Well written story about families and the fallout after divorce. Subjects covered include OCD, breast cancer and adultery. Told from the viewpoints of individuals involved, which is the truth? With the addition of research into memory and how it changes over a period of time, whose memories are truly factual? I found the story line somewhat depressing, if intriguing.

I was engaged with the characters and enjoyed the plot but some bits were a bit crude and not in keeping with the style in general

I had a hard time rating as I did enjoy it but my expectations left me disappointed.
The writing made this a very quick easy read which I loved. I just expected some intense twist that sadly didn't happen.

This is an ambitious book that seeks to reflect the different perceptions that 4 family members have of the same series of events in their past, and the ramifications they have on their individual and collective lives. The characterizations means that the author has to display a wide understanding of medicine, psychology, location and family dynamics. She does this well and I thoroughly enjoyed the book, despite it being quite bleak at times. The examination of the fallibility of memory was thought provoking too and I think this would make a great recommendation for a Book Club read.

Hmmmmm, well this book was ok but nothing really happened! It is a story told from the four perspectives of family members who are all dealing with one event that shaped their lives 8 years ago. It is interesting to see how each person had different memories of the same event.

An interesting and absorbing novel tackling various themes such as adultery, mental health, OCD and alcoholism. Rosie & Lisa have been friends for years, raising their children and enjoying holidays together with their respective husband's. During one fateful summer Rosie's husband Nick and her friend Lisa grow closer and begin an affair which eventually leads to both leaving their spouses to be together.
The story follows the resulting impact on both families and the damage done. I very much enjoyed this book although I didn't feel drawn to any of the characters.
I have given 4 stars as the ending felt a little rushed and ambiguous to me but overall a good read.
Thanks to Netgalley, Penguin UK for advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.

A really interesting read. The complexities of the human brain and the way people really are.

I didn't know much about this book when I sat down to read it - but I was intrigued by the cover and the title. Within the first few pages I was deeply engaged in the characters, the story and most of all in Fiona Neill's wonderful writing.
The premise is wonderful - and very well executed. Four different members of one family - which disintegrated seven years before - are forced to look back on the events of the summer when the break up happened. Each of them has their own take on the events which lead to the family breaking up, and the fall out afterwards.
Nick, the father in the piece, works in researching memory and how it works and this makes for a fascinating addition to the book. Each of us will remember key events differently and over the years will rewrite memories in our head so that what we may think happened can become distorted with the passage of time - although our belief in our memories being accurate will be as strong as ever.
It is fascinating to see how four different people recall the memories of one summer - and how events, perhaps misinterpreted, have had irreparable knock on effects for all of them. At times this book is just incredibly sad - this is a family, even now, still in crisis.
Fiona Neill's writing is evocative, intelligent and gripping. The characters are fully formed and it is impossible not to feel for them - in particular for the two, now adult, children Daisy and Max who are bearing the scars of their past in very different ways.
If I have any criticism is that I would have liked to see where the story goes for Daisy.

This is a strong read that offers much to think about.

Not so much a thriller as a book about family, relationships and how different perception can be. I found it to be an ok read, could be ‘cause I waited for the thrill. But it was interesting enough to keep me reading. If you don’t mind reading about some sensitive topics (cancer, OCD, adultery) then this might be a suitable book to give a try. I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin UK!

A story about family life, deceit and adultery. Not my usual genre but a good holiday read. The story is about two families and one husband having an affair with the wife of the other. It explores the impact of the betrayal on the other family members. An episode of Jeremy Kyle! I do like the writing style but my feelings about the book are mixed, especially the ending. Thanks to Net Galley for my copy. I reviewed on Goodreads and Amazon.

Sorry this is only 2 stars. The story was quite depressing and I didn't like any of the characters. I do however praise the author for her research on ; OCD, breast cancer and false memories. Everyone in the book was damaged and unhappy and as a reader I feel that I am looking for a book to enjoy and feel excited about!

I received a free ecopy of this book in return for an honest review. Many thanks to Netgalley and and the publisher for the opportunity.

Written from the alternating viewpoints of the members of one family, this book is insightful with so many subjects, not just obvious central adultery plot and its impact on the families, but also cancer, OCD the nature of memory.

