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After the One
What happens... after The One?
April 16th is always one of Charley’s worst days of the year.
It’s her husband’s birthday, a painful reminder of his death four years ago.
So naturally, her car breaks down.
She nearly gets run over trying to catch the bus.
And then she’s made redundant.
Her friends see the redundancy as a chance for her to start again and live the life she always wanted, but since being widowed Charley has clung to familiarity and avoided change like the plague. Then, out of the blue, her mother-in-law Pam pitches up in need of a place to stay after walking out on her 40-year marriage.
Together, Charley and Pam find themselves at a crossroad. It’s not easy to move on after The One, but they can’t stand still forever.
A gorgeously heartwarming and feel-good story for fans of Libby Page and Nicola Gill.
April 16th is always one of Charley’s worst days of the year.
It’s her husband’s birthday, a painful reminder of his death four years ago.
So naturally, her car breaks down.
She nearly gets run over trying to catch the bus.
And then she’s made redundant.
Her friends see the redundancy as a chance for her to start again and live the life she always wanted, but since being widowed Charley has clung to familiarity and avoided change like the plague. Then, out of the blue, her mother-in-law Pam pitches up in need of a place to stay after walking out on her 40-year marriage.
Together, Charley and Pam find themselves at a crossroad. It’s not easy to move on after The One, but they can’t stand still forever.
A gorgeously heartwarming and feel-good story for fans of Libby Page and Nicola Gill.
384 pages, Paperback
Published June 24, 2021
14 people are currently reading
448 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
April 4, 2021
This book is all about two women who are transitioning into a different phase of their lives. They are lost, find each other, and use each other’s behaviours as a catalyst to make that change. It’s a bit of a gloomy read in places but does affirm the importance of family and friendship.
Poor Charley. Very quickly in the story we learn that our protagonist is a young widow who is still quietly grieving for her husband. Financial woes then soon mount after her redundancy and with few interview prospects on the horizon, Charley accepts that she will need a lodger to help cover the bills. However, she didn’t have her mother-in-law in mind! Imagine that?! Living with your mother-in-law…
Pam, despite being much older, is also at a crossroads in her life after discovering her husband has been having an affair for the last five years. Pam cannot stand to be in the same room as her husband and both her and Charley decide that living together, at least for the short-term, will benefit them both.
Charley is definitely more lost than Pam and I found her indecisiveness a bit grating at times. There were moments when I thought Charley had made progress in terms of confidence and self-belief, for this then to be disproved. Arguably, her behaviour felt more petulant rather than grieving widow which, as Pam points out to Charley, she is letting define her and her actions. I wanted to see Charley on the upwards trajectory of recovery but, as Lester is demonstrating, this is never always the case and these dips are to be expected.
Charley’s circle of friends are really supportive, although there were some that I favoured over others. There was one particular character who, despite being very close to Charley, I could not stand in her attitude and treatment of her husband. This was compensated by other, more warming characters who seemed to take a bit more of backwards approach in helping Charley, rather than being judgemental and bossy.
This was a lovely read and I liked the theme of transitioning into a different phase of life. Regardless of age or experience, we all face these pivotal moments in our life and in this story, Lester is illustrating the importance of taking your time to decide which choice is the most suitable. Neither Pam nor Charley rush into any decisions, happily plodding along together in a microcosm of Charley’s flat. I liked imagining what it must be like to live with your mother-in-law and could really relate to Charley in terms of having such a supportive, loving extended family. However, there are people out there who cannot say the same!
If you are after a plodding, sweet drama then this will appeal. The novel moves to a optimistic conclusion and it ends on a satisfying note that both Charley and Pam have turned that proverbial corner in their lives. I wonder if the writer would be tempted to follow-up this novel with another story as I would be keen to see what happens next to Charley and her friends. Yet, as it stands, it finishes proving that yes, you can achieve anything your heart is set on… just be prepared to roll your sleeves up along the way.
With thanks to Canelo, NetGalley and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Poor Charley. Very quickly in the story we learn that our protagonist is a young widow who is still quietly grieving for her husband. Financial woes then soon mount after her redundancy and with few interview prospects on the horizon, Charley accepts that she will need a lodger to help cover the bills. However, she didn’t have her mother-in-law in mind! Imagine that?! Living with your mother-in-law…
Pam, despite being much older, is also at a crossroads in her life after discovering her husband has been having an affair for the last five years. Pam cannot stand to be in the same room as her husband and both her and Charley decide that living together, at least for the short-term, will benefit them both.
