't seem to be right.
My favourite chapters were Teddy's, as despite his horrible illness it was heartwarming to hear how wonderfully and positively he thinks about everything in his life.
Each of Anna's chapters break your heart as she battles with those around her to fiercely protect her son, and Tom's bring a tear to your eye too as no matter what he does, it doesn't seem to be right.
My favourite chapters were Teddy's, as despite his horrible illness it was heartwarming to hear how wonderfully and positively he thinks about everything in his life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2018
A family struggles to cope.
I thought many parts of this book were really good - but something in the characters / set-up didn't really grab.
If you enjoy weepies, this book maybe worth a look.
I thought many parts of this book were really good - but something in the characters / set-up didn't really grab.
If you enjoy weepies, this book maybe worth a look.
July 1, 2017
I won this book on the goodreads competition (thanks) and was excited to read it but unfortunately I didn't get on with the style of writing nor enjoy the story
August 2, 2017
I love Kay Langdale's writing. Her last book, The Comfort of Others, was one of my top reads of 2016 and so I was obviously very keen to read The Way Back to Us. I have to say that I don't think I have enough superlatives to do a review justice but I'll give it a go!
The Way Back to Us is about a family in crisis. Anna, Tom and their children, Isaac and Teddy. 5 year old Teddy has Spinal Muscular Atophy (SMA) Type 2 and the diagnosis sent the family into a spin. Anna is defensive and prickly, trying to keep her children as safe as they can be but she's pushing Tom away and this book is about finding a way back to the love and respect that they had for each other before. Whether they can achieve it or not I will leave you to find out for yourself.
The story is told by the four family members in chapters from their point of view. This worked brilliantly and was a great device to show just how each character felt. Kay Langdale proved with The Comfort of Others how adept she is at writing from a child's point of view and once again she has hit exactly the right note. Both Isaac and Teddy are perfectly drawn with Isaac having to be the responsible older brother and therefore being older than his years.
I don't very often mark passages in books but I marked several in this one and I'd like to share one or two with you. This first passage is one which stood out because of the beautiful descriptiveness of the writing.
"He smells of otherness: of soap wrapped in waxed paper in a Swiss hotel room; of the lemon flannel given to him on the plane; of the stale air of the train home; and faintly, so faintly, of snow, of a clear, bright sprinkling of coldness."
It's a breadth of description that I don't often come across in the books that I read.
Anna is so caught up in caring for Teddy that she has little room in her life for anybody else, apart from Isaac that is. So when she meets another mum who tries to be friendly, Anna thinks:
"From the corner of my eye, her mouth is like a mollusc, latching onto my skin, keen for purchase. It's unbearable".
I just love how observant and astute Langdale is. I really could wax lyrical about her writing. I found myself empathising with a character and then in the next chapter, narrated by a different character, I could see it from their point of view too. There's no wrong or right, just a slow fracturing of a family.
I rarely cry at books but this one got me, right near the end. I'd invested so much in the characters that I really felt right there in their lives. The Way Back to Us is stunning and beautiful and moving. A triumph!
The Way Back to Us is about a family in crisis. Anna, Tom and their children, Isaac and Teddy. 5 year old Teddy has Spinal Muscular Atophy (SMA) Type 2 and the diagnosis sent the family into a spin. Anna is defensive and prickly, trying to keep her children as safe as they can be but she's pushing Tom away and this book is about finding a way back to the love and respect that they had for each other before. Whether they can achieve it or not I will leave you to find out for yourself.
The story is told by the four family members in chapters from their point of view. This worked brilliantly and was a great device to show just how each character felt. Kay Langdale proved with The Comfort of Others how adept she is at writing from a child's point of view and once again she has hit exactly the right note. Both Isaac and Teddy are perfectly drawn with Isaac having to be the responsible older brother and therefore being older than his years.
I don't very often mark passages in books but I marked several in this one and I'd like to share one or two with you. This first passage is one which stood out because of the beautiful descriptiveness of the writing.
"He smells of otherness: of soap wrapped in waxed paper in a Swiss hotel room; of the lemon flannel given to him on the plane; of the stale air of the train home; and faintly, so faintly, of snow, of a clear, bright sprinkling of coldness."
It's a breadth of description that I don't often come across in the books that I read.
Anna is so caught up in caring for Teddy that she has little room in her life for anybody else, apart from Isaac that is. So when she meets another mum who tries to be friendly, Anna thinks:
"From the corner of my eye, her mouth is like a mollusc, latching onto my skin, keen for purchase. It's unbearable".
I just love how observant and astute Langdale is. I really could wax lyrical about her writing. I found myself empathising with a character and then in the next chapter, narrated by a different character, I could see it from their point of view too. There's no wrong or right, just a slow fracturing of a family.
I rarely cry at books but this one got me, right near the end. I'd invested so much in the characters that I really felt right there in their lives. The Way Back to Us is stunning and beautiful and moving. A triumph!
November 2, 2017
Anna and Tom are parents of two young children, Teddy and Isaac. When Teddy is diagnosed with a life-affecting genetic illness the family begins to fall apart as each member tries to cope in their own way with both the prognosis and the ever-increasing difficulties of care for him. Tell-tale signs soon escalate as routines become disrupted, priorities change and family life suffers. Anna bears the brunt of the responsibility, giving up work to care full-time for Teddy. She becomes obsessive in her vigilance to the exclusion of all else and her emotions are stretched taut to breaking point. Tom is in a difficult position as he tries to juggle work and home life but it becomes apparent that he is not going to be able to do anything right in Anna’s eyes and the tension between them is palpable. Isaac is a lovely, placid child who copes admirably when “Mummy’s” attention shifts almost exclusively onto Teddy. He adores his younger brother and will do everything possible to make his life easier and more enjoyable. He alone really understands what Teddy wants out of life and he works effortlessly towards achieving this without humiliating Teddy because of his limited mobility.
The story is written from the point of view of multiple voices, primarily Anna, Tom and Isaac, with infrequent input from Teddy. We are made privy to all their angst, fears, and frustrations.
There are two issues that I had with this book. The first is that it was just so depressing as Anna and Tom are just so unhappy. The only saving grace is that Isaac does introduce glimmers of joy when it his turn to “speak”. In addition, the whole family scenario creates awkward interpersonal relationships which are portrayed brilliantly but which do not make it a comfortable read. Whilst I think the author has done a fantastic job of envisaging what I am sure are very real emotions felt by people in this situation, and also managing to convey those feelings to the reader, that doesn’t necessarily make it an easy or enjoyable book to read.
I’m not sure whether to recommend this book or not. A holiday read it certainly is not, but the author expertly captures the less tangible problems which can arise from looking after a family member who has a life-changing. It is interesting, perceptive and, ultimately, uplifting. You will need to make your own mind up on this one.
The story is written from the point of view of multiple voices, primarily Anna, Tom and Isaac, with infrequent input from Teddy. We are made privy to all their angst, fears, and frustrations.
There are two issues that I had with this book. The first is that it was just so depressing as Anna and Tom are just so unhappy. The only saving grace is that Isaac does introduce glimmers of joy when it his turn to “speak”. In addition, the whole family scenario creates awkward interpersonal relationships which are portrayed brilliantly but which do not make it a comfortable read. Whilst I think the author has done a fantastic job of envisaging what I am sure are very real emotions felt by people in this situation, and also managing to convey those feelings to the reader, that doesn’t necessarily make it an easy or enjoyable book to read.
I’m not sure whether to recommend this book or not. A holiday read it certainly is not, but the author expertly captures the less tangible problems which can arise from looking after a family member who has a life-changing. It is interesting, perceptive and, ultimately, uplifting. You will need to make your own mind up on this one.
November 3, 2018
This review was originally posted on my blog: https://rathertoofondofbooks.com/
I’m going to start by saying that I’m a huge fan of Kay Langdale’s novels – the first one I ever read was Her Giant Octopus Moment and I adored it. I can say, with absolute honesty, that The Way Back to Us is her best yet! I read this in one sitting, I just didn’t want to put it down for a minute.
The Way Back to Us is a novel about a family of four who are still coming to terms with the fact that the youngest child, Teddy, has SMA – a rare genetic disorder that has changed all of their lives.
Anna, Teddy’s mum, gave up her career the very second Teddy got his diagnosis. There is a moment where she shares how she felt at that time and I felt so emotional as I was reading it. I don’t have children but I have lived through that horrendous life-defining moment where you know your world has moved on its axis and your life is forever changed. Anna becomes fiercely protective over Teddy – she’s become obsessive about cleaning and keeping him safe from germs but she’s utterly devoted to him and fights so hard for his right to attend a normal school. I could totally identify with her desire to stop germs coming into the house – I was the same when I was a carer to my mum as she went through chemo as part of the palliative care. It’s partly a need to protect your loved one but it’s also a way of having some control over the desperate circumstances you find yourself in. I felt such empathy for Anna, I wanted to reach through the pages and hug her.
