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The Winter’s Fail
Escaping her boring London temping job to spend Christmas in glamorous Surrey seems like an excellent move to Emmy. (Shame about the reason for her escape: she’s secretly knocked up by her former boss. Unfortunate. Understatement.)
From the moment single dad Jack dazzles her on stage at his daughter’s nativity, the sparks fly. He’s too good to be true. He runs a non-profit! He adores children—and animals! He’s heaven dressed up in a Christmas jumper! He dotes on his blind labrador! His house looks like a Christmas movie set! He has some seriously sexy fireside moves on his furry rug! Oh—and she could swear he wants her.
Oh dear #1: he also wants her skillset. And she agrees to work for him. Making him her new boss. Exactly.
Oh dear #2: she has no earthly idea how to tell this guy she’s pregnant by—you’ve got it—her old boss.
Emmy seems determined to self-sabotage headlong into an epic winter’s fail.
The Winter’s Fail is a multi-POV story with a principal romance storyline—Jack and Emmy—and a couple of spicy, glamorous and amusing sub-plots.
There are big fat HEAs all round (both the literal and figurative kind. Ahem).
From the moment single dad Jack dazzles her on stage at his daughter’s nativity, the sparks fly. He’s too good to be true. He runs a non-profit! He adores children—and animals! He’s heaven dressed up in a Christmas jumper! He dotes on his blind labrador! His house looks like a Christmas movie set! He has some seriously sexy fireside moves on his furry rug! Oh—and she could swear he wants her.
Oh dear #1: he also wants her skillset. And she agrees to work for him. Making him her new boss. Exactly.
Oh dear #2: she has no earthly idea how to tell this guy she’s pregnant by—you’ve got it—her old boss.
Emmy seems determined to self-sabotage headlong into an epic winter’s fail.
The Winter’s Fail is a multi-POV story with a principal romance storyline—Jack and Emmy—and a couple of spicy, glamorous and amusing sub-plots.
There are big fat HEAs all round (both the literal and figurative kind. Ahem).
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 12, 2021
65 people are currently reading
224 people want to read
About the author
Sara Madderson
18 books480 followersI like to change things up! I spent my 20s as a banker and my 30s bringing up small children and running my own fashion brand (Madderson London).
Now, aged 43, I find myself writing, and I wonder why I didn’t do it sooner.
I’ve always loved writing. My daughter Tilly has an old notebook of mine filled with half-finished stories and accompanying drawings. I’ve read for as long as I can remember, guzzling up books so quickly that my mum always protested that I couldn’t be reading them properly. You can see my original, dog-eared version of A Little Princess in my photo. Its protagonist, Sara Crewe, is one of my all-time favourite heroines (alongside Anne Shirley, naturally).
I published my first book, Metamorphosis, in February 2020, right before lockdown happened. It’s a non-fiction book about escaping from our cocoons and living as a butterfly. As lockdown progressed, I found escapism in devouring lots of delicious chick-lit (for want of a better title) and I realised I had a few novels in me too. I have loved every single minute of writing them.
I’ve published my books independently, and I love the freedom it provides. The world of independent publishing is fascinating and so empowering—I’m delighted to share more of my experiences of self-publishing if you’re interested.
Now, aged 43, I find myself writing, and I wonder why I didn’t do it sooner.
I’ve always loved writing. My daughter Tilly has an old notebook of mine filled with half-finished stories and accompanying drawings. I’ve read for as long as I can remember, guzzling up books so quickly that my mum always protested that I couldn’t be reading them properly. You can see my original, dog-eared version of A Little Princess in my photo. Its protagonist, Sara Crewe, is one of my all-time favourite heroines (alongside Anne Shirley, naturally).
I published my first book, Metamorphosis, in February 2020, right before lockdown happened. It’s a non-fiction book about escaping from our cocoons and living as a butterfly. As lockdown progressed, I found escapism in devouring lots of delicious chick-lit (for want of a better title) and I realised I had a few novels in me too. I have loved every single minute of writing them.
