Review supplied by Matthew Martin

I chose to read this novel because it was the winner of the Daily Mail First Novel Award and I like to support new writers and discover new talent for myself.

I loved this book, I found the style of writing easy to read and the story was captivating.

This is the story of Andrea who is thrown into a situation that makes her see the people behind her perfect childhood in a different light. As the story unravels it takes you back and forth to the late 1970’s to experience Tom, Laura, Peter and Faye’s friendships and how their lives are entwined by the decisions they do and don’t make. It ultimately draws you in as you find out what happened to each of the characters, the consequences they paid for their actions and what affect this has on Andrea in the present day.

The characters are beautifully written and we see each side of this very engrossing story through the journey that each one takes. The author has really captured the essence of the 1970’s in her language and references and although I was a young child then it made me feel very nostalgic.

But don’t take my word for it. Joanne Harris describes it as ‘A story of secrets, lies, grief and ultimately redemption, charmingly handled by this very promising new writer’.