Amanda Prowse is one of my favourite authors and I was so excited to dive into this story - and it didn't disappoint. Amanda is the master of taking a plausible situation, populate it with real and likeable characters, and twist you around, wringing every possible emotion out of you. I cried (a lot), I smiled, and once or twice got quite annoyed. I have finished the book with a massive book hangover, and an waiting for one of my friends to finish it as I'm dying to talk about it!

The story centres around 18 year old Victoria. Her parents died when she was very young, and she was brought up by her Grandparents. Her Grandfather also died when she was fairly yound, so Victoria and her Grandmother Prim (short for Primrose) were very close. When Prim passes away suddenly a mysterious stranger turns up at the funeral. Who is she and what is she after.

An emotional roller coaster of a book, with characters you will miss after you have finished reading.

This was sort of a slow read for me. However, I did very much enjoy this book. I felt many different emotions when reading this book. There were times I wanted to smack some of the characters but then there were times I felt so much empathy. I put myself in the position of the daughter/granddaughter and how I would feel if I was in the same position. I could not imagine loosing someone that I truly cared for then to find out there were lies and secrets that were hidden. But these lies and secrets made this book somewhat mysterious. This book was well written and the author made you feel the emotions that the characters were feeling.

Victoria is 18 and was bought up by her free-spirited grandmother Primrose. When Prim passes away quite suddenly, Victoria, an orphan, is now alone with her grief. When a mysterious woman attends Prim’s funeral and claims to be Victoria’s mother, her whole life is up-ended – has everyone she’s ever loved always lied to her?

I found I went through stages of loving and hating the main character Victoria, but her best friend Daksha absolutely stole my heart!! I want her to be MY best friend, so that we can laugh together and drink endless cups of tea and eat cake…lots of cake.!

Amanda Prowse never fails to deliver such lovely, thought provoking, heart wrenching stories, and “The Day She Came Back was another example.

This was a good lesson in reading the synopsis before reading the book. If I had read it and realised it was about Victoria’s Grandmother passing away, I would have avoided it as my own beloved grandmother passed recently and it's still very raw. Needless to say, I cried through the whole book instead!

Poor Victoria, an 18-year-old who has decided not to go to Uni and to save to travel first, has been bought up since she was born by Prim, the only family she had left after her father’s death before she was born and her mother’s shortly after, both from drug overdoses. Her grandfather died when she was 8 and as her mother was an only child, she has no cousins or extended family.

Victoria has an awesome best friend but otherwise not many to speak of and is now alone in the world. The relationship between Victoria and her grandmother, Prim, is so wonderful, they are very close and from the first few pages, you feel like you know them. Their conversations and emotions feel very real, the same with the others throughout the book. Victoria is a very real character who you just want to hug and make feel better, you want her to know how loved she is.

The plot is brilliant, this book is beautifully written. You begin learning about Victoria’s life and the shock of finding her grandmother, Prim, after her passing. Then a strange woman arrives at her funeral and claims to be Victoria’s mother, Sarah. Victoria has a lot to deal with; her grandmothers passing, this new stranger and who she really is as well as learning to live alone in a big house and how to deal with being lied to her whole life. She has a strong need to find out the truth about what happened and why. It’s a difficult journey but with the help of a series of beautifully written and very emotional letters she begins to learn the truth.

Despite being an emotional read it was positive and uplifting at the same time. Filled with sensitivity, grief, loss, addiction, reconciliation and above all, love, this was a quick read as I just couldn’t put it down. Amanda Prowse, in her usual style, has delivered another exceptional book.

Sometimes you the perfect book has a way of finding you at the exact right time in your life and for me this was it. While grieving myself this has helped heal some of the pain and to focus on my own wonderful grandmother. That is the true magic of reading and this was perfect!

'The Day She Came Back' was an emotional read for me ! Being coeval , I understood the overwhelming emotions that the female protagonist went through and I firmly believe that her actions and emotional breakdowns are quite justified and properly expressed.

Imagine - just imagine that for eighteen years you were brought up and pampered by your cool old grandmother with no siblings and grandfather gone long ago and been told that your birth giver died due to drug overdose when you were a mere toddler but on the day of your nana's funeral your mum turns up - no not her spirit but in flesh and blood and claims that she was alive all these years . How will you feel? Anger - Betrayal - Sadness - Happiness - Hope? We'll save your emotions, because Victoria ,our female protagonist for this novel, will let you know how does it exactly feel when your okay-ish life in Surrey goes topsy-turvy.

I teared up when Victoria was all by herself in that big ancestral house in Epsom though morally supported by her best friend and her granny's beau. She was ready to face the world yet her emotions were all over the place. That is exactly how it should be. My eyes twinkled in hope when her long time crush seemed to reciprocate her feelings. I cried with Victoria and her mother when they tried to catch up and make things work but the past was not allowing them to! Through the beautiful words of the author I would literally taste the foods mentioned in different chapters and find myself at the wild party held at Vic's house!

