Member Reviews
Not for me sadly. It wasn't awful, the plot was nice enough and the writing wasn't bad, I just couldn't get into it. I found the narrative a bit off paced, and it just dragged for so long. I have to admit though, at the time of requesting there was not a synopsis available on NetGalley - I requested it instead on the basis of never having read one of her novels before. If I had read the synopsis, I probably wouldn't have requested it, as I've read a lot of books like this and rarely find myself interested in them.
This is another great book from a amazing author. The story had me hooked from the beginning it was so good, I felt like I was reading about my friends and family and found I was thinking about them when I wasn't reading this book. Definitely a good read
I enjoy Amanda Prowse books; she writes about real people experiencing real, often everyday events with sensitivity and insight. I wasn't sure about 'The Light in the Hallway' when I first picked it up however. The subject matter is emotional stuff. Father and only son, Nick and Oliver, experience the loss of a significant other, Kerry, the wife and mother, to cancer. We enter their story first at the point of Kerry's passing, and what follows is the story of how Nick and Olly learn to cope with their loss and finally to move on with their lives. It was a slow burner at the beginning, and about quarter of the way in I wasn't sure I was going to be able to continue as the story didn't seem to be going anywhere. Whether that was part of the author's intention in order to impart to her readers the sheer emptiness of Nick's life without his life partner I don't know, but suddenly began to pick up just about at the point that Nick's life started to improve. Running alongside this main life event was the tale of Nick's childhood relationship with his own parents, particularly his father, and his friendship with Eric and Alex, which certainly added a bit more depth to Nick's character.
If you happen to pick up this book, don't expect a mind=blowing mystery or thriller, or even an intense domestic drama. This is, quite simply, a really good read on a life that any one of us could be living.
I give this book 3 stars.
What a masterful journey of emotions! Amanda Prowse takes you on the roller coaster of life, love, loss, and recovery. This book delves into real life emotions of marriage, struggle to stay afloat, and raising a family. The title says it all...what everyone really wants in the end is a light in the hallway.
Another 5* read from Amanda Prowse. This author has a knack for drawing the reader in to real life situations.
I loved this being written from a male perspective and liked the character of Nick. Although it made me cry in parts, I did also have some uplifting parts. Her writing style is so easy to read and this is highly recommended.
Amanda Prowse writes about true life events that could happen to any of us and this is no exception.
This is a story of family, love, loss, friendship and moving on. The characters were well drawn, the plot realistic, and the story all came together to a satisfactory conclusion.
As I am a working class northerner this book was completely up my street. I loved the use of language both in the 1999s and present day. It was a simple story but well written and dealt with grief very well and kept my attention. A few hiccups along the way but lovely to read such a happy ending for everyone.
I just finished this book and I already have people in mind to recommend it to; it's one of those books that makes you feel and see things from every side, and I would say that in short, that is at least part of why Amanda's writing is so wonderful. Grab this one and pass it on. It's a perfect Autumn read.
Wonderful book about real life and the trials of everyday life! The main characters were funny and easy to conjure up! Tale of difficult life path, but also the strength of the human spirit to overcome obstacles and rise again! Thoroughly enjoyable read!
Yet another fabulous read from Ms Prowse. This book felt slightly different to previous ones - maybe because it is told from a male perspective. A truly enchanting story that really draws you in. Heartbreaking and heart lifting at once this story is just lovely.
This is a beautifully written story which had me laughing and close to tears from start to finish. Parts were heartbreaking. I felt that everything was written with sympathy and understanding. I have really enjoyed all the books that I have read by this author.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.
Thanks to the publisher and author for providing me with a digital ARC of this title via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
I ready my first title by Amanda Prowse earlier this year and really liked it so I was excited to receive this title. I find her to be a sensitive author that is able to create characters and stories that touch the reader. The Light in the Hallway is a sweet story about a wife and mother who passes away from cancer at a young age and how her death affects her husband and son. It is a story about family, loyalty, grief, and finding love and happiness after loss. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by Prowse. .
Amanda Prowse is back with another insightful and sensitive novel. One of the main characters passes away right at the very beginning, yet her influence is felt throughout. Her husband and son struggle with her loss, but within this they find new beginnings. We get plenty of flashbacks to Nick’s childhood, with his two best friends who remain in his life now. Will everybody get their happy ending? You’ll have to read the book to find out!
I was excited to review this new book for NetGalley, and I certainly wasn’t disappointed. It is sensitively written and the characters are very well drawn. I would recommend this title to anybody, and if it is your first read of her novels, it would certainly get you on a hunt for the rest!
This is the second book I have read by this author, and I really like her style. Her stories delve into the goings on of everyday life by looking at all aspects of the characters. She gives us a story from youth to present day, showing us how the actions of the past resurface throughout life, and how the actions have defined the characters in present day.
This story is about Nick and his son Olly, who are going through the loss of their wife and mother., and how the relationship takes many turns as they navigate life going forward.
It also delves into the close friendships growing up between Nick and his two best friends, Eric and Alex, a strong bond that follows them into adulthood.
I am really looking forward to reading more of her stories as I feel I have benefited from her insight as well.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK.
Another brilliant book by Amanda Prowse.
This book tells the story of coping with life, and learning to love again after loosing a loved one, and follows the lives of father and son through this sad time. I love how it’s so easy to relate to Amanda’s stories and they are so believable that you just know that this is quite possibly happening to people everywhere, which gets you evened deeper into the story
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This story is about childhood friendships, death, grief and starting over. I loved it!
Nick and Ollie were slowly moving on and it wasn’t easy for either one of them and at 50% I wanted to throw my kindle across the room. People can be awful and why do they think they can decide when someone can move on? Grrrrrr......
Anyway I thought this was good and there was a lot going on in this story. I’d definitely recommend it to my friends.
This was a NETGALLEY gift and all opinions are my own.
Amanda Prowse is one of my favourite authors. Her books never fail to delight, provoke thought, and entertain, and this is no exception. I loved it, and couldn't put it down. In fact I read the last 70% in a morning. As my youngest is about to head off to University it was all the more poignant.
Nick is in his 30s, having married extremely young as his wife Kerry was expecting their son Olly. Nick gave up his dreams of going to University to support his wife and child, but here he is 18 years later with Olly about to start University, and his wife newly passed on due to cancer.
Nick has a support system in this small town, where everyone knows everyone else - his best friends Eric and Alex, his mum and sister, and his mother in law and sister in law, but Nick still feels very alone.
Nick has to cope with life on his own, a son who is just starting a journey of his own whilst missing his mother acutely, and a life with a Kerry shaped hole in a town where everyone has their opinions on what he should be doing and feeling - especially his sister in law!
This is a book that will have you alternately smiling and tearful, but will leave you elated with some interesting food for thought. Highly recommended
Yet another wonderful story by Amanda Prowse. Well written, great characters and totally real life.
Nick is the main character whose wife falls ill and passes away leaving him and their son Oliver.
We follow Nick and his best friends Eric and Alex from their childhood in 1992 to the current day. Seeing how their childhood very much links to the way they are today. I love the way the book covers the two timelines and flows effortlessly.
This story is sad. heartwarming, funny and so much more.
You only have one life and you have to live it.
I loved this book
I always enjoy this author’s books. She has a very gifted way of writing. A beautiful tale of how it is possible to enjoy life again after a time of grief. Great characters and storyline. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.
Amanda Prowse delivers a very moving novel about relationships between fathers and sons, between a grieving husband and his dead wife and between three lifelong friends. As Nick deals with his loss, questions arise about when is it time to move on, and who should be the best judge of that. I loved the back story of Nick and his two friends, their hope of a better future and the meaning of success.