thanks for the arc copy Netgalley this was a lovely read read in one sitting would recommend to others

I’ve read a few of Sam’s books now but I think this one is my favourite, I got absolutely lost in this and just didn’t want to put my kindle down. The scroll’s treasure hunt was so immersive and I felt like I was right there with Amber, Robin and Faye, trying to figure out the riddles. I think it’s safe to say I would have been pretty pants though as I didn’t get many of the clues!

I loved all of the references to Manchester and how things have changed since the 80’s, as I live just outside of Manchester it was so easy to relate to and I’ll definitely look at the buildings and things in a different way next time I’m in town. The book felt so fun and uplifting with all of the references to the 80’s and I could just picture Robin and Amber going through all of the treasures in Robin’s old bedroom and the nostalgia that must have been flowing. Oh to have the confidence to wear those bright colours and bold styles!

There were so many different levels to this book and the relationship between Robin and Faye went quite deep. You really felt for both of them in the end as we got to know the characters a bit more but initially I was fully on team Robin. I absolutely loved Uncle Ralph though! The things that get revealed as we progress through this book can be quite emotional but Sam writes about them in such a honest and natural way. All of the Dear Debbie letters were fab and it really did take me back to reading teen magazines and the quizzes that we all use to spend hours doing, I wonder if they’re still a thing now… probably not!

Overall I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend picking it up, this is such a wholesome book that isn’t afraid of tackling tough issues but in a really nice, sensitive way and will end up giving you that fuzzy feeling like a mug of hot chocolate and a cosy blanket. I could have spoken about so much of the book that I enjoyed but I don’t want to spoil it for anyone who hasn’t read it yet!

The The dear Debbie let's are nice ans very heartfelt. Its quite a cute novel to read and heartwarming. The discovery gets these estranged women back together and working on some issues.

Under One Roof by Samantha Tonge
Pub Date 9th Feb 2022
One forgotten discovery will change three women's lives forever.
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.
Yet, not even this gift from her beloved father can smooth the way until Robin's daughter, Amber, arrives to meet her grandmother for the first time. Amber is determined that the decades-old mystery be solved.
Can a 30-year-old treasure hunt really 'change everything'?
Under One Roof is a wonderfully written, heartfelt family drama about the interpretation, knowledge, fears and emotions of three generations of one family. Different viewpoints and opinions are brought out into the open. Although it is moving and, at times, sad, as truths are revealed, it was balanced with humour and a warm cosy feel.
Being an 80s teen, the memories conjured up many memories. Of course, I also loved the dog, but I am a biased dog lover.
Enjoy
I want to thank NetGalley, Boldwood Books and author Amanda Tonge for a pre-publication copy to review.

Under One Roof is a pretty good read about three generations of women, estranged from one another through circumstances, ending up living in the same house. Robin is the central character in this story, but we also meet Faye, her mom, who had a bit of a tumble and needs some assistance, and Amber, her daughter who has some issues with her university housing. Throughout the book, they all end up in Robin's childhood home, with one another and an adorable pug called Hoover. Through a scavenger hunt left by Robin's dad (who's passed away) they get to know another once more.

While I generally enjoyed Under One Roof, I found the characters, particularly Amber, a bit hard to connect with sometimes. Amber came across as rather entitled and someone who is being contrary for the sake of being contrary. I wanted to yell at her to just behave like the adult she thinks she is at various points in time.

Nevertheless, I think the story of difficult family relations was pretty well done, but what I liked best about Under One Roof was the scavenger hunt itself, and the 80s flashbacks that we get through Robin's childhood room. The room has remained untouched for all those years, and the descriptions are so spot on you can almost smell the curling iron. I loved the Dear Debbie letters, which allowed us to get to know the teenage Robin a lot better.

Sam always writes with warmth and gentle humour but Under One Roof brought tricky inter-generational family relationships under her microscope in a poignant and moving story that looks at broken relationships and whether they can be fixed. I loved the story of three powerful women, a mystery to unravel, and a brilliant dose of 80s nostalgia weaving through it. Bravo.

Under One Roof by Samantha Tonge

7/10

💕 Genre: Women’s Lit and Family

💕 Synopsis: Robin hasn’t been home in decades. After running away to London she never expected to see her mother again. But when Faye has a fall, the two women are thrown together once more.
Absence has not made the heart grow fonder and the ground between them is unsteady. Then Robin finds a scroll - the last of the treasure hunts her father used to take them on each Sunday.
Robins daughter, Amber, is determined to solve this mystery - could this treasure hunt change everything?

💕 My thoughts: The writing style wasn’t the best and was sometimes a bit amateur. Amber seriously annoyed me as a character. She acted as if Robin was so overbearing but she was acting so entitled it was so frustrating.
I enjoyed the dynamic between Faye and Robin and the honesty that Faye had whilst talking to Robin as their relationship developed and got better.

This was such a joy to read I’m so glad I did. I loved the fact that the story covered relationships with a parent and that the main character was sent on a treasure hunt to find out about her father. This was such a pleasant book and I’m glad I was approved for it by the publishers. I would love to read more by this author as she writes a great story. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

A fabulous story of three generations of the same family that have been fractured for years, and seeing how they learn to get to know each other again, and see each other in a new light.

Robin is the central character, she has barely seen or heard from her mother Faye since she ran away aged 16, but has agreed to return home to look after her after a fall. Faye is not overly welcoming, but grudgingly allows Robin to stay until she is able to do things for herself again.

Then there is Amber, Robin's daughter who took her dad's side in the divorce and has been on rocky ground with Robin since. She is having a tricky time at uni, and the suggestion is that she moves in with Faye and Robin until she makes up her mind about the future.

So three women in one family, under one roof, but find common ground with the treasure hunt that Robins's beloved late dad had left them, promising it would change everything.

I was hooked on trying to work out how a treasure hunt could change their lives, and it's worth every moment of the book, every time you want to reach out and knock some sense into the characters, for the conclusion. It's so fitting and touching, and just wonderful.

We get to re-live the 1980s (or experience it properly for the first time) as Robin's bedroom was left as it was, so there are plenty of 80s references, fashions etc.. Between chapters we get a real idea for what teenage Robin was like, as we see her old letters to the agony aunt in her favourite magazine and the personalised replies too.

Which is big reminder of how painful your teen years can be!

At times I found this a bit tricky to read, purely because I have a not exactly smooth relationship with my mother, but it did mean I was able to empathise a lot with Robin.

It's another incredibly good book from Samantha Tonge who continues to surprise and impress as the direction of her writing evolves with each book.

Thank you yo Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I've always been a huge fan of Samantha Tonge's books, and this is exactly the reason why. A masterfully plotted tale that draws you in from the first page and keeps you gripped throughout!

Absolutely unputdownable! I raced through this and had to prise my Kindle out of my hands in the early hours of quite a few mornings!

We follow the story of Robin, her estranged mother Faye, and her daughter Amber - three generations of women all staying in the same house. There are family secrets galore, things to uncover along the way, interesting and intriguing friendships, and an adorable dog!

One of my favourite parts of this was all the 80s nostalgia! Robin's look back at her childhood bedroom, teen magazines, music, big hair and bright clothing made me so nostalgic for my early 90s younger years! A fantastic addition to what was already a fantastic book!

Highly, highly recommended reading! It's been a long while since I read a book this fast, but it was just that good! Warm, heartfelt, and a bit different, and all topped off by an utterly perfect ending. The kind of book that makes you want to go back to the beginning and immediately read it again!

Under One Roof is a heartfelt and thought-provoking read. Samantha navigates the inter-generational dynamics with skilful ease. The splash of Eighties nostalgia is the perfect gateway into Robin’s character and brought back so many of my own memories. A fantastic read that firmly cements Samantha’s successful transition to women’s fiction.

What an emotional roller coaster ride coupled with the joys and sadness of the 1980's, I enjoyed this book immensely and it spoke to me on so many levels, wonderful.

This is such a joy of a book, yes, the characters lives are messy and complex, but Samantha Tonge manages to unravel them and the reader at the same time. She then expertly puts us all back together by the end, so everything works out just as you would hope it too. Really enjoyed it!

It took me a little while to get into this book and find my feet but once I did I found I really liked the characters. I’m glad I stick with it.

I wasn't sure what to expect to be honest, the main character Robin is in her 40s so not at the same stage in life as me, something I sometimes struggle with. However once I got started I couldn't put this book down! It's so heartwarming and such an easy read! Definitely recommend if you like Beth O'Learys style of writing/books!

It looks at the relationship between Robin, her mum Faye and Robins daughter Amber and made me think a lot about my mum and gran. There's lots of things I haven't spoken about with my gran about her life and maybe it's time to do that!

I really enjoyed reading about how the three women in the story interacted with each other and found it to be very believable. While lots of issues are explored in the novel I think the real message is about the importance of opening up and being accepting of your fears and emotions, that it's okay to be angry or sad at what life has dealt you.

Although I was able to guess what some of the main plot points were I still enjoyed reading and didn't feel 'hard done by'.
TW for baby loss, loss of a loved one, post natal depression

I have read a couple of this authors books and have really enjoyed them. Her latest one, Under One Roof, is a wonderful mix of contemporary fiction and family life.

Faye has a fall and her daughter, Robin, is persuaded to go to stop with her Mother to help her while she heals and recovers. It may sound odd that a daughter has to be persuaded, but the close bond that many have is just not there between Faye and Robin. To say that the long-overdue reunion is tense would be an understatement. You could cut the tension with a knife! The author has done a great job of creating animosity and tenseness between mother and daughter that you can really feel as you read.

When Robin's daughter, Amber, also needs a helping hand, it is to Faye's house she also stayed at. Three generations of women Under One Roof should be something that you would expect to be a time of reminiscing, chatting over stories and memories. Instead, each of the women is a closed book. They are short with each other with just the occasional glimmer of emotion underneath.#

I really enjoyed the dynamics between the three women, each feel hard done by, but why! The author gradually reveals some interesting pasts to Faye and Robin, it will go a long way to bridging the gap, it will also help Amber to see why the women are so aloof with each other.

The author brings into this story some tough things for the women to explain. Not only why there isn't the closeness, but also why Robin ran away from home. Yes to a certain extent this is about these two women, but the help of a third is also needed and this is where Amber becomes the centre for this see-saw. She gives them a push and in doing so learns more about her family.

This is a wonderfully written story about understanding and opening up to feelings, fears and emotions. Through the three generations, there are different perspectives and opinions. While there is a sadness to some of the secrets that finally are revealed it isn't overly done. There is a nice lightness to the writing that makes it a very addictive story to read.

This is one for those who like a story that centres around family, secrets and misunderstood people. I adored this story a lot and I would definitely recommend it.

A good read all in all. Not a romance as such, this book explores the relationship between mother and daughter. I have to say I couldn't believe Robin and Faye hadn't been in touch for so many years, when they obviously cared about each other. What a waste. I though Robin to be a bit childish at times, but her behaviour was explained by the traumatic events which shaped her life so many years ago. I enjoyed the puzzle element, although I thought the detail went on a bit too long and I'd skim read to get to the next plot point. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Robin left home when she was a teenager and not long after her beloved father died. Her mother and her never got on and Robin couldn't bear any more of her nasty tongue. Without her dad at home there was nothing to keep her there.
Thirty years later she is asked by her uncle to return home to look after her elderly mother who has had an accident.
Robin's daughter Amber has just left for university so with empty nest syndrome and after just losing her job Robin decides to go and face her mother.

I enjoyed this story. Robin's mother of course didn't want help but needed it. I could feel the tension very time Robin and her mother were in the same room, each only tolerating the other.
Both had deep rooted secrets from the past that they had never shared. The. atmosphere was much happier when Robin's daughter appeared wanting to get to know the grandmother she had never met before.
There was some humour in the book as well as sadness and past regrets. I liked the characters which were well written. A good read.

A really good book that touches on real life and other peoples issues. I’ve never read anything by this author before but I will be looking out for more. Well done.

A perceptive, gripping family drama about love, loss and the power of the past. Heartfelt, candid, witty and emotional, I raced through this splendid read in no time.