“If it’s out of your hands, it deserves freedom from your mind, too.”
Ivan Nuru
Thank you, Spidey, for the thought provoking quote, this week.
Going through all this house decluttering, in readiness for whenever we do move, has made me ponder upon the amount of emotional baggage we carry around with us, too.
Now, emotional baggage is different to memories.
Memories are those things that can be the light in a dark time – but, I know the opposite can happen with less favourable memories. (I try and lock them away as far away as I can, so they can’t impact upon my life too easily.
They can also be thought of as emotional baggage, along with those thoughts that can cloud our minds about issues we are unable to do anything about.
Sometimes, precious emotional energy, and mental strength is used up on things that are out of our hands, or not destined to be in our paths, at that time.
Let them go.
I’m not saying forget about everything that is hard, or issues around the world that you are not necessarily immediately affected by.
No.
Empathy is needed there, and if you are in the position to, then support by all means.
But, it’s that worry about things you can do nothing about.
Take a house move, for instance. I think, if you are familiar with moving, you’ll know what I mean. Once things are in the hands of the solicitors, aside from the chivvying along that we can do, there is nothing else, but to wait for all the dates to align… Sitting there, fretting, is not going to move things any quicker, is it?
Or, again, a little example from my own work life – I have to stop myself worrying about next academic year, and the children who will be joining us. I am already aware of the high level of Special Needs that are destined in our class, but I can do nothing about it. Worrying will not magic the need away. I have a current class with enough to keep my mind filled with stress! At least, I can be prepared for any eventuality… but for now, I’ve freed those thoughts from my mind.
I’m generally pretty good at identifying the things that it is no point in losing sleep over, but I live with people who have a hard time doing this, and stress eats away at them. No amount of my trying to convince them to try and relax actually gets them to let go. This is probably more frustrating for me!
So, tell me, are you able to let go of the things you hold no control over?
I am excited to be handing my blog over to the wonderfully talented Lizzie Chantree, today, to let you know about her new release!
Shh… It’s Our Secret, by Lizzie Chantree
Thank you for inviting me onto your beautiful blog today and for the amazing support of the launch of my latest book! Shh… It’s Our Secret, is about a shy woman called Violet, who is trying to silence her inner critic and step out of the shadows. Her best friends and sister support her, but she feels like they don’t see the real her, or understand that she has ambitions of her own and skills that could help them all. To them, she is reliable, slightly dull and not very talented, but she is hiding a secret that could blow this theory sky high. Violet will have to eliminate old demons, learn to stand up for herself and show the world who she really is.
Book Blurb: Violet has a secret that could change the lives of everyone she knows and loves, especially the regulars at the run-down café bar where she works. After losing her parents at a young age, they are the closest thing she has to a family and she feels responsible for them. Kai is a jaded music producer who has just moved outside of town. Seeking solitude from the stress of his job, he’s looking for seclusion. The only problem is he can’t seem to escape the band members and songwriters who keep showing up at his house. When Kai wanders into the bar and Violet’s life, he accidently discovers her closely guarded secret. Can Kai help her rediscover her self-confidence or should some secrets remain undiscovered?\
I was honoured to read an arc of the book, and I really enjoyed it! Here’s my review.
Shh… Can I tell you a secret? I finished this in a day! I have read several of Lizzie Chantree’s books already, she is an extremely versatile author, and this book is another little gem in her book jewels. Violet loves to sing. She has since she was young, but the joy of singing ends when her parents pass away. Since then, she’s hidden her talent, singing in secret, and succumbed to an awful relationship. The only silver lining in the cloud that is her life is the cafe she works at, and the family she has built from her regular customers. Life takes a huge turn when music producer Kai walks into the cafe and hears her voice. All in all, an enjoyable read, quick and easy, and the happy ending we all want! Many thanks to NetGalley and BHC Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
International bestselling author and award-winning inventor, Lizzie Chantree, started her own business at the age of 18 and became one of Fair Play London and The Patent Office’s British Female Inventors of the Year in 2000. She discovered her love of writing fiction when her children were little and now works as a business mentor and runs a popular networking hour on social media, where creatives can support to each other. She writes books full of friendship and laughter, that are about women with unusual and adventurous businesses, who are far stronger than they realise. She lives with her family on the coast in Essex. Visit her website at http://www.lizziechantree.com or follow her on Twitter @Lizzie_Chantree https://twitter.com/Lizzie_Chantree. Short bio: International bestselling author Lizzie Chantree, started her own business at the age of 18 and became one of Fair Play London and The Patent Office’s British Female Inventors of the Year. She writes books full of friendship and laughter, about women with unusual businesses, who are stronger than they realise.