Tom is Teddy’s dad and he is now the sole bread winner for the family and so is very focused on his work. When he gets home he rushes to his children to greet them but Anna is often distant with him and he doesn’t understand why. As a reader you have an all-seeing eye and can spot what is happening but these characters are mired in the situation and can’t see the wood for the trees. Tom clearly loves his children, and his wife, but when Anna seems to always be snapping at him to be careful with Teddy it’s easy to see why a work colleague starts to catch Tom’s eye. The situation they’re in is not an excuse to think about cheating but it’s so apparent that Tom loves his family – he just feels redundant as Anna is so focused on what needs to be done, and Tom is focused on work that there never seems to be time for them to sit and just talk about how they feel.
Isaac is Teddy’s older brother and he is such a wonderful child. Kay Langdale has the writing so spot on in that Isaac always comes across as a child but he is so perceptive, he can’t always understand what is going on with his parents but he picks up on the mood and the atmosphere. He is so caring towards his mum, he is really tuned in to her feelings and wants to do anything he can to help her. He tries to soothe her at times by trying to look on the bright side, and he takes care of himself to take some of the responsibility off her shoulders. The thing I loved most about Isaac though was his relationship with Teddy. He is so careful not to hurt him but at the same time is determined to help him try to do normal, fun things. There is a moment when Isaac tries to help Teddy learn to hop, which is impossible as Teddy can’t even stand unaided, but the amount of pure love and joy in both boys in that moment radiates from the page. I adored that moment and it makes me smile every time I think of it.
The novel is set in the present but we get the back story as the characters, particularly Anna, mulls over how she got here. As we learn about how Teddy was diagnosed the language Anna uses in her own thoughts is so telling – there is a moment when the doctor explains how her genes and Tom’s led to Teddy having SMA and Anna ponders about other men she had relationships with and how their genes might have mixed differently but then she thinks of Tom ‘who carried it undetected towards me’. She doesn’t really blame Tom but it’s an undercurrent, a thing that can’t be said in their marriage – it shows her anger and her sadness that this has happened to them, to their child.
The clever way the story is built on in each chapter, with more layers and depth as we see other points of view ,is brilliant. Kay Langdale deftly shows how each person feels and what they think but how they often just can’t say it because their own pain holds them back, and they fear making things worse. It feels so real as you read this novel – the missed chances between Anna and Tom took my breath away at times, I was willing them to find a way to really communicate with each other. My heart broke when Tom tried to recreate old times with Anna by fantasising on what they could spend his bonus on, he was trying so hard and I loved him for it, but Anna’s first words are how they could use the money to help Teddy, which is totally understandable, but it broke the spell of the moment. My heart was breaking for them both at this point.
I won’t give any spoilers but there is an incident with a kite in this novel and it’s in the aftermath of that where we really come to understand why each member of the family is the way they are. The mix of sheer joy from one, sheer terror from another, the misplaced fear and the worry from the other two is palpable. We learn so much in this part of the novel and it’s the point when it felt like make or break for this family and I was really hoping they would find a way to move toward each other again once the pain and anger subsided.
The Way Back to Us is at its heart a novel about how people cope when life throws a massive curveball at them. It’s a look at relationships – between a married couple, between parents and their children, and between siblings – that is so raw and honest that at times you need to pause and take a breath. The plot of this novel is very moving but it’s more a look at the characters, and they are such well thought out characters. The way Kay Langdale makes you feel sympathy for everyone in this family is so cleverly done – it would be easy to make Anna the good guy and Tom the bad guy in the marriage but that never happens. Instead, through the layering of the perspectives we just see the reality of their lives in its raw and honest state. There is heartbreak in this novel, and honestly I shed quite a few tears whilst reading, but there is beauty and joy too.
This novel is incredible and so beautifully written. I can’t stop thinking about these characters – they feel like real people to me. This is such an emotional novel – at times it’s heartbreaking but it really is such a stunning read. Kay Langdale is a master of crafting novels that feel so true and real, she really gets under the skin of her characters and makes them feel like people you know – I’m sure that these characters will have a hold on me for a long while to come. This is absolutely Kay Langdale’s best work to date and I am certain that The Way Back to Us will be one of my top books of this year – I’ll be recommending it to everyone! Go buy a copy now, you won’t regret it!
The Way Back to Us is out now.
I’m going to start by saying that I’m a huge fan of Kay Langdale’s novels – the first one I ever read was Her Giant Octopus Moment and I adored it. I can say, with absolute honesty, that The Way Back to Us is her best yet! I read this in one sitting, I just didn’t want to put it down for a minute.
The Way Back to Us is a novel about a family of four who are still coming to terms with the fact that the youngest child, Teddy, has SMA – a rare genetic disorder that has changed all of their lives.
Anna, Teddy’s mum, gave up her career the very second Teddy got his diagnosis. There is a moment where she shares how she felt at that time and I felt so emotional as I was reading it. I don’t have children but I have lived through that horrendous life-defining moment where you know your world has moved on its axis and your life is forever changed. Anna becomes fiercely protective over Teddy – she’s become obsessive about cleaning and keeping him safe from germs but she’s utterly devoted to him and fights so hard for his right to attend a normal school. I could totally identify with her desire to stop germs coming into the house – I was the same when I was a carer to my mum as she went through chemo as part of the palliative care. It’s partly a need to protect your loved one but it’s also a way of having some control over the desperate circumstances you find yourself in. I felt such empathy for Anna, I wanted to reach through the pages and hug her.
Tom is Teddy’s dad and he is now the sole bread winner for the family and so is very focused on his work. When he gets home he rushes to his children to greet them but Anna is often distant with him and he doesn’t understand why. As a reader you have an all-seeing eye and can spot what is happening but these characters are mired in the situation and can’t see the wood for the trees. Tom clearly loves his children, and his wife, but when Anna seems to always be snapping at him to be careful with Teddy it’s easy to see why a work colleague starts to catch Tom’s eye. The situation they’re in is not an excuse to think about cheating but it’s so apparent that Tom loves his family – he just feels redundant as Anna is so focused on what needs to be done, and Tom is focused on work that there never seems to be time for them to sit and just talk about how they feel.
Isaac is Teddy’s older brother and he is such a wonderful child. Kay Langdale has the writing so spot on in that Isaac always comes across as a child but he is so perceptive, he can’t always understand what is going on with his parents but he picks up on the mood and the atmosphere. He is so caring towards his mum, he is really tuned in to her feelings and wants to do anything he can to help her. He tries to soothe her at times by trying to look on the bright side, and he takes care of himself to take some of the responsibility off her shoulders. The thing I loved most about Isaac though was his relationship with Teddy. He is so careful not to hurt him but at the same time is determined to help him try to do normal, fun things. There is a moment when Isaac tries to help Teddy learn to hop, which is impossible as Teddy can’t even stand unaided, but the amount of pure love and joy in both boys in that moment radiates from the page. I adored that moment and it makes me smile every time I think of it.
The novel is set in the present but we get the back story as the characters, particularly Anna, mulls over how she got here. As we learn about how Teddy was diagnosed the language Anna uses in her own thoughts is so telling – there is a moment when the doctor explains how her genes and Tom’s led to Teddy having SMA and Anna ponders about other men she had relationships with and how their genes might have mixed differently but then she thinks of Tom ‘who carried it undetected towards me’. She doesn’t really blame Tom but it’s an undercurrent, a thing that can’t be said in their marriage – it shows her anger and her sadness that this has happened to them, to their child.
The clever way the story is built on in each chapter, with more layers and depth as we see other points of view ,is brilliant. Kay Langdale deftly shows how each person feels and what they think but how they often just can’t say it because their own pain holds them back, and they fear making things worse. It feels so real as you read this novel – the missed chances between Anna and Tom took my breath away at times, I was willing them to find a way to really communicate with each other. My heart broke when Tom tried to recreate old times with Anna by fantasising on what they could spend his bonus on, he was trying so hard and I loved him for it, but Anna’s first words are how they could use the money to help Teddy, which is totally understandable, but it broke the spell of the moment. My heart was breaking for them both at this point.
I won’t give any spoilers but there is an incident with a kite in this novel and it’s in the aftermath of that where we really come to understand why each member of the family is the way they are. The mix of sheer joy from one, sheer terror from another, the misplaced fear and the worry from the other two is palpable. We learn so much in this part of the novel and it’s the point when it felt like make or break for this family and I was really hoping they would find a way to move toward each other again once the pain and anger subsided.
The Way Back to Us is at its heart a novel about how people cope when life throws a massive curveball at them. It’s a look at relationships – between a married couple, between parents and their children, and between siblings – that is so raw and honest that at times you need to pause and take a breath. The plot of this novel is very moving but it’s more a look at the characters, and they are such well thought out characters. The way Kay Langdale makes you feel sympathy for everyone in this family is so cleverly done – it would be easy to make Anna the good guy and Tom the bad guy in the marriage but that never happens. Instead, through the layering of the perspectives we just see the reality of their lives in its raw and honest state. There is heartbreak in this novel, and honestly I shed quite a few tears whilst reading, but there is beauty and joy too.
This novel is incredible and so beautifully written. I can’t stop thinking about these characters – they feel like real people to me. This is such an emotional novel – at times it’s heartbreaking but it really is such a stunning read. Kay Langdale is a master of crafting novels that feel so true and real, she really gets under the skin of her characters and makes them feel like people you know – I’m sure that these characters will have a hold on me for a long while to come. This is absolutely Kay Langdale’s best work to date and I am certain that The Way Back to Us will be one of my top books of this year – I’ll be recommending it to everyone! Go buy a copy now, you won’t regret it!
The Way Back to Us is out now.
August 7, 2017
The Way Back To Us has had such an emotional impact on me. It is not a happy read so I wouldn't advise it if you are looking for some light escapism. However it is emotionally charged and raw with realistic brilliance. I cried a few times reading this novel.
The Way Back To Us is a story of a family trying to cope with a young child's disability. Five year old Teddy has a genetic condition resulting in multiple disabilities that have a massive impact on his life. He was diagnosed when he was a year old and since then his mother Anna has devoted her life to caring for him full-time. Teddy has an older brother Isaac, who is quietly trying to make sense of his family life, all the while wanting to protect both Teddy and his mum. From what, he is not exactly sure. And then there is Tom, the boys' father and Anna's husband who increasingly feels an outsider in his own home.
When the novel opens Anna and Tom's marriage is at breaking point. Anna is constantly feeling that she needs to fight on behalf of Teddy; she is so busy fighting that she's sacrificing her marriage and her sense of self. She's resentful of Tom and he is very aware of this, increasing his feelings of inadequacy and marginalisation. To add to this Tom is developing a strong attraction for Eliza, an uncomplicated and vibrant colleague.
There is no 'good guys, bad guys' in this novel, in fact I strongly empathised with each of the characters. The chapters alternate between all four family members, each narrated in the first-person so us as the reader gets an intimate insight into how they're emotionally and psychologically feeling. Even though the narration can describe mundane, every day details, because it is so emotionally charged it adds to the dramatic tension.
The research that must have gone into writing this novel is unbelievable. Yes, every disability is different and how it affects individuals and family life is also very different. However the psychologically internal struggles as well as the external struggles can be similar. The Way Back To Us is an acute reminder of the importance of self compassion and reaching out for help.
I have to say a very big thank you to the author Kay Langdale for writing such a poignant novel. In my view this a must read and one of my favourite books of 2017 so far.
Thank you to Bookbridgr and Hodder & Stoughton for sending me an advanced review copy in exchange for my honest review.
My rating of The Way Back To Us is 4.5 (rounded up to 5 on Goodreads).
The Way Back To Us is a story of a family trying to cope with a young child's disability. Five year old Teddy has a genetic condition resulting in multiple disabilities that have a massive impact on his life. He was diagnosed when he was a year old and since then his mother Anna has devoted her life to caring for him full-time. Teddy has an older brother Isaac, who is quietly trying to make sense of his family life, all the while wanting to protect both Teddy and his mum. From what, he is not exactly sure. And then there is Tom, the boys' father and Anna's husband who increasingly feels an outsider in his own home.
When the novel opens Anna and Tom's marriage is at breaking point. Anna is constantly feeling that she needs to fight on behalf of Teddy; she is so busy fighting that she's sacrificing her marriage and her sense of self. She's resentful of Tom and he is very aware of this, increasing his feelings of inadequacy and marginalisation. To add to this Tom is developing a strong attraction for Eliza, an uncomplicated and vibrant colleague.
There is no 'good guys, bad guys' in this novel, in fact I strongly empathised with each of the characters. The chapters alternate between all four family members, each narrated in the first-person so us as the reader gets an intimate insight into how they're emotionally and psychologically feeling. Even though the narration can describe mundane, every day details, because it is so emotionally charged it adds to the dramatic tension.
The research that must have gone into writing this novel is unbelievable. Yes, every disability is different and how it affects individuals and family life is also very different. However the psychologically internal struggles as well as the external struggles can be similar. The Way Back To Us is an acute reminder of the importance of self compassion and reaching out for help.
I have to say a very big thank you to the author Kay Langdale for writing such a poignant novel. In my view this a must read and one of my favourite books of 2017 so far.
Thank you to Bookbridgr and Hodder & Stoughton for sending me an advanced review copy in exchange for my honest review.
