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The Anniversary
A deeply emotional new novel from the author of the bestselling Thursdays in the ParkIs the one you tried to forget the one you can't live without?Stella once thought that if she never saw Jack again, it would be too soon.But life has other plans for her and her stubborn, handsome ex-husband.Looking after their daughter in a time of need, Stella finds herself unwillingly reunited with the man she shared the best years of her life with - followed by the worst.Where tragedy once tore them apart, now Stella and Jack are being drawn back together. But each of them has a new partner and a new life.Should they fight temptation?Should the past remain the past?Or are some loves simply meant to be?__________'Riveting' Woman & Home'Terrific, beautifully written, searingly honest' Charles Dance'Fans rate this deeply emotional read her best novel yet' Sunday Post 'One of the best family and friendship sagas - an emotional read' Prima'True to life characters whose dilemmas will tear at your heartstrings' Sunday Mirror
409 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 7, 2018
67 people are currently reading
181 people want to read
About the author
Hilary Boyd
40 books132 followersBoyd was born and spent the first six months of her life in Prestatyn, North Wales, where her father, an army major, was stationed after the war. She was later educated in London, then at the boarding school Roedean. She trained as a nurse at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, and subsequently as a marriage guidance counsellor with Relate before reading English Literature at London University in her late 30s.
After college, Boyd became a health journalist, writing about depression, step-parenting and pregnancy. She began writing fiction as a hobby whilst raising three children and working at various day jobs including running a cancer charity, Survive Cancer, working for an engineering company, and an online vitamin site.
After college, Boyd became a health journalist, writing about depression, step-parenting and pregnancy. She began writing fiction as a hobby whilst raising three children and working at various day jobs including running a cancer charity, Survive Cancer, working for an engineering company, and an online vitamin site.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
March 30, 2020
Hilary Boyd writes an emotionally charged family drama of love, loss and grief that revolves around Jack and Stella, once love's young dream, living through years that cemented them as a couple, only for a harrowing tragedy, the unexpectedly devastating death of their young son, to splinter them apart. Their marriage was collateral damage as they divorced, although neither is left untouched by the repercussions, with Stella trying to emotionally protect herself from the fallout by distancing herself off from others, which is to affect her relationship with her daughter, Eve. Years have passed, both Jack and Stella have ostensibly moved on with their new partners, only for the status quo to be disrupted when Eve needs their help and support.
They find themselves once again in each other's company, can they resolve all that lies between them? Will their feelings for each other re-ignite? And if they do, where will it all lead and what will happen to their relationships with their current partners? This is an insightful look at marriage, family dynamics, relationships and friendships, with the darkness shot through with much needed light. Many thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph.
They find themselves once again in each other's company, can they resolve all that lies between them? Will their feelings for each other re-ignite? And if they do, where will it all lead and what will happen to their relationships with their current partners? This is an insightful look at marriage, family dynamics, relationships and friendships, with the darkness shot through with much needed light. Many thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph.
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September 16, 2018Stella once thought that if she never saw Jack again, it would be too soon. But life has other plans for her and her stubborn ex-husband. Looking after their daughter in a time of need, Stella finds herself unwillingly reunited with the man she shared the best years of her life with - followed by the worst.
Young and in love, Stella and Jack seemed the perfect couple. They had a young son and another baby on the way when tragedy struck. Fast forward thirty odd years and Stella and Jack have split up, divorced and the both have new partners. Their daughter, Evie, experiences some difficulties in her pregnancy while her husband is working away from home. Stella and Jack reluctantly find themselves having to spend time with each other, looking after their grandson, Arthur. With two significant anniversaries looming, the couple are forced to think about what drove them apart all those years ago.
There is not much more I can say about this book as it would give away far too much. A tale of grief and how it effects the wider circle of family and friends. Have the tissues ready, you will need them. A beautifully written story of love, loss and conflict. I do recommend this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin UK, Michael Joseph and the author Hilary Boyd for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Young and in love, Stella and Jack seemed the perfect couple. They had a young son and another baby on the way when tragedy struck. Fast forward thirty odd years and Stella and Jack have split up, divorced and the both have new partners. Their daughter, Evie, experiences some difficulties in her pregnancy while her husband is working away from home. Stella and Jack reluctantly find themselves having to spend time with each other, looking after their grandson, Arthur. With two significant anniversaries looming, the couple are forced to think about what drove them apart all those years ago.
There is not much more I can say about this book as it would give away far too much. A tale of grief and how it effects the wider circle of family and friends. Have the tissues ready, you will need them. A beautifully written story of love, loss and conflict. I do recommend this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin UK, Michael Joseph and the author Hilary Boyd for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 10, 2018
Oh my goodness, I just loved this book. Right from the start you just wish for a happy ending and it sets you on a roller-coaster of emotions.
Jack and Stella, so happily married, decide to add to their family, having a little boy Jonny already. Disaster strikes one sunny afternoon when attending a garden party, resulting in Jonny dying in a freak accident, leaving pregnant Stella and Jack, broken beyond repair.
Decades later, when their daughter Eve is pregnant with her second child, Jack and Stella find their paths crossing after trying to avoid eachother for over ten years. Can they settle their differences, or has too much water passed under the bridge?
Jack and Stella, so happily married, decide to add to their family, having a little boy Jonny already. Disaster strikes one sunny afternoon when attending a garden party, resulting in Jonny dying in a freak accident, leaving pregnant Stella and Jack, broken beyond repair.
Decades later, when their daughter Eve is pregnant with her second child, Jack and Stella find their paths crossing after trying to avoid eachother for over ten years. Can they settle their differences, or has too much water passed under the bridge?
September 24, 2018
Stella and Jack used to be the perfect couple - happy and totally in love. Until one day, when the tragedy happened. After that, their marriage has slowly started to fall to pieces to eventually end in divorce.
Fast forward many years and they both live their own lives with new partners and even though they have a daughter, they don't often meet. However, it's going to change - Eve is pregnant and needs their help. As there are many unfinished business between them, are they going to rekindle their friendship - or more - for the sake of Eve and their grandson Arthur? What is going to happen? Can they put the past to rest and focus on the present, or look even further, in the future?
I think the author has brilliantly captured the way relationships work, and admittedly different kinds of relationships. No matter if it was a marriage or mother - daughter, or exes, if people involved were young or older, they always sounded completely realistic, with all their ups and downs and thousands of problems - the book explores them all, in a true to life way. Because of this, the characters also felt so very honest and genuine and it was really easy to fell for them and to root for them. They made mistakes and they often pushed you to your own limits, often I didn't understand their decisions, but they were all the time real and genuine in this what they're doing.
