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Love will tear us apart
Fearing eternal singledom, childhood friends Kate and Paul make the age-old vow that if they don't find love by thirty, they will marry each other.
Years later, with the deadline of their 30th birthdays approaching, the unlikely couple decide to keep their teenage promise. After all, they are such good friends. Surely that's enough to make a marriage?
Now, on the eve of their 10th wedding anniversary, they will discover that love between men and women is more complex, and more precarious, than they could ever have imagined. As Kate struggles with a secret that reaches far into their past, will the couple's vow become the very thing that threatens their future?
Love Will Tear Us Apart is a moving and heart-breaking exploration of modern love and friendship, from the bestselling author of Try Not to Breathe. (less)
Years later, with the deadline of their 30th birthdays approaching, the unlikely couple decide to keep their teenage promise. After all, they are such good friends. Surely that's enough to make a marriage?
Now, on the eve of their 10th wedding anniversary, they will discover that love between men and women is more complex, and more precarious, than they could ever have imagined. As Kate struggles with a secret that reaches far into their past, will the couple's vow become the very thing that threatens their future?
Love Will Tear Us Apart is a moving and heart-breaking exploration of modern love and friendship, from the bestselling author of Try Not to Breathe. (less)
336 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2018
32 people are currently reading
1220 people want to read
About the author
Holly Seddon
11 books891 followersHolly Seddon is the international bestselling author of TRY NOT TO BREATHE, DON'T CLOSE YOUR EYES, LOVE WILL TEAR US APART, THE HIT LIST, THE WOMAN ON THE BRIDGE and THE SHORT STRAW.
After a childhood spent moving around the English countryside and obsessing over books and music, she later became a journalist and editor. She has lived in London and Amsterdam and now lives in Kent with her family. She has an MA in Creative Writing.
Alongside fellow author Gillian McAllister, Holly co-hosts the popular Honest Authors Podcast. You can find her on Twitter @hollyseddon, Instagram and Facebook @hollyseddonauthor.
After a childhood spent moving around the English countryside and obsessing over books and music, she later became a journalist and editor. She has lived in London and Amsterdam and now lives in Kent with her family. She has an MA in Creative Writing.
Alongside fellow author Gillian McAllister, Holly co-hosts the popular Honest Authors Podcast. You can find her on Twitter @hollyseddon, Instagram and Facebook @hollyseddonauthor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 253 reviews
July 28, 2018
"Love Will Tear Us Apart" sadly disappointed me just a little. I was genuinely looking forward to reading it after having adored "Don't Close Your Eyes" by the same author. However, the two were on completely different wavelengths.
Blurb - Fearing eternal singledom, childhood friends Kate and Paul make the age-old vow that if they don't find love by thirty, they will marry each other. Years later, with the deadline of their 30th birthdays approaching, the unlikely couple decide to keep their teenage promise. After all, they are such good friends. Surely that's enough to make a marriage? Now, on the eve of their 10th wedding anniversary, they will discover that love between men and women is more complex, and more precarious, than they could ever have imagined. As Kate struggles with a secret that reaches far into their past, will the couple's vow become the very thing that threatens their future?
Although I didn't want to stop reading it and still quite enjoyed it, I just found it a little too slow for me and though I was keen to see what the big reveal was at the end I found it disappointing and left me rather flat. Having read the story to the end I couldn't think of any big twist that could come from the plot and sadly there wasn't.
I appreciate the author Holly Seddon has put her heart and soul into this book - and has done a fabulous job in writing it - I just felt it didn't quite cut it as a psychological thriller and the contemporary fiction genre isn't really my thing.
Many readers will enjoy this and I expect it to do very well - as deserved if that's your entertainment - but for me I just didn't totally connect. I do still have "Try Not to Breathe" which I am looking forward to and I will continue to read more again by Holly Seddon.
3 stars
Blurb - Fearing eternal singledom, childhood friends Kate and Paul make the age-old vow that if they don't find love by thirty, they will marry each other. Years later, with the deadline of their 30th birthdays approaching, the unlikely couple decide to keep their teenage promise. After all, they are such good friends. Surely that's enough to make a marriage? Now, on the eve of their 10th wedding anniversary, they will discover that love between men and women is more complex, and more precarious, than they could ever have imagined. As Kate struggles with a secret that reaches far into their past, will the couple's vow become the very thing that threatens their future?
Although I didn't want to stop reading it and still quite enjoyed it, I just found it a little too slow for me and though I was keen to see what the big reveal was at the end I found it disappointing and left me rather flat. Having read the story to the end I couldn't think of any big twist that could come from the plot and sadly there wasn't.
I appreciate the author Holly Seddon has put her heart and soul into this book - and has done a fabulous job in writing it - I just felt it didn't quite cut it as a psychological thriller and the contemporary fiction genre isn't really my thing.
Many readers will enjoy this and I expect it to do very well - as deserved if that's your entertainment - but for me I just didn't totally connect. I do still have "Try Not to Breathe" which I am looking forward to and I will continue to read more again by Holly Seddon.
3 stars
Read
February 23, 2022I DNF no rating as I hardly got half way This was a slow burn in the beginning & didn’t hold my attention i had matchsticks to keep my eyes open. It was not a bad plot line but I’d dragged on & on.
Love Will Tear Us Apart by Holly Seddon is about Kate & Paul who are longtime friends since age 8 they both make a pledge to Marry no matter what by the age of thirty. but after being married for ten years cracks are emerging & Kate is hiding a secret she doesn’t want revealed.
There are two timelines which I could not follow & I just could not go on I loved Miss Sedona first novel Try Not To Breath let’s just say I was disappointed.
Love Will Tear Us Apart by Holly Seddon is about Kate & Paul who are longtime friends since age 8 they both make a pledge to Marry no matter what by the age of thirty. but after being married for ten years cracks are emerging & Kate is hiding a secret she doesn’t want revealed.
There are two timelines which I could not follow & I just could not go on I loved Miss Sedona first novel Try Not To Breath let’s just say I was disappointed.
May 10, 2018
Love Will Tear Us Apart by Holly Sneddon is a story about Kate and Paul who have been childhood friends and made a pack to marry each other if they were still single when they reach the age of thirty. They now have two children and have been married for ten years and the cracks are beginning to show.
The story is told in two time frames and I found it slow to start.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Atlantic Books for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
The story is told in two time frames and I found it slow to start.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Atlantic Books for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 11, 2018
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
What makes a marriage tick? Is it love, sexual attraction, friendship, support or something else altogether? Holly Seddon’s third novel, Love Will Tear Us Apart, is a women’s fiction or more appropriately placed ‘life lit’ title, that examines the relationship of a modern couple, who make a teen pact to marry on their thirtieth birthdays. Now years later, just as this couple are about to celebrate their ten year anniversary, a secret and a letter sends a jolt to their partnership. Love Will Tear Us Apart offers an insightful commentary into the complexities of life, love, marriage and parenthood.
I can’t say I know of anyone personally who has committed to a marriage and built a family based on a pact, thought perhaps this is a fact that would be kept a secret from others. It is such an interesting reason to commit to a marriage, loneliness and the desire for a family overtakes the reason why those like Paul and Kate may find themselves in this situation. Love Will Tear Us Apart apart considers this scenario. It is a thought provoking read that I very much enjoyed following. I did feel it was a complete departure from Seddon’s previous two psychological thrillers novels, which I devoured. However, it is always a welcome sight to see an author expand on their repertoire and tackle a whole new battlefield. On the whole Love Will Tear Us Apart was a fine effort on behalf of author Holly Seddon.
I did appreciate the structure of Love Will Tear Us Apart (useless fact – this is one of my favourite 1980’s songs). The book carefully unwinds in a past/present style format and it is set to a period specific sense of atmosphere. It switches records from the early 1980’s, through to recent times, around 2012. Seddon fills in these years with anecdotes and defining moments in this couple’s lives. We discover their first meeting as young children, through to their high school years, college, careers and through to their weightier relationships as adults. While Paul’s life is virtually smooth sailing, it is Kate that is dealt with all the blows, from early on in her childhood. One particular sorrowful segment of Kate’s life is handled powerfully by Seddon. With the rise of the ‘Me Too’ movement, this situation Kate faces holds great significance. It is hard not to feel your heart break into pieces for poor Kate, but the shining light is Paul’s support.
Tracking this couple to present day times, they now have two children, one has a successful career, while the other is at a crossroads. It seems like Seddon knows every inch and curve of her central two protagonists, but it is the secondary characters who steal the stage in some areas of the novel. Namely Paul’s supportive parents Mick and Viv, show us how important this couple proved to be in influencing the direction of Paul and Kate’s lives. Although the book is in no way fast paced, I had a terrible gut feeling churning in my stomach as I read on, I was waiting for something of an unwelcome nature to happen. There is a great twist, which I will not go to any great length to discuss, as I’m aware of entering spoiler territory. What I will say is although I didn’t get the flooring twist or strong line of suspense I have previously gained from Seddon, the pivotal moment in the novel, which shifts events and the characters themselves, was worth waiting for.
There are plenty of underlying themes to be taken from Love Will Tear Us Apart. Interjected within this cleanly spaced tale are issues of betrayal, trust, emotion, abandonment, loss, love and support. Seddon’s novel offers a delicate examination of a couple drawn together by a lifelong friendship, a long-lasting pact and an intense sense of loyalty to one another. Most of all, I was able to take away that love appears in all sorts of different guises; parental love, friendship, sexual relationships and partnerships. Seddon’s final message has much to say about levels of honesty, commitment, devotion, unconditional support and scaffolding a future with your better half.
Based on this very different offering from Holly Seddon in Love Will Tear Us Apart, it is clear that Seddon has disparate set of skills at hand, which enables her to reach out and embrace different forms of storytelling. I’m not sure what Seddon will explore next, but frankly I don’t care, I’m happy to jump on board with her next book.
*I wish to thank Allen & Unwin for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
What makes a marriage tick? Is it love, sexual attraction, friendship, support or something else altogether? Holly Seddon’s third novel, Love Will Tear Us Apart, is a women’s fiction or more appropriately placed ‘life lit’ title, that examines the relationship of a modern couple, who make a teen pact to marry on their thirtieth birthdays. Now years later, just as this couple are about to celebrate their ten year anniversary, a secret and a letter sends a jolt to their partnership. Love Will Tear Us Apart offers an insightful commentary into the complexities of life, love, marriage and parenthood.
I can’t say I know of anyone personally who has committed to a marriage and built a family based on a pact, thought perhaps this is a fact that would be kept a secret from others. It is such an interesting reason to commit to a marriage, loneliness and the desire for a family overtakes the reason why those like Paul and Kate may find themselves in this situation. Love Will Tear Us Apart apart considers this scenario. It is a thought provoking read that I very much enjoyed following. I did feel it was a complete departure from Seddon’s previous two psychological thrillers novels, which I devoured. However, it is always a welcome sight to see an author expand on their repertoire and tackle a whole new battlefield. On the whole Love Will Tear Us Apart was a fine effort on behalf of author Holly Seddon.
I did appreciate the structure of Love Will Tear Us Apart (useless fact – this is one of my favourite 1980’s songs). The book carefully unwinds in a past/present style format and it is set to a period specific sense of atmosphere. It switches records from the early 1980’s, through to recent times, around 2012. Seddon fills in these years with anecdotes and defining moments in this couple’s lives. We discover their first meeting as young children, through to their high school years, college, careers and through to their weightier relationships as adults. While Paul’s life is virtually smooth sailing, it is Kate that is dealt with all the blows, from early on in her childhood. One particular sorrowful segment of Kate’s life is handled powerfully by Seddon. With the rise of the ‘Me Too’ movement, this situation Kate faces holds great significance. It is hard not to feel your heart break into pieces for poor Kate, but the shining light is Paul’s support.
Tracking this couple to present day times, they now have two children, one has a successful career, while the other is at a crossroads. It seems like Seddon knows every inch and curve of her central two protagonists, but it is the secondary characters who steal the stage in some areas of the novel. Namely Paul’s supportive parents Mick and Viv, show us how important this couple proved to be in influencing the direction of Paul and Kate’s lives. Although the book is in no way fast paced, I had a terrible gut feeling churning in my stomach as I read on, I was waiting for something of an unwelcome nature to happen. There is a great twist, which I will not go to any great length to discuss, as I’m aware of entering spoiler territory. What I will say is although I didn’t get the flooring twist or strong line of suspense I have previously gained from Seddon, the pivotal moment in the novel, which shifts events and the characters themselves, was worth waiting for.
There are plenty of underlying themes to be taken from Love Will Tear Us Apart. Interjected within this cleanly spaced tale are issues of betrayal, trust, emotion, abandonment, loss, love and support. Seddon’s novel offers a delicate examination of a couple drawn together by a lifelong friendship, a long-lasting pact and an intense sense of loyalty to one another. Most of all, I was able to take away that love appears in all sorts of different guises; parental love, friendship, sexual relationships and partnerships. Seddon’s final message has much to say about levels of honesty, commitment, devotion, unconditional support and scaffolding a future with your better half.
Based on this very different offering from Holly Seddon in Love Will Tear Us Apart, it is clear that Seddon has disparate set of skills at hand, which enables her to reach out and embrace different forms of storytelling. I’m not sure what Seddon will explore next, but frankly I don’t care, I’m happy to jump on board with her next book.
*I wish to thank Allen & Unwin for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
May 26, 2018
3.5 stars
Love Will Tear Us Apart is a very different novel to either of Holly Seddon’s previous efforts, both of which had a genuine psychological thriller element and is more fundamentally straight-up women’s fiction with its exploration of love and friendship and whilst I found it an enjoyable read, it was not what I had expected. The premise alludes to ‘a secret’ threatening the futures and marriage of Kate Howarth and Paul Luxton, however this is rather over-egging the pudding and the much talked about ‘letter burning a hole in Kate’s pocket’ is, in reality, of little significance. Despite the sheer unlikelihood of two childhood friends eventually fulfilling a teenage promise to marry if they are still unattached on their thirtieth birthdays and the whole concept sounding so far-fetched, I was intrigued to see how Holly Seddon would approach her story.
Set in two timeframes a now married Kate and Paul Luxton together with their children, eight-year-old Harry and two-year-old Izzy spend the week ahead of their tenth wedding anniversary holidaying in Cornwall. As readers are given snapshots throughout the week the tension between Kate and Paul is palpable and barely concealed from their children. Whilst on the surface this might be reflective of Paul’s demanding career, Kate’s exhaustion as a full-time parent and two demanding children, Kate’s first-person narrative makes apparent that she has found a letter containing a secret from their past which could signal a shattering end to their union. As an edgy Paul is short-tempered with Harry, remote from Kate and constantly pulled back to his mobile for “work” matters, it is evident that the marriage is hanging together by a thread and the slightest pressure could topple their ordered world.
A second timeline follows the summer of 1981 and is marked by the pivotal events which set the news agenda of the era, from the rise of punk mania, the brutal IRA bombings through to the catastrophic storms of 1987 which is the backdrop to the marriage pledge as a teenage Kate and Paul lose their virginity to each other. From diametrically opposed backgrounds, Kate Howarth and Paul Luxton are each other’s first experience of habitual friendship, providing an escape from the isolation of their contemporaries and a life as only children. For Kate, the daughter of an affluent but remote father and a young mother caught up in the swinging sixties scene in London, the Luxton household with good hearted and endearingly caring Viv and Mick a place of refuge for her. Both outsiders at their respective schools their firm friendship and Kate’s place as one of the family is well-observed and punctuated by touching moments of real belonging. As their paths start to diverge in college with irritations, arguments and a different preoccupations coming to the fore the cracks in their friendship begin to show. Throughout their time at university and eventually into their careers, Viv is the one constant that links the duo and eventually paves the way for their reconnection. However, a reversal of roles sees Kate gradually becoming the more dependent as she firstly manages to wangle a junior role in the company where she works for Paul only for his ascendancy in the company to mirror her downward trajectory and life simultaneously falling apart, from being frozen out at work to the alienation of any previous friends.
