Another great book from Sarah Morgan.  A bit of a slow beginning as you got used to all the characters and how they interacted with each other but as the book progressed, you really started to get engrossed in it.  Some very good characters (once you get into them) and a good storyline with a nice pathway.

What a lovely story!  I found it very visual, I could picture it all as I read.  It was very realistic, You can imagine it all happening, Sarah is so good at writing family interaction.

Flora is a florist, working in the same shop that her mother worked in before her.  She had a difficult childhood after her mother died, she loves her job but lives in a horrid rented apartment, and has few friends.  She is quite a lonely person, with only a few friends.  One day a man walks into the shop looking for inspiration for a present for his daughter, who is just about to celebrate her seventeenth birthday.  There is a spark of interest between them.  They go out for coffee, then dinner, then eventually Jack invites her to his home to meet his daughters, Izzy and Molly.  Think being invited into the lion’s den!

Further misfortune occurs for Flora, but all is smoothing out and she agrees to go on holiday to the Lake District, in England,  with the family.   It seemed like a good idea at the time, but ... the touch paper is lit, and all the continuing problems come to the boil, and explode! Nothing like a good explosion to clear the air, and bring out a thoroughly satisfying ending. 

This is an easy, and satisfying read, well worth the time.

I would like to thank HQ and NetGalley for sending me a copy of this book before realise.  I am a massive fan of Sarah Morgan's story telling and couldn't wait to get stuck into this book. 
This was another book I read while on holiday in Austria. Family for Beginners is an outstanding read that kept me turning the pages well into the night, which is why I gave it a Chells and Books three leaf rating. The themes that run through the plot are all deep routing issues that occur within families and Sarah writes about them with great knowledge but with her warmth guiding the reader through so it still feels like a light fun read. The settings are stunning and really come to life, as in all of her books the settings really seem like a character in there own right, as you get to know them. 
In Family for Beginners we meet Flora who after a chance meeting finds herself part of a family needing to impress, Jacks daughters, while deciding what this relationship with Jack is going to turn into.   
I liked the opening of this book, giving you a hint of whats to come but when it is explained later in the book as the story unfolds I was brilliantly surprised at the outcome. The story is told by different characters giving great depth to the plot but easy to follow the story line and keep up with events. I adored the way that Flora and Jack met and the moments they have as their journey unfolds. I found myself smiling at parts and at others wanting to hide behind my hand as I could imagine what might happen at some of the moments between Jack and his daughters or with Flora. My favourite character has to be Claire who is living my dream life in the Lake District but I also liked the eldest daughter who I could so relate to as a teen.
After reading Family for Beginners, I was struck by how complicated family life can be but with all the different shapes, sizes and complexity of family, family is the one thing that everyone needs in life. Sarah Morgan has written a well thought out book which I loved and made me want to reflect on myself.

Well what can you say, Sarah Morgan books are perfect escapism. Not put off by tackling the relevant issue, coping with grief, moving on and blended families. Sarah manages to weave these topics into a romantic novel where you fall in love with the characters and are routing for them all. Highly recommend.
Thanks to Netgalley and Sarah Morgan for the advance copy.

It's very difficult to review something when you don't have a strong opinion either way. And, unfortunately that's exactly where I find myself with this book. There was nothing not to like - it was a well-written, warm-hearted read - but at the same time it didn't quite capture my imagination either.


This was the story of Flora embarking on a relationship with widower Jack, and the emotional challenges that come hand-in-hand with a father of two - it's not just him but the whole family who needs to fall in love with you too. As such it wasn't meant to be a love story but a story of family dynamics.

However, to go from Jack and Flora accidentally meeting, to being introduced to the family and moving in together all within the space of a few chapters seemed way to quick. I wanted the build-up as without it, like Izzy, Jack's teenage daughter, I just couldn't believe in the relationship and see how the two were remotely compatible and understand why Jack would knowingly upset his fragile family dynamic for someone he'd only just met.

That said I did like the fast pace. The book started with the lure of an untold secret about Becca, Jack's dead wife, and so needed to progress quickly through Flora trying to live up to this image of Becca as the perfect, wide, mother, friend and career-woman, to the big reveal that Becca was actually as flawed as the rest of them. Every page and word were relevant - there was definitely no filler.

I also loved the ending and the reveal, which without wanting to give too much away showed great depth and likeability to Jack's character - it was just a shame that we had to wait until the end to see it and understand him or his relationship with Flora. And, this was the other problem in that whilst I really liked Izzy, I didn't warm to either Jack (for the reasons just given) or Flora. Izzy described Flora as someone you don't want to but can't help liking because she's so nice. But, I had no such problem, for me Flora was too nice, too much of a people-pleaser, too vanilla to really champion. 

All-in-all this is a nice story realistically portraying the highs and lows of family life as well as love and loss without ever becoming too downhearted or sad. However, once again its very much a nice read rather than a must-read.

Family For Beginners was such an amazing story!
It cleveley deals with how we learn to move on after going through the loss of a loved one, and of how a ready made family copes when an outsider enters and brings chaos to their seemingly perfect world .Flora and Jack's story is a very moving and emotional one. I loved everything about it, from the original backstory of two childhood friends that grew up entwining their families over two different continents, to the present day plotline of Flora meeting Jack after the loss of his late wife Becca.

Flora constantly feels like she is trying to compete with the ghost of Becca, who she thinks was the perfect wife, mother and friend, while Jack is oblivious to what is really happening in his own house right in front of him. This was such an interesting read, I loved all of it's characters and each one of them touched me in a very different special way. The writing was so very good and easy to read, it was an engaging and thought provoking story that made my heart hurt at times because of all the dilemmas that they had to face.

This was a different kind of romance to the norm but I loved it even more for its originality and for its ability to deal with sensitive subjects written well.

A lovely heartwarming read. Great characters and chemistry between them, with good storylines flowing between them. Nice easy reading, five stars.

Another gem from Sarah Morgan. I turn to this author when I need an absorbing read that will draw me in and absorb me into the life of the characters. I felt for the female characters in the book... Flora, Izzy and Molly and best friend Claire. 

Mostly set in Brooklyn and in the latter part in the beautiful Lake District, this is a book that makes you look under the skin of what’s going on and analyse the relationships. Some of the book was more melancholy than I’d have liked but ultimately it was uplifting as the characters began to work through their issues... 

An enjoyable read, with some heartfelt moments. I’d have liked to hear more about Izzy and Claire’s son Aidan, but other than that the last part of the book was gorgeous even through the characters’ tears. 

4.5* a lakeside delight

Provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

I started this and was immediately drawn in. I loved the meeting of Flora and Jack. It was so beautiful and wonderfully written.

What I couldn’t get my head around initially was the jump from asking Flora out for a coffee to suddenly they’re in a relationship. I wanted the build up. As I progressed through the book, I understood the jump. The book wasn’t about hike their relationship started, more about how Flora becomes part of this family. 

The ups and downs of trying to have a relationship with an already established family unit was interesting and the way it was handled makes good reading.

Once again Sarah Morgan has given us a well written, well thought out novel and I different take on love and relationships. Not just the one between a couple, but the one between friends, and parents and an outsider into a new family.

Love!

I love reading books by Sarah Morgan as her heroines are likeable and well drawn.  This book explores how Flora becomes involved with Jack, whose family are determined to find fault with everything she does, and reject her.  Izzie, Jack’s eldest daughter is especially hostile and does everything she can to make life uncomfortable for Flora.

The book begins slowly as we find discover Flora’s past and previous relationships.  She is a friendly, quirky, people pleaser type of girl who has had a tough start in life. The book develops when the family take a holiday in the Lake District, with friends of Jack’s previous wife Belle.  Belle was beautiful, graceful, perfect in every way, everything that Flora is not, how does she cope?

The book is emotively written with strong, well-developed and likeable characters, although sad at times is emotively written with dashes of humour to lighten the atmosphere.  There are secrets to discover, and the beautiful scenic Lake District to explore as the family try to find common ground and accept each other.

This is another entertaining book by Sarah Morgan, which I recommend.

Sarah Morgan
Family for Beginners 

I have a bias for Sarah Morgan, I always expect a heart warming book where here character development makes me feel like I am living in the story. Her skills in writing and drawing you in are first class.
Family for Beginners is another gem, the family Flora becomes a part of have their secrets and its not easy to identify the secrets which makes reading compulsory. I connected with Flora as being socially awkward and I was willing her to stand up for herself. A brilliant story, I would love to hear another with Flora and Jack, I do believe Sarah Morgan has a path to take the family down for another book.
#NetGallery #SarahMorgan #FamilyForBeginners #bookreview

This was thoroughly enjoyable. Whilst a bit slow to start the prose quickly gripped me and kept moving on. Well written with great characters - a highly recommended read.

Love this author and her books and this one didn’t disappoint! Centred around a florist name Flora and how she becomes involved with some who whom has children! Loved the romance of it being set between New York and UK too. Well written to understand all the feelings involved! Can’t wait for the next one

I enjoyed this book. When Flora falls for widower Jack, she has to learn to get along with his teenage daughter and to live up to the perfection of his late wife. When she agrees to spend a few weeks in the Lake District with Becca's best friend and her family, she wonders if she has made a mistake. However, during the course of those few weeks, secrets emerge and relationships are cemented. This is a lovely family story which I recommend. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

I have just finished reading this wonderful story and have to say I absolutely loved it. I found it hard to put down. It is a heartwarming tale which sucked me in from page one. It had me smiling, laughing at times and just occasionally shedding the odd tear or two. This is a captivating story.

I will remember these characters for a long time, they felt like family. So well written and so well rounded that they became real to me. I just loved Flora, she reminded me of myself at times and made me want to be brave too. Such a caring, lovely character I was cheering her on. But, all the characters were so real to me; they were not perfect, but real people aren't, they made mistakes and did the wrong thing at times and for that, I loved them all.

This is a book I would highly recommend, it is the perfect book to curl up with and just get lost in. It is one I will want to reread in the future too.

Flora meets Jack and he's the ideal man. He's a widow with two daughters and Flora is thrust into the role of step mum. Can she replace the perfect mum?

I devoured this in one sitting, as I do with most of Sarah Morgan's novels. It was heartwarming and had be tearing up on more than one occasion. I'll be recommending this to everyone I know!

When I seen Sarah Morgan was releasing a new book I just knew I had to read it ASAP so I was thrilled to have a copy of ‘Family for Beginners’ - thank you so much HQ Stories. 

I am a huge fan of every Sarah Morgan book I have read so far but ‘Family for Beginners’ is my favourite! Flora is a florist, she meets the lovely Jack. Jack lost his wife the previous year and he has two daughters; little Molly and teenager Izzy. They go on their annual three week trip to Lake Lodge in the Lake District to stay with close friends Clare and Todd and it’s here when the story really unfolds. 

My favourite relationship between the characters has to be with Flora and Izzy. You can see that Flora really cares for her even when Izzy is trying her best to put her off her dad. Molly is so adorable and she takes to Flora pretty much straight away. But it’s Izzy that’s got some unresolved feelings. 

I found myself flying through the chapters of this story and couldn’t put it down. Now I’m sad to have finished it. ‘Family for Beginners’ is about love, grief, friendship and letting people in when you need it ❤️ 

Sarah’s writing is beautifully free flowing and I really enjoyed that each chapter was told by a different character, mainly Flora, Jack and Izzy. I can’t wait for Sarah’s next book, I’m just glad I still have some of her backlist books to keep me going in the meantime 😊 I give ‘Family for Beginners’ a very well deserved 5*/5* 

Thank you so much to HQ Stories for an advanced copy of this book via Netgalley

I was hooked into this book within a couple of pages, and loved how each chapter was from a different characters perspective to fully show what was their different realities. 
This is the story of Flora, a florist in New York,  and the family she becomes involved with. Set in New York and the Lake District in the UK.  
I absolutely loved this book!! It is a fantastic description of life in a family,  all our fears and issues and how we all deal with them.  
Brilliant read, thoroughly recommended!!

This is the second book I have read by Sarah Morgan. I enjoyed both of them. She captivates your imagination and feelings. I find it hard to put down and need to know what happens next. This book is about true family upheavals and life and a truly beautiful read

I loved this book.

I only recently discovered Sarah Morgan and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

The story of this book is told from the point of view of 3/4 strong female characters. I felt it was based on something that could happen to anyone, at any time.

Becca was married to Jack and had two daughters Izzy and Molly. They lived in Manhattan and had regular summer holidays with Becca's oldest friend in the Lake District.

Becca passes away quite suddenly and this book focuses on how the family move on when Jack begins a new relationship with Flora., It is told from the point of view of Izzy, the eldest teenage daughter who is dealing with the usual teenage angst and the sudden death of her mother, whilst hiding a secret. Flora, the new woman in Jack's life, who desperately wants to be accepted by the people in Jack's life but is hiding a secret of her own and dealing with her own childhood issues. Also, it is told from the point of view of Clare, Becca's oldest friend and the keeper of her secrets. 

The book is written really well, with lots of unexpected twists. 

Definitely a new take on a very 21st century romance.