The Light in the Hallway, Amanda Prowse

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre:  Women's fiction, General Fiction (adult)

Gah, I hate Women's Fiction as a genre heading, so outdated. Men and women can read the same books....its 2019, not 1919.

Anyway, that's just my personal gripe so...the book. Wonderful. One more Amanda delivers a story that's thought provoking, gripping, realistic and with gentle touches of humour when parts get too dark. 
Nick, oh poor Nick. I've been there, had those days when you look around at the empty house and wonder “is it really worth carrying on? What's the point of it without your love beside you?” Yet he finds the strength to continue, mostly for his beloved son Oliver, who's also struggling, not just from having lost his mum to cancer, but with his first few weeks at university. 
Nick talks to Kerry in his mind, seeking her advice, and I still do that with my husband nearly four years later. He pretends she's just in another room, and that's so real, I know I did that too, taking comfort from the fact that maybe, just maybe, they really could be there. Even now some nights I reach out in bed and pretend my arm is resting on his body. Logic tells you they aren't there of course, but comfort lets you believe the lie for a bit longer.

Its seems like it would be a heavy, sad story but its not. As in real life things happen that tug at the heartstrings whilst making you smile. The three boys, Nick, Eric and Alex and of course Half Bike. That's was such fun to read even while I shared their struggles. The story veers between Nick, Eric and Alex now and as young lads, when everything can be an adventure. I adored Eric, as a lad and a man. He had such a wonderful sense of humour, his constantly calling the others female names “ You OK Shirley?” stuff like that, he managed to make me smile even when I veered on tears. 

Its not just a snippet of time, a vignette of life story, but one where the characters go through the tragedy of Kerry's death, and try to move forward. Such is the way of life that it moves on whether we are ready or not, so we see Olly's struggles at uni in his first days, Nick's return to work, trying to pick up his life, and of course his sister in law who's determined no-one will replace her sister. 
Nick going to the shop the day after her death to be told by his mum he couldn't, it Wasn't Done. He's so right when he says its like wading through a minefield of unwritten rules, never knowing when you're about to break one. When he's talking about it only being x months since Kerry died, and yet for him he'd been grieving ever since they knew she wasn't going to recover, more than a year ealier. That's so true, that last year they went through she was alive, but not really living, and I can see how Nick's grieving started much earlier than people would suppose.   

Slowly Nick starts to pick up his life and move forward, helped by his childhood friends, mostly the wonderful Eric. I adore that man, he made me laugh so many times with his phrases, and also made me tearful at what happened to him as a young lad. 
Amanda really can write characters well, both as adults and as kids. I really believed in those boys, was there alongside them shouting sh it-sticks on the camping trips, searching for bits for the bike, heartbroken at the idea of Eric moving away. I keep thinking of little bits that made me laugh, other than Eric's wonderful name calling, and one that just sprung in my mind was the baby, when the boys wonder how long are women pregnant. “ They take at least a year to bake” says Eric knowledgeably, shocking Nick and Alex. I could just imagine the three of them mulling over the weird ways of adults. 

Its a wonderful story,  and one I really enjoyed once more. Amanda delivers the kind of story I love to read, real people, real scenes, stories that I can easily imagine happening, and of course always with an ending that neatly wraps things up. This time she really did bring things full circle, showing a path of happiness for these characters that had been through so much.  

Stars: Five, another wonderful read. full of heartbreak and happiness, tears and triumphs.

Arc via Netgalley and publishers

The Light in the Hallway begins by giving the reader a glimpse of ten year old Nick and his two best friends, Alex and Eric, before returning to the present where Nick’s wife, Kerry, is terminally ill. He is trying to persuade their son, Oliver, to go to the hospice with him for what would be the last time. Oliver, understandably, is finding difficulty in coping with the thought that his mother would never be coming home and refuses to go. If he doesn’t witness his mother’s death then he can still imagine she’s around.

Nick and Kerry were childhood sweethearts and circumstances meant that Nick’s plans changed. His dreams, and his father’s for him, were shelved. Although Nick and Kerry loved each other and built a solid marriage, it wasn’t always plain sailing. Now Nick has to be strong for Olly, despite his own heartbreak and pain, and he’s unsure how to handle a teenage boy in denial. Oliver’s A-level results were the catalyst that flung him into the reality he’d fought against facing.

Amanda Prowse is adept at understanding and articulating the spectrum of human emotions, writing with sensitivity and empathy. In this story she lays bare the feelings of loss and learning to deal with the grief felt by the people Kerry has left behind. Everyone copes in their own way, sometimes placatingly, sometimes acerbically, generally supportively as everyone navigates their own personal and life changing journey. Living in a small village with a close community made everything more stressful for Nick, as everyone knew his business and some people didn’t hesitate to offer opinions. 

