One Summer Between Friends

by Trish Morey

Australian author Trish Morey returns with a compelling and moving story about broken friendships and the rocky road of forgiveness. Coming home was never going to be easy ...

With a failed marriage behind her, and her career dreams in tatters, Sarah returns home to Lord Howe Island to run the family store. Paradise to most, Lord Howe is the last place Sarah wants to be, trapped on an island with her two ex-best friends, Floss and Jules.

Floss has the life she always wanted: married to her high school sweetheart, Andy, with five gorgeous children. But something is missing from her marriage. And now she has a secret that threatens to tear her happy family apart, and the only person she can talk to is the woman who pushed her away.

For Jules, forgetting the past is impossible. Her four-year-old daughter is an everyday reminder of the friendships she has lost. But when a discovery turns her life upside down, she knows this is an opportunity to set things right.

This summer, can these women overcome the pain of the past and find their way back to the friendship they once had?

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Womens Fiction

368 pages, Paperback

Published December 16, 2019

About the author

Trish Morey always fancied herself a writer, but was sternly advised that she better better think about getting a real job instead. Which Trish figures must be why she spent her university years washing dishes in a Chinese restaurant by night and picking gherkins for an Adelaide Hills primary producer by day. (Enough to put you off "real jobs" for life).

It was another twelve years, an accounting career and two babies on that Trish once again turned her mind to writing. it was a further eleven years (and two more babies:)) before Trish sold her first book to Harlequin Presents, and her dream of being a published author came true.

Some forty books later, Trish is now an award winning and USA Today Bestselling Author of some 40+ books. Trish still loves writing romance but these days combines it with all the fun, drama and sisterhood of women, family and girlfriends.

When she’s not out traveling the world in search of inspiration for her stories, Trish lives with her husband, Daisy their over enthusiastic Cavoodle pup, Daisy, and Leo, their very old and totally unenthusiastic cat, down on the glorious South Coast of South Australia where the waves crash over the granite rocks and splash upon the golden sands.

Trish reckons she has the best job in the world.

Reviews

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sarah’s world was falling apart after a failed marriage followed by her career which she had worked so hard on, but to no avail. The one place she truly didn’t want to return to was Lord Howe Island, but, maybe going back there and helping her parents run the family store is what she needed or was it?

Sarah knew that returning to the Island there would be a good chance she would cross paths with Floss and Jules. Growing up the three of them were best friends, but something occurred between them and Sarah hadn’t had any contact with them for many years.

Will this be the Summer for Sarah, Floss and Jules to put their past behind them and be friends again or has too much time passed to forgive and forget.

A beautifully written story of friendship that will pull at your heartstrings and leave you wanting more. I thoroughly loved this story and look forward to reading more by this author in the future.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my digital copy to read and review.

[Brooke - Brooke's Reading Life · Rating 4 out of 5]

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One Summer Between Friends by Trish Morey. (2019).

**Thank you to Harlequin Australia for sending me a free advance reading copy of this novel; due to be published 16 December 2019**

With a failed marriage and her career dreams in tatters, Sarah returns home to Lord Howe Island to help her family run the family store. It's the last place she wants to be, trapped on an island with her two ex-best friends; Floss & Jules.
Floss is living her dream life, married to her high school sweetheart with 5 kids. But something is missing from her marriage and now she has a guilty secret. For Jules, her 4 year old daughter Della is an everyday reminder of the friendships she has lost. But when a shocking discovery turns her life upside down, maybe it's a chance to set things right. This summer, can these women overcome the past and find their way back to the close friendship they once had?

This author is well established and popular, but this is my first experience of her writing and I can confirm that I really enjoyed it! There are a lot of serious themes at play in this book including infertility, alcoholism, cheating in a relationship, cancer, spouse/parent death and friendship breakdowns. Yet it was a really easy read that just flowed well; I read it within a 24 hour period. The chapters switch between the point of views of Sarah, Floss & Jules. All of these women are likeable, relatable and slightly flawed which made them seem very realistic to me. Keep your eye out for scenes featuring Sarah's mum Dot who frankly is a nightmare haha!
I'd happily recommend this novel and I think it would make a fabulous holiday read.

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging contemporary novel about friendship, and forgiveness, One Summer Between Friends is the latest offering from bestselling Australian author, Trish Morey.

“Best friends in the world. Best friends in the universe. Best friends forever.”

One Summer Between Friends unfolds from the perspectives of Sarah, Floss, and Jules, three women in their thirties, who have not spoken to one another in more than five years, their friendship since childhood having imploded in a rather spectacular manner. When Sarah reluctantly returns to Lord Howe Island, the three women realise they can’t avoid the past forever.

The major themes of the novel are those of friendship and forgiveness as Sarah, Floss, and Jules struggle to accept and atone for the betrayals that divided them. I thought Morey’s exploration of the issues between the women were realistic and thoughtful.

As Morey explores the women’s individual lives she also touches on a myriad of other themes including infertility, infidelity, unplanned pregnancy, breast cancer, alcoholism, and grief. I empathised with Sarah’s pain, Floss’s insecurities, and even Jules’s regret. There is a touch of romance too which I thought was lovely.

The primary setting for One Summer Between Friends is Lord Howe Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site, 700km northeast of Sydney in the Tasman Sea. The tiny crescent shaped island, about 10km long and 2km wide with a population of less than 400, is a wonderful setting for the novel. Morey describes the delights of the area, from Ned’s Beach to the spectacular views, with affection that suggests she has spent some time there.

Moving and enjoyable I thought One Summer Between Friends was a wonderful read.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is Christmas Eve and I had a lot still to do, but there was no way I was putting this book down till I got to the end, this is a compelling story about three friends who grew up together on the beautiful Lord Howe Island and how their friendship was torn apart, can it be saved? I hope you pick this one up and get to know Sarah, Floss and Jules.

An idyllic lifestyle growing up on the island, friends forever, they each knew what they wanted as they grew up, but not all got what they wanted, betrayal and jealousy tore them apart, Floss and Jules stayed on the island but Sarah moved away and now years later Sarah has returned to help her mother and father run the local store, but this will bring her in contact with her two ex-friends and open up old wounds.

Floss married her longtime boyfriend and now has five children she works hard, but things are not going so well in her marriage and she needs someone to talk to can she reconnect and talk to either Jules or even Sarah now that she is back on the island?

Jules would love to put the past behind her but a daughter she loves makes it hard to forget what happened but when she has a medical problem that is life changing Jules is determined to do what she can to put things straight.

Can true friends forgive and forget and put the past behind them, well you need to come on this journey and find out, MS Morey has written a very moving and heart-wrenching story about everyday people she has discussed medical issues, infertility and family life and pulled them together into a story that had me crying and feeling lots of different emotions and yes there are smiles as well. I felt so much for Sarah what she went through and Floss ever so caring but feeling very vulnerable at times and the guilt that Jules carried would have been so hard, an amazing story that was very hard to put down, I do highly recommend this one, I loved it Bravo MS Morey it is fabulous.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic story about love, family, friendship, loss and heartache. I absolutely loved it. I couldn't put it down. Looking forward to reading more of Trish's books.

[Jennifer (JC-S) · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘You just knew some days were going to be special.’

Sarah was hoping to be made a partner in the accounting firm where she’d worked for years. After her marriage failed, she’d invested a lot of time and energy in her career. But when the partnership doesn’t eventuate, Sarah agrees to return to Lord Howe Island for a while, to help her parents in the family store. Sarah really doesn’t want to return to Lord Howe Island, where her two ex-best friends Floss and Jules live. But she doesn’t feel like she has a choice: her mother is incapacitated with a broken hip and her father needs help.

‘It struck her that her life was a bit like those ceiling tiles: stained in places and with other bits all askew.’

Floss is married to her high school sweetheart, Andy, and they have five children. But Andy seems preoccupied and is pushing her away. Who can Floss talk to?

Jules can’t forget the past. Her four-year-old daughter brings her great joy but is a reminder of her broken friendships with Sarah and Floss.

So, what went wrong? How (and why) did Sarah, Jules and Floss go from being best friends to being estranged? Can the past be negotiated? Why did Sarah’s marriage fail and why is her mother so difficult?

Ms Morey delivers an enjoyable, contemporary story about life challenges, friendship and forgiveness. And just in time for the holidays!

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin HQ for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review found at: https://miclovesbooks.home.blog/2020/...

One Summer Between Friends is largely set on Lord Howe Island, a small community off the coast of New South Wales. The setting is glorious and one that I must say sounds like a beautiful place to visit, Morey paints it vividly.
The story is very much character driven but the setting is an integral part of that, especially in that it’s a small community.
Floss, Jules and Sarah were childhood best friends who shared everything and thought they would be lifelong friends there to share the ups and downs of life together, forever. Sarah moved to the mainland to forge a career as an accountant while Floss and Jules were happy to remain on Lord Howe Island. Their friendships remained strong until things happened that tore the friends apart, these were things we didn’t learn about until well into the story and I had to keep reading to find out what went so horribly wrong.
These three friends were so close and to lose a friendship like that leaves a massive hole, a hard hole to fill because friendships like that are hard to find.
We open with Sarah thinking she may finally be about to be offered a partnership at the firm she has given her all to for 17 years, a firm she started in straight out of university. A partnership there was question she would ever be offered because it still has very much a boys’ club mentality. Unfortunately her day doesn’t quite go to plan, beginning with the call from her father with news that her parents are in a Sydney hospital after hip surgery for her mother; recovery and rehab are going to take time and they need her to come home for six months to run the family store on the island. How is that ever going to work when she thinks she’s about to be offered the position she has spent years working towards?
More to the point, why would she want to return to the island and all of the past hurts she’s been trying to escape. She doesn’t want to be on the island where she can’t hide from the ghosts of her past and she can’t forget all that has happened.
Her meeting with the partners goes far from how she expected and she agrees to head home to run the store, albeit reluctantly.
Floss seems to have it all, married to her highschool sweetheart with a brood of beautiful children and living in paradise; except that things aren’t always how they seem. Floss is feeling a little trapped in her life and her marriage has seen better days, and she has no idea what to do about it.
Jules is happily living a life she never expected, or knew she wanted, until she finds something that changes everything.
One Summer Between Friends is very much the story of all three of these ladies but I feel like Sarah is really the central character. She has certainly not had things easy and I found her easy to relate to.
Actually, I found all of these women easy to relate to. These are women approaching 40 and going through things that many women of a similar age are going to understand and empathise with. We won’t always react the same way or make the same decisions but I could certainly see how thedecisions were made.
One thing that really touched me is that these women, friends since childhood, who had always thought they would be friends forever, don’t seem to have other really close friends. I’m sure they have other friends and people they spend time with but not friends that they can share anything deeper than the day to day. I think that’s beautiful in that it was clearly a friendship so deep and special that it’s irreplaceable but it’s also sad that when the friendship imploded there wasn’t anyone to share the struggles that require a special friendship.
Sarah being back on the island is a perfect opportunity to try and find a way back to friendship but she’s determined that’s not on the cards. Jules reaches out and Sarah wants no part of it.
The reunion between Sarah and Floss came as a surprise to both of them with an unexpected meeting in the store, though I guess they both knew it was possible. Theirs is a slightly awkward meeting which leads to more regular contact.
I can completely understand this falling out, Floss had everything Sarah had always wanted and couldn’t have. Her bitter jealousy got the better of her and she snapped, said terrible things and broke off a friendship they both relied on. Years later and Sarah is dealing a little better with the way things are, she knows she was in the wrong and tries to make amends; helped by the fact that Floss understands.
This becomes a summer of transformation for all three women. I quickly realised that it’s not just the ghosts of friendships past that Sarah is running from, her mother has a poison tongue and unleashes it on Sarah regularly. There were some comments that I thought were just insensitive and thoughtless but not necessarily intended to harm, but there were others that were most definitely designed to flay and open wounds Sarah is so desperately trying to heal.
I loved these women and I felt for them through their issues and I hoped that they would find their way back to each other because the friendship they shared was an important piece of all their lives. I could understand Sarah’s reluctance but I also hoped they would find a way through it.
The struggles they face are the same struggles that many face; fertility, health issues, intimacy, family dynamics, career choices.
There is a list of book club questions in the back which I have given some thought to but won’t address here because it gives away quite a lot.
All three of these women have done things they aren’t proud of, things that it isn’t easy to come back from. Things they need to forgive themselves for as much as ask forgiveness and though some of them I can understand I still don’t know that I could have forgiven myself in their shoes.
One Summer Between Friends was a beautiful book of life, family and friendship in all it’s pleasure and pain. I would love to check back in on these characters in another year or two to see what’s happening for them. I have hopes and dreams for them that I would love see come to fruition.

[Monica Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hmm, when I come across a book that is set in Australia, I automatically scan the blurb to see if the storyline resonates with me. It did, and so here I am.

