It All Comes Back to You

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Pub Date 27 Aug 2018 | Archive Date 05 Mar 2019

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Description

Alabama, 1947. War's over, cherry-print dresses, parking above the city lights, swing dancing.

Beautiful, seventeen-year-old Violet lives in a perfect world.

Everybody loves her.

In 2012, she's still beautiful, charming, and surrounded by admirers.

Veronica "Ronni" Johnson, licensed practical nurse and aspiring writer, meets the captivating Violet in the assisted living facility where Violet requires no assistance, just lots of male attention. When she dies, she leaves Ronni a very generous bequest―only if Ronni completes a book about her life within one year. As she's drawn into the world of young Violet, Ronni is mesmerized by life in a simpler time. It's an irresistible journey filled with revelations―including revelations about men Ronni knew as octogenarians at Fairfield Springs.

Struggling, insecure, flailing at the keyboard, Ronni juggles her patients, a new boyfriend, and a Samsonite factory of emotional baggage as she tries to craft a manuscript before her deadline.But then the secrets start to emerge, some of them in person. And they don't stop.

Everything changes.

Alternating chapters between Homecoming Queen Violet in 1947 and can't-quite-find-her-crown Ronni in the present, IT ALL COMES BACK TO YOU is Southern Fiction at its hilarious, warm, sad, outrageous, uplifting, and stunning best. In the tradition of Major Pettigrew's Last Stand and Olive Kitteridge, Duke delivers an unforgettable elderly character to treasure and a young heroine to steal your heart.


This is an updated edition with the new cover.

Alabama, 1947. War's over, cherry-print dresses, parking above the city lights, swing dancing.

Beautiful, seventeen-year-old Violet lives in a perfect world.

Everybody loves her.

In 2012, she's still...


Advance Praise

"Beth Duke is one of those writers who leave you shaking your head when you've finished reading, muttering, 'Dang, I wish I'd written that.'

She can spin a good yarn.

She is as Southern as grits and sweet tea.

Once you read one of her stories, you start to gravitate to her like a moth to a porch light.

It All Comes Back to You is one of those stories you need to savour. You want to put the book down so as to have more to read tomorrow, but you can't. It becomes attached to you, a part of you. As does she.

I catch myself smiling when I'm reading her stories. They pull you in,and take you on a wild ride, but she returns you home at the end, safe and sound, and forever changed.

But for the better.

Beth Duke is a wordsmith of the best kind and her stories rank with the best in classic Southern fiction."

- Dan Brown, Author of The Lunch Box and Reunion


"I laughed a lot, I also cried in places, I felt an affinity for the characters - and there are many - and their sorrows. I loved Violet and how she took the lemons life had given her and made a lot of lemonade for others who had nothing. I loved Ronni and her wonderful, dry, self-deprecating humor. This warm, funny book will surprise you a lot. It did me because I was expecting a simple, charming story about a nurse who has to write a book about her benefactor's life. Yes, it's about that, but so much more. Please don't miss out on this wonderful story. I was sad when it ended." - Official 5-Star Readers Favorite Editorial Review


"Wonderful book. I really liked Ronni and Violet and their amazing relationship. New plot in almost every chapter, which makes this book hard to put down. Story of family ties and secrets. Thank you NetGalley for free advance reading copy!" - 5***** review, Aggie B, NetGalley reviewer


"Thank you NetGalley for sending me this amazing woman's fiction in exchange for an honest review. 'It All Comes Back to You' by Beth Duke is the tale of Violet's life as told through stories and diaries given to Ronnie Johnson a nurse at the nursing home where they became friends. Beautiful Violet seems to have had a cursed life. How could anyone be so unlucky in love? 'It All Comes Back to You' Is told through Violet in her early years and through Ronnie's discoveries while researching Violet's life through the diaries and letters. Her story although tragic was often told with humor. While reading this book I laughed, I cried and I could not put this book down. I highly recommend this heart felt story." - 5***** review, Diane E, reviewer


"I am so happy I picked this book up! I was drawn in from the first line and had a lot of trouble putting it down to do anything else. The story is powerful and oh so full of secrets, I imagined I was right there with Ronni and Violet watching every scenario play out. This novel was just very well written!" - 5***** review, Alicia M, reviewer

"Beth Duke is one of those writers who leave you shaking your head when you've finished reading, muttering, 'Dang, I wish I'd written that.'

