Something to Tell You

by Lucy Diamond

‘A new Lucy Diamond book is one of the happiest highlights of my calendar’ – Katie Fforde, bestselling author of A Country Escape

When Frankie stumbles upon an unopened letter from her late mother, she’s delighted to have one last message from her . . . until she reads the contents and discovers the truth about her birth. Brimming with questions, she travels to York to seek further answers from the Mortimer family, but her appearance sends shockwaves through them all.

Meanwhile, Robyn Mortimer has problems of her own. Her husband John has become distant, and a chance remark from a friend leads Robyn to wonder exactly what he’s not been saying. Dare she find out more?

As for Bunny, she fell head over heels in love with Dave Mortimer when she first arrived in town, but now it seems her past is catching up with her. She can’t help wondering if he’ll still feel the same way about her if he discovers who she really is – and what she did.

As secrets tumble out and loyalties are tested, the Mortimers have to face up to some difficult decisions. With love, betrayal and dramatic revelations in the mix, this is one summer they’ll never forget.

Praise for Lucy Diamond:

‘A hugely satisfying read’ – Heat
‘Warm, witty and wise’ – Daily Mail

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Romance, Contemporary, Audiobook, Contemporary Romance, Family Drama

459 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 27, 2018

About the author

Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name

First of all, a confession. My name isn’t really Lucy Diamond at all, it’s Sue Mongredien. I’ve used a pen name because ‘Diamond’ is a lot easier to spell and pronounce than ‘Mongredien’ and also because I’ve written lots of children’s books too and wanted to keep the genres separate. (There is actually another Lucy Diamond on Amazon who writes religious children’s books. That isn’t me, though.)

I was born in 1970 and grew up in Nottingham. I read English at Leeds University then moved to London and worked for various publishers before I packed it all in to go travelling around the world for a year and a half. When I came back to the UK, I worked in publishing again, then moved to the BBC. I now live in Bath with my husband and three young children and divide my time between writing and looking after them. You can have a look at my children’s books here.

Favourite things: beaches, holidays, chocolate, wine, reading, Green Wing, bubble baths, sunshine, hearing my children laugh, babysitters

Favourite books: The Magus (John Fowles), The Edible Woman (Margaret Atwood), The Secret History (Donna Tartt), The Colour of Memory (Geoff Dyer)

Reviews

[ReadAlongWithSue recovering from a stroke★⋆. ࿐࿔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s very true to say that no ones life is perfect. No ones family is perfect.

Frankies mother passed away, later she finds a letter addressed to her from her mother.
Inside she learns who her father is. She decides to go to meet him.

Of course there’s no instand mend here and we learn more as the author reveals it.

It’s a pleasant enough read. Gathered momentum as time went on.

I’d call this an easy ok read. Enjoyable

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half stars.
When Frankie finds a letter to her from her late mother, it is like a special gift. When she opens it, the letter tells her about her father and his name which she never knew before. With mixed feelings Frankie travels to York and unwittingly ends up at the 50th wedding anniversary celebration of Harry and Jeanie Mortimer. Her appearance and the fallout out from it sends shock waves around the family. Within the Mortimer family there are various issues going on. Robyn’s husband John, has become distant and she has no idea why. Robyn’s mother Alison has secrets she has carried for years and kept from her daughter. As a result Alison has tended to cut herself on from so many relationships. Bunny is in a relationship with Dave Mortimer. But has secrets in her past that could affect the way he feels about her if he knew the truth. Paula is the one of the Mortimers who most wants to meet Frankie and get to know her. But that is tricky given the trouble Frankie’s appearance has already caused.
Because the narrative changes a lot from one person to the next, I initially had a bit of trouble keeping up with who was who. Once I sorted that out I began to get more involved. The story I would have liked to have seen more development of, was Frankie with her relationship with Craig and his son Fergus from his earlier marriage to Julia. This tended to get a bit lost at times among all the other things happening. It almost felt like too much was going on instead of settling down to concentrate on one or two stories and developing them more fully.
That said, I did enjoy the book and found myself emotionally involved, just maybe not as much as I might have expected. A story about choices, consequences, family dynamics, acceptance and possible forgiveness, it did make me want to keep reading. A lot of threads are wrapped up fairly quickly towards the end. A good read but just a bit crowded with too many subplots and too many characters that didn't really add anything.
I do like this cover better than the others for this book.

