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Finding Edith Pinsent
Two women. Two Timelines. One heart-wrenching story.
Open your arms, touch the sky, and think of me.
Now that Netta Wilde’s life is fixed, she turns her attention to the houseful of journals left by the late Edith Pinsent.
Starting with a wide-eyed young WAAF in wartime Britain and ending with an eccentric old spinster, alone with her memories, Edith’s story begins to piece together.
But the path to discovery is not easy.
There are missing diaries to contend with, hidden clues to uncover and revelations that turn everything on its head. Revelations that make Netta question just how fixed her life really is.
Soon, the need to revisit her own past proves too strong. Now, Netta has two challenges on her hands. One to find the true Edith Pinsent. The other to face the two people who once meant everything to her. Neither seem to be going the way she’d expected.
As the challenges intertwine, one thing becomes clear. Edith had a purpose for Netta. One that she must fulfil.
Bit by bit, the house yields a lifetime of secrets and the real Edith Pinsent begins to emerge.
But will it be the Edith everyone thought they knew?
Open your arms, touch the sky, and think of me.
Now that Netta Wilde’s life is fixed, she turns her attention to the houseful of journals left by the late Edith Pinsent.
Starting with a wide-eyed young WAAF in wartime Britain and ending with an eccentric old spinster, alone with her memories, Edith’s story begins to piece together.
But the path to discovery is not easy.
There are missing diaries to contend with, hidden clues to uncover and revelations that turn everything on its head. Revelations that make Netta question just how fixed her life really is.
Soon, the need to revisit her own past proves too strong. Now, Netta has two challenges on her hands. One to find the true Edith Pinsent. The other to face the two people who once meant everything to her. Neither seem to be going the way she’d expected.
As the challenges intertwine, one thing becomes clear. Edith had a purpose for Netta. One that she must fulfil.
Bit by bit, the house yields a lifetime of secrets and the real Edith Pinsent begins to emerge.
But will it be the Edith everyone thought they knew?
397 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 10, 2022
58 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Hazel Ward
5 books27 followersHazel writes thoughtful, uplifting fiction with a splash of humour thrown in. Whether it's about the present day or the past, it’s always contemporary and realistic.
Her stories are about ordinary people being generally marvellous, extraordinary, and less than perfect. She has a particular fondness for characters her readers can see in themselves in.
If you’d like to know more about Hazel and what she's working on you can join Hazel's Readers' Club at:
https://hazelwardauthor.com/readers-c...
As a member of her Readers' Club you'll receive a monthly newsletter and exclusive material, including a free book.
You can also follow Hazel in all of the usual places:
https://www.facebook.com/hazelwardauthor
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Her stories are about ordinary people being generally marvellous, extraordinary, and less than perfect. She has a particular fondness for characters her readers can see in themselves in.
If you’d like to know more about Hazel and what she's working on you can join Hazel's Readers' Club at:
https://hazelwardauthor.com/readers-c...
As a member of her Readers' Club you'll receive a monthly newsletter and exclusive material, including a free book.
You can also follow Hazel in all of the usual places:
https://www.facebook.com/hazelwardauthor
https://twitter.com/hazelward
https://www.instagram.com/hazel.ward
www.tiktok.com/@hazelwardauthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
May 21, 2022
I really enjoyed this second book in the series. I loved the way it has moved in from the first one. The beginning unsettled me at first but, then I really got into it. I love Netta she’s such a character and very down to earth. I could picture the piles of stuff in Edith’s home and how things got sorts out. A great follow on from the first book.
January 21, 2022
This is a sequel where you definitely need to have understood Netta’s history in the first novel before you embark on Edith’s story. Carrying on just where we left off, readers get the opportunity to find out about the woman who has been haunting Netta since moving into her old house. With stacks of journals to tackle, this soon becomes a rather emotional task for Netta, who soon realises that the two women have more in common than just bricks and mortar.
As you would expect, this book switches from present day with Netta’s narrative, to the past of Edith Pinsent. Netta does not dominate the story and I was surprised at how little she features in this book. However, I think the writer has found the right balance because I was more interested in Edith and her past. Starting in the middle of the Second World War, readers learn how Edith was able to help her country and find love at the same time. Yet, her story is a complicated one that is determined by social expectations at the time, and this is where I found the narrative most emotional.
Despite Edith presenting herself as a strong character, it soon becomes evident that her heart is a tangled mess. Effected by the war in so many ways, Edith turns to her close friend, Mina, for support. However, Edith’s other friends believe that Mina has ulterior motives, ones that the reader only see when Edith experiences them. It it difficult to not sympathise with the protagonist as she navigates her way through life, only finding herself back at home with her parents in supporting them and her brother’s family.
I was surprised at how little the war featured in the story, but had to remind myself that this was not the genre of the novel: Edith’s life spans many decades and, whilst the conflict had a massive impact on her life, so did the years following. I yearned for Edith to find happiness and closure; her loneliness is significant and one of the things that connects her to Nettie.
As the story progresses, I was interested to see how many parallels develop between the two women. From reading Edith’s journals, Nettie realises she also has ‘unfinished business’ from her past that needs more definite closure. This provokes Nettie on a journey herself, although it is not as life-changing as from the first book.
Characters from the first book feature again as supporting characters and I was pleased to see that Nettie’s immediate family seem to have made a change for the better! The family situation appears to have mellowed out a lot and this is reflected in Nettie’s attitude towards life. On the other hand, I think I was yearning for a bit more from Neil and Nettie’s friends, particularly as the previous story finished on the successful jam-making business.
This book was an emotional yet gentle drama and one that absorbed me from the beginning. Ward’s writing develops the characters in such depth that it felt like I was reading about a friend. I could not have anticipated the plot direction and think this made the story even more enjoyable. With a third book due to be released later in the year, I can’t wait to see what Ward writes next.
With thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
As you would expect, this book switches from present day with Netta’s narrative, to the past of Edith Pinsent. Netta does not dominate the story and I was surprised at how little she features in this book. However, I think the writer has found the right balance because I was more interested in Edith and her past. Starting in the middle of the Second World War, readers learn how Edith was able to help her country and find love at the same time. Yet, her story is a complicated one that is determined by social expectations at the time, and this is where I found the narrative most emotional.
Despite Edith presenting herself as a strong character, it soon becomes evident that her heart is a tangled mess. Effected by the war in so many ways, Edith turns to her close friend, Mina, for support. However, Edith’s other friends believe that Mina has ulterior motives, ones that the reader only see when Edith experiences them. It it difficult to not sympathise with the protagonist as she navigates her way through life, only finding herself back at home with her parents in supporting them and her brother’s family.
I was surprised at how little the war featured in the story, but had to remind myself that this was not the genre of the novel: Edith’s life spans many decades and, whilst the conflict had a massive impact on her life, so did the years following. I yearned for Edith to find happiness and closure; her loneliness is significant and one of the things that connects her to Nettie.
As the story progresses, I was interested to see how many parallels develop between the two women. From reading Edith’s journals, Nettie realises she also has ‘unfinished business’ from her past that needs more definite closure. This provokes Nettie on a journey herself, although it is not as life-changing as from the first book.
Characters from the first book feature again as supporting characters and I was pleased to see that Nettie’s immediate family seem to have made a change for the better! The family situation appears to have mellowed out a lot and this is reflected in Nettie’s attitude towards life. On the other hand, I think I was yearning for a bit more from Neil and Nettie’s friends, particularly as the previous story finished on the successful jam-making business.
This book was an emotional yet gentle drama and one that absorbed me from the beginning. Ward’s writing develops the characters in such depth that it felt like I was reading about a friend. I could not have anticipated the plot direction and think this made the story even more enjoyable. With a third book due to be released later in the year, I can’t wait to see what Ward writes next.
With thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 25, 2022
Once again, I jumped headfirst into a series, uncaring of the previous installments. To be fair, I always had such an inclination, but I thought I could control myself better in my old age, right?
Right. Anyway!
Ward is probably aware of the existence of people like me, because Finding Edith Pinsent, the second book in the Netta Wilde series, reads as a marvelous standalone. That’s worthy of a star already: not everyone is able to start a series from the beginning, or to catch up in 1-2-3. Thank you, Ms. Ward.
[Keep reading @ Bookshelves & Teacups]
Right. Anyway!
Ward is probably aware of the existence of people like me, because Finding Edith Pinsent, the second book in the Netta Wilde series, reads as a marvelous standalone. That’s worthy of a star already: not everyone is able to start a series from the beginning, or to catch up in 1-2-3. Thank you, Ms. Ward.
[Keep reading @ Bookshelves & Teacups]
January 15, 2022
Finding Edith Pinsent is the follow-up to the author’s earlier book, Being Netta Wilde. I haven’t read the first book and, although I think this would have given me a better understanding of Netta’s character, the author includes enough references to earlier events in Netta’s life to make it possible to read Finding Edith Pinsent as a standalone.
The book has a dual timeline structure with the reader witnessing events in Netta’s life in the present day (2019) whilst at the same time following her as she discovers more about Edith’s life, including why Edith (known as Edie) was so determined someone should reveal her story. Although Netta’s life and house (which was Edie’s former home) is filled with family and friends, at times she feels rather alone despite her lovely neighbour, Frank. Netta is still carrying some emotional baggage from previous relationships and is pondering on her future.
As Netta reads Edie’s journals she begins to feel a connection with her; that, in a way, she and Edie are ‘kindred spirits’ because of what they have both experienced. Indeed, as the book progresses, more and more parallels between the two women’s experiences become apparent. As Netta reflects, ‘Their stories were different but the themes were the same. Love, loss, grief and shame.’
Although I found myself becoming more engaged with Netta’s story as the book went on, the heart of the book – at least for me – was Edie’s story. It’s a story of gaining independence, experiencing first love and, like so many others during wartime, suffering loss. The prejudice encountered by those who found themselves in the position that Edie does is vividly described and I found Edie’s ostracism by her family and her struggle to cope alone heart-breaking. Edie comes across as a person with a great capacity for love, with an open heart and a trusting nature. At times this makes her vulnerable. As a result, she suffers disappointment when she discovers others do not feel as deeply or as sincerely as she does. As a result she finds herself separated from those she loves the most and searching for some meaning in her life in other ways.
By the end of the book it’s clear there was much more to the old lady introduced to us in the opening chapter than we might have imagined. Indeed, to quote the title of the book’s final chapter, we discover that she did indeed lead ‘an extraordinary life’ witnessing many changes in society and its attitudes.
Finding Edith Pinsent cleverly combines two stories that, if told separately, might have appealed to different types of reader. Blending the contemporary storyline with the historical storyline provides something for everyone I think. I particularly admired the author’s ability to create characters who, despite their flaws and sometimes dubious decisions, you really grow to care about.
The book has a dual timeline structure with the reader witnessing events in Netta’s life in the present day (2019) whilst at the same time following her as she discovers more about Edith’s life, including why Edith (known as Edie) was so determined someone should reveal her story. Although Netta’s life and house (which was Edie’s former home) is filled with family and friends, at times she feels rather alone despite her lovely neighbour, Frank. Netta is still carrying some emotional baggage from previous relationships and is pondering on her future.
As Netta reads Edie’s journals she begins to feel a connection with her; that, in a way, she and Edie are ‘kindred spirits’ because of what they have both experienced. Indeed, as the book progresses, more and more parallels between the two women’s experiences become apparent. As Netta reflects, ‘Their stories were different but the themes were the same. Love, loss, grief and shame.’
Although I found myself becoming more engaged with Netta’s story as the book went on, the heart of the book – at least for me – was Edie’s story. It’s a story of gaining independence, experiencing first love and, like so many others during wartime, suffering loss. The prejudice encountered by those who found themselves in the position that Edie does is vividly described and I found Edie’s ostracism by her family and her struggle to cope alone heart-breaking. Edie comes across as a person with a great capacity for love, with an open heart and a trusting nature. At times this makes her vulnerable. As a result, she suffers disappointment when she discovers others do not feel as deeply or as sincerely as she does. As a result she finds herself separated from those she loves the most and searching for some meaning in her life in other ways.
By the end of the book it’s clear there was much more to the old lady introduced to us in the opening chapter than we might have imagined. Indeed, to quote the title of the book’s final chapter, we discover that she did indeed lead ‘an extraordinary life’ witnessing many changes in society and its attitudes.
Finding Edith Pinsent cleverly combines two stories that, if told separately, might have appealed to different types of reader. Blending the contemporary storyline with the historical storyline provides something for everyone I think. I particularly admired the author’s ability to create characters who, despite their flaws and sometimes dubious decisions, you really grow to care about.
January 18, 2022
This is the first book I have read by Hazel Ward, I did enjoy it I loved her way with words, Ward’s writing is like a dream to read it’s insightful and emotional, you just fall into the story. I did find that I was more drawn to Edith’s side of the story than I did Netta’s.
I didn’t realise that this was a part of a series of book two in fact – as I hadn’t read the first book I did feel a little disjointed with this book, I felt as though I have missed out on crucial parts of Netta’s story, I do like how the author gives little nods to events which I presume happened in the first book, but I do think that this series has to be read in order to fully understand Netta’s history.
Also, I think because I hadn’t read the previous book; Being Netta Wilde I did find myself engaging more with Edith’s part of the story than I did Netta’s whether that is because I had missed out on her story so couldn’t connect as easily with her, or may Edith was far more interesting? Who knows!
This is a dual timeline story, part set in the present where we follow Netta she is delving into Edith’s life through her journal and notebooks which she has found. Netta feels that Edith’s story needs to be revealed and shared. The second part is set in WW2 and the early fifties where we follow Edith as she struggles with the drama she must face. There is a real connection between the two women, they both have seen and experienced hardship to then go to find happiness later in life, there is an intertwining thread of love and sadness which connect the two stories together.
The opening of the book is so emotional and quite unique we are saying goodbye to a character and then later in the story we have then introduced to her again. I felt a real connection with Edith, like Netta we get to know this lovely woman through her journals. Edith is such a gentle soul, full of love and compassion, but with everyone who feels things deeply she is destined to be hurt, watching her struggle and find he place in the world is very emotional, it definetly pulls at the heart-strings.
Despite my initial reservations, about feeling as though I had missed out on something crucial in regards to Netta I did enjoy this book, it’s heartbreaking as well as heart-warming. The writing is clear and precise and the story flows with real ease.
Overall, Finding Edith Pinsent is a story of friendship, hope, love, and losses, it will charm you and warm your heart.
I didn’t realise that this was a part of a series of book two in fact – as I hadn’t read the first book I did feel a little disjointed with this book, I felt as though I have missed out on crucial parts of Netta’s story, I do like how the author gives little nods to events which I presume happened in the first book, but I do think that this series has to be read in order to fully understand Netta’s history.
Also, I think because I hadn’t read the previous book; Being Netta Wilde I did find myself engaging more with Edith’s part of the story than I did Netta’s whether that is because I had missed out on her story so couldn’t connect as easily with her, or may Edith was far more interesting? Who knows!
This is a dual timeline story, part set in the present where we follow Netta she is delving into Edith’s life through her journal and notebooks which she has found. Netta feels that Edith’s story needs to be revealed and shared. The second part is set in WW2 and the early fifties where we follow Edith as she struggles with the drama she must face. There is a real connection between the two women, they both have seen and experienced hardship to then go to find happiness later in life, there is an intertwining thread of love and sadness which connect the two stories together.
The opening of the book is so emotional and quite unique we are saying goodbye to a character and then later in the story we have then introduced to her again. I felt a real connection with Edith, like Netta we get to know this lovely woman through her journals. Edith is such a gentle soul, full of love and compassion, but with everyone who feels things deeply she is destined to be hurt, watching her struggle and find he place in the world is very emotional, it definetly pulls at the heart-strings.
Despite my initial reservations, about feeling as though I had missed out on something crucial in regards to Netta I did enjoy this book, it’s heartbreaking as well as heart-warming. The writing is clear and precise and the story flows with real ease.
Overall, Finding Edith Pinsent is a story of friendship, hope, love, and losses, it will charm you and warm your heart.
January 16, 2022
The book opens with Edith (Edie) Pinsent’s final day on Earth in 2017. Then Netta Wilde’s story takes over, two years later. She is now living in Edie’s old house, but was only allowed to buy it if she followed some rules previously set by Edie. Netta had to look after Edie’s dog Maud and clear out the house personally, sorting through Edie’s possessions and reading her journals.
The book goes between the two women’s stories, so some chapters are in Netta’s present day (2019) and others are from Edie’s perspective over the years. This is well done and means the reader learns about Edie the same time as Netta does, finding out her story from Edie’s old diaries. The chapters are clearly labelled with whose story it is and which year, so it is easy to understand what’s going on.
