I found the last book I read by the author very emotional. I think I am starting with that fact solely because this book has really big skies to fill.

While I found the ending satisfying in its own way, the overall story lacked the thing that made me enjoy the other so much. It felt a little too long for the story within.

The writing is great and emotional when it needs to be. The author is someone I’d recommend to people looking for emotional reads.

We have two narratives almost twenty years apart that face seemingly parallel plot points. The main one, the one that takes precedence is that of Tawrie Gunn. She is trying to find her place in life and struggling with feeling responsible for both her mother and grandmother in different ways. Harriet, however, is reeling from changes in her life and has started journaling to get her head around things. It’s in these journal entries that we see the author’s brilliant way with words.

Although I didn’t enjoy the story itself as much as I hoped, it was in part due to my own expectations. I would recommend this book to those looking for a story based on family and what holds them together( if at all).

I would definitely pick up another book by the author.

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

Tawrie is stuck in a rut, she’s spent her whole life in the small seaside town on the Devonshire coast. Desperate for change she decides to push herself out of her comfort zone and takes up wild swimming

Twenty years earlier we meet Harriet who has moved to the town for a fresh start

I enjoyed this lovely book with duel storylines and a gorgeous small town setting, as is often the case I preferred the side characters (especially Freda and Connie) as Tawrie and Ed were both a bit too perfect for my tastes! But would recommend to those who like an easy read and a happy ending

I've always enjoyed APs books but unfortunately on this occasion, I was disappointed. I struggled to get into the story line and found the main character a bit annoying.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5★s
Swimming To Lundy is a stand-alone novel by best-selling British author, Amanda Prowse. In early 2023, Tawrie Gunn, not yet twenty-eight, has lived in Ilfracombe all her life and is feeling the need to challenge herself, to change her routine, and to commit to something, so she gives wild swimming a go.

Almost a year and a half later, she’s loving her early morning swim with the Peacock Swimmers: talking to her dad in the ocean that took him when she was eight helps to settle her. So when she falls in love at first sight with a man she sees in the street, it’s natural to tell her dad. By their second encounter, she’s thoroughly smitten by Edgar from London, even though her boss at the Café on the Corner, her cousin, Connie, warns her to be careful. Ed seems to reciprocate her feelings.

But could a relationship work? There’s a good reason that Tawrie never followed her dream to become a midwife, instead staying at Signal House with her nan, Freda, and her mum, Annalee. And while they were sharing facts about themselves, Ed never got to tell her the third thing…

In mid-2002, a shocking betrayal sees Harriet Stratton and her husband Hugo moving away from friends, neighbours, the job she loves, and the school in which her children are happy in Berkshire, to a seaside cottage in North Devon. She hopes that removing her family to a new location might save her marriage. She hopes Bear and Dilly can come to terms with the upheaval in their lives.

Her younger sister and best friend, Ellis has given her a diary, suggesting she put her rage on the page. But despite Hugo’s outward contrition, his tears and his apologies, Harriet is having trouble convincing herself it’s wholly genuine, especially when Ellis raises a certain uncomfortable point.

Prowse gives the reader a very relatable tale that features grief and trust, perceived duty and taking a chance on happiness, presented over a dual timeline that includes diary entries. Her protagonists are easy to love, and the reader can’t help being concerned for their fate. Some of her secondary characters offer good advice: “Nothing is likely unless you chase it, unless you make it happen”. A sweet and moving feel-good read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing.

Amanda Prose has a delightful ability to connect me with her characters. I could feel Tawrie's inner struggles as I read this book. This was a wonderful story of discovering the bravery to step beyond the ordinary and strive for something new, something better. Thanks #NetGalley #LakeUnion

I am a big fan of this author and once again she has delivered a relatable and beautifully written book. Tawrie Gunn is in her late twenties and feels stuck in her circumstances. Living in a small English coastal town, she works her days in her cousin's cafe and takes care of her nan, Freda and her alcoholic mother, Annalee with whom she shares a house and a birthday.
Tawrie's dream has been to study nursing and become a midwife. In an attempt to do something different and adventurous she decides to join and early morning sea swimming group called the 'Peacocks'. This does indeed prove to be a pivotal moment in Tawrie's life but not without heartbreak and betrayal.
Happy to recommend this book which is inspiring in terms of having dreams and living in the moment. Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this digital ARC.

I recommend Amanda Prowse often to people looking for a new (to them) author to try, adding that she hasn't disappointed me with a book yet. Happily that still holds true after reading this lovely book.
Prowse's strength is in creating ordinary, relatable characters who find themselves thrown into extraordinary circumstances. There's a reason she's known as "The Queen of Family Drama". In this, her latest book, the story is told in dual timelines, from the points of view of two different women who live in the same coastal English town. One is a lifelong resident who's feeling a bit stuck in her life, both by family tragedy and obligations. The other is a newcomer to the town and is at a crossroads in her marriage. Prowse does a wonderful job showing us the emotional turmoil of each, the roller coaster of falling in love, betrayal, and the possibility of second chances. Both women are surrounded by charming and interesting characters. By the last few chapters I found myself reading way past my bedtime, determined to find out how it would all end up. Amanda Prowse has indeed created another excellent story about ordinary people in extraordinary situations, and I loved every page.
Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing a digital copy for an unbiased review.

Tawrie is 28 years old and works in her cousin's cafe. Her dad drowned when she was eight and she lives with her mother who is an alcoholic and her grandmother. She gave up a dream to become a midwife so she could stay home and take care of them. After reading an article about wild swimming she decides this is what she needs to break up the routine and get some me time, perhaps meet other people and joins the Peacock Swimmers. This is a dual timeline with Tawrie's taking place in 2024 and Harriet's in 2002. Harriet and her family are moving into Corner Cottage hoping the change in scenery will be a new start for them.

This whole book is lovely. There were a lot of characters, all so well done and likeable, even Harriet's cheating husband. I understood why Tawrie wanted to leave, she didn't want a dead end life working in Cafe on the Corner but for me the town was idyllic. There was the sea and the beaches, the cozy cafe and bedrooms with a view and everyone seemed to get along and be protective of each other.

The story flowed from one time line to the other and I had an idea what the connection was but wasn't sure until a bit on and I thought, yes, this is just perfect. When I got done with the book I just wanted to give everyone a big hug.

One downside for me was the Epilogue. It is set when Tawrie is 60 years old and covers pretty much everyone mentioned in the book. I found it unnecessary as the ending itself was fine. This just tended to confuse me as there were more children and grandchildren to connect and with so many to cover I felt I wanted more info on some and none on others that didn't seem relevant.

I would like to thank Lake Union and Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy.

There are so many things I liked about this book that it’s hard for me to write them all down without recapping the book or giving away spoilers. Reading about Tawrie and Harriett’s heart-wrenching stories of grief and forgiveness was an emotional journey. Amanda Prowse is a great storyteller! Amanda knows how to develop characters that readers resonate with by describing their thoughts and feelings so poignantly. There were a few times I teared up while reading the characters' tender moments of reflection and clarity. The alternating between Tawrie and Harriett’s points of view while jumping back and forth between time periods worked really well with this book. It reminded me of Lisa Wingate’s style of writing which keeps the reader guessing how the two stories are related to each other. One of my favorite parts of the book was when Tawrie would talk to her father each morning while swimming in the ocean. The scene with the dolphins was so meaningful. I loved that Harriett’s journal brought healing and forgiveness for Harriett, Tawrie, and her mother Annalee in the end. I was also delighted that Tawrie, with Edgar’s help, was able to face her fears so she could say goodbye to her dad. Such a touching way to end the story. I highly recommend picking up this book if you enjoy reading emotional reads!

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

From the very beginning I was absorbed in this wonderful story. As always with Amanda’s books it was very realistic with amazing, credible characters who were well developed. Rich narrative enhanced the overall storyline.
So much to enjoy and keep me reading. This brought me to tears at times, made me sad and at other times chuckle out loud.
One of my favourite books of 2024. Just loved it and highly recommend.

EXCERPT: Tawrie found herself stuck in the middling lane of mediocrity, plodding, looking left and right without the first clue where or how to turn. Life at this stage was, for her, a little disappointing. Stuck in a familiar groove and aware that she'd left school, blinked, and suddenly she'd be turning twenty-eight next birthday.
She carried the nagging feeling that she was missing out. She had loved to study and never found her school work a chore. With good grades and a love of biology, she'd dreamed of becoming a midwife. But responsibilities and circumstances had conspired against her. Her cousin Connie had offered her a job in her café, only ever as a temporary measure, so she could be close to home. Now here she was, about to clock up a decade of service at the Café on the Corner. Life had side-tracked her, and the fact that it was easy, familiar, meant she had seen no real reason to change. Until recently, when the walls that had kept her confined, safe, suddenly seemed a little oppressive and she was finally plucking up the courage to peer over them.

ABOUT 'SWIMMING TO LUNDY': Tawrie Gunn feels stuck. She’s spent her whole life in the same seaside town with her beloved Nana and grief-stricken mum, all of them still reeling in different ways from the tragic loss of Tawrie’s dad at sea. Desperate for a change, she challenges herself to take up wild swimming—every morning, no excuses, from March till September.

Daring to take the plunge with the ‘Peacock Swimmers’, Tawrie feels alive in a way she’s never known. Suddenly it seems she might be able to step outside her comfort zone after all and let life surprise her—perhaps even dream of a future beyond the shores of Ilfracombe? Especially when, one day, she spots a man in a pink linen shirt who seems as eager for a new start as she does.

But it turns out taking risks on land is a little different from wading into the sea. Can Tawrie face her fears head-on and find her way to happiness? She knows it’s never too late to pursue your hopes and dreams, but it might be easier said than done…

MY THOUGHTS: Amanda Prowse ripped my heart out of my chest and kicked it around the floor a few times before giving it back to me severely bruised and battered but, thankfully, in working condition. Emotional doesn't even begin to cover it!

Swimming to Lundy is a story about grief, tragedy and our different responses to it, and how easy it is to become a slave to responsibility. It is also a story about grabbing hold of second chances and learning to live and trust again.

The story is told in alternating chapters by Tawrie Gunn in 2023/24 and by Harriet Stratton in 2002. Tawrie has lived with her grandmother and mother since the death of her father many years earlier, an event which devasted their little family and from which they have never fully recovered. Harriet has also experienced a devastating event in her life. Their lives run on parallel tracks some 20 years apart until a pair of broken hearts brings them together in the present time to reveal a beautiful and magical history that is both heartbreaking and heartwarming.

I have seen Amanda Prowse variously described as the Queen of family drama, and the Queen of heartbreak fiction. I'm going to fully endorse both. I have never been able to read one of her books without shedding a torrent of tears and without ending up smiling and feeling emotionally fulfilled at the end. Even the dedication of this book had me in tears before I started the actual story!

I am a chocolate lover, a very fussy one, but right now if you offered me the choice of an unlimited supply of my favorite chocolate forever or a copy of every one of Amanda Prowse's books - I'd take her books. NO CONTEST.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐+

#SwimmingtoLundy #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: A popular TV and radio personality, Amanda is a huge supporter of libraries and having become a proud ambassador for The Reading Agency, works tirelessly to promote reading, especially in disadvantaged areas. Amanda's ambition is to create stories that keep people from turning the bedside lamp off at night, great characters that ensure you take every step with them and tales that fill your head so you can't possibly read another book until the memory fades...

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Lake Union Publishing via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC pf Swimming to Lundy by Amanda Prowse for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

I always enjoy and Amanda Prowse book and Swimming to Lundy is her latest. A deep dive into the deep sea, deep love, & deep feelings. Staying stuck where you are or moving ahead. Family and friends. Misunderstandings and finally understanding. A lovely story!

Sadly I just couldn't get into this book by a new to me author. The cover was very intriguing and alluring but I found the story overall slow moving and hard to connect with the multi cast of characters. It was only okay on audio and just not one I felt compelled to finish. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Good character development is something that I value and Amanda Prowse really delivers in this novel. While I would probably categorize this book as a romance novel, it definitely offers so much more than the usual rom com fluff. I found Tawrie to be a very deep and interesting character - she’s stuck in a small town (although the author’s description makes it sound like a wonderful place) with a nowhere job and still living in the family home. But I love the way she takes the initiative to join the Peacock swimmers and this decision basically starts a domino effect of life changes for her. The elderly couple that she swims with are delightful and Tawrie’s friendship with them is inspiring. And no spoilers, but the unusual way that Tawrie uses her swimming to heal past trauma was really touching. Overall, I loved the story. I found it a bit predictable but the wrap up is sure to please readers who love happy endings.

Swimming the Lundy by Amanda Prowse started out slowly but turned into a lovely novel of personal growth. Tawrie was named after a river. She was lucky that her dad named her Taw as she could have ended up with something so much worse. Tawrie is twenty-eight years old and works in her cousin’s cafe. She swims every morning with what she originally thought was a group but turned out to be a wonderful old couple whom she came to love. She did that for herself because staying in the small town in North Devon was for her aging grandmother and her mother who was a drunk and in danger of hurting herself. She couldn’t understand how her sainted father, who had been lost to the sea years earlier, had ever gotten involved with her. Then one day she saw a man she had never seen before and fell in love. It only took that moment. There were road bumps, ones that broke her heart.

Excellent story, told in two timelines of how misunderstandings happen and how they can be resolved. Ed was not a cheater, he was not his father, who had cheated on his mother years ago. He was simply confused and backed into a corner. It took a while to understand that. Tawrie’s mother had not always been the way she was. It was the death of her father that caused it. She was simply weak. The characters were stunning in their complexity. One tends to think of country people as simple. This book proved that is not the case. The plot was, loosely, the rocky road to love. Amazing in its simplicity, rounded out by pages and pages of character development and relationships. Intriguing and fascinating book. Thanks Amanda Prowse for this lovely piece of fiction.

I was invited to read Swimming to Lundy by Lake Union Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #LakeUnionPublishing #AmandaProwse #SwimmingToLundy

Tawrie Gunn is in her late twenties, living with two other generations of Gunn women, her mother Annalee and her nan Freda in the coastal town of Ilfracombe, Devon. They are still mourning the loss of her dad, Dan over twenty years ago after he fell overboard and was never found. Tawrie decides she needs more from life and joins a 'wild swimming' group called the Peacock Swimmers, consisting of her, Maudie and Jago and she realises that she possibly could see a way forward and a chance to follow her dreams. Twenty years earlier Harriet has just moved to Ilfracombe with her family, but due to recent events she can't settle and knows that she has to make a decision that could change the rest of their lives.

Swimming to Lundy is the latest novel from this best selling author, told across a dual timeline; the present day and 2002 and from the perspectives of both Tawrie and Harriet, two women who have big decisions to make which will have a huge effect on them going forward, but what is the connection between these two? This is a story with some delicate subjects; grief, addiction and adultery and some absolutely fabulous characters that the author brings to life within these pages and makes them feel real. I adored Gran, Maudie and Jago with their realistic outlook on life and felt sorry for Annalee who has never recovered from the loss of her husband. I loved everything about this beautifully written story that was filled with love and warmth but also pain and sorrow and had me laughing one minute and crying the next. Amanda Prowse has a raw talent that knows no bounds, writing relatable stories that tug at the heartstrings and resonate with so many people the world over. The Queen of Family Drama has done it again!!

I'd like to thank Lake Union Publishing, Netgalley and the author for inviting me to read this book, I will post my review on Amazon and Goodreads.

My opinion is anything that Amanda Prowse writes I will read. This is a all feels story. Romance, hearts broken and down to a great ending. I could identify with each character and was cheering them on. The writing is exquisite. Pull up a chair and settle in for a great read.

Swimming to Lundy by Amanda Prowse was a wonderfully written and heartfelt story.
This is a captivating and thought-provoking novel. It is well-written and truly a great time.

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

I thoroughly enjoyed this dual timeline book.

The story, which was well written covered issues such as grief and loss sensitively, and you was engrossed in the characters and their stories.

The setting was beautiful and it was lovely to see how the people living in the town helped each other.

I loved Connie and Needle, who didn’t give up on their dreams.

The story was one that you will remember for some time.

I highly recommend this book.

Amanda Prowse’s "Swimming to Lundy" is a compelling and emotionally charged novel that explores themes of resilience, healing, and personal transformation. The story centers on a protagonist who, after facing a life-altering event, decides to undertake a physically and emotionally challenging swim to Lundy Island as a way to reclaim her life and identity.

Prowse's storytelling is poignant and powerful, expertly capturing the struggles and triumphs of the human spirit. The swim to Lundy is not just a physical journey but also a metaphorical one, symbolizing the protagonist's fight to overcome her past and move forward. With its vivid descriptions and deep emotional insights, "Swimming to Lundy" is a moving tale of courage and redemption, showcasing Prowse’s ability to weave complex emotional narratives that resonate deeply with readers. This novel is ideal for those who appreciate stories of adventure and self-discovery.