AMAZON. COM REVIEW
I read this book in one day. I couldn’t put it down. I wanted to know what happens next in these seemingly normal families. I enjoyed the references to the different decades. Highly recommended read.
Cathy Lynn Brooks - Read full review here
GOODREADS REVIEW
I chose this book intrigued by the reference to the family secret at the heart of the story, but it was much more than that. This is a tale that expertly weaves the stories of multiple generations and the separate highs and lows of life across a century. Well-crafted characters had me wondering whether this was based on a true story, and I would love to know if it was.
-Rachel Healey
GOODREADS REVIEW
Whatever size of family the reader may come from, they are bound to feel familiar with some of the issues that this book raises, such as filial and family loyalty, divorce, step parents, relocation, career choices, feminist issues and more. So many novels nowadays seem to centre around supernatural, criminal, dystopian or hypersexual worlds. This novel makes a refreshing change and reflects an honest working class Britain that is sadly under threat.
-Joan Lewis
AMAZON. CO. UK REVIEW
If you’re looking for something altogether less taxing after a frantic day, then this book takes you back to the days before emails and life constantly on the edge.
-Tim Levey - Read full review here
AMAZON. DE REVIEW
It offers a nostalgic glimpse into twentieth-century Europe with all its beauty and turmoil. Overall, this novel is very fascinating and bears a lot of charm and literary prowess. I highly recommend.
-Fin23 - Read full review here
AMAZON. COM REVIEW
…when I finally settled in to read the book for what it is, rather than what I had expected, I enjoyed it tremendously. I became so entangled with Jagger family dynamics that I didn’t want to put the book down. The writing is simple, flawless, always flowing and sometimes beautiful, and peppered with descriptions, popular references and political discussions befitting the times.
-Roger Chanels - Read full review here
AMAZON. COM REVIEW
…The wide cast of characters is relatable and more realistic than a soap opera, displaying the attributes and flaws of all of us.
-John P Thorne - Read full review here
AMAZON. COM REVIEW
…If you like period family dramas in book form or film such as Downtown Abbey or A Woman of Substance, you’ll enjoy this story.
-Jean - Read full review here
AMAZON. CO. UK REVIEW
I found myself checking out the author to discover more about why she wrote this book and found this quote:
“I have always been interested in the concept of family and what it means to different people: the joys and complexities; the feuds and rivalries; the sense of belonging, the loyalty (whether unconditional or not) and the feeling of displacement when families fall apart. I wanted to explore this through the trajectory of one man’s journey. And I wanted the journey to be epic—across the course of a century.”
All I can say is, she succeeded! As a description of what this book delivers, I don't feel I can better the above.
-Reader - Read full review here
AMAZON. COM REVIEW
What sets this story apart is the author’s distinct voice. We are visually guided through the lives of the Jagger family and those in their innermost circles. We are not just observers but participants, as we are given glimpses of their metamorphic journey, shaped by the relentless march of events and time.
-TAtkins - Read the review here
AMAZON. COM REVIEW
I highly recommend it as a splendidly researched and tailored work of historical fiction.
-Tiffany Horn - Read the review here
AMAZON. CO. UK REVIEW
It is, at its core, a very solid piece of writing - Ailsa Mellor has a very obvious gift for prose, one that’s evident on any page of the quirky, generation spanning story she’s constructed. Her writing is expertly put together, easy to read, and feels like the voice of an already established mid-twentieth century novelist
-Thomas Perkins - Read the review here
AMAZON. CA REVIEW
Woven through the pages are themes of resilience, fortitude and forgiveness. In many ways, it's a story about all of our lives and how to live them with dignity and grace.
-Ava - Read the review here
AMAZON. COM REVIEW
It is the author’s beautifully restrained writing that earns the novel a fifth star. Her words permeate the page, collect you and move you ahead with such grace, there is no looking back. With never a lull or a word out of place, it is really a joy to read.
-SkitterC - Read the review here
AMAZON. CA REVIEW
I would definitely recommend this book if you are looking for a well-written, fast moving family saga..
-Sally A - Read the review here
AMAZON. CA REVIEW
You will become attached to some of the characters and wanting to know how their story ends..
-A. Parkes - Read the review here
AMAZON. AU REVIEW
It’s a book that invites the reader to stop and think about their own life—how adopting a different outlook may facilitate positive change rather than hinder growth and evolution in a person. It is a book that will stay with me, as the setbacks, grievances, nurturing relationships, as well as the fragility of life, and the beauty and complexities of family are all themes that everyone can relate to. I am so glad I discovered this author and her novel which at times brought me to tears in the best way possible.
-Anthea - Read the review here
AMAZON. CO. UK REVIEW
Whether you have a penchant for memoirs, an interest in history, or simply enjoy a well-crafted narrative, this book is likely to leave a lasting impression. Highly recommended for those seeking a poignant and thought-provoking literary experience..
-Catherine - Read the review here
GOODREADS REVIEW
This novel offers an insightful and heartwarming experience, seen through the eyes of an engaging storyteller.
-Kasia Nowak
AMAZON. COM REVIEW
I was really drawn to the women in this story who are all so very, very different…You'll find yourself talking to the characters as they make both good and bad decisions.
-Melissa Peterson Lewis - Read the review here