Cover Image: Messy, Wonderful Us

Messy, Wonderful Us

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Messy, Wonderful Us is a nice story about two best friends destined to be together but don’t realise it until it is way too complicated.


A predictable read, but nice all the same. I enjoyed the travelling description and the plot that followed the main character through her journey to uncover the secrets her family have been hiding from her which make this one stand out.

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to NetGalley for an early copy in return for an honest review
A very good read and one I can highly recommend to others.
I could not put this down.
Thoroughly enjoyable with an amazing cast of characters that you cannot help but engage with.

Was this review helpful?

Whilst there is no doubt, this is beautifully written, it failed to engage me in the way I was hoping it would. Maybe it was because there were two points of view and random bits of back story nestled in amongst this.

Was this review helpful?

A well written story, with strong, relatable characters (not always likeable) and a plot that kept me engaged and made me gasp out kid with some of the twists. The plot built till I was utterly gripped and couldn’t put it down! I was a bit lost by some of the science terminology at Rome’s and am not sure that the level of research detail added anything to the story for me. Would love to read the next part of Allie and Ed’s story- hope it’s being written!

Was this review helpful?

Hard working scientist Allie has her world rocked when she finds an old letter in her grandmother’s house which suggests that her mother was involved with a mysterious Italian – just before she was pregnant with Allie. Along with her best friend of decades, Ed, who is dealing with a messy separation from his wife, she takes an impulsive holiday to Italy to try and track down the man who might be her birth father. She’s looking to uncover the secret of her past, but along the way we find out the secrets of her grandmother as well as her parents, the secrets that Ed has been hiding and the secret she has hidden from him.

The following section contains minor spoilers.

My only complaint is that Allie is a really shit friend to Ed to be honest. On multiple occasions he tries to tell her about the abuse he’s suffering at the hands of his wife, something that must be incredibly hard for a man to speak up on, and she simply tells him she doesn’t want to hear it because she doesn’t want personal information that could make things awkward. I do understand her motivations, and so will you when you read this book, but at the end of the day her best friend needs to talk and she keeps shutting him out and that was an uncomfortable read. I didn’t feel like it dealt with domestic violence – especially female perpetrated – in the best of ways, although perhaps it highlighted the reality, that men can’t talk about it and people don’t take it seriously. A reality that needs to be changed.

Rant over, aside from that, I did think it was a good story and a good read. Uncovering the secrets of the characters and watching the story unfold was enjoyable. It’s just a shame that I felt the topic of domestic violence wasn’t well handled.

Was this review helpful?

Allie has lived a careful, focused existence. But now she has unexpectedly taken leave from her job as an academic research scientist to fly to a place she only recently heard about in a letter. Her father, Joe, doesn’t know the reason for her trip, and Allie can’t bring herself to tell him that she’s flying to Italy to unpick the truth about what her mother did all those years ago. Beside her is her best friend since schooldays, Ed. He has just shocked everyone with a sudden separation from his wife, Julia. Allie hopes that a break will help him open up. But the secrets that emerge as the sun beats down on Lake Garda and Liguria don’t merely concern her family’s tangled past.

This is a beautiful, stunning and emotional read, I fell in love instantly with the plot and the characters and took them into my heart. Thanks to NetGalley I read this in the summer and it made for perfect summer reading with the setting of gorgeous Italy, I felt like I was on holiday myself. I can see that this would make for good, escapism reading out of summer as you find yourself whisked off to sunny Italy and truly breath-taking locations.

A book such as 'Messy, Wonderful Us' relies heavily on the characters so it is a good job that Isaac has worked her magic with them! Allie and Ed are two very special people, I could feel the connection and friendship between them and it was such a delight getting to know them and taking their story into my heart. I have finished this feeling like I have left behind two friends, but it was so incredible to read about them in this. Allie and Ed go through highs and lows throughout this and I just adored following them and experiencing everything with them, I was brimming with tears at multiple points during this and I would not have it any other way.

'Messy, Wonderful Us' is such a perfect, enjoyable, stunning read and I have to say a book with the most perfect title, it really does describe Allie, Ed and their family aptly. I cherished getting to know the wonderful characters in this book and Isaac has given them a very special, heart-breaking plot. Everything about this read is stunning, from the location to the plot with its breath-taking twists and turns. Read this, you will not regret it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster UK for an advance copy.