[Nicola Clough · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy Lucy Diamonds book and was so pleased to be given the chance to read her lastest novel as simply brilliant many twists and turns and really makes you think. Shows the dynamics of family life especially one where there is many secrets to uncover and shows how they support each other to get through the problems. It's witty and funny and very thought provoking and so true to life. Can a family all stay together with so much going on or it is just to much. It's simply fantastic with excellent characters and didn't want the book to end at all.
Frankie is with her partner Craig and his child from a first relationship but when her mother passed away so so pleased to have one letter she wrote to read to bring her close to her mother again. Problem is the letter tells her who her father is and where he lives but he knows nothing about her at all. Meanwhile the Mortimer family are celebrating the parents wedding anniversary and having a big party but when Frankie turns up how will Harry react that he had another daughter but how will Jeanie react as she never knew her husband had an affair. After the bombshell of Frankie turning up she leaves again and Harry is going on a dream holiday with his wife but when they get to the airport she tells him she's going on her own how will he react to that. Meanwhile Robyn is married to John Mortimer and she loves the family so much and is worried as knows her husband is hinding something as being distant then he looses his job but when Robyn Fonda out why what will happen to their marriage and she's also worried if she can stay friendly with the Mortimer family as she loves them all how will others react. Then you have bunny who is with Dave Mortimer and she is slowly realising her past is catching up with her but she's so in love with Dave she doesn't want him to find her secret as how will he react and she knows he won't want her. She decides to leave him but in the process of leaving him she has a bad car accident and the hospital ring Dave and when he turns up she tells him to look her real name up so when he does will he want her or not. Then you have Paula who when she gets the video of the family party she sees her sister Frankie and cannot believe how alike her she is so she wants to contact her to get to know her but how will others react. Jeanie is away on holiday and stays longer than she was due to and makes a silly mistake one evening when she's drunk to much and now wonders if she should go home to face Harry but in the meantime he's realised he needs to go to her and he travels out and faces her. Can they all sort their problems out or not and can they be happy as a family or not.
Full of secrets and heartbreak while also being heartwarming and a brilliant read.

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Touching, heartwarming, and hopeful!

Something to Tell You is an amusing, optimistic, domestic drama that immerses you into the lives of the Mortimer family as they confront secrets from the past, accept the things they cannot change, forgive, accept, take chances, repair fractured relationships, and embrace the future.

The writing is expressive, authentic, and polished. The characters are flawed, genuine, and relatable. And the plot is a compelling, emotional tale of life, love, heartbreak, acceptance, secrets, betrayal, insecurities, friendship, loyalty, and familial drama.

With Something to Tell You Diamond has proven once again that when it comes to writing sophisticated, moving, inspiring stories that have strong female characters, heartfelt storylines, and an astute, insightful look into the complex dynamics between family members, she’s undoubtedly one of the best!

Thank you to Publishers Group Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Adele Shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something To Tell You, is about the trials and tribulations of the Mortimer family but mainly from the point of view of the Mortimer women.
Frankie stumbles upon a letter, from her late mum, telling her who her father is and where to find him. She decides to follow her heart and check out her father. It just so happens that the day she chooses is the day of Harry and Jeanie's golden wedding anniversary. This meeting opens a whole can of worms and the Mortimer family as they know it will never be the same again.
Really enjoyable read.

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a great way to spend a Sunday morning, reading.... which is why I finished this book so quickly.
Unfortunately this wasn’t one of Lucy Diamond’s best. I’ve read most of her books and have enjoyed them all except this one.
It started off really well but over halfway through I found it sad and depressing which is very unlike her books at all. Lost relationships and tussles over little children which really depressed me. Luckily it does get better in the end but I was sadly disappointed in this one.

