Waiting To Begin by Amanda Prowse and published by Amazon Publishing UK

The book starts on 22nd August 1984 when George Michael’s Careless Whisper was at number one in the charts, and 16 year old Bessie wakes up on the morning of her 16th birthday. A young woman awaiting her O Level results, she has the whole world at her feet, but within the space of 24 hours, her whole life comes crashing down.

Fast forward to the same day in 2021, Bessie is now celebrating her 53rd birthday and probably wouldn’t know (or care) who was number one in the charts. The highlight of her birthday is lunch with her parents in a tatty old carvery restaurant, so far away from the life that 16 year old Bessie had dreamt of. Her marriage to Mario is in tatters and with her children having flown the nest, Bessie now has to face her demons, but it will save her relationship with Mario or will it all come crashing down like a house of cards?

It is no secret that I am a massive fan of Amanda Prowse, both as a person and an author, and I adore her style of writing. You don’t feel like you are reading her books, you are in fact living in them, the characters become your friends, your neighbours, your enemies.

I wasn’t sure if I was meant to like Bessie or not – and the result is that I didn’t like her. She came across as a petulant, spoilt teenager even at the age of 53. She seemed to want everything in life her way and moaned about everything. I actually felt so sorry for her husband Mario – who I thought was trying so hard to give her everything she wanted, but it was never enough!! I came to realise though that Bessie had spent a lifetime carrying her baggage behind her and it became tiring and shameful.

This book is a lesson to us all – face up to things, live in the present and let the past go.

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