What do you think?
Rate this book
There are two sides to every love story...
Anna Cole grew up in care, and wants to start a family of her own. Theo Montgomery had a loveless childhood, and wants to find his soulmate.
Then, one day, Theo meets Anna, and Anna meets Theo.
Each shows the other how to love. And each shows the other what heartbreak feels like...
This is Theo's story.
Anna Cole grew up in care, and wants to start a family of her own. Theo Montgomery had a loveless childhood, and wants to find his soulmate.
Then, one day, Theo meets Anna, and Anna meets Theo.
Each shows the other how to love. And each shows the other what heartbreak feels like...
This is Theo's story.
368 pages, ebook
First published April 5, 2018
1920 people are currently reading
1229 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Prowse
86 books1,987 followersPrevious Book: 'Swimming to Lundy', published th August 2024'.
Latest Book: 'This One Life', published 7th January 2025.
Next Book: 'Ever After' published 7th August 2025.
Amanda Prowse is an International Bestselling author whose thirty-two novels, two non-fiction titles and ten novellas have been published in dozens of languages around the world. Published by Lake Union, Amanda is the most prolific writer of bestselling contemporary fiction in the UK today; her titles also consistently score the highest online review approval ratings across several genres. Her books, including the chart topping No.1 titles 'What Have I Done?', 'Perfect Daughter', 'My Husband's Wife', 'The Girl in the Corner' and ‘The Things I Know’ have sold millions of copies across the globe.
A popular TV and radio personality, Amanda has appeared on numerous shows where her views on family and social issues strike a chord with viewers. She also makes countless guest appearances on BBC national and independent Radio stations including LBC, Times Radio and Talk FM, where she is well known for her insightful observations and her infectious humour. Described by the Daily Mail as ‘The queen of family drama’ Amanda’s novel, 'A Mother's Story' won the coveted Sainsbury's eBook of the year Award and she has had two books selected as World Book Night titles, 'Perfect Daughter' in 2016 and 'The Boy Between' in 2022.
Amanda is a huge supporter of libraries and having become a proud ambassador for The Reading Agency, works tirelessly to promote reading, especially in disadvantaged areas. Amanda's ambition is to create stories that keep people from turning the bedside lamp off at night, great characters that ensure you take every step with them and tales that fill your head so you can't possibly read another book until the memory fades...
Praise for Amanda Prowse:
'A powerful and emotional work of fiction' - Piers Morgan
'Deeply moving and emotional, Amanda Prowse handles her explosive subjects with delicate skill' - Daily Mail
'Uplifting and positive, but you will still need a box of tissues' - Hello!
'A gut-wrenching and absolutely brilliant read' - The Irish Sun
'You'll fall in love with this...' - Cosmopolitan
'Deeply moving and eye opening. Powerful and emotional drama that packs a real punch.' - Heat
'Magical' - Now magazine
Latest Book: 'This One Life', published 7th January 2025.
Next Book: 'Ever After' published 7th August 2025.
Amanda Prowse is an International Bestselling author whose thirty-two novels, two non-fiction titles and ten novellas have been published in dozens of languages around the world. Published by Lake Union, Amanda is the most prolific writer of bestselling contemporary fiction in the UK today; her titles also consistently score the highest online review approval ratings across several genres. Her books, including the chart topping No.1 titles 'What Have I Done?', 'Perfect Daughter', 'My Husband's Wife', 'The Girl in the Corner' and ‘The Things I Know’ have sold millions of copies across the globe.
A popular TV and radio personality, Amanda has appeared on numerous shows where her views on family and social issues strike a chord with viewers. She also makes countless guest appearances on BBC national and independent Radio stations including LBC, Times Radio and Talk FM, where she is well known for her insightful observations and her infectious humour. Described by the Daily Mail as ‘The queen of family drama’ Amanda’s novel, 'A Mother's Story' won the coveted Sainsbury's eBook of the year Award and she has had two books selected as World Book Night titles, 'Perfect Daughter' in 2016 and 'The Boy Between' in 2022.
Amanda is a huge supporter of libraries and having become a proud ambassador for The Reading Agency, works tirelessly to promote reading, especially in disadvantaged areas. Amanda's ambition is to create stories that keep people from turning the bedside lamp off at night, great characters that ensure you take every step with them and tales that fill your head so you can't possibly read another book until the memory fades...
Praise for Amanda Prowse:
'A powerful and emotional work of fiction' - Piers Morgan
'Deeply moving and emotional, Amanda Prowse handles her explosive subjects with delicate skill' - Daily Mail
'Uplifting and positive, but you will still need a box of tissues' - Hello!
'A gut-wrenching and absolutely brilliant read' - The Irish Sun
'You'll fall in love with this...' - Cosmopolitan
'Deeply moving and eye opening. Powerful and emotional drama that packs a real punch.' - Heat
'Magical' - Now magazine
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 254 reviews
May 13, 2018
EXCERPT: It was as he lay in his bed, wide awake and staring at the ceiling while the adults screamed their laughter below, that a sad realisation came to him. He didn't want to be anywhere, not at school, not in the back of his father's car, where cigarette smoke and fast corners had made him sick, not in the cold kitchen with the fuzzy TV, where there was no one to talk to, and certainly not in this bedroom filled with antiques from his grandpa's house. And that left only one question: if he didn't feel comfortable anywhere, then where was he supposed to be?
ABOUT THIS BOOK: There are two sides to every love story...
Anna Cole grew up in care, and wants to start a family of her own. Theo Montgomery had a loveless childhood, and wants to find his soulmate.
Then, one day, Theo meets Anna, and Anna meets Theo.
Each shows the other how to love. And each shows
the other what heartbreak feels like...
This is Theo's story.
MY THOUGHTS: One love, two stories. . . an interesting concept and one Amanda Prowse has executed beautifully. I really liked Anna, but I absolutely adored Theo.
I started this book this morning and just read until it was finished.
Theo pulled at my heartstrings. I cannot believe that parents can be so casual, so careless with their children as Theo's were. That any parent could even contemplate sending such a young child off to boarding school is completely foreign to me, and yet I know it happens.
If you are looking for a beautiful, touching read, I highly recommend this wonderful pair of books, Anna and Theo. 4.5☆
Thank you to Harper Collins Publishers Australia, Head of Zeus via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of Theo by Amanda Prowse for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
ABOUT THIS BOOK: There are two sides to every love story...
