What do you think?
Rate this book
The Miseducation of Evie Epworth #2
All About Evie
EVIE EPWORTH IS TEN YEARS OLDER. BUT IS SHE ANY WISER?!‘It’s an uplifting, rip-roaring read, peppered with nostalgic detail and plenty of comic asides.’ Daily Express'A golden ray of sunshine. If you're after a funny, uplifting summer read then this is for you!' Libby Page, author of The Lido 'A joyous way to spend an afternoon.' Joannna Nadin, author of The Double Life of Daisy Hemmings‘Taylor’s writing is sublime, effortlessly combining humour with pathos and spot-on period detail while sensitively exploring themes such as loss, grief, love and death. It’s sure to be another hit.’ Yorkshire Post'A thoroughly uplifting and unputdownable sequel to the bestselling The Miseducation of Evie Epworth.' Waterstones 1972. Ten years on from the events of The Miseducation of Evie Epworth and Evie is settled in London working for the BBC. She has everything she's ever dreamed of (a career, a leatherette briefcase, an Ossie Clark poncho) but, following an unfortunate incident involving Princess Anne and a Hornsea Pottery mug, she finds herself having to rethink her life and piece together work, love, grief and multiple pairs of cork-soled platform sandals. Ghosts from the past and the spirit of the future collide in a joyous adventure that sees Evie navigate the choppy waters of her messy twenties. Can a 1960s miseducation prepare her for the growing pains of the 1970s? Big-hearted, uplifting, bittersweet and tender, All About Evie is a novel fizzing with wit and alive to the power of friendship in all its forms. Praise for The Miseducation of Evie Epworth ‘Tight, clever and riddled with wit. Like discovering Adrian Mole or Bridget Jones for the first time.’ Joanna Nadin, author of The Queen of Bloody Everything ‘A sweet, fizzy sherbet dib-dab of a book - deliciously nostalgic, hugely funny and ultimately heartwarming. The perfect book for our times.’ Veronica Henry ‘Such a joyful and uplifting read. Just the sort of thing that people will want to be reading right now.’ Anita Rani, Radio 2 Book Club 'Full of fabulous characters, sprinkled with joy and drenched in wit.' Milly Johnson
397 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 21, 2022
9 people are currently reading
429 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
September 16, 2022
Rounded down from roughly 4.5 stars ⭐️ I enjoyed the first book about Evie (The Miseducation of Evie Epworth) but this one hit a whole new level for me!
All About Evie is set 10 years after the events of the first book. Evie’s life is turned upside down when a very unfortunate accident happens involved Princess Margaret. But is this a tragedy or the chance to start a new life?
I am a similar age to Evie in this book, and have recently been feeling some very similar things. Questioning my own path and comparing myself to other people my age. I found Evie so incredibly relatable and this book really helped to ease my personal doubts. The same wonderful characters from the first book make appearances in this one, alongside some wonderfully quirky new friends. Matson Taylor is able to wonderfully craft characters that are so vivid that my mind struggles to realise they are fictional.
Although this book does work as a stand alone, I would recommend reading the first book because it adds an extra depth that would be lacking otherwise. The emotional connection you gain by returning to these characters warmed my heart. On multiple occasions I had to stop reading whilst I blinked back the tears. I also found myself smiling along with the characters many times too. This was such a charming read, but incredibly moving and poignant for me too. I absolutely want to see more of Evie in the future!!!
I recommend these books to any fans of light and easy reads with a coming of age vibe. I want to thank Tandem Collective, Scribner and Matson Taylor for sending me a copy of this book so I can give my personal thoughts.
All About Evie is set 10 years after the events of the first book. Evie’s life is turned upside down when a very unfortunate accident happens involved Princess Margaret. But is this a tragedy or the chance to start a new life?
I am a similar age to Evie in this book, and have recently been feeling some very similar things. Questioning my own path and comparing myself to other people my age. I found Evie so incredibly relatable and this book really helped to ease my personal doubts. The same wonderful characters from the first book make appearances in this one, alongside some wonderfully quirky new friends. Matson Taylor is able to wonderfully craft characters that are so vivid that my mind struggles to realise they are fictional.
Although this book does work as a stand alone, I would recommend reading the first book because it adds an extra depth that would be lacking otherwise. The emotional connection you gain by returning to these characters warmed my heart. On multiple occasions I had to stop reading whilst I blinked back the tears. I also found myself smiling along with the characters many times too. This was such a charming read, but incredibly moving and poignant for me too. I absolutely want to see more of Evie in the future!!!
I recommend these books to any fans of light and easy reads with a coming of age vibe. I want to thank Tandem Collective, Scribner and Matson Taylor for sending me a copy of this book so I can give my personal thoughts.
August 17, 2022
Enjoyable but not as good as the first.
June 19, 2022
"And what an amazing ten years it's been. I've seen Beatles strolling, two Stones rolling, Coward Noeling, Quant-tights holing; great trains robbed, long hair bobbed, pop stars mobbed (hormones throbbed); white heat, dancing feet, plastic seats, groovy streets. I've watched a World Cup win, been to West Berlin, had a fridge built-in, dyed a coat (sheepskin), made a dress (sequin), met a Redgrave (Lynne)...Power cuts, decimal nuts, shag haircuts. Colour TV. The Ford Capri..."
It's 1972 and Yorkshirewoman, Evie Epworth has been living in London, working as a production assistant for the BBC for nine years. Navigating the power cuts and fashions of the era, and an unfortunate incident involving Princess Anne and a mug, results in Evie losing her dream job. Down in the dumps, old friends Caroline and Digby do their best to help her find a new job; she's cheered up by the arrival of a friend of a friend, Geneviève a fellow Yorkshirewoman and; spending time with her opera-loving, BBC Radio 3 friend, Lolo and dog, Oscar. Where will Evie's adventures take her this time and what will she learn about herself along the way?
The second book about Evie Epworth, which was set in Yorkshire, is a decade later than the first and it's an absolute joy to catch up with her. Astute, acerbic, witty and heartwarming, this coming of age tale lives up to my hopes for wonderful Evie. There are some old friends, some new friends and a sad loss, all woven into this poignant tale. Mostly from Evie's determined perspective in the present, her narrative is interspersed with a couple of other characters' past narratives, giving Evie and friends even more context to build on the reader's experience from the last book. The story finishes nicely set up for book three, I am hoping, and a new chapter in Evie's life. A neat and pacy plot, humorous adjectives and wonderful and entertaining characters, I adored this!
It's 1972 and Yorkshirewoman, Evie Epworth has been living in London, working as a production assistant for the BBC for nine years. Navigating the power cuts and fashions of the era, and an unfortunate incident involving Princess Anne and a mug, results in Evie losing her dream job. Down in the dumps, old friends Caroline and Digby do their best to help her find a new job; she's cheered up by the arrival of a friend of a friend, Geneviève a fellow Yorkshirewoman and; spending time with her opera-loving, BBC Radio 3 friend, Lolo and dog, Oscar. Where will Evie's adventures take her this time and what will she learn about herself along the way?
The second book about Evie Epworth, which was set in Yorkshire, is a decade later than the first and it's an absolute joy to catch up with her. Astute, acerbic, witty and heartwarming, this coming of age tale lives up to my hopes for wonderful Evie. There are some old friends, some new friends and a sad loss, all woven into this poignant tale. Mostly from Evie's determined perspective in the present, her narrative is interspersed with a couple of other characters' past narratives, giving Evie and friends even more context to build on the reader's experience from the last book. The story finishes nicely set up for book three, I am hoping, and a new chapter in Evie's life. A neat and pacy plot, humorous adjectives and wonderful and entertaining characters, I adored this!
July 25, 2022
I’ve been looking forward to this one for ages and it didn’t disappoint: the second instalment of Evie’s adventures was even better than the first! Although she’s ten years older, I was delighted that Evie still has her sparkling personality and her aptitude for mischief. Without giving too much away, I was also thrilled that the first chapter ended with just as much of a bang as last time…
It was fun to read about Evie’s poor choices of men over the years and I thought the main romance was a slow burn but not in a frustrating way. Evie was hilariously oblivious! I definitely related to the feeling of being in your mid/late twenties and feeling like you haven’t quite found yourself and liked how Evie worked through those feelings over the course of the book.
I liked Caroline and Digby’s central role and found the new characters - especially Lolo, Genevieve and the Nicks - equally loveable. The ending was great and it was heartwarming to see Evie reunited with all the characters we know and love from the first book.
Had a whale of a time reading this - thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It was fun to read about Evie’s poor choices of men over the years and I thought the main romance was a slow burn but not in a frustrating way. Evie was hilariously oblivious! I definitely related to the feeling of being in your mid/late twenties and feeling like you haven’t quite found yourself and liked how Evie worked through those feelings over the course of the book.
I liked Caroline and Digby’s central role and found the new characters - especially Lolo, Genevieve and the Nicks - equally loveable. The ending was great and it was heartwarming to see Evie reunited with all the characters we know and love from the first book.
Had a whale of a time reading this - thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 7, 2022
Love, love, love this book and I have to say I was gifted this by Tandemcollective and I only give honest reviews. What a beauty of a book this was. I haven't read the first book which I've been told is fab but you didn't have to in order to read this it's a standalone sequel. The first book is set in the 60s with this book set in the 70s and I absolutely friggin loved Evie. She has sass, style and a big heart. Not to mention her circle of family and friends makes you want to jump into the book and be one of them. I was properly transported to London in the 70s and can only say this would make an amazing film. I laughed, cringed and actually cried which when reading for me is rare. It was just awesome. My favourite characters bare Evie obviously, Lolo, Mrs Scott-Pym and Oscar. I also loved the little interludes into the life of other characters. The only thing it didn't need and I stopped reading them early on were the little notes about Evie's previous boyfriends (they looked like random post it notes) and didn't fit into the narrative at all so I ignored them when they appeared but that's such a tiny personal thing it's a superb book ❤️
July 24, 2022
It is an absolute delight to be back with Evie Epworth. This book made me laugh, it made me cry there were tears of joy and tears of sadness, but most of all it was a joy to read. To catch up with Evie after ten years in London. It’s now 1972, I was ten years old so it’s fun to be reminded of some of the things that were around then. The music, the colourful clothes, the spinning chairs we had a gorgeous orange one in our house, my sister and I would spin each other round in it like we were at the fairground, obviously not when our parents were watching it was a no-no.
So what has Evie been up to in the last ten years since we first read about her going off to London. She managed to get a job at the BBC as a production assistant where she has been for nine years. Enjoying her work. However, a slight incident with a mug, and Princess Anne find’s Evie out of work, her dream job lost. Luckily she still has her friends Caroline and Digby to give her a pep talk and to cheer her up. They even try to help her find a new job, although the first thing she tries ends up not being quite as exciting as she had hoped, it also ends fairly quickly after a disaster elsewhere and Evie realise’s the job is not for her. So what does she want to do with her life?
Book two is set in London away from her home in Yorkshire. There are happy times, there are sad times. The great thing about Evie is she is never down for long. She is a force of nature. There is always something going on in her life. She is joined by the arrival of a friend of a friend from Yorkshire, Genevieve, who aspires to be a fashion designer. Some of the descriptions of her outfits sound such fun, as fashion in the seventies was, it was great introducing Genevieve as another young character she is like a burst of fresh air as Evie realises times are changing from when she arrived in London, the Beatles have split up, now it’s Bowie and Marc Bolan on the scene.
As Evie finds a new job, which she blags her way into, enlisting a bit of help from a BBC3 opera loving friend Lolo and his dog Oscar. This is such a fun read as Lolo tries to educate Evie a little about opera being more than plinky plonky music and shouting. The story is told from the point of view of Evie. Except for a few interspersed chapters of flashbacks into some of the character’s past narratives, which gives a little more context to the character’s. Things that weren’t in the first book. There is a little sadness but it also helps with happiness for Evie. Also inserted are snippets of guys Evie has dated, along with good points bad points and how long she saw them for. She is looking for that elusive love story. Worrying that she will be a spinster.
There is never a dull moment with Evie around, everyone should have an Evie as a friend, she makes you smile, she makes you feel like everyday is a good day. Matson Taylor has wowed again with this witty, heartwarming story the plot just flows so beautifully as Evie goes from mishap to mishap. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t read book one but for me if you haven’t you are missing out on the glorious start of getting to know Evie Epworth. I enjoyed this book so much, the ending was so perfect and sets the scene up for what I hope will happen in book three.
A resounding ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read without a doubt another favourite to go on this years list.
So what has Evie been up to in the last ten years since we first read about her going off to London. She managed to get a job at the BBC as a production assistant where she has been for nine years. Enjoying her work. However, a slight incident with a mug, and Princess Anne find’s Evie out of work, her dream job lost. Luckily she still has her friends Caroline and Digby to give her a pep talk and to cheer her up. They even try to help her find a new job, although the first thing she tries ends up not being quite as exciting as she had hoped, it also ends fairly quickly after a disaster elsewhere and Evie realise’s the job is not for her. So what does she want to do with her life?
Book two is set in London away from her home in Yorkshire. There are happy times, there are sad times. The great thing about Evie is she is never down for long. She is a force of nature. There is always something going on in her life. She is joined by the arrival of a friend of a friend from Yorkshire, Genevieve, who aspires to be a fashion designer. Some of the descriptions of her outfits sound such fun, as fashion in the seventies was, it was great introducing Genevieve as another young character she is like a burst of fresh air as Evie realises times are changing from when she arrived in London, the Beatles have split up, now it’s Bowie and Marc Bolan on the scene.
As Evie finds a new job, which she blags her way into, enlisting a bit of help from a BBC3 opera loving friend Lolo and his dog Oscar. This is such a fun read as Lolo tries to educate Evie a little about opera being more than plinky plonky music and shouting. The story is told from the point of view of Evie. Except for a few interspersed chapters of flashbacks into some of the character’s past narratives, which gives a little more context to the character’s. Things that weren’t in the first book. There is a little sadness but it also helps with happiness for Evie. Also inserted are snippets of guys Evie has dated, along with good points bad points and how long she saw them for. She is looking for that elusive love story. Worrying that she will be a spinster.
There is never a dull moment with Evie around, everyone should have an Evie as a friend, she makes you smile, she makes you feel like everyday is a good day. Matson Taylor has wowed again with this witty, heartwarming story the plot just flows so beautifully as Evie goes from mishap to mishap. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t read book one but for me if you haven’t you are missing out on the glorious start of getting to know Evie Epworth. I enjoyed this book so much, the ending was so perfect and sets the scene up for what I hope will happen in book three.
A resounding ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read without a doubt another favourite to go on this years list.
June 19, 2022
A follow up to “The Miseducation of Evie Epworth”, it’s not essential to have read the first, but it does provide the background of the characters, and the book is hilarious! As always, the writer provides accurate details of the time, set in 1972, and as a 17 year old myself then, I can heartily endorse her grasp of the times. Evie, a Yorkshire lass settled in London for 10 years, is once again searching for a new career, love, change.
A quick and funny read, you’ll wish you had a friend like Evie.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this advance copy, I recommend.
A quick and funny read, you’ll wish you had a friend like Evie.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this advance copy, I recommend.
March 27, 2023
This is the sequel to The Miseducation of Evie Epworth which I read last week (see my review here) and it’s now 10 years later – it’s 1972 and Evie is 26 years old and lives in London and in her own words…..
“I’ve seen Beatles strolling, two Stones rolling, Coward Noeling, Quant- tights holing; great trains robbed, long hair bobbed, pop stars mobbed (hormones throbbed); white heat, dancing feet, plastic seats, groovy streets. I’ve watched a World Cup win, been to West Berlin, had a fridge built- in, dyed a coat (sheepskin), made a dress (sequin), met a Redgrave (Lynne). Motorways, a trim- phone craze, All You Need is La Marseillaise. Yellow Submarine, Harper’s & Queen, no more scouring thanks to polytetrafluoroethylene. Flower power, Woman’s Hour, revolving dates in the GPO Tower . Paris precarious, vexatious boyfriends (various), the age of Aquarius. Vidal Sassoon, tripped- out car-toon, women on a wage strike and a man on the moon. Power cuts, decimal nuts, shag haircuts.”
Once again Matson Taylor provides the reader with a laugh-out loud scenario in the opening few chapters and luckily no cows were involved this time but a member of the royal family may have been slightly upset and so we begin to follow Evie in her own inimitable way as she is still trying to work out what kind of woman she will be.
If you enjoyed The Miseducation.. then you will be delighted to know all the main characters are back. The wonderful Caroline and Digby are more involved this time and we are introduced to the equally quirky and adorable Geneviève, Mrs Swithenbank’s niece, who arrives on Evie’s doorstep fresh from Yorkshire needing a place to stay.
With another stellar cast of characters I thought it would be hard to beat the revolting Christine in the first book, but Matson Taylor has outdone himself by creating Griffin, possibly the worst work colleague/boss ever, but I would love to hear her do her lunchtime chants one more time!
