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Life Happens
Should some secrets be left buried forever? Three girls, three lives connected since the eighties, three husbands, three love stories ... some life-changing secrets and one momentous holiday. In 2019, three couples go on a sun-soaked holiday to the Mediterranean. It was meant to be a time of reunion, relaxation, reflection and fun, but it turns into something quite different. Best friends Rachel, Grace and Jen discover they don't know each other at all, when lies are uncovered in Cyprus. Sexuality, infidelity and family relationships cast a long shadow over a sunny vacation. In the heat and magical island setting, the past and the present clashes, with devastating consequences, rocking the very foundation of their bond. The truth begins to emerge ... can the women's friendship survive? From the author of the ever-popular 'Aphrodite Trilogy', also set in Cyprus.
336 pages, Paperback
Published May 26, 2022
245 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Catherine Knights
18 books14 followersSarah Catherine Knights is a British novelist, short story writer and photographer. She has written five novels: the Aphrodite Trilogy, made up of Aphrodite’s Child, Now is All There Is and Shadows in the Rock and also the standalone novel, Love is a State of Mind. Her latest novel, Life Happens was published on May 26th, 2022. This is also a standalone novel but she is thinking about a sequel. She is also working on a collection of short stories.
Sarah has lived in the beautiful town of Malmesbury since 1985. She came to Wiltshire, like so many others, because her husband was in the Royal Air Force at Lyneham.
Sarah’s main interest is obviously writing but she reads avidly and always has a book on the go: Clare Chambers, Ann Tyler, Kristin Hannah, Elif Shafak, Matt Haig, Jeanine Cummins, Meg Mason are just a few of the authors she’s read in the last few months. She also loves modern music and listens to Coldplay, Sam Smith, Billie Eilish, Tom Walker, George Michael and Ed Sheeran, just to name a few! On the active side, she loves walking, swimming (in the sea if possible, but she does lengths in the pool to keep fit) and going to the gym; she spends hours ambling through the surrounding fields with her black labrador, Mabel and as she walks, she thinks about her next writing project. Sarah’s always had dogs and couldn’t imagine life without one.
Sarah studied English Literature at Birmingham University from 1972 to 1975, did a postgraduate certificate of teaching immediately afterwards and went on to do a Creative Writing MA at Bath Spa University in 2012. It was here that she started writing her debut novel, 'Aphrodite's Child' which was self-published at the beginning of 2014.
The story grew out of the family's posting to Cyprus with the RAF in the early nineties. While there, Sarah realised it would make a great setting for a novel – with its microcosm of English life, the camp was a strange place to live. At that time, there was little or no communication with the UK and being somewhat cut off from the island too, life inside the camp became intensified. It sometimes felt like a prolonged Mediterranean holiday with dramas thrown in. It was easy to dream up a fictional storyline.
Having been an English teacher of both secondary level children and foreign business people, Sarah has now retired to concentrate on photography and writing. Her three children have flown the nest but often come home for chaotic weekends of dog walks, laughter and noisy meals around the large kitchen table. Her oldest daughter now lives in San Fransisco with her husband and three young children so they were sorely missed during the pandemic. Sarah and husband Peter have visited several times and can’t wait to go back. Her son lives in London and is a photographer and musician and her youngest daughter lives in Brighton and is about to become a detective.
The whole family, especially Peter her husband, have been very supportive and patient with Sarah's late career change as a novelist, always willing to help with the plot or reading a new draft.
Sarah regrets not finding writing earlier in life but is certainly making up for lost time now.
Sarah has lived in the beautiful town of Malmesbury since 1985. She came to Wiltshire, like so many others, because her husband was in the Royal Air Force at Lyneham.
Sarah’s main interest is obviously writing but she reads avidly and always has a book on the go: Clare Chambers, Ann Tyler, Kristin Hannah, Elif Shafak, Matt Haig, Jeanine Cummins, Meg Mason are just a few of the authors she’s read in the last few months. She also loves modern music and listens to Coldplay, Sam Smith, Billie Eilish, Tom Walker, George Michael and Ed Sheeran, just to name a few! On the active side, she loves walking, swimming (in the sea if possible, but she does lengths in the pool to keep fit) and going to the gym; she spends hours ambling through the surrounding fields with her black labrador, Mabel and as she walks, she thinks about her next writing project. Sarah’s always had dogs and couldn’t imagine life without one.
Sarah studied English Literature at Birmingham University from 1972 to 1975, did a postgraduate certificate of teaching immediately afterwards and went on to do a Creative Writing MA at Bath Spa University in 2012. It was here that she started writing her debut novel, 'Aphrodite's Child' which was self-published at the beginning of 2014.
The story grew out of the family's posting to Cyprus with the RAF in the early nineties. While there, Sarah realised it would make a great setting for a novel – with its microcosm of English life, the camp was a strange place to live. At that time, there was little or no communication with the UK and being somewhat cut off from the island too, life inside the camp became intensified. It sometimes felt like a prolonged Mediterranean holiday with dramas thrown in. It was easy to dream up a fictional storyline.
Having been an English teacher of both secondary level children and foreign business people, Sarah has now retired to concentrate on photography and writing. Her three children have flown the nest but often come home for chaotic weekends of dog walks, laughter and noisy meals around the large kitchen table. Her oldest daughter now lives in San Fransisco with her husband and three young children so they were sorely missed during the pandemic. Sarah and husband Peter have visited several times and can’t wait to go back. Her son lives in London and is a photographer and musician and her youngest daughter lives in Brighton and is about to become a detective.
The whole family, especially Peter her husband, have been very supportive and patient with Sarah's late career change as a novelist, always willing to help with the plot or reading a new draft.
Sarah regrets not finding writing earlier in life but is certainly making up for lost time now.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 25, 2022
Sarah Catherine Knights' book is a story of friendships made which stand the test of time into married life and kids and beyond. Only all is not what it seems and even if, on the surface, the relationships appear to be sound, secrets lurk that threaten to make themselves known, by design or by discovery.
Knights' novel centres around three friends, Jen, Rachel and Grace who met at university and have remained close since those days. Their husbands, Mike, Zach and Leo respectively, make up the six who share a holiday in Cyprus, in a romantic idyll of rustic romance, with a pool and friendly locals at the taverna, which all adds to the idea that this will be the perfect get-together.
However, whilst the friends get along for the most part, there are tensions, previously undiscovered or discussed between partners and also there are things from the past that become more tangible as the nuances between characters are noticed, as well as revelations from the present as the book progresses.
I liked this book very much. I think that the characters are credibly drawn and I liked the way that Knights' narrative is structured and the way that details about the characters are revealed. It is a very easy book to read and I soon found myself wanting to see how it all ended: the hints of conflict and secret dalliances as well as how the suspicions gleaned would be dealt with - should the characters confront or continue to gloss over them?
If I have a criticism, it is the way that the book ends. I sincerely hope that Knights plans to revisit these characters, especially Jen as I felt that there were unresolved issues in her story especially, for which I would want to know more. However, in fairness, the book is rounded in that it starts with a photo and ends similarly.
All in all, this is a good story which has been well thought out and delivered with pace, revealed with control and with characters who are distinct, in a location that evokes all the delights of the Mediterranean - a perfect light summer read.
Knights' novel centres around three friends, Jen, Rachel and Grace who met at university and have remained close since those days. Their husbands, Mike, Zach and Leo respectively, make up the six who share a holiday in Cyprus, in a romantic idyll of rustic romance, with a pool and friendly locals at the taverna, which all adds to the idea that this will be the perfect get-together.
However, whilst the friends get along for the most part, there are tensions, previously undiscovered or discussed between partners and also there are things from the past that become more tangible as the nuances between characters are noticed, as well as revelations from the present as the book progresses.
I liked this book very much. I think that the characters are credibly drawn and I liked the way that Knights' narrative is structured and the way that details about the characters are revealed. It is a very easy book to read and I soon found myself wanting to see how it all ended: the hints of conflict and secret dalliances as well as how the suspicions gleaned would be dealt with - should the characters confront or continue to gloss over them?
If I have a criticism, it is the way that the book ends. I sincerely hope that Knights plans to revisit these characters, especially Jen as I felt that there were unresolved issues in her story especially, for which I would want to know more. However, in fairness, the book is rounded in that it starts with a photo and ends similarly.
All in all, this is a good story which has been well thought out and delivered with pace, revealed with control and with characters who are distinct, in a location that evokes all the delights of the Mediterranean - a perfect light summer read.
August 24, 2022
Life Happens is an incredible and poignant book that stands out amongst its genre and one that captivated me from start to finish with ease! Life Happens was a phenomenal and moving read and an incredibly memorable one that I will struggle to forget for a long time thanks to the compelling story and extraordinary characters the reader meets along the way! That is why I already recommend that you lovely readers have a read of Life Happens, however, if you need more convincing then continue to read to learn more!
The story of Life Happens is quite simply sensational as well as thought-provoking and moving! Life Happens is a book that deals with many poignant themes and twists and turns and all of these topics are weaved perfectly together, and the outcome is a beautiful piece of literature that will stay prominent in readers’ minds for many weeks upon completion. To write I am astounded by Life Happens is an understatement, this captivating book captured me and held me captive until the very end!
Sarah Catherine Knights is a remarkable author and a genius; she is a genius because she has expertly weaved numerous themes throughout her book Life Happens, in a flawless way in which all subjects blend perfectly together. Life Happens is an incredible book that has thrilled and amazed me; the gripping nature of this novel makes Life Happens not only a stellar story but also a poignant one that should be read by everybody. If you do choose to read this book, then you will not be disappointed because it is a moving, compelling, and entertaining book that should not be missed!
As I am madly in love with Life Happens and think it is a captivating and poignant novel with a moving and memorable plot, I have no choice but to award it a dazzling five stars because it deserves this!
The story of Life Happens is quite simply sensational as well as thought-provoking and moving! Life Happens is a book that deals with many poignant themes and twists and turns and all of these topics are weaved perfectly together, and the outcome is a beautiful piece of literature that will stay prominent in readers’ minds for many weeks upon completion. To write I am astounded by Life Happens is an understatement, this captivating book captured me and held me captive until the very end!
Sarah Catherine Knights is a remarkable author and a genius; she is a genius because she has expertly weaved numerous themes throughout her book Life Happens, in a flawless way in which all subjects blend perfectly together. Life Happens is an incredible book that has thrilled and amazed me; the gripping nature of this novel makes Life Happens not only a stellar story but also a poignant one that should be read by everybody. If you do choose to read this book, then you will not be disappointed because it is a moving, compelling, and entertaining book that should not be missed!
As I am madly in love with Life Happens and think it is a captivating and poignant novel with a moving and memorable plot, I have no choice but to award it a dazzling five stars because it deserves this!
May 29, 2023
Nicely written story with interesting characters
I enjoyed this first book, even though it doesn’t really have an ending, you do understand that it comes as a series. The characters are very well described and it sounds like so many other friendship groups in real life. Having lived in Cyprus and various military bases I love reading the familiar place names and way of life cleverly woven into the story too. Luckily I enjoy it immensely but I know a lot that feel just as Rachael in the book did and it can be a real struggle.
I enjoyed this first book, even though it doesn’t really have an ending, you do understand that it comes as a series. The characters are very well described and it sounds like so many other friendship groups in real life. Having lived in Cyprus and various military bases I love reading the familiar place names and way of life cleverly woven into the story too. Luckily I enjoy it immensely but I know a lot that feel just as Rachael in the book did and it can be a real struggle.
December 8, 2022
Formulaic
Followed the form, a little disjointed, and stilted. It was ok but to be honest a little boring really. The only good thing was the description of Cyprus a fabulous place by all accounts
Followed the form, a little disjointed, and stilted. It was ok but to be honest a little boring really. The only good thing was the description of Cyprus a fabulous place by all accounts
July 30, 2025
I rarely write reviews but felt I must on this occasion. It is such a long time since I read a book like this, I just couldn't put it down, hence the 5 stars. Now reading the sequel, which I know is going to be just as good.
November 30, 2025
Disappointing ending.
I enjoyed the book and the characters, but it needed an epilogue. What happened to these best friends, their husbands and the babies? I feel like the book wasn't finished.
I enjoyed the book and the characters, but it needed an epilogue. What happened to these best friends, their husbands and the babies? I feel like the book wasn't finished.
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February 11, 2025Life happens
Enjoyed this book , an easy read thoughtfulness of friendships .Liked the way the characters developed showed loyalty between close friends .
Enjoyed this book , an easy read thoughtfulness of friendships .Liked the way the characters developed showed loyalty between close friends .
June 17, 2025
Nice beach read whilst in Cyprus
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews