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An Almost Perfect Holiday
An Almost Perfect Holiday is a warm and witty story of friendship, family and hope, by the Sunday Times bestseller Lucy Diamond.
The holidays are here, and down in Cornwall Lorna’s cottages are fully booked. The sun loungers are lined up beside the swimming pool, the sky is blue and a new set of arrivals are on their way . . .
Em’s planned the perfect break with her teenagers plus her new boyfriend, George . . . but now his difficult six-year-old is coming too. Will their romance survive the realities of parenthood?
Maggie’s hoping a seaside holiday will bring her and her daughter closer together, but when her ex makes a surprise reappearance, it changes everything. Can she trust the man who broke her heart?
Olivia has escaped the domestic grind, only for the past to catch up with her. Maybe the time has come to confess all – if she can find the courage . . .
Meanwhile, the teenagers are running wild and love is in the air. With friendship, heartache and secrets in the mix, will this holiday turn out to be a scorcher – or simply too hot to handle?
The holidays are here, and down in Cornwall Lorna’s cottages are fully booked. The sun loungers are lined up beside the swimming pool, the sky is blue and a new set of arrivals are on their way . . .
Em’s planned the perfect break with her teenagers plus her new boyfriend, George . . . but now his difficult six-year-old is coming too. Will their romance survive the realities of parenthood?
Maggie’s hoping a seaside holiday will bring her and her daughter closer together, but when her ex makes a surprise reappearance, it changes everything. Can she trust the man who broke her heart?
Olivia has escaped the domestic grind, only for the past to catch up with her. Maybe the time has come to confess all – if she can find the courage . . .
Meanwhile, the teenagers are running wild and love is in the air. With friendship, heartache and secrets in the mix, will this holiday turn out to be a scorcher – or simply too hot to handle?
480 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2020
258 people are currently reading
1937 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Diamond
82 books1,426 followersLibrarian 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)
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)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 368 reviews
September 18, 2020
The setting is Cornwall and three holiday cottages owned by Lorna and Roy. Lorna and Roy still mourn their son Aidan who died many year earlier in a car accident. Em has a holiday planned with her teenagers, Izzie and Jack and George, the man in her life. It sounds great until a change of plans means George’s seven year old daughter Seren ends up coming as well. Em is still sure they can make it work. But then the situation gets worse from there. Maggie is another of the women holidaying in Cornwall. She hopes this holiday will bring her and her teenage daughter Amelia closer together. The reality is Maggie doesn’t know or understand her daughter as well as she thinks she does. When Amelia wants to connect with Will, the father she has never really known and his new family, Maggie feels threatened. Olivia has memories of Cornwall from her teenage years. Some are good. Others still haunt her. Maybe the time has come to deal with them once and for all. What will this holiday bring for these women, their family members, and their futures?
It took me a while to settle to this book. I seemed to have a bit of trouble keeping each of the three main women and the families straight in my mind. Maybe because I wasn’t feeling any great connection to them. In time I got over that speed hump. But I never came to like any of the main characters except Lorna and Roy, the owners of the holiday cottages. All three teenagers were testing the limits and seven year old Seren was a spoiled brat. It sounded like anything but an enjoyable holiday as secrets and truths are revealed that impact on more than one person.
I had a very mixed reaction to this book. The setting of Cornwall was appreciated as I am always drawn to books set in Cornwall. My issue was with the story, the way it jumped around and the characters. So much of it just seemed over the top, almost like there was too much going on. Added to this aside from Lorna, I never really became that involved with the main characters. Not convinced that women bond as quickly and share their secrets as Emma, Maggie and Olivia did. So while I liked it and never considered giving up on it, I never loved it either. Others may well appreciate this story more than I did. Readable and entertaining but just not as good or as involving as I was expecting.
It took me a while to settle to this book. I seemed to have a bit of trouble keeping each of the three main women and the families straight in my mind. Maybe because I wasn’t feeling any great connection to them. In time I got over that speed hump. But I never came to like any of the main characters except Lorna and Roy, the owners of the holiday cottages. All three teenagers were testing the limits and seven year old Seren was a spoiled brat. It sounded like anything but an enjoyable holiday as secrets and truths are revealed that impact on more than one person.
I had a very mixed reaction to this book. The setting of Cornwall was appreciated as I am always drawn to books set in Cornwall. My issue was with the story, the way it jumped around and the characters. So much of it just seemed over the top, almost like there was too much going on. Added to this aside from Lorna, I never really became that involved with the main characters. Not convinced that women bond as quickly and share their secrets as Emma, Maggie and Olivia did. So while I liked it and never considered giving up on it, I never loved it either. Others may well appreciate this story more than I did. Readable and entertaining but just not as good or as involving as I was expecting.