Anna Cole grew up in care, and wants to start a family of her own. Theo Montgomery had a loveless childhood, and wants to find his soulmate.
Then, one day, Theo meets Anna, and Anna meets Theo.
Each shows the other how to love. And each shows
the other what heartbreak feels like...
This is Theo's story.
MY THOUGHTS: One love, two stories. . . an interesting concept and one Amanda Prowse has executed beautifully. I really liked Anna, but I absolutely adored Theo.
I started this book this morning and just read until it was finished.
Theo pulled at my heartstrings. I cannot believe that parents can be so casual, so careless with their children as Theo's were. That any parent could even contemplate sending such a young child off to boarding school is completely foreign to me, and yet I know it happens.
If you are looking for a beautiful, touching read, I highly recommend this wonderful pair of books, Anna and Theo. 4.5☆
Thank you to Harper Collins Publishers Australia, Head of Zeus via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of Theo by Amanda Prowse for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
April 12, 2018
After recently reading Anna and loving it, I was very happy to receive a message from the author asking if I would like a sampler of Theo, of course I said YES!!
As a young boy Theo has been shipped off to boarding school and he hates it, taken away from his home, away from parents who quite frankly don’t seem to know that he exists half the time, and he’s a loner until he befriends the groundsman, Mr Porter, who takes him under his wing and treats him with the respect he deserves. I love Cyrus Porter!!
I loved the sampler and couldn’t wait to read the complete book, I read another book in between and when I picked Theo up again it was like slipping between the covers of my nice comfy bed - so a book duvet! 😊. It’s like I had never put the book down. I won’t say anymore about the story itself as wouldn’t want to spoil it for others.
From reading Anna and then Theo, it was like completing a jigsaw, bringing the two stories, told by each of them, together was ingenious and was crafted so beautifully by the author, I was willing it all to end happily. I have to admit I shed many tears throughout this book, I loved the main characters and I took both Theo and Mr Porter to my heart, they were adorable. I've loved all of the books by Amanda Prowse that I’ve read so far but I think this one will stay with me for a long time to come. A very easy 5 stars and I highly recommend both books.
As a young boy Theo has been shipped off to boarding school and he hates it, taken away from his home, away from parents who quite frankly don’t seem to know that he exists half the time, and he’s a loner until he befriends the groundsman, Mr Porter, who takes him under his wing and treats him with the respect he deserves. I love Cyrus Porter!!
I loved the sampler and couldn’t wait to read the complete book, I read another book in between and when I picked Theo up again it was like slipping between the covers of my nice comfy bed - so a book duvet! 😊. It’s like I had never put the book down. I won’t say anymore about the story itself as wouldn’t want to spoil it for others.
From reading Anna and then Theo, it was like completing a jigsaw, bringing the two stories, told by each of them, together was ingenious and was crafted so beautifully by the author, I was willing it all to end happily. I have to admit I shed many tears throughout this book, I loved the main characters and I took both Theo and Mr Porter to my heart, they were adorable. I've loved all of the books by Amanda Prowse that I’ve read so far but I think this one will stay with me for a long time to come. A very easy 5 stars and I highly recommend both books.
October 19, 2018
I think the whole concept of the Anna and Theo books is great.
When I read Anna, I took her side but then I read Theo and makes you realise there really is two sides to every story. Thank you Amanda Prowse. Xx
When I read Anna, I took her side but then I read Theo and makes you realise there really is two sides to every story. Thank you Amanda Prowse. Xx
April 27, 2018
After reading Anna, I felt like I had been left in emotional limbo and needed to complete the journey by reading Theo as soon as possible. So I was delighted that I didn’t have to wait too long to get my hands on Theos story, which I think affected me even more than Anna’s did! This gorgeous couple deserved so much happiness in their lives after their loveless childhoods so I went into Theo with everything crossed for a happy ending!
They say money can’t buy you happiness and that’s exactly what Theo would agree with after his affluent but neglectful childhood. Sent off to boarding school at an early age, shy and non-sporty Theo finds it difficult to fit in until he finds friendship in an unexpected place. I really felt for this young boy and was desperate to step in and be the mother he needed to protect and care for him. His parents really, REALLY wound me up and I hated the emotional damage they were inflicting on this sensitive child. But as he got older, things changed within his life and meeting Anna seemed to be the icing on top of his cake. But can the past affect the future of this perfect match and if so, will it draw them together or force them apart forever?
Amanda Prowse continues to surprise me with her ability to make me care about her fictional characters as if they were real people! I loved the concept of separate books developing the stories of our couple as I saw their romance from totally different perspectives, making me rethink some preconceptions from the first book. As usual this was beautifully written, bringing a realism to the interactions between all the characters and as I’ve said before absolutely NO ONE does domestic drama like Amanda Prowse! Her books are like a spring clean for the soul, taking strong women and placing them in situations that any one of us could end up facing! She therefore makes us think about how we go about our own lives, never really knowing what others are going through beneath the surface. I had hoped for a happy ending for both Theo and Anna but I had no idea if that ending was going to be for them together or apart. So I did fly through the pages, desperate to find out and I wasn’t disappointed by how everything came together at the end.
I highly recommend that you do read Anna first to get a complete understanding of how this relationship started and I guarantee that once you have read Anna you will want to read Theo straight away! I adored both these books and feel quite bereft now that they have come together and finished. It’s certainly a story that will remain with me for some time to come….
Highly recommended by me!
They say money can’t buy you happiness and that’s exactly what Theo would agree with after his affluent but neglectful childhood. Sent off to boarding school at an early age, shy and non-sporty Theo finds it difficult to fit in until he finds friendship in an unexpected place. I really felt for this young boy and was desperate to step in and be the mother he needed to protect and care for him. His parents really, REALLY wound me up and I hated the emotional damage they were inflicting on this sensitive child. But as he got older, things changed within his life and meeting Anna seemed to be the icing on top of his cake. But can the past affect the future of this perfect match and if so, will it draw them together or force them apart forever?
Amanda Prowse continues to surprise me with her ability to make me care about her fictional characters as if they were real people! I loved the concept of separate books developing the stories of our couple as I saw their romance from totally different perspectives, making me rethink some preconceptions from the first book. As usual this was beautifully written, bringing a realism to the interactions between all the characters and as I’ve said before absolutely NO ONE does domestic drama like Amanda Prowse! Her books are like a spring clean for the soul, taking strong women and placing them in situations that any one of us could end up facing! She therefore makes us think about how we go about our own lives, never really knowing what others are going through beneath the surface. I had hoped for a happy ending for both Theo and Anna but I had no idea if that ending was going to be for them together or apart. So I did fly through the pages, desperate to find out and I wasn’t disappointed by how everything came together at the end.
