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The Way From Here
Four friends. A lifetime of choices. What comes next?
Kate had been so busy making a place in the world for her daughters, she had somehow forgotten to take care of herself. The life she'd ended up with was not the life she'd planned. Everything was...a compromise.
When Kate's younger daughter Ella goes off to university, she realises her life has become consumed by the minutiae of family life. In her 'empty nest', Kate starts to wonder: what now?
Decades after abandoning her university hobby of rowing, Kate gingerly joins a local ladies rowing team and rediscovers her passion for the pleasing rhythmic sensation of paddle slicing through water.
More than anything, though, Kate finds that the team of strong women bring new adventures and unlikely friendships she hadn't even realised she missed having...
A life-affirming, uplifting story about eight fifty-something women who are all asking the same question about what is next in life for them - and starting to discover the answer together.
Kate had been so busy making a place in the world for her daughters, she had somehow forgotten to take care of herself. The life she'd ended up with was not the life she'd planned. Everything was...a compromise.
When Kate's younger daughter Ella goes off to university, she realises her life has become consumed by the minutiae of family life. In her 'empty nest', Kate starts to wonder: what now?
Decades after abandoning her university hobby of rowing, Kate gingerly joins a local ladies rowing team and rediscovers her passion for the pleasing rhythmic sensation of paddle slicing through water.
More than anything, though, Kate finds that the team of strong women bring new adventures and unlikely friendships she hadn't even realised she missed having...
A life-affirming, uplifting story about eight fifty-something women who are all asking the same question about what is next in life for them - and starting to discover the answer together.
- GenresContemporary
362 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 12, 2022
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595 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 13, 2023
My expectations for this novel were not too high since I had never read anything about 45/50-year-olds and just assumed it would not be as relatable based on the age gap. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this! Not because I related to the characters but because I learned a bit about rowing and, at the same time, took mental notes about everyone's mid-life crises in order to figure out what I don't want my life to look like later lol.
This brings me to my main point of criticism: the lack of depth/information about the different characters' relationships with their partners. While some of the women learned to stand up for themselves in toxic situations, I simply wanted more. Instead, there were plenty of passages about rowing that were simply too technical and not really necessary. SPOILER: I was especially disappointed about Kate's decision to stay in her relationship because whyyyyyy... ugh.
I also felt like the whole section between the two big races could have easily been shortened. While a focus on Beth was interesting, Kate deserved some more limelight in my opinion.
All in all, this novel was an enjoyable and easy summer read.
3-3.5/5 stars
This brings me to my main point of criticism: the lack of depth/information about the different characters' relationships with their partners. While some of the women learned to stand up for themselves in toxic situations, I simply wanted more. Instead, there were plenty of passages about rowing that were simply too technical and not really necessary. SPOILER: I was especially disappointed about Kate's decision to stay in her relationship because whyyyyyy... ugh.
I also felt like the whole section between the two big races could have easily been shortened. While a focus on Beth was interesting, Kate deserved some more limelight in my opinion.
All in all, this novel was an enjoyable and easy summer read.
3-3.5/5 stars
May 12, 2022
Not quite what I thought it would be.
Kate is having a bit of a mid-life crisis. After surrendering her intentions to become an immigration lawyer for the more child-friendly job of processing claims which allowed her to work part-time, she has brought up two daughters Poppy and Ella who are now both at university. Her husband Tim works in London and only comes home to Bath at weekends, when he seems to spend the entire time cycling or sleeping.
While dropping her youngest daughter off at university Kate sees a rowing eight on the river which evokes memories of her time at Cambridge. Determined to make a positive change, Kate decides to join the local rowing club, despite not having rowed for probably thirty years.
While Kate loves the rowing, she finds the other members of the ladies rowing team to be cliquey and unfriendly, other than one woman, Beth who coxes the team. Tired of being frozen out from the team, despite being better than many of the other ladies, Kate tries to set up a senior ladies team, by recruiting former rowers from the club.
I know absolutely nothing about rowing, and TBH I don't think I know much more after reading this book - not because the book is superficial, but because it is so technical and detailed. However, I really enjoyed it anyway (a bit like I enjoy the rugby or baseball romances, you don't have to understand to enjoy it, but I suspect that a real rower would find it authentic).
This is very much about women of a certain age (and I am one myself), finding new confidence and belief in themselves, standing up for their rights and showing everyone else how blimmin' amazing we can be, despite coping with sexism, ageism, indifference, classism and illness.
Really enjoyed this.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
Kate is having a bit of a mid-life crisis. After surrendering her intentions to become an immigration lawyer for the more child-friendly job of processing claims which allowed her to work part-time, she has brought up two daughters Poppy and Ella who are now both at university. Her husband Tim works in London and only comes home to Bath at weekends, when he seems to spend the entire time cycling or sleeping.
While dropping her youngest daughter off at university Kate sees a rowing eight on the river which evokes memories of her time at Cambridge. Determined to make a positive change, Kate decides to join the local rowing club, despite not having rowed for probably thirty years.
While Kate loves the rowing, she finds the other members of the ladies rowing team to be cliquey and unfriendly, other than one woman, Beth who coxes the team. Tired of being frozen out from the team, despite being better than many of the other ladies, Kate tries to set up a senior ladies team, by recruiting former rowers from the club.
I know absolutely nothing about rowing, and TBH I don't think I know much more after reading this book - not because the book is superficial, but because it is so technical and detailed. However, I really enjoyed it anyway (a bit like I enjoy the rugby or baseball romances, you don't have to understand to enjoy it, but I suspect that a real rower would find it authentic).
This is very much about women of a certain age (and I am one myself), finding new confidence and belief in themselves, standing up for their rights and showing everyone else how blimmin' amazing we can be, despite coping with sexism, ageism, indifference, classism and illness.
Really enjoyed this.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
May 8, 2022
This was an unexpected read. I really enjoyed parts of this book, I could identify with Kate on many things, and I was happy to see her making friends and positive changes. I enjoyed seeing all the women finding their inner selves and seeing them flourish. I was a little disappointed how none of them stood up for themselves against all the men who were belittling them and refusing the acknowledge their worth to the rowing club. Yes Lesley stood up to Mike, but I just can’t help thinking that nothing will change unless they’re more vocal and gather support for change. Kate and Tim’s relationship confused me a bit too, they never seemed to talk or spend any time together. She wasn’t happy but never tried to change or confront him. To me, they were two separate people who shared a house at the weekend. I can see a lot of real life issues represented in this book, and I guess in many ways it was true to life, but sometimes reading is a means to escape real life and see how good things can be and give you hope of better things. The friendship the ladies formed was the highlight for me.
May 13, 2022
It was an enjoyable read, but for me there was too much focus on the rowing rather then the relationships between the characters, and sadly I found my interest flailing.
I loved the premise of the story, having just hit my fifties too. We follow eight friends at different points of their fifties trying to find their way in life now that their main purpose has gone.
The characters were great and I enjoyed getting to know them, but the rowing was just too technical for me in what I thought would be a lighthearted read.
Many thanks to Random Things Tours for my tour spot.
Rating ⭐⭐⭐
I loved the premise of the story, having just hit my fifties too. We follow eight friends at different points of their fifties trying to find their way in life now that their main purpose has gone.
The characters were great and I enjoyed getting to know them, but the rowing was just too technical for me in what I thought would be a lighthearted read.
Many thanks to Random Things Tours for my tour spot.
Rating ⭐⭐⭐
May 29, 2022
While this one started off really strong for me, I found that towards the middle it felt a bit monotonous and ended up skimming the last half. I did really enjoy learning more about rowing though and the passion for the sport evident for the characters. What I didn't enjoy was the exaggeration of how awful just about every male character was. All the husbands were just so nasty and unsupportive, it really put me off the book if I'm being honest. It was just too much and too unreal for me to look past.
May 25, 2022
Rating:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Title: The Way From Here
Author: Jane Turner
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Publication date: 12/05/22
AD/Gifted
Synopsis
Kate had been so busy making a place in the world for her daughters, she had somehow forgotten to take care of herself. The life she'd ended up with was not the life she'd planned. Everything was...a compromise.
When Kate's younger daughter Ella goes off to university, she realises her life has become consumed by the minutiae of family life. In her 'empty nest', Kate starts to wonder: what now?
Decades after abandoning her university hobby of rowing, Kate gingerly joins a local ladies rowing team and rediscovers her passion for the pleasing rhythmic sensation of paddle slicing through water. More than anything, though, Kate finds that the team of strong women bring new adventures and unlikely friendships she hadn't even realised she missed having...
My thoughts💭
This is a life-affirming, uplifting story about eight fifty-something women who are all asking the same question about what is next in life for them - and starting to discover the answer together.
Being of a certain age myself, and having gone through children flying the coop, I found Kate’s story so relatable. I loved the author’s style of writing. In fact, I was so sucked in by it all I felt like jumping in a kayak and rowing along the River Itchen.
Needless to say, I bloody loved it♥️
Women who empower themselves and each other. Is there anything better?
It’s a strong 5🌟 review from me👍🏼
Perfect for fans of The Cancer Ladies Running Club by Josie Lloyd and Jog On by Bella Mackie.
Thank you to Random Things Tours and Orion Books for providing me with a print copy in exchange for my own honest review.
Title: The Way From Here
Author: Jane Turner
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Publication date: 12/05/22
AD/Gifted
Synopsis
Kate had been so busy making a place in the world for her daughters, she had somehow forgotten to take care of herself. The life she'd ended up with was not the life she'd planned. Everything was...a compromise.
When Kate's younger daughter Ella goes off to university, she realises her life has become consumed by the minutiae of family life. In her 'empty nest', Kate starts to wonder: what now?
Decades after abandoning her university hobby of rowing, Kate gingerly joins a local ladies rowing team and rediscovers her passion for the pleasing rhythmic sensation of paddle slicing through water. More than anything, though, Kate finds that the team of strong women bring new adventures and unlikely friendships she hadn't even realised she missed having...
My thoughts💭
This is a life-affirming, uplifting story about eight fifty-something women who are all asking the same question about what is next in life for them - and starting to discover the answer together.
Being of a certain age myself, and having gone through children flying the coop, I found Kate’s story so relatable. I loved the author’s style of writing. In fact, I was so sucked in by it all I felt like jumping in a kayak and rowing along the River Itchen.
Needless to say, I bloody loved it♥️
Women who empower themselves and each other. Is there anything better?
It’s a strong 5🌟 review from me👍🏼
Perfect for fans of The Cancer Ladies Running Club by Josie Lloyd and Jog On by Bella Mackie.
Thank you to Random Things Tours and Orion Books for providing me with a print copy in exchange for my own honest review.
May 17, 2022
This was a lovely, easy, heartwarming story of determination and second chances.
When Kate drops off her youngest daughter at university, she is suddenly faced with the enormity of an empty nest. On top of that, her husband, Tim, works away in the week and seems to focus solely on cycling at weekends and her career is a compromise, based on decades of working around childcare.
She starts to wonder how her life became something so different from the one she dreamed of. Coincidentally, that same weekend she sees a women’s rowing team on the river, which reminds her of own time at university and the happiness she found in rowing.
Realising she needs to re-focus on her own life, she takes the plunge and decides to join her local rowing club. The women’s team are all significantly younger and already have a strong clique, so however hard she tries and however good her technique, they never let her race.
However, she does gain one good friend, Beth, a woman of a similar age who coxes the team. Together, they decide to start a Senior Women’s team.