I’ve published my books independently, and I love the freedom it provides. The world of independent publishing is fascinating and so empowering—I’m delighted to share more of my experiences of self-publishing if you’re interested.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
December 30, 2022
I couldn’t put it down!
I’m not one to sit and read non-stop until I finish a book, but I couldn’t put this book down. I was enthralled by all the intertwining stories, with Jack and Emmy at the center. Even though there are plenty of exes and wobbly family members woven into this story, there are no bad guys, only deeply flawed humans doing the best they can. As soon as one character started veering off the path into unredeemable territory, the author gently pulled the curtain back to show us the motivations behind the questionable behavior. And at the center of the carousel are Jack and Emmy. Deeply attracted to each other at first sight, with aligning values and missions but plenty of baggage to handle. And they’re oh, so schmexy together! I loved how layered this story is, and I loved everything about this book!
I’m not one to sit and read non-stop until I finish a book, but I couldn’t put this book down. I was enthralled by all the intertwining stories, with Jack and Emmy at the center. Even though there are plenty of exes and wobbly family members woven into this story, there are no bad guys, only deeply flawed humans doing the best they can. As soon as one character started veering off the path into unredeemable territory, the author gently pulled the curtain back to show us the motivations behind the questionable behavior. And at the center of the carousel are Jack and Emmy. Deeply attracted to each other at first sight, with aligning values and missions but plenty of baggage to handle. And they’re oh, so schmexy together! I loved how layered this story is, and I loved everything about this book!
March 14, 2021
As soon as I saw this was being offered to read and review, I knew I hadto get involved.
After loving Parents and Teachers I had a feeling this would be another fabulous read.
I wasn't wrong!😚
Again we were thrown into the world of big bucks, fashion and sex scandals.
The story focused on Emmy, Rosa and Stacey, all strong independent women, fighting for their men, their wealth and their families.
My favorite story was the love story between Emmy and Jack, although I was expecting more friction between the Exes involved.
I really enjoy the way this author writes, all to the point and in parts, funny.
I recommend this to all who love a bit of raunchy, scandelous gossipy reads. Fun and fast.
I was so excited to read more from Astrid - my favorite character from #parentsandteachers
Thank you so much @annecater14 for my copy
After loving Parents and Teachers I had a feeling this would be another fabulous read.
I wasn't wrong!😚
Again we were thrown into the world of big bucks, fashion and sex scandals.
The story focused on Emmy, Rosa and Stacey, all strong independent women, fighting for their men, their wealth and their families.
My favorite story was the love story between Emmy and Jack, although I was expecting more friction between the Exes involved.
I really enjoy the way this author writes, all to the point and in parts, funny.
I recommend this to all who love a bit of raunchy, scandelous gossipy reads. Fun and fast.
I was so excited to read more from Astrid - my favorite character from #parentsandteachers
Thank you so much @annecater14 for my copy
April 28, 2023
A delightful tale! Amazing characters and beautifully interwoven plots.
March 5, 2021
Having read the author’s previous book Parents and Teachers I couldn’t wait to read this book and it didn’t disappoint.
Emmy returns from her time in India, starts a new job and an affair with her boss. She then finds herself pregnant with his child not long after her boss is accused of sexually harassing other colleagues. Emmy is still coming to terms with her pregnancy when she reaches out to her sister Rosa and ends up staying with her. It’s through Rosa that she meets the very handsome Jack, ex husband of Stacey.
Emmy’s sister Rosa is a social media influencer with millions of followers. She has the perfect life and perfect image but when Rosa’s image is sabotaged by the most unlikeliest person her life changes forever. Can Rosa recover from this major setback and can she revive her damaged public image?
Stacey knows Rosa as their daughters go to the same school, a super mum and single parent to 4 children. Stacey is enjoying the single life after divorcing her husband Jack. Everyone was very surprised including Jack when Stacey decided she wanted a divorce. She has been living a carefree life enjoying her single status until a life changing discovery makes her reassess her life.
