A dynamic, dramatic, and deliciously entertaining tale exposing friendship flaws, secrets and lies. Sophie, Emily, Amy, and Melissa go away for a weekend break once a year, and we see how their lives change for both better and worse between 1997 and 2012. These are women who make mistakes, occasionally get it wrong as well as right, and rely on their friends for advice, help, and love. Helen Warner allows direct access to the holidays, the rest of the year remains either hidden or briefly reviewed, ensuring the story just whizzes along. The movement through the years allows you to quickly form a relationship with these women, it also raises questions, and suspicions. While I found myself occasionally tutting and frustrated, I also celebrated, smiled and laughed, and then in the next moment my heart ached for them. ‘The Story of Our Lives’ is so readable, it beckons you in, and then gathers you up in an intimate, weaving dance of friendship… what a fascinating, lovely read this is.
| Primary Genre | Family Drama |
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A delightful and uplifting read which is likely to have its readers reflecting on their own friendships.
How would we survive without friends for support? The Story of Our Lives follows four women; Sophie, Melissa, Emily and Amy over twenty years in short bursts an unusual structure that gives an insight into the momentous occasions that we all encounter during our lives.
The first time we meet the friends is on their weekend break in Southwold in August 1997 following the death of Princess Diana. Sophie is in a long-term relationship with someone she met at university, wondering perhaps if she settled down too soon.... Read Full Review
A light easy read charting the lives of four young women, close friends since their university days. Although close, they all have secrets from each other, which are gradually revealed.
This book charts the lives of four young women over a period of 15 years. They have been close friends since their university days and meet up for weekends together every so often. Each of these events is a new section of the book, and we get to learn, via flashbacks, how their lives have progressed in the intervening period. Although it’s a light, easy read, it does touch on some serious topics, and I thought it was well written, but overall it was a bit too ‘frothy’ for my taste. It’s certainly gender specific – I can’t imagine any man I know reading and enjoying this.
Having said all that, I did find myself drawn into the story and stayed up rather late one night to finish it – testament to the good writing... Read Full Review
The idea of four friends meeting up for an annual girly week-end is simple enough, but works wonderfully well. Linking chapters with a newsflash from the time is a stroke of genius.
They say that the best ideas are the simple ones and this book shows how true this is.... Read Full Review
