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All About Ella
At 70, and widowed, Ella is about to find out that blood is not always thicker than water. A wise and warm-hearted story about aging, family and community for readers of Tricia Stringer and Liz Byrski.
At 70, Ella's world is upended, leaving her at odds with her three adult children, whose attention is fixed more firmly on her money than her ongoing welfare. After an argument with her son Anthony, she flees his Adelaide home for Cutlers Bay, a seaside town on the Yorke Peninsula. There she befriends Angie, a 40-year-old drifter, and becomes an irritant to local cop Zach. He's keen to shift Ella off his turf, because Anthony phones daily, demanding his mother be sent home. And besides, Zach just doesn't trust Angie.
Ella warms to Cutlers Bay, and it warms to her. In a defiant act of self-determination, she buys an entirely unsuitable house on the outskirts of town, and Angie agrees to help make it habitable. Zach is drawn to the house on the clifftop, and finds himself revising his earlier opinions of Ella, and Angie.
A keenly observed story about aging and its inherent vulnerability, about community and chosen family, about how family stressors shape us all, about trust and loyalty, and about standing up for yourself.
At 70, Ella's world is upended, leaving her at odds with her three adult children, whose attention is fixed more firmly on her money than her ongoing welfare. After an argument with her son Anthony, she flees his Adelaide home for Cutlers Bay, a seaside town on the Yorke Peninsula. There she befriends Angie, a 40-year-old drifter, and becomes an irritant to local cop Zach. He's keen to shift Ella off his turf, because Anthony phones daily, demanding his mother be sent home. And besides, Zach just doesn't trust Angie.
Ella warms to Cutlers Bay, and it warms to her. In a defiant act of self-determination, she buys an entirely unsuitable house on the outskirts of town, and Angie agrees to help make it habitable. Zach is drawn to the house on the clifftop, and finds himself revising his earlier opinions of Ella, and Angie.
A keenly observed story about aging and its inherent vulnerability, about community and chosen family, about how family stressors shape us all, about trust and loyalty, and about standing up for yourself.
384 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2021
28 people are currently reading
338 people want to read
About the author
Meredith Appleyard
10 books121 followersMeredith Appleyard lives in the Clare Valley wine-growing region of South Australia, two hours north of Adelaide. As a registered nurse and midwife, she has worked in a wide range of country health practice settings, including the Royal Flying Doctor Service. She has done agency nursing in London and volunteer work in Vietnam. After her first manuscript was rejected, she joined a writers' group, attended workshops and successfully completed an Advanced Diploma of Arts in Professional Writing with the Adelaide College of the Arts. And she kept working. When she isn't writing, Meredith is reading, helping organise the annual Clare Writers' Festival, or at home with her husband and her border collie, Daisy. The Country Practice is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
September 7, 2021
EXCERPT: I couldn't blame him for taking off. He was fourteen, and avoiding showdowns with his volatile mother would be high on his list of priorities. For a second I was tempted to follow. But I was seventy, not fourteen, and I'd be blowed if I'd let my only daughter-in-law get the better of me.
I ran a comb through my hair. Who was that old woman in the mirror, scowling back at me? Whoever she was, she was in dire need of a hairdresser. And look at all those wrinkles. There hadn't been nearly as many a year ago.
I smoothed on my favourite lipstick, rolling my lips together with a smacking sound. Better to face the enemy with war paint on. Nevertheless, butterflies flitted about in my stomach. I perched on the side of the bed to wait. And wait. The waiting was always the worst.
ABOUT 'ALL ABOUT ELLA': At 70, and widowed, Ella is about to find out that blood is not always thicker than water. A wise and warm-hearted story about aging, family and community for readers of Tricia Stringer and Liz Byrski.
At 70, Ella's world is upended, leaving her at odds with her three adult children, whose attention is fixed more firmly on her money than her ongoing welfare. After an argument with her son Anthony, she flees his Adelaide home for Cutlers Bay, a seaside town on the Yorke Peninsula. There she befriends Angie, a 40-year-old drifter, and becomes an irritant to local cop Zach. He's keen to shift Ella off his turf, because Anthony phones daily, demanding his mother be sent home. And besides, Zach just doesn't trust Angie.
Ella warms to Cutlers Bay, and it warms to her. In a defiant act of self-determination, she buys an entirely unsuitable house on the outskirts of town, and Angie agrees to help make it habitable. Zach is drawn to the house on the clifftop, and finds himself revising his earlier opinions of Ella, and Angie.
MY THOUGHTS: All About Ella is a warm and engaging book about the vulnerability of aging and the greed of families. It is also a book about friendship, loyalty and learning to stand your ground.
I am always excited when I see that Meredith Appleyard has a new book out. She writes about very real situations using realistic and relatable characters, ones that you could move right in with, or live next door to.
Ella's husband of fifty years has died. Quickly the children organize the sale of the family home and move Ella in with her eldest son, Anthony, and his wife and family saying that they will use her money to build a 'granny flat' onto their house for her. But as the weeks roll on, there's no building, not even a plan to be seen. You can see where this is going, can't you . . .
Ella has the daughter-in-law from hell. Volatile doesn't even begin to describe Kirsten, who throws tantrums and issues ultimatums. Husband Anthony is well under her thumb, his mantra being 'anything for a quiet life.' Ella's other two children are no help either, not living close, and being fed misinformation from Anthony and Kirsten. Is it any wonder Ella leaves home? And so her adventures begin . . .
I was rooting for Ella all the way through. She is a delightful character, one who has devoted her life to husband and family, and is now bewildered that they have turned on her. Though they term it 'as knowing what's best' for her. I did wonder about a few of her rather rash decisions early on, but eventually she has the chance to review and fine tune them.
Along the way she picks up some staunch supporters and new friends. Angie is forty, footloose and fancy free, or rootless, depending on your point of view. Not everyone is convinced that she is trying to help Ella. Some are worried that she is only there to see what she can get from the old lady. One of the doubters is Zach, local copper in Cutlers Bay where Ella finds herself and decides to put down roots for a while. Zach has had his heart broken and doesn't trust women generally, never mind these blow ins. And Ella is just trouble from the moment she arrives . . .
There are plenty of other interesting characters too: Leon, the local publican; Claire, the 80 year old ex-community nurse; Henry, Zach's father; and Ruth, who owns the cafe to name a few.
The story is told from the points of view of Ella, Angie, and Zach, giving a balanced and diverse overview. I loved this story set in a small rural South Australian coastal town. I loved the characters Meredith has peopled her story with. I love her attention to detail, and that she addresses the topic of aging independently in a forthright and honest manner.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#AllAboutElla #NetGalley
I: #meredithappleyard @harlequinaus
T: #MeredithAppleyard @HarlequinAUS
#australianfiction #contemporaryfiction #familydrama #romance #sliceoflife
THE AUTHOR: Meredith Appleyard lives in the Clare Valley wine-growing region of South Australia, two hours north of Adelaide. As a registered nurse and midwife, she has worked in a wide range of country health practice settings, including the Royal Flying Doctor Service. She has done agency nursing in London and volunteer work in Vietnam. After her first manuscript was rejected, she joined a writers' group, attended workshops and successfully completed an Advanced Diploma of Arts in Professional Writing with the Adelaide College of the Arts. And she kept working. When she isn't writing, Meredith is reading, helping organise the annual Clare Writers' Festival, or at home with her husband and her border collie, Daisy.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harlequin Australia, HQ and MIRA via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of All About Ella by Meredith Appleyard for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
I ran a comb through my hair. Who was that old woman in the mirror, scowling back at me? Whoever she was, she was in dire need of a hairdresser. And look at all those wrinkles. There hadn't been nearly as many a year ago.
I smoothed on my favourite lipstick, rolling my lips together with a smacking sound. Better to face the enemy with war paint on. Nevertheless, butterflies flitted about in my stomach. I perched on the side of the bed to wait. And wait. The waiting was always the worst.
ABOUT 'ALL ABOUT ELLA': At 70, and widowed, Ella is about to find out that blood is not always thicker than water. A wise and warm-hearted story about aging, family and community for readers of Tricia Stringer and Liz Byrski.
At 70, Ella's world is upended, leaving her at odds with her three adult children, whose attention is fixed more firmly on her money than her ongoing welfare. After an argument with her son Anthony, she flees his Adelaide home for Cutlers Bay, a seaside town on the Yorke Peninsula. There she befriends Angie, a 40-year-old drifter, and becomes an irritant to local cop Zach. He's keen to shift Ella off his turf, because Anthony phones daily, demanding his mother be sent home. And besides, Zach just doesn't trust Angie.
Ella warms to Cutlers Bay, and it warms to her. In a defiant act of self-determination, she buys an entirely unsuitable house on the outskirts of town, and Angie agrees to help make it habitable. Zach is drawn to the house on the clifftop, and finds himself revising his earlier opinions of Ella, and Angie.
