Notre banc

by Saskia Sarginson

Cela commence par la fin.
Cela commence sur un banc en 2004, sur la colline de Hampstead, où une femme attend un homme. Dix ans plus tôt, ils se sont fait une promesse : à cette date exactement, sur ce banc-là, ils mettront fin à cette histoire d’amour née trente ans auparavant, ou bien ils décideront de tout recommencer. Ils n’auraient jamais dû se rencontrer, en 1983. Ils n’auraient jamais dû s’aimer... Séparés par un mensonge, pourront-ils pardonner et effacer le années passées ? Ce qui a été perdu peut-il véritablement se retrouver ?

Genres: Romance, Fiction

384 pages, Paperback

First published March 19, 2020

About the author

Saskia grew up in Suffolk and now lives in London. She is the mother of four children, including identical twin girls. She has a B.A hons in English Literature from Cambridge and an M.A in Creative Writing from Royal Holloway. She's worked as a Health & Beauty Editor,freelance journalist, ghost-writer and script reader. As well as writing and reading, she loves tango dancing and dog walking,

Reviews

[Karschtl · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 Sterne

Von 1983 bis in die heutige Zeit begleiten wir LeserInnen das Paar Cat & Sam. Zwei junge Leute, die drei glückliche Wochen miteinander verbringen und sich mit dem Versprechen trennen, sich möglichst bald wieder zu sehen. Unglückliche Umstände verhindern dies, und so müssen fortan beide ihren Lebensweg allein bestreiten. Doch man sieht sich ja immer 2x im Leben.

Es ist eine sehr emotionale, romantische, melancholische Geschichte, die die Autorin Saskia Sarginson hier aufgeschrieben hat. Die Story hat ein bisschen wenig wirkliche "Ereignisse" zu bieten, in der Hinsicht hätte ich mir mehr Meilensteine im Leben der beiden gewünscht, die auch beschrieben werden. Dennoch wurde mir nie langweilig beim Lesen und ich habe Sam und vor allem aber Cat gerne über diese Jahre hinweg begleitet.

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half stars.
The prologue starts in 2004, with a woman waiting for a man. Will this be the end of a lingering love spanning years or is it all too late? The story then goes back in time to tell the story of Cat and Sam who meet in 1983. The chapters of the story alternate from that point between Cat and Sam, who fall in love quickly when he is visiting from England. Will their love survive against all odds or will time, distance, circumstances, secrets, and other people prevent them from ever being together?
I’ve deliberately kept this short because I feel it is better to go into the book knowing as little as possible about it. Cat and Sam are interesting characters who have vastly different home life and family experiences. Cat works in a funeral home, which is a little bit different for a main character. But she has dreams of doing something else. Sam also has dreams. Will they be able to each fulfil those dreams?
I liked the idea of the benches with plaques and inscriptions on them. The author’s note at the end says she encountered many such benches in walks she came across in the South of England. I can’t say I have noticed any such benches in Australia. Maybe I need to pay closer attention or maybe it is a peculiarly English thing? Anyone know? Either way benches set the premise of meeting for Sam and Cat.
Sometimes it did seem to go on a bit, and there were some things I could have done without,but on the whole it is engaging and there are certainly a lot of things happening. The story with Leo and his young daughter Grace, who Cat meets at a funeral and comes to know well, certainly adds some heart-stopping moments. An enjoyable read that will appeal to many people I suspect. My first book by this author I would be interested to read another.

[Daiana.catuna (Daiana) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The right book at the right time! This is how my review begins 😁
I had a few rainy days which made this book perfect for this moment.
It's a nice story that gives you a melancholy vibe. It's a love story that runs for 3 decades; Catrin and Sam meet on a bench by the ocean. Their love is instantaneous. Sam has to go back to London and they lose touch.
They meet 15 years later, each with their own life.
It's a little dramatic story but also very nice. Not many things happen that make her very intense or curious but I think she is perfect for her simplicity.
So, if you are looking for a beautiful, simple and hopeful book then this is the perfect choice.
for me it was very important the moment I read it ❤️

[Katherine Hayward Pérez · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've ever had that special someone, you've had that special place.