[Helen Leecy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this quite hard to get into, to begin with. It was especially difficult to keep track of all the different characters, in particular, for me, I kept mixing up Robyn and Paula. Every time a chapter started with one of them, I’d have to think “ok who are they again, ah ok that’s the sister”. I don’t think I ever got to grip with all the men’s names, but that’s probably because the book is written from the women’s perspective and never the men’s, so you don’t get as ‘attached’ to them.
The book did pick up a little in the middle, with a few hooks to keep you reading. Such as the secrets John is keeping from Robyn, and Bunny’s story was interesting as well. Some of the stories fell a little flat, though, and I found myself a bit bored.
I don’t usually like books to just end abruptly. I like a bit of a peter out, but this book didn’t feel like it was ever going to finish. You knew it had to wrap up all the little stories and it felt really dragged out at the end.
So I’m afraid this book wasn’t for me, don’t get me wrong, it did have a few fun moments, and the middle was definitely the best, but it wasn’t the usual easy-going read that I would expect from Lucy Diamond.

Thanks for reading! If you want to see more of my reviews visit www.pinkanddizzy.com

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the story hard to get into, the middle was the best then it slowed again. There were way too many characters to keep up with, halfing the amount of characters would have improved the story for me. It didn't get in enough depth for each of them. Each chapter could have done with telling you who the chapter was about.

I enjoyed the story of Robyn the most as she's the one who I remember the most from the several in the book.

York is one of my favourite cities and I wish it had been mentioned more. I enjoyed the writers story on Manchester much more as you could connect with the city in it. As for York in this one it could have been set anywhere if not for one mention of the minister and shambles.

I hope other stories I read from Lucy Diamond i enjoy more than this one.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

"It struck her that the really crucial thing was to make the most of what you had while it was still there - and not to allow bad feeling to fester between loved ones".

After the death of Frankie's mother she stumbles upon an unopened letter addressed to her; Frankie is delighted to receive a last message from her mother, however this message was not what she expected, and will change her life. Contained within this letter is the details of Frankie's father; Frankie discovers that she is the result of an affair with a married man, Harry Mortimer. Frankie travels to York to meet with her father, however ends up sending shockwaves throughout the family. It turns out Frankie has three older brothers, and an older sister, all of whom have their own dramas and upheavals to get through. Secrets begin to spread throughout the family, and with these secrets, loyalties become tested. Can they move forward together as a family? And what role with Frankie have in this family?

Oh god, this is such a hard review for me to write. I absolutely love Lucy Diamond as an author after discovering her through On A Beautiful Day and fell in love with her writing style, and the way she weaves stories together. So when I saw this book was available on NetGalley I knew I needed to read it, but having read it now, I can't help feeling really disappointed with this story. Going into this story I was under the impression that the main story would be in relation to Frankie discovering this whole new family, and the repercussions of this. As with all Lucy Diamond books there are always side-stories about the other characters, however with this book the amount of side-plots are honestly so extensive, so much so that I felt I needed to count them;

1. Frankie discovering her father
2. Jeanie going abroad following the revelation - and almost having an affair
3. John's affair with a student
4. John losing his job because of said affair
5. John leaving Robyn and moving to Edinburgh with his new student squeeze
6. Robyn re-inventing her life following the seperation
7. Robyn's mother, Alison, struggling with her grief and trying to get back into the dating scene
8. Bunny's hidden past from her partner
9. Bunny's life as a weight-watch guru, and the subsequent downfall of this
10. Bunny's accident, and subsequent engagement to Dave
11. Random bits about Paula's life
12. Frankie and Craig's dilemma with Fergus's biological mother turning back up

I recognise that some of these are related, however they are all focuses of the story at some point; I also understand that within a story there needs to be side plots, but there was just far too many in this story to actually really care about any of them enough. Further to that, it felt that the main plot of Frankie finding her father was completely swept under the carpet after their initial meeting. It's not until 80% through the book do we actually get any progress on this storyline with Paula trying to track Frankie down. I just felt that there was far too many characters to invest in at all; we have the five siblings, their partners, and respective children, Harry, Jeanie, and Alison - it was just far too much, and i'd find myself trying to remember whether Bunny was the woman who stabbed her abusive partner, or the woman who'd been left for a student. It was even harder with the men because they weren't really a focus of the story and I didn't feel that we were meant to invest in them; I did find myself feeling sorry for poor Stephen and his partner Eddie who had absolutely nothing to do in this story. The only side story that was actually impacted by this revelation of Frankie was that of Jeanie going abroad and almost having an affair - every other side story would have carried on in the same vein if they had never met Frankie, and so it didn't feel that Frankie had any real impact on the story. It felt like completely separate stories placed into one book.

The book does get a bit better in the middle with Robyn shadowing her husband to find out what he was actually up to, and the subsequent destruction of their marriage, and Bunny's wrenching past that she just can't escape, however the fact that none of these stories really inter-linked made it hard to invest in them. I was also really disappointed by the ending; after the big reveal at the start of the book which I felt was done well, we're suddenly met with Chapter 31 where there's a family party and we're told all about how Frankie has met up with Paula and Harry, but we don't actually get to experience any of that for ourselves as readers, which for me was disappointing. After being led into this book thinking the focus would be exploring the impact of this revelation on everyone, we get almost no exploration of that, and we barely get to see Harry's view of the situation; just that he wants his wife and his new daughter. All of the stories were neatly wrapped up in the rushed last chapter.

This has been such a difficult review, and i've really struggled to what to rate it - going in this was a clear five stars, but I feel that overall I have to rate it two stars, because I did just not enjoy the story. I do still love Lucy Diamond as an author, and will still continue to explore all her books, but it just wasn't I expected from her on this one.

[Pan Macmillan Australia]

One of my easy go-to reads is Lucy Diamond. She writes women's fiction without it being chick-litty or schmaltzy. Her characters are very real, with problems that women of all ages face, whether it be to do with relationships, sibling rivalries, family issues, or aging.

She doesn't get bogged down in detail and her stories flow easily, keeping the readers interest so they turn the pages quickly. In Something to Tell You, the reader meets the Mortimer family, where each of the 4 siblings and their parents have a secret they have been hiding. The narratives switches between each of the characters, making it simple for the reader to keep track of each individual's story. - Leanne

[Fabulous Book Fiend · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow this book contains one secret revelation after another after another. But at the heart of it all though is Lucy Diamonds unfailing potimism and a hugely strong sense of family and family ties.

When I began reading this book, I couldn't work out how the three main storylines were connected or how they weer going to come together but then I began to work out who was who and how they related to one another and the storyline began to weave before me. This book really does have a large cast and so you may was to take reference as you are reading so as not to loose track. The main storyline though concerns three mothers and their love for their families. Not only do these women love their families though, they recognise the importance of their own identity and not losing that and so their stories are really quite empowering.

I loved the way these characters all related to each other as the story unfolded and there were definitely a lot of 'ah ha' moments from me as it progressed. I listened to this one on audio and so that might be why I had trouble keeping track of who was who initially. Some of my favourite characters were Bunny, a slimmer of the year with some serious skeletons in her closet, Frankie, someone who is really struggling with her identity since a whole host of ghosts from the past have come to haunt her and Paula, the one who is just trying to do the right thing and keep it all together.

Yes this story is sometimes complicated but that does make for a whole host of drama. With revelations taking place left right and centre, there is never a dull moment in this book and it will definitely keep you guessing as to how it is going to conclude.

The majority of this book is set in a part of the world I am very familiar with, North Yorkshire and so it was great to be reading it here in Denver and getting a little taste of home, I even gave a cheer when Knaresborough was mentioned. I can definitely recommend the audiobook as it was well narrated and allowed me to read 'on the go' but if you have trouble keeping track of a large cast of characters then perhaps the hardback would be a better purchase so you can refer back to whole belongs to who if you get lost! I can't wait to find out what Lucy Diamond throws at her characters next!

[Lita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uncomplicated and easy read. I kinda thought (or hoped) it will be along the lines of romantic, girly literature but it turned out to be a family saga with quite a bit of drama. The author chose to focus on the female side of the family adding some flavor of empowerment along the way (but not over-the-top I-can't-read-this-anymore type of thing). With all the skeletons coming out of several closets, it was still believable and fairly realistic. I felt it getting a bit mundane around the middle but then the story kinda picked up the pace and I finished it in a couple of days. The ending had just the right amount of positive resolutions to keep with the tone of the book (and avoid losing the credibility factor).

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Thank you to Netgalley and Pan for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.**

When Frankie stumbles upon an unopened letter from her late mother, she’s delighted to have one last message from her . . . until she reads the contents and discovers the truth about her birth. Brimming with questions, she travels to York to seek further answers from the Mortimer family, but her appearance sends shockwaves through them all.

The book showcases the turbulent family life of the Mortimer's and the secrets hidden within. All the characters, particularly the female dynamics, are engaging and reminded me of the family structures in Marian Keyes books.

Although filled with lots of characters and their stories, this was a quick and easy read. This was my first Lucy Diamond book but I look forward to reading many more.

[Nessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this on audio book.

I'm a huge fan of Lucy books, have pretty much read them all.

This story has been delightful from start to finish. There are a fair few characters to remember but I loved getting to know them all and seeing how they interacted with each other. You've got the main story but each of the characters have there own little stories going on in the background. So there is plenty to keep you entertained.

As always with Lucy's book the story was well told and very well written.

[Hannah Clarke (Love Books Actually) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve only read one other Lucy Diamond book and I honestly don’t know why I haven’t read more! I really enjoy her books. I see this on borrow box and the description sounded my kind of read so I got straight into it. Not going to lie, the beautiful blue cover also caught my attention! I’m a sucker for a beautiful cover!

The Mortimer family have always had an unbreakable bond but cracks begin to show when secrets are exposed and a stranger turns up out of the blue. I was hooked from the first chapter!

This was an enjoyable family saga that left me wondering what was coming next. I couldn’t put my finger on where it would finish! Loved it!
The chapters switch between a few of the main characters points of view and it was quite easy to follow who was who. Each character had their own story to tell but each one interlaced, linking them altogether which I’m always a fan of in a book! Again.. why haven’t I read more of Lucy’s books!

Overall a fantastic emotional read that covered quite a few tough topics that I’m sure some of us have had to face. I’ve seen Lucy’s latest book ‘The Promise’ on Borrow Box and I shall definitely be downloading it, I love her style of writing!

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

To start with this book feels a bit overwhelming, there are a large number of characters, and the narrative swaps between focusing on a large number of the leading ladies at relatively quick intervals, so until I had worked out who was who and how they all fitted I was lost. In fairness I started this while on a long haul flight and was exhausted, so it may not be just the book that led to me feeling disjointed as I read this!

This is a book that explores family relationships, and proves that there is no such thing as a normal family any more.

Frankie never met her father, but when she discovers who he is, she decided to rock up in person, just a shame she had bad timing and it was Harry and Jeannie's Wedding Anniversary being celebrated that weekend.

This leaves the heads of the Mortimer clan, at odds and ends, and Jeannie is especially unhappy.

Meanwhile we get to know well other key women in this family dynamic too - Robyn who is married to John (one of Frankie's half brothers), Bunny who is going out with Dave (another of the siblings) and Paula (the half-sister). We also get to know Alison, Robyn's mother too.

All of the ladies have big struggles in their lives - John is hiding things from Robyn, Bunny has a huge secret she has been hiding, Alison really needs to shake up her life, as all she does is work and watch TV, and Frankie, well there is a blast from the past for Craig her other half, and it really shakes them up too.

There is conflict, secrets, lies, drama but also the good things about families too. There are some amusing parts to this book and some more serious moments.

I really enjoyed the variety of women that were featured, as well as learning about their families. I didn't really have a favourite character, but apart from John who I really disliked, and Julia I didn't hate many either. They are relateable too, especially if you have a large family and odds are you will recognise relatives within them.

Thank you to Netgalley and Pan for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is no secret that I am a massive Lucy Diamond fan. Her books are wonderfully written, and such an absolute treat to read. When my copy of Something To Tell You dropped through the letterbox I gave a squeal of delight and have to admit that it barged its way to the top of the 'to be read' pile immediately.

I've noticed that there's been a theme of 'long-lost family members' in contemporary fiction recently and Something To Tell You does begin with the discovery of a previously unknown father. However, Lucy Diamond's writing is so witty and incredibly touching, she really does make this subject her own.

Frankie is devastated after the death of her mother, however she's both delighted and shocked when she discovers a letter written by her Mum. The letter reveals details of her father; a man who she never knew anything about before. Harry Mortimer is her father and according to the letter, he lives in York. Even though her partner Craig tells her that she really should contact him first, Frankie decides that she will travel to York to find him.

