First of all let's talk about the cover. I. LOVE. IT. You're not supposed to judge a book by it's cover but let's be honest here for a second - we all look at the cover first before deciding to pick a book up and read a blurb. The publisher and author hit the cover jackpot here, I can see it appealing to the masses!
Now to the book. A tale of two estranged friends. A lovely and heartwarming story with likable and realistic characters. Makes you think about how life moves in weird and different directions you'd never expect at the time.
Quick an easy read - perfect for the beach

I didn't love the start of this book and the end was a bit abrupt. However the main story I enjoyed and I felt for both the characters and hoped that everything would turn out alright for them both in the end. I liked that both Sophia and Magda were looking for something other than romance to complete their lives. Will look out for this author again.

I've read and enjoyed Rebecca Pugh's previous books and really enjoyed them and whilst I found Right Here Waiting for You pleasant enough it didn't really wow me.

The plot line was fair enough but I didn't understand the need for Magda's father to swear the way he did. Yes it was for effect but would someone of that age really use those words. Also the part about Sophia jumping in the car but leaving the car keys in the house didn't make sense.

It was a peasant enough story but I think the whole 'Tom' aspect could have been explored more and the ending seemed quite abrupt.

Having said all this, I would give this book 3.5 stars and do look forward to reading Rebecca's next book.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for the chance to review.

One of the best opening paragraphs I've read for ages. It sets up the first chapter brilliantly, and just wasn't what I would have expected going into the story.

I just wish this book was longer. The entire time I was reading it, I was conscious of how fast the percentage bar was going up, and really didn't want it to end. I would love to know what happens next to the characters and I did feel the ending felt a bit rushed.

I whizzed through the story, and alway like books that are nice and fast to read. It is the story of Magda and Sophia, who as children were best friends, until their friendship was torn apart. The viewpoint alternates between the two of them, so we can see just how differently their lives have turned out.

The book builds initially towards a school reunion, and both ladies agonise whether to go, much less if they even want to see the other. And then the aftermath of it.

I really enjoyed Sofia's present day storyline, her little girl Esther seems very sweet and I loved their friendship with Michael and Harry. Whereas Magda is a bit harder to like and sympathise with, but it was once she returned to her home town, and I understood what she had left behind that I started to like her a lot more.

This is the third of Rebecca Pugh's books that I have read, and it feels quite a bit different to the others. The writing style is still a pleasure to read, and I enjoyed the story. I think it could be the writing feels a bit more established, and it is quite intense how much focus the two main characters have, to the extent that there aren't that many others featured at all, and when they are I wouldn't say I knew that that well.

Right Here Waiting For You is a story of friendships and relationships. I loved the flashbacks to Magda and Sophia as teenagers to discover more about them that way. This is a solidly good book that I loved spending my time reading.

Thank you so much to HQ Digital and Netgalley for this copy that I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I have been following Rebecca Pugh's career since her debut novel 'Return to Bluebell Hill,' and it continues to inspire me every day. All of her previous books that I have read are sweet and thoughtful, which make them the perfect reads for a cozy night in or a relax by the pool.

So when I started 'Right here waiting for you' I was taken aback slightly, because right from the get go it was very different to those other books. Not in a bad way by any means, rather it was very, very sexy, much more than her previous stories. Take everything you thought you knew about Rebecca Pugh's writing and flip it upside down and that is what I feel you have here. Her writing has progressed and matured and it made her fourth book a fascinating read that I was incredibly impressed with.

Magda, is no longer the confident person that she once was. She feels stuck in a marriage that ended long ago and often dreams of the past. She longs for the days of her youth when she was carefree, having fun and most importantly had her best friend Sophia by her side, always. But after a terrible mistake on her part, she knows she destroyed any chance of rebuilding the relationship they once cherished so much. Sophia loves being a Mum to her young daughter Ester. While her life didn't turn out exactly how she had planned, she's happy. She has Michael, her best friend, who's son goes to school with Ester, to keep her company and they are all she needs in her life. Her mind might wander to her school years every now and again, more specifically who she shared them with, but she's not sure she could ever forgive those that hurt her so badly. When Magda and Sophia get invited to their high school reunion. neither are sure whether they want to go. What happens if they bump into each other again after all these years? How will they feel? What will they do? Maybe it's time to put the past well and truly behind them and embrace what the future holds. Maybe true friendships can never be broken. They might just have to take that first step to find out.

Like I said at the start of this review, this, to me, was a completely different vibe from Rebecca Pugh, but I loved it. I fell into the rhythm of the story and the characters lives so quickly that I actually found myself thinking about what Sophia and Magda were up to, when I wasn't reading it. It was easy to feel connected to both women, as well as the other characters in the book too. For example, Michael, Sophia's best friend, I found to be so lovely and sweet. I liked that he was protective over Sophia and that he was also a great Dad to his son Harry. Then there was Magda's Dad, Charlie, who my heart went out to. Oh my goodness, I just wanted to hug him. I was so happy when Magda helped him realize that he needed to live his life and enjoy himself again. It was incredibly heartwarming to read.

Magda and Sophia themselves were both wonderful characters, each with their own unique traits that I was drawn to. I loved Sophia's motherly nature; the way she doted on her daughter and also looked out for Michael's' son too. She seemed genuinely sweet and kind but also had that vulnerability about her that came from her past. I wanted her to let go and be able to have the confidence to go after what she wanted, as well as, live a little and have fun. Magda on the other hand, I was a little more weary of. At first she comes across a bit bold and all over the place, which we obviously find out she is. She is no where close to living the life she imagined, so I did find myself feeling for her a lot and urging her to do what was right. I admired her in that she owned up to her mistakes and just needed a little helping hand to get her life back on track. I was glad when she started taking steps to do just that, it made me feel happy for her.

This book is a wonderful story about love from all angles. Whether it be between friends, father and daughter, mother and daughter or 'just friends'. There were lessons to be learnt and love to be shared. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am actually rather sad that it's ended. I was well and truly immersed in it from start to finish.

Absolutely loved this book, a real page turner and I didn't want to come to the end.

Magda returns to her home town for a school reunion - but also to try to repair relationships with her father and her best school friend,Sophia. She also needs to address the problems in her marriage. Does she succeed - its not easy. ? A good book for easy reading, which outlines the difficulty in building up broken relationships.

Every time I see this book I start crooning out the old 80’s hit Right Here Waiting For You by Richard Marx. But it’s a good thing – honest – because I am an ‘80’s girl and so the song makes me smile – as did this book! Rebecca Pugh has once again penned a book that hits the spot and lifted me out of a mid spring funk.

We meet not one, but two leading ladies, both of whom have gone on to live different lives. One has left town, married a gorgeous man and is living the high life, and the other never escaped, settled down and had a daughter before the love bubble burst and she became a single Mum.

Magda and Sophia were friends at school, but it seems that more than growing up got in the way of their friendship, and their paths (thankfully for both of them) haven’t crossed since. That is until a school reunion is arranged……will they be flung back into each others lives? You betcha! Let the games commence!

I loved escaping into this book. I found it packed with fun, intrigue, emotion and surprise. Rebecca threw me a curve ball as I thought from the blurb that there was one of the characters I was going to favour, but it turned out to be the complete opposite….very clever!! I really enjoyed discovering their younger selves and unearthing what became the thorn in the side of their friendship.

Each book by Rebecca shows the growth in her skills and talent, and Right Here Waiting For You is her best to date. Filled with sass, emotion and wonderfully descriptive writing I found a book that allowed me to escape and hook up with a couple of women who I could easily share a coffee with, or be a voyeur in their dramas.

It also gave me a chance to glance back at my teenage years, the hopes, dreams and friendships, and what if’s. This, like the book, definitely bought smiles and a few chuckles as well. I really enjoyed this book and if you are a fan of feel good fiction this is one for you as well.

A delightful book to read and keep you interested how it will end. It revolves around friendships and how we all need love and companionship.

A story about family, love betrayal and forgiveness. Can Sophia forgive Magda? Can Magda and her dad reconcile? A easy read with a lot packed in. A feel good story to brighten your mood.

Really enjoyable read, I was immersed in the characters and was eager to see their story through. Recommend

This is the latest chick lit book by Rebecca and explores relations within friendships. In this novel the two main characters are reunited after both made some stupid decisions in their teens which ruined their friendship for years.

Childhood besties Sophia and Magda are brought together again through a school reunion invitation. Sophia is still reeling over the falling out from years ago and has no plans to forgive easily. Her life has changed quite dramatically as she is now a single Mum to Esther. The school reunion also brings Tom Archer, Sophia’s first love and Father of Esther, back in town and this raises the betrayal of Tom and her best friend Magda all over again. Magda is also dealing with her own problems as she is in a loveless marriage to Greg so uses this time away to forget her worries and hopes for an opportunity for reconciliation with Sophia. Magda coming back to her home town is the best thing that could have happened for her still grieving Father Charlie. She makes him realise that he must start living his life again as he has become quite reclusive since her Mum died and she left for a new life with Greg.

It took me awhile to get into this story, but I enjoyed the second half much more. Thank you to Net Galley and HQ Stories for the ARC

An interesting story about friendship, love and life. Well written and believable characters. A quick book to read, but no less enjoyable for it.

I am a fan of Rebecca Pugh's work, and Right Here Waiting for You certainly doesn't disappoint. This book follows a group of high school friends who reunite at a school reunion. Old hurts are healed, and they begin to truly find themselves as adults by rediscovering who they were as teenagers. The characters were all realistic and likable. Even though a few of the characters made some horrible decisions in their youth, you find yourself rooting for them by the end of this book.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Well I know it is described as ‘Romance, Women’s Fiction’ and it obviously falls into these categories but I must honestly say that I was more than disappointed in this rather mundane tale of two women, erstwhile friends, who come together again due to a school reunion.

It is a rather predictable tale of a falling out years ago which is resolved in a predictable manner – as most romance stories do. The characters themselves are quite endearing, although should we be so keen to forgive Magda for the treatment of her father?

I do apologise to Ms Pugh but I felt this to be a rather simple, uncomplicated romance which left me unmoved. However, I am confident that there will be many, many avid readers of this book who will be more than happy as the book is well written and well structured. Unfortunately, just not for me.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.

At the heart of this book is the friendship between two women that goes back to when they were little. But when they were in their late teens they fell out. It is not revealed into a fair way into the book about why this occurred.

Sophia is a mother to Esther and a single mother at that. She has a friend called Michael who has a son Harry who gets on really well with Esther. Michael is also a single parent as he has recently split up from his wife.

Then there is Magda. She is married, but is unhappy. Her unhappiness stems back to when she was in her teens and lost her mother to breast cancer.

Magda returns home to go to her school reunion and to mend fences with her father who she hasn't seen for many years.

It is an utterly delightful story.

Ever since I read her first novel, Return to Bluebell Hill, which I absolutely adored Rebecca Pugh has been one of my favourite authors. Whenever I finish one of her books I find myself instantly looking forward to reading what she writes next and so I couldn’t wait to get started with her latest release, Right Here Waiting for You. Going into the book I had very high expectations and I wasn’t at all disappointed, in fact I’d go so far as to say that this is Rebecca’s best book to date.

Right Here Waiting for You is a book that draws the reader in from the very first page as we quickly become involved in the lives of Magda and Sophia, two characters who left school as the very best of friends and with the rest of their lives ahead of them. They thought they’d be best friends for the rest of their lives, that they’d fall pregnant at the same time and have children of the same age, but as is so often the way in life things happened and things didn’t quite go the way they anticipated. Years after their paths last crossed Magda and Sophia receive an invitation to their school reunion, something that fills them with both dread and anticipation. What have they been up to, what happened between them and what will happen when they both attend the reunion?

Throughout the entirety of this fabulous book, both Magda and Sophia were wonderful characters who never faltered once. Both of them were incredibly down-to-earth characters who seemed very real and believable, meaning that I quickly became engaged in their stories and caught up on the mystery that surrounded their friendship. Creating such characters is something that Rebecca does extremely well, something that Rebecca has consistently done within all of her books and something that really helps to make her books that little bit more special than they already are.

For me a new book written by Rebecca Pugh is like Christmas has come early, it’s something I always look forward to as I just know that I will be in for a treat. A treat was exactly what I got with Right Here Waiting for You, a book that was beautifully written throughout with the perfect mixture of humour, intrigue and emotional moments. Just as with all of Rebecca’s books so far to date I not only finished Right Here Waiting for You with a smile on my face but also came away feeling inspired from having seen how her characters who hadn’t had the easiest of lives always looked on the bright side of life and got through whatever life threw at them.

All that’s left for me to say is that if you haven’t yet discovered Rebecca Pugh and her fabulous books then what are you waiting for? Right Here Waiting for You was a book that ticked all the boxes for me, a book that is destined for great things and one that will most certainly appeal to those who enjoy books written by Holly Martin, Daisy James and Milly Johnson to name just a few. My only complaint about this book was that it just didn’t seem long enough but even that couldn’t stop me from awarding it five stars without any hesitation. I’m incredibly excited to read what Rebecca writes next and wish her every success.

Thoroughly enjoyable. The impact of youthful betrayal on adult life is well-thought out & you are left wondering throughout if Magda & Sophia will ever be friends again. The back stories of Magda's failing marriage & Sophia's apparently unrequited lust for Michael add extra dimension. An easy & delightful read.

A heartwarming tale of two estranged teenage friends and how life moves in different directions. A good cast of likeable and believable characters with realistic situations and the opportunity to consider what you might have done in their shoes. A quick and easy read - particularly if you've dreaded your school reunions ... 4* A recommended read

This book was so good! I was drawn into MAgda and Sophia's world right from page one! Ms Pugh keeps the reader guessing the mystery... the supporting characters were also tightly written and absorbed in the story very well! Definitely recommended for anyone looking for a great, engaging story with multiple leads! Kudos!
Thanks netgalley for accepting my request!