It was great to have the main character someone of my age – well, Netta’s 51 and I’m 52, but close enough. I do sometimes find it hard to relate to twenty-somethings in books, who are most worried about their make up running. She is divorced and has two grown up kids and has gone through some difficult times.
There are many wonderful characters in both parts of the story. Edie is so realistic, you will fall in love with her. I loved Dolly’s appearance in Netta’s story too, a really beautiful little cameo.
The dogs are great too. I’m a sucker for having some lovely pets in a novel and the dogs are quite often scene stealers in this one.
The book is so beautifully told and heart-warming, you will be rooting for both Edie and Netta and turning the pages to find out what happens to them. Edie’s story is especially involving, because it includes the Second World War and the 1950s and you really get a feel for the time, as well as the hardships and heartbreak those eras brought, especially for women.
Hazel Ward’s writing is sensitive, emotional and beautiful. She draws you in and you stay there with bated breath, following the characters as they journey along their paths.
9 out of 10
The book goes between the two women’s stories, so some chapters are in Netta’s present day (2019) and others are from Edie’s perspective over the years. This is well done and means the reader learns about Edie the same time as Netta does, finding out her story from Edie’s old diaries. The chapters are clearly labelled with whose story it is and which year, so it is easy to understand what’s going on.
It was great to have the main character someone of my age – well, Netta’s 51 and I’m 52, but close enough. I do sometimes find it hard to relate to twenty-somethings in books, who are most worried about their make up running. She is divorced and has two grown up kids and has gone through some difficult times.
There are many wonderful characters in both parts of the story. Edie is so realistic, you will fall in love with her. I loved Dolly’s appearance in Netta’s story too, a really beautiful little cameo.
The dogs are great too. I’m a sucker for having some lovely pets in a novel and the dogs are quite often scene stealers in this one.
The book is so beautifully told and heart-warming, you will be rooting for both Edie and Netta and turning the pages to find out what happens to them. Edie’s story is especially involving, because it includes the Second World War and the 1950s and you really get a feel for the time, as well as the hardships and heartbreak those eras brought, especially for women.
Hazel Ward’s writing is sensitive, emotional and beautiful. She draws you in and you stay there with bated breath, following the characters as they journey along their paths.
9 out of 10
January 20, 2022
I enjoyed reading Being Netta Wilde last year so was really looking forward to the next book and catching up with Netta. I think this book would work well as a standalone title but I am glad I had read the first so I had a bit of a background on Netta.
Netta has moved into Ediths house and is now following her wishes and working her way through her belongings - including her diaries. The book is set in two timelines - alternating between Netta and Edith and I really enjoyed this aspect of the book.
The story is bittersweet - both sad and enchanting in equal measure. Really got into the characters and their stories - didn't want to put it down.
Really hope there is a third book.
Netta has moved into Ediths house and is now following her wishes and working her way through her belongings - including her diaries. The book is set in two timelines - alternating between Netta and Edith and I really enjoyed this aspect of the book.
The story is bittersweet - both sad and enchanting in equal measure. Really got into the characters and their stories - didn't want to put it down.
Really hope there is a third book.
January 14, 2022
This is the second book in the Netta’s World’ series. Netta has been asked to go through Edith Pinsent’s diaries and belongings, Edith being the previous owner of Netta’s house. All sorts of secrets are uncovered whilst, at the same time, Netta is dealing with all the worries and challenges in her own life.
I loved Finding Netta Wilde so I was looking forward to reading Finding Edith Pinsent. It didn’t disappoint! I thought it was a fabulous read. It’s full of likeable characters and it was great to revisit some I’d already met. Edith’s diaries take the reader back to the days of WWII which I thought was very realistically written and gave a good insight into the world at that time. The two timelines sometimes resonate with each other for Netta, making her think about her own life. It’s quite an emotional story full of secrets and the trials and tribulations of being human. Well, that‘s life! So, open your arms, close your eyes and taste the sky as Edith says. A wonderful, inspiring and captivating read.
I loved Finding Netta Wilde so I was looking forward to reading Finding Edith Pinsent. It didn’t disappoint! I thought it was a fabulous read. It’s full of likeable characters and it was great to revisit some I’d already met. Edith’s diaries take the reader back to the days of WWII which I thought was very realistically written and gave a good insight into the world at that time. The two timelines sometimes resonate with each other for Netta, making her think about her own life. It’s quite an emotional story full of secrets and the trials and tribulations of being human. Well, that‘s life! So, open your arms, close your eyes and taste the sky as Edith says. A wonderful, inspiring and captivating read.
December 13, 2021
This is book 2 of a series which was a mistake on my part as I did not realise this when I put myself forward to review this as an ARC. I was at a loss when it came to Nettas backstory as this book does follow on however, I got the general idea of what she has been through and is dealing with. My favourite part of this book was definitely the chapters of Edith’s story and the insights from her diaries through the years and her time working through the war and her love and friendships along the way. It was a sweet book but I feel I should now read the first to really get a better insight into Nettas character as I felt a preference to Edith in this one she is a fabulous character!
Thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review this book.
#blogtour
Thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review this book.
#blogtour
December 27, 2021
I’ve loved reading this book as much as the previous one. The storyline was so compelling and set around my hometown. I felt as if I’d met a kindred spirit
December 10, 2021
Netta Wilde has now moved into Edies house and is following her wishes by going through her belongings, part of which are her diaries. Alternate chapters give us Edies story back in the war era when she worked as a plotter and how she met her husband. Netta is waiting for her business set up to be approved which gives her a little time to sort things out. As she goes through Edies life she is reminded of some of her own doings in the past and reflects on them.
