An enjoyable slow burner, what is a good friend? This book has a good story to tell about the dynamics that make a good one.
It's a strong, identifiable book. Well written and definitely recommended.

Florence and Rowena forge a deep and lasting friendship that supports each other and their personal growth. Yet sometimes being a good friend allows the other space to grow as we continue to grow independently only so the friendship can come back stronger. This book provided some good insights and laughable one liners. It is a heartfelt story with joy, heartbreak, tears and laughter.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to preview this book.

It is super interesting that the synopsis doesn't mention one of the most important parts of this story! The book starts off with Cassie, a middle aged psychic who is busy renovating and restoring an old camper van. When Cassie suddenly becomes ill she sets to work creating a scavenger hunt for her former student Florence and leaves the van to Florence in her will. It is quite an unusual start to a story, but as things are slowly starting to unfold, it is clear that this was very purposefully done on that part of the author. This story is definitely one that will take time to unfold. I would definitely recommend this book. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read this book! #boldwood #blogtour

Upon meeting Rowena, Florence sensed an instant connection that signaled a friendship for life. Their bond was swift, and they pledged mutual support through life's challenges. From tedious teachers to teenage angst and tumultuous parents, Florence believed Rowena would always be her steadfast companion—until the day she wasn't. Faced with life-altering decisions, Rowena's choices prompt Florence to confront her own challenges head-on. Despite divergent paths, can these friends rediscover their connection, or have the twists of life created an insurmountable divide? This book is compelling and heartwarming narrative, written with warmth and insight. Witty, perceptive, and immensely relatable, it tugs at heartstrings, evokes tears, and elicits chuckles, immersing readers in a captivating story.

This book had a slow start, but you realise why as the story unfolds. It is a very enjoyable read, plenty of humour, relatable characters and an incredible emotional story. A book I would highly recommend
Thanks to Netgalley, Janet Hogarth and Boldwood Books for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

When Florence met Rowena, they became fast friends, ready to support each other through life's ups and downs. However, their paths diverged, and they faced separate challenges as adults. Yet, a wise soul believes in the enduring power of their friendship, sparking hope for a reunion.

Heartwarming, relatable, and witty this book explores the timeless nature of true friendships.

Ill admit i did struggle with this in the first few chapters, but once i got into it, i really enjoyed it. A sweet book about everlasting friendship with all the feels! A great feel good book after the slow start.

This author is a first for me and it wont be the last time I pick up one of her books. It’s well written about friendship, family and forgiveness.

Janet Hoggarth’s Us Two is a wonderful exploration of female friendship, hope and love that will raise your spirits and make you laugh and cry.

When Florence met Rowena, she immediately knew that she had found a friend for life. The two had bonded so quickly and they both knew that whatever curveball life threw their way, they would always be there for one another ready to lend a hand or a shoulder to cry on. From boring teachers to hormonal teens and wayward parents, Florence thought that Rowena would always be by her side – until the day she wasn’t and she found herself having to figure everything out by herself…

As Rowena finds herself faced with the hardest decision of her life, Florence begins to wonder whether whether she should stop running away from the truth and face all of her challenges head on. Life and circumstances might have taken these two friends down two very different paths, but could they find their way back to one another again? Or has too much water flown under the bridge for the two of them to ever be friends again?

Janet Hoggarth’s Us Two is a brilliant read written with warmth, candour and sensitivity. Witty, astute, feel-good and immensely relatable, Us Two plucks at the heartstrings, brings a tear to the eye and will make you chuckle as you find yourself completely drawn into this fantastic page-turner.

Enjoyable, believable and uplifting, Janet Hoggarth’s Us Two is a book you will want to tell all your friends and family about.

Absolutely loved this book. FloRo, best friends at school, Florence and Rowena, inseparable through it all. Until Rowena falls for Clinton….fast forward a few years and the girls are no longer friends. Florence appears to have had an unhappy life, and somehow Clinton is part of it, but no longer there. One day; Frank knocks in her door; she hasn’t been replying to letters from a solicitors advising that Cassie; his mum; who used to be her English teacher has left her a camper van and a letter. Despite her reservations. Florence follows the instructions within the letter leading to old friendships being resurrected and realising maybe life could be worth living again. A really beautiful book that had me in tears towards the end.