It's very bad timing. Frankie walks into the local village hall, smack bang into the celebratory party for Harry, and his wife Jeannie's Wedding Anniversary party! Despite making a quick escape, her presence has not gone unnoticed and the consequences of her appearance affect every one of the family members.

Lucy Diamond has included a huge cast of characters in this novel, yet each one of them are so individual, with their own unique voice and point of view. This enables the reader to easily follow the story, getting to know the characters, and their many problems and issues intimately.

The story is brimming with humour and emotional dilemmas. There are characters to really fall in love with and there are a couple who the reader will hate; such a mixed bag and such a multi layered and very compelling plot.

Something To Tell You is a story that will capture the heart. It is warm and so well written with plenty of twists and turns along the way.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have always enjoyed books involving many different characters however it took me a while to get into this one; I just could not wrap my head around who was who! Despite the many characters, the storyline is really quite simple and it was a relatively easy read. I was saddened to see the ending happen so quickly though and the book seemed to be wrapped up in one final chapter which I found disappointing. I would have liked to see how everything ended in a little more detail and a little slower.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel a bit disappointed with this book which chronicles the dramas faced by the Mortimer family. Each branch of the family has it’s own issues to deal with but each is handled separately and without the involvement of the rest of the family. I would have preferred more interaction between the characters as without this it felt very disjointed. There’s such a lot going on in this story that there wasn’t really any depth at all, I don’t feel that I got to know any of the characters well.

[Prim Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

I chose this book as a light read after finishing Crime and Punishment by the brilliant Dostoyevsky. While it started off well, it became dull and tedious toward the end, overloaded with too many characters—some of whom contributed nothing to the story. The ‘happily ever after’ ending felt overly cheesy and unsatisfying.

[Nina Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun little book

[Frenchorchidea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been willing to read a book from Lucy Diamond for such a long time and never got round to it. "Something To Tell You" is therefore my first book from the author and I have not been disappointed! I found it such a powerful story, with a very powerful intrigue and lovely characters. I wasn't excepting such a meaningful and deep story. I am so happy to have read this book! It's excellent!!!! I can only recommend it to you! There are so much going on in this book, you wont' get bored, I promise!

[Agi · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Something to Tell You" introduces us to Frankie, who, after her mother's death, stumbles upon an unopened letter addressed to her. The message in this letter is, however, not what she was expecting - it's letting her know who her biological father is. She discovers she's the result of an affair her mother had with a married man, Harry Mortimer. Frankie decides to go to York to get to know him. Unknowingly, she gate - crashes his and his wife's wedding anniversary party. Harry Mortimer had no idea about Frankie's existence but, after spotting her among the crowds, he immediately knows she's his daughter. However, Harry's wife Jeanie is not as unforgiving and relaxed about the fact that he has another daughter - because it turns out that Frankie has half - siblings as well, three brothers and one sister. What she didn't expect is that her appearance will open Pandora's box full of secrets, dramas and upheavals. Will the family stay together? Can they accept Frankie?

I liked that actually all of the characters had got the same chance to present their own story, as the narration switched between them. Yes, I thought it's going to be more Frankie's story but I really enjoyed how it included all the other characters as well. There were a large number of characters, to be honest, and not only the female ones but also all the male ones belonging to them, but I quickly worked out who is who and why. On the whole I didn't have a problem with any of the characters, I liked all of them, except for Jeannie Mortimer. The way she was described at the beginning of the book when she's spotted Frankie, how possessive she was and how angry, well, it simply put me away. I understand where she was coming from, her sudden insecurity - well, who wouldn't feel insecure, right - but the way she behaved simply wasn't adequate and I didn't gel with her till the end of the book.
As usual in Lucy Diamond's book, the characters' lives are far from being perfect. All the ladies in this novel have fights on their hands, and troubles to overcome. Robyn's marriage turned out to be full of lies, Bunny had a huge secret that she was so ashamed of, Robyn's mother Alison spent her whole days only watching TV, Frankie's life has taken a very unexpected turn and she was afraid everything she loves will be taken away from her, and Jeanie, well, Jeanie, she simply liked to complicate her own life. The only one who seemed to land a perfect life was Paula - I really liked her attitude towards life. It is great that all of them are so different, this makes the reading even more hooking and interesting. What makes the book so special is the fact that all those problems are down - to - earth and realistic.