Hilary Boyd's writing style is simply beautiful. I immediately felt a part of this story. She paints a very realistic portrait of family's dynamics. There were moments and scenes where I literally had a lump in my throat and felt my heart breaking into thousands little pieces - the book is sad, yes, it's also sometimes tragic but it is also full of light, hope and it's uplifting, and all those feelings and emotions are perfectly balanced. She writes so perceptively and brings all the emotions and feelings effortlessly to the pages.
My only problem was that the book was simply too long. The idea has been reformulated and remodelled through many different words, situations, events and there came a moment it was like chewing a gum, it felt as if we were going around in circles, as if the author has been trying hard to built on more elements to something that is already completely utilised.
But altogether, "The Anniversary" was a beautiful, elegantly written story about second chances, families and relationships. About love and loss, about grief and hope, about finding happiness again. Full of compassion and understanding and with a great depth to it and I enjoyed it very much. Highly recommended!
Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
August 12, 2018
When Stella has to go and look after her daughter who is having a troubled second pregnancy, she comes back into contact with her ex husband.
A great book about fractured family dynamics following a tragedy in their early married days. I loved reading it and seeing how they coped with meeting up again.
A great book about fractured family dynamics following a tragedy in their early married days. I loved reading it and seeing how they coped with meeting up again.
September 29, 2018
Here is something I often wonder about. A relationship fails, people move on and live their separate lives, and then one day, sometimes even decades later, they find each other again and decide to give things another go. Why? Do people change that much? What happened to the thing that made them split up in the first place? Is it no longer an issue?
Meet Jack and Stella. Once happily married, they have now been divorced for over two decades. Jack has remarried, Stella has a longtime partner and they haven’t seen each other in years. But now their daughter needs help and Jack and Stella will be bumping into each other on a regular basis, whether they like it or not.
There’s an especially devastating event that caused their marriage to hit the rocks back in the day. Neither has dealt with it particularly well. This is definitely the case for Stella, who has built a rock solid wall around her heart to protect herself. But this behaviour has had an effect on a lot of people, including her daughter. And for myself, as the reader, I found her quite hard to warm to.
The Anniversary is an emotional story about family, grief and loss with complex characters trying to navigate through complicated relationships. Any child of divorced parents knows how difficult it can be to have both parental units in the same place but in this case, there is also a massive elephant in the room and a need to somehow let go of the past.
This novel has you rooting for the characters and wishing for a happy ending. Although maybe not all that surprising with regard to the plot, it’s the characters that make this a wonderfully immersive and poignant read.
Meet Jack and Stella. Once happily married, they have now been divorced for over two decades. Jack has remarried, Stella has a longtime partner and they haven’t seen each other in years. But now their daughter needs help and Jack and Stella will be bumping into each other on a regular basis, whether they like it or not.
There’s an especially devastating event that caused their marriage to hit the rocks back in the day. Neither has dealt with it particularly well. This is definitely the case for Stella, who has built a rock solid wall around her heart to protect herself. But this behaviour has had an effect on a lot of people, including her daughter. And for myself, as the reader, I found her quite hard to warm to.
The Anniversary is an emotional story about family, grief and loss with complex characters trying to navigate through complicated relationships. Any child of divorced parents knows how difficult it can be to have both parental units in the same place but in this case, there is also a massive elephant in the room and a need to somehow let go of the past.
This novel has you rooting for the characters and wishing for a happy ending. Although maybe not all that surprising with regard to the plot, it’s the characters that make this a wonderfully immersive and poignant read.
July 20, 2018
Stella and Jack were the perfect couple young and in love with the world at their feet. Their marriage was blessed with a young son and they were looking forward to a new addition when tragedy struck.
Fast forward and now Stella and Jack are divorced. They are now both with new partners but have to meet up again to help their daughter who is expecting her second child!
The love and feelings they once shared suddenly appear again and this takes them both by surprise. Should they give into temptation? or is it too late to rekindle their relationship? What about their new partners ?
Tragic events are very testing on family’s and relationships. Each person deals with it individually and the implications are far reaching .
This book explores relationships in later life beautifully. Sometimes life and circumstances get in the way and although you may still love someone events can take over.
The authors writing style had me feeling like I was in the book rubbing shoulders with the very true to life characters. Love , loss and family relationships were all beautifully written about in this easy to read book. I loved the ending!! Hilary Boyd is definitely an author I will be looking out for in future!!
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for my chance to read this fantastic books.
Fast forward and now Stella and Jack are divorced. They are now both with new partners but have to meet up again to help their daughter who is expecting her second child!
The love and feelings they once shared suddenly appear again and this takes them both by surprise. Should they give into temptation? or is it too late to rekindle their relationship? What about their new partners ?
Tragic events are very testing on family’s and relationships. Each person deals with it individually and the implications are far reaching .
This book explores relationships in later life beautifully. Sometimes life and circumstances get in the way and although you may still love someone events can take over.
The authors writing style had me feeling like I was in the book rubbing shoulders with the very true to life characters. Love , loss and family relationships were all beautifully written about in this easy to read book. I loved the ending!! Hilary Boyd is definitely an author I will be looking out for in future!!
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for my chance to read this fantastic books.
September 22, 2018
The Anniversary, Hilary Boyd
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: General Fiction (adult), Woman's Fiction.
Gah, Woman's Fiction – I hate when we dismiss a whole sector of readers. Why do that? Why shouldn't men read this? Ah well, rant over.
I've enjoyed a few of Hilary's stories now. They're for readers who want to think about a book, want some depth, want to really get to understand the characters. Sometimes I want a fluff relaxing read, others I want one like this, that makes me really think “what would I do? How would I cope?”
Its incredibly moving, I cried at parts, so felt for all the characters. There weren't any I didn't like, but really loved the three main ones, Jack, Stella and Eve. They were treated so in depth I felt I knew them, felt their emotions and understood their reactions.
I empathised with Stella so much, had a similar experience and it rally does affect people so much, strains relationships, shapes the rest of people's lives. I so understood how she'd been even as I yearned for her to be closer to Eve.
Jack I adored, he and Stella has a real soulmates relationship- until they didn't. Can you ever leave that though. Can they both move on? They seem to, both have other partners, but this summer tests all those bonds.
I could write so much about this book, there was so much I loved, the way events unfolded, the realism of the characters and what happened, the huge emotions I felt but I'm afraid of giving too much away. I'll just say this, if you want a solid story, a book that will make you cry but which has an ending that makes up for much of that, if you want characters that are real, flawed like the rest of us, if you want plots that mirror real life read this book.
