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Postcards #1
Postcards From a Stranger
A secret lies buried at the heart of her family—but it can’t stay hidden forever.
When Cara stumbles across a stash of old postcards in the attic, their contents make her question everything she thought she knew.
The story she pieces together is confusing and unsettling, and appears to have been patched over with lies. But who can tell her the truth? With her father sinking into Alzheimer’s and her brother reluctant to help, it seems Cara will never find the answers to her questions. One thing is clear, someone knows more than they’re letting on.
Torn between loyalty to her family and dread of what she might find, Cara digs into the early years of her parents’ troubled marriage, hunting down long-lost relatives who might help unravel the mystery. But the picture that begins to emerge is not at all the one she’d expected—because as she soon discovers, lies have a habit of multiplying . . .
Revised This edition of Postcards from a Stranger includes editorial revisions.
When Cara stumbles across a stash of old postcards in the attic, their contents make her question everything she thought she knew.
The story she pieces together is confusing and unsettling, and appears to have been patched over with lies. But who can tell her the truth? With her father sinking into Alzheimer’s and her brother reluctant to help, it seems Cara will never find the answers to her questions. One thing is clear, someone knows more than they’re letting on.
Torn between loyalty to her family and dread of what she might find, Cara digs into the early years of her parents’ troubled marriage, hunting down long-lost relatives who might help unravel the mystery. But the picture that begins to emerge is not at all the one she’d expected—because as she soon discovers, lies have a habit of multiplying . . .
Revised This edition of Postcards from a Stranger includes editorial revisions.
353 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 9, 2017
11667 people are currently reading
7548 people want to read
About the author
Imogen Clark
15 books886 followersInternationally bestselling author Imogen Clark has sold over one million books. She writes contemporary fiction about families and secrets. Her books have topped Amazon storewide charts eight times and her third book, Where the Story Starts, was shortlisted in the UK for Contemporary Romantic Novel of the year 2020.
Imogen initially qualified as a lawyer but after leaving her legal career behind to care for her four children, she returned to her first love - books. She went back to University, studying English Literature part-time whilst the children were at school. It was a short step from there to writing novels.
Imogen's great love is travel and she is always planning her next adventure. She lives in Yorkshire with her husband and children.
If you'd like to connect then please visit her website at www.imogenclark.com where you can sign up to her monthly newsletter. Imogen can also be found on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as Imogen Clark Author.
Imogen initially qualified as a lawyer but after leaving her legal career behind to care for her four children, she returned to her first love - books. She went back to University, studying English Literature part-time whilst the children were at school. It was a short step from there to writing novels.
Imogen's great love is travel and she is always planning her next adventure. She lives in Yorkshire with her husband and children.
If you'd like to connect then please visit her website at www.imogenclark.com where you can sign up to her monthly newsletter. Imogen can also be found on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as Imogen Clark Author.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,102 reviews
June 20, 2024
Eine Geschichte über Familiengeheimnisse reizt mich eigentlich immer. Das Thema finde ich grundsätzlich interessant, und so hat mich natürlich auch dieses Buch gleich angesprochen.
Es geht um Cara, die inzwischen über 30 ist und alte Postkarten ihrer Mutter findet. Das kann aber eigentilch nicht sein, denn ihre Mutter ist früh verstorben und die Postkarten sind nach ihrem Tod datiert.
Was hat ihr Vater ihr verschwiegen?
Cara macht sich also daran, dieses Geheimnis aufzudecken.
💚 Im Großen und Ganzen hat mir die Geschichte sehr gut gefallen. Ich mochte dieses Suchen in der Vergangenheit, das Aufdecken alter Geheimnisse.
Die Geschichte ist leicht erzählt, auch wenn nicht alles schön ist, was Cara aufdeckt.
Mich konnte der Roman gut unterhalten.
Es geht um Cara, die inzwischen über 30 ist und alte Postkarten ihrer Mutter findet. Das kann aber eigentilch nicht sein, denn ihre Mutter ist früh verstorben und die Postkarten sind nach ihrem Tod datiert.
Was hat ihr Vater ihr verschwiegen?
Cara macht sich also daran, dieses Geheimnis aufzudecken.
💚 Im Großen und Ganzen hat mir die Geschichte sehr gut gefallen. Ich mochte dieses Suchen in der Vergangenheit, das Aufdecken alter Geheimnisse.
Die Geschichte ist leicht erzählt, auch wenn nicht alles schön ist, was Cara aufdeckt.
Mich konnte der Roman gut unterhalten.
February 12, 2023
A charming story about family. Cara, a wedding dress designer lives with her elderly father, who is slowly succumbing to Alzheimer's. She was always led to believe her mother died when she was 2 years old, and her upbringing was a little neglectful. It's only when she discovers dozens of postcards in the attic from her mother, sent years after her death that she realises her mum may still be alive, and tries to hunt her down.
The only thing I didn't like about this novel was how negatively it portrayed nearly all the men. Cara's father was obsessively stuck in his ways at best, her grandfather downright abusive, her brother emotionally distant and her best friend's fiance is very controlling. Only her love interest faired well, but he was a bit of a non-entity for me.
I liked that the novel didn't go for the easy, predictable twist at the end
The relationships between most of the characters seemed believable enough. I enjoyed Cara and Beth's strong friendship. It was easy to see that they'd been friends their whole lives, and Cara's concerns about Beth's fiance, and the way she approached them seemed very realistic. Michael and Cara too portrayed a realistic distant sibling bond.
Overall,it was a very nice read.
The only thing I didn't like about this novel was how negatively it portrayed nearly all the men. Cara's father was obsessively stuck in his ways at best, her grandfather downright abusive, her brother emotionally distant and her best friend's fiance is very controlling. Only her love interest faired well, but he was a bit of a non-entity for me.
I liked that the novel didn't go for the easy, predictable twist at the end
The relationships between most of the characters seemed believable enough. I enjoyed Cara and Beth's strong friendship. It was easy to see that they'd been friends their whole lives, and Cara's concerns about Beth's fiance, and the way she approached them seemed very realistic. Michael and Cara too portrayed a realistic distant sibling bond.
Overall,it was a very nice read.
September 11, 2018
This book is about controlling people's lives and about bullying. But also about regret and forgiveness.
Cara looks after her demented father and one day, when she goes up to the attic where she was never allowed to go, she finds hundreds of postcards addressed to her and her brother. She tries to find out what's been hidden from her for all these years.
Cara looks after her demented father and one day, when she goes up to the attic where she was never allowed to go, she finds hundreds of postcards addressed to her and her brother. She tries to find out what's been hidden from her for all these years.
October 24, 2018
Unfortunately, this didn’t work for me. I went into the book thinking it would be a breath taking, edge of your seat kind of read but it just wasn’t. I found myself skimming a lot because there was so much unnecessary information. The big reveal wasn’t really anything too awesome and it was completely predictable. I felt no connection to the characters and actually ended up hating Cara because she was really annoying.
November 12, 2020
I enjoyed “Post Cards from a Stranger” very much. I absolutely love the way it was written by Imogen Clark. It wasn’t exactly a fast page turner, but more of a gradually evolving story — getting more interesting with every chapter.
It’s a story about a family of two children who live with their father, Joseph and they are told early in their life that their mother died. When they get older, the daughter Cara, begins to have questions about her mother. At the same time, the father has a very serious case of Alzheimer’s, to the point where he is no longer communicating. When Cara goes into the attic to bring objects to her father which might be familiar and help open his memory, she finds a treasure of postcards.
This is where the story takes off. There are subtle hints in the cards that I can’t tell you because of spoiler rules. However, they lead to a pretty fast paced second half of the book with a huge surprise at the end.
I loved how the characters are built and developed. Although there are two children, Cara as the most prominent character. I personally became attached to Cara and found myself thinking along with her thoughts, which is a mark of quality rating. Her brother Michael, on the other hand is estranged from her for most of her life and pops in and out of the book.