Can I be honest? It feels equally like just the other day I wrote last week’s post, and yet, at the same time, it seems as if last Monday was an age ago!
Let’s catch up! Grabbed a cuppa?
If we were having chai I’d let you know that school has been a bit of a minefield! We has two late evenings which were for parents evening phone calls. I’ve had staff members pushed to the edge of their limits with their respective one to one children, with one sadly leaving us. She has stated categorically that she hates having to leave our team, but feels. like she is unable to do anything with this child she works with. That is tough. I have been reading those reams of paperwork, as well as trying to juggle staff, and rewrite the report format for Early Years, to simplify things for us all! And I forgot to mention this last week, but we have tadpoles right now, and the kids are so excited!
If we were having chai I’d tell you that all week I have felt drained. I haven’t been out for walks, because time hasn’t allowed it to happen. I have also, over the weekend, eaten rather badly. But, given the way I was feeling, I cut myself some slack. I can get back to it soon enough.
If we were having chai I’d mention that Lil Man got his official letter through with his assessment dates, and his final day of school… EEK! How did he get old enough to have a last day of school? And Lil Princess, well she has just spent the day being a total teen, moody, deciding she want’s to change school (Er, hello! Not that easy!) because she HATES this one, then flipping into this real calm, loving child… Oh, the hormones!
If we were having chai I’d tell you that I finally got up into the attic, on Saturday and Sunday. To be honest, there isn’t as much as I thought, but what is up there needs a good sort out, so we don’t move, whenever that happens, with a whole load of excess stuff! We found so many funny things, such as the kids primary school books, and even funnier, Hubby Dearest’s school photos and certificates, as well sa my school reports! And there was also lots of old correspondence between young Ritu and Hubby Dearest, when we were gf/bf, and then, an engaged couple! I also found something rather embarassing, (and to be honest, I don’t know whose it is…there is more than one possible cuplrit!) but, buried within some paperwork, was an, ahem, top shelf magazine! And, just my luck, as I was looking to see if there was anything of importance, within this pile of papers, I flicked through said mag, when Lil Man walked past! I coloured, and couldnt hide it fast enough! Then I heard him asking his dad why mum found a magazine filled with naked ladies! OMG! Embarrassment factor is high! But, neverthheless, a few more bags went into the skip, and as you read this, I might be up there again, getting more down!
If we were having chai I’d tell you thhat no writing has happened, but I thin my life is full right now, and headspace isn’t clear. School is full on, home is, too, and solicitors… don’t ask, but if you have ever been through the house selling/buying cycle, you will know exactly what I am talking about! I found this sign on a walk a couple of days ago, and it kinda sums up life, and my ability to make decisions right now!
If we were having chai I’d say that I have been trying to read, but energy and time mean that I am not getting through books as fast as I usually do, but I an definitely managing to buy more, to top up my TBR pile, just in case I ever need any more reading material!
This week, we have a bank holiday, (today), which will involve more clearing out, and another cricket match for Lil Man, too! A four day school week, which will be fun, but rushed, too. There’s lots of Specialist Teachers coming in to observe various children, as well as an after school training session, twice, too. Next weekend? I am sure, more cricket, and definitley next phase of the clear out. We will get there!
This still stands, too!
Now, I will say this here, so hold me accountable, folks.
On top of school, the next five weeks will be hectic. We have Lil Man with his GCSE year, coming to an end, so even though they don’t have exams, there are still assessments happening, so his teachers can submit their grades for qualifications… And there’s the house. I can’t say much, but, things are moving, and this is why I need to step back, a little from some of the weekly prompts, so I can get the clearout done! Evenings and weekends will be being used to sort out the chaff from the wheat, so to speak… And, to add to that, Lil Man’s Cricket, as well as countless courses and forums we have been asked to be a part of, to keep up to date with school changes.
So, if you see me on here, too much, call me out!
And while you’re here, did you sign up for my mailing list? I am in the middle of writing an exclusive Chickpea Curry Lit story for my subscribers, and there will be news, tips and even recipes! You know you want to join… go on! Click the pic below to sign up!
“Clutter is not just the stuff on the floor, it’s anything that stands between you and the life you want to be living.”
Peter Walsh
Thanks for this, Spidey.
