A Time to Remember

by Josephine Cox

Are some memories best forgotten?

Maureen Bancroft has never learned the art of putting herself first. As a widow with a gentle temperament and humble ways, she’s been easy to take advantage of.
All that changes when an unexpected windfall comes her way. Determined to make up for lost time, she decides to take a holiday and, needing a companion, looks up her friend, Barbara Hayle.

Glamorous, and with a successful career on the stage, Barbara seems to be everything that Maureen is not. But things aren’t as they seem, and what starts out as a nostalgic trip between friends, becomes something different altogether. Much has changed in the years since they first met ̶ now Maureen has something that her friend desperately needs, and Barbara is used to getting exactly what she wants.

As their journey takes them down some dark byways, will this be the one friendship that Maureen should have left firmly in the past?

Genres: Audiobook

432 pages, Paperback

First published March 17, 2022

About the author

Josephine Cox was born in Blackburn, one of ten children. At the age of sixteen, Josephine met and married her husband Ken, and had two sons. When the boys started school, she decided to go to college and eventually gained a place at university but was unable to take this up as it would have meant living away from home. Instead, she went into teaching – and started to write her first full-length novel. She won the ‘Superwoman of Great Britain’ Award, for which her family had secretly entered her, at the same time as her novel was accepted for publication. She is now a No.1 bestselling author with over 40 books to her name.

She wrote dark psychological thrillers under the name Jane Brindle.

Reviews

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maureen has been left some money by a previous employer and decides to contact her old school friend to reconnect and invite her to go on holiday.
An enjoyable read about life’s choices and the consequences.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maureen Bancroft has never learned the art of putting herself first. As a widow with a gentle temperament and humble ways, she's been easy to take advantage of. All that changes when an unexpected windfall comes her way. Determined to make up for lost time, she decides to take a holiday, needing a companion, she looks up her friend, Barbara Hayle.

When Maureen receives a vast amount of money from a previous employer in her will, Maureen decides to go on holiday and asks an old school friend, Barbara Hayle to accompany her. The news of Maureen's good fortune quickly spreads. Barbara is not the friend Maureen believed she was, she lives a life surrounded by secrets and lies. The characters are well rounded and believable. I liked Maureen and her family, Sylvia and her husband Des and her youngest daughter, Eliza. I also liked the multi-talented Theo, who Eliza worked for. Maureen makes some good new life changes, but she makes some bad ones as well. This is a quick and easy book to read.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUk #HarperFiction and the author #JosephineCox with #GillyMaddleton for my ARC of #ATimeToRemember in exchange for an honest review.

[Justkeepreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant Josephine Cox book. I think they just keep getting better and better as they go on. I really enjoyed this book. It was gripping, twisty, turny and grippy. I really enjoyed it.

[Evi S · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5/5

i mean... i accidentally stumbled upon it and thought I'd try it. I liked how it started but the rest not so much. It didn't make much sense to me and I didn't enjoy the characters a lot. Also plotwise it was a bot weak. But the writing was nice.

[Sam Thornton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Any easy holiday read about how friendships change people get greedy whilst others are very honest

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maureen Bancroft is such a loving caring person, bringing up two girls on her own meant life has been a struggle and she has had to watch every penny, so when she inherits a large amount of money she feels it's time to change. With encouragement from her girls Sylvia and Eliza she decides to take a little holiday, needing a friend to go with her she looks up her old school friend Barbara Hayle.
Barbara is the complete opposite of Maureen, she is like a bright light, she picks up Maureen in her large flashy car, and presents herself as a star taking in her audience. She is all about glamour after being successful on the stage?

Once on their holiday, Maureen discovers Barbara is not all she seems, She is selfish, bossy, and rude to Maureen., who now wishes she hadn't let her into her life and left the past where it should be.

As the story unfolds there are quite a few surprises and unexpected turns that keep the reader gripped. There are not too many characters so it is nice and easy to follow.
I really enjoyed this book.

[Alaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about women taking responsibility in post war Britain. One of the central characters (Barbara) lives a 'Walter Mitty' existence and seems unable or unwilling to make the changes needed to adjust to her life of debt. She prefers to use people to help her pay her debts and, as she leaves for America, you get the sense that things won't change. Her friend Maureen on the other hand comes into an inheritance which enables her to become more independent and confident with a strong sense of who she is.

[Kelly Callaghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my usual cup of tea but a pleasant read all the same.

Set after WW2, although no date is given, Maureen inherits a large amount of money. To celebrate she offers to take her childhood friend (Barbara) on a trip down memory lane. But Barbara has been lying about her circumstances for years and she sees Maureen as the answer to her financial woes.

[christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story of friendship but is it true

Did not like the story at first friends do you trust them money seems to change people old school pals meet but is there a motive behind this fading film star pretending and her friend needs to become a person money appears for her chance to move forward but be careful friends are not always who you remember in the past

[Raven Audrey Fletcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book very enjoyable and it’s very well written. I only had one problem with the book and that is that I had to get through a lot of the book to find the more thrilling/tense part when I thought it would be more in the middle. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a book with a great story and loveable characters.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

A poignant and compelling story about life choices, secretes, and appearances. I liked the style of writing and the story kept me hooked.
The characters are fleshed out and believable.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Pam]

A very family based novel of two sisters and the turbulent times they have due to the younger sister getting away with everything a story of how money can turn into greed and spoil relationships with friends and family.

[Mrs J A Saxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great read

I loved this book from beginning to end! Maureen worked hard and looked after her family and never expected what was about to happen that would totally change her life.

[Pat Langhelt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book by Josephine Cox have always loved her books brilliant stories twist and turns right till the end.

[Anne Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unputdownable

Loved loved loved it a brill book hooked from the beginning thank you for making g me sit down and relax

[Alison Hydes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good read from this well known author.

[alison campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous story

I have been a fan of Josephine Cox for a long time. This book has everything you need. It has laughter and sadness. A true story of family and friends.

[Margaret Fantom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story but didn’t blow me away

[Maxine woodley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Didn't disappointment

Would recommend this book to all my friends very enjoyable read Didn't want to put it down thankyou for another wonderful book

[Christina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh

[Vicki Klemm · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light listen.

[Carol G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read in true Jo Cox style

[Leah · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn’t like this. Kept reading as I thought it would get better. Not do. I’ve read this author before and liked what I read, sadly not this one.

[Carolyn Hupfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this story but the ending was not what I expected at all.

[Kath · Rating 2 out of 5]

Old fashioned magazine mush.

[Johar Tab]

interesting, engaging and a good read

[Lynne Gosden · Rating 4 out of 5]

good read

It was a slow start and I thought some of the characters a bit wooden. I enjoyed this book and easyish read

[Bernie Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story. Loved it.