I highly recommend that you do read Anna first to get a complete understanding of how this relationship started and I guarantee that once you have read Anna you will want to read Theo straight away! I adored both these books and feel quite bereft now that they have come together and finished. It’s certainly a story that will remain with me for some time to come….
Highly recommended by me!
February 15, 2019
I first met Theo in the authors other book, Anna. Anna and Theo are novels that gives the reader the chance to find out more about each character as well as see things from their point of view. You don’t have to have read either book in any particular order, the choice is entirely up to you.
We first meet Theo in his novel when he is at boarding school. My heart broke for the young boy who has to endure bullying as well as having parents who are self absorbed and brush away any of his concerns.
Mr Porter is a character that I absolutely loved and was paramount in the story. The friendship between him and Theo was both heart warming and emotional. There is a particular part towards the end that made me cry as it really was so endearing.
The story very much centres around Theo with Anna appearing later on in the book. It was so good to be reading about her as she has been in the back of my mind since finishing her story and I had to know if these two get their happy ending.
Theo was such an emotional roller coaster of a read. I went through so many emotions whilst reading this book and I loved getting to know as well as understand Theo better. It’s a story very much about love, relationships and friendships as well as overcoming your fears and standing up to your past. Absolutely loved it.
We first meet Theo in his novel when he is at boarding school. My heart broke for the young boy who has to endure bullying as well as having parents who are self absorbed and brush away any of his concerns.
Mr Porter is a character that I absolutely loved and was paramount in the story. The friendship between him and Theo was both heart warming and emotional. There is a particular part towards the end that made me cry as it really was so endearing.
The story very much centres around Theo with Anna appearing later on in the book. It was so good to be reading about her as she has been in the back of my mind since finishing her story and I had to know if these two get their happy ending.
Theo was such an emotional roller coaster of a read. I went through so many emotions whilst reading this book and I loved getting to know as well as understand Theo better. It’s a story very much about love, relationships and friendships as well as overcoming your fears and standing up to your past. Absolutely loved it.
May 29, 2018
I went into this book not expecting much of it, having read Anna already, and only picking this one up because of the cliffhanger we were left on in the last novel. Definitely an improvement, but still underwhelming. Most of my points on my review of the last book stand for this one as well, so I won't be going into those again.
I feel like Theo creates conflict for himself out of nothing. His problems could easily be resolved if he just confronted them, but instead he decides to bury himself in excuses and self-pity.
At 34, he should have overcome his childhood baggage. I feel like he is very immature for his age, and doesn't grow as a person throughout the novel at all, instead repeating the same cycles over and over again. He is superficial in his relationships with others, and is quick to blame anyone else but himself for both his personality and predicaments.
Overall, not a book I would recommend. The writing is stilted, the dialogues infantile, and the characterization inconsistent. It's only redeeming quality is that it was a fairly quick read.
I feel like Theo creates conflict for himself out of nothing. His problems could easily be resolved if he just confronted them, but instead he decides to bury himself in excuses and self-pity.
At 34, he should have overcome his childhood baggage. I feel like he is very immature for his age, and doesn't grow as a person throughout the novel at all, instead repeating the same cycles over and over again. He is superficial in his relationships with others, and is quick to blame anyone else but himself for both his personality and predicaments.
Overall, not a book I would recommend. The writing is stilted, the dialogues infantile, and the characterization inconsistent. It's only redeeming quality is that it was a fairly quick read.
April 9, 2018
I loved ‘Anna’, the first half of Amanda Prowse’s ‘One Love, Two Stories’ tale, but absolutely adored ‘Theo’ which turns their love story into one delicious whole that I did not want to end. I read it in more or less one sitting and enjoyed every word of this heartwarming tale.
Amanda Prowse is a gifted story teller, her characters come to life on the page and you can’t help but fall in love with them. I adore everything she writes and can’t wait to see what delights she will have in store for us next!
Thank you to the author and publisher for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this lovely book. A moving 5 star read.
Amanda Prowse is a gifted story teller, her characters come to life on the page and you can’t help but fall in love with them. I adore everything she writes and can’t wait to see what delights she will have in store for us next!
Thank you to the author and publisher for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this lovely book. A moving 5 star read.
April 8, 2018
Having read Anna, I was really keen to read about Theo's story not just to find out his take on their relationship, but also to learn more about his childhood. He came from a very rich background yet his childhood was not happy. His parents frequently fought and seemed to have very little time for him. His time at the same boarding school his father attended was far from happy. Theo was a shy, sensitive boy who didn't share the same passion for sport as his father and was regarded as a 'weirdo' by the boys at school. Thank goodness for the caring groundskeeper Cyrus Porter, whose kindness made Theo's time at school bearable. This compassion was something which stayed with Theo throughout his life and one of the scenes towards the end of the book involving Mr Porter and the positive impact he made on many people's lives was especially poignant.
Although I already knew much of the story of Anna and Theo's life together, it was still a pleasure to read from Theo's perspective and get a deeper understanding of what was going on for him and why he acted as he did. I was also pleased with the way the story concluded as when I finished Anna, I really felt I wanted to know that little bit more about how their story progressed. Theo gives us that ending, rounding off their story in an uplifting and hopeful way.
Although I already knew much of the story of Anna and Theo's life together, it was still a pleasure to read from Theo's perspective and get a deeper understanding of what was going on for him and why he acted as he did. I was also pleased with the way the story concluded as when I finished Anna, I really felt I wanted to know that little bit more about how their story progressed. Theo gives us that ending, rounding off their story in an uplifting and hopeful way.
April 24, 2018
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
Initial thoughts: I really enjoyed Anna and Theo! Although, I preferred Theo a slight bit, probably because the prose was a little more fluid. What amazed me was that even though several events were already familiar thanks to Anna, it didn't feel like Theo was repetitive. Amanda Prowse indeed managed to craft to amazing individuals whose viewpoints were unique and brought something to the table. And while both their stories were filled with heartbreaks, they too were filled with hope. As much as I was sad to reach the last page, I ended up smiling, thinking about the possibilities of their future.