This is one of those real underdog stories; so many obstacles are thrown in their way, from the men of the rowing club, the younger women, their families, even the weather! But it’s wonderful to see the determination of these women, as they rise to the challenge of not only competing as a team,but also of fighting against the feeling of invisibility. All of them have been made to feel overlooked, not good enough or simply passed over, in their jobs, their relationships and even in the wider rowing club.
As a woman in her 40s myself, I found a lot of these issues very relatable, and it was so uplifting to read a novel that focuses on the importance of female friendship and having the courage to try something new. A real feel-good read.
When Kate drops off her youngest daughter at university, she is suddenly faced with the enormity of an empty nest. On top of that, her husband, Tim, works away in the week and seems to focus solely on cycling at weekends and her career is a compromise, based on decades of working around childcare.
She starts to wonder how her life became something so different from the one she dreamed of. Coincidentally, that same weekend she sees a women’s rowing team on the river, which reminds her of own time at university and the happiness she found in rowing.
Realising she needs to re-focus on her own life, she takes the plunge and decides to join her local rowing club. The women’s team are all significantly younger and already have a strong clique, so however hard she tries and however good her technique, they never let her race.
However, she does gain one good friend, Beth, a woman of a similar age who coxes the team. Together, they decide to start a Senior Women’s team.
This is one of those real underdog stories; so many obstacles are thrown in their way, from the men of the rowing club, the younger women, their families, even the weather! But it’s wonderful to see the determination of these women, as they rise to the challenge of not only competing as a team,but also of fighting against the feeling of invisibility. All of them have been made to feel overlooked, not good enough or simply passed over, in their jobs, their relationships and even in the wider rowing club.
As a woman in her 40s myself, I found a lot of these issues very relatable, and it was so uplifting to read a novel that focuses on the importance of female friendship and having the courage to try something new. A real feel-good read.
June 28, 2022
Jane Turner’s The Way From Here is a wonderful story about renewal, friendship and finding out who you really are women everywhere will relate to.
The moment Kate has dreaded for so long has arrived: her youngest daughter Ella is about to leave home and go to university leaving her with an empty house. Having spent decades looking after her family, the prospect of staring at her four walls trying to fill up her day fills Kate with dread. What is she going to do now that her offspring have gone to build a future for themselves? What does her future hold now that she is no longer Mum and is just Kate?
As she begins to take her first tentative steps into the world, Kate nervously joins a local rowing team. Having been a keen rower at university, Kate soon finds herself enjoying not just the sport again, but also the friendships she makes with the other women. Surrounded by strong women, Kate begins to form bonds with her rowing sisters and starts to realise that life is for living and that with good friends by her side she can do anything.
An inspirational, life-affirming and feel-good read that celebrates female friendships and the courage it takes to reinvent yourself and to live life by your own rules, Jane Turner’s The Way From Here is an engaging and enjoyable tale with wonderful characters it is hard not to root for who go through experiences and issues which we’ve all had to deal with at some point in our lives.
Jane Turner’s The Way From Here is a terrific tale about women’s rich and complex lives that I highly recommend.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The moment Kate has dreaded for so long has arrived: her youngest daughter Ella is about to leave home and go to university leaving her with an empty house. Having spent decades looking after her family, the prospect of staring at her four walls trying to fill up her day fills Kate with dread. What is she going to do now that her offspring have gone to build a future for themselves? What does her future hold now that she is no longer Mum and is just Kate?
As she begins to take her first tentative steps into the world, Kate nervously joins a local rowing team. Having been a keen rower at university, Kate soon finds herself enjoying not just the sport again, but also the friendships she makes with the other women. Surrounded by strong women, Kate begins to form bonds with her rowing sisters and starts to realise that life is for living and that with good friends by her side she can do anything.
An inspirational, life-affirming and feel-good read that celebrates female friendships and the courage it takes to reinvent yourself and to live life by your own rules, Jane Turner’s The Way From Here is an engaging and enjoyable tale with wonderful characters it is hard not to root for who go through experiences and issues which we’ve all had to deal with at some point in our lives.