I wanted to review this as soon as I saw the synopsis mentioned One Day— I loved One Day (the book and movie). The novel sounded romantic and heartwrenching. It was.

Cat and Sam made a pact in 1983. They ended a 30 year love affair because of a lie that shattered the life they'd built. If they met again would they be able to forgive the past? Can they ignite the flame that was there? The book is set in 2004 and has chapters alternating between Cat and Sam's point of view. I found this structure simple but all the more effective to really get into their minds and experience what they did. It was easy to follow this way too.

The Bench was my first novel by Saskia Sarginson and what a novel it was— romantic, atmospheric yet full of a sense of "will they won't they?" and also "what now?" "where do we go from here?". I was mesmerised, both happy and sad at different parts and always eager to know more.

The writing is romantic and heartfelt and there are dilemmas as well as more laid-back times. Saskia Sarginson started the book by placing us where the bench was and I could feel the anticipation of waiting for someone you haven't seen for so long immediately. The plot was an emotional rollercoaster ride.

Thanks to Saskia Sarginson and Piatkus/ Little Brown Book Group for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

5 stars

[Anca Adriana Rucareanu · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Drăguță, dar nu se prea întâmplă mare lucru. :)

[Sara James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book and devoured it over two days. It brought both tears and joy. Cat and Sam are both very real and complex characters who stayed in my head for days afterwards, as did the landscape. There were times when I wanted one ending, and then another because there were so many near misses for these two lovers, and of course there were other people along the way, but the twist at the end was worth waiting for. A real examination of how different types of love, lead to different types of lessons for us all. Brilliant!

[Fiction Addition Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

We start at the end of the story 2004 with a bench, on a heath in London.

Ten years ago they had met in America, Atlantic City they started a love affair that never seemed to end how love affairs should... then spent years apart, separated, living life or maybe just existing through life until..

With alternating short chapters we hear Cat’s story and Sam’s story.
Sam and Cat fall hard for each other in a very short time whilst Sam is traveling through the USA, Cat is struggling in life working at a funeral parlour trying to hold her parents lives together and forever picking up their shattered dreams until she meets Sam. He also comes from a dysfunctional family.
Sam is a breath of fresh air, he’s a musician , well wants to be a succesful artist and when they hook up, they share their hopes and dreams for the future before promising to keep in touch and somehow to meet up in London and continue their lives together.. but life gets in the way and that meet up doesn’t happen.
Just before they part Sam and Cat share a pact that they will meet at a bench on the heath..
In the UK many benches in the London parks have plaques on them with messages for loved ones who sadly are no longer with us. It’s a specific bench Sam tells Cat about and both will revisit that bench over the following decades.
What follows over time is a story about love, separation, life’s lessons and secrets.
Saskia manages to articulate conversations and moods in a way that your right there with them.. wondering if that was you, what would you do?
The story is engaging and very sweet. An enjoyable read that will appeal to many people. Lovely storytelling with great characters
I haven’t read any of Saskia Sarginson before but I will definitely be adding her to my authors list.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Netgalley and Little brown books for this great read out in September.

[Saxy Kaya · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5*
Zmätok nad zmätok, no anotácia pre mňa nevypovedá obsahu.
Asi v živote som nebola taká zmätená z nejakej knihy. Začiatok knihy bol neskutočný boj.
Najviac, čo v knihách nenávidím je vzťah a obrovská zamilovanosť, ktorá vznikne za 2 dni. Tu sa zdalo akoby prešli mesiace od kedy sa poznajú, no realita- 2 dni! Okrem toho, už toto bol pre mňa čas prekrúcania očí, som bola šokovaná zo sexuálnych scén, ktoré boli priam nechutné. Hovorím hlavne o mieste, kde sa odohrávali. Mňa to natoľko znechutilo, že som si myslela, že to ani nedočítam.
No prinútila som sa pokračovať ďalej.
Druhá polovica bola úplne iná. Príbeh bol zaujímavejší a aj keď neprišiel wow efekt, tak myslím si, že sa to nedá porovnať so začiatkom. Tu už bolo fakt cítiť viac tú romantiku, lásku a nie iba fyzickú náklonnosť. Možno bol ten koniec už pritiahnutý za vlasy, ale páčilo sa mi to. Absolútne sa neviem preniesť psychicky cez ten začiatok, takže za mňa je to taký horší priemer.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Adele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book throughout and kept looking forward to picking it back up and reading more. I found myself engaged with the characters and wanting to know how it ends. I even stayed up late one night to finish it and actually sobbed at the ending! Thought this would make a really good film too.

