I would like to thank Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Art of Hiding’ by Amanda Prowse in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
Nina lives a comfortable life in Bath with husband Finn and sons Connor and Declan but when Finn dies in a car accident she discovers that Finn’s construction company has financial problems, their home is repossessed and the bailiffs take all their possessions. Nina is forced to rent a flat in a run-down part of Southampton where she grew up with sister Tiggy and make a new life for herself and her sons.
Amanda Prowse has been a favourite author of mine for years and each time she brings out a new novel I hope it will be as good as the others. ‘The Art of Hiding’ does not disappoint as it contains love, despair and hope in equal measure. I felt deeply for Nina, praying that her boys would accept their situation and make new and stronger lives. As I continued reading I disliked Finn for putting his family in the position of having nothing but the clothes they stood up in but, as Connor described it, his dad was ‘skilled in the art of hiding’, thinking it was up to the man to deal with finances and the woman to cook and care for her family.
Thank you, Amanda Prowse, for giving all your readers another remarkable and tremendously enjoyable novel. I can’t wait for the next one.

A wrenching story of loss and rebuilding life. Of searching through the dross to see what foundations were there - and weren’t there. It wasn’t a pleasant read, and at times I skimmed through it, because it felt such a downer. I’m glad I finished it though, and was glad for the real-life growth of the protagonist.

This book was so beautifully written that it broke my heart. Very, VERY few books actually make me cry and not just feel sad and this book made me feel like I was watching a heartfeld movie.

It felt so real, so alive that it was almost unbelievable. Completely recommend. Thank you to netgalley and the publishing team for letting me read this for an honest review. It did not disappoint.

Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. It was an absolutely great book. Very well written, great storyline and characters. Make sure to have a tissue at the ready, it was heartbreaking at times. Definitely worth 5 stars and more. It was hard to put this book down. Amanda prowse has outdone herself yet again.

Oh WOW I can see why author Amanda Prowse has a legion of fans, what a gifted story teller she is. I was expecting a compelling read, but no way was I expecting such an emotive and powerful one, the author certainly knows how to write a story that will pull on the most hardened heartstrings. It's going to sound cliched but I really didn't want to put this book down as I was so caught up In Nina’s story.

Nina appears to have it all, the dream home, holidays in exotic places, her children go to private school and the most difficult decision she has to make is what to have for tea. Life often deals a cruel hand and when her husband Finn is killed in a car crash, Nina is left with a mountain of debt and life changes for her in the most dramatic way. The Art Of Hiding follows Nina on her journey of self discovery and what a powerful and very “human” story it is.

Beautifully written with characters that are so incredibly real, dealing with “real” life situations The Art Of Hiding made for a compelling read. I must applaud Amanda Prowse on her ability to create such wonderful and believable characters, Nina for instance is a character with immense depth and strength and I found myself drawn to her, as she struggles to make a new life for herself and her two son’s I felt so many emotions that truly added to my enjoyment of this novel.


Amanda Prowse tells a remarkable tale but also a thought provoking one with a valuable lesson, society today is very much focussed on possessions, who has the biggest television? the newest phone? The Art Of Hiding very much shows there are far more important things to value in life, family, friends a roof over our heads, everyone would be a lot happier being content with what they've got instead of striving to have the very best. This is a story of grief, relationships and redemption and so much more. I would certainly recommend this book and I'm so glad I've found a new author’s books to read, and I'm thrilled to see I have a big back catalogue of books to read by Amanda Prowse, some of which I ordered as soon as I finished The Art Of Hiding.

My review will be edited and edited prior to publication on my blog

I've read a lot of books by this order but this is not one of my favourites. A family are left destitute but the children still have phones and an ipad which I think is unrealistic. I felt the book was a little bit twee and it was obvious that everything was going to turn out alright in the end.. the book is seen from the perspective of a very wealthy woman who loses everything so perhaps I can't relate to that? She did come from a very poor background which you would have thought would help. The older boy is a typical teenager and I would have thought the younger was about 5 to begin with but he is actually 11.. There isn't much detail about the transition from a top fee paying school to a local comp in a very rundown area - I would have thought they would have been eaten alive. That said I suppose it is still worth reading if you like this author.

Accidentally selected this book by clicking on a 'You're pre-approved for The Art of Hiding from bestselling author Amanda Prowse' e-mail. Never intended on selecting this.

I'm genuinely not sure what was worse - the lack of character depth, or my complete and utter disinterest for the main character and her "plight"

Everything starts off fine for Nina, the nearly perfect housewife, never having to care about a bill, spending what she likes. When she gets that call from the hospital that her husband has been involved in an accident her world is turned upside down.
My first thought was how could Nina have been living in a bubble for so long? How can anyone not know or have some understanding of the family finances? I couldn't not know what goes on in our house.
After Nina and her boys are forced to move miles away in a grotty flat on an estate, she really does come into her own. We find out the true Nina and who she is, what she's made of.
A fantastically written novel by Amanda Prowse, highly recommended if you are looking for a book on love, loss and courage.

This book is a sob fest and should be read with a box of tissues next to you . The characters are amazing and The author wrings every last emotion out if you

Another fantastic read of Amanda's, she takes subject that affect women every day and deals with them in a heartwarming loving way, making them an uplifting read, this one was no exception and I'm not ashamed to say I shed a few tears

Amanda Prowse is a brilliant story teller, she writes from the heart as if the events in the book are happening to her and this book is no exception. Its a riches to rags story about the strength of a newly widowed mother who will do all she can to support her children even when her life is falling apart with grief and anger. I loved this book and can highly recommend it.