There are several laugh out loud moments, Evie getting stuck in Genevieve’s dress was probably my favourite and once again this book had me smiling throughout.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who needs a giggle, or was a child of the 60s or 70s or just loves a feelgood story.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I’ve seen Beatles strolling, two Stones rolling, Coward Noeling, Quant- tights holing; great trains robbed, long hair bobbed, pop stars mobbed (hormones throbbed); white heat, dancing feet, plastic seats, groovy streets. I’ve watched a World Cup win, been to West Berlin, had a fridge built- in, dyed a coat (sheepskin), made a dress (sequin), met a Redgrave (Lynne). Motorways, a trim- phone craze, All You Need is La Marseillaise. Yellow Submarine, Harper’s & Queen, no more scouring thanks to polytetrafluoroethylene. Flower power, Woman’s Hour, revolving dates in the GPO Tower . Paris precarious, vexatious boyfriends (various), the age of Aquarius. Vidal Sassoon, tripped- out car-toon, women on a wage strike and a man on the moon. Power cuts, decimal nuts, shag haircuts.”
Once again Matson Taylor provides the reader with a laugh-out loud scenario in the opening few chapters and luckily no cows were involved this time but a member of the royal family may have been slightly upset and so we begin to follow Evie in her own inimitable way as she is still trying to work out what kind of woman she will be.
If you enjoyed The Miseducation.. then you will be delighted to know all the main characters are back. The wonderful Caroline and Digby are more involved this time and we are introduced to the equally quirky and adorable Geneviève, Mrs Swithenbank’s niece, who arrives on Evie’s doorstep fresh from Yorkshire needing a place to stay.
With another stellar cast of characters I thought it would be hard to beat the revolting Christine in the first book, but Matson Taylor has outdone himself by creating Griffin, possibly the worst work colleague/boss ever, but I would love to hear her do her lunchtime chants one more time!
There are several laugh out loud moments, Evie getting stuck in Genevieve’s dress was probably my favourite and once again this book had me smiling throughout.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who needs a giggle, or was a child of the 60s or 70s or just loves a feelgood story.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
August 10, 2022
#adprproduct which I love love loved so I also went & grabbed an indie edition from my favourite bookshop @redlionbooks it's got beautiful yellow spredges!
Book Review ✨All About Evie by Matson Taylor 📖⠀
⠀
It's officially stolen the top spot for favourite reads this year!! ⠀
If you are looking for an uplifting read... STOP!!! You have found it, now sit & immerse yourself in Evie's world preferably accompanied by a cup of tea (Yorkshire if possible) & a bourbon biscuit or two ...then thank me later 😉⠀
⠀
🌟It was a absolutely joy to have Evie back! Brimming with warmth, wit & laugh-out-loud moments from the start (the Princess Anne had me crying with laughter! 🤣). ⠀
🌟Oh Evie! 🥰 - totally has my heart such a vibrant, full of life character she sparkles off the page.⠀
🌟The rest of the gang are a truly marvelous bunch, well aside from Griffin!
🌟The little interludes add another layer of depth & might have been the cause of some sad tears too. ⠀
🌟I wasn't alive in the 70s but I feel like I time travelled there with this book the sights, the sounds, the cheese and pineapple hedgehogs! 🦔
⠀
You don't have to read The Miseducation of Evie Epworth to enjoy this one, they are set 10 years apart. But you'll be missing out if you don't! ⠀
Ps. If you haven't read the book & totally just for fun guess what the dog is?
Book Review ✨All About Evie by Matson Taylor 📖⠀
⠀
It's officially stolen the top spot for favourite reads this year!! ⠀
If you are looking for an uplifting read... STOP!!! You have found it, now sit & immerse yourself in Evie's world preferably accompanied by a cup of tea (Yorkshire if possible) & a bourbon biscuit or two ...then thank me later 😉⠀
⠀
🌟It was a absolutely joy to have Evie back! Brimming with warmth, wit & laugh-out-loud moments from the start (the Princess Anne had me crying with laughter! 🤣). ⠀
🌟Oh Evie! 🥰 - totally has my heart such a vibrant, full of life character she sparkles off the page.⠀
🌟The rest of the gang are a truly marvelous bunch, well aside from Griffin!
🌟The little interludes add another layer of depth & might have been the cause of some sad tears too. ⠀
🌟I wasn't alive in the 70s but I feel like I time travelled there with this book the sights, the sounds, the cheese and pineapple hedgehogs! 🦔
⠀
You don't have to read The Miseducation of Evie Epworth to enjoy this one, they are set 10 years apart. But you'll be missing out if you don't! ⠀
Ps. If you haven't read the book & totally just for fun guess what the dog is?
July 26, 2022
The year is 1972 and we revisit Evie 10 years after The Miseducation of Evie Epworth finishes, she has left Yorkshire for the bright lights of London and is working for the BBC.
In true Evie fashion, not everything is going to plan and the comical moments commence.
This is mainly written from Evie's perspective, but we have snippets from two other characters and some of these chapters are quite tough to read, CW for baby loss and illness (cancer), but the lighthearted writing of Evie really balances these moments out well and it really brings the story together.
I loved the scenes where Evie was with Lolo and that the characters from book one make and appearance too.
Already looking forward to book 3.
In true Evie fashion, not everything is going to plan and the comical moments commence.
This is mainly written from Evie's perspective, but we have snippets from two other characters and some of these chapters are quite tough to read, CW for baby loss and illness (cancer), but the lighthearted writing of Evie really balances these moments out well and it really brings the story together.
I loved the scenes where Evie was with Lolo and that the characters from book one make and appearance too.
Already looking forward to book 3.
January 31, 2023
4.5
Evie Epworth is easily up there in my top three literary characters of all time. This didn’t quite match up to the first book (5 stars) however, I think that’s purely because being introduced to Evie for the first time was a very special event. This is a wonderful sequel to the first book and I loved seeing how Evie had evolved as a character and as always her escapades were as charming and funny as ever. It was also lovely to read about the characters from the first book and Genevieve was a breath of fresh air.
