Published By: Headline
Pages: 384
Released On: 18/01/2024
It’s set to be a perfect day – until the chauffeur is asked to keep driving the bride around the church. This wedding definitely isn’t going as planned.
Lottie is a guest at the wedding when she sees Max. No kiss has ever matched the last one they shared fifteen years ago. They were on the brink of a beautiful love story, until a shocking event tore them apart. Now here he is, still ridiculously good-looking, teasing Lottie in the old way – and that overwhelming electric attraction is back. But Max is way out of bounds.
Isla owes Cameron everything. But she doesn’t love him. Which is a shame, because they’re about to be married.
Ruby has been the perfect wife. When she discovers the truth about her husband, her response is reckless and delicious. But after that, nothing will ever be the same again.
*****
Thanks to NetGalley and Headline for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
I haven’t read all of Jill’s books, but the ones I have read are simply splendid and so I was thrilled to read her new one. I can always count on her books to be uplifting and cosy and very human.
If you’re like me, you will lose all concept of time reading this. You’ll be sat there with a big smile on your face, and before you know it, you’ll be at the end, it’s gloriously relaxing to escape to.
Not many of my relatives or friends are big readers, and what they do read isn’t always to my taste. And yet no matter who asks me, I always recommend Jill Mansell. I’m not sure anything can go wrong with one of hers. Having said that, I’m not sure if it’s something for the male reader. I could be completely wrong, I don’t know many men who are big readers, so for all I know they may love her too. But as a woman, I’m saying her books are always a perfect choice.
There a secrets a plenty, and as a reader, we are trusted with knowing them all, even if the characters don’t, which was nice, and it was fun finding the bit where they find out and you can be like “I knew it!” It was a little bit of fun.
Whilst there’s nothing wrong with a happily-ever-after romcom – in fact, some of my favourite books I would put in that genre – but I always find that whilst Jill’s books might be promoted that way, they’re not quite that simple (and I don’t use the word simple here as an insult). Yes there is romance, and some humour, but I always find her books quite powerful and they touch on a variety of quite difficult topics. In this one you get relationship difficulties, affairs, old friends, new starts, fighting, enemies, fertility etc. They can be quite hard to read but I think they add that level of humanity to the story.
It is set in a gorgeous little Cornish town and I loved it. I love Cornwall, it is so gorgeous and has this special magic about it, and I think Jill has depicted it marvellously.
I loved the characters. There are quite a number, but I’ll just mention the ones that felt most important to me:
Firstly we have Lottie, one of the main protagonists. I wasn’t too sure of her to begin with. Not that I didn’t like her, but I didn’t dislike her either, I just didn’t really have any firm thoughts about her. She was a slow burn for me, but she soon became a friend.
Then we have Freya, Lottie’s friend. She felt like the opposite of Lottie, the perfect foil, something to work against. She came in with a bang right from the off, and then continued to pop in and out of the story. I really liked her instantly.
The main male character was Max, Lottie’s school friend. We don’t know much about him to begin with, but he’s such a suave, charismatic guy, and whilst I think he could have been quite slimy, I really liked him, he was cheeky and charming.
Our other main protagonist is Ruby, the Vicar’s wife. And she was absolutely fabulous. She is such a strong woman and I fell in love with her almost straight away and I was really invested in her story. If anything, I’d say I was more invested in her story than anyone else’s.
I predict another success for Jill, and if you’re after a light-hearted, beautiful, tense, loving, human, very real, gorgeous read, then this is the one for you, no matter the time of year, but it’s perfect for the cold dark days of January.
Books By Your Bedside 