
Member Reviews

An absolutely lovely, heartwarming story.
I loved all the characters & will be recommending this book!

Beth Moran consistently writes solid, engaging books that effectively combine a solemn tone of tragedy with the soft joy that comes with new relationships. This one was very much written in her usual style, and I flew through it as I do all her other stories.
The main character’s past was heartbreaking, and the friendships that she gained through the choir group were even more impactful than her romantic interests.
However, I struggled to find the usual allure in this book - Faith’s relationship with her fiancé Perry, and her friendship & budding attraction to Dylan, were very flimsy and I didn’t fully buy into the romantic aspect of the story. It also felt like there was a lot going on at all times; if the author intends for there to be multiple branches off the storyline, it needs to be done in an organised way, and this one felt a bit chaotic.
Nevertheless, I will always be on the lookout for new releases by this author! 🥰

Faith Harp is getting married; not really for love, not really for friendship but because how else can she escape her past?
I'm really undecided about this book; I found it tricky to get into.... I couldn't get interested in the characters, it all felt a bit far fetched and the pace was slow but then suddenly it turned and became one of thoae stories you read as fast as you can to find out what happens in the end! I'm not sure I'd recommend it, if you like Moran's writing, which I have in the past, you'll probably like this one but it does come with many trigger warnings - substance misuse and abuse being just two.
I did enjoy the story in the end, and the ending is satisfying... There are a few twists and turns, not all of them the ones you want to happen, and by the end, the characters were largely endearing.
There are some real other strengths in the story however, the choir for one... I actually think that a book revolving around the choir and their stories would be excellent!

A truly joyful fun read following Faith with all her trials and tribulations in life. A great cast of characters which kept me turning the pages from start to finish. This is a must ‘feel good’ read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. I have read a few of her others too. This was a journey for Faith through a lot of trials and troubles in her life. It shows how a community can come together to enrich each others lives. Faith has a lot of decisions to make along the way.

This book blew me away! Brilliantly written with a very likeable main character and ensemble of women.
Faith has been through so much, and there's more to come. Also really liked the character of Dylan, and especially his integrity. Think I'm a little bit in love with him!

An uplifting and glorious read. Beth Morgan’s books are always more than “a story” they leave you feeling touched by all the characters and the trauma they’ve been through and the hope they have for a happy future ahead with the support of so many feel good characters. This story stays with you long after you’ve finished the book, a perfect read
Thank you to Netgalley the author and publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review

I had a big problem with this book in that I didn't like the main character, Faith. I know she had been through a lot, but the way she treated Perry was appalling. I know he wasn't perfect, but she was using him, marrying him for his money, plus she didn't confide in him about her past, so how was he supposed to know what was going on? For the most part, apart from a couple of scenes when he was drunk, he was always so nice to her. Dylan was lovely, but I disliked the way Faith was with him, when she was engaged to be married and Dylan was the vicar marrying her and Perry! I loved the choir, the 'women supporting women' angle, but I did find some of the plotlines far-fetched. There were lots of loose ends too, I think the author tried to cover too much. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review,

Warning - you will need tissues!
Beth Moran does a fantastic job in her books of covering some hard hitting subjects with warmth, empathy and stunning characterisation and all of these considered this is one of her most heartbreakingly raw and stunning books to date.
Faith was someone I instantly warmed to, she was open with the reader in a way that she couldn't be with her initial social circle and then this expands in a wonderful twist of fate that brings exactly the kind of group in her life that she needs at her most vulnerable.
There were so many comedic moments, Marilyn is such a funny relatable wing woman, and those light moments do offset the very dark and raw themes that are sensitively and adeptly written about also. I felt like this book was a healing journey in itself, of following your heart, being unashamedly yourself and the different, beautiful ways love can save us.

Beth Moran is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. Her books never disappoint and are unpredictable in subject matter.
Lean On Me covers themes such as domestic abuse and mental health issues.
Faith's story is heartbreaking, however, she gradually becomes surrounded by some amazing, inspiring and unusual women, who lift her up and help her become her true self.

I was not expecting such a deep and moving story in this book. Faith and her brother Sam have had to survive so much and each is left with their own scars. Faith finds a partner who will support them both in the ways they need but their path forward is not your average love story. I was drawn to the connections she makes through her church choir and they really demonstrate how "love" shows up in all kinds of ways. This book is equal parts beautiful, engrossing, and heartbreaking. I really enjoyed it and I think it will give readers a lot to talk about when they finish. Thanks to Beth Moran, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is a book that has a bit of everything and although there is humour there is also the very serious thread of domestic violence and mental illness. Faith is due to marry posh Perry but his mother seems to be making all the decisions about their wedding. Add the fact that she hasn’t told Perry the whole truth about her past and how she is always looking out for and dropping everything for her brother Sam, Faith is struggling. Faith stumbles across the Grace choir, which is made up of a group of women who are all very different and who all have their owns issues and insecurities. It’s from this point that she begins a journey of self discovery and inner strength, as well as making some important friendships. This has well developed characters, some of whom are more likeable than others! Ultimately it is a story about addiction, trauma, friendship, love, hope and survival. Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC

Having discovered this author last year they have fast become a favourite and am always excited to read their newest book. As always this author writes about compelling issues with compassion and sensitivity and sets about to rip your heart in two before slowly piecing it back together again.
Lean on me is a story of friendship and grief and love and also explores the theme of addiction. Whilst at the same time is a poignant uplifting and positive read.
Everyone needs to find a Grace choir and be taken under their wing by this charming group of people to help them navigate life’s ups and downs.
I would love a sequel to this to see where the story of faith and Dylan goes.

