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Simple Rules Of Love
For some families, a year can feel like a lifetime ... The Harrisons are a large and extremely close-knit family. But with the grandchildren fast becoming adults and elderly Pamela struggling to adapt to widowhood and the emptiness of Ashley House, the four children of the middle generation find themselves equally lost in a changing world. As preparations for 42 year-old Cassie's long-awaited wedding gather pace and an exotic family holiday is planned, sibling and marital bonds are stretched to breaking adultery, an unwanted pregnancy, shadows of past losses ... suddenly a year of celebration threatens to become one of painful upheaval. Beset by such emotional chaos, how can the adults hope to guide their children in matters of the heart? Or are the children the ones who should be guiding them? A multi-generational story of love, lies and family ties, The Simple Rules of Love presents Amanda Brookfield at her perceptive and poignant best.
Paperback
First published May 4, 2006
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About the author
Amanda Brookfield
39 books104 followersI have two elder sisters and a twin brother who is much quieter than me and with much longer legs. Our Dad was in the Foreign Office so we spent our childhood living in far-flung places like Shanghai and Stockholm. In fact, until the age of 32 I had never spent more than 3 years under the same roof...it's left me with the opposite of 'itchy feet'.
I fell in love with writing aged 11 when my class was asked to write a ghost story - that thrill of being able to make it all up! Studying English at Oxford was a dream come true, but then real life got in the way and I started a career in advertising, climbing the greasy pole for four years, helping sell washing powder and cold remedies.
Aged 25, I got the chance to go and live in Argentina. I left advertising, set myself up as a freelance journalist and wrote my first novel,'Alice Alone' which was published (to critical acclaim!) in 1989. I haven't stopped,or looked back, since.
I am now published by Penguin. At the last count I had produced fifteen novels and two sons. There will be no more offspring, but lots of books I hope.
I fell in love with writing aged 11 when my class was asked to write a ghost story - that thrill of being able to make it all up! Studying English at Oxford was a dream come true, but then real life got in the way and I started a career in advertising, climbing the greasy pole for four years, helping sell washing powder and cold remedies.
Aged 25, I got the chance to go and live in Argentina. I left advertising, set myself up as a freelance journalist and wrote my first novel,'Alice Alone' which was published (to critical acclaim!) in 1989. I haven't stopped,or looked back, since.
I am now published by Penguin. At the last count I had produced fifteen novels and two sons. There will be no more offspring, but lots of books I hope.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
March 21, 2022
Brilliant book. Very easy to read. A sequel to Relative Love which was a lovely surprise to me because I wasn't aware there was a follow on. I highly recommend Amanda Brookfield and all her books.
March 21, 2009
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A sequel to 'Relative Love' we are treated to another year in the eventful life of the Harrison family. New relationships are formed, old ones fail, a wedding, a baby and a bombing a period of caos; that by the end of the year and the book has all settled down and been happily sorted out. Amanda Brookfield has once again written about the complications of everyday family life in her observant style, transporting you into the heart of the Harrison family for a few hours.
The review I wrote for Relative Love would do just as well for this sequel as it was also for me a slow read, a month (chapter) a day again and long 597 pages. The only difference was this time I felt I knew the cast of characters at the start.
This is the review I wrote in December last year.
A novel about family relationships with a huge cast of characters I had become quite fond of them by the time I finished the 534 pages. It was an undemanding read but unusually for me rather a slow one, I managed to read a month (chapter) a day! The novel follows the life of a family and those around them for one year from a December early in the 21st century to the following November. The Harrison family are the protagonists of the story. Pamela and John are the parents and live in Ashley House the rambling family home in the depths of Sussex. Weekends, holidays and other special occasions see their children Peter, Charlie, Elizabeth and Cassie gathering together at the family home along with their spouses and offspring. Every member of the family struggles with problems and or secrets in their lives as the apparently secure and happy unit starts to unravel exposing them all to the frailty of life and love.
By coincidence just after I finished reading this I received a present quite unexpectedly of the sequel ‘The Simple Rules of Love’, so I can look forward to many more hours with the Harrison family.
It really is just more of the same, just a few years on. If you like this sort of family saga it is an enjoyable and easy read.
A sequel to 'Relative Love' we are treated to another year in the eventful life of the Harrison family. New relationships are formed, old ones fail, a wedding, a baby and a bombing a period of caos; that by the end of the year and the book has all settled down and been happily sorted out. Amanda Brookfield has once again written about the complications of everyday family life in her observant style, transporting you into the heart of the Harrison family for a few hours.
The review I wrote for Relative Love would do just as well for this sequel as it was also for me a slow read, a month (chapter) a day again and long 597 pages. The only difference was this time I felt I knew the cast of characters at the start.
This is the review I wrote in December last year.