This initially felt like a slow burner as it was hard to see where the storyline was going to go, but in fact turned out to be a genius way of building up the different elements of the plot.

Told in chapters from the present day and events in the past and from the perspectives of both Florence and Rowena, there are hints dropped throughout the opening chapters as to the events that have shaped both of their lives in the future and what led to their falling out.

I loved the parallels between FloRo and Cassie and Tracey and the way Cassie set up the treasure hunt in order to help Flo resolve the issues from her past in the same way she used to devise them while teaching in school.

There are plenty of poignant, heartfelt moments, but lots of humour is peppered throughout too making this a thoroughly enjoyable read.

With thanks to the author, Rachel at Random Resources and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to participate in the tour.

“Us Two” by Janet Hoggarth is a poignant and heartwarming tale of friendship, growth, and the enduring bonds that shape our lives. The story revolves around Florence and Rowena, two girls who meet as children and instantly become inseparable friends. They share laughter, tears, and all the trials and tribulations that come with growing up, forming a bond that seems unbreakable.

Hoggarth skillfully captures the essence of childhood friendships, highlighting the joy and security that comes from having someone who understands you completely. Florence and Rowena’s dynamic is beautifully portrayed, with their individual strengths complementing each other. As they navigate through wayward parents, boring teachers, teenage crushes, and first heartbreaks, the reader is drawn into their world, rooting for their unwavering friendship.

However, life is unpredictable, and as the two girls approach adulthood, their paths begin to diverge. When unexpected circumstances force them apart, the narrative takes a bittersweet turn. Readers are taken on an emotional rollercoaster as they witness Florence and Rowena’s struggles and triumphs, each trying to find their way in a world that now feels different and unfamiliar.

The author’s writing is evocative and sensitive, effectively conveying the complexities of emotions that come with growing up and moving forward. The characters are relatable, flawed, and immensely endearing, making it effortless for readers to invest emotionally in their journey. Through their experiences, the novel explores themes of self-discovery, forgiveness, and the importance of cherishing cherished relationships.

One of the book’s strengths lies in the portrayal of a wise soul, a mentor figure, who offers invaluable advice to both Florence and Rowena. This character imparts lessons about the enduring nature of true friendships and the courage required to embrace change and start anew. These life-affirming messages add depth and substance to the narrative, resonating with readers long after they have turned the final page.

“Us Two” is a captivating blend of joy, heartbreak, and humor. The story elicits genuine laughter as well as tears, taking readers on an emotional journey that leaves a lasting impact. Hoggarth’s writing effortlessly balances the light-hearted moments with the more profound and reflective aspects of life.

In conclusion, “Us Two” is a truly unforgettable novel that celebrates the power of friendship and the enduring connections that shape our lives. Janet Hoggarth’s storytelling is rich and immersive, transporting readers to a world where they can reminisce about their own childhood friendships and reflect on the bonds that have stood the test of time. This book will warm your heart, make you laugh, and leave you pondering the significance of those friends who have touched your life in profound ways. “Us Two” is a must-read for anyone who cherishes the gift of true friendship.

a well written book about friendship, family and forgiveness.
a first for me by this author and i will be sure to look out for more

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this insightful book

this is the story about florence and rowena two childhood friends...friends for life....until....adulthood and a man....

this is a slow build up and at times could have been a bit shorter but when the big things start to be revealed you can understand why it was written like it was....

but this book is about the friendship that had started from childhood and even though adversity hit that friendship came through

its a feel good book and a reminder of what is important in life

This is such a gorgeous book, I just loved it. The emotional roller-coaster of this book is so beautifully written and the ups and downs of Flo and Rowenas friendships is depicted perfectly. I was new to Janet Hoggarth as an author but I will definitely be reading more.