Despite being very well-written I found the novel a frustrating read, largely due to its languid pace and taking far too long to broach the contents of the much purported letter. The first detail that Seddon reveals regarding it comes on page 216 with where it was found, but as to the content it proves unforthcoming. For too long I floundered as the story explores the evolution of a friendship but never really sets it stall out and it is this which sapped my enthusiasm for staying invested and when it comes, the secret proves a damp squib. The denouement feels rushed and unconvincing and whilst I appreciate that love comes in many forms and maintaining a constant friendship with one’s partner is pivotal, individuals also change, mature and their paths diverge and they are often unrecognisable as the children they were. Disappointedly the blazing argument heading into the finale is the first time that the reader is offered a window into Paul’s mindset and his character articulating his feelings. Prior to this the reader is left in the dark and I really do think the story would have benefitted from being in part narrated by Paul. That the underwhelming conclusion is explored in little depth does not help and in the end the marriage felt like forcing a round peg into a square hole and thus the story left me unmoved.
Whilst I throughly enjoyed the childhood glimpses into the lives on Paul and Kate which recreated the era wonderfully and evoked memories of every awkward adolescence, I was much less convinced by their marriage with its utter lack of chemistry. Kate’s faddiness and capricious personality together with her deathbed promise to her mother to “never settle” make her ten years of marriage to well-intentioned and staid Paul frankly incredible and that they have stood the test of time mystifying. In hindsight it is easy to appreciate how much of the vibrancy and colour is provided for Paul by his parents, nurse Viv with her genuine kindness and lovable buffoon and serial philanderer, Mick. As the years progress the absence of any personality in Paul and the increasingly fractious course of his relationship with Kate is obvious and by the time the long-awaited proposal comes, the pair seem to actively dislike each other, certainly on Kate’s part with her decision seeming a last resort after having burnt every other bridge at work and socially. In all honesty I felt removed from both of the lead characters but I adored Paul’s parents who both fascinated and charmed me.
The early years of the friendship between Kate and Paul are hugely evocative and in common with Seddon’s two previous novels she proves herself more than proficient at depicting the early 1980’s culture, way of life and its wonderful simplicity. As it is Seddon’s dual timeline structure helps make apparent how different and complicated the lives of children today are compared to thirty years earlier. But just because a friendship suited a time, a place and was convenient (the village of Little Balcombe as lonely school outsiders of nine-years-old), I felt the connotations that it therefore should equate to a marriage thirty-years down the line with two children and careers was somewhat misguided. Undoubtedly well-plotted, Holly Seddon’s conversational narrative charting Kate and Paul’s journey is admittedly gloriously readable and full of genuine insight and I have every intention of reading her future efforts.
With thanks to Readers First who provided me with a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
Love Will Tear Us Apart is a very different novel to either of Holly Seddon’s previous efforts, both of which had a genuine psychological thriller element and is more fundamentally straight-up women’s fiction with its exploration of love and friendship and whilst I found it an enjoyable read, it was not what I had expected. The premise alludes to ‘a secret’ threatening the futures and marriage of Kate Howarth and Paul Luxton, however this is rather over-egging the pudding and the much talked about ‘letter burning a hole in Kate’s pocket’ is, in reality, of little significance. Despite the sheer unlikelihood of two childhood friends eventually fulfilling a teenage promise to marry if they are still unattached on their thirtieth birthdays and the whole concept sounding so far-fetched, I was intrigued to see how Holly Seddon would approach her story.
Set in two timeframes a now married Kate and Paul Luxton together with their children, eight-year-old Harry and two-year-old Izzy spend the week ahead of their tenth wedding anniversary holidaying in Cornwall. As readers are given snapshots throughout the week the tension between Kate and Paul is palpable and barely concealed from their children. Whilst on the surface this might be reflective of Paul’s demanding career, Kate’s exhaustion as a full-time parent and two demanding children, Kate’s first-person narrative makes apparent that she has found a letter containing a secret from their past which could signal a shattering end to their union. As an edgy Paul is short-tempered with Harry, remote from Kate and constantly pulled back to his mobile for “work” matters, it is evident that the marriage is hanging together by a thread and the slightest pressure could topple their ordered world.
A second timeline follows the summer of 1981 and is marked by the pivotal events which set the news agenda of the era, from the rise of punk mania, the brutal IRA bombings through to the catastrophic storms of 1987 which is the backdrop to the marriage pledge as a teenage Kate and Paul lose their virginity to each other. From diametrically opposed backgrounds, Kate Howarth and Paul Luxton are each other’s first experience of habitual friendship, providing an escape from the isolation of their contemporaries and a life as only children. For Kate, the daughter of an affluent but remote father and a young mother caught up in the swinging sixties scene in London, the Luxton household with good hearted and endearingly caring Viv and Mick a place of refuge for her. Both outsiders at their respective schools their firm friendship and Kate’s place as one of the family is well-observed and punctuated by touching moments of real belonging. As their paths start to diverge in college with irritations, arguments and a different preoccupations coming to the fore the cracks in their friendship begin to show. Throughout their time at university and eventually into their careers, Viv is the one constant that links the duo and eventually paves the way for their reconnection. However, a reversal of roles sees Kate gradually becoming the more dependent as she firstly manages to wangle a junior role in the company where she works for Paul only for his ascendancy in the company to mirror her downward trajectory and life simultaneously falling apart, from being frozen out at work to the alienation of any previous friends.
Despite being very well-written I found the novel a frustrating read, largely due to its languid pace and taking far too long to broach the contents of the much purported letter. The first detail that Seddon reveals regarding it comes on page 216 with where it was found, but as to the content it proves unforthcoming. For too long I floundered as the story explores the evolution of a friendship but never really sets it stall out and it is this which sapped my enthusiasm for staying invested and when it comes, the secret proves a damp squib. The denouement feels rushed and unconvincing and whilst I appreciate that love comes in many forms and maintaining a constant friendship with one’s partner is pivotal, individuals also change, mature and their paths diverge and they are often unrecognisable as the children they were. Disappointedly the blazing argument heading into the finale is the first time that the reader is offered a window into Paul’s mindset and his character articulating his feelings. Prior to this the reader is left in the dark and I really do think the story would have benefitted from being in part narrated by Paul. That the underwhelming conclusion is explored in little depth does not help and in the end the marriage felt like forcing a round peg into a square hole and thus the story left me unmoved.
Whilst I throughly enjoyed the childhood glimpses into the lives on Paul and Kate which recreated the era wonderfully and evoked memories of every awkward adolescence, I was much less convinced by their marriage with its utter lack of chemistry. Kate’s faddiness and capricious personality together with her deathbed promise to her mother to “never settle” make her ten years of marriage to well-intentioned and staid Paul frankly incredible and that they have stood the test of time mystifying. In hindsight it is easy to appreciate how much of the vibrancy and colour is provided for Paul by his parents, nurse Viv with her genuine kindness and lovable buffoon and serial philanderer, Mick. As the years progress the absence of any personality in Paul and the increasingly fractious course of his relationship with Kate is obvious and by the time the long-awaited proposal comes, the pair seem to actively dislike each other, certainly on Kate’s part with her decision seeming a last resort after having burnt every other bridge at work and socially. In all honesty I felt removed from both of the lead characters but I adored Paul’s parents who both fascinated and charmed me.
The early years of the friendship between Kate and Paul are hugely evocative and in common with Seddon’s two previous novels she proves herself more than proficient at depicting the early 1980’s culture, way of life and its wonderful simplicity. As it is Seddon’s dual timeline structure helps make apparent how different and complicated the lives of children today are compared to thirty years earlier. But just because a friendship suited a time, a place and was convenient (the village of Little Balcombe as lonely school outsiders of nine-years-old), I felt the connotations that it therefore should equate to a marriage thirty-years down the line with two children and careers was somewhat misguided. Undoubtedly well-plotted, Holly Seddon’s conversational narrative charting Kate and Paul’s journey is admittedly gloriously readable and full of genuine insight and I have every intention of reading her future efforts.
With thanks to Readers First who provided me with a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
June 11, 2018
I’m a huge fan of Holly’s writing so I was delighted to be asked to take part in the blog tour for Love Will Tear Us Apart. Also, every time I say this title, I start singing the Joy Division song so I defy you not to do the same 🙂
Love Will Tear Us Apart is an emotional roller coaster, let’s be honest. I found myself experiencing a range of emotions while I was reading. Something that Holly is superb at doing with her readers, and that is no different with this book.
Dealing with relationships and friendships, I found myself thoroughly engaged with the story from the very beginning. I loved the characters, and I found myself thinking about them even when I wasn’t reading the book.
When we meet Paul and Kate, they are in the lead up to their tenth wedding anniversary, and heading away with their family to spend some time together. But a past secret threatens everything that they have known up until now. Through the narrative, the reader is transported back and forth in time, and it is in these vignettes that we learn a lot more about their characters and motivations.
