The Art of Hiding is my first title from Amanda Prowse, and it will not be my last. The characters in this book are relatable and the situation is all to common for many. This title is a quick read. I did find it predictable, but it was enjoyable.

The Art of Hiding was another great book by Amanda Prowse. I have yet to read a book by Amanda that I did not love and this book did not disappoint me.
A great eye opener of how quick you can go from riches to rags and how easy this could happen. A very emotional story that is screaming out for a follow up??
Have a read you won't be disappointed.

The Art Of Hiding was a wonderful book of out of sadness came strength, determination and happiness.
Nina lost her husband I unexpectedly, and to make it worse found she had no money, lost her home and fancy car and had no where to go . Back to her beginning in life her and her sons moved into a tiny flat where she grew up , far cry from the life she left . Her sons had difficulty with the new surroundings and missing what they had and she struggled to find a job to support them .
Ninas sister Tiggy was an anchor for her , helping her find her true self . Loved this book

This was a tale of Nina, who thought she had the perfect life, and its unravelling. When her husband dies, Nina begins to realise that her life was not what it seemed. Their house, money and business disappear before her eyes. Can she make a new life for her sons? The story of how she does this didn't quite ring true with me. There seemed to be a naive assumption that all middle class people with money and comfortable lives were selfish, nasty and uncaring, whilst all those scraping a living were kind, happy salt of the earth types. I found the stereotyping overwhelmed the story.

I received this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review. I am a big fan of Amanda Prowse and this book was up there with her best.

I loved and believed in all the characters with the exception of Finn, the deceased husband. I really couldn't make up my mind if he was an out and out baddie, someone who just wanted the best for his family or a real control freak, whatever he was, I didn't like him. Nina, his widow, however, is another of Amanda Prowse's strong female characters although she herself doesn't believe it initially.

Although at times the novel was necessarily bleak, Toothless Vera and sometimes even lovely little Declan did provide some comic relief.

The novel was set in what is now my part of the world and when that happens I don't think I'm alone when I'm almost looking to catch the author out. Geographically, I couldn't, but I did find it hard to believe that such a fantastic care home for the elderly was within walking distance of the house in the back streets of Southampton. However, Nina was by this time pretty impoverished and needing to save on fares as well as everything else, so what she and I might consider 'walking distance' may well differ.

This is a compelling story with a strong moral feeling much needed in this overly materialistic, throw away society that we live in nowadays; money cannot buy happiness, this point gave me, although I am not overly affluent, a lot of food for thought, what would I be prepared to give up for a life of comfort? Following on was the fact that at the end of the day we are all, each and everyone one of us, equals, no-one has the right to look down on those who have less in terms of worldly goods.

I felt that maybe the ending came together a little too neatly (although I have to admit to shedding quite a few tears) especially with regards Tiggy and her new beau (too convenient maybe?) and Connor seemingly passing through the maelstrom of teenage traumas and angst by the time he reached 16 (lucky Nina!) Perhaps I only felt this way because I actually did not want it to end, I want to know what the future has in store for this lovely family.

I always enjoy Amanda Prowse's writing and this book didn't disappoint. You felt Nina's despair when she realised her life is falling apart and then her courage in having to pull together for her children. This isn't a happy go lucky story and I felt it was true to life, scarily making you realise this could happen to anyone if you have no idea about your finances and only your partner deals with this. I felt Nina's anger at her husband was accurate but felt this could have been explored in more depth, however this is a story about survival. I would recommend this book especially if you like Amanda Prowse's other novels

As the story progressed, the more captivated I became. I couldnt wait to see what was coming next. This is a story of finding your true self amid heartbreak, loss and turmoil. I love at the end how when they visit their old home what Nina actually "sees"! Enlightening and inspring tale!

I loved this book and having read a couple of Amanda Prowse novels I wasn't sure she could keep writing at the great standard she has previously shown, I was wrong and this is a great read.
Nina had everything she could ever want, a very large house and 2 great boys who go to a private school and the love of her life Finn who worked hard at his own business. When Finn was killed in a car accident Nina's world turns upside down,the life they had was just all smoke and mirrors and Finn had kept the fact they were so far in debt to himself. This left Nina stunned and she just couldn't imagine how they were going to exist, she also wanted to shield her boys from how devastating everything is. Nina's sister Tiggy was there right by her side even though she had issues of her own she seemed to bring lightness to some altogether dark and difficult days to come. I found myself crying with sadness and then crying with happiness in places. I highly recommend this book for all but read with caution as you can find yourselves laughing and crying which doesn't go down too well on public transport. I would like t thank netGalley and the publisher for my copy of the book.