Although Emmy and Rosa are sisters they are completely different. Rosa appears to have the perfect life filled with stability whilst Emmy floats through life. Rosa tries to deal with any issues head-on whilst Emmy appears to bury her head hoping that things will resolve themselves, example of which is the pregnancy which takes her a while to accept. Stacey goes through a lot but she always has Jack by her side. Although they are divorced they’re still there for each other which is heartwarming.
I loved this book. It had a brilliant storyline and likable characters. The chemistry between Emmy and Jack was instantaneous from the moment that they met but I did wonder how things would pan out. Especially as there was this will she/won’t she tell him she’s pregnant and if she does how will this affect the way that he sees her. The social media aspect of Rosa’s storyline was spot on and is depicted in a very real way.
Essentially this book is about the decisions that each character or the people that surround them make and the consequences associated with their chosen path.
One little aspect I adored was how Sara integrated characters from her previous books into this one. It was nice to see what had happened to them after their respective book had ended but also to see their interaction with new characters. The Wizard of Oz reference was the perfect touch!
Books written by Sara are never disappointing and which I always look forward too. They transport you to the world of the wealthy, privileged, filled with glamour and steeped in luxury that you never want to leave. I am already looking forward to Sara’s next book.
A book and author that I would highly recommend.
I received a gifted copy for an honest review.
Emmy returns from her time in India, starts a new job and an affair with her boss. She then finds herself pregnant with his child not long after her boss is accused of sexually harassing other colleagues. Emmy is still coming to terms with her pregnancy when she reaches out to her sister Rosa and ends up staying with her. It’s through Rosa that she meets the very handsome Jack, ex husband of Stacey.
Emmy’s sister Rosa is a social media influencer with millions of followers. She has the perfect life and perfect image but when Rosa’s image is sabotaged by the most unlikeliest person her life changes forever. Can Rosa recover from this major setback and can she revive her damaged public image?
Stacey knows Rosa as their daughters go to the same school, a super mum and single parent to 4 children. Stacey is enjoying the single life after divorcing her husband Jack. Everyone was very surprised including Jack when Stacey decided she wanted a divorce. She has been living a carefree life enjoying her single status until a life changing discovery makes her reassess her life.
Although Emmy and Rosa are sisters they are completely different. Rosa appears to have the perfect life filled with stability whilst Emmy floats through life. Rosa tries to deal with any issues head-on whilst Emmy appears to bury her head hoping that things will resolve themselves, example of which is the pregnancy which takes her a while to accept. Stacey goes through a lot but she always has Jack by her side. Although they are divorced they’re still there for each other which is heartwarming.
I loved this book. It had a brilliant storyline and likable characters. The chemistry between Emmy and Jack was instantaneous from the moment that they met but I did wonder how things would pan out. Especially as there was this will she/won’t she tell him she’s pregnant and if she does how will this affect the way that he sees her. The social media aspect of Rosa’s storyline was spot on and is depicted in a very real way.
Essentially this book is about the decisions that each character or the people that surround them make and the consequences associated with their chosen path.
One little aspect I adored was how Sara integrated characters from her previous books into this one. It was nice to see what had happened to them after their respective book had ended but also to see their interaction with new characters. The Wizard of Oz reference was the perfect touch!
Books written by Sara are never disappointing and which I always look forward too. They transport you to the world of the wealthy, privileged, filled with glamour and steeped in luxury that you never want to leave. I am already looking forward to Sara’s next book.
A book and author that I would highly recommend.
I received a gifted copy for an honest review.
January 16, 2023
The first book of the year, hooray! (And finally getting around to jotting down a few sentences about it 15 days later... Oh well. 🤷🏻♀️) After reading two other books (and a dirty novella featuring Captain von Trapp - if you know, you know) by Sara Madderson at the end of last year, I downloaded a bunch of them... and then promptly saved them to read "at some point." We all know that usually means that they sit on my Kindle and never get downloaded/opened, but FB's targeted ads and Sara's reader group did not want to happen and I kept seeing this book EVERYWHERE. So, I thought "why not?" and dove in. I knew Jack and Emmy from the first book I read,
The Rest is History: An Opposites-Attract, Teacher Romance
, and I really liked them, so the story should be a total win, right?