[Linda Louch · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enthralling love story of a young couple who found each other but were separated for many years then found each other then lost each other. I wanted to keep reading to see what would happen in this sometimes sad sometimes happy love affair.

[Pauline Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, gorgeous book. I loved every wonderful word!

[Sarah Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

It begins on a bench. The love story of Cat and Sam starts with a chance meeting on a bench in Atlantic City. They are very different people from vastly different backgrounds and families with hopes and dreams for the future. They are instantly attracted but in the 1980s, before social media and mobile phones, a series of events separates them. Their love is found and lost and found again but will they feel the same about each other. A very enjoyable read.

[Helenasr · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sad, sweet romance. The Bench follows the lives of Cat and Sam, who first met in Atlantic city and fell in love. They lose touch and struggle to continue with their lives as they grow older. I’d recommend it if you are looking for something light and easy to read. I enjoyed it reading.

[Kristy Drážovská · Rating 5 out of 5]

Za mňa wow. Ak by ste zvažovali preklad nejakej knižky do sk, tak toto je skvelý adept.

[Lynne Aubrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book, read it in one sitting just couldn't put it down.
A beautiful love story with amazing characters throughout.

[Cheryl Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of those books you can't put down. Everytime I finished a chapter I wanted to read the next one. A lovely romantic story perfect for lazy afternoons.

[Tracy Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A believable love story. Kept me wanting more all the way through.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

So moving. Couldn’t put it down, cried through the entirety of the last 1/3 of the book…ha! Thought it would be an easy predicable read but so wrong, loved every page!

[Emma Mcconnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is a good book. A typical chick flick, but is a good story nevertheless. The characters are strong in their own ways. Some places feel a little rushed but the main story is well written.

[Jill Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg loved this book! Big statement but I think it’s close to the best book I’ve ever read! Highly recommend, I feel like I know Sam & Cat, I will miss them💛

[Rebecca Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful love story filled with hope

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A love story that begins at the end. The reader meets Cat as she sits on a bench on Hampstead Heath and waits for him. It is 2004, and ten years ago they made a pact. They would meet, at this bench which holds the most special of memories for them, and they may end their relationship .... or they may not.

This opening chapter is intriguing and compelling, as Cat looks out across the Heath and sees the figure of a man walking toward her, the reader is fascinated to know the whole story.

The author then takes the reader back thirty years. It is 1983 in Atlantic City, USA and Cat is the sole earner in her home. She works at a funeral parlour, and her money pays the rent of the small wooden house that she lives in with her parents. Her mother is downtrodden and full of regret, her father is a gambler - also full of regret, but addicted to the thought of one day, picking those winning numbers.

Sam Sage is English and has been travelling through the US. He's left behind his wealthy London life and girlfriend and is contemplating his future. It's just him and his guitar and an assortment of shabby hostel beds. Cat and Sam meet and there is an instant attraction. Both of them see something in the other that they can relate to and over the next few weeks they begin a whirlwind relationship full of emotion and longing. However, Sam must return to the UK, but they have plans, they are determined that this is not a holiday fling, they know that they are made for each other.

However, like many great plans, things do not go their way, and what follows is an often heartbreaking story of lost love; of successes and of failures; of missed opportunities and of mistakes made.

Told over various time periods, through Cat and Sam's own voices, this is a wonderfully honest depiction of love. Cat and Sam are cleverly and skilfully created; they have their flaws, but the reader cannot help but root for them along the way. Spanning decades and taking in the various highs of life, along with the often tragic and devastating lows, this is a love story that will warm the hardest of hearts.

The Bench is an incisive lyrical story with characters who become so real to the reader. The contrast of settings; loud, brash Atlantic City and the green haven of Hampstead Heath is beautifully created. Fans of David Nicholls and Jojo Moyes will love this. I loved it too!

[Mona Chergui · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a thoroughly lovely read. Something easy, joyful, and leaving me with a warm fuzzy feeling.

The Bench tells the story of Sam and Cat, who first meet in Atlanta and then spend years finding each other. It's advertised as similar to The One, which is appropriate given the storyline, although I do think The One is better written.

I really enjoyed that the story started in Atlanta. That's not a obvious choice, and didn't go with more cliched cities such as NYC. I also appreciated it started in the 1980s - it many ways it had to be a story before mobile phones and social media. I also liked that Cat had an usual job, but then was quite colourful outside of work. Again it managed to avoid clichés. Sam was also complex, and it stared away from numerous stereotypes that could have been employed.

Not quite a 4 star read for me though. There were one too many missed opportunities to be together for me. I also felt that Cat changed quite a lot when she moved to London, which I didn't entirely agree was in keeping with the original character presentation. This niggles though are based on me being picky, as overall it was a good read.

One for the beach, or a quick Sunday read.

[Kay Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Such a sweet heart breaking story. A great read and would make a brilliant movie if cast right.

[Lise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jolie histoire, où l’on suit des personnages attachants qui se perdent et se retrouvent. Un bon roman feel-good !

[Agi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cat lives in America, works at a funeral parlour, being the sole earner in her home, with her father being a gambler and mother not being able to work. Sam is an English musician, travelling with his guitar through the U.S. What are the chances of those two to meet? Almost none, but they met, and there is an instant attraction between them. They get each other, both on the same wavelength and they quickly fell in love. They promise to always tell each other the truth and while Cat didn’t keep any secrets from Sam, he kept something for himself – but he was determined to be honest with Cat and tell her the truth at the airport, when he was flying home and she was there to tell him goodbye. But Sam is not there. Why? They’ve made so many plans, they planned their future together – what has happened? Will they find each other again even if the circumstances are against them, and the distance, secrets and other people keep them apart?

The story is told in chapters alternating between Cat and Sam and 1983 and 2004, letting us to really get to know them, what they think and feel, seeing both points of view. They were both interesting characters but I couldn’t completely get into their heads, and as much as their journey to find each other was dramatic and heart – breaking I didn’t have it in me to keep my fingers crossed for them. It was interesting to see how different those two were, both coming from very different backgrounds, however they both had big dreams and I liked it in them, but altogether they felt a bit… meh. Weak.

I’ve seen benches like the ones described in the book, with plaques and inscriptions on them, but to be honest I’ve never paid them much attention. Next time, when I see one, with someone sitting on it, I’ll look at them differently – who knows what secrets and stories do they hide?

I was expecting something different to be honest. For me the book felt too slow and much too much gloomy and dark and sad and repetitive. It was somehow simply too negative on the whole and I couldn’t warm to the story itself and to the characters as well and the plot felt too old for my liking and too predictable. Sure, the author added many twists and surprises on the way to make the story more interesting and yes, I appreciated them, but the story simply didn’t work form e – it’s not the book, it must be me then.

It is a story about love, melancholy, longing, lost hopes and second chances. Told over various periods of time it is a real love tribute, a lyrical love story without mythicization of love at all, oh no, it shows all the ups and downs of this feeling. A read with a difference, clever and with interesting premise.

Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.

[Buch Versum · Rating 4 out of 5]

…Eine Liebe geht durch die Zeit, emotionsgeladen & verzweifelnd…

Eine Liebesgeschichte, die durch Zeit geht, einen vereinnahmt und zur Verzweiflung bringt.
Wo alles doch so herzzerreißend begonnen hat. Cat trifft auf Sam und ihr Leben wird ins Chaos geschleudert.
Ihre Liebe in den Anfängen, doch die Emotionen so intensiv und explosiv. Leider trennen sich ihre Wege, ob Sie eine Chance auf die Zukunft haben.