I see the overall theme of the book as being about difficult choices. These choices are handled differently by each character but in the end the actor pulls it nicely together.
A very enjoyable book that I recommend.
February 22, 2021
Ok story of a thirtysomething single woman who grew up motherless and ends up taking care of her difficult father with Alzheimers. Fairly stilted story that takes its time to get to where it's going. The story never comes alive though and I struggled through most of it, but there were moments of engagement when Cara discovers that her Mum is not dead as her father has told her her entire life, but may be alive. But the search never really engages.
June 18, 2022
Tai istorija apie šeimą gaubiančias paslaptis ir apie tai, kiek daug galime pasiekti pasikliaudami nuojauta. Skaitėsi lengvai,bet stipriai nesužavėjo. 😉
July 6, 2018
Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union for the eARC.
What a lovely book this is...heartbreaking and sweet, with a great ending I didn't see coming.
The story is told from different perspectives and in different timelines by members of the same family. Cara, believing her mother died when she was 2 years old, is now in her 30's and looking after her father who is suffering from Alzheimer's. The way her feelings are described is very realistic: the irritation, the guilt, the claustrophobia and the love all mixed up together. Michael, her brother, lives away in London and never got along with the father, so isn't any help. At her wit's end, she hires a carer, Mrs. P, who is an absolute treasure.
When she finds postcards that seem to have been sent after her mum's death, she slowly realizes her father lied about her mother being dead all these years. This sends her on a quest,
driven to find the truth.
The men in the story are all quite authoritarian and the women react by tamping down their emotions, ending up more and more insecure. To me it was a sign of the times...I remember my grandparents and parents having similar relationships and I myself sympathized with Cara, even when I wanted her to suck it up, because I totally understood where she was coming from. Our family upbringing can affect us for the rest of our lives - for good or bad.
A must-read, I highly recommend this book.
What a lovely book this is...heartbreaking and sweet, with a great ending I didn't see coming.
The story is told from different perspectives and in different timelines by members of the same family. Cara, believing her mother died when she was 2 years old, is now in her 30's and looking after her father who is suffering from Alzheimer's. The way her feelings are described is very realistic: the irritation, the guilt, the claustrophobia and the love all mixed up together. Michael, her brother, lives away in London and never got along with the father, so isn't any help. At her wit's end, she hires a carer, Mrs. P, who is an absolute treasure.
When she finds postcards that seem to have been sent after her mum's death, she slowly realizes her father lied about her mother being dead all these years. This sends her on a quest,
driven to find the truth.
The men in the story are all quite authoritarian and the women react by tamping down their emotions, ending up more and more insecure. To me it was a sign of the times...I remember my grandparents and parents having similar relationships and I myself sympathized with Cara, even when I wanted her to suck it up, because I totally understood where she was coming from. Our family upbringing can affect us for the rest of our lives - for good or bad.
A must-read, I highly recommend this book.
December 4, 2018
This was a light breezy read though the topic was definitely a deep one. Cara finds postcards in the trunk which opens up the proverbial can of worms. Trying to decipher and get to the bottom of her parents' marriage and what really happened decades ago causes Cara to travel to the United States and then back to London till a funeral brings the past to the present.
The author Imogen Clark has tried to bring twists and suspense and a sense of family to this clearly difficult topic of bullying in a marriage and life in the 80's where women were not allowed to work. But the novel did not touch the depths of emotions that I should have ideally felt. It did tell the story from different viewpoints and in different timelines. I could understand the problems women go through in this story, we still have those in my country. There was a definite struggle even where there was supposedly freedom. All the men were atrocious and controlling in the entire book, they were typecasted.
Friendships and relationships were shown, but I couldn't connect to any of the characters. So for me it was a 2 hour read in between my thrillers to divert my mind though this could have been a real family saga had it just allowed feelings to seep into the pages.
Overall, I enjoyed parts of it, but I couldn't really immerse myself into the story.
