Review: The Year that Changed Everything

The Year that Changed Everything by Cathy Kelly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Three women, Ginger, Callie and Sam are all at different stages of their lives. Callie, a 50 year old trophy wife, has her life turned upside down during her party to celebrate her milestone when her husband goes on the run from the police for fraud, leaving Callie and their teenage daughter Poppy behind to face the consequences and a completely different life.
Sam is a veteran mum-to-be. After years of fertility treatment, she falls pregnant and eagerly awaits the arrival of her new baby. On her 40th birthday, her waters break and baby India enters the world kicking and screaming and upsetting the serene balance of Sam’s pre-baby world. Sinking lower and lower into depression, Sam feels like the world is swallowing her up and she can’t bring herself to admit motherhood isn’t quite what she thought it would be.
Thirty-year-old virgin Ginger, is a larger than life journalist who has been a doormat for many people for much of her adult life. On the day of her 30th birthday and at her best friend Liza’s wedding, she overhears a conversation between her “best friend” and the other bridesmaid ridiculing her on her looks and her weight. As if that wasn’t enough her mean-spirited boss tries to humiliate her by getting her to do a feature on weight loss and insists that Ginger and two colleagues do a “before” photo in swimming costumes.
This was a warm, page turner of a book. I think out of all the characters, Ginger was the closest one to myself (although I’ve got a few years on her!) I loved her personality but envied her forgiving nature (something I’ve yet to learn!!!)
I was so glad that Callie had Brenda, her housekeeper, to see her through her initial dark moments. I was really saddened by the way life treated her, and I wanted to give her a massive hug and tell her that life does get better.
All in all, another wonderful book from the delightful Cathy Kelly who never lets her readers down.

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and open review.

View all my reviews

Comments

REVIEW: Confessions Of A Forty-Something F**ck Up by Alexandra Potter

Confessions Of A Forty-Something F**k Up by Alexandra Potter published by Pan Macmillan Nell Stevens’ life is a mess – moving back to London from LA after her business goes bust and her relationship fails she notices that many things have changed. Her friends are now all settled with children, and she is forced to rent a room in a house. Life just feels like it’s f**ked up!. When Nell gets a job writing obituaries, she first encounters Cricket, an eighty-something widow with challenges of her own, and they strike up an unlikely friendship. Together they begin to help each other heal their aching hearts, cope with the loss of the lives they had planned, and push each other into new adventures and unexpected joys. Because Nell is determined. Next year things are going to be very different. It's time to turn her life around. Initially I didn’t think I was going to like this book, as I mistakenly thought it was transcripts of a podcast, but how wrong was I? Th...

Maybe Next Christmas by Emma Heatherington

Maybe Next Christmas" by Emma Heatherington was a delightful festive read that truly delivered in the end. While I found the beginning a little slow, once the story picked up, I was completely hooked and couldn’t put it down! Emma's storytelling and knack for building relatable, heartfelt characters shines through, making the journey worth it. The Christmas charm, along with themes of love and second chances, make this one feel as cozy as her other novels. Definitely recommended for fans of Christmas romances or anyone looking for a feel-good, warm festive read!

The Commuter written by Emma Curtis and published by Atlantic Books

In The Commuter , we follow Rachel, who has just woken from a coma after a car accident, only to be told that her wealthy husband has been murdered in their family home. As Rachel begins to recover, she experiences flashbacks, including memories of a mysterious fellow commuter—a man whose name she doesn’t even know. Strangely, since her husband’s death, this man has vanished, and now the police suspect that Rachel may be involved in the murder. As the investigation deepens, Rachel finds herself racing against time to uncover the truth before she is wrongfully imprisoned for a crime she knows she didn’t commit. The Commuter is a psychological thriller that explores suburban life, blending suspense, deception, and complex relationships. While the story maintains tension throughout, I found the plot became quite complicated toward the end, and I did feel lost at times. Some parts left me feeling a bit detached, but overall, it was an engaging read. Rating: 3.5/5

Book-Mad-Mum

Search This Blog