About 10% into the book, I was not sure that this was the book for me... but I couldn't put it down. This was one of the last books that Sara Madderson wrote in 3rd person POV and frankly I was glad for that. This story not only was Emmy and Jack's story, but Jack's ex-wife's story as well. I wasn't prepared for that, nor was I prepared to dislike everyone as much as I did for a good portion of the story, because I adored them all in The Rest is History. Jack and Stacey are wonderful co-parents and their interactions with their kids is wonderful. Emmy's interactions with the kids is wonderful. Emmy's sister and her kids were not so wonderful, but truly stepped up. And Jack needed to pull his head out of his ass for a good portion of the book - yes, I understand that finding out the girl you are interested in (and have hooked up with) is pregnant with another guy's kid (NOT a spoiler)- that was pre-anything with you and you have some huge trust issues - is a shock and yes, you needed time to process. But he was being deliberately cruel at times, then beating himself up for it and trying to be all hard. Dude, get over yourself. Not that I think that Emmy delaying telling him was right. Not at all. But that's a whole other story. But when they both have their grovel? Oh hell, I was a goner for all these people.
This book went from a 3.5 to a 4.5 star just with that - and I've now been inspired to read Sara's entire backlist this year. Because why not?
About 10% into the book, I was not sure that this was the book for me... but I couldn't put it down. This was one of the last books that Sara Madderson wrote in 3rd person POV and frankly I was glad for that. This story not only was Emmy and Jack's story, but Jack's ex-wife's story as well. I wasn't prepared for that, nor was I prepared to dislike everyone as much as I did for a good portion of the story, because I adored them all in The Rest is History. Jack and Stacey are wonderful co-parents and their interactions with their kids is wonderful. Emmy's interactions with the kids is wonderful. Emmy's sister and her kids were not so wonderful, but truly stepped up. And Jack needed to pull his head out of his ass for a good portion of the book - yes, I understand that finding out the girl you are interested in (and have hooked up with) is pregnant with another guy's kid (NOT a spoiler)- that was pre-anything with you and you have some huge trust issues - is a shock and yes, you needed time to process. But he was being deliberately cruel at times, then beating himself up for it and trying to be all hard. Dude, get over yourself. Not that I think that Emmy delaying telling him was right. Not at all. But that's a whole other story. But when they both have their grovel? Oh hell, I was a goner for all these people.
This book went from a 3.5 to a 4.5 star just with that - and I've now been inspired to read Sara's entire backlist this year. Because why not?
March 2, 2021
Well, Sara’s done it again with her fabulous new book - I loved it just as much as the first two!
It was lovely to get to know Sara’s new characters (and to catch up with old favourites!) I just can’t get enough of the lives of the rich and beautiful. The gorgeous property descriptions and settings are equally glamorous and exciting and I even googled one of the locations - Annabelle’s at Christmas - Wow!
Each character’s storyline was so compelling, but I particularly enjoyed the glimpse into the world of influencers and ‘cancel culture’ through Rosa, and how her lifestyle affected her teenage daughter. It was actually quite chilling and really made me think about the amount of time I spend on social media!
I also loved Jack and Emmy’s will they/won’t they romance and developed a huge crush on Jack (who wouldn’t!) but I won’t say too much about that, because my husband follows me! But Emmy is one lucky lady!
Sara’s usual classy, intelligent and witty writing style together with plenty of drama, passion and suspense made The Winter’s Fail a massive hit for me and I would highly recommend!
It was lovely to get to know Sara’s new characters (and to catch up with old favourites!) I just can’t get enough of the lives of the rich and beautiful. The gorgeous property descriptions and settings are equally glamorous and exciting and I even googled one of the locations - Annabelle’s at Christmas - Wow!
