The Pink House

by Catherine Alliott

Emma and Hugh have a dilemma. Hugh's parents have divorced and neither wants the Pink House - the family home he grew up in and which holds so many memories.

If they take it on, they must also accept all that comes with it, including Hugh's sister Sally, living in the garden cottage; playing host to their eldest son's wedding; converting the barn into an art gallery for Emma's new career . . . Whatever happened to the lazy rural idyll?

Then all Emma's expectations are thrown into doubt when she runs into Rory McCloud - the one who got away so many years ago.

Suddenly, she's wondering what might have been . . .

A big move can change so much, but for Emma could it change everything?

Genres: Romance, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Fiction, Audiobook, Relationships

392 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 16, 2023

About the author

Catherine has sold over 3 million bestselling novels worldwide and is translated into eighteen languages.

The first of these novels Catherine started under the desk when she worked as an advertising copywriter. She was duly fired. With time on her hands, she persevered with the novels, which happily flourished.

In the early days she produced a baby with each book - but after three - stuck to the writing as it was less painful.

She writes with her favorite pen in note books, either in the garden or on a sofa.

Home is a rural spot on the Hertfordshire border, which she shares with her family and a menagerie of horses, cows, chickens, and dogs, which at the last count totaled eighty-seven beating hearts, including her husband. Some of her household have walk-on parts in her novels, but only the chickens would probably recognize themselves.

All her novels are published by Penguin Random House internationally, and by No Shooz Publishing in America and will be available in the US in the Fall of 2017.

Reviews

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 1 out of 5]

I used to love Catherine's books but, this one and the two before this have been not as good. I'm actually quite disappointed as when I saw this on the shelf I was excited to buy it. The characters were shallow and selfish and I didn't warm to them at all. The story was slow and tedious and I was glad to finish it.

[H. Daley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Way too Mills and Boon for me, read the first 110 pages and the, last chapter and that was 100 pages too many.

[Agi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Catherine Alliott's novels and was excited about this one - loved the title, the premise, the promise of a great story. However, this book didn't work for me as much as I hoped it would. It felt somehow flat. It was very character - centred and not all the characters were likeable. In fact, there was also not much happening, it was more like a memoir, this stripping away every aspect of the characters' lives. Not many dialogues, very descriptive, I read it with pleasure but all the time had a feeling this booking is missing something - action, love, warmth...?

It's basically a love story, I think, even though it doesn't take a huge part of the book but it is somehwere there, deep hidden, and I think it was one of the loveliest, albeit unexpected, parts of the story. It is also about family relationships, good and bad, toxic friendship, forgiveness and new beginnings. All the aspects were well written about, yet the whole book felt for me restricted, cautious, not my kind of read - I couldn't connect with the story, was not sure what it wants to tell us.

However, it was a clever, demanding, intelligent read with some twists on the way and I love the ending, it was beautiful - finally full of emotions.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by Catherine Alliott, and it was a bit reminiscent of Joanna Trollope. There's a definite whiff of the "Aga saga", which I don't mean in a bad way - I really enjoyed it.

Emma Petridis and husband Hugh move into the "pink house" following the breakdown of the marriage of her parents-in-law, its former occupants. (Mother-in-law Clem is a real piece of work.) Hugh's sister (and Emma's friend), Sally, is also on the scene, moving into a cottage on the grounds.

Hugh has never been a man much given to communication or expression of emotion, while Emma is the opposite, but their marriage has lasted, raising two now grown up sons together. When someone from Emma's past reappears, though, it provides a catalyst for change.

The Pink House is an engaging family drama - Emma was a likeable character, even if her country lifestyle isn't that relatable. (Yes, there's an Aga involved. And let's face it, I'm probably never going to start an art gallery, or for that matter host a wedding, in a barn on my family property.) To be fair to Emma, her life wasn't always that way. I liked her friend Jane too, and father in law Yanni.

Thanks for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy!