Initial thoughts: I really enjoyed Anna and Theo! Although, I preferred Theo a slight bit, probably because the prose was a little more fluid. What amazed me was that even though several events were already familiar thanks to Anna, it didn't feel like Theo was repetitive. Amanda Prowse indeed managed to craft to amazing individuals whose viewpoints were unique and brought something to the table. And while both their stories were filled with heartbreaks, they too were filled with hope. As much as I was sad to reach the last page, I ended up smiling, thinking about the possibilities of their future.
October 5, 2018
My 5* review for Theo, the second part of this amazing complicated love story by Amanda Prowse.
There are two sides to every love story...Anna Cole grew up in care, and wants to start a family of her own. Theodore Montgomery had a loveless childhood, and wants to find his soulmate. Then, one day, Theo meets Anna, as each shows the other how to love, each also shows the other what heartbreak feels like...
This is Theo's story.
I love the saying "No matter how flat a pancake it always has two sides" and this is true with any love story, and what a wonderful idea of Amanda's to put the two sides of the same story in different books told by Anna and then Theo to let us see this amazing heartbreaking love story through their own eyes. We are able to see how they became the people they did, starting with their troubled childhoods and taking us right through their relationship to the end.
The first pull of the book for me was the fact that age only 7 Theo was sent off to a private boarding school that generations of Montgomery boys had attended for his own good, to make a man of him, and also as it becomes clear later on, to literally get him off his parents' hands! However, he is a lonely child who gets bullied and had a horrendous time there. This resonated with me because my ex-husband also attended a boarding school in Bath in the 1970's and hated every minute of it, resented his parents for sending him there (and even years later he was affected by the experience). It is so sad that parents feel education is more important than a loving home and can contemplate sending such a young child off to boarding school is completely foreign to me, and made my husband determined NEVER to do so to our children, and yet I know it happens still.
I cannot believe that parents can be so casual, so careless with their children and so determined to enjoy their childfree lives as Theo's were, and in fact completely forgot when he was due to phone, when he was due home for the weekend and, in fact, went on holiday to France and forgot he was due home for the summer break!
I was so pleased when Theo eventually meets and befriends the groundsman, Mr Porter, who takes him under his wing and treats him with the respect he deserves, and makes him feel not so alone in the world. I love Cyrus Porter, and in fact he reminded me of Hagrid in the Harry Potter books (sorry Amanda if that is offensive?!) but I pictured the same warmth and caring compassion that he obviously showed to countless boys over the years at the boarding school.
Theo's parents were not very nice people, his Father was obnoxious and his Mother heartless, and were so well written and realistic that I actually got cross with them, swore at them in places, and really felt their indifference to Theo and hated the emotional damage they were inflicting on this sensitive child. I wanted so many times to give Theo a hug, invite him for tea and cake and just reassure him that he was not a loner, a loser, unworthy of love or a weirdo as he believed.
When Theo meets Anna by chance, there is an opportunity for him to feel loved and be enough for once. However, can their troubled childhoods affect the future of this perfect match and if so, will it draw them together or force them apart forever? Is there a way that they can both be parents, without turning out like their own parents, and can Theo ever believe he would make a fine Father? When Theo meets his old flame Kitty years later and realises he misunderstood her decision, it really upset me to think of all the hurt he had inflicted on himself because of her careless comment about him.
I liked his University mate Spud and I will quote one of my favourite lines of his to Theo who is complaining that he is sick and weary of being so sad and unhappy all the time and feeling he will never be happy and content with his life. "Sometimes I think you're looking for perfect where perfect doesn't exist. It's important to look at what you've got and not at what you haven't". This is a great piece of advice.
I have always loved how Amanda writes her female characters, taking strong women like Anna and putting them in real life situations with dramas, conflicts and disappointments we all face, but triumphing in the end. However, I think this is the first time she has written a male character so beautifully that I was rooting for him all the way through and went through every single emotion he did and was a soggy emotional wreck by the end of it. All I really wanted was a happy ending for Theo and Anna after all they had been through, whether that be together or apart, but the reader is left right until the end to find out the end to their story. The final sob goes to Theodore Montgomery for his homework assignment poem The World Through The Eyes Of A Blackbird which he received back from Mr Porter at the end of the book.
I am not sure if you need to read the books in the order that Amanda wrote them, because now that I have finished Theo I am intending to read Anna again to see if her side of the story affects me differently now that I know why Theo was behaving the way he was? Either way, these books are keepers for my shelf that will be read again and again in the future.
P.S. Thanks Amanda for basing Theo's project in Bristol and allowing me to relive memories of my youth from nights on the clubbing boat the Thekla in the 1980's.
((5* review for the Theo sampler I was sent via Netgalley on kindle. It was lovely and heartwarming to get to know Theo and how his childhood shaped him into the man he became, having finished and loved Amanda Prowse's first half of the story where we meet Anna and understand what made her the woman she became.
I am so looking forward to reading the whole book, but I could not wait to let everyone know how fantastic the book is no doubt going to be, if the Sample is anything to judge by. Another wonderful story for the heart and from the heart Amanda xxx))
There are two sides to every love story...Anna Cole grew up in care, and wants to start a family of her own. Theodore Montgomery had a loveless childhood, and wants to find his soulmate. Then, one day, Theo meets Anna, as each shows the other how to love, each also shows the other what heartbreak feels like...
This is Theo's story.
I love the saying "No matter how flat a pancake it always has two sides" and this is true with any love story, and what a wonderful idea of Amanda's to put the two sides of the same story in different books told by Anna and then Theo to let us see this amazing heartbreaking love story through their own eyes. We are able to see how they became the people they did, starting with their troubled childhoods and taking us right through their relationship to the end.
The first pull of the book for me was the fact that age only 7 Theo was sent off to a private boarding school that generations of Montgomery boys had attended for his own good, to make a man of him, and also as it becomes clear later on, to literally get him off his parents' hands! However, he is a lonely child who gets bullied and had a horrendous time there. This resonated with me because my ex-husband also attended a boarding school in Bath in the 1970's and hated every minute of it, resented his parents for sending him there (and even years later he was affected by the experience). It is so sad that parents feel education is more important than a loving home and can contemplate sending such a young child off to boarding school is completely foreign to me, and made my husband determined NEVER to do so to our children, and yet I know it happens still.
