Description
Meet the residents of number 24 in the warm, witty and wonderful new novel from bestselling author Juliet Ashton.
When your marriage falls apart, the last place you'd want your husband to move to is downstairs. Unfortunately for Sarah, up in the eaves at number 24, her ex-husband now lives one floor beneath her with his new wife. Their happiness floats up through the floorboards, taunting her.
A child psychologist, Sarah has picked up great sadness from the little girl, Una, who lives with her careworn mother three floors below, but is Sarah emotionally equipped to reach out?
The Spring brings a new couple to the house. Jane and Tom's zest for life revives the flagging spirits, and Sarah can't deny the instant attraction to handsome Tom. Having seen at first hand what infidelity does to people, she'll never act on it ... but the air fizzes with potential.
The sunshine doesn't reach every corner of number 24, however. Elderly Mavis, tucked away in the basement, has kept the world at bay for decades. She's about to find out that she can't hide forever.
Juliet Ashton weaves a story of love, friendship and community that will move you to laughter and to tears. Think Cold Feet meets David Nicholls, with a dash of the joy of Jill Mansell added for good measure.
When your marriage falls apart, the last place you'd want your husband to move to is downstairs. Unfortunately for Sarah, up in the eaves at number 24, her ex-husband now lives one floor beneath her with his new wife. Their happiness floats up through the floorboards, taunting her.
A child psychologist, Sarah has picked up great sadness from the little girl, Una, who lives with her careworn mother three floors below, but is Sarah emotionally equipped to reach out?
The Spring brings a new couple to the house. Jane and Tom's zest for life revives the flagging spirits, and Sarah can't deny the instant attraction to handsome Tom. Having seen at first hand what infidelity does to people, she'll never act on it ... but the air fizzes with potential.
The sunshine doesn't reach every corner of number 24, however. Elderly Mavis, tucked away in the basement, has kept the world at bay for decades. She's about to find out that she can't hide forever.
Juliet Ashton weaves a story of love, friendship and community that will move you to laughter and to tears. Think Cold Feet meets David Nicholls, with a dash of the joy of Jill Mansell added for good measure.
Review
Oh my goodness I was not expecting this book to be as outstanding as it turned out to be. I set myself up for a little lighthearted chick lit read when this book is so much more than that.
I found myself thinking about this book when not reading it - wondering what was going to happen next, what the characters would be getting up to. I'm so sad to finish reading it as really I became enveloped in the world of Number 24.
When the book began I wasn't sure what I was reading could be right. Sarah had just been to the reception of her ex husband in the flat downstairs....... Then there are Sarah's friends:-
absent friend Smith - what part did she play in Number 24?
unlikely new friend Mavis, tucked away in the basement flat with her foul mouthed Cockatoo Peck - named after his favourite pastime.
and the wonderful Jane - so much life and soul to her character and someone I would love to have as a friend.
So many levels to this book from the dastardly Leo (I could have throttled him several times over!) and the doe eyed Sarah still in love with him. The career Sarah has which she feels unable to fulfil any longer and the children she has treated. Sarah's attempts at finding a new love interest and her involvement with all the other residents at Number 24. Not to mention her decorating sessions with her ex husband while his new wife is out. Not forgetting Smith and the part she played in Sarah's life.
So many twists and turns, one which made me gasp out loud and then be determined to finish the book in one go, as I had to know what was going to happen.
So many great memories of this book - I really feel like I was a fly on the wall at Number 24.
I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. My thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy for review.
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