Stars: Five, perfect read, depth, plots, characters, emotions all so real.
ARC supplied by Netgalley and Publishers
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: General Fiction (adult), Woman's Fiction.
Gah, Woman's Fiction – I hate when we dismiss a whole sector of readers. Why do that? Why shouldn't men read this? Ah well, rant over.
I've enjoyed a few of Hilary's stories now. They're for readers who want to think about a book, want some depth, want to really get to understand the characters. Sometimes I want a fluff relaxing read, others I want one like this, that makes me really think “what would I do? How would I cope?”
Its incredibly moving, I cried at parts, so felt for all the characters. There weren't any I didn't like, but really loved the three main ones, Jack, Stella and Eve. They were treated so in depth I felt I knew them, felt their emotions and understood their reactions.
I empathised with Stella so much, had a similar experience and it rally does affect people so much, strains relationships, shapes the rest of people's lives. I so understood how she'd been even as I yearned for her to be closer to Eve.
Jack I adored, he and Stella has a real soulmates relationship- until they didn't. Can you ever leave that though. Can they both move on? They seem to, both have other partners, but this summer tests all those bonds.
I could write so much about this book, there was so much I loved, the way events unfolded, the realism of the characters and what happened, the huge emotions I felt but I'm afraid of giving too much away. I'll just say this, if you want a solid story, a book that will make you cry but which has an ending that makes up for much of that, if you want characters that are real, flawed like the rest of us, if you want plots that mirror real life read this book.
Stars: Five, perfect read, depth, plots, characters, emotions all so real.
ARC supplied by Netgalley and Publishers
September 12, 2018
I am writing this with the tears still fresh on my face as this book has just completely moved me. It is safe to say that when Hilary’s next book comes out in 2019 I will be the first person to want to read it and I need to catch up with her back catalogue! I flew through this book today, I read a couple hundred pages without even realising it, I couldn’t put this down. An insight into this family, the “drama” unfolding, watching and waiting for the light to come to us.
With this book, I got the ending I wanted but the journey it took to get there was one of a heartbreak, and realisation that life is just too short. One of my favourite thing about this book was how it was not two twenty-somethings trying to resolve their life and find meaning. This was Stella and Jack, in their sixties! They were married before, and due to the most overwhelming soul destroying event that happened, they had to part ways not seeing each other for years. Then the summer when their daughter Eve was pregnant, needing her mother for the summer, Jack and Stella see each other.
This book is a beautifully tragic story, I am still emotional! Life is just too short and this book proves it. This book is so character driven, mainly told from the point of view of Stella, but we do get glimpses of Eve and Jack too. We also have flashbacks to the past, when Stella and Jack were younger and in love.
I must admit I did not warm to Lisa, nothing against her really but she is written this way. I did not want to like her, she was with Jack. I did not want her to be with Jack, but then I liked Iain who Stella was with. Crazy I know!
Could their love survive another go?
There were times when I was shouting at the book! I was getting frustrated, why can’t things be so simple! Instead, the conversations were guarded, there was hostility, this was not the way it was meant to be! I love the simple life, why could they not! Other times I was cheering, things were going to (my) plan and it was perfect. A lot of the time, I was bawling my eyes out, how could Hilary do this to me! Yes me, I take it all personally lol.
I love this book, and I urge all of you to read it, maybe have a couple of tissues with you. You are left with the warm fuzzy feelings, hope and a final acceptance of how life is and how it could be.
With this book, I got the ending I wanted but the journey it took to get there was one of a heartbreak, and realisation that life is just too short. One of my favourite thing about this book was how it was not two twenty-somethings trying to resolve their life and find meaning. This was Stella and Jack, in their sixties! They were married before, and due to the most overwhelming soul destroying event that happened, they had to part ways not seeing each other for years. Then the summer when their daughter Eve was pregnant, needing her mother for the summer, Jack and Stella see each other.
This book is a beautifully tragic story, I am still emotional! Life is just too short and this book proves it. This book is so character driven, mainly told from the point of view of Stella, but we do get glimpses of Eve and Jack too. We also have flashbacks to the past, when Stella and Jack were younger and in love.
I must admit I did not warm to Lisa, nothing against her really but she is written this way. I did not want to like her, she was with Jack. I did not want her to be with Jack, but then I liked Iain who Stella was with. Crazy I know!
Could their love survive another go?
There were times when I was shouting at the book! I was getting frustrated, why can’t things be so simple! Instead, the conversations were guarded, there was hostility, this was not the way it was meant to be! I love the simple life, why could they not! Other times I was cheering, things were going to (my) plan and it was perfect. A lot of the time, I was bawling my eyes out, how could Hilary do this to me! Yes me, I take it all personally lol.
I love this book, and I urge all of you to read it, maybe have a couple of tissues with you. You are left with the warm fuzzy feelings, hope and a final acceptance of how life is and how it could be.
August 21, 2018
The Anniversary by Hilary Boyd a four-star read that you will want to celebrate. I picked this book up and put it down a bunch of times before I finally bit the bullet and read it, and I am glad I finished it. This was a tragic read and the characters really do push you to your limits, but they are well written and people you can relate to. It really does show that even after loss you can find happiness.
September 22, 2018
I was a big lover of Thursday in the Park by Hilary Boyd and was really looking forward to The Anniversary. I adore fiction featuring more mature female protagonists and I thankfully I wasn’t disappointed by this wonderfully written, emotional storyline. I have to admit that if I had known more about the some of the content, I might not have picked it up but I’m so glad that I did!
The lives of Stella, Jack and their daughter Eve are connected through their relationships with each other but it is difficult for Eve as her, once very much in love, parents no longer talk. But when Stella goes to stay with Eve to support her with a difficult pregnancy, she has to face Jack at a time of year that is going to bring back lots of memories. A family tragedy has caused this family to become distant from each other but is another about to bring them all back together?
What I loved about this book is that it featured an easily identifiable couple who weren’t young or perfect but were heading towards retirement with a wealth of life experience behind them. Jack and Stella had faced the good and the bad in their married life together, with the bad eventually winning out, causing them to separate. But they had moved on with their new partners and were both happily living their separate lives, until they had to join forces to support their daughter and grandson. And watching their gentle interaction with each other for the first time in ten years was a rather poignant moment that was both touching and affecting. The slowly revealed reasons for their separation and subsequent divorce are heartbreaking but handled carefully, delicately balancing out each of the characters reactions and emotions. Even so I had a lump in my throat that I found difficult to dislodge once the whole truth was revealed. So be prepared to be hit by a range of emotions here that may require tissues!!!
