Month: March 2021

Book Review: The Best Is Yet To Come by Katy Colins

Posted on by Libby Price

I’d seen the praises of this book being sung on Intsagram and requested a copy off NetGalley – here’s the blurb:

“Sometimes it’s the things we don’t say that we need others to hear the loudest . . .
Izzy has always taken everything in her stride but motherhood is proving more difficult than she thought. She keeps telling herself it’s just a phase but the dark clouds are starting to appear.
Neighbour and widower Arthur might be in the winter of his life but he’s not ready to be packed off to a care home. He’s determined to do things his way.
When Izzy hears about Arthur’s big move, she offers to help. But Arthur isn’t telling her the whole story. It takes courage to admit you need a friend and when you feel invisible, all you need is a ray of hope. After all, what if the best is yet to come?”

I have to confess that when I first started this, I was concerned it was going to be a rehashing of books that have been done before. Soooo many ‘new Mum’ books where the husband is a completely selfish idiot (and Izzy’s husband is exactly that) and then the recent Mike Gayle book ‘All The Lonely People‘ where an octogenarian befriends a young, single Mum. But actually, ‘The Best Is Yet To Come’ soon found its own voice.

Izzy is struggling with the demands of a new baby – and her husband, Andrew, is out at work all day and then still socialising with friends and doing sport in the evenings – he is so selfish and really needed a slap.

Arthur is struggling having lost his wife almost two years before. He has a nephew who looks in on him – but otherwise is all alone.

They strike up an unlikely friendship, along with Izzy’s baby daughter Evie.

Both parties gain so much more from their friendship than they first expect.

I also really liked the way the peripheral characters – other neighbours in their cul de sac, Joan at the charity shop, the vicar – and all interwoven through the book – just like they would be in real life.

Whilst this is a light, fluffy, gentle hug of a book – it also deals with post natal depression, loneliness, suicide and sudden death – but not in a ‘heavy ‘way. It’s a really lovely, simple read.

I really enjoyed this – and was in floods of tears at the end (mostly due to the surprising thoughtfulness of a teenager – with a couple of my own, I know how rare that is!)

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC – although it came out 3 days ago, so you can buy it right now if you like the sound of it.

Book Review: The Castaways by Lucy Clarke

Posted on by Libby Price

I was offered an advance review copy of The Castaways and having enjoyed Lucy Clarke’s last book ‘You Let Me In‘, I kindly accepted the offer – so here’s the blurb:

“A SECRET BEACH.
A HOLIDAY OF A LIFETIME.
WISH YOU WERE HERE?

THINK AGAIN…
It should be like any other holiday.
Beautiful beaches.
Golden sunsets.
Nothing for miles.
You’ll never want to leave.
Until you can’t…
Gripping, twisty and full of sun-soaked atmosphere, THE CASTAWAYS will whisk you far away to the island – and never let you go.“

The book is based around the story of Erin and Lori who are sisters. They are supposed to be going on holiday together in Fiji – but after doing the International flight they have an overnight stay before an internal island hop flight. During this evening they have a row and consequently only Lori makes the flight the next morning. Then the flight disappears.

The book is told from Erin’s point of view now – 2 years later after she’s spent the intervening time trying to find out about her sister’s disappearance, and then from Lori’s point of view back 2 years ago.

Having sisters myself I really enjoyed how the relationship between them was written. That they could annoy each other and bicker and argue – but at the end of the day their sisterly bond was so strong. As well as the bond between sisters it also looks at friendships / infertility / infidelity / survivor guilt / stranger dynamics – but all in an entertaining way.

The backdrop of Fiji is beautiful – but also quite suffocating. I’ve never been to Fiji – but the jungle descriptions really reminded me of St Lucia or the Seychelles – hot, sweaty, dense, full of strange noises and animals – but then next to beautiful sandy beaches. In particular the descriptions of the dusk outings of bats was really reminiscent of our time in the Seychelles – they were scary, even with a G&T in hand. I wouldn’t have wanted to sleep outside in any of these tropical countries, and was far happier in my air conditioned hotel room!!

I don’t want to give too much of the storyline away – we all know I HATE reviews that contain spoilers – but it’s safe to say it twists and turns brilliantly and kept me intrigued and wanting to read more. In particular the pace builds up to the last few chapters and you flip and flop (and flip flops are worn lots!) between whether it’s going to be a happy or sad ending. It was brilliant – and I loved the actual ending because it wasn’t what I expected – but again, no spoilers.

I would say it’s a perfect holiday read – but I’m not sure I’d want to read it when I was about to go on a plane?!?

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for my ARC. It’s out electronically already, and in hard back later this month, if this has whetted your appetite!