Love Will Tear Us Apart is a powerful and thought-provoking book. It has an emotional rawness and is written with real heart and humanity. I found myself well up a little at times, which NEVER happens, but something about Holly’s writing speaks to my dark heart.
Highly recommended!
Love Will Tear Us Apart is an emotional roller coaster, let’s be honest. I found myself experiencing a range of emotions while I was reading. Something that Holly is superb at doing with her readers, and that is no different with this book.
Dealing with relationships and friendships, I found myself thoroughly engaged with the story from the very beginning. I loved the characters, and I found myself thinking about them even when I wasn’t reading the book.
When we meet Paul and Kate, they are in the lead up to their tenth wedding anniversary, and heading away with their family to spend some time together. But a past secret threatens everything that they have known up until now. Through the narrative, the reader is transported back and forth in time, and it is in these vignettes that we learn a lot more about their characters and motivations.
Love Will Tear Us Apart is a powerful and thought-provoking book. It has an emotional rawness and is written with real heart and humanity. I found myself well up a little at times, which NEVER happens, but something about Holly’s writing speaks to my dark heart.
Highly recommended!
June 3, 2018
What drew me to this book was that the whole story surrounds the pact that two friends made to each other as teenagers - to marry each other, if they don't find love before age thirty. Strangely, I made this exact pact with a friend many years ago, I may have even kept the promise but... ah, I digress... I also happened to enjoy reading Seddon's other books. I don't usually get along with emotional books based on love and relationships but she is an exception to the rule. I am yet to discover why! I guess it doesn't matter as long as you read what you love.
LOVE WILL TEAR US APART is a novel that stresses the importance of communication between lovers/spouses. Seddon writes with such emotion that at the end of the book I was actually misty eyed. Let me tell you, that does not happen with me whilst reading. Sometimes with movies but rarely with books. This is testament to the authors prowess!
The writing is accessible and makes for an easy, fast read, the characters were well developed and realistic, and it is told from different perspectives which means you understand the reasons for certain decisions that were made.
It is clear Seddon is adept at skirting round the periphery of a selection of diverse genres, and could write titles in any of these veins in the future. I look forward to a new surprise the next time I see another one her releases.
I would like to thank Holly Seddon, Atlantic Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
LOVE WILL TEAR US APART is a novel that stresses the importance of communication between lovers/spouses. Seddon writes with such emotion that at the end of the book I was actually misty eyed. Let me tell you, that does not happen with me whilst reading. Sometimes with movies but rarely with books. This is testament to the authors prowess!
The writing is accessible and makes for an easy, fast read, the characters were well developed and realistic, and it is told from different perspectives which means you understand the reasons for certain decisions that were made.
It is clear Seddon is adept at skirting round the periphery of a selection of diverse genres, and could write titles in any of these veins in the future. I look forward to a new surprise the next time I see another one her releases.
I would like to thank Holly Seddon, Atlantic Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 4, 2018
This beautiful story about childhood friends who grow up, marry and have a family, whilst keeping emotionally resonant secrets from each other was a wonderful wonderful read. It made me teary at the end and their lives panning out in present time and flashback was pitch perfectly plotted to maximum effect.
Holly Seddon is proving more talented and, for me importantly, more diverse in her storytelling, with each passing novel. I'm a huge huge fan. This is a very different kettle of fish from her last book but just as full of excellence. Loved it.
Full review nearer publication as part of the official tour.
Holly Seddon is proving more talented and, for me importantly, more diverse in her storytelling, with each passing novel. I'm a huge huge fan. This is a very different kettle of fish from her last book but just as full of excellence. Loved it.
Full review nearer publication as part of the official tour.
June 10, 2018
I loved Holly Seddons previous 2 books and could not wait to read this one. I was lucky enough to have the chance thanks to Pigeonhole Books, the publisher and Holly.
This book was very different to the earlier books. This was the story of 2 friends, Kate and Paul. They met when they were 8 and shared everything. At 15 they made a vow to marry each other if they were not already married by their 30th birthdays. Now on their 10th wedding anniversary and 2 kids later, their relationship is struggling. Can best friends really become lovers? Both of them have their secrets and things in their pasts that they are not proud of, it can they be honest with each other and make their family work.
It is an emotional read, sometimes I laughed, sometimes I cried and other times I was angry. But I did really enjoy this book, and would recommend it to people who like a good love story.
This book was very different to the earlier books. This was the story of 2 friends, Kate and Paul. They met when they were 8 and shared everything. At 15 they made a vow to marry each other if they were not already married by their 30th birthdays. Now on their 10th wedding anniversary and 2 kids later, their relationship is struggling. Can best friends really become lovers? Both of them have their secrets and things in their pasts that they are not proud of, it can they be honest with each other and make their family work.
It is an emotional read, sometimes I laughed, sometimes I cried and other times I was angry. But I did really enjoy this book, and would recommend it to people who like a good love story.
June 13, 2018
Kate and Paul have been best friends since childhood, first meeting when they were 8 years old. Their backgrounds were completely different – Kate had wealthy parents, went to a private school and lived in a large house whilst Paul’s home life was much more modest . He did however have one thing that Kate didn’t have – and that is parents who cared and who took an interest; Kate’s parent’s being both absent emotionally and physically much of the time.
The story of Kate and Paul goes back and forth, from the 1980’s until 2012, the 10th anniversary of their marriage. They each have had their career highlights and setbacks, love and life disappointments and at times they were not even in touch but that long held friendship between them was always there.
This is a quite a slow paced story but it needs to be because we have to get to know these two characters fully to appreciate how they came to be together. I must admit I found it hard to warm to Kate – she was very ambitious but also had a jealous and sometimes cruel nature which didn’t endear me to her, although possibly her background contributed to this. Paul was more laid back and had a more caring and thoughtful personality; he was much easier to engage with, even if at times I wanted to shake him to get him out of his inertia.
Holly Seddon has written a moving and tender story of two people, trying to deal with all the things that life throws at you – death, grief, job losses, family issues, the fluctuating friendships and enduring relationships that form our lives. Their characters were complex; despite their closeness, they often seemed to be emotionally distant from each other and there were times when I did wonder why, despite their vow, they actually got married at all, as there were times that they didn’t seem to like each other very much.
As for the ‘secret’, this was mentioned quite a lot throughout the book, I did guess at what it could be (I was wrong, by the way!) and perhaps it’s just me expecting something more dramatic here (given that the author’s previous books were psychological thrillers), but I felt a bit underwhelmed by it when it was finally revealed. It did however add an even greater insight into their marriage and their feelings. Kate and Paul may have known each other for most of their lives but does it mean that they really ‘knew’ each other?
This was a departure from the author’s previous genre and although I may have been expecting something a little different, it worked extremely well. She writes beautifully, the characters were well formed, even those on the periphery (I’m thinking of Paul’s mum Viv here especially, one of my favourite characters) and I loved the nostalgic references to the 1980’s that were scattered here and there. I enjoyed it and would recommend it.
The story of Kate and Paul goes back and forth, from the 1980’s until 2012, the 10th anniversary of their marriage. They each have had their career highlights and setbacks, love and life disappointments and at times they were not even in touch but that long held friendship between them was always there.
This is a quite a slow paced story but it needs to be because we have to get to know these two characters fully to appreciate how they came to be together. I must admit I found it hard to warm to Kate – she was very ambitious but also had a jealous and sometimes cruel nature which didn’t endear me to her, although possibly her background contributed to this. Paul was more laid back and had a more caring and thoughtful personality; he was much easier to engage with, even if at times I wanted to shake him to get him out of his inertia.
Holly Seddon has written a moving and tender story of two people, trying to deal with all the things that life throws at you – death, grief, job losses, family issues, the fluctuating friendships and enduring relationships that form our lives. Their characters were complex; despite their closeness, they often seemed to be emotionally distant from each other and there were times when I did wonder why, despite their vow, they actually got married at all, as there were times that they didn’t seem to like each other very much.
As for the ‘secret’, this was mentioned quite a lot throughout the book, I did guess at what it could be (I was wrong, by the way!) and perhaps it’s just me expecting something more dramatic here (given that the author’s previous books were psychological thrillers), but I felt a bit underwhelmed by it when it was finally revealed. It did however add an even greater insight into their marriage and their feelings. Kate and Paul may have known each other for most of their lives but does it mean that they really ‘knew’ each other?