Beautifully written and covering the themes of grief, loss and second chances, The Anniversary was a real joy to read and I eventually closed the book feeling quite bereft that I was leaving these characters behind. They were so well developed and likeable that they felt real to me and I will miss them.
A heartwarming, moving and memorable read.
The lives of Stella, Jack and their daughter Eve are connected through their relationships with each other but it is difficult for Eve as her, once very much in love, parents no longer talk. But when Stella goes to stay with Eve to support her with a difficult pregnancy, she has to face Jack at a time of year that is going to bring back lots of memories. A family tragedy has caused this family to become distant from each other but is another about to bring them all back together?
What I loved about this book is that it featured an easily identifiable couple who weren’t young or perfect but were heading towards retirement with a wealth of life experience behind them. Jack and Stella had faced the good and the bad in their married life together, with the bad eventually winning out, causing them to separate. But they had moved on with their new partners and were both happily living their separate lives, until they had to join forces to support their daughter and grandson. And watching their gentle interaction with each other for the first time in ten years was a rather poignant moment that was both touching and affecting. The slowly revealed reasons for their separation and subsequent divorce are heartbreaking but handled carefully, delicately balancing out each of the characters reactions and emotions. Even so I had a lump in my throat that I found difficult to dislodge once the whole truth was revealed. So be prepared to be hit by a range of emotions here that may require tissues!!!
Beautifully written and covering the themes of grief, loss and second chances, The Anniversary was a real joy to read and I eventually closed the book feeling quite bereft that I was leaving these characters behind. They were so well developed and likeable that they felt real to me and I will miss them.
A heartwarming, moving and memorable read.
February 27, 2024
It was soothing to read this book. I won't say it was a love story book rather, a book on family stories and emotions run into any family. How parents deal with emotions with their children and vice versa.
Though the book starts with the couple story and includes all the phases of their life till they become old and reunite leaving all ups & downs behind.
Though the book starts with the couple story and includes all the phases of their life till they become old and reunite leaving all ups & downs behind.
September 17, 2018
The Anniversary is one of those books that you think you will know the answer before the question is even posed. Looking at the cover it just simply emanates sadness, anger, and no way forward.
It is beautifully written with enough emotion to pull at your heartstrings or rouse doubt and misunderstandings. Based around a mature couple who have been dealt the worst blow any parent should ever have to face, they simply are unable to cement the relationship and both move on with different partners and never see each other again.
It is only when their daughter requires her mother’s help and love during pregnancy the pair find themselves meeting again after so many years.
The author takes us on an emotional rally of will they won’t they find the spark to reignite their flame that burnt out so long ago. Bearing in mind Jack and Stella both have new partners their actions can have repercussions on so many other people and not just themselves.
I enjoyed the whole concept of second chances, life is too short and you are never too old for love. The fact this couple are older with so much baggage to take into account made for an emotional read where you may suddenly find you lose a tear or two.
I’m not going to divulge any more details, I’m just saying read this, go in with an open mind and the passion and strength will fill your heart. Also be prepared to miss the characters when this book is over because they really do occupy your mind all the time it takes to read the book.
Thanks to the author, publisher etc for my copy. I read and reviewed voluntarily.
It is beautifully written with enough emotion to pull at your heartstrings or rouse doubt and misunderstandings. Based around a mature couple who have been dealt the worst blow any parent should ever have to face, they simply are unable to cement the relationship and both move on with different partners and never see each other again.
It is only when their daughter requires her mother’s help and love during pregnancy the pair find themselves meeting again after so many years.
The author takes us on an emotional rally of will they won’t they find the spark to reignite their flame that burnt out so long ago. Bearing in mind Jack and Stella both have new partners their actions can have repercussions on so many other people and not just themselves.
I enjoyed the whole concept of second chances, life is too short and you are never too old for love. The fact this couple are older with so much baggage to take into account made for an emotional read where you may suddenly find you lose a tear or two.
I’m not going to divulge any more details, I’m just saying read this, go in with an open mind and the passion and strength will fill your heart. Also be prepared to miss the characters when this book is over because they really do occupy your mind all the time it takes to read the book.
Thanks to the author, publisher etc for my copy. I read and reviewed voluntarily.
July 8, 2018
Stella and Jack were young and in love. They married and had a son and another baby on the way. Then tragedy stuck and their lives were never the same again.
Years later and both with new partners they meet again when their daughter needs them. What will happen? Is it to late to love again? Can they put the past to rest and look forward to the future?
Years later and both with new partners they meet again when their daughter needs them. What will happen? Is it to late to love again? Can they put the past to rest and look forward to the future?
June 25, 2018
Having lost a loved one recent, I could totally feel what Stella and Jack had to go through.
The Anniversary is a beautifully written story of love, loss and finding love again. I could relate to each character and as I read the book I hoped that they find the strength to rekindle the lost love and relationships. I was so drawn into their story that I was finding it difficult to come out. Also I loved the happy end. The only place I found this book a miss was that it could have ended long before it actually did. Otherwise, it was a pleasure reading this book!
Thank you to Penguin for the ebook through NetGalley
For more reviews please visit www.rubinareads.com
The Anniversary is a beautifully written story of love, loss and finding love again. I could relate to each character and as I read the book I hoped that they find the strength to rekindle the lost love and relationships. I was so drawn into their story that I was finding it difficult to come out. Also I loved the happy end. The only place I found this book a miss was that it could have ended long before it actually did. Otherwise, it was a pleasure reading this book!
Thank you to Penguin for the ebook through NetGalley
For more reviews please visit www.rubinareads.com
June 19, 2018
Stella and Jack were the perfect couple until tragedy got in the way.
From the opening pages I was drawn into this thought provoking novel. Beautifully written characters and easy to read, its a poignant and moving story about relationships and how tragic events affect not just those involved but others around them.
Not all heartache and tragedy it was well balanced, with moments that lightened the load.
Overall a good thought provoking read but no real surprises at the end
From the opening pages I was drawn into this thought provoking novel. Beautifully written characters and easy to read, its a poignant and moving story about relationships and how tragic events affect not just those involved but others around them.
Not all heartache and tragedy it was well balanced, with moments that lightened the load.
Overall a good thought provoking read but no real surprises at the end
October 14, 2018
I can't even begin to describe the level of emotion in this book, it's almost as if it's woven into the very fabric of the pages. Although it is ultimately a love story, there are so many trials and tribulations to contend with which cause heartache and pain for the beautiful characters in the book.
