I would firstly just like to say a big thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources and NetGalley for very kindly forwarding me an arc copy of this book, for my Kindle, in return for my honest review.

Under One Roof was a wonderful, family orientated story that spanned across three generations.
The story centres around Robin, who comes back home to look after her estranged mother, who had taken a nasty fall. Then we throw into the mix, Amber, who is Robin’s daughter and who is very bitter after her mum and dad’s divorce.
As all three women are living together, we get to share family secrets and don’t get me started on the 80’s nostalgia - it really reminded me of my own childhood!!
This was a great, heartwarming book with a lovely, most perfect ending!

I absolutely loved the characters in this book. Cantankerous Faye is really well portrayed and she isn't one-dimensional. It was great to see a softer side emerge throughout the treasure hunt. Robin's daughter, Amber, is a university student with her own probems yet she forges a link with her grandmother. It is Robin's story at the heart of this book, though, and what a story! Samantha Tonge excels at exploring family relationships and this book doesn't disappoint. Can thoroughly recommend and it has gone into my favourites pile.

This was an excellent read! It was heartbreaking, entertaining and interesting. I loved following along as Robin, her estranged mother Faye, and her daughter Amber try to get to know each other again. The treasure hunt idea is something I haven't seen before in a book like this but I absolutely loved it! The story itself will be relatable for a lot of people and the women in this story just makes the connection completely. A sad but heartfelt, warm and entertaining read with the perfect ending!

Thank you Rachel's Random Resources and Samantha Tonge for sharing this wonderful story with me!

Under One Roof by Samantha Tonge

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

One forgotten discovery will change three women’s lives for ever…
Robin hasn’t been home for decades. After running away to London, she never expected to see her cantankerous mother, Faye, again. But when Faye has a fall, the two women are thrown together once more.

The years apart have not made their hearts grow fonder and the ground between them is unsteady. Then Robin finds an unopened scroll – the last of the treasure hunts her much-missed father used to take them on every Sunday. A hunt he believed might change everything.

Three generations of the same family are brought together in this book - they all must learnt how to get to know each other after many years of not seeing eye-to-eye. This is a heart-warming and interesting read with a very well thought out plot.

When I was given the opportunity to read this book, I jumped at the chance believing that I had previously read and enjoyed books from Samantha - upon further investigation it turns out that this was not the case. Nevertheless, this was a lovely book to read - although sad in places due to the memories revealed by each of the women. It was so difficult to stop reading, as it was just so easy to get lost in the drama unfolding before my eyes.

Rating: 4/5

This is an absolutely brilliant book that will have you turning the page to see what happens next. I loved the complex characters and the exploration of difficult family dynamics. It was all handled sensitively thanks to the excellent writing, and watching the characters grow was a real pleasure.

Three decades have passed since she ran away,
She's never been back - until today.
Her Uncle has convinced Robin to return again
To help her estranged mother who is in such pain.

This is the story of Robin's return
And how it helped uncover the past and to learn
She never felt she could do anything right for her Mum
Whose criticism and derogatory comment left her glum.

Solving riddles from her Dad was what they used to do
And he's left them one more packed with clues
With Robin's daughter, Amber, can these three women heal
Wounds from the past when the riddle's solution they reveal?

Working as a three, piecing together the clues
Sharing time with each other and their past news.
Secrets, facts the others didn't know
Helping knowledge of each other to steadily grow.

This is a three generational tale that's superb, feels real
Facing their past history and all it can reveal.
I thoroughly enjoyed my complementary copy of this amazing read
And hope, after reading my honest review, it is just what you next need!

UNDER ONE ROOF by SAMANTHA TONGE.

I loved this book from page one. It was so easy to get into and so hard to put down.

Robin, her mother Faye and her daughter Amber find themselves together, all be it somewhat reluctantly, under one roof.
When Robin finds a scroll containing treasure hunt clues - a last gift from Robin’s much loved father, the three women have to work together to solve the cryptic clues and unravel the mystery hidden within them.
Despite being family, these three women are little more than strangers. They need to work through a lot of issues before their fractured bonds can be healed and mended.

Secrets are revealed and tough conversations are had, as this story winds its way beautifully through the pages.

This book is skilfully written, with raw honesty and great empathy.

Like others who have read this book, I absolutely loved the 80’s nostalgia. What a fabulous trip down memory lane.

To sum up, this is a cracking read. It’s emotional, charming, moving, nostalgic and there are a few laughs along the way too.

Leg warmers and shoulder pads not included, but this book is thoroughly deserving of five big and bold gold stars.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Released on 9/2/22
Kindle
Audible
Paperback

With thanks to #Netgalley and #Boldwood for a digital arc of #UnderOneRoof by #SamanthaTonge.

This has definitely been a heart-warming and engaging read, which I have found myself struggling to put down/switch off from, and thinking about when I’m not reading.

There is an original story line with a sense of adventure and mystery. At its heart though, is an intriguing and a dysfunctional family with a unique set of circumstances. The exploration of family dynamics and how history and our own parenting affect our parenting styles and relationships, is rich and effective.

There is a cast of vibrant, believable and relatable characters. I found myself being able to relate to Robin in her role as “helicopter mum” and the way she is trying to find her feet and rebuild her life following a difficult couple of years. I also found myself being able to relate to Amber because she was such an openly warm and kind-hearted character. The character development of all three main female characters is brilliant.

It is rare to see a book with three lead female characters, though Robin’s deceased dad and her ex partner have a certain level of influence over the plot.

This has been a touching and gripping read encapsulating a delicate balance of romance, family dynamics and self-discovery. This is possibly my favourite read by Samantha Tonge so far!

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Under One Roof by Samantha Tonge is a story about three generations who have come together after decades being apart over difficult circumstances. Faye is the matriarch who has had a distant relationship with her daughter, Robin specifically after her husband and Robin's father passed away. Amber the daughter of Robin has had a close relationship with her mother, maybe too close and is in need of her support during a difficult time at university. After running away, getting married, starting a family and gaining and losing a job, Robin must return home to care for her mother after an accident. While all three girls are home together they embark on a journey that Robin's father left behind in the form of a scavenger hunt. I found this book to be pleasantly enjoyable. The characters were flawed but likeable and there were many subplots that surrounded the main plot that kept it interesting. The only reason this book to me is a 3.5 rather than a close 4 stars is due to the whiplash I felt reading the conflicts the author inserted a few too many times. It felt like the same two points of contention between the mothers and daughters kept getting resolved then suddenly unresolved. For a scavenger hunt of only 6 clues, I believe the family decided to quit the scavenger hunt 5 times. The book was short which made it enjoyable to read, however having to go back and forth with the same two problems felt silly. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a quick, light read that will make you feel good and appreciate your loved ones just a little bit more. 3.5/5 stars.

This is a wonderful story of three generations of women living living under the same roof, not entirely willingly, but mostly forced by life events. Their relationships have been strained for several years now and the forced cohabitation will have them learn to know each others again.
I loved the 80s vibe of Robin's teenage years, so many happy/nostalgic recollections for me!
A warm, heartfelt read that I would definitely recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The complexities of family relationships are often a rich vein of inspiration for a writer to explore – and a subject area I always rather enjoy reading about too. And my goodness, they certainly don’t come much more complicated than the relationships in this book.

Robin returns to her childhood home to provide support to her mother Faye, injured in a fall – driven by a sense of obligation and duty, certainly not by love, having never received any from her mother. They’ve been estranged for a considerable time – and it’s immediately clear that their time spent together is unlikely to be easy. They’re joined by Robin’s daughter Amber, a university student at a bit of a crossroads in her life – she’s never met her grandmother before, and Robin’s understandably concerned about them all living in close proximity.

But the tensions are eased a little by a gift from Robin’s late and much-loved father – one last treasure hunt, with cryptic clues to explore, and the promise that it will “change everything”. But as well as coping with the present, they also need to negotiate the past – the secrets, the fractured friendships, the distorted memories, and the elusive truths underpinning their lives and the deeper reasons for the problems between Robin and her mother.

This book did make me question a little whether it’s important to like and sympathise with its main characters – I must admit I didn’t really take to any of them, however much I wanted to, and the revelations about their pasts didn’t really change that. It’s extremely cleverly done though, and it certainly didn’t spoil my eagerness to become involved in their lives – I particularly liked the way we saw Robin making the same mistakes in her relationship with Amber that she so resented when she was a teen herself, replicating her mother’s behaviour while apparently entirely unaware that she was doing so.

And as well as watching their relationships unfolding, there was a lot I very much enjoyed about this book. Finding her bedroom in the attic unchanged since she left as a teen in the 80s, there are plenty of opportunities to revisit the clothing, the music, and the passions of that time through the posters on the walls – and the book is beautifully punctuated by the letters written to “Dear Debbie”, introducing some of the small concerns and more major issues that the teenage Robin was unable to discuss with her mother. She also has the unexpected opportunity to revisit the romance of her teenage years that ended so badly – a thread I very much enjoyed, a strong and convincing developing romance, as we also learn more about what happened after she fled from her home so many years before.

The storytelling is excellent, as is the character development – and the misunderstandings and upsets of the past are slowly disentangled and repaired. While it’s a story that frequently brings a smile, there’s a very satisfying emotional depth too – these are very real people, well drawn, making and perpetuating the mistakes and behaviours that drove them apart, moving steadily towards the reconciliation and forgiveness that comes from understanding. And I really loved the treasure hunt device, its progress and its outcome – it helps to make the story even more of a page-turner, although the family dynamics already make it a compelling read.

I really enjoyed this one – perhaps not entirely what I was expecting, but beautifully done, and the author’s writing has never been better. A definite recommendation from me.

What a fantastic book from Samantha, telling the story of three generations of the same family and how they come together again.

A beautifully written book around the tender complicated relationships with women in the family.
A multi generational tale of Robin, her mum Faye and daughter Amber.
Robin had left home 30 odd years ago, and not spoken with Faye since, when her uncle tells her she's had a fall and can she help her, Robin returns home. In the course of her stay many layers of the years are uncovered.
Sensitively written with experience and warmth. Fantastic references to 1980's culture!
Really enjoyed this book, thank you NetGalley for the early read.

This was a heartfelt read about 3 women mainly focusing on Robin whos at a bit of a crossroads in her life decided to go back and take care of her mom Faye who had a bad fall and whom shes only been in contact a couple times since she ran away shortly after her father passed away when she was 16. I will be honest I didnt like the Faye character at first but after finding out more about her as the book went on I understood why she was the way she was. I loved the 1980's references and the treasure hunt that Faye, Robin and Robins daughter Amber decide to embark on was great. Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advanced copy!!

The story of Robin. back staying with her mother who she hasn't spoken to for years. Will she connect with her now she is a mother herself? One last treasure hunt left for them by Robin's father gives them a chance to spend time together, along with Robin's teenage daughter Amber. Secrets are revealed and Robin reconnects with old friends and an old love, so what will happen when it is time to return to life in London?
An enjoyable read, I would have liked an epilogue though.

Favorite Quote:

‘I’m determined not to give everything up just because of this flippin’ arthritis.’ Her eyes twinkled. ‘I might even go dating, on that Tinker, it’s such an appropriate name. I’m sure there’d be an adventurous modern man out there who’d be happy to fiddle around and get my old engine running again.’

My Review:

This was excellent and although rife with family tension, I fell right into the tale and was fully invested in these authentic characters. The writing was engaging, entertaining, poignant, heart-squeezing, and thoughtfully insightful. The nibble storylines were cleverly crafted with witty treasure hunt clues and riddles, well nuanced with pensive secrets lurking just out of reach, and shrewdly paced to keep me curious and reading until my eyes closed against my will.

The cast of characters was a unique collection of flawed personalities from engaging and likable to abrasive and obnoxious. I was itching to see how their issues would be tackled and possibly resolved. Poor Robin, I adored her but she couldn’t seem to please anyone. She had a failed marriage behind her, recently lost her job, a snarky teenage snot for a daughter, and a snide and cruel battleax for a mother. I would have wanted to run away and join the circus for some peace!

I'm not sure how Boldwood Books has found all of the most heart-warming authors, but Under One Roof truly is something special. An exploration of relationships lost and those that can be found again, Tonge brought me in through the connection to the past and the truly special bond that is family. Of course not everything was light, but the story felt real and honest and I absolutely want to read more from Tonge and Boldwood Books!

5/5 Stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A story of three generations living under one roof for a short time. Things haven't gone well in the past but can that all be changed. I enjoyed reading this and I am sure others will too. 5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this e ARC

Having briefly read the synopsis, I just knew that I was in for a real treat with this book. Robin is our heroine, and we find her, compelled by begrudged sense of duty, returning home to care for the mother with whom she never felt a familial bond. One saving grace of the trip is that she will be nearer to her daughter, Amber, who is at College in Manchester.
Under One Roof is both a study of the complicated relationships that many of us encounter, and a love letter to the eighties. I thoroughly enjoyed reliving my youth through the memories of music, posters and fashion. In particular, I found the rediscovery of friends to be heart-warming. For me, the reconnection with Robin’s childhood best friend and her teenage boyfriend stole the show. I enjoyed how each encounter revealed a little bit more about their shared histories and memories. I am blessed with friends from high school and before, those connections are invaluable. I can always rely on my friends to impart their memories of our youth on my daughter, embarrassing or not!
The discovery of a scroll, bearing a long-lost treasure hunt, left decades earlier, brings back painful memories for both Robin and her mother, Faye. Thoughts of following the clues are abandoned until Amber stumbles across the scroll and encourages the women to search for the answers.
The journey that this story takes is often difficult, and I found it rather emotional. That said, Samantha Tong is a wonderful storyteller, and I was soon steered back onto safer territory. As secrets are revealed and long held bitterness is sweetened by the view from more experienced minds, Robin is able to take an introspective view of her relationships with those she holds dear.
I highly recommend this book and feel that it is a beautiful story that looks at misconceptions and missed opportunities. A very special tale.

After years apart, Robin returns home to help her estranged mother after a fall. Unfortunately their time apart has not made their relationship any easier.

During her return home Robin finds an unopened scroll from her late father with instructions for a treasure hunt.

When Amber,Robin’s daughter, arrives she is determined to complete the treasure hunt. Will this repair the family fractures?

This was a lovely book about forgiveness and hope.