My rating of The Way Back To Us is 4.5 (rounded up to 5 on Goodreads).
August 25, 2017
Modern marriage and parenting is the focus for this first person narrative driven novel which explores how living with a child with a profound disability can have a devastating effect on a marriage, especially when that child's life limiting disease completely takes over family life. Meeting with Tom and Anna and their children Isaac and Teddy shines a spotlight on this difficult subject.
Gradually we meet all four characters in the novel, who in their own words explain just what is going on in their lives. I found this way of telling the story particularly interesting and especially looked forward to Teddy's narrative which brought to poignant life the difficulties he experienced, and how he coped with living in his own limited way. I felt really sorry for Tom and Isaac who, so often, seemed to be floundering, no longer the focus of Anna's attention as all her energy went into keeping Teddy safe from harm.
The Way Back to Us highlights in a very readable way the struggles and difficulties families face on a daily basis when all too often they are fighting a system which hinders more than it helps. There is no doubt that Anna is Teddy's champion, battling for him every single step of the way but at what cost to her own well being and that of her marriage. She struggles to cope but feels that she can't back off for a single second because if she does Teddy will suffer. I think for me one of the saddest sentences came towards the end of the novel when Anna admitted to her husband, Tom, that, "I can no longer see where Teddy stops and I begin..."
The Way back to Us is a powerful and poignant story which tackles a sensitive and difficult subject. It’s a story which will resonate with anyone who has a child with a disability or life limiting disease but, I think that it will also act as a timely reminder to the rest of us to never make assumptions because we never truly know what's going on in other people's lives or indeed of how we would cope in similar circumstances.
Gradually we meet all four characters in the novel, who in their own words explain just what is going on in their lives. I found this way of telling the story particularly interesting and especially looked forward to Teddy's narrative which brought to poignant life the difficulties he experienced, and how he coped with living in his own limited way. I felt really sorry for Tom and Isaac who, so often, seemed to be floundering, no longer the focus of Anna's attention as all her energy went into keeping Teddy safe from harm.
The Way Back to Us highlights in a very readable way the struggles and difficulties families face on a daily basis when all too often they are fighting a system which hinders more than it helps. There is no doubt that Anna is Teddy's champion, battling for him every single step of the way but at what cost to her own well being and that of her marriage. She struggles to cope but feels that she can't back off for a single second because if she does Teddy will suffer. I think for me one of the saddest sentences came towards the end of the novel when Anna admitted to her husband, Tom, that, "I can no longer see where Teddy stops and I begin..."
The Way back to Us is a powerful and poignant story which tackles a sensitive and difficult subject. It’s a story which will resonate with anyone who has a child with a disability or life limiting disease but, I think that it will also act as a timely reminder to the rest of us to never make assumptions because we never truly know what's going on in other people's lives or indeed of how we would cope in similar circumstances.
October 16, 2017
This book gives an insight into how a family with a child suffering from SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy), a genetic condition, deal with his debilitating illness which makes his muscles progressively weaker. The story is told mainly through the eyes of Anna and Tom the parents of Teddy who suffers from SMA but a couple of chapters are narrated by Teddy and his older brother Isaac too.
Anna has dedicated her life to keeping her son Teddy safe. By doing so, she has shut people out believing that she should deal with all Teddy's issues by herself. This has an effect on the family unit. Tom, Anna's husband and Teddy's father feels that he cannot do anything right where Teddy is concerned and that whatever he says or suggests is wrong which in turn jeopardises their marriage.
Whilst he loves his family very much, Tom is drawn to a work colleague. In the meantime, their son Isaac is suffering himself. He sees his mother's pain, her rejection of his father and feels he too has to protect his brother Teddy. It is sad to read how a young boy feels he has to shoulder the responsibility he does in relation to his brother who he realises will not be able to do many of the things he himself can do although he tries to make sure that Teddy is not left out of when they meet up with their cousins.
Kay Langdale has to be congratulated on the way she tackled this sensitive issue. We can appreciate the issues the family has to face and whilst we see Anna ant Tom's faults, we can understand and empathise with them.
Anna has dedicated her life to keeping her son Teddy safe. By doing so, she has shut people out believing that she should deal with all Teddy's issues by herself. This has an effect on the family unit. Tom, Anna's husband and Teddy's father feels that he cannot do anything right where Teddy is concerned and that whatever he says or suggests is wrong which in turn jeopardises their marriage.