Charley is definitely more lost than Pam and I found her indecisiveness a bit grating at times. There were moments when I thought Charley had made progress in terms of confidence and self-belief, for this then to be disproved. Arguably, her behaviour felt more petulant rather than grieving widow which, as Pam points out to Charley, she is letting define her and her actions. I wanted to see Charley on the upwards trajectory of recovery but, as Lester is demonstrating, this is never always the case and these dips are to be expected.
Charley’s circle of friends are really supportive, although there were some that I favoured over others. There was one particular character who, despite being very close to Charley, I could not stand in her attitude and treatment of her husband. This was compensated by other, more warming characters who seemed to take a bit more of backwards approach in helping Charley, rather than being judgemental and bossy.
This was a lovely read and I liked the theme of transitioning into a different phase of life. Regardless of age or experience, we all face these pivotal moments in our life and in this story, Lester is illustrating the importance of taking your time to decide which choice is the most suitable. Neither Pam nor Charley rush into any decisions, happily plodding along together in a microcosm of Charley’s flat. I liked imagining what it must be like to live with your mother-in-law and could really relate to Charley in terms of having such a supportive, loving extended family. However, there are people out there who cannot say the same!
If you are after a plodding, sweet drama then this will appeal. The novel moves to a optimistic conclusion and it ends on a satisfying note that both Charley and Pam have turned that proverbial corner in their lives. I wonder if the writer would be tempted to follow-up this novel with another story as I would be keen to see what happens next to Charley and her friends. Yet, as it stands, it finishes proving that yes, you can achieve anything your heart is set on… just be prepared to roll your sleeves up along the way.
With thanks to Canelo, NetGalley and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 4, 2022
Deals perfectly with the stages of grief and how every person acts differently.
August 28, 2022
3.5 didn't expect to tear up at a book - a simple book about life after loss and dealing with grief and the ways it presents itself. bittersweet, particularly with the flash backs to life before charley lost her husband :(. there are elements of romance, but the main focus is on the women coming to terms with their loss, which i appreciated. the ending is left open which i don't know how to feel about, but it is hopeful.
November 14, 2021
This book has put me right off prosecco.
March 31, 2021
I really enjoyed this book, it's one that tugs on your heart in many directions and I felt so attached to it that I read it in a couple of sittings. Charley is such a lovely character and losing a partner at such a young age must be something that is so hard to come to terms with, if you ever can! Her resilience wavered many times throughout the book but if anything I felt that this made it feel more real. The emotions and changes of mind that she experienced when met with the big idea were something that we can all relate to and just jumping in there isn't always the best way to go about things!
When Charley gets made redundant from her job you just think 'oh no, not another one', in the current situation I think this is something that many of us can relate to. I myself got made redundant last year so can only sympathise with Charley and know firsthand the stress that is finding a new job under time pressure (unfortunately without the redundancy pay as well).
The courage she shows throughout the book alongside her absolutely amazing friends is something to look up to and I was urging something to happen with the Bike Guy as soon as we met him, you know when you can just sense that spark between characters!
There's something about strong character bonds that I really like in a book and this had them by the bucketful. Not only do you get the beautiful and raw relationship between Charley and Pam, still supporting each other through the grieving process, but you also see all of the individual and group friendships that she has. Tara is a character that is so full of life it was sometimes overbearing and you are just like 'shut up and let Charley think for herself' but you know it's said out of the kindness of her heart.
Angie is probably one of my favourite understated characters and I feel like she could quite easily have a book written about her *hint hint* the boys had me chuckling a few times!
This is my first Cass Lester book but I'm hoping it won't be my last! This book is full of emotion and truthfulness so you may need a few tissues to hand if you tend to get a bit blubbery but I just absolutely loved it!
When Charley gets made redundant from her job you just think 'oh no, not another one', in the current situation I think this is something that many of us can relate to. I myself got made redundant last year so can only sympathise with Charley and know firsthand the stress that is finding a new job under time pressure (unfortunately without the redundancy pay as well).
The courage she shows throughout the book alongside her absolutely amazing friends is something to look up to and I was urging something to happen with the Bike Guy as soon as we met him, you know when you can just sense that spark between characters!
There's something about strong character bonds that I really like in a book and this had them by the bucketful. Not only do you get the beautiful and raw relationship between Charley and Pam, still supporting each other through the grieving process, but you also see all of the individual and group friendships that she has. Tara is a character that is so full of life it was sometimes overbearing and you are just like 'shut up and let Charley think for herself' but you know it's said out of the kindness of her heart.
Angie is probably one of my favourite understated characters and I feel like she could quite easily have a book written about her *hint hint* the boys had me chuckling a few times!
This is my first Cass Lester book but I'm hoping it won't be my last! This book is full of emotion and truthfulness so you may need a few tissues to hand if you tend to get a bit blubbery but I just absolutely loved it!
February 7, 2022
This book had potential to be a great story about growth, healing and friendship - but ended up as more of a cheesy, meandering story about a group of naive English women whose heads are in the wrong places. The concept for the story was good and had great potential, but I quickly learned to hate every single character, and there was no clear plot line or end result- just a series of seemingly random events in these womens’ lives. There were also quite a few boring moments that seemed to drag on without a point, as well as extremely important moments that were glossed over when they could’ve been extremely valuable to the story. It was a very cute concept, and I did enjoy it at times. Just not my favorite type of story.
September 19, 2023
Good sentiment okay book subpar writing
December 31, 2023
After struggling to finish this for over 4 months 😬 the story was actually really sweet and I enjoyed the last part of the book. For me, it just wasn’t enough of a page turner to be constantly picking it up and reading it, thus sitting on my bed side table for a long time 🙄
April 3, 2021
After the One tells us of Charley and Pam’s stories. Charley is having the worst day, on her late husband’s birthday her car breaks down and she is made redundant. Worried about what she’s going to do now, her mother-in-law Pam turns up on her doorstep looking for a place to stay after walking out on her husband.
The story tells us of both Charley and Pam trying to navigate there new lives. Pam realises how much Charley has been struggling to move forward since her son’s death and uses the chance to try and push her forward so that she starts living again.
This book is one which is full of love, friendship and family. We are reminded throughout this book the importance of all of these, especially when we are going through a tough time.
Charley has a group of friends that play an integral part of her story, Tara, Angie and Nisha. They are all completely different characters and each bring a different element of support and role to Charley’s life. I loved all of these characters, even Tara when she was being very pushy, and found that they were all relatable. I loved each of their relationships with Charley. I also loved the relationship between Pam and Charley, although this was tested in some ways once they were living together, it remained intact, and Pam proves to be the biggest support for Charley.
I really enjoyed this book. Like I say I loved the characters and what each of them bought to the book. But I also found the story uplifting, Charley being able to go on this journey and start moving her life forward, to start living her life after such heartbreak was at times emotional but also heartwarming.
This is the first of Cass Lester’s books that I have read but I look forward to discovering more.
The story tells us of both Charley and Pam trying to navigate there new lives. Pam realises how much Charley has been struggling to move forward since her son’s death and uses the chance to try and push her forward so that she starts living again.
This book is one which is full of love, friendship and family. We are reminded throughout this book the importance of all of these, especially when we are going through a tough time.
Charley has a group of friends that play an integral part of her story, Tara, Angie and Nisha. They are all completely different characters and each bring a different element of support and role to Charley’s life. I loved all of these characters, even Tara when she was being very pushy, and found that they were all relatable. I loved each of their relationships with Charley. I also loved the relationship between Pam and Charley, although this was tested in some ways once they were living together, it remained intact, and Pam proves to be the biggest support for Charley.
I really enjoyed this book. Like I say I loved the characters and what each of them bought to the book. But I also found the story uplifting, Charley being able to go on this journey and start moving her life forward, to start living her life after such heartbreak was at times emotional but also heartwarming.
This is the first of Cass Lester’s books that I have read but I look forward to discovering more.
March 29, 2021
It’s hard enough when change happens in your personal life, but when work also turns you for a loop, that lack of routine is enough to get anyone down. Lucky for Charley, she’s not alone...in respect to her aloneness as well as a support system. You see, her mother-in-law is experiencing her own marital changes (the cheating louse!) and is in some serious need of time to regroup. Charley’s fund dilemma provides the perfect excuse for away time as well as a chance to help her help herself to the life that she still had left to live. Between her and Charley’s circle of friends, they help shake the cobwebs off our gal, while navigating their own obstacles, and rediscover all that life and love have to offer.