She can spin a good yarn.

She is as Southern as grits and...


Available Editions

ISBN 9781519303486
PRICE $8.99 (USD)

Average rating from 57 members


Featured Reviews

A charming, well written, and enthralling book.
I requested because I was attracted by the cover and the synopsis, was hooked since the first pages.
I loved the characters, well written and fleshed out, the setting and the plot.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC

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It All Comes Back To You is a book that should be read and shared. The synopsis barely scratches the surface of this complex endearing, unexpected story. Readers will be drawn into Violet’s life story and hope that Ronni finds her voice and her happy ever after. The author evokes southern life of the mid last century and readers unfamiliar with those times will see that even as mores loosened over the ensuing years, the longings of humanity has remained largely the same. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. My review is voluntarily. Most highly recommend.

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I really enjoyed It All Comes Back To You. I loved the alternating timelines between Ronnie and Violet. I always up for a good story that does this. It All Comes Back To You shares the story of Ronnie, an LPN at the retirement/nursing home facility where Violet lives. I adored the close relationship they developed which was sometimes as close as Mother and Daughter. When she passes away, Violet leaves instructions for Ronnie to write the story of her life and leaves a stipend if she completes the book within one year. Violet lived a fascinating, but challenging life losing several men that she loved to circumstances beyond her control. I enjoyed watching Ronnie blossom into her self as she becomes a writer, overcomes relationships from her past, and finds a partner.

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It All Comes Back to You. Not only is this title a good summary of this book, it's a rather profound statement. The past makes up so much of who we are and as much as we want to forget things, it does all come back to you.

Violet was a homecoming queen. Everyone loved her. She was beautiful and surrounded by admirers. Over 60 years later, she still is.

Ronnie is a nurse at an assisted living facility. Ronni is given a task - to complete a book about Violet's life - within one year and receive a generous bequest.

Everyone is this book is lovable and...likeable. Which is hard to do!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book.

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This will be your next book club read, you'll learn from it, and you might get in an argument with your friends about perception of some of the plot elements. A cordial, "Bless your heart" insult kind of Southern tiff. But then everyone with sip some wine and laugh it off.

I donated sleep to this book and it was totally warranted. I crave books that challenge me, contain deep and meaningful themes and color authentic and rich characters. This book has all of those attributes in addition to being delightfully readable.

As a writer myself, I was hesitant to read a book that followed a writer in her prices of novel creation. Please don't let that stop you. This book has inspired me to finish my own book and to keep going after that!

<Spoiler>The Southern fiction follows the life of a woman born around 1930 through the eyes of a young woman she befriended late in life. We start the book thinking she's a typical spoiled and beloved homecoming queen (a judgement women make of her to the end of her life) and discover the more complex woman beneath. Themes include how women support each other (or don't), motherly relationships, justification of hurtful action, selling the elderly as the 22 year olds they are at heart and many more.

I won't spoil it completely, but HEAVENS! The twists and the way the author presented them were like surprise punches to the gut. I never saw that last one coming and it's still challenging what I think about it.</spoiler>

These characters have real flaws and no one comes out shining brilliantly. However, don't we all need that reminder? Highly recommended.

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It All Comes Back To You
By Beth Duke

Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to read this amazing book. I would have not found it otherwise.

Alternating chapters between Homecoming Queen Violet in 1947 and can't-quite-find-her-crown Ronni in the present, IT ALL COMES BACK TO YOU is Southern Fiction at its hilarious, warm, sad, outrageous, uplifting, and stunning best. In the tradition of Major Pettigrew's Last Stand and Olive Kitteridge, Duke delivers an unforgettable elderly character to treasure and a young heroine to steal your heart.