Friendship can come and go, but true friends are like a treasure. Ultimately this book is about second chances. It is psychic Cassie's last wish that Florence take ownership of Cassie's beloved yellow VW camper, Nellie. Cassie was one of Florence's teacher in school and had reconnected with her at an event. Cassie's hope is that Florence reconnect with her former best friend Rowena. They had a falling out years ago over a man. Cassie saw a kindred spirit in Florence as she and her best friend Tracey had fallen out decades earlier and with Cassie's loss, there was no chance of a reconcilement.

Florence is more interested in selling the camper than anything, but when she discovers a letter addressed to Tracey from Cassie, she decides this is a sign to hand deliver the letter to Tracey. Cassie has orchestrated a reunion for FloRo (Florence and Rowena), but has too much time and hurt damaged their friendship beyond repair?

This was such an unexpectedly emotional book. Just so well done!

Us Two was a fantastic read. I will admit that it took me a little bit longer to get into it. I really vibed with Florence as a character, but the timeline in the beginning was a tiny bit slow/uninteresting. When I tell you the middle/end of the book made up for the pace, I mean it. This book tackled so many issues that are relevant in my life. Although, be warned that there is talk of suicide and self harm, so if that is a trigger of yours, I would suggest you skip this one. The whole theme of Us Two is the idea of a falling out between friends. This is something almost all of us have experienced at one point in our lives. Florence and Rowena fell out over a guy and now in their late 30's haven't spoke in almost a decade. They were thick as thieves, from cradle to (supposedly) grave until a man, who Rowena took a shine to, fell in love with Florence instead. After a whole lot of life since then, Florence is tasked with a scavenger hunt from beyond the grave from her former English teacher turned psychic. Cassandra experienced a similar falling out and after a traumatic event that the book slowly reveals, knew when she met Florence that she needed to point her on the road to reconnecting with Rowena. The book had me in stitches laughing and in tears crying. How Florence's relationship with Clinton plays out seriously was a gut punch that led to some very cathartic sobbing. You know what I mean right? When you really needed to cry, but just needed the correct medium to get you there? Us Two is that medium. It had a fantastic ending, completely tied up in a bow. If you've been reading my reviews for a while, you will know that ambiguous endings get me all riled up. I can't wait to read more from this author!!!

A book about a friendship that has hit a rough patch, but Rowena and Florence set out on a journey to reclaim their bond. A funny, emotional and heartwarming read to let you know that some friendships can go the distance.

The Blurb :
When Florence met Rowena, they knew for sure that they would always be friends.
Wayward parents, boring teachers, teenage crushes, first heartbreaks – anything and everything could be faced as long as Florence had Rowena by her side.
But then she didn’t.
And life had to be redrawn and reconsidered.
Being a grown-up has its perks, but as Rowena faces the biggest challenge of her life, and Florence wonders if it’s time to stop running away from hers, there’s a wise soul who knows the one thing that can help them both. Some friendships are meant to last forever, and it’s never too late for forever to start again.

My Thoughts :
Here we meet childhood friends, Rowena and Florence. Living near to each other, they went to school together and later attended uni together. They know each other inside and out.
Hitting their 20s, the girls ended up living together. They both worked to make ends meet and regularly went out pubing and clubing.
Then they met a boy named Clinton, and it all changed.
The Years have now passed and Florence and Rowena reunite with the help of an old school teacher turned Psychic and a VW Camper.
Can the friends bury what went wrong all those years ago and move on or is everything still as raw as it once was!?.
Janet Hoggarth seems to write from the heart and this is such a feel good story. There is some great descriptive details throughout that puts the reader right into the action.
I really enjoyed the element of the old English teacher from their school days who has now turned into a psychic.
Overall, Janet Hoggarth has written a beautiful story about love, family, friendships and forgiving one another.
Looking forward to more from this Author.

This was a touching, beautifully-written story about friendship and sticking together through the ups and downs of life. (With some emotional moments along the way.)

The pacing was done well, neither too fast or too slow, and gave the reader time to better understand the characters and story, leading to a more enjoyable read.