A fantastic heart warming read.
Matilda and Connie live next door to each other on a council estate, Connie had returned to her mother Grace after she suffered a trauma in her life. Matilda who is decades older than Connie had a fall and ended up in hospital, social services visited her home and asked Connie if she would watch over her animals till she returned home.
Connie starts to bond with the animals and a friendship with Matilda starts to develop between them, then the council decide they want to develop the land and want to evict everyone in the small road, so Connie decides to get all the road to try and stop the eviction with more friendships forming and preconceived ideas of the neighbour's that she was only on "Hello" terms are blown out of the window when their true lives are revealed which shocks Connie.

Loved all the characters, a great story about friendship and getting over trauma all of what you could relate to.
Definitively worth a read.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC
Posted on Goodreads

A heartwarming novel of the power of friendship, community and resilience.
Follows a group of council tenants led by Connie & Matilda, in a small Worcestershire village fighting for their homes from being demolished.
Loved how they found their voice and felt empowered to fight for their homes.
Beautiful quirky characters who all have their secrets and loved how the animals got mentions too especially Clarrie the Goat
A brilliant holiday read and would make a perfect Book Club read.
Thanks @toryscott @ariafiction & @netgalley for the eARC

A truly stunning book from Victoria; her books get better and better. It is beautifully written with lovely descriptions.

When her life implodes, Connie returns to the sanctuary of her childhood home – a small close of council houses in rural Worcestershire – where she avoids contact with others by taking solitary early morning walks, observing (and making assumptions about) the lives of her neighbours by watching them through the window, vodka bottle in hand. Next-door neighbour Matilda – now in her 80s – has lived in the close for most of her life, caring for her beloved animals, keeping herself to herself, now confined to her front room, surrounded by her hoarded memories.

After an accident, Connie reluctantly takes on the care of her animals while Matilda is in hospital, and finds particular solace in their company (particularly one rather special goat) – and when it becomes clear that ongoing help is needed, the pair develop an initially tentative but growing supportive friendship. But life intervenes – the council and developers see an opportunity to develop the close, moving out its residents. And with Connie and Matilda leading the effort, the community pulls together to fight their decision.

The characterisation in this book is quite superb. The story is told in alternating chapters, in third person, through the eyes of Connie and Matilda, and the heartbreaking stories of both their lives slowly emerge – the trauma in their pasts, the heavy baggage they carry. Both are flawed and desperately vulnerable, but initially not particularly likeable – but as their friendship grows, so does our understanding of their respective journeys, and they both soon found a place in my heart. But I also loved the rich cast of supporting characters, the other individuals who live on the close, defying the assumptions Connie made about their lives, each with their own emotional story. And I must mention Connie’s mother – a carer in every sense of the word, and a calm and reliable presence amid the turmoil that ensues.

The whole story is immensely engaging – and beautifully written, particularly the dialogue and the emotional content. The impact of trauma is just perfectly handled, and the strength the two women at the heart of the story find in each other is tremendously uplifting, but not without a few tears along the way. There are developments in the story that made me particularly angry, but there’s always a balance of gentle humour too – plenty of moments to make you smile, the warmth of the community just wonderfully captured. It’s difficult to achieve, but it was a story I really felt part of – I could feel the hurt, share the hopelessness, experience the joy, share the tears and laughter.

This was a book I really loved – my first experience of the author’s writing, and it certainly won’t be my last. Totally unforgettable, and without question one of my books of the year – emotional, engaging, uplifting, one of those rare and perfect reads – and very highly recommended.

I read and loved Patience which is written by this author so when the chance came up to read her latest release The Women Who Wouldn't Leave I immediately jumped at it and I am so happy that I did! In this one we meet Matilda who is a elderly lady living on her own in not so great conditions and when she has a fall her neighbour Connie steps up and helps her out particularly with her animals which end up helping Connie. The two different women form a unlikely friendship and unite to save there community. I became so lost and immersed while reading this book that I forgot about the outside world and felt like I was living the beautiful story of Matilda and Connie. Each chapter is told from alternate pov of Connie and Matilda and as we continue to read we learn more about the demons that they faced. Connie has mental health issues and I loved that the animals helped her with them as I believe animals are great healers. Matilda is isolated and alone but doesn't easily accept help and will do anything to keep her independence. I laughed at a few funny antics and sayings in the book and I cried but most of all I felt the power of community and the never dying human spirit. I really really really enjoyed reading this book and would positively recommend.Oh and I forgot to mention Clarrie the goat who I want for myself she is a loving little cracker and I'm sure everyone will fall for her!

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

After nearly twenty years, Connie is back in the council estate she left behind.

But, Matilda has always lived there, with her animals to keep her company. She has an accident and has to go to hospital, following which she asks Connie to help look after the animals.

They find out that the council are selling the estate and they will have to vacate their homes. They both decide to do whatever it takes to save their little community.

A story about friendship and how communities come together in times of need. Both characters were relatable.

I recommend this book.

The Women Who Wouldn’t Leave’

This third novel by Victoria scott is a gem of a story. Full of Insight, humanity and joy with just enough grit in the narrative to keep it real and keep you guessing.

‘The Women Who Wouldn’t Leave’ is beautifully written in a deceptively simple style which carries the reader along on an emotional and ultimately uplifting, journey. This book is about the redemptive power of friendship, community and of course, goats!

Victoria Scott paints empathetic portraits of two very different women, who form the most unlikely friendship in difficult circumstances. The characters are lovingly drawn with humour and understanding.

This wonderful story shows it is possible to come through tough times and personal tragedy stronger, wiser and more alive than you would possibly believe.

A real pleasure to read such an inspiring novel-my favourite of the authors work so far.

This book was a slow burn for me however, I throughly enjoyed reading it and would recommend it to others.

A lovely and poignant story, emotionally charged and uplifting. A story about resiliance, strength and how strong women from different backgrounds can join forces and overcome difficulties.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This book is a cozy and warm read for me. It's a slow burn in a better way because it made me savor the story, place, and people.

Connie has returned home, to the council estate she left almost 20 years earlier. Matilda has spent most of her life there happy with her animals for company . When a fall lands her in hospital, Matilda has to turn to Connie for help looking after her animals.

Their community then comes under threat when the council decides to sell the estate, but Connie and Matilda are determined to fight for their home, whatever it takes...

A bit of a slow burner to start, but a truly heartwarming read about an unlikely friendship and a communities fight to save their homes. I loved both Matilda and Connie, you’ll find it hard not to be cheering them on from the sidelines.

Thanks to NetGalley Aria & Aries for an advance copy of this uplifting read.

I received a free copy of "The Women Who Wouldn't Leave" from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
A nice story, but one that didn't particularly hold me captivated at all times. I believe that the style of writing was just not for me and, as a result, I struggled to finish it.

A lovely read that keeps you engaged .
For me the book started a little slowly, especially regarding Connie but it soon grew into a heartwarming tale of two women who overcome their personal barriers and become friends. Along the way we meet their friends and neighbours and get a feel for the community they live in and are fighting to remain.
One of the strengths of the author's is her character descriptions and you leave the book feeling like you know these people well.

A heart warming story about two women- Connie and Matilda- who come to each other's rescue and change their lives in ways they never expected, Connie's had a lot of trauma and she's pretty closed off but she steps up when her neighbor Matilda needs help after a fall. And then it looks like their home will be sold. Canny readers know what's going to happen- or do they? While this odd couple pairing is becoming a trope, Scott has created distinct and engaging characters that kept me turning the pages. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC, A good read,

4.25/5 stars

I really enjoyed this book.

After moving back home with her mother following personal issues, a young woman begins a relationship with her reclusive elderly neighbor that she never knew growing up. They are drawn together through immediate needs (both personal and for their community).

This book was heartwarming but also heartbreaking in all the best ways. As two women from different generations dealing with different issues in their lives (hoarding, failing health, depression, etc.), these two are a pleasure to watch as they navigate their lives and share themselves (both with each other and the community at large). As the neighborhood becomes closer through a shared struggle, they realize that each have their own problems, their own challenges in life and draw instinctively together as a result. A feel-good, deeply felt, cheer-worthy kind of book. I loved it and highly recommend it.

My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and Head of Zeus for providing the free early arc of The Women Who Wouldn’t Leave for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

Although I initially found this a bit slow to start and I was puzzled by Connie, I soon fell in love with the residents of Stonecastle and was rooting for them all.

With a cast of very real, flawed and damaged people, I desperately wanted a happy ending.

Covering some very heavy topics this could be a difficult read for some people and should come with a content warning for depression, substance abuse, suicide, sexual assault and domestic violence. However, it’s a story about the bonds of community, friendship and family, new beginnings and forgiveness and is actually uplifting.

I would definitely read more by this author.

The Women Who Wouldn't Leave is a crisp breath of fresh air this smoggy world of ours. It is about neighbours, friendships, perseverance, secrets, trust and hope. Author Victoria Scott's beautifully descriptive writing captured my heart immediately. I was right there with main characters Matilda and Connie as well as the animals (and other neighbours) and felt a range of emotions in the heartwarming, uplifting and poignant story.

Connie had a traumatic experience and returned home to a rural council estate to regroup and escape life. What better place than in a small and rustic community? Her elderly neighbour Matilda is not exactly congenial but as neighbours they need occasional contact. When Matilda finds herself in the hospital with no one to care for her beloved animals, Connie very reluctantly agrees to help out. Animals are not Connie's wheelhouse but she needs to have a purpose. She quickly discovers much more about herself and her capabilities than she would have dreamed. Matilda must learn to let go of what binds her and it is not easy. What a pleasure to watch them both grow individually and together as they navigate challenges which crop up.

If you crave a feel-good book to satiate you, add this to your list. Well worth enjoying.

My sincere thank you to Aria & Aries and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this fabulous novel.

A very engaging story about a diverse group of people - centring around eccentric elderly Matilda, living alone with her animals, and twenty-something Connie, back living with her mother Ellen - fighting to save their council homes from being sold off to a developer.

Both Matilda and Connie have their issues, and plenty of them - this looks like a light read but has some dark themes of coercive control, sexual assault and mental ill-health. Both women have withdrawn from society for their own reasons, but find themselves - initially reluctantly - being pulled back into the community.

There's a nice cast of characters, drawn from the local residents (and animals), and a dash of romance.

Thanks for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

A lovely story of feisty women one who has moved back to the village where her mum lives and the neighbour a old woman who lives alone with her animals.
When the local council threaten to move the villagers they get together with the other neighbours to form a protest against the move. I really felt part of the village and the emotions and found myself willing the group on in their fight.
Would highly recommend as a modern day story which you cannot put down.
Thanks to NetGalley & General Fiction (Adult) | Women's Fiction for a ARC for a honest review.

I had high hopes, but couldn't get into this book. It sounded very cute and unique. But the story fell flat from the very start.