My Review
In Amanda Prowse’s newest release meet Bess on her 16th birthday and share her joy of turning 16 followed by a day that shaped her life forever in a way she never saw coming.
Throughout this story we jump between 1984 and 2021 as we piece together what happened on that day that should have been such a happy occasion filled with wonderful memories. As we travel between her birthday both then and now, we start to see how this day is causing her future self to unravel and the ramifications for both herself and her family.
A story full of love, shame and pain as we learn what happened 37 years ago and how this has since shaped the life and decisions that Bess has made. Once again we are taken on an emotional rollercoaster as we get to know Bess’ nearest and dearest and see how secrets from the past finally come to a head and how the love and support of family can help Bess to move forward without the feelings of shame and guilt.
A wonderful story with a superb ending that left me with my heart in my mouth, I love reading books by Amanda and this was an absolute pleasure to curl up and devour.
Book Blurb
From the bestselling author of The Girl in the Corner comes a story that asks: what would you risk for a shot at happiness?
1984. Bessie is a confident sixteen-year-old girl with the world at her feet, dreaming of what life will bring and what she’ll bring to this life. Then everything comes crashing down. Her bright and trusting smile is lost, banished by shame—and a secret she’ll carry with her for the rest of her life.
2021. The last thirty-seven years have not been easy for Bess. At fifty-three she is visibly weary, and her marriage to Mario is in tatters. Watching her son in newlywed bliss—the hope, the trust, the joy—Bess knows it is time to face her own demons, and try to save her relationship. But she’ll have to throw off the burden of shame if she is to honour that sixteen-year-old girl whose dreams lie frozen in time.
Can Bess face her past, finally come clean to Mario, and claim the love she has longed to fully experience all these years?
Available to purchase here
Meet the Author
Amanda Prowse is an International Bestselling author whose twenty seven novels and seven novellas have been published in dozens of languages around the world. Published by Lake Union, Amanda is the most prolific writer of bestselling contemporary fiction in the UK today; her titles also consistently score the highest online review approval ratings across several genres. Her books, including the chart topping No.1 titles ‘What Have I Done?’, ‘Perfect Daughter’, ‘My Husband’s Wife’, ‘The Girl in the Corner’, ‘The Things I Know’ and ‘The Day She Came Back’ have sold millions of copies across the globe.
A popular TV and radio personality, Amanda is a regular panellist on Channel 5’s ‘The Jeremy Vine Show’ and numerous daytime ITV programmes. She also makes countless guest appearances on BBC national independent Radio stations including LBC and Talk FM, where she is well known for her insightful observations and her infectious humour. Described by the Daily Mail as ‘The queen of family drama’ Amanda’s novel, ‘A Mother’s Story’ won the coveted Sainsbury’s eBook of the year Award while ‘Perfect Daughter’ was selected as a World Book Night title in 2016.
Amanda’s ambition is to create stories that keep people from turning the bedside lamp off at night, great characters that ensure you take every step with them and tales that fill your head so you can’t possibly read another book until the memory fades…
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Thanks for visiting Love the Smell of a Book today and I hope you have a great day!
Daisy & Kel x
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