Us by David Nicholls

'I was looking forward to us growing old together. Me and you, growing old and dying together.'
'Douglas, who in their right mind would look forward to that?'
Douglas Petersen understands his wife's need to 'rediscover herself' now that their son is leaving home.
He just thought they'd be doing their rediscovering together.
So when Connie announces that she will be leaving, too, he resolves to make their last family holiday into the trip of a lifetime: one that will draw the three of them closer, and win the respect of his son. One that will make Connie fall in love with him all over again.
The hotels are booked, the tickets bought, the itinerary planned and printed.
What could possibly go wrong?

Title: Us
Author: David Nicholls
Published By: Hodder & Stoughton
Link: Amazon

My Review

This is a tender portrayal of a middle aged man called Douglas Petersen, who discovers that his wife Connie is not happy in their marriage and has decided to leave him when their son Albie leaves home for college. Douglas is totally surprised by his wife's decision as he had no idea that she wasn't happy.

The story flits between the present time and the past to all the significant moments in their lives. 

When they were introduced by his sister they were quite an unlikely match as he was a scientist and she was a frivolous arty type who loved to party, however Connie seemed to find him quite grounding and she felt safe when she was with him and he thought she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He admired her outspokenness, especially when she spoke to his parents like normal people. She was able to bring out his sense of humour in his otherwise quite serious life.

Their marriage had lasted for twenty years and they had enjoyed some wonderful moments but also endured some very sad times, some of which I don't think they had ever gotten over.

As they had already booked an amazing holiday around Europe which they called 'The Grand Tour' they decided they would still go on it as their last family holiday together. Douglas hoping that he can persuade Connie to stay with him as they would visit some places where they had shared romantic times in the past.

The holiday does not go to plan and Douglas does something to upset and embarrass his stroppy teenage son which causes him to disappear. Douglas thinks back and realises he has never really understood his son and has often felt like the outsider in the family. He really wants to make amends and so embarks on a mission to bring his family back together and after many twists and turns and surprises he discovers a different side to himself that he never knew existed.

Traumatic events bring the family back together but not in the way you would expect, though with a better understanding of each other.

I really felt for Douglas and would be interested to hear Connie's side of the story, she obviously felt like she needed to find herself.

It's hard bringing teenagers up, especially when parents have conflicting views on how to raise them eg. what subjects they should study, what time they should be home. I think one of the points that the book makes is that while we can advise our children on what to do it's also important to to listen to what they want from life and learn to respect their views and maybe look at the world through their eyes once or twice as we could actually learn things from them. As a mother of teenagers I can relate really well to the book. I think Douglas and Connie provide good contrasts to life for Albie and hope he can take the best of both of them forward on his journey.

The book was fun but quite sad in parts and I think it shows that their love for each other is real and strong it's just different. I think all parents of teenagers would really relate well to this poignant story with an uplifting message.
If you enjoyed this book you may like Andy Jones - The Two of Us.

I would like to thank Loose Women for sending me this book to read as part of their Loose Books Campaign.

Sincerely

Book Angel x

About The Author

David Nicholls trained as an actor before making the switch to writing. His TV credits include the third series of Cold Feet, Rescue Me, and I Saw You, as well as a much-praised modern version of Much Ado About Nothing and an adaptation of Tess of the D'Urbervilles, both for BBC TV. David has continued to write for film and TV as well as writing novels, and he has twice been nominated for BAFTA awards.

David's bestselling first novel, STARTER FOR TEN, was selected for the Richard and Judy Book Club in 2004, and David has written the screenplays for film versions of both STARTER FOR TEN (released in 2006, starring James McAvoy) and THE UNDERSTUDY (not yet released).

David Nicholls' third novel, ONE DAY, was published in hardback in 2009 to extraordinary critical acclaim, and stayed in the Sunday Times top ten bestseller list for ten weeks on publication. It has since gone on to sell over 2 million copies and has been translated into thirty-seven languages. ONE DAY won the 2010 Galaxy Book of the Year Award. David wrote the screenplay for Lone Scherfig's film adaptation starring Jim Sturgess and Anne Hathaway, which was released in 2010.

David's fourth novel, US, has been longlisted for the Man Booker Prize for Fiction 2014.

Afternoon Tea at the Sunflower Cafe - Milly Johnson

Love, laughter, friendship and chocolate. The heartwarming new novel from Sunday Times top 10 bestseller, Milly Johnson
Her marriage is all washed up. It's time for a clean start…

Connie Diamond has always been her husband Jimmy's 'best girl' - or so she thought. But then she discovers that he's been playing away for the past twenty-four years, and that the chocolates she believed he bought her as a sign of his love were just a cover-up, and she is determined to get revenge.
Along with Della Frostick, Jimmy's right-hand woman at his cleaning firm, Diamond Shine, Connie decides to destroy Jimmy's life from the inside. Together they will set up a rival business called Lady Muck, and along with the cleaning ladies who meet at the Sunflower Café, they'll make him wish he had never so much as looked at another woman.
Then Connie meets the charming Brandon Locke, a master chocolatier, whose kind chocolate-brown eyes start to melt her soul. Can the ladies of the Sunflower Café help Connie scrub away the hurt? And can Brandon cure her affliction and make her smile again…?

Author: Milly Johnson

Title: Afternoon Tea at the Sunflower Cafe

Publishers: Simon & Schuster

Publication Date: 18th June 2015

Link: Amazon

My Review

I actually think that Milly Johnson is a genius! I have loved every single one of her books and they just keep going from strength to strength. Milly is able to write about ordinary things and everyday situations but she gives them an extraordinary twist which draws you in from the beginning and doesn't let you go, until you have; laughed out loud (on numerous occasions); felt extreme anger; had a good cry; drooled over delectable chocolate flavours and fallen head over heels in love! There is such a great depth to the characters and a rich quality of writing in this book. Milly manages to pack so much into the story that I feel it's great value full of entertaining content. 

Jimmy Diamond is a sexy lovable rogue, women find him completely irresistible, however his wife and daughter see a completely different side to him. 

Connie was a downtrodden wife who accepted the life she had until she snaps and is driven to commit the most bittersweet act of revenge and comes out of it all a completely different woman. She had always been grateful that her husband bought her expensive boxes of chocolates from his trips away until she found out that he actually got his office manager to buy them for her whenever he was having a fling. She decides to give up chocolate there and then as all she can taste is deceit. However, can Brandon Locke tempt her back into the world of melt in the mouth indulgence as he is every woman's dream man, after all, who could resist a handsome chocolatier?

Della has worked for Jimmy for years and has secretly been in love with him the whole time but when she finds out he is having an affair with the office junior, she sees that as the final straw and decides to tell his wife. This is what sets the whole ball in motion and leads to the introduction of the elusive 'Lady Muck' who manages to change all of their lives for ever.

I thoroughly recommend this book to everyone and I would like to see it on the big screen, if not a movie then a comedy drama series which would keep us waiting impatiently each week for our fix.

I love how each book focuses on building strong friendships and always has a special touch of Milly's mystical magic.

I have had the pleasure of meeting Milly and am proud to be a member of #teammilly which I can honestly say has changed my life. Click here to read about my first meeting with Milly.
I was also lucky enough to be invited to the exclusive Champagne afternoon tea, launch party for Afternoon Tea at the Sunflower Cafe, click here to see how it went.

Sincerely

Book Angel

About the Author

Photo from Millyjohnson.co.uk

Milly Johnson was born, raised and still lives in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. As well as being an author of 11 published novels, 2 short story books and a novella, she is also a copywriter for the greetings card industry, a joke-writer, a columnist, after dinner speaker, poet, BBC newspaper reviewer and a sometimes BBC radio presenter.
She writes about love, life, friendships and that little bit of the magic that sometimes crops up in real life. She likes owls and meringues and hates marzipan. She is very short.

Launch Party for Afternoon Tea at The Sunflower Cafe

What an amazing afternoon we had to celebrate the launch of Milly Johnson's new book, 'Afternoon Tea at the Sunflower Cafe'
As members of #Teammilly we were invited by Simon & Schuster to join Milly for an exclusive and intimate Champagne Afternoon Tea at the prestigious 5 star Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane, London.

I arrived just before 2pm to see Milly with a couple of other guests and after hugging us hello she very kindly signed our books for us and we just chatted as we waited for everybody else to arrive.
We were soon brought into the Park room which was beautifully decorated and had a wall which was completely made up of large windows giving the room a lovely bright feel. Despite the weather being quite overcast the room was generously decorated with Sunflowers to complement the theme of the book perfectly and to bring the sunshine inside.

Cheers from the Team Milly ladies

The waiting staff sat us down and brought us our champagne which was followed by a refreshing amuse bouche of mango, papaya and orange. Then the three tiered cake stands were brought in which included delicious assorted finger sandwiches, the prawn ones were my favourite, and the top layer was adorned with delightful dainty fancy cakes, we were also offered a wide selection of exotic teas to choose from too.

The plates of sandwiches and cakes were replenished regularly and the teas topped up and everybody was already full up at this point but then they brought out the warm scones with clotted cream and a selection of jams. We were then offered a choice of delicious cakes from the main table in the centre of the room but no one could manage a piece although some of the ladies had some to go for the journey home.

Emma from Simon & Schuster gathered us together for a group photo and then Milly posed for individual photo's with each of us, saying that she felt like Gwyneth Paltrow.
About half way through the afternoon we heard a few shrieks and could see some shocked faces looking at the windows, when we turned to look we could see literally hundreds of naked cyclists riding past the window, this caused much hilarity with all the diners and staff laughing and taking pics.

As we were leaving Milly gave us a hug goodbye, she's such a lovely down to earth lady with a massive heart, she gave us all a lovely goody bag with a pen, post it pad and a lovely Callula Glass keepsake gift with the words 'Team Milly on it.

I had a wonderful time, it was lovely to meet all of the gorgeous Team Milly ladies that were able to make it as they were great company and we had a really good laugh. I would like to say a huge thank you to Simon & Schuster and Milly for their generosity, I can't wait to see what's next for #Teammilly.

Click here for my review of Afternoon Tea at the Sunflower Cafe

Thanks again Milly, hope to see you again soon
Sincerely
Book Angel

Author Interview - Jenny Hale - Summer By the Sea.

They say there’s always one summer that changes you...
Summer by the Sea is a beautiful, heart-warming summer read about sisters, first love and not always getting what wewant – but sometimes ending up with exactly what we need.
For Faith the one summer she can’t forget is when she fell in love as a teenager – only for her sister, Casey, to steal her man.
Now, at the request of her beloved ninety year-old grandmother, Faith has agreed to a family holiday – at their childhood beach house, where it all began.
Faith hasn’t seen her sister in years but is finally ready to forgive and forget, enjoy the sunshine and relive happy memories.
What she’s not ready for is meeting Jake Buchanan – the owner of the beach house – or the long-forgotten feelings he ignites in her.
Can Faith overcome the hurt of the past, rekindle the close bond she had with Casey and make this summer THE ONE to remember?

Hi Jenny,welcome to Sincerely Book Angels blog.

Hi. Thank you for having me!

What was the inspiration behind this novel?

The Outer Banks itself. It is a real place in North Carolina—a thin stretch of barrier islands off the coast. I’ve been there a lot throughout my life—family vacations with my parents and siblings and now with my own children. It was a lot of fun to build my characters within that setting.

Did you always want to be a writer?

I’ve always been a storyteller, but it didn’t occur to me to write until adulthood.

What other jobs have you had?

I am currently a district teacher of English to students who speak other languages. I teach students, ages five to ten. Prior to that, I was an elementary school teacher. I taught grades two, three, and four.

How did it feel when your first novel was published?

I didn’t believe it! It seemed too perfect; I kept thinking there was a catch. No catch, though. It was amazing.

Have you ever had writer’s block? If so how did you overcome it?

I’ve never had writer’s block! *runs to knock on wood* (touch wood?)

What motivates you to keep writing?

It’s intrinsic; It is my method of calming a crazy day, relaxing, and having quiet time.

Do your characters’ moods ever affect your mood and vice versa?

Not really, but if my character requires a certain mood that isn’t coming naturally for me, I listen to music to try and create that mood to better write the character.

What three pieces of advice would you give to an aspiring writer?

1.     Write every day.

2.     Read about writing.

3.     Never give up.

Who is your favourite author and why?

I have a million favorite authors. Here are a few: Jill Mansell, Harriet Evans, and Emily Giffin.

If your book was made into a film what song would you choose for the opening credits?

A great way to start the movie out would be to use Jana Kramer’s “I Got the Boy.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNJwu-YkQlc

Who would you choose to play your favourite character in the film of your book?

Dustin Milligan as Jake

Source: http://hairstyles.thehairstyler.com/hairstyle_views/front_view_images

/10577/original/Dustin-Milligan.jpg

What is your next book about?

My next book is about having dreams and the big question: Should we take a risk to chase our dreams or not? It’s about a nurse named Abbey Fuller who scores an interior decorating job. That job is at a million dollar mansion. And the mansion is owned by bachelor Nick Sinclair. In the story, not only does Abbey have to decide if taking the job is worth the risk, but she also learns that falling for Nick could be riskier. Especially when she has her young son and her ailing Gramps to think about…

It should be out this Christmas!

Thank you so much for joining us on our blog today and good luck with the next book.

Thank you for having me!

To read our review of Summer by the Sea please click here

Title: Summer by the Sea

Author: Jenny Hale

Publisher: Bookouture

Date: 12th June 2015

 Purchase Link

UK:         http://amzn.to/1cOpBHo

US:         http://amzn.to/1T0e5sK

About Jenny Hale

When she graduated college, one of Jenny's friends said "Look out for this one; she's going to be an author one day". Despite being an avid reader and a natural storyteller, it wasn't until that very moment that the idea of writing novels occurred to her.

Sometimes our friends can see the things that we can't. Whilst she didn't start straight away, that comment sowed a seed and several years, two children and hundreds of thousands of words later, Jenny finished her first novel. Coming Home for Christmas went on to be a Kindle hit on both sides of the Atlantic - reaching the top 20 in the UK and top 10 in the US.Summer by the Sea is Jenny's fourth novel.

Contact Links

Facebook  - https://www.facebook.com/jennyhaleauthor 

Twitter - https://twitter.com/jhaleauthor

Website - http://itsjennyhale.com/ 

Cover Reveal - Return to Bluebell Hill - Rebecca Pugh

As sweet and satisfying as strawberries and cream! This British summertime, get out in the garden with Rebecca Pugh’s sparkling debut novel.

Home is where the heart is…

Jessica McAdams has never belonged anywhere; never truly felt at home. Of course, what did she expect from parents who never made her feel welcome in her own house? Leaving her life in London to return home to the charming country village of Bluebell Hill is harder than she thought. Especially as she never considered she’d be returning under such heart wrenching circumstances…

Clearing out the stunning and imposing Bluebell House after her parents’ death is difficult for Jessica—they never had the best relationship and now it’s too late. Yet spending time in the house that was never a home, having afternoon tea with dear old friend Esme—and sharing hot, sizzling kisses with delectable gardener Rueben!—opens Jessica’s eyes to the potential of Bluebell House… Could this big old, beautiful manor really be her forever home? Is Bluebell Hill where her heart is, has always been?

Jessica soon dares to dream of her very own home with delicious Rueben by her side. But when a deep, dark secret of Bluebell House is unearthed, Jessica’s world is turned upside down…

Will Jessica ever find where her heart truly lies?

An emotional tale of self-discovery, taking chances and romance! Rebecca’s unique British voice feels like coming home again and again.


Links

Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon US

About the Author

Rebecca Pugh grew up in the green county of Shropshire, with a mind full of fairy-tales and happy endings. Enchanted by true love and Disney Princesses, she decided that no matter what life threw her way, she’d continue to see the world through a child’s eyes. Through the pages of countless books, her adoration of reading blossomed, and it didn’t take long for her to fall under the spell of hundreds of authors’ words. 

Now, Rebecca’s own story has taken a fairy-tale like turn, and at 22, her dream has come true. With her faithful companions: Bonnie the dog, her partner, and her gigantic family by her side, Rebecca is ready to share her stories with readers who enjoy falling in love and losing themselves within beautiful, fictional worlds.

Rebecca Pugh is the author of women’s fiction and romance, her all-time favourite genres. After all, who doesn’t enjoy a good swoon?

Her debut novel, Return to Bluebell Hill, is due to be published June 18th 2015 by Carina UK. 

Author Interview - Teresa Driscoll - Recipes for Melissa

Find out where Teresa got the inspiration to write Recipes for Melissa and what advice would she give to an aspiring author.


Melissa Dance was eight years old when her mother died. They never got to say goodbye. Seventeen years later, Melissa is handed a journal. As she smooths open the pages and begins to read her mother's words, she is instantly transported back to her childhood. But returning to her past is painful and memories of her mother's beautiful face are a cruel reminder to Melissa that she'll never see her again. As Melissa slowly makes her way through the precious book, reading the snippets of advice and cooking the dishes from the recipes she is also shocked to learn of her mother's secrets - secrets that if shared, could change Melissa's world forever. A beautifully written, heartbreaking and ultimately uplifting story of a mother's loving legacy for her daughter - perfect for fans of Rowan Coleman, Lucy Dillon and JoJo Moyes.

Author: Teresa Driscoll
Title: Recipes for Melissa
Publishers: Bookouture
Publication Date: 5th June 2015
Link: Amazon

Author Interview - Teresa Driscoll
Welcome to Sincerely Book Angels blog. 
Thanks so much for inviting me….lovely to be here. 

What was the inspiration behind this novel?
I’d been trying to become a novelist for ten years with lots of near misses with major publishers. Eventually I came to believe that when they say “write what you know” they really mean “write what you understand….in your heart”. I lost my mother to cancer when I was a teenager and I had been very wary of using this theme in a novel. But then I had a dream about my mother in which I realised what I missed the most…and that was never talking to her woman to woman. And so I came up with the idea for a novel in which a mother would use a very special journal to say goodbye to her daughter. I realised I wanted to reconnect these two women across time. To let the mother whisper into her daughter’s ear, if you like. Woman to woman. And I realised this would allow me to write a hopefully tender but also uplifting story. I was then like an author possessed! I wrote day and night. The house was a tip and the family struggled to find clean clothes (sorry family – I love you!). But Recipes for Melissa felt like the story I was always meant to write.

Did you always want to be a writer?
Yes – definitely. I started epic novels in school exercise books from the age of around ten! By the sixth form I fancied life in a garret but a wise teacher recommended journalism and it was superb advice. I trained to be a newspaper reporter and loved it. I then went on to become a TV reporter for Thames TV and finally presented the local BBC TV news in Devon for 15 years. It was a huge privilege working in television but when I left, I went back to freelance writing and it was like coming home.

What other jobs have you had?
I feel so incredibly lucky as I’ve always earned my living from writing in one form or another. As well as the journalism in newspapers and TV, I’ve been a columnist and regular short story writer for a number of leading magazines. I also helped with the PR for a Devon hospice charity for a couple of years which I loved.

How did it feel when your first novel was published?
It still feels surreal! I am genuinely pinching myself daily. I got so used to near- misses with publishers that when my agent phoned to say that seven German publishers were going into an auction for RECIPES FOR MELISSA, I nearly passed out. When the box of my UK paperbacks eventually arrived, I sat on the floor and cried.

Have you ever had writer's block? If so how did you overcome it?
Funnily enough, I never get writer’s block. I think that’s the discipline of journalism. You can’t tell a news editor that you’re not in the mood to write! I accept that some days I write better than others, but I just work through that. My thinking is you can always edit and polish later. 

What motivates you to keep writing?
The love of it. Sound ridiculous but it’s like breathing to me. Something I just have to do. I wrote four books that didn’t get published before this debut. My friends probably thought I was nuts. But I just had to keep going. It’s what I do.

What three pieces of advice would you give to an aspiring writer?
Write for the love of it - and write with passion. Don’t try to chase trends. That won’t work.
Don’t tell anyone about your new project too soon as even a raised eyebrow may throw you off.
Remember that “first drafts don’t have to be perfect, they just have to be written”. Write in forward gear, rather than worrying about making each chapter perfect before you move on. You can polish and edit later.

Who is your favourite author and why?
I can’t bear it! How can I possibly pick just one?! If you sat with me in a restaurant and saw how difficult I find it to even order a meal, you would understand. I love Donna Tartt, Kate Atkinson, Maggie O’Farrell, Anne Tyler, Kurt Vonnegut, Jane Austen, the Brontes, George Eliot…. If you absolutely twist my arm up my back I would say my favourite book is the Mill on the Floss by George Eliot. My heart broke for the main character Maggie Tulliver who was headstrong but so endearing. All she wanted was to be loved.

If your book was made into a film what song would you choose for the opening credits?
Probably Celine Dion’s “Goodbye’s (the saddest word)” but it might need to be instrumental only for the opening credits….lyrics for the closing credits. Otherwise we’d be sitting in one big puddle of tears before the film even began and that wouldn’t do at all.

Who would you choose to play your favourite character in the film of your book?
Help. I love all the characters so this is tough! OK – Eleanor is probably my favourite but I just can’t decide who should play her. I’d definitely cast Jennifer Lawrence as Melissa but if I’m allowed to mention also that I have a massive soft spot for Max, I’d like Eric Bana to play him, please! Sorry. I’m really rubbish at playing “favourites” aren’t I? (Middle child.)

Thank you so much for joining us on our blog today and good luck with the book.
Thank you too. It’s been lovely to be here.
Teresa Driscoll

Click here to read our review of Recipes for Melissa.

Sincerely

Book Angel

About The Author

Teresa Driscoll is a journalist and author with 25 years' experience across newspapers, magazines and television. After training as a newspaper reporter, she joined Thames TV for five years before 15 years as the anchor of the BBC's south west regional TV news programme Spotlight.

Teresa's debut novel RECIPES FOR MELISSA was auctioned at the Frankfurt book fair between seven German publishers and has since sold in six languages. As well as the UK and Germany, it will be published in Brazil, Israel, the Czech Republic and Korea.

Teresa blogs regularly about her "writing life" at her website - www.teresadriscoll.com. She lives in glorious Devon with her husband and two sons

Recipes for Melissa - Teresa Driscoll

Melissa Dance was eight years old when her mother died. They never got to say goodbye. Seventeen years later, Melissa is handed a journal. As she smooths open the pages and begins to read her mother's words, she is instantly transported back to her childhood. But returning to her past is painful and memories of her mother's beautiful face are a cruel reminder to Melissa that she'll never see her again. As Melissa slowly makes her way through the precious book, reading the snippets of advice and cooking the dishes from the recipes she is also shocked to learn of her mother's secrets - secrets that if shared, could change Melissa's world forever. A beautifully written, heartbreaking and ultimately uplifting story of a mother's loving legacy for her daughter - perfect for fans of Rowan Coleman, Lucy Dillon and JoJo Moyes.

Author: Teresa Driscoll

Title: Recipes for Melissa

Publishers: Bookouture

Publication Date: 5th June 2015

Link: Amazon

My Review

A beautiful poignant portrayal of a mother's undying love for her daughter. When Eleanor finds out she is dying she makes a decision not to let her eight year old daughter know as she wants to try and have as normal a life as possible with her. Unbeknown to her husband she makes a recipe book to be given to her daughter on her 25th birthday to help her through key times in her life. The book contains recipes which have been passed down from her own mother and photo's of Melissa as a young girl helping to make the cakes etc in the book. There are also photographs of treasured family holidays and snippets of advice and thoughts that were going through Eleanor's mind during her diagnosis and illness.

I thought this was a lovely gift for Melissa because it helped her to remember some of the happy times she shared with her mother but also allowed her mother to speak to the adult Melissa about grown up things too.

The book was thorough in showing the effect that losing a loved one has on the whole family as Melissa's father was still struggling to come to terms with the loss of his wife, whilst also possibly having feelings about being ready to love again. I liked the fact that being ready to love again didn't mean he had got over his wife's death or that he loved her any less, it was just different.

Eleanor had passed on messages for her husband through the book but he was quite upset that she hadn't told him about it. She had also faced a huge dilemma as to whether or not to pass on a secret which could potentially devastate the whole family, I'm not sure what I would have done in these circumstances and I think it was a very brave decision for her to make and one that she had to make quickly as time was running out. This was a fascinating and heart breaking book which I couldn't put down and managed to read in a day. I thought I would cry but I'm pleased I didn't as there was such an element of hope throughout and loveliness that Melissa could still feel her mother's love after all those years and those happy memories could be reignited again.

I would like to thank Teresa and Bookouture and Netgalley for allowing me to review this lovely poignant, heartfelt book.

Click here to read our interview with author Teresa Driscoll.

Sincerely

Book Angel

About The Author

Teresa Driscoll is a journalist and author with 25 years' experience across newspapers, magazines and television. After training as a newspaper reporter, she joined Thames TV for five years before 15 years as the anchor of the BBC's south west regional TV news programme Spotlight.

Teresa's debut novel RECIPES FOR MELISSA was auctioned at the Frankfurt book fair between seven German publishers and has since sold in six languages. As well as the UK and Germany, it will be published in Brazil, Israel, the Czech Republic and Korea.
Teresa blogs regularly about her "writing life" at her website - www.teresadriscoll.com. She lives in glorious Devon with her husband and two sons

Finding Audrey - Sophie Kinsella

Audrey can't leave the house. she can't even take off her dark glasses inside the house.
Then her brother's friend Linus stumbles into her life. With his friendly, orange-slice smile and his funny notes, he starts to entice Audrey out again - well, Starbucks is a start.And with Linus at her side, Audrey feels like she can do the things she'd thought were too scary. Suddenly, finding her way back to the real world seems achievable.
Be prepared to laugh, dream and hope with Audrey as she learns that even when you feel like you have lost yourself, love can still find you . . .


Author: Sophie Kinsella
Title: Finding Audrey
Publishers: RHCP Digital
Publication Date: 4th June 2015
Link: Amazon

My Review

I have always loved Sophie Kinsella books and this one is certainly no exception. It is a completely different foray into the Young Adult genre and I feel it works well.
Although the book is centred around Audrey who is suffering from a social anxiety disorder due to having been bullied at school, her brother Frank was also a key character who made me laugh out loud quite a bit and I think Audrey liked the fact he was often in trouble as it kind of took the attention away from her.
I could really relate to their mum as she is trying to bring up teenagers and over reacting to things they do, such as the amount of time spent on the computer. Having three teens of my own I found it hilarious when Frank actually challenged her about her views as I know how flummoxed I have been when my son questions me on certain issues.
I think Sophie has handled the issue of mental health in young people very sensitively and it is important to note that Audrey is in the early stages of recovery still and has an extremely supportive family but she still has a long way to go.
I think Linus is a very important character and young people could learn a lot from him in how to be supportive to someone who is going through this tough period in their lives.
The book touches on some very difficult and emotive issues, showing that the recovery process does have setbacks and highlights the misconceptions that people have about mental illness.
I really enjoyed the book, it was witty, funny, sad and happy all rolled up into the love of a supportive family.
Thanks to Sophie Kinsella, RHCP Digital and Netgalley for the advanced review copy.


Sincerely
Book Angel

About the Author

Sophie Kinsella is a writer and former financial journalist. She is the number one bestselling author of Can You Keep a Secret?, The Undomestic Goddesss, Remember Me? and the hugely popular Shopaholic novels. She lives in London with her husband and family. She is also the author of several bestselling novels under the name of Madeleine Wickham, all published by Black Swan. Visit her website at www.sophiekinsella.co.uk.