MY THOUGHTS: All About Ella is a warm and engaging book about the vulnerability of aging and the greed of families. It is also a book about friendship, loyalty and learning to stand your ground.
I am always excited when I see that Meredith Appleyard has a new book out. She writes about very real situations using realistic and relatable characters, ones that you could move right in with, or live next door to.
Ella's husband of fifty years has died. Quickly the children organize the sale of the family home and move Ella in with her eldest son, Anthony, and his wife and family saying that they will use her money to build a 'granny flat' onto their house for her. But as the weeks roll on, there's no building, not even a plan to be seen. You can see where this is going, can't you . . .
Ella has the daughter-in-law from hell. Volatile doesn't even begin to describe Kirsten, who throws tantrums and issues ultimatums. Husband Anthony is well under her thumb, his mantra being 'anything for a quiet life.' Ella's other two children are no help either, not living close, and being fed misinformation from Anthony and Kirsten. Is it any wonder Ella leaves home? And so her adventures begin . . .
I was rooting for Ella all the way through. She is a delightful character, one who has devoted her life to husband and family, and is now bewildered that they have turned on her. Though they term it 'as knowing what's best' for her. I did wonder about a few of her rather rash decisions early on, but eventually she has the chance to review and fine tune them.
Along the way she picks up some staunch supporters and new friends. Angie is forty, footloose and fancy free, or rootless, depending on your point of view. Not everyone is convinced that she is trying to help Ella. Some are worried that she is only there to see what she can get from the old lady. One of the doubters is Zach, local copper in Cutlers Bay where Ella finds herself and decides to put down roots for a while. Zach has had his heart broken and doesn't trust women generally, never mind these blow ins. And Ella is just trouble from the moment she arrives . . .
There are plenty of other interesting characters too: Leon, the local publican; Claire, the 80 year old ex-community nurse; Henry, Zach's father; and Ruth, who owns the cafe to name a few.
The story is told from the points of view of Ella, Angie, and Zach, giving a balanced and diverse overview. I loved this story set in a small rural South Australian coastal town. I loved the characters Meredith has peopled her story with. I love her attention to detail, and that she addresses the topic of aging independently in a forthright and honest manner.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#AllAboutElla #NetGalley
I: #meredithappleyard @harlequinaus
T: #MeredithAppleyard @HarlequinAUS
#australianfiction #contemporaryfiction #familydrama #romance #sliceoflife
THE AUTHOR: Meredith Appleyard lives in the Clare Valley wine-growing region of South Australia, two hours north of Adelaide. As a registered nurse and midwife, she has worked in a wide range of country health practice settings, including the Royal Flying Doctor Service. She has done agency nursing in London and volunteer work in Vietnam. After her first manuscript was rejected, she joined a writers' group, attended workshops and successfully completed an Advanced Diploma of Arts in Professional Writing with the Adelaide College of the Arts. And she kept working. When she isn't writing, Meredith is reading, helping organise the annual Clare Writers' Festival, or at home with her husband and her border collie, Daisy.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harlequin Australia, HQ and MIRA via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of All About Ella by Meredith Appleyard for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
January 25, 2022
I Wanna Be Free*
I was attracted to the story of Ella, a seventy year old lady wanting to regain her independence from her dominant son and wicked daughter-in-law.
There’s more than meets the eye regarding the pressure from her children to remain under their thumbs and non confrontational Ella takes the only route that makes sense to her- she runs away! I loved it!
Ella’s spunk and desire to explore new things at an age where some thought she’d have one foot in the grave was refreshing. Not a spring chicken myself, I really loved reading about her taking on new challenges and setting people straight after being disregarded.
I’ve been binging a little on Australian authors recently. Not by design, but by attraction to a particular plot description. I would describe this a women’s story dealing with familial relationships and hope to see even more books with older females as central characters.
Purchased at the Book Depository.
*The Monkees, written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
I was attracted to the story of Ella, a seventy year old lady wanting to regain her independence from her dominant son and wicked daughter-in-law.
There’s more than meets the eye regarding the pressure from her children to remain under their thumbs and non confrontational Ella takes the only route that makes sense to her- she runs away! I loved it!
Ella’s spunk and desire to explore new things at an age where some thought she’d have one foot in the grave was refreshing. Not a spring chicken myself, I really loved reading about her taking on new challenges and setting people straight after being disregarded.
I’ve been binging a little on Australian authors recently. Not by design, but by attraction to a particular plot description. I would describe this a women’s story dealing with familial relationships and hope to see even more books with older females as central characters.
Purchased at the Book Depository.
*The Monkees, written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
August 22, 2021
I was very impressed with the way this book dealt with issues like aging and family breakdowns. There were no silly, over the top dramatics, just events happening and being dealt with in real ways.
I enjoyed the main characters especially Ella herself. At seventy years of age she has lost her husband of fifty years, and, in her distressed state, she lets her life be taken over by her adult children. At a certain point though she begins to fight back, and it is very rewarding to see her begin to win her battles to be an independent woman.
The story is told from the points of view of three characters, Ella and two people she meets who help her out and become friends. The author manages this well and keeps the book rolling along as she hops from one POV to another. The whole book just sped past and I finished it in pretty much one sitting.
I enjoyed it very much indeed and recommend it to anyone who enjoys a family drama, with some romance, set in a rural Australian town.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I enjoyed the main characters especially Ella herself. At seventy years of age she has lost her husband of fifty years, and, in her distressed state, she lets her life be taken over by her adult children. At a certain point though she begins to fight back, and it is very rewarding to see her begin to win her battles to be an independent woman.
The story is told from the points of view of three characters, Ella and two people she meets who help her out and become friends. The author manages this well and keeps the book rolling along as she hops from one POV to another. The whole book just sped past and I finished it in pretty much one sitting.
I enjoyed it very much indeed and recommend it to anyone who enjoys a family drama, with some romance, set in a rural Australian town.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
August 23, 2021
Seventy-year-old Ella Sinclair had recently lost her husband Sam after fifty years of marriage. The last few weeks had been hard, and she was struggling. But living with her eldest son, Anthony, his wife Kirsten and two teenage children was not the answer as Ella and Kirsten would never get along. When Anthony informed her she needed to give him control over the money from the sale of her and Sam’s house, it was the final straw. With her suitcase in her car, she left Anthony’s home and drove to Cutlers Bay where her good friends Yvonne and Frank lived. Just a few hours from Adelaide on the Yorke Peninsula, Ella was emotionally exhausted when she arrived – to make it worse, her friends weren’t home. What would she do now?
Forty-year-old Angie was driving to Perth from Cairns, and on the way she stopped off in Cutlers Bay to pick up some work. She wasn’t in any hurry and her independent nature saw her enjoying her life – most of the time. When Angie and Ella became friends, Ella gradually adjusted herself to the situation she was in, while Anthony continued to phone, driving the local cop, Zach, mad. When Ella made a decision, which she didn’t think was rash, she’d put a deposit on an old home overlooking the ocean at the end of a dead-end road. It was in desperate need of repair, but it was what Anthony did next that shattered her spirit. Would Ella have to return to Adelaide with her tail between her legs?
All About Ella is another brilliant novel by Aussie author Meredith Appleyard which I loved. An excellent plot which saw a woman who was determined to have her own life, and her family equally determined she wouldn’t. It also shows how people who aren’t related – Angie, Zach, Claire, Leon, Ruth, Gabby – are sometimes more family than the real family. Love and loyalty, trust and compassion – All About Ella is a remarkable, heartwarming novel which I recommend highly. I’ve loved all Ms Appleyard’s books, and this one is no exception!
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Forty-year-old Angie was driving to Perth from Cairns, and on the way she stopped off in Cutlers Bay to pick up some work. She wasn’t in any hurry and her independent nature saw her enjoying her life – most of the time. When Angie and Ella became friends, Ella gradually adjusted herself to the situation she was in, while Anthony continued to phone, driving the local cop, Zach, mad. When Ella made a decision, which she didn’t think was rash, she’d put a deposit on an old home overlooking the ocean at the end of a dead-end road. It was in desperate need of repair, but it was what Anthony did next that shattered her spirit. Would Ella have to return to Adelaide with her tail between her legs?
All About Ella is another brilliant novel by Aussie author Meredith Appleyard which I loved. An excellent plot which saw a woman who was determined to have her own life, and her family equally determined she wouldn’t. It also shows how people who aren’t related – Angie, Zach, Claire, Leon, Ruth, Gabby – are sometimes more family than the real family. Love and loyalty, trust and compassion – All About Ella is a remarkable, heartwarming novel which I recommend highly. I’ve loved all Ms Appleyard’s books, and this one is no exception!