The author Imogen Clark has tried to bring twists and suspense and a sense of family to this clearly difficult topic of bullying in a marriage and life in the 80's where women were not allowed to work. But the novel did not touch the depths of emotions that I should have ideally felt. It did tell the story from different viewpoints and in different timelines. I could understand the problems women go through in this story, we still have those in my country. There was a definite struggle even where there was supposedly freedom. All the men were atrocious and controlling in the entire book, they were typecasted.
Friendships and relationships were shown, but I couldn't connect to any of the characters. So for me it was a 2 hour read in between my thrillers to divert my mind though this could have been a real family saga had it just allowed feelings to seep into the pages.
Overall, I enjoyed parts of it, but I couldn't really immerse myself into the story.
September 27, 2018
I had been wanting to read this book since I first heard about it on Goodreads. It appealed to my love of history and how circumstances can change people's lives. "Postcards from a Stranger" certainly fit my criteria.
The story is about a family whose mother presumably past away when Cara and her brother were very young. The father was left with 2 children to raise. He tried his best, but had one rule. They must never enter the attic. The children never did. Now the father is old and his health is deteriorating from Alzheimer's disease. Cara is his caretaker. She enters the attic (feeling guilty) looking for an object, but finds a box of postcards from an unknown person. She believes them to be from her mother, but she's been told that her mother is dead. And the story takes off from there.
This book was thoroughly enjoyable and I read it in 2 days. However, I felt pulled along through Cara's journey. The book was occasionally slow and a little ponderous. Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this novel.
The story is about a family whose mother presumably past away when Cara and her brother were very young. The father was left with 2 children to raise. He tried his best, but had one rule. They must never enter the attic. The children never did. Now the father is old and his health is deteriorating from Alzheimer's disease. Cara is his caretaker. She enters the attic (feeling guilty) looking for an object, but finds a box of postcards from an unknown person. She believes them to be from her mother, but she's been told that her mother is dead. And the story takes off from there.
This book was thoroughly enjoyable and I read it in 2 days. However, I felt pulled along through Cara's journey. The book was occasionally slow and a little ponderous. Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this novel.
May 23, 2025
Labai gerai skaitėsi, ilgai norėjau šios knygos. Bet ne viskas mane įtikino, ne viską netgi supratau... tai ar Ponia P. buvo jos motina ar ten pasirodė dar kita moteris?? taip to ir nesupratau... na žodžiu, gal kiek oer daug ištempta knyga, bet nesigailiu perskaičiusi.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2020
NOTE: May include SPOILERS! This book wasn't quite a 4 start read, but I couldn't bring myself to give it only a 3. There were a few issues in the book that I either didn't find entirely believable (i.e.: how little the main character remembered none of her very real abuse, and how the dad was portrayed as just 'not good with children'). But if you can get past that then I thought it was an interesting read. I liked the repeated theme of how each of the relevant women had to deal with controlling (and abusive) men and how they each differed in their actions. I would have liked to hear more about how the relationship with the mom progressed afterwards. I guess I was seeking closure including more detail about why the mom didn't reach out at the kids' age of maturity, how their relationship grew (or didn't) and was looking for resolution as to the question of whether it's really ok for someone to disappear from their children's lives.
August 7, 2018
GNab Postcards from a Stranger is an excellent story, wrapped around a disjointed, broken family, their decisions and choices and the repercussions of those choices for years and generations to follow. It is a story to warm your heart. I will watch for more from Imogen Clark. I really like her style. And I love her definition of 'mother'.
I received a free electronic copy of this modern British novel from Netgalley, Imogen Clark, and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.
pub date August 7, 2018
Lake Union Publishing
I received a free electronic copy of this modern British novel from Netgalley, Imogen Clark, and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.
pub date August 7, 2018
Lake Union Publishing
September 27, 2018
Thanks to Netgalley for my copy.
This is a poignant and emotional tale of family secrets and lies. A controlling father and a distant brother and a dutiful daughter make up the family dynamic. Cara is the daughter who struggles to juggle her wedding dress business whilst caring for her father who suffers with Alzheimers.
I loved Cara, her gentleness and her artistic ability, her relationship with her best friend and the way she saw the best in people. I will definitely look for more books by this talented author.
This is a poignant and emotional tale of family secrets and lies. A controlling father and a distant brother and a dutiful daughter make up the family dynamic. Cara is the daughter who struggles to juggle her wedding dress business whilst caring for her father who suffers with Alzheimers.
I loved Cara, her gentleness and her artistic ability, her relationship with her best friend and the way she saw the best in people. I will definitely look for more books by this talented author.
November 11, 2024
This book is well written. The characters and dialogue are realistic. The story seems credible to begin with. However, at about the 2/3rds mark, I felt it became a bit far fetched.
September 29, 2020
Bittersweet and Emotional
Easy to understand book, not confusing even when different the story changes from the present to the past.
I totally recognise the controlling behaviour of some men. They start out like the perfect gentleman and then their true colours slowly shine through. There are 3 such men in this tale with each woman dealing with them differently.
The crux of the story involves children and how the father of the main character acts when he in his head is defied by his wife and how his behaviour impacts on the life of his children because of a massive secret that when discovered years later he cannot be asked any questions.
Easy to understand book, not confusing even when different the story changes from the present to the past.
I totally recognise the controlling behaviour of some men. They start out like the perfect gentleman and then their true colours slowly shine through. There are 3 such men in this tale with each woman dealing with them differently.
The crux of the story involves children and how the father of the main character acts when he in his head is defied by his wife and how his behaviour impacts on the life of his children because of a massive secret that when discovered years later he cannot be asked any questions.
February 14, 2018
Beautiful, poignant. Loved this.
December 1, 2022
4⭐️
Šią knygą skaitant emocijos lyg Amerikietiški kalneliai. Nuo netikėtumo, iki pykčio, kaip taip įmanoma, kas gyvenime turi nutikti moteriai-mamai, kad galėtų palikti savo vaikus ir pasirinkti kitą žmogų kurti gyvenimui. Daugybė klausimų ir nedaug atsakymų. Kara, 30 metų tikėjusi, kad jos mama mirusi, randa keistus laiškus ir atvirlaiškius. Pradėjus skleisti šeimos paslaptis, jų tik daugėja, o vienintelis tėvas, kuris galėtų atsakyti į klausimus, kas nutiko, serga Alzhaimeriu ir deja nenereaguoja į aplinką.
Bet kai pagalvoji, kas mes tokie, kad galėtume teisti kitus dėl jų pasirinkimų, juk negyvename jos gyvenimo ir nežinome, kas privedė iki tokio sprendimo. Ar pavyks atskleisti paslaptis, sužinosite knygoje.
Vienintelis minus, pritrūko stipresnių jausmų išjautimo pabaigoje,nes viskas taip viens du ir laimingi visi.
Šią knygą skaitant emocijos lyg Amerikietiški kalneliai. Nuo netikėtumo, iki pykčio, kaip taip įmanoma, kas gyvenime turi nutikti moteriai-mamai, kad galėtų palikti savo vaikus ir pasirinkti kitą žmogų kurti gyvenimui. Daugybė klausimų ir nedaug atsakymų. Kara, 30 metų tikėjusi, kad jos mama mirusi, randa keistus laiškus ir atvirlaiškius. Pradėjus skleisti šeimos paslaptis, jų tik daugėja, o vienintelis tėvas, kuris galėtų atsakyti į klausimus, kas nutiko, serga Alzhaimeriu ir deja nenereaguoja į aplinką.
Bet kai pagalvoji, kas mes tokie, kad galėtume teisti kitus dėl jų pasirinkimų, juk negyvename jos gyvenimo ir nežinome, kas privedė iki tokio sprendimo. Ar pavyks atskleisti paslaptis, sužinosite knygoje.
Vienintelis minus, pritrūko stipresnių jausmų išjautimo pabaigoje,nes viskas taip viens du ir laimingi visi.
March 29, 2022
Post Cards from a Stranger is the latest book I've read by Imogen Clark.
The story shifts from perspectives in 1969, 1976, 1987 and then 2017 within three generations.
In 1969 the Kemp sisters Annie and Ursula are trying to stay out of their father's way when he returns home from work. Anything can set him off and he becomes violent. When he isn't angry he is condescending and demeaning. They dream of the day they are old enough to leave and make a life for themselves far away. Why their mother endures being slapped and mocked is beyond their understanding.
When Annie is old enough to work she mets attractive and fast-talking Joe Ferensby. She is charmed and accepts his marriage proposal, escaping her hellish homelife and thinks she hit the jackpot.
Joe doesn't hit Annie but his true nature comes out after marriage. He's passive aggressive and talks down to her. He isolates her from friends and keeps a tight wallet so she must ask for everything. Once their two children Cara and Michael are born she knows she'll never leave. Lots more regarding the Feresby household but it's inserted in backstory throughout.
In 1987 we get a glimpse of single father Joe dealing with 2 year old Cara and 7 year old Michael. The children are uprooted from their London home and move to the Moors in Yorkshire. Cara cries for her mother for weeks and Michael comforts her. She misses her dead mother but in fact, young Michael is keeping huge secrets from his sister in an effort to protect her.
In 2017 Cara and her brother Michael as adults. Cara is caring for their father who has Alzheimers and her life is difficult. Cara is still living on the moors while Michael is a barrister in London. He is married with twin daughters and wants nothing to do with his father. There was a huge falling out when Michael was old enough to discover his father's secrets.
Now, Joe has Alzheimers. When things get bad Cara calls Michael for some input and he he says he knows it's difficult and would help more but..."you know how it is." He has no idea how difficult it is to be there and deal with an Alzheimers patient 24/7 and the rift between him and his father means he certainly won't head north and physically help. You'll discover the secrets much later in the book.
Cara is a wedding dress designer and has a studio where she crafts magnificent original designs. One day she is looking in the attic, a place forbidden by their father when Cara and Michael were children, and she finds a box of postcards. Right there - her life is upended.
This wasn't my favorite book by Imogen Clark but I wasn't tempted to put it down. It certainly covers quite a bit of territory. I was weirdly both sympathetic and impatient with Cara as she works her way the secrets her father kept. Imagine finding something you need to confront your parent with but their mind is gone so your opportunity is forever lost.
On my former book blog Novel Meals I wrote about The Last Piece . I love the cover!
I am awaiting the author's latest book Impossible to Forget.
Sharing with
Marg at The Intrepid Reader for the 2022 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge
Joy's Book Blog for British Isles Friday.
December 19, 2018
I really got into this book; I think it was mainly a sense of empathy for a character whose life, like mine, had changed due to caring responsibilities for a Dad. Although there the similarities ended, but I was drawn in by the cleverly woven patchwork of the story over three generations of down trodden women. However, and for a reason I can't put my finger on I was a little disappointed by the ending. Maybe it's because everything seemed to get neatly tied up and the world was rosy, which felt a little too predictable and convenient. Still definitely worth several hours of my time and definitely one of the best books I've read this year.
January 18, 2019
This book was easy to read. The author has a lovely writing style I really enjoyed.
I found the plot to be a bit predictable, but there’s nothing wrong with that if you enjoy the story telling.
The characters all fell a bit flat for me though and I really despised the feeling that women are “born” to be mothers and once you’re a mother that’s the only thing that matters. The feeling I got from this book is that, in the end, all a woman needs is to get married, have children and make their husband happy. Annie’s mistake was that she married an abusive man, not that she got married.
Overall it wasn’t a terrible read but some parts left a very sour taste in my mouth
I found the plot to be a bit predictable, but there’s nothing wrong with that if you enjoy the story telling.
The characters all fell a bit flat for me though and I really despised the feeling that women are “born” to be mothers and once you’re a mother that’s the only thing that matters. The feeling I got from this book is that, in the end, all a woman needs is to get married, have children and make their husband happy. Annie’s mistake was that she married an abusive man, not that she got married.
Overall it wasn’t a terrible read but some parts left a very sour taste in my mouth
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2020
This was a fascinating read. A page turning mystery with good characters, good writing and a good satisfying story. I was surprised at how old fashioned and horrid some of the men were but sadly quite common. A great ending.
Themes of loss and Alzheimer’s, taking care of a parent who wasn’t the best parent is a huge challenge. Joe the father went from taking no care of the children to being a single parent. He was not a good father. Annie’s father was even worse. Years of abuse and neglect leaves all the children deeply affected. So many secrets take years to uncover. Loved cara and Mrs. P and Simeon.
Themes of loss and Alzheimer’s, taking care of a parent who wasn’t the best parent is a huge challenge. Joe the father went from taking no care of the children to being a single parent. He was not a good father. Annie’s father was even worse. Years of abuse and neglect leaves all the children deeply affected. So many secrets take years to uncover. Loved cara and Mrs. P and Simeon.
August 5, 2018
A really enjoyable read despite the daily struggles that Cara faces in dealing with her elderly father and her distant brother.
I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Cara and Mrs P, her father’s nurse. I don’t want to give too much away but I also loved Cara’s persistence and determination to find out more and track down people overseas.
Unlike many books, the last few chapters were a crescendo and brought the story to a satisfying conclusion rather than a rushed/abrupt ending.
My first book from this author, I’ll look out for more.
4*
I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Cara and Mrs P, her father’s nurse. I don’t want to give too much away but I also loved Cara’s persistence and determination to find out more and track down people overseas.
Unlike many books, the last few chapters were a crescendo and brought the story to a satisfying conclusion rather than a rushed/abrupt ending.
My first book from this author, I’ll look out for more.
4*
November 20, 2017
This began well but then became trite and shallow. Almost all women are wonderful or have redeeming qualities, while the men, apart from Simeon, are most unappealing. At least it was only 99p on Kindle!
May 19, 2020
A charming, easy read; I loved hearing the British accents and words in my head. I enjoyed how Clark (as a mother of four!) explored reasons why a mother would leave her children. The plot was a bit predictable, but I love endings tied neatly with a big bow. Overall, heartwarming and pleasant.
October 2, 2018
Boring
I thought that this book was going to be full of mysteries and secrets but to be quite honest once Cara met her Aunt in America the book became extremely boring.
I thought that this book was going to be full of mysteries and secrets but to be quite honest once Cara met her Aunt in America the book became extremely boring.
February 26, 2020
There was a lot of potential for this story, but for me personally, it fell flat. I predicted just about all of the major plot twists and the character development did not quite make sense.
June 9, 2020
This was a good book. I guessed the ending pretty early, but still really good and worth reading.
November 19, 2020
The best part of the book was her relationship with her father and how she coped with his illness.
January 9, 2023
Sadly this one fell short for me. I am giving it 2.5* stars rounded up because I like the author's writing style. It's very descriptive of time and place. Where The Story Starts was excellent, and I had high expectations for this book based upon that and, given the good reviews of respected GR friends.
However, quite frankly, this book is a bummer from start to finish. I found almost every aspect of the story sad and depressing. While there is a relatively “happy ending” for Cara, and we find out the story behind the postcards, ultimately, her character's primary conflicts with each of her parents are never truly confronted or resolved. There is a brief moment of tenderness between Cara and her brother, but otherwise, her immediate family is a terrible group of self-absorbed muppets, and she should have run for the hills.
However, quite frankly, this book is a bummer from start to finish. I found almost every aspect of the story sad and depressing. While there is a relatively “happy ending” for Cara, and we find out the story behind the postcards, ultimately, her character's primary conflicts with each of her parents are never truly confronted or resolved. There is a brief moment of tenderness between Cara and her brother, but otherwise, her immediate family is a terrible group of self-absorbed muppets, and she should have run for the hills.
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