Absolutely gripping from start to finish. Keeps you guessing how the story will end and I was so invested in all of the characters, particularly Emma and Leo. I feel completely wrung out emotionally after reading this wonderful book in one sitting, so you definitely need a comfy chair, steady supply of snacks, a few tissues and maybe a large glass of wine. Highly recommended!

I think I must have read a different book to other reviewers as I don't rate this book highly. The story of a seemingly happily married minor TV celebrity marine biologist with a deep dark secret from her past fell flat for me. It was obvious what the "twist" and revela would be early on. It just read like one of those Monday/Tuesday ITV type dramas about characters with impressive houses and lives but weak plots to me. The main charcater owns a house in Plymouth which is rented out, lives with her Granny who is an ex MP , presumably with a fat index linked public pension and a house owned outright in Hampstead Village but apparently they are poor as church mice!! That gave me the rage - I just didn't believe in the plot at all. A load of codswallop albeit charmingly written. Who knows perhaps the BBc or ITV will commission it for a Monday night drama.

I have mixed feelings about The Love of my Life. While I loved the premise, love a dual narrative, and love having an author throw around pieces of information that get put together in the second half of a book, I just couldn’t connect to this story as much as I wanted to.

I’m not sure what caused it. Maybe it’s the pacing; it was rather slow at first. Maybe it’s Emma; I found her annoying at times. Maybe it’s the structure of this book; I think a dual timeline, Leo’s voice in the present, Emma’s in the past, would have worked better. Maybe it’s Emma’s and Leo’s relationship that should feel warm and tender but felt distant to me. And the distance in this story might be my main issue. I need to feel a book. When I put a book down, my body and mind need to long to be back with the characters, to feel what they’re feeling. While this is not a bad story because the writing is good and the story is easy to read, I just didn’t feel anything. Not in the present parts and definitely not in the parts in the past. I read, and I read, and finally rushed through the book, instead of indulging Emma’s and Leo’s story. They didn’t find a place in my heart, couldn’t make me shiver, couldn’t pull my mouth up in a smile, and could certainly not wet my eyes. It might be a me, not you thing, so if you’re interested in this story, please check out other, more positive reviews.

A thoroughly enjoyable read that gives off thriller/mystery vibes in that I needed to really know what was happening! I found the characters likeable and relatable so enjoyed following on their journey. I was shocked by certain plot twists and I kept wanting to read more.

A very good, enticing read but another one to check for trigger warnings particularly surrounding pregnancy and postpartum.

I really didn't think I would love The Love of My Life more than Rosie's debut The Man Who Didn't Call, but I was wrong. I devoured this novel in two days. It is clever, well written and a complete page turner. I absolutely adored it. and cannot even articulate how amazing it is, Everyone must read it! Five stars.

Took me a while to get into this book and connect with the characters but overall the story line was good and there were plenty of secrets along the way which did come to light as I read further into the book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan (Mantle) for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the chance to receive and review this book.

Wow, wow, wow. Where to start?

I have waited in anticipation for the next Rosie Walsh book, after falling in love with her first novel penned under her name, and also being a huge fan of previous novels written under her pseudonym, Lucy Robinson.

It’s my belief- and proven by this book!- that Walsh writes in such a way that you are drawn in from the off: a conversational style that makes you believe you know the characters, along with a sense of intrigue that you cannot help but be sucked in, wondering ‘where is this going?’ and ‘what next?!’ The characters are living a normal, messy, tangled life that is so relatable but also so absorbing that I defy anyone to willingly put this book down.

This story beautifully weaves a tale around the main protagonist, Emma, as well as her husband, Leo. Both characters both draw you in as the intrigue unfolds: what secret is Emma keeping?

Throughout the novel, the premise of love (and all types of love possible) come to the surface and are explored, including how love translates to grief and loss, while touching very sensitively on subjects such as pregnancy, cancer and depression.

Without giving too much more away, I wholeheartedly recommend this book: you really will find yourself on a journey with these characters, pitching up and down with them along the way, and enjoying every minute.

I proudly admit that I devoured this book in one sitting!

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Shonaigh Mudie
to me
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Familiar with the author, I was delighted she had a new novel. After a run of quite heavy books, it was a welcome relief to escape into the world Rosie Wash created. Her characters were rich and relatable, very well written. There was a dual narrative running throughout the story, whereby you were reading the perspective and thoughts of the books leading characters. The book centred on Leo and Emma, a married couple. Leo worked as an obituary writer and Emma as a prominent marine biologist who starred in a BBC documentary series. The book contained frequent references to the sea and marine life, I found this a great feature of the book. I love the sea and did an awful lot of rock pooling as a child, I always like having a look whenever visiting the coast. For readers with similar enthusiasm/appreciation, that element of the book will really appeal.



The book explored many themes and was much more than a romantic read, it read like a thriller at times with the slow build up and tension of a big secret being revealed. I do not wish to give too much away, as an obituary writer Leo is tasked with writing an advanced obituary for his wife to have in stock. Sadly, as the book opens Emma is undergoing treatment for cancer. Leo must start to research his wife and soon discovers all is not as it seems. Leo must delve deep into the past One which Emma has so determinedly kept hidden for so many years.



The power of guilt and the impact that hiding big life events has is evident, the past always catches up. Overall, I found this to be a very engaging read- I really enjoyed the pace of it starting slow and then building from there. It ebbs and flows beautifully and is full of emotion. There is optimism and hope that love, whether it be romantic, familial or friendship based, is all conquering and resilient in the face of great pressures and adversity. Definitely a very human book, full of relatable references in terms of popular culture, places, feelings and more. Depicts marriage and family life well. The author shed light on postpartum/natal depression, in a deft yet considered way. It is not easy to capture the severity of that and it was good to see Walsh handle it so well. Her characters were well developed and had distinctive voices, I found myself caring for them and was keen to find out more about them and of course the resulting outcomes for them in the story. In terms of readability, I could not fault the novel at all. Each chapter and sections within, were headed with the characters name and a time reference such as 'one week later' etc,,, It made it so easy to follow, though I did of course barely glance at it, the more familiar I got with the characters. I would highly recommend this book and if you enjoy it, be sure to check out Rosie Walshes other titles. The Man Who Didn't Call is fantastic, I have just added Ghosted on my 2022 reading list.



I read this novel in the form of an Ebook on the Kindle App. I was very lucky to read an early copy of the novel via NetGalley.

Lovely and heartwarming read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Just when you think you have worked out the secret, another twist is revealed. A lovely tale of love and trust and families that will make you want to keep reading to find out how it ends. Loved The man who didn’t call and this is just as good.

**Listened to audio book and read along via kindle**

I really struggled with this book. I have a lot of respect for Rosie Walsh and her writing, but I just didn't connect with this book on any level.
The audio book was confusing, and the narrator didn't do a good enough job with changing up for different characters.
The physical book was just too slow, and even though the pay-off was decent - I didn't appreciate the slow burn at the start. Just didn't get me hooked and gripped early enough.

I absolutely adored Rosie Walsh’s debut and enjoyed this beautiful second novel just as much!

Emma loves her husband Leo and their young daughter Ruby and would do anything for them. However, everything they know about Emma is a lie. If it wasn’t for Leo’s job as an obituary writer, she would very likely have been able to keep her secrets hidden. But Emma is a well-known marine biologist and when she suffers a serious illness, Leo turns to his work to help him cope. Reading and writing about Emma’s life he realises there are some things he doesn’t know all the details of. And as Leo starts to unravel her past, he discovers the woman he loves doesn’t really exist...

I really liked the alternating chapter perspectives of Leo and Emma and couldn’t wait to get back to each of their chapters! My heart went out to Leo so much as I was reading, as his life began to unravel and he learnt of so many things that Emma had lied about! I didn’t really warm to Emma to begin with given all of her deceptions that poor Leo uncovered, but as the book progressed this completely changed as I got to truly understand Emma and her experiences.

There were so many moments that took me by surprise as I was reading which I loved! I particularly liked the middle section of the book in this regard as the events that led to Emma making the decision to lie about so many things in the present were revealed. There was also one particular reveal towards the end of the book which had me gasping in shock. I couldn’t believe what I was reading and will never forget that moment!

This story made me feel so many different emotions as I was reading and is so beautifully written! I also found it fascinating reading about Leo’s job as an obituary writer and learning about all of the different ‘stocks’ they have on file. There was also another part of the book which I thought was very sensitively written and insightful (but I cannot say what this is about as it will give things away).

I have enjoyed The Love of My Life so much and didn’t want it to have to come to an end as I was just so invested in these characters (even though I really liked the ending). I honestly cannot recommend it highly enough!

Wow. There is so much happening in this book I almost don't know where to begin!

I loved The Man Who Didn't Call/Ghosted and all of Rosie's previous books as Lucy Robinson. I feel her writing has so much depth - it's really easy for me to imagine the story playing out in my head and I am just utterly absorbed into her books.

The Love of My Life combines mystery and romance as Emma and Leo's lives began to unfurl when seemingly innocent actions end up having big consequences. Whilst some elements I did guess, for the most part this kept me on tenterhooks wondering how everything might work out in the end. Also I love Sheila and I would like to be her.

So gripping I devoured it in one afternoon! Big thanks to Pan Macmillan/Netgalley for the ARC.

I absolutely loved this book & I will be recommending it to everyone! Thanks for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I found the first half of the book quite slow but then it picked up some pace and I enjoyed the second half. A story of a marriage and the lies one woman, Emma has kept from her husband, Leo. The twist was predictable but I liked the multiple narrators.

An extraordinary book! I can’t remember the last time I wept this much! Absolutely adored Emma & Leo

The Love of My Life by Rosie Walsh is an extraordinary novel. While I was reading it, I genuinely couldn’t bear to put it down. I honestly think it’s even more gripping and twisty than The Man Who Didn’t Call, and I don’t know how that’s even possible. This book is an absolute triumph.

I loved Rosie Walsh's last book 'The Man that Didn't Call' so I was prepared for a twisty, turny read. Overall it was great - pacy and some nice touches. I loved the sense of place given throughout the book (like the descriptions of the Northumberland coast which made me feel like she knew the area really well). The characters were a bit too wacky for me to really invest in them. I couldn't reconcile Emily's quirkiness with the deep sadness she was meant to feel about her past. Some things were done brilliantly - in particular the descriptions of mental health disorders. I feel like the character of Janice who is so pivotal to the story doesn't really get the space it deserved. Overall did enjoy it but was speed reading the last bit.

A really solid addition to the genre; reliable, if a little predictable in places. Would recommend if you know what you want from this sort of book, as it definitely delivers that.

I loved Rosie Walsh's first book, The Man Who Didn't Call - a romantic story about ghosting, of all things! I didn't think this one would live up to it, but actually I like it better than the first. Obituary writer Leo discovers that his wife's name isn't Emma, but Emily; that she didn't graduate from the university she always mentioned; that she has a restraining order against her and other, even bigger secrets. When a local actress, Janice Rothschild, goes missing, Leo is drawn into the story of her family, which turns out to be far closer to his than he'd ever imagined. With wonderful depictions of both North London and the Northumberland coastline, plus some warm, intelligent humour to lighten the difficult subject matter, this is a really lovely literary novel masquerading as a commercial romance.