Poppy Day by Amanda Prowse Book Review

Reading has always been a pleasurable hobby for readers who love to delve into different worlds and perspectives. If you are one of those people, you would never want to miss this heartwarming book, Poppy Day, by Amanda Prowse. This book has earned a 4-star rating on Goodreads and has earned acclaim from readers from all walks of life.

Poppy Day tackles a heart-wrenching topic that many of us may have encountered at some point in our lives. This book review intends to provide a comprehensive overview of the book’s plot, the characters, and its overall message while sharing my personal experience of reading it.

Click me to go to my Review

Synopsis

Ever since hairdresser Poppy Day married her childhood sweetheart, Mart, she’s been deliriously happy. Now Mart is fighting in Afghanistan, and Poppy is counting the days until he returns.

It takes one knock at the door to rip Poppy’s world apart. Mart has been taken hostage, and it’s too dangerous for the army to rescue him.

Poppy is determined to bring him home herself. But her journey will lead her to a heartbreaking dilemma. What price will she pay to save the man she loves?

This is a gripping story of loss and courage from an author who knows what it is like to be the one left behind.

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

Poppy Day tells the story of a young couple, Poppy Day and her husband Marty who has joined the forces and gone to fight in Afghanistan. He aims to learn a trade and return with enough money to support themselves but things don’t turn out how he expects when he is captured and held hostage.

Prowse expertly paints a powerful yet emotional portrayal of a woman dealing with the stress of her husband’s situation, both when fighting and when captured, while struggling to keep her life together amidst challenging circumstances. The storyline in Poppy Day is an excellent reminder of the harsh realities faced by veterans, which is often a topic that is not discussed in mainstream media.

The novel comprises several characters, each with their own stories and how they deal with grief and the hurt of unexpected circumstances. The strong bonds formed with those around you and experiences of being a ‘forces wife’ were very moving and real but the journey Poppy takes is highly unrealistic and improbable though it serves as an inspiring element to the overall plot.

The author writes in a manner that captivates her readers’ attention, making it hard to put the book down. The narrative style evokes emotions, particularly the struggle of an individual trying to find their place in a world that has rapidly changed around them.

Moreover, the book contains a powerful message of hope, resilience, and the importance of family and support. It teaches readers about love and the need for human connection, the ability to overcome our challenges, and the strength that comes from picking up the pieces and rebuilding our lives, step by step.

Poppy Day by Amanda Prowse is a book that touches the heart and leaves a profound impact. As a devoted reader of Prowse’s work, I highly recommend her books but this one fell a little short of her usual style and was too improbable to feel believable. Having said that though, this was her first novel and it’s a great effort and has led to so many other, better books. In summary, Poppy Day showcases the realities many veterans and their families face but leaves us with a message of hope, resilience, and the strength that comes from human connections.

My previous reviews of Amanda Prowse’s work

Women like us

The Boy Between

An Ordinary Life

To Love or Be Loved

The Day She Came Back

The Light in the Hallway

Picking up the Pieces

Rated