The Start of Something Wonderful

by Jane Lambert

Previously published as Learning to Fly

It’s never too late to follow your dreams…

Forty-year-old air stewardess, Emily Forsyth, thought she had everything a woman could wish for: a glamorous, jet-set lifestyle, a designer wardrobe and a dishy pilot boyfriend. Until he breaks up with her…

Catapulted into a mid-life crisis she wishes she’d had earlier, she decides to turn her life upside-down, quitting her job and instead beginning to chase her long-held dreams of becoming an actress!

Leaving the skies behind her, Emily heads for the bright lights of London’s West End – but is it too late to reach for the stars?

Don’t miss this heartwarming and uplifting debut, perfect for fans of Colleen Coleman and Cate Woods!

295 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 5, 2015

About the author

Jane taught English in Vienna then travelled the world as cabin crew, before making the life-changing decision to become an actor in her mid-thirties. She has appeared in "Calendar Girls", "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time" and "Deathtrap" in London's West End. "Learning to Fly" is her debut novel.

Reviews

[Dash fan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5☆ Mishaps and Mayhem, Starting Over!

(rounded up to 4☆ on Amazon & Goodreads)

The Start of Something wonderful is a book about starting over, new careers, friendship, finding potential romance.

Emily was an air hostess, well that was until she quit her job because of Nigel her ex pilot boyfriend.

Now jobless, homeless, no other job experience she sets out to find a temporary Job whilst trying to make it in the acting world.

It's a cut throat world In the acting business so Emily is on the look out for anything.

Emily isn't necessarily lucky in the job front. With no experience we follow Emily on her Crazy adventures to find a job and fit in.
The one place she truly feels happy is at
Il Mulino a quaint Italian restaurant.
Especially when Francesco starts working there. His Italian Charm sweeps Emily off her feet. But how long will it last for?

I adored the dynamics of Emily and her friends, Wendy, Céline, Rachel and Faye, they are all so very different but their bond and friendship is amazing.Truly heart warming!

There are some fabulous comedy moments, that had me laughing out loud.
I was swept away with the Italian language used within the restaurant although I am so grateful for the translate button on the kindle app as I have always wanted to learn the language of love!

The only reason I didn't give a 4☆ rating was purely for the fact the acting scenes were somewhat long and a little confusing where it jumped from different  scenes.
I thought some of the play dialogue, although relevant to the storyline, I felt it could of been cut down.
It was a little too much.

I completely understand the job interviews, disatourous tv jobs, having an insight into the other aspect of plays like costumes, scenery, sounds etc..  I enjoyed those bits very much.

Jane has researched all about the acting world very thoroughly.
However it would of been great to read more about Emily's experiences as an actress in her 40s, with no experience breaking into the acting scene.
Rather than acting out the actual plays.

I would of loved to have seen more of her relationships with the girls. They were fantastic characters and their backstories were so intriguing I would of loved more.

Overall a great read if you a looking for a fun read with some fab laugh out loud moments and are interested in drama and acting, Then this is Definetly the book for you!

I would like to Thank Jane Lambert who invited me on her wonderful Blog Tour and HQ Digital for the advanced copy in which I honestly and voluntarily reviewed.

You can also find my review on my blog website:
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...

[Stace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com

Emily Forsyth worked for Amy Air for most of her life, she had the beautiful apartment, flash car, enough designer items to open her own shop and a pilot boyfriend, Nigel, who she loved dearly.

When Nigel announces that he’s leaving, Emily takes the news badly. After some pet talking from her friends she realises that it’s the perfect time to follow her heart and have a go at being an actress, a job she has always wanted to do, before it’s too late, or is 40 too late already?

There has to be some sacrifices, though to becoming an actress including living in someones backroom instead of the swanky apartment, riding a bike not a flashy car and doing lots of low paid jobs just to bring some money in.

Was Emily right to quit her job and follow her heart? Time will tell.

The Start of Something Wonderful is pure chick-lit and a real joy to read. Emily is a lovely character, far stronger than she thinks she is. I mean, how many of us would have the bottle to change careers at 40? Especially if it meant giving up a life of luxury and stepping into the unknown – not many I would guess.

From the opening chapter to the final page I was captivated by this book. It has that ‘just one more chapter’ pull, although my only crumble is that the chapters are really long, so that one more chapter could see me sat for another 20 minutes reading, although, that’s not something to really complain about!

The plot is filled with lots of amusing scenes, weaved within uplifting, thought-provoking, heartwarming scenes. If you take anything away from this book, it is that it is never too late to follow your dream.

You can tell from the writing that Ms. Lambert has first hand experience of Emily’s situation and if this book is anything to go by, as well as acting, she is also a brilliant novelist.

I am looking forward to reading more from Ms. Lambert, and especially more about Emily.

