A couple of years ago I read ‘By My Side’, which I really enjoyed, it was beautifully written and incredibly romantic, so expectations were high for this book, and it is precisely that.
Wendy creates a lovely setting in Lower Nutton and it’s surrounding areas around Nutt Hill, you can imagine all the beautiful and picturesque scenery everywhere you look. The sense of community is captured well here, in both the welcoming kind like Maggie shows, and the way that if you’re from the outside, you can sometimes feel isolated from people who are set in their ways.
If the book hadn’t mentioned digital cameras, I wouldn’t have guessed it was based any later than 90’s. This is mainly because of Sarah, and her ways, which seem very traditional, and a few things when technology would have helped massively, a quick text can go a long way sometimes, even if you don’t want to type an essay.
Sarah is generally lovely. She lacks confidence after splitting from her husband, but thanks to her new found independence, and friendship with her employer Maggie, she begins to believe in herself again, and it was really heart warming to see this. However there seems to always be something to knock her down again in finding true happiness, and towards the end, it was more her own self and values that stopped her, and in my view I think they were quite old fashioned, I know she was almost 10 years older than me, so it might be an age thing (though late 39ish isn’t old by any means), but, while it was an issue that needed to be dealt, I don’t think it would stop me trying to be happy, and I would certainly confide. She was taking a step back in confidence, and it was heart-wrenching to see.
Nick was adorable most the time, well, no one is perfect, and it’s great to see that both characters were flawed, and to see the characters try to work it out. A while ago, I would have considered vicars to be very serious people, and a bit intimidating, as I don’t necessarily share the same beliefs, so worry they would frown upon me, but meeting some in real life outside of church, they really are just ‘normal people’, which sounds stupid, of course they are, but my previous perception was obviously very wrong, and I’m glad I learned otherwise. Wendy gets this across really well, you really feel like he takes his job seriously, but can have a laugh and be a great friend to anyone.
I absolutely adored Maggie, she had a great sense of humour, and I loved how friendly and welcoming she was to Sarah. I was less keen on Sarah’s friend Louise at the start of the book, she seemed really quite negative. She may have been trying to think what was best for Sarah, of course she wouldn’t want Sarah to get hurt, but it came across to me as slightly mean. Why shouldn’t Sarah try to find happiness with another man, she’s not even 40, and it’s not as if the break-up with her ex-hubby happened last week, or was it remotely her fault! Yes, Sarah may have been naive in marrying her first husband, but she wasn’t even 20 then, now she has age and experience on her side, so she can get a feel on whether Nick is any good before putting her heart fully on the line. Louise didn’t seem to get this, as I said it was probably her thinking she knew best, and had good intentions, but she wasn’t necessarily what I would class as being encouraging or supporting Sarah at the start of the book, just as she has a chance to find love again.
Overall this book is definitely one to check out, along with any sequels in the ‘Echoes of Nutt Hill’. It’s romantic and charming, it’s the perfect book to relax with on a nice Sunday afternoon.
Published by: Pronoun
Gratefully received from the author for review