Jane Turner’s The Way From Here is a terrific tale about women’s rich and complex lives that I highly recommend.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 4, 2022
Kate gave up her career to have children and raise her family. Now in her 50s, with her husband busy at work and the last of her children leaving for uni, she finds herself wondering 'what now'? She joins a local women's rowing group and finds not just a love for the sport, but a new lease of life.
I loved the premise of this book - it felt like a coming of age story for someone who has already lived a bit of their life but has lost themself along the way. Many aspects of Kate's life were so relatable. Although I'm slightly younger than her and still in my child-raising years, I could identify with the "just a mum" feeling and really felt for her when the 'empty nest syndrome' set in.
The book is centered around Kate re-discovering a passion for rowing and while it did bring the storyline together in how she developed friendships, some parts were just a bit too technical for me and I found myself glazing over the rowing sections.
However at its core, it's a story of finding yourself, of the importance of friendships and of building the confidence back up in yourself. It hits on the sexism and ageism that we as women face but in a way that keeps the book light-hearted and enjoyable. A heartwarming, wholesome, easy read that would be ideal for Summer.
I loved the premise of this book - it felt like a coming of age story for someone who has already lived a bit of their life but has lost themself along the way. Many aspects of Kate's life were so relatable. Although I'm slightly younger than her and still in my child-raising years, I could identify with the "just a mum" feeling and really felt for her when the 'empty nest syndrome' set in.
The book is centered around Kate re-discovering a passion for rowing and while it did bring the storyline together in how she developed friendships, some parts were just a bit too technical for me and I found myself glazing over the rowing sections.
However at its core, it's a story of finding yourself, of the importance of friendships and of building the confidence back up in yourself. It hits on the sexism and ageism that we as women face but in a way that keeps the book light-hearted and enjoyable. A heartwarming, wholesome, easy read that would be ideal for Summer.
January 26, 2022
The way from here follows four woman of a certain age as they question what happens now/ what is next for me/ there must be more to life than this!
Women across the world put their lives on hold to accommodate their husbands job, childcare and domestic issues but what happens once the children are independent and leave home and you are confronted with an empty nest? This happens to Kate once her youngest daughter starts university, her husband works away all week and she is stuck in a boring mundane job! Determined to do something for herself Kate joins the local rowing club and in doing so becomes fitter, healthier and makes a whole new friendship group, glimpses of the old Kate show through and in rescuing herself she also enables others of a certain age and mindset to do the same, which leads to them all reevaluating their lives and making huge changes for the better and in doing so finding themselves!
A good read that will resonate with women of a certain age and shows that’s it’s never too late to make a change, learn a new skill or reinvent yourself!
Thank you netgalley for this early read!
August 10, 2022
THE WAY FROM HERE
BY
JANE TURNER
Kate has put her own life on the back burner to bring up her two daughters. Now that Poppy and Ella are both studying at university and Kate’s husband Tim works away all week, Kate finds herself feeling a little lost in her empty nest.
As Kate drops her youngest at university, she spies a rowing team. This is a long forgotten hobby for Kate and now she has the time she vows to find and join a local team.
It doesn’t quite go to plan for Kate, but she eventually finds her tribe of like minded women who are all trying to figure out what comes next in their lives.
I loved the female friendships that Kate eventually found. Their solidarity and determination made for a really uplifting story.
There is some fabulous writing in this book. It’s fast paced and easy to get in to.
I did find a lot of the technical rowing stuff went over my head. Obviously written with great knowledge and thorough research, but just a little too much for me.
All in all, this is a positive and uplifting read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Available now in all formats.
With thanks to Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for a digital arc of this title.
May 23, 2022
The Way From Here by Jane Turner
As Kate waves goodbye to her daughter as she starts university, Kate feels bereft as she is left in her dull, affection less relationship. What purpose does she have now? Kate wonders how she will get through the days.
That is until she joins the local rowing club, reigniting a passion from her own uni days. Some of the ladies she meets become lifelong friends as they help each other through the trials and tribulations of life.
Others are no so supportive as Kate, Beth and Lydia fight to launch their own crew and row to success. Gaining confidence and assertiveness in the process and improving their personal relationships at home as well as in the rig.
As a mum that is about to face this very same challenge as my daughter goes to uni I really enjoyed this story and especially the friendship between Kate and Beth. A fun, uplifting story of new beginnings and reassurance that you are never too old to try something new.
As Kate waves goodbye to her daughter as she starts university, Kate feels bereft as she is left in her dull, affection less relationship. What purpose does she have now? Kate wonders how she will get through the days.
That is until she joins the local rowing club, reigniting a passion from her own uni days. Some of the ladies she meets become lifelong friends as they help each other through the trials and tribulations of life.
Others are no so supportive as Kate, Beth and Lydia fight to launch their own crew and row to success. Gaining confidence and assertiveness in the process and improving their personal relationships at home as well as in the rig.
As a mum that is about to face this very same challenge as my daughter goes to uni I really enjoyed this story and especially the friendship between Kate and Beth. A fun, uplifting story of new beginnings and reassurance that you are never too old to try something new.
February 17, 2023
When something brings a bunch of middle aged ladies together it’s amazing the obstacles they can overcome.
Another easy beach read for me, that gave me an insight into the world of rowing. I’ve seen the boats and heard the shouts, so now I’ll be able to make a bit more sense of them other than to grumble about the disturbance they cause to my peaceful river walks! But other than that it wasn’t a book that grabbed me or left me wanting more. It was ok, had a decent pace but not enough to make me love it.
Another easy beach read for me, that gave me an insight into the world of rowing. I’ve seen the boats and heard the shouts, so now I’ll be able to make a bit more sense of them other than to grumble about the disturbance they cause to my peaceful river walks! But other than that it wasn’t a book that grabbed me or left me wanting more. It was ok, had a decent pace but not enough to make me love it.
August 8, 2024
I enjoyed the relationships between crew members and the opportunity to learn more about rowing. I struggled with the constant emphasis on age - perhaps because I am slightly older than Kate. The struggles seem to be emphasised a little too much and the achievements seemed not that great in the scale of things especially for Kate. I suppose impact of this book will link very much to where the reader is on their journey.
October 20, 2022
The Way From Here by Jane Turner
I can highly recommend this book. It really spoke to me and I am sure it will to other women of a certain age. The characters in the novel have even inspired me to join the gym! That is an achievement. And for those would-be rowers out there, this novel will encourage you to take up your oars and join a club!
I really enjoyed this novel.
I can highly recommend this book. It really spoke to me and I am sure it will to other women of a certain age. The characters in the novel have even inspired me to join the gym! That is an achievement. And for those would-be rowers out there, this novel will encourage you to take up your oars and join a club!
I really enjoyed this novel.
February 26, 2023
Truly felt what a middle-aged woman would feel like taking up a sport from her early years, and enjoyed learning about rowing! Loved the friendship between main characters, slightly sudden ending (and left not knowing the results of the final boat race!)
July 29, 2023
I found it a bit tedious and boring. Most of it seems to be focusing on the rowing which I didn't find interesting at all.
March 27, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley, Jane Turner and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
I loved this book and the premise sounded interesting, but I don't think I'm the target audience for it. I found myself a bit bored reading it, but I think I just found it hard to relate to the characters. I recommend this to anyone who would find it to be their type of book. I still found the characters interesting and lovable
I loved this book and the premise sounded interesting, but I don't think I'm the target audience for it. I found myself a bit bored reading it, but I think I just found it hard to relate to the characters. I recommend this to anyone who would find it to be their type of book. I still found the characters interesting and lovable
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews