One of my favourite authors, this was a brilliant read, very well written, you feel like Lesley is having a conversation with you.
A touching, honest and inspiring true story. I can see where Lesley gets some her ideas for her amazing books.
An easy read I didn't want this brilliant story to end and I would highly recommend.

I have been a devout reader since she used to live near me and visited our local library with a book signing of her very first book.

I was eager to read this life story of Lesley Pearse. I can thoroughly see how she drew on her childhood and growing up in such harrowing circumstances.

On paper we only read about her plight from young child to a Wife and Mother herself however, the experiences she went through shows me the remarkable resilience of human nature.

Yes, Lesley is definitely Stronger than she Thinks!

Amazing remarkable honest open read.

I love her books and now I know why.

I have a number of Lesley Pearse's novels and was intrigued to read her memoir. It does feel that fact can be stranger than fiction. Her life and what she has done is quite incredible and shows what a strong person she is and resourceful.

A fascinating read.

Lesley Pearse, like many of her novels is a true survivor.
Honest and captivating, heartbreaking at times but also uplifting.
Her ‘never give up’ attitude was amazing, such strength and courage when facing struggles and adversity.
A wonderful inspirational read, with all the fascinating memories that are her true inspiration for her novels
Thanks @lesleypearse @michaeljbooks & @netgalley for the amazing read

I've probably been reading this author's books for the last twenty or so years and Lesley Pearse never fails to entertain with stories which tug away at my heart strings and as one story ends, I always want to read more. For the first time we are given the unique opportunity to know more about this successful author in her autobiography which takes us from Lesley's difficult early childhood through to her later life. It’s an emotional read, Lesley has certainly had an eventful life and the autobiography is filled with anecdotal stories and described with all the warmth and wit which is so reminiscent of this author's ability to hold the reader in the palm of her hand.

Aptly titled The Long and Winding Road this autobiography certainly takes us on a convoluted journey through the momentous moments of Lesley’s life, a life which, it must be said, has been far from easy. There has been heartbreak aplenty but also surprising amounts of good humour and the stoical sense that Lesley is one of life’s great survivors and that despite the setbacks she encountered it has only served to make her into the fine writer she is today.

I've thoroughly enjoyed this window into the life of this prolific writer and on finishing the book, with tissues in hand, I can now understand just how Lesley can write such emotional stories. Everything she does is straight from the heart and everything she has learned from her eventful life is reflected in the wonderful stories she writes so very well.

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

oh my goodness me where to start.... well for one i dont think i have lived a life as full as this authors... ..

man oh man she went through the ringer, some good some bad.... what an experience and what a life....from the first chapter when lesley and her brother are found out in the snow with their mother dead in the house, being parted as their father cant at that time take them in and they are separated, the abuse by the nuns and then finally having a home with her father and stepmother

but its the heart breaking chapter about her time in the young mothers home and what they went through and her fight to keep her son that will haunt everyone

what a life and what a book that you cant put it down and the last chapter had me in floods of tears....

well worth a read

Thank you for the chance to read this ARC in return for my honest opinion

I have read many of Lesley Pearse's books including all the ones mentioned in her autobiography. I have found that her latter books are not as well written as these early ones.

I enjoyed this book about her life from an abandoned orphan to a successful novelist but I found that there was events that were skimmed over and others that appeared not to be in sequence. I was also unsure how many times she was actually married though she mentions at least 2 husbands. She was obviously traumatised by being forced to give up her baby for adoption.

She seemed to lead a very hedonistic lifestyle during the 60s and 70s but seemed to show little contrition for what was at times, in my opinion, some bad behaviour and parenting. I was born in the late 50s and perhaps I have an opinion of these times shaped by my own parent's opinions.

Unsure if it was the formatting but several words that should have had hyphens or at least were separate words were melded together which made reading it hard at times.

All in all an enjoyable read about the life of very prolific and well known author

Having not read an autobiography for many a year I knew I wanted to read this, having read all the her novels. I certainly wasn't disappointed, what an extraordinary life Lesley has led, I devoured this book, her life experience and numerous jobs not to mention the celebrities she met along the way have certainly made her dreams of becoming a writer true. An honest and captivating read.

How fantastic is this book!!
What a hard and difficult life Lesley has had but after reading her story I can see how her early books were written with knowledge from her own life. An outstanding lady after coming through all hardships but also some very happy times as well. I would thoroughly recommend this book to everyone. An outstanding read.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I have read a few Lesley Pearse books so this was an interesting read about her life. She was very honest and it shows what a strong gritty person she is, just disappointed she seemed to need a man in her life all the time.