Timely, since I am, on my weekends, trying my hardest to do exactly that, clear out material things, as well as sort out my mental storage too, and all that clutters lifee, sometimes unnecessarily.
You think clearing out the attic is the toughest thing to do?
It is a bit of a slog, I grant you that. I actually had a massive clear out about three years ago, so I knew what was up there, more or less… and I am the only one who goes up there, yet, still, I am convinced there are attic gremlins… I swear there was less stuff the last time I went up there!
No, I jest. It’s not that bad. There is definitly a few piles of things that will be able to be donated or skipped, especially since it hasn’t been touched, since we moved into this house eleven years ago!
But what will be more fun is bringing it down, dust and all, because when we do finally move to that ‘forever home’, the removal guys don’t touch the attic. You need to empty it yourself.
Going back to my initial question, the attic, and all that stuff, is the least of my worries. It is most definitely Marie Kondo-ing my life that is tougher.
When you have a physical clear out, you keep everything that sparks joy, and if it no longer does, you thank it for its use, then say goodbye. But that’s not quite the same for everything that goes on in your day to day life.
There is an awful lot that won’t spark joy, but you still have to do it. Like cleaning, and ironing. Washing dishes, mowing the lawn. Going to work, paying bills… Adulting, basically.
In fact, it is often important to find what isn’t making you happy, and working out why it isn’t, and then finding ways to make these tasks more manageable, if not enjoyable.
Because, when you clear out your life, it is more about making the time to do the things that actually do bring you joy.
Finding that work/life balance, learning how to not just parent, but also be yourself, too.
We have a life to live, and even though there are plenty of responsibilities we cannot shirk, we also have our hopes and dreams.
So, have a think about what you are doing, every day. Where are you wasting time, doing things that could be done faster, enabling you to have a life worth living?
So, tell me, have you ever Marie Kondo’ed your house and life?
So, last month I went ARC mad and read quite a few from my list, hoping to lessen it… then over the month, I managed to amass the same amount again in new arcs! So, I will try and mix up arc and TBR list reading, this month. the first two weeks I am on holiday so I hope to get a bit read, then!
A holiday that involves books, a bookshop, baking, a dog and a hunk? What’s not to love? Jude’s life revolves around her family, caring for her grandmother, and pottering around, helping her parents in the family bakery business, alongside completing her English degree part-time. Books are her faithful friends throughout her life. When her forbidden romance, ends badly, along with finding out her parents are shutting up shop, and her gran wants to move to a retirement village, she’s at a loss as to what to do, until an email arrives, confirming a booking Jude and her then-boyfriend had made for a two week holiday, running a bookshop and a cafe in a small village in Devon. She arrives, after being forced by her parents and best friend to take the break, hoping for a fortnight of solitude, books and baking, and is rudely awakened on her first night by an intruder. I won’t go into more detail, other than to say that the intruder ends up being hot, and the bookstore comes with a mangy mutt, who both end up stealing the reader’s heart. Jude is a character who has such low self-esteem and feels like she doesn’t have a real place in the world, and this story gives her a chance to grow into herself, and find the life she always wanted. Elliott – that’s the intruder – well, he’s just a fab character, all big and brooding, but gentle and kind, too, and he’s an animal lover. Oh, and he has a bit of a past that he’s trying to get away from. Aldous, the dog, oh, what a star! I loved his connection with the bookshop, and wished I could be the one to coax him out of his grief and stupor! And all the characters in the fictitious village of Clove Lore, from Mrs C and her ‘book’ filled with bets on who will get together and stay in the village, to Minty, owner of the Estate, who has her suspicions about Elliot and why he’s here. A wonderful, sweet, feel-good read. And if you, like me, are someone who doesn’t get along with maths, you’ll relish this story all the more! When I heard about Kiley Dunbar’s latest book, I eagerly awaited the release date and was honoured to be approved to read an arc, as I have loved all of Kiley’s previous releases. Many thanks to NetGalley and Hera Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What a touching tale, based upon truths that are a part of author Bette Lee Crosby’s own history. Margaret is grieving. Her husband of fifty years passes on, leaving her alone, aside from her housekeeper, cleaner and friend, Jean. No family to speak of, no children, Margaret is at a loss. She happens upon a stack of paperwork when clearing out her deceased husband’s desk that leads her on a voyage of discovery, where she ends up with a lot more family than she ever thought possible. Based partially in the early 1900s and the 1960s, the story is told of Margaret’s journey to reunite herself with the family she thought she had lost, and the story of her mother, Eliza, a woman whose children meant more to her than the world, and how they go from being a family to being spread around the country, estranged from one another. A heartwrenching read, I’d recommend to all.
When I see Sarah Morgan, my first thought is Christmas stories, because she writes such amazingly memorable ones. I know there are others, but that is the genre that sticks in my mind. Having said that, seeing The Summer Seekers blurb whet my appetite for another cracker of a story. It seems to be a common theme in recent books I have read, for the story to be set around a road trip, this was the third in as many weeks that I read. Kathleen is an eighty-year-old woman, living alone, fiercely independent, but afraid of what impending age will do to her life. Liza, Kathleen’s daughter wants only the best for her mother. She spent her childhood watching her whirlwind of a mother, taking off to all sorts of glamorous locations as the host of a famous travel show, with little time for her, She has spent her adulthood determined to be more like the mother she wished she had, there, always, for her twin girls and husband, Sean, but that life begins to take its toll. A chance encounter featuring an intruder, a skillet, the police and a head injury, fires up the urge for Kathleen to take one last trip of a lifetime. She’s always wanted to travel Route 66, but, rather like the crock of gold at the end of the rainbow, there is something important she knows she might find at the end of the trip, only she’s not so sure if she wants to find it. However, driving over two thousand miles alone at eighty is probably not a good idea, and there is no way she wants to take this trip with her daughter. Cue Martha, a mid-twenties woman with nothing to lose. An incomplete education, failed marriage and family disapproval behind her, the intrigue of an advert, requiring someone to drive, on an all-expenses-paid trip, spurs her on to take a step in a direction she has never considered before. A wonderful premise for a story filled with so much, from realisation, to love, new beginnings to happy endings; it’s all there and written in a way that has you falling in love with all the characters, and the places they visit, too. Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What a fantastic feel-good read! Alexa Humphries is a young lawyer who is feeling the grind. Daily, she is pouring her heart and soul into her job, which leaves little time for her life. (And I know this is a reality, as my own solicitor emailed me last night past 11 pm, and I wanted to tell her off for still working!) That morning arrives when it all becomes too much, and after much deliberation, she takes her brother’s advice and calls in sick… Duvet Day! It would, ordinarily, be a simple thing, call in, make excuses, then settle down for a day filled with series binges, comfort eating, and relaxing. Simple, if you didn’t live in a houseshare with one of your lawyer colleagues, who needs to learn a little about sympathy, and another mystery housemate who has never introduced herself. Hilarity ensues, as, cosied up in her Unicorn onesie and teddy bear fluffy slippers, Alexa finds herself locked out of the house, after making the (bad) decision to answer the door for a delivery, addressed to her unknown housemate. Oh, what a giggle, from start to finish! I really felt for Alexa, being in a job that can drain everything from you, myself. The thought of a duvet day would buoy me up, too, but equally, fill me with dread about what I’d backlog of work I’d encounter when I got back to work. Poor Alexa has her heart in the right place, and all she wants is the best for the world, to make a difference. I’m sure she wasn’t ever expecting to make that difference, dressed up as a unicorn, though! I won’t spoil the story for you, but it’s a wonderful read, and yes, there is definitely a slow simmering romance, which takes the whole book to begin to boil, but, when you think about it, it’s all rather fast, since the book takes place over the course of one day! Fantastic! Many thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins and One More Chapter, for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion
Do you ever have those moments when you read a book that has been sitting on your TBR for a while, and then you kick yourself for not having read it earlier? Well, I had that revelation as I became more and more engrossed in this wonderful debut by Lucy Keeling. I have been following her progress for a while, but, ashamedly I hadn’t managed to read one of her books. Knowing that book 3 (yes, three, that means I still have another to catch up on!) comes out in less than a week, I felt I simply had to get caught up on the Friends series (not the TV one, obvs!) and so I did. I must add, as an aside, that Lucy’s book came at a time I really needed something to keep my spirits high, put a smile on my face, and generally help me feel good. And Just A Boyfriend did exactly that! Sophie is a wannabe social media influencer. She’s got her five-year plan, and, as long as she sticks to what she has mapped out, she’ll be a wannabe no longer, but, the thing is, her plans don’t really involve life in it, as well. Because, other than work, there is a whole host of other entities that can affect your future plans, including your friends, family, kittens, and men. Specifically, romance with said men. Romance is a no-no, right now. She has no time for it. But why do feelings keep creeping up on her? Especially for a certain male who happens to be the brother of one of her best friends? Such a fun story, with plenty of laugh out loud moments, and cringe factors, where I buried my head in my hands, peeking out that the words that followed, in case that awful thing I thought might happen actually did… Sophie is surrounded by a fantastic supporting cast, including Paige, her friend and employer, as well as a new foster mum for four gorgeous kittens, Mya, another friend, from uni, as well as her landlady, a woman with a few mysteries of her own, and Polly, Sophie’s childhood best friend, who also happens to be the one with the hot bro! Marcus, (said hot bro), is a gardener and oh, he is such a cute character! With strong feelings already attached to his sister’s best mate, he takes on a job, landscaping her garden, not knowing whether he will be able to face Sophie every day. Oh, I really did love it! Sweet, sexy and sassy, all rolled into one story, and I am so excited to dive into the next one, to find out what is in store for Polly!