[Nikki (Saturday Nite Reader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

At age 40, Emily breaks up with her long time love, Nigel, and takes it as an opportunity to re-evaluate her life. She dreamed of becoming an actress, so become an actress she will do. I enjoyed how the story is one of reclaiming your life, at any age.

It is a classic rom-com, chick-lit read: if you are looking for a beach read, or taking a short plane ride, this may be your jam.

I enjoyed the read, it was cute and fun. I did get a bit confused at the many references to the Italian and German languages and wasn't really sure if the next sentence was a translation or continuing of the conversation. I also was not a fan of the ending, believe me I get the ending and appreciated it - doesn't mean I liked it. But, this is not a reason to avoid this book.

I am also a fan of UK authors - they are bloody brilliant ;)

To read my full review: https://saturdaynitereader.com/2018/0...

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring, humorous, and heartfelt!

The Start of Something Wonderful is a delightfully affecting tale that takes us on a journey into the life of Emily Forsyth as she courageously decides at forty to reinvent herself and give up all the luxuries she's become accustomed to and follow her life-long dream of becoming an actress.

The writing style is light and genuine. The characters are fun-loving, realistic, quirky, and likable. And the amusing plot is filled with hope, heartbreak, infidelity, friendship, family, dreams, romance, awkward moments, entertaining mishaps, yummy food, and an insight into the crazy world of theatre production and movie making.

Overall, The Start of Something Wonderful is an engaging, effortless read that highlights that at any age it's possible to start over and live a happy, rewarding, fulfilled life you just have to commit and jump!

Thank you to Jane Lambert and HQ Digital UK for providing me with a copy in an exchange for an honest review.

All my reviews can be found on my blog at https://whatsbetterthanbooks.com

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a refreshing read, maybe because the heroine isn’t your typical twenty something chick lit lead or maybe it was Lambert’s easy, flowy writing style, but whatever it is I wholeheartedly enjoyed this one and found it to be uplifting, inspiring and full of heart.

Emily is a forty year woman who decides it’s never too late to follow your dreams so she flips her life upside down to pursue an acting career. I really liked Em, she’s bright and bubbly and is willing to take risks, a quality I always admire in a person as I am not the risk taking type. There is a colorful and entertaining cast of characters that add humor cheer to the story and I genuinely laughed out loud several times while reading this delightful book.

You can tell Lambert has a personal connection to the story, it shines through and is heartfelt and honest. I loved the overall message of hope and encouragement that it really is never too late to start over, it’s a lovely thought and quite meaningful for such a fun loving book.

[Donna Maguire · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://donnasbookblog.wordpress.com/...

I really enjoyed this story, I loved that Emily was 40 and had a lot of life experience behind her - there are a lot of books in this genre that feature younger leads so this one was a refreshing change for me (and Emily is more my age)!

I thought that the story was great and I really enjoyed it, it is an impressive debut and I am definitely going to be looking put for more from this author after reading this, I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style and it really helped bring the characters to life. It was a really nice read - and a lovely way for me to pass an afternoon - 4 stars from me!

[Xiomara Canizales · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sadly I didn't like this book...
I was aware the story was going to be a cheesy, light, contemporary read however I was expecting a different thing! I though the story was going to deal with self-discoverment, the pursuing of a lost dream, work hard for that thing you want the most...
Instead of that I got a story with woman who has no idea what she wants, gossip everywhere, a amount of people I don't know where they come from and their presence didn't add anything to the story. Obviously she became an 'actress' but at the end I got the sense that she wasn't happy...
I got Sophie Kinsella and Sex and The City kind of vibe so there may be an audience for this book but not for me.

[Simona · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

I loved the sound of this book from the start, because it includes theatre, the West End and much more.


The main character is Emma Forsyth, who is a forty-year-old stewardess, has everything and is happy with her pilot boyfriend. However, he breakes up with her and that’s when everything changes. She gets into a big crisis and needs a change. She finally follows her dreams and wants to become a successful actress, hopefully on the West End.

She goes from casting to audition and tries out for various roles, whether it’s for a TV series, play or musical. I loved getting inside into this industry and I really wanted her to land a dream role. To actually afford living, she starts working at an Italian restaurant, where she meets some great people. They become a big part of her life and also help her along the way.

I really liked the idea behind this book, but the plot moved way to fast for my taste. There were big jumps and therefore also gaps in the storyline. I felt that it got messy at times and details were missing.

Tghe message behind it is very clear though and I think Emma is a great main character and I loved following her around. She takes a second chance at life and learns a lot. Of course the riomance part is very important to mention as well, let me just say: Italian charm.

A very sweet and adorable read, not more unfortunately.

3.5/5

[Kim · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book but the writing and story were just too messy for me. The plot was all over the place introducing new characters and bit characters all the time. One thing that bothered me is at one point in the story Emily mentions regretting having recently shaved off her hair (before playing a part as a mermaid?) but I went back through the book and the hair change is never mentioned prior to that scene. So how was the reader supposed to know that the character got cast as a mermaid but had recently shaved off all her hair? Just messy all around.

Emily and Francesco rarely see each other or communicate but the reader is supposed to believe there is some big underlying love story? While Emily is off on location for a play or some such for 3-4 months at a time and when she finally gets back home then Francesco has to move back to Italy. How does that even work?

I just don't think the author thought this story through well, and I think the editor should have picked up on these problems. Emily's story could have been a fun read but because of the writing and focus on bit characters it just boiled over into a mess on the stovetop.

My copy was provided by NetGalley for review but my opinions are my own.

[Zoé-Lee O'Farrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

So to name a few things I liked about this audiobook was the fact that Jane herself narrated the book and she used her experience of the theatre entwined in her story was fab. I loved the added extras of the musical interludes thrown in the story, it did make me smile.

I did like Emily, I loved that it was a story of a 40-something woman, struggling with her current life plan, not where she wants to be, her partner leaving her and she leaves the big birds in the sky….to become an actress? Yeah that right, she starts right at the bottom, she takes the classes which were hilarious to listen to, and she starts over. She is brave.

It is so easy to get lost in this story and in Emily’s life. It is a second chance at life, one she takes with both hands and she shows she can do anything she puts her mind to it. That is not to say there were no mishaps when she sees Nigel, the ex, when she goes on a date with a “very” young lad and the general misdemeanours behind the scenes of a show.

My only gripe was the ending! It was on a cliff hanger, it was like Sliding Doors, which way would she go!? I need to know!!!

Overall it was a cute story and left me with a smile on face as it reiterates that life is what you make of it, take those chances and just live it.

[Jéssica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love audiobooks. I find them very useful, specially since I'm always looking for something to have as a companion during some tasks; in this case, I found that I quite enjoyed listening to this particular novel while making some painting in wooden. It was a fun story to listen too and not hard to follow.

In this novel, we follow Emily Forsythe, a forty-year-old air stewardess, as she goes on a self-discovery journey provoked by unexpected and heartbroken changes in her life. And that's life for you guys! Sometimes things happen and we have to decide what we are going to do next. That's what we follow in this novel. We get to see how Emily, the main character, deals with all that is going on and find explore the freedom she has now gained.

I loved the interactions between Emily and all the people she encounters in this new adventure while following her dreams. Many strong, funny, colorful personalities, with different background stories and aspirations that make us connect with them as much as we do with Emily.

It was also interesting to listen to the narrator - in this case, the author herself - go through the different accents and tones that made each character feel real in my mind. Actually, I felt like I was there and was just at the corner of the room, watching and listening. Because, although I didn't felt as I was part of that world, I still felt like I was listening to someone tell me her story, letting me know all the interactions she had and all the good and bad moments in her life.

Overall, I really wanted her to be happy. My mom is in her late forties and I want her to do whatever she wants and that makes her happy. And I felt hat kind of connection with Emily, because I was listening to a woman's voice narrating the novel, I felt like I was listening to Emily herself and that made me think of all the women in my life that are in her forties and every women that isn't by has suffer a major change in her life... So I honestly wanted her to have a good time and accomplish her goals.

Accomplishing or goals, never giving up, discover ourselves everyday... I loved all of that. And I do believe we can be, and we are, resilient and we will get up and try again, even if it's something entirely different from what we have been doing for the past years. So that's a good message.

About recommending this book... Listening to audiobooks is always a different kind of experience and I know not many people enjoy it, so I recommend it to those that love listening to audiobooks.

[Linda Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nursing a broken heart and a desire to become an actress Emily throws in her airhostess career for a life of drama – in more ways than one.

The Start of Something Wonderful has been on my TBR for such a long time that I was almost afraid to read it. What if I didn’t like it? I needn’t have worried as I really, really enjoyed this book.

The Start of Something Wonderful is a delightfully effortless read because Jane Lambert’s style is so fluid and natural that it makes reading a pleasure. I loved the realism conveyed through the sprinkling of foreign words and phrases as well as the references to the arts and literature and the quotations from Shakespeare that weave seamlessly into the narrative yet serve to add depth and flavour. And speaking of flavour, Jane Lambert manages to appeal to all the senses so that The Start of Something Wonderful is vivid and stimulating.

I loved meeting Emily. She is the perfect embodiment of a real woman of a certain age. Her anxieties, her doubts, her challenges and triumphs are told with emotion and brilliant humour and they are exactly the elements that all women can relate to. I frequently laughed aloud, smiled and nodded as I read because I understood completely how she was feeling as Jane Lambert places the reader very firmly inside Emily’s head. I confess I shed a little tear too at the end.

I adored the storyline. I learnt a great deal about the life of a jobbing actress. I’m sure much of the novel is autobiographical, as, alongside the humour and despair there’s a realism and considerable depth that I thoroughly appreciated. Whilst The Start of Something Wonderful is a rom-com or chick-lit if that’s how you want to define it, it is also a book about being true to yourself, about not relying simply on a man and about making the most of every moment we have.

The Start of Something Wonderful is a glorious, escapist read with romance, drama (in more ways than one), humour and a cracking story that I loved.

[DJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

There's something sweet about this book and the tone. It's about taking second chances and finding yourself no matter the age. It was a cute, fast read but I just didn't love it. I found the storyline and writing to be a bit messy.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the synopsis for this book and I immediately knew that I just had to read ‘The Start Of Something Wonderful’ as it sounded just my kind of read. Not only that but it would give me hope for my own career/ life as I am fast approaching the age of *whispers quietly* 40 and I have dreams of my own. I was not to be disappointed on both fronts. I absolutely loved ‘The Start Of Something Wonderful’ but more about that in a bit.
It took me a short while to warm to Emily Forsyth, as her initial manner isn’t exactly what you might call warm and welcoming. She can actually be quite cutting. However, warm to her I did and I found that she is actually a woman with a huge heart but she is almost crippled by self doubt and a lack of self confidence, which isn’t helped by the fact that her other half dumps her. For example when anybody pays her a compliment, she bats it back by being critical of herself. I get the impression that she has been badly hurt in the past and this has understandably knocked her confidence. When she goes to follow her dreams, she is initially reluctant to do so because it means going out of her comfort zone but she knows that if she wants to have a stab at her dream career, she needs to put herself out there and get out of her comfort zone. It’s far too easy to stay within your comfort zone, where it’s safe and you don’t put yourself at risk of upset and heartache. This made total sense to me as it is something that I have been told many times during my pain clinic therapy sessions. In a way, I admired Emily for having the guts to go after her dream career as it gave me hope for my own life. Okay so to start with things didn’t go well but she persevered and finally she got her much deserved success and found happiness. If you don’t try, then you will never know what might have been, as the saying goes. Emily certainly went on a journey of self discovery and she discovered what really is important in life and all the things she thought were important in her previous life as an air hostess have no meaning for her anymore and are rather superficial. Friends, family, health, happiness and doing what makes you happy are just some of the things that are more important to Emily no. Emily also has a tendency to get herself into some scrapes but she soon gets herself out of them again. On more than one occasion I found myself chuckling along at the next mess she got herself into. In the end I was rooting for her and I began to almost see her as a friend.
Once I picked up ‘The Start Of Something Wonderful’ I found that I just couldn’t put the book down and before I knew it, I had read 20%. The writing style is such that you can’t fail to be drawn into the story and reading this book then becomes seriously addictive. I didn’t notice how quickly the pages flew past as I was so into the story and so desperate to find out what happened next. It was almost as if the book was glued to my hand as it came everywhere with me. Usually I have the attention span of a gnat and I am easily distracted but not in this case, as I managed to just focus on the book and shut out all other noise.
The book has a serious message but manages to convey the message using drama and humour. The message being that it is never too late to follow your dreams and if this means having to go outside your comfort zone then just do it. As I alluded to before this is something I have been told many times, but I have never put it into practice until now. I really did feel as though I had been on an emotional rollercoaster ride after I had finished this book because I empathised so much with Emily, that when she felt sad, happy, had feelings of despair, had feelings of hope etc, so did I.
In short, I absolutely loved this heart warming, funny and feel good book and I sincerely hope that there is a sequel in the offing because I need to know what happens next. I would recommend this book to others. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a well deserved, easy 5* out of 5*.

[Laura Nelson (Tangents and Tissues) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Life doesn’t always go the way we plan, but some things happen for a reason.”

We all do it, don’t we? Envisage what our life will be like when ‘x’ happens. By the time we’re ‘y’ we’ll have ‘z’. But, try as we might, life likes to throw us curveballs when we least expect it; making us have to juggle x, y and z all over again.

This is exactly what happens to 40-year-old air stewardess, Emily Forsyth when she is unceremoniously dumped by her pilot boyfriend, Nigel. I have a few choice words for Nigel, but most cannot be repeated here *winks* I’m a lady! *snorts*

This was definitely not in her life plan. In fact, this was not the life she had envisaged at all. As the cover of the book says, it’s never too late to follow your dreams... Maybe now is the time to embrace her long coveted dream, and not walk the path expected by others.

We follow all the trials and tribulations as Emily sets about making her dreams of becoming an actress a reality. Amidst a host of colourful characters, Emily’s journey is eventful to say the least. I’d liken it to a journey of enlightenment as she finds out what truly makes her heart happy.

Some of her escapades had me in stitches (see minestrone moment). I’ve got to say, I’d love to be friends with Emily and her crew. There’d certainly never be a dull moment *giggles*

I felt an affinity with Emily. Don’t ever let anyone say you can’t do something. It’s your life, your happiness. Do what makes you happy!