The characters are multi dimensional and believable. The lovely and somewhat complicated relationship between Nick and typical teenager, Olly is perfectly drawn and true to life. Nick’s relationship with his parents, and his two best friends, shown through flashbacks covering one particular summer, gives an insight into his character and what made him the man he became. 

I enjoyed the fact that the story is told from the male point of view, showing the struggles and differences of opinion encountered while trying to move on and build some sort of life when a partner dies. The recurring themes include the importance of friendships, family and having hope for the future however bleak things might look in the present. I love how the title resonates throughout the storyline. 

The Light in the Hallway is beautifully written, with humorous moments to offset the sadder ones, and showing that life, more often than not, doesn’t turn out as expected. There are forks in the road, hills and sometimes mountains to climb and lessons to learn. Another winner from Amanda Prowse.

I love this authors books and this did not disappoint I really enjoyed this I read it in one sitting Thankyou to the author and netgalley for the arc I couldn’t recommend it enough!

THE LIGHT IN THE HALLWAY by Amanda Prowse

Amanda Prowse writes books that take your heart on a journey. This was a very sad story of love and loss. When Nick’s wife dies he has to figure out a way to make a life for him and their son Oliver. Oliver is 18 and getting ready to leave for university. That means Nick will be alone and he doesn’t know if he can do alone. Kerry was his wife since they were 17 years old. 

Nick has a lot on his plate with in-laws, friends, a job, a son who is leaving and a special someone that may help him over this hurdle in life. Though to me four and a half months is not enough time for grieving this story is not about my life. It’s about Nick’s and his wife was sick for a long time. Can he possibly find love and happiness with someone else. Can Oliver accept another woman so soon after the loss of his mother? Oliver is a great kid and makes his dad very proud. He doesn’t want to accept Beverly at first and tends to run to his Auntie Di way to much but he’s pretty level headed so things may work out ok.

I have read a few of this author’s books and truly loved them so much. While this one was by far not my favorite it was very good. It has all the feels in it, laughter, tears, heartache, but it was a bit long to me. In some places I found myself wanting it to move on already. But overall it truly is a good story. It was well written. The characters were likable and the two storylines were great. One being Nick as a kid and the other Nick as a grown up. The things he went through during 1992 then jumping to after he is grown and what he goes through losing his wife. It was done beautifully. I enjoyed reading the antics of the young boys and what all they did and went through. The true friendships that led them into adulthood. Nick is very likable and so are his friends and family. 

I have to thank #NetGalley, #AmandaProwse for this book. This is my own review.

I gave it 4 stars and recommend it to all. Be prepared for a very good read.

EXCERPT: 'Mum! Dad! I did it! I did it!' the boy called from the hallway. 'I got three...'

And then a bang as something hit the floor.

And then silence. 

Nick had heard the words loud and clear, so naturally, so comfortably, called that it took a second or two for the universe to catch up. He looked towards the door, expecting his son to walk in. After a couple of seconds, he stood and went to investigate the silence. He put his head around the door and knew that he would never forget the sight that greeted him.

Oliver was sitting on the welcome mat, coiled into a ball like a small child with his chin on his chest and his knees raised. His arms were clamped around his shins and his whole body shook.

Nick sank down to join him on the floor and that was where they st on the bristly Welcome mat that felt anything but. Oliver raised his head and the sight of his distress caused Nick's own tears to pool. 

'She's not here, Dad! She's not here, is she?'

'No, son. She's not here,' he managed through his own distress, hating to extinguish the faint look of hope in his son's eyes.  

'Oh nooooooo! No!' Oliver's wail was loud, deep and drawn from deep within, he banged the floor with his hand. 'I wanted to say goodbye to her! I wanted to ... to tell her things and I wanted to say goodbye!' He sobbed noisily. 'I didn't want her to leave me, Dad! I want her here. I want her here with us! And now she's gone and I didn't have the chance to tell her...'

ABOUT THIS BOOK: When Nick’s wife Kerry falls ill and dies, he realises for the first time how fragile his happiness has always been, and how much he’s been taking his good life and wonderful family for granted. Now, he suddenly finds himself navigating parenthood alone, unsure how to deal with his own grief, let alone that of his teenage son, Olly.

In the depths of his heartbreak, Nick must find a way to navigate life that pleases his son, his in-laws, his family and his friends—while honouring what Kerry meant to them all. But when it comes to his own emotions, Nick doesn’t know where to begin. Kerry was his childhood sweetheart—but was she really the only one who could ever make him happy?

And in the aftermath of tragedy, can Nick and his son find themselves again?

MY THOUGHTS: I liked this book, sad though it was. I really liked it, but didn't love it as I have previous books by this same author, but I will get to the whys of that in a moment. 

I liked that Kerry and Nick's marriage wasn't perfect. I liked that both were very normal people who had struggled, fallen, and got back up again to get on with things. I like the way the author deals with the emotions of the characters; she always manages to wring a few tears out of me, and The Light in the Hallway was no exception. 

The situations that Prowse describes are so very real - they happen all over the world, every day. They happen to people like me, and you, and to our friends. Prowse reminds us, and this is a direct quote from her book, that 'life is a gift and we have to live it as best we can......we owe it to everyone who no longer has a life.' I loved that sentiment. We all know it, but we sometimes lose sight of it. We judge others for not living up to our expectations of how they should live their lives, how they should feel and act, when we are not in their shoes and have no right to judge them.

And I did love the reference to the title in the book. That was lovely.

So, on to what I didn't like - the ending. It was too 'tidy', too saccharine for my taste, with everything neatly tied up with a bow like a brightly wrapped gift under a Christmas tree. It was all very nice, but just didn't feel very realistic. I can say no more without giving away vital information, so that is the end of that.

****

#TheLightInTheHallway #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: Amanda Prowse was a management consultant for ten years before realising that she was born to write. Amanda lives in the West Country with her husband and their two teenage sons.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK for providing a digital ARC of The Light In The hallway by Amanda Prowse for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page, or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage

Thank you Netgalley for the arc for my honest review
Make sure that you have tissues when you are reading this book. It is a really beautiful and moving story. That will make you smile and make you cry. But it’s really lovely. This was my first Amanda Prowse book, but it certainly won't be my last! This novel explores love, loss, and life after in a very realistic way. Truly loved this book. Love love loved it.

I really don't have the talent to explain how wonderful The Light in the Hallway is. Amanda Prowse has put together a wonderful story of family, love, grief, lifelong friendships and moving on.

The primary characters, Nick and his son Oliver, are wonderful as are Nick's childhood friends that are still in his life. The backstory about Nick and his friends building Half Bike was just as fantastic as the current day story.

There is so much love in this book that I found myself tearing up multiple times. Oliver's struggle after losing his mom as he finds his way in life was particularly touching. 

This is just a book that has to be read - it's far too difficult to explain just how deeply touched I was by The Light in the Hallway. Do yourself a favor and pick it up today.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for permitting me an ARC when I requested it. All thoughts in this review are mine and happily given.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this novel. This book was so beautifully written. Prowse’s astounding character development made this a true page turner. I love that this story is so true to life and reflects the ebb and flow of love but commitment is constant.

Set in the north of England,  I could relate to the adventures of the three boysas youngsters and the way the ffriendships had survived to adulthood.  I did think Nick's new romance seemed contrived but thought Ollie's reaction to his dad's independence was confused but realistic.  Did enjoy the book.

The Light in the Hallway by Amanda Prowse was Just beautifully written throughout and one thing I will say "You will need tissues!" Once I started to read Amanda's new book, I knew I had to turn off my phone, shut the door to my reading room and become apart of The light in the Hallway.  Amanda always captures human emotions of life, love and loss is a way, that you become apart of this story. You can relate to parts of it throughout your life. 
This always makes her books special and I highly recommend them.

But Don't forget your tissues as you will need them.  A beautiful touching story that gets 5 stars. 

Big Thanks to Amanda Prowse and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. 
All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway

The Light In The Hallway by Amanda Prowse tells the story of how a family rebuilds itself after the death of a loved one. "Grief is not a linear journey" is what I got from the book. The Journey in question is that of the widower, Nick Bairstow, who whilst trying to come to terms with losing his wife has the added burden of dealing with his teenage taciturn son and his inlaws. He is torn between being pragmatic and being dogmatic. The writer's use of analepsis, rather than being tedious is a welcome tool to effectively explain Nick's dilemma. The book takes the reader on an emotional journey and leaves you wondering if you are equipped for the curveballs that life throws your way. This will make a good selection for a book club as there are lots of topics to discuss.

Beautiful, powerful, feel good read!  Friendship, love, heartbreak and loss, rediscovery and redirection, hope, love, and friendship again. Well written with good character development. As a widow myself, I really appreciated the realistic account and perspective of the widower in this story.  I loved this book :)

Another excellent story from this amazing author. It covers every emotion possible and a book I would recommend to anyone who loves family stories. Loved it !!

From the refreshing point of view of a male perspective to the enigmatic way this book pulled me under it's spell I was transfixed. As I've come to expect from an Amanda Prowse story, the writing was exceptionally well thought out and moving beyond belief. The dual timeliness weaved a beautiful story together to produce a tale of love, loss, family and friendship.

Amanda has a profound way of making characters come alive off the pages to create a poignant and sincere look at life. The narrative was an emotive roller-coaster that had me reaching for a tissue or two and I was caught up with each and every moment of Nick's story.

