Poles Apart is the story of four very different women, Ivy, Gwen, Meg & Summer. They all live in Morlan a small Welsh village. Ordinarily these women wouldn’t mix in the same circles that is until they all joined the Pole Dancing exercise class in their local village hall. It is there that the women forge some unlikely friendships. Each of them have their own issues and joining the class is an outlet for them.
This is an uplifting, humorous and charming character driven novel.

Although it was very different from the novels I normally read, I enjoyed 'Poles Apart' with its humour and emotion very much. It's an uplifting, feel-good story about female friendship that had me turning the pages. With such an unlikely scenario of pole dancing classes being the place where four women with very different personalities and backstories meet, I was not prepared for how they became such firm friends in a relatively short time. I thought the characterisation was particularly strong; by the end of the novel, I knew Meg, Summer, Ivy and Gwen really well. Each of these four characters undertook a personal journey throughout the story. I have no hesitation in recommending this well-written novel. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

This was such a great read that I raced through in less than 24 hours.
I loved these four women, Ivy, Gwen, Summer and Meg. I loved the way the pole dancing classes transformed their lives and brought them together, even though they were different ages and had different backgrounds.
Just like in real life they all had issues that needed dealing with, but the classes and their new friendships boosted their confidence, and gave them the courage to face their problems head on.
I got so caught up in their stories and enjoyed the way the plot played out that I almost felt that I was part of the friendship group.
If you’re looking for a wonderful story about supportive female friendships I definitely recommend this one, and look forward to reading more by this writing duo.

Thank you to Netgalley and Allison & Busby for this ARC of ‘Poles Apart’ by Anna and Jacqui Burns.

This book was amazing. I loved that it was a pole dancing class that brought everyone together, so unique. It was so thought provoking and covered some very difficult topics. Definitely worth the read!

My Bookish Thoughts 💬
Poles Apart is a hug of a book. This charming, uplifting, and often funny story follows a group of women ranging from 20s to 70s in a quaint Welsh village, each facing their own challenges. Through a controversial new pole dancing class, they forge heartwarming friendships full of support and laughter.

The novel delves sensitively into the complexities of relationships, including navigating through difficult life changes such as separation, betrayal, newfound independence following loss, the struggles of single parenthood while a partner is absent, and the daunting prospect of re-entering the dating scene after experiencing physical challenges.

I felt I really got to know all the characters through individual chapters discovering their back story, what they are thinking and feeling and how the pole dancing classes force them to bond. I really enjoyed the sense of community and village life in this book.

After the rollercoaster of emotions from "Maybe, Perhaps, Possibly," I was craving something lighter, and this book was the perfect tonic! It's so much more than I expected.

I'm looking forward to reading more from this mother daughter duo.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Allison & Budby for the gifted copy

Fans of women’s lit (and good reads) know that often a number of disparate characters are put together in a story. Readers then learn each of their histories and watch as they interact with one another and cope with what life puts their way.

In this enjoyable read there are four women. They span ages, marital status, whether they are parents, health issues, etc. All are looking for a bit more in their lives. Individually each decides to sign up for, of all things, a pole dancing class for some exercise. As a result, they dance, have friendships, learn about themselves and each other, all the while generously taking the reader along.

Where I live it is a rainy day…just the right sort of weather for sitting down with a good story. Many thanks to NetGalley and Allison & Busby for this title. All opinions are my own.

I adore stories that showcase women overcoming their insecurities and discovering their strength and that’s exactly what I would expect from a book that centres pole dancing. I’ve never tried pole dancing because I’ve never had any arm strength but Mark’s mum and sisters do it regularly and I’m always in awe of what they can do. So, I was really excited to give this delightful book a go. Thank you to Allison and Busby for inviting me on the blog tour! Again, I can only apologise for how late I am in posting this.

The beautiful, sleepy village of Morlan in Pembrokeshire is about to be visited by the enigmatic, free-spirited and inspirational Feather Starr who is on a mission to restore confidence and connection between the local women who need it the most. Before they know it, Gwen, Ivy, Summer and Meg are facing their biggest challenges yet all while swinging around a pole.

Having never been to a pole class, I loved how the book gave us an insight into what Feather’s classes entail. We really get to know the true benefits of pole dancing in a way that didn’t feel preachy or instructional. It was embedded into the story really well and I felt like I was learning along with the characters.

I think all of the women question the nature of the class at some point. They worry that the sexual slant to pole doesn’t really fit with their personalities and how they want to be perceived in the close-knit community that they live in. They definitely face some kickback from the more conservative residents of Morlan and I loved how in spite of this, none of them wavered from their dedication to the class at all.

Recently widowed Ivy was a character who I particularly warmed to. I was willing her to stick to her guns in the face of all of the irritating, unwanted ‘suggestions’ as to what she should do with her life. It saddens me to know that the attitude that women’s lives have no purpose without men is still so prominent in our society. As someone who was single for many years and it being a 'problem’ that I had to overcome, I can say with absolute certainty that it is.

Right from the start, it was clear how important and therapeutic the classes were for all four of the women. It was so heartwarming and beautiful to watch their journeys, so I’d love to thank the authors for that wonderful experience.

Poles Apart is an empowering, addictive read that follows loveable characters and gorgeous friendships. There was so much authenticity to both the characters and the setting, which meant that I could easily get immersed in it. I also loved the mysterious element to Feather. This wasn’t a necessary thing but it added that extra bit of interest and I loved how the epilogue wrapped some of that up. It was a lovely, cosy read!

Morlan Village is a Welsh coastal town but recently someone has arrived to shake things up. Feather Starr advertises of pole dancing classes at the local community center and attracts a varied group of villagers: Gwen, the stand-offish wife of a car dealer, Ivy, the 72-year-old who is finding her freedom after she lost her husband, Summer, an overworked mother of two, and Meg, a young woman suffering from a recent debilitating surgery. All the while there’s a local town councilman who is up in arms about the lewd dancing going on at the hall.

This book is just delightful. It is a wonderful story about a group of women who feel isolated and insecure and their dancing class helps them find themselves and friendships with each other; it is the true definition of women’s literature. The village backdrop is beyond charming, the ensemble characters are all reflections of real women and how they feel about themselves in day-to-day life, and a lot of the issues stem from how they let men tell them what they want and how their lives are going to be. Each woman in this story figures out how to navigate their own life at their own pace and with their own voice. I also love that it is Welsh. What a feel-good story!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Poles Apart' by Anna and Jacqui Burns.

Read and reviewed in hardback for Anna and Jacqui, Allison and Busby, NetGalley and Goodreads.

Publication date 21st March 2024

This may be the first book I have read about this author but I cannot wait to read her next one!!

This novel consists of 36 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

Well done and Thank You to Anna and Jacqui Burns for a hugely successful and stunning read!! This book is very smoothly written with vivid descriptions which really help you see what's going on around you as well as the storyline. The blurb and the cover compliment the novel perfectly. The illustrations on the hardback cover are brilliant and I absolutely loved the tortoise and footprints on the sides of the books!! Fantastic and unique!!

OMG!!!!! I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVED this absolutely addictive and truly unique book!!! Honestly this book has just hit my top 3 books and considering how many books I have read that is an epic success!!! I'll be honest and tell you know don't waste your time reading my review as there is no way I can tell you how amazing this book is in words so instead of wasting your time reading this just grab your copy and get oat in the stunning settings of Morlan now with absolutely unforgettable characters!! I can promise you won't regret it!! Anna and Jacqui's amazing and evocative writing skills really has brought everything to life all throughout this fantastic book dropping you straight into Morlan with these absolutely amazing characters that I will not be forgetting for a very long time, if I ever do!!! This book really has been one of the best books I have ever read!!! It is ram packed with friends, romance, fun, heartbreak, love, laughter, finding yourself, female friendship, second chances and absolutely everything you could ask for in an unputdownable must read!! There are so many things extra that I adore about this book. One of the main things is that it is set in Pembrokeshire which is just up the road from me and I absolutely loved recognising many places names which really made everything so much easier to picture!!! Not only that but I had absolutely no idea about the stunning lagoon so local and I cannot wait to visit it so thank you Anna and Jacqui for bringing it to my attention!! I also adore the story behind the book and how the mother and daughter team wrote it while living over 200 miles apart, sending each other chapters by email!! Just absolutely extraordinary!!! Anyway, sorry, best get on with the review!! Told you, you should have just grabbed the book instead of reading this!!!There was no way I could finish just one chapter as even though I kept telling myself I would and then go to bed, each chapter ended in a way where I just HAD to know what happened next and before I knew it I had devoured the whole book in one sitting in a few hours!!! The storyline was realistic which I always prefer as it makes it more enjoyable to read when you can see that it is something that could happen. This book is well constructed and was absolutely ram packed with so much going on that you will just fly through the pages!!! It is multi layered with all the fantastic characters backgrounds and personalities coming out and each and every character has their own personalities. It was a very compelling and addictive read!!! I genuinely could not praise this book enough as words just will not give it justice so grab your copy today, you won't regret it!!!!

Clear your schedules and pick up grab the tissues as this book will have you laughing until tears are streaming down your face!!!

I loved meeting all the characters who are a delightful mix of personalities with intriguing backgrounds and each one was very compelling. I have never met a group of characters like this before and I've never loved a group of fictional characters as much as I did with this gang!!!! The only downfall is that they aren't real which is gutted as I would definitely get along with this gang!!!! I can't remember the last time I laughed so much!!! Our 4 main characters are Gwen, Summer, Meg and Ivy who have all come together as friends thanks to the fabulous Feather Starr!!! These amazing women could not be any more different to each other and the fact that they bonded so much over the classes , supporting each other and helping each other out through thick and thin was just beautiful to read!! I fell in love with them all and I was absolutely devastated to come to the end and have to say goodbye!!! I am really, really hoping these amazing authors will make a series set in Morlan as I will miss the characters and the location so much!! I really felt I had gone on a girls holiday in a beautiful location making fabulous friends for life!!! Such a bunch of fantastic quirky characters!!! Without going into too much detail as you really need to 'meet' these characters yourself!!! Feather brings a pole dancing class to Morlan that not all the communist happy about. She helps these amazing friends to bond and come out of their shells. I absolutely loved the epilogue where we discovered more about her!!! Gwen lives with her husband Gareth and her daughter Lydia. She also has another daughter Jasmine who doesn't live with them. Her husband has a very successful business and she feels as if she is above everyone. That is until her world comes crashing down around her. Ivy is widowed, sensible and you won't hear her say a bad word against anyone. She is the first to offer help to anyone who needs it. However her son is the complete opposite and wants to have her live with him while she wants to go travelling and live. Will she put her own happiness first for a change? Summer has two small children and is struggling while her husband Aled spends most of his time at work on the rigs. She is desperate for just an hour a week to herself but with a husband working away and her mother and mother in law no help will she be able to take part in the lessons? Meg lives and works with her post mistress Gran Hannah who she moved in to help. Hannah is the opposite of Ivy and likes to criticise everyone. Meg is longing for love but after life changing surgery kills her confidence will she find the happiness she deserves? Four very different women with very different situations and backgrounds all come together in this stunning read. As always there are characters that you won't like, especially a certain one who I wanted to strangle the way he treated one of the amazing characters but where would be the fun if you liked all the characters?? Jacqui and Anna's amazing evocative writing skills really have brought each of these characters to life throughout this book and it is really sad to say Goodbye but hopefully it won't be long until I meet them all again!!! Hint hint ladies!!! An amazing group of realistic, strong, hilarious and unique characters that I have loved getting to know in this amazing book and that will stay with me for a very long time!!!!

Congratulations ladies on an absolutely stunning successful book, an absolutely brilliant, unique, hilarious must read and I cannot wait to get stuck into more of your amazing books!! Welcome to my favorite authors club Jacqui and Anna and here is to your next guaranteed success 🥂!!!!

Overall an absolutely fantastic, hilarious and stunning page turner with absolutely bonkers and memorable characters!!!

384 pages.

This book is just £10.99 to purchase on kindle, £9.99 in paperback and £14.90 in hardback via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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Four women and the realisation the life is worth living makes for a fun and entertaining read. This is a charming and heart-warming read and one for every woman as it reconfirms that life is worth living and it is never too late to start. But as much as it is fun there is some seriousness involved and the story follows these women through the changes they make to their lives.

The characters are wonderful and they seem to be women you know (including yourself), the story flows effortlessly and I think we all can related to the subject matter of this book. It was a pleasure to read and I would highly recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley and Allison & Busby for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

A heart-warming and life affirminging story with a more serious and poignant side. I enjoyed the story of these women, the changes and was moved by the more serious side.
Well developed characters, the right mix of emotion and fun, lovely setting.
Hope to read soon other books by these authors
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

In the aptly named Poles Apart, four women with very different lives find lasting friendship at a weekly pole dancing group, taught by the uniquely glamorous Feather Starr. Ivy is a seventy two year old widow, now making decisions for herself for the first time after a controlling but reasonably happy long marriage. Summer is a young mother of two (“two under two!”) young children. Her husband works on an offshore oil rig and is gone for weeks at a time. She’s frustrated with her life until she finds freedom in…pole dancing. Gwen is the unhappy wife of a wealthy man and is realizing that her judgmental behavior has set her apart from others in their small town. Meg is lovely and talented but her medical struggles have kept her from dating. Together, as these women prepare for their debut at the village fête, they bond as they support each other through difficult situations.

Poles Apart, by Anna and Jacqui Burns, is a delightful drama with a serious side. They help Meg see that her medical problems are keeping her from enjoying her life. Ivy has to make some serious decisions and she relies on her newfound friends. Summer and Grace make life changing decisions relying on their friends. And the small town of Morgan, with its all its gossip and nosy neighbors, is a character itself. This is a fun read with a serious side and I loved it! 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Allison and Busby and Anna and Jacqui Burns for this ARC.

What a joy this was to read! Funny, uplifting and relatable, Poles Apart is the perfect read for anyone who enjoys a character-led community-based novel - with a bit of girl power thrown in for good measure!

The book centres around a small village on the Welsh coast and the uproar that begins when pole dancing classes begin in the local community centre. We follow four women who attend the classes, Summer, Meg, Ivy and Gwen, all at different stages in their lives and going through their own individual struggles. Through the classes their friendship blossoms, and as their self-confidence grows the women help each other through the challenges they are facing.

I’m such a huge fan of a community-focused novel in which characters who perhaps ordinarily wouldn’t meet are thrown together in some way, and it was done so beautifully here. All of the women are going through something different, but the way that they support and encourage each other through is so lovely and heartwarming. Highly recommended!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of the book - I enjoyed it so much I’ll definitely be buying a hardcover come release day!

A fun- and funny-novel about female friendship and pole dancing. Gwen, Meg, Summer and Ivy are four very different women- different ages, different perspectives, and so on- but they bond in their exercise class, Set in a small Welsh village (loved this!), it's got relatable characters and good storytelling. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

4.5* A real page turner

The notion of pole dancing classes being held in a small village appealed so much to me that I jumped at the chance of reading this book.

Set in Wales, Poles Apart is very funny and touching, it follows the blossoming friendships of four of the women in the class, Ivy, Gwen, Meg and Summer, aged between 20 to 70, all at different stages in their lives.

Almost immediately there's disapproval in the village with a petition raised to stop the classes, making the women determined to continue their once-a-week activity.

Once I had worked out the backgrounds of each woman I found the book unputdownable. I won't give more away of the plot, just that it's a compelling read and thoroughly recommended.

eARC generously supplied by Allison & Busby and NetGalley, this review is my personal, unbiased opinion.

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to review Poles Apart and the chance to read an ARC.

What a gorgeous story about Gwen, Meg, Summer and Ivy. Each have their own issues going on and it's lovely to see their friendship evolve as they are brought together. Meg's story was particularly touching and had me emotional at times. I hadn't expected the ending and that was a complete surprise, which was the icing on the cake.

Poles Apart is well written with some very funny lines that had me laughing out loud and finding I had to tell someone some of the things I read!

Poles Apart is an absolute joy to read and a reminder of the value of female friendship.

This book is an absolute tonic. If you need a lift, read it! Funny, relatable, touching, and with a heartfelt message for any woman who’s ever felt less than confident about her body or asserting herself (that’s all of us, right?).
Poles Apart had some brilliant, laugh out loud moments, including my favourite: “Summer has never understood the endorphin-high that is meant to come from exercise. Surely that is a myth made up by people who have never orgasmed or eaten a churro.” How I wish I’d come up with that line!
But it isn’t only hilarious. One scene in particular had me reaching for a tissue, with a big lump in my throat. The character development in this book is terrific.
It’s my first time reading a book by Anna and Jacqui Burns, and to be honest before I started I wasn’t sure if I’d like it - could two authors really write with one consistent voice? And how would I ever distinguish between the group of female characters introduced at the start? I was sure I’d end up getting confused (perimenopause brain and all that). Any doubts I had were very quickly dispelled. The writing was seamless and I would never have guessed it was written by two people if I hadn’t been told. The characterisation was so skilfully done that I rapidly understood who was who and became fond of each of these very different women. I rooted for them all.
Add in a gorgeous Welsh village on the coast, which I could so easily imagine, and some interesting side characters, together with a fabulously satisfying ending, and Poles Apart left me with a beaming smile on my face.
I’ll be recommending this book to everyone, and reading whatever else I can get my hands on by this author duo. Thank you to the authors, publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Four women living in a Welsh village enrol in a pole dancing class and find the strength to forge their own way with the support of their friends.

Meg's young and athletic so she seems like just the type of person who would enjoy pole dancing lessons. But she's had health issues and knocks to her confidence.

Summer is a young mother who yearns for time out of the house to meet new people - if only her husband didn't work away.

Ivy is in her seventies and just wants to enjoy the freedom that her age affords. But her community and her son are determined to get her to act her age.

Lastly, Gwen, who looks like she has it altogether is incredibly self-conscious and awkward. She finds it hard to make friends and, frankly, is a bit of a snob, until something happens to shake the facade of her perfect life.

The story is mainly about friendships and how women of different ages can support and encourage each other.

This is not a romance novel. Personal growth is the theme. I liked the characters - they were engaging and interesting. The book is well-written, the pace is steady and the story is lovely. It's a quick, light read so if you are looking for something heart-warming and life-affirming that isn't going to make you cry, this is the book for you.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and Allison & Busby. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This book was fun. I initially enjoyed the idea of the premise, ordinary ladies attending a pole dancing class, and well it turned out to be so much more. I appreciated the realness of each character and how they saw the best in each other which only helped them see the best in themselves. Totally will recommend this one to the other readers in my life.

Poles Apart by Anna Burns and Jacqui Burns is a character led story and, as the reader, I was instantly drawn in. The four disparate protagonists: Ivy, Gwen, Meg and Summer, are presented as representatives of the various stages of any woman’s life. And they are placed in situations that easily evoke empathy.

These characters are rounded and multi-layered. Each grow in their own way as their individual stories are told, and as the overall plot progresses.

The fundamental theme, that of friendship, centres around a quite mysterious pivotal character, Feather Starr, who brings together these women in what is presented as a controversial situation; that of a pole dancing class in a small traditional Welsh village in Pembrokeshire. Bubbling away in the background, the humorous diatribe against the group is carried along by a few minor characters and cleverly offsets the real and serious problems that each protagonist is dealing with. It’s a good balance.

Both the internal and spoken dialogue is strong and easily attributed to each character; the reader is never in doubt of whose point of view is being presented, or of the emotions threaded through the words.

The setting of the book, the towns and villages of Pembrokeshire give a good sense of place. To anyone who knows the county it brings a familiar background to mind. To readers unfamiliar with the area, the descriptions are strong enough to evoke images of beautiful coastline and village life, with the occasional sojourn into the town representative of many other towns.

When I say this is an easy read it’s not in a detrimental way. Poles Apart is a book that captures the imagination from the start, I found myself easily drawn into the various stages as the narrative progressed, and can recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a feel good story, with a neat little twist at the end.

As it says on the charming cover: Four Woman, One Sleepy Village ... It's Time to Give Life a whirl - sums this book up nicely.