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.

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