Ich war vollkommen verzaubert, Cat und Sam sind einfach zuckersüß und im gleichen Moment so zum Verzweifeln. Sie sind sich so nah und doch scheint ihr Leben so unendlich weit voneinander entfernt, so ein.
Beide kreative Seelen. Er, der Musiker, der unglaubliches Talent aufzeigt und seine Lieder berühren die Seele. Cat, die mit ihrer Fantasie bewegende Geschichten erzeugt und sich nach ihrem Traum zu Autorin sehnt.

Eine wundervolle Liebesgeschichte voller mutiger Taten, Selbstfindung und beeindruckenden Persönlichkeiten. Die Hoffnung auf ein Happy End schürt, das mit soviel Schmerz unterlegt ist.

Ich war voll und ganz von der intensiven Dynamik und der Chemie der beiden gefangen. Zwei Persönlichkeiten, die soviel durchmachen müssen, ein Gefühlschaos bescheren und die Verzweiflung an vorderster Stelle fühlen lässt. Beeindruckt durch die Entwicklung der Persönlichkeiten und den nie endeten Liebe zueinander.

Das Buch und die Kombination der Persönlichkeiten hat mich eingenommen, sondern das Herz aufgehen lassen, mich berührt und beeindruckt.

Die Emotionen bieten nicht nur den Beteiligten, sondern auch dem Leser ein Gefühlschaos, eine berauschende Anziehungskraft, die einen genau wie die Protagonisten mitreißt und beflügelt.

Vielen Dank für das Rezensionsexemplar an den Verlag.
Trotz der Bereitstellung hat dies in keiner Weise meine ehrliche Meinung zum Buch beeinträchtigt.

#AlsdieZukunftnochvorunslag
#SaskiaSarginson
#Knaur
#Rezension

[Fiona Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is a love story that is not too saccharine. Cat is from Atlantic City, where she works in a funeral home, while England-based Sam is only travelling through when the pair meet. Having sex on the floor of a funeral parlour might not seem like the most auspicious start to a relationship, but since Sam is leaving in three weeks, any barriers that there might have been between he and Cat slip away. Ultimately though, it isn’t just geography that will keep the young lovers apart.

This story, with its unexpected twists and turns, made me variously swallow tears then warmed my heart. A strong vein of hope runs consistently through it. I don’t want to give anything of the plot away, but what I will say is this: watch out for that gorgeous little Grace.

Saskia Sarginson is a gifted and versatile writer. She can turn her hand to just about any genre - be it thriller, historical or literary. This is the fourth novel of hers that I have read and for me, it’s right up there with her best work. The Bench feels like a book that the world really needs right now. Packed full of surprises and kindness, I certainly fell head over heels in love with it.

[Michaela Lukács · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ako prvé ma upútala obálka knihy. Je priam pastvou pre oči. Po prečítaní anotácie som vedela, že toto potrebujem. Takýto príbeh je písaný akoby mne na mieru. Tesne pred tým, ako som sa pustila do čítania, zistila som, že táto autorka mi nie je úplne neznáma. Pred niekoľkými rokmi som si od tejto autorky prečítala jej prvotinu - Dvojčatá. Po tomto zistení som mala menšie obavy, čo sa príbehu týka, ale som nadmieru spokojná. Autorka sa behom niekoľkých rokoch pekne vypracovala a Lavička je toho dôkazom.

Príbeh sa začína v roku 1983, kde sa Cat a Sam prvý krát spoznajú. Kapitoly sa medzi týmito dvomi postavami striedajú a zároveň sa pekne prekrývajú. My tak môžeme sledovať, ako sa vyvíja vzťah medzi Cat a Samom. Veľmi som si želala, aby ich vzťah vyšiel, pretože som si ich veľmi obľúbila a ako pár boli rozkošní, no žiaľ...
Ich životy plynuli ďalej a vo mne to vyvolávalo rôzne emócie. Bola som šťastná, no aj smutná z rôznych veci, čo sa udiali. Vždy som potrebovala čítať ďalej, aby som sa dozvedela ako sa príbeh lásky skončí. A potom to prišlo! Keď som čítala tie slová, srdce sa mi až zastavilo a mne to všetko došlo. Neubránila som sa slzám. Alebo žeby to skončilo inak? ...
Bol to krásny príbeh, ktorý si zaslúži pozornosť čítateľov.

4,5*