Published By: Boldwood
Pages: 304
Released On: 23/05/2025
What would you do, if you met your double?
Debbie Jones thinks life is an adventure. Even having lost her husband a year ago, she’s ready for whatever the world might throw her way. Being in her sixties doesn’t mean it’s all over for her yet, and she loves her new job doing neighbourhood support for a charity. Then she knocks on a stranger’s front door.
Ruth Waverley doesn’t like surprises. Her life isn’t perhaps all she once dreamed off, but what other options are there for a woman in her sixties? She’s proud of her home and children. And she likes her life well enough. Then she hears someone knocking at the door.
As the door opens, both Ruth and Debbie get the shock of their lives. As their eyes meet – the recognition is instant. Not because they’ve met before. But because they have the same face. They’re completely identical.
And everything is about to change, for both women. In ways they couldn’t possibly imagine…
*****
Thanks so much to Laura for sending me an advanced copy of her new book!
I generally try not to have favourite authors because I find I’m so pleasantly surprised by so many that any one could be that current favourite. But I’ll be honest, Laura Pearson has always been in that top spot, and she knows how much I love her work. I’m not shy about shouting from the rooftops about how much I love it.
If my maths is right, so far Laura has published 7 books (this is the 8th). Including this one, I have read 6, and currently have Missing Pieces, and Nobody’s Wife on my shelf to hopefully read soon.
I acknowledge it will be hard to write as thorough review as I’d like about this book, because I would spoil it, and I think it’s best going in blind, but I’ll try to give you something.
With 8 billion+ people in the world, the odds are there will be at least one other person who looks like you (if you’re not a twin/triplet etc); there’s only so many ways you can arrange facial features. But our face is something we only link to us, so it is a bit of a horror to find someone else who has it.
One thing I love about Laura’s books generally, is that they tend to have a fantasy element to it, a bit of magic. But they have heart and soul and reality buried deep. This one is less fantasy than some of her previous ones, and yet I still felt that hint of magic throughout it; it’s like it’s a recognisable story and recognisable characters but with an added spark.
Ruth and Debbie are our main two woman and I could instantly see them and hear them. They were so effortlessly written like they were people I knew, and I immediately wanted to be part of their gang.
There are some difficult topics touched upon: dementia, grief, bereavement, death, secrets, breakups, job losses, sexuality, mental illness, family complications.
But there’s also so much positivity too. There’s family, new friends, opportunities, love, hope, joy. It’s such a heartwarming and cosy story, which shouldn’t surprise me as all of Laura’s books are like that.
I have always said Laura’s books are five stars and this is no different. There are some authors where you like some of their books but maybe not others. But the way Laura writes, not to sound too sappy, is like silk, like poetry. It’s so seamless and perfect that I know 100% I will fall in love with every single one of her books, and I sure hope she’s got a lot more up her sleeves.
I’ve loved all her books that I’ve read, but my top two have always been The Last List of Mabel Beaumont, and The Beforelife of Eliza Valentine (now called The Life and Loves of Becca Valentine), and whilst all her others have been five star perfect reads, none have managed to wriggle into that top spot, but this may just have. I think it’s a toss up between the three as to who gets the five stars plus that extra praise. I love them all.
Books By Your Bedside 