Each character’s storyline was so compelling, but I particularly enjoyed the glimpse into the world of influencers and ‘cancel culture’ through Rosa, and how her lifestyle affected her teenage daughter. It was actually quite chilling and really made me think about the amount of time I spend on social media!
I also loved Jack and Emmy’s will they/won’t they romance and developed a huge crush on Jack (who wouldn’t!) but I won’t say too much about that, because my husband follows me! But Emmy is one lucky lady!
Sara’s usual classy, intelligent and witty writing style together with plenty of drama, passion and suspense made The Winter’s Fail a massive hit for me and I would highly recommend!
July 23, 2023
I am not generally a fan of multi-perspective books, but Sara does a wonderful job of telling this story without me feeling like I'm lost.
Primarily about Jack and Emmy, I really liked Emmy and her sister Rosa. I expected Rosa to be more bitchy, but their interactions were lovely, and Rosa was always supportive - even if her priorities in her career and family seemed a bit out of whack for a while. I loved Rosa and her husband David. He was so quietly supportive and loving - it was nice to see Rosa realize what was important in the big picture.
Stacey might be life goals for a million women in the world who have gotten complacent in their lives. I loved her wake-up call and the ultimate realization for her that she might have been looking at things in the wrong way for a long time.
We get to visit Sorrel Farm again in this story and have a brief visit with Angus and Evelyn. Astrid Carmichael also makes an appearance. I love this entire imaginary world that has been created by Sara. It's always worth a visit (or two - or more)
Primarily about Jack and Emmy, I really liked Emmy and her sister Rosa. I expected Rosa to be more bitchy, but their interactions were lovely, and Rosa was always supportive - even if her priorities in her career and family seemed a bit out of whack for a while. I loved Rosa and her husband David. He was so quietly supportive and loving - it was nice to see Rosa realize what was important in the big picture.
Stacey might be life goals for a million women in the world who have gotten complacent in their lives. I loved her wake-up call and the ultimate realization for her that she might have been looking at things in the wrong way for a long time.
We get to visit Sorrel Farm again in this story and have a brief visit with Angus and Evelyn. Astrid Carmichael also makes an appearance. I love this entire imaginary world that has been created by Sara. It's always worth a visit (or two - or more)
March 8, 2021
OMG! Wow! This was yet another fun, addictive and delicious read by Sara Madderson . This is the second book I've read by the author having read Parents and Teachers last year, and this one didn't disappoint.
The characters of Emmy, Rosa and Stacey are strong. Each chapter is dedicated to day throughout December, leading all the way up to Christmas when the story culminates.
Each character is well written and easily relatable. I loved the storyline, the tangled personal lives, family dynamics, friendship, careers and sex.
I really enjoy Sara's writing. It's easy to read, flows along and so easy to get lost in the storyline. I also lived how some of the characters I met in Parents and Teachers popped up in this book too.
I loved this!
The characters of Emmy, Rosa and Stacey are strong. Each chapter is dedicated to day throughout December, leading all the way up to Christmas when the story culminates.
Each character is well written and easily relatable. I loved the storyline, the tangled personal lives, family dynamics, friendship, careers and sex.
I really enjoy Sara's writing. It's easy to read, flows along and so easy to get lost in the storyline. I also lived how some of the characters I met in Parents and Teachers popped up in this book too.
I loved this!
January 14, 2023
Once again, Sara Madderson’s writing drew me in from the beginning. Having read The Rest is History, I was familiar with Jack and Emmy, the main characters, but this book also shows us bits of the lives of their close friends and family. It's all neatly woven together in Sara’s distinctively captivating voice, making you want to climb in the story.
Lovely writing, compelling storylines, the perfect amount of tension, and lots of heat made this book delightful.
Lovely writing, compelling storylines, the perfect amount of tension, and lots of heat made this book delightful.