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
January 15, 2022
All About Ella by Australian author Meredith Appleyard is a beautifully written story about seventy-year-old Ella whom I warmed to straight away unlike some of her family members who I took a disliking to in a big way.
I’ve read a few books with older characters in them and I find them so enjoyable and interesting and this book was no exception. Ella was a strong and independent character and even though she had lost her husband, she knew what she wanted and there was no way known she was going to be told what to do by her family. A delightful book to read which I have no hesitation in recommending to anyone who is looking for their next book to read. With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital copy to read and review.
I’ve read a few books with older characters in them and I find them so enjoyable and interesting and this book was no exception. Ella was a strong and independent character and even though she had lost her husband, she knew what she wanted and there was no way known she was going to be told what to do by her family. A delightful book to read which I have no hesitation in recommending to anyone who is looking for their next book to read. With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital copy to read and review.
July 17, 2024
Ella Sinclair is seventy, her husband has recently passed way and she has three adult children Anthony, Julian and Olivia. When Sam died, Ella was exhausted and upset and her children decided she should sell the family home. Ella wasn’t thinking clearly, her family pushed her into selling her house and now she’s having doubts about signing the paperwork for the granny flat Anthony has planned to build in his backyard. Losing your spouse after fifty years is extremely traumatic, Anthony isn’t very sympathetic towards his mum’s feelings and wants to keep his wife happy. Ella’s upset, she leaves Adelaide, travels to the Yorke Peninsula and to a little coastal town called Cutlers Bay.
Zach Cooper is Cutlers Bay's policeman, he receives a call about a missing older lady and he locates Ella. She assure him she’s perfectly fine, having a break from her family, and taking a short holiday. Anthony isn’t happy, he demands Ella returns home, he thinks the local policeman should make her and he forgets she’s an adult.
Angie Daniels is forty, she moves around a lot and doesn’t stay in one place for long. While driving through South Australia, she decides to visit the Yorke Peninsula, the beaches are beautiful and it has lots of places to explore. She arrives in Cutlers Bay, she meets Ella and they become friends.
Ella notices a rundown house on Clifftop Drive in Cutlers Bay and she decides to buy it. The house has been empty for a couple of years, it needs to be cleaned and Angie offers to help Ella make it livable. Zach's worried about Ella living in a remote area, she's only known Angie for a few weeks and is she too trusting?
All About Ella is a story about growing older, having older parents and control. For the first time in years Ella’s independent, she’s tired of being a doormat, she wants to make her own decisions and Ella should be able to. Ella rediscovers herself, she makes friends in the seaside community and she has a purpose for getting up in the morning. I love Meredith Appleyard’s books, included in her stories are so many interesting little details, the topics she chooses are relevant and set in familiar South Australia places.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Harlequin Australia in exchange for an honest review and five big stars from me.
Zach Cooper is Cutlers Bay's policeman, he receives a call about a missing older lady and he locates Ella. She assure him she’s perfectly fine, having a break from her family, and taking a short holiday. Anthony isn’t happy, he demands Ella returns home, he thinks the local policeman should make her and he forgets she’s an adult.
Angie Daniels is forty, she moves around a lot and doesn’t stay in one place for long. While driving through South Australia, she decides to visit the Yorke Peninsula, the beaches are beautiful and it has lots of places to explore. She arrives in Cutlers Bay, she meets Ella and they become friends.
Ella notices a rundown house on Clifftop Drive in Cutlers Bay and she decides to buy it. The house has been empty for a couple of years, it needs to be cleaned and Angie offers to help Ella make it livable. Zach's worried about Ella living in a remote area, she's only known Angie for a few weeks and is she too trusting?
All About Ella is a story about growing older, having older parents and control. For the first time in years Ella’s independent, she’s tired of being a doormat, she wants to make her own decisions and Ella should be able to. Ella rediscovers herself, she makes friends in the seaside community and she has a purpose for getting up in the morning. I love Meredith Appleyard’s books, included in her stories are so many interesting little details, the topics she chooses are relevant and set in familiar South Australia places.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Harlequin Australia in exchange for an honest review and five big stars from me.
August 25, 2021
“‘I’m entitled to the future I want, not the one you think I should have.”
All About Ella is the sixth novel by Australian author, Meredith Appleyard. Ella Sinclair has had a terrible year: nursing her husband to an early grave; coerced by her children into selling the family home; relegated to the spare room at her son’s house; regularly chastised by her daughter-in-law, like a disobedient child, for any perceived transgression; the only consolation is her proximity to her grandchildren, especially fourteen-year-old Stefan, intelligent and easy-going with a quirky sense of humour.
A shouting match over the financing of the proposed granny flat is the final straw: Ella sneaks out and drives from Adelaide over to Cutlers Bay on the Yorke Peninsula: she needs some breathing space and time to not think about anything. A day later, feeling a little shaky from a rough night and too little to eat, she is approached on Rocky Point by Sergeant Zach Cooper, who advises her to ring her son: she has been reported missing.
“What was it I’d hoped for from my eldest son? Acknowledgement that he respected his mother’s right to make decisions about her own life? Some kind of sign that he understood why I might need time to get used to life without a husband and a home? Anything that might have indicated I hadn’t become invisible to my family. That I hadn’t passed my use-by date and become nothing more than a hindrance to them.”
After things didn’t work out in Cairns, Angie Daniels is on the road again, all her worldly goods contained in her trusty Subaru, destination Perth, and the mother she has not seen for five years. But no rush. A left turn has her checking out the scenic Yorke Peninsula, Rocky Point Beach and Cutlers Bay. Rather than spend another night in her car, Angie opts for the Cutlers Bay pub, where she finds herself assisting the rather dishy local cop with a distressed older lady.
It’s an unlikely trio, and they don’t get off to the best of starts: Zach would like to see Ella return to her family, and is unsure if Angie’s apparent good intentions towards Ella are genuine; Ella is definitely not ready to face her family, and finds Angie good company; Angie is ready to help Ella out, but won’t be sticking around long enough to make real friends; she never does.
Appleyard gives the reader appealing characters who are all the more believable for their flaws and foibles. As their backstories are revealed, and life throws them challenges, it’s easy to invest in them and hope for their happiness. Appleyard easily captures the country town vibe and the support characters are well-drawn: Stefan is a delight, and likely to be a favourite. And in Kirsten, the daughter-in-law, she gives the reader someone to happily despise.
Ageism in its many and varied incarnations is examined here with sensitivity and humour: there are laugh-out-loud moments, but also some jaw-dropping ones. There are many insightful observations and wise words: “When you get old, younger people treat you as if you’ve always been old. That you haven’t had a life. That you weren’t young once.” “We’re not old. We’re just lucky enough to have had more birthdays than some.”
And Angie explains her nomadic nature: “a place to start would be that an emotionally dysfunctional childhood results in an emotionally dysfunctional adult” While some aspects of the plot may be predictable, there are plenty of twists and wrinkles before a very satisfactory conclusion: Ella finally says “I could sit and brood and say woe is me, but I’ve decided I will live the life I have left to the full” and has everyone cheering her on. A delightful, thought-provoking and heart-warming read that will resonate with many.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Harlequin
All About Ella is the sixth novel by Australian author, Meredith Appleyard. Ella Sinclair has had a terrible year: nursing her husband to an early grave; coerced by her children into selling the family home; relegated to the spare room at her son’s house; regularly chastised by her daughter-in-law, like a disobedient child, for any perceived transgression; the only consolation is her proximity to her grandchildren, especially fourteen-year-old Stefan, intelligent and easy-going with a quirky sense of humour.
A shouting match over the financing of the proposed granny flat is the final straw: Ella sneaks out and drives from Adelaide over to Cutlers Bay on the Yorke Peninsula: she needs some breathing space and time to not think about anything. A day later, feeling a little shaky from a rough night and too little to eat, she is approached on Rocky Point by Sergeant Zach Cooper, who advises her to ring her son: she has been reported missing.
“What was it I’d hoped for from my eldest son? Acknowledgement that he respected his mother’s right to make decisions about her own life? Some kind of sign that he understood why I might need time to get used to life without a husband and a home? Anything that might have indicated I hadn’t become invisible to my family. That I hadn’t passed my use-by date and become nothing more than a hindrance to them.”
After things didn’t work out in Cairns, Angie Daniels is on the road again, all her worldly goods contained in her trusty Subaru, destination Perth, and the mother she has not seen for five years. But no rush. A left turn has her checking out the scenic Yorke Peninsula, Rocky Point Beach and Cutlers Bay. Rather than spend another night in her car, Angie opts for the Cutlers Bay pub, where she finds herself assisting the rather dishy local cop with a distressed older lady.
It’s an unlikely trio, and they don’t get off to the best of starts: Zach would like to see Ella return to her family, and is unsure if Angie’s apparent good intentions towards Ella are genuine; Ella is definitely not ready to face her family, and finds Angie good company; Angie is ready to help Ella out, but won’t be sticking around long enough to make real friends; she never does.
Appleyard gives the reader appealing characters who are all the more believable for their flaws and foibles. As their backstories are revealed, and life throws them challenges, it’s easy to invest in them and hope for their happiness. Appleyard easily captures the country town vibe and the support characters are well-drawn: Stefan is a delight, and likely to be a favourite. And in Kirsten, the daughter-in-law, she gives the reader someone to happily despise.
Ageism in its many and varied incarnations is examined here with sensitivity and humour: there are laugh-out-loud moments, but also some jaw-dropping ones. There are many insightful observations and wise words: “When you get old, younger people treat you as if you’ve always been old. That you haven’t had a life. That you weren’t young once.” “We’re not old. We’re just lucky enough to have had more birthdays than some.”
And Angie explains her nomadic nature: “a place to start would be that an emotionally dysfunctional childhood results in an emotionally dysfunctional adult” While some aspects of the plot may be predictable, there are plenty of twists and wrinkles before a very satisfactory conclusion: Ella finally says “I could sit and brood and say woe is me, but I’ve decided I will live the life I have left to the full” and has everyone cheering her on. A delightful, thought-provoking and heart-warming read that will resonate with many.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Harlequin
April 8, 2022
This was a really good novel, and it is, at least mostly about Ella who at 70, and the beginning of the book, has just lost her husband and is being bullied by her children and abused by her daughter in law.
This first part of the book was quite triggering for me, it is so well written that we/I are/was on team Ella right from the start and it was clear that she was being bullied and gaslit by her in law. I really don't like bullying and gaslighters. Elder abuse, while it has never personally affected my life leaves me furious and here were all those things being done to a character I liked from the get go.
On the other hand it does make it very satisfying when Ella just walks out on her evil in-law and nasty grown-up-children. Where she ends up, when she walks out, is sitting in a car one evening cold, hungry and lost, at Cutlers Bay, a tiny seaside town somewhere in South Australia. This is where we meet two of the other main characters; Zack is the local policeman who has recently suffered a breakup which has left him somewhat adrift and lonely. Angie is a professional drifter who is about to turn 40, on her way from Cairns to Peth, also stops at Cutlers Bay and like Ella becomes embedded in it.
This book is so satisfying because it combines the comforting progression of people finding a place they belong and people finding themselves. It is not always easy, Ella's journey especially is fraught - and I will not spoiler it for you - but the great description of a Tiny seaside town and it's people is so beautifully written that it is marvellously satisfying.
As a footnote; there is so much about this book that reminded me of one of my all time FAVOURITE books; The Ghost and Mrs. Muir we have the widow who goes off to a small town, despite being a normally submissive character, and buys a house, sticking to her plan against all in-law opposition. There is, of course no ghost, but the other characters provide byplay that is almost as good.
This first part of the book was quite triggering for me, it is so well written that we/I are/was on team Ella right from the start and it was clear that she was being bullied and gaslit by her in law. I really don't like bullying and gaslighters. Elder abuse, while it has never personally affected my life leaves me furious and here were all those things being done to a character I liked from the get go.
On the other hand it does make it very satisfying when Ella just walks out on her evil in-law and nasty grown-up-children. Where she ends up, when she walks out, is sitting in a car one evening cold, hungry and lost, at Cutlers Bay, a tiny seaside town somewhere in South Australia. This is where we meet two of the other main characters; Zack is the local policeman who has recently suffered a breakup which has left him somewhat adrift and lonely. Angie is a professional drifter who is about to turn 40, on her way from Cairns to Peth, also stops at Cutlers Bay and like Ella becomes embedded in it.
This book is so satisfying because it combines the comforting progression of people finding a place they belong and people finding themselves. It is not always easy, Ella's journey especially is fraught - and I will not spoiler it for you - but the great description of a Tiny seaside town and it's people is so beautifully written that it is marvellously satisfying.
As a footnote; there is so much about this book that reminded me of one of my all time FAVOURITE books; The Ghost and Mrs. Muir we have the widow who goes off to a small town, despite being a normally submissive character, and buys a house, sticking to her plan against all in-law opposition. There is, of course no ghost, but the other characters provide byplay that is almost as good.
November 26, 2021
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
A journey that promotes independence, taking charge of your rights and destiny, along with the realities of ageing, All About Ella is an engaging tale that I enjoyed very much.
Now in her seventies, Ella should be enjoying and embracing all life has to offer. Instead, this widow finds that she is constantly at odds with her family. After a huge family argument Ella decides that enough is enough and she escapes her son’s home for some much-needed breathing space. Ella’s safe haven becomes Cutlers Bay, a seaside town in the Yorke Peninsula area of South Australia. Ella befriends Angie at Cutlers Bay, a woman who is at a crossroads in her life. Ella is also placed under the watchful eye of a local police officer named Zach, who is suspicious of Angie and is keeping close tabs on Ella at the request of her son. Ella soon finds a strong connection to Cutlers Bay and this leads her to make a big decision, to move to the seaside community permanently. Ella purchases a property and with Angie’s help they make this unfit home a place to enjoy. Even Zach, who was initially resistant to the two women, finds his outlook has changed. In this touching new story from Meredith Appleyard the reader learns of the importance of building a line of trust and a sense belonging in the face of suppression.
It is great to see such a flurry of books of late willing to place mature characters in the spotlight. Meredith Appleyard is an Australian based author who enthusiastically places seniors, personal choices, family pressures, greed and independent living at the centre of her latest story. All About Ella is a very pleasant and thought-provoking title that highlights the challenges faced by our older population base.
Narrated from three points of view, All About Ella provides the reader with an insight into the lives of title character Ella, her new companion Angie and local cop Zach. Meredith Appleyard’s latest offers a well rounded narrative, an honest portryal of current issues, balanced characters and an interesting storyline. Appleyard provides an insight into the thought patterns of each feature character in her novel. Appleyard also populates her new book with a credible set of secondary players who all add flavour to this bright tale. The dialogue, interactions and responses that are filtered through All About Ella are in tune with reality, so it is easy to feel sympathy for the characters! I know I was in the Ella cheer camp. I was keen to see the title character take control of her own destiny. Appleyard truly shines in this area of her new novel, as she advocates very loudly for the rights of our older population.
All About Ella is set in a beautiful part of our country that I have not been able to set foot on, but after reading Meredith Appleyard’s book I really felt a strong desire to visit this stunning seaside locale. The Yorke Peninsula area is vividly brought to life thanks to Appleyard’s vibrant descriptions of this stunning slice of South Australian land. I loved how Ella went against her family’s wishes and expectations to purchase her own property in this picturesque location. On first thought it seemed like a rash decision, but I think that this bold move by Ella was much needed to prove to her family that she really means business! Tying in Angie and Zach’s influence on this unsuitable home was fabulous. I really enjoyed playing an active role in the events of this story. Appleyard places her characters some very believable and trying situations, especially in regards to vulnerability. But in the end Appleyard’s message in regards to importance of standing up for your own rights was a powerful one to direct the book.
All About Ella is a story that encompasses many core areas of our everyday existence – family, personal choice, rights, love, friendship, health, wellbeing, community, connection and belonging. My heartfelt thanks to Meredith Appleyard for such a wholesome read.
All About Ella is book #101 of the 2021 Australian Women Writers Challenge
A journey that promotes independence, taking charge of your rights and destiny, along with the realities of ageing, All About Ella is an engaging tale that I enjoyed very much.
Now in her seventies, Ella should be enjoying and embracing all life has to offer. Instead, this widow finds that she is constantly at odds with her family. After a huge family argument Ella decides that enough is enough and she escapes her son’s home for some much-needed breathing space. Ella’s safe haven becomes Cutlers Bay, a seaside town in the Yorke Peninsula area of South Australia. Ella befriends Angie at Cutlers Bay, a woman who is at a crossroads in her life. Ella is also placed under the watchful eye of a local police officer named Zach, who is suspicious of Angie and is keeping close tabs on Ella at the request of her son. Ella soon finds a strong connection to Cutlers Bay and this leads her to make a big decision, to move to the seaside community permanently. Ella purchases a property and with Angie’s help they make this unfit home a place to enjoy. Even Zach, who was initially resistant to the two women, finds his outlook has changed. In this touching new story from Meredith Appleyard the reader learns of the importance of building a line of trust and a sense belonging in the face of suppression.
It is great to see such a flurry of books of late willing to place mature characters in the spotlight. Meredith Appleyard is an Australian based author who enthusiastically places seniors, personal choices, family pressures, greed and independent living at the centre of her latest story. All About Ella is a very pleasant and thought-provoking title that highlights the challenges faced by our older population base.
