Author Lucinda Riley writes in this volume's introduction that when asked to write it she felt emotional as it took her back to her teens when she read "The shell seekers". That's exactly how I felt when I saw on NetGalley that a new book by Rosamunde Pilcher was being published. I still remember "The shell seekers" and "Coming home" as two books that marked my teenage years (although I can't remember much about them now). It might be that I remember those through rose-colored glasses and should I re-read them now I would not think the same about them. That's why it pains me to say that "A place like home" is not worthy.

This collection of short stories is so outdated nowadays. They certainly have not aged well. Each story presents a woman whose main worry in life is to have a man beside her. The message most of them convey is that if you're a woman and you're single you have failed in life, that you won't be truly happy unless there's a man in your life. Even those characters that begin saying they are independent, more work oriented and don't need a guy, end up with one, cause romantic love seems to be the only kind of love possible.

Most of the conflicts these characters have are pretty silly and the romances described quite unreal. Everyones seems to fall madly in love with each other just with one look and marriage proposals are said like you say good morning. So annoying!

I can't honestly see any modern reader, specially any woman, enjoying these stories as I'm sure they would have been enjoyed when written last century.

Note to self: stop reading books and authors you enjoyed when you were a teenager or you'll end up being disappointed time and time again.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Easy reading, always enjoyed Rosamunde's style of writing. Some more enjoyable than others but good to pick up and down.