There is such a lot packed into this book. Abuse, murder, drug and alcohol addiction, mental health issues and much more. Thankfully there is also humour and some heart warming friendships to counteract the darker parts. I found the main character, Faith, frustrating at times as she was such a doormat especially when being regularly humiliated by her prospective mother in law, a horrible woman. Faith's fiance, Perry, was a wimp who failed to support Faith by standing up to his mother. I liked the choir ladies but found some of their storylines a bit far fetched. This was a stop-start book for me as there were some parts that I loved and raced through, not wanting to put the book down and then other parts that felt slow and hard to get through. Overall, I did enjoy the book and look forward to the author's future work. I voluntarily read and reviewed this after receiving a pre-release copy for which I thank Netgalley and the publisher.

This book was alright, but I never really connected with it. There are a few very great themes in this book like sisterhood, finding yourself, learning to trust and overcoming a horrible past, but other than that there wasn’t much about this book that spoke to me. I found it messy with so many characters in focus and I felt like the pacing was very slow. I didn’t really like the main character and I just felt like she lacked a lot of personality.
However I can see how other people might enjoy it. It just isn’t for me, which is a shame because I usually adore Beth Moran writing.

Having read all of Beth Moran’s previous books, I can say that this is up there with one of my favourites. Really likeable characters, an interesting storyline (somewhat grittier than I expected!), and a satisfying ending make for a great read. I love how Moran somehow demonstrates human nature and the intricacies of relationships in her writing- you end up really caring about the characters.

I’m always so excited to start a new Beth Moran book, confident that within a couple of chapters I’ll know everyone so well that I feel like I’m at home. How does she do it? I have no idea. But all I care is that she’s done it again!
And as ever, prepare to go through all the emotions - joy, sadness, fear and laughter. It’s all here!
Lean on Me centres around Faith, a young woman in her 20s who has had a really difficult life so far. Her mother’s murder when she was only 6 left her and her older brother with troubled upbringings - and Faith continues to do whatever she can to look after her brother through his addictions and battles with his mental health.
Cue the rich, arrogant Perry - not the man of Faith’s dreams, but someone who can give her a safe home and the means to support Sam.
One day whilst pretending to shop for all the things she really wants for her wedding (if the decisions didn’t have to be made my her abominable mother-in-law-to-be), Faith and her best friend Marilyn happen upon a church choir practice and find themselves drawn in to the group.
Soon this group of women, from all walks of life and with all their own demons to battle, become friends. And the church minister, Dylan, starts having an unexpected effect on Faith as she tries to concentrate on her wedding.
As always with Beth Moran, almost every character in the book is so well-developed they could be the star of their own book. Just like in real life, everyone has a complicated past and a strong character. And as they bond together through the increasingly whacky tactics of choir director Hester, they start to find strength in each other to make the positive changes they need to be happy.
Another fabulous story from Beth - quite genuinely, I have been googling choirs to join in my area this morning to bring some of this feel-good positivity into my own life! I laughed and cried and fell in love with Faith and Dylan.

Wonderful book!
This is one of those stories that will stay with you long after you read it. Faith has had a horrible life, there's no way to put a nice spin on it. Mother-less at age 6, orphaned again when her grandmother died, leaving Faith to care for her brother Sam, she was forced to survive. Even after domestic violence she still had to survive, and she vowed that she would never be reliant on anyone ever again.
Faith and her fiancee Perry are definitely a case of opposites attract. He is wealthy, his family is a bunch of snoopy snobs, and his mother takes every opportunity to belittle Faith. Faith stuffs down her resentment and irritation because only she knows why she must go through with the wedding, despite Perry not knowing her history.
When Faith stumbles onto the Grace choir during a visit to her mother's former church, she doesn't realize that she has found the path to family, a place where she can just be herself. A minister who doesn't judge her and who listens to the history she hasn't shared with Perry.
Perry and his family aren't likeable characters. The choir members are wonderful, a disparate group of women who come together from different backgrounds yet make beautiful music together, both when singing and not. I absolutely loved this book. It will make you mad, sad and happy, sometimes all on the same page.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

As usual in my reviews, I will not rehash the plot or the publisher's blurb - there are already reviews like that out there if that's what you are looking for.
I've read quite a few books by Beth Moran, and have enjoyed them immensely. However I cannot say that I actually enjoyed this one, for several reasons...
The "heroine" of the plot, Faith, was somewhat annoying. Having come through a terrible past, she does herself no favours by being what can only be described as a doormat. Her attitude to her rich fiance and his family is strange - and I didn't understand why she let them treat her badly. The scene at her own "surprise" engagement party was rather unbelievable to me - I can't imagine anyone's fiance throwing a party like that without at least making sure his intended could make it!
Whilst I enjoyed the sections featuring the Grace Choir, I found some of that hard to believe (eg: that someone would not throw an absolute fit if people (some of whom she barely knew!) had "decluttered" their house!)
The whole tone of the book was gloomy - both in the present and the past. Previous books I have found uplifting, but not this one.
Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy parts of the book, but it was almost verging on a psych thriller, which I did not expect - I read a lot of that genre but this was kindof a mashup style for me.
I hope to read more by this talented author, but I'm only giving this one 3-stars (sorry!)
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

Not a bad read but definitely what I would call tragedy porn. Bad things happening to everyone, abuse loss death etc. and most of it seemed to just be thrown in to shock or make the reader feel bad.
The main character was too much of a wishy washy doormat type for me. The peripheral characters were ok at times but this book is just filled with tragedy. Faith flitting between two guys was uncomfortable. The fact that she agreed to marry someone without ever even saying she loved them was odd at best. The way her fiancé spoke to her and let his family treat her like the help was just terrible. This is definitely not a light relaxing or feel good read. But it’s not a bad read if you can handle all the tragedy.