Libby Page goes from strength to strength. This is a follow-on from The Lido, which I much enjoyed. We see more of Kate and feel her emotional struggles with baby raising. We also meet Phoebe, and for me she was a standout character. Having worked, as she does, in mental health, I felt so much for her . Both women find joy in cold water swimming and we learn a lot about the people who join them. Social issues, maybe slightly too many, were well documented. I enjoyed reading this and hope to see more from Libby Page. Thank you to NetGalley for a chance to read and review the book.

Oh my lovelies are you in for a treat… where to start! This was a book that I desperately wanted to read and yet kept stopping myself because I didn’t want it to end! If you’ve read The Lido (and if you haven’t why not!) you will love being back with Kate and Jay witnessing them navigate this new stage in their life.

Having started a family Kate has lived back to Somerset to be near family but is not surprisingly missing the lido, her friends and her old life. Throw in the care of a newborn (which will really resonate with readers who have experienced this) and Kate’s not sure she’s made the right decision until she finds wild swimming and the Farleigh on Avon recreational swimming and other water based activities club (I may be paraphrasing!)

The addition of Phoebe the mental health nurse is exquisite and the river swimming setting divine. Like curling up with a set of old friends… ready for a good natter with, of course, a large glass of wine… there is no doubt I will be recommending this to everyone when it’s finally published.

Thanks to NetGalley and Orion publishing group for the arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

I read The Lido some time ago and found it to be predictable and over-sentimental. This is the same. I try to avoid "feel good" novels as a rule because of this. I should have known better. in The Lido, Kate saves the lido. In this one, she saves a river swimming spot with the help of lots of supportive groups of friends. They do have problems to overcome, and there are social issues as themes. In fact, too many; loss and grief, struggles with new babies, cancer, river pollution, mental health, etc. But all is solved in a happy haze of goodwill and cheerfulness. It's a bit too much. I want to know why there is a lifeguard there - if it warrants a lifeguard surely it is more than just a stretch of water? Why does he not have a name, and some issues like all the rest of the characters? And the cold is hardly mentioned - they drift around like it's the med. And finally, I'm tired of authors using hair in a "messy bun" as a metaphor for a state of mind.

What a fabulous read.A wonderful follow up novel to The Lido Libby's first book and I loved everything about this story it was full of really interesting characters and Kate and Phoebe's stories were so inspiring but much more than that honest and heartwarming. Kate is struggling with a new born baby and Phoebe's job as a mental health nurse is very rewarding but mentally draining but when they discover the benefits of outdoor swimming it lifts them as they try to include others who are struggling with their own problems. It touches on so many important issues mental health, depression and mothers who are struggling to bond with their babies but its written so beautiful and woven into the story effortlessly it isn't a sad read its uplifting and beautiful and very emotional at times and it's a book I would highly recommend. A 5 ⭐read

Couldn't put this book down, literally read in about two sittings. Loved the two main characters, Kate who was struggling with first time motherhood and Phoebe juggling an all encompassing job...and their search to find themselves again.
Really well written, rounded characters and a heartwarming plot.
This is a great read.. highly recommend. Loved it and will look out for more by this author.

I loved this book - could not put it down. So heartwarming but also dealing with some quite difficult issues.

Kate - a new mum - and Phoebe - a community mental health nurse are both overwhelmed by their lives - both wanting and being dismayed by their choices. Both find a lifeline in cold water swimming and the community of like minded individuals they meet.

Until that lifeline is taken away and they have to fight to win it back.

A story I will be recommending to others. It deals compassionately with the realities of motherhood with a new born and the difficulties of managing yourself in the midst of work/family pressures. The importance of self care is stressed and recommended.

A lovely read - to be recommended.

