Unfortunately I was unable to get in to this story and had to put it down, however, I'm sure it is a highly loved book and appreciated by the right readers.

Now I can’t say I have read all of Samantha Tonge’s back catalogue but what I have read I have really enjoyed.

Forgive Me Not is a brand new novel from Samantha with Canelo it’s a whole new direction for her and all I can say is wow.

I took part in a readathon at the weekend and for once I didn’t do too badly. (More on this later) but I knew I was due to review Forgive Me Not today so it was definitely on my TBR and it kept me transfixed. I was working over the weekend but every spare minute was spent truly devouring Emma’s story.

Emma is such an interesting character although at times I felt frustrated at her and on behalf of her. As the story unfolds you’re taken back and forth on her journey. There’s so much to Emma and her story isn’t as clear cut as it seems at times. I loved seeing the twists unfold and the terror and shock of what she discovered. It’s remarkable how secrets and lies can shape your whole existence – well this is definitely part of Emma’s story and I’m pretty sure there are many people out there that will agree if certain events in their lives had been different their journey would have been different. This sentiment made me question how we are towards others around us. It’s all well and good being sorry but actions do speak louder than words and Emma learns the hard way.

If you have read Samantha’s work wipe away any misconceptions as this novel is a one off a stand alone that will stay with you long after the final page.

This novel seemed to come to me at the right time. I’m penning a post that will link nicely to this book but I don’t want to give too much away the gist I will say is that every single person you meet is fighting their own personal battles and appearances can be deceptive. Sometimes we automatically judge people when we have no right. Anything can change our way of life, a difficult childhood doesn’t mean you’ll turn out a tearaway, and coming from money also doesn’t mean you’ll never experience hardship in some way shape or form.

I could share so many quotes from this epic tale but I really liked this “she’d concluded that all being normal meant was being happy with yourself.” This speaks volumes to me and right now in a good place on my Slimming World journey I finally feel happier in myself.

Forgiving comes easy to some but Emma’s sister isn’t ready to forget and on Emma’s journey as she starts to heal she realises where her family are coming from. I truly believe this sentiment will be an eye opener for most.

This story has so much to deal with and it’s done so well. I don’t want to elaborate too much as it’s a special journey and each and every reader will see different signs and triggers. Sadly in the world we live in there’s still a stigma around mental health and depression. On the flip side they are just two aspects and thanks to authors like Samantha these everyday real life battles are being spoken about more.

If you want to read a book that’s going to entertain, intrigue and teach you something then go grab Forgive Me Not and join Emma on her rollercoaster ride. My final words are Never judge a book by its cover, appearances can be deceptive and think before you judge another.

This book really stayed with me, addressing the very serious topics of homelessness and alcoholism. I had read a previous Samantha Tonge book earlier in the year and loved it. I wasn't disappointed by this one either. I could see how the main character could have been as a teenager, wreaked havoc and left a trail of destruction in her wake, but wanted to atone later, yet I could also feel for everyone she had affected. There were some major 'oh no!' moments in the book, plenty of sharp thrills and a rollercoaster of emotions for all concerned. But the icing on the cake was the ending. Loved it. Highly recommend.

Forgive Me Not by Samantha Tonge is a 2018 Canelo publication.

Emma has returned to Foxglove Farm hoping to make amends to her family and atone for her many indiscretions. While she hopes everyone will be happy to see her and she will be accepted back into the fold like a prodigal daughter, the reception she receives is hardly welcoming.

The story flashes back to the months leading up to her decision to return home and the present day, where Emma struggles to gain her sister’s trust and forgiveness and take care of her mother who has Alzheimer’s. No matter how hard she tries, no matter what good she does, her sister simply can not find it in her heart to forgive Emma.

Yet, Emma is determined to forge a new life for herself, to care for mother, and do her part to help her family. However, there is a dark pall hanging over her head. A secret she hasn’t found the courage to own up to, one that is eating away at her more and more with each passing day. Will Emma find the strength to face her worst fears and do the right thing?

This novel took me by surprise. The first book I read by Samantha Tonge was a super, light-hearted romantic comedy, and her other books seem to fall into that same category for the most part.

Although the synopsis makes it clear this book has a more serious tone, that delightful cover led me to believe any uncomfortable subject matter would be handled with a light touch.

While the author does keep the atmosphere carefully balanced, she doesn’t pull punches or water anything down. As a result, I was stunned by the weight of this story. This is really an incredible story of a woman who is determined to get her life back together and hopefully make amends to those she hurt.

It is a realistic portrayal, which offers hope and redemption, but also remains pragmatic, emphasizing that recovery is an ongoing thing, that no matter what, there will be moments of weakness and denial and forgiveness can't always be an automatic assumption. Some cuts are simply too deep.

Although Emma originally set out to right the wrongs of the past, in the end her personal growth is what stands out. This is a cautionary tale, but it is also a powerful story of forgiveness, not only of others, from others, but of yourself, as well.

This is also a story of gaining independence, of standing up on one’s own two feet, facing one’s demons, and finding an inner strength you didn’t know you had. It's about growing up emotionally, accountability, and acceptance.

I must say I am deeply impressed with this novel. Samantha Tonge has proven her mettle, writing on such a deeply poignant topic and tackling big emotional issues, which up to this point has not been her usual style. If this book is any indication, Samantha is hitting her stride. She’s shown depth and range with this novel. I’m looking forward to seeing what path her career takes from here.

4 stars

This is a wonderful novel that focuses on friendships and the past from Samantha Tonge, whose books I have always enjoyed.

Emma left home two years ago, fleeing Foxglove Farm after letting down her friends and family. However, she's now prepared to put her past behind her, but not before facing her problems and making things right with those she loves.

With a focus on second chances, family secrets and learning to love life again, Forgive Me Not is an emotional and heartwarming read that I couldn't put down.

My Review:

Forgive Me Not was not what I was expecting, it really wasn’t my cup of tea as my personal preference is to eschew high angst and constant conflict. Yet the book was well written and a thought-provoking family drama, and certainly gave me pause in my own thinking as it squeezed my heart and put a few hot rocks in my throat. Having dealt with more than my share of addicted and/or prevaricating personalities, I had a hard time appreciating the main character of Emma. Emma had been a rather heinous problem child and abandoned her family after causing and leaving them with yet another appallingly hideous mess. She was the worst type of manipulative and selfish party girl and had been for quite some time. After she finally hit bottom and found an impetus to clean up in rehab, she slowly and carefully went about her recovery and sincerely attempted to make amends, but she didn’t seem to fully realize just how much she needed to atone for.

Emma returned to her small village but not to the open arms she was hoping for; her family and the entire community at large were having none of it as they were struggling with their own hard times - and they were more than done with Emma. Every single one of them doubted her veracity, and for good reason. I didn’t blame them. Not one bit. I’ve jettisoned people for far less. But it was rather unnerving for me to consider if maybe, possibly, I should have given some of those a third chance. Although this was probably Emma’s thousandth chance… But there are some acts that cut extra deep and just aren’t forgivable, and Emma had committed far too many of those, and repeatedly, and to my horror - with little consequence.

The writing was insightfully observant and evocative with several interesting storylines involving the small and quirky little village and its unique inhabitants. To end on an upbeat, I do have yet another new addition for my Brit List with “mithering,” which Mr. Google defined as to irritate or pester. I cannot wait to start employing its use.

I was impressed with this novel by Samantha Tonge for tackling a difficult topic and yet still keeping the novel easy to read with a lightness and ease of characters.

The story line covered a family in crisis as daughter Emma has been estranged from her family for a couple of years. She created a somewhat self imposed exile when her life spun out of control and alcohol took over her existence. In the present she is in recovery and trying to make amends, to regain contact with her mother, sister and friends. She has left behind though a lot of ill will from her past behaviour and they are not seeming likely to accept she's that changed.

Her sister is furious, frustrated and unwilling to accept her sister's return. Mostly because their mother has been more and more forgetful, her dementia has taken hold since Emma left and she has been left caring for their mother while trying to keep the family farm afloat.

The family ties that had bound them seemed almost entirely broken and I liked that the author didn't make it easy for Emma to get back in. We are also taken through Emma's past two years on the streets, her past behaviour and her thought process throughout and I found the progression natural.

The novel touched a few nerves and though it never made light of any situation I felt that it was easily to read. The people that Emma meets during her absence will also do a lot to create more empathy for those who find themselves homeless and trying to come back up to the surface again. Can't wait to read another Samantha Tonge novel!


Thank you to Canelo for our review copy. All opinions are our own.

I enjoyed this book, very well written with a surprise ending that I didn't see coming.
This is worth a read.

Oh my goodness! This book touches on a variety of issues - addiction, mental diseases, family dramatics, and more! As I was reading, my heartstrings were being pulled for Emma so much - I wanted her to reconcile with her family, for her family to open their arms to her, and just allow her to try to make for any lost time. A women's fiction novel for your next family vacation!

I received a digital ARC of #ForgiveMeNot from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

This book has two different timelines running through it - one is present day and one is the 18 months leading up to Emma returning home.

This is a slow burner of a book. It did keep my interest but I wasn't too frustrated when I had to stop reading for a while to make dinner! That said, it would have been annoying if it had moved at a faster pace as it would have been unrealistic. It was good to see that Emma had to really work at proving she had changed to those she had hurt and wronged so badly in the past. If they had just forgiven her and welcomed her with open arms it would have been unrealistic.

This was an interesting book to read. A story of foregiveness and moving forwards in life. It gives you a lot to think about even after you have finished the book.

A very different read to Samantha Tonge's usual books.

How far would you go to make amends? It’s a good question, but for me the more important question is whether every act should be forgiven, just so the guilty party can feel better about themselves?

Emma is an alcoholic. Her drinking has cost her friendships, jobs, her family and her reputation. She rationalises every bad decision she makes and likes to blame everyone but the person feeding the habit. A common story, and it’s fair to say this story doesn’t focus on the victims as much as on the the addict and her attempt to make amends.

Emma makes her way home and attempts to fix her broken friendships and family ties. They have no real concept of the way she has spent the last few years and are reluctant to give her another chance. She also brings her second life home with her, which causes a lot of friction in the community.

Tonge reproduces the uncomfortable reactions of the general population really well in relation to the homeless. Questions of guilt, powerlessness, doubt and fear are mixed with general misconceptions about these people, who are caught in a cycle of addiction, lack of support and strict bureaucracy.

Kudos to Tonge for shedding a light on the way society treats the homeless and the difficulties they have on the street, especially whilst trying to get back into the flow of a ‘normal’ life. It’s important to add that not all homeless people have substance abuse problems, it is true however that the majority do. It’s another story and statistic whether the substance abuse came before or after becoming homeless.

Addiction is a cruel foe, it doesn’t care about emotions or relationships, it is greedy and just wants to be fed. The author shows the destruction of addiction and how much damage the loss of trust can cause in relationships and in a family dynamic.

Emma is selfish, self-absorbed and sees everything through her own frame of reference, which is tainted by her need to numb and forget all of her presumed grievances. Even when she seems to understand the damage she has caused she always brings it back to how she feels, as opposed to how everyone else might be feeling.

It’s an uncomfortable read at times, because it walks the thin boundaries between reality and fiction really well. The author doesn’t present a sympathetic main character, instead she gives the readers the stark realism of the addict and their thought process.

I think it is a read that will make readers sway one way or the other. At the very least it gives an intimate insight into the complexity of a downwards spiral and the never-ending road to recovery. A road which can sometimes be smooth, but also forces the addict to deal with the occasional sinkhole and crossroads. It’s an honest and heartfelt read.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. This was a beautiful book about forgiveness, mistakes, second chances, addiction, family, and friendship and touched a part of me from a personal point of view.

Loved the book. I did not expect the last chapter and it was a complete surprise. It explained a lot and why Andrea couldn't forgive Emma. This book centers around family relationships and forgiveness. Emma and Stig were my favorite characters. I am talking about the Emma who shows up at Foxglove Farms after seeking treatment. Stig just seemed like such an all around good guy.

Emma returns home to Foxglove Farms after being gone for two years. Emma is an alcoholic and has returned home to make amends with all the people she hurt, which is pretty much everyone living in her village. Mainly she wants to apologize to her sister, mom and Bligh. Her mom is suffering from early-onset Alzheimer's and has no idea who Emma is when she arrives. The book alternates between the present and the months leading up to Emma returning home. Emma completely changed her life but her sister just doesn't trust or believe her. It was interesting discovering what happened the days leading up to Emma leaving her house and how the blood got on her car. I understand why Bligh and Andrea do not trust her and have a hard time forgiving her.

I loved the story, writing style and characters. I never warmed up to Andrea or Joe. Hated his reaction when he heard what happened to Emma. Andrea just seemed miserable. I loved reading about the farm Emma grew up on. It sounded like a wonderful place to live. I understand how Emma felt when she learned what her mom was hiding all those years. Now Emma can't even talk about it with her mom.

Definitely recommend the book. I look forward to reading more by the author.

Thanks to NetGalley, Canelo and the author, Samantha Tonge, for a free electronic ARC of this novel.

As a fan of Samantha's books, when I heard about this new book of hers being released, I knew that I wanted to read it, despite it being a slightly different style of writing to her previous books.

This was a truly inspiring read about forgiveness, family and friendship and I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. It was highly thought provoking, given some of the topics covered throughout.

I thought the whole story was very well written and the characters came across as real and believable. Such an emotional and heartfelt read that really makes you think about things.

I loved the fact that there was lots of animals mentioned throughout the story, as I always think having animals play a part is lovely and gives the story that something extra.

So another job well done Samantha, I'm already looking forward to reading your next book when it comes out.

I've read a few books by Samantha Tonge and enjoyed her move into a more emotive style of writing. The central character is Emma, who was returned home after an eventful couple of years following her hasty departure, as she seems forgiveness from those closest to her. I really felt for Emma and strongly connected with her character. Forgiveness isn't the only issue explored here - there are also some difficult social issues woven into the plot. Although I loved Emma.s character, it took me a little while to really get into the plot. The ending was a slight surprise, not a twist as such, but one that makes you think about things differently.

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading romantic comedies by this talented author and was initially unaware of the change in genre portrayed in this emotive and very moving novel but I found it to be an enthralling read. It reflects on events from the past and present concerning Emma who is now facing up to her past and moving on to look to the future. She left home two years ago, leaving her older sister to care for their Mum (who has dementia) and their home, Foxglove Farm. Emma is ready to face up to her past and wants to atone for her behaviour and actions from then but her return doesn’t go as she’d anticipated.

By relating events from the past and present, many different issues are shared and explored, developing the readers’ knowledge of some difficult subjects in an easy to relate to manner. Sometimes just saying you are sorry really isn’t enough for many different reasons. Emma’s life journey, learning to take responsibility for her own actions now and from the past, the struggle of accepting just what she might be responsible for and helping others, too, all play important roles in this story. It is a coming of age story with a real twist at the end! I suspect this story will have a lasting impact on my own attitudes and behaviour to others in future and I hope many others will also enjoy – and learn from – this superb story.

I requested and was given a copy of this book, via NetGalley. This is my honest review of the book after choosing to read it.

Forgiveness.......one of the hardest issues to struggle with !! This book really gets to the heart of the matter and the story of Emma really gave me a lot of food for thought. To be deeply hurt by someone is life changing and I know to forgive and forget is equally difficult.

Addiction in any form is so destructive to both the sufferer and those around them and I found the book addressed many underlying issues in a very understanding way.

Emma has struggled with addiction for many years. She finally left home after many shameful episodes and her family and community have given up on her! After several years of battling with her demons she returns home. Her family reunion is fraught ... her mum is struggling with early onset Alzheimer’s.... her sister is angry and bitter ... her ex boyfriend is distant ... but will broken bridges ever be repaired ?

The book covers not only addiction but homelessness, mistakes, forgiveness, second chances, self love and acceptance. It contained well developed characters and covered tough issues .

I recommend this book wholeheartedly although it took me a while to get hooked it was a brilliant emotional story with a surprise ending which had me thinking about the characters even after I’d turned the last page,

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for my chance to read this fantastic book.

Love this author and this has no reflection on her work at alkl because i love her bnooks. But sadly this book just wasn't for me. More to do with me than the book itself.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a real emotional rollercoaster which has been beautifully written. Emma is an alcoholic who is currently sober. She is going back home to ask forgiveness for her past actions. This story tackles homelessness and its causes and alcoholism. It is hard hitting and sympathetic. There is a lot of compassion in this book. There is a lot to think about in this book. I would definitely recommend this book and I will be looking out for more books by this author.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.