Just Friends centres on a different one of the group of friends we met in Just A Boyfriend, Lucy Keeling’s debut novel. This time we become more intimate with Polly, sister of Marcus, who was the hero du jour in book one. Polly’s got some unprocessed feelings for a certain gardener, who also happens to be her brother’s best friend, but the player that he is, she can’t trust herself to get too close, so she settles for an office romance that seems to be safe. Oh, and she’s got another secret passion that no one knows about. Bailey’s got issues. He’s harbouring a huge crush, bordering on unrequited love, for his best mate’s sister. But she hasn’t a clue, and she’s also in a new relationship. And, to add icing to his issue cake, his mum is ill. Really ill. And all she wants is to see him happy and settled. What ensues is a brilliant story, filled with will they, won’t they moments, amidst the planning of a huge wedding, (not theirs!) and a ton of sexual chemistry! I love Bailey, he’s giving out Jason Momoa vibes… Polly, I just wanted to scream at her to TELL HIM HOW SHE FEELS! Eager to get into book two, I pretty much devoured this in a day! Oh, Lucy, you have created such a great cast of characters, here. I loved each moment. And with that ending, now I HAVE to read the next one as soon as it is out! Good thing I only have two days to wait!
Oh, such fun! I read the previous two books, last week, in anticipation of this third coming out, and I was not disappointed in the least! Mya has always been the mysterious one, out of these four friends, even though Paige appears to have some sort of psychic talent. We’ve been led through the first two books, with no inkling as to what her secret job is, but now, we finally find out. I won’t spell it out, since you need to read the book to get your own confirmation, but I had an idea… Finding herself at her next ‘job’, Mya is faced with a rival she’d rather not be dealing with, Smithy. A friend of her best friend, Sophie’s husband, hot as hell, and a past conquest Mya would rather forget, especially as she didn’t do ‘that’ twice, with anyone. But it’s hard to get your heart and mind on one track, sometimes. Smithy is the same, battling feelings he’d rather not experience towards this sexy woman, who holds some sort of power over him. I’ve never been to Vegas, but I tell you what, I really want to go, now, to experience some of what these two got up to, even though I know artistic license has been applied! It is great to see a POC main character, with her ethnicity not thrown in your face all the time. Mya may be of Indian heritage but she just proves that women are all the same, really, and can experience the same as any other woman out there. (Heck, her heritage may have just made her even hotter, but then as an Indian woman, myself, I might be biased!) Another cracker of a book, read with ease and speed. So fast that I need the next one, so I know what Paige is up to, too! Come on Ms Keeling, we’re waiting!
This is my first Sophie Claire book, and I was not disappointed, at all. Lily has been transported back to her grandmother’s home to recuperate, after a nasty accident during work. Back to where she spent idyllic childhood times before her world crumbled around her. But not a place she calls home, herself. Though they say home is where the heart is, and her heart seems to be pining for someone, equally attached to that same place. Olivier grew up with Lily. Craving a family of his own, and that anchor that makes you feel at home, he is constantly pulled back to where his parents live, despite being a successful baker in Paris, with a chain of bakeries. This was a love story, but not as traditional as some. It involved a whole lot of accepting yourself, and self-love, as well as the romantic kind. Lily is a character damaged, physically and emotionally by the events of her past. Olivier’s own experiences growing up and coping with knowing no one was really ‘his’, shape him to be the man he is today, and the dreams he holds for the future. And then we have Mamie. Lily’s grandmother. She is an anchor for both these lost souls and wants to use her power over them to protect them in a way only she knows how. A beautiful story, a compelling read and definitely recommended. Many thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I do enjoy a good Adele Parks book, so was thrilled to get my hands on a copy of Both Of Them, a psychological thriller that sounded intriguing. Two women, two disappearances, two husbands confused. Leigh Fletcher is a happy woman, step-mum to two lovely boys and wife to a gorgeous husband. Do they have ups and downs? Sure they do. But nothing major. Kai Janssen is another blissfully happy woman. Married to a rich man who desires her completely, and surrounded by luxury, she wants for nothing. Then one day, they both disappear. The story follows the mysterious disappearance of both women, told from the viewpoints of various characters from the book, including both husbands, Leigh’s eldest stepson, the investigating DC, and her best friend Fiona. Information is drip-fed in a way that makes you want to keep turning the pages until you find out what has happened to them both. I can’t really say much more, because I don’t want to give anything away, but once you get into it, this book is extremely hard to put down again. Did I guess what the ending would be? Well, I’d be lying if I said yes, straight out. I had my suspicions, then they got sent awry as I was led down other paths… Very good. Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Waiting To Begin is the story of a woman, Bessie, but told on two simultaneous days, her birthday, but thirty-seven years apart. At sixteen, Bess thinks she has it all. Her results are out today, her future is all but planned out, she just needs those results to get where she wants. Bess’s family is your usual type, a caring, but an annoying set of parents and an older brother who is just – urgh! She’s got a tentative boyfriend and dreams of their life together Thirty-seven years later, Bess is content. Well, on the surface, anyway. Nothing quite panned out how she hoped, but she’s not unhappy with her life. A doting husband, two great kids, one of them married, their own home. But, there are still gaping holes in her life. There are still secrets that are eating away at her, affecting everything she does, though no one else knows. Not wanting to give the story away, I will comment on the essence. Decisions we make, flippantly, can have huge effects on our life. The need to be keeping up with the rest of the world can eat away at you, making you do things you might not have, otherwise. My heart filled with pity for teenage Bess. I wanted to scoop her up into a hug, and tell her everything will be okay. I will admit to wanting to physically harm a certain young man, too, The same sorrow was felt for older Bess, who is sifting through her life decisions, not sure whether to rock the boat, but finding herself in a situation where she has no choice. An emotional story that will definitely tug, hard, at your heartstrings. When Waiting To Begin flashed up as another new book to come, by Amanda Prowse, I jumped at the chance to read, because she is my all-time favourite author. Her stories never fail to touch the heart, and the way she tells them leaves you emotional for a long time to come, Many thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
What happens when two best friends lose each other, because of a man, and then, many years later, get thrown together to plan a wedding… for their children? This is exactly what happens to Tennyson and Melanie. Both from two very different backgrounds, but at the same school, they form a firm friendship, promising to be there for each other, forever. Then life happens, and love happens, and men, or rather, man, happens. This story was written cleverly, interweaving the story from the past in with the present day, when two almost sworn enemies have to face each other with smiles, when their children fall in love. Enjoyable read.
Another really great read from Liz Talley. Chase London is a child star, thrown into fame’s spotlights from a young age, but, as is the story for many, the fame doesn’t translate as well as an adult. Battling addiction, rehab, and a failing career, she ends up in the hands of therapist, Olivia Han, who’s been hired to straighten her out and get her ready for her next role. They end up in a small wooden cabin, inherited by Olivia and her sister, Neve, as an opportunity for Chase to learn how to Adult – something she has never been taught to do. Simple tasks, such as grocery shopping, clearing leaves from a garden as well as the simple pleasures of eating a candy apple or going fishing. On the surface, it seems like a straightforward story of spoilt rich kid needs bringing down a peg or two, but quite quickly, the story shows the depth of trauma that Chase has suffered over the years; something quite tangled for Olivia to unpick. Beyond that, the treatment ends up being a time of reflection for Olivia, as well, facing some disturbing truths from her own life, building bridges and burning some, too. Of course, there is the element of relationships, too. Olivia is avoiding her supposed ‘soulmate’, and Chase has never really thought about the future, and who might be her ‘one’. A touching book, with some moments to make you smile, but equally, some distressing moments, with talks of child abuse, but handled sensitively.
So, I ended up finishing twelve books, in April. Not too shabby, considering all I have going on with life!
Was there anything above that caught your eye? Tickled your fancy? Let me know in the comments!
I’d love to hear what you’ve been reading and enjoying, too!
But I Smile Anyway... 