This was a departure from the author’s previous genre and although I may have been expecting something a little different, it worked extremely well. She writes beautifully, the characters were well formed, even those on the periphery (I’m thinking of Paul’s mum Viv here especially, one of my favourite characters) and I loved the nostalgic references to the 1980’s that were scattered here and there. I enjoyed it and would recommend it.
July 24, 2018
My Review For "Love Will Tear Us Apart"
Sometimes a promise becomes a prison, a marriage can feel like a business contract, if you made a promise should you Honour that promise no matter how long ago that promise was made? because sometimes love can tear us apart!
Childhood friends Kate and Paul have seen it all they know each other inside and out they know each others likes & dislikes & despite being from two different financial backgrounds Kate going to a private girls school and Paul going to local comprehensive school they become thick as thieves best friends with Kate even becoming like a Daughter to his parents, they was even each others escape there safety net there safe place!
So they made a childhood vow that if they was both still single by the time they reach thirty years old they will marry each other, as the years go by that promise locked away they each go there separate ways to university but like always they are not apart for long and as Kate gets Paul a job at her work place and he moves with her in her flat in London, with Kate feeling the pressure at work and having casual sexual encounters with her boss and with Paul being there again as a shoulder to cry on and with now with the deadline of their 30th birthdays fast approaching Paul asks Kate to marry him and she says yes! " a promise is a promise after all"
Now, on the eve of their 10th wedding anniversary with two beautiful children they will discover that love between men and women can be more harder & complicated no matter what promises was made. As Kate struggles with a secret that shocked her a secret that reaches far back into the past she plans to reveal to Paul on there anniversary dinner. but will this secret shatter everything they have thought for the promises that were made, after all these years after all they have been through will this secret be the key to open Pandora's box will it leave them thinking "Love Will Tear Us Apart"
WOW!! that's the first thing that comes to my mind after reading! Love Will Tear Us Apart" Holly Seddon has this magical ability to bring the reader in to the pages of her books it's like the moment you open the book your sucked deep in to the pages that you can feel the pain the joy the sadness and the happiness of the characters you will laugh with them cry with them your heartstrings will be pulled you will feel apart of there lives you will feel you know them know whats best for them and that is what makes a Holly great writer Holly's last book "Don't Close Your Eyes" has a big space in my heart and i still think about the Characters now, but "Love Will Tear Us Apart" will have a place too, love comes in so many forms sometimes love can test you make you brake you and sometimes Love can tear us apart! i loved this book to be honest i didn't want it to end i wanted to keep reading i needed to had to know what happened next but now i know i understand what i thought would happen didn't it twisted and turned down another road i did not expect! i want to congratulate Holly Seddon on an amazing 3rd book you have pulled my heartstrings again i had a lump in my throat holding back the tears " i know i sound like i cry all time time" after each of your books i always say its going to be hard to top that but you have done it again well done and i hope this will be another hit for you! ill look forward to your next book! id love to Review that too :)
Sometimes a promise becomes a prison, a marriage can feel like a business contract, if you made a promise should you Honour that promise no matter how long ago that promise was made? because sometimes love can tear us apart!
Childhood friends Kate and Paul have seen it all they know each other inside and out they know each others likes & dislikes & despite being from two different financial backgrounds Kate going to a private girls school and Paul going to local comprehensive school they become thick as thieves best friends with Kate even becoming like a Daughter to his parents, they was even each others escape there safety net there safe place!
So they made a childhood vow that if they was both still single by the time they reach thirty years old they will marry each other, as the years go by that promise locked away they each go there separate ways to university but like always they are not apart for long and as Kate gets Paul a job at her work place and he moves with her in her flat in London, with Kate feeling the pressure at work and having casual sexual encounters with her boss and with Paul being there again as a shoulder to cry on and with now with the deadline of their 30th birthdays fast approaching Paul asks Kate to marry him and she says yes! " a promise is a promise after all"
Now, on the eve of their 10th wedding anniversary with two beautiful children they will discover that love between men and women can be more harder & complicated no matter what promises was made. As Kate struggles with a secret that shocked her a secret that reaches far back into the past she plans to reveal to Paul on there anniversary dinner. but will this secret shatter everything they have thought for the promises that were made, after all these years after all they have been through will this secret be the key to open Pandora's box will it leave them thinking "Love Will Tear Us Apart"
WOW!! that's the first thing that comes to my mind after reading! Love Will Tear Us Apart" Holly Seddon has this magical ability to bring the reader in to the pages of her books it's like the moment you open the book your sucked deep in to the pages that you can feel the pain the joy the sadness and the happiness of the characters you will laugh with them cry with them your heartstrings will be pulled you will feel apart of there lives you will feel you know them know whats best for them and that is what makes a Holly great writer Holly's last book "Don't Close Your Eyes" has a big space in my heart and i still think about the Characters now, but "Love Will Tear Us Apart" will have a place too, love comes in so many forms sometimes love can test you make you brake you and sometimes Love can tear us apart! i loved this book to be honest i didn't want it to end i wanted to keep reading i needed to had to know what happened next but now i know i understand what i thought would happen didn't it twisted and turned down another road i did not expect! i want to congratulate Holly Seddon on an amazing 3rd book you have pulled my heartstrings again i had a lump in my throat holding back the tears " i know i sound like i cry all time time" after each of your books i always say its going to be hard to top that but you have done it again well done and i hope this will be another hit for you! ill look forward to your next book! id love to Review that too :)
February 24, 2019
I was bored with this book by half way through. I only kept reading to find out what the bloody letter was about and then when I found out I was really annoyed with the whole book
June 16, 2022
Love Will Tear Us Apart is told in alternating eras, starting with Kate and Paul as kids. They quickly became best friends and did virtually everything together. Kate was truly part of the Loxton family and planned to keep it that way for many, many years. Another alternating era we see is Kate in her early 20's without Paul. She's done with education, she's got a great job, she's kind of living her best life. But then a turn of event leads to her helping Paul get a job in her office, thus pulling him back into her life. The last era we experience is the two of them together, living out their marriage pact from 15 years earlier; if they were both single in their 30's they would get married. This book starts at the beginning of their 10th wedding anniversary.
While working her office job in advertising she's kind of losing herself. She's not the same girl she was when she and Paul were kids and they both know it. She's been through so much and has sacrificed her own well being to come out as top dog at her job only to get it all thrown in her face and realize she lost everything.
While working her office job in advertising she's kind of losing herself. She's not the same girl she was when she and Paul were kids and they both know it. She's been through so much and has sacrificed her own well being to come out as top dog at her job only to get it all thrown in her face and realize she lost everything.
January 12, 2020
Somewhere between 2 and 3 stars...
I liked the idea of the book but the execution fell flat. Characters were bland and got me neither interested in their lives not feeling sympathy for either of them.
Kate is married with two kids. She doubts her marriage and looks over the years that lead to the present.
Kate and Paul became friends when they were kids. They had their moments from wonderful friendship to jealousy and competitiveness, from questioning their relationships to fights. But over the years they were always together. One way or another.
Maybe it is time to part ways and start afresh?
From such an emotionally strong title I expected a 100% drama, intensity, feelings...
Instead I got rather boring narrative that was swaying back and forth from present to past and back given by Kate.
I did not see any great love. Or great relationship. I saw Kate who morals are rather questionable. I saw Paul who is easy influenced by others.
I saw two people doubting each other and their feelings. But instead of showing respect, closeness, intimacy, they just silk each in their corner.
Overall, very detached narrative. Writing felt bleak and monotonous.
I liked the idea of the book but the execution fell flat. Characters were bland and got me neither interested in their lives not feeling sympathy for either of them.
Kate is married with two kids. She doubts her marriage and looks over the years that lead to the present.
Kate and Paul became friends when they were kids. They had their moments from wonderful friendship to jealousy and competitiveness, from questioning their relationships to fights. But over the years they were always together. One way or another.
Maybe it is time to part ways and start afresh?
From such an emotionally strong title I expected a 100% drama, intensity, feelings...
Instead I got rather boring narrative that was swaying back and forth from present to past and back given by Kate.
I did not see any great love. Or great relationship. I saw Kate who morals are rather questionable. I saw Paul who is easy influenced by others.