I loved the character of Stella; she seems so strong and brave but underneath she is quite fragile and insecure. You can't help but warm to her after what she has gone through in her life; a life that she thought would see her and Jack grow old together as they watched their family grow up. Alas, fate had a different path in store for Stella and Jack which saw them splintering off in different directions, that is until their pregnant daughter needs their support and they realise that the love that they once shared has never fully left them...but now they're with other people, is it too late?
Oh my word, The Anniversary is such a heartbreaking love story, encompassing tragedy and hope but filled with nail-biting family drama. It really broke my heart that Stella and Jack lost so many years of their life together but I completely understood that what happened to them would break up the strongest couple. I loved how Eve's pregnancy brought them back together with the shared love they have for their daughter. It felt like there was a low simmering pot on the stove as Stella and Jack's fractured relationship gradually began to repair and I was willing them to kiss before the pan bubbled over!
The Anniversary is a beautiful tragic love story, written with such intense emotion that I can't imagine any reader failing to be moved by this compelling story.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
I loved the character of Stella; she seems so strong and brave but underneath she is quite fragile and insecure. You can't help but warm to her after what she has gone through in her life; a life that she thought would see her and Jack grow old together as they watched their family grow up. Alas, fate had a different path in store for Stella and Jack which saw them splintering off in different directions, that is until their pregnant daughter needs their support and they realise that the love that they once shared has never fully left them...but now they're with other people, is it too late?
Oh my word, The Anniversary is such a heartbreaking love story, encompassing tragedy and hope but filled with nail-biting family drama. It really broke my heart that Stella and Jack lost so many years of their life together but I completely understood that what happened to them would break up the strongest couple. I loved how Eve's pregnancy brought them back together with the shared love they have for their daughter. It felt like there was a low simmering pot on the stove as Stella and Jack's fractured relationship gradually began to repair and I was willing them to kiss before the pan bubbled over!
The Anniversary is a beautiful tragic love story, written with such intense emotion that I can't imagine any reader failing to be moved by this compelling story.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
August 7, 2018
I was one of 10 lucky bookworms who won a pre-release copy of this book, through The Motherload Book Club.
Stella & Jack's marriage ended years ago, after the tragic drowning of their toddler, Jonny. Not only did that terrible incident blow their marriage apart, it shaped the relationship between Stella & Eve, the daughter she was pregnant with at the time of her sons death.
Fast forward to the present day, Eve is not far off giving birth to her second, but complications within the pregnancy mean she may have to have intervention & have an elected c-section. With her husband, Eric away in the Antartic, Stella steps in and goes to look after her daughter & grandson, Arthur.
Mother & Daughter's relationship is already tense, but seeing as Eve is newly moved to Kent, and Stella not having been there since that tragic day, which the 30th anniversary of little Jonnys death is just a few weeks away, how will it all play out!
Mainly set in the present day, we see Stella, although having a strained relationship with her daughter, and having not set foot on Kent soil since that tragic day, go and support Eve & help look after her grandson Arthur, whilst Eve's hubby, Eric is away with work.
Whilst there, her estranged ex husband, Jack, who she hasn't seen or spoke to in ovee a decade, and has been dovorced from even longer, comes back into her life, through a love of seeing their grandson & daughter, and having a 'weekend' cottage not far from Eve's new house.
The story flits back to the past every so often, and we are given a build up of the events leading to Jonnys death, the aftermath of how it blew their marriage apart, and how out of fear of losing another child, caused Stella to hold back properly bonding with Eve.
We see Jack reach out to Stella on the up and coming 30th Anniversary of their sons death, to convince her to do something to remember him by, and with Eve wanting to know the exact details of what happened to the brother she never got to meet, and to encourage her parents to talk about Jonny more, Stella finally agrees to Jack's idea of spreading Jonny's ashes at the place he died. Although dreading seeing that pool ge drowned in, again, they are both pleasently surprised to see it has been removed & a beautiful rose garden in its place.
After spreading Jonny's ashes on the rose garden, they both agree it feels like a weight has been lifted.
Having been spending time together, and reflecting on the past, they start to realise that they never actually stopped loving each other & they are each other's true loves! The time Stella also spends with Eve & the 'laying to rest' of her son's ashes, helps to bond & make their relationship stronger.
This book gave me a lump in my throat, it made me laugh, it made me smile.
Being a mother myself, with a child a couple of years older than Jonny, when we were transported back to that unfortunate day, I could feel the anxiety in Stella when she was frantically searching for her son, when they found him, it bought a lump in my throat to read her her emotions. It certainly got me thinking, you could only imagine what that pain must feel like, I know if it was me, I would want to go to sleep and not wake up again as well.
As with Stella's relationship with Eve, I could undertand why she hadn't allowed herself to bond with her, out of fear, and the feeling of guilt, if youblove that other child, you are trying to replace the one who is no longer there.
I really wanted Jack & Stella to realise they have always been in love and to get back together, as with Eve and her mum finally bonding, and her getting the family unit with her parents, she has waited for all her life.
I also knew that Jack wasn't the father of Lisa's baby, and was relieved at that.
Although the underlying plot was tragic & sad, the author gave the story the happy ending it needed & deserved.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and will certainly read more of Hilary Boyd's books.
Stella & Jack's marriage ended years ago, after the tragic drowning of their toddler, Jonny. Not only did that terrible incident blow their marriage apart, it shaped the relationship between Stella & Eve, the daughter she was pregnant with at the time of her sons death.
Fast forward to the present day, Eve is not far off giving birth to her second, but complications within the pregnancy mean she may have to have intervention & have an elected c-section. With her husband, Eric away in the Antartic, Stella steps in and goes to look after her daughter & grandson, Arthur.
Mother & Daughter's relationship is already tense, but seeing as Eve is newly moved to Kent, and Stella not having been there since that tragic day, which the 30th anniversary of little Jonnys death is just a few weeks away, how will it all play out!
Mainly set in the present day, we see Stella, although having a strained relationship with her daughter, and having not set foot on Kent soil since that tragic day, go and support Eve & help look after her grandson Arthur, whilst Eve's hubby, Eric is away with work.
Whilst there, her estranged ex husband, Jack, who she hasn't seen or spoke to in ovee a decade, and has been dovorced from even longer, comes back into her life, through a love of seeing their grandson & daughter, and having a 'weekend' cottage not far from Eve's new house.
The story flits back to the past every so often, and we are given a build up of the events leading to Jonnys death, the aftermath of how it blew their marriage apart, and how out of fear of losing another child, caused Stella to hold back properly bonding with Eve.