[Grace J Reviewerlady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having enjoyed several of Catherine Alliott's other novels, I was thrilled to get the chance to review this one - and what a cracking read it is!

The Pink House has been in Hugh's family for what seems like forever and is bursting with memories. Now his parents have decided to divorce, he and Emma are taking it over - but it comes at a price. His sister Sally, living in the cottage in the garden, hosting their eldest son's wedding and converting the barn for Emma's new venture. Then Emma meets Rory McCloud - the one that got away so many years ago . . .

Such an absorbing read! With lots going on, a myriad of personalities and family life at it's best and worst, this is a book to lose yourself in. I'm not sure that I would have wanted to take on the family home - and yet, so many couples do just that! I loved Emma; some of the others, well, not so much - but that's the beauty of this kind of book. It's quite unpredictable at times, all the better for keeping the reader on their toes! With a very, very satisfying ending, this is a very easy five sparkling stars and my highest recommendation. It's just delicious!

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really struggled to read this book. After seeing some positive reviews for it and reading the blurb I was really keen to read it.
I found it slow moving and wanted to scream at many of the characters, especially Sally who seemed to be a spoilt pretentious brat!
I won’t be rushing out to recommend this to anyone and I won’t be searching for other titles from this author.
I should have read it in a weekend but it just didn’t compel me as it dragged on and on.

[Wendy Maria Rowe · Rating 1 out of 5]

A bit of fluff that I read on holiday and left behind when I went home. It was full of cliches and the first half was slow. It got going a bit more in the second half but I was glad when I got to the end and could start another book.

[JJ · Rating 1 out of 5]

dnf, found the plot rather boring which was disappointing as I was excited to read it

[J Haydock · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story of a couple relocating from the city to the countryside. The Pink House was where Hugh was brought up and he and his wife buy it after his aging parents get divorced. It's about family and friendships, old flames and new beginnings. A nice change after 2 detective stories in a row.

[Hazel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Following the divorce of her in laws, Hugh and Emma move into their home, The Pink House. Emma has always loved the house however the idyllic picture may not be reality especially when you have your sister in law living in a house in the gardens.

The story was a slow starter for me but then picked up as more is learned about the characters and how they met and their lives intertwine.

The story centres around family dynamics and relationships. It was interesting to see what happened when everything wasn’t rosy in the garden and temptation was lurking round the corner.

Thanks to #NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.

[Rach · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fast and great beach read

[MariaWitBook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Took me a few good chapters to warm up to it but overall loved it! A must read!

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice easy read. It flows well. A romantic and at times cheesy story. But nice if your looking for a light holiday read. A good feel ending.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw ‘Epilogue’ I didn’t want to read it. I feared I wouldn’t like the ending and I thought it might be rushed. Turns out it was my favorite chapter. I loved this story.

[Sarah Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma Petridis and her husband Hugh have moved to the country and into ‘the pink house” after her in-laws have divorced and moved on. Emma’s life story is a mixture of sadness and loneliness but she is sure the move will be a new beginning for her. However her life, and her friendships take some very unexpected turns that leave Emma questioning her future.

A thoroughly engaging novel that was easy to read and with some very relatable characters.

[Tilly Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

I might not have a pink house on the outside but it’s only a matter of time, so obviously I was going to pick this up! Plus I absolutely adore Catherine’s writing, and this lived up to my expectations - I was pretty much hooked from the get go!