A novel about family relationships with a huge cast of characters I had become quite fond of them by the time I finished the 534 pages. It was an undemanding read but unusually for me rather a slow one, I managed to read a month (chapter) a day! The novel follows the life of a family and those around them for one year from a December early in the 21st century to the following November. The Harrison family are the protagonists of the story. Pamela and John are the parents and live in Ashley House the rambling family home in the depths of Sussex. Weekends, holidays and other special occasions see their children Peter, Charlie, Elizabeth and Cassie gathering together at the family home along with their spouses and offspring. Every member of the family struggles with problems and or secrets in their lives as the apparently secure and happy unit starts to unravel exposing them all to the frailty of life and love.
By coincidence just after I finished reading this I received a present quite unexpectedly of the sequel ‘The Simple Rules of Love’, so I can look forward to many more hours with the Harrison family.
It really is just more of the same, just a few years on. If you like this sort of family saga it is an enjoyable and easy read.
October 24, 2021
A few years on from the first book and the Harrison family have seen many changes. Pamela is widowed and struggling to make sense of the domestic world of Ashly House she once revelled in. There’s Cassie’s impending marriage to an author to look forward to, but is he as solid as he appears to be? Peter and Helen make a decision about the inheritance of Ashly House which delights Helen, Charlie and Serena, but deeply upsets Peter’s eldest son. Helen also becomes estranged from Peter but for a reason one could never have imagined. Elizabeth finally finds the strength to speak to Pamela about her buried feelings, and Pamela finally finds a way to move on to the final chapter of her life.
As with the previous book in this series the writing is engaging and compelling. The grandchildren feature a little more as their lives begin to grow, sometimes in an undesirable direction. It’s a wonderfully realistic multi-generational sequel to Relative Love, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
As with the previous book in this series the writing is engaging and compelling. The grandchildren feature a little more as their lives begin to grow, sometimes in an undesirable direction. It’s a wonderfully realistic multi-generational sequel to Relative Love, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
March 4, 2022
The Harrison family are very close. Some of them might describe it as claustrophobic. The first half of the book was rather slow, with stops and starts in the action until events suddenly take off and it gathers steam through to the end
November 4, 2022
A great cast of characters
I liked the way the threads of the characters were woven together and parted. The characters were well defined and real. The storyline for each character was interesting. A good tale told well
I liked the way the threads of the characters were woven together and parted. The characters were well defined and real. The storyline for each character was interesting. A good tale told well
December 30, 2024
If you pick this book up, be ready for a commitment. With only 12 chapters, I would recommend a chapter at a time. I do like the format that it is a month at a time, but holy moly there is so much to follow.
Peter and Helen - you could tell this was going to go wrong right from the start. Helen didn't deserve that treatment and Peter didn't deserve the forgiveness he got in the end.
Charlie and Serena - I like these guys as a couple, and can see that the death of their child is something they never dealt with and was slowly tearing them apart. I disliked Charlie a lot during a fair bit of this book, but I am pleased with their ending.
Cassie - good for her! Stephen was creepy! No one should be that obsessed with someone. And that level of creep is not good for a relationship. Let the girl breath! I am glad she got away from the psychological abuse. And she got a baby!
Elizabeth - I think she is my favourite of the siblings. She is just trying her best as a single mother to raise a good and lovely boy. Just wants to be seen by her family. And I love her happily ever after. He is a worthwhile man (even with his problematic past).
The cousins - all these guys learning about themselves and discovering what they want in life is great. Creative little bunch of cousins. Even with the pregnancy storyline, they were all entertaining characters.
Grandma - heartbreaking for her to struggling so much, but I am glad she ended the book in a good place.
In all, it was well written. A book that can make me hate some characters so much is well done. Although it does leave me wondering about the worth of men haha.
Peter and Helen - you could tell this was going to go wrong right from the start. Helen didn't deserve that treatment and Peter didn't deserve the forgiveness he got in the end.
Charlie and Serena - I like these guys as a couple, and can see that the death of their child is something they never dealt with and was slowly tearing them apart. I disliked Charlie a lot during a fair bit of this book, but I am pleased with their ending.
Cassie - good for her! Stephen was creepy! No one should be that obsessed with someone. And that level of creep is not good for a relationship. Let the girl breath! I am glad she got away from the psychological abuse. And she got a baby!
Elizabeth - I think she is my favourite of the siblings. She is just trying her best as a single mother to raise a good and lovely boy. Just wants to be seen by her family. And I love her happily ever after. He is a worthwhile man (even with his problematic past).
The cousins - all these guys learning about themselves and discovering what they want in life is great. Creative little bunch of cousins. Even with the pregnancy storyline, they were all entertaining characters.
Grandma - heartbreaking for her to struggling so much, but I am glad she ended the book in a good place.
In all, it was well written. A book that can make me hate some characters so much is well done. Although it does leave me wondering about the worth of men haha.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2021
I loved the two books relating to this family saga. I didn’t want them to end! I sincerely hope that the author is going to continue their story with the all the characters. I was enmeshed into the storyline, characters and settings to such a degree I couldn’t wait to turn each page and yet felt very sorry as each took me closer to the finish. I am reading all
Of the books which are fabulous bit these two exceeded everything else fir me. Reminding me of my Maeve Binchy days where I couldn’t put the books down. Bravo!
Of the books which are fabulous bit these two exceeded everything else fir me. Reminding me of my Maeve Binchy days where I couldn’t put the books down. Bravo!
December 31, 2020
Ik ga beginnen met een bekentenis: ik had te veel andere dingen aan mijn hoofd om mij te concentreren op dit boek. Ik heb dit boek echter lang laten liggen en begin verschillende keren opnieuw begonnen met lezen maar ik geraakte er niet in vooruit. Ik kon de verhaallijn ook niet volgen. Om het nieuwe jaar met een schone lei te beginnen, besloot ik om een ander boek een kans te geven en dit boek te laten voor wat het is.
September 29, 2022
Superb
This is a new author for me but now I wish I had discovered her earlier. I couldn't put the book down and became fully engrossed with the ups and downs of this family. I loved it and didn't want it to end. Can't wait to find my next book by this clever writer.
This is a new author for me but now I wish I had discovered her earlier. I couldn't put the book down and became fully engrossed with the ups and downs of this family. I loved it and didn't want it to end. Can't wait to find my next book by this clever writer.
February 25, 2025
3.5* As others have said, this was a long read and kept me going for several days. I enjoyed the glimpse into a year with the Harrisons, although they do seem to have a lot of drama in their lives. I understood Granny's choice!
I would definitely read another book by this author.
I would definitely read another book by this author.
October 11, 2018
Heel mooi vervolg op Familiesonate.
December 29, 2018
a vast family to integrate in terms of their experiences, loves and losses....and the author does it well with some good thoughts on what keeps families together.
March 6, 2012
This is a large book and I did find it a bit daunting to start off with. There are a number of characters who come and go throughout the story. It is one of these books where you have to have your wits about you and remember who was doing what.
It tells the story of a family during the course of a year; the mistakes made; the courageous steps taken and how relqationships deveop or deteriorate. Honesty (or the lack of it) seems to be the theme.
The character I really like was Carrie. I really felt for her and the problems she had. To say anymore would be spoiling the story but it is worth the read.
It tells the story of a family during the course of a year; the mistakes made; the courageous steps taken and how relqationships deveop or deteriorate. Honesty (or the lack of it) seems to be the theme.
The character I really like was Carrie. I really felt for her and the problems she had. To say anymore would be spoiling the story but it is worth the read.
May 7, 2016
I'm not normally one for long books preferring to read more books of a shorter length, but I'd read good reviews of this and boy was I glad I picked it up. Initially I was overwhelmed with characters - how on Earth was I remember who belonged to whom, but to be honest it soon all fell into place. an amazing book with plenty of happy and sad bits and lacking the horrid predictablility of romance novels that drives me crazy. I was happy with the ending, and glad not everything was perfect.
August 12, 2008
A family saga which I mostly enjoyed, although I didn't realise until I'd finished it that it's in fact a sequel to another book by this author (Relative Love). It stood alone very well. Charts a year in the life of an extended family, and I found myself feeling more and more involved with them as I read. Great writing style, though a few more sordid moments than I'm comfortable with.
Read
July 29, 2011I really enjoyed this book. I warmed to the characters and loved the way we had an insight to their lives. Just found out though this was a sequel, so am a bit gutted as wish I had read the first book prior to this!
July 31, 2022
A very good book
Having read the two books about this family I have enjoyed them both very much. I found it hard to put the second one down as it drew you in wanting to know how life was going to be for this family. Both books a very good read.
Having read the two books about this family I have enjoyed them both very much. I found it hard to put the second one down as it drew you in wanting to know how life was going to be for this family. Both books a very good read.
June 12, 2009
A sequel to Relative Love with more about the Harrison family every bit as good as the first.
Read
July 28, 2011Awful I didnt get far with this, reckon it was trying to be like the Shell Seekers,but the characters were awful
November 24, 2013
A brilliant second book regarding the trials of the Harrison family.
February 19, 2014
this is a feelgood story about the Harrison family with all the ups and downs. This book has a happy ending for everyone, so it is a good book to read if you are in need of some positive feelings!
August 8, 2014
Read this as I enjoyed reading Relative Love, it is an easy read and certainly passes the time on my commute. It is a gentle book not enthralling but satisfying nontheless.
March 25, 2021
I loved every page of this book!
July 25, 2011
An enjoyable read - lovely characters, just easy going & an easy read - great!!
Read
November 14, 2017easy. some interesting bits
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews