It Could Happen to You

by Isla Dewar

Rowan has always cherished an ambition to travel. She didn't just leave the small Scottish town where she grew up; she fled from it as fast as she could. Now she's become expert at metropolitan living; she could walk by a million faces and not notice any of them. And her dream is almost within her grasp. When Rowan does start packing her bags, she has to find room for one very unexpected item. And she's headed not for exotic distant shores but back to Scotland. There, she feels at first like nothing more than a source of good gossip. But as she discovers that no one is quite who she thought they were, Rowan begins to see that home could be where she'll find what she was looking for after all!

Genres: Fiction, Scotland, Chick Lit, Romance, Womens

Paperback

First published August 5, 1999

About the author

Born in Edinburgh, Isla Dewar now lives in Fife with her husband, a cartoonist, and two sons. Her first novel, Keeping Up with Magda, published in 1995, has been followed by a string of bestsellers.

Reviews

[Jesse Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gave up halfway through the book. I wanted to love this book, and I felt that it started well with strong characters, but after a while I found the writing tiresome and introducing characters I didn’t care enough about. I also found that the pace slowed as the book went on and I lost motivation to continue…

[Lainy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages -

Publisher - Headline Review

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

Rowan has always cherished an ambition to travel. She didn't just leave the small Scottish town where she grew up; she fled from it as fast as she could. Now she's become expert at metropolitan living; she could walk by a million faces and not notice any of them. And her dream is almost within her grasp.

When Rowan does start packing her bags, she has to find room for one very unexpected item. And she's headed not for exotic distant shores but back to Scotland. There, she feels at first like nothing more than a source of good gossip. But as she discovers that no one is quite who she thought they were, Rowan begins to see that home could be where she'll find what she was looking for after all...



My Review

Rowan is a wee bit socially awkward and innocent, she wanted nothing more than to get away from her wee town. Living in the city and working for a publishing she is swept up with her flat mate, Eileen, who is wild, outgoing and a total party animal. Rowan is saving her wages to travel the world and all set to go but her flat mates actions forces Rowan to take a very different turn.

The book centers around friendship, family, personal growth and a small town. Eileen is a character who you want to slap, as the story continues her behaviour becomes even more shocking, some scenes are uncomfortable. The story feels like it is split in two, naive city girl and then when she returns home - her personal growth, the impact on the small town.

This is my first time reading this author, it is very character centered, predominately Rowan and those around her. I enjoyed her homecoming, she has the fear many has when one returns, judgement, fear or not accomplishing our goals. We all know how small towns can be but this one isn't so bad. I actually enjoyed being back in the small town more, learning its secrets, getting to know the characters. I actually would enjoy this being a series and getting a book on each of the more interesting characters. The old man whose journal Rowan finds, the cinema owner - she is a wee doll and I think her life would have many many interesting life stories. Eileen! Much as I disliked her as a person and we do get a bit of her backstory, to follow her actual life in comparison to her telling's. The way Alexander McCall Smith does for the 44 Scotland street characters I think this author could do it but within the small town, 3.5/5 for me this time.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story delves into how we might not 'see' the whole picture when we look into other people's lives. Their circumstances and they themselves might not be what we perceive. Speaks to wishing we had someone-else's life or family or job. When Rowan comes home from being in the 'big city' those preconceived ideas start quite a few little ripples in the fabric of life in the village and everyone's lives are changed.

I liked Rowan and I liked Ms. Dewar's writing. This is the first book I've read by her. I picked it up while I was in Scotland. I'll be looking for more!

[Tracy Hollen · Rating 5 out of 5]

My new favourite author.
You can't help but admire her characters, and I love her writing style. Each book focuses on one or more Scottish women who live, or have lived, in Scotland. These are no-nonsense women whose lives aren't always enviable but you can't help but want to follow the tale of their life.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book ambled along really well until the final few chapters when far too many events happened in too few pages. It was ridiculous and totally unbelievable behaviour by the characters. It almost felt like the author suddenly realised she had a deadline to meet and took an axe to the whole thing.

[Ruth Hamilton-Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

Isla Dewar writes very well but I couldn't warm to this novel. I like kindness in people and, although people are kind in this novel, the author is drawn to transgressive types and eccentrics. She would like the people smoking behind the bike shed rather than those making daisy chains.
The heroine is very passive in the first half and full of initiative in the second half.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scottish chic lit! What's not to like about that?

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is chick lit but a notch above the normal stuff. Just what I neededsomething easy and enjoyable.

[Mary Arkless · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book club book, borrowed from the library, selected by the librarian.

I found it very difficult to get into this book, as I found the “friend” very unsympathetic and rather despicable. Also, the main character needed to grow a spine. However, this soon changed as the first shift in the story happened. I was able to get into the story and moved through it rather quickly. One point of the story is how much one person can influence those around them, without even trying.

There are twists and turns in the story, not all of them….necessary.

[haji baji · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows Rowan, a woman in her early 20s with a dream to travel the world. Born in a rural Scotland, she's done everything right in life, from attending university to her office job in London. Everything she has done so far is with one goal in mind —to fulfil her wanderlust. However, when her plans go awry and all she has dreamed of gets taken away from her she has no choice but to return to the life she was ever so desperate to escape.

This book was predictable at times, however was still an engaging read. I enjoyed how the characters all connected with each other, really giving a sense of the intertwined community present in small towns. The author gives us insights into the minds of all the village characters, allowing the reader to understand the complex inner workings of each character and their decisions.

Overall and enjoyable and light read.

[Debby · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my light reading .This is the second book of the year that the main character comes in to a village and changes the lives of the people living there .
Small town life with the various characters and even though there are some tragedies ,the tone of the book was not sad for me , and a good ending .What more can I ask .

[Grace Vickers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book. I was hooked at the start and fairly invested throughout however it wasn’t overly exciting and nothing too major happened in the second half. It was a good enough book to be invested in and follow through, it was also interesting to dive into personal lives and different perspectives, but it was also a bit dry at times.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book, mainly because the writing style encouraged me to read and hours passed before I knew it. The main character seemingly had it all and then problems start one after another. This book is an easy read.

[Sue Lilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are all such a joy. Quirky characters trying to live their best lives, wonderfully written, always hopeful. I loved Rowan. She came alive on the page. I couldn’t wait to see where she’d end up. Didn’t want it to end. Loved it!

[Meriel Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book by Isla Dewar. Delightful.

[Hester · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite liked this. Enjoyable all the way through and no grossness. Good author to look for others of.

[Barbara Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book.

[Mỹ Kiều · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isla Dewar is one of my favourite author

[Snow Cavien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found the characters likeable and thoroughly enjoyed reading this - lighthearted and easy

[Lauren Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Far too close to my life I loved it

[Annerieke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my 'we read to know we're not alone book' in my I-can't-wait-to-finally-leave-my-hometown-phase. I am rereading these books to see how they shaped my ideas about life. (This is the excellent idea of 'how to be a heroine') I still love everything about this book; the writing, the characters (especially Rowan, speaking about heroines) and the theme of finding a place to belong. This book is meant as storytelling, no higher aspirations and I think Isla Dewar does a great job of just that.

[Dark-Draco · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this. An easy read, but the story was great and the characters seemed so real that I wished I could meet them. The village joins Ballykissangel and Glenbogle on the list of fictional places that I'd like to live. At least it made me smile and had a happy ending - what more do you want?

[Fran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just discovered Isla Dewar through recommendation from my sister. This book is hilarious. It's a very easy and enjoyable read following the fortunes of ? and her adventures in London and eventual return to her Scottish village which was hilariously portrayed. The book did lose it's pace a bit but I really loved the characters.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

i liked this book much more than the last one i read by I. Dewar... the plot and narrative tied together much better due to the set chronology.... it was a light, easy read set in village-life Scotland with quirky, likeable characters.

[Kirsty Hill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was very aware at a few stages in this book that not a lot was happening. This book really lacked any gripping plot but was still enjoyable due to the characters. I did enjoy this book but missed the satisfaction of discovering the end to a page turning storyline.

[Amazzon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scottish chick lit!!! I didn't know such a thing existed. I must admit I read it purely for that reason. The writing was a bit clumsy in places but the story was gripping and I had to know what happened to the characters. Great holiday book. Easy going with an intriguing plot line.

[Rachel Brand · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember borrowing this from the school library and really enjoying it, although I couldn't tell you much about the story.

[San · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alles van Isla Dewar is just fantastic

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good read from this author.

[Chandrahvj]

I thought I wasn't going to like this book, but it was really very good and has inspired me to read more by this author.