Another good story from Amanda Prowse. In this one Nina is left bankrupt after the death of her husband. She and her 2 sons are forced to leave behind their luxury lifestyle and private school, and return to the run down area of Southampton, where Nina grew up. It is both heart breaking and uplifting, with some great characters. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.

Nina is living a wonderful life, rich husband and two great boys. Until her husband dies and she is left with nothing! How could that have happened!?
Captivating, heartfelt and filled with emotion that leaves you thinking. Keep the tissues near by.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.

I love all of amanda prowse books, and this one is no different. A lovely story, a lot of emotion, and a ending that makes you smile!

In the Art of Hiding we learn not to take anything for granted. When Nina’s husband unexpectedly dies, Nina realises that her life wasn’t exactly what it seemed.

Yet again this is another Amanda Prowse novel written from the heart. A story that we can all relate to – and that makes us think.

I really enjoyed it and look forward to Amanda’s next novel (I am now furiously working my way through her back-catalogue!).

Nina is living the dream! She has a wonderful husband Finn, two sons who are excelling at their public school, a dream home, and is financially secure until that is, one fateful day when her life is turned up-side down following the death of Finn in a car accident.

I couldn't put this book down, it gripped me from the very first sentence, and I really engaged with Nina and her sons, and especially in the way that althoughshe may have gone through hell, she kept smiling and seeing the positive in life for the sake of her children, even though inside she was mourning the death of her husband and their previous life together. I sincerely hope this isn't the last we've heard of Nina, as I would love to find out where she goes from here.

Amanda has an amazing ability to write stories that we all want to read, and characters that we can all relate to in some form or another.

Well done Ms Prowse, another amazing tale!

*I was given an advance copy of this book via Netgalley and Amanda Prowse in return for an honest review*

this is the first book by Amanda Prowse i have read but it certainly won't be the last. i read this book in one afternoon/evening and it even made me cry... the story of a family who lose their husband/father and then lose everything and have to start all over again. it is sad and happy and really makes you think about what is important in life. Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for and advance reading copy of this book to read and review

Today I have a review of the latest release from Amanda Prowse.

The Art of Hiding is just published by Lake Union Publishing and is a story about one woman and her struggle to keep her family together after a terrible tragedy befalls her.

Described as ‘Stirring and empowering, this novel from bestselling author Amanda Prowse once again plumbs the depths of human experience in this tale of one woman’s loss and love.’

Read on for my as ever voluntary and unbiased review…

‘Numb is the best way to describe it. One minute I’m fine, the next I’m a mess. It still feels like he might walk through the door any minute.’

These are the words of Nina McCarrick.

Faced with the traumatic event of her husband Finn’s, very sudden death, Nina is struggling to come to terms with her life. Nina has lived in extremely luxurious surroundings. Having originally come from a Southampton council estate, Nina was perfectly happy to wallow in her comforts, letting Finn look after all their finances. He was the perfect husband, working hard and providing herself and her two boys with all that they could ever wish for.

The boys are schooled in a very elite college, where they have thrived and enjoyed the company of their wealthy friends. Holidays were spent across Europe with the memories of these happier days etched on Nina’s mind.

But life throws another curve ball at Nina. Finn was hiding a secret.

As Nina starts to receive calls from her solicitor and from the school, she soon realises that Finn was in serious financial difficulty. His untimely death leaves Nina without any financial stability and worst of all, Nina finds herself homeless.

With the animosity of her eldest son, Connor, slowly filtering through the family unit, Nina is desperate. At every turn, Nina is faced with a brick wall. The support she thought would be available to her from her ‘so-called’ friends, Finn’s relatives, her neighbours, is all so disappointingly non-existent.

Nina soon finds solace in the most unlikely place, her estranged sister Tiggy.

‘When Nina left Southampton and moved in with Finn, they seemed to lose all they had in common when no longer bound by a common environment’

Tiggy’s character is wonderful. She is so fragile in many ways, although her exterior is toughened by the world she inhabits. It is Tiggy who pulls Nina out of the shadows. It is Tiggy who helps Nina rediscover who she really can be. It is Tiggy who saves her..

The Art of Hiding, like all Amanda Prowse books, is an emotional read.

The story of Nina is a very poignant one, exploring the importance of family and the basic human needs of acceptance and love. Nina had changed over time in her marriage to Finn, quickly choosing to bury her past. However, when faced with a life-changing tragedy, it is to these roots that Nina returns.

Nina’s character grows as the book develops. She makes discoveries about herself when faced with earth-shattering challenges. She rediscovers strengths long buried and with the help of Tiggy, Nina learns to take charge of her life again.

The Art of Hiding will touch a chord with many. It deals with the sensitive subject of grief in many ways, not just the grief of the loss of a loved one but also the grief of losing oneself and all the changes that this brings.

Expect to shed a tear or two but also expect to feel uplifted as you turn the pages.

I’ll leave you with a famous quote from the inspirational Maya Angelou, which is the message, I feel is expressed, in The Art of Hiding.

‘You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. Please remember that your difficulties do not define you. They simply strengthen your ability to overcome.’

Nina has a wonderful life with a loving husband, two sons and a beautiful home. When he is killed in an accident it all comes tumbling down. Forced to return to her family home and live with her sister, Nina realizes that life is more than things. Getting a job and providing for her boys becomes something she enjoys. She and her sister become closer as Nina rebuilds her life into something she can be proud of. The family dynamics of adjusting after their ordeal is handled with compassion and understanding. Amanda Prowse has many titles that move you with varying degrees of emotion. I enjoyed this story of how Nina grows into the woman she dreamed of being.