This is one of those quieter novels which explores family and relationships so beautifully - although whilst it may be a more character driven novel, that’s not to say it’s not a total page turner with some unexpected twists and turns too! I absolutely loved our narrator Emma immediately, and her anxieties about Hugh and his family just leapt off the page and really made you want to give her a big squeeze - so I was so glad to follow her on her journey as she discovered her passions and what made her happy. Plus, the sense of place and the pink house itself were just so evocative that I was picturing summer nights in a gorgeous garden sipping a cold glass of wine and listening to the breeze - so basically my idea of bliss. A great read by an author who clearly understands people and their behaviours, fears and desires 💗

[Grace Power · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Pink House was full of drama, family secrets and lies. Emma and Hugh move into The Pink House which was Hugh’s family home expecting to enjoy their new life in the country but when an old friend shows up things start to unravel. Wonderful strong characters and an interesting storyline.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a huge Catherine Alliott fan, so was really looking forward to reading The Pink House and was not disappointed. This is a character-led story that is set against the backdrop of the aforementioned country house, recently bought by Hugh and Emma following his parents’ divorce. Emma had always loved visiting the house, and at first everything seems hunky-dory, but actually living there is very different and it is not long before the cracks start to appear.
The Pink House gets off to a bit of a slow start as the characters are introduced and family dynamics explored. As the big family wedding approaches, tensions are running high and things are revealed that shock Emma to the core. Emma is a typical Catherine Alliott heroine, and to begin with she seems happy to go with the flow. As her character develops, she really comes into her own, starts to stand up for herself and work out what it is she really wants. There is a love story at the heart of this book, as she reconnects with someone from her past, but it is not the main focus.
There are a lot of characters here, but they are clearly defined – some are lovely, others are downright horrible. The setting is idyllic and there is a lot of talk about art which I enjoyed. We get closure as the epilogue rounds it all off nicely. I am always keen to read a new book by Catherine Alliott, and I enjoyed this one very much. Thanks to Penguin and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.

[Marles Henry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I  love a pink book cover! This book is about love and families, in unexpected places. Emma is in love with the Pink House, the family home of her husband, Hugh. Hugh’s parents have divorced and the question has arisen as to what to do with the Pink House. There is so much potential for the house for Emma – hosting her son’s wedding and using the barn as an art gallery excite her. What doesn’t is that Hugh’s sister, Sally, lives in the guest house. Another unexpected dilemma is that her long lost love, Rory still is around, and this has conjured up the ‘what ifs”. Another is the disconnection she is finding with Hugh.

I loved the journey for Emma finding her feet I her new career, and learning to trust her instincts with the art and artists she was meeting. I also enjoyed that what became clear to Emma was that what she wanted wasn’t what she needed in her life. @catherinealliott used the Pink House as a lynchpin for Emma and Hugh’s life. It was that symbol of family and connection that brought them together and it was also a symbol of letting go for Hugh’s parents, and Emma herself.

The fact that this book was highlighting relationships in later years was also a plus without being twee – a glimpse into older parents divorcing, and middle-aged couples also finding their way in and out of hew relationships was a change from so many books with younger protagonists. Nothing and noone is perfect, and often flaws are the most exciting things to reflect on and draw people in.

[Marles Henry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I  love a pink book cover! This book is about love and families, in unexpected places. Emma is in love with the Pink House, the family home of her husband, Hugh. Hugh’s parents have divorced and the question has arisen as to what to do with the Pink House. There is so much potential for the house for Emma – hosting her son’s wedding and using the barn as an art gallery excite her. What doesn’t is that Hugh’s sister, Sally, lives in the guest house. Another unexpected dilemma is that her long lost love, Rory still is around, and this has conjured up the ‘what ifs”. Another is the disconnection she is finding with Hugh.

I loved the journey for Emma finding her feet I her new career, and learning to trust her instincts with the art and artists she was meeting. I also enjoyed that what became clear to Emma was that what she wanted wasn’t what she needed in her life. @catherinealliott used the Pink House as a lynchpin for Emma and Hugh’s life. It was that symbol of family and connection that brought them together and it was also a symbol of letting go for Hugh’s parents, and Emma herself.

The fact that this book was highlighting relationships in later years was also a plus without being twee – a glimpse into older parents divorcing, and middle-aged couples also finding their way in and out of hew relationships was a change from so many books with younger protagonists. Nothing and noone is perfect, and often flaws are the most exciting things to reflect on and draw people in.

[Sara Clifford-gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always been a massive fan of Catherine Alliott’s book and so was very excited about reading this. Initially I found it quite difficult to get into the story – the first few chapters seem to feature lots of character names and to be honest I struggled with the family dynamics for a bit until I settled into the story. I also found that similar names for characters added to my confusion – we had a Sally and a Susie and then a Rupert and a Rorie! This didn’t help my menopausal brain and I often had to stop and think “Sally? Is she the sister-in-law or the friend?”

The Pink House is a book about love but starts with Emma having a love affair with her husband’s parents country house. It always held a special place in her heart, and when her in-laws divorced, Emma and her husband Hugh made the move from London to the country to start a new life. But country living is not all roses around the door and although it sounds idyllic, cracks appear but we’re talking relationships and not the plasterwork!

Once my age addled brain got over the initial confusion with the similar sounding names I absolutely loved this book. It drew me in and I didn’t want to let go at the end, it was like one of those bear hugs that your granny used to give you as a child – warm and comforting. Yet again, Catherine gave her readers everything they want and more!

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book starts off like many people have fantasized about: buying your in-laws family home. There's something charming about the idea of living in the place that your spouse grew up in, the country-side location etc. This is something that the main character has probably day dreamed about off and on throughout the years and has the chance to get it. Strangely enough Emma's children are all grown up so the need for such space seems unnecessary to me. There's a bit of status involved with the house as well, although things are quickly shown to be not as idyllic as the in-laws had made things appear. Along the way there's the issues of fidelity, and sticky family situations and it sounded like a headache best avoided if I'm being honest. Then things go off the rails in the traditional chick lit methods and shows that the main character was oblivious in her own world for years and years. After the big reveal things go much faster then I thought they should have but by that stage we're already a couple hundred pages in and its time to wrap things up. I get it but at the same time a little more nuance would have been appreciated and felt more realistic if there was a time leap to like two years or something later once all legalities and things have been sorted out. Overall its a good book that suggests that moving forward to past what if's might not be such a bad thing.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a gentle read about families and lost loves told from the perspective of Emma who, along with her husband Hugh, has just bought her parents in law’s former home when they sold it due to divorce. There’s some interesting family dynamics here with Emma having a strained relationship with her mum and relationships with her in-laws altered since the divorce, then there’s the issue of her sister in law living in a cottage in the garden. Emma’s own differences with Hugh become more apparent after they move and then to add to that she meets a man from her past that she’s never managed to forget.

This is very much a case of how getting what you wish for isn’t always a good thing and as a character read this has a lot going for it with several of the characters turning out to be not what you expected. The setting sounds wonderful and the story certainly tells of how being older middle aged still offers its own challenges. I didn’t especially take to any of the characters but I found this to be a very thoughtful and emotional read.

[Jane Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intricate family saga centred on The Pink House. Emma and Hugh decide to move Hugh's family home after the unexpected divorce of his parents. Emma has always loved the house and is a catalyst for the move. The story moves between the past and present as the reader learns about Emma and the family she is part of. It's a story of second chances and family secrets. Emma wants the perfect family life, as her childhood wasn't, but even the ideal family is not always what it seems from the outside.

It's a character-led story played out against the perfect country house. The characters are complex and believable, as many have unlikeable traits. Full of authentic family and friendship dynamics, drama and love, it's an enthralling story that immerses the reader in the events at The Pink House.

I love the realistic characters, family dynamic and atmospheric setting.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

[Nikkita · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are missing the things that make you whole you can never truly be happy. You also cannot live someone else’s life and expect happiness for yourself for the very same reason.

Emma’s life is great on paper and she chose the life she thought was what she needed. What she was told she needed. Emma was so unsure of who she was that she tried to shape and mould herself to those she thought she should be.

This is a tragedy with a touch of romance sprinkled in at the end. The story took sometime to get into as you learn about Emma and her history. I felt at times that the characters were a little tricky to keep track of in regards to relevance to the story as they didn’t have enough interest to keep them memorable. But I did like that there were so many broken and unlikeable people. They felt real, and a bit messy. The only thing that I struggled yo believe was that some of there motivations could go on for so long without coming out sooner.

[Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly, I really enjoy all of Catherine’s books. And this one is no different. Emma and High have just moved; to the idyllic Pink House. It’s the house Highs parents used to live in until they got divorced - Clem had an affair and left .Yiannis heartbroken. Sister in law Sally is going to live in the annex in the garden. Emma loves her new life, she’s making new friends and she’s starting to run the art business that Clem left behind with a different direction. But some things are niggling her…Hugh doesn’t seem that happy; Sally seems to resent her being there; and her nee friend Susie has artist brother that brings back a lot of old memories. I loved this book. The characters are clear and we’ll defined, and the story tugs at the heartstrings whilst last being witty and funny.

[Felicity Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book builds and grows on you until you are completely hooked in!!
The Pink House is set in the Wiltshire countryside where Emma and her husband Hugh move to from London to start a new time of life now their sons are grown up. It is Hugh’s childhood home, now his parents don’t live there, so it seems logical to move in and make a new life and look at a different retirement for them both.
Although I didn’t take to the characters initially, I began to understand them more as the family history unfolded, unravelling secrets and affairs unknown.
At times found the writing inaccessible and difficult to relate to, as with the characters, so it’s a good escapist novel but hard reading in places. Loved it once it got going.
Not one of my favourite novels from Catherine Alliott and could be inaccessible to many.
Thank you NetGalley for the early read.

[Bethan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Pink House is drama, to say the least. Secrets are exposed, hate is released, families break, families bond. Love is the centre of it all.

Wonderful character development from Emma. She became a much more strong-minded woman and came to realised she needed to put herself first sometimes.

Hugh is one of blandest characters I've read even with his unforgivable secret; both Clem and Sally are horrible people. Yanni is delightful, Polly is lovely, Tom is a minor character. They're all the Petridises and I only like two.

Emma's sons, Nico and Teddy, are great people, along with Teddy's wife Ella. Susie and Rupert, I'd say were Emma's newest yet better friends compared to Jane and Sally.

And dear, lovely, wonderful Rory. He's sweet, loving, thoughtful, caring. Everything Emma needed and wanted. (screw you Hugh!)

[Hayley (hayleys.little.library)]

Back in October I finished ‘The Pink House’ after slowly chipping away at it via audiobook for 2 months.

I thought that the narration was really well done and suited the story well. Personally, I find that the narration for audiobooks influences the story massively, and is a ‘make or break’ for audiobooks! Although, I must admit that the narrator was SO GOOD that I was so relaxed and fell asleep a few times 😂 surely I’m not the only one that this happens too?

I would say that I definitely enjoyed the first half of this book more than the second half as I found it to be a bit slow at times, however as I read this book so slowly and had to rewind it a few times, I think I may have enjoyed this book a little more if I finished it a bit quicker and possibly read it as a physical book to absorb more of the details.

That being said, I still enjoyed this one and would recommend it if you’re after a slow to steady paced book to absorb yourself in for 10+ hours 🥰

[amy :)]

right i can’t even call this a review cuz i didnt even get half way through this book before i gave up.

i didn’t have very high expectations for this book. okay i’m being honest yall…….and also the first couple chapters really confused me? like i was thinking “what da helly is ACTUALLY happening here????” 🤨🤨🤨🤨
(this time i don’t think im being silly)

but there were like so many character drops and then some random convo and then next thing we are with another person in some house and then the next thing we aren’t??? hello someone pls tell me what was going on.

like sm info is being spat at me about random people i just got so confused and i was so unenthusiastic about this book so i gave up cuz ik i have WAYYY more interesting books on my shelf

maybe ill come back to this book some day?