May 16, 2023
Perfect Christmas Romance
Winter's Fail is truly irresistible and the multiple female leads are fabulous. It's a joyful celebration of love, family and life set in the magic of Christmas time. Ironically, I read it in May, but it was still effective. I highly recommend this book.
Winter's Fail is truly irresistible and the multiple female leads are fabulous. It's a joyful celebration of love, family and life set in the magic of Christmas time. Ironically, I read it in May, but it was still effective. I highly recommend this book.
April 14, 2025
All over the place
The blurb for this short novel read as though it's a romance about one couple. In reality it's more of an ensemble with a little bit about a whole cast of wealthy, privileged people. The main love story seems more like Insta lust than Insta love, and overall this reads like an introduction to multiple stories wrapped into one.
The blurb for this short novel read as though it's a romance about one couple. In reality it's more of an ensemble with a little bit about a whole cast of wealthy, privileged people. The main love story seems more like Insta lust than Insta love, and overall this reads like an introduction to multiple stories wrapped into one.
December 27, 2022
needs editing
The story wasn’t bad, but the verb tense randomly changes from present to past to future randomly, and at the end the book inexplicably changed to what appeared to be nothing but straight dialogue in script format. It was confusing.
The story wasn’t bad, but the verb tense randomly changes from present to past to future randomly, and at the end the book inexplicably changed to what appeared to be nothing but straight dialogue in script format. It was confusing.
January 29, 2023
This little Christmas romp was very enjoyable. An ensemble romance that follows a family of characters trying to figure out love the best they know how. The romances are sweet with a little bit of spice.
December 14, 2023
Another gem by Sara Madderson. She writes the loveliest and hottest romances, about people who have kids and act like grownups. She also makes characters who you expect to dislike, extremely likable. I love her books!
October 7, 2025
Read after The Rest is History to get a fuller picture of all the characters from there. Reading that one first will spoil this but tbh, it us pretty obvious (as with all her books),what the ending will be.
Very enjoyable book. I enjoy seeing previous characters have cameos.
Very enjoyable book. I enjoy seeing previous characters have cameos.
added-it
December 21, 2022🎁 FREE on Amazon today (12/21/2022)! 🎁
May 7, 2024
3 stars ⭐️
March 4, 2021
I absolutely love Sara’s writing style! I was super chuffed to be invited to take part in this tour, knowing how much I enjoyed her previous books. This story follows 3 women navigating love, friendship, and careers. It’s very relatable, current and fresh. I find all of her books a great escapism, and this one is no different. Sara has a special way of just totally taking you somewhere else, and immersing you in to that place. It was great to see characters from previous books pop up too. This really does deserve all the recognition! It has elements of spicy sex scenes, the power of social media and life of the rich and wealthy! I loved it and can’t wait, once again, for Sara’s next one.
March 5, 2021
This is the third book I’ve read by this author and without a doubt this is my absolute favourite!
I completely fell in love with Emmy and Jack to the point where I was actually worried the story was going to go in a different direction at one point and I had my fingers tightly crossed that it wouldn’t.
Once again we get to escape for a while and join these women and their fascinating world, from glamorous jobs, fine dining, luxurious outfits and complicated love lives. Rosa’s story was especially interesting as she is a social media influencer and I loved her journey as she discovers what is important in life and how she is portrayed in the online world. It’s definitely very apt considering the amount of influencers there are now and how it has become a ‘job’ for many.
Emmy is definitely the most down to earth of all the characters as she doesn’t lead the luxury lifestyle like the other women but she is strong, resilient and relatable. Her relationship with Jack felt just right and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing it blossom.
If you haven’t read the author’s previous books, don’t worry, this is completely standalone however it does feature characters from her other books which if you’ve read is a lovely addition to The Winter’s Fail. The author has always done a great job at linking all the characters together so to see how characters from previous stories are connected to Emmy for example was done perfectly.
Overall this is such a fun and beautiful romance that filled my heart with joy and I can only hope we see more of Emmy and Jack in future Sara Madderson books!
I completely fell in love with Emmy and Jack to the point where I was actually worried the story was going to go in a different direction at one point and I had my fingers tightly crossed that it wouldn’t.
Once again we get to escape for a while and join these women and their fascinating world, from glamorous jobs, fine dining, luxurious outfits and complicated love lives. Rosa’s story was especially interesting as she is a social media influencer and I loved her journey as she discovers what is important in life and how she is portrayed in the online world. It’s definitely very apt considering the amount of influencers there are now and how it has become a ‘job’ for many.
Emmy is definitely the most down to earth of all the characters as she doesn’t lead the luxury lifestyle like the other women but she is strong, resilient and relatable. Her relationship with Jack felt just right and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing it blossom.
If you haven’t read the author’s previous books, don’t worry, this is completely standalone however it does feature characters from her other books which if you’ve read is a lovely addition to The Winter’s Fail. The author has always done a great job at linking all the characters together so to see how characters from previous stories are connected to Emmy for example was done perfectly.
Overall this is such a fun and beautiful romance that filled my heart with joy and I can only hope we see more of Emmy and Jack in future Sara Madderson books!
February 27, 2021
Review
Wow, wow, wow another amazing book by Sara.
I loved each of these characters and it was lovely having appearances from characters from Sara's previous book Food For Thought.
Sara's writing is so easy to read and she has fast become one of my favourite writers. This is a beautiful story which showcases family dynamics and true love.
An easy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.
Wow, wow, wow another amazing book by Sara.
I loved each of these characters and it was lovely having appearances from characters from Sara's previous book Food For Thought.
Sara's writing is so easy to read and she has fast become one of my favourite writers. This is a beautiful story which showcases family dynamics and true love.
An easy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.
March 26, 2021
I enjoyed returning to the Esher area. to meet the glamorous people who appear to live very different lives to the majority of us, full of designer clothes, expensive school fees and staff.
Emmy seemed the most normal, having spent the past few years working for charities in India. However, she appears to have made some bad decisions about men and finds herself pregnant by a married man who is facing sexual harassment claims (and featured in Parents and Teachers).
Emmy’s sister Rosa is a Instagram influencer who seems to be spend too much time on her phone and doesn’t realise how upset her eldest daughter is about being excluded. I enjoyed the Tallulah and Rosa story, which also shows the dangers of social media.
Stacey is the confident mother of four who has walked away from an idyllic marriage because it didn’t satisfy her. She enjoys her newly single life with a number of young men in the story (and yes, I did blush a few times reading this book).
The book covers some serious issues, including charity, honesty and ethics, but also includes romance, friendship and plenty of sex. If you enjoyed Parents and Teachers, then you will meet some of the parents again in this book. Thanks Sara for a fun escape from lockdown.
Emmy seemed the most normal, having spent the past few years working for charities in India. However, she appears to have made some bad decisions about men and finds herself pregnant by a married man who is facing sexual harassment claims (and featured in Parents and Teachers).
Emmy’s sister Rosa is a Instagram influencer who seems to be spend too much time on her phone and doesn’t realise how upset her eldest daughter is about being excluded. I enjoyed the Tallulah and Rosa story, which also shows the dangers of social media.
Stacey is the confident mother of four who has walked away from an idyllic marriage because it didn’t satisfy her. She enjoys her newly single life with a number of young men in the story (and yes, I did blush a few times reading this book).
The book covers some serious issues, including charity, honesty and ethics, but also includes romance, friendship and plenty of sex. If you enjoyed Parents and Teachers, then you will meet some of the parents again in this book. Thanks Sara for a fun escape from lockdown.
January 10, 2023
Masterfully interwoven characters, places, and events!
Although Winter’s Fail is a standalone, it includes plenty of the characters from both the Love in London and Sorrel Farm series. I love books that are interwoven with characters from other books that I know, love, and sometimes dislike. In this case it’s Lorenzo Beneventi I take umbrage with. He’s a character who was married to one of the main characters in Book 1 of the Love in London series, Parents and Teachers, I recently finished and loved.
