Hi everyone. Today, I have a book review for you from an author who is fast becoming a favourite, Amanda Prowse.

About the Book:

From the bestselling author of The Girl in the Corner comes a tale of love, loss—and one last extraordinary dance.

Christmas Eve, 2019. Ninety-four-year-old Molly lies in her hospital bed. A stroke and a fall may have broken her body—but her mind is alive with memories.

London, 1940s. Molly is a bright young woman, determined to help the war effort and keep her head up despite it all. Life becomes brighter when she meets and falls in love with a man who makes her forget everything with one dance. But then war forces her to make an unforgettable sacrifice, and when she’s brought to her knees by a daring undercover mission with the French Resistance, only her sister knows the secret weighing heavily on Molly’s heart.

Now, lying in her hospital bed, Molly can’t escape the memories of what she lost all those years ago. But she is not as alone as she thinks.

Will she be able to find peace—and finally understand that what seemed to be an ordinary life was anything but?

My Review:

Many thanks to the author for a free signed review copy of this book. Having read and loved The Boy Between, a vital book about depression and its effects, which Amanda Prowse co-wrote with her son Josiah Hartley, I was thrilled to receive this pre-release paperback.

A tale of love and loss and perseverance, An Ordinary Life is set in war torn 1940s London. The story begins with ninety-four-year-old Molly struggling to write a letter to her son. Before she can do more than make a start, she suffers a fall and a stroke. The narrative then moves back in time to a youthful nineteen-year-old Molly.

I found this read a real tear-jerker at times, so make sure you have your tissues ready. Other points in the book made me smile and at times chuckle aloud.

Despite the title, this is no ordinary book, and Molly’s life is actually quite extraordinary at times. An emotional and engaging read, I give An Ordinary Lifea solid 5 stars and will be looking at other books by this writer.

If you enjoy women’s fiction, tales of love and endurance, and wartime reads, you’ll love this book.

***

NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.

5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.
4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.
3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.
1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.

I’d love to hear what you think of this review. Thanks for stopping by 🙂

For anyone interested, here are the Amazon links …

US … https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1542017297/

UK … https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1542017297/