February 10, 2020
Following the lives of four very different women all at different stages of their life. Pop on down to Lorna & Roy's holiday cottages in Cornwall where all the families come together.
Em - a mum of two with a new boyfriend, her children are not prepared for the sudden tag along of George and his young daughter (who kind of sounds like the devil) as the two families try to blend together.
Lorna - still grieves for her son who died 20 years ago and struggles with her grief whilst running the holiday cottages with her partner Roy. A secret from the past may help her move on with the next chapter of her life.
Maggie - a single mum of a teen, she feels the distance widening between her and her daughter. She also feels quite invisible and like she plods through life. Until her daughter wants to see her dad and Maggie re-evaluates her own happiness.
Then finally Olivia - a mum of two who feels the stress of looking after toddlers, fears she is like her own mum and possibly has post natal - from my view anyway. Who has a melt down and ups and leaves her family in desperation.
This is cleverly written and touches on real issues and the characters are flawed but very believable and warm. They all have their strengths but is also nice to see each individuals hopes and fears.
They all seem to have lost themselves along the way of life slightly and all delve into their pasts in different ways to confront issues and aim to find themselves in a happier place.
Em - a mum of two with a new boyfriend, her children are not prepared for the sudden tag along of George and his young daughter (who kind of sounds like the devil) as the two families try to blend together.
Lorna - still grieves for her son who died 20 years ago and struggles with her grief whilst running the holiday cottages with her partner Roy. A secret from the past may help her move on with the next chapter of her life.
Maggie - a single mum of a teen, she feels the distance widening between her and her daughter. She also feels quite invisible and like she plods through life. Until her daughter wants to see her dad and Maggie re-evaluates her own happiness.
Then finally Olivia - a mum of two who feels the stress of looking after toddlers, fears she is like her own mum and possibly has post natal - from my view anyway. Who has a melt down and ups and leaves her family in desperation.
This is cleverly written and touches on real issues and the characters are flawed but very believable and warm. They all have their strengths but is also nice to see each individuals hopes and fears.
They all seem to have lost themselves along the way of life slightly and all delve into their pasts in different ways to confront issues and aim to find themselves in a happier place.
July 22, 2020
Много наивна, на места даже елементарна, но в крайна сметка една ненатоварваща книга с много щастливи развръзки.
February 4, 2020
A fun warm story by author Lucy Diamond. It brought together four women with their own set of problems staying in the cottages in Cornwall.
Reading this author after a long time, I cherished the emotions that were evoked. The characters were varied, but with strength and vulnerabilities. Each of these women added a different color to the story.
The sun and sand of Cornwall were so vivid that I was soothed by it. Love, family friendship and the glitches that come with it made this a wonderful read.
I hope to listen to the audiobook version of it soon.
Reading this author after a long time, I cherished the emotions that were evoked. The characters were varied, but with strength and vulnerabilities. Each of these women added a different color to the story.
The sun and sand of Cornwall were so vivid that I was soothed by it. Love, family friendship and the glitches that come with it made this a wonderful read.
I hope to listen to the audiobook version of it soon.
May 14, 2020
I have only given this book 4 stars as I didn’t think it was as enjoyable as Lucy Diamond’s other books. It was an ok read but, it just didn’t do it for me as much. I found it a tiny bit tedious at times and very predictable which is such a shame as usually I enjoy her books a lot.
Here’s hoping her next one is back to her usual standard.
Here’s hoping her next one is back to her usual standard.
December 15, 2023
So many characters to keep track off.
The Cornwall setting was nice though.
Will track down a hard copy book for a reread.
Listened to the audiobook on BorrowBox
Published by Macmillan
Read by Clare Corbett
Duration: 10 hrs, 56min. 1.25x Speed
The Cornwall setting was nice though.
Will track down a hard copy book for a reread.
Listened to the audiobook on BorrowBox
Published by Macmillan
Read by Clare Corbett
Duration: 10 hrs, 56min. 1.25x Speed
April 16, 2020
An Almost Perfect Holiday by Lucy Diamond is a charming novel that will certainly fit the bill if you are looking for a light and satisfying holiday read. I had not previously read any of Ms Diamond's work, but I will definitely keep an eye out for her books in future.