This is the second book in a series- Being Netta Wilde being the first one ( 5* from me) and would be preferable to be read before this one. I really enjoyed this. I found the two timelines intriguing and loved both Edie and Netta. There was a depth and a warmth. We have all had our ups and downs, some more than others and reading of someone's tenacity and determination can be inspiring.
Go taste the stars (if you know, you know) sit back and enjoy this wonderful read. Its one to go through the emotions and perhaps make you ponder on your own life a little. Highly enjoyable.
This is the second book in a series- Being Netta Wilde being the first one ( 5* from me) and would be preferable to be read before this one. I really enjoyed this. I found the two timelines intriguing and loved both Edie and Netta. There was a depth and a warmth. We have all had our ups and downs, some more than others and reading of someone's tenacity and determination can be inspiring.
Go taste the stars (if you know, you know) sit back and enjoy this wonderful read. Its one to go through the emotions and perhaps make you ponder on your own life a little. Highly enjoyable.
January 10, 2022
Bittersweet, enchanting and utterly immersive, I absolutely loved this book. The characters are screamingly real to me, honest, vulnerable and brilliantly created, layer upon layer. It is a real comment on the ups and downs of life, chance encounters, the rough course that true love often takes and enduring friendships and loyalties.
The parts of the story during wartime were fascinating and an excellent insight into the unique circumstances that war thrust upon everyone and showed that it was a real leveller and sudden launch into adulthood and responsibility for the main character and her peers.
I honestly had no idea which direction the story was going in at times and as thus art imitated real life and I really felt the emotional highs and lows as they rolled in. Overall thoroughly enjoyable, a bit of a rollercoaster ride and feelgood heart warming experience. Totally recommend on many levels.
The parts of the story during wartime were fascinating and an excellent insight into the unique circumstances that war thrust upon everyone and showed that it was a real leveller and sudden launch into adulthood and responsibility for the main character and her peers.
I honestly had no idea which direction the story was going in at times and as thus art imitated real life and I really felt the emotional highs and lows as they rolled in. Overall thoroughly enjoyable, a bit of a rollercoaster ride and feelgood heart warming experience. Totally recommend on many levels.
January 19, 2022
The story:
Netta Wilde has made a promise. Living in the house formerly occupied by the late Edith Pinsent, Netta has been entrusted by Edith’s family to sort through the possessions and memories of a lifetime.
Starting with Edith’s first taste of independence when she joins the WAAF at the start of World War II, Netta gets to know a young woman taking her first steps towards a life of her own making.
Netta herself is still coming to terms with what her life is now, having recently started again after a divorce, and delving info Edith’s past brings up unresolved feelings of her own. As she uncovers the loves and losses of an extraordinary life, she becomes determined not only to see the story through, but to put right some of the mistakes from her own past. But with missing diaries, mysterious photos and unlikely twists, will she be able to find the real Edith Pinsent?
My thoughts:
At the start of “Finding Edith Pinsent” by Hazel Ward, we briefly meet the elderly Edith; alone now in what was once her family home, she knows her life is nearly over. But what kind of life was it? Jumping forward 2 years, we join Netta, determined to fulfil her promise to Edie’s great nephew and find out…
The book moves back and forth in time, as we get to know Edie via her diaries, starting in the 40s with a young woman moving away from her family for the first time; and Netta in the present, someone who has made great changes in recent times, and who feels like someone who is only just starting to live her own life.
Something I really liked about this book was that I enjoyed both of the intertwined plots equally, and was rooting for both characters to find happiness. At one point in the story Netta and her partner dance around the kitchen in elation at a part of Edie’s story, and I know how they felt! The author does a great job of making you care about both women, even though neither are perfect and certainly have regrets about some of the paths they have taken. The surprising, sometimes heartbreaking twists and turns of Edie’s life allow us to get to know her as a full person, and we are equally invested in Netta’s steps to reconnect with those she has lost over the years.
This is the second book in a series (beginning with “Being Netta Wilde”), but it works well as a standalone novel. That being said, I’ve already downloaded the first one to read soon (I’ll treat it as a prequel!), and a third entry is due at the end of this year, which I’ll look forward to.
“Finding Edith Pinsent” is a hard book to define, including drama, period detail, mystery and romance, and one I’d highly recommend to readers looking for a great heartwarming story and characters to root for!
Netta Wilde has made a promise. Living in the house formerly occupied by the late Edith Pinsent, Netta has been entrusted by Edith’s family to sort through the possessions and memories of a lifetime.
Starting with Edith’s first taste of independence when she joins the WAAF at the start of World War II, Netta gets to know a young woman taking her first steps towards a life of her own making.
Netta herself is still coming to terms with what her life is now, having recently started again after a divorce, and delving info Edith’s past brings up unresolved feelings of her own. As she uncovers the loves and losses of an extraordinary life, she becomes determined not only to see the story through, but to put right some of the mistakes from her own past. But with missing diaries, mysterious photos and unlikely twists, will she be able to find the real Edith Pinsent?
My thoughts:
At the start of “Finding Edith Pinsent” by Hazel Ward, we briefly meet the elderly Edith; alone now in what was once her family home, she knows her life is nearly over. But what kind of life was it? Jumping forward 2 years, we join Netta, determined to fulfil her promise to Edie’s great nephew and find out…
The book moves back and forth in time, as we get to know Edie via her diaries, starting in the 40s with a young woman moving away from her family for the first time; and Netta in the present, someone who has made great changes in recent times, and who feels like someone who is only just starting to live her own life.
Something I really liked about this book was that I enjoyed both of the intertwined plots equally, and was rooting for both characters to find happiness. At one point in the story Netta and her partner dance around the kitchen in elation at a part of Edie’s story, and I know how they felt! The author does a great job of making you care about both women, even though neither are perfect and certainly have regrets about some of the paths they have taken. The surprising, sometimes heartbreaking twists and turns of Edie’s life allow us to get to know her as a full person, and we are equally invested in Netta’s steps to reconnect with those she has lost over the years.
This is the second book in a series (beginning with “Being Netta Wilde”), but it works well as a standalone novel. That being said, I’ve already downloaded the first one to read soon (I’ll treat it as a prequel!), and a third entry is due at the end of this year, which I’ll look forward to.
“Finding Edith Pinsent” is a hard book to define, including drama, period detail, mystery and romance, and one I’d highly recommend to readers looking for a great heartwarming story and characters to root for!
January 20, 2022
*** four and a half stars ***
Who do we fall in love with, and why? A question no-one can really answer, least of all our two main protagonists, whose life stories criss-cross time and generations in this poignant and compelling story.
Netta Wilde, a fifty-one year old divorced mother of two, has recently purchased a house well below market value. The purchase, however, comes with several interesting and mysterious conditions attached. The previous owner, now deceased, was the popular, outgoing and somewhat eccentric ninety-something-year-old Edith Pinsent - a never-married and well-loved neighbor on the quiet street now home to Netta’s current beau, Frank.
Edith, a voracious journal keeper, has stipulated that the successful new owner of her former home must agree to take on her little dog, Maude, as well as one of her puppies, Betty. In addition, all of Edie’s personal things, in-place exactly as she left them, must be cleaned out, and the boxes and stacks of her accumulated diaries read in the process.
So begins Netta’s wondrous journey to unpack the innermost secrets, life and loves of Edie Pinsent, - a twining, touching story crossing decades, that not only winds its way into Netta’s heart, but, as gently and unassumingly as her new dog, Maud, buries its soft and furry head deep into her very soul.
As the laborious process unwinds, Netta comes to discover that Edie's life, once filled with joy and life and hope, is not immune, at the end of the day, to grief, shame and painful regret. Which is not, when you come right down to it, a life that different from the world Netta now recognizes she has found herself in, her own unfinished business laying a claim as long unrecognized as it is now unavoidable.
A fascinating and heartfelt look at the interplay of innermost lives held close, what we crave and who we cannot help but unreservedly love, and our deepest need to be seen, felt and understood - in a world stripped bare of shame and pretense.
A great big thank you to the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.
Who do we fall in love with, and why? A question no-one can really answer, least of all our two main protagonists, whose life stories criss-cross time and generations in this poignant and compelling story.
Netta Wilde, a fifty-one year old divorced mother of two, has recently purchased a house well below market value. The purchase, however, comes with several interesting and mysterious conditions attached. The previous owner, now deceased, was the popular, outgoing and somewhat eccentric ninety-something-year-old Edith Pinsent - a never-married and well-loved neighbor on the quiet street now home to Netta’s current beau, Frank.
Edith, a voracious journal keeper, has stipulated that the successful new owner of her former home must agree to take on her little dog, Maude, as well as one of her puppies, Betty. In addition, all of Edie’s personal things, in-place exactly as she left them, must be cleaned out, and the boxes and stacks of her accumulated diaries read in the process.
So begins Netta’s wondrous journey to unpack the innermost secrets, life and loves of Edie Pinsent, - a twining, touching story crossing decades, that not only winds its way into Netta’s heart, but, as gently and unassumingly as her new dog, Maud, buries its soft and furry head deep into her very soul.
As the laborious process unwinds, Netta comes to discover that Edie's life, once filled with joy and life and hope, is not immune, at the end of the day, to grief, shame and painful regret. Which is not, when you come right down to it, a life that different from the world Netta now recognizes she has found herself in, her own unfinished business laying a claim as long unrecognized as it is now unavoidable.
A fascinating and heartfelt look at the interplay of innermost lives held close, what we crave and who we cannot help but unreservedly love, and our deepest need to be seen, felt and understood - in a world stripped bare of shame and pretense.
A great big thank you to the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.
January 17, 2022
**Thank you Rachel's Random Resources, Hazel Ward, and Hope Street Press, for a gifted copy of this and a place on the recent book tour, in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. All opinions are my own.**
I was delighted to be part of this book tour after enjoying the first in the series (Being Netta Wilde). I adored Netta in that book and I adored her again in this. Although this is the second in the series, this would work as a standalone if needed.
This beautifully written story of past and present was an absolute pleasure to read. Engaging, captivating, and charming. This was an opportunity to have a deeper look into Edie's character, which made me cherish it even more. As you would expect for the elder generation, her diary entries brought many emotional revelations without being too heavy for the reader. Honest yet gentle, Hazel has the ability to create unforgettable characters who truly touch readers' hearts.
I definitely recommend this to everyone of all ages, but particularly those who have an interest in historical reads. Perhaps one to pass on to elder relatives or share some reading time together?
I was delighted to be part of this book tour after enjoying the first in the series (Being Netta Wilde). I adored Netta in that book and I adored her again in this. Although this is the second in the series, this would work as a standalone if needed.
This beautifully written story of past and present was an absolute pleasure to read. Engaging, captivating, and charming. This was an opportunity to have a deeper look into Edie's character, which made me cherish it even more. As you would expect for the elder generation, her diary entries brought many emotional revelations without being too heavy for the reader. Honest yet gentle, Hazel has the ability to create unforgettable characters who truly touch readers' hearts.
I definitely recommend this to everyone of all ages, but particularly those who have an interest in historical reads. Perhaps one to pass on to elder relatives or share some reading time together?
January 6, 2022
I absolutely adored the first book in this series so I was really thrilled to be given the opportunity to read this second installment. Yet again Hazel Ward gifted the reader a truly wonderful story with such fabulous characters who I have grown to love. Edith's story is one of wonder and it really makes you think about things within your own life. Netta and Edith are both really relatable as women and lend themselves as amazing characters in their own right.
The way that Hazel writes, takes you on their journey and I was immersed and invested from the beginning.
I cannot recommend this book enough and although if forced to pick, I would choose the first novel as my favourite, I feel wholeheartedly jealous of those who have yet to read these for the first time as I know what pleasure awaits them.
I look forward to the next!
The way that Hazel writes, takes you on their journey and I was immersed and invested from the beginning.
I cannot recommend this book enough and although if forced to pick, I would choose the first novel as my favourite, I feel wholeheartedly jealous of those who have yet to read these for the first time as I know what pleasure awaits them.
I look forward to the next!
January 13, 2022
I really enjoyed this! It's the kind of book that has you wondering about your own life! Even though this book is more about Edith's life, which I enjoyed getting a little more details into her life, I really like both of the main characters Edith and Netta! It was really easy to relate to both of them. They are just like you and me. They deal with the ups and downs of life very realistic which made this a very easy read for me! There are two different timelines but it moves between them perfectly! I wonder who the next book is going to be about! Happy reading everyone!
Thank you Rachel's Random Resources and Hazel Ward for sharing this wonderful story with me!
January 27, 2022
I read the first book in this series very quickly before embarking on the sequel and although it could be a standalone read I was glad to have had the opportunity to get all the background I needed to appreciate book two even more.
This is a story of love and loss, and the two women at the centre of the stories have much more in common across the decades than you might first expect. Netta is going through Edith's journals and mementos, revealing details about Edith's life which in turn raise questions about Netta's own life.
I didn't want it to end and I'm very happy there is going to be a third in the series l;ater this year.
This is a story of love and loss, and the two women at the centre of the stories have much more in common across the decades than you might first expect. Netta is going through Edith's journals and mementos, revealing details about Edith's life which in turn raise questions about Netta's own life.
I didn't want it to end and I'm very happy there is going to be a third in the series l;ater this year.
December 29, 2021
Netta Wilde has a task to complete.
She’s agreed to go through the late Edith Pinsent’s diaries and possessions personally. The problem is, she’s been busy sorting out her own life. But she’s in a better place now.
This is the second installment in Netta's story, but this time more is focused on Edith's life than Netta's. When Netta bought Edith's house she promised to go through Edith's belongings herself. When she does she discovers Edie's diaries which of course she must read and find out more about her life. Not much is known by Frank and Edie's nephew about Edie, and as Netta reads more she discovers Edie had a remarkable life.
I really enjoyed reading the second book in this series, and eagerly await the next.
She’s agreed to go through the late Edith Pinsent’s diaries and possessions personally. The problem is, she’s been busy sorting out her own life. But she’s in a better place now.
This is the second installment in Netta's story, but this time more is focused on Edith's life than Netta's. When Netta bought Edith's house she promised to go through Edith's belongings herself. When she does she discovers Edie's diaries which of course she must read and find out more about her life. Not much is known by Frank and Edie's nephew about Edie, and as Netta reads more she discovers Edie had a remarkable life.
I really enjoyed reading the second book in this series, and eagerly await the next.
January 30, 2022
I don’t know where to begin this review as I absolutely adored Finding Edith Pinsent, it’s beautifully written in such a clever way. This is the second book in the Netta Wilde series but can be read as a stand alone.
The chapters swap between the story of Netta in the present day & Edith from 1942 to 2017. In Edith’s will she instructed her nephew to interview prospective buyers for her house and choose the right person who could comb through her journals where she documented every detail about her life. The person would uncover many secrets along the way.
I loved finding out about the two women, although their lives had some similarities the contrast between the 1940’s and present time was captivating. Edith’s life was bright, colourful and adventurous, and a breath of fresh air, boy did she live her life to the full! She had lots of twists and turns in her life story, some of which made me laugh out loud, some that broke my heart but all of them made this book addictive.
Netta’s part in the book is just as enthralling, she is such a relatable character, and one you feel as if you’ve known forever. Although I hadn’t read the first book in the Netta Wilde series which focuses on Netta’s life, I could piece together her past from the snippets that unfolded in her chapters. In reading Edith’s journals Netta makes the decision that there are parts of her past she needs to revisit. This is when she goes in search of Claire & Doogie, both of these characters are so real to life and I could picture them in my mind. I adored (sorry, but I could use the word adored in every sentence relating to this book!) Doogie and his and Netta’s story is just so bittersweet
This is a must read and will stay with me for a long time, I am currently reading number 1 in the series Being Netta Wilde as the withdrawal symptoms were too much!!
The chapters swap between the story of Netta in the present day & Edith from 1942 to 2017. In Edith’s will she instructed her nephew to interview prospective buyers for her house and choose the right person who could comb through her journals where she documented every detail about her life. The person would uncover many secrets along the way.
I loved finding out about the two women, although their lives had some similarities the contrast between the 1940’s and present time was captivating. Edith’s life was bright, colourful and adventurous, and a breath of fresh air, boy did she live her life to the full! She had lots of twists and turns in her life story, some of which made me laugh out loud, some that broke my heart but all of them made this book addictive.