What truly amazing story. Lesley earlier books started my love of reading as an adult and I always wondered how she got her ideas for her books. The Long and Winding Road answered all my questions.
What a truly amazing story of Lesley’s life.
Lesley doesn’t hold back and tells how her early life inspired her writing. An truly amazing lady who deserves so much praise for telling her story with holding back..
I hope she continues to write many more books as I always look forward to them.
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random Publisher for allowing me this totally unputdownable book.

I have always enjoyed books by Lesley and look out for them being released. I was fascinated to start her memoir. Wow…what a life story! Who would have realised that anyone could have such a complex and colourful life. Not often easy, indeed, often really hard with not only deprivation but difficult and broken relationships. It has made me wonder at how Lesley has manged to pull herself through and become such a prolific and respected author. She truly is amazing and now I view her writing in a new light.

I have many authors I love to read, but Lesley Pearse writes books that are much more than that. I discovered her twenty-odd years ago and I’ve since read everything she has ever written. Although devoured is more accurate. They been read, and re-read. Been a comfort through hard times and I will never part with them.
And so, when I learned Lesley’s memoir was being released I was very excited. Her ability to weave magic into her stories where the characters feel alive is unrivalled as far as I’m concerned. And fascinated (maybe bordering on nosiness!!) as to where this ability comes from.
And this memoir reveals all. What a life! When I say she has live a life of novel proportions, it’s no lie! At times I had to remind myself that this was a life lived.
Absolutely brilliant, my love affair with Lesley Pearse continues!

What a interesting story about the life of Author Lesley Pearce and she survived some hard knocks in life but came out the other side. Her life makes her books so interesting.

A good Read

I found this book an amazing read and so enjoyed it, it was emotional and eye opening to read about this lovely author. I can so recommend this book to anyone but especially to fans of Lesly Pearse books as you can see how she is able to dig deep and write so many amazing stories.
My thanks as always to Netgalley and to Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House, Michael Joseph for the early read

Born during the Second World War, Lesley's innocence came to an abrupt end when her neighbour found her, age three, coatless in the snow. The mother she'd been unable to wake had been dead for days. Sent to an orphanage, Lesley soon learned adults couldn't always be trusted. As a teenager in the swinging sixties, she took herself to London. Here, the second great tragedy of her life occurred. Falling pregnant, she was sent to a mother and baby home, and watched helplessly as her baby was taken from her.

I've loved all of Lesley Pearse's fiction books, so when I saw this book, a story of her life, I knew I had to read it too. What's happened in her past has made her a strong, independent woman, and made her dreams a reality. Lesley has left no stone unturned as she tells us everything, warts and all, about her life. Some of the thongs she had to endure were upsetting, brutal, unbelievable, interesting, unpredictable, open and honest. Lesley also tells us how she started writing and her determination to become a published author despite the many obstacles that stood in her way.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #MichaelJoseph #PenguinRandomHouse and the author #LesleyPearse for my ARC of #TheLongAndWindingRoad in exchange for an honest review.

Unputdownable. From this amazing storyteller, it's all about survival.
This is Lesley's story told how it is a life worth fighting for. I loved reading the whole book from chapter to chapter. Absolutely worth my five stars. It's a touching true story told from the author's heart.

I do not normally read autobiographies. I usually stick to fiction but was offered a copy of Lesley Pearse’ and since I have read and loved her books, I thought I would give it a go.
MS Pearse has led troubled life since her childhood, where she ended up pregnant at an early age and stayed some time in a house for unwed mothers and struggling there after going from place to place and relationship to relationship. And the story tells how she became the writer she is today.
This is quite an interesting story of a life, but it is not continuous and felt a little choppy throughout and for me personally in the first half of this book it was a bit repetitive, and I only started getting into when it told me how she came to be the writer she is today. 3 stars from me.

I will start by saying I have never read any of Lesley Pearse's books so I came into this with little knowledge of the author or her style.

The writing of this book was very easy to read, very chatty and fast paced. The story of her life is certainly interesting with all sorts of highs and lows, and some extremely difficult experiences. Some of this was quite detailed, particularly in relation to her childhood and having to give her first child up for adoption, but much of it also felt a little like skimming the surface of events, such as her writing - she seemed to go from sitting up typing as her children slept to bestselling author in the blink of an eye! Her life sounds so full of events that perhaps there was too much to go into much detail, perhaps she was protecting people at times - it's her life story and obviously absolutely her right to decide how much detail to include or not, but it left me feeling a little removed from it at times.

An enjoyable read though.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

A change of style for Lesley Pearse with the autobiographical 'The Long and Winding Road' but my goodness you can see where the characters and stories in her books come from! She's certainly led an interesting and eventful life. I couldn't put this book down. As with all Lesley's books you're hooked straight into the story. And this could be a story not real life it's so eventful. From aged 3 til the present day the drama and fun never stops. Thanks Lesley for sharing your life and adventures with us. Long may they continue.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.