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A review by beate251
Have I Told You Lately by Beth Moran
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC.
Emmaline (Emmie) Brown, 26, is adopted and has been working with her mother Nell in their pasty shop at a small Nottinghamshire airport since she was 13. Two years after Nell suddenly died, she's continued with the shop on her own but has become increasingly unhappy and wants to find what else is out there.
She has a crush on Pip Hawkins, an agricultural student from the Isle of Siskin which must be fictional as Google gave me nothing. He comes through the airport quite often and always buys one of her pasties.
While looking through her mother's things, she finds letters from a "G" who seems to have been her husband and linked to that island - a fact that Emmie was entirely unaware of. She decides to find out more and buys an open end ticket to the Isle of Siskin, on the same flight as Pip - her first flight ever.
While there, "Pasty Girl" gets drawn into Pip's big family straight away (there are three sisters and all the women have flower names), stays at his sister Lily's B&B and helps organise her wedding, while falling more and more in love with Pip. But not everybody is happy to see her - in fact there is one person trying to actively get her in trouble and leave the island. Will she overcome the hostility and find out the secrets from her mother's past?
I didn't like how the islanders, both in the past and present, are described as hostile and insular and being prejudiced against island/mainland relationships. I found those scenes quite upsetting.
However, as suffocating as I would find it having everyone in my business, the description of the landscape and food was enticing, and both Emmie and Pip were great characters. I loved how she courageously tried new things and that after her return to the mainland she didn't wallow in self pity but spent time looking for her mother's family and finding out what she wanted to do with her life, drawing up a plan together with BFF Blessing.
This is an uplifting story of self-discovery, family secrets, loss, friendship and second chances that resonated deeply with me and had a heartwarming ending. I also loved the gorgeous cover. Recommended if you love uncovering old secrets and enjoying new challenges.
Emmaline (Emmie) Brown, 26, is adopted and has been working with her mother Nell in their pasty shop at a small Nottinghamshire airport since she was 13. Two years after Nell suddenly died, she's continued with the shop on her own but has become increasingly unhappy and wants to find what else is out there.
She has a crush on Pip Hawkins, an agricultural student from the Isle of Siskin which must be fictional as Google gave me nothing. He comes through the airport quite often and always buys one of her pasties.
While looking through her mother's things, she finds letters from a "G" who seems to have been her husband and linked to that island - a fact that Emmie was entirely unaware of. She decides to find out more and buys an open end ticket to the Isle of Siskin, on the same flight as Pip - her first flight ever.
While there, "Pasty Girl" gets drawn into Pip's big family straight away (there are three sisters and all the women have flower names), stays at his sister Lily's B&B and helps organise her wedding, while falling more and more in love with Pip. But not everybody is happy to see her - in fact there is one person trying to actively get her in trouble and leave the island. Will she overcome the hostility and find out the secrets from her mother's past?
I didn't like how the islanders, both in the past and present, are described as hostile and insular and being prejudiced against island/mainland relationships. I found those scenes quite upsetting.
However, as suffocating as I would find it having everyone in my business, the description of the landscape and food was enticing, and both Emmie and Pip were great characters. I loved how she courageously tried new things and that after her return to the mainland she didn't wallow in self pity but spent time looking for her mother's family and finding out what she wanted to do with her life, drawing up a plan together with BFF Blessing.
This is an uplifting story of self-discovery, family secrets, loss, friendship and second chances that resonated deeply with me and had a heartwarming ending. I also loved the gorgeous cover. Recommended if you love uncovering old secrets and enjoying new challenges.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Abandonment