Was this review helpful?

Messy, Wonderful Us is a book about grief, family, love and heartache amongst other things. It tackled sensitive topics in a way that I haven’t seen before in other books.

I loved the main characters, and not just because they were well written and developed, but because they were inherently good people with raw, painful issues that didn’t affect the way they treated others. So many times I’ve read about damaged, grieving characters who mistreat the people they’re supposed to care about as a result, but not here. Here we have two characters who respect each other and the people around them while figuring themselves out and making big decisions. Their issues were handled well and left me feeling conflicted… but in a good way, like happy and sad and frustrated and excited.

I have another unread Catherine Isaac book that’s been gathering dust on my shelf for a while, but after this one I’m eager to start it.

5 Messy, Wonderful stars.

Was this review helpful?

It was a happy coincidence that I happened to be on holiday in Verona and Lake Garda when I was reading Messy Wonderful Us by Catherine Isaac. It certainly added to my enjoyment, as the characters visit there during the story.
I have enjoyed previous books by this author and this one didn’t disappoint. The writing is good and the characters are likeable and engaging. It isn’t afraid to tackle some difficult issues, as well as providing a good beach (or lakeside) read.
Recommended even if you are not lucky enough to be in Italy.
Thank you to the author, the publishers and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review #MessyWonderfulUs

Was this review helpful?

Another fantastic book by Catherine Isaac. Addressing sometimes difficult subjects in a way that is accessible for everyone. Full of twists and turns I didn't see coming. I absolutely loved it and the last page or so was a really nice touch.

Was this review helpful?

Brilliant. This is a great story which is set in beautiful and wonderful Italy. It is about families, friendship, heartache and love. It is really well written and had me near to tears several times.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Was this review helpful?

I had so looked forward to this - and enjoyed reading it even more. Captivating and engaging - it is a wonderful book and the characters stay with you long after you have turned the last page.

Was this review helpful?

A totally engaging read. Wonderful relatable characters with an excellent storyline. Quite emotional but with a touch of humour in parts. There are many unforseen twists and turns but the whole book flows and is compelling to read. An excellent holiday read. I look forward to further books from this author.

Was this review helpful?

This is a pleasantly engaging book. The main characters of Allie and Ed are best friends. Allie is looking into her past to answer questions about her dead mother and her old Italian boyfriend. Ed has moved out of his marital home but is reluctant to tell Allie why. Ed decides to go with Allie to Italy to help her and have a break to clear his thoughts. While in Italy they find out plenty about their pasts.

The Italian setting is described beautifully and the author clearly loves Italy and writes from the heart. I found the characters a little one-sided however and felt they all could have been given more depth. It was an interesting story but I felt it was weak in places and strung out a little, and that the whole trip to Italy could have been avoided if Allie had just sat down with her grandmother and had a proper conversation!

I do recommend it as a light summer beach read, especially if you are holidaying in Italy

Was this review helpful?

I loved this book. Fabulous setting (I'm promising myself that my next holiday will be in Italy), really believable characters with jobs that are interesting and vividly described, and so much sexual tension that I spent the book just willing them to get together. Thanks, NG, for the chance to read this great novel.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this so much. Allie is a perfect leading lady (who has an actual job that’s richly described - something that seems to be lacking in this genre), and her story, and those of Christine, Ed and Peggy are so charming, with little twists along the way. I couldn’t put this down, and thoroughly recommend it as an easy to read, but insightful read.

Was this review helpful?

My first book by Catherine Isaacs but it won't be the last.

After a sneak peak in her Grandma Peggy's wardrobe to check for something, Allie uncovers a letter which was never meant to be discovered. This letter contains secrets that were never meant to be revealed. What happens next is Allie's journey to Italy to discover if the man who has raised her is really her father or if Stefano, the man she had no idea about until recently is about to change her whole life as she knows it. We start with Allie who I really warmed to right from the start. She's an incredibly intelligent woman, and though there are things which maybe at times could come across as a little stand-offish, I found I just genuinely really, really liked her. Surprisingly I also didn't find the details of her work too confusing given I'm absolutely awful at anything to do with science. The book delves into her work life every so often and we see just how passionate she is about the projects she's working on and how determined she is to make a change for people, and I just found that really endearing.

We only get glimpses into Ed's life at the beginning but I felt the detail was enough to get a clear picture of him as a person, his toxic relationship with wife Julia, and why he and Allie had remained such good friends since teenagers. He was interesting and clearly a match for Allie. He was someone I always wanted to know more about so it was nice that the book became about uncovering and exploring both his and Allie's relationships, with each other and with other people. Though the story is primarily told by Allie's point of view, there are times we hear from Ed and something else which also surprised me, we also hear a lot from Grandma Peggy who ends up having many secrets of her own. Some that truly shocked me and changed up the whole story!

I think the title Messy Wonderful Us sums up this book perfectly. The friendship between Ed and Allie does become messy at times, there are hints that maybe there's more than just platonic feelings for both of them but could they ever really explore that? Ed and Julia clearly have a turbulent relationship, and the topic of domestic abuse is spoken about which I certainly wasn't expecting, and then there's the themes of loss and grief which affects a number of characters throughout. All of the tough subjects though are dealt with delicately and realistically. It might not have all these twists and turns many people wait for in a book, but it doesn't need them. It's packed full of real life things which I think only makes it even easier to fall in love with everything about it.

A lot of the books is also set in Italy too which certainly helps too. It makes such a wonderful setting for the story. Catherine's writing almost transports you to each place Allie and Ed visit and I just want to go even more now!

I'm still surprised by just how taken I feel by this book. It's bittersweet, pulls at your heartstrings and leaves you gripped right til the very end.

Was this review helpful?

What an incredible setting for this book! Sun-drenched Italy, was as much a character in this story as Allie and Ed. Full of twists and turns, this family saga kept me turning the pages, right to the end.
Catherine Issac expertly untangles the hidden secrets of best friends Allie and Ed. The perfect read to add sunshine to your life - any time of the year.

Was this review helpful?

Allie finds a letter in grandma Peggy’s drawer and in makes her question her parentage. She takes best friend Ed whose on an adventure to Italy after a private investigator suggests the answers to her questions are there. Ed is going through some relationship problems so it’s the ideal getaway for him. Meanwhile there is a sub story of Peggy’s youth running through the story. This was the most wonderful story of a family with secrets, I thoroughly enjoyed it and would highly recommend.

Was this review helpful?

This book had me feeling a rainbow of emotions.

Allie finds out something about her mother's past and takes off to Italy to get some answers because no one else is willing to speak about it. Last minute, she is joined by her BFF Ed who is going to sort his thoughts about his marriage. Totally platonic friendship; he's sorting and speaking Italian and she's coming to terms with her mother's past and what that means for her. All should be well, right? If so, I wouldn't have felt a rainbow of emotions.

I was gripped, I tell you. And whilst I was trying to hide from my husband the fact that I was welling up at a book, I was pleading that my heart wasn't actually going to rip in two. This story unfolded in ways that I didn't expect. It feels like a little secret surprise - like you're getting 3+ stories in one package. The weaving of timelines was done so well, and there were surprises that popped up every now and again that just made me go "wow, I didn't expect that" and I loved it for that. This wasn't just a romance, this was heart breaking and soul repairing and uplifting and at times you wanted to wring people around their necks and just say "use. your. words!!!" but you know what? It was messy and it was wonderful. And "Us" covers a whole spectrum of people.

This is actually THE PERFECT title for this novel. Messy, Wonderful Us. Loved it! Five stars with no hesitation.

Was this review helpful?

I’ll be honest, it took me until I was 25% into the book before I clicked with the characters. The novel reveals the characters back stories in a manner which I initially found confusing and then found illuminating. Initially I found the characters hard to empathize with, until I learned more of their past.
Ed and Allie have been friends since childhood, both academically orientated, they have enjoyed a companionable platonic friendship into their 30s. Ed is facing a crisis in his marriage and Allie has discovered a startling secret from her mother’s past. They travel to Northern Italy together, Ed to contemplate his future and Allie to discover her past. While on the journey Ed and Allie realize just how much they mean to each other. The setting is a wonderful backdrop, Lake Garda, Sirmione,, and Portofino, can it get any better? An emotional and enjoyable read with well developed characters, well worth reading.
Thank you to netgalley and Simon and Schuster UK for an electronic arc.

Was this review helpful?