Lorna's cottages on the Cornish seaside are filling up for the summer season. Among the new crop of visitors are three women who believe that the holiday will provide the perfect escape. Em and Maggie hope that the break will provide an opportunity to strengthen bonds with their teenage children, while Olivia soon discovers that you can never outrun the past. Each of the women will come to realize that while a holiday might hold the promise of a temporary respite, you can never truly escape the bonds of family, nor the weight of secrets.
This is a cosy, heartfelt read that will provide a welcome escape on any day.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Publishers Group Canada for this ARC.
Lorna's cottages on the Cornish seaside are filling up for the summer season. Among the new crop of visitors are three women who believe that the holiday will provide the perfect escape. Em and Maggie hope that the break will provide an opportunity to strengthen bonds with their teenage children, while Olivia soon discovers that you can never outrun the past. Each of the women will come to realize that while a holiday might hold the promise of a temporary respite, you can never truly escape the bonds of family, nor the weight of secrets.
This is a cosy, heartfelt read that will provide a welcome escape on any day.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Publishers Group Canada for this ARC.
August 22, 2020
A real beige story. The characters weren’t really likeable or dislikable they were just.. beige.
And also, not judging a book by its cover (not the yellow old cover, the new one!), but it lures you in like it’s a thriller. A thriller it is not.
And also, not judging a book by its cover (not the yellow old cover, the new one!), but it lures you in like it’s a thriller. A thriller it is not.
December 4, 2019
really enjoyed this one. Lucy does not disappoint x
March 4, 2020
This book has a lovely feel good factor. Lucy Diamond can write characters and relationships with such understanding and depth I found it easy to relate to every character in this beautiful book.
The three main characters in this book had their own struggles and their chance meeting in Cornwall on holiday opened up a friendship and unity which gave them each strength in themselves and what they could achieve.
We all imagine the perfect family holiday which sometimes turns into something completely different.
Em is excited to be going away with her new love George, but will her own teenagers and George’s daughter add to the fun or is it a recipe for disaster?
Olivia has been finding motherhood challenging. She has escaped to rethink her future and try to come to terms with her past. Will confronting her secrets help or open a whole new can of worms?
Maggie is trying to reconnect with her teenage daughter. Surely a holiday away will bond them but with the appearance of her ex husband she must try to put their differences aside for her daughters sake.
Friendship, family relationships, blended families, childhood secrets, post natal depression, grief and happiness are among the many real life issues covered in this book. This is the perfect book to relax with, safe in the knowledge most families who may seem perfect on the surface are all struggling with their own issues.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for my chance to read this charming book .
The three main characters in this book had their own struggles and their chance meeting in Cornwall on holiday opened up a friendship and unity which gave them each strength in themselves and what they could achieve.
We all imagine the perfect family holiday which sometimes turns into something completely different.
Em is excited to be going away with her new love George, but will her own teenagers and George’s daughter add to the fun or is it a recipe for disaster?
Olivia has been finding motherhood challenging. She has escaped to rethink her future and try to come to terms with her past. Will confronting her secrets help or open a whole new can of worms?
Maggie is trying to reconnect with her teenage daughter. Surely a holiday away will bond them but with the appearance of her ex husband she must try to put their differences aside for her daughters sake.
Friendship, family relationships, blended families, childhood secrets, post natal depression, grief and happiness are among the many real life issues covered in this book. This is the perfect book to relax with, safe in the knowledge most families who may seem perfect on the surface are all struggling with their own issues.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for my chance to read this charming book .
July 24, 2020
Optimistic, heartwarming, and charming!
An Almost Perfect Holiday is a lovely, lighthearted tale that introduces you to three unique women, all at different stages of their lives, who after spending a not so relaxing vacation at the same holiday resort each depart with a little more hope, sense of self-worth, contentment, and stronger bonds with those they love.
The prose is emotive and sweet. The characters are multifaceted, relatable, and endearing. And the plot is a delightfully inspiring tale about life, loss, family, secrets, motherhood, self-discovery, moving on, taking chances, and finding happiness.
Overall, An Almost Perfect Holiday is an amusing, tender, heartfelt tale by Diamond that is entertaining, satisfying, and a real summer treat.
Thank you to Publishers Group Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
An Almost Perfect Holiday is a lovely, lighthearted tale that introduces you to three unique women, all at different stages of their lives, who after spending a not so relaxing vacation at the same holiday resort each depart with a little more hope, sense of self-worth, contentment, and stronger bonds with those they love.