And, oh there is romance - with a very sexy Italian no less *whistles* Yup *taps nose*, say no more...

Well, one thing...

“Live in the moment, cara, and appreciate.”

So, after all that, I bet you’re wondering why I’ve docked a star from my rating? Hmm? Well, it was the ending... I wanted to lob my kindle. I admit the air was blue, but with the aforementioned lady comment, I won’t elaborate further *smirks*

A humorous, thoughtful and well-written debut from author Jane Lambert. I’ll be on the lookout for more of her books. And, I wouldn’t object to reading more about Emily - hint, hint!

[Katherine Hayward Pérez · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Start of Something Wonderful by Jane Lambert is about how Emily, an air hostess, fights to change her life and get it back on track after her pilot boyfriend Nigel dumps her. Initially very alone and overwhelmed, Emily seeks help and advice from her friends Wendy, Céline, Rachel and Faye. Emily throws herself into working anywhere and everywhere, from cleaning jobs to acting auditions. Although acting is her passion, she realises it is a very competitive profession, and so, determined to keep pushing and fighting to make something of herself, keeps cycling around the local area looking for a job.

She ends up at an Italian restaurant called Il Molino where she finds herself attempting to waitress, while learning Italian courtesy of Francisco. I adored her experiences at the restaurant, and the ambience. I have to admit, I was sad when she continued her quest for the acting job of her dreams, as they were good together and I had hoped there would be more of a relationship between them.

I loved her sense of humour and have-a-go attitude in life. There were a lot of laugh-out-loud moments. The Start of Something Wonderful is an incredibly feel-good, realistic yet funny romcom about never being afraid to fight for what you really want and to do it for you no matter the consequences.

Thanks to Jane Lambert and HQ Digital for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. In addition, thanks to Jane for inviting me to take part in the book's blog tour. Post on my blog on March 23rd 2017.

[Ritu Bhathal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do love a book with a relatable FMC.
Emily is a woman in her early 40s, recently single after being in a long-term relationship, and in need of a change.
She quits her career in the air as a flight attendant, and embarks upon a lifelong dream - to become an actress.
And why shouldn't one aspire to make those dreams come true?
Emily is lucky to have supportive friends, but her mother does not necessarily believe that Emily is doing what is right for a woman of her age.
Emily meets some wonderful people who become a second family to her in a small Italian restaurant, where, like most jobbing actors, she has found a job to keep her head above water, until she lands the perfect role. And she also meets someone rather special too.
Let me not regurgitate the story here, but in a nutshell, we have a lovely story of second chances in both love and life.
Remember, it's never too late!

[Michaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely book! Emily, the main character, is a 40 yo woman who decides to change her carreer and starts following her dreams. She is very positive about all changes in her life (to the point when it sometimes feels a bit unbelievable as one would expect her to reach a breaking point and consider giving up a bit more often than portrayed) and somehow manages to fulfill her dreams. She is on a road of self rediscovery and learns how to rely on herself instead of relying on her man.
The book is one of the comic feel-good books which are easy to read and make you laugh out loud, but one could find an inspiration in the words as well. Only thing left to say is I wish changing your life would be as easy as pictured! Then again, maybe for some people it is.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know that moment when you are sat at your desk but in your head your a million miles away living out your dreams? Well, Emily Forsyth, the main character in The Start of Something Wonderful is fed up of dreaming and decides to put them into practice. The bright lights have been calling her and she takes the leap to answer the call.

I thoroughly enjoyed this humorous adventure. Jane’s writing style flows effortlessly and the storyline is pure escapism. It makes you wonder if you are ever too old to fulfil your hidden dreams.

I would add The Start of Something Wonderful to your TBR, perfect for a spring day afternoon or cuddled up with a blanket on a rainy one.

The Start of Something Wonderful encourages us all to take that leap and never give up hope or determination.

[Jeannie Zelos · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Start of Something Wonderful,  Jane Lambert

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: romance, women's fiction

Gah! Women's fiction – how I hate that we have a whole genre for women, why dismiss books as being of interest to men....what price equality when we segregate ourselves. Rant over ;-0

So, I really wanted to like this book, its got a lead character who's older, and as someone older myself that's always interesting to find. Choosing a huge career change too was going to be interesting to read I thought.
Sadly though I felt sorry for Emily I just didn't like her, found her friends gossipy, the humour felt forced and trying a little too hard and her trials on the way to acting were just plain hard going. What should have been fun to read became a chore for me and I didn't finish. Sorry. I can see from Goodreads that others love this, and that's great, but for me it wasn't one that worked.


 Stars: Two, DNF, some stories I love and others just don't fit my taste, sadly this was one of those. Perfect for many readers, the story was fine it just wasn't one that suited me.
Arc supplied for review by Netgalley and Publishers

 

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

With thanks to the publisher for the copy received.
The Start of Something Wonderful is a lovely novel that shows it is never too late to follow a dream. When Emily’s boyfriend breaks up with her it makes her realise that the job she had wasn’t what she wanted, despite giving her an often glamorous lifestyle. She decides to train to become an actress and this novel shows how hard but how rewarding her journey was.
At first she struggled, taking acting jobs that could be humiliating but were also well-paying. And she also had to do jobs that would supplement her income. It is from one of these jobs that she finds somebody that she starts to have feelings for.
I found parts of the novel to be very amusing, especially her accounts of working in rep, a scene that involves a bicycle and her memories of the not as glam as you think life as an air stewardess.
I wanted her to find love again, and to be happy. Not to feel that she was letting people down and to give herself a break. And I wanted her dream to become a reality. I wasn’t sure if I felt happy or sad at the end. I’m sure there will be others who feel the same.
A heart warming novel for a miserable January day.

[Loy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emily Forsyth thought she had everything a woman could wish - she was a Flight Attendant, had a great boyfriend and did lots of traveling. But when she loses her boyfriend, she quits her job. She decides to follow her dream of being an actress. But can a forty-year-old woman break into the business?
It is a little farfetched that she could get parts - she had been away from the business for a long time. But the book was good. It did need a some editing but all in all a good book. Thank you, Net Galley.

[Peggy Jaeger · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Emily Forsythe's long-term "man-friend" ( he's too old to be a boyfriend!) dumps her, the 40-year-old flight attendant takes a good look at her life and realizes she has nothing she ever dreamed of. No husband, no children, and the dream she had a girl to be an actress has gone by the wayside. Not anymore. When Nigel walks out of her life, Emily walks out her life as well. The call to be an actress ignites within her again and she goes for it. She chucks her boring, financially stable life for an exciting, monetary-wary one and goes for her dream. Along the way she meets pitfalls, pratfalls, and any number of disappointments, but she's determined and resourceful. She even finds love again and has to make another decision about where that love fits into her new and fulfilling life.
I simply adored this book and Emily. She's not your typical 20-something having a crisis. She's a grown-ass woman who's seen life and realized the life she's seen is not for her. SO, she does something about. Despite all the naysayers she goes for her dream. Love that! This book is worth the 5 stars I'm giving it!! I was given an arc of this book from Netgalley and I'm so glad I requested it. Emily Forsythe is a heroine I could get my teeth into and one I routed for on every single page.

[Deborah J Miles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed The Start of Something Wonderful, which was previously published under the title Learning to Fly!. I had an audiobook.

The story is professionally narrated by author Jane Lambert, and there are other sound effects and music which enhanced my experience.

The story is told from the perspective of Emily Forsyth, a forty-year-old, singleton, who has been recently dumped by her long-term boyfriend, Nigel. Having realised that life is not taking her in the direction she thought it was, she has decided to give up her well-paid job as a flight attendant, and go to drama school in a bid fulfil her lifelong ambition to become an actress.

It felt almost like an autobiography, as there was great understanding and depth in the detail of the story. It is well-written and was brilliantly delivered in the audio version. I did think that it ended abruptly, but perhaps that was a cliff-hanger that would lead to another book. However, there is humour and sarcasm aplenty, and I would have to say that it's my kinda book, and one I'd be happy to recommend to others.

My thanks to the author for a free digital copy of this book to review.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sigh. I admire Emily for opting to follow her heart and go for it as an actress but this would have great benefited from a strong edit to pull the strings together. The odds, btw, of Emily managing to get roles as a "mature" newcomer are slim so it's especially impressive that she achieves her goal. Of course there's a new romance with Francesco and new friends. There's some laughs too. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is a light fast read.

[B.R. Maycock · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of Emily, an air hostess who had the lifestyle she wanted, until it all fell apart. I settled into it easily and felt for her as she tried to figure out what to do next.

I was rooting for Emily as she went job hunting and tried not to giggle as door after door was slammed in her face. This book was choc full of inspiration and life lessons, as Emily decided to change everything up and study and work to become an actress. Her classes made me smile as did the characters that were vivid and bring and fun.

The book delved between being a good descriptive read, with plenty of locations that were picture perfect and comedy that made you smile. The pacing was very good, with roadblocks and stumbling blocks arising at every turn. There’s also a lovely italian/ foody element for those that enjoy it (I did!) Definitely one for people who want the feel good element and I totally enjoyed. Thanks so much to Netgalley and HQ Digital for the book in return for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5

[Melanie Farmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily is a glamorous 40 year old air stewardess who has everything - a beautiful home, an amazing lifestyle, a wardrobe any woman would be jealous of and a rather lovely pilot boyfriend.  What more could she possibly want?  Unfortunately she is forced to seriously consider this when that lovely pilot boyfriend blindsides her and dumps her.

At 40 years old she expected to be married with children.  Instead, she finds herself single and at a crossroads in her life.  What does she really want?  Whilst dealing with her heartbreak Emily thinks back over the dreams she has had that have passed her by as she has got on with her life.  She realises that what she has in front of her is a world of opportunity, and the possibility of reclaiming those dreams for herself.  So she quits her job, joins an acting class and seeks to become the actress that she never thought she would be.

Firstly I loved that this novel wasn't about some twenty-something beautiful young woman who has life handed to her on a plate.  Emily is relatable because she is a normal woman who has dreams, just like the rest of us, that often get pushed to one side due to the bills we have to pay as well as the influence of our friends and family.  Finding herself at a crossroads in her life, I found myself rooting for her as she decided to completely change her life in pursuit of a dream she thought was long forgotten. 

I liked the fact that acting wasn't easy for her, and that she didn't just walk into major acting roles.  She has to work at it (sometimes whilst scrubbing toilets in her spare time!) in order to gain her next role, not even knowing if that acting role would enable her to pay her bills.  The portrayal of this is important in this novel, and makes it all the more relatable because life and dreams are not easy, there are always obstacles thrown in our way.

The interactions between Emily, Luigi and everyone at Il Mulino are really lovely and were a highlight for me.  It really is a family run restaurant, a family that wholeheartedly embraces and supports Emily as she pushes forward to forge a career in an incredibly difficult business.  My only disappointment surrounding Il Mulino was the relationship between Emily and Francesco.  I do love a bit of romance in my novels, and whilst I wanted to see Emily grab some romantic happiness I also did not want to see her acting dreams oppressed by the addition of a relationship.  I am pleased to confirm that this did not happen, however I never really felt invested in the relationship between Emily and Francesco.  Instead, I found myself anticipating things going wrong between them.  Maybe it was the regular distance between them, or maybe it was the fact that I just wanted to see Emily succeed in her acting career without any distractions, but this was one relationship that I just struggled to relate to.

Do not let my analysis of this one relationship put you off though.  Beyond this, I really enjoyed following Emily's story as she dealt with the ups and downs of such a significant life change.  It really does leave you feeing that anything is possible if you really are willing to work for it.  If you are looking for an inspiring novel about female determination, this is a novel for you!

Thank you to Netgalley, Jane Lambert and HQ Digital for a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wouldn't we all like to start over. To have the nerve and gumption to let go of the past and follow our dreams? Go on. You can admit it. I do. This is exactly what happens in The Start of Something Wonderful. We join unlucky in love Emily Forsyth just as she is about to leave behind her career with an international airline to follow her life long dream of appearing on the stage. It won't be easy and Emily knows that her dreams are stardom are as distant as a long haul flight to Melbourne, but it doesn't stop her. And what ensues is romantic, funny, heart warming and a little inspiring. If only we could all be so brave.

From the early days in drama school, to a problem ridden rep season in the north of England and a one woman show in the safe confines of the Italian restaurant Emily works in to pay the bills, she has the grit and determination to succeed if only she can find the nerve and the right agent. Given only the roles which others turn down, can she turn her early disasters into success or will a possible romance with chef and part time Italian tutor Francesco derail all her plans?

I love a bit of theatre, I really do, and so the whole premise of this book appealed to me. Not necessarily because I have designs on a life on the stage. I tried that as a child and boy am I not suited. Not suited at all. But I can kind of identify with Emily. Not the being jilted by a two timing boyfriend bit. I'm not that daft. But being the forty something woman with a kind of hankering after reinventing herself, or at least following her dreams, I can understand that sentiment for sure. Unlike Emily, I have literally no idea what that dream may be, but hey. This isn't about me now, is it?

I think readers young and old will identify with Emily. With her hopes and dreams. You can certainly admire her tenacity. So many times when it would have been easier to turn back and not follow her chosen path and yet she doesn't perhaps the benefit of experience but perhaps also something more. It certainly makes her very likeable and there I found myself nodding along with her, recognising her doubts and her struggles. So many times she made me smile, I really wanted to see her succeed.

Jane Lambert has done a great job in creating character in this novel. Not only do you have a really interesting and well rounded character in Emily, but her friends and family are also believable and endearing. Especially Luigi, Francesco and the team at the Italian restaurant, Emily's former co-workers from the airline and her fellow thesps from the Austrian production. I really liked them all. There were quite a lot of people to get to grips with, the nature of Emily's chosen career and the start stop nature of some acting jobs meaning that the cast changed regularly, bit this flowed well and suited the story. Emily didn't have a particularly easy rise to the top, trying to start an acting career at forty plus having its natural disadvantages. They say there's a lack fo decent roles for the more mature (i.e. over 30 something) actress, but Emily seemed to find enough.

As much fun as it was to see Emily's career take off, the comedic elements of some of the early acting disasters providing some truly chucklesome moments, especially during the Rep season, there are some beautiful moments too, notably where Emily finally gets the approval of her parents for her acting, but also in the blossoming romance with Francesco. It's not easy making a long distance relationship work and yet this seems credible with an almost innocent air to it, despite the chemistry which leaps from the page. I love the way in which the author explored this, not forcing anything too quickly or cutting it off completely each time Emily left for a job. The delay, the element of will they won't they made the romantic element all the more appealing. Not too much, not too saccharin. Just right.

I really enjoyed this foray into Emily's world, a perfect antidote to all the bad things in the world. Nice to see someone succeeding, if only in fiction, in realising their dreams. A really great book and I look forward to seeing what Jane Lambert has to offer us all next

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jane Lambert's THE START OF SOMETHING WONDERFUL is a quirky and fast paced tale of one woman's quest to follow her dreams.

What I Liked:

1. Emily (the main character) - Emily is representative of anyone who has ever felt "stuck" in their life, like somehow somewhere they got lost and ended up in the wrong place. When the book first begins she's unhappy. She's double thinking all of her life choices while also trying to figure out who she is as a newly single woman. I give her major props for going after her dreams, especially so late in life. Not many people would do that - most would stay in their comfortable yet boring jobs - but Emily takes a daring leap. The leap brings the good as well as the bad. Emily finds out what she likes and doesn't like over the course of the book. While sometimes I felt that she acted slightly young for age regarding her decisions (especially regarding her office cleaning job!), it didn't bother me too much overall.

2. Acting - Throughout the book Emily stars in a variety of shows. Some are good. Some are mediocre. Some are terribly bad. I always enjoyed seeing how each turned out. They brought out some good laughs, and I loved the secondary characters they introduced. Petra, for instance, was a bright light. I admired her passion for acting as well as her desire to help others reach their goals.

3. The romance - The romance in THE START OF SOMETHING WONDERFUL is very low-key, and I was completely okay with that, because at its core THE START OF SOMETHING WONDERFUL is about finding yourself as well as not defining yourself based on another. The romance happened late in the book, and I thought it was sweet.

4. The ending - I'll admit at first I thought "wait, that's it?!" but the more I think about the ending the more I appreciate it. It's very open-ended but at the same time it's hopeful. In a way it lets the reader decide what happens next.

What I Didn't Like -

1. The flow - THE START OF SOMETHING WONDERFUL is broken into 15 chapters. Each chapter covers a different month of Emily's life. Overall, I liked the month break down. It gave a fast paced feel to the book; however, it didn't always flow well. Just as I would get comfortable in one chapter, it was BAM, next scene. It was a tad bit confusing at times, and sometimes I thought plot and character development suffered because of it.

Overall, THE START OF SOMETHING WONDERFUL is a short introspective tale of Emily's eventful year.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

They’re calling it “a fantastically feel-good romantic comedy” – and so it is, but this is a book that will win the heart of every woman who has ever dreamed that their life could be different, a joyful affirmation that it’s never too late for a new start. Emily won my heart from the very beginning as she walked away from her former life (and love-rat Nigel), into her new home amid a landlady’s eccentric collection of knick-knacks, trying to make ends meet while attending the glorious Portia’s acting classes.

There’s a massive cast of characters in this book, as Emily moves from her first small pub stage, through a season in rep, then onto other things – and every single character is a delight, perfectly drawn, with their own little backstory, so cleverly done. Friends, employers, fellow actors – I particularly loved the young security guard who agrees to bring an enthusiastic audience to one of her early performances in exchange for taking her for a meal, and the elderly couple (her parents in On Golden Pond) who find some unexpected joy in their later life. There are lots of little side-stories woven into the plot, beautifully handled – while Emily continued to cycle through the rain into an uncertain future, and the pages turn faster as you hope things will finally work out for her. The romantic thread is also perfect – I lost my heart to Francesco too, but I was already feeling a bit emotional because of the support Emily had from everyone involved in that gorgeous Italian restaurant.

It really is a great story, filled with love and the most wonderful supportive friendships – but this is a “romantic comedy”, so it’s also very, very funny. The humour comes from the situations in which Emily finds herself, and some of the stories from her time in rep had me laughing out loud in a way I rarely do – a sequence of perfectly described little scenes, always with an essence of authenticity and a well-handled feel for the ridiculous. Other than the book’s opening few pages with their lists and slightly quirky feel (which did, I’ll admit, put me off a little, so don’t let them the same for you), the writing is excellent – it hits its stride into a lovely blend of strong story-telling and wry humour, with a heroine at its centre who becomes your new very best friend. And those times when Emily finds herself amid beautifully described mountain scenery and wants to twirl like Maria in The Sound of Music? I wanted to dance along with her…

This book has to be the strongest argument ever for “write what you know” – and she’s done it quite superbly, with a joyous and uplifting read that so many will love every bit as much as I did. Just wonderful.