Whilst he loves his family very much, Tom is drawn to a work colleague. In the meantime, their son Isaac is suffering himself. He sees his mother's pain, her rejection of his father and feels he too has to protect his brother Teddy. It is sad to read how a young boy feels he has to shoulder the responsibility he does in relation to his brother who he realises will not be able to do many of the things he himself can do although he tries to make sure that Teddy is not left out of when they meet up with their cousins.
Kay Langdale has to be congratulated on the way she tackled this sensitive issue. We can appreciate the issues the family has to face and whilst we see Anna ant Tom's faults, we can understand and empathise with them.
August 4, 2017
A moving and emotional novel not really an uplifting read, I do like a little escapism when I read and this really was to 'real' for me to call it entertaining.
Good characterisation of vivid and flawed people but such an emotionally driven book it was quite an exhausting read. The journey all the characters take leaves the reader feeling such a sense of hopelessness really that I was finding it hard to continue. Well written and tackling a difficult subject but really not an entertaining read. The family start to fall apart with the illness of Teddy and it seems there is no way out of this for any of them, they all find themselves trying and feeling inadequate, slowly but surely Tom (husband) seeks solace in another woman and desperately wants to find 'the way back to us'.
A bit too sad for me, well written, poignant and exhausting - I believe it deserves a 3.5 (rounded up to 4* for Goodreads and Amazon) from me but really not my kind of read.
I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.
Good characterisation of vivid and flawed people but such an emotionally driven book it was quite an exhausting read. The journey all the characters take leaves the reader feeling such a sense of hopelessness really that I was finding it hard to continue. Well written and tackling a difficult subject but really not an entertaining read. The family start to fall apart with the illness of Teddy and it seems there is no way out of this for any of them, they all find themselves trying and feeling inadequate, slowly but surely Tom (husband) seeks solace in another woman and desperately wants to find 'the way back to us'.
A bit too sad for me, well written, poignant and exhausting - I believe it deserves a 3.5 (rounded up to 4* for Goodreads and Amazon) from me but really not my kind of read.
I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.
August 15, 2017
I'll just start by saying that The Way Back to Us is such a beautiful book that completely resonated with me. It's an emotional story about family, about disability and of how a couple's relationship is tested to breaking point. I feel that this is such an important book, as it gently, yet openly, discusses what it is like for the entire family to raise a child with a disability. This is one raw, emotional and at times, unsettling read.
My youngest son is autistic, and so for me this book really hit home. I felt as though it spoke directly to me. Would I have viewed the story in an entirely different way, if I wasn't a parent to a child with additional needs? Probably, yes, but, I do feel that anyone reading this book, whether they have experience of the subject matter or not, would enjoy the story.
So, the story is told from four points of view. We have the parents, Anna and Tom, and then the two children, Isaac and Teddy. Anna is the stay at home mum, the main carer for Teddy who has SMA, spinal muscular atrophy, a generic disease that effects a person's ability to eat, walk or breathe as it alters the motor nerve pathways within the spine. This is a debilitating and life changing disease. Anna had had a successful career, but she gave it all up to care for Teddy. Anna was so real to me, I understood her. That need to protect her child, the guilt she felt for not being able to spend as much time with her eldest son, Isaac, or her husband. The fact that she believed she was the only person who could care for her son in the right way. All of this rang very true to me.
This is a story about relationships, those between husband and wife, parent and child, and siblings. All of these different relationships are explored via the differing viewpoints, told in alternating chapters. For me, the most illuminating were the accounts of both Tom and Isaac. Tom was a father trying to do his absolute best for his boys. But while reading I wondered if Anna had gene too far in pushing him away. Would he ever find his way back to her? As for Isaac, my heart broke for this little boy. He has had to grow up quickly, be independent and act very much like one of the adults. I wanted to reach into the book and give him a big cuddle. While reading about him I thought about my eldest little boy. I really do feel that the author got this sibling relationship spot on. It brought a lump to my throat.
I would like to thank the author for writing such a beautiful novel that discusses family life with a disabled child. She doesn't shy away from the gritty difficulties, but tackles them head on in a sensitive and empathetic manner.
The Way Back to Us is a novel about family, about disability, but most of all it is about hope and love. This is such a special book and I can't praise it highly enough. It's a must read.
With thanks to the publisher and Bookbridgr for a paperback proof copy.
My youngest son is autistic, and so for me this book really hit home. I felt as though it spoke directly to me. Would I have viewed the story in an entirely different way, if I wasn't a parent to a child with additional needs? Probably, yes, but, I do feel that anyone reading this book, whether they have experience of the subject matter or not, would enjoy the story.
So, the story is told from four points of view. We have the parents, Anna and Tom, and then the two children, Isaac and Teddy. Anna is the stay at home mum, the main carer for Teddy who has SMA, spinal muscular atrophy, a generic disease that effects a person's ability to eat, walk or breathe as it alters the motor nerve pathways within the spine. This is a debilitating and life changing disease. Anna had had a successful career, but she gave it all up to care for Teddy. Anna was so real to me, I understood her. That need to protect her child, the guilt she felt for not being able to spend as much time with her eldest son, Isaac, or her husband. The fact that she believed she was the only person who could care for her son in the right way. All of this rang very true to me.
This is a story about relationships, those between husband and wife, parent and child, and siblings. All of these different relationships are explored via the differing viewpoints, told in alternating chapters. For me, the most illuminating were the accounts of both Tom and Isaac. Tom was a father trying to do his absolute best for his boys. But while reading I wondered if Anna had gene too far in pushing him away. Would he ever find his way back to her? As for Isaac, my heart broke for this little boy. He has had to grow up quickly, be independent and act very much like one of the adults. I wanted to reach into the book and give him a big cuddle. While reading about him I thought about my eldest little boy. I really do feel that the author got this sibling relationship spot on. It brought a lump to my throat.
I would like to thank the author for writing such a beautiful novel that discusses family life with a disabled child. She doesn't shy away from the gritty difficulties, but tackles them head on in a sensitive and empathetic manner.
The Way Back to Us is a novel about family, about disability, but most of all it is about hope and love. This is such a special book and I can't praise it highly enough. It's a must read.
With thanks to the publisher and Bookbridgr for a paperback proof copy.
July 10, 2017
***RECEIVED FROM GOODREADS GIVEAWAY***
This is a very well written book, the author paints the individual characters vividly, their fears, their worries, their hopes. I was in tears by the end. I don't know if this has been written from personal experience but it feels that way. I am the mother of two girls, the youngest whom has a diagnosis, not a life-shortening one as Teddy does, but one that has meant she has the consultants, the therapies, the tests, the hospital admissions. And an eldest child who, like Isaac, is overly sensitive and knows far too much responsibility because of their being an elder sibling to a child with extra needs. I have at times been Anna, and I understood the pain she was going through. This is why I have the impression that this author has either lived through this herself or has seen it, because she has got the emotions spot on. Have some tissues on hand!
This is a very well written book, the author paints the individual characters vividly, their fears, their worries, their hopes. I was in tears by the end. I don't know if this has been written from personal experience but it feels that way. I am the mother of two girls, the youngest whom has a diagnosis, not a life-shortening one as Teddy does, but one that has meant she has the consultants, the therapies, the tests, the hospital admissions. And an eldest child who, like Isaac, is overly sensitive and knows far too much responsibility because of their being an elder sibling to a child with extra needs. I have at times been Anna, and I understood the pain she was going through. This is why I have the impression that this author has either lived through this herself or has seen it, because she has got the emotions spot on. Have some tissues on hand!
July 25, 2017
This book has made me cry multiple times whilst reading. As a mother of two healthy children it really made me think of the "what if"(hence the crying)
I love how we get to see the different characters all having different views on the same situation. It's very well written and the cover is gorgeous.If I could describe the book in one word emotional would the one.
I love how we get to see the different characters all having different views on the same situation. It's very well written and the cover is gorgeous.If I could describe the book in one word emotional would the one.
May 26, 2018
I loved this book, which I received as a Goodreads giveaway. The story was well written, from the points of view of the four family members. I really wished I could have made Anna and Tom read each other's chapters! I was not completely convinced by the children's sections, as they made the children seem older than their actual ages. Overall, a very good read.
October 30, 2017
This touched me deeply in that I have a friend in a similar situation. I wept at times for the brutal honesty and for my friend too.
Beautifully written to show both sides of the coin. The writer displays a good understanding of how a child like this can break a couple.
Beautifully written to show both sides of the coin. The writer displays a good understanding of how a child like this can break a couple.
July 13, 2025
I could not tell you what happened in this book because nothing happened. Chapters were written in the point of view of four different people which was confusing as two of them were children. Just not good
September 22, 2017
I found The Way Back to Us quite engaging at first, but the concept became a little ridiculous once the very repetitive first person perspectives of two children were added.
December 14, 2023
A really poignant book about the internal struggles of a mother when her precious child has a diagnosis which is life limiting. Beautifully written. Sad. Hopeful and authentic.
April 11, 2024
1.5 possibly.
February 9, 2025
Loved this.
Moving and emotive
Moving and emotive
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