Narrated from three points of view, All About Ella provides the reader with an insight into the lives of title character Ella, her new companion Angie and local cop Zach. Meredith Appleyard’s latest offers a well rounded narrative, an honest portryal of current issues, balanced characters and an interesting storyline. Appleyard provides an insight into the thought patterns of each feature character in her novel. Appleyard also populates her new book with a credible set of secondary players who all add flavour to this bright tale. The dialogue, interactions and responses that are filtered through All About Ella are in tune with reality, so it is easy to feel sympathy for the characters! I know I was in the Ella cheer camp. I was keen to see the title character take control of her own destiny. Appleyard truly shines in this area of her new novel, as she advocates very loudly for the rights of our older population.
All About Ella is set in a beautiful part of our country that I have not been able to set foot on, but after reading Meredith Appleyard’s book I really felt a strong desire to visit this stunning seaside locale. The Yorke Peninsula area is vividly brought to life thanks to Appleyard’s vibrant descriptions of this stunning slice of South Australian land. I loved how Ella went against her family’s wishes and expectations to purchase her own property in this picturesque location. On first thought it seemed like a rash decision, but I think that this bold move by Ella was much needed to prove to her family that she really means business! Tying in Angie and Zach’s influence on this unsuitable home was fabulous. I really enjoyed playing an active role in the events of this story. Appleyard places her characters some very believable and trying situations, especially in regards to vulnerability. But in the end Appleyard’s message in regards to importance of standing up for your own rights was a powerful one to direct the book.
All About Ella is a story that encompasses many core areas of our everyday existence – family, personal choice, rights, love, friendship, health, wellbeing, community, connection and belonging. My heartfelt thanks to Meredith Appleyard for such a wholesome read.
All About Ella is book #101 of the 2021 Australian Women Writers Challenge
August 26, 2021
This is such a beautiful story so beautifully written it is heart-breaking and heart-warming at the same time, the emotions flow from the pages and the characters, such a lovely setting a small seaside town of Cutlers Bay on the York Peninsula in South Australia. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Ella and Angie as I am sure any reader will.
Ella is seventy years old and has just lost her husband after fifty years of marriage, her world has been turned upside down as she knew it, when her three children step in and start to reorganise her life getting her to sell her house and move in with her eldest son Anthony and his family. Things don’t go to plan and Ella argues with Anthony and takes off on her own and finds herself in the town of Cutlers Bay, here she meets up with Angie who is forty and moves around a lot and an instant friendship happens, she also meets the local cop Zach, he has his own thoughts about Ella and Angie especially when Ella’s son keeps ringing him.
Angie roams a lot never settling in one place for too long, she appears happy this way, but this time she is aiming to get to Perth and look up her mother, but meeting Ella in her time of need keeps her in Cutlers Bay longer than she meant to stay and when Ella decides on buying a house Angie agrees to help her and their friendship grows even more. Angie picks up some shifts at the pub and finds herself getting closer to Zach and for the first time taking off again doesn’t seem to be calling to her like before but she must find her mother.
When Ella’s son Anthony puts a spanner in the works about the house Ella wants to buy she shows her strength and shows them that just because you are getting older it doesn’t mean that you can’t think for yourself and with the friends that Ella has made she stands up to her family and I could do nothing but cheer her on.
This is a fabulous story that I loved from start to finish, I loved how Ella stood her ground when her family decided that they could use the money more than she could and that she wanted a life that she planned and would make her happy helped along with the wonderful new friends she has made Angie, Claire, Zach and so many others from the town she shows that family doesn’t have to be blood related. This is a story that I highly recommend, truly it is a must read it shows when push comes to shove how strong you can be with the help of friends.
My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for my copy to read and review.
Ella is seventy years old and has just lost her husband after fifty years of marriage, her world has been turned upside down as she knew it, when her three children step in and start to reorganise her life getting her to sell her house and move in with her eldest son Anthony and his family. Things don’t go to plan and Ella argues with Anthony and takes off on her own and finds herself in the town of Cutlers Bay, here she meets up with Angie who is forty and moves around a lot and an instant friendship happens, she also meets the local cop Zach, he has his own thoughts about Ella and Angie especially when Ella’s son keeps ringing him.
Angie roams a lot never settling in one place for too long, she appears happy this way, but this time she is aiming to get to Perth and look up her mother, but meeting Ella in her time of need keeps her in Cutlers Bay longer than she meant to stay and when Ella decides on buying a house Angie agrees to help her and their friendship grows even more. Angie picks up some shifts at the pub and finds herself getting closer to Zach and for the first time taking off again doesn’t seem to be calling to her like before but she must find her mother.
When Ella’s son Anthony puts a spanner in the works about the house Ella wants to buy she shows her strength and shows them that just because you are getting older it doesn’t mean that you can’t think for yourself and with the friends that Ella has made she stands up to her family and I could do nothing but cheer her on.
This is a fabulous story that I loved from start to finish, I loved how Ella stood her ground when her family decided that they could use the money more than she could and that she wanted a life that she planned and would make her happy helped along with the wonderful new friends she has made Angie, Claire, Zach and so many others from the town she shows that family doesn’t have to be blood related. This is a story that I highly recommend, truly it is a must read it shows when push comes to shove how strong you can be with the help of friends.
My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for my copy to read and review.
August 31, 2021
‘Most of us have a story. The older you are, the longer and more complicated those stories become.’
At 70 and recently widowed, Ella’s world is turned upside down. Her three adult children: Anthony, Julian and Olivia convince her to sell the family home, and then to move into Anthony’s Adelaide home with his family while a granny flat is built in Anthony’s backyard. This would be fine it if was what Ella wanted, but she is not sure. Her hesitation results in an argument with Anthony and she leaves for Cutlers Bay, a seaside town on South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula. Ella has friends at a farm nearby but had forgotten they were away for a holiday. She travels to nearby Rocky Point where she is found by local policeman, Zach Cooper. Anthony has reported Ella missing, and while Zach confirms to Anthony that she is safe, she decides to stay in Cutlers Bay at the local hotel overnight.
Angie Daniels, 40, is on the move from Cairns to Perth. She’s not seen her mother for 5 years, and while she wants to see her, she is no hurry. Angie decides to check out the Yorke Peninsula on the way. When she decides to check into the local hotel for the night, she finds herself helping Zach with Ella.
Ella likes Cutlers Bay and she and Angie become friendly. Angie stays longer than she had intended, while Ella starts to think about establishing a home there.
This is such a delightful story. Ella, Zach, and Angie are wonderfully depicted characters, each with their own history and issues to face. Ella decides to buy a house on the outskirts of town: a house which others think is unsuitable and which her children think is evidence that Ella is no longer competent to manage her own affairs. Ella is at the centre of this novel, but Angie and Zach are also important. This is a novel about growing older, about finding your own independence after a long marriage, and about standing up for yourself. It is also a novel about learning to trust others, and commitment. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
‘It was time to make new memories.’
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
At 70 and recently widowed, Ella’s world is turned upside down. Her three adult children: Anthony, Julian and Olivia convince her to sell the family home, and then to move into Anthony’s Adelaide home with his family while a granny flat is built in Anthony’s backyard. This would be fine it if was what Ella wanted, but she is not sure. Her hesitation results in an argument with Anthony and she leaves for Cutlers Bay, a seaside town on South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula. Ella has friends at a farm nearby but had forgotten they were away for a holiday. She travels to nearby Rocky Point where she is found by local policeman, Zach Cooper. Anthony has reported Ella missing, and while Zach confirms to Anthony that she is safe, she decides to stay in Cutlers Bay at the local hotel overnight.
Angie Daniels, 40, is on the move from Cairns to Perth. She’s not seen her mother for 5 years, and while she wants to see her, she is no hurry. Angie decides to check out the Yorke Peninsula on the way. When she decides to check into the local hotel for the night, she finds herself helping Zach with Ella.
Ella likes Cutlers Bay and she and Angie become friendly. Angie stays longer than she had intended, while Ella starts to think about establishing a home there.
This is such a delightful story. Ella, Zach, and Angie are wonderfully depicted characters, each with their own history and issues to face. Ella decides to buy a house on the outskirts of town: a house which others think is unsuitable and which her children think is evidence that Ella is no longer competent to manage her own affairs. Ella is at the centre of this novel, but Angie and Zach are also important. This is a novel about growing older, about finding your own independence after a long marriage, and about standing up for yourself. It is also a novel about learning to trust others, and commitment. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
‘It was time to make new memories.’
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
September 21, 2021
All About Ella was a lovely surprise of a read. Right from the start I was on team Ella. She'd gone through a really hard time, nursing her dying husband, having the family house sold from under her and then hustled to live with her son and daughter in law.
Ella is very realistic and in lots of ways, ordinary. But she is so likeable and I was wishing for her the very best. It was a delight to see her finding her feet and then standing firmly on them.