I saw two people doubting each other and their feelings. But instead of showing respect, closeness, intimacy, they just silk each in their corner.
Overall, very detached narrative. Writing felt bleak and monotonous.
June 9, 2018
Felt really privileged to review this book from netgalley as I have previously read the authors other titles “don’t close you’re eyes” and “try not to breathe” and couldn’t wait for Holly seddon’s next book.
The plot is about Kate and Paul who met and became friends when they were 8 years old and, they made a pact that if they hadn’t married by the age of 30 they would marry each other. The book has 2 timelines which makes this a very easy book to follow with strong likeable characters.
Would you marry you’re best friend? They know everything about you including you’re faults,but is it easier to marry someone you know rather than having to get to know somebody, and would you become complacent in that relationship!!
This book revealed secrets and made me realise love does come in different forms, a beautifully written book which makes me thankful that my husband is also my best friend!!
The plot is about Kate and Paul who met and became friends when they were 8 years old and, they made a pact that if they hadn’t married by the age of 30 they would marry each other. The book has 2 timelines which makes this a very easy book to follow with strong likeable characters.
Would you marry you’re best friend? They know everything about you including you’re faults,but is it easier to marry someone you know rather than having to get to know somebody, and would you become complacent in that relationship!!
This book revealed secrets and made me realise love does come in different forms, a beautifully written book which makes me thankful that my husband is also my best friend!!
June 9, 2018
Felt really privileged to review this book from netgalley as I have previously read the authors other titles “don’t close you’re eyes” and “try not to breathe” and couldn’t wait for Holly seddon’s next book.
The plot is about Kate and Paul who met and became friends when they were 8 years old and, they made a pact that if they hadn’t married by the age of 30 they would marry each other. The book has 2 timelines which makes this a very easy book to follow with strong likeable characters.
Would you marry you’re best friend? They know everything about you including you’re faults,but is it easier to marry someone you know rather than having to get to know somebody, and would you become complacent in that relationship!!
This book revealed secrets and made me realise love does come in different forms, a beautifully written book which makes me thankful that my husband is also my best friend!!
July 26, 2018
Following Try Not to Breathe and Don't Close Your Eyes, this was the third book by Holly Seddon that I've read.
Love Will Tear Us Apart was very different from the first two, and to be honest, not quite what I had expected. This falls more under the umbrella of women's fiction and if you enjoy this genre, you'll probably love this. It is all about the relationship between Kate and Paul who have been friends since childhood and vow to marry each other if they are still single by age thirty.
The story switches back and forth in time and alludes to a secret. Like all of Seddon's books, it is well written, the characters are believable and well developed, and the plot is certainly emotional at times. However, it was also a little slow for me and I was disappointed by the conclusion and the "secret", or the relevance of the letter, was rather underwhelming.
Love Will Tear Us Apart was very different from the first two, and to be honest, not quite what I had expected. This falls more under the umbrella of women's fiction and if you enjoy this genre, you'll probably love this. It is all about the relationship between Kate and Paul who have been friends since childhood and vow to marry each other if they are still single by age thirty.
The story switches back and forth in time and alludes to a secret. Like all of Seddon's books, it is well written, the characters are believable and well developed, and the plot is certainly emotional at times. However, it was also a little slow for me and I was disappointed by the conclusion and the "secret", or the relevance of the letter, was rather underwhelming.
May 16, 2021
A vow made as children is now reality for Kate and Paul. They are married, have children, and have secrets threatening to break them apart...
This isn't a book I would usually read but I absolutely loved it. It has twists, secrets, shocks and such a fantastic story. I loved how it went back and forth from being children to adult. Paul is an amazing character and I loved his character the whole way through. I felt a lot of different emotions for Kate, she didn't have an easy life and every time she felt like things were going right, more secrets would be unearthed.
This book is just absolutely amazing and needs to be read. I loved it so much, it's one of a kind.
This isn't a book I would usually read but I absolutely loved it. It has twists, secrets, shocks and such a fantastic story. I loved how it went back and forth from being children to adult. Paul is an amazing character and I loved his character the whole way through. I felt a lot of different emotions for Kate, she didn't have an easy life and every time she felt like things were going right, more secrets would be unearthed.
This book is just absolutely amazing and needs to be read. I loved it so much, it's one of a kind.
June 10, 2018
4.5* --> 5*
I must say this didn’t turn out the way I expected. I’ve not read any of Holly Seddon’s previous books but I have read reviews about them and so I somehow assumed this would be a psychological thriller. I found myself trying to figure out what the big twist or reveal would be when there wasn’t one. Because this isn’t that kind of novel and if you have read those older books, then I urge you to read this one with an open mind. You won’t be disappointed.
This is a relatively slow novel but it’s wonderfully written and there is a bit of a riddle to solve that intrigued me enough to keep reading. Kate has found a letter hidden away in a book on a shelf which will have an impact on her marriage but who wrote it and what does it say?
The storyline jumps back and forth between the present and the past, taking us on a journey that begins when Kate and Paul meet for the first time as children. They both come from very different backgrounds and Kate’s childhood in particular is quite a sad one, yet they soon become inseparable. With plenty of ups and downs along the way, Kate and Paul always seem to return to one another and it seems rather inevitable that the vow they made to each other to get married if they were still single at the age of thirty, would come to pass. But was it the right decision?
I had a tough time connecting to these characters. I didn’t particularly like any of them and I often found myself slightly angry at the way Paul treated their son, Harry. That said though, I found Holly Seddon did a tremendous job digging into these characters’ complex personalities and I always felt that, although I didn’t necessarily agree with the things they said or did, I could easily see where they were coming from.
Love Will Tear Us Apart is a beautifully written and moving story about friendship and love, trust and honesty. It delves deep into the rather complicated workings of relationships and how well you ever really know someone. Holly Seddon has quite obviously put her heart and soul into this one and I’m not sure I’m doing this novel any justice with my review. It’s a testament to her talent that she is able to switch genres like this and this level of diversity promises nothing but good things from her in the future.
I must say this didn’t turn out the way I expected. I’ve not read any of Holly Seddon’s previous books but I have read reviews about them and so I somehow assumed this would be a psychological thriller. I found myself trying to figure out what the big twist or reveal would be when there wasn’t one. Because this isn’t that kind of novel and if you have read those older books, then I urge you to read this one with an open mind. You won’t be disappointed.
This is a relatively slow novel but it’s wonderfully written and there is a bit of a riddle to solve that intrigued me enough to keep reading. Kate has found a letter hidden away in a book on a shelf which will have an impact on her marriage but who wrote it and what does it say?
The storyline jumps back and forth between the present and the past, taking us on a journey that begins when Kate and Paul meet for the first time as children. They both come from very different backgrounds and Kate’s childhood in particular is quite a sad one, yet they soon become inseparable. With plenty of ups and downs along the way, Kate and Paul always seem to return to one another and it seems rather inevitable that the vow they made to each other to get married if they were still single at the age of thirty, would come to pass. But was it the right decision?
I had a tough time connecting to these characters. I didn’t particularly like any of them and I often found myself slightly angry at the way Paul treated their son, Harry. That said though, I found Holly Seddon did a tremendous job digging into these characters’ complex personalities and I always felt that, although I didn’t necessarily agree with the things they said or did, I could easily see where they were coming from.
Love Will Tear Us Apart is a beautifully written and moving story about friendship and love, trust and honesty. It delves deep into the rather complicated workings of relationships and how well you ever really know someone. Holly Seddon has quite obviously put her heart and soul into this one and I’m not sure I’m doing this novel any justice with my review. It’s a testament to her talent that she is able to switch genres like this and this level of diversity promises nothing but good things from her in the future.
June 11, 2018
How enchanting and pretty is that cover? The colours are completely lush and the design encapsulates the bittersweet and uplifting message of the story. Holly Seddon has done it again with Love Will Tear Us Apart and written something beautifully nostalgic whilst at the same time stylish and contemporary. The title itself is a nod to Joy Division and sets the mood perfectly for the whole story.
Kate and Paul are children of the 1980s. Born in the early 80s myself, their fictional world is one I am familiar with; the brands, the TV shows and the events referenced, all bring a sense of authenticity to the story. The whole book has this beautiful retro feel about it and I felt like I had a massive pair of rose-tinted glasses on throughout.
Although from very different upbringings, eight year old Kate and Paul become best friends after their chance meeting at the river between their houses. They stay best friends throughout all of their turbulent childhood and teenage years. When they reach the age of 30 and are both still single they make good on the promise they made at 16 and get married to each other. Now, as they prepare to celebrate their ten-year wedding anniversary a mysterious letter that Kate is keeping hidden on her person has thrown up some questions and is threatening to destroy everything Kate and Paul have together.
Set in 2012, Love Will Tear Us Apart alternates between the past and present through flashbacks, starting off in 1981 when Kate and Paul first meet each other, and carrying on throughout their lives. Very different from Holly Seddon’s two previous novels, Love Will Tear Us Apart is not a psychological thriller , I would say it was more of a domestic suspense, with an insightful look into modern relationships. Slow burning and immersive I found myself totally captivated by Kate and Paul’s story.
The characters are well-rounded and believable and you can see them grow and evolve the further into the story you go. I did question some of Kate’s decisions at times, but I can understand the choices she made. There were some emotionally charged moments showing how precious and precarious life is. Love, friendship, poverty, family and death are all major themes in this book. Can a married couple be best friends? I think this is more likely than best friends becoming a married couple, and even with Kate and Paul, I still felt there was that special spark still missing between them.
Holly Seddon has the ability to write wonderfully and although Love Will Tear Us Apart is out with my usual genre, I enjoyed this poignant and moving tale immensely.
Kate and Paul are children of the 1980s. Born in the early 80s myself, their fictional world is one I am familiar with; the brands, the TV shows and the events referenced, all bring a sense of authenticity to the story. The whole book has this beautiful retro feel about it and I felt like I had a massive pair of rose-tinted glasses on throughout.
Although from very different upbringings, eight year old Kate and Paul become best friends after their chance meeting at the river between their houses. They stay best friends throughout all of their turbulent childhood and teenage years. When they reach the age of 30 and are both still single they make good on the promise they made at 16 and get married to each other. Now, as they prepare to celebrate their ten-year wedding anniversary a mysterious letter that Kate is keeping hidden on her person has thrown up some questions and is threatening to destroy everything Kate and Paul have together.
Set in 2012, Love Will Tear Us Apart alternates between the past and present through flashbacks, starting off in 1981 when Kate and Paul first meet each other, and carrying on throughout their lives. Very different from Holly Seddon’s two previous novels, Love Will Tear Us Apart is not a psychological thriller , I would say it was more of a domestic suspense, with an insightful look into modern relationships. Slow burning and immersive I found myself totally captivated by Kate and Paul’s story.
The characters are well-rounded and believable and you can see them grow and evolve the further into the story you go. I did question some of Kate’s decisions at times, but I can understand the choices she made. There were some emotionally charged moments showing how precious and precarious life is. Love, friendship, poverty, family and death are all major themes in this book. Can a married couple be best friends? I think this is more likely than best friends becoming a married couple, and even with Kate and Paul, I still felt there was that special spark still missing between them.
Holly Seddon has the ability to write wonderfully and although Love Will Tear Us Apart is out with my usual genre, I enjoyed this poignant and moving tale immensely.
May 30, 2018
A great story of enduring love and friendship, the impact that families and upbringings have on a person, the damage that an ill thought encounter can do to a shining career and the harm that secrets and a lack of communication can do to a relationship.
I loved the writing, how the book was structured and the smooth handling of the triple timeline, the Characters were interesting and vividly drawn and the complex relationships between Kate and both her own and Paul's parents was heartbreaking and fascinating. I really loved the early years and office years part of the book and was eager to see how this would impact on their 'make or break' 10th Anniversary dinner.
I really enjoyed this contemporary read, perhaps some of Holly's fans may expect more thrills and suspense - it's not a psychological thriller, it's a book filled with heartache and emotion and one that kept me turning the pages.
Many thanks to NetGally and Corvus for the opportunity to read this book - this review is, as always, my honest opinion and thoughts about this book.
April 20, 2018
Love Will Tear Us Apart is a moving story about friendship, loyalty, motherhood and love. It illustrates how easily we can be misled when we can't communicate with each other for whatever reason.
Kate and Paul have been friends since they were children and one day make a promise to each other. Ten years into their marriage Kate is about to reveal a secret to Paul. that she fears will pull them apart. Holly Seddon writes with understanding of the human condition and I enjoyed her portrayals of Kate, Paul and Paul's parents particularly. I would have liked a better knowledge of Kate's mother and father. The reason I give the book 4* is that I found the reveal of the secret rather weak but fans of Holly Seddon's writing will not be disappointed. Thanks to NetGalley and Corvus/Atlantic Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Kate and Paul have been friends since they were children and one day make a promise to each other. Ten years into their marriage Kate is about to reveal a secret to Paul. that she fears will pull them apart. Holly Seddon writes with understanding of the human condition and I enjoyed her portrayals of Kate, Paul and Paul's parents particularly. I would have liked a better knowledge of Kate's mother and father. The reason I give the book 4* is that I found the reveal of the secret rather weak but fans of Holly Seddon's writing will not be disappointed. Thanks to NetGalley and Corvus/Atlantic Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.
October 4, 2020
The story of Kate and Paul, from their close friendship as two lonely 9 year olds, through their teens and twenties and into their eventual marriage, which is shaky and seemingly full of secrets. Their marriage is the result of a pact made in their youth, that if neither were married by 30 then they would wed each other. Throughout the whole story, present day Kate makes constant, tantalising reference to a mysterious letter in her possession, and it's devastating contents, I couldn't wait for the big reveal. Talk about over egging the pudding, underwhelmed is definitely the word after all that build up. I enjoyed the unfolding of the story though, and the 80s vibe of the earlier timeline but I did feel let down by the ending. 3.5 stars rounded up.
April 18, 2018
A lovely read by an author who should be on everyone’s to read pile. Thus author is fantastic and absolutely love reading her books. This book had me hooked from the start and had me in tears at the end. Lovely book.
September 6, 2019
2 stars for this one, I was quite disappointed by this, and i struggled to keep my attention, I just felt that I was constantly waiting for something to happen and that nothing really did. I liked that it went back and forward through time, but would have liked it to be much more interesting.
June 27, 2018
I enjoyed this novel so much. I went into it not knowing what to expect, having never read a Holly Seddon novel before, with only the blurb as my guide. Right from the very first page I wanted to crawl into this novel and stay by Kate’s side, be her best friend, and hold her hand through the tough times, which for Kate, were plentiful.
To celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary, Kate and Paul, along with their two children, spend a week on a winter mini-break in a Cornwall cottage. Kate has found a letter that Paul has had hidden away and the secret is burning a hole in her pocket. She plans on confronting him at the end of the week, after they have celebrated their anniversary dinner. We don’t know what the letter is about and throughout the novel there is plenty of opportunity to guess – and be wrong! As the week unfolds, we are treated to reflections from Kate on her own life along with her shared history with Paul. They met when they were eight, and now, at forty, they have spent so much of their lives together, first as best friends and then as a married couple. Each recollection is like a memory square being laid down into the quilt that is Kate’s and Paul’s shared history. I loved the way this novel was set out, with three clear timelines being followed in a consecutive pattern.
Paul’s parents, Viv and Mick, play a big part in this story. They take Kate into their homes and their hearts very early on and if not for them, Kate would have had a very different life as an adolescent and teenager. She wouldn’t be the first person to love a man for his family. Viv especially was a beautiful soul, a very caring woman who loved Kate like a daughter. I appreciated these positive interactions between Kate and Viv, as well as Kate and Mick. They certainly played a big part in shaping Kate into the woman, and mother, that she was. There were times I felt that Kate possibly appreciated Viv and Mick more that Paul himself!
Kate has some pretty rotten things happen to her along the way. There’s a very well handled sub-plot that examines the abuse of power within a workplace and the shocking way that women can bear the brunt of a fall out while men, in superior roles, can keep on climbing the corporate ladder unaffected. It was really heartbreaking to witness Kate’s life falling apart during her twenties and made me quite angry as well. Through all this, Paul is an ever present and supportive friend, a real rock for Kate in a sea of uncertainty.
“He knows me to my bones.”