The story follows Evie ten years on from the first book. She’s 26, living in London and working for the BBC. After an encounter with Princess Ann goes very wrong she finds herself working at a magazine and living her best life. Throughout the story she makes friendships, finds herself in hilarious situations and falls in love with a man that she thought was out of the equation.
This series of books is the equivalent of a big slab of your favourite cake and a huge cup of frothy coffee. It’s warm, compassionate, cosy and comforting. You will find yourself falling in love with Evie and you’ll become fully immersed into her life just like I’ve found myself.
MatsonTaylor please tell me that you’re writing a third book, I need Evie Epworth in my literary life.
Evie Epworth is easily up there in my top three literary characters of all time. This didn’t quite match up to the first book (5 stars) however, I think that’s purely because being introduced to Evie for the first time was a very special event. This is a wonderful sequel to the first book and I loved seeing how Evie had evolved as a character and as always her escapades were as charming and funny as ever. It was also lovely to read about the characters from the first book and Genevieve was a breath of fresh air.
The story follows Evie ten years on from the first book. She’s 26, living in London and working for the BBC. After an encounter with Princess Ann goes very wrong she finds herself working at a magazine and living her best life. Throughout the story she makes friendships, finds herself in hilarious situations and falls in love with a man that she thought was out of the equation.
This series of books is the equivalent of a big slab of your favourite cake and a huge cup of frothy coffee. It’s warm, compassionate, cosy and comforting. You will find yourself falling in love with Evie and you’ll become fully immersed into her life just like I’ve found myself.
MatsonTaylor please tell me that you’re writing a third book, I need Evie Epworth in my literary life.
January 16, 2025
Right book at the right time.
July 8, 2024
This book was funny and it was nice to revisit the characters but I didn’t feel that it was as good as the first one in the series. Still it’s well worth a read if you like a light hearted story.
July 24, 2022
The Miseducation of Evie Epworth was one of my absolute favourite reads during the 2020 lockdowns, it brought a little bit of cheer to a whole lot of uncertainty and was just what I needed. So to say I've been on tenterhooks awaiting book two is an understatement!
All About Evie is everything I hoped it would be! It's full of the same warmth and wit and has just as many laugh out loud moments as it's predecessor - I loved every page! All of my favourite characters were back, as well as introducing some amazing new faces. Evie's life is still full of madness and mayhem resulting in a smile on my face, just as big as the one I had when meeting Evie back in 2020. It was a real joy to be back with the whole gang and witness Evie thriving.
I don't think I'd ever tire of reading about Evie! Credit to Matson Taylor for creating such a loveable protagonist! 💛🐮
All About Evie is everything I hoped it would be! It's full of the same warmth and wit and has just as many laugh out loud moments as it's predecessor - I loved every page! All of my favourite characters were back, as well as introducing some amazing new faces. Evie's life is still full of madness and mayhem resulting in a smile on my face, just as big as the one I had when meeting Evie back in 2020. It was a real joy to be back with the whole gang and witness Evie thriving.
I don't think I'd ever tire of reading about Evie! Credit to Matson Taylor for creating such a loveable protagonist! 💛🐮
July 21, 2022
Following the events of our first adventure with Evie in 1962 in The Miseducation of Evie Epworth, it's time to catch up with her in 1972! Evie has now spent ten years living a groovy life in London, working at the BBC as a production assistant, and she's pretty happy with her lot - until a calamitous misunderstanding over a Hornsea Pottery mug and Woman's Hour special guest-star Princess Anne results in her getting her marching orders.
Evie now has to rethink the direction of her life, and she is completely unprepared. There are just so many choices, and she's not sure if any of them are right for a 26-and-a-half-year-old cosmopolitan city swinger such as herself? And that's another problem, how did she get to be this age without having found Mr Right? She's surely in danger of being left on the shelf at this rate, but so far none of her prospective suitors are up to the mark. As the 70s get underway, it's time for Evie to reassess and discover exactly what she wants from life...
I absolutely loved The Miseducation of Evie Epworth, so it was super exciting to be able to catch up with Evie ten years on from when she set off to London as an adventurous sixteen-year-old, full of hopes and dreams about the future. In many ways this is a much more sophisticated Evie, fully versed in the ways of city life, and she has had a great time making the most of the opportunities the 60s have brought her, but she still carries Yorkshire in her heart.
It is time for Evie to hold on to her strappy Biba sandals while she navigates a whole new set of challenges in the next stage of her 'coming of age story', and Matson Taylor contrives plenty of humorous and heart-string-plucking situations to carry you along from chuckle-fest beginning to gorgeous tear-jerker ending. He finds plenty to make you think too, especially in the really rather profound way Evie recognises that the 70s might actually belong to the generation coming along behind her.
There are three threads to this story that serve to hit you full on in the feels: Evie's trials and tribulations in 1972; a really poignant story-line around the lovely Mrs Scott-Pym in 1971; and an intriguing look back to the 1950s from the point of view of a character who is not immediately obvious, but who comes into focus later. The three threads weave beautifully together, colliding with heart-wrenching force as the story progresses, and the moments when they touch had me shedding bucket loads of tears. Matson knows exactly how to set the pace perfectly for every moment, slowing things down for a full-on emotional pummelling one minute, and then upping it for a mood-lightening slapstick comedy sketch the next, bringing everything together in one joyous mix that creates absolute gold. Worth a special mention are the boyfriend 'Top Trumps' cards spread throughout the text, which give an amusing, and often tragic, glimpse of Evie's romantic history.
Expect glorious characters, with faces you are very familiar with from the first book (Mrs Swithenbank, how I love you), and some cracking new ones to both love and hate in equal measure - Lolo and Geneviève on the love side, and the truly horrendous, multi-tasselled Griffin on the 'I really hope she gets what's coming to her' other one. And, that young slip of a lad Matson surely has some sort of time travel machine packed away in his leatherette briefcase, because he hits the mark spot on for the look and feel of 1972 throughout - I was barely out of nursery school at the time, but my goodness this is a walk and a half down memory lane, with lashings of popular culture references that took me right back. Oh to be home in time for Hector's House once more!
If you are in any doubt about whether you could possibly love this book as much as the first one, then you really need not worry (if you haven't read the first book then get to it pronto). If anything, this is even better, totally blowing those second novel jitters right out of the water. I adored it!
Evie now has to rethink the direction of her life, and she is completely unprepared. There are just so many choices, and she's not sure if any of them are right for a 26-and-a-half-year-old cosmopolitan city swinger such as herself? And that's another problem, how did she get to be this age without having found Mr Right? She's surely in danger of being left on the shelf at this rate, but so far none of her prospective suitors are up to the mark. As the 70s get underway, it's time for Evie to reassess and discover exactly what she wants from life...
I absolutely loved The Miseducation of Evie Epworth, so it was super exciting to be able to catch up with Evie ten years on from when she set off to London as an adventurous sixteen-year-old, full of hopes and dreams about the future. In many ways this is a much more sophisticated Evie, fully versed in the ways of city life, and she has had a great time making the most of the opportunities the 60s have brought her, but she still carries Yorkshire in her heart.
It is time for Evie to hold on to her strappy Biba sandals while she navigates a whole new set of challenges in the next stage of her 'coming of age story', and Matson Taylor contrives plenty of humorous and heart-string-plucking situations to carry you along from chuckle-fest beginning to gorgeous tear-jerker ending. He finds plenty to make you think too, especially in the really rather profound way Evie recognises that the 70s might actually belong to the generation coming along behind her.
There are three threads to this story that serve to hit you full on in the feels: Evie's trials and tribulations in 1972; a really poignant story-line around the lovely Mrs Scott-Pym in 1971; and an intriguing look back to the 1950s from the point of view of a character who is not immediately obvious, but who comes into focus later. The three threads weave beautifully together, colliding with heart-wrenching force as the story progresses, and the moments when they touch had me shedding bucket loads of tears. Matson knows exactly how to set the pace perfectly for every moment, slowing things down for a full-on emotional pummelling one minute, and then upping it for a mood-lightening slapstick comedy sketch the next, bringing everything together in one joyous mix that creates absolute gold. Worth a special mention are the boyfriend 'Top Trumps' cards spread throughout the text, which give an amusing, and often tragic, glimpse of Evie's romantic history.
Expect glorious characters, with faces you are very familiar with from the first book (Mrs Swithenbank, how I love you), and some cracking new ones to both love and hate in equal measure - Lolo and Geneviève on the love side, and the truly horrendous, multi-tasselled Griffin on the 'I really hope she gets what's coming to her' other one. And, that young slip of a lad Matson surely has some sort of time travel machine packed away in his leatherette briefcase, because he hits the mark spot on for the look and feel of 1972 throughout - I was barely out of nursery school at the time, but my goodness this is a walk and a half down memory lane, with lashings of popular culture references that took me right back. Oh to be home in time for Hector's House once more!
If you are in any doubt about whether you could possibly love this book as much as the first one, then you really need not worry (if you haven't read the first book then get to it pronto). If anything, this is even better, totally blowing those second novel jitters right out of the water. I adored it!
August 15, 2022
I’d like to thank Novel Natters for not only introducing me to Evie but for also getting me a signed copy of this book! I listened to the audio of The miseducation Of Evie Epworth and loved it so I was keen to see where Evie’s journey led to next.
This sequel was everything I wanted it to be and so much more. I switched between listening to the audio version and reading my lovely copy because I needed Evie in my life constantly. Unfortunately normal adult life called so I had to hit pause a couple of times to look after the children otherwise this book could of easily been consumed in one sitting.
What I love about Evie is she is funny, vibrant and full of life. Even when she gets a knockback, like the Princess Anne incident, she doesn’t wallow in it. Instead she picks herself up and goes out to find the next thing she can accomplish. It’s not someone else’s fault if life doesn’t work out how she planned and if she’s in the wrong you can guarantee that she will own up to it. It’s characteristics like this that make a character so loveable. I think my new mantra will be “What would Evie do?”
If for someone unfounded reason that Evie isn’t rocking your boat then there’s a whole host of characters to brighten your day. From the fashionista Genevieve, to powerhouse due Caroline and Digby and not forgetting sweet Lolo it is impossible not to find yourself grinning from ear to ear whilst reading this one.
Just like the first book this one is a ray of sunshine that will most definitely leave you feeling full of love, hope and a little bit tearful. I really hope we get another instalment of Evie, she’s become the cornerstone to my fictional world!
This sequel was everything I wanted it to be and so much more. I switched between listening to the audio version and reading my lovely copy because I needed Evie in my life constantly. Unfortunately normal adult life called so I had to hit pause a couple of times to look after the children otherwise this book could of easily been consumed in one sitting.
What I love about Evie is she is funny, vibrant and full of life. Even when she gets a knockback, like the Princess Anne incident, she doesn’t wallow in it. Instead she picks herself up and goes out to find the next thing she can accomplish. It’s not someone else’s fault if life doesn’t work out how she planned and if she’s in the wrong you can guarantee that she will own up to it. It’s characteristics like this that make a character so loveable. I think my new mantra will be “What would Evie do?”
If for someone unfounded reason that Evie isn’t rocking your boat then there’s a whole host of characters to brighten your day. From the fashionista Genevieve, to powerhouse due Caroline and Digby and not forgetting sweet Lolo it is impossible not to find yourself grinning from ear to ear whilst reading this one.
Just like the first book this one is a ray of sunshine that will most definitely leave you feeling full of love, hope and a little bit tearful. I really hope we get another instalment of Evie, she’s become the cornerstone to my fictional world!
