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Dear Rosie Hughes
An alternative cover edition for this ASIN can be found here.
A long lost friendship reconnected in letters, laughs and unforgettable life lessons…
The best friendships are worth fighting for…
It’s been fifteen years since Aggie’s friendship with Rosie Hughes ended abruptly. But now she’s heard from the village rumour mill that Rosie is off to war, she knows her best friend needs her more than ever – despite what’s happened between them in the past.
As Rosie faces a desert full of danger and Aggie falls further from the path to love she so wants, the two friends write each other letters.
The comfort in their shared words is an anchor to the life they knew before…and the only constant in a world as increasingly unpredictable as the wind.
A long lost friendship reconnected in letters, laughs and unforgettable life lessons…
The best friendships are worth fighting for…
It’s been fifteen years since Aggie’s friendship with Rosie Hughes ended abruptly. But now she’s heard from the village rumour mill that Rosie is off to war, she knows her best friend needs her more than ever – despite what’s happened between them in the past.
As Rosie faces a desert full of danger and Aggie falls further from the path to love she so wants, the two friends write each other letters.
The comfort in their shared words is an anchor to the life they knew before…and the only constant in a world as increasingly unpredictable as the wind.
270 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2019
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805 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
January 23, 2019
Often I find myself writing about how much I “love” a book and how terrific it is – and it is – because it is rare that I don’t thoroughly enjoy a book with its power to transport me to a different place or another time, to escape for just a little while. So when a book comes along that genuinely surprises me, catches me off-guard and completely rocks me to my core, often I am left speechless. Such was the case with Dear Rosie Hughes,
When I received Dear Rosie Hughes I assumed it was a sweet, cozy read. The cover is cute, the premise is precious. Two adult women who have been lifelong friends since childhood fell out of touch over something that happened in their early adulthood. When Rosie signs up to go to the Persian Gulf as a meteorologist, she and Aggie begin writing to one another again – just to pass the time while Rosie is away. The book itself is a series of letters between Aggie and Rosie, Rosie and her parents, Rosie’s fellow soldier and Aggie, and various other peripheral characters that come in and out of their lives throughout the story. As the book unfolds we learn more about each of the women, their relationships with one another, with their parents, their town, with Rosie’s husband whom she may or may not be divorcing, the child Rosie lost and Aggie’s myriad of interesting dates. We watch as Rosie first adapts to life in the desert, then becomes dejected as the truth is revealed about why they actually are there, her horror as the war begins, her struggle as one of the few women in the camps. We read about Aggie who uses humor, hysterical, laugh-out-loud humor, to cover her pain of rejection that she has suffered throughout her life and we see her growth as she takes on the responsibility of writing her own book as well as running a café in Scotland. The growth in friendship and maturity for everyone involved is a beauty to read and behold as it unfolds.
As I began reading, I was somewhat dismayed that the entire book was nothing except correspondence between various people but as I continued reading I realized that this truly was one of the most intimate methods of communicating thoughts and feelings that I’ve ever come across in fiction. By the time I concluded the book, I was so completely and utterly invested in these characters’ lives that I felt as though they were my friends, my daughters, my son, my town. Perhaps it is because my husband was in the military and we were involved in the Persian Gulf, the first one not the second, and we had friends who fought and who died there. Perhaps the relevancy was so close to me that I identified with the hope, the joy and the pain. Or, perhaps, Hudson captured it all so perfectly that we all can identify with these women and their friendship, their family, and their loss. Regardless of why this book affected me so deeply, I only know that it did and it is, by far, one of the very best books I have read in a long time. If you don’t read another book that I recommend in 2019, please read this one. Rosie and Aggie’s story are waiting for you.
My eternal gratitude to @Netgalley, @HarperImpulse and @Melanie_Hudson for allowing me the honor of reading #DearRosieHughes
When I received Dear Rosie Hughes I assumed it was a sweet, cozy read. The cover is cute, the premise is precious. Two adult women who have been lifelong friends since childhood fell out of touch over something that happened in their early adulthood. When Rosie signs up to go to the Persian Gulf as a meteorologist, she and Aggie begin writing to one another again – just to pass the time while Rosie is away. The book itself is a series of letters between Aggie and Rosie, Rosie and her parents, Rosie’s fellow soldier and Aggie, and various other peripheral characters that come in and out of their lives throughout the story. As the book unfolds we learn more about each of the women, their relationships with one another, with their parents, their town, with Rosie’s husband whom she may or may not be divorcing, the child Rosie lost and Aggie’s myriad of interesting dates. We watch as Rosie first adapts to life in the desert, then becomes dejected as the truth is revealed about why they actually are there, her horror as the war begins, her struggle as one of the few women in the camps. We read about Aggie who uses humor, hysterical, laugh-out-loud humor, to cover her pain of rejection that she has suffered throughout her life and we see her growth as she takes on the responsibility of writing her own book as well as running a café in Scotland. The growth in friendship and maturity for everyone involved is a beauty to read and behold as it unfolds.
As I began reading, I was somewhat dismayed that the entire book was nothing except correspondence between various people but as I continued reading I realized that this truly was one of the most intimate methods of communicating thoughts and feelings that I’ve ever come across in fiction. By the time I concluded the book, I was so completely and utterly invested in these characters’ lives that I felt as though they were my friends, my daughters, my son, my town. Perhaps it is because my husband was in the military and we were involved in the Persian Gulf, the first one not the second, and we had friends who fought and who died there. Perhaps the relevancy was so close to me that I identified with the hope, the joy and the pain. Or, perhaps, Hudson captured it all so perfectly that we all can identify with these women and their friendship, their family, and their loss. Regardless of why this book affected me so deeply, I only know that it did and it is, by far, one of the very best books I have read in a long time. If you don’t read another book that I recommend in 2019, please read this one. Rosie and Aggie’s story are waiting for you.
My eternal gratitude to @Netgalley, @HarperImpulse and @Melanie_Hudson for allowing me the honor of reading #DearRosieHughes
February 4, 2019
Aggie’s friendship with Rosie Hughes was shattered fifteen years ago. However, after hearing that Rosie is stationed in Kuwait as a weather forecaster on the the eve of the Iraq War, Aggie buries the past and writes to her. What follows is their series of correspondences and the comforting words they provide as they navigate their different, unpredictable worlds.
There’s something magical about this second-chance friendship. In the opening letter from Aggie, it’s understood that her relationship with Rosie ended badly, but there isn’t an immediate explanation as to what happened. Aggie appears to have just had a moment of spontaneity, but Author Melanie Hudson expertly drops hints in each subsequent letter, peeling back the layers of the connection between these two women.
Hudson deserves praise for how she handles this format. Letters and emails can be intensely personal forms of communication, but they also require a bit of familiarity of the subjects in order to achieve full appreciation. However, as Aggie writes about missed deadlines and writer’s block and Rosie responds with the tensions of war, Hudson uses this rekindled friendship to her advantage— she drops backstory and new complications with ease. It reads as chatty, rather than as the stilted ramblings they could. Even more remarkably, Aggie’s complaints of working as a ghost writer hold up against Rosie’s apprehensions of fitting in in a war zone. These sections are of two friends needing to depend on one another for support, whether that’s venting when a rucksack is too heavy or if a cake isn’t spongy enough.
All of this is aided by the addition of correspondences with other characters. Aggie writes to her mother, Rosie writes to her parents, and a charming doctor who works with Rosie, Gethyn, takes up chatting with Aggie. It’s interesting reading as the same information is disseminated to different individuals— not everyone is offered the same perspective, sometimes complicating their interactions. Sometimes it’s funny, sometimes it’s heartbreaking, but it’s always insightful as to what these characters actually believe.
At its core, this is a story of a friendship that feels so real, so true. There’s hope and intense joy, but also devastating pain— everything that comes with loving another person. We should all have what Hudson describes within these pages— a friend that we can turn to, even after fifteen years, and keep on as though time never passed.
Note: I received a free ARC of this book through NetGalley.
Review also published at https://pluckedfromthestacks.wordpres...
There’s something magical about this second-chance friendship. In the opening letter from Aggie, it’s understood that her relationship with Rosie ended badly, but there isn’t an immediate explanation as to what happened. Aggie appears to have just had a moment of spontaneity, but Author Melanie Hudson expertly drops hints in each subsequent letter, peeling back the layers of the connection between these two women.
Hudson deserves praise for how she handles this format. Letters and emails can be intensely personal forms of communication, but they also require a bit of familiarity of the subjects in order to achieve full appreciation. However, as Aggie writes about missed deadlines and writer’s block and Rosie responds with the tensions of war, Hudson uses this rekindled friendship to her advantage— she drops backstory and new complications with ease. It reads as chatty, rather than as the stilted ramblings they could. Even more remarkably, Aggie’s complaints of working as a ghost writer hold up against Rosie’s apprehensions of fitting in in a war zone. These sections are of two friends needing to depend on one another for support, whether that’s venting when a rucksack is too heavy or if a cake isn’t spongy enough.
All of this is aided by the addition of correspondences with other characters. Aggie writes to her mother, Rosie writes to her parents, and a charming doctor who works with Rosie, Gethyn, takes up chatting with Aggie. It’s interesting reading as the same information is disseminated to different individuals— not everyone is offered the same perspective, sometimes complicating their interactions. Sometimes it’s funny, sometimes it’s heartbreaking, but it’s always insightful as to what these characters actually believe.
At its core, this is a story of a friendship that feels so real, so true. There’s hope and intense joy, but also devastating pain— everything that comes with loving another person. We should all have what Hudson describes within these pages— a friend that we can turn to, even after fifteen years, and keep on as though time never passed.
Note: I received a free ARC of this book through NetGalley.
Review also published at https://pluckedfromthestacks.wordpres...
January 29, 2019
Rosie and Aggie used to be best friends but then fell out of touch after something happened before they went to university. Fast forward 15 years and Rosie signs up to go to the Persian Gulf as a meteorologist and Aggie is a ghost author, suffering from a writer's block. The two women start to write to each other and in a series of letters and emails we can see the strength of their friendship, as they explore their dreams, hopes and regrets.
I absolutely adored the way the book was written. The letters were sometimes able to tell us more than a conversation, the characters opened much more on the pages than face to face and it made the reading so captivating and interesting. The two main characters were totally different but it was easy to see why they used to be best friends, and also why they lost touch. Rosie's relationship with her parents was beautiful and I loved their letters to each other, and how they tried to protect the other one. We see Rosie, after all the drama in her life, adapting to her new life in the desert, watching the results of war and the horrors of it. Aggie is the larger than life in this friendship, has brilliant sense of humour and doesn't treat herself too seriously and is not afraid to laugh at herself. Her dating adventures were hilarious. But there was also a hidden depth to her, the other side - the vulnerable one. She was colourful and there was nothing stopping her, while Rosie wanted just to blend in - but it doesn't mean that she wasn't a great character, because she was. Learning about her life, of her losses, of everything that happened to her was heart - breaking. There were of course other lovely characters - Gethyn, Rosie's parents, Aggies's new friends at the cafe - even though they were not completely introduced to us, I still had a feeling that I know them, that they are simply good people. They all added tons of depth and humour to the story.
The letters between the characters were mostly short but they contained all the information that we needed, and the informal way of them made the book so easy to read and - actually - really chatty. You don't always need all the details, I liked that there was room for imagination left to us. The author writes in such a way that you can identify with all the feelings and emotions the characters experience. You feel pain, fear, hope and joy - it is so perfectly captured.
So now. My problem. I loved this book, it was beautiful. Until almost the end. But at the end the author has made a decision that I've simply couldn't agree with - it was a "no" from me. If I were a "normal" reader, and not a reviewer, who also appreciates thousands of other details that made me fell in love with this book, I probably wouldn't give the book the 4 stars - it would be much, much less, simply because I can't agree with the decision. I know it wasn't my decision but still, it crushed me. It left me in pieces. For me, it wasn't necessary. I appreciate it but don't understand it. Now I'm going to shut up. But let me repeat that it was a beautiful, poignant, moving story about love, friendship and family, about new beginnings and second chances. About the value of friendship, about making the most of every day. It was charming and emotional, full of different kinds of feelings and emotions and I adored it. Highly recommended!
Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
I absolutely adored the way the book was written. The letters were sometimes able to tell us more than a conversation, the characters opened much more on the pages than face to face and it made the reading so captivating and interesting. The two main characters were totally different but it was easy to see why they used to be best friends, and also why they lost touch. Rosie's relationship with her parents was beautiful and I loved their letters to each other, and how they tried to protect the other one. We see Rosie, after all the drama in her life, adapting to her new life in the desert, watching the results of war and the horrors of it. Aggie is the larger than life in this friendship, has brilliant sense of humour and doesn't treat herself too seriously and is not afraid to laugh at herself. Her dating adventures were hilarious. But there was also a hidden depth to her, the other side - the vulnerable one. She was colourful and there was nothing stopping her, while Rosie wanted just to blend in - but it doesn't mean that she wasn't a great character, because she was. Learning about her life, of her losses, of everything that happened to her was heart - breaking. There were of course other lovely characters - Gethyn, Rosie's parents, Aggies's new friends at the cafe - even though they were not completely introduced to us, I still had a feeling that I know them, that they are simply good people. They all added tons of depth and humour to the story.
The letters between the characters were mostly short but they contained all the information that we needed, and the informal way of them made the book so easy to read and - actually - really chatty. You don't always need all the details, I liked that there was room for imagination left to us. The author writes in such a way that you can identify with all the feelings and emotions the characters experience. You feel pain, fear, hope and joy - it is so perfectly captured.
So now. My problem. I loved this book, it was beautiful. Until almost the end. But at the end the author has made a decision that I've simply couldn't agree with - it was a "no" from me. If I were a "normal" reader, and not a reviewer, who also appreciates thousands of other details that made me fell in love with this book, I probably wouldn't give the book the 4 stars - it would be much, much less, simply because I can't agree with the decision. I know it wasn't my decision but still, it crushed me. It left me in pieces. For me, it wasn't necessary. I appreciate it but don't understand it. Now I'm going to shut up. But let me repeat that it was a beautiful, poignant, moving story about love, friendship and family, about new beginnings and second chances. About the value of friendship, about making the most of every day. It was charming and emotional, full of different kinds of feelings and emotions and I adored it. Highly recommended!
Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
January 24, 2019
I am going to be honest, this was a solid 5-stars for me UNTIL the 98% mark. Hudson made a decision, that I sort of understood, but just could not accept. Sorry. I know there will be people, who will be ok with it, but it crushed me.
That said, I actually really enjoyed this book. It was a beautiful story about the power of friendship and connection. It was about beginnings and endings, starting anew and saying goodbye.
Aggie and Rosie had been childhood friends, but stopped talking after a falling out before they went to university. Fast forward 15 or so years, and they reconnect via letters after Rosie was deployed to the Middle East. It was in these letters, that we see the embers of this friendship start to glow brighter and brighter, as these women become reacquainted with one another. I have to say, this was a fine piece of women's lit in that they explored their hopes, dreams, and regrets, but they also cheered each other up and cheered each other on. Seriously, cue "The Wind Beneath My Wings".
Aggie was absolutely hilarious. She was colorful and had no filter. I absolutely adored her. Rosie was just trying to "keep her head down", and get through her time in the Middle East with the Army, and when I learned of the losses she had suffered over the years, I obviously cried. Aside from two fantastic MCs, Hudson filled out the story with some wonderful side characters. I loved getting to know Rosie's mum and dad and Gethyn and all the fine folks at the Cafe. They added a lot of fun to the story, and also, additional points of view, which helped me see the bigger picture.
The tears I am shedding as I write this review are a testament to my affection for these characters. Do I wish a few things would have played out a little differently? Yes, but I have no regrets about taking this journey with Aggie and Rosie.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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That said, I actually really enjoyed this book. It was a beautiful story about the power of friendship and connection. It was about beginnings and endings, starting anew and saying goodbye.
Aggie and Rosie had been childhood friends, but stopped talking after a falling out before they went to university. Fast forward 15 or so years, and they reconnect via letters after Rosie was deployed to the Middle East. It was in these letters, that we see the embers of this friendship start to glow brighter and brighter, as these women become reacquainted with one another. I have to say, this was a fine piece of women's lit in that they explored their hopes, dreams, and regrets, but they also cheered each other up and cheered each other on. Seriously, cue "The Wind Beneath My Wings".
Aggie was absolutely hilarious. She was colorful and had no filter. I absolutely adored her. Rosie was just trying to "keep her head down", and get through her time in the Middle East with the Army, and when I learned of the losses she had suffered over the years, I obviously cried. Aside from two fantastic MCs, Hudson filled out the story with some wonderful side characters. I loved getting to know Rosie's mum and dad and Gethyn and all the fine folks at the Cafe. They added a lot of fun to the story, and also, additional points of view, which helped me see the bigger picture.
The tears I am shedding as I write this review are a testament to my affection for these characters. Do I wish a few things would have played out a little differently? Yes, but I have no regrets about taking this journey with Aggie and Rosie.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
May 10, 2019
I really enjoyed the author's first novel, the prize-winning The Wedding Cake Tree, so was delighted to see that she is back with a second book.
Very different - the book is written using a series of letters between the protagonists, in various locations from the west coast of Scotland to the Iraq War, with loves met and made, loves lost and rekindled or not and with a set of engaging characters all contributing their "bit!
Coincidentally, the milieu of "military blueies" and some of the situations mentioned are more familiar to me than perhaps to most of her readers. This gave a good story, well told, an even greater attraction.
Well worth 5 stars
Very different - the book is written using a series of letters between the protagonists, in various locations from the west coast of Scotland to the Iraq War, with loves met and made, loves lost and rekindled or not and with a set of engaging characters all contributing their "bit!
Coincidentally, the milieu of "military blueies" and some of the situations mentioned are more familiar to me than perhaps to most of her readers. This gave a good story, well told, an even greater attraction.
Well worth 5 stars
January 7, 2019
https://comfychairbooks.blogspot.com/
This is one of those books that will stay in my mind for a while. I don’t know what I was expecting but I got way more than I bargained for (in a brilliant way). I need to be careful as I don’t want to give anything away. You may believe it will the predictable story of lost friendships and renewed love, but it is more, and in my opinion, very well done. I had visions of how the story would go, and found myself surprised -at times.
The story is told through a series of letters, messages and emails, unusual but brilliant – it made me pay attention, focus on who was saying what and think about how their stories were playing out. I love the attention to detail and the little ‘tit-bits’ of back story every so often, enough to make you try and put the pieces in place but not too much to reveal it all in one go. I liked this, and I was eager to know why these two best friends, that seemed to slot back into each other’s lives very easily, could ever lose that relationship.
I think the friendship between Rosie and Aggie was wonderfully written, funny and emotional. Aggie has a great sense of humour and is a character that I would love to have as a friend – cheerful and positive yet reassuring and full of love. Although she is outwardly confident, she does have a vulnerable and sensitive side, she’s really looking for love and has a difficult relationship with her Mum. Rosie strikes me as vulnerable too yet given the circumstances she’s showing how tough she can be.
With an eclectic mix of additional characters, you will read some light-hearted and comedic moments whilst overall the story shows how everyone has the capacity for kindness, love and that we all may find ourselves in a situation that leaves us feeling vulnerable and in need of the care, loyalty and support of their loved ones. I think some characters could have been included and developed more whilst some seemed a little redundant and a little unnecessary, but it didn’t ruin or distract.
‘Dear Rosie Hughes’ is a great read that I highly recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Impulse for allowing me an advanced copy to read so to provide an honest review.
This is one of those books that will stay in my mind for a while. I don’t know what I was expecting but I got way more than I bargained for (in a brilliant way). I need to be careful as I don’t want to give anything away. You may believe it will the predictable story of lost friendships and renewed love, but it is more, and in my opinion, very well done. I had visions of how the story would go, and found myself surprised -at times.
The story is told through a series of letters, messages and emails, unusual but brilliant – it made me pay attention, focus on who was saying what and think about how their stories were playing out. I love the attention to detail and the little ‘tit-bits’ of back story every so often, enough to make you try and put the pieces in place but not too much to reveal it all in one go. I liked this, and I was eager to know why these two best friends, that seemed to slot back into each other’s lives very easily, could ever lose that relationship.
I think the friendship between Rosie and Aggie was wonderfully written, funny and emotional. Aggie has a great sense of humour and is a character that I would love to have as a friend – cheerful and positive yet reassuring and full of love. Although she is outwardly confident, she does have a vulnerable and sensitive side, she’s really looking for love and has a difficult relationship with her Mum. Rosie strikes me as vulnerable too yet given the circumstances she’s showing how tough she can be.
With an eclectic mix of additional characters, you will read some light-hearted and comedic moments whilst overall the story shows how everyone has the capacity for kindness, love and that we all may find ourselves in a situation that leaves us feeling vulnerable and in need of the care, loyalty and support of their loved ones. I think some characters could have been included and developed more whilst some seemed a little redundant and a little unnecessary, but it didn’t ruin or distract.
‘Dear Rosie Hughes’ is a great read that I highly recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Impulse for allowing me an advanced copy to read so to provide an honest review.
February 20, 2019
The synopsis hints at the story, a story of friendship that has drifted and has now been reignited. The whole story is told in a series of emails, letters, and messages. They tell the lives of the characters involved.
I picked this book up only meaning to read a few chapters… I read the lot in one go it was that good. The friends are Aggie and Rosie. They reach out to each other across the miles and rekindle a friendship that ended abruptly. They discuss their lives and loves, experiences and settle misunderstandings.
The story as I have said is a series of messages, letters and each is time and date marked, I saw these as unconventional chapter headings. The author has created such a wonderful story that just enveloped me and with such a distinctive style. When I started I wasn’t sure how this would reach me on an emotional level… how wrong was I! It touched my heart in a huge way, and even now as I sit here typing I can feel that lump in my throat and tears at the edges of my eyes and I read the book several days ago. This is a book that is obviously going to stay with me for a long time, it is a very special book.
As the story made its way, I found that Aggie and Rosie still had a strong, if somewhat tentative at the beginning friendship after a 15-year break. It is one of those situations where I felt that even though they had been apart for many years they were able to pick up where they left off. Yes, they had drifted apart, almost like they had hit pause and were just waiting for the moment when they both needed each other and play could be pressed and all would resume again.
This is a story that made me smile, snigger and sob buckets. It ticked so many boxes without me realising it, I was absolutely absorbed and hooked by this beautiful story. It is one that I would highly and abso-flamin-lutely recommend.
I picked this book up only meaning to read a few chapters… I read the lot in one go it was that good. The friends are Aggie and Rosie. They reach out to each other across the miles and rekindle a friendship that ended abruptly. They discuss their lives and loves, experiences and settle misunderstandings.
The story as I have said is a series of messages, letters and each is time and date marked, I saw these as unconventional chapter headings. The author has created such a wonderful story that just enveloped me and with such a distinctive style. When I started I wasn’t sure how this would reach me on an emotional level… how wrong was I! It touched my heart in a huge way, and even now as I sit here typing I can feel that lump in my throat and tears at the edges of my eyes and I read the book several days ago. This is a book that is obviously going to stay with me for a long time, it is a very special book.
As the story made its way, I found that Aggie and Rosie still had a strong, if somewhat tentative at the beginning friendship after a 15-year break. It is one of those situations where I felt that even though they had been apart for many years they were able to pick up where they left off. Yes, they had drifted apart, almost like they had hit pause and were just waiting for the moment when they both needed each other and play could be pressed and all would resume again.
This is a story that made me smile, snigger and sob buckets. It ticked so many boxes without me realising it, I was absolutely absorbed and hooked by this beautiful story. It is one that I would highly and abso-flamin-lutely recommend.
August 25, 2020
Read this as one of my espistolary novels for book club. I really enjoyed treading this novel, emails and letters sent to Rosie (in Iraq) and Aggie, an author. Plus parents and others. The two friends lost touch after Uni but when Aggie discovers Rosie is serving in Iraq the friendship rekindles, this follows many wonderful letters and emails which tell of the friendship and of the characters of Rosie and Aggie, both of whom I really liked. Not a conventional story line or a conventional end. But I really enjoyed reading it!
January 17, 2019
Thank you NetGalley for the early read of Dear Rosie Hughes by Melanie Hudson. This story of two friends that quit speaking to each other and then found their way back to each other was wonderful. I often found myself smiling at the witty banter back and forth in their letters and e-mails. I will be recommending this novel to all my bookish friends.
February 4, 2019
I wasn’t sure about this book, not my usual style but I absolutely loved it! Tears, laughter, home truths and all beautifully written!
January 17, 2020
A story of reclaimed friendships made me nostalgic for old friends and letter/email writing. The back and forth in complete letter form was a nice change of pace from my normal reads.
February 17, 2019
Some light entertainment for the holiday, I thought...turned out to be heartwarming and unexpectedly enjoyable.
December 7, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this book about the power of friendship. Rosie and Aggie were best friends until they weren’t and now when Aggie hears that her old friend is off to war she reconnects. The unusual style of this book is in the form of emails and once you slip into it the pages fly by. I must say the surprise ending took me aback but it did leave me thinking about it for days afterwards which very few books do.
June 20, 2020
Aggies und Rosies Freundschaft zerbrach vor gut fünfzehn Jahren.
Doch als Aggie erfährt, dass ihre ehemalige beste Freundin Rosie als Wetter-Vorhersagerin in Kuwait (Irak-Krieg) stationiert ist, beschließt sie kurzerhand die Vergangenheit zu begraben und sich bei ihr zu melden. Was dann folgt, ist eine Reihe von E-Mail- Korrespondenzen zweier ehemals so Vertrauter, die dringend jemanden brauchten, dem sie sich anvertrauen können und so erzählen beide von ihrer Vergangenheit und tauschen Gedanken & Gefühle, Sorgen & Ängste miteinander aus.
Direkt zu Anfang der Geschichte erfährt man, dass die Freundschaft der beiden sehr abrupt und böse geendet hat, auch wenn vorerst keine weitere Erklärung der Umstände geliefert wird. Die Autorin Melanie Hudson lässt nach und nach weitere Hinweise fallen und so kann man Stück für Stück die Vergangenheit der zwei Mädchen, jetzt Frauen, zusammensetzen.
Ich persönlich habe das Format und den gesamten Aufbau des Buches sehr genossen. Briefe bzw. E-Mail können manchmal sehr verwirrend sein, da sich die eigentlichen Geschehnisse zischen den eigentlichen Schriftstücken abspielt.
Die gesamte Geschichte basiert auf den Informationen, die sich Aggie und Rosie zuschicken; zwei Freunde, die sich trotz großer Distanz und jahrelangem Stillschweigen, aufeinander verlassen wollen und können. Es ist erstaunlich wie Hudson es dabei schafft, dass Aggies Beschwerden als Ghostwriterin zu arbeiten genauso schwer erscheinen, wie Rosies Angst vor einem möglichen bevorstehenden Krieg, in den sie wahrscheinlich hineinsteuert. Aggie berichtet über ihre Schreibblockade, bevorstehende Abgabetermine und misslungene Kuchen, während Rosie ihr von zu schweren Rucksäcken und den Spannungsverhältnissen im Kriegsgebiet berichtet.
Die Geschichte wird zusätzlich noch durch andere Akteure unterstützt und dadurch werden mehr Informationen geliefert um ein großes Ganzes zu ergeben. „Wort für Wort zurück zu dir“ ist eine sehr interessante und vor allem spannende Lektüre, da die gleichen Informationen an verschiedene Personen weitergegeben werden und dabei wird nicht jedem die gleiche Perspektive geboten. Aggie schreibt an ihre Mutter, Rosie schreibt ihrer Mutter und ihrem Vater und Rosies neu gewonnener Freund vor Ort, Gethyn, beginnt einen Austausch mit Aggie. Manchmal ist der Schriftverkehr einfach nur lustig, dann wiederum herzzerreißend, aber dabei ist er immer absolut fesselnd.
FAZIT: Alles in allem ist „Wort für Wort zurück zu dir“ die Geschichte einer Freundschaft, die sich so real und wahr anfühlt (…ich konnte nicht glauben, dass es erfunden ist). Es gibt Freundschaft, Hoffnung und Träume, aber auch Schmerz, Ängste und Verlust - alles, was zu einem guten Buch dazu gehört.
* Ich habe das Buch als Rezensionsexemplar von Harper Collins zu Verfügung gestellt bekommen.
Doch als Aggie erfährt, dass ihre ehemalige beste Freundin Rosie als Wetter-Vorhersagerin in Kuwait (Irak-Krieg) stationiert ist, beschließt sie kurzerhand die Vergangenheit zu begraben und sich bei ihr zu melden. Was dann folgt, ist eine Reihe von E-Mail- Korrespondenzen zweier ehemals so Vertrauter, die dringend jemanden brauchten, dem sie sich anvertrauen können und so erzählen beide von ihrer Vergangenheit und tauschen Gedanken & Gefühle, Sorgen & Ängste miteinander aus.
Direkt zu Anfang der Geschichte erfährt man, dass die Freundschaft der beiden sehr abrupt und böse geendet hat, auch wenn vorerst keine weitere Erklärung der Umstände geliefert wird. Die Autorin Melanie Hudson lässt nach und nach weitere Hinweise fallen und so kann man Stück für Stück die Vergangenheit der zwei Mädchen, jetzt Frauen, zusammensetzen.
Ich persönlich habe das Format und den gesamten Aufbau des Buches sehr genossen. Briefe bzw. E-Mail können manchmal sehr verwirrend sein, da sich die eigentlichen Geschehnisse zischen den eigentlichen Schriftstücken abspielt.
Die gesamte Geschichte basiert auf den Informationen, die sich Aggie und Rosie zuschicken; zwei Freunde, die sich trotz großer Distanz und jahrelangem Stillschweigen, aufeinander verlassen wollen und können. Es ist erstaunlich wie Hudson es dabei schafft, dass Aggies Beschwerden als Ghostwriterin zu arbeiten genauso schwer erscheinen, wie Rosies Angst vor einem möglichen bevorstehenden Krieg, in den sie wahrscheinlich hineinsteuert. Aggie berichtet über ihre Schreibblockade, bevorstehende Abgabetermine und misslungene Kuchen, während Rosie ihr von zu schweren Rucksäcken und den Spannungsverhältnissen im Kriegsgebiet berichtet.
Die Geschichte wird zusätzlich noch durch andere Akteure unterstützt und dadurch werden mehr Informationen geliefert um ein großes Ganzes zu ergeben. „Wort für Wort zurück zu dir“ ist eine sehr interessante und vor allem spannende Lektüre, da die gleichen Informationen an verschiedene Personen weitergegeben werden und dabei wird nicht jedem die gleiche Perspektive geboten. Aggie schreibt an ihre Mutter, Rosie schreibt ihrer Mutter und ihrem Vater und Rosies neu gewonnener Freund vor Ort, Gethyn, beginnt einen Austausch mit Aggie. Manchmal ist der Schriftverkehr einfach nur lustig, dann wiederum herzzerreißend, aber dabei ist er immer absolut fesselnd.
FAZIT: Alles in allem ist „Wort für Wort zurück zu dir“ die Geschichte einer Freundschaft, die sich so real und wahr anfühlt (…ich konnte nicht glauben, dass es erfunden ist). Es gibt Freundschaft, Hoffnung und Träume, aber auch Schmerz, Ängste und Verlust - alles, was zu einem guten Buch dazu gehört.
* Ich habe das Buch als Rezensionsexemplar von Harper Collins zu Verfügung gestellt bekommen.
February 5, 2019
Enjoyed the book. It took place during the Iraq War. It was interesting reading about Rosie and Gethyn in Kuwait and Iraq and how their time was spent. They seemed to be bored most of the time and not have much to do. I never realized meteorologists would be needed during a war. I definitely got to know Aggie and Rosie through their letters, also their family and friends. After all of Aggie's descriptions of the café and Scotland, I want to visit. It seemed so beautiful. i was not surprised by the ending.
Aggie and Rosie were the best of friends, until a man came between them. They haven't spoken in for fifteen years. When Aggie learns that Rosie has been deployed to Kuwait, she writes her a letter. The friends continue to write back and forth and make plans to meet up. Add in some letters/emails from Rosie's family, Aggie's crazy mom, Gethyn and a young school boy.
Loved the characters, story and writing style. I liked getting to know everyone through their emails/letters. Loved finding out who the guy was that caused all the problems between Aggie and Rosie. It was not who I thought it would be. Honestly, he didn't seem like a very nice person. I loved Aggie and her crazy ways. She was full of adventure. Can't believe she flew to Venice for a booty call and definitely wasn't expecting the person who showed up. Loved how Aggie and Rosie helped each other through their letters. This book is all about friendship.
I definitely recommend the book and look forward to reading more by the author.
Thanks to NetGalley, Harper Impulse and Killer Reads and the author, Melanie Hudson, for a free electronic ARC of this novel.
Aggie and Rosie were the best of friends, until a man came between them. They haven't spoken in for fifteen years. When Aggie learns that Rosie has been deployed to Kuwait, she writes her a letter. The friends continue to write back and forth and make plans to meet up. Add in some letters/emails from Rosie's family, Aggie's crazy mom, Gethyn and a young school boy.
Loved the characters, story and writing style. I liked getting to know everyone through their emails/letters. Loved finding out who the guy was that caused all the problems between Aggie and Rosie. It was not who I thought it would be. Honestly, he didn't seem like a very nice person. I loved Aggie and her crazy ways. She was full of adventure. Can't believe she flew to Venice for a booty call and definitely wasn't expecting the person who showed up. Loved how Aggie and Rosie helped each other through their letters. This book is all about friendship.
I definitely recommend the book and look forward to reading more by the author.
Thanks to NetGalley, Harper Impulse and Killer Reads and the author, Melanie Hudson, for a free electronic ARC of this novel.
November 24, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Three and a half stars rounded up to four.
I would have given this five stars except for one thing, which I will get to. Anyway, this book started out with many things that I love about a good book. I really enjoyed the characters of Aggie and Rosie and I thought the idea of correspondence back and forth (letters and then emails) was just the perfect medium to deliver the story in. We follow Rosie who has left her husband after the death of their baby girl and she decides to join the (I think) navy reserve? Some part of the armed forces as a weather specialist. She travels to Iraq at the beginning of the war in the early 2000’s. Aggie is her best friend from high school whom she lost touch with. We see the rebuilding of their friendship through their correspondence. At first Aggie is in their home town, and then she moves to the tiny town of Appledart in Scotland to run a friend’s cafe for her while she is away. We follow their lives through their honest and vulnerable communication with each other. We also get regular correspondence from other interesting side characters (a navy doctor friend of Rosie’s, also stationed in Iraq was my favourite, Rosie’s parents, other members of her home village etc). This fleshes things out nicely with parts of the story being added from these different perspectives. So far so great!
Then two things. Firstly, there is a little boy who writes to Rosie and she strikes up a friendship with him through the emails and letters. Towards the end something happens with him that is pretty bad and I was expecting some sort of resolution for this storyline. But we are just left hanging. Secondly, and the biggest problem I had with this book and enough to make me drop it down from a five star read. The ending. What the actual heck. I was so mad when I read it. Absolutely BS. I think the author could have had a much more impactful ending if she hadn’t written it like she had. To me, an ending can make or break a book. In this case the rest of the book was really strong and the ending was absolute crud. I was so so disappointed. I wish she would rewrite it with a different ending. Sigh.
Three and a half stars rounded up to four.
I would have given this five stars except for one thing, which I will get to. Anyway, this book started out with many things that I love about a good book. I really enjoyed the characters of Aggie and Rosie and I thought the idea of correspondence back and forth (letters and then emails) was just the perfect medium to deliver the story in. We follow Rosie who has left her husband after the death of their baby girl and she decides to join the (I think) navy reserve? Some part of the armed forces as a weather specialist. She travels to Iraq at the beginning of the war in the early 2000’s. Aggie is her best friend from high school whom she lost touch with. We see the rebuilding of their friendship through their correspondence. At first Aggie is in their home town, and then she moves to the tiny town of Appledart in Scotland to run a friend’s cafe for her while she is away. We follow their lives through their honest and vulnerable communication with each other. We also get regular correspondence from other interesting side characters (a navy doctor friend of Rosie’s, also stationed in Iraq was my favourite, Rosie’s parents, other members of her home village etc). This fleshes things out nicely with parts of the story being added from these different perspectives. So far so great!
Then two things. Firstly, there is a little boy who writes to Rosie and she strikes up a friendship with him through the emails and letters. Towards the end something happens with him that is pretty bad and I was expecting some sort of resolution for this storyline. But we are just left hanging. Secondly, and the biggest problem I had with this book and enough to make me drop it down from a five star read. The ending. What the actual heck. I was so mad when I read it. Absolutely BS. I think the author could have had a much more impactful ending if she hadn’t written it like she had. To me, an ending can make or break a book. In this case the rest of the book was really strong and the ending was absolute crud. I was so so disappointed. I wish she would rewrite it with a different ending. Sigh.
March 26, 2021
Rounded up to 3.5, but truthfully I’m having a difficult time giving this book a star rating. Perhaps if I had read this story before I read “The Last Letter from Juliet” by Ms Hudson, I would have given this story a 4 star rating. It is a dramatically different writing style from The Last Letter from Juliet utilizing letter/email correspondence to unfold the story of a fractured relationship between two best friends and their intervening lost years. Many reviewers used the adjective “heartwarming” to describe this story, but I believe it falls short of describing the relationships revealed in these exchanges. Dear Rosie Hughes evokes deep introspective insights into the relationships between friends, siblings, parents, children, romantic entanglements, marriage and professional callings. Don’t get me wrong: there are some very heartwarming moments. There are also some very sad disappointments. All in all, I believe Ms Hudson is very canny in her observations on the human condition and is an excellent writer, conveying very realistic emotion in this thing we call life. I truly liked this story very much and encourage you to read it, however The Last Letter from Juliet remains my favorite!
January 29, 2021
An absolute gem of a book, I had to give it 5 stars, perhaps because of our current lock down situation I’m reading a lot lighter books, friendship, heartache, family and love are all visited, with humour and sensitivity, giving an insight into the thoughts and feelings of military caught up in conflict. I will now seek out more books by the author,
January 13, 2019
This was another excellent choice to cleanse my palate between servings of my usual crime-fiction books.
Rosie and Aggie were best friends until something happened to drive them apart. We do eventually find out what, but at the beginning they are more concerned with the present rather than addressing the past. In this present, Aggie is suffering both from an overpowering mother as well as mega writers block. With a deadline looming, she decides that a change could be what she needs and flees to the wilds of Scotland to run a cafe in its owner's absence. But before she goes, she hears that old friend Rosie is in a war zone, not as a soldier but as a weather forecaster, having recently split from her husband and wanting a change herself. When she hears this, she gets hold of her address and the two of them start to correspond. Told entirely in letters and emails between Rosie, Aggie, Rosie's mum and dad and then a few other characters, what follows is a wonderfully charming and emotional story which ran me through the whole gamut of emotions along the way to its conclusion.
The format of the book was what really made it for me. Most of the correspondence was short and punchy but contained a wealth of information in what was a relatively short book overall but which when all was said and done, was definitely more than the sum of its parts. I've always found letters to be a very effective way of information dumping in fiction, and here it worked really well. It also made the whole book very readable as it was written in a very informal, chatty kind of a way.
Characterisation was second to none. I really took to both Rosie and Aggie right from the start and our relationships blossomed as the book progressed. Their outlooks on life as well as their wonderful humour spilled off every page for me and made me feel all the more closer to them as I learned more of their history. This was pretty much the pattern as each new character was introduced and, by the end of the book, it felt like I had found a good bunch of new friends.
The way that the characters' histories and backstories were introduced were perfectly placed in the present day timeline, especially some of the more emotional ones which had me reaching for the tissue box a few times along the way. But it's OK, I also did a fair amount of laughing and giggling along the way too!
It's hard to talk about the ending as if I even hint at anything it could spoil it for others but I will say that it was the right end. I might not have liked some of the things that happened but it fitted and rounded the book off right.
All in all, a wonderful read that ticked every box for me for what I needed at the time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
Rosie and Aggie were best friends until something happened to drive them apart. We do eventually find out what, but at the beginning they are more concerned with the present rather than addressing the past. In this present, Aggie is suffering both from an overpowering mother as well as mega writers block. With a deadline looming, she decides that a change could be what she needs and flees to the wilds of Scotland to run a cafe in its owner's absence. But before she goes, she hears that old friend Rosie is in a war zone, not as a soldier but as a weather forecaster, having recently split from her husband and wanting a change herself. When she hears this, she gets hold of her address and the two of them start to correspond. Told entirely in letters and emails between Rosie, Aggie, Rosie's mum and dad and then a few other characters, what follows is a wonderfully charming and emotional story which ran me through the whole gamut of emotions along the way to its conclusion.
The format of the book was what really made it for me. Most of the correspondence was short and punchy but contained a wealth of information in what was a relatively short book overall but which when all was said and done, was definitely more than the sum of its parts. I've always found letters to be a very effective way of information dumping in fiction, and here it worked really well. It also made the whole book very readable as it was written in a very informal, chatty kind of a way.
Characterisation was second to none. I really took to both Rosie and Aggie right from the start and our relationships blossomed as the book progressed. Their outlooks on life as well as their wonderful humour spilled off every page for me and made me feel all the more closer to them as I learned more of their history. This was pretty much the pattern as each new character was introduced and, by the end of the book, it felt like I had found a good bunch of new friends.
The way that the characters' histories and backstories were introduced were perfectly placed in the present day timeline, especially some of the more emotional ones which had me reaching for the tissue box a few times along the way. But it's OK, I also did a fair amount of laughing and giggling along the way too!
It's hard to talk about the ending as if I even hint at anything it could spoil it for others but I will say that it was the right end. I might not have liked some of the things that happened but it fitted and rounded the book off right.
All in all, a wonderful read that ticked every box for me for what I needed at the time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
February 11, 2019
What an incredible book! When I started it, I had no idea what to expect, other than the fact I had seen people talking about it wherever I turned on social media. By the end of the book I was completely broken by a book that will stay with me for a very long time.
This book takes the form of a series of letters and emails, sent through the military system, and then eventually via regular email. Agatha Braithwaite and Rosie Hughes were inseparable friends throughout their childhood, but an incident in early adulthood ended their relationship until Rosie is deployed to Kuwait as a reservist in advance of the war in Iraq in 2003. When Agatha finds out that Rosie is off to war, she writes to Rosie, and both women are overjoyed to reconnect. Their correspondence focuses on their current issues, Aggie is plagued by a difficult mother, and writer's block for her ghost-writing career, Rosie is facing a divorce she regrets, whilst worrying about the impending war. The issues that tore them apart, and the deeper issues both women have are eventually revealed in their letters to one another. Interspersed between their letters and emails are additional correspondence with Rosie's parents, her soon-to-be ex husband Josh, a troubled boy in their old primary school, and a growing friendship between Aggie, and Rosie's friend in Kuwait, Gethyn, a military doctor.
As the book progresses, Aggie runs away from her issues to help run a cafe in a remote location in Scotland, and her experiences with the new people she meets are shared in her letters to Rosie, with much hilarity.
There were so many funny moments in the book, that I spent far too much of my time giggling out loud, although I did not anticipate that the book would leave me with tears streaming down my face as I tried not to wake my sleeping husband at the side of me!
I know that some people are not fond of books that consist entirely of correspondence, but I found it created the perfect balance, and if anything, it was possible to form stronger opinions of who Rosie and Aggie were as people, based on witnessing their complete openness with one another. I really did not expect to be so moved by this book, but it is going to be a strong contender for my favourite book of the year.
Many thanks to Melanie Hudson, Harper Impulse and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book takes the form of a series of letters and emails, sent through the military system, and then eventually via regular email. Agatha Braithwaite and Rosie Hughes were inseparable friends throughout their childhood, but an incident in early adulthood ended their relationship until Rosie is deployed to Kuwait as a reservist in advance of the war in Iraq in 2003. When Agatha finds out that Rosie is off to war, she writes to Rosie, and both women are overjoyed to reconnect. Their correspondence focuses on their current issues, Aggie is plagued by a difficult mother, and writer's block for her ghost-writing career, Rosie is facing a divorce she regrets, whilst worrying about the impending war. The issues that tore them apart, and the deeper issues both women have are eventually revealed in their letters to one another. Interspersed between their letters and emails are additional correspondence with Rosie's parents, her soon-to-be ex husband Josh, a troubled boy in their old primary school, and a growing friendship between Aggie, and Rosie's friend in Kuwait, Gethyn, a military doctor.
As the book progresses, Aggie runs away from her issues to help run a cafe in a remote location in Scotland, and her experiences with the new people she meets are shared in her letters to Rosie, with much hilarity.
There were so many funny moments in the book, that I spent far too much of my time giggling out loud, although I did not anticipate that the book would leave me with tears streaming down my face as I tried not to wake my sleeping husband at the side of me!
I know that some people are not fond of books that consist entirely of correspondence, but I found it created the perfect balance, and if anything, it was possible to form stronger opinions of who Rosie and Aggie were as people, based on witnessing their complete openness with one another. I really did not expect to be so moved by this book, but it is going to be a strong contender for my favourite book of the year.
Many thanks to Melanie Hudson, Harper Impulse and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 23, 2018
This review is so hard to do basically because the very best bit I can’t mention because it would give too much away – sigh. Apart from that I’ve really enjoyed the whole story.
Aggie and Rosie have been best friends since school. Then something happened which the reader doesn’t find out about until later into the book, which led them to lose contact for 15 years. When Aggie hears that Rosie has gone off to Afghanistan just prior to the Iraq war starting back in 2003 she decideds to let bygones be bygones and starts writing to Rosie. Rosie is working as a meteorologist there on behalf of the army to give them daily weather forecasts and is out in the desert on an army base.
The whole story is told via messages, emails and letters, not just between Rosie and Aggie but other characters in the book too. I’ve read quite a few books written either via emails, or in diary format so didn’t have any problems with the story being told in this way. If anything they suit me more so because they’re chatty, less description and more dialogue. Having said that, it must be very difficult to get a story across in this way by the author I would have thought, so very well written. It is certainly never devoid of emotion for being written in this way.
I really liked the relationship between Aggie and Rosie, most of the way through they were funny, I liked Aggie’s sense of humour. Though I think her outward jolly demeanour hid a lot of sadness Aggie felt, especially about the relationship she had with her own Mother.
It’s a story of the value of friendship, of making the most of every day and as Rosie’s Dad had said to her at one time keep smiling. There were other characters in the book too, Gethyn a colleague who was working as a Docotor along side Rosie, they shared a great comradeship and helped each other to stay positive whilst out in the Desert. Rosie’s mum and dad who were lovely. Then there were Aggie’s friends who she met when she moved to a tiny Island in Scotland to run a cafe for a friend.
This was a lovely warm hearted but fun read. It was never over sentimental, just full of kindness with people trying their very best to be happy, in often difficult circumstances. It teaches us that life really is what you make it and always make the best of what you have.
Aggie and Rosie have been best friends since school. Then something happened which the reader doesn’t find out about until later into the book, which led them to lose contact for 15 years. When Aggie hears that Rosie has gone off to Afghanistan just prior to the Iraq war starting back in 2003 she decideds to let bygones be bygones and starts writing to Rosie. Rosie is working as a meteorologist there on behalf of the army to give them daily weather forecasts and is out in the desert on an army base.
The whole story is told via messages, emails and letters, not just between Rosie and Aggie but other characters in the book too. I’ve read quite a few books written either via emails, or in diary format so didn’t have any problems with the story being told in this way. If anything they suit me more so because they’re chatty, less description and more dialogue. Having said that, it must be very difficult to get a story across in this way by the author I would have thought, so very well written. It is certainly never devoid of emotion for being written in this way.
I really liked the relationship between Aggie and Rosie, most of the way through they were funny, I liked Aggie’s sense of humour. Though I think her outward jolly demeanour hid a lot of sadness Aggie felt, especially about the relationship she had with her own Mother.
It’s a story of the value of friendship, of making the most of every day and as Rosie’s Dad had said to her at one time keep smiling. There were other characters in the book too, Gethyn a colleague who was working as a Docotor along side Rosie, they shared a great comradeship and helped each other to stay positive whilst out in the Desert. Rosie’s mum and dad who were lovely. Then there were Aggie’s friends who she met when she moved to a tiny Island in Scotland to run a cafe for a friend.
This was a lovely warm hearted but fun read. It was never over sentimental, just full of kindness with people trying their very best to be happy, in often difficult circumstances. It teaches us that life really is what you make it and always make the best of what you have.
November 30, 2019
Es ist lange her, seit Aggie und Rosie das letzte Mal in Kontakt getreten sind. Die ehemaligen unzertrennlichen Freundinnen haben schon seit 15 Jahren kein Wort mehr gewechselt. Als Aggie dann aber erfährt, das Rosie als Meterologin mit dem Militär in das Krisengebiet Kuwait zu reisen. Durch ihre Briefe finden die beiden Freundinnen wieder zueinander und erzählen sich gegenseitig von ihrem Leben.
Der Klappentext des Buches hat mich neugierig gemacht. Eine zerbrochene Freundschaft, die wieder auflebt - was für ein schöner Gedanke! Ich freute mich auf tiefgründige Beziehungen, ein vorsichtiges Wiederannähern der Protagonisten und viele, viele emotionale Momente. Leider konnte mich das Buch aber von Anfang an nicht mitreißen. Enttäuschenderweise musste ich feststellen, das Aggie und Rosie schon nach einem einzigen Brief wieder ein Herz und eine Seele zu sein schienen und somit fiel schon einmal die wichtigste Beziehungsentwicklung, auf die ich mich gefreut habe, weg.
Dazu kam, das mir der Schreibstil leider gar nicht zusagte. Er ist sehr aufgesetzt fröhlich, mit viel zu vielen Ausschweifungen, welche vielleicht einen tieferen Einblick in das Leben und den Charakter der Person ermöglichen sollen, aber eigentlich nicht unbedingt nötig waren und nur von der Haupthandlung ablenkten. Mir fehlte durchwegs die Tiefe, da sich die Charaktere kaum entwickelten und alles sehr oberflächlich ablief. Da die Autorin viele verschiedene Geschichten aufgreift und immer mehr verschiedene Personen eine Briefkonferenz beginnen, kommt es zwischendurch zu einem ziemlichen Kuddelmuddel und auch hier gab es wieder Unterhaltungen, die ich für unnötig empfunden habe. Für mich wirkten auch die Briefe/Mails nicht sehr realistisch, da es kaum Stilunterschiede zwischen den Personen gibt und die meisten eben diesen quietschfröhlichen Stil verwenden, der mich persönlich leider gar nicht anspricht.
FAZIT:
Natürlich gab es in dem Buch auch einige Stellen, die mir gut gefallen haben und grundsätzlich ist die Idee der Geschichte gut, doch die Charakterentwicklung fehlte vollkommen, genauso wie die Tiefe. Dass der Schreibstil mir nicht gefallen hat, ist Geschmackssache aber rundum war das Buch für mich eine große Enttäuschung. Leider.
Der Klappentext des Buches hat mich neugierig gemacht. Eine zerbrochene Freundschaft, die wieder auflebt - was für ein schöner Gedanke! Ich freute mich auf tiefgründige Beziehungen, ein vorsichtiges Wiederannähern der Protagonisten und viele, viele emotionale Momente. Leider konnte mich das Buch aber von Anfang an nicht mitreißen. Enttäuschenderweise musste ich feststellen, das Aggie und Rosie schon nach einem einzigen Brief wieder ein Herz und eine Seele zu sein schienen und somit fiel schon einmal die wichtigste Beziehungsentwicklung, auf die ich mich gefreut habe, weg.
Dazu kam, das mir der Schreibstil leider gar nicht zusagte. Er ist sehr aufgesetzt fröhlich, mit viel zu vielen Ausschweifungen, welche vielleicht einen tieferen Einblick in das Leben und den Charakter der Person ermöglichen sollen, aber eigentlich nicht unbedingt nötig waren und nur von der Haupthandlung ablenkten. Mir fehlte durchwegs die Tiefe, da sich die Charaktere kaum entwickelten und alles sehr oberflächlich ablief. Da die Autorin viele verschiedene Geschichten aufgreift und immer mehr verschiedene Personen eine Briefkonferenz beginnen, kommt es zwischendurch zu einem ziemlichen Kuddelmuddel und auch hier gab es wieder Unterhaltungen, die ich für unnötig empfunden habe. Für mich wirkten auch die Briefe/Mails nicht sehr realistisch, da es kaum Stilunterschiede zwischen den Personen gibt und die meisten eben diesen quietschfröhlichen Stil verwenden, der mich persönlich leider gar nicht anspricht.
FAZIT:
Natürlich gab es in dem Buch auch einige Stellen, die mir gut gefallen haben und grundsätzlich ist die Idee der Geschichte gut, doch die Charakterentwicklung fehlte vollkommen, genauso wie die Tiefe. Dass der Schreibstil mir nicht gefallen hat, ist Geschmackssache aber rundum war das Buch für mich eine große Enttäuschung. Leider.
February 4, 2019
It’s not often I refer to books as being beautiful but the story of two friends and their hope of reconciliation through letters pulled so strongly at my heart.
I usually read books from the darker side of fiction but now and again it’s always a breath of fresh air to slip a book like this into my reading pile that concentrates on love and relationships but amongst family and friends.
‘Dear Rosie Hughes’ was an emotional read for me for so many different reasons. It was wonderful to read a narrative that mirrored reality so accurately and those who have left loved ones behind whether for war or due to estrangement would probably resonate with this book a lot more.
The sense of community and hope that the characters offer ‘Rosie’ whilst at war was heart-warming and I was rooting for her to get back home to them safely.
The use of imagery was superb. I could visualise the desert in Iraq and Kuwait and it really created such a realistic image in my mind as if I was there myself. The writing was fluent and full of emotion and I was feeling every sensation that the characters themselves were feeling.
You will feel many emotions when you read this book. It will take you on a rollercoaster of euphoria and then the sense of dread of how it will end will kick in. You will read this book until you reach the end just to know that they have achieved their ‘happy’ ending. It made me think of those in the middle east now and I secretly prayed that they have someone to write to them just to get them through. It’s astonishing how one letter can help a person so much.
A beautiful book full of sentiment that we could all relate to in some way. It will make you want to treasure your own friends because you never know what life may bring.
This is definitely one to add to your reading list.
🌟🌟🌟🌟 I would like to thank Claire Fenby @harperimpulse and Melanie Hudson for the copy of ‘Dear Rosie Hughes’ in exchange for an honest review. ‘Dear Rosie Hughes’ is available from the 1st of February 2019 so pre-order your copy today.
Zubs 💛💋
I usually read books from the darker side of fiction but now and again it’s always a breath of fresh air to slip a book like this into my reading pile that concentrates on love and relationships but amongst family and friends.
‘Dear Rosie Hughes’ was an emotional read for me for so many different reasons. It was wonderful to read a narrative that mirrored reality so accurately and those who have left loved ones behind whether for war or due to estrangement would probably resonate with this book a lot more.
The sense of community and hope that the characters offer ‘Rosie’ whilst at war was heart-warming and I was rooting for her to get back home to them safely.
The use of imagery was superb. I could visualise the desert in Iraq and Kuwait and it really created such a realistic image in my mind as if I was there myself. The writing was fluent and full of emotion and I was feeling every sensation that the characters themselves were feeling.
You will feel many emotions when you read this book. It will take you on a rollercoaster of euphoria and then the sense of dread of how it will end will kick in. You will read this book until you reach the end just to know that they have achieved their ‘happy’ ending. It made me think of those in the middle east now and I secretly prayed that they have someone to write to them just to get them through. It’s astonishing how one letter can help a person so much.
A beautiful book full of sentiment that we could all relate to in some way. It will make you want to treasure your own friends because you never know what life may bring.
This is definitely one to add to your reading list.
🌟🌟🌟🌟 I would like to thank Claire Fenby @harperimpulse and Melanie Hudson for the copy of ‘Dear Rosie Hughes’ in exchange for an honest review. ‘Dear Rosie Hughes’ is available from the 1st of February 2019 so pre-order your copy today.
Zubs 💛💋
February 8, 2019
When I started reading Dear Rosie Hughes it certainly wasn’t what I was expecting at all, but the book did not disappoint. The book starts off as correspondence between Rosie and Aggie, Rosie has just gone off to Kuwait to support the army as a Met Forcaster, Aggie who is a writer and Rosie’s childhood best friend finds out from Rosie’s dad about Rosie going off to war and after they’ve lost touch over the years seeks the opportunity to get back in touch with her friend via letter over the time that Rosie and Aggie are writing to each other, the reader is drawn into they’re lives before they lost touch during theyre time writing to each other and as the book draws to a close we see what they’re futures may be like, as they’ve searched for they’re dreams and been through they’re turmoils both Aggie and Rosie need to reflect to make themselves the people they’re meant to be. Aggie begins to write to Gethyn, Rosie’s doctor friend in the army and over time they’re friendship becomes more and as it draws closer to both Gethyn and Rosie to come home from Kuwait, Gethyn and Aggie make plans for they’re future. Can they find they’re happy ever after in each other ? Rosie figures out that she still loves her husband just as they’re divorce becomes final and seeks to find out if Josh feels the same, Can they put they’re grief and history aside and find each other again ? Melanie Hudson has drawn the reader into this book from the very first page and throughout the book, I can honestly say I’ve felt every emotion of the characters involved, I loved the book and was craving a happy ending for all involved. What a heartbreaking and true insight what it was like for anyone, let alone a women to be on the front line. Well done Melanie Hudson on this gorgeous book and I cannot wait to read your next one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2019
This book was so easy to get into I absolutely devoured it.
In Dear Rosie Hughes we meet Aggie. She rekindles her long lost friendship with Rosie when she learns from Rosie's dad that following the breakdown of her marriage, Rosie enlisted and has now shipped out to war.
They quickly pick up their old friendship where they left off (before a fall out) and start corresponding regularly through letters. This wonderful book takes you on a journey of friendship, love and rediscovery.
The book is written as a series of letters mainly between Rosie and Aggie, although we hear from Rosie's parents and fellow soldier Gethyn. I thought that it would take me a while to get into this kind of format, but it was the opposite. From the first letter I was absolutely hooked.
Hudson has a wonderful writing style that you feel like you are part of the friendship between Rosie and Aggie. I loved both characters and although their worlds were so very different, they still had so much common ground and history that it didn't matter to them that they were thousands of miles apart. I also adored Gethyn and the gentle nature of Rosie's dad.
Aggie's dating antics and her humour for dealing with her hurt were literally laugh out loud brilliant, which juxtaposed with Rosie's quiet internal battle made a perfect balance.
But be prepared for that ending as oh my. I have to be honest the ending was a little unsatisfying for me. I completely understand why it was done it just didn't sit well with me (I wanted the formulaic ending!).
I cannot recommend this book enough, it is a perfect feel good book and everyone should read it. I can't wait for Hudson's next offering.
A 5 star read for me.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Harper Impulse for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
September 2, 2020
I won't go through the whole story as other reviewers have done all that, so I'll keep my comments relatively brief. I've never been moved to do a book review before even though I read dozens each year on my Kindle; this one just has to be done, even if only to come with a "warning"!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book UNTIL THE END! One other reviewer has said that he/she was "crushed" by the ending and that it was totally unnecessary to be like that. I agree with that 100%.
I finished reading it late at night and absolutely sobbed my eyes out as I finished the book. It disturbed my sleep and, even now, in the cold light of day, I feel tears running down my face. Silly, I have to admit, as it's "only fiction" but all those characters had become so real for me so that the ending spoiled all that had gone before because I just knew how they too would all be devastated by the ending. I had to read the last part twice as I just couldn't believe what had happened - I thought (and hoped!) I'd misunderstood - but I hadn't. It came as such a SHOCK!
So, although I gave the book FIVE STARS, I would also add the caveat that, if you don't want to be utterly devastated by the denouement either, then DON'T READ IT!! .... which would admittedly be a shame as the rest of the book is beautifully written, funny whilst being full of pathos, etc. If there is any way you could skip over the local newspaper report which comes just before the last letter written by Rosie - although the report is dated the day after the date of her letter (and so pretend that that event reported had not taken place), then all would be well.
THE CHOICE IS YOURS! Have a box of tissues at the ready when you get to the end of the book!!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book UNTIL THE END! One other reviewer has said that he/she was "crushed" by the ending and that it was totally unnecessary to be like that. I agree with that 100%.
I finished reading it late at night and absolutely sobbed my eyes out as I finished the book. It disturbed my sleep and, even now, in the cold light of day, I feel tears running down my face. Silly, I have to admit, as it's "only fiction" but all those characters had become so real for me so that the ending spoiled all that had gone before because I just knew how they too would all be devastated by the ending. I had to read the last part twice as I just couldn't believe what had happened - I thought (and hoped!) I'd misunderstood - but I hadn't. It came as such a SHOCK!
So, although I gave the book FIVE STARS, I would also add the caveat that, if you don't want to be utterly devastated by the denouement either, then DON'T READ IT!! .... which would admittedly be a shame as the rest of the book is beautifully written, funny whilst being full of pathos, etc. If there is any way you could skip over the local newspaper report which comes just before the last letter written by Rosie - although the report is dated the day after the date of her letter (and so pretend that that event reported had not taken place), then all would be well.
THE CHOICE IS YOURS! Have a box of tissues at the ready when you get to the end of the book!!
March 4, 2021
This book was placed in the romance section of my local library, and while I can see how the cover would suggest this is a romance novel it is far more focused on friendship, family, grief and overcoming fears and challenges than it is about a romantic relationship. Fair warning though of you hate abrupt endings that leave you with more questions than answers this is not the novel for you. I feel the epistolary format of this novel was the perfect medium to capture the intimacy and vulnerability of Rosie and Aggie's story, as well as the complexity of relationships between different people and how the same event or message is communicated differently to different people. Hudson also explored the experience of a female member of the armed forces (Rosie is not technically a soldier, but a civilian) in modern warfare. I have read countless books about female spies/pilots/nurses/auxiliary forces where the bravery, pluck and intelligence of the female character is centre stage and the struggles with male colleagues is merely an obstacle to triumphantly overcome to a swelling score. Instead Hudson captures the drudgery, disillusionment, grief and dehumanising aspects of war, specifically the way it almost demands women forfeit their feminity to be a 'good soldier'. She also explores a conflict that does not get much airplay the 2003 invasion of Iraq. This was a heartfelt story about the impotence of female friendship and facing the challenges of life had on.
January 6, 2019
This book will stay with me for a long time.
I honestly don’t know where to start, I’m still reeling a little, even though I guess what was coming (there are no spoilers here).
It has taken me just shy of three weeks over Christmas and New Year to read this book, its format helped me to read on my commutes with easy stopping points. To have diary entries for each of the characters in Rosie’s life made for a well-rounded reading experience.
I loved the humor of the characters and their personalities shone through the words, I could be seen laughing and sobbing, depending on the point at the book on the 07:02 train to work each morning.
I know the author used some experience she had from her time in the forces and that Rosie and co are fictional but reading this story brings home some of the more personal, unreported issues which come with combat. My respect for service personnel only grows.
Yes, there were bits of the story I would have liked expanding on, I’m a very nosey reader after all but once readers finish the book, they will understand why getting all the answers isn’t always possible.
I thank #Netgalley and #HarperCollins for trusting me to give an honest review about a book which has certainly wedged its way into the top three I’ve read in the last twelve months. I will be gifting a copy of this book to several friends.
I honestly don’t know where to start, I’m still reeling a little, even though I guess what was coming (there are no spoilers here).
It has taken me just shy of three weeks over Christmas and New Year to read this book, its format helped me to read on my commutes with easy stopping points. To have diary entries for each of the characters in Rosie’s life made for a well-rounded reading experience.
I loved the humor of the characters and their personalities shone through the words, I could be seen laughing and sobbing, depending on the point at the book on the 07:02 train to work each morning.
I know the author used some experience she had from her time in the forces and that Rosie and co are fictional but reading this story brings home some of the more personal, unreported issues which come with combat. My respect for service personnel only grows.
Yes, there were bits of the story I would have liked expanding on, I’m a very nosey reader after all but once readers finish the book, they will understand why getting all the answers isn’t always possible.
I thank #Netgalley and #HarperCollins for trusting me to give an honest review about a book which has certainly wedged its way into the top three I’ve read in the last twelve months. I will be gifting a copy of this book to several friends.
July 28, 2021
"The best friendships are worth fighting for…" and that's so true. When you start a friendship, you are convinced nothing can break that bond and you really mean that. Sometimes though, life happens and cracks start to show. The pain is too much and forgive and forget is not on your mind.
Many years later, life happens again and it's time to fill up those cracks and rekindle the friendship.
Little by little the author reveals what has happened before and how the girls open their hears to each other. They talk about every day life: Rosie in a war zone in the desert and Aggie in the UK. They both struggle with the past and are trying to built a future. They promise to see each other real soon...
This book is a collection of mails, letters and other messages going back and forth between the two friends, but also between the girls and their family and other members of the village. I really liked this format.
The story certainly touched my heart. I often found myself smiling, but from time to time the author slipped in a real shocker too. Some brought tears to my eyes. I had to read that certain part twice to be sure my eyes did not fool me.
I loved this book. It was beautiful and honest. 5 stars
Many years later, life happens again and it's time to fill up those cracks and rekindle the friendship.
Little by little the author reveals what has happened before and how the girls open their hears to each other. They talk about every day life: Rosie in a war zone in the desert and Aggie in the UK. They both struggle with the past and are trying to built a future. They promise to see each other real soon...
This book is a collection of mails, letters and other messages going back and forth between the two friends, but also between the girls and their family and other members of the village. I really liked this format.
The story certainly touched my heart. I often found myself smiling, but from time to time the author slipped in a real shocker too. Some brought tears to my eyes. I had to read that certain part twice to be sure my eyes did not fool me.
I loved this book. It was beautiful and honest. 5 stars
July 27, 2022
4.5🌟
I really enjoyed this book as a quick pit stop between heavier books and a nice bit of chick lit to get my book count up! I had also wanted to read it since hearing from Melanie Hudson on the radio.
I found it poignant and I can relate to the characters as I come from a military family and have sent letters to my husband who has been deployed. I found the characters likable and funny, the writing was the kind of thing my family and I typically write or say to each other..
Now the ending..this genuinely had me shocked. I wasn't expecting it and perhaps I should have given the nature of war but I did not see it coming and I think that's what made this book a 4.5 for me. I expected a happily ever after and I would have been happy with that but this end has made me admire the author that much more for doing something different. Perhaps I'm just oblivious and others could have seen it a mile off but I did not.
There were a couple of things left unfinished, like the relationship with Oliver.. I must admit there was a time where I thought Rosie would adopt him but alas that did not happen!
Highly recommend this book for some light, fun reading. I thoroughly enjoy reading books based on letters etc so that was just a huge bonus for me!
I really enjoyed this book as a quick pit stop between heavier books and a nice bit of chick lit to get my book count up! I had also wanted to read it since hearing from Melanie Hudson on the radio.
I found it poignant and I can relate to the characters as I come from a military family and have sent letters to my husband who has been deployed. I found the characters likable and funny, the writing was the kind of thing my family and I typically write or say to each other..
Now the ending..this genuinely had me shocked. I wasn't expecting it and perhaps I should have given the nature of war but I did not see it coming and I think that's what made this book a 4.5 for me. I expected a happily ever after and I would have been happy with that but this end has made me admire the author that much more for doing something different. Perhaps I'm just oblivious and others could have seen it a mile off but I did not.
There were a couple of things left unfinished, like the relationship with Oliver.. I must admit there was a time where I thought Rosie would adopt him but alas that did not happen!
Highly recommend this book for some light, fun reading. I thoroughly enjoy reading books based on letters etc so that was just a huge bonus for me!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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