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The Kindness Project
Help the baker's ex-wife widow
Find the true calling for the village shop owner
Call a truce on a decades-old feud
Forgive me...?
The locals of the Cornish village of Polperran are grieving the sudden loss of Bea Kimbrel, a cornerstone of their small community.
Now her reclusive, estranged daughter Alice has turned up, keen to tie up Bea's affairs and move on.
But Alice receives a strange bequest from Bea - a collection of unfinished tasks to help out those in Polperran most in need.
As each little act brings her closer to understanding her mother, it also begins to offer Alice the courage to open her clamped-shut heart. Perhaps Bea's project will finally unlock the powerful secrets both women have been keeping...
THE KINDNESS PROJECT will draw you deep into the lives of two compelling women who should never have missed their chance to say goodbye. It will break your heart - and piece it back together again...
Find the true calling for the village shop owner
Call a truce on a decades-old feud
Forgive me...?
The locals of the Cornish village of Polperran are grieving the sudden loss of Bea Kimbrel, a cornerstone of their small community.
Now her reclusive, estranged daughter Alice has turned up, keen to tie up Bea's affairs and move on.
But Alice receives a strange bequest from Bea - a collection of unfinished tasks to help out those in Polperran most in need.
As each little act brings her closer to understanding her mother, it also begins to offer Alice the courage to open her clamped-shut heart. Perhaps Bea's project will finally unlock the powerful secrets both women have been keeping...
THE KINDNESS PROJECT will draw you deep into the lives of two compelling women who should never have missed their chance to say goodbye. It will break your heart - and piece it back together again...
- GenresFiction
336 pages, Paperback
First published July 8, 2021
11 people are currently reading
253 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
March 23, 2021
My first book by this author and it was a delight to read. We find Alice just after her Mum has passed away - the Mum she had become estranged from many years earlier. It turns out the her Mum had left her some tasks to carry out after her death - all connected with the kindness mentioned in the title. The complex relationships of village life come to the fore during the book and Alice has some issues to work through. Sad in places but hopefully Alice can finally find some peace in her life.
July 30, 2023
Ugh this book was good, I really did not care for Alice though.
April 11, 2021
Review also posted here: http://www.book-drunk.co.uk/2021/03/t...
The Kindness Project is a book that had me enticed simply by a quick read of the blurb. I love stories of kindness and I believe there is always time to be kind in life. The sound of the project set by Bea for her daughter had me intrigued and I was eager to read all about it. I loved the sound of The Kindness Project straight away and the book itself lived up to all my expectations and more. I could not stop reading.
We meet Alice as she is on her way to Polperran, a place she clearly would not be visiting under any other circumstances. Having just learnt about the death of her mum, Bea, Alice takes all her ill feelings with her to the picturesque Cornish village to tie up the loose ends at her mother’s home. In truth, it’s the last place Alice wants to be and it was evident from the start that she and Bea did not have a good relationship. Alice seems a bit bitter about things that have happened between them and instead of outwardly grieving after the death of her mum, she’s ready to hear her will and get her home emptied and then go back to her day-to-day life in Cambridge.
I found the exploration of the relationship-gone-wrong between Bea and Alice really fascinating. Bea may already be dead once the book begins but Sam Binnie truly brings her character to life through the letters Bea has written, through Alice’s memories and through the stories told by Bea’s friends and acquaintances in Polperran. It’s clear that Alice felt abandoned by her mum when she was a child, but it’s also clear that Alice doesn’t know quite so much about Bea in the years before she died. It was refreshing to learn, along with Alice, some things she wasn’t aware of about her mum as it gave more of a roundness to Bea’s character rather than the wholly negative views Alice has.
I generally love reading books that explore the relationship between mother and daughter. I had the best relationship with my mum, yet others are more complex and discovering the ins and outs of family connections always has me intrigued. One thing for certain was that Bea had had a big impact on the community within the Cornish town she lived in. A place where everybody knows everybody’s business, Bea had never been content with just knowing - she liked to get involved. This is something that doesn’t escape Alice as amongst her possessions in her will, Bea leaves her daughter a series of envelopes, containing The Kindness Project – a set of missions to undergo to help out the residents of Polperran.
I loved the sound of the project and I loved reading each letter Bea sent to Alice. In each letter, she opens up more and more and in turn, maybe it helped Alice open up a bit more too. The development in Alice’s character helped me warm to her a lot during the course of this book. When we meet her, she is a bit disinterested in anything Cornwall has to offer her. She likes to keep conversations short and avoids eye contact. Small talk is the enemy. But the more time she spends there, the more vocal she gets and the more similarities between her and Bea are on show – and I loved seeing her character grow.
One thing I adored about this book was that everybody had a story to tell. The characters had pure life to them and each of them kept me engrossed.
The power of kindness shone through the pages of this book. If all it takes is a moment to say good morning or a little helping hand for someone who knows what they want but doesn’t quite know how to get there, then why on earth not? Kindness is infectious, and Sam Binnie reinforces that throughout this lovely, touching, compelling novel. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book.
The Kindness Project is a book that had me enticed simply by a quick read of the blurb. I love stories of kindness and I believe there is always time to be kind in life. The sound of the project set by Bea for her daughter had me intrigued and I was eager to read all about it. I loved the sound of The Kindness Project straight away and the book itself lived up to all my expectations and more. I could not stop reading.
We meet Alice as she is on her way to Polperran, a place she clearly would not be visiting under any other circumstances. Having just learnt about the death of her mum, Bea, Alice takes all her ill feelings with her to the picturesque Cornish village to tie up the loose ends at her mother’s home. In truth, it’s the last place Alice wants to be and it was evident from the start that she and Bea did not have a good relationship. Alice seems a bit bitter about things that have happened between them and instead of outwardly grieving after the death of her mum, she’s ready to hear her will and get her home emptied and then go back to her day-to-day life in Cambridge.
I found the exploration of the relationship-gone-wrong between Bea and Alice really fascinating. Bea may already be dead once the book begins but Sam Binnie truly brings her character to life through the letters Bea has written, through Alice’s memories and through the stories told by Bea’s friends and acquaintances in Polperran. It’s clear that Alice felt abandoned by her mum when she was a child, but it’s also clear that Alice doesn’t know quite so much about Bea in the years before she died. It was refreshing to learn, along with Alice, some things she wasn’t aware of about her mum as it gave more of a roundness to Bea’s character rather than the wholly negative views Alice has.
I generally love reading books that explore the relationship between mother and daughter. I had the best relationship with my mum, yet others are more complex and discovering the ins and outs of family connections always has me intrigued. One thing for certain was that Bea had had a big impact on the community within the Cornish town she lived in. A place where everybody knows everybody’s business, Bea had never been content with just knowing - she liked to get involved. This is something that doesn’t escape Alice as amongst her possessions in her will, Bea leaves her daughter a series of envelopes, containing The Kindness Project – a set of missions to undergo to help out the residents of Polperran.
I loved the sound of the project and I loved reading each letter Bea sent to Alice. In each letter, she opens up more and more and in turn, maybe it helped Alice open up a bit more too. The development in Alice’s character helped me warm to her a lot during the course of this book. When we meet her, she is a bit disinterested in anything Cornwall has to offer her. She likes to keep conversations short and avoids eye contact. Small talk is the enemy. But the more time she spends there, the more vocal she gets and the more similarities between her and Bea are on show – and I loved seeing her character grow.
One thing I adored about this book was that everybody had a story to tell. The characters had pure life to them and each of them kept me engrossed.
The power of kindness shone through the pages of this book. If all it takes is a moment to say good morning or a little helping hand for someone who knows what they want but doesn’t quite know how to get there, then why on earth not? Kindness is infectious, and Sam Binnie reinforces that throughout this lovely, touching, compelling novel. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book.
July 9, 2021
Thanks to @HeadlineBooks and @NetGalley for providing me with a proof copy in advance of publication. 📚
This is a story about a young woman's grief, dealing with the loss of her mother, Bea, who she hadn't even seen in 7 years. She goes to the village in Cornwall her mother lived in and her mother takes her on a mission to take care of the other inhabitants of the village via well-timed letters. Alice meets Luke, the gardener, lifeguard and all around town helper, Sally, who works in the village shop, but is run thin with two young kids and an elderly father with a debilitating disease she needs to care for, and the bubbly solicitor who is exacting her mother's last wishes and delays Alice's plans to return to her comfortable, academic life back in Cambridge.
Will this little break from her daily routine set Alice on a new path, bring her closer to her mother? And why does Bea want Alice to help people around the village?
This is a perfect cosy Sunday kind of read, it envelops you and gives you the space to feel big and complicated emotions while introducing you to a lovely cast of locals who welcome you to the little village of Polperran.
This is a story about a young woman's grief, dealing with the loss of her mother, Bea, who she hadn't even seen in 7 years. She goes to the village in Cornwall her mother lived in and her mother takes her on a mission to take care of the other inhabitants of the village via well-timed letters. Alice meets Luke, the gardener, lifeguard and all around town helper, Sally, who works in the village shop, but is run thin with two young kids and an elderly father with a debilitating disease she needs to care for, and the bubbly solicitor who is exacting her mother's last wishes and delays Alice's plans to return to her comfortable, academic life back in Cambridge.
Will this little break from her daily routine set Alice on a new path, bring her closer to her mother? And why does Bea want Alice to help people around the village?
This is a perfect cosy Sunday kind of read, it envelops you and gives you the space to feel big and complicated emotions while introducing you to a lovely cast of locals who welcome you to the little village of Polperran.
June 22, 2024
this book fell into my hands by pure chance and boy is it absolutely worth it. this was actually so beautiful and not nearly long enough for me. i fell in love with the small town (village) life and every single character i'm gonna miss them so much. i love how it's all centered around alice's growth and the townspeople and not some romantic encounter that makes her fall in love with town and 'discovering herself', but she did all that herself. by going out and trying and failing and trying again despite panic and more panic. the ending was so devastating. i love them. all of them. would recommend. maybe reading books i actually own isn't so bad.
June 6, 2022
This is my first book by this author and what a delight it was. We meet Alice after her mother Bea has just passed away, leaving her house and an unfinished kindness project for Alice to take care of in her will. Bea and Alice have become estranged over the years and this book dealt with the sadness of lost relationships and opportunities alongside the hope that small acts of kindness can bring.
February 26, 2021
I believe in kindness. This is the main reason why I said yes when I was offered the opportunity to read Sam Binnie’s novel. I will admit I barely read the blurb. I was in love with the idea of reading something warm, something that would remind me that people are good, that they can have someone’s best interests at heart or can do something without expecting anything in return.
Did The Kindness Project remind me of those things? Yes. But it also gave me food for thought and a new place to call a bookish home.
Alice Kimbrel suddenly receives the news of her mother’s passing. First very important point for me here: a mother-daughter relationship. I am very close to my own mother, but I find myself very curious about other people’s relationships with their parents. I remember reading those first pages with trepidation. Would it make me so sad I would have to take breaks between reading sessions? No. Not that there aren’t sad moments. But like sea waves, in this novel moments and feelings come and go with the tide, dancing to the rhythm of the author’s beautiful prose. So, I took Alice’s hand and we both ended up in Polperran, a small Cornish village.
Life is unbalancing, with high and low tides – we are given things we didn’t know we wanted, and we grow to want things we thought we didn’t need.
I try not to quote books too much, but Sam Binnie’s words resonated with me more than once, and I believe they are the best argument I have to show you how much you need to read this story of life.
Alice is nervous, she can’t wait to be done with this trip and run back to Cambridge, where her life awaits. We are not privy to much information about Alice’s life when we meet her, but it is clear that Polperran was not on her list of places to visit, even less after such a tragedy. Her head and heart are in turmoil and it taints her, and therefore our, view of the village as soon as we set foot there. A lone figure, a worn café, nothing very welcoming hit us at first sight. Alice is cold and wary of this place. But why?
The visit to the lawyer who holds Alice’s mother left me with more questions than answers! The warmth coming from the professional was blatantly in contrast with Alice’s take on the place, and made me feel we were both missing something…
Now, Bea Kimbrel. We met Alice’s mother through her daughter’s memories of her and the least I can say is that this relationship is at the heart of the problem, or should I say novel. Bea left letters to her daughter, containing specific missions to carry out in the village. Like Alice, I was puzzled. Wait a minute! This woman died, and left her child with a to-do list? If Alice was hurt, I was intrigued. You can never be sure of your reaction to such news in real life, but I felt both closer to Alice, stuck with her feelings and now one letter from her dead mother, and an urge to find out more. There is something very special in the author’s writing that reels you in, almost as if invisible strings pulled you closer and closer to the village, not in a pushy way, rather in an inviting and safe way. After all, this had been Bea’s home, and she loved it enough to ask Alice for her help.
All of us living so fast that we never understand how to get to where we need to be.
Bea’s tasks don’t involve climbing mountains or swimming for four hours in a stormy sea. It doesn’t mean the tasks are easy, especially for someone like Alice.
Here comes the moment I talk about my favorite element. Through Bea’s missions, we discover more about the mother, yes, but also about the daughter. Alice’s reluctance as staying in Polperran first grows stronger before the woman’s walls begin to shake, and cracks appear. The good thing with cracks is that they let light and people in. The similarities between Bea and Alice appear, along with their differences. Through her mother’s instructions, Alice slowly puts her guard down and suddenly, the sun is warming the Cornish place. No, the road is not paved and lovely. The road is bumpy and Alice falls to her knees before she truly finds her feet. But don’t they say you have to crawl before you can walk? Bea’s letters are the crutches Alice needed to understand her mother better, understand herself better, and open the door to what life really is about.
Her life had been shaped always around managing, never, she began to think, about connecting.
The village is filled with endearing, stubborn, wonderful people. I would kill to try Joy’s cakes, I’d love to go shopping at the store, or hire Luke for some gardening! If Alice thought she would only be passing through, she never imagined she’d actually settle in her mother’s cottage and one by one, get to know and appreciate the hearts giving life to Polperran. There is no easy way to make yourself comfortable in a new place. I remember this from moving to Japan, and later to London. However, the people make it worth it, if you pay enough attention and spend the time needed to make connections.
How wonderful it was to get to know everyone. Behind a sad smile lies a burden, a flower garden hides loneliness, a beach is the shelter of a solitary soul. If you believe villages have nothing to offer, you know nothing! Polperran is alive and kicking, it is wrapped in lovely connections built with time and care. The rules may not appear clearly but if you try, you might just fit in one day, if you are brave enough to try.
So what really is the project? Well, at first, I thought it was all about finishing Bea’s work and making the people who mattered to her happy. As I turned the pages, though, it dawned on me that those letters were in fact about Alice. A final touch from the loving hand of a mother to her beloved daughter. My heart broke and was mended by Bea’s kindness and the care she took to ensure Alice would find her way into life. Real life. Why am I saying this? Alice has a lot on her mind, as well as on her heart. Being an academic has its advantages. You live for the work, it’s a full license to spend your days researching, staying on the outside, never mingling with the rest of the world. As I spent hours with Alice, I noticed a pattern, and reactions I am familiar with… If upon her arrival she believed Polperran was the end of something, she finds out that it is the perfect place for new beginnings.
I wish I could buy a ticket and visit Polperran, for it stole precious hours of my sleep I do not regret and offered me a wonderfully sweet and authentic reminder of what we should treasure in life. I am not ready to give up my city life, but I sure want to spread kindness and be open to what’s just in front of me.
The Kindness Project is an exquisite story of love and loss. It brings back the heart in the word community and makes you long to belong. I loved it.
Did The Kindness Project remind me of those things? Yes. But it also gave me food for thought and a new place to call a bookish home.
Alice Kimbrel suddenly receives the news of her mother’s passing. First very important point for me here: a mother-daughter relationship. I am very close to my own mother, but I find myself very curious about other people’s relationships with their parents. I remember reading those first pages with trepidation. Would it make me so sad I would have to take breaks between reading sessions? No. Not that there aren’t sad moments. But like sea waves, in this novel moments and feelings come and go with the tide, dancing to the rhythm of the author’s beautiful prose. So, I took Alice’s hand and we both ended up in Polperran, a small Cornish village.
Life is unbalancing, with high and low tides – we are given things we didn’t know we wanted, and we grow to want things we thought we didn’t need.
I try not to quote books too much, but Sam Binnie’s words resonated with me more than once, and I believe they are the best argument I have to show you how much you need to read this story of life.
Alice is nervous, she can’t wait to be done with this trip and run back to Cambridge, where her life awaits. We are not privy to much information about Alice’s life when we meet her, but it is clear that Polperran was not on her list of places to visit, even less after such a tragedy. Her head and heart are in turmoil and it taints her, and therefore our, view of the village as soon as we set foot there. A lone figure, a worn café, nothing very welcoming hit us at first sight. Alice is cold and wary of this place. But why?
The visit to the lawyer who holds Alice’s mother left me with more questions than answers! The warmth coming from the professional was blatantly in contrast with Alice’s take on the place, and made me feel we were both missing something…
Now, Bea Kimbrel. We met Alice’s mother through her daughter’s memories of her and the least I can say is that this relationship is at the heart of the problem, or should I say novel. Bea left letters to her daughter, containing specific missions to carry out in the village. Like Alice, I was puzzled. Wait a minute! This woman died, and left her child with a to-do list? If Alice was hurt, I was intrigued. You can never be sure of your reaction to such news in real life, but I felt both closer to Alice, stuck with her feelings and now one letter from her dead mother, and an urge to find out more. There is something very special in the author’s writing that reels you in, almost as if invisible strings pulled you closer and closer to the village, not in a pushy way, rather in an inviting and safe way. After all, this had been Bea’s home, and she loved it enough to ask Alice for her help.
All of us living so fast that we never understand how to get to where we need to be.
Bea’s tasks don’t involve climbing mountains or swimming for four hours in a stormy sea. It doesn’t mean the tasks are easy, especially for someone like Alice.
Here comes the moment I talk about my favorite element. Through Bea’s missions, we discover more about the mother, yes, but also about the daughter. Alice’s reluctance as staying in Polperran first grows stronger before the woman’s walls begin to shake, and cracks appear. The good thing with cracks is that they let light and people in. The similarities between Bea and Alice appear, along with their differences. Through her mother’s instructions, Alice slowly puts her guard down and suddenly, the sun is warming the Cornish place. No, the road is not paved and lovely. The road is bumpy and Alice falls to her knees before she truly finds her feet. But don’t they say you have to crawl before you can walk? Bea’s letters are the crutches Alice needed to understand her mother better, understand herself better, and open the door to what life really is about.
Her life had been shaped always around managing, never, she began to think, about connecting.
The village is filled with endearing, stubborn, wonderful people. I would kill to try Joy’s cakes, I’d love to go shopping at the store, or hire Luke for some gardening! If Alice thought she would only be passing through, she never imagined she’d actually settle in her mother’s cottage and one by one, get to know and appreciate the hearts giving life to Polperran. There is no easy way to make yourself comfortable in a new place. I remember this from moving to Japan, and later to London. However, the people make it worth it, if you pay enough attention and spend the time needed to make connections.
How wonderful it was to get to know everyone. Behind a sad smile lies a burden, a flower garden hides loneliness, a beach is the shelter of a solitary soul. If you believe villages have nothing to offer, you know nothing! Polperran is alive and kicking, it is wrapped in lovely connections built with time and care. The rules may not appear clearly but if you try, you might just fit in one day, if you are brave enough to try.
So what really is the project? Well, at first, I thought it was all about finishing Bea’s work and making the people who mattered to her happy. As I turned the pages, though, it dawned on me that those letters were in fact about Alice. A final touch from the loving hand of a mother to her beloved daughter. My heart broke and was mended by Bea’s kindness and the care she took to ensure Alice would find her way into life. Real life. Why am I saying this? Alice has a lot on her mind, as well as on her heart. Being an academic has its advantages. You live for the work, it’s a full license to spend your days researching, staying on the outside, never mingling with the rest of the world. As I spent hours with Alice, I noticed a pattern, and reactions I am familiar with… If upon her arrival she believed Polperran was the end of something, she finds out that it is the perfect place for new beginnings.
I wish I could buy a ticket and visit Polperran, for it stole precious hours of my sleep I do not regret and offered me a wonderfully sweet and authentic reminder of what we should treasure in life. I am not ready to give up my city life, but I sure want to spread kindness and be open to what’s just in front of me.
The Kindness Project is an exquisite story of love and loss. It brings back the heart in the word community and makes you long to belong. I loved it.
June 20, 2021
The Kindness Project by Sam Binnie a delightful five-star read. This was such a warm and welcoming story, it wasn’t all sunshine though, there were waves that threatened to know the whole thing over, and a couple of those waves did make it slightly long, but overall, this was such a good story. I adored the premise of the story, and the way in unfurled like one of Frances beautiful flowers. Alice was flawed and that was a surprise, as normally main characters in this type of story have a journey to go on, but they usually start at a temporary dip, rather than the low point that Alice had been through, but it made it such a deeper story, understanding her mental health added another layer to the story, it almost felt like another character in the village, and what a village filled with characters. I would simply love to visit the café, or a pint in the Dolphin, or even a swim in the sea, and know even if I wasn’t a local, I would still be accepted. This shows us again what a great writer Sam Binnie is.
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April 9, 2021I loved Sam Binnie's previous books, "The Wedding Diaries" and "The Baby Diaries", so I couldn't believe my eyes when I've spotted that, after all those years, she has another book coming out. Requested, downloaded, started to read.
I'm at 52% at the moment and I won't be reading any more. The book annoys me incredibly, I can't warm to Alice, there are tons of other characters and actually there is nothing happening. There are memories, memories, memories that can't capture my attention, the story drags, and the occassional light and funny sentence can't save the book for me. I am incredibly sad because I was hoping for a brilliant read but, as I've already mentioned, I'm half in and I only feel irritated. It doesn't make me laugh, it doesn't bring tears to my eyes and I'm very, very sorry because of this.
I'm at 52% at the moment and I won't be reading any more. The book annoys me incredibly, I can't warm to Alice, there are tons of other characters and actually there is nothing happening. There are memories, memories, memories that can't capture my attention, the story drags, and the occassional light and funny sentence can't save the book for me. I am incredibly sad because I was hoping for a brilliant read but, as I've already mentioned, I'm half in and I only feel irritated. It doesn't make me laugh, it doesn't bring tears to my eyes and I'm very, very sorry because of this.
August 24, 2021
This book was a delight and I thoroughly enjoyed every page. I loved the amazing variety of characters and the unique and interesting story and slow build of plot. This is a lovely sweet and thought provoking book highly recommended
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
July 7, 2021
Alice’s mother, Bea, stopped being a significant part of her life when she walked away from her home and family when Alice was a child. She moved to Polperran in Cornwall – Alice remained in Cambridge with her father – and the visits, that were never easy, slowly petered out to become just the very occasional telephone call. When she hears her mother has died – when she wasn’t aware she was ill – there is a moment’s sadness (with a touch of guilt), but Alice heads to Cornwall with the aim of doing the necessary, putting her mother’s house on the market, so that she can return to Cambridge and the working life that sustains her. But her mother had other ideas: when Alice visits the solicitor, she finds her mother left a series of letters setting out tasks she wanted her to fulfil – a few things she hadn’t managed to achieve herself – and it seems her visit isn’t going to be quite as quick and business-like as she hoped it would be.
Alice lives for work – she’s an academic and lecturer, immersed in the history of the Black Death with hopes of producing a book delving into its intricacies. She lives a solitary life – her only friend is her work supervisor, her encounters with others are only fleeting, and she really does prefer it that way. When she arrives in Polperran, she hopes to avoid all but the most necessary contact with people – the gardener ever present at her mother’s cottage is rather an uncomfortable surprise. And then she does need to go out for the necessities – a sandwich in the run-down local cafe, buying the essentials in the village shop, a meal in the local pub. But her mother’s letters mean that she’s forced to engage with people in a way that she never expected, and it’s something she initially finds particularly uncomfortable – but she also discovers that her mother was very much part of the small community, loved by many, and that there were layers of her life that Alice was never aware of.
In uncovering her mother’s secrets, we begin to see a change in Alice herself. At first, she struggles to communicate – small talk really isn’t her thing, she’s a bit spiky, tends to shout a bit, avoiding eye contact while looking at her feet. But she begins to carry out her tasks and is swept up in the life of the community and the relationships between its residents – and as she gets to know her mother rather better, through the wonderful letters she left behind and the memories of others, we begin to discover that she has a few well-hidden secrets of her own. And I really liked the way the reader’s relationship with Alice changed too – if you don’t really like or sympathise that much with her at the beginning, I entirely guarantee that she’ll go on to win your heart, as she did mine.
I was going to say “this book is all about the power of the community” – but it really is far more than that. Every single character in this book is quite wonderfully drawn, every one with their own story – as Alice does, you become entirely caught up in their lives, their small dramas and some of their more serious issues too. The way the story unfolds is an absolute joy – every small storyline engaging, along with Alice’s impact on people’s lives as she attempts to achieve a few things that were beyond her mother’s reach. But then there are those letters, and the Bea we get to know so well through sharing them – they’re written with immense love, and can’t fail to touch you to the heart, knowing that this was a love Alice was entirely unaware of when her mother was alive. I’m always a total pushover for stories with a strong sense of community, and equally attracted by anything connected to the mother and daughter relationship – and you really won’t find either aspect much better handled than they are in this wonderful book.
The writing really is superb. Because of the “kindness” theme I was rather expecting something light and a bit fluffy – along the lines of the romcoms I read so often and enjoy. But it really isn’t, and I’d urge anyone who prefers their reading rather more substantial to give it a try – although there’s plenty of lightness and gentle humour, there’s a fine touch with the emotional content too, and quite a few more serious issues lurking beneath the surface. The balance is quite perfect – at times heartbreaking, but the next smile is never that far away. It’s a tremendously uplifting read, filled with love, all about the power of connecting with others, how being yourself is sometimes enough. I absolutely adored it, and this was one of the best books I’ve read this year.
Alice lives for work – she’s an academic and lecturer, immersed in the history of the Black Death with hopes of producing a book delving into its intricacies. She lives a solitary life – her only friend is her work supervisor, her encounters with others are only fleeting, and she really does prefer it that way. When she arrives in Polperran, she hopes to avoid all but the most necessary contact with people – the gardener ever present at her mother’s cottage is rather an uncomfortable surprise. And then she does need to go out for the necessities – a sandwich in the run-down local cafe, buying the essentials in the village shop, a meal in the local pub. But her mother’s letters mean that she’s forced to engage with people in a way that she never expected, and it’s something she initially finds particularly uncomfortable – but she also discovers that her mother was very much part of the small community, loved by many, and that there were layers of her life that Alice was never aware of.
In uncovering her mother’s secrets, we begin to see a change in Alice herself. At first, she struggles to communicate – small talk really isn’t her thing, she’s a bit spiky, tends to shout a bit, avoiding eye contact while looking at her feet. But she begins to carry out her tasks and is swept up in the life of the community and the relationships between its residents – and as she gets to know her mother rather better, through the wonderful letters she left behind and the memories of others, we begin to discover that she has a few well-hidden secrets of her own. And I really liked the way the reader’s relationship with Alice changed too – if you don’t really like or sympathise that much with her at the beginning, I entirely guarantee that she’ll go on to win your heart, as she did mine.
I was going to say “this book is all about the power of the community” – but it really is far more than that. Every single character in this book is quite wonderfully drawn, every one with their own story – as Alice does, you become entirely caught up in their lives, their small dramas and some of their more serious issues too. The way the story unfolds is an absolute joy – every small storyline engaging, along with Alice’s impact on people’s lives as she attempts to achieve a few things that were beyond her mother’s reach. But then there are those letters, and the Bea we get to know so well through sharing them – they’re written with immense love, and can’t fail to touch you to the heart, knowing that this was a love Alice was entirely unaware of when her mother was alive. I’m always a total pushover for stories with a strong sense of community, and equally attracted by anything connected to the mother and daughter relationship – and you really won’t find either aspect much better handled than they are in this wonderful book.
The writing really is superb. Because of the “kindness” theme I was rather expecting something light and a bit fluffy – along the lines of the romcoms I read so often and enjoy. But it really isn’t, and I’d urge anyone who prefers their reading rather more substantial to give it a try – although there’s plenty of lightness and gentle humour, there’s a fine touch with the emotional content too, and quite a few more serious issues lurking beneath the surface. The balance is quite perfect – at times heartbreaking, but the next smile is never that far away. It’s a tremendously uplifting read, filled with love, all about the power of connecting with others, how being yourself is sometimes enough. I absolutely adored it, and this was one of the best books I’ve read this year.
March 7, 2021
You can't escape the message of 'Be Kind' all around right now, so it's only right that you do yourselves a favour and treat yourself to this book as it will give you all the warm and huggy feels and being kind to yourself is a great place to start with your own kindness project!!
It's an emotional story from the start as Alice is travelling home after hearing that she has lost her mum. They were never close and she never even got invited to the funeral, so it feels odd to her to be travelling back 'home' and starts her thinking about the relationship troubles that she had with her mother.
Alice and Bea are very chalk and cheese personalities. Bea was a free spirit, very outgoing and always willing to help others around her. Whereas Alice is very closed off, loves her routine, her little bubble and goes out of her way to avoid people. She was very much a Daddy's girl and it seems that the troubles between mum and daughter started years ago, and we see why they made such an impact on Alice.
Bea's final wishes were for Alice to continue with the Kindness Project she had set up - an alien concept to Alice! Bea had made a real impact on the community she lived in, and I think it overwhelms Alice a little to see what her mother was doing for others.
As Alice spends more time going through her mothers' things, the memories start to flood back and the regrets begin to build. Just where had it all gone wrong for them both, and why had they not just faced up to the problems and talked it through. That's a big thing you take away from this book - time gives you a different perspective on things that happened and you shouldn't wait until it is too late to make things right, or clear the air. Through the letters that Bea leaves her daughter, and talking to the locals who knew and loved her mum so much, she begins to learn more of the past than she was aware of before.
I loved how Alice took so well to the tasks she was set and I think helping others ends up helping her more as she gets out of her own head, and out of the rut that she found herself in. She realises that she needs to take control of her life, and sometimes all it needs is just a little bit of kindness that can go a long way in brightening someones day!
A really touching and heartwarming story!
It's an emotional story from the start as Alice is travelling home after hearing that she has lost her mum. They were never close and she never even got invited to the funeral, so it feels odd to her to be travelling back 'home' and starts her thinking about the relationship troubles that she had with her mother.
Alice and Bea are very chalk and cheese personalities. Bea was a free spirit, very outgoing and always willing to help others around her. Whereas Alice is very closed off, loves her routine, her little bubble and goes out of her way to avoid people. She was very much a Daddy's girl and it seems that the troubles between mum and daughter started years ago, and we see why they made such an impact on Alice.
Bea's final wishes were for Alice to continue with the Kindness Project she had set up - an alien concept to Alice! Bea had made a real impact on the community she lived in, and I think it overwhelms Alice a little to see what her mother was doing for others.
As Alice spends more time going through her mothers' things, the memories start to flood back and the regrets begin to build. Just where had it all gone wrong for them both, and why had they not just faced up to the problems and talked it through. That's a big thing you take away from this book - time gives you a different perspective on things that happened and you shouldn't wait until it is too late to make things right, or clear the air. Through the letters that Bea leaves her daughter, and talking to the locals who knew and loved her mum so much, she begins to learn more of the past than she was aware of before.
I loved how Alice took so well to the tasks she was set and I think helping others ends up helping her more as she gets out of her own head, and out of the rut that she found herself in. She realises that she needs to take control of her life, and sometimes all it needs is just a little bit of kindness that can go a long way in brightening someones day!
A really touching and heartwarming story!
April 16, 2021
Reviews can also be found on my blog Escapades of a BookwormI received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.So The Kindness Project was a book that I had to warm up to. At first I was not very keen on Alice. She was uptight and boring. And I felt it very hard to connect to her. But I persisted and slowly became invested.
For me there were a lot of memories to shift through, that couldn't capture my attention There was the odd warm funny comment, that kept me reading, but it was probably the last 25% that I loved. Once we got to know more of the villagers and their life stories. These were the people who mattered to me.
But slowly, ever so slowly Alice comes out of her shell and starts to open up to those around her. She slowly starts to take pleasure in the small things in life. Cake, walks on the beach and swimming. Alice takes great pleasure in swimming before dawn and finds it very calming and very therapeutic. And then Sam Binnie obviously find it very awarding as well. So do you swim before dawn or are tempted to all? Personally it is not very tempting for me.
Throughout Alice has to achieve small tasks left by her mother Bea, as part of her will. These tasks allowed Alice to grow in confidence. And to learn more about her mother, the village and what it means to be part of a family. So many secrets were kept from Alice and by the end I felt sorry for her. She definitely would have been a different person if her parents had been more open.
The Kindness Project was a book about how even the most smallest of actions can have consequences. And how to heal you have to open yourself up even just the smallest of bits. If you can get through the beginning this is a book that can warm your heart.
For me there were a lot of memories to shift through, that couldn't capture my attention There was the odd warm funny comment, that kept me reading, but it was probably the last 25% that I loved. Once we got to know more of the villagers and their life stories. These were the people who mattered to me.
But slowly, ever so slowly Alice comes out of her shell and starts to open up to those around her. She slowly starts to take pleasure in the small things in life. Cake, walks on the beach and swimming. Alice takes great pleasure in swimming before dawn and finds it very calming and very therapeutic. And then Sam Binnie obviously find it very awarding as well. So do you swim before dawn or are tempted to all? Personally it is not very tempting for me.
Throughout Alice has to achieve small tasks left by her mother Bea, as part of her will. These tasks allowed Alice to grow in confidence. And to learn more about her mother, the village and what it means to be part of a family. So many secrets were kept from Alice and by the end I felt sorry for her. She definitely would have been a different person if her parents had been more open.
The Kindness Project was a book about how even the most smallest of actions can have consequences. And how to heal you have to open yourself up even just the smallest of bits. If you can get through the beginning this is a book that can warm your heart.
January 18, 2023
This was a perfectly pleasant if predictable read, following the usual formula of young, single woman leading a narrow and fairly dull existence in a city, being left a bequest in a will that results in her living in a cute Cornish fishing village for a few weeks. (The heroine of this story ends up being left TWO Cornish cottages, which I felt was excessive...How come no one ever leaves ME something like that?!) We have the usual stock characters: the motherly character, the bitter old lady, the sweet old lady, the pair with a feud of long-standing, the mysterious young woman, the harassed single mum, none of whom seem able to sort their issues out until the arrival of Alice, the slightly dysfunctional stranger who manages to set them all back on the right track, thanks to a series of notes left by her deceased mother.
Unlike some other reviewers, I did find Alice a sympathetic character from the start - it was so obvious that her social awkwardness was due to her past trauma, and I appreciated the way in which she gradually overcame her difficulties and that it was a very up-and-down journey for her instead of being a smooth (and unrealistic) progression. However, I did struggle to warm to Bea and Maurice - I found it difficult to sympathise with characters who showed so little concern for their daughter. They both came across as quite selfish, unwilling to put themselves out to help their child. I also found it incredible that
Unlike some other reviewers, I did find Alice a sympathetic character from the start - it was so obvious that her social awkwardness was due to her past trauma, and I appreciated the way in which she gradually overcame her difficulties and that it was a very up-and-down journey for her instead of being a smooth (and unrealistic) progression. However, I did struggle to warm to Bea and Maurice - I found it difficult to sympathise with characters who showed so little concern for their daughter. They both came across as quite selfish, unwilling to put themselves out to help their child. I also found it incredible that
July 6, 2021
A beautiful book that reminded me at times of PS I Love You as Alice is left letters from her mum Bea who has sadly passed away. Each of these letters ask Alice to help out someone in the village of Polperran and I found these so moving to read and you could see that these letters weren’t just to help Bea feel better but also to help Alice as well.
The village of Polperran and the residents who lived there were all so wonderful (well some of them anyway) and all I wanted after reading was to live there and become part of this amazing community. The author is fantastic at the details and her descriptions of the village, gardens and characters are all so rich and vivid that you have such a clear image in your head of the people and places.
Through the letters Alice receives from her mum she embarks on this ‘Kindness Project’ which was emotional yet uplifting to see as Alice finds herself, begins to deal with her anxiety and uncover family secrets along the way.
Overall this was such a lovely read exploring grief, kindness and learning to open your heart to others. If you’re looking for the perfect bit of escapism this summer then this is the book for you.
The village of Polperran and the residents who lived there were all so wonderful (well some of them anyway) and all I wanted after reading was to live there and become part of this amazing community. The author is fantastic at the details and her descriptions of the village, gardens and characters are all so rich and vivid that you have such a clear image in your head of the people and places.
Through the letters Alice receives from her mum she embarks on this ‘Kindness Project’ which was emotional yet uplifting to see as Alice finds herself, begins to deal with her anxiety and uncover family secrets along the way.
Overall this was such a lovely read exploring grief, kindness and learning to open your heart to others. If you’re looking for the perfect bit of escapism this summer then this is the book for you.
July 7, 2021
What a good read. On the surface Alice has a successful life as a Cambridge University academic. We meet her en route to Polperran in Cornwall, where her mother has recently died. We discover Alice isn't as pulled together as she'd like to think - something has clearly happened at university although we are teased with this for a long time. Alice's mum left her and her dad in Cambridge to move to Cornwall when Alice was 11. Summer visits were tolerated by a young Alice although she made no effort to integrate with her mum's new life. We never truly found out why Bea had left her family behind, although we do learn of her reason for being where she is. Alice thinks she's there to sell her mum's cottage and clear out, until she is presented with a series of letters written by Bea when she knew she was dying, tasking Alice with acts of kindness to people in the village. When we learn what is behind this project we realise how well Bea actually knew her daughter. Alice is a sad character and it is lovely to see her push herself out of her comfort zone. Some moments of comedy, some of pathos and an overall message of love and kindness. #thekindnessproject #netgalley
July 9, 2023
The characters and location are nice, although a bit stereotypical of a tiny seaside countryside village (cake competition, tourists complained about but never seen and the whole village involved in a scrapbook...) but that's pretty much all this book has going for it.
Nothing happens in this sleepy story, literally nothing. I kept waiting for something, some big reveal or drama- there was kind of one but it was skimmed over so quickly, was pretty obvious and right at the end of the book, I'd given up hope by then anyway.
There was supposed to be a romance brewing but the writing for this was so disjointed and didnt work, the two characters couldn't have acted/ been described as being any more indifferent to each other. There was more chemistry with the other villagers.
I'm not entirely sure what the point of the book was, finding new friends? Not waiting until the end of your life? I found it very bizarre that someone who is sick and dying wouldnt use those last moments to reconnect and reveal all these secrets instead of writing silly to-dos for after they've died. Maybe a missed the point which is strange for such a slow slow read.
Nothing happens in this sleepy story, literally nothing. I kept waiting for something, some big reveal or drama- there was kind of one but it was skimmed over so quickly, was pretty obvious and right at the end of the book, I'd given up hope by then anyway.
There was supposed to be a romance brewing but the writing for this was so disjointed and didnt work, the two characters couldn't have acted/ been described as being any more indifferent to each other. There was more chemistry with the other villagers.
I'm not entirely sure what the point of the book was, finding new friends? Not waiting until the end of your life? I found it very bizarre that someone who is sick and dying wouldnt use those last moments to reconnect and reveal all these secrets instead of writing silly to-dos for after they've died. Maybe a missed the point which is strange for such a slow slow read.
March 5, 2021
Bea Adlington wasn’t perfect in life, but she tried her best with her local community but never quite made a big enough connection with her daughter. In death, she has created a project for Alice that could help her daughter understand her and complete some important unfinished tasks. But Alice has created an emotional barrier not only around her relationship with her distant Mum but with people in general. She’s not really up to the task set in her Mum’s will, but the charming Cornish town slowly wears down her resistance to change. But will it be enough?
This is a novel that just felt like a literary warm hug. Small acts of kindness are like buds that bloom & flourish into something wondrous. The world needs more kindness especially just now and this is the perfect book to get cosied up in your favourite reading chair, with a warm brew and your favourite chocolates.
It’s an emotional roller-coaster and I loved every bit of it.
I received a copy from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for a review.
This is a novel that just felt like a literary warm hug. Small acts of kindness are like buds that bloom & flourish into something wondrous. The world needs more kindness especially just now and this is the perfect book to get cosied up in your favourite reading chair, with a warm brew and your favourite chocolates.
It’s an emotional roller-coaster and I loved every bit of it.
I received a copy from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for a review.
April 27, 2021
Alice, after the recent loss of her mum Bea, unwittingly finds herself roped into The Kindness Project, a series of instructions Bea left behind for her to carry out in the village of Polperran. Alice was only expecting to tie up loose ends like selling her mum's house and paintings, but instead, she's roped into the community unexpectedly. Bea and Alice didn't have a close relationship, and the Kindness Project acts as means of bringing the pair together following her death and showing her just why the Cornish cottage she called home, is much more than just a house and is instead means of belonging in the local area.
The exploration between Bea and Alice's relationship though was interesting and insightful, and the obvious differences between the two shine through. Bea's ability to involve herself and making the village a better place to be is something she hopes to pass down to Alice through the series of envelopes that make up the Project.
Ultimately this is a book about making a mark, and how sometimes even the most insignificant of moments can shape someone for the better. Whilst this is centred around the premise of being kind and helping those left behind, I felt as though some of the steps of the Kindness Project weren't fleshed out enough or explored in enough depth, and at times I was left feeling underwhelmed. It is a bit of a slow burn novel, and there are a lot of characters to keep track of and learn about, especially as they all seem pretty significant in the latter third of the book.
*Thanks to Netgalley and Headline for my advanced copy
The exploration between Bea and Alice's relationship though was interesting and insightful, and the obvious differences between the two shine through. Bea's ability to involve herself and making the village a better place to be is something she hopes to pass down to Alice through the series of envelopes that make up the Project.
Ultimately this is a book about making a mark, and how sometimes even the most insignificant of moments can shape someone for the better. Whilst this is centred around the premise of being kind and helping those left behind, I felt as though some of the steps of the Kindness Project weren't fleshed out enough or explored in enough depth, and at times I was left feeling underwhelmed. It is a bit of a slow burn novel, and there are a lot of characters to keep track of and learn about, especially as they all seem pretty significant in the latter third of the book.
*Thanks to Netgalley and Headline for my advanced copy
July 4, 2021
The title of this book captures what should be in everyone’s head right now….”kindness” this book takes you on a journey, Alice is a bit of a recluse living in Cambridge, when she finds herself in the small Cornish village of pelperran after the death of her estranged mother. She’s there to pack her mums house up and sell it so she can return to Cambridge as quickly as she can. However her mother has left her some envelopes with tasks she needs to complete “the kindness project”. Alice finds herself looking at these tasks and wondering why her mother wanted her to do them! Whilst doing these tasks from her mother Alice finds herself deep in thought about her past and finds solace swimming in the sea. Sam Binnie has used such thought provoking words to really set the scenes in this book and she describes the village and its people so well you actually think you are actually a character in the book. Safe to say i was enthralled by the book and loved reading it! I wont tell you want happens to Alice and the village, you will just have to pick up the book and read it yourself!!
March 14, 2021
I had read and enjoyed Sam Binnie's previous books which were written a few years ago. I was thrilled to see that she had written another book. Sam's previous books were lighthearted whereas this book was more serious and had a lot more depth to it. It is a different style to her previous books, but I like both this book and her previous ones. I didn't warm to the protagonist Alice to start with. As the story developed and we learn more about her, bit by bit I began to like and understand her. The ending was quite predictable, however the events leading up to the ending were suprising and unexpected. There were many twists, some right up to the last few pages. There were many sad and poignant moments,lots of misunderstandings put also some heartwarming scenes. I thought that this book was complex and well written. It was very emotional but I enjoyed the it. I hope that Sam Binnie continues to write more books Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my preview copy.
March 30, 2021
This book was a true feel good book without being twee and contrived. The characters were well rounded and had depth, the setting was gorgeous with imagery that gave me a home I wanted to return to whenever I was away from the pages.
There were elements I found frustrating, like the lack of communication between characters that lead to quite important and life changing situations rather than simple misunderstandings - this is a trope I find frustrating as I am a naturally open and talkative person so struggle to grasp that characters might not reveal important details. However this did not mar my enjoyment, but lead me to want to read on in the hope that things would be resolved, despite the lack of communication between characters being a little exaggerated for me.
I think lovers of Eleanor Oliphant, The Rosie Project and anyone that dreams of Cornwall will really enjoy this. Well worth a read.
There were elements I found frustrating, like the lack of communication between characters that lead to quite important and life changing situations rather than simple misunderstandings - this is a trope I find frustrating as I am a naturally open and talkative person so struggle to grasp that characters might not reveal important details. However this did not mar my enjoyment, but lead me to want to read on in the hope that things would be resolved, despite the lack of communication between characters being a little exaggerated for me.
I think lovers of Eleanor Oliphant, The Rosie Project and anyone that dreams of Cornwall will really enjoy this. Well worth a read.
July 16, 2021
After Alice receives a letter from her mother's solicitor informing her of her mother's death; Alice must travel to the village of Polperran to sort her estate and fulfill her mother's last wishes.
Unknown to Alice is that her mother has left her a few small projects which will lead to a family secret that has been hidden for years.
Personally, I found this novel slow and the narrative sometimes disjointed.
Although themes were hinted it felt as though scenes were added in to give a conclusion to a certain narrative that had formed.
However, some of the themes that ran through this novel were very touching and meaningful; such as to beware of what you have until it's gone, telling us that life is too short and showing forgiveness even when it's hard.
Unknown to Alice is that her mother has left her a few small projects which will lead to a family secret that has been hidden for years.
Personally, I found this novel slow and the narrative sometimes disjointed.
Although themes were hinted it felt as though scenes were added in to give a conclusion to a certain narrative that had formed.
However, some of the themes that ran through this novel were very touching and meaningful; such as to beware of what you have until it's gone, telling us that life is too short and showing forgiveness even when it's hard.
February 27, 2022
This is a story about Alice, an estranged daughter, whose recently deceased mother, Bea has left her a list of tasks to complete after her death. Alice, a Cambridge University lecturer, arrives at her mother’s Cornish village, somewhat resentfully, and gets on with completing the tasks in the hope of getting them over and done with in order to leave as soon as she she can. However this endeavour is not as simple as Alice thinks as she begins to get more involved with the villagers’ lives and discovers some surprises of her own.
Took me a while to get into this story and warm to Alice but I stuck with it and found the kindness and community spirit of the villagers helping each other and Alice brought me along to quite a nice, sweet story of secrets and discovery.
Took me a while to get into this story and warm to Alice but I stuck with it and found the kindness and community spirit of the villagers helping each other and Alice brought me along to quite a nice, sweet story of secrets and discovery.
May 18, 2024
This is a nice easy modern women's fiction book.
I read a few reviews when I started the book about the main character being difficult to connect with. I think Alice is very well portrayed - as a woman with anxiety who's recently suffered a breakdown and feels abandoned by her mother i think she's really believable.
The story is predictable - you know Alice will enjoy country life and fall in love with Luke and I guessed rather quickly about Santo.
By only difficulty with the book was remembering who some of the characters were - Gwen was forgettable and Frances I had to remind myself of. Not sure if Ena was believable either.
Grammatically I only spotted one error (in the second to last paragraph).
I read a few reviews when I started the book about the main character being difficult to connect with. I think Alice is very well portrayed - as a woman with anxiety who's recently suffered a breakdown and feels abandoned by her mother i think she's really believable.
The story is predictable - you know Alice will enjoy country life and fall in love with Luke and I guessed rather quickly about Santo.
By only difficulty with the book was remembering who some of the characters were - Gwen was forgettable and Frances I had to remind myself of. Not sure if Ena was believable either.
Grammatically I only spotted one error (in the second to last paragraph).
July 1, 2021
My first book by Sam Binnie and it was a good read. I loved the idea from the blurb and having loved The Authenticity Project, thought I’d enjoy this too.
We follow a woman who is socially awkward due partly to the abandonment of her mother whilst she was young and her private and reclusive father. She is brought to Polperran after her mother’s passing and gradually has to deal with not only opening up to people but her own mental health issues in order to complete a strange request left by her mother which eventually leads to answers about her life, his mother’s disappearance and how opening up and the joy of kindness can heal many wounds.
A lovely happy story with a nice message.
We follow a woman who is socially awkward due partly to the abandonment of her mother whilst she was young and her private and reclusive father. She is brought to Polperran after her mother’s passing and gradually has to deal with not only opening up to people but her own mental health issues in order to complete a strange request left by her mother which eventually leads to answers about her life, his mother’s disappearance and how opening up and the joy of kindness can heal many wounds.
A lovely happy story with a nice message.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2021
Thank you to #NetGalley and #Review for allowing me to read #TheKindnessProject.
When Alice’s estranged mum Bea dies, Alice is her sole beneficiary.
Going down to Cornwall to see Bea’s solicitors and close up her home, she thinks she will be back in the safe space she has carved for herself in a few days. But Bea has left her a set of tasks to do before she can leave. Follow Alice’s trials as she try’s her best to follow Beas wishes.
You will laugh and you will cry as Alice finally understands just what her mum was trying to tell her.
When Alice’s estranged mum Bea dies, Alice is her sole beneficiary.
Going down to Cornwall to see Bea’s solicitors and close up her home, she thinks she will be back in the safe space she has carved for herself in a few days. But Bea has left her a set of tasks to do before she can leave. Follow Alice’s trials as she try’s her best to follow Beas wishes.
You will laugh and you will cry as Alice finally understands just what her mum was trying to tell her.
July 22, 2022
This was a very slow start and really it didn’t get to the point of the story until almost halfway in. There was too much detail about irrelevant things and it didn’t go into enough detail about the things that did, so much so that the ending felt rushed and the explanation of the plot twist felt rushed also.
Alright book for what it was but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone else and the first 100 pages or so put me to sleep, literally! Felt like a chore to get through rather than an enjoyable story.
Alright book for what it was but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone else and the first 100 pages or so put me to sleep, literally! Felt like a chore to get through rather than an enjoyable story.
October 31, 2023
A really heart warming and easy reading story. Normally I hate it when authors try to cover multiple themes within one story because it can then take away from the main theme or become a bit chaotic but this book did it all well; romance, community spirit, hidden secrets, family feuds, mental health, isolation, hardship and abuse, it's all in there and it all fits with the story so well.
Thank you to whoever bought me this (secret Santa 2021-yes I'm that far behind 🙈) just what I needed after a hard slog of a book prior to this
Thank you to whoever bought me this (secret Santa 2021-yes I'm that far behind 🙈) just what I needed after a hard slog of a book prior to this
July 12, 2021
Sam Binnie is a new author for me and I look forward to more from her (and reading her 3 previous books). I would love to visit the village of Polperran and meet all the characters who were so believable. The way the story was written was really good and I had a roller coaster of emotions, especially as the story unfolded and we found out the reason for Bea being there. I would welcome a sequel to this to see how the characters progress. I highly recommend this book.
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