All in all, a read with so many characters and story lines, it’s like trying to prize out the Brady Bunch siblings from each other, but the bonds they share, the tasks they undertake, and the Prosecco nights they imbibe on, create memorable moments and stories to share from the lessons they learned, and the love they helped grow. It reminds us that loss is a part of life, but it’s the not the end of it...and those that are no longer with us will always be in our hearts.
**ebook received for review; opinions are my own
All in all, a read with so many characters and story lines, it’s like trying to prize out the Brady Bunch siblings from each other, but the bonds they share, the tasks they undertake, and the Prosecco nights they imbibe on, create memorable moments and stories to share from the lessons they learned, and the love they helped grow. It reminds us that loss is a part of life, but it’s the not the end of it...and those that are no longer with us will always be in our hearts.
**ebook received for review; opinions are my own
March 22, 2021
This was equally enjoyable and frustrating. I felt like Charley's story dragged and there were times I just wanted to shake her. It all got resolved in the end. The story was mostly told from Charley and Pam's perspective, but occasionally other characters' perspectives were thrown in and it threw off the rhythm of the book a bit. I ended up liking Pam more than Charley.
Thank you to Netgalley, Cass Lester and Canelo Escape for allowing me to read this book. I received an advance copy and I share this review voluntarily
Thank you to Netgalley, Cass Lester and Canelo Escape for allowing me to read this book. I received an advance copy and I share this review voluntarily
March 27, 2021
What a beautiful story. So emotional to follow Charley on her journey of trying to rebuild her life after the death of her husband. This is definitely a story about the power of friendship, and I loved how Charley’s friends were such a tower of strength to her whilst in turn she was able to be there for them too in their hour of need. I loved the relationship she’d maintained with Pam, her mother-in-law, they were really great together and Pam was able to add those little pearls of wisdom that we all need from time to time.
April 19, 2021
A very sweet, warm and heartwarming read! I really enjoyed this book, the characters are all so likeable - flawed and human, and I found it a really lovely read.
Charley is so gentle, shes having a really rotten time and you feel so much for her, but being surrounded by the best bunch of mates anyone could have, she starts to find the confidence to recover.
If you need a pick me up I recommend this warm cute book.
Thank you to Netgalley and Canelo for the advance copy.
Charley is so gentle, shes having a really rotten time and you feel so much for her, but being surrounded by the best bunch of mates anyone could have, she starts to find the confidence to recover.
If you need a pick me up I recommend this warm cute book.
Thank you to Netgalley and Canelo for the advance copy.
November 9, 2022
3/5. For a book I picked up for £2, it was okay.
The characters in this book were a bit…. bleh. Charley was a nice character to read about and see grow, and I enjoyed reading about her friends to an extent, but they didn’t really have any *Wow* factor to them. Pam, again, was enjoyable to read about but still didn’t leave me really rooting for her throughout the book. Of Charley’s friends, Tara was definitely the most unlikeable. I’m not sure if this was on purpose or not but chapters with her involved felt like a chore to read.
It didn’t really feel as if there was a plot in the book, just followed the friends through ~6 months of life. I’m sad that the ending didn’t really amount to anything except ‘let’s cheer for the future’ but the lessons Charley learned about her grief, through experiences with Pam and Angie especially, were quite sweet to read. I did. enjoy learning about grief and different perspectives of characters losing the same person, and the growth they made throughout the book. However, I fear that the lack of plot line, as well as Tara as a character, was part of the reason the book felt so long and difficult to pick up.
Flashbacks to Charley’s life with Josh were sweet and made the book enjoyable to read.
I do wish there were a few editing mistakes picked up before publishing because I’m very nit-picky and they were on my mind the whole rest of the book. Among other things, Charley’s name being spelt wrong a few chapters in particularly had me looking for more mistakes whilst reading rather than allowing me to be fully engrossed in the story.
It was a good read for £2, and I might read the sequel if I see it in The Works, but I won’t rush out or rave about this to friends.
