I always look forward in anticipation to a new "Susan Lewis``' book.
I have read all her books probably twice over (maybe more) and I really loved this book too.
Full of twists and turns and brilliant characters. I love the fact that Susan always sets her novels in the seaside town of Kesterly, its like going to a place that you holiday in every year !!
As always a brilliant read. 9/10

I have read and enjoyed a number of Susan’s books and this one was no exception.

The story centres around 3 women in a family with a grandmother, daughter and granddaughter. The daughter is married to a bad sort and after he is arrested by the police she decides to steal a mysterious attaché case from his safe, change her name and move the 3 women out together for a fresh start.

This is just the start of the story for the women and how they come to settle and start to trust other people again, until tragedy strikes...

The story is interspersed with letters written from a teenager to the victim of his crime and how that fits in with the story? Read it and see.

This book made a change for me, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was totally gripped throughout by a tense and tightly plotted tale which played out very different to the way I expected. It explores a number of difficult themes, including domestic abuse, violence and restorative justice. It does so with compassion; both sides are considered and it leaves the reader with a great deal to think about. It’s a difficult book to explain; it’s not light reading because of the subject matter, but the characters are engaging and I was drawn straight in to the story. Overall, I enjoyed it and it’s certainly thought provoking and different to a run of the mill domestic ‘thriller’.

My thanks to the publisher for a review copy via Netgalley

I'm not sure what I was expecting from this book but it certainly wasn't the very emotional story that unfolded before me. I think the book has a unique storyline that gives food for thought. This is the third Susan Lewis book I have read and her plots are far from formulaic.

On her second marriage Claudia thought her new husband was a caring man and a step father for her daughter, unfortunately instead it turned out to be a living nightmare. She has a chance for escape and takes it, changing her name and taking both her daughter and her Mother with her to begin a new life.

I really enjoyed reading about Claudia and her new life, but I was on a bit of a knife edge the whole time, expecting her past to catch up with her. I became suspicious of every new person she met and feared she was walking into a trap.

Letters began to be interspersed into the chapters from an unknown author and to an unknown person. It was intriguing - how do they fit into the story? Meanwhile Claudia and her Mother attract new romantic partners - but are they ready to trust anyone again?

Once the author of the letters and the recipient became clear I couldn't put the book down. The letters had a unique voice and felt different to the other voices in the book. How was this all going to end, and what would I do in this situation? As I finished the book the subject stayed with me and the questions I asked myself are still hanging there...

I love Susan Lewis's books. Every single one I've read has been amazing. I didn't know what to expect with this new book and I'd never heard of Restorative Justice but I have learned so much from reading this story, not least of all the depth of love and forgiveness that people can demonstrate when everything is set against them. The lead characters in the book, three generations of women - Grandmother Marcy, Mum Claudia and daughter Jasmine - have had to leave their home and relocate to the seaside town of Kesterly (which features in other books by Susan Lewis), change their names and start a new life to escape the clutches of an evil and manipulative man, i.e. the husband of Claudia. Always living in fear that he will track her down, Claudia is constantly on edge. Then a terrible tragedy occurs that will change their lives forever. This is where the story really took off for me. The Restorative Justice system plays a huge part in their story from hereon and their situation is one that I cannot bear the thought of having to face. How much can one forgive? How deeply can one love to help those around them heal and move forward and is the inability to forgive more harmful to the victim than the act of forgiveness itself? This is such a thought provoking book and I found myself torn and heartbroken at the decisions that have to be made by these lovely people who did nothing to deserve the awful thing that has blighted their lives. Having said all that, don't imagine that all is doom and gloom. There are lighter moments and at the core of the story a warm and comforting feeling of family support, love and togetherness and a wonderfully crafted moving and life affirming tale. Susan Lewis never disappoints and this is truly magnificent. My thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for an early copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

All. Of. The. Emotions! This was my first book that I’ve read by Susan Lewis and I absolutely loved it!

Claudia, her daughter Jasmine and mother Marcy have escaped to a new life, far away from Claudia’s abusive husband who has, for the meantime, been locked up in prison for money laundering. It takes Claudia a lot of time to stop looking over her shoulder and to try to shift her paranoia that Marcus is coming after them. However, as the family settle into their new lives, they meet new friends and finally begin to feel that they can put the past behind them and embrace their new future together. That is until a horrific incident takes place one evening that shatters all of their lives and causes damage that will last forever...

I found this story equally heartwarming and heartbreaking. I didn’t know much about restorative justice programmes until reading this and found the whole process truly interesting and thought-provoking. It was difficult to put myself in certain characters’ shoes and really made me think about what I would do in that position.

An element I really enjoyed is that the story wasn’t dragged out - significant amounts of time passed in between chapters which made me keen to catch up on what had happened in Claudia and her family’s lives. The characters were all written beautifully, I really got the sense of knowing them all personally which is something I love in any book. I definitely wouldn’t class this book as a ‘thriller’ which is what I was expecting, I think it’s more of a ‘domestic fiction’ but I ended up well and truly invested anyway. I thought this story was woven together very well in an extremely touching way and will definitely be reading more of Susan’s books!

Thank you to NetGalley & HarperCollins UK for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

You always know a Susan Lewis book will be a treat and this was no exception. There are a few themes explored in this book - that of restorative justice and forgiveness being a big one, and one which isn't often aired. Domestic abuse takes centre stage and whether it's truly possible to start again. Claudia along with her mother Marcy and daughter Jasmine escape Claudia's abusive criminal husband on the day of his trial (unrelated, she has never reported the abuse). They make a new life for themselves, but are always looking over their shoulder. Running through the book are chapters from Archie, who is writing letters to someone he has harmed, via a restorative justice process with Dan, one of the family's new friends. What the harm is, and who is the victim, we don't find out until later. This is cleverly told, and draws us in to caring what happens to Archie. What lovely people (and what awful people) - and truly shows you never know what is going on behind closed doors. #netgalley #forgiveme

I found it difficult to rate this book. Great characters, wonderful themes and fascinating scenes and yet, the plot slowed too much in parts for me to give the full 5 stars.
The theme of forgiveness is obviously huge in this book, between many of the characters, but the main point of interest for me was the process of Restorative Justice. As someone who loves any legal thriller put in front of her, this was incredibly moving for me. For a victim to meet the person convicted of the crime against them, who stands to gain the most out of their meeting? Will someone with true remorse ever be able to forgive themselves or will that only be provided by their victim? How can the two parties ever move on from the crime? This book explored this situation perfectly and it was incredibly moving for me to get an insight into it. I will definitely look out for more Susan Lewis novels if this is what I can expect from her!

I have read most of Susan Lewis' books. Some are fantastic but occasionally there is a duff one so I wasn't sure how it this one would be.
The story is about Claudia who escapes an abusive husband with her daughter, Jasmine, and goes to live with her mother, Marcia, in Westerly. Inevitably, they come in contact with Andee and her friends (who have appeared in previous books).
The result is a thriller crossed with family drama and I loved it.

I was delighted to receive an ARC copy of this latest Susan Lewis book as I have read an thoroughly enjoyed many in the past.

The theme of this novel is forgiveness and the use of the restorative justice system to do this.

As this was something that I was not really aware of it was an extremely interesting read and I kept reading to find out more about it and the characters in the book. I wonder if I would have been in the same mindset as Marcy, the victim in this instance? This is a real moral dilemma which I feel was well researched and written.

As usual the characters are well rounded and engaging and the plot expertly written. At the outset we see Claudia, daughter Jasmine and mother Marcy escaping their lives after Claudia’s second husband has revealed himself to be an abuser, money launderer and drug dealer. They have changed their names and fled to another part of the county to restart their lives, in time doing so and beginning again. However the spectre of the past comes back to destroy their future.

What an amazing read. Completely deserves the 5 ⭐️.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Net Galley and Harper Collins UK for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
Another masterpiece from Susan Lewis. Wow!
This book is so cleverly written, woven into the chapters are letters from the arsonist who set fire to the newly refurbished home of Claudia, her mother Marcy and her daughter Jasmine.
Their lives are changed forever by this event. The story is a family drama, how they got to be in their new home together, each of them taking tentative steps to start over, having survived one type of trauma and then to have their lives torn apart again by the fire is devastating.
The story is about forgiveness, acceptance, understanding, new beginnings and hope.
It’s a powerful story from beginning to end and Susan Lewis fans will not be disappointed.

My first read by Susan Lewis, I have no idea why it's taken so long.! Excellently crafted book with lots going on. A story about family, relatiionships and the power of love in all its forms.

I’m a huge fan of Susan Lewis novels and with this one, the theme of Restorative Justice is clearly an issue that matters to the author.

We meet Archie, writing letters from prison to his unknown victim, the issue surrounding which we do not know at this stage. We are then introduced to Claudia Winters, her mother Marcy and Jasmine who is just 16. They have escaped the abusiveness of Claudia’s husband, Marcus and have come to settle in Kesterley, a community which has welcomed all three of them as they start a new life.

Just as they’ve settled, tragedy strikes and once again the Winters have to find out whether they have got what it takes to deal with all the issues, hurt and upheaval coming their way.

I found this to be quite a fast paced novel once you get to grips with the characters and all their reasoning.

I read Forgive Me over a few days and really enjoyed it. It’s the first book I’ve read by Susan Lewis and after this one, I’m eager to read more. It follows the story of Claudia along with her daughter Jasmine and her mother Marcy. It’s Claudia’s last chance for a fresh start, so she and her family have changed their names and moved to the other side of the country hoping that they will be safe for the first time in years and that the past can stay hidden. This book was tense and gritty and I found I was easily drawn in. It’s well written, covers some emotional subjects and ultimately focuses on love, family and forgiveness. Highly recommended. Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK and the author for the chance to review.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

This book is about forgiveness. The people that are most affected by a situation are the first to forgive, but the others close to them find it harder.

So, Claudia and her daughter Jasmine have escaped, to a new life, they’ve left behind an abusive husband and stepfather ,who is in prison for the crime of money laundering.

Along with them, Claudia’s mother Marcy, also is with them to build a new life far away from their old one.

So, can they truly leave the past behind? Or will it catch up with them, in a way they’d not expected ?

The restorative justice scheme was something I heard of before, but didn’t really know much about. The way it was explored n the book was, for me very thought provoking, making me wonder how I would act if I were in the victims place.

Holding on to bitterness is definitely bad for you, gaining a closure in what’s happened is what’s best in the long run. It’s something we all know, but we still struggle with!

I think that this book will stay with me for a long time.

The story and the characters are so thought out and well written and I felt the plot was very researched albeit painstakingly.

Susan Lewis books, I love and each one is so different but, still they are so well written and page turners.

Recommend it.

"Forgive Me" is an enjoyable read. It's a little slow, which makes it a gentle read. I found the characters a little cold, which I think was deliberate. They felt hard to reach and connect with. The story is interesting, but a bit predictable. Susan Lewis's writing is always of a high standard, and this book doesn't let us down.

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

Marcy, Claudia and Jasmine have run away from their lives and Claudius abusive husband to start a new life is the town of Kesterly. Buying a coach house which needs complete restoration. Soothes Claudius soul, once complete the family move in and start to move in with their lives until the night the house is set on fire.

A fantastic in shift into the restorative justice system. A great book.

Restorative Justice is a concept that can still be considered a little ‘taboo’ even in today’s society. Susan Lewis has taken the practice of Restorative Justice and given it a brilliant airing in a fictional setting to highlight its importance and usefulness in the criminal justice system for both victims and offenders. For that reason, I would highly recommend this book for anyone wishing to explore more about the practice and understand how it works. I would however stress that this is fiction – and has been dramatised to make for an entertaining and gripping read. Susan Lewis does well to highlight this as well, by carefully outlining how the outcomes achieved in this book are rare, in the real world. Susan also explores forgiveness as a very powerful tool in moving forwards as a victim of crime and highlights how it can empower victims as much as help offenders too.