You could say that it is a slow - burner, as there is a huge build - up to the many events taking place in this story, but to be honest it didn't bother me, as I enjoyed reading about the characters' lives. However, in comparison, I think that the end came too suddenly, too quickly. Yes, everything is of course wonderfully wrapped up and tied up but I'd love some of the issues to be done a little more deeply. Also, with so many subplots I think it's natural that some of them fell a little flat compared to the others but then the things pick up again and it was a great rollercoaster of feelings, emotions and surprises.

It was a light, warm book about different family relationships and dynamics. Lucy Diamond isn't shy of writing about secrets, lies, dramas and conflicts but she also does it in a very heartfelt, lovely way, and she can perfectly mix lightness with some more serious issues, and she doesn't focus on the negative, upsetting things but on the optimistic side which makes the book so lovely complex and not predictable. Add to this relatable characters, effortless writing style and you have your pick for those long, wintry evenings. Truly recommended!

Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.

[W1nglockbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5*

Quite a fun contemporary fiction with some drama and some secrets within one big family. Was a little hard to get my head around how many characters there were and how they were all connected.

[Certified Book Addicts · Rating 3 out of 5]

With its pretty, eye catching cover, Something To Tell You is the latest offering from chic lit author, Lucy Diamond. Diamond's contemporary book is relevant to her readers with themes of family, relationships, abuse, starting over and ultimatley, secrets. Set in York, England, Something To Tell You evokes a sense of village life where nothing is private. Told in the third person, there is a cast of relatable, flawed female characters all connected to the one family; the Mortimer family. The story begins with Frankie, who discovers the truth about her father after reading a letter from her deceased mother. With this revelation, Frankie meets the Mortimer women; Jeanie, Robyn and Bunny.

For a long time, it has just been Frankie and her mother. She has longed for a larger family and is part way to realising her dream with her partner, Craig. Frankie is step mum to the gorgeous Fergus, who brought some light hearted relief with his innocence to common situations, such as his biological mother returning. Frankie's mother's letter gives this ordinary yet brave woman the opportunity to make her dream come true, but not without its complications.

Jeanie is the matriach in the Mortimer family and a personal favourite. Right before her second honeymoon with her husband, Harry, Jeanie discovers his secret and the truth about Frankie. The reader quickly learns about Jeanie's inner strength when she chooses to go ahead on her honeymoon. Without her husband by her side. On her own, Jeanie discovers the truth about temptation and how easy it is to make one decision that will change everything. I enjoyed going on Jeanie's personal journey as she grew and matured, ultimately strengthening her relationship with Harry.

Robyn Mortimer is the wife of John Mortimer and mother to Alison. When she discovers a shocking secret regarding her husband, Robyn's life is turned upside down, never to be the same. In the face of adversity, Robyn is thrown into the dating game after three decades of marriage. As a married woman, I felt a personal connection with Robyn and could not imagine how I would react in the same situation. I applauded Robyn as she, like Jeanie, found her inner strength for herself and, her daughter.

Bunny is the beautiful blonde, the stereotypical woman of Something To Tell You. For this reason, I wasn't a fan of this character. As I grew to know the woman dating Dave Mortimer, I realised that there was more to Bunny then meets the eye. She too, has skeletons in her closet that she wants to keep locked away so she doesn't need to start her life over again. Diamond does a stellar, yet sensitive, job of exploring an issue that is all too familiar for women around the world. Fate though, isnt on her side and Bunny's secrets are revealed to Dave. How Dave will react will reveal the man he is and effect Bunny's future.

Something To Tell You is a book that will reasonate with readers as they come to learn to love the Mortimer women as if they were their own family.

[Megan Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Frankie stumbles upon an unopened letter from her late mother, she’s delighted to have one last message from her, until she reads the contents and discovers the truth about her birth. Brimming with questions, she travels to York to seek further answers from the Mortimer family, but her appearance sends shockwaves through them all. Meanwhile, Robyn Mortimer has problems of her own. Her husband John has become distant, and a chance remark from a friend leads Robyn to wonder exactly what he’s not been saying. Dare she find out more? As for Bunny, she fell head over heels in love with Dave Mortimer when she first arrived in town, but now it seems her past is catching up with her. She can’t help wondering if he’ll still feel the same way about her if he discovers who she really is – and what she did. As secrets tumble out and loyalties are tested, the Mortimers have to face up to some difficult decisions.

Diamond starts this off with a bang and the pace never lets off. All the way through this is high-energy, non-stop revelations and secrets, I loved it, was addicted to it and of course, could not put it down. Essentially this is a book about the Mortimer family, firstly they are a big family, hence a lot of secrets to be revealed, but they are also a really fantastic creation. I took all of them to heart instantly and adored following their ups and downs and how they handled the many hurdles Diamond threw at them. Well done with the Mortimer creation!

Everyone in this book gets their opportunity to shine, with their own secret impacting their life and then following them through. I really enjoyed the mixture Diamond has in this, they all bring something to the plot and this really is pure feel-good reading, even if some of the secrets are not so feel good! My only criticism and it is slight, is the last few books by Diamond have become a bit formulaic, now I know if it ain't broke don't fix it and all that, but it would make a refreshing change to have something happen that shocked the reader, alas I can keep hoping.

'Something To Tell You' is another enjoyable, heart-warming read from Diamond, one that I know readers will love, just to bear in mind though, maybe it is time to mix things up and create something a bit different. 

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read so many Lucy Diamond books and have loved them all, so was excited to have the opportunity to read her newest release! The description of the book sounded just so perfect and the book cover instantly drew me in, so bright and colourful in amongst all the doom and gloom of these cold winter months!

The story begins with Frankie, who has just found out who her father is following the death of her mother. When she travels from her home in London to York, she unknowingly gate-crashes her father’s wedding anniversary party. Harry Mortimer had no idea that she ever existed, but knew instantly that she was his daughter. As this sets off repercussions for Harry’s wife and his four other children, the book continues to tell theirs and Frankie’s stories.

I thought this was an absolutely lovely book! It is told from the points of view of each of the characters, and whilst there are a lot of characters, this didn’t appear confusing at all for me. Each character was so different from the next, and they were all going through their own personal problems, which had me hooked into their individual stories. The book also moves on a fairly fast pace, so you were never kept with one particular character for too long before moving onto the next part of the story for the next character.

The characters were all so intriguing with their own different back story, and the one I probably felt more empathy for was Bunny, with her storyline being the hardest one to read. Robyn, Paula and Frankie were probably the most down to earth characters, with all of them being the kind of people you would want know well. Jeanie, Harry’s wife, had to be my favourite character though. Having to put up with the humiliation of not only knowing her husband had an affair but that he had another daughter, Jeanie did probably exactly the same that I would have done, with her head held high and her dignity intact!

A wonderful story of family, relationships, betrayals, lies and secrets! It had me hooked and I flew through the pages, reading it at every opportunity. Would definitely recommend.

[Jeanniehay64 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read other lucy diamond books and this one is another which doesn’t disappoint.

The story centres on Frankie who only discovers her dads identity when her mum passes away. She decides to find her dad Harry Mortimer but unwittingly arrives in the middle of his golden wedding party.

The implications of her appearance affect all of the family who struggle with the realisation of Harry’s affair years before.

Each member of the family have their own story and this is beautifully entwined throughout the book.

I sometimes struggle when reading a book with multiple characters but thanks to Lucy’s excellent true to life story writing I quickly related to them all and was eager to find out their stories.

No family is perfect and this fact resounded throughout the book. A brilliant read which explores many issues which life throws at us. I wholeheartedly recommend this brilliant book.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for my chance to read this fantastic book.

[Karen's World · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is like the old story about I wish I was adopted they would love me more than you! Lol This follows the story of Frankie finding a letter from her late mum that tells her about her birth and the most interesting part it says who her father is.
Frankie decides to go to find out more about her father so travels up to York but unaware to her it is her fathers golden wedding party that she appears at, so the shock sends waves through the entire family.
This book is a bit hard to follow because they are so many characters each with their own story.
Ups and downs follow everyone so it keeps you entertained.

[Neil · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
I struggled with this at the start finding it boring.
The story line was obvious and most of the characters were bland.
This just was not for me.