We see Jack reach out to Stella on the up and coming 30th Anniversary of their sons death, to convince her to do something to remember him by, and with Eve wanting to know the exact details of what happened to the brother she never got to meet, and to encourage her parents to talk about Jonny more, Stella finally agrees to Jack's idea of spreading Jonny's ashes at the place he died. Although dreading seeing that pool ge drowned in, again, they are both pleasently surprised to see it has been removed & a beautiful rose garden in its place.
After spreading Jonny's ashes on the rose garden, they both agree it feels like a weight has been lifted.
Having been spending time together, and reflecting on the past, they start to realise that they never actually stopped loving each other & they are each other's true loves! The time Stella also spends with Eve & the 'laying to rest' of her son's ashes, helps to bond & make their relationship stronger.
This book gave me a lump in my throat, it made me laugh, it made me smile.
Being a mother myself, with a child a couple of years older than Jonny, when we were transported back to that unfortunate day, I could feel the anxiety in Stella when she was frantically searching for her son, when they found him, it bought a lump in my throat to read her her emotions. It certainly got me thinking, you could only imagine what that pain must feel like, I know if it was me, I would want to go to sleep and not wake up again as well.
As with Stella's relationship with Eve, I could undertand why she hadn't allowed herself to bond with her, out of fear, and the feeling of guilt, if youblove that other child, you are trying to replace the one who is no longer there.
I really wanted Jack & Stella to realise they have always been in love and to get back together, as with Eve and her mum finally bonding, and her getting the family unit with her parents, she has waited for all her life.
I also knew that Jack wasn't the father of Lisa's baby, and was relieved at that.
Although the underlying plot was tragic & sad, the author gave the story the happy ending it needed & deserved.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and will certainly read more of Hilary Boyd's books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2018
I have enjoyed Hilary Boyd's books ever since I read Thursdays in the Park some years ago so I was delighted to have the chance to read this book ahead of its release later this month.
The book begins with a very romantic scene between Jack and Stella, who are clearly a young couple very much in love and who seem just perfect for each other. Fast forward thirty odd years and we find that Jack and Stella have split up. Both have new partners: Jack is married to the much younger Lisa while Stella has been in a relationship with Ian for some years though they don't share a home. When their daughter Evie experiences difficulties in her pregnancy while her husband is working far from home, they find themselves reluctantly having to spend time together while they support her and their grandson Arthur. With two significant anniversaries looming, they find themselves forced to think about what tore them apart all those years ago.
This is a difficult book to review without giving too much of the plot away but I will try my best. What Jack and Stella went through as a young couple was unbearable to think about. Hilary Boyd writes so perceptively about their emotions and through occasional chapters set in the past really explores what went on and how they reacted. You'd need to be really hard-hearted not to feel for this couple. Even although how they behaved, Stella in particular, sometimes seemed irrational, it is hard to see how you could behave rationally in such a situation. I know this is all a bit vague but I really don't want to give away what happened. Hilary Boyd's skill is in showing just how her characters felt and responded and how their earlier experiences reverberated throughout their lives. Jack and Stella clearly still have feelings for each other, can sense that deep love they once had for each other. You really feel that the time has come for them to really talk over their feelings so they can move on with their lives.
In The Anniversary, Hilary Boyd really gets to the heart of the relationships and feelings of her characters. I particularly like how she looks at love through the eyes of older characters, characters who have much to contend with. Characters who can be pulled in many directions as a parent, as a grown-up child, as an employee, as a husband or wife, as a lover. As she rightly says herself, there is no age limit for falling in love! The Anniversary is a poignant and moving story.
The book begins with a very romantic scene between Jack and Stella, who are clearly a young couple very much in love and who seem just perfect for each other. Fast forward thirty odd years and we find that Jack and Stella have split up. Both have new partners: Jack is married to the much younger Lisa while Stella has been in a relationship with Ian for some years though they don't share a home. When their daughter Evie experiences difficulties in her pregnancy while her husband is working far from home, they find themselves reluctantly having to spend time together while they support her and their grandson Arthur. With two significant anniversaries looming, they find themselves forced to think about what tore them apart all those years ago.
This is a difficult book to review without giving too much of the plot away but I will try my best. What Jack and Stella went through as a young couple was unbearable to think about. Hilary Boyd writes so perceptively about their emotions and through occasional chapters set in the past really explores what went on and how they reacted. You'd need to be really hard-hearted not to feel for this couple. Even although how they behaved, Stella in particular, sometimes seemed irrational, it is hard to see how you could behave rationally in such a situation. I know this is all a bit vague but I really don't want to give away what happened. Hilary Boyd's skill is in showing just how her characters felt and responded and how their earlier experiences reverberated throughout their lives. Jack and Stella clearly still have feelings for each other, can sense that deep love they once had for each other. You really feel that the time has come for them to really talk over their feelings so they can move on with their lives.
In The Anniversary, Hilary Boyd really gets to the heart of the relationships and feelings of her characters. I particularly like how she looks at love through the eyes of older characters, characters who have much to contend with. Characters who can be pulled in many directions as a parent, as a grown-up child, as an employee, as a husband or wife, as a lover. As she rightly says herself, there is no age limit for falling in love! The Anniversary is a poignant and moving story.
September 20, 2018
Life for Stella and Jack was wonderful.back in 1985. They had a wonderful marriage which bought them joy and happiness, especially when Jonny and Eve came along.
Eve is married to scientist Eric and is expecting their second child. Stella goes to stay with Eve during the last trimester and help out with energetic Arthur. She is having problems with pregnancy and needs to take is easy. Eric is in the Antarctic on a field trip that is lasting months, and Eve doesn't want him to know that there are problems. He has looked forward to this trip for a long time and she doesn't want to worry him.
Stella has been in a relationship with Iain for several years but they live apart. Jack has married a much younger woman, Lisa. As they have a weekend retreat near to Eve in Kent, Jack and Stella meet up again after a long time. They are both anxious about their reaction to each other.
A dark secret that has been buried begins to come to the fore. Eve knows that their first board child was Jonny who died aged 3. It was a tragic accident.
As their story unfolds, the anniversary of his death, close to his birthday is looming. He would have been 30.
The depth of their grief is apparent and the pain they shared but could not talk about leaves many things unresolved. The author has got just the right level of empathy and sympathy for their pain and their characters all seem so realistic. This is a sad story, but very well orchestrated. I highly recommend this.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are all my own and completely unbiased. My thanks to NetGalley for this opportunity.
Eve is married to scientist Eric and is expecting their second child. Stella goes to stay with Eve during the last trimester and help out with energetic Arthur. She is having problems with pregnancy and needs to take is easy. Eric is in the Antarctic on a field trip that is lasting months, and Eve doesn't want him to know that there are problems. He has looked forward to this trip for a long time and she doesn't want to worry him.
Stella has been in a relationship with Iain for several years but they live apart. Jack has married a much younger woman, Lisa. As they have a weekend retreat near to Eve in Kent, Jack and Stella meet up again after a long time. They are both anxious about their reaction to each other.
A dark secret that has been buried begins to come to the fore. Eve knows that their first board child was Jonny who died aged 3. It was a tragic accident.
As their story unfolds, the anniversary of his death, close to his birthday is looming. He would have been 30.
The depth of their grief is apparent and the pain they shared but could not talk about leaves many things unresolved. The author has got just the right level of empathy and sympathy for their pain and their characters all seem so realistic. This is a sad story, but very well orchestrated. I highly recommend this.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are all my own and completely unbiased. My thanks to NetGalley for this opportunity.
September 20, 2018
This is a first-rate telling of the survival of the individual members of a family who suffered an unthinkable tragedy and then did the only thing they could do - move on.
Jack and Stella shared a wonderful love, but three decades later they have as little contact as possible with each other. However, when their daughter needs help, it's only a matter of time until they come face to face again. As we follow all three members of the Holt family's current lives, we also gradually find out what happened in the past to a couple so perfectly matched.
This is the second book I've read by this author; I enjoyed Thursdays in the Park so much that I jumped at the opportunity to read this one - and I'm so happy I did. With the perfect balance of past and present, happiness and heartbreak and such a clear understanding of human nature, Hilary Boyd pens an impressive novel. A poignant - and at times emotional - read, this is a story which touched my soul and I loved every word of it. Beautifully written, it drew me into the story and before very long I needed to find out what both the past and the future held .. and I was not disappointed. A tale to be savoured, enjoyed and pondered over - not to say shed the odd tear. Such a worthwhile read, and one I'll not forget for quite some time.
My thanks to publisher Michael Joseph for my copy via NetGalley. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.
Jack and Stella shared a wonderful love, but three decades later they have as little contact as possible with each other. However, when their daughter needs help, it's only a matter of time until they come face to face again. As we follow all three members of the Holt family's current lives, we also gradually find out what happened in the past to a couple so perfectly matched.
This is the second book I've read by this author; I enjoyed Thursdays in the Park so much that I jumped at the opportunity to read this one - and I'm so happy I did. With the perfect balance of past and present, happiness and heartbreak and such a clear understanding of human nature, Hilary Boyd pens an impressive novel. A poignant - and at times emotional - read, this is a story which touched my soul and I loved every word of it. Beautifully written, it drew me into the story and before very long I needed to find out what both the past and the future held .. and I was not disappointed. A tale to be savoured, enjoyed and pondered over - not to say shed the odd tear. Such a worthwhile read, and one I'll not forget for quite some time.
My thanks to publisher Michael Joseph for my copy via NetGalley. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.
October 2, 2018
Stella and Jack had everything, a young son and another baby on the way and they were very much in love, everything was perfect then tragedy struck and their lives would never be the same again. With neither of them able to get over the sad events of that fateful day, they drift apart and their marriage breaks down, but they are suddenly brought back together years later when their daughter Eve needs their help during a difficult pregnancy. Can they be friends again or will their lost love for each other reignite when they are forced to spend so much time in each other company?
This story is a very emotional read and parts of it resonated with me as I experienced the same issues in my first pregnancy as Eve did in her second, so I could relate to her worries. With regard to what Stella and Jack were experiencing was totally different, I can't begin to imagine what they were going through and not being able to gain closure after all these years must have eaten away at both of them, a truly heart breaking situation but depicted beautifully by the author.
I've loved all of Hilary's books and this one was no exception, I look forward to her new one that's coming out next year. I would like to thank Penguin UK - Michael Joseph for the approval and will post my review on Goodreads and Amazon. A great read
This story is a very emotional read and parts of it resonated with me as I experienced the same issues in my first pregnancy as Eve did in her second, so I could relate to her worries. With regard to what Stella and Jack were experiencing was totally different, I can't begin to imagine what they were going through and not being able to gain closure after all these years must have eaten away at both of them, a truly heart breaking situation but depicted beautifully by the author.
I've loved all of Hilary's books and this one was no exception, I look forward to her new one that's coming out next year. I would like to thank Penguin UK - Michael Joseph for the approval and will post my review on Goodreads and Amazon. A great read
September 29, 2018
This book was a complete change from my normal read of crime mysteries and psychological thrillers, and I loved it. It was one of those books that had you reaching for your tissues on a few occasions and was a very emotional read.
The story is about the relationship between Jack and Stella. They were married young and then divorced after a family tragedy. Jack remarries a much younger, glamorous wife and Stella is in a relationship too, but they both still have hidden feelings for each other. Their daughter Eve, who has a three year old son and is also going through a difficult pregnancy with her second child needs both her parents help. All their old feelings come flooding back when they meet up at Eve’s. Can they put the past tragedy behind them? Are they meant to be together again? This book is such an emotional read, about how we are never too old to fall in love, family relationships, love and loss, heartbreak and forgiveness. This book has it all. One of my favourite reads this year.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin UK for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
The story is about the relationship between Jack and Stella. They were married young and then divorced after a family tragedy. Jack remarries a much younger, glamorous wife and Stella is in a relationship too, but they both still have hidden feelings for each other. Their daughter Eve, who has a three year old son and is also going through a difficult pregnancy with her second child needs both her parents help. All their old feelings come flooding back when they meet up at Eve’s. Can they put the past tragedy behind them? Are they meant to be together again? This book is such an emotional read, about how we are never too old to fall in love, family relationships, love and loss, heartbreak and forgiveness. This book has it all. One of my favourite reads this year.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin UK for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
October 10, 2018
Thanks to Net Galley and Penguin UK for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
In my mind this is Hilary Boyds best book to date.
A very touching and emotional story, Stella and Jack have been divorced for years, disaster struck one afternoon when their first child Jonny drowns in a pool while they are at a garden party, Stella was pregnant with their daughter Eve, they were both broken.
Now many years later their daughter Eve is expecting her 2nd child, Stella and Jack find themselves thrown together a few times, they are both struggling as it is approaching their sons anniversary and also his 30th birthday. Jack is determined to talk about their shared tragedy and heartache and mark the special date, and in doing so old feelings are awakened, although Jack has a new young wife and Stella has been in a relationship for some years,
This book is about love that is still alive many years later, family relationships and loss. A very poignant read
In my mind this is Hilary Boyds best book to date.