Having worked on a Restorative Justice programme myself in the past, there were a few points within this book that made me cringe. Firstly, Dan seeing someone he knew in the pub and disclosing to Claudia that it was a person on the Restorative Justice programme… That should not happen – such disclosure is a breach of confidentiality – and Dan is portrayed as a strong character and advocate for doing the right thing. So it’s an out of character and careless disclosure too.

Secondly, Maria’s portrayal is a little unfair. Yes she has a learning difficulty or disability – from the way she is described. However misspelling words when she speaks to highlight a speech impediment and difficulty with words is not necessary. You can portray someone’s dialect or way of talking quite easily with a few descriptive words after their speech marks have closed and with a brief background of the character when we first meet them. I’m sure other characters in the book would have had different accents but the Author did not choose to misspell words to indicate their speech.

Without going into spoilers (and the bits that I’ve covered already are clearly outlined in the blurb and/or title of the book) I would have liked to see the serious theme of forgiveness further explored when it came to Claudia and her daughter – but perhaps that’s a whole other book!

Overall, A Susan Lewis book means that you’ll read a carefully researched domestic drama with care and time taken into the finer details to bring you facts just as much as fiction. Aside from the little bits that made me cringe which could have been editing omissions (and personal preference) this was a firm four star read for me and I look forward to seeing what societal concept Susan Lewis tackles next.

Claudia and her daughter Jasmine have fled London to live with Marcy, Claudia's Mum, in the seaside town of Kesterley. Having changed their appearance and their names, and having left all trace of their old lives behind, they hope it is the fresh start they have dreamt of. They have fled a dangerous and criminal man, Marcus - Claudia's second husband.

As they start to rebuild their lives, everything seems to be going well. New friendships are formed, Jasmine is playing music again, and Marcy is falling in love. But one terrible night, an event occurs that will have devastating consequences.

Forgive Me is Susan Lewis at her best - a wonderful story, a plot that is immersive, and characters that are complex and easy to form a connection with. Forgive Me is about the power of second chances, the importance of forgiveness to self and others, and the difference true friendships make to our lives. It was really interesting to read about the concept of restorative justice which played a central role in the story.

It is in the power of good writing that we can come to have empathy with those characters that whilst deeply flawed, are still, themselves, victims of circumstances. Archie was one of those characters. But the true hero of this story is Marcy. A good woman, through and through with strength, compassion and empathy.

This thought-provoking read raises strong moral questions. Susan Lewis is never afraid to address serious issues in her novels and this one is no exception, with the questions it poses of forgiveness and redemption. It opens with 19-year-old criminal Archie writing to his unknown victim from his prison cell - what has he done that's so awful? The story then cuts to Claudia Winters, her 16-year-old daughter Jasmine and her mother Marcy, as they forge a new life for themselves, under a new identity, in a bid to escape the attention of Claudia's abusive second husband Marcus. Though he's currently serving a jail sentence for fraud, he has a long reach, as subsequent events prove. Just as Claudia and her family are settlng in and making friends in the local community of Kersterley, tragedy strikes. Now more than ever, Marcy, Claudia and Jasmine will need all their strength and courage to endure and survive. Do they have room in their hearts to reach out and save the young man who has wronged them, too?
In her last book, Susan Lewis's protagonist faced homelessness and ruin. This time, Claudia is well-off, successful and popular, as are the new friends she makes - including ex-police detective Andee Lawrence from previous books. And yet there's a nice balance in this book between privilege and non-privilege. Nothing is black and white. Though the Winters are rich, well-educated and blessed with good friends, they are haunted by the shadows of the past: though Archie is underprivileged, he at least has a strong and loving relationship with his mum. And they all have one thing in common - the need to move on from the past. But can they do it together under the restorative justice process brokered by Andee and Claudia's new man, Dan?
Claudia, Marcy and Jasmine would have to be saints to forgive and forget in an instant of course, but the narrative explores their conflicted feelings with such depth and understanding that the resolution is convincing. A strong plot, likeable characters and a thought-provoking theme makes this a gripping read.