Beautiful southern Violet and Ronnie. This was truly one of the best books I have read. I connected with everyone, the pain, the laughs, and what Violet had lost in her life. But, also about Ronnie, the Nurse at the home. The whole book just kept me from page one. I finished it after midnight. What a beautiful book.
Bless Beth Duke's heart.

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Wow. I absolutely loved this book!!!! It’s so wonderfully written and I just couldn’t get enough. The messages in here are just so touching and mind blowing.

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A delightful story of a true Southern Belle with plenty of twists and turns to keep you interested.

It was fun reading about the Alabama towns I know so well!

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Extraordinary Southern Fiction. This book had me feeling a wide range of emotions., and stayed with me long after I finished. Thanks to BooksGoSocial and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

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I was immediately drawn into the story of Violet and Ronni. The characters were well written and easy to connect with. I didn't see the little twist at the end coming, but I did like it. This book is very good and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it! This is the first book I have read by Beth Duke.

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Everybody loved her – but did she love herself?

Written in today's popular style of alternating two stories between each chapter, Beth Duke entertains us with her novel It All Comes Back To You. Our protagonist, Ginny, is a nurse at an old people's home who has recently lost her favourite resident, Violet. Violet has left Ginny a very generous bequest in her will on the condition that she writes her life story. Ginny already knows much of Violet's back story from the extraordinary amount of time they have spent together but her information is supplemented with Violet's journals and letters that have also come to Ginny.

Thus Duke takes us on a journey through Violet's life, a white women who grew up in Alabama during the 40s and 50s, while simultaneously taking us through Ginny's present day life as she struggles with the many secrets she learns about Violet as she pieces her life story together. Ginny doesn't just write Violet's story but also continues to work full time, throws herself wholeheartedly into the research, becomes involved in a tangled romance and ultimately finds her self esteem while learning Violet's best kept secret.

This novel is not only an interesting read, it is also a commentary on domestic abuse, illegitimate birth, adoption, and a woman's role in society – both now and a generation ago. Duke leads us to reflect on all of these topics while keeping us entertained with the two stories that are playing out on the pages of the book. No easy feat, yet she accomplishes it seamlessly.

I received a free copy of this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

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Ronni is a nurse who works in an old people’s home/assisted living. She loves her job and the people she cares for, but she has aspirations to be an author. She is very insecure and holds a lot of hurt in her heart. Taken away from her mother and put in care all Ronni wants is to be loved, she if finally adopted at the age of 16, but encounters heartbreak again when they both pass away.

Ronni has a favourite in the home/assisted living. Violet who even in old age is still stunningly beautiful, they spend a lot of time with each other and form a mother daughter relationship. When Violet passes away Ronni finds out that she has been left a substantial amount of money only if she writes a book about Violets life. After leaving the lawyers office with a cheque in her hand, giving her the option to stop working and write full time.

Ronni is taken on a journey of Violet’s life of lost loves and heartbreak, and searches for people who new Violet to try and fill in the gaps, with the help and support of her new boyfriend. Are the answers what she expected? You’ll just have to read it and find out for yourselves you may surprised at what she finds out.

I really enjoyed this book and fell in love with Ronni and Violet and went through all the emotional highs and lows of their lives. Each chapter focuses either on Ronni present day and Violet in 1947’s Alabama.

There is a quote in the book that I found ver thought provoking: “River says we all drink from the same stream, you know? There is not one drop of water on our planet that is new.”

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This was an engaging and enjoyable novel about two women and their amazing relationship. Full of characters I enjoyed, plot twists I didn't expect.

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I read this book in several hours, I couldn't put it down the characters seem like friends that you wanted to comfort and help. The story of Violet and Ronnie takes us back to the late forties and fifties while Ronnie is a woman of today yet the bond of friendship these two forge is beautiful, both women have led a life with trauma but still get up every morning and go on with life. What we learn of their lives bring tears to your eyes but the strength they share flows right into you. This is truly a must read book.