The characters in this book were a bit…. bleh. Charley was a nice character to read about and see grow, and I enjoyed reading about her friends to an extent, but they didn’t really have any *Wow* factor to them. Pam, again, was enjoyable to read about but still didn’t leave me really rooting for her throughout the book. Of Charley’s friends, Tara was definitely the most unlikeable. I’m not sure if this was on purpose or not but chapters with her involved felt like a chore to read.
It didn’t really feel as if there was a plot in the book, just followed the friends through ~6 months of life. I’m sad that the ending didn’t really amount to anything except ‘let’s cheer for the future’ but the lessons Charley learned about her grief, through experiences with Pam and Angie especially, were quite sweet to read. I did. enjoy learning about grief and different perspectives of characters losing the same person, and the growth they made throughout the book. However, I fear that the lack of plot line, as well as Tara as a character, was part of the reason the book felt so long and difficult to pick up.
Flashbacks to Charley’s life with Josh were sweet and made the book enjoyable to read.
I do wish there were a few editing mistakes picked up before publishing because I’m very nit-picky and they were on my mind the whole rest of the book. Among other things, Charley’s name being spelt wrong a few chapters in particularly had me looking for more mistakes whilst reading rather than allowing me to be fully engrossed in the story.
It was a good read for £2, and I might read the sequel if I see it in The Works, but I won’t rush out or rave about this to friends.
September 12, 2022
*2.5/5.*
The book predominantly follows two ladies, Charley & her mother in law Pam, who are both experiencing different phases of life. Charleys husband has passed away and Pam discovers her husband has had an affair. Other characters develop well, I especially resonated with Tara who demonstrated the hardship of losing a mother young. While this book digs deep into how different people live through the many stages of grief, I often found myself frustrated with the main character Charley. Throughout the book, Charley became petulant towards her friends (who only wanted the best for her) and Pam (the mother of her widow). Lester portrayed a lady with little self-believe and low confidence, with the help of her friends and Pam it seemed she was changing. However, at times it felt like we had gone one step forward and three back. This was challenging to read and I often felt as though I wanted to give her a shake!
The book was mostly enjoyable & I am planning to read the next one in the series as I am interested to see how Charley's romantic story develops. It is an easy read and really highlights the importance of friendship, but it had a lot more potential. At times, I felt as though the book dragged and focused on seemingly irrelevant information and other times, important/ emotional parts were rushed and underdeveloped.
The book predominantly follows two ladies, Charley & her mother in law Pam, who are both experiencing different phases of life. Charleys husband has passed away and Pam discovers her husband has had an affair. Other characters develop well, I especially resonated with Tara who demonstrated the hardship of losing a mother young. While this book digs deep into how different people live through the many stages of grief, I often found myself frustrated with the main character Charley. Throughout the book, Charley became petulant towards her friends (who only wanted the best for her) and Pam (the mother of her widow). Lester portrayed a lady with little self-believe and low confidence, with the help of her friends and Pam it seemed she was changing. However, at times it felt like we had gone one step forward and three back. This was challenging to read and I often felt as though I wanted to give her a shake!
The book was mostly enjoyable & I am planning to read the next one in the series as I am interested to see how Charley's romantic story develops. It is an easy read and really highlights the importance of friendship, but it had a lot more potential. At times, I felt as though the book dragged and focused on seemingly irrelevant information and other times, important/ emotional parts were rushed and underdeveloped.
May 8, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and Canelo for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
After the One follows Charley, a young widow, who loses her job and has her recently separated Mother in Law, Pam, move in with her.
I expected this book to be a sweet love story about falling in love after losing at such a young age. It is, well kind of. The book isn't about Romantic love, but instead about loving yourself enough to be open to new experiences after such a tragedy. The book started a bit slow, but once it picked up I really enjoyed the affirming and uplifting message -- that didn't require Charley to fall madly in love with a new man to find worth in herself. (Maybe that's for the sequel?)
#arc #netgalley #canelo #casslester @cass_lester_writer #bookstagram #chicklit
After the One follows Charley, a young widow, who loses her job and has her recently separated Mother in Law, Pam, move in with her.
I expected this book to be a sweet love story about falling in love after losing at such a young age. It is, well kind of. The book isn't about Romantic love, but instead about loving yourself enough to be open to new experiences after such a tragedy. The book started a bit slow, but once it picked up I really enjoyed the affirming and uplifting message -- that didn't require Charley to fall madly in love with a new man to find worth in herself. (Maybe that's for the sequel?)