Sara Madderson’s bookverse (or maybe I should call it The Madderverse) is incestuously filled with cameos from other books and I love it! It’s like one big dysfunctional family in which each family member reaches his/her full potential, one book at a time…
Emmy has recently moved back to London from a long term stint in Northern India where she worked to help improve the lives of female sex workers. She works temporarily in finance and willingly enters into an affair with Lorenzo, but leaves London in a hurry when she finds out just how much he was not a good guy. Oh, and one bonus from her adulterous relationship with him… she’s preggers! She stays with her sister and family to decide her next move, but very soon meets Jack, who is divorced with several kids of his own. He has a successful tech company and his side passion is helping kids who can’t go to school to self-educate through gaming.
Jack needs Emmy and her on-the-ground experience and understanding of Northern India, and she needs to feel like she’s contributing to betterment of the world. They very quickly make fireworks together. A match that’s meant to be, right?! Definitely! But of course, there are obstacles. And yay, they get past them and Emma, Jack are lovely together!
I enjoyed the storyline of this book very much. Sara Madderson is a born storyteller and again weaves the lives of characters from other books together so beautifully. The only thing I didn’t care for was the tense the book was written in, but once I got into it, it wasn't noticeable. I hope one day she will rewrite it so her books are seamless, but Winter's Fail is still very much worth reading. Jack and Emmy are beautiful together.
The third Christmas time book… Sara Madderson must really love the holiday season. She decorates it so beautifully with her words.
Although Winter’s Fail is a standalone, it includes plenty of the characters from both the Love in London and Sorrel Farm series. I love books that are interwoven with characters from other books that I know, love, and sometimes dislike. In this case it’s Lorenzo Beneventi I take umbrage with. He’s a character who was married to one of the main characters in Book 1 of the Love in London series, Parents and Teachers, I recently finished and loved.
Sara Madderson’s bookverse (or maybe I should call it The Madderverse) is incestuously filled with cameos from other books and I love it! It’s like one big dysfunctional family in which each family member reaches his/her full potential, one book at a time…
Emmy has recently moved back to London from a long term stint in Northern India where she worked to help improve the lives of female sex workers. She works temporarily in finance and willingly enters into an affair with Lorenzo, but leaves London in a hurry when she finds out just how much he was not a good guy. Oh, and one bonus from her adulterous relationship with him… she’s preggers! She stays with her sister and family to decide her next move, but very soon meets Jack, who is divorced with several kids of his own. He has a successful tech company and his side passion is helping kids who can’t go to school to self-educate through gaming.
Jack needs Emmy and her on-the-ground experience and understanding of Northern India, and she needs to feel like she’s contributing to betterment of the world. They very quickly make fireworks together. A match that’s meant to be, right?! Definitely! But of course, there are obstacles. And yay, they get past them and Emma, Jack are lovely together!
I enjoyed the storyline of this book very much. Sara Madderson is a born storyteller and again weaves the lives of characters from other books together so beautifully. The only thing I didn’t care for was the tense the book was written in, but once I got into it, it wasn't noticeable. I hope one day she will rewrite it so her books are seamless, but Winter's Fail is still very much worth reading. Jack and Emmy are beautiful together.
The third Christmas time book… Sara Madderson must really love the holiday season. She decorates it so beautifully with her words.
December 23, 2022
Even though Emmy makes some disastrous choices, this book is full of mature, sensible adults who talk about their issues (maybe not right away, where else would the drama come from?) & are just so human & REAL. It was an absolute breath of fresh air, along with some lovely steam. ❣️
May 15, 2023
Another amazing book by Sarah Madderson. Emmy and Jack’s relationship is captivating to read and I simply love the friendships included in Sarah’s books. Her writing truly pulls you right into the story. Cannot wait to read more!
December 7, 2024
Yet another 5 star read from Sara. Jack and Emmys characters were so wholesome and a delight to see how it unfolded
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