This is a sensitive and clear eyed portrait of a marriage in disarray, and a couple who need to find themselves and each other again. It’s remarkably moving in places. I found it both enjoyable and thought provoking.

August and Noah have been together for 17 years – essentially, all their adult lives. They love each other deeply. But somehow, neither of them is happy anymore. And eventually August takes steps to address this, and to find what will make her happy again. This forces Noah, too, to re-examine his life.

This is subtle and understated in writing style, but the characterisation is rich. All of the characters are real and vivid, and Allsopp evokes empathy for them all. I felt so deeply for some of those people! I was moved by the care and compassion Allsopp shows (and evokes) for all of her characters.

In some ways nothing very dramatic happens in the novel, but that makes it all the more impactful. The problems that August and Noah face are very everyday problems, and the responses they find in themselves are not too far from the kind most readers would reach for.

I liked the balance in the novel. One person didn’t create the situation alone, and one person can’t fully resolve it alone. I liked that we follow both Noah and August, feeling for them both, and watching as both face the possibilities – good and bad – ahead. A marriage is a partnership, and I felt that both partners were considered equally in the novel.

This seemingly simple novel has a lot of depth and a lot of emotion. It was enjoyable to read, but it also encourages you to think about yourself and the people around you. When trying to sum it up, I kept coming up with words like “warm” and “moving” and “gentle”. It would be very hard to close this book without feeling something.

Highly recommended. It’s a great read, and will appeal to those who like strong characterisation, and appreciate grounded and realistic stories that evoke strong emotions but don’t wallow.

I have to say that I just didn't get into this book. I wasn't quite into the style of writing and found it easy to read but not a book that made me delve into each and every page. The story itself was alright and it was a good length for a book like this one. The characters are interesting but not as intriguing as I had hoped. All in all a good book but not a book for me.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers Australia | for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

There was something about this book that was really unique. On the surface, the story is straightforward, but overall it gives a vibe that is a little different to anything I've read before.
This is the story of the end of August and Noah's marriage, how it ends and what comes after. It is about all the little things that cause the break - the milk, the jeans, the toothbrush. And it's about all the little things that come after - the lost in jokes, the small changes, the growth of a lemon tree.
This is all told without drama, without big emotional tension. But you really realise how sad it is, and all the other feelings that come with it too. Because these things are small, they seem even more personal and relatable. And that is what makes the book a little special.

Thank you HarperCollins Australia and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Noah and August have been married for ten years and are stuck.
Kimberley Allsopp’s latest book starts at the ten year mark of their marriage. A marriage that is stilted and sadly lacking growth.
Set in Ashgrove, Brisbane and surrounded by wonderful friends, family, neighbours and customers, we get to experience the confusion, hurt and loneliness through the dual points of view of Noah and August.
This book will make you sad, have you laughing and ultimately rooting for both Noah and August as they move through their pain and grow, physically, mentally and of course lemon trees.

This is a lovely book that had all the “feels”. I loved that it was set in Brisbane and could imagine the beautiful community of friends traipsing up and down the hill to the bakery and the neighbours for impromptu visits, wisdom and care when most needed.

A beautiful book that reminds us of the importance of community, growth, love and the courage to do what we really wish to.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this warming, wonderful book.

I really enjoyed Rise and Shine! It felt like a refreshingly honest take on love and marriage—not the beginning, but the messy, complicated middle. August and Noah’s story pulled me in from the first page. It’s not just about a relationship; it’s about rediscovering yourself when the life you built no longer fits. The Brisbane setting added a warm, summery backdrop that made everything feel more real. It’s thoughtful, funny, and a little bittersweet—just the kind of story that ling

Rise and Shine was different to anything I've read before so felt fresh and refreshing. I loved the short chapters, each with a title. It was told from dual points of view - both from August and Noah - married for 10 years, still love each other but not really happy. So it's a story of life once separated, how people change and also friendships. I didn't know if it was bad that I was really wanting August and Noah to ge
I alternated between listening to the audio version and reading the kindle version. The performance of the audio version was wonderful. t back togeter - was that the point? I wasn't sure...but I really enjoyed the emotions and the journey.

This book is the story of the relationship between August and Noah. It is beautifully written, extremely descriptive and you felt like you were right there with the two main characters. It explored the idea of when life becomes too comfortable a Peter being married for a number of years, the time when you just expect your significant other to be there just as they always have been, but you’re not really noticing them or appreciating them.

Kimberley Allsopp has a most unique style of writing. Her debut novel in 2022, Love and Other Puzzles, blew me away - I adored it. It was full of wit and charm, refreshing, never dull with a perfect combination of humour and hindsight. Kimberley has carried some of this over into her next book, Rise and Shine where once more she challenges her readers by asking the question, when you realise that life is not what you want or wish it to be … how does one change?

‘She had a good life. She had to stop worrying about it and trying to stretch it into a shape that she thought it needed to be when this was a good shape.’

This is a story about life, love and what happens when, after ten years of marriage, someone wants out. What makes us happy, what makes us unhappy and what can we do about it. It’s a story that gets you thinking, presented in Kimberley’s witty, quirky and uplifting way.

‘She had to fold this moment up and put it in her pocket so she could bring it out when her love for this man felt worn out and thin.’

Beautifully melancholy. A novel that reminds us to learn, challenge ourselves and grow. Don’t settle for just okay because life may seem long but it will go by in the blink of an eye.

This story is for those of you who like to read about real relationships, their triumphs, flaws, messy patches, reflections and the healing.

Written from the heart, this novel was a sweeter kind of sorrow, with an ending that wrapped it up perfectly.