#arc #netgalley #canelo #casslester @cass_lester_writer #bookstagram #chicklit
November 16, 2022
The 16th of April is one of the worst days for Charley, it's her husbands birthday, not one for celebration as he died 4 years ago and so like life everything that can go wrong on this day does; her car breaks down, she nearly gets run over and she gets made redundant.
Not only that but her mother in law turns up at her house as she's left her husband after 40 years of marriage!
Is this a chance for Charley and her mother in law to start a fresh or are the memories too painful?
This was a lovely little read, it deals with death and the grief that comes with it, but also friendship and how you always have someone you can turn to.
Not only that but her mother in law turns up at her house as she's left her husband after 40 years of marriage!
Is this a chance for Charley and her mother in law to start a fresh or are the memories too painful?
This was a lovely little read, it deals with death and the grief that comes with it, but also friendship and how you always have someone you can turn to.
April 25, 2022
This book had a great premise for a nice easy beach read but unfortunately it just didn't seem to hit its stride.
I didn't mind the two main characters, Charley and Pam, although ended up enjoying Pam's POV a bit more closer to the end as Charley's development just felt stilted and drawn out just to pad out the rest of the story. I love a third person dual POV however at times other side characters would suddenly get a surprise narration and it really upset the flow of the book for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I didn't mind the two main characters, Charley and Pam, although ended up enjoying Pam's POV a bit more closer to the end as Charley's development just felt stilted and drawn out just to pad out the rest of the story. I love a third person dual POV however at times other side characters would suddenly get a surprise narration and it really upset the flow of the book for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 15, 2024
You don’t need to get far into this story to figure out how it is doing for end. There are no twists and turns, no real efforts at character development- Charley starts out nice and ends nice and that just about sums up the story of this book. Her mother in law Pam moving in may seem a bit out of the norm, but then again the fact that both women are rebuilding their lives after the death of both their husband and their son gives the story a nice neat way of ensuring they can be some degree of self awareness through the story.
May 8, 2022
3.5 stars
After The One is a story of grief, love, hope and friendship. Especially finding love and friendship unexpectedly.
Charley & Pam's relationship was god gifted. I adored them so much.
Along with Pam, there were so many supportive friends who were there for Charley in every step of the way.
Looking forward to the sequel. Fans of Forever Interrupted by TJR, this one's just for you.
After The One is a story of grief, love, hope and friendship. Especially finding love and friendship unexpectedly.
Charley & Pam's relationship was god gifted. I adored them so much.
Along with Pam, there were so many supportive friends who were there for Charley in every step of the way.
Looking forward to the sequel. Fans of Forever Interrupted by TJR, this one's just for you.
January 1, 2023
This book may have took me a while to finish but when I eventually got into the book I couldn’t put it down, it’s such an addictive read and well I’m happy to say it was my 1st read of 2023!
It made me smile, made me angry, made my cry but even with all the emotions it felt real to me! I felt like I was involved in everything that happened! Such a great book and I can’t wait to start ‘the one after the one’!
It made me smile, made me angry, made my cry but even with all the emotions it felt real to me! I felt like I was involved in everything that happened! Such a great book and I can’t wait to start ‘the one after the one’!
March 14, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. Although there is a love story in there it isn’t the main part of the plot. I loved the relationship between Charlie and Pam and although Pam was going through her own trouble and her own grief she knew just what to say to Charlie at all the right moments. The friendships in the book were so strong and so lovely. Although the plots were all very heavy and emotional, it was handled in such a way that there was just enough humour to keep it light.
April 2, 2021
After the One
is a heartfelt story of moving on after you lose someone you thought you would be with forever. Although I have read multiple novels with the same concept of life after losing the one you love, I do not get tired of reading them as, just like real grief, no two stories are the same. It is a very moving story featuring dealing with grief, divorce, careers, general happiness in your life, and, of course, the power of friendship. I am new to reading the works of Cass Lester, but this novel has me very intrigued to read more!