A very touching and emotional story, Stella and Jack have been divorced for years, disaster struck one afternoon when their first child Jonny drowns in a pool while they are at a garden party, Stella was pregnant with their daughter Eve, they were both broken.
Now many years later their daughter Eve is expecting her 2nd child, Stella and Jack find themselves thrown together a few times, they are both struggling as it is approaching their sons anniversary and also his 30th birthday. Jack is determined to talk about their shared tragedy and heartache and mark the special date, and in doing so old feelings are awakened, although Jack has a new young wife and Stella has been in a relationship for some years,
This book is about love that is still alive many years later, family relationships and loss. A very poignant read
August 15, 2018
Stella and Jack are soulmates, or so they believe, but when they suffer a terrible loss, it changes them and their relationship. Grief and mourning are unique to the sufferer, and if two people are raw with the pain of loss together, they fall together or fall apart. Stella and Jack fell apart and have gone their separate ways until their daughter needs them both and they have another chance to talk and maybe find out if their love is worth saving.
Realistic and poignant this a gentle story of life and its tragedies and how it can destroy or cement familial relationships. The family interactions are believable and the quandary Stella and Jack find themselves authentic. A tale of love, loss and life that is easy to read but resonates in your heart.
I received a copy of this book via Penguin UK - Michael Joseph via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
September 9, 2018
This was an emotional read dealing with the after effects of a parent's worst nightmare.
Jack and Stella were soul mates ripped apart by tragedy, the death of their young son.
25 years later they are divorced, both have new partners, and they are forced to be in each other's company when their daughter is going through a difficult pregnancy.
This forced proximity brings home to them that they still love each other, and that neither of them has dealt with, or moved on from, the debilitating grief felt at the loss of their son.
This is a well written tale of the effects of grief, and how it affects the wider circle of family and friends. It is the story of two people who should never have split up....will they get a second chance?
Yes, some of the storyline is predictable, but it is a rewarding read.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book via Netgalley.
Jack and Stella were soul mates ripped apart by tragedy, the death of their young son.
25 years later they are divorced, both have new partners, and they are forced to be in each other's company when their daughter is going through a difficult pregnancy.
This forced proximity brings home to them that they still love each other, and that neither of them has dealt with, or moved on from, the debilitating grief felt at the loss of their son.
This is a well written tale of the effects of grief, and how it affects the wider circle of family and friends. It is the story of two people who should never have split up....will they get a second chance?
Yes, some of the storyline is predictable, but it is a rewarding read.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book via Netgalley.
September 19, 2018
This book exceeded all of my expectations. It was easy to read, and I just fell in love with the characters instantaneously.
The novel is a sensitive read. It touched your heart on a personal level and it simply makes you feel. It discusses the sensitive issues of grief, love, relationships and second chances - and the author does it incredibly well, I simply could not get enough of it.
This book is a rather different read for me, but it was a book that I got easily into, and once I started reading it, it enthralled me for Jack and Stella's story.
This book is so incredibly beautiful. It touched my heart so greatly, and the way the author wrote it was perfect. It was a refreshing read for me, and in the future, I will be reading more of this author's books. The Anniversary has definitely become one of my favourites of 2018 so far.
The novel is a sensitive read. It touched your heart on a personal level and it simply makes you feel. It discusses the sensitive issues of grief, love, relationships and second chances - and the author does it incredibly well, I simply could not get enough of it.
This book is a rather different read for me, but it was a book that I got easily into, and once I started reading it, it enthralled me for Jack and Stella's story.
This book is so incredibly beautiful. It touched my heart so greatly, and the way the author wrote it was perfect. It was a refreshing read for me, and in the future, I will be reading more of this author's books. The Anniversary has definitely become one of my favourites of 2018 so far.
October 24, 2018
A poignant story about a couple who are forced apart when they lose a child. The story is about their remaining daughter, her children and Stella and jack's new partners. Stella never wanted to see Jack again but after having to go to Kent to help her pregnant daughter she discovers that Jack and his new wife come to their cottage close by for weekends. They meet up again and the story of their past and future starts. The characters are wonderful and although the story is tinged with sadness I still enjoyed it and felt that there would be a lot of couples in a similar position who could not stay together at the time but never really stopped loving each other.. Sat and read over a hundred pages this morning as i wanted to reach the end. Looking forward to "The Letter" in 2019 and will try to go back and read some of her other titles. Recommended
March 17, 2019
Unputdownable
Oooh I loved this , despite the fact I had a little cry at the end. Not quite sure why , perhaps it's the menopause; I seldom cry but found the characters so beautifully crafted that I became enveloped in their world. I've read most of Hilary Boyd's novels and this was one of her best. It would seem (as I have long suspected) that relationships don't get much easier the older you get ....although I enjoyed the blossoming of the mother daughter relationship . It's a lovely book ; heart warming but laugh out loud moments too. I read all kinds of everything but if like me you enjoy Katie Fforde , Maeve Binchyl , Patricia Scanlan et al you're going to love this .
Oooh I loved this , despite the fact I had a little cry at the end. Not quite sure why , perhaps it's the menopause; I seldom cry but found the characters so beautifully crafted that I became enveloped in their world. I've read most of Hilary Boyd's novels and this was one of her best. It would seem (as I have long suspected) that relationships don't get much easier the older you get ....although I enjoyed the blossoming of the mother daughter relationship . It's a lovely book ; heart warming but laugh out loud moments too. I read all kinds of everything but if like me you enjoy Katie Fforde , Maeve Binchyl , Patricia Scanlan et al you're going to love this .
August 25, 2018
So enjoyed this book that I couldn’t put it down.
Jack and Stella were married with a beloved little boy Jonny and another child on the way, when tragedy strikes, tearing their world apart, and ripping their relationship to shreds in a blame game neither can control.
Fast forward many years and their daughter is expecting her second child, whilst her husband is away. The pregnancy is problematic and Stella and Jack have to step up to help with their Grandson, their daughter, and potential problems with the baby.
A time of confusion, love, life and laughter, and believable characters make this an excellent read, and one you won’t want to finish.
Jack and Stella were married with a beloved little boy Jonny and another child on the way, when tragedy strikes, tearing their world apart, and ripping their relationship to shreds in a blame game neither can control.
Fast forward many years and their daughter is expecting her second child, whilst her husband is away. The pregnancy is problematic and Stella and Jack have to step up to help with their Grandson, their daughter, and potential problems with the baby.
A time of confusion, love, life and laughter, and believable characters make this an excellent read, and one you won’t want to finish.
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