A little bit of love, a little bit of drama, a little bit of secrets.

Synopsis

It’s 1988. The era of young love, with Scott and Charlene melting hearts in Neighbours, and a new princess for the Royal Family. With Bros, Madonna and Wet Wet Wet in the charts, and children hoping for Ghostbusters’ toys in their stockings.

But it’s not all fun for Belinda. If her life was a board game, she’s losing at snakes and ladders. Once she’d been working her way up one of those ladders but, thanks to her snake-like polytechnic lecturer, she’s toppled from the rungs. Now she works in an old people’s home, where her chief duties involve cleaning toilets and emptying commodes.

At least her lovely colleague, Joe, offers excitement in her otherwise dreary life. But Belinda can’t believe he’d be interested in someone like her. Not when her pretty friend, Tracey, only has to glance at a man to have him fall for her.

But just when it seems things are looking up for Belinda, the residents’ precious possessions start to go missing. Then she witnesses a disturbing incident and doesn’t know what to do. Luckily, Belinda has Joe to guide her – until she discovers that he’s hiding a secret, one that forces her to make an agonising decision.

Will she continue to hide in the shadows, never speaking out – or will she put her future on the line to stand up for what is right? After all, she’s caring for a generation that’s lived through two wars. Now it’s time to fight for them.

My review

In the Eighties, Belinda is ready to start a new job. After her own share of unfortunate events, she works in a care home/ residential home, mainly cleaning toilets and emptying commodes.
It’s not the job of dreams, but without a degree, she is not in the position to be picky on jobs.
Luckily she befriends colleague Joe, a very lovely and good-looking man. The closer they become, the more insecure Belinda becomes, because why would someone like him be interested in someone like her, while he could get someone gorgeous as her best friend Tracey.

But slowly things are looking better for Belinda, because the residents’ are really fond of her. However when possessions start to disappear and not all colleagues are treating the residents with the respect they earn, Belinda is not sure what to do. Should she dare to speak out, with risking her own job? Or should she just keep quiet?
With the guidance of Joe, Belinda is trying to do the right thing. But when it appears that Joe also has a secret of his own, Belinda has to make an even more important decision that will also affect the residents…

First of all, I was only two when this story is taking place 😃 So a few references were not that clear to me. But overall I truly enjoyed reading this blast from the past!

Despite her past, I admired Belinda and her courage of not just giving up. Working in the home is not something she saw herself doing, but she is committed to the job and she starts to really care about the residents. She sees how some people are feeling lonely and she does her best, even when her workhours are over, to make these people a little bit happier.
And I think that even in the present, we need more people like Bee, caring and looking after those who have fought literally so that we are where we are now. The older people are often seen as a burden, while they can still be a source of knowledge.

In the beginning, Bee is a very insecure woman, lacking self – confidence. But slowly she evolves in a young woman, standing up for the rights of the residents, and starts to see also her self-worth. And thanks to Joe, she starts to see how other people see her, a lovely, caring young woman with her heart at the right place.
Even when she discovers the truth about the missing possessions, she keeps in mind what the right thing to do is, even if it hurts someone nearby her.

I loved reading how this girl went from cleaning toilets to fighting for the care of the residents. And to read how she and Joe are getting closer, was just too sweet!
Being a story taking place in the Eighties, there were a lot of funny references that I could perfectly imagine. And also there were bits that were hilarious to read about!

I found this a very entertaining story with lovely moments, but also with secrets to be uncovered.
Sometimes I was left shocked with how the residents were treated, realizing that unfortunately this is still a fact in present times. But with people like Bee and Joe, the injustice can be undone with the caring people that truly have our beloved ones best interest at heart!