This is a book which has three intricately woven threads running through it: the stories of Floss, Jules and Sarah. All three of these women have issues to deal with and all of them wish they could turn the clock back to when they were happily enjoying their childhoods on Lord Howe Island (a place I have never been, but now want to visit!). I loved all three of them, even though they were very different women. Dot reminded me very much of my mother - enough said, there.

I could smell the salt air as I was reading this book, and I loved the characterisations, so much. In fact, I didn't want the book to end - any follow-on books, let me know :)

Beautiful novel, it really was. Highly recommended.

5 stars from me.

Thank you to Harlequin Australia for the ARC. All opinions regarding this book are entirely my own.

[Sofie Patton · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounded up to 3. I don’t necessary think this book was bad, just not for me. The beginning was very slow for me because I didn’t feel connected to the characters enough to care about what they were going through. A lot of the book felt that way until we started uncovering more of the past which helped me get more into it. Cute read with a cute story but the whole thing pretty predictable. Was a fun read with an Australian setting while being in Australia.

[Certified Book Addicts · Rating 5 out of 5]

One Summer Between Friends is the latest contemporary read from Australian author, Trish Morey. I really enjoyed Table For Eight so this was one I was looking forward to. In her latest offering, there is something for everyone as Morey explores a range of topical issues that all readers can relate to. Infidelity, death, terminal illness, infertility, alcoholism and friendship are just some of these issues that the three main characters must deal with. Told in the third person, Sarah, Floss and Jules are relatable women with flaws and strengths they use to navigate life’s challenges on Lord Howe Island.

Growing up together on the island, the girls thought they would be lifelong friends. Some questionable choices made along the way shatters that dream. With disloyalty and envy in the air, Sarah leaves the island. Floss and Jules settle down on the island. Floss happily married Andy, her high school sweetheart, becoming a mother to five children. Now, her marriage is not as strong as it used to be and Floss needs someone she can confide in.

Jules life is in complete contrast to Floss. A single mother to a beautiful four year old girl, Jules cannot put the past behind her. When an illness rears its ugly head, Jules life is about to change forever. Illness is a common theme in women’s fiction and I appreciated the hope that was infused within the storyline.

Years later, Sarah returns home to help her mother and father run the local store. In reality, her career is over and her marriage has failed. There is nothing keeping Sarah tied to her old life. Returning to the Lord Howe Island, Sarah cannot escape her past.
Are Floss, Jules and Sarah ready to face each other and the truth?

For fans of old or new, One Summer Between Friends is a five star read that will help you leave your troubles behind.

[Claire Louisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't quite sure if I was going to enjoy this book when I picked it up, but I'm really glad I did because it was a really good read.

The story revolves around three friends, though it predominantly revolves around Sarah's story, her friends' Floss and Jules, play important roles in the past events and how the future will play out for all three of them. 

Sarah's marriage has failed and she was betrayed by her friends, now her world seems to be closing in on the past when she is needed to return to Lord Howe Island after her mother has a fall. Sarah's mother, Dot, now there is a character I detested from the get-go. She was a nasty person indeed and how Sarah managed to grow up with a mother who continually put her down and said nasty things is beyond me, I continually hoped Sarah would stand up to her and tell her to "shut up!" I know if I had a mother like that, nothing would have dragged me back to help out, especially when it meant running into old friends who I'd been avoiding for several years. Sarah's father, Sam, was a nice man, but I couldn't understand why he never really stood up for her against her mother, the comment 'you know how she is' got old quickly.

Floss, married with five children, is struggling through her own issues with her husband Andy, and I felt for Floss in this struggle and the belief that perhaps her marriage was on the rocks. 

Jules betrayed Sarah and for most of the novel, I was on Sarah's side of this, but as the story went on and small things and secrets came out, I felt that though there had been betrayal, Richard was the one I disliked the most. Jules has an adorable daughter, Della who was an important part of this story. 

There are many themes covered in this story, but one of the important ones is Jules' diagnosis of breast cancer. The struggles of the treatment and the issue of being away from home due to where she lived, are ones women face every day, and I thought this was all handled very well. 

There is a nice slice of romance in the novel, Noah, a locum police officer on the island, was just lovely and I enjoyed the relationship that formed between Noah and Sarah and was hoping there would be some way they could make things work seeing as they both came from different states and were only on the island for a short time period. 

This was a really enjoyable read, culminating in a satisfying ending. 

[Trish Morey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved writing this story, not just because it gave me a chance to revisit one of the most beautiful locations on the planet (at least in my head) but because I wanted to explore how broken friendships could be and yet still be redeemable. Beyond that, it was so good to touch on and explore so many issues facing women these days. Families, relationships, friendships, breast cancer, forgiveness and more. Plus a tiny thread of romance, just for fun, because everyone deserves a happy ending. Well, mostly everyone. There's probably one character in one summer between friends who most readers would think doesn't. Wonder who that is, hmmm? :-)) Enjoy.

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trish Morey returns with a story about 3 friends who were once close but are now estranged. Floss is a mother of 5 and battles bringing up her children with running a holiday park. Her husband Andy is a fly in fly out worker, so it is pretty much up to her most of the time. They were once close but now seem drifting apart.
Sarah has a career as an accountant in a prestigious firm in Sydney, she is driven to aim for that partnership that has eluded her for ages. She is a widow but bitter because of the circumstances that led to her becoming a widow.
Jules is a single mother of Della and battles to bring her up on her own after Della’s father is deemed missing at sea. The issue is that Sarah’s ex-husband is Della’s father. Added to this is a shocking medical issue that threatens to turn her life upside down unless she makes plans for the future.
When Sarah returns home to look after her family’s store as her mother has had a hip replacement, she must face up to her two friends who live in the same place. Will they ever return to that happy place they felt when they were best friends.
A very enjoyable read set on Lord Howe Island off the coast of New South Wales, lovely descriptions of life there and the scenery. Readers of contemporary women’s fiction will enjoy this novel immensely.
Thank you to #NetGalley and Harlequin HQ for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes in exchange for an honest opinion. #harpercollinsaustralia #harlequinmira
#OneSummerBetweenFriends #NetGalley

[Corrinne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't usually read romance but this is more than just romance. It was about relationships and life. I really enjoyed this book on my holidays. To me, a 'holiday read' is uncomplicated, easy to read and has a satisfying ending. Set on Lord Howe Island this was my holiday escape from day to day work, the characters were full of life, believable and relatable. The plot was interesting with real life issues, and was thankfully devoid of the usual romance fluff (no billionaires and arranged marriages).
Just real people, with everyday issues and heartfelt stories. Trish wrote a story that we could all be part of.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

“One Summer Between Friends” is an insightful novel that probes the breakdown of several apparently strong female friendships. It’s unsparing, but also generous and understanding towards the characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel.

Sarah, Floss and Jules have been friends since childhood. They thought nothing would ever shake a friendship so tight; but Jules made a bad mistake, devastated Sarah and put Floss off-side. Sarah has firmly rooted herself in Sydney, and Floss and Jules manage to avoid each other even on tiny Lord Howe Island, where they all grew up.

Family illness drags Sarah back to the island. She’s not just reluctant, she’s resisting it with every fibre of her being. Yet she just might find that this summer is an opportunity to put some of her demons to rest, and perhaps reclaim the friendships that once meant everything.

The three central characters are all believable and empathetic. Their behaviours and reactions are completely believable; although I found Jules the hardest to empathise with, that’s perhaps just because she’s the least like me. I suspect that most readers will see something of themselves in one or more of the characters, and will see their friends in others. Although the three women are distinct and believable characters, they’re also recognisably modern Australian women with recognisable behaviours and character traits.

I liked the way Morey revealed things to us. Since all the characters knew what happened, it was reasonable that they tended to think about the consequences rather than the actual events. But Morey doesn’t overdo this piquing of readers’ curiousity – the details are revealed at an appropriate moment in the story. In the same way, aspects of the women’s characters and past events are gradually uncovered in a way that feels very natural.

I particularly appreciated that there was no quick or easy solution to the estrangement. Some novels make it seem that all you have to do is say “sorry” and everything is instantly okay. It’s usually more complicated than that, and Morey explores this with considerable empathy.

This is a novel for those who enjoy strong character based narratives. The plot is not exactly predictable, but nor will you feel particularly surprised by anything that happens. However, the characters are strongly drawn, and the relationships between them explored sensitively, but with a realness that is refreshing.

I very much enjoyed this novel. It’s not the most demanding I’ve read recently, but it is perceptive and well written, with characters who come to life. It should be widely appreciated by readers of Australian women’s fiction.

If you enjoyed this review, please visit www.otherdreamsotherlives.home.blog to read more.

[Fiona G-reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a great holiday on Lord Howe Island many moons ago, so this was always going into my to be read pile. Instantly, I was back on the island where the wind near the airport is blowing your bike backwards, there are hills for miles (killer if you want to explore on the bike), the fish feeding at Ned's beach is awesome, the hibiscus are to die for, the roads oh so dark at night unless you have a torch, and the hospitality is awesome. Five stars for that alone.

And then there are the three friends, torn apart years ago and now trapped together on the island. Whereas once they were carefree teens, now they are adults, navigating the adult stuff the same as the rest of us - the best way they know how. But, with the added complexity of never wanting to speak to each other again on a very tiny island. This is a little deeper/less escapism than my usual reads but I couldn't put it down. I think anyone who's lost a valuable friend in a conflict will recognise the hurt.

The only thing that could have made this reading experience better would have been reading it on a beach/veranda on Lord Howe. (Makes mental note to check the travel status of Lord Howe during the 2020 pandemic...)

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I e read this book previously, a few years back 🤔 maybe even 5 years ago 🤔

I’m sorry to read in the authors acknowledgment that she also went down the cancer path Jules character went. Cancer is just pure evil!

Forgiveness and understanding between friends is what keeps them together, for the long haul. Through everything.
Richard was a s*#t and Sarah’s friend k ew it! Right from the beginning.
Loved Noah’s character.
Dot was full of BS! Such an abusing person who covered up her real self from a small island community/ that took some skill. Glad Sarah stood up to her eventually. Dad was a victim of domestic violence but couldn’t fix the problem, so went along with it for years! Omg! I don’t see those 106 days at see being entirely enjoyable with such an abusive woman to share your cabin with. Glad the story stopped before the cruise set off!

[Vicki Robe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very good read.

It was about three females who had been friends since they had gone to school together, until one slept with the others husband and then found out she was pregnant. I guess a pretty good reason to cause a rift between friends!!

Years later and the female who got hurt in the above debacle, gets summoned by her parents to return home as her mother is laid up with an injury and she is required to look after the family business.

Problem being that if she returns home she is bound to run into her ex-friends.......

I suggest you read the book to find out what happens!

[Marlee Roche · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the characters and storyline of this story. The way this book was written was so good that I could visualise characters, the setting, and what was happening, it felt like I was apart of the book like I was in the book. I loved the character development between the 3 girls at the end and glad they forgave each other and found peace with each other and themselves. One thing I didn’t like so much was the ending of the book, it felt really rushed and I just wish that Sarah and Jules became friends earlier in the book then in the second last chapter as I wanted to see their relationship and how it would develop.
All In all, a good book and I would read again

[Marit · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️⭐️ It was really delightful to read an Australian novel set on an island I had barely heard or knew of. The setting added so much enjoyment to a story of friends and their broken relationships. It really highlights the need for friendship, kindness and love under difficult circumstances and how one major misstep can affect close bonds. Lord Howe Island and the occasional Sydney scenes were a prefect backdrop to the unfolding events. Enjoy!

[Lynette Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

this story covers a few subjects well written it is about 3 friends who grew up together but due to circumstances that happen in later life had a falling out the book covers going through radiotherapy for breast cancer the problems of trying and what happens when it doesn't work although it sounds gloom and doom it is so well written and engrossing unable to put down until end

[Glen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not exactly a romance. The H&h don't meet, have some problems. and live HEA. Nevertheless, it was well crafted and believable, with a HEA for all. I also learned some things, so it gets my above average 4-star rating.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed the book.

[Paquita · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Simple, fluffy, light easy read. Mum gave me signed copy of this book as she’s friends with the author. Nice light story amidst crazy times.

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. The characters all jump off the page and lead you on their journey. It is a great example of women’s fiction. 😀

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it! One of my favourite reads so far this year

[Nicole Thorson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a drama filled soapie, an easy, enjoyable read.

[Kellie · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. I'm not interested in cancer stories, there's too many in real life.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first I thought this was going to be a romance. But it's actually womens fiction. Story about love, Life and Tragedy. Forgiveness takes a while but eventually it will win out.

[Melissa vL · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy enjoyable read. A bit predictable. Kind of perfect for a few tired nights of reading.