Laugh out loud humour, colourful characters and family drama are all hallmarks of Shari Low's books. Kelly & Scott have been married for over 2o years and are thinking that life needs to change after their daughter is ready to move away and launch her career in London. Maisie loves her adopted family but longs to find members of her birth family, and Harriet feels life is not really worth living anymore until she sees a familiar face in a crowd. A great read!

A lovely read full of emotion like many of Shari Lows books. A good storyline which tugs at the heartstrings

I absolutely love Shari's books. I've read quite a few of them and there hasn't been one I've not enjoyed.
This is a beautiful tale of love. Its heartwarming, heartbreaking and stunning.

It did take me a while to get into purely because of the amount of things happening on one day but once I was in I was hooked.

Another beautiful read from a brilliant author.
⭐⭐⭐⭐

There is nothing bad I can ever say about a Shari Low book and this is no exception. This is a story taking place over one day as Shari often writes, with a final ‘one year later’. This story focusses mainly on a special day where Carny and her performance group are appearing. Around her Maisie is leading the catering, hiding her heartbreak, Carny’s parents Kelly and Scott each have a big secret to tell each other, and Harriett is enjoying a final day put before she plans her death. All of their lives, together with many other characters become intertwined, ending woth a twist a year after with a surprise wedding - I never saw it coming right till the final moment. I loved this book and shed a few tears as the happy couple said ‘I do’.

It took me a while to get through this book, but I think that is more my mind being preoccupied than an insult on the book. I think if I had been wholly committed to reading, then I would have devoured this book.
As with all of Shari Low books, you find yourself laughing out loud, grinning along with the characters but on an equal measure sobbing your heart out with them also. This book has all of that; my emotions were in tatters when I’d finished it.
The characters are wonderfully eccentric, another trait of Low’s, but this nuttiness is what makes the characters so loveable.
As with some of Low’s previous books, the book is divided into two-hour segments, and we are following four protagonists throughout just one day. We have Maisie, recently jilted at the altar and putting her shattered heart and life back together. There is Harriett, an 80-year-old lady who has had it tough and has had enough. That is until one day she sees life is still worth living. The third and fourth characters are husband and wife Kelly and Scott. They have been together for 22 years since they were 16. They are both going through some personal troubles, not helped by their only daughter flying the rest the very next day.
There are lots of ups and some downs. I think Harriett’s story punched me in the gut the most. As a childless woman with an older husband, I may one day find myself looking down the barrel of Harriett’s life, and it wasn’t a pleasant thought, and I chocked up on more than one occasion reading her sections.
This was a genuinely heartwarming and wonderful book, and I just wished I’d had the right headspace to give it the attention it so deserved. It was beautifully written, and we were introduced to some fantastic characters, which I hope we may see on the periphery of future books.
As a side note, I liked that the author explained that even though it is set in 2021, the characters don’t have the pandemic that we are all bogged down with. It certainly was nice to escape this and enter an alternate reality!

Wow! This book blew me away. It is packed with non-stop surprises that had me turning the pages, eager to learn more. I laughed and cried and enjoyed every moment. So much so, I had to tweet about it as soon as I finished.
The story is written from several perspectives which change with each chapter. Written in real-time, it documents the happenings of one day from sunrise to sunset. The ensemble cast, led by Maisie, Harriet, Scott and Kelly, bring a whole host of twists and turns that contribute to a practically perfect story.
I found myself fully invested in each of the varying stories as their worlds collided in a way that they could never have imagined. If I had to pick a favourite, it would have to be Harriet. To have known such heartache seems unbearable, and yet she’s still able to find joy despite having made peace with her final days on earth.
To review this story without creating spoilers would be almost impossible, but I’m giving it my best shot. I mentioned the lead characters, but their stories would be nothing without the rich support of Carny, Carson, John, and Yvie, to name a few. Shari Low has created characters that are beautifully developed and work perfectly together.
This is an enchanting story, and I loved every moment of it. I hope you enjoy it too.

This is my first book by Shari and I was very impressed. I will definitely be looking out for more from her. The story centers around the four main characters Maisie, Harriet, Kelly and Scott and is based on one day. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and their backgrounds. I would describe this book as a hug in a book and a much needed escape

I loved this booked! Such a lighthearted page turner! I loved being able to read the events of the different characters and learning how they all intertwine. This was such a good, summer read!

I love a Shari Low book and, once again, I was not disappointed. Her characters are funny, relatable and heart warming and you just want every one of them to be your best friend. I couldn’t figure out where this book was going as one of the main characters was unhappy in her marriage and I couldn’t see how we would get a completely happy ending for everyone without someone getting hurt. Shari, you didn’t let us down though! In Shari’s books there are often characters from other stories who pop up and it took me a while to remember that I had met Evie and her sister, Verity, before. Makes me want to go back and re-read their story, My One Month Marriage!
Thanks again for a another fab book....highly recommended.

I always enjoy this author’s books and this one was just as good as the rest.

The story follows Maisie, Scott, Kelly and Harriet over the course of 24 hours. Each has a different view of what their day will bring but will they get the outcome they hoped for?

A wonderful lighthearted read with a great cast of characters and the perfect ending.

Another brilliant book from Shari Low. She is definitely one of my favourite authors. And this book did nothing to dent that title but just reinforced it.
This book followed one of Shari’s styles of writing of featuring one day from 4 different people’s perspectives but with a large amount of crossover.
I couldn’t put this book down and loved the ending. Highly recommend

What a lovely read! Never wanted it to end. Throughly enjoyable and made me laugh out loud at one point. Light hearted and a fabulous read. As always this author is getting ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ From me.

I loved this novel. It felt like perfect escapism read. Flawed people recognizing and owning up to their personal flaws and mistakes throughout marriages and friendships made up the story. I highly recommend this to read if you want a good story to lose yourself in!

Love love love it, didn't want to put it down ! It made me laugh in some parts and made me cry in others. I was sorry when it ended it was so good !

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I thoroughly loved this book, I found it captivating, very well written.

It was about four people and one day in their lives, each with different events happening.

I found it a light-hearted read.

For Scott & Kelly, their daughters leaving home, Harriet isn’t happy to go home alone after a stay in hospital and there’s Maisie, whose been left standing at the altar....

Loved It

Shari Low has a wonderful way with words! The story of several families and the challenges they face during the course of one summer will surely resonate with many readers.

What an amazing story. The characters are lively and full of personalities. In the beginning, the introductions of all the characters and who they are to each other were quite confusing, as there are so many characters. Eventually, after the story begins I got to know each character and their relation. Each character had their personality which comes through from the pages. I can hear their tones as I read. It would make for a great Netflix series. These characters can continue to another book. I would love to know what happens in the future with this unconventional family. Carny is who I truly thought shone through the pages. Her whimsical outlook on life and humor made the heavy moments easier to read. Even if this story doesn't continue to another book, I can't wait for Shari Low's next book.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the advance copy of this book to read and review!

This book starts with a list of characters and where they fit in which really helped👌

There is Maisie (20-something actress who helps her friend in her catering business and has recently been stood up at the altar) and her sister Hope, a doctor.

They are friends with Carney, 22, a set designer who parents had her at age 16.

Her parents, mom Kelly and dad Scott, in their late thirties at an inflection point now that Carney is moving out to London and her first job.

Scott’s mom Sonya and grandfather John in his 80’s.

Harriet, also in her 80’s who recently lost her husband and whose son Leo died at age 25.

This story takes place in one day in summer when all the characters meet up at a garden party that doubles as Carney’s farewell.

A stunning storyline that connects these and other characters and ensures that no one’s future is what they thought it would be at the start of that one day. An excellent read!! 👌🌟📚

A lovely book for the summer - perfect for taking on holiday with you or sitting reading in the garden. I love that the book is set over one day and from multiple characters point of view. What is great about all of shari’s books is she has a fantastic way of tying a book and her characters storylines together towards the end of the book that makes it impossible to stop reading ! Set some time aside as you get to the end of the book as you won’t want to be interrupted. Fantastic book.

I really loved the character of Maisie, she was so down to earth and funny and I’m dying to know more about her life as well as Kelly’s daughters - who we find out at the start of the book has an upcoming career as a set designer in London. I wasn’t a massive fan of Kelly’s character and found her difficult to warm to but with so many characters in one book I suppose you can’t love them all! Overall, it’s a sweet story and a relaxing read.

This was a very enjoyable read. It is just the kind of book to read when you are looking for something to lift your mood and put a smile on your face. I especially enjoyed the humour and banter between the characters which was witty and fun to read.

The story takes place in one day. Each chapter alternates from the 4 main characters point of view. There is Kelly at 38 she finds herself in a bit of an unexpected situation and hopes that her husband Scott will see eye to eye with her on this. Scott, who at 38 has dreams of travelling and playing his music after he and Kelly see their daughter Carny fly the nest and begin her own life. Maisie, who is a talented actress, left at the altar just a few months before is helping her best friend at a catering job which just so happens to be the place Maisie’s ex left her on her wedding day. Finally, there is Harriet, she’s been on her own since her husband passed. She’s been in the hospital and finds the idea of going back to her lonely life in the home she’s lived in for years and years is not a very appealing one.

In one day, various events for each of these characters are set in motion. All surrounding the fundraiser arranged by Kelly and Scott’s daughter, Carny. In a very clever way, Shari Low connects these characters to a day of high emotion and activity. There are many secondary characters which are involved in the story line and our author does a brilliant job of weaving this story together at a quick pace and with lots of insight into their backstories.

I really enjoyed this novel. It was fun and yet very touching. I would like to thank NetGalley and Boldwood Books for allowing me an advanced copy for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.