I enjoyed this novel, set in current times, with current issues, yet with a simplicity about it that made it feel old fashioned. Despite the difficulties faced by Nina, a younger widow with two sons, there's a breeziness in the way the story is told that makes the book enjoyable. Simply a pleasant end of summer read, despite the challenges faced by Nina.

Nina has a dream life - brought up in poverty she married Finn who promised to always look after her... and he did with every luxury money could buy. However Ninas life comes crashing down when Finn is killed in a car accident and Nina learns that the life they had together was just an illusion and she was left with two boys and nothing but debts.

So Nina has to return to her roots.... the old estate that she grew up in and the book follows her journey as she and her two children, adjust and learn to live this new life.

This book is an easy and moving read. Prowse brings her unique skill of creating scenarios which make the reader feel that they are living the pain and struggle of her characters.

However I found the main character, Nina, to be very unlikely... I think Prowse wants to portray her as this women who escaped her past, is haunted by it and is terrified of going back. However quite frankly Nina just comes across as spoilt and selfish to the point I found myself rolling my eyes at the pages on several occasions.

The reactions and character arc of Nina and Finns two boys is much mroe realistic and even though they start off spoilt their pain is so evident and really reaches out and grabs the reader.

From the very first page the reader is drawn into the lives of this family. Emotions separate each character beautifully enabling the reader to follow the cycle of growth, pain from loss, forced acceptance, and finally complete happiness. This story unfolds in the subconscious the inner thoughts, raw emotions, and determination in this little family that builds to a triumphant ending. Nina and Connor's growth is most remarkable. Truly an inspirational read.

Nina has the perfect life, a husband and son who love her and everything is going well. That is until her husband is killed in a car accident and she must carry on with mounting debt. She ends up having to return to her previous life with her family that she had left behind.

I really enjoyed this book and even though it is not the type of book that I would read I was hooked from the beginning. It really is a thought provoking book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Nina has to find the way to hold it together after losing her husband in a car accident. She finds that the perfect life she has lived for the past twenty years is not what she thought it was. This story is about a mother who finds her way back to herself. She also finds the strength to move on and provide for her sons.

The Art of Hiding, Amanda Prowse

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre:General fiction (adult), Women's Fiction

I love Amanda's way of telling stories, bringing everyday scenes to life, showing us Real people in Real situations. This story hit the spot once more. 

So, Nina's life isn't a real story for most, her situation is what many see as privileged, distant from the reality of money struggles most of us face. She's got a husband who adores her, runs his own successful business, two lovely healthy boys at private school, and a house most can only dream of.
But is her life really so perfect? When Finn dies suddenly it all comes crashing down, and all the things she thought were real prove false. Its a real picture of the old adage Money doesn't buy Happiness ( though I'm a great believer in that it does let you be miserable in comfort! Poverty doesn't equate with happiness either...) 

Faced with dealing with finding a home, job, school for the boys, sorting out finances, Nina slowly regains the sense of herself that had become lost in her marriage, where she'd tried so hard to please everyone that she'd forgotten who she was. 
I love her sister Tiggy, the way she's brash and yet practical, the way she's there for Nina even when Nina seems to have left her far behind in her new shiny perfect life. They really get back that sister closeness, and I enjoyed seeing how Tiggy helped the old Nina come back. 

The boys were pretty selfish to begin, but kids of that age often are. They do think life revolves around them, its only natural. When it all fell apart they reacted in very different ways, but it was clear how badly they both were hurting.
The other parents, their schoolfriends and their old school, the neighbour - its true you really find who your friends are when you need help. They were so horrible, and forced Nina to look at what she had considered priorities when she was in their situation.
 
Its another great read, very real, very thought provoking. It could have been a very grim read, and yet its not, its full of tiny light spots that lift it, a real rainbows from rain story. ( much nicer than lemons/lemonade)
I don't do the book club thing, I like to read for me, enjoy a book and move on, but I can see this is a perfect read for clubs, with themes that will have people reacting differently and give lots to talk about. 

Stars: five, a great read, giving lots to think over after. 

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

Lovely, emotional, and thought provoking. It's a bit of a riches to rags (well, not quite rags) story. The main character is very hard to identify with at times, but I still found myself rooting for her. The older child was quite bratty throughout most of the book. They're all going through something awful, but there were times I wished Nina would call him out on his selfishness! The disrespect he showed her bothered me, but he evolves during the story along with the rest of the characters.

Nina lives a bit of a sheltered life. Her husband works, she stays home. She is responsible for taking the kids to and from school. She doesn't have any real friends. Her life completely revolves around her family and her home... and what an impressive home that is! Her husband has been very successful, and they've never wanted for money. When she needed it, it was given to her. They never discussed finances or business, she didn't pay any bills or know the passwords to the accounts or computers. That is eventually her downfall.

When husband Finn dies suddenly in a car accident, the family is bereft. They have no time to grieve before the rug is pulled out from underneath them... literally. The business was down the tubes, and Finn had borrowed heavily to try to keep it afloat. They all must say goodbye to the fancy school the boys have attended since they were old enough, the immense house, the car, the extravagant furnishings and appliances... everything. Nina is left with practically nothing but a debt of over eight million pounds.

In recent years Nina barely saw her big sister Tiggy, but the woman still rushes to her side when she hears of the terrible news, offering help. Nina brushes it off, but soon realizes she actually does need someone to lean on. Tiggy doesn't have money to give, but she's willing to help in any way she can. Nina moves her boys back to the town she grew up in. Nina knows poverty, as she lived through it in the beginning of her life, before Finn swept her away. Her boys don't, and they are dismayed. Nina too has her world rocked, never thinking she would return to this kind of life.

Nina scrambles to find a job to pay the rent for their tiny little apartment and keep food on the table, often sacrificing her own meals so her boys can have full stomachs. She just sees this as a means to an end, hoping to pull herself back up into her old world eventually. With help from Tiggy, she might start to see things in a new light.

I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Lake Union Publishing, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.

The Art of Hiding is a fascinating story about a family which is torn apart by a death, a family starting over and discovering what is most important in life. Nina lives in a spacious, beautiful home, her sons attend an exclusive private school, her husband is a successful businessman; until one day it all comes crashing down. How will they move on when it appears that everything they had is now lost? This book is filled with interesting characters and a compelling story of love, loss, and resilience.

A very sweet story about a family having to adapt and rebuild their lives in the wake of loss. Nina is a great example of resilience and doing what you have to do despite the odds stacked against you.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book is very well written. It is thought provoking, but I found it to be too slow for my taste

Description

Nina’s husband, Finn, dies in a car crash. Nina is devastated at this sudden loss but thinks that having to tell Connor and Declan, their two sons, that their father is dead will be the hardest thing she will ever have to do….

And then Nina’s world really comes crashing down around her. Finn has gone but his business was bankrupt, he had mortgaged their home and stopped paying the school fees. There was £8 million of debt and Nine hadn’t a clue.

Finn had always dealt with their finances, had encouraged her to give up on having a career, discouraged her from getting too close to others because, after all, they were enough for each other – their happy, idyllic family. now it had allcome tumbling down and the one person she needed was dead and, perhaps, even the cause of all this pain.

Review

Nina finds herself without a home, no money, no job, no skills she is in mourning and floundering. She and the boys are grieving, in shock, devastated, confused, angry and still clinging on to Finn as they knew him, or thought they did. Tiggy, her sister, reaches out. Tiggy is a terrific character in the book. With her support Nina starts to sort her and the boys lives out. There is quite a bit of guilt from Nina and frankly a lot of readers will agree – she had lived in a cocooned world of luxury giving little heed to the realities of life. Perhaps the angst is a bit overdone at times. Nevertheless, Nina needs to pull herself together and build a new life for her, Connor and Declan. Indeed had she really had a happy life with Finn, was it as perfect as she had thought?

This is a well written story of loss, what really matters in life and rebuilding lives from heartbreak and devastation. I would certainly recommend this book.

Rating: 4*

Information

I would like to thank Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for a pre-approved copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Amanda Prowse has written another great book showing a woman's battle to stay afloat and sane after some life changing events. Although her main character has flaws, the author expertly deals with them without being over sintimental or unrealistic.
The initial feeling of regret that she has by having to change her life, is replaced by a new positive attitude. I admit I shed a tear at the end few pages as I have had a similar scenario with my own son. Loved this book and will look for more from her.