I loved the sound of the old house she lives in and the Australian small town feel. The house had not been lived in and felt really unsuitable but it made Ella's heart sing and through many ups and downs she achieved so much.
Angie adds to the story with her wandering, unsettled heart. She has had a difficult family upbringing which is at the root of her wandering. The relationship that builds between Ella and Angie warmed my heart. As well Ella has a great relationship with her grandson Stefan, another element I enjoyed.
The local community is rich in ordinary warm hearted people going about their lives, doing their best and looking out for each other.
The book makes us examine what we value when it comes to allowing older people to make their own choices and live their lives as they see fit, and that families don't need to step in unless its in the really best interests of the elder. Purpose and meaning in life is important at any age.
A delightful winner of a book and my word the cover is perfect.
Ella is very realistic and in lots of ways, ordinary. But she is so likeable and I was wishing for her the very best. It was a delight to see her finding her feet and then standing firmly on them.
I loved the sound of the old house she lives in and the Australian small town feel. The house had not been lived in and felt really unsuitable but it made Ella's heart sing and through many ups and downs she achieved so much.
Angie adds to the story with her wandering, unsettled heart. She has had a difficult family upbringing which is at the root of her wandering. The relationship that builds between Ella and Angie warmed my heart. As well Ella has a great relationship with her grandson Stefan, another element I enjoyed.
The local community is rich in ordinary warm hearted people going about their lives, doing their best and looking out for each other.
The book makes us examine what we value when it comes to allowing older people to make their own choices and live their lives as they see fit, and that families don't need to step in unless its in the really best interests of the elder. Purpose and meaning in life is important at any age.
A delightful winner of a book and my word the cover is perfect.
October 16, 2021
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book for an honest review.
I haven't read any other Meredith Appleyard books but I will be after the one.
Ella is a 70 year old woman who has been recently widowed after spending 50 years married to Sam. They have 3 children, Anthony, Julian and Olivia who decide Ella needs to make some changes in her life.
I loved watching Ella grow and her relationships with the people of Cutlers Bay. Angie and Zach are both broken people who meet through Ella. Add in Claire, Toby and Henry and this book is full of interesting, delightful characters!
Ella's family are horrible, except for her grandson, Stefan. As the story develops, little secrets from Ella's and Sam's marriage are revealed giving insight into the current family dynamics.
I haven't read any other Meredith Appleyard books but I will be after the one.
Ella is a 70 year old woman who has been recently widowed after spending 50 years married to Sam. They have 3 children, Anthony, Julian and Olivia who decide Ella needs to make some changes in her life.
I loved watching Ella grow and her relationships with the people of Cutlers Bay. Angie and Zach are both broken people who meet through Ella. Add in Claire, Toby and Henry and this book is full of interesting, delightful characters!
Ella's family are horrible, except for her grandson, Stefan. As the story develops, little secrets from Ella's and Sam's marriage are revealed giving insight into the current family dynamics.
September 22, 2021
All About Ella by Meredith Appleyard is a very well written contemporary down-to-earth, 'realistic' Australian read set in Cutlers Bay, a seaside town on the Yorke Peninsula ~ South Australia.
It's about listening to what your heart tells you and following your own dreams.
I really enjoyed Ella's journey and achieving what she wanted.
It was quite an adventure and a thoroughly enjoyable read.
It's the first time I've ever read this author and won't be my last.
It's about listening to what your heart tells you and following your own dreams.
I really enjoyed Ella's journey and achieving what she wanted.
It was quite an adventure and a thoroughly enjoyable read.
It's the first time I've ever read this author and won't be my last.
August 21, 2021
A heart warming novel about being older but family not believing that your capable of making decisions (or maybe they just want the money!)
The synopsis of this novel says is so well, so I’m not even going to try and put it in my own words..
The characters were well portrayed and very relatable and like most small country towns, I love the small town essence the author puts into her books.
Just a really enjoyable novel about moving on and finding life on your own terms. Very satisfying.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read
The synopsis of this novel says is so well, so I’m not even going to try and put it in my own words..
The characters were well portrayed and very relatable and like most small country towns, I love the small town essence the author puts into her books.
Just a really enjoyable novel about moving on and finding life on your own terms. Very satisfying.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read
December 11, 2021
‘I ran a comb through my hair. Who was that old woman in the mirror, scowling back at me? Whoever she was, she was in dire need of a hairdresser. And look at all those wrinkles. There hadn’t been nearly as many a year ago.’
All About Ella is a brilliant book … gosh I enjoyed it! Meredith is part of a group of authors writing tales that involve our aging population and I salute her for shining the spotlight on this undervalued age group. It’s not overly dramatic but packs a punch where it counts with real events and reactions that highlight the vulnerability of the aging and the greed of some families.
‘What was it I’d hoped for from my eldest son? Acknowledgement that he respected his mother’s right to make decisions about her own life? Some kind of sign that he understood why I might need time to get used to life without a husband and a home? Anything that might have indicated I hadn’t become invisible to my family. That I hadn’t passed my use-by date and become nothing more than a hindrance to them.’
Told from the points of view of three characters - Ella, Angie and Zach - Meredith covers all thoughts and angles seamlessly. You cannot help but admire Ella’s strength of character yet still her need of support and encouragement to stand strong in the face of adversity. Angie and Zach, whilst providing support to Ella, face their own journey and add a real depth to the story as people in their forties and the challenges that come with that age bracket. The town of Cutler’s Bay is a place I’d want to visit as the people exemplify that family do not have to be related - they are the people who are there when you need them most.
‘I’m entitled to the future I want, not the one you think I should have.’
I just love how this book makes you think, forces you to examine the value we place on our aging population - giving them the support to make their own choices with family to support and not dominate. It really is about acknowledging the pursuit of purpose and living a meaningful life at any age. Meredith places Seniors at the forefront of this novel and mixes in family greed against independent living. She really highlights these issues and the challenges that face our older population.
‘On reflection, my life today bore little resemblance to the life I’d been living a year ago. Most of what I’d known about myself no longer applied. I was single, a widow, and without a home to call my own. On top of that, my children were behaving as if I’d become nothing more than a nuisance, getting in the way of them having what they’d decided was rightfully theirs.’
Only recently I read an article about older divorced/single women and the plight of finding themselves homeless at a time of their life when such things should not ideally be an issue. Meredith has written a truly wonderful tale full of lovely characters who speak to the reader as their issues are real and relatable. The reflections on life, relationships and friendship are something I highly recommend people to read about.
‘I’ve decided the reason these memories pop up is to remind us that we have had lives that were worth living. When you get old, younger people treat you as if you’ve always been old. That you haven’t had a life. That you weren’t young once.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
All About Ella is a brilliant book … gosh I enjoyed it! Meredith is part of a group of authors writing tales that involve our aging population and I salute her for shining the spotlight on this undervalued age group. It’s not overly dramatic but packs a punch where it counts with real events and reactions that highlight the vulnerability of the aging and the greed of some families.
‘What was it I’d hoped for from my eldest son? Acknowledgement that he respected his mother’s right to make decisions about her own life? Some kind of sign that he understood why I might need time to get used to life without a husband and a home? Anything that might have indicated I hadn’t become invisible to my family. That I hadn’t passed my use-by date and become nothing more than a hindrance to them.’
Told from the points of view of three characters - Ella, Angie and Zach - Meredith covers all thoughts and angles seamlessly. You cannot help but admire Ella’s strength of character yet still her need of support and encouragement to stand strong in the face of adversity. Angie and Zach, whilst providing support to Ella, face their own journey and add a real depth to the story as people in their forties and the challenges that come with that age bracket. The town of Cutler’s Bay is a place I’d want to visit as the people exemplify that family do not have to be related - they are the people who are there when you need them most.
‘I’m entitled to the future I want, not the one you think I should have.’
I just love how this book makes you think, forces you to examine the value we place on our aging population - giving them the support to make their own choices with family to support and not dominate. It really is about acknowledging the pursuit of purpose and living a meaningful life at any age. Meredith places Seniors at the forefront of this novel and mixes in family greed against independent living. She really highlights these issues and the challenges that face our older population.
‘On reflection, my life today bore little resemblance to the life I’d been living a year ago. Most of what I’d known about myself no longer applied. I was single, a widow, and without a home to call my own. On top of that, my children were behaving as if I’d become nothing more than a nuisance, getting in the way of them having what they’d decided was rightfully theirs.’
Only recently I read an article about older divorced/single women and the plight of finding themselves homeless at a time of their life when such things should not ideally be an issue. Meredith has written a truly wonderful tale full of lovely characters who speak to the reader as their issues are real and relatable. The reflections on life, relationships and friendship are something I highly recommend people to read about.
