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The Beginner's Guide to Loneliness
The perfect feel-good read from an exciting new voice in women’s fiction, for fans of Heidi Swain, Cathy Bramley and Jenny Colgan. Tori Williamson is alone. After a tragic event left her isolated from her loved ones, she’s been struggling to find her way back to, well – herself. That’s why she set up her blog, The Beginner’s Guide to Loneliness, as a way of – anonymously – connecting with the outside world and reaching others who just need a little help sometimes. When she’s offered a free spot on a wellbeing retreat in exchange for a review on her blog, Tori is anxious about opening herself up to new surroundings. But after her three closest friends – who she talks to online but has never actually met – convince her it’ll do her some good, she reluctantly agrees and heads off for three weeks in the wild (well, a farm in Wales). From the moment she arrives, Tori is sceptical and quickly finds herself drawn to fellow sceptic Than, the retreat’s dark and mysterious latecomer. But as the beauty of The Farm slowly comes to light she realizes that opening herself up might not be the worst thing. And sharing a yurt with fellow retreater Bay definitely isn’t. Will the retreat be able to fix Tori? Or will she finally learn that being lonely doesn’t mean she’s broken . . . Welcome to The Beginner’s Guide to Loneliness! Where you can learn to move mountains by picking up the smallest of stones…’Sweet, funny, engaging - and underneath the sparkle really rather wise. The perfect tonic for our times.’ VERONICA HENRY, Sunday Times bestselling author of A Wedding at the Beach Hut'A total hug in book form. Warm-hearted, honest and touching, it’s a beautiful story of love and friendship. I loved it!' MIRANDA DICKINSON, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Day We Meet Again‘I LOVED it!’ HEIDI SWAIN, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Secret Seaside Escape'What a read - rollicking fun and emotionally satisfying!' MICHELE GORMAN, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Curvy Girls Club'This book will leave you with a big smile' MANDY BAGGOT, author of My Greek Island Summer 'An absolute delight!' JUDY ASTLEY, author of It Must Have Been the Mistletoe'Genuinely moving, beautifully told and really funny!’ CHRISTINA PISHIRIS, author of Love Songs for Sceptics 'Funny, warm and brilliantly uplifting' CLAIRE FROST, author of Living My Best Life'Getting drawn into the pages of The Beginners Guide to Loneliness is like being drawn into a big soothing hug, right when you need it. Full of warmth, depth and unexpected turns, plus a cast of characters I wish I knew in real life, Laura Bambrey has written a beautiful debut.' LUCY DICKENS, author of The Broken Hearts Honeymoon‘I absolutely devoured this wonderful story of friendship, romance and learning to love yourself.
301 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 28, 2020
15 people are currently reading
224 people want to read
About the author
Laura Bambrey
1 book5 followersLaura Bambrey was born in Dorset but raised in Wales. She’s worked as a trapeze choreographer, sculpture conservator and stilt walker, amongst others, and spent most of her time collecting stories from the people she met along the way.
She has spent many years as a book blogger and reviewer of women’s fiction and now lives in Devon with her very own romantic hero and a ridiculously fluffy rabbit named Mop. The Beginner’s Guide to Loneliness is her début novel.
She has spent many years as a book blogger and reviewer of women’s fiction and now lives in Devon with her very own romantic hero and a ridiculously fluffy rabbit named Mop. The Beginner’s Guide to Loneliness is her début novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
July 22, 2021
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
Set in a Welsh wellbeing retreat, anonymous loneliness blogger Victoria (Tori) Williamson is there to review the retreat under the disguise of a reviewer for the blog.
Told from Tori’s point of view we get to experience the retreat with her. I can honestly say I loved every minute of this book. The retreat isn’t something I personally would like to take part in, though the stunning location of the Welsh countryside and a huge yurt sounded lovely, even the open water swimming which Tori is petrified of sounded fun, although you can forget the acorn coffee!
Each chapter opens with a quote from Tori about loneliness and with her wisdom on the subject and the courses at the retreat this book would be perfect for anyone who does feel lonely as it has some great advice and is like a self-help book encased within a spectacular fictional story.
The Beginner’s Guide to Loneliness is an uplifting story. It makes you feel good and has quite a few comical moments. It is also sincere, heartfelt, and touching. You find yourself hoping that Tori manages to get some inner peace from her past, including the death of her mother in a serious car accident that has left her numb and unable to move forward with her own life.
This is a stunningly, beautiful debut novel from author Laura Bambrey which I took my time over as I wanted to saviour every chapter and stay with the incredible characters including Dennis the Dog for as long as possible.
Set in a Welsh wellbeing retreat, anonymous loneliness blogger Victoria (Tori) Williamson is there to review the retreat under the disguise of a reviewer for the blog.
Told from Tori’s point of view we get to experience the retreat with her. I can honestly say I loved every minute of this book. The retreat isn’t something I personally would like to take part in, though the stunning location of the Welsh countryside and a huge yurt sounded lovely, even the open water swimming which Tori is petrified of sounded fun, although you can forget the acorn coffee!
Each chapter opens with a quote from Tori about loneliness and with her wisdom on the subject and the courses at the retreat this book would be perfect for anyone who does feel lonely as it has some great advice and is like a self-help book encased within a spectacular fictional story.
The Beginner’s Guide to Loneliness is an uplifting story. It makes you feel good and has quite a few comical moments. It is also sincere, heartfelt, and touching. You find yourself hoping that Tori manages to get some inner peace from her past, including the death of her mother in a serious car accident that has left her numb and unable to move forward with her own life.
This is a stunningly, beautiful debut novel from author Laura Bambrey which I took my time over as I wanted to saviour every chapter and stay with the incredible characters including Dennis the Dog for as long as possible.
August 25, 2021
My word this book was simply fantastic such a great read and can’t wait for more from this author. It’s such a warm funny and so moving and uplifting plenty of mystery and romance and plenty about friends and being happy again and not lonely.
Tori is alone as she lost her mum and her partner bd she can’t find her way in life and she blogs and has made friends but she’s offered a free time on a well being retreat as long as she does a fair review in her blog with her three close friends. She has never met these friends but feels she has. They manage to tell her to go and enjoy but things are strange from the time she arrives she has to share accommodation with another bloke she has to have her phone over but the farm is so lovely with great grounds she starts to relax and open up and she gets friendly with Bay who she is sharing with. Will the retreat help her and fix her and will she find romance or does she leave it to late and she finds massive secrets out to so what will she do.
A perfect read and will have you hooked.
Tori is alone as she lost her mum and her partner bd she can’t find her way in life and she blogs and has made friends but she’s offered a free time on a well being retreat as long as she does a fair review in her blog with her three close friends. She has never met these friends but feels she has. They manage to tell her to go and enjoy but things are strange from the time she arrives she has to share accommodation with another bloke she has to have her phone over but the farm is so lovely with great grounds she starts to relax and open up and she gets friendly with Bay who she is sharing with. Will the retreat help her and fix her and will she find romance or does she leave it to late and she finds massive secrets out to so what will she do.
A perfect read and will have you hooked.
July 27, 2020
This story spoke to me so much, I found it quite an emotional read I think because it did resonate with me so well. Laura deals with loneliness, Tori’s fears and society/social media so well, so compassionately and full of empathy, the author really does Tori justice. I loved all the supporting characters, with their own problems and issues, showing Tori she wasn’t really alone, how others are sharing the same experiences and feelings. This is just a great journey we go on with Tori and it’s so uplifting and rewarding a read.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
August 28, 2020
I read a vast number of books, and most of them fall into the broad categories of romance or women’s fiction: I enjoy almost every single one, and if I don’t I neither finish reading nor write a review. Sometimes though, it can be quite difficult for a book to really stand out, to stick in the memory, to be sufficiently different that it makes me excited – but this was a book that most certainly did.
It didn’t grab me from the very beginning though. First there’s a blog post – it’s the second anniversary of The Beginner’s Guide to Loneliness, and the post tells us a little about it, the idea that you don’t have to be broken to be lonely, and the support the blog provides. Then we move into a chat group conversation – it sets up the story really well, but I’ll readily admit it’s not a format I particularly enjoy (I am getting on a bit, after all…) and I did skip through it a little.
But then, things settle – in her clear voice, Tori tells us about that chat group and what it means to her (the Warriors are her closest – her only – friends): and she decides to follow their advice and head off for a three-week stay at The Farm. It’s a retreat in rural Wales that focuses on healing, mindfulness, relationships, grief – a beautiful setting, a unique experience, but also a daunting one for someone so damaged.
I now have an almost irresistible urge to continue by telling you every twist and turn of what happens next – but I’m not going to. I’m sure you can guess that Tori finds herself in the company of a really diverse group of people, all there for their own reasons and with different goals and expectations, and the relationships between them begin to play out. They all have issues of one kind or another, gradually revealed or uncovered, as friendships are formed and individuals find themselves – and I loved every single moment.
The characterisation is quite exceptional – Tori herself is complex enough, and I found her both sympathetic and easy to identify with in so many ways. No-one is quite what they seem – and it’s fascinating to watch each of them reveal themselves. Each chapter starts with an extract from The Beginner’s Guide, focused on loneliness and friendship and healing – don’t skip over them, whatever you do, because some of them really hit you in the gut and are immensely powerful.
Now, I’m not really managing to convey why I enjoyed this book so much, am I – so let me try again. It might surprise you to find that the book, at times, is extremely funny: the author has a wonderful eye for the ridiculous (often present in such an environment!) and the humour is just so perfectly done. But there’s an edge of danger too, that threatens and builds – there are twists and shocks and surprises that make the whole book a compelling read. And it’s a romance – one of those romances that grows and builds, grounded in friendship, and becomes everything I wanted it to be. And not “just” romance – the whole book really overflows with love, as individuals support each other and gradually unfurl.
I found this book quite stunning – it attempts a lot, and fails at nothing. The writing is so very confident, the ideas behind the story are ambitious but perfectly delivered, and the whole book is unlike anything I’ve read before: it raises serious questions and confronts real issues, but also manages to be a thoroughly heartwarming and entertaining read. It made me laugh (a lot), at times it made me hurt and cry, and some parts filled me with anger: it made me feel, and think about things, and at the end I was a soggy mess (but with a big smile on my face). You can’t ask for much more, can you? Without question, this was one of my books of the year…
It didn’t grab me from the very beginning though. First there’s a blog post – it’s the second anniversary of The Beginner’s Guide to Loneliness, and the post tells us a little about it, the idea that you don’t have to be broken to be lonely, and the support the blog provides. Then we move into a chat group conversation – it sets up the story really well, but I’ll readily admit it’s not a format I particularly enjoy (I am getting on a bit, after all…) and I did skip through it a little.
But then, things settle – in her clear voice, Tori tells us about that chat group and what it means to her (the Warriors are her closest – her only – friends): and she decides to follow their advice and head off for a three-week stay at The Farm. It’s a retreat in rural Wales that focuses on healing, mindfulness, relationships, grief – a beautiful setting, a unique experience, but also a daunting one for someone so damaged.
I now have an almost irresistible urge to continue by telling you every twist and turn of what happens next – but I’m not going to. I’m sure you can guess that Tori finds herself in the company of a really diverse group of people, all there for their own reasons and with different goals and expectations, and the relationships between them begin to play out. They all have issues of one kind or another, gradually revealed or uncovered, as friendships are formed and individuals find themselves – and I loved every single moment.
The characterisation is quite exceptional – Tori herself is complex enough, and I found her both sympathetic and easy to identify with in so many ways. No-one is quite what they seem – and it’s fascinating to watch each of them reveal themselves. Each chapter starts with an extract from The Beginner’s Guide, focused on loneliness and friendship and healing – don’t skip over them, whatever you do, because some of them really hit you in the gut and are immensely powerful.
Now, I’m not really managing to convey why I enjoyed this book so much, am I – so let me try again. It might surprise you to find that the book, at times, is extremely funny: the author has a wonderful eye for the ridiculous (often present in such an environment!) and the humour is just so perfectly done. But there’s an edge of danger too, that threatens and builds – there are twists and shocks and surprises that make the whole book a compelling read. And it’s a romance – one of those romances that grows and builds, grounded in friendship, and becomes everything I wanted it to be. And not “just” romance – the whole book really overflows with love, as individuals support each other and gradually unfurl.
I found this book quite stunning – it attempts a lot, and fails at nothing. The writing is so very confident, the ideas behind the story are ambitious but perfectly delivered, and the whole book is unlike anything I’ve read before: it raises serious questions and confronts real issues, but also manages to be a thoroughly heartwarming and entertaining read. It made me laugh (a lot), at times it made me hurt and cry, and some parts filled me with anger: it made me feel, and think about things, and at the end I was a soggy mess (but with a big smile on my face). You can’t ask for much more, can you? Without question, this was one of my books of the year…
July 24, 2021
Thank you to Sara – Jade at Simon & Schuster for my invitation to the tour and for my copy of the book in return for a fair and honest review.
Tori has been through a tough time but she has found her tribe online through a bereavement forum. Then she gets invited to a retreat in Wales and she is very apprehensive but her friends persuade her to go.
When she arrives at the farm in heels she realises that Ted and Lizzie are not as chilled out as she hoped and when they start to take away her phone any form of communication and toiletries she really begins to wonder what she has let herself in for three weeks.
She is then taken to her accommodation a yurt but to her horror she finds she is sharing with two others and one of them Dennis has no idea ofpersonal space. She finds that she really has signed up to more than she ever imagined.
This a lovely read, I liked Tori immediately and really liked the way we get to know her and the other characters Bay, Doreen and Geoff etc, through their experiences at the farm. Tori is a kind soul and has ended up lonely through no fault of her own.
She ends up by befriending Than who I was unsure of in the beginning. He is reluctant to join in with the sharing experiences and Dennis also is not a fan.
Joyful, uplifting and moving I absolutely loved this book ! It deals with anxiety and panic in a really sensitive way and it also has some surprises in store for the reader. A perfect summery escape to the farm !
5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tori has been through a tough time but she has found her tribe online through a bereavement forum. Then she gets invited to a retreat in Wales and she is very apprehensive but her friends persuade her to go.
When she arrives at the farm in heels she realises that Ted and Lizzie are not as chilled out as she hoped and when they start to take away her phone any form of communication and toiletries she really begins to wonder what she has let herself in for three weeks.
She is then taken to her accommodation a yurt but to her horror she finds she is sharing with two others and one of them Dennis has no idea ofpersonal space. She finds that she really has signed up to more than she ever imagined.
This a lovely read, I liked Tori immediately and really liked the way we get to know her and the other characters Bay, Doreen and Geoff etc, through their experiences at the farm. Tori is a kind soul and has ended up lonely through no fault of her own.
She ends up by befriending Than who I was unsure of in the beginning. He is reluctant to join in with the sharing experiences and Dennis also is not a fan.
Joyful, uplifting and moving I absolutely loved this book ! It deals with anxiety and panic in a really sensitive way and it also has some surprises in store for the reader. A perfect summery escape to the farm !
5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
August 24, 2021
This was a lovely comforting read! Full of the kind of characters you'd love to befriend, and full of situations that you could relate to - a real triumph over adversity in finding happiness during the loneliest of times!
Tori has been writing a blog for a number of years to share her experiences with the world of how she had found life tough, in the hope that others would be able to connect with her and not feel so alone. She is given the opportunity to go on a retreat to review it for her blog - it wasn't an easy step to take for her but with some encouragement from her blog followers she finds herself jumping in feet first! And what an experience she has!!
While she is there, all the visitors are made to confront their fears and what has been holding them back - some find it easier than others to open up, especially to strangers, so it's nice to see things play out between the different characters.
It's a really touching and heart warming story, showing that even strangers can become your greatest friends in your time of need and I really enjoyed the whole feel of the book and cheering on the goodness of the characters involved!
Tori has been writing a blog for a number of years to share her experiences with the world of how she had found life tough, in the hope that others would be able to connect with her and not feel so alone. She is given the opportunity to go on a retreat to review it for her blog - it wasn't an easy step to take for her but with some encouragement from her blog followers she finds herself jumping in feet first! And what an experience she has!!
While she is there, all the visitors are made to confront their fears and what has been holding them back - some find it easier than others to open up, especially to strangers, so it's nice to see things play out between the different characters.
It's a really touching and heart warming story, showing that even strangers can become your greatest friends in your time of need and I really enjoyed the whole feel of the book and cheering on the goodness of the characters involved!
October 30, 2021
I absolutely loved this book! It tells the story of Tori Williamson who is 33. After her mother's death and a relationship break up, she finds herself alone in London and lonely. She finally finds three friends online and begins writing an anonymous blog she calls The Beginner's Guide to Loneliness.
As the blog becomes successful, she is invited to stay at The Farm, a retreat where the focus is on self-help, wellbeing and changing your mindset for the better. This is where her life begins to change...
Oh I so wanted to be at The Farm with Tori! It all comes to life so well under the skilful penmanship (penwomanship?) of debut author Laura Bambrey. She paints the characters so beautifully, I really felt I knew them and cared about them. There's also a gorgeous dog that I fell in love with too!
There's romance at the core of the book, but so much more!! I truly think every reader would appreciate the story and take something from it into their own lives, whatever age or gender they are.
The book is warm, uplifting, clever, emotional (Happy tears!), unforgettable.
I adored it and will be first in the queue for Laura's next novel.
9 out of 10
As the blog becomes successful, she is invited to stay at The Farm, a retreat where the focus is on self-help, wellbeing and changing your mindset for the better. This is where her life begins to change...
Oh I so wanted to be at The Farm with Tori! It all comes to life so well under the skilful penmanship (penwomanship?) of debut author Laura Bambrey. She paints the characters so beautifully, I really felt I knew them and cared about them. There's also a gorgeous dog that I fell in love with too!
There's romance at the core of the book, but so much more!! I truly think every reader would appreciate the story and take something from it into their own lives, whatever age or gender they are.
The book is warm, uplifting, clever, emotional (Happy tears!), unforgettable.
I adored it and will be first in the queue for Laura's next novel.
9 out of 10
July 22, 2020
'The Beginner's Guide to Loneliness' is an utterly beautiful story about friendship, healing and love. Laura Bambrey's characters are vividly portrayed and the story is beautifully written. I adored this moving debut novel and thoroughly recommend it!
July 26, 2021
The Beginner’s Guide to Loneliness is the debut novel from Laura Bambrey and to be honest it’s hard to believe that this is the author’s first book as it reads like someone who has been writing for years and has published many books. It has the perfect blend of humour and laugh out loud moments mixed with the exploration of more serious issues that our main protagonist Tori is grappling with. There is so much for the reader to take from this story and you find yourself nodding along with the advice given at the beginning of each chapter in the form of an excerpt from Tori’s blog The Beginners Guide to Loneliness. Don’t skip past these nuggets of advice as you may be tempted to do because if we all took these words on board our lives would be all the more fruitful for it. The book moves along at a steady pace and is filled with a diverse range of characters each dealing with their own problems, fears and worries. The majority of the story is set at The Farm, a retreat in Wales, which did surprise me but there was enough going on here without the need to move the setting around apart from at the beginning and towards the end.
Tori was a brilliantly written character from beginning to end and you are rooting for her from page one. There are definitely characteristics of Tori that I could identify with and see within myself and I thoroughly enjoyed accompanying her on her journey to find her way out of the guilt and loneliness that eats away at her and has impacted her life so drastically and deeply. The reasons for which slowly become clear over the course of her stay at the retreat. Tori runs a blog called The Beginners Guide to Loneliness and although she prefers to remain anonymous she has built up a huge following thanks to her incredible writing which resonates with so many readers. The blog offers a place for people to talk and garner support as being lonely is such a big taboo. She has a trio of friends, Nat, Hugh and Sue, who she talks to privately in a chat room and here is where she can spill out everything that is bothering her. The trio has never met in person but it feels like they have known each other forever and they have become known as the Warriors.
To outsiders Tori appears confident and full of life but in reality she lives in a drab flat and money seems to be a problem. Two major events in her life, the loss of her mother and her fiancée dumping her, all within the space of a month, have severely affected her and she sees no way of moving on from both the guilt and loneliness. She has isolated herself from people and is afraid of anyone coming to close but really she doesn’t deserve to feel this way. So when a chance to review a wellness retreat for the blog comes up, The Warriors encourage her to go for it. Little does she realise that said retreat deep in the Welsh countryside may not be as glamourous as she expected. But maybe that’s all for the better as going back to basics will help her push her reservations to the side and face her issues head on.
Tori’s arrival at the farm provided plenty of laugh out loud moments and a plethora of characters are introduced. It’s run by Ted and Lizzie who live there with their daughter Rowan and they offer lots of alternative therapies, sessions and activities to get people out of their shell and to meet their problems head on. There really is no escape and all forms of communication are taken away from the guests. How will Tori cope without access to her phone and the chats with the Warriors? She is even more surprised to find that she has to share a tent with the handsome Bay and his dog Dennis.
Initially Tori was very reluctant to engage with what was going on and found things to be on the hippish end of things but really she had no other choice but to get stuck in and confront what has dominated her life for quite some time. I loved to see her gradually unwinding and becoming more forthcoming although a particular nasty incident does force her to get things out in the open. She really had to face her fears and listen to herself to makes the process a worthwhile and productive one. She needed to leave her lacklustre life and the bad memories behind but when you have become so ingrained in this way of thinking it can be really hard to do so.
I loved how a real sense of community developed amongst the troubled souls who found themselves at the retreat. The friendship Tori strikes up with Doreen especially was lovely to see and it allowed Tori to not make rash judgements on people and to dig a little deeper and to find out what made people tick. It was like everyone was helping each other overcome their problems. Everyone was looking for the root cause and working on healing it. The interactions between Tori and Bay were brilliant to read about. There was plenty of sparring between the pair, miscommunications and misreading of signals but you could tell a spark was there. I desperately wanted them to dig that little bit deeper. But on the other hand the character of Than, he was always by Tori’s side and you wondered could there be something romantically there for her too or was she too caught up in trying to overcome the guilt and deal with her panic attacks to venture down a romantic path?
Than started off as a decent enough character but more serious undertones surrounding his personality began to come through. I couldn’t fathom why Tori accepted the way that he spoke to her and the fact he was so dominating and controlling. He was publicly cruel, snide and at times downright mean and I wanted the others to stand up to him but they seemed reluctant to do so. Bay and Than were the complete anthesis of each other, both very well written characters who cause plenty of soul searching for Tori on her journey. I loved how we saw the evolution of Tori from beginning to end. I wanted her to stand up for herself and grow bolder and braver. To take on challenges without questioning every little thing and to put the loneliness behind her. The retreat was providing her with all the tools to do so alongside the support of Ted, Lizzie and the instructors not to mention her fellow guests. But Tori needed to build up her strength and the courage of her convictions to deal deal with things head on. Has she ability to do so or will a surprising turn of events shatter any confidence, stability and new found boldness that she has acquired?
The Beginner’s Guide to Loneliness was an impressive debut with plenty of food for thought for the reader. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. I did guess a little bit as to the big reveal but not specific details and on reflection the clues were there for the reader to see if I had just dug a little deeper. The only thing I will say is that I felt Than’s aspect of the story seemed to disappear into thin air and I feel it definitely needed more exploration. I wanted to know what motivated him and it felt like a chunk of the book was missing. Apart from that I would highly recommend this book. It’s thought provoking, funny, emotional and highlights the inner working of friendship and how to deal with trouble when it comes into our life path. I’m already looking forward to reading much more from Laura Bambery in the future.
Tori was a brilliantly written character from beginning to end and you are rooting for her from page one. There are definitely characteristics of Tori that I could identify with and see within myself and I thoroughly enjoyed accompanying her on her journey to find her way out of the guilt and loneliness that eats away at her and has impacted her life so drastically and deeply. The reasons for which slowly become clear over the course of her stay at the retreat. Tori runs a blog called The Beginners Guide to Loneliness and although she prefers to remain anonymous she has built up a huge following thanks to her incredible writing which resonates with so many readers. The blog offers a place for people to talk and garner support as being lonely is such a big taboo. She has a trio of friends, Nat, Hugh and Sue, who she talks to privately in a chat room and here is where she can spill out everything that is bothering her. The trio has never met in person but it feels like they have known each other forever and they have become known as the Warriors.
To outsiders Tori appears confident and full of life but in reality she lives in a drab flat and money seems to be a problem. Two major events in her life, the loss of her mother and her fiancée dumping her, all within the space of a month, have severely affected her and she sees no way of moving on from both the guilt and loneliness. She has isolated herself from people and is afraid of anyone coming to close but really she doesn’t deserve to feel this way. So when a chance to review a wellness retreat for the blog comes up, The Warriors encourage her to go for it. Little does she realise that said retreat deep in the Welsh countryside may not be as glamourous as she expected. But maybe that’s all for the better as going back to basics will help her push her reservations to the side and face her issues head on.
Tori’s arrival at the farm provided plenty of laugh out loud moments and a plethora of characters are introduced. It’s run by Ted and Lizzie who live there with their daughter Rowan and they offer lots of alternative therapies, sessions and activities to get people out of their shell and to meet their problems head on. There really is no escape and all forms of communication are taken away from the guests. How will Tori cope without access to her phone and the chats with the Warriors? She is even more surprised to find that she has to share a tent with the handsome Bay and his dog Dennis.
Initially Tori was very reluctant to engage with what was going on and found things to be on the hippish end of things but really she had no other choice but to get stuck in and confront what has dominated her life for quite some time. I loved to see her gradually unwinding and becoming more forthcoming although a particular nasty incident does force her to get things out in the open. She really had to face her fears and listen to herself to makes the process a worthwhile and productive one. She needed to leave her lacklustre life and the bad memories behind but when you have become so ingrained in this way of thinking it can be really hard to do so.
I loved how a real sense of community developed amongst the troubled souls who found themselves at the retreat. The friendship Tori strikes up with Doreen especially was lovely to see and it allowed Tori to not make rash judgements on people and to dig a little deeper and to find out what made people tick. It was like everyone was helping each other overcome their problems. Everyone was looking for the root cause and working on healing it. The interactions between Tori and Bay were brilliant to read about. There was plenty of sparring between the pair, miscommunications and misreading of signals but you could tell a spark was there. I desperately wanted them to dig that little bit deeper. But on the other hand the character of Than, he was always by Tori’s side and you wondered could there be something romantically there for her too or was she too caught up in trying to overcome the guilt and deal with her panic attacks to venture down a romantic path?
Than started off as a decent enough character but more serious undertones surrounding his personality began to come through. I couldn’t fathom why Tori accepted the way that he spoke to her and the fact he was so dominating and controlling. He was publicly cruel, snide and at times downright mean and I wanted the others to stand up to him but they seemed reluctant to do so. Bay and Than were the complete anthesis of each other, both very well written characters who cause plenty of soul searching for Tori on her journey. I loved how we saw the evolution of Tori from beginning to end. I wanted her to stand up for herself and grow bolder and braver. To take on challenges without questioning every little thing and to put the loneliness behind her. The retreat was providing her with all the tools to do so alongside the support of Ted, Lizzie and the instructors not to mention her fellow guests. But Tori needed to build up her strength and the courage of her convictions to deal deal with things head on. Has she ability to do so or will a surprising turn of events shatter any confidence, stability and new found boldness that she has acquired?
The Beginner’s Guide to Loneliness was an impressive debut with plenty of food for thought for the reader. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. I did guess a little bit as to the big reveal but not specific details and on reflection the clues were there for the reader to see if I had just dug a little deeper. The only thing I will say is that I felt Than’s aspect of the story seemed to disappear into thin air and I feel it definitely needed more exploration. I wanted to know what motivated him and it felt like a chunk of the book was missing. Apart from that I would highly recommend this book. It’s thought provoking, funny, emotional and highlights the inner working of friendship and how to deal with trouble when it comes into our life path. I’m already looking forward to reading much more from Laura Bambery in the future.
July 19, 2021
Oh my goodness I loved going on this journey with Tori so much. From the very beginning of the book I was on her side and cheering her on. It was so interesting to go on a very different journey of self discovery with a character who had a very different job and a very different way of life.
When Tori signs up to go on this well being retreat she is skeptical and I think i was too and yet she knows its a step she must take and a journey she must go on and the best part about the whole story is that we get to take that journey with her. Tori is a such a deep character, it takes a whilst to get to know what makes her tick and her thoughts and fears and I think that Tori felt the same way about herself. I loved getting to know her and spend time unpacking some of her issues with her.
