A great book from Jessica I really enjoyed the plot and the characters and I found myself hooked. Thank you netgalley for the review copy!

A book that is heart warming with likeable a characters and demonstrates how lonely life can be for some.

I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

I really enjoyed this book. Heartwarming with a great cast of characters, it sheds light on the loneliness of carers.

Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to read this as I had issues with my kindle, however I don't want to give it bad feedback as it's no fault with the book.

A lovely feel good read. A story about caring for others and loneliness which has a beautiful ending. Perfect escapism.

Such a lovely heartwarming book. One to really make you appreciate the family you have and blessings you've been given. Great characters and pace. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

A heartening take of friendship, family and love. The story was somewhat predictable and I was unable to finish.

In this book we join Violet who lives on her own and although she's not living her best - she's okay. She then gets asked by her sister to move home and care for her mum whilst arranging a residential home for the mum to move into.
Violet is concerned moving back to where she grew up due to past events, past love, etc. She has a lot to deal with emotionally, as well as trying to build a relationship with her mum and to provide care and support in a way she hasn't before.

I think this is actually quite a realistic portrayal of caring for a loved one. The book raises issues such as finance payments and having to handle multiple concerns whilst looking after someone. It's an honest account I feel of the struggles caring for a loved one can bring.

I liked the character development of several characters. The story line was sweet. The relationships between characters were well written. Would definitely recommend this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

Violet is a flawed individual who I could empathise with. Forced from the safe life she has made for herself, she has to return to her home county to care for her mother.

This is a story about humanity - Violet’s initial reaction is to get her mother into a care home as quickly as possible, so she can return to her beige life where she makes no real impact, but there is no stress. However, as she gets to know her new neighbours, people she would have to make homeless, she discovers she is not the only person who is lonely and struggling to get through life.

This book was difficult to read at times - who is completely innocent of gossip and blind to the hurt it causes? However, it was, essentially, a hug betweeen the pages.

A wonderful book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Heartwarming and uplifting story of second-chance romance, community spirit and the often overlooked importance of family carers.

Violet left home at 18 following a series of tragedies. She knows she is "bad news" so hasn't returned in 14 years to avoid bringing her bad fortune on anyone else. That is until she's forced to return to her home town to care for her estranged mother when her sister moves to New Zealand, leaving only a few hours after Violet arrives.

Thrown in at the deep end, she manages admirably but finds the support and knowledge of other local carers invaluable, including her first love, Adam, who it turns out is now living with the father he cares for in one of the flats it turns out her childhood home has been converted into.

Together her new friends form a social group and start a local newspaper, which helps to fulfill Violet's dream of becoming a journalist. But will she be able to manage to care for her mother full-time? Or will she have to sell the flats and evict the new friends she is making, as well as her first love?

An emotional and heartwarming read with a great range of characters who have depth and develop through the story.

I absolutely love Jess Run, she writes what she knows and yes she is that kind and caring!
I loved this book and was lucky enough to have Jess in store for a book signing.
I can't wait to see what she writes next.

This was a lovely easy heartwarming story of friendship, family and love. Really enjoyed the characters and the storyline. Definitely recommended for a feel good read.

Thank you Netgalley.

This book took some getting into, but it was more than worth it. A lovely book that shows the power of reconciliation and community spirit.

This is a very sweet but formulaic story of life and love. I used to take one like this on holiday every year! Violet makes for a good lead and I'm sure it will make the masses smile this summer too.

I really enjoyed how the topic of caring for loved ones with disabilities or certain care needs was handled in this novel; I could really tell that the author understands the very difficult position carers find themselves in. Although not every aspect of this novel was exactly to my taste, I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone looking for an uplifting read featuring second-chance romance, a wonderful sense of community, and a well-developed relationship between mother and daughter.

This is an easy quick read but an emotional one which addresses the lives of some unsung heroes, full time unpaid carers.

At first I was a little annoyed with this book as at the start, the protagonist Violet is a bit pathetic. The fact that she is a book blogger I saw as an insult to all book bloggers (and by that logic, me). But I persisted and it paid off and she grew. In fact it made me think how first impressions, even in books can be misleading and people normally have reasons for being the way they are. Violet blames herself for so many things and has been conditioned to think of herself as “Bad News” and the causes and conditions for this are gradually revealed through the narrative.

This is a book where we have proper character arcs and we can watch the protagonists develop as people in very satisfying ways, and Violet grew on me. And it’s not just the Violet who changes as most of the secondary characters evolve in wonderful ways as the story progresses.
My favourite character was Tammy, a 19 year old girl who may or may not have mild learning difficulties but after her mother died has been left totally alone and unsupported and was woefully unprepared.

I also love the fact that Glenys, the woman Violet cares for and her mother is such a cantankerous bitch, in the beginning anyway. I have certainly met a few people like her in my career (I’m a nurse) and it makes the story so more interesting than if she was meek and compliant.

This book highlights the challenges faced by carers and those that need care. From the bureaucracy to the changing relationships often between parent and child or husband and wife.

Some of the twists where a little predictable and not that original but others where completely unexpected so a good balance.

This is a book which leaves you with a feeling of hope for the state of humanity. That communities can be rebuilt and be stronger if we stand together rather than apart.

What I liked:
Characters that evolve over time and are worthy of us caring about them.
I couldn’t put it down
Uplifting and life affirming

What didn’t work for me:
Some predictable elements
I wish the romance element wasn’t so dominant but that’s just a personal preference.

Suitable For: Older Teenagers and Adults
Sex: nothing a 14 year old wouldn’t cope with
Violence: only accidental
Drug Reference: alcohol and coffee
Swearing: some, but nothing shocking

A beach read with a bit more heart and depth than most.

Full Review Scheduled for publication on my blog on 26th May 2022 (see link below after this date)

It took my a while to get into but once I did I thoroughly enjoyed the Imperfect Art of Caring, it was such a heart warming, feel good story. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

It took me a while to get into this, but once I was there I devoured it in one final sitting. How do you care for someone who doesn't like you much? Or go "home" to somewhere where you believe everyone holds you responsible for something that happened in the past? Thought provoking, but well written.

Thank you to the publisher for my eARC copy of this book. Unfortunately I didn’t love this book and therefore didn’t finish, I just didn’t connect with this one. Not for me, sorry.