Alice Alone written by Amanda Brookfield published by Boldwood Books

This felt like a book of two halves - the first was 50-something Alice coming to terms with an empty nest after her youngest daughter Robin leaves home and Alice is left with endless days ahead of her with no substance. She realises that she no longer loves her husband and so embarks on a different, secret life which brings excitement and love back into her life.

The second half of the book is set around when Christmas when Robin returns home for the festive season but and never leaves and life takes a different twist and turn for Alice.

Set in the 80s this feels like a book of its time - although Alice is in her 50s the way she is described she seems a lot older and quite dowdy and as I'm a woman in my 50s I hope to god, I'm nothing like her!

I didn't like her as a character, she came across as being really spoilt and selfish and even her daughter Robin seemed to be quite similar in personality.

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