I cannot believe that parents can be so casual, so careless with their children and so determined to enjoy their childfree lives as Theo's were, and in fact completely forgot when he was due to phone, when he was due home for the weekend and, in fact, went on holiday to France and forgot he was due home for the summer break!
I was so pleased when Theo eventually meets and befriends the groundsman, Mr Porter, who takes him under his wing and treats him with the respect he deserves, and makes him feel not so alone in the world. I love Cyrus Porter, and in fact he reminded me of Hagrid in the Harry Potter books (sorry Amanda if that is offensive?!) but I pictured the same warmth and caring compassion that he obviously showed to countless boys over the years at the boarding school.
Theo's parents were not very nice people, his Father was obnoxious and his Mother heartless, and were so well written and realistic that I actually got cross with them, swore at them in places, and really felt their indifference to Theo and hated the emotional damage they were inflicting on this sensitive child. I wanted so many times to give Theo a hug, invite him for tea and cake and just reassure him that he was not a loner, a loser, unworthy of love or a weirdo as he believed.
When Theo meets Anna by chance, there is an opportunity for him to feel loved and be enough for once. However, can their troubled childhoods affect the future of this perfect match and if so, will it draw them together or force them apart forever? Is there a way that they can both be parents, without turning out like their own parents, and can Theo ever believe he would make a fine Father? When Theo meets his old flame Kitty years later and realises he misunderstood her decision, it really upset me to think of all the hurt he had inflicted on himself because of her careless comment about him.
I liked his University mate Spud and I will quote one of my favourite lines of his to Theo who is complaining that he is sick and weary of being so sad and unhappy all the time and feeling he will never be happy and content with his life. "Sometimes I think you're looking for perfect where perfect doesn't exist. It's important to look at what you've got and not at what you haven't". This is a great piece of advice.
I have always loved how Amanda writes her female characters, taking strong women like Anna and putting them in real life situations with dramas, conflicts and disappointments we all face, but triumphing in the end. However, I think this is the first time she has written a male character so beautifully that I was rooting for him all the way through and went through every single emotion he did and was a soggy emotional wreck by the end of it. All I really wanted was a happy ending for Theo and Anna after all they had been through, whether that be together or apart, but the reader is left right until the end to find out the end to their story. The final sob goes to Theodore Montgomery for his homework assignment poem The World Through The Eyes Of A Blackbird which he received back from Mr Porter at the end of the book.
I am not sure if you need to read the books in the order that Amanda wrote them, because now that I have finished Theo I am intending to read Anna again to see if her side of the story affects me differently now that I know why Theo was behaving the way he was? Either way, these books are keepers for my shelf that will be read again and again in the future.
P.S. Thanks Amanda for basing Theo's project in Bristol and allowing me to relive memories of my youth from nights on the clubbing boat the Thekla in the 1980's.
((5* review for the Theo sampler I was sent via Netgalley on kindle. It was lovely and heartwarming to get to know Theo and how his childhood shaped him into the man he became, having finished and loved Amanda Prowse's first half of the story where we meet Anna and understand what made her the woman she became.
I am so looking forward to reading the whole book, but I could not wait to let everyone know how fantastic the book is no doubt going to be, if the Sample is anything to judge by. Another wonderful story for the heart and from the heart Amanda xxx))
April 7, 2018
What can I say except WOW. I absolutely adored this book. Now yes, I know I always say that about Amanda Prowse’s novels, but this was truly a wonderful read. I keep thinking, why has no one done this before? Why has no none written a love story (or any story) from two peoples perspective, one after the other... maybe it’s been done... I’m not sure, but I am sure it’s not been done so well. This book was amazing. I had unanswered questions after reading the wonderful ‘Anna’, and yes,.... they were answered - and more :)
It was so lovely to read Theo’s story having already experienced it through Anna’s eyes having heard her life story and what makes her who she is. You’d think it would be a bit boring listening to a story where you know the outcome and the other person has already told it; you couldn’t be more wrong. I was captivated and seriously did not put the book down for 24 hours. One of those torn moments where you want to keep reading but don’t want it to end. I smiled, I laughed - mostly because I felt like I was part of it all; part of their story, privy to insider knowledge as Theo told his side of things. It was a privilege to delve into the life story behind Anna’s love. So often you read a book from the characters point of view without considering the story from the another perspective - it takes a special kind of author to be able to do this so well - and it certainly was done well. I know I will be thinking of Anna and Theo’s story for a long time. I’m sure there could be a sequel! (Hint hint!)
If you’ve already read Anna then I don’t need to tell you to read Theo - goes without saying - if you haven’t, grab both books, block out some time, and enjoy. Loved this even more than Anna and I can wholeheartedly say you won’t be disappointed. Thanks Amanda for providing some wonderful escapism yet again 😊
It was so lovely to read Theo’s story having already experienced it through Anna’s eyes having heard her life story and what makes her who she is. You’d think it would be a bit boring listening to a story where you know the outcome and the other person has already told it; you couldn’t be more wrong. I was captivated and seriously did not put the book down for 24 hours. One of those torn moments where you want to keep reading but don’t want it to end. I smiled, I laughed - mostly because I felt like I was part of it all; part of their story, privy to insider knowledge as Theo told his side of things. It was a privilege to delve into the life story behind Anna’s love. So often you read a book from the characters point of view without considering the story from the another perspective - it takes a special kind of author to be able to do this so well - and it certainly was done well. I know I will be thinking of Anna and Theo’s story for a long time. I’m sure there could be a sequel! (Hint hint!)
If you’ve already read Anna then I don’t need to tell you to read Theo - goes without saying - if you haven’t, grab both books, block out some time, and enjoy. Loved this even more than Anna and I can wholeheartedly say you won’t be disappointed. Thanks Amanda for providing some wonderful escapism yet again 😊
April 10, 2018
5 stars! Another FANTASTIC story by the super talented Amanda Prowse. Theo is the second book in the “one love two stories” novels about couple Anna and Theo. I was very interested to see how Ms Prowse would be able to tell Theo’s side of the story without repeating too much of what was written in the first book, Anna. Amanda Prowse absolutely nailed it! I read Anna a little while ago now so I’d forgotten a few little aspects of the story, but this book reminded me of parts of Anna’s story I’d forgotten, without completely regurgitating everything I’d already read. Theo could probably be read first with no issues but I highly recommend reading Anna’s story first as it provides much more details about people and events that pop up again in Theo.
I’m hesitant to write too much about the plot as I don’t want to spoil it for others, but I will say that my heart hurt so much for Theo- especially for the sad time he had at school. I spent the whole book wanting to give him the biggest hug. The character of Mr Porter (Theo’s friend and mentor) was beautiful- I was so thankful that he crossed paths with Theo and often wondered how Theo’s life would have turned out if they never met.
I am really looking forward to reading Kitty’s story later this year. I’m not sure if it is intended to be book 3 of this series, but I hope we possibly get another glimpse into how Anna and Theo are going. Thanks so much Amanda Prowse for this wonderful read- I will need a few days to recover I think!
Thanks kindly also to Netgalley and Head of Zeus / Harper Collins Australia for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I’m hesitant to write too much about the plot as I don’t want to spoil it for others, but I will say that my heart hurt so much for Theo- especially for the sad time he had at school. I spent the whole book wanting to give him the biggest hug. The character of Mr Porter (Theo’s friend and mentor) was beautiful- I was so thankful that he crossed paths with Theo and often wondered how Theo’s life would have turned out if they never met.
I am really looking forward to reading Kitty’s story later this year. I’m not sure if it is intended to be book 3 of this series, but I hope we possibly get another glimpse into how Anna and Theo are going. Thanks so much Amanda Prowse for this wonderful read- I will need a few days to recover I think!
Thanks kindly also to Netgalley and Head of Zeus / Harper Collins Australia for the opportunity to read and review this book.
April 9, 2018
Theo attends a private school in Dorset which has been the family tradition for generations. Theo is extremely lonely, he has no friends and his parents are more concerned about themselves.
In a bid to escape the pressures of the constant bullying at school, Theo finds a friend in the form of Mr Porter, the school groundsman.
Theo knows he has to follow family traditions but it's not what he wants in life.
Finally he feels his life will get better at university, but again his overbearing dad decides what course he should study. On his first night in the halls of residence Theo meets 'Spud' and a firm friendship begins.
A chance meeting with Anna changes his life forever. Anna has not had a brilliant childhood but for different reasons.
Can these two opposite people forge together to make a proper family that they both crave for?
It was a joy to read both sides of this love story and how their different upbringing brought strength to their relationship.
Throughout reading Theo's story I just wanted to give him a hug. To the outside world he had everything that money could buy but in actual fact the only thing that Theo wanted was to be loved unconditionally.
Another great story penned by Amanda Prowse.
In a bid to escape the pressures of the constant bullying at school, Theo finds a friend in the form of Mr Porter, the school groundsman.
Theo knows he has to follow family traditions but it's not what he wants in life.
Finally he feels his life will get better at university, but again his overbearing dad decides what course he should study. On his first night in the halls of residence Theo meets 'Spud' and a firm friendship begins.
A chance meeting with Anna changes his life forever. Anna has not had a brilliant childhood but for different reasons.
Can these two opposite people forge together to make a proper family that they both crave for?
It was a joy to read both sides of this love story and how their different upbringing brought strength to their relationship.
Throughout reading Theo's story I just wanted to give him a hug. To the outside world he had everything that money could buy but in actual fact the only thing that Theo wanted was to be loved unconditionally.
Another great story penned by Amanda Prowse.
August 9, 2018
I have already ranted elsewhere about this book and can't bear to devote any more of my time to it, so below is, I'm afraid, simply a copy-and-paste...all I want to know is, who gave this book anything more than 1 or 2 stars on Goodreads? Seriously?
My review:
Aagh! I genuinely don't know how books like this get published. The characters are all weak and annoying and unrounded and don't make sense. They tell us their thoughts as it's the only way to explain their actions. The plot line is a linear 'and then...and then...and then' of crap events - mostly commonplace or borderline nonsensical. I know there's a point being made about bullying and also about mental health but I'd rather spend 10 minutes online reading something science/research-led about either subject and then enjoy my leisure time reading a good book with characters that don't make me want to join the bullies in smacking them around to knock some sense/vitality/personality into them. Seriously, this book was so bad I read it at approx 10x speed, like an old fashioned CD writer, just to get through it (in the vain hope that it improved somewhere along the way...it didn't).
My review:
Aagh! I genuinely don't know how books like this get published. The characters are all weak and annoying and unrounded and don't make sense. They tell us their thoughts as it's the only way to explain their actions. The plot line is a linear 'and then...and then...and then' of crap events - mostly commonplace or borderline nonsensical. I know there's a point being made about bullying and also about mental health but I'd rather spend 10 minutes online reading something science/research-led about either subject and then enjoy my leisure time reading a good book with characters that don't make me want to join the bullies in smacking them around to knock some sense/vitality/personality into them. Seriously, this book was so bad I read it at approx 10x speed, like an old fashioned CD writer, just to get through it (in the vain hope that it improved somewhere along the way...it didn't).
March 28, 2018
I have enjoyed several books by Amanda Prowse and was so pleased to have received a copy of this Sampler through Netgalley.
All I can say at this moment in time is that I was well and truly hooked from the first few pages. I loved it! Cannot wait to read the full book.
All I can say at this moment in time is that I was well and truly hooked from the first few pages. I loved it! Cannot wait to read the full book.
April 13, 2018
It’s a well known saying that there are two sides to every story and Amanda Prowse has done a brilliant job creating the Anna/Theo novels. I had a great deal of sympathy for Theo at the beginning but do feel he made some wrong choices as the novel progressed. I found him to be a much more complex character than Anna. I was surprised that this second book managed to complete the story without too much repetition. I didn’t feel as involved emotionally in Theo, maybe because he’s a male character and I had so much sympathy for Anna and possibly because I already knew the direction the story was heading. Overall, a great concept very cleverly delivered.
April 10, 2018
This sample definitely leaves you wanting more! Theo’s journey of life is upsetting to read bad once again Amanda’s style of writing leaves you immersed in the story . Cannot wait to read the rest .. thanks to the publishers and Amanda for my copy.
****update .. having just had the privilege of getting a copy of the full book I can say that the five stars above stick . Anna and Theo two books one love are both fantastic and my love for this author just keeps growing . Keep up the great work Amanda
****update .. having just had the privilege of getting a copy of the full book I can say that the five stars above stick . Anna and Theo two books one love are both fantastic and my love for this author just keeps growing . Keep up the great work Amanda
April 8, 2018
I’ve just finished this sampler and have preordered the book so I can read the rest. I loved reading about Anna and her side of their story but I already know that my heart is going to be well and truly squeezed with Theo’s story. While reading Anna’s book it was sometimes hard to see where Theo’s thoughts and actions came from, but just through this sampler I just want to hug him and hold him tight and make sure he knows he’s loved. Can’t wait till the 5th when I can read the rest.
April 8, 2018
Theo is a lonely 7 year old boy when he is sent away to boarding school, he doesn't fit in and your heart goes out to him when one of the masters tell him he is weird...... and it can only get worse..... if it wasn't for the lovely groundsman Mr Porter his life would have been hell! This was just a taster and so I am really looking forward to being able to read the whole book but am excellent start
April 9, 2018
There are two sides to every love story...
Anna Cole grew up in care, and wants to start a family of her own. Theo Montgomery had a loveless childhood, and wants to find his soulmate.
Then, one day, Theo meets Anna, and Anna meets Theo.
Each shows the other how to love. And each shows
the other what heartbreak feels like...
This is Theo's story.
This is a great follow on to Anna. Lots of emotion, upset and love. Just what I needed to read today.
5*
Anna Cole grew up in care, and wants to start a family of her own. Theo Montgomery had a loveless childhood, and wants to find his soulmate.
Then, one day, Theo meets Anna, and Anna meets Theo.
Each shows the other how to love. And each shows
the other what heartbreak feels like...
This is Theo's story.
This is a great follow on to Anna. Lots of emotion, upset and love. Just what I needed to read today.
5*
April 3, 2018
This was an Advanced Sampler Copy, not the full book. Definitely has left me wanting more! The start of Theo’s life is filled with struggles.
This is going to be an interesting coming of age story to read. Very much looking forward to the book!
Thank you NetGalley and Head Of Zeus.
This is going to be an interesting coming of age story to read. Very much looking forward to the book!
Thank you NetGalley and Head Of Zeus.
April 17, 2018
So pleased to have finally read "Theo" after reading "Anna" a few months ago. Amanda Prowse is so gifted at story telling and my only complaint is that I didn't want it to end as wanted to know more of their story! Loved it and had me gripped from the start
March 31, 2018
This was just a sampler. As always Amanda Prowse creates such real and wonderful characters. I was drawn in from the very beginning. Just can’t wait to read the full book.
June 27, 2020
I was given the opportunity to read this book a couple of years ago, but for some reason I couldn't download a Kindle version of it. Therefore, I hoped that I would come across a paper version and I did. So I finally read it :)
Theo has had a troubled childhood. On paper, it looks like he has everything - two parents who are together, lots of money, boarding at a prestigious school....but nothing is as it seems. He was severely emotionally neglected and that colours every experience that he has in his life, including relationships with women. Anna is a special person who has had her own battles and when the two of them meet, sparks fly. They are two halves of a whole, and yet, they have to overcome a great deal, due to both of their upbringings.
Loved this story!! I had read Anna's story and was looking forward to reading Theo's, to round off the experience. Then I discovered there is another book after this one, can't wait to read it too.
Amanda Prowse has a storyteller's ability to get under the skin and into the heart of her characters. Reading her books becomes such an emotional experience and you feel like you KNOW the characters personally.
5 stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus.
Theo has had a troubled childhood. On paper, it looks like he has everything - two parents who are together, lots of money, boarding at a prestigious school....but nothing is as it seems. He was severely emotionally neglected and that colours every experience that he has in his life, including relationships with women. Anna is a special person who has had her own battles and when the two of them meet, sparks fly. They are two halves of a whole, and yet, they have to overcome a great deal, due to both of their upbringings.
Loved this story!! I had read Anna's story and was looking forward to reading Theo's, to round off the experience. Then I discovered there is another book after this one, can't wait to read it too.
Amanda Prowse has a storyteller's ability to get under the skin and into the heart of her characters. Reading her books becomes such an emotional experience and you feel like you KNOW the characters personally.
5 stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus.
October 2, 2018
It is the small things, the things that go unnoticed that built the man who fell in love with Anna Cole. Theo Montgomery grew up surrounded by riches, his parents gave him everything, but they missed out on one crucial aspect, love. Then he got stuck in a lift with a young woman with dark hair and shy eyes. Everything changed. This is Theo’s story.
Having already devoured, and loved, ‘Anna’, I came to this eager to see what Theo’s story is. This is expertly done and Prowse fills in the blanks from Anna’s story perfectly, we see why Theo acts the way he does and we see what happens to him in the sections missing from Anna’s story. Once it gets going, this is a very fitting alternative story of Anna and Theo.
My problem with this book came in Theo’s childhood. His childhood is harder to read than Anna’s, which I understand is the point but it made it hard for me to get invested, I also struggled to connect to Theo in this book, he does not become as well rounded as Anna, which is a real shame. Once he gets to teens and adulthood, I was invested in him, his behaviour makes sense and we can see how his childhood has impacted his later behaviour. Once Theo reaches adulthood I enjoyed this just as much as Anna’s, it just took me a bit longer to get there.
I do not really feel there is much more I can say, clearly this follows the same story arc as Anna but we get Theo’s background filled in which proves very interesting. I did not love this as much as I did ‘Anna’ but this is still very good and I enjoyed how Prowse has blended the two together.
Having already devoured, and loved, ‘Anna’, I came to this eager to see what Theo’s story is. This is expertly done and Prowse fills in the blanks from Anna’s story perfectly, we see why Theo acts the way he does and we see what happens to him in the sections missing from Anna’s story. Once it gets going, this is a very fitting alternative story of Anna and Theo.
My problem with this book came in Theo’s childhood. His childhood is harder to read than Anna’s, which I understand is the point but it made it hard for me to get invested, I also struggled to connect to Theo in this book, he does not become as well rounded as Anna, which is a real shame. Once he gets to teens and adulthood, I was invested in him, his behaviour makes sense and we can see how his childhood has impacted his later behaviour. Once Theo reaches adulthood I enjoyed this just as much as Anna’s, it just took me a bit longer to get there.
I do not really feel there is much more I can say, clearly this follows the same story arc as Anna but we get Theo’s background filled in which proves very interesting. I did not love this as much as I did ‘Anna’ but this is still very good and I enjoyed how Prowse has blended the two together.
April 9, 2020
Ovo je knjiga u kojoj obelezavas lepe pasuse, od koje ti je povremeno muka pa moras da je ostavis, ali te ipak vuce da saznas sta je bilo na kraju; i na kraju, ubijes se od plakanja, ali ne, nije tuzno, srecom, lepo se zavrsi ali moras da odplaces zato sto se glavni lik zaista mnogo mucio dok je shvatio neke stvari...
February 16, 2020
Well, I loved reading Theo’s side of the story after reading Anna’s a few months ago. How clever of the author to write two sides of the story without repeating or overlapping too much in each book?! A beautifully written story, I shall definitely be reading the third book in this trilogy.
March 5, 2021
I really enjoyed reading Theo’s side of this story. It was cleverly written alongside Anna’s story and the author did a great job of filling in the gaps. I can’t wait to read the third and final part of this story.
April 20, 2018
Oh my heart! When you pick up an Amanda Prowse novel you just know that you're in for a treat. This is such a beautiful book. I loved Anna, and this story was just as wonderful. This is the other half of the story, it is Theo's story.
As with Anna, we meet Theo as a young boy who attends a boarding school. The very same school that his father attended. We then follow him through his teenage years, into adulthood, and then when he eventually meets Anna. It is this transition from child to man that is vital to our understanding of this book. We need to understand how his childhood effected him, life as an adult, and the decisions that he makes in life.
At the heart of this novel is the theme of family, both from the past and in the future. Anna and Theo, although from very different backgrounds, have suffered trauma and abuse as children, and it has shaped both of their futures and character, although in different ways. Anna has the yearning to be a mother, to have a family of her own. Theo cannot see himself as a dad, and it is this huge difference that could prove to be too big a difference to fill.
My heart ached for these two characters. In my mind they were perfect for each other. Soulmates. I just hoped that they could work out their differences. That love would be enough.
I fell in love with Theo while reading Anna, and these feelings blossomed while reading this book. I wanted to hug him as a little boy and tell him just how special he was. Then, as a man, I wanted to tell him that he had a good heart. That he would be okay. I really do feel that Ms Prowse tackles the subject of male mental health with gentleness, empathy, and kindness.
Theo is an absolute joy to read. It's a book with so much heart. It's a book about love, about hope, about finding that special someone who will love you unconditionally. This is such a special book. Read Anna, and then read Theo.
As with Anna, we meet Theo as a young boy who attends a boarding school. The very same school that his father attended. We then follow him through his teenage years, into adulthood, and then when he eventually meets Anna. It is this transition from child to man that is vital to our understanding of this book. We need to understand how his childhood effected him, life as an adult, and the decisions that he makes in life.
At the heart of this novel is the theme of family, both from the past and in the future. Anna and Theo, although from very different backgrounds, have suffered trauma and abuse as children, and it has shaped both of their futures and character, although in different ways. Anna has the yearning to be a mother, to have a family of her own. Theo cannot see himself as a dad, and it is this huge difference that could prove to be too big a difference to fill.
My heart ached for these two characters. In my mind they were perfect for each other. Soulmates. I just hoped that they could work out their differences. That love would be enough.
I fell in love with Theo while reading Anna, and these feelings blossomed while reading this book. I wanted to hug him as a little boy and tell him just how special he was. Then, as a man, I wanted to tell him that he had a good heart. That he would be okay. I really do feel that Ms Prowse tackles the subject of male mental health with gentleness, empathy, and kindness.
Theo is an absolute joy to read. It's a book with so much heart. It's a book about love, about hope, about finding that special someone who will love you unconditionally. This is such a special book. Read Anna, and then read Theo.
May 9, 2018
Book blurb...
There are two sides to every love story. Anna Cole grew up in care, and wants to start a family of her own. Theo Montgomery had a loveless childhood, and wants to find his soulmate. Then, one day, Theo meets Anna, and Anna meets Theo. Each shows the other how to love. And each shows the other what heartbreak feels like. This is Theo's story.
My thoughts…
Before reading Theo, I read Anna’s story and here are some words used for that review. (Unique and utterly addictive. I am so glad I got the opportunity to read Anna’s story. What a clever concept. I can’t wait to read Theo’s story.)
Well, I have now read Theo’s story and the same must be said about this sweet and cleverly plotted story that focuses on the male character’s point of view.
I admit to not reading a lot of single POV stories in the past. Normally I get multiple points of view in one book, giving me the chance to get to know/understand/feel for each of the characters portrayed. Theo, and companion novel, Anna, was a different reading experience. While I was completely invested in the character, Anna, while reading Anna (and ditto for Theo), when reading Theo’s story, I felt disconnected from Anna as a character (and visa verse with Theo in Anna’s story). This is not a criticism; more an observation - one aspiring authors who want to better understand the importance of POV might want to experience for themselves. Learn and enjoy at the same time.
I’m not sure why the author chose the two-book structure. (It would be a big story if combined and employing alternate POV, but I would have liked that very much.)
Of course, both books - Anna and Theo - are enjoyable reads for the very prolific Amanda Prowse.
This review is also published on http://www.readroundoz.wordpress.com
There are two sides to every love story. Anna Cole grew up in care, and wants to start a family of her own. Theo Montgomery had a loveless childhood, and wants to find his soulmate. Then, one day, Theo meets Anna, and Anna meets Theo. Each shows the other how to love. And each shows the other what heartbreak feels like. This is Theo's story.
My thoughts…
Before reading Theo, I read Anna’s story and here are some words used for that review. (Unique and utterly addictive. I am so glad I got the opportunity to read Anna’s story. What a clever concept. I can’t wait to read Theo’s story.)
Well, I have now read Theo’s story and the same must be said about this sweet and cleverly plotted story that focuses on the male character’s point of view.
I admit to not reading a lot of single POV stories in the past. Normally I get multiple points of view in one book, giving me the chance to get to know/understand/feel for each of the characters portrayed. Theo, and companion novel, Anna, was a different reading experience. While I was completely invested in the character, Anna, while reading Anna (and ditto for Theo), when reading Theo’s story, I felt disconnected from Anna as a character (and visa verse with Theo in Anna’s story). This is not a criticism; more an observation - one aspiring authors who want to better understand the importance of POV might want to experience for themselves. Learn and enjoy at the same time.
I’m not sure why the author chose the two-book structure. (It would be a big story if combined and employing alternate POV, but I would have liked that very much.)
Of course, both books - Anna and Theo - are enjoyable reads for the very prolific Amanda Prowse.
This review is also published on http://www.readroundoz.wordpress.com
Displaying 1 - 30 of 254 reviews