This a great slow burn, family-centric novel, for the first few chapters of the book she expertly builds the character background. All the characters are so well written to demonstrate their flawed personalities. I think this story is beautifully written and shows how complicated family life and relationships can be. I think every reader will be able to find a character in this book they relate to. There are certain threads of the storyline I think could have benefited from more exploration, however on the whole this is a great book and Amanda Brookfield is a master of the genre.

#The Split #netgalley

The Split is slow built story...

Brookefield has shown the mental and physical effects divorce has on people and the rebound it has on the household and also how the characters have moved forward with their life. I found the plot to be confusing and struggled to comprehend the switches between past and present events with little to no warning. There was often no lead up to events and no clear or outlined plot resulting in the story drifting off all over the place.

The character development of The Split is ok. It is easy to form a love or hate relationship with each character. However I was unable to form an attachment with any of the characters... I would like to have seeen more of a outline to the how everyone dealt with the divorce at the time...it just seemed that the parents were still bitter even though they had officially divorced 2 years and still thought about each other constantly...

Esther has focused focused mainly on the care of her son, Dylan, who is currently in the care of his father, Lucas. Esther doesn't have much of a social life and has been encouraged by her friend, Viv to make the most of her time.

At 52 Lucas is an eminent medieval professor, who has written books that were on university reading lists across the country. He is a frequent speaker at international academic conferences, with a YouTube channel, where he posts his lectures, and has two thousand followers on Twitter. He has found happiness again with his girlfriend, Heidi, there is a 19 year gap between them.

I would recommend reading The Split to people who enjoy women's fiction and contemporary fiction, as it is a character driven story that has plenty of affairs, deceit and drama...

This was a slow paced but gripping family drama. I really liked Esther and it was good to read a story based around a woman in middle age when her marriage falls apart, her children leave home and we follow her as she's trying to build a new life for herself.
I love the story is told out of order, we start with Esther negotiating her way through the world of dating after her marriage has ended. It then moves on to a younger Esther, who is in a relationship with a married man when she meets Lucas. Twenty years later, the marriage is over and we really get to know the family, their relationships and their struggles.
Thoroughly recommended!

I’m going to open this one to say that parts of this book were uncomfortable and absolutely not in a bad way! I immediately found Esther and Lucas, to be relatable and found the twists to be at times palm sweatingly uncomfortable. Now not perhaps the opening of a strong review you might say but that uncomfy feeling kept me reading page after page as Esther and Lucas navigated their post divorce life with two grown up children, Esther’s dabbling in the modern dating scene, Lucas trying to keep his reputation in tact as well as moving on with the glamorous Heidi….anyone else not warm to her AT ALL!!

One of the signs of not just a good book but a talented Author is the ability to evoke the feelings of their characters in you, the reader and that is absolutely the case here. I felt the indignation felt by Lucas at the allegations being alleged against him but also Esther’s frustration and exasperation at the far from perfect Lucas, I found myself wanting to shout at the page on more than one occasion.

There is a lot going on in this story, each of the characters portrayed in it seem to be going through some major changes, it’s not a book for happy ever after that’s for sure but the author beautifully navigates the story through all the stress and drama.

My first read by Amanda Brookfield but it absolutely won’t be my last!

The split…… Wonderful… It gripped me from the first page until the last. The characters are so amazing… This story kept me glued all the way through… Phenomenal… Outstanding

Loved this book which felt very real and honest. This book shows that breakups are never clean cut and in the long run all kinds of relationships including your friends and children also have to adapt to the change not just you and if you can find a way to work through all that then there are brighter times ahead but if not a fling with a nice man will always make you feel better ;-)

After The Other Woman, which is the only other eARC I have by Amanda Brookfield so far and which is one I really loved, I eagerly requested The Split.

The first chapter is very slow burn and in subsequent chapters and the rest of the book I thought I’d get more into the book and the characters. I tried, but the book wasn’t for me and I didn’t feel for any of the characters, I found the writing style on this occasion to be completely different from The Other Woman, which had me completely engaged all the way through.

Thanks to Amanda Brookfield Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

4 stars

I knew I was going to enjoy this book from its opening chapters, a pair the author calls “First Dates”. We meet Esther, forty-eight years old, facing up to the challenge of her newly single life, riddled with concerns and insecurities, heading for the inevitable disappointment (and, although she doesn’t know it at the time, the ensuing complications) of another meet-up as she reluctantly dips her toe in the dating pool. And that’s in rather sharp contrast to the second chapter – a young Esther, in her twenties and in a long-term relationship with a married man, and her first meeting with the charismatic Lucas, lecturer in medieval English, who goes on to sweep her off her feet, entirely enchant her and promise so much.

Twenty years on, the marriage is over. While Esther’s life is something of a constant struggle – she’s so easy to identify with for any single woman of a certain age – Lucas’ star has continued to rise. His stellar academic career, his younger lover who he plans to marry, his occasional casual parenting of their two children – unlike Esther, he’s moved on fairly seamlessly into his future, and has plenty to look forward to. But then, life happens – an accusation with the potential to wreck his reputation, his career and his new relationship – and a son who refuses to bend to his will, who adds another layer of confusion to both their lives when he disappears.

This is a story about relationships, all of them deliciously complicated – about families, parenthood, friendships, past relationships and ongoing ones – and about the chaos life can sometimes be, veering between joy and pain, always unpredictable. There are no real fireworks, and the book’s pace is gentle – there are a few surprises, but the joy of this book is in its exploration of the messiness of life. While Lucas is the one who initially seems to have everything, the foundations of his charmed life prove not to be as secure as they at first appear – and Esther shows a strength and resilience that has you entirely in her corner, wanting her to have the slice of happiness that she certainly deserves.

It usually takes me less than two days to read a book – this one took me five. I lingered over the intriguing twists and turns of the story and really enjoyed being embroiled in the characters’ lives as Esther began to blossom and Lucas’ life – he’s rarely a particularly likeable character, but it’s hard not to have some sympathy – steadily implodes. There’s plenty of narrative drive – through the family dynamics and the other relationships in both Esther’s and Lucas’ lives – along with some nice touches of gentle humour, strong emotional engagement, and a satisfying and unexpected conclusion. I really enjoyed this one – perhaps not for everyone, especially those who enjoy a faster pace, but it’s a book I’d most certainly recommend – and I’ll look forward to seeing what Amanda Brookfield does next.

I was really looking forward to reading this book, however it didn't live up to expectations! I found it to be such a slow paced story that I got bored and really struggled to finish it!

I'm a huge lover of books with flawed characters, so The Split fit the bill perfectly. I found the start of the story a little too slow for me, but once I got further invested into the story it soon picked up pace.

It's my first read by Brookfield and certainly won't be my last.

The Split is best described as a family drama and delves into the breakdown of a marriage and the ramifications that this has on everyone.

It's very well written, realistic and has a bunch of credible characters.

I found The Split to be an enjoyable and entertaining read.

Many thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for my tour spot.

Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Family breakdowns are never easy and after twenty years of marriage Esther is struggling to come to terms with her divorce. Her ex-husband Lucas seems to be forging ahead with a predictably younger lover whilst Esther is floundering in the pitfalls of entering a modern dating arena for which she has no real enthusiasm. With her grown up children facing their own personal crossroads, Esther must learn to be more resilient in the face of adversity and it is this theme which runs throughout the story.

Esther has a strength which at the start of the novel she is unaware of and the gradual blossoming of her character is what kept me turning the pages. Lucas, on the other hand, is a whole different sort of character, and not a person I warmed to easily, and yet his part in this cautionary tale is just as fascinating, especially when his professional reputation, so carefully cultivated over years, is facing a downward spiral.

The story flows well, albeit a little slow at the start, which I think is quite intentional as it gives us the opportunity to get to know the characters and to understand the family dynamic, so when things start to heat up, we are already invested in the the minutiae of family life, and the ties, although rather fractured, which attempt to hold the family together.