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This book is a sweet, lovely Southern tale. It is good timing for me. I am currently caring for my aging grandmother in a nursing facility who is equally mentally sharp and southern. This was a delightful read. We are also both readers so this is a poignant book from that standpoint as well.
Living in a small southern town, it is fun to read a book with this setting. I appreciate the language and the dialogue.

Beautiful cover as well!

#ItAllComesBackToYou #NetGalley

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Lovely in everyway. If you are looking for a book filled with drama, this isn't the book for you. Violet grew up in a perfect world, loved by everyone. In her twilight years, she is found in a retirement home surrounded by admirers, but was her life as idyllic at is seems? So begins the story of Violet and Ronnie her nurse/aspiring writer.

. I was beguiled by this story filled with joy, warmth, sad stories, yet ultimately uplifting; It was a wonderful example of a Southern woman much like some I have known...all happiness an light on the surface with hidden dark memories beneath the surface...who refuse let them determine her life. Is that an oxymoron? Perhaps you have to be Southern to understand or just read this book.

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Alabama, 1947. War's over, cherry-print dresses, parking above the city lights, swing dancing.
Beautiful, seventeen-year-old Violet lives in a perfect world.
Everybody loves her.
In 2012, she's still beautiful, charming, and surrounded by admirers.

Veronica "Ronni" Johnson, licensed practical nurse and aspiring writer, meets the captivating Violet in the assisted living facility where Violet requires no assistance, just lots of male attention. When she dies, she leaves Ronni a very generous bequest―only if Ronni completes a book about her life within one year. As she's drawn into the world of young Violet, Ronni is mesmerized by life in a simpler time. It's an irresistible journey filled with revelations―including revelations about men Ronni knew as octogenarians at Fairfield Springs.

I wasn't sure if this would be my kind of book, but I think the author added just enough drama and surprise twists to keep this story from being too saccharine,. The characters were well written and likable, too. Ronni's transformation as she writes about Violet's life was fairly realistic and a happy addition to learning about the details of Violet's life, loves, and the secrets behind the story.

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It All Comes Back to You by Beth Duke is a wonderful book, that I really enjoyed. This book was utterly delightful, flashing back from 1947 to present day. This book swept me up with the story line and well written characters. I recommend this book.

I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and the publisher. Thank you.

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It All Comes Back to You is a beautiful story about the lives of two women in different times, linked together by memories shared.

Ronni is your typical late-twenties nurse, who has a hidden passion for reading and writing, and has unexpectedly been given the task of writing her late friend Violet's memoir. This new task triggers a rollercoaster journey, where Ronni runs into several obstacles that many of us share: new relationships, battling between the safe road vs pursuing a passion, dealing with painful family memories, and grieving her dear friend while writing her first manuscript while going through every memory and photograph Violet has left behind.

Violet, a vivacious and charismatic woman who leaves a lasting impression on anyone she meets, deals with the pressures of the expectations of being female in the 1940s alongside love, loss, abuse, and many hardships that she handles with class.

As an aspiring writer, lover of books, and female human being, this book spoke to me and I'm excited to purchase a few copies to send to a few of my friends. Ronni and Violet are the kind of characters you come to love, and wish they were real people you could go share a laugh with. This book will make you laugh, cry, shake with anger, fist pump the air in excitement, and inspire a fire in your belly to pursue your passions.

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***I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review***

It All Comes Back to You is the story of two women from different decades with a shared history.

Ronnie struggles to put pen to paper after Violet’s passing. Ronnie cared for Violet at an assisted living facility in the later years of her life, and the two women became like family. Ronnie watched as Violet charmed her fellow (male) residents the same as she charmed (nearly) everyone in her life, and attempted to write that charm in to a biography. Violet saw potential in Ronnie - to be a writer and follow her dreams - so, Violet left a sizeable sum to Ronnie on the situplation that Ronnie write a book about her life.