August 28, 2024
All About Evie is another wonderfully nostalgic read from Matson Taylor. It’s set in the early 1970s and even if you are too young to remember this time, he has created a wonderful sense of the era with fashions, music, news and even food all mentioned.
I really enjoyed the sections of the book called ‘Interludes’ where we meet some of the other characters at significant points of their lives which feed then into Evie’s story. In one of the early interludes, I was amused to see a mention of the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary at Lauriston Place. I’ve recently spent a lot of time there as the revamped building is the new home for the Edinburgh International Book Festival. It seemed apt that it popped up in the very book I was reading on my way to and from the festival!
Evie is a wonderful character and her enthusiasm and cheerful exuberance makes her so easy to like. She is far from her home on a Yorkshire farm and embracing all the opportunities that 1970s London has to offer a young woman. I love Evie’s optimistic approach to life. This is such a funny book with some proper laugh out loud moments, and yes I am thinking about the Hornsea Pottery mug incident and inflatable dresses too. There are some fantastic characters in the book, some of whom we’ve met before, and I particularly liked young Genevieve and reading about how she and Evie became firm friends.
Of course, with Evie being that bit older now, love is on the horizon but Evie in her innocence perhaps doesn’t recognise it. It was fun as a reader knowing just who Evie should be with and hoping that she would come to realise it too.
All About Evie is a joyful read and if you are looking for an amusing and uplifting book you could do worse than spend some time in Evie’s company. I would certainly be happy to follow her on her adventures should Matson Taylor decide to write another Evie novel.
I really enjoyed the sections of the book called ‘Interludes’ where we meet some of the other characters at significant points of their lives which feed then into Evie’s story. In one of the early interludes, I was amused to see a mention of the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary at Lauriston Place. I’ve recently spent a lot of time there as the revamped building is the new home for the Edinburgh International Book Festival. It seemed apt that it popped up in the very book I was reading on my way to and from the festival!
Evie is a wonderful character and her enthusiasm and cheerful exuberance makes her so easy to like. She is far from her home on a Yorkshire farm and embracing all the opportunities that 1970s London has to offer a young woman. I love Evie’s optimistic approach to life. This is such a funny book with some proper laugh out loud moments, and yes I am thinking about the Hornsea Pottery mug incident and inflatable dresses too. There are some fantastic characters in the book, some of whom we’ve met before, and I particularly liked young Genevieve and reading about how she and Evie became firm friends.
Of course, with Evie being that bit older now, love is on the horizon but Evie in her innocence perhaps doesn’t recognise it. It was fun as a reader knowing just who Evie should be with and hoping that she would come to realise it too.
All About Evie is a joyful read and if you are looking for an amusing and uplifting book you could do worse than spend some time in Evie’s company. I would certainly be happy to follow her on her adventures should Matson Taylor decide to write another Evie novel.
August 6, 2022
5 stars
Set in 1972 Evie Hepworth is settled in London working as a production assistant for BBC Radio. Everything seems to be all she has wished for but once incident changes everything and she has to rethink her career.
I absolutely loved meeting a grown up Evie who still has her quirky personality so is loveable. In this book she still has links to her past as Caroline Scott-Pym is her friend. We also have other timelines which weave within the story so well one of whose is Mrs Scott-Pym, Caroline’s mother who was Evie’s second mum in the last book. I can safely say this book made me laugh and cry in the right measures. If you like light and fun books set in the late sixties or early seventies then this is perfect.
Set in 1972 Evie Hepworth is settled in London working as a production assistant for BBC Radio. Everything seems to be all she has wished for but once incident changes everything and she has to rethink her career.
I absolutely loved meeting a grown up Evie who still has her quirky personality so is loveable. In this book she still has links to her past as Caroline Scott-Pym is her friend. We also have other timelines which weave within the story so well one of whose is Mrs Scott-Pym, Caroline’s mother who was Evie’s second mum in the last book. I can safely say this book made me laugh and cry in the right measures. If you like light and fun books set in the late sixties or early seventies then this is perfect.
April 9, 2023
The difficult second book and a sequel to boot. Matson pulls it off with style. We say a find goodbye to one beloved character and hello to several new, equally loveable cast members as Evie tries a change of career or two, provides sanctuary to the fashion-victim niece of the indomitable Mrs Swithenbank and takes opera appreciation lessons from a kindly Radio 3 producer. There's always extra marks for books effective enough to make me cry...and cry (and of course laugh) I did. Evie Epworth is a wonderful creation and I can't wait to see what's next.
April 27, 2023
Had to stop this one for now.
I didn’t feel it.
I didn’t feel it.
June 3, 2023
Fun book! Lots of 70s English references that went over my head, otherwise really enjoyed it.
June 8, 2023
3.5 stars rounded down.
November 20, 2024
I quite liked this follow up but just felt there was something missing from it that the first book had. I did like the characters though and I liked the time period in which it was set.
November 27, 2024
This was very cute and wholesome with a touch of cheekiness and sadness.
March 17, 2023
A really enjoyable read, I thought it was definitely better than the first. I loved seeing what the characters were up to 10 years on and although largely set in London, I loved the nods to Yorkshire every so often. Matson Taylor's writing style is so like Nina Stibbe which I love.
April 28, 2024
Thoroughly enjoyed this easy read was a joy to escape into the world of the seventies! However did find the male chauvinism hard to stomach but that was the way of the world in that era!
July 7, 2022
I absolutely loved The Miseducation of Evie Epworth and I read it in a couple of sittings so was interested to see if this was as enjoyable.
Evie had done a lot of growing up since we last saw her, she’s also kissed a lot of frogs in trying to find her Prince.
Evie is an absolute gem of a character, she is so full of love, warmth and aspiration. I’d have love to have a friend like Evie, or in fact been more like Evie growing up. She just has this overall ‘cool girl’ vibe that you can’t help but to be envious of.
