Thanks to Tracy Fenton of Compulsive Readers and the publisher for my gifted digital copy of the book. Today I join the tour with my honest review.
What if the life you’re living isn’t the one you want?
Jessica and Robin have been best friends since university. For his fortieth birthday, she plans an elaborate surprise trip to Italy with his closest friends and family. Sometimes it feels like everyone knows how much she loves Robin… everyone except Robin himself.
Laura has two beautiful children, a stylish London home and a thriving career as a deputy headteacher. But she also has a secret. One she’s been keeping for many years. And now it’s time for the truth to come out.
Actor Robin is looking forward to being the centre of attention once more, as those he loves most come together for a week-long getaway. But as long-simmering desires rise to the surface and tensions reach breaking point, he begins to wonder…
Could life really begin again at forty?
From the Richard & Judy Book Club author Kate Eberlen, Life Begins is an emotional relationship drama set in the Italian countryside.
My Review
This book just drew me in with the beautiful cover and the blurb. I haven’t read any Kate Eberlen before and did look forward to seeing what it was actually going to be like.p
Jessica and Robin are friends from their university days. Jessica has always loved Robin, but he has never noticed at all. She has surpised him with a trip for them all to Italy to celebrate his 40th birthday 2 years previous during Covid. Although Jessica is in love with him, Robin is married to Laura and blissfully unaware of Jessica’s feelings.
Told from the multiple perspectives of these three characters and over the space of the week, everyone is in Italy. This is a holiday that may have consequences that can’t be put back in a box for everyone. Robins brother’s and their families join as well as Tim, Robins friend too, and Robin and Laura’s daughter brings a friend also. This group of people together think they are only going away together. Nobody knows what lies ahead.
It is an extremely interesting and immersive story. One which is very character driven. I thoroughly enjoyed the tensions that rose between them as the days went by. Each relationship within the group just became more layered and sometimes complex. Kate Eberlen has woven a story that has so many mixed emotions. Rather like a rollercoaster, the reader is in this with the characters. Their ups and downs are all visible as the cracks deepen and trouble come to the fore.
The characters are created perfectly for this book, and while not all are likeable, they are all very human. I totally got this story and could see the reflection of how complex people can really be.
I was so sucked in I didn’t want to finish this. I loved being on the sidelines and witnessing people being human. I will be looking for more of this authors books now.
sharonbeyondthebooks.uk 