Our story picks up four years after Charley lost her husband, Josh. She is still grieving over his sudden passing and she does not know how to move on. She and Josh were just starting their lives together as Josh was only 32 when he passed away. She goes to work every day at a realty company doing admin work and is made redundant when the company is taken over by another. She now is left with a home and herself to support with no idea what she actually wants to do with her life and career. Although not everyone can directly relate to the loss of a spouse, her uncertainty for her future is very relatable as there are millions of people that find themselves in a similar situation every day.
Charley is a complicated character as I found myself wavering on how much I liked her. She was very well-written, but I just found myself becoming very frustrated with her for almost the entire novel. For me, I would love to know more about her before she met Josh as there are some personality traits that I had difficulty understanding if they were a character change due to her life changes or if they were just her from the start. For most of the novel, Charley either would be completely clueless or she would want to quit because something would be too difficult. She is extremely fortunate that she has incredible friends surrounding her as she was able to have a fantastic support system and also a sounding board when she was trying to figure out the next steps in her life.
She is in need of funds and decides to get a lodger. Luckily, her mother-in-law, Pam, shows up on her doorstep and is in need of a room. Pam’s husband of forty years has been having an affair and Pam has left him to go live with Charley while she finds out what she wants to do next. I admired that Pam and Charley remained close after Josh’s death and it is interesting how they each dealt with their own grief. Pam was a character that I greatly enjoyed as she was logical in her thought processes, but also managed to factor in the emotional sides. The book changes POV between Charley and Pam while also occasionally switching to some of Charley’s friends. I loved the duel perspective of Charley and Pam as they are each going through their own life changes, but I had a like-dislike relationship with the other friends. I loved seeing their own lives as they are very interesting characters, but it sometimes threw off the rhythm of the story.
Tara, Angie, and Nisha (Charley’s friends) were a delight and could easily have their own novels dedicated to them. Tara is very opinionated and likes to dole out advice, especially to Charley, which can be a lot if it is directed at you. I have a lot of friends that are similar to Tara and I love that, just like the character, they may be overbearing sometimes, but it all comes from a place of love. Angie is an art designer that is now a stay-at-home mother and it was very interesting to read about her struggle some days where she wonders what life would be like if she went to work. She loves her life at home, but there are days where it is overwhelming, which is a very relatable trait, especially to many stay-at-home parents. Nisha is a fairly career driven woman dealing with her own divorce after her husband went with another woman and is now contesting the divorce settlement.
Charley’s character progression was well-written and enjoyable. She is nervous about stepping out of the comfort zone of a career she’s had for years and is unsure about pursuing her new dream of opening a Prosecco Themed Shop. Luckily, her friends and Pam are there every step of the way. There are many events that occur with this portion of the storyline that I could not relate to as I could not understand how Charley gets from Point Z without going through A through Y and it somehow works out. It is not impossible, but just seemed very improbable. It is written well though to showcase friendship and the strong bond that people not related by blood can share. Charley’s back and forth about her wanting to move forward, but also wanting to hang on to the memories of the past was both heart-warming and heart-breaking. The entire story captivated my attention and I ended up reading it in a single sitting. I became invested in all of the characters and wanting to see how each of their lives would turn out once I reached the final page. This novel was, overall, a great read, and I would recommend it to others.
**I give a special thank you to Rachel @rararesources for the opportunity to participate via Netgalley with this excellent novel from the publisher, Canelo, and the author, Cass Lester. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**
Our story picks up four years after Charley lost her husband, Josh. She is still grieving over his sudden passing and she does not know how to move on. She and Josh were just starting their lives together as Josh was only 32 when he passed away. She goes to work every day at a realty company doing admin work and is made redundant when the company is taken over by another. She now is left with a home and herself to support with no idea what she actually wants to do with her life and career. Although not everyone can directly relate to the loss of a spouse, her uncertainty for her future is very relatable as there are millions of people that find themselves in a similar situation every day.
Charley is a complicated character as I found myself wavering on how much I liked her. She was very well-written, but I just found myself becoming very frustrated with her for almost the entire novel. For me, I would love to know more about her before she met Josh as there are some personality traits that I had difficulty understanding if they were a character change due to her life changes or if they were just her from the start. For most of the novel, Charley either would be completely clueless or she would want to quit because something would be too difficult. She is extremely fortunate that she has incredible friends surrounding her as she was able to have a fantastic support system and also a sounding board when she was trying to figure out the next steps in her life.
She is in need of funds and decides to get a lodger. Luckily, her mother-in-law, Pam, shows up on her doorstep and is in need of a room. Pam’s husband of forty years has been having an affair and Pam has left him to go live with Charley while she finds out what she wants to do next. I admired that Pam and Charley remained close after Josh’s death and it is interesting how they each dealt with their own grief. Pam was a character that I greatly enjoyed as she was logical in her thought processes, but also managed to factor in the emotional sides. The book changes POV between Charley and Pam while also occasionally switching to some of Charley’s friends. I loved the duel perspective of Charley and Pam as they are each going through their own life changes, but I had a like-dislike relationship with the other friends. I loved seeing their own lives as they are very interesting characters, but it sometimes threw off the rhythm of the story.
Tara, Angie, and Nisha (Charley’s friends) were a delight and could easily have their own novels dedicated to them. Tara is very opinionated and likes to dole out advice, especially to Charley, which can be a lot if it is directed at you. I have a lot of friends that are similar to Tara and I love that, just like the character, they may be overbearing sometimes, but it all comes from a place of love. Angie is an art designer that is now a stay-at-home mother and it was very interesting to read about her struggle some days where she wonders what life would be like if she went to work. She loves her life at home, but there are days where it is overwhelming, which is a very relatable trait, especially to many stay-at-home parents. Nisha is a fairly career driven woman dealing with her own divorce after her husband went with another woman and is now contesting the divorce settlement.
Charley’s character progression was well-written and enjoyable. She is nervous about stepping out of the comfort zone of a career she’s had for years and is unsure about pursuing her new dream of opening a Prosecco Themed Shop. Luckily, her friends and Pam are there every step of the way. There are many events that occur with this portion of the storyline that I could not relate to as I could not understand how Charley gets from Point Z without going through A through Y and it somehow works out. It is not impossible, but just seemed very improbable. It is written well though to showcase friendship and the strong bond that people not related by blood can share. Charley’s back and forth about her wanting to move forward, but also wanting to hang on to the memories of the past was both heart-warming and heart-breaking. The entire story captivated my attention and I ended up reading it in a single sitting. I became invested in all of the characters and wanting to see how each of their lives would turn out once I reached the final page. This novel was, overall, a great read, and I would recommend it to others.
**I give a special thank you to Rachel @rararesources for the opportunity to participate via Netgalley with this excellent novel from the publisher, Canelo, and the author, Cass Lester. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**
May 6, 2023
An easy read containing demonstrating beautifully the power of female friendships.
Charley us going through a rough time and equally so is her ex mother in law Pam.
The two connect with their friends who help to get them both out of the negative world the ladies suddenly find themselves in.
A thoroughly enjoyable book
Charley us going through a rough time and equally so is her ex mother in law Pam.
The two connect with their friends who help to get them both out of the negative world the ladies suddenly find themselves in.
A thoroughly enjoyable book
August 23, 2024
I received a digital arc of this from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a lovely easy to read book about friendship, family and the thought of moving on after the loss of a loved one. I really enjoyed this - it had great characters with a great storyline. Would recommend for a light hearted read.
This was a lovely easy to read book about friendship, family and the thought of moving on after the loss of a loved one. I really enjoyed this - it had great characters with a great storyline. Would recommend for a light hearted read.
December 31, 2021
I started this book thinking it was written a little 'young' for the topic, but by the end, I had shed a tear and really liked it. An easy reading book with a good feel to it. Great book to end the year.
May 29, 2023
Am enjoyable read. Felt a bit 'fictional' at times, like the idea of running a successful shop selling purely prosecco based items seems far fetched 😂
The ending felt a little rushed with quite a few things going on - I'm not sure if the Angie/baby storyline was needed
The ending felt a little rushed with quite a few things going on - I'm not sure if the Angie/baby storyline was needed
January 6, 2022
Slow
2.5 stars. Was very slow, wanted to like it more than I did. Really enjoyed the friendships, best part of the book.
2.5 stars. Was very slow, wanted to like it more than I did. Really enjoyed the friendships, best part of the book.
January 17, 2023
This book was a little slow for me to get into at first, but the further I got into the book the more I enjoyed it. I can't wait to read the next one.
January 17, 2023
Enjoyable read with nice uplifting friend portions.
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