Amanda Prowse did a great job in creating and shaping the cast of characters and narrating the incidents in such a descriptive manner yet in simple sentences . Prowse is known for her flair in domestic drama and is a prolific writer of emotion filled contemporary fiction and I would gleefully tell you that she as usual didn't depress or disappoint . The book will be available in stores from the seventh of July, 2020 - do grab your copy!
P. S.: I am grateful to Net Galley and Amazon Publishing UK for providing me with the ARC!

Another brilliant book penned by Amanda.
A story of love, friendship and a unique bond between a grandmother and her grand-daughter.
Prim and Victoria were each other's world until Victoria found Prim dead in the family home. At Prim's funeral, a chance meeting with a stranger brings Victoria's world as she knew it crashing down.
The aftermath of this event leads Victoria on a path of discovery and hidden truths. The story takes us from Epsom to Norway; where there are new discoveries, tears and happiness.
A lovely read with characters that are so real and believable.

I received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review. I loved this book because the author showed us many sides. Victoria was raised by her grandmother Primrose who told her that her Mum was dead. Upon Primrose's death, a lady showed up at the funeral and she was Victoria's Mum. Victoria had so much to come to terms with. The story deals with all she had to go through and the best part for me was the letters. that Victoria's Mum and her grandmother wrote to each other before Victoria was born. The letters were written so well that as Victoria was reading them, you could feel the pain they both was in. Victoria's Mum, Sarah was in such a bad state when she was pregnant but she did what she had to in order to deliver her daughter but the pain of all that she had been through was just too much for her. She asked her mother to raise her daughter because she truly believed she was going to be dead. She was an addict and she didn't want to take her daughter down that road. The story is written so well that I felt the pain they were going through, the emotions of the choices they made, and figuring out what are they going to do now.
This is the first book I have read by Amanda Prowse but it definitely won't be my last. What the story did to my heart was a shocker. This book has such an effect on me and I hope lots and lots of people will pick this book us and read it. After finishing the book I thought the author gave me everything she had plus more.

The Day She Came Back
Amanda Prowse
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publication date 7/7/20

What an emotional and beautifully written story. Victoria has seen tragedy in her 18 years. Lost both of her parents to drugs, mourned the loss of her grandfather. She’s been raised by her grandmother and has grown into a kind and generous young lady despite not having it easy at school. After her Nana passes away a woman comes back and claims she is Victoria’s mother. You feel Victoria’s heartbreak and wonder how will she ever forgive and let go of the past. I shed many tears while reading this book but loved when a saw a glimmer of hope for Victoria. This is a riveting story that will stay with you. It is a story about betrayal, grief and understanding that love always shines.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon publishing for this early electronic ebook!!

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The Day She Came Back, by Amanda Prowse.
This book comes out in July 7th and although Amanda Prowse is my favourite author, this new book is my new favourite!

Victoria is living with Prim (her grandmother who feels being called such, makes her feel old).
Almost everyone in Epsom knows that Victoria’s parents died, her father before she was born and her mother when Victoria too young to remember her.
So when Victoria comes home to find Prim dead in her chair, Victoria is alone. Isn’t she?

I can honestly not remember crying so much through a book ever!

Victoria is sensible and clever, everything she knows is suddenly something else. But how could she? How could her dear Prim lie to her?

The characters felt like friends and people I knew. I found so much of it relatable and found myself with a lump in my throat more than once.

Daksa, Victoria’s best friend, is a brilliant friend. The sturdiest and kindest person you could possibly imagine. So why does Victoria push her away? What now?

Sorry but this wasn't for me, felt as thought it was aimed at the Y.A. group.

I have read many of Amanda's books but sadly this wasn't for me.

Another 5* book from Amanda. Following the story of a young women through grief, family and surprises. I love the way Amanda writes and her characters, whether you love them or hate them, draw you into their lives. Lives are rarely straightforward and the characters in this book showcase that but with grace and love of from the writer. Thanks Amanda and NetGalley.

What if the people you loved and trusted had been lying to you from the beginning?
When her loving, free spirited grandmother, Primrose passes away, Victoria is bereft, yet resilient-she has survived tragedy before. But even her strength is tested when a mysterious woman attends Prim's funeral and claims to be the mother Victoria thought was dead.
Amanda Prowse is brilliant at writing about family and love. You walk with Victoria through first her grief, then her anger and then uncertainty as she has to grow up beyond her 18 years, whilst she also plays at being a teenager - her first crush, her first party.
I loved the characters of Prim and Victoria. Prim had a wonderful zest for life, obviously driven by previous events. She wanted the best for her grand-daughter and sacrificed everything to give it to her. Victoria was a sweet, naïve 18 year old, and I loved how we followed her thoughts and choices through the tragic events in her young life. An emotional read and one i'd definitely recommend.

So good!
I do not want to give away too much, so I will say this: This is a beautifully written, heartfelt story of family, loss, distrust, life, love,and reunions.
*Beware*- You will definitely need tissues as you meet and become friends with Victoria', Prim, Daksha, and Sarah. .You will learn how their lives intersect. Will they ever move forward and let go of all the hurt and lies?
I loved each and every person in this novel, but my very favorite is Sarah. A person stronger than she even realized that once upon a time did the right thing for her daughter.
Amanda Prowse never disappoints and this is most definitely a book that you will love!
Set aside a day to do this!

Loved this book!!! Amanda Prowse is one of my favorite authors and her latest, The Day She Came Back, did not disappoint. The story is woven so beautifully and the characters are very real and relatable. Highly recommend!

Thank you to netgally for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely love Amanda Prowse books and this one definitely lived up to expectations such an emotional and heart-warming read and was so happy to be able to request it to read on netgalley in advance of its release and it was such a brilliant book to read on a sunny bank holiday while shielding. Once I had started reading I really couldn't put it down and finished it in one day. Amanda always writes about real people and real life emotions and The Day She Came Back is no exception to this telling the story of three women, Prim, Sarah and Victoria and how heartbreak, love and family connect them all in some way whilst reading you feel like you are living the story with them and all of the tears laughter and joy and heartbreak that they are going through and how the truth comes out in the end. It also explores the special bond and friendship between two best friends Victoria and Daksha and their hopes and dreams for the future.

After losing her darling grandmother Victoria is heartbroken then at the funeral she see's a strange woman who then claims to be her dead mother. as Victoria learns of her past and the secrets her grandmother has kept.Now needing to find answers Victoria does'nt know who she can trust to tell her the truth.5*

The Day She Came Back is the newest release from one of my top-five favorite authors, Amanda Prowse. The Queen of Domestic Drama and a prolific writer of emotionally charged contemporary fiction has another hit on her hands, and I am thrilled to share an early review. I have read all of her works from the last five years and plan to shuffle my way back through the earlier ones I missed, before I knew anything about her.

Imagine being an eighteen-year-old girl in England, raised by your much older grandmother because your own parents died from drug overdoses. You lost your grandfather years ago, you have no siblings or aunts and uncles, and you're a bit of an outcast at school. But you're sweet, and you are generous, and you have so much potential. At least you have a wonderful best friend and a lovely little crush on a boy at school... perhaps life might be okay... until your nana, Prim, passes away unexpectedly. How tragic and sad, and it breaks your heart. But then... everything changes the following days at nana's funeral. Someone you thought long gone shows up with a shocking twist!

Prowse knows how to lure you into comfortable nostalgia and love... she makes you feel the true pain of a young girl who now has no one to help her through the grief. Sure, she has a bestie and her family, and her nana's beau, but it's not the same. I felt my eyes tear up when Victoria was home alone for the first time... you know things can't possibly be okay again for her. She is alone in the world now. I understood her reckless behavior, her desire to be someone different. Victoria shows us the downside of being heartbroken on multiple levels, and then... finally, we see a glimmer of hope. The crush seems to return her feelings!

As quickly as we feel the pain, our hopes rise and we see the potential for Victoria to heal. But it won't happen, and things will take a very long time to truly turn around. Prowse paints the characters with just enough detail to give you all you need to take the picture and run with it yourself. I heard the music at the party Victoria throws. I smelled the breakfasts she and her crush make each morning. I felt the change in this young woman when she is hurt a second time by someone who devastates her in a terrible way.

It's rare others than Prowse can generate this kind of emotion from me... but when she does, I am all in. I can't wait to find out what's next in this dynamic author's mind.

I was very disappointed with this book. Is it written for the mid teen market? It felt as if it was. The plot was cliched and disappointing. Had I been in the young adult bracket I might have been more impressed.

Reading an Amanda Prowse book is like snuggling in front of a fire wrapped in a duvet. In other words it’s comforting. Amanda’s books wrap themselves around you and give you the biggest hug

The Day She Came Back is no different

This is a ‘real’ book about real people with real lives and yet Amanda’s stories are all fiction

As with all her others this book grabbed me from the start

Terrific read

Thanks you once again Amanda

Another fantastic page turner from the queen of women’s fiction! I absolutely loved this. I cannot believe the amount of times I had to stop reading because of the tears in my eyes Through sadness and laughter. There were moments where I was cringing and moments where I felt so much empathy for quite a few of the characters. There wasn’t a single character I didn’t like and it know it’s a sign of a great book when you get to the end and are gutted that it’s finished. It left me wanting to know more about quite a few characters in the book and it also made me really really want to go visit Oslo. I have a wonderful mental picture of so many places that I’d love to see them for real.