The prose is emotive and sweet. The characters are multifaceted, relatable, and endearing. And the plot is a delightfully inspiring tale about life, loss, family, secrets, motherhood, self-discovery, moving on, taking chances, and finding happiness.
Overall, An Almost Perfect Holiday is an amusing, tender, heartfelt tale by Diamond that is entertaining, satisfying, and a real summer treat.
Thank you to Publishers Group Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 16, 2020
For the genre, a definite 4-star read, but personally a little closer to a 3 for me.
This is a lovely story of friendship, the trials and tribulations of family life, love and loss. The highlight was the connections which developed between the characters and how their lives were interconnected and interwoven.
Four very different women are the central characters in this book. It is an easy to follow plot, with many real-life, believable touches, all in the English setting of Cornwall. The novel is highly enjoyable. Teen angst, heartache and secrets, and new beginnings are central to the story.
This is a lovely story of friendship, the trials and tribulations of family life, love and loss. The highlight was the connections which developed between the characters and how their lives were interconnected and interwoven.
Four very different women are the central characters in this book. It is an easy to follow plot, with many real-life, believable touches, all in the English setting of Cornwall. The novel is highly enjoyable. Teen angst, heartache and secrets, and new beginnings are central to the story.
June 17, 2020
What a beautiful book this was. I loved getting to know the characters and their families and the problems they all faced. I would’ve loved to read this on a beach somewhere it’s pure summer escapism.
May 10, 2020
Family holidays, eagerly anticipated and so often disappointing. Join three very different women as they spend two weeks in Cornwall at Lorna's holiday cottages. Maggie and her 14 year old daughter, Em with her two teenagers, her new boyfriend and his young daughter, Olivia who's taking a break from her family altogether.
Laugh, cry, reminisce about being a teenager with all the angst and stupidity that entails. Sympathise with all three women and cheer as they each triumph in their own ways.
I requested this arc from NetGalley and was unable to read the file (some corruption occurred in the download) but I really wanted to read something light-hearted and uplifting so I bought a copy anyway. This was fun, relatable and certainly uplifting, just what the doctor ordered.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Laugh, cry, reminisce about being a teenager with all the angst and stupidity that entails. Sympathise with all three women and cheer as they each triumph in their own ways.
I requested this arc from NetGalley and was unable to read the file (some corruption occurred in the download) but I really wanted to read something light-hearted and uplifting so I bought a copy anyway. This was fun, relatable and certainly uplifting, just what the doctor ordered.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
July 19, 2022
Почти перфектна,ама почти...
February 21, 2020
I am most certainly a fan of Lucy Diamond's books and was looking forward to reading something by her and thankfully I wasn't disappointed. Having said that, I didn't enjoy this book as much as the last one of hers I read. It's a little bit slow to start but warms up wonderfully and it ended up being a very enjoyable read.
There are three main characters in this story all of who have their own problems but for me Emma was the main lead and her story was enjoyable and her family very funny at times. Emma is divorced and decides to take her holiday in Cornwall with her new boyfriend and his daughter. It was bound to be a disaster from the outset but she is a very likeable character and one that I was rooting for from the beginning.
The cottage that Emma has rented stands next to two others which is where both Maggie and Olivia make their entrance. Maggie is a single mother with teenage daughter and Olivia is running away from her own family problems but returning to the place of her youth. There are a few various threads running through this story but at its heart is three women all trying to do what is right and sharing their journey's with them.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the characters within it, although I ended up feeling a little disappointed with the way that Olivia's story progressed, which maybe counts towards the 4 and not 5 star review. That small niggle aside this is a great book and one that I think many people will enjoy.
There are three main characters in this story all of who have their own problems but for me Emma was the main lead and her story was enjoyable and her family very funny at times. Emma is divorced and decides to take her holiday in Cornwall with her new boyfriend and his daughter. It was bound to be a disaster from the outset but she is a very likeable character and one that I was rooting for from the beginning.
The cottage that Emma has rented stands next to two others which is where both Maggie and Olivia make their entrance. Maggie is a single mother with teenage daughter and Olivia is running away from her own family problems but returning to the place of her youth. There are a few various threads running through this story but at its heart is three women all trying to do what is right and sharing their journey's with them.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the characters within it, although I ended up feeling a little disappointed with the way that Olivia's story progressed, which maybe counts towards the 4 and not 5 star review. That small niggle aside this is a great book and one that I think many people will enjoy.
July 26, 2020
Three different women, with their own family problems, end up staying at holiday cottages in Cornwall during summer break - on first impression you may think this is going to be a light poolside read... and it is just that, it’s warm and fun but it’s more than that too. Diamond really explores the tolls life takes on a person, and on women in particular. I smarted with anger at some of the injustices the characters faced because they were so relatable and true to life.
Life is hard and this book doesn’t shy away from that... it’s death, it’s putting on extra weight, rejection, trauma, ageing... but there’s also hope and love and unity. I also really appreciated how mental health was dealt with in the book and how talking about it was normalised.
Life is hard and this book doesn’t shy away from that... it’s death, it’s putting on extra weight, rejection, trauma, ageing... but there’s also hope and love and unity. I also really appreciated how mental health was dealt with in the book and how talking about it was normalised.
July 13, 2022
Страхотен наратив. Книгата е лека, приятна, лятна. Някои от героините бяха по-интересни от другите, прескачането в историите беше плавно и недразнещо и успешно авторката свърза в даден момент съдбите на Ема, Маги и Оливия. Точно такова четиво по принцип е идеално за плаж или да слушаш докато вършиш механична работа.
August 18, 2021
An amazing story about family, love and finding yourself. I absolutely loved it.
September 21, 2024
Привидно лятно и неангажиращо четиво, но се оказа далеч по- добро !!
Четири жени, четири различни истории, които авторката умело преплита и преобръща. Една много истинска и чисто човешка книга !!
Четири жени, четири различни истории, които авторката умело преплита и преобръща. Една много истинска и чисто човешка книга !!
December 1, 2024
Лек летен роман за живота на различни герои и как може да се преплетат в един момент.
September 21, 2025
CAWPILE 5.14
3 STARS
Read for the Buzzword Prompt for September 2025 (An event in the title eg, holiday, wedding, prom)
Plus a prompt filler for multi POV Orilium Autumn Equinox September 2025.
A very easy read, a bit predictable to be honest. A kind of mindless holiday read but it was a nice change of pace- I would read another Lucy Diamond book in the future.
3 STARS
Read for the Buzzword Prompt for September 2025 (An event in the title eg, holiday, wedding, prom)
Plus a prompt filler for multi POV Orilium Autumn Equinox September 2025.
A very easy read, a bit predictable to be honest. A kind of mindless holiday read but it was a nice change of pace- I would read another Lucy Diamond book in the future.
July 2, 2025
Kirja oli monen päähenkilönsä takia alkuun aika sekava, ja sillä kesti päästä vauhtiin. Kuitenkin, kun tarinaan pääsi mukaan oli se hyvin viihdyttävä ja mukava lukea loman harvinaisina hellepäivinä. Toisaalta mietin, että päähenkilöitä oli vähän liikaa ja sen vuoksi osa juonikuvioista oli aika oiottuja tai jäi mielestäni kesken. Tässä oli vähän liikaa kaikkea.
March 6, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. I've read quite a few Lucy Diamond novels over the years, and here she didn't disappoint. The character descriptions were excellent and I could picture perfectly both the setting and the scenarios.
February 14, 2020
I think Lucy Diamond has written some of the best romantic comedy in recent years and this one doesn't disappoint. Three very different groups head to holixay cottages in Cornwall but it isn't long before their lives intertwine. I loved the way the three women automatically gravitated towards each other especially when several bottles of wine are present. I think we have all done this on holiday, you think you will have nothing in common apart from the shared pool but it isn't long before you are chatting away like old friends. I would advise anyone settling down with this book to have a large bar of chocolate and a box of tissues beside them because along with the laughs there are some very poignant moments along the way. All in all a great read.
April 9, 2020
“An Almost Perfect Holiday” is a funny and moving novel; essentially a piece of chick lit which looks at the concerns of (mostly) middle aged women.
Lorna rents out three small cottages as holiday homes – with new guests coming every week or fortnight, there’s always someone new to meet. Wondering about these people’s lives helps Lorna to fill the gap left by her son’s untimely death.
Em thinks she’s booked the perfect holiday. A little expensive, true, but it looks beautiful. The perfect place for a family holiday with her two teenagers, her new boyfriend, and the boyfriend’s seven year old daughter. Even though she’s never met his daughter before. And even though it’s still early days with George. Surely it will be a magical, bonding experience for everyone?
And then there’s Maggie. A single mother for years, she’s starting to feel her teenage daughter pull away from her. Perhaps this holiday can help re-establish their bond, re-light the fire of some of their shared interests.
Olivia finds herself there almost by accident. Will her holiday help fix her life, or will it destroy it?
These three women are the main characters, though their teenage daughters and Lorna also have significant roles. The males – sons, lovers, ex-husbands, and husbands – get very little opportunity to show us their inner lives. This novel is all about the women. And it’s the women in their late thirties and forties that get the most attention. Although this reads like chick lit in many ways, these characters are a little older than is common in that genre. Sure, they have the same concerns around love as you’ll see in younger women, but they’re complicated by previous relationships, teenage children, and past experience. The characters are mature, and have lived a fair bit of life already.
This is a great balance – mature and interesting characters, with the light touch and humor that characterises much chick lit. I found the characters particularly believable; each was vividly drawn and their dilemmas were so everyday.
There’s a fair bit of humor here, mostly in the verbal exchanges. Diamond has an ear for the kind of exchanges that happen in families – sharp, sometimes witty, sometimes cheesy. It’s kind of familiar – you’ll smile in part because you’ve probably heard people close to you speak exactly like that.
I enjoyed this a lot. It’ll entertain you, and provide a lot of enjoyment. I don’t think most people will find it provoking deep thinking, or even find it especially memorable – but it’s a good read and will provide a pleasant interlude.
If you enjoyed this review, please visit www.otherdreamsotherlives.home.blog to read more.
Lorna rents out three small cottages as holiday homes – with new guests coming every week or fortnight, there’s always someone new to meet. Wondering about these people’s lives helps Lorna to fill the gap left by her son’s untimely death.
Em thinks she’s booked the perfect holiday. A little expensive, true, but it looks beautiful. The perfect place for a family holiday with her two teenagers, her new boyfriend, and the boyfriend’s seven year old daughter. Even though she’s never met his daughter before. And even though it’s still early days with George. Surely it will be a magical, bonding experience for everyone?
And then there’s Maggie. A single mother for years, she’s starting to feel her teenage daughter pull away from her. Perhaps this holiday can help re-establish their bond, re-light the fire of some of their shared interests.
Olivia finds herself there almost by accident. Will her holiday help fix her life, or will it destroy it?
These three women are the main characters, though their teenage daughters and Lorna also have significant roles. The males – sons, lovers, ex-husbands, and husbands – get very little opportunity to show us their inner lives. This novel is all about the women. And it’s the women in their late thirties and forties that get the most attention. Although this reads like chick lit in many ways, these characters are a little older than is common in that genre. Sure, they have the same concerns around love as you’ll see in younger women, but they’re complicated by previous relationships, teenage children, and past experience. The characters are mature, and have lived a fair bit of life already.
This is a great balance – mature and interesting characters, with the light touch and humor that characterises much chick lit. I found the characters particularly believable; each was vividly drawn and their dilemmas were so everyday.
There’s a fair bit of humor here, mostly in the verbal exchanges. Diamond has an ear for the kind of exchanges that happen in families – sharp, sometimes witty, sometimes cheesy. It’s kind of familiar – you’ll smile in part because you’ve probably heard people close to you speak exactly like that.
I enjoyed this a lot. It’ll entertain you, and provide a lot of enjoyment. I don’t think most people will find it provoking deep thinking, or even find it especially memorable – but it’s a good read and will provide a pleasant interlude.
If you enjoyed this review, please visit www.otherdreamsotherlives.home.blog to read more.
August 7, 2020
Противно на очакванията ми за леко, подходящо четиво за плажа тип чиклит, книгата провокира размисъл и емоции. Напук на неангажиращата корица, обаче, историята въплъщава историите на няколко герои в минало и настояще. Представя гледната точка на възрастни, деца и тийнове. Акцентира и върху взаимоотношенията между партньорите в брака, на моменти се люшка и между понятията "добра майка" и "лоша майка" и как те биват преекспонирани от различните хора в различни моменти от живота им.
Определено се оказа неочаквано добро четиво не само за плажа, но и за уютен уикенд, сгушени на дивана у дома. Препоръчвам!
Определено се оказа неочаквано добро четиво не само за плажа, но и за уютен уикенд, сгушени на дивана у дома. Препоръчвам!
February 7, 2020
Perhaps this book might have been better read on a balmy summer evening or by the swimming pool on my holiday but it was a cold windy day in February and I didn’t enjoy it much at all. The plot and characters just too light for me but I can imagine it will have a market.
April 5, 2020
Fantastic book centring around three women in different circumstances. Heart warming, funny and entertaining with a few surprises along the way. I found the story telling enthralling and thoroughly enjoyed every page. Highly recommended.
Thank you Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley
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