Have you been looking for a book to fill those long cold days? Look no further than Amanda Prowse’s Picking Up The Pieces. As with most of Amanda Prowse’s books, this one is sure to leave readers feeling both satisfied and wanting more.
Synopsis
In this heart-warming story from million copy bestselling author Amanda Prowse, Nora has given up on finding happiness. But has it been waiting for her all along?
As Nora and her British Army officer husband, Gordy, pack up yet another home and leave the sun of Cyprus for the drizzle of England, she can’t shake a feeling of regret—at her failure to follow her own dreams, but also, if she’s honest, at having ended up an officer’s wife at all, drifting through a life of temporary homes and temporary relationships.
Since losing her parents at a young age, Nora’s life has been lacking an anchor: someone or something to make her feel secure. Her marriage has been her only permanent relationship, and just as even that appears to be fizzling out, a tragedy forces Nora into the role of legal guardian to her seven-year-old nephew, Ted. Faced suddenly with a responsibility she never dreamed of, how can Nora possibly offer the boy the kind of unconditional love he deserves, when she’s never experienced it for herself?
But as she navigates the precarious and unfamiliar world of parenthood, Nora begins to see herself through Ted’s eyes, as someone worthy of love and even joy. When she’s welcomed into the previously intimidating huddle of mums at the school gate, she has to wonder: is it too late to smash down the other barriers she’s built—and to have a second chance at a happy marriage with Gordy?
About The Author
Amanda Prowse is an International Bestselling author whose twenty-eight novels, two non-fiction titles 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’ and ‘The Things I Know’ have sold millions of copies across the globe.
A popular TV and radio personality, Amanda has appeared on numerous shows where her views on family and social issues strike a chord with viewers. She also makes countless guest appearances on BBC national and independent Radio stations including LBC, Times Radio 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 and she has had two books selected as World Book Night titles; ‘Perfect Daughter’ in 2016 and ‘The Boy Between’ in 2022.
Amanda is a huge supporter of libraries and having become a proud ambassador for The Reading Agency, works tirelessly to promote reading, especially in disadvantaged areas. 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…
My Review
As with most of Amanda Prowse’s books, I loved this one. I get excited each time I see a new one appear and can’t wait to get my hands on it and this was no different.
We meet Nora and Gordy at a rocky time in their relationship and things change very quickly for them when Nora returns to the UK from Cyprus to care for her nephew Ted after her sister’s suicide attempt. He brings a different meaning to her life and she realises what life could be like with friends and family around you and not just operating on temporary residences and friendships.
I loved the developing relationships in this book and the character-driven plot line. This shows a significant delve into mental health and the surrounding issues, very apt given her recent book written with her son. One of the things I love about Picking Up The Pieces is how relatable it is. Many of us have experienced similar challenges as Nora does throughout the novel, making it easier for us to connect with her journey. Additionally, the characters are written in such a way that they feel like real people – not just characters on paper – which makes it easier to get lost in the world that Prowse creates.
Amanda Prowse always manages to deal with sensitive issues so well and with such compassion and love. There is no shame in asking for help, or taking it for that matter and Amanda exemplifies this in her book; how much easier it would have been for Nora’s sister to ask for help when she needed it. While this book deals with some heavy topics, it still manages to remain lighthearted enough that readers won’t feel bogged down by its content. In addition to exploring issues surrounding mental health, Prowse also delves into themes of family dynamics, friendship, grief, resilience, and self-discovery – all woven together with wit and grace.
All in all, Amanda Prowse has done an excellent job crafting an engaging story full of real-life lessons that will stay with readers long after they finish reading Picking Up The Pieces. If you’re looking for a beautiful story that will make you smile (and maybe even shed a few tears), then look no further than Amanda Prowse’s latest novel! Pick up your copy today! You won’t regret it!
I loved this and can’t wait for her next book!
My previous reviews of Amanda Prowse’s work
Rated
About This Book
| Title | Picking Up The Pieces |
| Author | Amanda Prowse |
| Series | N/A |
| Format | eARC |
| Page Count | 343 Pages |
| Genre | Literary Fiction |
| Publisher | Lake Union |
| Release Date | 10th January 2023 |
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