We follow Violet’s story from her childhood (post WWII Alabama) through to her last days through flashbacks - or whatever you want to call a posthumous retelling of one’s life. I keep thinking of the phrase “Keep your chin up so the crown doesn’t slip” in reference to Violet. She experienced heartache and tradegy and suffered it all with a regal bearing that comes through in the writing.

Ronnie learns more about herself in the writing process and learns to bear her own crown. We get to see her overcome self-doubt and gain confidence through telling Violet’s story and finally taking chances in personal life.

It All Comes Back to You is charming (I keep using that word because it really encompasses this whole story) Southern tale worth indulging in.

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I didn't hate this, but I didn't adore it. It's a nice little story, not poorly written at all. It's just pretty neutral.

I think toward the end of the story, the author wanted to add a little mystery, but it rather fell flat. Considering that any nefarious characters, and any good characters also, were dead from the beginning of the story, there wasn't ever the satisfaction of getting to see a bad guy get put away--and I think the story was complete and lovely without adding that part.

It's just a book about kind of everyday stuff and ups and downs in peoples' lives. There isn't a great deal to say about it. It's a nice, easy read, enjoyable, but not specifically memorable. Definitely worth a read.

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Very nice writing by Beth Duke, with a twist at the end you don't expect at all. Lovely smatterings of humor at the nursing home and while I couldn't necessarily sink my all into Violet's relationships, or the MC's, because there wasn't as much depth as I would have liked, it was a good read.

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It All Comes Back to You is an enjoyable read that will keep your attention. There are many emotions the reader will feel while reading this book - happiness, sadness, surprise, and some anger for starters. Duke weaves together two stories of strong women, one taking place in the 1940s/1950s and the other is current day. Topical themes are explored in It All Comes Back to You, such as adoption, domestic abuse, mother/daughter relationships, and aging.

The story centers around Ronni, a nurse who befriends a beautiful and lovable woman named Violet who lives at the assisted living/nursing home facility where Ronni works. When Violet passes, she leaves Ronni some money along with the challenge that if she writes her story, she will receive more money. Ronni has always wanted to be an author so this provides her with the motivation to try to achieve that goal. The story alternates between Ronni and Violet’s past, which makes the story all that more compelling. The reader gets to know both main characters very well and may very well feel sad to say goodbye to them when the book ends.

It All Comes Back to You is a book about coming to terms with your life and the choices you make. There are second chances and themes of hope, perseverance, love/loss, transformation, plus lots of secrets to discover. There are a few big surprises that I did not see coming at all. I strongly recommend this book for its writing, themes, character development, and relationships.

Thank you to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

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'Everybody loved her' is what we keep hearing about Violet; but why? What made Violet such a a special person? Follow Ronni as she writes about Violet's life. With chapters that alternate between Ronni and Violet, we gradually learn more about both women, and what makes them so special . This was a great, heartwarming read.

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It All Comes Back to You by Beth Duke

I sit here thankful I found this book in my computer. I thought I had missed the archive date and not downloaded it and then...there it was...and I thought...why not...and once I started reading I could not stop. I was drawn in by by Violet who would have been three years younger than my mother was in 1947. At times I thought of my mother being faced by situations Violet experienced except my mother, thankfully, did not have to deal with all that Violet did.

This is two stories in one. There is Violet’s story that begins in 1947 when she is 17 and from there we move forward every other chapter learning a bit more about her and how her life unfolded. Alternating with Violet’s story is Ronni Johnson’s, a practical nurse working in the nursing home Violet is a resident of. I was impressed by both Violet and Ronni and how they dealt with what life threw their way. Violet’s indomitable spirit in the face of so many difficulties was impressive and the fact that she was able to be happy and giving in spite of everything...amazing. Ronni’s story was much more modern but her formative years were not easy and the fact that she ended up so well adjusted, normal, happy and giving was commendable, too.

I really enjoyed reading this book even during the unhappier moments of Violet’s life. I cared and felt and hoped and became invested in the outcome. There definitely were a few twists and turns within this story and one HUGE whammy toward the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Books Go Social for the copy to read and review. This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

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Outstanding Southern fiction that will engage you and keep you captivated from beginning to end with its lovable and memorable characters and dual storylines.

The setting, characters, and story are well developed and beautifully written, and I recommend picking up a copy of this book!

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Another adorable read with lots of wit and wisdom about life thrown in. I’m a big fan of split narrative books with two time periods so this was right up my alley I loved reading about life in the 40’s and that simpler time period where romance was how it should be. The adventure of spunky violet where fun and exciting and I enjoyed the character of Ronni too and her work with the elderly people and their stories. This book was full of cozyness and charm I couldn’t stop reading! The stories and the lives unfolding through out this gem are captivating and worth reading

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Okay, so totally didn't expect for It All Comes Back to You to make me ugly-cry. Such a sweet, touching story!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

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This easily had me staying up way too late to finish and I don't regret a single moment. The story is so well written and heart wrenching and full of surprises, I didn't want to put it down! The characters are lovable and I felt like I was living their lives along with them. Excellent book!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers, and Beth Duke for the opportunity to read this amazing story!

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Oh I loved this one, it was absolutely wonderful. It was funny, warm and a little sad. The ending made me sob and it was my favourite part of the book, even if that is very hard to say, because all parts were amazing. I fell in love with the characters and I am so glad I got to read this book, I have to buy a copy for myself ASAP :)

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I really enjoyed this book for its cosiness and charm.

Many themes were a feature in “It All Comes Back To You”, including ageing, mother and daughter relationships and domestic abuse.

The book tells the story of two women, Ronnie and Violet, who are from different decades, but they share a history. Beth Duke’s creation of these marvellous characters was extraordinary as I grew to love them throughout the progression of the story.

This book evoked many different emotions in me, making me laugh and cry at various stages of reading.

Overall, this was a delightful novel with a nice little twist at the end.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel at my own request from BooksGoSocial via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

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I am in charge of our Senior School library and am looking for a diverse array of new books to furnish their shelves with and inspire our young people to read a wider and more diverse range of books as they move through the senior school. It is hard sometimes to find books that will grab the attention of young people as their time is short and we are competing against technology and online entertainments.
This was a thought-provoking and well-written read that will appeal to young readers across the board. It had a really strong voice and a compelling narrative that I think would capture their attention and draw them in. It kept me engrossed and I think that it's so important that the books that we purchase for both our young people and our staff are appealing to as broad a range of readers as possible - as well as providing them with something a little 'different' that they might not have come across in school libraries before.
This was a really enjoyable read and I will definitely be purchasing a copy for school so that our young people can enjoy it for themselves. A satisfying and well-crafted read that I keep thinking about long after closing its final page - and that definitely makes it a must-buy for me!

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Thank you Netgalley and BookGoSocial for an arc copy of It All Comes Back to You in exchange for an honest review

I really enjoyed this book. That ending though was a bit heart breaker. I will bring some tears. I highly enjoyed this book! I highly recommend this read. It was very fast read and a page turner. I was very glad I requested this and was approved for it. So be prepared guys for a heart-warming story. I do love how well the author introduced us to the characters.

I am looking forwards to reading more by this author!

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A wonderful feel good novel which I throughly enjoyed. I loved everything about this book. It is well written with great characters and a beautiful setting. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for future works by Beth Duke.

The story unfolds at a good pace and has more than a few surprises to keep the reader engrossed right through.

I will be recommending this book to all my friends and family.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy of this title in exchange for an unbiased review.

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3.5 rounded up. This is the story of Ronni, a nurse working in a retirement home, whose life was touched by one of her residents, Violet. The book alternates between Ronni's story and Violet's which spans many years beginning in 1947.

I really enjoyed the characters, especially Violet. I thought the author did such a good job with the two main characters. I could have read a whole book on just Violet's life. My only criticism of the characters was that I wasn't a big fan of Rick. I thought Chet was a very fascinating character and I loved reading about Sam.

I also thought the ending was very good with a nod to the title of the book.

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the copy of this book

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I absolutely adored the way that Beth Duke intertwined the stories of Ronni, a nursing home nurse, and Violet, one of her beloved patients. Both women led such interesting lives, and the way their stories unraveled together was fun to read. I particularly liked the twists and turns the plot took, especially at the end of the novel. Overall, an excellent read!

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Oh. My. Lanta. LOVE, LOVED this one!

From the synopsis:
‘..meets the captivating Violet in the assisted living facility where Violet requires no assistance, just lots of male attention’
Hook. Line. and SINKER- you've got me.
A spicy, ELDERLY little minx? - PLEASE!
An assisted living facility? YES!
Dual timelines between the past & present? DONE DEAL.

I'm not going into too much detail on the plot- insert: google.

What I will talk about is how this gave me ALL the feels. It kicked me down, dragged me around and then just when I THOUGHT I was back on my feet- it pushed me into the pool.

The friendship between a nurse in an assisted living facility and one of the lovely and charming residents is enough to restore your faith in humanity. Following both Ronni (in the present), and Violet (in the past)- we discover love, tragedy, heartache, secrets and the resilience to break free. Violet endured such loss in life, but it never held her back. She fought every obstacle she faced and still had love to give. I admired her strength- I cried for (and with) her, I loved with her, I lost with her- I ached to know her. The writing was beautiful and rich, the atmosphere lush and the characters authentic.

I'm not saying this is all roses and butterflies- it isn't. It's real and raw- like life- but there is beauty in that, if we choose to acknowledge it. There are so many wonderful messages throughout and I would be doing this book a disservice if I just listed them- see for yourself.

This would be a WONDERFUL pick for a book club- it’ll spark much discussion and thought-provoking dialogue.

TW: domestic abuse

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This book is a fun read because it goes between two different story lines that overlap and interweave at the same time making for a complete and very interesting story. This feels like a perfect work of southern fiction because of its subjects and the way it’s written to be very warm and cozy. I really like the strong women in the story and how central they are to the story itself as well as how well the author paints a picture of this time in 1947 and in 2012. Her descriptions and her characters make the story feel so real.

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An author who I know from doing a blog tour for a previous book. I knew this was going to be a book I would love so I would have begged to be a part of this tour! Luckily I didn't have too.
We meet Ronni, a carer who mainly enjoys her job but her deepest wish was to be an author. When her favourite patient Violet passes away she leaves an unusual bequest to Ronni. Ronni has sat and listened for hours to Violet's stories of her past and now Ronni must write a full book of Violet's memoirs. It has to be written and published in one year, if Ronni can manage this, not so small request she will inherit a fortune.
A book that is split into two stories, one being Violet's life and the other Ronni's, told in alternating chapters. Despite the age difference of the two women it is quite easy to see why Violet chose Ronni to accomplish this feat. We see some things that are surprisingly similar between the two women and they just understand one another.
Ronni begins by delving straight back to 1947  with Violet's diaries and as she starts to dig into Violet's life she begins to unearth secrets that she never would have guessed and as she continues she finds her life-changing as well.
The twist you don't see coming breaks your heart all over again. It does say one thing, the older generations are emotionally more hardy than the younger generations, they went through so much adversity and got through it so well.
Well, a beautiful story with two characters that grab your attention immediately. I was so invested in them both along the way. All about love, friendships and the bonds we make through life. It is a heartbreaking story as well as being funny and heartwarming all at the same time. I did find it as good, if not better than the previous book I have read. One thing I can say is the quality is constant. Beth Duke's writing has created another page-turner that I loved again.
Thanks to ZooLoo's Book Tours, NetGalley and Beth Duke.

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