There was so much nostalgia generated for me from Kate’s recollections. I am only five years younger than her, so there was a lot of tripping down memory lane for me within this novel. Holly created such an authentic atmosphere for each of her eras, with all of the little things included as well as the significant. This is a novel about friendship and love, about life with all of its highs and lows, about marriage and parenthood. This story is as much about the journey as it is about the big reveal. So well written and so absorbing, it squeezed my heart, brought tears to my eyes and a smile to my face. One of my top reads this winter.
“...stamp all over the eggshells you walk on around me. Piss me off, I'll still love you. Say no to me, stand up to me, get a job, if that's what you want. Or don't. Get fat, get old, laugh, take risks, have adventures. Let the kids see us argue and the kids see us joke. Let them see what love looks like for us.”
Thanks is extended to Allen and Unwin for providing me with a copy of Love Will Tear Us Apart for review.
To celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary, Kate and Paul, along with their two children, spend a week on a winter mini-break in a Cornwall cottage. Kate has found a letter that Paul has had hidden away and the secret is burning a hole in her pocket. She plans on confronting him at the end of the week, after they have celebrated their anniversary dinner. We don’t know what the letter is about and throughout the novel there is plenty of opportunity to guess – and be wrong! As the week unfolds, we are treated to reflections from Kate on her own life along with her shared history with Paul. They met when they were eight, and now, at forty, they have spent so much of their lives together, first as best friends and then as a married couple. Each recollection is like a memory square being laid down into the quilt that is Kate’s and Paul’s shared history. I loved the way this novel was set out, with three clear timelines being followed in a consecutive pattern.
Paul’s parents, Viv and Mick, play a big part in this story. They take Kate into their homes and their hearts very early on and if not for them, Kate would have had a very different life as an adolescent and teenager. She wouldn’t be the first person to love a man for his family. Viv especially was a beautiful soul, a very caring woman who loved Kate like a daughter. I appreciated these positive interactions between Kate and Viv, as well as Kate and Mick. They certainly played a big part in shaping Kate into the woman, and mother, that she was. There were times I felt that Kate possibly appreciated Viv and Mick more that Paul himself!
Kate has some pretty rotten things happen to her along the way. There’s a very well handled sub-plot that examines the abuse of power within a workplace and the shocking way that women can bear the brunt of a fall out while men, in superior roles, can keep on climbing the corporate ladder unaffected. It was really heartbreaking to witness Kate’s life falling apart during her twenties and made me quite angry as well. Through all this, Paul is an ever present and supportive friend, a real rock for Kate in a sea of uncertainty.
“He knows me to my bones.”
There was so much nostalgia generated for me from Kate’s recollections. I am only five years younger than her, so there was a lot of tripping down memory lane for me within this novel. Holly created such an authentic atmosphere for each of her eras, with all of the little things included as well as the significant. This is a novel about friendship and love, about life with all of its highs and lows, about marriage and parenthood. This story is as much about the journey as it is about the big reveal. So well written and so absorbing, it squeezed my heart, brought tears to my eyes and a smile to my face. One of my top reads this winter.
“...stamp all over the eggshells you walk on around me. Piss me off, I'll still love you. Say no to me, stand up to me, get a job, if that's what you want. Or don't. Get fat, get old, laugh, take risks, have adventures. Let the kids see us argue and the kids see us joke. Let them see what love looks like for us.”
Thanks is extended to Allen and Unwin for providing me with a copy of Love Will Tear Us Apart for review.
June 9, 2018
This is a book about a childhood pact to marry each other if still single at 30. But it’s so much more than that. Set in two time lines and told from Kate’s perspective we see a marriage hitting a 10 year anniversary . Two completely different family backgrounds means neither really knows how a stable family works. I loved the 80’s timeline as I was around the same age and it was filled with nostalgia and current events. The author had really done her research. It’s slow paced but don’t let that put you off as the characters make it worth the read (Viv in particular). I’m really glad Holly changed the ending and it tied everything up nicely. I read via pigeonhole where a stave was released a day and it was a nice way to read it as it left you wanting more.
May 27, 2018
Love Will Tear Us Apart is a story following the lives of two childhood friends, Kate and Paul, who are so close that they make a pact when they are young, that if they're not married to someone else by the time they are 30, they will marry each other. Hit the fast forward button and we see them married with two children and about to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary, but what is it about the frequently mentioned letter that Kate wants to talk about and why is it so important that she does it on their anniversary?
This is the third book I've read by Holly Seddon and, whilst it's totally different to her other two, they were thrillers, it is equally as good which shows what a diverse author she is. The story starts off slowly and you have to really concentrate on it due to the constantly changing timelines, but it describes the beauty that starts off as friendship and develops into a deep love between two people that come from different backgrounds, but have always been there for each other. Can a married couple be best friends? Speaking from personal experience, I know they can! I have to admit that this book made me shed a tear, even the acknowledgements, which were so honest and open, resonated with me. I can't wait to read her next book.
I would like to thank Atlantic Books - Corvus for approving me to read this one, I will post my review on Goodreads now and on Amazon on publication day.
This is the third book I've read by Holly Seddon and, whilst it's totally different to her other two, they were thrillers, it is equally as good which shows what a diverse author she is. The story starts off slowly and you have to really concentrate on it due to the constantly changing timelines, but it describes the beauty that starts off as friendship and develops into a deep love between two people that come from different backgrounds, but have always been there for each other. Can a married couple be best friends? Speaking from personal experience, I know they can! I have to admit that this book made me shed a tear, even the acknowledgements, which were so honest and open, resonated with me. I can't wait to read her next book.
I would like to thank Atlantic Books - Corvus for approving me to read this one, I will post my review on Goodreads now and on Amazon on publication day.
June 11, 2018
I read this book through The Pigeonhole, a sort of online book club, and read it with other readers on the web. It was split into 10 parts, called staves, emailed to me each day. I was able to leave comments throughout and interact with the others. There was an interview and comments from the author during this time, which really did add to my reading experience.
I’ve not read anything by Holly Seddon before, even though I’ve got her books on my Goodreads tbr, so I wasn’t too sure what expect. Would it be a thriller, a domestic drama or a love story? Actually it was a very good mix of genres, with a fantastic spoonful of 1980s nostalgic thrown in.
I loved this book and couldn’t wait to receive each stave in my inbox each morning. The journey Kate and Paul took from childhood through adolescence and onto parenthood was quite tense and very emotional at times. Poor Kate definitely had more than her fair share of tragedy, which made me feel so sorry for her character. Just when I thought things were looking up for something awful would happen making me tear up and think not again!
Paul on the other hand just muddled through seemingly happy to be there if Kate needed him. I didn’t take to him as much as Kate and at one point I didn’t like him at all, maybe it was something to with him being a fan of The Smiths/Morrissey! 😉
I thoroughly recommend this if you enjoy domestic dramas, especially with the added 1980s nostalgia. And that ending, well it certainly wasn’t what I was expecting, but it was perfect and I will definitely be checking out Holly Seddon’s other books.
I’ve not read anything by Holly Seddon before, even though I’ve got her books on my Goodreads tbr, so I wasn’t too sure what expect. Would it be a thriller, a domestic drama or a love story? Actually it was a very good mix of genres, with a fantastic spoonful of 1980s nostalgic thrown in.
I loved this book and couldn’t wait to receive each stave in my inbox each morning. The journey Kate and Paul took from childhood through adolescence and onto parenthood was quite tense and very emotional at times. Poor Kate definitely had more than her fair share of tragedy, which made me feel so sorry for her character. Just when I thought things were looking up for something awful would happen making me tear up and think not again!
Paul on the other hand just muddled through seemingly happy to be there if Kate needed him. I didn’t take to him as much as Kate and at one point I didn’t like him at all, maybe it was something to with him being a fan of The Smiths/Morrissey! 😉
I thoroughly recommend this if you enjoy domestic dramas, especially with the added 1980s nostalgia. And that ending, well it certainly wasn’t what I was expecting, but it was perfect and I will definitely be checking out Holly Seddon’s other books.
April 26, 2018
We've all done it. When your so young that you can't possibly fathom what your life will look like 20 years from now, you feel safe in making a promise with a friend that you don't think could ever come around needing to be kept. But what if it does? Do you keep your word? Hope they've forgotten? Can something done out of keeping ones word ever really work out? How big does a secret have to be to dismantle everything you thought you knew of a life long friend? Love Will Tear Us Apart asks all these questions and then some. I recommend reading this book to find the answers! Thanks to Netgalley for giving me the chance to preview this book!
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