A unique take on two lives/two loves that incorporates lots of different themes. I think most readers can appreciate parts of this book, but I think music lovers will especially love it!

"A Love to Last a Lifetime" by Clare Swatman is a three-star journey through the complexities of love, heartbreak, and second chances. The novel navigates the lives of Erin, Adam, and Greg, exploring the enduring impact of first loves and the challenges of sustaining a lifetime commitment.

Swatman introduces readers to Erin's teenage infatuation with Adam, a charming and charismatic figure who leaves a lasting impression on her heart. The narrative captures the whirlwind romance of youth, where emotions run high, but the realities of life often lead to separation.

The novel cleverly contrasts Adam's fleeting charm with Greg's steadfast and devoted love for Erin. The portrayal of Erin's relationships with both men provides insight into the different dynamics of first love and a more mature, enduring partnership. The exploration of the complexities of choosing a life partner adds depth to the story.

The character development is one of the strengths of the novel, especially in portraying Erin's growth and self-discovery over the years. Her internal struggles and the emotional weight of her decisions are relatable, making her a well-rounded protagonist.

The plot unfolds through alternating timelines, allowing readers to witness key moments in Erin's life and the evolution of her relationships. This structure provides a comprehensive view of the characters' emotional journeys, allowing for a nuanced exploration of their motivations and choices.

However, the predictability of the love triangle and certain narrative choices may leave some readers wanting more surprises or unconventional twists. The novel adheres to some familiar tropes of the romance genre, which could impact its impact on readers seeking a more unique or unpredictable storyline.

While the emotional aspects of the characters' experiences are effectively conveyed, the pacing of the plot may feel uneven at times. Certain moments receive more attention and detail than others, affecting the overall flow of the narrative.

In conclusion, "A Love to Last a Lifetime" is a three-star exploration of love's complexities, capturing the enduring impact of first loves and the challenges of sustaining lifelong partnerships. Clare Swatman provides a heartfelt journey through Erin's romantic entanglements, offering readers a relatable portrayal of love, heartbreak, and the pursuit of lasting happiness.

So heartbreaking with characters that are broken but you can't help but love them. The plot is deliciously delivered slowly.

Unfortunately for me this book didn’t really hold my attention so it took me awhile to finish. It was cute just felt a little slow for me.

This was such a fun read! I can't wait for more by this author. I would absolutely recommend! If you are looking for a book to get you back into reading. This is it!

Wow, this book was really enjoyable and entertaining! It started off a bit slow, but once it picked up I was hooked!

This book follows Erin (and is told from a first person and third person POV), who is married to her husband Greg. She is a therapist who is working with dementia patients. Her mom has dementia and lives in a home. She has two best friends, Sam and Rose, and she ends up stumbling across her ex Adam singing one day. She finds out he was in an accident and has no memories so she wants to help him. She starts seeing him without telling her husband. And she wonders, did she make the right choice?

The premise of this book was intriguing, but the execution fell flat for me. There was too much going on I think. The characters were not great. The love “triangle” was infuriating. The friends were not great at advice (they kept switching up whether or not they felt good about Adam or not), and the extreme parallels to the parents bothered me. Adam also complained multiple times about not having anyone and Erin assuring him he had her.

I did like the storyline with the mother overall. Her dementia was heartbreaking and her moments of clarity mixed with confusion were done so well.

I would not recommend this one. Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a beautiful story with great characters. It's about the one who got away. I enjoyed the flashbacks of the book. I'm a sucker for a book with a time difference. The long triangle stress was complex. I would have liked if there was a little more in the ending and wasn't as quick to end. Otherwise it was a wonderful book and I recommend it! Thank you to NetGalley!

Loved this story about Erin Greg her husband , and the return of her first love Adam who has a brain injury and doesn’t remember his old life.
Erin has to content with her mum who is in a home with dementia and her dad who has become a hoarder. Follow the ups and downs of life and what Erin will do. The ending is right for her. A must read

Engaging and emotional, Clare Swatman’s A Love to Last a Lifetime explores the complexities of relationships with candour, warmth and humour.

Teenage Erin fell in love with Adam Bowers the second she clapped eyes on him. Adam was handsome, confident, charismatic and Erin couldn’t believe her luck when he agreed to be her boyfriend. Their teenage romance had invariably come to end, however, even though both of them had agreed to go their separate ways, Erin couldn’t shake off this feeling that Adam was her soulmate and the one who got away. At university, Erin had met Greg, who was Adam’s polar opposite. Solid, dependable and trustworthy, Greg worshipped the ground Erin walked on. Yet, even though Erin knew that Greg would never break her heart or treat her badly, Adam was never far from her thoughts…

Years later and Greg and Erin get married. Life hasn’t always been easy for the two of them, however, Greg is still as madly in love with Erin as he was decades ago. When Adam comes back desperate for Erin’s help, everything is turned on its head. Is this the second chance Erin had been hoping for? Is fate trying to tell her something? And is Erin about to throw away her marriage and the life she had built with Greg for the man she had always thought as ‘The One’?

Clare Swatman’s A Love to Last a Lifetime is a heartwarming, dramatic and thought-provoking tale about the power of first love, soulmates and chasing rainbows that cannot fail to strike a chord with readers everywhere. Clare Swatman writes so well about relationships that readers cannot help but find themselves riveted to the pages and fully invested in Erin, Greg and Adam’s story.

Mature, captivating and hard to put down, Clare Swatman’s A Love to Last a Lifetime is a book that is sure to stay with readers for a very long time.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I love the second chance and love triangle tropes in this book, I think they are done so well. The fact that the chapter headers are song names was an interesting addition.

Erin was put in such a predicament, I’m not sure how she handled it, but it was definitely a good ride to be on. I thought she was very relatable, as was the story itself.

The then and now chapters really broke everything down so you could see how everything progressed. I felt a few parts were repetitive. The ending left me wanting more.

This was an interesting read. I enjoyed the characters and the plot, but felt it sadly lacking in some places. Regardless it was a quick easy read.

Erin never forget her first love, Adam eventhough she married Greg for 10+ years. When she found out that Adam is back in town after 18 years and has lost all his memories including her, she found herself at a crossroad. Her marriage is in trouble, her husband gambled away their money and she also have to cope with her mother’s dementia and father’s mental health issues. Should she help Adam and risk her marriage to help him?
 
This book is a romance story which touched on not only love but relationship and family. Love all the main characters in the story which each of them have their issues. There are many flashback which provide insights of what happened before and these flashbacks was very well written. The story is told by Erin in dual timeline and as I read, I can feel her anxiety and her struggle in every decision she make. Overall it is a good read to me.

It’s a quick read I thoroughly enjoyed…until the last few pages. I felt let down by the ending because I liked the three main characters a lot, and I couldn’t tell who Erin would choose to go to, Adam or Greg. I wanted Clare Swatman to surprise me, and kept thinking, “Good luck making a choice.” So of course the choice Erin eventually made surprised me, but not in a good way. It felt more like the coward exit—not the character’s cowardice, but the author’s, in the veins of the screenwriters not knowing how to solve and explain their otherwise smart premise in the “Lost” series. That said, I enjoyed this story very much. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Not my favorite.... I found the writing kind of simple and repetitive. Plus I wasn't a fan of any of the characters which made it really hard for me to connect with.

Erin seems to have rebounded in love to choose her now husband, Greg. The timing of her bumping into her old flame Adam, couldn't be worse as she and Greg are struggling in their marriage. When Greg fails to live up to his word, and Adam seems to need Erin like never before, she is completely torn. Who will she choose?

If I'm honest, I didn't really like all three of the main characters in this story, but the story itself is good and the resolution of it just fantastic!

Erin is married to Greg. She loves and adores Greg; but he was her ‘second love’ and in recent years their marriage has hit sone bumps. First love Adam was her rock-star boyfriend who she adored, but he broke her heart. Adam has returned to their home town; with amnesia after an accident. Erin is now questionning everything about her marriage. But who should she make happy…Adam; Greg….or herself?

A Love to Last a Lifetime - Clare Swatman

This is my first experience of Clare Swatman's books and such a pleasant experience at that. I really enjoyed the characters and felt they all were really relatable and easy to get to know. I loved the tension between Erin, Adam and Greg, and also the warmth between Erin and her friends. I also thought it a great touch to learn Erin's parents had gone through a similar predicament. Such an enjoyable read, I flew through it and read it in two days, I'm really looking forward to reading more from this author!

Thank you so much Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the advanced copy in return for my honest views.

Do you love music as much as you love reading? Then A Love To Last A Lifetime by Clare Swatman is a must read. She manages to marry the two beautifully as well as write a stunning story.

Erin, is a thirty five year old, grappling with her life choices. After eighteen years, she stumbles upon the love of her life. The only problem, he has amnesia and she is married to another man. Good thing Erin is a music therapist and willing to help. Will their relationship stay strictly professional, or will they rekindle the love they lost?

I absolutely loved the role music played in this book. Each chapter is titled after a band and song. All of the songs mentioned connect Erin’s past to her present. In essence, they are the soundtrack of her life.

While Erin sets out to use music to help others, it is ultimately the most beneficial for her. It unlocks not only the highs, but lows of her life. She discovers her mother and her have been living parallel lives and learns to break a generational cycle of putting other’s needs above her own.

This book was close to a five start read for me. My only issue with this book was the abruptness in which it ends. I loved the choice that was made, but needed more. An epilogue would have been ideal because it would have allowed Erin’s future to be expounded upon.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

Unfortunately, this one was a miss for me. I wasn't a fan of the characters and while Swatman's writing is simplistic which I loved, it didn't lend itself to crafting a really robust and dynamic love story I wanted to follow. While this wasn't for me, I do think there is an audience for this so would recommend it. I would also happily pick up another book by this author - this wasn't for me but maybe the next one is.