The book begins with the arrival of a letter for mum, Rosie from her one time best friend Lisa. Lisa set up house with Rosie’s husband eight years ago after having an affair with him. Lisa now has cancer and wants to speak to Rosie before she dies. Rosie is a cancer specialist so we get an in depth look at cancer and it’s effect on all those who come into contact with it. Also, perhaps more disturbingly, an up close and personal look at the Tinder app. Lisa’s letter is initially intercepted by Daisy, Rosie’s daughter and causes her to relapse into her OCD condition. Not only do we get a very perceptive look at OCD but we also get an unexpected side look at the nature of magical thinking which I suspect most people are guilty of to some degree. We all think we can influence events with our personal superstitions. Dad, Nick, is a memory researcher. Early on, though we see that he is not so perceptive with regards to Daisy and son, Max who he completely misreads.

The differing nature of each person’s memories is demonstrated when, after examining the impact of current events, we are pulled back to watch those early events unfold. We learn everyone’s guilty secrets. Brought back again to the present day we are presented with twists we never saw coming.

I was reeled into this book almost against my will, drawn in by the irresistible visions of other people’s thought processes. The only fault I would find was that it ends so abruptly. By then I was like a train moving at full speed with the brakes suddenly thrown on. My own brain continued filling in the story after it ended. If a sequel popped up I would grab it with both hands.

My true rating for this would be 3.5 stars. This is the story of two families that are torn apart by an affair between Rosie's husband and her best friend. None of the characters in this book are particularly likeable but the writing is strong. The daughter of Rosie has OCD and I personally feel like this is a very realistic portrayal of OCD and the effect that it has on the people around them. Also it was an interesting portrayal of how a parents actions can have a lasting effect on their children no matter how old they are. There was not quite enough to keep me turning the pages but this is probably because I am used to reading thrillers. The ending was surprising, not at all what I was expecting.

The book started on a familiar premise - what happens when one best friend goes off with the other's husband? As I know people this has happened to, I know this premise is fairly accurate. It causes shock all around and great disturbance in their children. Throw into the mix one of the children's propensity towards OCD, which is greatly exacerbated by the trauma between her parents, and what happens as a result of several practical jokes which go wrong, and you are in for a great story. It is intelligently written, with some good insights. My only criticism was that the end, whilst it was somewhat inevitable, left many questions unanswered. I would really have liked a 'three months later' or 'one year later' epilogue to tie up the loose ends.

This book both broke my heart and uplifted it in other places. I can relate to the subject of Daisy's compulsive behaviour and her OCD as I suffer myself and so does my best friend who is also called Daisy and ironically we are from Norfolk where the book is based. This was a gripping read and I loved the depth of characters and the plot line was very clever and well written

This book didn't kept me interested and I couldn't engage with the characters. I gave up on it half way through.

I chose this book as I read that it discussed the topic OCD which interested me, but that is only one of the threads that wind through the story. From the very start I was engrossed in the lives of the characters and the two totally dysfunctional families with entwining lives through their equally dysfunctional children. What a wonderful myriad of characters displaying actions that made me as a reader feel sorry for the person but yet wonder how I would deal with such a betrayal as well.
I look forward to reading more by this author as she describes characters and places so realistically that it is easy to feel that you are there with them. I loved the way that chapters were used to give different characters views and to slowly unwind the betrayals. I did feel that the ending was too up in the air and so did not leave me feeling that I had finished. The OCD theme that runs through the book is fantastic and gives such an excellent into this disorder.

I'm usually very mean about giving five star reviews but this title certainly deserved all five.

Neill has such an engaging and easy flow to her narrative that I found myself drawn into the tangled lives of the characters and loved the way she introduced me to subject areas I don't necessarily have an in depth knowledge of with ease. I'm assuming she did her research because I was totally sold on themes such as OCD and the world of medicine.

There are neat plot twists here that are probably not so hard to guess but compelling none the less.

Unlike some books that speak from the point of view of two or more characters, I could honestly say that I knew which character's head I was in, So many authors fail miserably when it comes to a split narrative but this one works.

A real page turner for me and one I would highly recommend this book.

Rosie Foss is sent a letter from Lisa, her ex best friend. Lisa we quickly learn is the woman who left her own husband years ago to live with Nick, who was married to Rosie. This letter in question is intercepted by Rosie's daughter Daisy, Daisy suffers from OCD and who sees it as emotionally manipulative, wanting to protect her mum from the contents. Lisa wants to tell Rosie something that she needs to know ‘before it is too late’.

The story goes back to a holiday at the home where Rosie grew up (and where Lisa and Nick now live after the divorce settlement) – when Barney (Lisa’s husband) finds out he’s lost his job and we are witness to the toxic breakdowns of the marriages. The story is told from the viewpoints of the 4 members of Rosie’s and Nick’s family and for me the only thing missing was a plot twist or turn.

Quite an entertaining book about the repercussions of an affair, but not something that kept me interested for long. I didn;t really engage with the characters, and couldn't really get into it. It passed a few hours though