Netta’s part in the book is just as enthralling, she is such a relatable character, and one you feel as if you’ve known forever. Although I hadn’t read the first book in the Netta Wilde series which focuses on Netta’s life, I could piece together her past from the snippets that unfolded in her chapters. In reading Edith’s journals Netta makes the decision that there are parts of her past she needs to revisit. This is when she goes in search of Claire & Doogie, both of these characters are so real to life and I could picture them in my mind. I adored (sorry, but I could use the word adored in every sentence relating to this book!) Doogie and his and Netta’s story is just so bittersweet
This is a must read and will stay with me for a long time, I am currently reading number 1 in the series Being Netta Wilde as the withdrawal symptoms were too much!!
October 4, 2022
Loved the first book and it was great to continue reading from where we left off. Netta had purchased Edie’s home cheaply due to some strange conditions one of them being she has to clear all Edie’s belongings and look after her dog Maud. Netta is engrossed in Edie’s journals and discovering her secrets, dreams and heartbreak and decides she must research Edie’s past to discover the real Edith. She feels a strong connection to Edie and lots of similarities between their lives makes this a beautiful story about family,duty and love.
February 22, 2024
I didn’t realise, when I embarked on this book, but it was going to be quite so
Bad! The previous book by the same, author, was engaging and dealt with very modern themes of adolescent children, divorce, social awareness, et cetera. The new one, which purported to be a sequel was a mishmash of simple tropes. Discovery of a box, full of diaries, recovery of an old love, who, of course lives in a wild and isolated part of Scotland, and has discovered himself, lesbianism, World War II, adopted baby, et cetera et cetera. How many themes can one author shoehorn into one book? Just don’t bother
Bad! The previous book by the same, author, was engaging and dealt with very modern themes of adolescent children, divorce, social awareness, et cetera. The new one, which purported to be a sequel was a mishmash of simple tropes. Discovery of a box, full of diaries, recovery of an old love, who, of course lives in a wild and isolated part of Scotland, and has discovered himself, lesbianism, World War II, adopted baby, et cetera et cetera. How many themes can one author shoehorn into one book? Just don’t bother
January 19, 2022
This is the first of Helen's books I've read, I'm definitely going to be checking out this books predecessor Being Netta Wilde, as I think it would have given more insight to the backstory. Although don't get me wrong, this book can easily read as a standalone.
Beautifully written, with both Netta & Edith adorable characters. The story is told in dual timeline, descriptive & is full of emotion. Heartwarming, delightful & utterly captivating, I loved this book & highly recommend.
Many thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for my tour spot.
Beautifully written, with both Netta & Edith adorable characters. The story is told in dual timeline, descriptive & is full of emotion. Heartwarming, delightful & utterly captivating, I loved this book & highly recommend.
Many thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for my tour spot.
January 17, 2022
What an enchanting story. The nosy part of me loved learning about Edie’s life through the journals and diary entries entrusted to Netta. Such a full and varied life and her mantras held up so well in both Netta’s life and day to day thinking.
I loved the relationships shared in this story - so warm and captivating.
I hadn’t read the previous book in the series but didn’t need any prior knowledge of Netta to become fully immersed in hers and Edie’s lives.
I loved the relationships shared in this story - so warm and captivating.
I hadn’t read the previous book in the series but didn’t need any prior knowledge of Netta to become fully immersed in hers and Edie’s lives.
December 10, 2021
Not having read book 1, I definitely felt the lack of a back story here so would recommend you look at that first.
However, this tackles some really pertinent issues of its time.
Tough to read at times, difficult subject matters written thoughtfully and carefully.
I did prefer Ediths story to Netta's as the book went on.
Poignant.
However, this tackles some really pertinent issues of its time.
Tough to read at times, difficult subject matters written thoughtfully and carefully.
I did prefer Ediths story to Netta's as the book went on.
Poignant.
September 20, 2022
This would have been a definite 5 stars from me but the ending .......oh dear .......... I was totally unprepared!
Apart from thad it's a brilliantly well written story with a great mix of characters Netta goes from strength to strength.
Heads up to read the first in the series vefure you jump into this!
Apart from thad it's a brilliantly well written story with a great mix of characters Netta goes from strength to strength.
Heads up to read the first in the series vefure you jump into this!
December 28, 2022
Even better
I didn’t think that this second book in the series was with me as good as the first, which was Becoming Netta Wilde. However, I could not be more wrong. This book was heartbreaking and uplifting in equal measures. What it is mostly about Edie or Edith, there is much about Netta that adds to her story. Highly recommended.
I didn’t think that this second book in the series was with me as good as the first, which was Becoming Netta Wilde. However, I could not be more wrong. This book was heartbreaking and uplifting in equal measures. What it is mostly about Edie or Edith, there is much about Netta that adds to her story. Highly recommended.
January 18, 2022
Book 2 in the series a fabulous follow up to Finding Netta Wilde.
Beautifully written with emotive and descriptive language. The book cleverly follows a dual time line flipping backwards and forwards
A fabulous read
Beautifully written with emotive and descriptive language. The book cleverly follows a dual time line flipping backwards and forwards
A fabulous read
April 2, 2022
Outstanding!!
Wow. Just wow. Even better than the first book. This series would make an amazing drama tv series or film. I love all the characters and storylines. Couldn’t put this book down. Hooked from start to finish
Wow. Just wow. Even better than the first book. This series would make an amazing drama tv series or film. I love all the characters and storylines. Couldn’t put this book down. Hooked from start to finish
June 8, 2022
You Too Can Taste The Sky
Brilliant book. Second in the series. Can easily be read as a stand alone. Main learnings: Life is an adventure to be lived and loved. And It’s never too late.
Brilliant book. Second in the series. Can easily be read as a stand alone. Main learnings: Life is an adventure to be lived and loved. And It’s never too late.
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