‘I’ve decided the reason these memories pop up is to remind us that we have had lives that were worth living. When you get old, younger people treat you as if you’ve always been old. That you haven’t had a life. That you weren’t young once.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
October 3, 2022
What a glorious and heartfelt story! From the first page, I knew that All About Ella was going to be something really special. Can't believe that it's taken me this long to finally read it!
Ella Sinclair is seventy, widowed and currently living in the spare bedroom of her son Anthony's house. However the arrangement isn't going as well as planned. Two weeks of living under Anthony and his wife's control, Ella finally has enough and finds herself in the coastal town of Cutlers Bay.
After quickly befriending a drifter named Angie and under scrutiny from local cop Zach, Ella quickly warms to the little town and it's residents. Feeling the need to break free from her family's expectations she defiantly purchases a run down Queenslander on the outskirts of town. Needless to say, her adult children aren't all that impressed! Desperate to gain access to their mother's money, Anthony and his wife Kirsten fight to declare Ella legally insane. Despite the estrangement and legal battle, Ella has found a sense of belonging in the community and won't give up without a fight! Ella has a lot of people in her corner too, supporting her all the way!
Ella's journey of self discovery is inspiring. I hardly read books that feature an older main character, so I really enjoyed witnessing life from her point of view. Gosh, I really couldn't stand her children though. Everything about them just screams elder abuse, which sadly is more common than you think. So glad Ella has a surrogate daughter in Angie, and after winning Zach over, a potential surrogate son-in-law! Can't forget eighty six year old Claire either- what a champion! It's so nice that Ella and Claire look out for each other and have such a truly gorgeous friendship!
Really enjoyed getting to know Angie and Zach through their points of view. Like Ella, they both have troubled pasts and have realised Cutler's Bay is the best place to set up a permanent home. However it takes Angie a long time to acknowledge this!!
Can I live in Cutlers Bay as well please? Despite the fact the shops close at noon on Saturday and don't reopen until Tuesday, there's so much appeal to this South Australian town!
🌟🌟🌟🌟✨/5
Ella Sinclair is seventy, widowed and currently living in the spare bedroom of her son Anthony's house. However the arrangement isn't going as well as planned. Two weeks of living under Anthony and his wife's control, Ella finally has enough and finds herself in the coastal town of Cutlers Bay.
After quickly befriending a drifter named Angie and under scrutiny from local cop Zach, Ella quickly warms to the little town and it's residents. Feeling the need to break free from her family's expectations she defiantly purchases a run down Queenslander on the outskirts of town. Needless to say, her adult children aren't all that impressed! Desperate to gain access to their mother's money, Anthony and his wife Kirsten fight to declare Ella legally insane. Despite the estrangement and legal battle, Ella has found a sense of belonging in the community and won't give up without a fight! Ella has a lot of people in her corner too, supporting her all the way!
Ella's journey of self discovery is inspiring. I hardly read books that feature an older main character, so I really enjoyed witnessing life from her point of view. Gosh, I really couldn't stand her children though. Everything about them just screams elder abuse, which sadly is more common than you think. So glad Ella has a surrogate daughter in Angie, and after winning Zach over, a potential surrogate son-in-law! Can't forget eighty six year old Claire either- what a champion! It's so nice that Ella and Claire look out for each other and have such a truly gorgeous friendship!
Really enjoyed getting to know Angie and Zach through their points of view. Like Ella, they both have troubled pasts and have realised Cutler's Bay is the best place to set up a permanent home. However it takes Angie a long time to acknowledge this!!
Can I live in Cutlers Bay as well please? Despite the fact the shops close at noon on Saturday and don't reopen until Tuesday, there's so much appeal to this South Australian town!
🌟🌟🌟🌟✨/5
October 14, 2021
A mature, measured and page-turning story, All About Ella is not only thoroughly entertaining, but also eye-opening. While this is fiction, Ella’s situation after her husband’s death is nothing new. Her greedy, entitled children and manipulative daughter-in-law are the stuff of nightmares, yet all too often we hear of similar situations in the news. This gripping story deals superbly with death and loss, grief and dysfunctional family relationships.
Ella enters the story as a woman still reeling from the death of her husband Sam six months earlier. Forced by her children to sell her beloved home and move into her older son’s guest room it is clear that she is both lonely and very unhappy with her situation. I cheered when she decided she’d had enough, hastily packed her bag and took off on what turned out to be the opportunity she needed to analyse her situation, learn to live as a single woman and develop into the wonderful, self-sufficient woman she is at the end of the book.
Ella’s grandson Julian, Cutler’s Bay Police Sergeant Zach Cooper, and the nomadic Angie Daniels are all well-rounded secondary characters and the various other residents of Cutler’s Bay make an excellent supporting cast. This book was not only easy to read but also uplifting, while Ella’s successful reinvention of herself was nothing short of inspirational.
Ella enters the story as a woman still reeling from the death of her husband Sam six months earlier. Forced by her children to sell her beloved home and move into her older son’s guest room it is clear that she is both lonely and very unhappy with her situation. I cheered when she decided she’d had enough, hastily packed her bag and took off on what turned out to be the opportunity she needed to analyse her situation, learn to live as a single woman and develop into the wonderful, self-sufficient woman she is at the end of the book.
Ella’s grandson Julian, Cutler’s Bay Police Sergeant Zach Cooper, and the nomadic Angie Daniels are all well-rounded secondary characters and the various other residents of Cutler’s Bay make an excellent supporting cast. This book was not only easy to read but also uplifting, while Ella’s successful reinvention of herself was nothing short of inspirational.
September 18, 2021
Really enjoyed Meredith's latest book. Characters are well written and believable and the story of a 70 year old woman having to fight for her rights after the recent death of her husband is emotional and heartwarming as well as heart rending at times. Highly recommend.
February 16, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. It was just an impulse buy from Kmart. It has three pov, with the main one being Ella who is a 70 year old woman. I can’t recall a book I’ve read recently that was about an elderly woman. It was a nice, easy read.
October 10, 2021
This is the first book I have read by Meredith Apple yard.
I loved all the characters and the setting and the story.
I finished it in a day and a half.
I look forward to reading more of her books.
I loved all the characters and the setting and the story.
I finished it in a day and a half.
I look forward to reading more of her books.
October 13, 2022
Another lovely book by this author
April 12, 2024
Enjoyed this book. Lovely warm story. Nice to see a feisty older lady making decisions for her own life enjoyment
January 4, 2023
This is the first book to mark off of my backlist reads for 2023, I wish I'd read it back when I got it because it was so good that it's kept me up late reading it for the past few nights.
All About Ella does what Meredith Appleyard is so good at and gives us characters we grow to love, people, places and circumstances we can relate to and shows how complicated relationships can be.
Ella was an incredibly strong character, from the moment I was introduced to her I knew I was going to love her. I was angry for the way her family treated her, especially her awful daughter-in-law, what a piece of work she was, I was hoping karma would throw something terrible at her, but alas...
As I learned more about Ella and her late husband Sam's life and the way he treated her and the children, I was awed by Ella's way of looking at things, I liked that she was able to look back and see how things weren't so great, but still, be positive about it all too. Sometimes it isn't until we lose someone that we really take a look at who they were.
All of Ella's children were extremely selfish individuals whose pretence at looking out for Ella was only driven by their own desire for her money. I'm sure this happens a lot more in real life than we can imagine, why shouldn't older people make their own choices and spend their money the way they wish, they shouldn't need to put their life on hold just so as their children will have something to inherit.
Meredith does a wonderful job of describing the town of Cutlers Bay, I've only been to Streaky Bay which is further along the coast than where Cutlers Bay is supposed to be based (I think), but I could imagine myself there and I could imagine the house that Ella fell in love with, I think I would like it there myself. I loved meeting the whole cast of characters from Cutlers Bay they rounded out the small-town feel beautifully.
What Ella finds when she runs away from her family is more than she could have imagined, she finds herself, she says something in the book about this and I felt for Ella, that it had taken her until she was 70 and had lost her husband to really find out who she was and how much she was capable of. Sam had pretty much ruled her life from the moment they got married and then her children had tried to do the same, running away saved her and allowed her to finally live life on her own terms.
Angie was another wonderful character that I grew to love, I felt a lot of compassion for her nomadic way of life, one she'd chosen not so much because she liked to travel and keep moving but because she was afraid to let herself get close to other people. Her family life was dysfunctional at best and her mother was certainly not the mother she (or anyone) needed. At 40 she knows nothing but this way of life, but meeting Ella turns her life on its head and starts her on her own journey of discovery.
Zach came a long way from the taciturn police officer who first met Ella and Angie and wanted them both to leave his town ASAP. Ella really was the catalyst for lots of changes in Angie and Zach, and even in Claire who had become lonely in her older age living by herself.
