The evolution of their relationship seemed formulaic, however what saved this book for me was the family dynamics. Whilst one of them has a super close relationship with their family, and has to deal with the devastating loss of a parent, the other runs away from their own family and can never forgive certain things.

This author is new to me, but I must own up to liking her writing style and her willingness to address the brutal nature of divorce, the factors that impact these lives before and after, and the awareness that when writing about real life, there are not often happy endings. The cover makes it look like more of a classic, period-type romance book when it's in fact largely set in 2017.When they jokingly sign an agreement that they will marry if they are still single neither think they will need it.

As a single 31-year-old woman, who is one of three still without a partner in her friendship group, does the prospect of such an arrangement appeal? This book actually does end on a hopeful note for the characters, but as a reader I found it hard to envision that hope translating into a happy future together. While the material gift has a shelf life and may soon lose its monetary value, the feelings and intentions given with it—and reciprocated—sustain our collective well-being. It was far too slow paced for me and I would have liked more signs of Fin's feelings to Eleanor when they were younger.However, when Mike hires her to find him someone new, she realizes that Patrick is not the only man for whom she harbors unresolved feelings. Carol Mason explores those questions, contrasting one woman's memories and reunion with her first love, fifteen years later while juggling the demands of family, work, and friends. uk will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing. Putting my worth and happiness into the hands of everybody else instead of trusting that I am enough, just as I am. To be honest, I found the array of characters to be too much distraction as they didn’t seem to add much to the story.

I loved how they each felt and seemed so real, as if you could walk down the street and bump into Jacq on her way to her big architecture job. And with the failure of my marriage, should I have made the effort to reach out to the guy for whom I really cared?Houghton also presents a lovely set of secondary characters, to the people Eleanor meets in art class to her gorgeous sister Freya and wonderful, slightly eccentric mum Angela. The year 2023 has been such a roller-coaster that it was only in the last week I felt I could finally catch my breath.