The book touches on many topics that will tug at the heartstrings and resonate with many a painful memory for each and everyone of us. Grief is one of the hardest roads to travel along and we all deal with the bleak and unspoken moments in our own way. This story touches upon those tough times, trying navigate a way out of the storm, which spoke to me on many levels and I found I couldn't put it down, even for a moment.

The Light in the Hallway is a work of beauty. From the emotional pull to the poignant words that lit up the pages I was in awe. Well done Amanda on yet another truly special story.

There seems to be no topic that Amanda Prowse will not challenge head on. The Light in the Hallway is the story of Nick and his son Olly, both trying to navigate their lives after the tragic death of wife and mother, Kerry. Nick has watched the love of his life fade away for many months and now he has to pick his life up again and start over. But Nick lives in a small village where everyone knows everyone else’s business, everyone grew up together and pretty much everyone works for Sidley’s factory supplying lighting. If that weren’t suffocating enough, Kerry’s sister is none to happy with Nick moving on with his life as he becomes attached to another woman. Thrown in with all the drama is Ollie learning to live without his mum , whilst managing life away at university. Alongside the tragedy are the lovely snippets of Nick’s happiest time, the summer he built a bicycle with his closest mates, Eric and Alex. These chapters lighten the mood just at the point where you most need to smile and not cry.
Once again an emotional roller coaster of a novel that had me hooked from page one and left me eager for the next novel by this amazing writer.

The Light in the Hallway is the fabulous new book from Amana Prowse.  Nick looses his wife of eighteen years to cancer, and is left trying to understand his own grief and helping his eighteen year old son deal with his.  At only thirty six, Nick has his whole life ahead of him but finds the grief process difficult to navigate especially when family have expectations of how he should feel and act. Nick wonders if he and his son Olly can ever find happiness again. This emotional read looks at how grief effects people in different ways and ultimately that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

What I enjoy about reading Amanda Prowse’s books is that she has to the skill to get into the human psyche and really understand human emotions. Grief is something we all have to deal with at some point in our life, and through Nick, Olly and their families we see the many ways people deal with it and how it can actually be divisive rather than bringing people together. Through her beautiful and empathetic prose Amanda catches the raw emotions of grief, the different emotions experienced as you work through it, and ultimately the hope that is at the end of the journey.

As a character I had huge sympathy for Nick. His wife was only in her early thirties when she died, and he now finds himself on his own with his son. Not only is he dealing the loss of his wife but his son is leaving home to start university.  Nick and Kate married and had Olly at eighteen so Nick has never been on his own before. The title The Light in the Hallway refers to the light that was always on in his home when he came home from work to his family, now he just has Treacle the dog. This light is no longer there and the dark cold house represents his feelings of loss.  As well as this present day plot line there is the story of Nick, and his best friends Eric and Alex when they were children and spent the summer building a bike for them to ride. This shows the juxtaposition of a carefree childhood, the freedom to enjoy life with no worries, against the present where Nick and Eric are making difficult life choices.

The Light in the Hallway is a beautiful and emotional read. Amanda Prowse is a master at this genre in her ability to understand people and emotions and bring them off the page and into the readers heart. A heartfelt read, about life, loss, love, family and hope that will make you laugh and cry in equal measure. Another brilliant book from Amanda!!

I wasn’t sure initially about this book and it took me a while to engage but once I did and the story developed I found it very moving. A lovely tale of grief, loss, friendship, love and family.

Although it took me a couple of chapters to settle into the book. author Amanda Prowse skillfully weaves us between years in an effort to help the reader understand how Nick’s present-day life is built from his past.  The book begins in 1992 with young Nick and his friends wanting a bicycle.  It moves from there to present day, where Nick and his son, Oliver, are facing the loss of their wife and mother, Kerry.  

Emotions run raw as the two adjust to her death.  Nick feels like he has to walk on tiptoe to keep from upsetting Olly and Kerry’s family.  How long should he wait before he shows interest in another woman?  What does he need to do in order to be a good father to Olly?  How will he adjust to fully being on his own when Olly goes away to university?

I love the friendship Nick has built with his childhood buddies.  It is good to see their relationship strengthen as they grow older.  Oliver develops into a mature young adult.  

This is a story about love and the bonds of true friendship.  

I received an Advance Reader’s Copy from NetGalley.   Any opinion here is entirely my own.

Amanda Prowse never fails to write a good story and again this didn't disappoint! Sad, emotional and also uplifting. I would recommend all of her books.

The Light in the Hallway is a story about Nick who has lost his wife who dies from cancer. He has to learn how to deal with his own grief while helping his 18 year old son, Oliver.  Oliver is hard on his dad while dealing with his grief. Nick has a great support system with his family and friends. This story takes us on his journey to learn his new normal.  Great story about love, grief, friendship and growth.