The whole retreat takes up the majority of the book, which I wasn't expecting, but it was a great escape and brought with it a whole rage of fun activities and amusing situations as well as a full cast of intriguing characters. I loved getting to meet the other people at the retreat and find out what the journey meant to them. I definitely took a while to warm to some of them but I loved getting to meet Dennis in particular.
This book is definitely an unexpected gem. I don't think the title does it justice for what exactly you're going to find between the pages. I loved reading this and I highly recommend it.
When Tori signs up to go on this well being retreat she is skeptical and I think i was too and yet she knows its a step she must take and a journey she must go on and the best part about the whole story is that we get to take that journey with her. Tori is a such a deep character, it takes a whilst to get to know what makes her tick and her thoughts and fears and I think that Tori felt the same way about herself. I loved getting to know her and spend time unpacking some of her issues with her.
The whole retreat takes up the majority of the book, which I wasn't expecting, but it was a great escape and brought with it a whole rage of fun activities and amusing situations as well as a full cast of intriguing characters. I loved getting to meet the other people at the retreat and find out what the journey meant to them. I definitely took a while to warm to some of them but I loved getting to meet Dennis in particular.
This book is definitely an unexpected gem. I don't think the title does it justice for what exactly you're going to find between the pages. I loved reading this and I highly recommend it.
December 21, 2020
A charming, funny read
I really enjoyed this - a great cast of characters, a lovely setting and a convincing journey for the protagonist.
I really enjoyed this - a great cast of characters, a lovely setting and a convincing journey for the protagonist.
July 10, 2023
There was a good story in there, but it wasn’t a book’s worth.
Main character was annoying. She just needed to get a grip.
Main character was annoying. She just needed to get a grip.
July 18, 2021
Tori is off to a retreat to review for her blog.
The Beginner’s Guide to Loneliness is an absolute belter of a book. I loved it unreservedly. Laura Bambrey has crafted a witty, moving and entertaining read that completely captivated me.
I thought the blog entries at the start of each chapter were brilliant and, although The Beginner’s Guide to Loneliness is escapist entertainment of the very best kind, the messages in these chapter openings are actually truly inspiring and helpful to those experiencing similar feelings of guilt, worthlessness and loneliness as Tori does. They left me feeling encouraged and uplifted so that as well as being diverted from the cares of the world by The Beginner’s Guide to Loneliness, I actually benefitted from it emotionally and mentally too.
The Welsh retreat setting provides the perfect backdrop to the action because there’s a fantastic unity of place that complements the characters beautifully. Laura Bambrey adds just the right amount of physical description to place her reader at the heart of the action without ever slowing the pace. The exercises and activities at the retreat feel completely authentic and convincing with the effect of making the reader relax into the reading in a way that mirrors the manner Tori learns to let go of some of her anxieties. Alongside this authenticity is a plot that races along to the extent that I had to put life on hold until I had devoured The Beginner’s Guide to Loneliness.
I loved meeting the cast of characters in The Beginner’s Guide to Loneliness. Whilst there are recognisable aspects of people who would run or visit this kind of retreat, such as having beards and dreadlocks, or wearing white floaty clothing, these aspects never feel stereotypical, but rather make the reader feel included in the narrative by Laura Bambrey through a shared understanding. I was in love with Bay myself from the very beginning and desperately wanted Tori to distance herself from Than and fall in love with Bay too but you’ll need to read the book to see if that actually happens. Indeed, Than’s prickliness and Rowan’s entrepreneurial activities counteract perfectly the softer personalities of those like Doreen and Lizzie so that it feels as if all life is here in the community on the farm.
However, what I found so special about The Beginner’s Guide to Loneliness was the balance between light hearted comedy and sensitive emotional depth because it made the book all the more affecting. As well as exploring aspects of loneliness, Laura Bambrey provides insight into mental health in many forms, relationships, friendship and family whilst touching on social media and its benefits and dangers in an accessible, engaging and compelling manner.
I thought The Beginner’s Guide to Loneliness was a wonderful example of its genre and have put it straight on my list of favourite reads this year. Laura Bambrey entertains, comforts and delights her reader in equal measure in The Beginner’s Guide to Loneliness. It’s fabulous. Don’t miss it.
The Beginner’s Guide to Loneliness is an absolute belter of a book. I loved it unreservedly. Laura Bambrey has crafted a witty, moving and entertaining read that completely captivated me.
I thought the blog entries at the start of each chapter were brilliant and, although The Beginner’s Guide to Loneliness is escapist entertainment of the very best kind, the messages in these chapter openings are actually truly inspiring and helpful to those experiencing similar feelings of guilt, worthlessness and loneliness as Tori does. They left me feeling encouraged and uplifted so that as well as being diverted from the cares of the world by The Beginner’s Guide to Loneliness, I actually benefitted from it emotionally and mentally too.
The Welsh retreat setting provides the perfect backdrop to the action because there’s a fantastic unity of place that complements the characters beautifully. Laura Bambrey adds just the right amount of physical description to place her reader at the heart of the action without ever slowing the pace. The exercises and activities at the retreat feel completely authentic and convincing with the effect of making the reader relax into the reading in a way that mirrors the manner Tori learns to let go of some of her anxieties. Alongside this authenticity is a plot that races along to the extent that I had to put life on hold until I had devoured The Beginner’s Guide to Loneliness.
I loved meeting the cast of characters in The Beginner’s Guide to Loneliness. Whilst there are recognisable aspects of people who would run or visit this kind of retreat, such as having beards and dreadlocks, or wearing white floaty clothing, these aspects never feel stereotypical, but rather make the reader feel included in the narrative by Laura Bambrey through a shared understanding. I was in love with Bay myself from the very beginning and desperately wanted Tori to distance herself from Than and fall in love with Bay too but you’ll need to read the book to see if that actually happens. Indeed, Than’s prickliness and Rowan’s entrepreneurial activities counteract perfectly the softer personalities of those like Doreen and Lizzie so that it feels as if all life is here in the community on the farm.
However, what I found so special about The Beginner’s Guide to Loneliness was the balance between light hearted comedy and sensitive emotional depth because it made the book all the more affecting. As well as exploring aspects of loneliness, Laura Bambrey provides insight into mental health in many forms, relationships, friendship and family whilst touching on social media and its benefits and dangers in an accessible, engaging and compelling manner.
I thought The Beginner’s Guide to Loneliness was a wonderful example of its genre and have put it straight on my list of favourite reads this year. Laura Bambrey entertains, comforts and delights her reader in equal measure in The Beginner’s Guide to Loneliness. It’s fabulous. Don’t miss it.
December 31, 2020
The Beginners Guide to Loneliness is Laura Brambrey debut novel and being a book blogger who I have connected with over the years I know we have similar tastes in books so when I see that she was releasing her debut as part of Books and the City’s Digital Originals I was intrigued and excited to read her novel.
Our main character is Tori, she has been through a devastating time and as a result has found herself not just alone but lonely which is why she set up her blog The Beginners Guide to Loneliness and as a result she has made a trio of friends but none of whom she has ever met. When an opportunity arises for Tori to attend a wellbeing retreat to review on her blog she is hesitant but with the push from her friends she sets off not knowing what she has let herself in for.
What an incredible debut by Laura she captured my attention from the first chapter and as the storyline moved along I found myself connecting and relating to Tori. She wasn’t an instantly likeable character, it was as the storyline moved along and her barriers began to come down and I found out more about her background and her issues that I slowly began to warm to her character.
There was also a great amount of supporting characters in this novel all of whom have their own problems they need to work on and they brought friendship, entertainment and even a little romance to Tori.
This novel touches on a number of issues that many of us have faced and also raises awareness of other issues too. Loneliness is something that isn't spoken about or always understood with many assuming that you don't have to be on your own to experience loneliness that sometimes you can be in a room full of people and still feel so incredibly alone and the author has brought great awareness to this topic in her novel which isn't something that crops up regularly in novels. What I loved most was the opening of each chapter where there were motivational quotes to open each chapter and I actually found some of these rather inspiring. There was a surprising revelation that I was not expecting until it was being revealed right under my nose and I was so shocked that the small clues had been there all along and yet I had no idea.
I would definitely recommend this novel if you are looking for a motivational, life affirming fictional read with the workings of friendships and the blossoming of romance to keep you gripped until the very end. A praiseworthy debut in my eyes.
Our main character is Tori, she has been through a devastating time and as a result has found herself not just alone but lonely which is why she set up her blog The Beginners Guide to Loneliness and as a result she has made a trio of friends but none of whom she has ever met. When an opportunity arises for Tori to attend a wellbeing retreat to review on her blog she is hesitant but with the push from her friends she sets off not knowing what she has let herself in for.
What an incredible debut by Laura she captured my attention from the first chapter and as the storyline moved along I found myself connecting and relating to Tori. She wasn’t an instantly likeable character, it was as the storyline moved along and her barriers began to come down and I found out more about her background and her issues that I slowly began to warm to her character.
There was also a great amount of supporting characters in this novel all of whom have their own problems they need to work on and they brought friendship, entertainment and even a little romance to Tori.
This novel touches on a number of issues that many of us have faced and also raises awareness of other issues too. Loneliness is something that isn't spoken about or always understood with many assuming that you don't have to be on your own to experience loneliness that sometimes you can be in a room full of people and still feel so incredibly alone and the author has brought great awareness to this topic in her novel which isn't something that crops up regularly in novels. What I loved most was the opening of each chapter where there were motivational quotes to open each chapter and I actually found some of these rather inspiring. There was a surprising revelation that I was not expecting until it was being revealed right under my nose and I was so shocked that the small clues had been there all along and yet I had no idea.
I would definitely recommend this novel if you are looking for a motivational, life affirming fictional read with the workings of friendships and the blossoming of romance to keep you gripped until the very end. A praiseworthy debut in my eyes.
July 1, 2020
Thank you to Simon and Schuster UK for granting my wish on NetGalley to read and review – my thoughts are my own and not influenced by the gift.
2020 will be remembered for many different reasons, primarily the global pandemic. One small positive of this, is that I have been able to read and review more books this year, and I now have another lovely debut novel to shout about to fellow booklovers – I really enjoyed reading The Beginner’s Guide to Loneliness.
In March 2020 most countries across the world had to lockdown, to keep their populations safe from an invisible killer. Thankfully many of us have access to modern technology and can stay in touch with family and friends via messages or video chats. However, millions of people across the world will be in Tori’s situation – lots of virtual friends but no close real friends. In my grandparent’s generation, people tended to not move far from their families when they left home and had their own families. However, this has now changed, especially as more of us travelled for university courses or fell in love with another county or country when on holiday.
I moved to Wiltshire from Yorkshire just over 25 years ago, and although I’ve made some good friends, I do find myself feeling lonely at times without my family living nearby. Loneliness is a big issue in our world and Laura’s book shows how easy it is to end up in this situation, especially now more people are working from home every day.
I loved the way the characters developed in this story, my favourite characters were actually secondary characters – Doreen and Rowan, who both help Tori in so many ways. There is also a dog called Dennis in this story and all the best stories include a dog (with a handsome owner). The story looks at how Tori found herself feeling so isolated and lonely and why she found it hard to trust other people. It also looks at the dangers of social media – how we need to be careful when chatting to strangers. However, it is a voyage of self discovery for Tori during her stay at The Farm, and without any spoilers, this is an uplifting read, not a tale of doom and gloom.
Thank you Laura Bambrey for such a thought provoking and touching story. I look forward to seeing this ebook flying high in the digital book charts after publication at the end of July 2020.
2020 will be remembered for many different reasons, primarily the global pandemic. One small positive of this, is that I have been able to read and review more books this year, and I now have another lovely debut novel to shout about to fellow booklovers – I really enjoyed reading The Beginner’s Guide to Loneliness.
In March 2020 most countries across the world had to lockdown, to keep their populations safe from an invisible killer. Thankfully many of us have access to modern technology and can stay in touch with family and friends via messages or video chats. However, millions of people across the world will be in Tori’s situation – lots of virtual friends but no close real friends. In my grandparent’s generation, people tended to not move far from their families when they left home and had their own families. However, this has now changed, especially as more of us travelled for university courses or fell in love with another county or country when on holiday.
I moved to Wiltshire from Yorkshire just over 25 years ago, and although I’ve made some good friends, I do find myself feeling lonely at times without my family living nearby. Loneliness is a big issue in our world and Laura’s book shows how easy it is to end up in this situation, especially now more people are working from home every day.
I loved the way the characters developed in this story, my favourite characters were actually secondary characters – Doreen and Rowan, who both help Tori in so many ways. There is also a dog called Dennis in this story and all the best stories include a dog (with a handsome owner). The story looks at how Tori found herself feeling so isolated and lonely and why she found it hard to trust other people. It also looks at the dangers of social media – how we need to be careful when chatting to strangers. However, it is a voyage of self discovery for Tori during her stay at The Farm, and without any spoilers, this is an uplifting read, not a tale of doom and gloom.
Thank you Laura Bambrey for such a thought provoking and touching story. I look forward to seeing this ebook flying high in the digital book charts after publication at the end of July 2020.
July 19, 2021
A brilliant debut from Laura Bambrey; I enjoyed ‘The Beginners Guide to Loneliness’ from start to finish. It’s emotional, fun-filled, dramatic and covers some very sensitive topics that will resonate with many readers. You get a real sense of how much love and passion has gone into creating these characters and their stories. It’s such an impressive debut -I will be looking forward to more.
Tori is our main character, and she is one I immediately empathised with. She has been through so much and the pain/hurt she feels means she isolates herself from others and is determined to keep people from getting close. She feels lonely and has cultivated an online persona for herself, one in which she has control, speaks freely but is anonymous. Her online friends have been her rock and guide her into making some big decisions. When an opportunity comes for Tori to visit The Farm; a retreat where she can take more time for herself and her issues; the warriors are all for it and convince her to go.
The Farm is brilliant, very “out there” for Tori and I couldn’t imagine myself in her position at all! I adored the cast of characters, you could tell who would be good and who would cause trouble. I am a huge fan of Rowen though – that girl is going to go far and she really comes through for all involved in the end.
The Farm seems like the perfect place for some respite and to discover a little more about yourself; maybe we should all have a visit! I
With themes that can be sensitive like grief, torment, guilt, fear and betrayal, great care has been taken by Laura to write this with compassion and with great balance with funny, laugh out loud moments.
Keep an eye out for Dennis, he may be the star.
I highly recommend this one – enjoy!
Tori is our main character, and she is one I immediately empathised with. She has been through so much and the pain/hurt she feels means she isolates herself from others and is determined to keep people from getting close. She feels lonely and has cultivated an online persona for herself, one in which she has control, speaks freely but is anonymous. Her online friends have been her rock and guide her into making some big decisions. When an opportunity comes for Tori to visit The Farm; a retreat where she can take more time for herself and her issues; the warriors are all for it and convince her to go.
The Farm is brilliant, very “out there” for Tori and I couldn’t imagine myself in her position at all! I adored the cast of characters, you could tell who would be good and who would cause trouble. I am a huge fan of Rowen though – that girl is going to go far and she really comes through for all involved in the end.
The Farm seems like the perfect place for some respite and to discover a little more about yourself; maybe we should all have a visit! I
With themes that can be sensitive like grief, torment, guilt, fear and betrayal, great care has been taken by Laura to write this with compassion and with great balance with funny, laugh out loud moments.
Keep an eye out for Dennis, he may be the star.
I highly recommend this one – enjoy!
September 26, 2021
This was such an enjoyable read.
I think everyone has times in their life when they have felt lonely. Making new, and meaningful friendship can become harder as you get older so some of Tori’s experiences will really hit home for some readers, especially in the aftermath of Lockdowns and working from home.
Having lost her mother and ended her relationship, Tori has found herself increasingly isolated and lonely. She reaches out to the world through an online chat group who become her closest friends even though they have never met in real life.
She also starts a blog called The Beginners Guide to Loneliness where she explores her feelings. Despite being anonymous, her writing resonates with readers and her following is growing.
When she is offered the chance to stay at a residential retreat in Wales in return for a review on her blog she takes her chance. At first she is skeptical and reluctant to fully commit to the retreats programme, but within a few days Tori’s is embracing that the chance to face her fears and connect with other people.
This may all sound a bit serious but I can assure you it is warm hearted and funny. The participants begin to bond and build friendships as they get to know each other. Tori initially finds herself drawn to Than, who is charming and shares her sense of humour, but as the retreat progresses the sparks between her and Bay are becoming hard to ignore.
Tori finds herself having to deal with some unexpected and devastating revelations. But with the help of her new friends she is able to regain her confidence and learn from her experiences.
I love the supporting characters who are guaranteed to make you smile. Tori’s journey is uplifting and full of hope making this the perfect read to snuggle up with as winter evenings draw in.
I think everyone has times in their life when they have felt lonely. Making new, and meaningful friendship can become harder as you get older so some of Tori’s experiences will really hit home for some readers, especially in the aftermath of Lockdowns and working from home.
Having lost her mother and ended her relationship, Tori has found herself increasingly isolated and lonely. She reaches out to the world through an online chat group who become her closest friends even though they have never met in real life.
She also starts a blog called The Beginners Guide to Loneliness where she explores her feelings. Despite being anonymous, her writing resonates with readers and her following is growing.
When she is offered the chance to stay at a residential retreat in Wales in return for a review on her blog she takes her chance. At first she is skeptical and reluctant to fully commit to the retreats programme, but within a few days Tori’s is embracing that the chance to face her fears and connect with other people.
This may all sound a bit serious but I can assure you it is warm hearted and funny. The participants begin to bond and build friendships as they get to know each other. Tori initially finds herself drawn to Than, who is charming and shares her sense of humour, but as the retreat progresses the sparks between her and Bay are becoming hard to ignore.
Tori finds herself having to deal with some unexpected and devastating revelations. But with the help of her new friends she is able to regain her confidence and learn from her experiences.
I love the supporting characters who are guaranteed to make you smile. Tori’s journey is uplifting and full of hope making this the perfect read to snuggle up with as winter evenings draw in.
July 28, 2020
The Beginner’s Guide to Loneliness is the debut novel from Laura Bambrey, and from the outset I could see why it was picked from the Books and the City’s #DigitalOriginals #OneDay2019 open submissions day.
I could resonate with how the lead character felt so was enthralled following her personal journey in dealing with this once at the retreat and also in the past.
I found that Tori was a believable, relatable and loveable character that I was cheering for from the start. There were also many wonderful characters, and a nice variety, that she meets at The Farm. I especially enjoyed Doreen, Bay and the adorable dog Dennis.
There is so much warmth and hope in this book that makes it such a feel-good and heart-warming story. Throughout Laura tackles many different issues that society deals with which results in many people at some time feeling lonely; grief, breakdown of relationships, social media and more. It shows that many people can result in feeling the same way although for many different reasons. The way that Laura deals with these issues across Tori’s story, and those also at the retreat, is done so beautifully and with compassion.
This book definitely struck a chord with me and left me wondering if the blog exists and when I can go on this retreat? It sounds like exactly what I need!
I’m already itching to see what Laura writes next!
I could resonate with how the lead character felt so was enthralled following her personal journey in dealing with this once at the retreat and also in the past.
I found that Tori was a believable, relatable and loveable character that I was cheering for from the start. There were also many wonderful characters, and a nice variety, that she meets at The Farm. I especially enjoyed Doreen, Bay and the adorable dog Dennis.
There is so much warmth and hope in this book that makes it such a feel-good and heart-warming story. Throughout Laura tackles many different issues that society deals with which results in many people at some time feeling lonely; grief, breakdown of relationships, social media and more. It shows that many people can result in feeling the same way although for many different reasons. The way that Laura deals with these issues across Tori’s story, and those also at the retreat, is done so beautifully and with compassion.
This book definitely struck a chord with me and left me wondering if the blog exists and when I can go on this retreat? It sounds like exactly what I need!
I’m already itching to see what Laura writes next!
July 24, 2021
For starters, I can hardly believe that this is a debut novel. Everything about it scream veteran author!
Tori is the most likeable character and I would be her friend in a flash. We've had similar experiences and traumas and, just one year ago, I felt as lost as she did. Her online friends are her biggest support, just like mine are. But Tori has an incredible gift for writing and being open and honest on her blog. I admire that.
When Tori goes to The Farm, things are bleak for her and she needs a change. What will she find? I loved the journey she took and the people (most of them!) that she took it with. Bay and Dennis, Rowan, Doreen... They were all the perfect people for her to be surrounded by.
I want to go on a retreat like this! I also want a sequel to Tori's story. I need to know if she gets her happily ever after, Laura!!
This is top of my BOTY list for Best Debut of 2021! I've read it twice and will no doubt read it again! Also highly recommended to my online bestie, Anna. She's my Warrior!
Tori is the most likeable character and I would be her friend in a flash. We've had similar experiences and traumas and, just one year ago, I felt as lost as she did. Her online friends are her biggest support, just like mine are. But Tori has an incredible gift for writing and being open and honest on her blog. I admire that.
When Tori goes to The Farm, things are bleak for her and she needs a change. What will she find? I loved the journey she took and the people (most of them!) that she took it with. Bay and Dennis, Rowan, Doreen... They were all the perfect people for her to be surrounded by.
I want to go on a retreat like this! I also want a sequel to Tori's story. I need to know if she gets her happily ever after, Laura!!
This is top of my BOTY list for Best Debut of 2021! I've read it twice and will no doubt read it again! Also highly recommended to my online bestie, Anna. She's my Warrior!
November 29, 2021
I began reading this book because it was recommended but I have to admit to a bit of trepidation to begin with. Not my usual genre and when it began with the script of an online forum I almost put it down. However I am so glad I persisted. I am familiar with retreats and workshops and equally familiar with the challenges, Before long I was completely engaged with the story, and found the strong personal development theme of friends and loneliness plausible and relatable.
Definitely a feel good read. But a good read with a difference.
By the time I had finished the book I found myself evaluating and treasuring all my enduring friendships and was thankful this book gave me a chance to reflect on this.
Definitely a feel good read. But a good read with a difference.
By the time I had finished the book I found myself evaluating and treasuring all my enduring friendships and was thankful this book gave me a chance to reflect on this.
December 28, 2021
Talk about finding the right book at the right time. I picked up this book yesterday (knowing nothing about it, but just liking the back blurb), started it 10 minutes after purchasing it, and had finished it 24 hours later.
It was just... sweet. Not exceptional enough for me to give it 5 stars, but just very, very sweet, and I loved every moment of it. The characters were so well written and seemed real to me. Tori, Doreen and Rowan especially. I love seeing people grow and come into their own, and that growth was handled beautifully here. It almost made me want to go visit the Farm myself ;-)
I also liked the acknowledgement that online friendships can be every bit as real as "real life" ones.
It was just... sweet. Not exceptional enough for me to give it 5 stars, but just very, very sweet, and I loved every moment of it. The characters were so well written and seemed real to me. Tori, Doreen and Rowan especially. I love seeing people grow and come into their own, and that growth was handled beautifully here. It almost made me want to go visit the Farm myself ;-)
I also liked the acknowledgement that online friendships can be every bit as real as "real life" ones.
July 22, 2021
I feel as though this is a book that everyone should read whether you are lonely or just to get an understanding of someone who you feel may be lonely, I feel as though this book gives us a better understanding but also will help people realise that they are not alone. Tori is alone and struggling, she has been through a lot and needs to help herself. A wellbeing retreat is the perfect excuse to get help, when she gets there, she doesn't think it is a good idea but slowly realises that it will help her. There is a nice hot guy too, who wants to help Tori but will she let him? I loved this book and I will cherish it for a very long time. I look forward to seeing what Laura writes about next.
October 15, 2021
I really liked the setting. The Farm sounds like a really great experience. I really liked the secondary characters. Rowan is a great character.
In all honestly I’m not sure I liked Tori very much. I do think she has a terrible backstory and I liked her character development but to me she definitely feels very sorry for herself too much. She takes things way to personally which leads to her lashing out and back to feeling sorry for herself. I didn’t like how she was able to hide things from people but if anyone else did (Bay) it was a problem. I know she’s the main character but I cared more about the other characters than her.
Would definitely read another book by this author.
In all honestly I’m not sure I liked Tori very much. I do think she has a terrible backstory and I liked her character development but to me she definitely feels very sorry for herself too much. She takes things way to personally which leads to her lashing out and back to feeling sorry for herself. I didn’t like how she was able to hide things from people but if anyone else did (Bay) it was a problem. I know she’s the main character but I cared more about the other characters than her.
Would definitely read another book by this author.
February 19, 2022
I initially picked up this book solely because of the title but was hesitant to start as loneliness is something I deal with everyday. So glad I started as I was fully rooting for Tori right from the first page! It’s beautifully written and touches on themes and issues so many of us face and the author has clearly done her homework (or written from her own experiences). I felt I was there at The Farm with the characters - if somewhere like this exists in real life, where do I sign up?! A wonderful feel good story set (in my imagination at least) in the most idyllic Welsh countryside and I was genuinely sad to finish. Fab debut novel, look forward to the next one!
August 29, 2021
Well I totally loved this book. I always like to support authors living in Devon as I live here myself. At first I thought this was an actual self help book until I read the back cover.
I now want to go on a retreat as it sounded absolutely amazing. What a place! The main character Tori was lovely and I'm pleased the book went in the direction it did.
A truly exceptional book especially as it's her first.
I'm really hoping Laura will be writing many more books in the future. I can't wait to see what awaits us next.
I now want to go on a retreat as it sounded absolutely amazing. What a place! The main character Tori was lovely and I'm pleased the book went in the direction it did.
A truly exceptional book especially as it's her first.
I'm really hoping Laura will be writing many more books in the future. I can't wait to see what awaits us next.
November 20, 2022
Such a warm, fulfilling book. The way the writer navigated trauma, step by step along with unfolding the plot in good, entertaining harmony is marvelous!
I stumbled upon this book at a random day in a charity shop, and realized it had been calling for me! Embracing the connections of everyday is a choice, to actively choose to see the good and work on building friendships and relationships is truly vital. Sometimes loneliness truly begins as a defense mechanism. I love how refreshing and entertaining the book had been for me, in many many train rides and cozy winter nights.
I stumbled upon this book at a random day in a charity shop, and realized it had been calling for me! Embracing the connections of everyday is a choice, to actively choose to see the good and work on building friendships and relationships is truly vital. Sometimes loneliness truly begins as a defense mechanism. I love how refreshing and entertaining the book had been for me, in many many train rides and cozy winter nights.
February 4, 2023
When I first saw this book on a shelf in a charity shop, it called out to me and I knew I had to buy it. I can not thank my instincts enough. This book is such a heartwarming story. You learn to love the characters as you see them grow and face their inner battles.
As someone that struggles with loneliness and receiving friendships this book resonated with me. It’s reassured me that I am allowed to receive people’s love for me as much as I give to them.
I just want to thank the author for writing this beautiful story, it was a joy to read.
As someone that struggles with loneliness and receiving friendships this book resonated with me. It’s reassured me that I am allowed to receive people’s love for me as much as I give to them.
I just want to thank the author for writing this beautiful story, it was a joy to read.
July 1, 2022
* SHORT REVIEW *
* I read it with no expectations and it turns out this book is a good but could be better.
* Love the idea of it and the guide that's been listed is indeed a very good one.
* The pace is slow but maybe it because one-step-of-the-time guide.
* Apart from the guide or words in it, the whole book is slow, cringes and kinda corny.
* There's nothing really special about the storyline and in fact it's kinda predictable.
* As a whole, I didn't enjoy it.
⭐⭐⭐
3/5
* I read it with no expectations and it turns out this book is a good but could be better.
* Love the idea of it and the guide that's been listed is indeed a very good one.
* The pace is slow but maybe it because one-step-of-the-time guide.
* Apart from the guide or words in it, the whole book is slow, cringes and kinda corny.
* There's nothing really special about the storyline and in fact it's kinda predictable.
* As a whole, I didn't enjoy it.
⭐⭐⭐
3/5
June 16, 2023
How refreshing an original idea for a novel. Our heroine Tori is a modern woman, isolated and lonely apart from a few close online friends. To add material to her anonymous blog on Loneliness, she accepts a place on a well-being retreat. Over the next few weeks Tori learns her own strengths and what friendship really is. A delightful read.
December 21, 2020
This was a nice easy read that looked at themes of loneliness (obvious from the title I know) and judging people in haste.
I did find some of the scenarios a bit of a stretch but over all I enjoyed the read and was moved by the characters developments.
I did find some of the scenarios a bit of a stretch but over all I enjoyed the read and was moved by the characters developments.
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