Fanny Blake

I feel like I really should have read a Fanny Blake novel before, but this happens to be my first and I enjoyed it very much indeed.

We start off meeting Amy, a woman who has a very successful home interiors business (think shades of Laura Ashley). When she finds out her husband has betrayed her in more ways than one, it forces her to think of an old hurt, one which was never resolved and which has been in the background of her life since she was a schoolgirl. To try and put the matter to bed show more she invites three old friends from that time to her villa in Mallorca. Given that they haven't seen much of each other over the years it's quite a risky strategy and I did wonder how I would feel suddenly being thrust together with people I knew at school.

Anyway, Linda, Jane and Kate accept Amy's invitation and they spend a few days together. There's plenty of ups and downs, mostly because of the quite difficult Jane, but by the end of the holiday things are quite different for all of them.

Two things about this book really stand out for me. The first is that this is not a group of twenty-something women, these are sixty year old women. It's so nice to read a story featuring this age group for once. They're women who have been through plenty in their lives to get to where they are and whilst it hasn't always been easy, they can use their experiences to make the next stage of their lives even better. The second thing is that I thought the author really brought Mallorca to life with her evocative descriptions. I could really feel the sunshine, and the smells, sounds, places were there quite strongly in my imagination.

A Summer Reunion is a lovely read, perfect for a holiday but great for any time really. The writing is absorbing and enjoyable, and it's easy to read, yet doesn't shy away from difficult subjects. Friendships from the past don't always last but in this case the characters have had a second chance and I loved that. I'm sure this won't be my last Fanny Blake book. show less

This was a warm, witty read about 2 women who are on holiday alone but meet up and become friends. Through a string of coincidences they realise they have more in common than they could ever have imagined. We learn about their romances, heartbreaks, families and dreams and I for one found myself drawn into their world and was really rooting for everything to work out for them. As a reader I saw all the twists coming but I still found this an enjoyable, light-hearted read. I am being careful show more to not give any spoilers but I will say it certainly made me wonder how I would have reacted if I'd been either of the main characters and found myself in their position. The author has written an amusing, uplifting tale about how 2 women come together to face life’s heartbreaks and how they overcome their problems to create a new beginning. I loved hearing about the lives of the main characters and about their adventure in opening a shop together. In fact, I'd love it if Fanny Blake wrote a sequel but this time based on their working lives and how their venture worked out. show less

This is a heart-warming story about a woman in her sixties who finds love with a younger man from Bosnia, after her husband leaves her for another much younger woman.

I thought this was a lovely, uplifting tale of hope with some very realistic characters. I really liked Caro and was glad that she found herself after years of self-doubt and feelings of insignificance. One can only imagine how hard life must have been for her, having to fend for herself after so many years of marriage and show more devoting herself to looking after her family. The selfishness of her daughter, Lauren, and her husband, Chris, were well portrayed. Caro was well rid of him in my opinion! Damir was also a great character, and his own personal survival story during the war in Bosnia and its aftermath was very moving. Such a gentle and heroic man! I loved the writing style and thought it was beautifully and vividly written.

An inspiring, gladdening and very enjoyable read about living for the moment. You're never too old to tango! 😁

Reviewed for TBC on Facebook. show less

I was asked to review this book by a PR company in England, who kindly sent the book to me all the way to Australia. On the back, this looked like the type of book I read for my chick lit fix – three women, all friends who each have different problems but get through it. The cover also had a quote from one of my favourite writers, Penny Vincenzi (as an aside, her new book is released in Australia in September). However, the women in this book were older than your usual chick lit (perhaps I show more should call it mummy lit?) – late 40s or early 50s. Never mind, it was still interesting even though I’m nowhere near that stage of my life!
Although this book subscribed to the usual setting of three friends, very different in nature but who have a strong bond, there were differences that made the book stronger for me. Each of the women has a strong career, something I usually find lacking in chick lit. (Kate is a GP, Bea works in publishing and Ellen runs an art gallery). Even though they are of similar ages, each is facing a different problem: Bea, newly divorced, is looking for love while controlling a teenage son; Kate is worried that her husband is becoming increasingly distant; and Ellen has found love in the shape of Oliver – but how will her children react? Each of these stories is told with gentleness and humour. The strength of the trio’s friendship is exemplified by Bea’s determination to find out exactly what Oliver is hiding in order to protect Ellen. Although Bea’s detective work is intense and well-researched (she is a publisher after all), the climax where Ellen finds out about Oliver is not that powerful. The epilogue is probably more powerful as it again demonstrates the strength of their friendship and doesn’t tie up everything neatly, making this book more true to life.
This was a light read, easy to pick up and put down (I tested this to the nth degree, as I was on call 24/7 while reading this book). The characters are engaging and strong (I’d love to see Bea in her own book) and defies many of the chick lit stereotypes. There’s no Manolos and cocktails, these women really could be the friends of a real person. Enjoyable. show less