I loved the interludes from Mrs Scott-Pymm and Digby they added a real depth to the story, it was!!
It was also great to see more of Caroline and Digby in this story as they were in the first book towards the end, as well as the introduction of Genevieve.
All in all this is a fabulous story about friendship, love and relationships.
Evie had done a lot of growing up since we last saw her, she’s also kissed a lot of frogs in trying to find her Prince.
Evie is an absolute gem of a character, she is so full of love, warmth and aspiration. I’d have love to have a friend like Evie, or in fact been more like Evie growing up. She just has this overall ‘cool girl’ vibe that you can’t help but to be envious of.
I loved the interludes from Mrs Scott-Pymm and Digby they added a real depth to the story, it was!!
It was also great to see more of Caroline and Digby in this story as they were in the first book towards the end, as well as the introduction of Genevieve.
All in all this is a fabulous story about friendship, love and relationships.
June 23, 2024
Loved this book.
September 30, 2022
I absolutely loved The Miseducation of Evie Epworth and I was so excited to get stuck into this follow up. I was not disappointed.
The trademark humour from Matson's first book was here and it made it a delight to read. The strength of character development, in not only Evie but in many of the supporting characters, really contributed to my investment in their stories and what happened to them.
I loved the historical details and the real sense of place and time.
I do hope that there is another one on the way...
The trademark humour from Matson's first book was here and it made it a delight to read. The strength of character development, in not only Evie but in many of the supporting characters, really contributed to my investment in their stories and what happened to them.
I loved the historical details and the real sense of place and time.
I do hope that there is another one on the way...
April 12, 2023
I'm sorry to give this book a 1 star review especially because I had really enjoyed the first book in the Evie series and had been excited to start this one.
The charm of the original book is still there, the characters are well rounded and their personalities have transferred well to the second installment, it was easy to pick back up with the characters despite it being 2 years since I had read the first book. The Author has a real talent for description and painting a vivid picture of the scenes he is describing, this book is set in 1970's London and the presentation of this time period is done really well, however it is perhaps a little heavy on the name-dropping of references to 1970's cultural items at times.
I struggled with this book, nothing really happened within the storyline and as the book is nearly 400 pages long there was not any where near enough of a plotline for it to plod along nicely. I also did not see much point to the interludes and I thought they interrupted the flow of the main book and at times it was difficult to place who's story was being dealt with. The excellent description of the UK in the 1970's forms the main bulk of the story and where there were minor plotlines I found them unrealistic or frustrating.
(Please note - SPOILERS TO FOLLOW) The initial plotline involving Princess Margaret and the mug was far-fetched but was tolerable if it was going to provide a motivation for the rest of the plotline which I thought would be a tale of Evie rebuilding her life following her dismissal from the BBC and I think that is what the book set out to be but it lacked the emotional punch to be inspirational. In my opinion the later storylines were annoying, Evie had been established as a strong, independent character for the entirety of both books only for her story to end with a very basic happy-ever-after love story. However I would have given the book 2 stars if it hadn't been for the final plotline involving Caroline and Digby; it was established within the book that Caroline had always been adamant that she was not maternal and did not wish to have children only for her to seemingly change her mind to provide her and Digby with a happy ending. The reason given for her changing her lifelong opinion on this being that she spent the evening in the company of a 16 year old girl was also unbelievable. I found it frustrating as it plays in to the idea that women are only truly happy when they are Mother's rather than as individuals themselves when up until this point in the book Caroline and Digby had been seemingly happy as their own family unit with hobbies, a social life and successful careers.
I'm sorry that I didn't like this book because I really wanted to and thought the character of Evie was brilliant in the first book, I have read other reviews of this book and it seems as though my opinion is very much in the minority so maybe give it a go and judge it for yourself.
The charm of the original book is still there, the characters are well rounded and their personalities have transferred well to the second installment, it was easy to pick back up with the characters despite it being 2 years since I had read the first book. The Author has a real talent for description and painting a vivid picture of the scenes he is describing, this book is set in 1970's London and the presentation of this time period is done really well, however it is perhaps a little heavy on the name-dropping of references to 1970's cultural items at times.
I struggled with this book, nothing really happened within the storyline and as the book is nearly 400 pages long there was not any where near enough of a plotline for it to plod along nicely. I also did not see much point to the interludes and I thought they interrupted the flow of the main book and at times it was difficult to place who's story was being dealt with. The excellent description of the UK in the 1970's forms the main bulk of the story and where there were minor plotlines I found them unrealistic or frustrating.
(Please note - SPOILERS TO FOLLOW) The initial plotline involving Princess Margaret and the mug was far-fetched but was tolerable if it was going to provide a motivation for the rest of the plotline which I thought would be a tale of Evie rebuilding her life following her dismissal from the BBC and I think that is what the book set out to be but it lacked the emotional punch to be inspirational. In my opinion the later storylines were annoying, Evie had been established as a strong, independent character for the entirety of both books only for her story to end with a very basic happy-ever-after love story. However I would have given the book 2 stars if it hadn't been for the final plotline involving Caroline and Digby; it was established within the book that Caroline had always been adamant that she was not maternal and did not wish to have children only for her to seemingly change her mind to provide her and Digby with a happy ending. The reason given for her changing her lifelong opinion on this being that she spent the evening in the company of a 16 year old girl was also unbelievable. I found it frustrating as it plays in to the idea that women are only truly happy when they are Mother's rather than as individuals themselves when up until this point in the book Caroline and Digby had been seemingly happy as their own family unit with hobbies, a social life and successful careers.
I'm sorry that I didn't like this book because I really wanted to and thought the character of Evie was brilliant in the first book, I have read other reviews of this book and it seems as though my opinion is very much in the minority so maybe give it a go and judge it for yourself.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews