Life is never dull, one way or another

Synopsis

The Yorkshire village of Beddingfield is home to the wonderful women of the Allen family: teacher Robyn, wannabe chef Jess, teenage tearaway Sorrel and matriarch Lisa, who holds the whole family together. But underneath her warmth and brilliance, Lisa has a secret – she longs to know who she really is.

In Hudson House, the grand manor on the edge of Beddingfield which is now a care home, lives seventy-something Eloise Howard. With film star beauty but memories fading fast, Eloise is slowly taking one foot at a time back into her past. Born into a prestigious family, her father the owner of the local Hudson’s Mill, Eloise’s life was destined to be one of finishing schools and balls. But when her path crossed Junayd Sattar’s, the most striking and kindest man she had ever met, nothing would ever be the same again.

When Lisa begins to spend time at Hudson House and befriends Eloise, the two women form an unbreakable bond. But unbeknownst to them both, they share secrets that, once uncovered, will change everything they believed about their own lives.

In her unmatched warm and uplifting voice, Julie Houston’s funny and profoundly moving tale of forbidden love, friendship and family ties will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page… Perfect for fans of Jenny Colgan, Fiona Gibson and Cathy Kelly.

My review

The Allen family are all settling in in the village of Beddingfield, especially since Robyn has returned from London and found her feet as a drama teacher and is back with her boyfriend Fabian. Meanwhile her sister Jess keeps on dreaming to become a chef, and Sorrel, the youngest sibling is ready to audition in London. And after struggling for a while, the siblings’ mother, Lisa, not only is finally managing to keep the family together, but she is also trying to find meaning in her life too. But even in a small village like Beddingfield, life is never dull, and when Hudson House, the care home where Jess is working, it as risk of closing, worries arise about the people staying at the House. And one in particular, especially as Eloise has a very personal link with Hudson House, being a Hudson herself. Despite her dementia, during her clearer moments, she fondly remembers how she in her younger years connected with a young man. But life doesn’t always go as expected, and Eloise her life didn’t exactly go as planned by her family. But her secrets may be connected to one member of the Allen family…

I have read the first book of the series, and I have to admit, while I was eager to start this new chapter, it took me a while to just get back into it. And it has absolutely nothing to do with the author or the story, but just because it has been a while ago since finishing Book Nr. 1. And while perhaps this book can be read as a standalone, I suggest to read the first book, as it will give you just so much more insights of the characters, and it is of course a great story to read!

It was great to see how the story of the Allen family just continues from where the first book left us. And in a way, it was great to read how things aren’t going smoothly for anyone. Because that is just the reality, life never is only filled with rainbows and sunshine. In order to have those rainbows, we need the rain, don’t we?

There is a lot of going on with each character in this book. Robyn is keeping things light at work, not wanting to settle down with being a teacher. And it is not a matter of fear, but it is a genuine not knowing where her future will be. 

Because her love story with Fabian is still an ongoing one. There are decisions that needs to be made, choices to be made. But there is also the fact of insecurities. As Fabian’s family, and especially his mother, isn’t the easiest one, it makes Robyn doubt that they will  be endgame.

And that is in a way a recurring theme, insecurities. Insecurities that may jeopardize everything that has been building up.

Because not only Robyn is doubting herself and wondering about her future, and not only the other siblings are going through a rough patch, also Lisa, the matriarch is struggling.

I have to admit, I never heard of her disease before it appeared in this series. But even if I didn’t know the details about it, I was happy to see Lisa getting back up, and being able to be the person she wants to be, the active and present person, and especially mother she needs to be.

Of course we meet Eloise in this book. And yes, my heart went out to her. I cannot imagine how it feels to not remembering or just not knowing who you are, where you are and what year it is. Yet I was curious to read her story, discover her past, and especially learn how Eloise Hudson, from a family with a status, is linked with the Allen family, that is a loving family, but also a tiny bit messed up one.

The more the story evolved, the more the general feeling for me was: how will it all turn out? Because I for sure kept amounting all the questions in my head, and I was very curious to see how it would all turn out.

There are several issues, questions and secrets in this book. But all of that disappeared because there is also and mainly a lot of warmth and love in it. No matter what is going on, the Allen family members all have each other’s back, there is support, love, and compassion.

Each character also has a lot of growth, they all learn from their mistakes, realizes their wrongdoings, show courage when needed. And that was lovely to read, the evolution of each character, but at the same time never losing the essence that makes them uniquely them.  They are also real people, that make mistakes, misjudge things yet aren’t afraid to admit their faults.

I loved reading this next chapter of a wonderful, realistic and warm family. A family that is still facing a lot of issues, but do not let anything or anyone break them apart. Julie Houston managed to grasp perfectly what it means to be a family, what it means for a person to grow and mature. And what it means to even to dare to dream big and dare to take a leap of faith.