The Split is an enjoyable, quietly introspective family drama which looks at the pitfalls of a marriage breakup and the effect that this has on every part of family life going forward into the future.

Esther and Lucas' marriage is over. She's on the way to start going on with her life. But suddenly, her world begins to spin.
On the other side, Lucas is living a good experience with Heidy. But somehow, he got tangled in some unexpected journey.
I liked this story. Full of good writing and characters acutely developed.
Thank you NetGalley for the chance of reading this book in exchange for an honest review.

From the beginning, I was drawn into this novel by Amanda Brookfield's writing. Naturally, with a central subject such as divorce, there are lots of emotions involved and Brookfield is really good at capturing them and allowing the reader to understand them and the impact they have on the characters.

For the most part, The Split is a character driven novel and we learn a great deal about how the divorce has affected everyone around the couple: the couple themselves, their children, their new partners and their families and friends. I enjoyed learning more about them, and as you would expect, there were some characters I liked more than others. Lucas, for example, really irritated me and I wasn't surprised that Dylan acted in the way that he did.

As the plot takes shape, Brookfield explores many issues which are incredibly relevant to today's society. She explores them in a gentle way, almost asking questions of the reader's point of view. I was interested to see where this story would go and I was pleased it wasn't always predictable.

I stopped reading at 41% .
I had another book to review and as this book was a bit slow I stopped to read that one. I initially had every intention of going back to this book to finish but I just hadn’t been drawn into the characters enough to want to finish and see what happened with them. If I’d persevered in the beginning and got a bit further I may have felt differently as other reviewers seemed to have enjoyed it.

Family drama at its best!!

Absolutely loved this great book, a proper story about the collapse of a marriage amid middle age and an empty nest. The main protagonist Esther is particularly likeable and relatable as she struggles to find a place for herself in her newly single world.

The writers skilful creation of each character draws the reader in and makes us feel personally acquainted with them.

Thanks to netgalley for access to the ebook in return for an honest review

A family drama post-divorce where everyone is trying to find their new place. An ex who is insufferable and dating a stereo=typical much younger woman, children who are now grown but still need guidance and a woman aloft trying to find her way. It is an in-depth look at the real-life fallout of a lengthy marriage and the impacts to all those in the family and around them.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC!

An interesting read about a family with a lot of ups and downs and even though trying to separate from each other a husband and wife keep getting thrown back together …

I received a copy of The Split by Amanda Brookfield from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review and opinion. I found this to be a great read with a very interesting story. Lots of family dynamics that will keep you turning the pages rushing to see how it ends.

Really enjoyed this psychological thriller.I was drawn right in to the story kept me involved turning the pages.Perfect summer read for me.#netgalley #boldwoodbooks

The Split
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Thriller
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 8/10/22
Author: Amanda Brookfield
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Goodreads Rating: 4.00

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Boldwood Books and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: For Esther, after two decades with Lucas, it’s proving hard not to feel bitter watching Lucas enjoying his successful career, and predictably younger lover. She meanwhile is struggling to forge a new life for herself, navigating the pitfalls of modern dating, while trying not to despair at the cost of living as a single woman of a certain age. Then Lucas faces a shattering accusation at the same time as their children Dylan and Lily, start to implode. When Dylan runs away, and as his father fights to save his reputation, Lucas and Esther find themselves back in each other’s lives, whether they like it or not.

My Thoughts: This was an enjoyable quick read. The characters well developed and were creative with depth, mysterious, thrilling, and relatable, while they were flawed, they were even likable, to an extent. Esther was dedicated to her family, she soon found out that she is stronger than she thought she was. On the other hand, Lucas is selfish and so self absorbed, you question his motives. The author’s writing style was complex, suspenseful, flowed well, and kept me on the edge of my seat. The story started as a slow burn, it was built first with the characters in their new lives, filling their backstory, then the plot layered in twists, and the ending was a cliffhanger, but not as one would expect. The only thing I would love to have read is some more of the previous life together. This book releases next week!