'The Lifeline' is the perfect sequel to Page's first book 'The Lido'. We pick up with Kate, now married, living in Somerset and a new mum to Rosie. This book focuses a lot on Kate's transition to motherhood, how this impacts her life and how she adjusts. From following Page I am aware that Kate's journey is reflective of her own experience of motherhood and this only made the book feel more emotional and allowed me to connect to the plot more. I loved reading about different experiences of motherhood and Page captures this through the female characters of 'The Lifeline'.
When reading a sequel it is always a joy to catch up with pre-loved, existing characters and I really did enjoy seeing what Kate and her friends have been up to. 'The Lifeline' also has a new central character in the form of Phoebe, a Mental Health nurse with struggles of her own. Phoebe is a wonderful addition to the book and really slots in well with the vibe Page has created and her and Kate become good friends. I enjoyed reading about both characters immensely, they have different and yet similar stories and I really took them both to heart. Page really has a knack of creating beautiful characters whom the reader can feel deeply about.
'The Lifeline' is a joy to read but be prepared, Page does cover some really tough subjects throughout the book. These are handled sensitively and brought so much emotion to the book. I really did love every page of this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orion for an advance copy.

There were no great surprises in this novel but I didn't enjoy it any less for that. A feel-good comfort read which follows on from The Lido and brings us up to date with Kate and co in a new countryside setting.

The Lido is one of my top ten reads ever, so I couldn't wait to dive into this one (see what I did there.)

Sadly, it isn't joining the Lido in top ten reads. This felt very mumsy and whilst I understand that women's lives often continue in that guise ,as a childfree woman it was a total switch off for me.

This does touch on sensitive themes and I'm sure will be a real support to those going through similar, but as I'm not that person, I didn't feel that I was the right reader for this book.

This felt very far removed to the point it didn't feel like a sequel at all.

I am not sure this sequel was necessary, it was a nice story and well written as it was expected from Libby but I just found it slow and a bit samey. I absolutely loved the lido and it’s why I was looking forward to reading this but even though the characters were well developed the story felt very similar and I struggled to relate to them. By the end I could not wait for it to finish cos I knew what was coming and I felt like I had been reading it very slowly

The Lifeline by Libby Page

A follow-up to The Lido and it was love!y to catch up with Kate , Jay and Rosie who have moved on from London to Somerset .
Still an avid swimmer and hoping to forge new friendship s , Kate joins a local river swim group , and we are introduced to Phoebe.

Such another brilliant book by this author , an easy 5 stars .

Gosh this a good read. Brought back some memories of being a new mum, not easy . You follow two characters Kate and Phoebe . Both having interesting lives and you learn how wild water swimming helps them both. Kate was so stuck but she got there. Walking into the baby group a second time was fab. I loved the motorbike .So much I want to say but it will spoil it, read it. Libby Page is an ace writer.

Libby Page does it again! Another heart warming story of love and life. Having loved ‘the Lido’ the sequel did not disappoint. It was great to catch up with Kate again and follow the continuation of her story with Jay and baby Rosie, with lots of new and interesting characters along the way. I loved how the story interwove with Phoebe (and her role as a mental health nurse) and I was delighted when her and Kate bumped into each other and became friends, I also loved how they really needed each other in the end! A relatable book which will no doubt touch the hearts of many, and will give hope to others. Rosemary would have been very proud that her legacy lives on in such a beautiful tale.

Libby has done it yet again! Lovely to follow Kate in her new life away from London. Swimming becomes her solace once again but for different reasons. Phoebe needs swimming therapy to help her with her stressful job and when they meet they support each other and along with a new group of friends manage to do something remarkable. A truthful account of both the feelings of new parents and also mental health. If you liked the Lido you will love this sequel

The Lido was a brilliant debut book and although I couldn’t remember the characters the cover of this lead me to presume this related to it. Libby has done a fantastic job telling of the realities of life with a young baby for Kate (from the Lido) and of the pressure mental health nurse Phoebe is under. Both are struggling to get a balance in their life until they discover how river swimming can be a great outlet for the mentally as well as extending their circles of friends. This is really well written and I think this is probably a very personal book to Libby as I feel there’s a lot of herself in this but that’s what makes it the engaging read it is. There’s some strong topics covered in here especially mental health but it’s an incredibly positive and uplifting book with a strong message. Although a good continuation of Kate’s story this could easily be read as a standalone as it’s such a strong story in its own right.

I feel as though female free ships aren’t celebrated enough anymore. So I’m super excited to read, acquire, and review this title and share my thoughts as well as a full review with readers. Though not personally a mother yet I know from friends, family, ect how hard, lonely, and isolating it could be at times. Hopefully this will make people feel less alone with this book.

An easy breezy splish splash swim along the river with Libby Page. Her work is reliably comforting and always makes a nice palate cleanser when sandwiched between other grittier reads.