One of the things that Ella and Angie learn is that family doesn't need to be blood-related and that sometimes our found families can be more important to us than those we call relatives. This was a beautifully written story about connecting with others and finding the things that make up happy in life and standing our ground against the people who say we can't have them.
All About Ella does what Meredith Appleyard is so good at and gives us characters we grow to love, people, places and circumstances we can relate to and shows how complicated relationships can be.
Ella was an incredibly strong character, from the moment I was introduced to her I knew I was going to love her. I was angry for the way her family treated her, especially her awful daughter-in-law, what a piece of work she was, I was hoping karma would throw something terrible at her, but alas...
As I learned more about Ella and her late husband Sam's life and the way he treated her and the children, I was awed by Ella's way of looking at things, I liked that she was able to look back and see how things weren't so great, but still, be positive about it all too. Sometimes it isn't until we lose someone that we really take a look at who they were.
All of Ella's children were extremely selfish individuals whose pretence at looking out for Ella was only driven by their own desire for her money. I'm sure this happens a lot more in real life than we can imagine, why shouldn't older people make their own choices and spend their money the way they wish, they shouldn't need to put their life on hold just so as their children will have something to inherit.
Meredith does a wonderful job of describing the town of Cutlers Bay, I've only been to Streaky Bay which is further along the coast than where Cutlers Bay is supposed to be based (I think), but I could imagine myself there and I could imagine the house that Ella fell in love with, I think I would like it there myself. I loved meeting the whole cast of characters from Cutlers Bay they rounded out the small-town feel beautifully.
What Ella finds when she runs away from her family is more than she could have imagined, she finds herself, she says something in the book about this and I felt for Ella, that it had taken her until she was 70 and had lost her husband to really find out who she was and how much she was capable of. Sam had pretty much ruled her life from the moment they got married and then her children had tried to do the same, running away saved her and allowed her to finally live life on her own terms.
Angie was another wonderful character that I grew to love, I felt a lot of compassion for her nomadic way of life, one she'd chosen not so much because she liked to travel and keep moving but because she was afraid to let herself get close to other people. Her family life was dysfunctional at best and her mother was certainly not the mother she (or anyone) needed. At 40 she knows nothing but this way of life, but meeting Ella turns her life on its head and starts her on her own journey of discovery.
Zach came a long way from the taciturn police officer who first met Ella and Angie and wanted them both to leave his town ASAP. Ella really was the catalyst for lots of changes in Angie and Zach, and even in Claire who had become lonely in her older age living by herself.
One of the things that Ella and Angie learn is that family doesn't need to be blood-related and that sometimes our found families can be more important to us than those we call relatives. This was a beautifully written story about connecting with others and finding the things that make up happy in life and standing our ground against the people who say we can't have them.
August 17, 2021
Thank you Harlequin and Meredith for sending us a copy to read and review.
A wonderful heartfelt and tender story about the importance of friendship when you need it the most.
Ella is 70, widowed and at odds with her life.
Her three grown children worry more about their inheritance than they do about her.
After an argument with her eldest son while living with his family she escapes and ends up in Cutlers Bay, a quiet seaside town.
Ella’s independence is at the top of her list and while enjoying her time she befriends Angie, a middle aged drifter and becomes a nuisance for the local cop, Zach.
Ella welcomes the town into her life and soon buys a ramshackle house that needs a lot of work.
An unlikely bond forms between the three and they slowly begin to open up towards each other, sharing life, secrets and situations.
Meredith has fast become a must read and I’m absolutely adore her real life stories.
With a lead mature aged character and a mixture of a secondary cast, a captivating backdrop of a inviting small town and a plot of rawness and authenticity, this book is one that will jump off the shelves.
We get a front row seat to the tackling of drama, the miscommunication of family dynamics, the strong circle of friendship from strangers, losing someone close and how life treats elders after this, there’s much to think about, digest, discuss and admire.
The three point of views mesh well together as each chapter flows very naturally.
Moving on from her medical rural tales and now with her second contemporary fiction slash life lit book on the market, Meredith is a fantastic addition to this genre and I hope has many more stories to tell.
A wonderful heartfelt and tender story about the importance of friendship when you need it the most.
Ella is 70, widowed and at odds with her life.
Her three grown children worry more about their inheritance than they do about her.
After an argument with her eldest son while living with his family she escapes and ends up in Cutlers Bay, a quiet seaside town.
Ella’s independence is at the top of her list and while enjoying her time she befriends Angie, a middle aged drifter and becomes a nuisance for the local cop, Zach.
Ella welcomes the town into her life and soon buys a ramshackle house that needs a lot of work.
An unlikely bond forms between the three and they slowly begin to open up towards each other, sharing life, secrets and situations.
Meredith has fast become a must read and I’m absolutely adore her real life stories.
With a lead mature aged character and a mixture of a secondary cast, a captivating backdrop of a inviting small town and a plot of rawness and authenticity, this book is one that will jump off the shelves.
We get a front row seat to the tackling of drama, the miscommunication of family dynamics, the strong circle of friendship from strangers, losing someone close and how life treats elders after this, there’s much to think about, digest, discuss and admire.
The three point of views mesh well together as each chapter flows very naturally.
Moving on from her medical rural tales and now with her second contemporary fiction slash life lit book on the market, Meredith is a fantastic addition to this genre and I hope has many more stories to tell.
July 18, 2021
4.5 stars .All about Ella’ is the second book I have read by Meredith Appleyard and I’ve enjoyed both. The story seems quite simple but it is filled with so many important observations and messages about ageing and relationships and human interactions that it’s anything but .
Ella is 70 and recently widowed . Falling out with her children over money and her desire to do her own thing she heads to the coastal down of Cutlers Bay. Here we meet Angie , a drifter , and Zach the local policeman to name a few of the endearing characters in the book Ella purchases an isolated property much too alarm of others and deals with the fallout from this .
I really enjoyed this novel . Totally invested in the characters and their outcomes it has left me thinking about so many things from different angles . The novel is due for release on the 1st September and well worth a read . Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher Harlequin for an advanced copy to read and review !
Ella is 70 and recently widowed . Falling out with her children over money and her desire to do her own thing she heads to the coastal down of Cutlers Bay. Here we meet Angie , a drifter , and Zach the local policeman to name a few of the endearing characters in the book Ella purchases an isolated property much too alarm of others and deals with the fallout from this .
I really enjoyed this novel . Totally invested in the characters and their outcomes it has left me thinking about so many things from different angles . The novel is due for release on the 1st September and well worth a read . Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher Harlequin for an advanced copy to read and review !
August 22, 2021
I simply couldn’t stop reading this book, the storyline is superb! Meredith never fails to deliver with a fantastic warm easy read.
Ella picks herself up after the death of her husband and plans on living life to the fullest, her children are less than supportive! Ella runs away and finds the only family she needs, a wonderful group of friends that connect perfectly!
The characters are relatable and it’s a pleasure to join Ella on her life changing journey with Angie, Zack, Claire in her newly adopted seaside town!
Very well done Meredith Appleyard, a delightful well written book, definitely one to cherish!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Ella picks herself up after the death of her husband and plans on living life to the fullest, her children are less than supportive! Ella runs away and finds the only family she needs, a wonderful group of friends that connect perfectly!
The characters are relatable and it’s a pleasure to join Ella on her life changing journey with Angie, Zack, Claire in her newly adopted seaside town!
Very well done Meredith Appleyard, a delightful well written book, definitely one to cherish!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 3, 2021
Absolutely one of my favourite reads this year. All about Ella is a book about women supporting women no matter your age or circumstances. I adored Ella, she was a fantastic character, she stood up for herself when her children thought her too old to make decisions. There are a fantastic supporting cast of characters who are equally wonderful. The other fantastic member of this book is the house, it's devine. Just beautifully written, absolutely the best cast of characters and a setting to die for. Enjoy.
September 29, 2021
Thoroughly enjoyed
The book provides us with many moments in this we can all recognise despite our background and respective ages.
Ella’s journey takes her a lifetime but when she finally realises she has the power to run her own life her age becomes something to be valued despite the nagging problems that may come with it.
As we amble through the pages we discover blood does not make us family, and age does not render us useless.
An enjoyable read about people and their behaviours.
The book provides us with many moments in this we can all recognise despite our background and respective ages.
Ella’s journey takes her a lifetime but when she finally realises she has the power to run her own life her age becomes something to be valued despite the nagging problems that may come with it.
As we amble through the pages we discover blood does not make us family, and age does not render us useless.
An enjoyable read about people and their behaviours.
January 13, 2022
Ella is widowed and her 3. Children decide it will be best if she sells the family home. She does and moves in with Anthony and his wife, while they build a granny flat for her. Naturally she is paying. Things don’t work out and after 2 weeks Ella flees to a small country town. The story follows Ella in this town, the people she meets, the characters of the town and in many cases their lives. An enjoyable read.
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