A very moving and heartfelt story line. Nina the main character had her life turned upside down, but showed great strength in dealing with it.
It is a plot that unfortunately many people probably find themselves in nowadays. A beautifully written novel which I thoroughly enjoyed.

The story really gets going about a third of the way through, so stick with it. Although it's a sad story, of a newly widowed woman and her sons having to radically change their lives, you know from the beginning that there will be a happy ending. The style of writing is too schmaltzy for me, too many gushing adjectives, and predictable stereotypes. There are some interesting turns in the plot though, and Connor does become a very likeable character. Some unrealistic things annoyed me: a ten year old would not be at the same school as his sixteen year old brother (not in the state system anyway); and Connor is sixteen, it's June, but no mention of his GCSE exams. I was moved by the final chapter, but ultimately, there are better books of this genre out there.

I really enjoyed The Art of Hiding! It was a book that makes you think and you also have a good story.

Nina was living the perfect life or so she thought. She never bothered to ask about finances and Finn never shared that they were having financial trouble. After Finn dies her world falls in around her. This is a story of picking up the pieces after someone’s world falls apart. Nina is one tough woman. She just doesn’t realize it.

I love Nina’s sister Tiggy. She was so down to earth and all she wanted to do was help. She is the kind of person that could see light at the end of the tunnel. And, she was such a support for her sister.

I really felt for Nina and her boys. They had a lot of lessons to learn.

I loved this book and look forward to reading more from this author.

I liked this book a lot. It was very open and though provoking.

I liked the journey that the main character Nina had to go through when her healthy dies in a sudden accident. With his dead, she finds her cushy wealthy life is forever going to be changed. Her security was something she always coveted and now she has to start over, with her two kids.

Nina finds that her husband was hiding just how bad their finances were and finds her life upside down. Her sister is there to help and lean on but essentially she is alone. Her strength was commendable. What I struggled with on this one was some of the decisions made, the lack of action at times and the pace of the book was a little slow at times. Overall a good read.

This is a really good heartwarming read i really enjoyed it

Amanda Prowse tells a compelling and sensitively written story of Nina McCarrick and her two sons. From pamperdom to instant poverty they fight back to self-discovery through love, courage, and determination.

I found the start of this book quite difficult reading as it dealt with things too close to home. Bankrupcy, and suicide devastate this family leaving them to struggle to survive and fight to rise above their circumstances.
The second half was easier to read as predictably the family rally and the story ends on a positive note.
Enjoyable if rather formulaic, with a feel good factor that borders on the moralistic.

I'm a sucker for Brit lit, and loved reading the story peppered with lovely colloquialisms. This is a quick read that, if somewhat predictable, is also enjoyable.

I always look forward to reading Amanda Prowse's books as I know they will be a fantastic read. I thought she couldn't better her last book, The Idea of You, but I think this was even better. Amanda's books are always emotive, thought provoking and true to life. You can always relate to her books. This one was no exception, another emotional rollercoaster.
Nina has a fantastic life, two sons and a husband, Finn, who spoils all of them. Then he is killed in a car accident and Nina's world is turned upside down. As well as losing a husband she also loses everything, the book then follows Nina's journey of how she copes with all of this and pieces her life together. Full of wonderful characters this book will keep you enthralled. Highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

A book that helped me return from my reading lull, The Art of Hiding is the story of Nine and the dramatic way everything she once knew turns in an instant. I felt very connected to the main character and loved the descriptive writing style and really formed an affection to her almost immediately.
A real page turner and one I will definitely recommend to friends.

4 out of 5 stars to The Art of Hiding, a family drama novel published in July 2017 and written by Amanda Prowse. I adored this book and am so glad I read it; let’s get right into the review.

hiding

Why This Book
A few months ago, I’d finished reading ‘The Idea of You,’ by this author. I really enjoyed the book, and when ‘The Art of Hiding’ showed up on my NetGalley feed, I had to request it. I forgot that they approved my request until last week, when I went to select whatever was next to be published as my next book to start reading. I’d been so busy writing my own novel, I missed the publish date for this one. So I quickly read it in 2+ days to get caught up.

Plot, Characters & Setting
Nina McCarrick, a mid-30s mother of two boys, 10 and 14, lives a wonderful life on a beautiful Southampton, England estate. That is, until her husband unexpectedly dies and she learns all was not what he’d been telling her. Suddenly losing her life high up on the hill, she’s forced to turn to all her friends and family for assistance. One person takes her in, helping re-build a life for both Nina and the boys. Nina begins to learn the difference between losing your own identity and being part of a married couple. Sometimes, it isn’t a good idea to give up control of all aspects of your life, as when it comes crashing down, you’ll have no idea what to expect.

Approach & Style
I read this novel through Kindle Reader on my iPad over the course of two and a half days. It is about 300 pages long, divided into 15 chapters, all told from Nina’s perpsective in third person point of view. The language is simple but meaningful; it reads itself as you feel immersed in the world Prowse has created for her readers. You could probably read this all in one day over 4 to 5 hours if you kept focused, and it would definitely be an enjoyable read.

Strengths
Prowse tells intricate family stories full of complexity and drama; not so much with everyone around the main characters, but within their small family unit. I felt the same way about one of her other books, and I’ve now come to realize this is her style; this is who the author is and what she excels at.

Nina is easy to relate with, given she is a new widow and has young boys to care for. She has no job, her skills are mostly outdated according to anyone she runs into. You immediately feel a strong connection with the woman, wanting to see her succeed. She’s a wonderful mother. She doesn’t sugarcoat the truth either. She dances around it a bit, hoping not to devastate her children, but she also knows hiding their situation will do more harm than good.

It’s not a suspense story, yet I only put it down because it was midnight and had to wake up early the next morning. You feel as though the events unfold right in your own living room as you are reading, and simply do not want to miss a moment of the beauty and pain inside this family.

Concerns
Very little with this book. It wasn’t a huge and amazing story that captures a tremendous amount of ground. It’s simple and thought-provoking. I felt it could have used a little more clarity around the death of the father and the days leading up to it. At the same time, it all came as a shock to Nina, so why shouldn’t it come as a shock to readers, too. But in the end, I would have connected a bit more strongly if I had some current history. Just a smidge.

On occasion, the relationship Nina had with others felt a bit fake. I thought it was necessary to the plot in some places, but it was a little too much in other places. Sometimes the balance between her being a lonely and hidden wife versus a lonely and hidden widow losing everything wasn’t as clear as I’d have liked it to be. A few extra paragraphs explaining how she interacted with her ‘friends’ before she became a widow might have helped give it more substance and a range between the two people she needed to be during the course of the book. I also think her ‘lows’ weren’t low enough, meaning she needed to struggle more in finding a job, not being able to pay bills. There was some of this impact, but a few things were a little too hunky dory for my taste.

Final Thoughts
Amanda Prowse is quickly becoming 1 of my top 10 favorite authors. I actually marked five more of her books as ‘to-read’ today since I’ve read two and given then both 4’s. I’m going to search NetGalley after I post this review to see if I can get my greedy little hands on more. This woman can really write stories that straddle that line between heartbreak and the promise of a better day.

About Me
For those new to me or my reviews… here’s the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you’ll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I’ve visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.

The Art of Hiding is an example of true craftsmanship on the part of the author. There is not a lot of action here, but there is a quiet intensity to this book that, like a slow-burn, grows and grows until it engulfs you.

Nina thought she had it all. Her poor, struggling childhood was put behind her as soon as she married Finn, a successful business man, who wanted her to stay home and raise their children while he took care of everything else. They were the epitome of a wealthy family; huge house, nothing but the best for their two sons who attended a private academy, Nina only had to worry about her social calendar and floral arrangements for the house. Or so she thought...

Called at her older son's rugby match, Nina is informed that Finn has been in an accident. Reeling with grief, she is totally unprepared for what comes next. She learns that not only has Finn's business collapsed, but they are in serious, unsurmountable debt. Within days of losing her husband, she learns that she has lost everything; home, possessions, social standing, "friends". She and her sons are forced to start over from scratch. Something none of them are prepared to do.

How the three of them rebuild their lives is the heart of the story. There are many quiet lessons here, among them that challenges make or break people.

The title "The Art of Hiding" is perfect. We only see what we want to see; we only let ourselves be seen as we wish to be seen; and it is only through the distance of time that we understand the truth of our prior days.

This would make a perfect book club selection as there is much to think about and discuss. Who was hiding more, Finn or Nina? How much of herself did Nina give up to live the life she dreamed of? Who helped Nina the most in rebuilding her life? Which of the characters showed the most resilience? Why did Finn feel he couldn't share the truth with Nina? Was Finn's death really an accident?

A delightful read, and one I will remember for some time. Kudos, Ms. Prowse - well done!!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Lake Union Publishing for allowing me to read an e-ARC of this wonderful book!

3.5 stars

What do you do when you find out the life you thought you had was a lie?

Great premise for a book, right? Nina McCarrick lives a life of privilege. She has a beautiful home, two sons in a private school and a successful husbands. Or so she thinks....until the unimaginable happens.

Nina's husband dies in a car accident - no spoilers here. Not only is she dealing with her grief and the grief of her son's but she quickly learns that she is about to lose everything. Her husband was in charge of their finances and he kept A LOT from her. She never knew just how bad things were with his business. Not until she receives a call from her son's school that tuition is late and is due NOW. The dominoes quickly fall as she learns just how much in debt the family is. Her home and all of her possessions are taken from her and she is left to return to the one place she never hoped to see again.

Her husband never wanted her to have a career but Nina has to work and she sets about making a life for her and her children. Her sister Twiggy lends a hand and thus begins the families journey of starting over, second chances, resiliency, and hope. There are bumps along the way but Nina and her sons all grow stronger and find the courage to move on. The saying "Money can't buy happiness" comes into mind while reading this book.

This book also should serve as a reminder to always know your finances!!!! Always believe in yourself and your abilities. This book has several themes: loss, secrets, second chances, family and hope. I like how the family rallied and how Nina let Twiggy back into her life and allowed her to help her when she and her son's needed it the most.

I will admit that I initially had a hard time getting into this book and it took me some time to finish reading. That is not to say that this is a bad book, it just failed to grab me right away but I did end up enjoying it. I found it convenient that when the family was about to lose everything that the husband had a car accident. Was this on purpose...or just a way to move the plot? Nevertheless, this is a light read even though there is a death and deceit in this book.

I received a copy of this book from Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Solid writing and the quick movement of the plot help this book, "The Art of Hiding", get a 4 star rating. The main character named Nina sometimes seemed a little too much in denial many times at the beginning of her story but she does eventually come to terms of how her life has drastically changed since the death of her husband Finn. Somehow Amanda Prowse, the author, keeps the books main theme of survival after betrayal unique and you begin to cheer for Nina. I was happy for her when I finally began to see her and her oldest son's growth in strength and personality by the book's end.

The Art of Hiding by Amanda Prowse is the story of how one family dealt with the devastating double whammy of losing a loved one and financial security in one fail swoop; therefore, a reverse rages to riches tale. The story is intended to remind us that family is the most important thing in our lives and we can live, rich fulfilling lives, without the “stuff” that so many individuals focus their attention and hard earned money on acquiring.
Nina McCarrick has the perfect life. Two wonderful boys, a loving husband, big house, fancy car and all the trappings that go with the wealth that her husband’s successful business allows. Yet, behind the beautiful manured lawn lies secrets that will destroy all of this and reduce it to ash as sure as any conflagration.
The house of cards all comes tumbling down when Finn, Nina’s husband, is killed in a car accident. Nina is now a single mother of two boys, alone and bereft, with a mountain of debt, and she has no idea how to move forward. When none of her “friends” will help, she makes a desperate call to Tiggy, her estranged sister. Tiggy suggests she move back to her home town of Southampton.
Out of options, with no job and very little money, Nina does just that and moves into a small run down flat where her Aunt once lived. It is especially hard on her two boys who have never know anything but a life of privilege. Fortunately, with the help of Tiggy and some new friends Nina slowly starts to reassemble her life and in the process she rediscovers herself.
While I did not feel a strong connection with Nina, mainly because my life experiences have been so different and I have always been independent, I still could empathize with her because the author did such a wonderful job with her character. In addition, the plot was believable; therefore, it was easy to see how someone could end up in Nina’s situation.
There is a lot of good things, plot, characters, etc., to like about this book, but for me, it was the message. The best things in life really are free and we just lose sight of that in all the bustle of everyday life. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story and one with that delivers a heartfelt message.
I received a free copy from the publisher, via Net Galley, in exchange for my honest review.

This isn’t the type of book I normally read but I’m always open to new genres. Amanda Prowse writes about a privileged woman, Nina, who loses everything when, after her husband’s death, it come to light that her family is bankrupt. The story follows Nina’s attempt to rebuild her life and that of her two sons, Connor and Declan. She is forced to re-evaluate her attitude to money, class and possessions. Nina also has to rebuild her relationship with her sister, Tiggy, from whom she has become semi-estranged.

The book is well written and I particularly warmed to the character of Declan Nina’s younger son. The book has a feel good factor: you get the sense early on that things will turn out all right in the end. All the characters become better people as a result of their experiences. It’s little too cosy and clichéd for me. I prefer novels with a grittier edge. That is not to say that it isn’t a good read.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley and publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.

This book was so well written! Every character in this story felt so true to life in each of their situations. Although this was not a "page turner", the steady pace was right for this type of story.

Was pleasantly surprised by this book and would highly recommend!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!

I really enjoyed this book. It was well written and help my attention throughout. Nina's life was perfect until the death of her husband. I loved how the story unfolded. It had a few life lessons which made me think. I would highly recommend this as it is a great read and very believable.

Nina McCarrick lives the perfect life, until her husband, Finn, is killed in a car accident and everything Nina thought she could rely on unravels.

Alone, bereft and faced with a mountain of debt, Nina quickly loses her life of luxury and she begins to question whether she ever really knew the man she married. Forced to move out of her family home, Nina returns to the rundown Southampton council estate—and the sister—she thought she had left far behind.

But Nina can’t let herself be overwhelmed—her boys need her. To save them, and herself, she will have to do what her husband discouraged for so long: pursue a career of her own. Torn between the life she thought she knew and the reality she now faces, Nina finally must learn what it means to take control of her life.

Bestselling author Amanda Prowse once again plumbs the depths of human experience in this stirring and empowering tale of one woman’s loss and love.

I loved this book. Amanda Prowse is a brilliant author. She brings every one of her characters to life. I loved Nina, her sons and her sister. They became real people to me rather than just characters in a book.

Nina’s husband dies leaving very large debts, she has to lose her home and her son’s fee-paying school and move back to where she was brought up. This story is about how she copes, and carries on. And the love and concern she has for her young sons.

Did I say I loved this book? Well I did! Would highly recommend this book. 5*