An enjoyable read, well written novel and worked well as a stand alone. I enjoyed the flashbacks to Eloise's life in particular and the relationship between the three siblings was very convincing all in all an engaging read.

Meet Lisa and her daughters three,
Complete with a family mystery.
Lisa was adopted but knows nothing of her past
But secretly would love to uncover it at last.

Her daughters each have problems of their own
Especially when rumours of changes are sown.
Can they help uncover their Mum’s birth history
Especially when even her adoptive parents are, to them, a mystery?

A story about family and so much more,
As family dramas and relationships it explores.
A heartwarming read with surprises on the way
Along with romances to make your day!

For my copy of this book I say a big thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review.

Loved this! There is something about Julie's writing that just feels like you're catching up with old friends when you read her books!
Can't wait to see what else Julie has in store for us very soon :)

Once I read my first Julie Houston book, I knew I must read all subsequent books, of which this was no exception. If you want to get lost in a book that is heartwarming with realistic characters, who are not a lot of fluff and nonsense this is the author for you. The characters are relatable, sharing experiences you're now experiencing or already have. A real pick me upper that'll have you not wanting to put it down at bedtime, sleep, what's that. Warm, witty, and an author that you'll want to keep coming back to.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Lessons in life is about a family who is very close and the matriarch, Lisa discovers she's adopted. It never bothered her before, but because a rare diagnosis comes up, she needs to know who her birth parents are. This is a heartwarming story of family and the challenges that they need to overcome to get some answers. I liked this story, the characters were likeable and a little quirky. I didn't realize this was a second book in a series. Not reading the first book didn't hinder my reading experience at all. The only thing is that I felt like it ended abruptly.

Enjoyed this read! “Lessons in Life” by Julie Houston is the 2nd in a series following Robyn and her family. I don’t feel like you have to read the first book to understand this book but I want to now read the first book. I adore these characters. The story follows Robyn’s mother’s journey to find her birth parents as well as the daily lives of Robyn’s siblings Jess & Sorrell. Set in the countryside of Beddington UK. The secondary characters are charming and fun too. I highly recommend this heartwarming story. Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this advance read. Go get your newly released copy today!

Really enjoyed this story from Julie Houston, full of love between a family.
The sister’s relationships are written about in a really realistic way - squabbles and laughter intertwined in their everyday dealings with each other, safe in the knowledge they’d be there for one another when needed.
The whole community felt a good place to live and I really enjoyed seeing Robyn in her teaching job.
The dual timeline parts with Eloise’s history uncovered are interesting and I’d have liked more of her story and her life at Hudson Hall. She sounded like a fascinating woman

The main focus of the first book in this lovely series was Robyn, her return to Beddingfield after having to leave the London stage and taking up a teaching job, and her on-off relationship with Fabien – and life’s still not running smoothly for them both, for reasons you’ll soon discover. But this latest book would be entirely readable, and equally enjoyable, as a standalone – I was delighted to find that the other members of her family took their turns in the spotlight, with compelling stories of their own.

Robyn’s sister Jess works as manager of a nursing home but with dreams of being a full-time chef; teenage sister Sorrel hopes for a stage career, with a talent nurtured by Robyn, but with real complications caused by her errant boyfriend. And then there’s mother Lisa – on the road to being well once more after a difficult time with an inherited condition, yearning to knowing more about her birth parents but knowing only, from the scant information reluctantly passed on by her adoptive parents, that her mother was Asian.

And it’s Lisa’s story that perhaps predominates – delighted to find a neglected garden she can tend as she regains her strength at the nursing home where Jess works, a former family-owned mansion, she strikes up a friendship with elderly and sometimes confused resident Eloise, the daughter of the family who used to own it. And, in tandem, Eloise’s history unfolds – seamlessly done, intriguing at every turn – and we slowly discover that there are unexpected links with Lisa’s own story. It’s all told with a perfect sense of time and place – her claustrophobic existence as the daughter of the local mill owner, her mother remote and intent on introducing her to society, while she finds considerably more joy in new friendships with the mill workers, all less socially acceptable in their different ways.

In the grounds of the nursing home there’s an extraordinary summer house, perhaps the property Fabien – no longer enamoured with the legal profession, sharing Lisa’s passion for cooking – could consider developing as a restaurant. But there are rumblings that a local developer has already bought the whole site, planning to knock everything down and build a factory – and the school where Robyn works, which the teaching team are finally managing to turn around, is also in their sights.

But I really mustn’t tell the story – it follows a number of equally engaging threads, laced with moments of drama and poignancy, as the family and other relationships bring plenty of complications. Much of the joy in the book is through seeing Lisa finally getting some answers and achieving a sense of belonging, showing real determination and bravery, finally living her life to the full. But I enjoyed the other intertwined storylines every bit as much – the book attempts a lot, and succeeds in every possible way.

While it does tackle a number of serious issues – particularly sensitively, and extremely well – those moments of humour that always feature in the author’s books are very much present, with situations that had me in stitches alongside the many others that couldn’t fail to move me to tears. And every single individual, however minor their role, is so superbly drawn – these were all people I really cared about, every setback giving a real stab to the heart, every little victory making me want to cheer. I honestly don’t think the author has ever written better – I’m very much looking forward to the continuation of the story, and discovering what life might have in store for everyone. Very much recommended – I loved every moment.

This is a great book, telling the story of a family in a beautiful Yorkshire village. The characters are very empathetic, with real personalities and problems. There are many threads to the book, it doesn’t just follow one storyline. I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. Although this is the second in a series it could be read as a stand alone book.

Lessons in Life by Julie Houston

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

The Yorkshire village of Beddingfield is home to the wonderful women of the Allen family: teacher Robyn, wannabe chef Jess, teenage tearaway Sorrel and matriarch Lisa, who holds the whole family together. But underneath her warmth and brilliance, Lisa has a secret – she longs to know who she really is.

In Hudson House, the grand manor on the edge of Beddingfield which is now a care home, lives seventy-something Eloise Howard. With film star beauty but memories fading fast, Eloise is slowly taking one foot at a time back into her past. Born into a prestigious family, her father the owner of the local Hudson’s Mill, Eloise’s life was destined to be one of finishing schools and balls. But when her path crossed Junayd Sattar’s, the most striking and kindest man she had ever met, nothing would ever be the same again.

When Lisa begins to spend time at Hudson House and befriends Eloise, the two women form an unbreakable bond. But unbeknownst to them both, they share secrets that, once uncovered, will change everything they believed about their own lives.

My Opinion

Lessons in Life is the second book in The Beddingfield Series but it can be read as a standalone. Lessons in Life was an enjoyable read with some great characters. I have read a few books by Julie Houston but with a lovely writing style I will be reading more in the future. A relatable story.

Rating 4/5

Another terrific novel from the pen (keys?) of Julie Houston!

This time round, Robyn is still teaching at the local school and invested in the lives of her pupils which include her younger sister Sorrell. Her sister, despite her cooking prowess, is manager of a local care home set in a former mansion in the village and now that her mother's health is improving she is beginning to get out and about more. When talk of the care home being sold surfaces, it seems life is about to change - and not for the better . . .

I'm a great fan of Julie Houston's; she has her finger on the pulse of what makes readers laugh and giggle but her novels are always set in reality. This series has some great characters and the storylines are all very realistic. I'm delighted to see her bring her knowledge from her own life into her books. There is a passion behind all of her characters, and they give each other belief of success. Along with the laughter, another very readable and thoroughly enjoyable novel and one I highly recommend. No doubt about it, five sparkling stars and my very highest recommendation.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley.

The women portrayed in the second book in the Beddingfield series are complex, flawed and recognisable. I like the realistic familial relationships created and the focus on contemporary and historical issues, many of which endure over time. The village setting is relatable, and the problems facing a threatened school add authenticity and drama. There are many situational humorous moments to contrast with the poignant ones. I like the character development that makes you invest in the story and its cast of characters.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Lessons in Life is a bit different from her usual books in terms of a mix of characters. Here she's portrayed an aspect of the UK in the 60s, with incoming immigrants from former colonies of the Empire.

I still enjoyed the drama and little tiifs, tussels of the sister in the story topped with their mum's unravelling past.

This is a delightful read by Julie, with delightful characters and intertwined relationships that only become apparent towards the end of the book. Julie always writes such heart warming books and never fails to disappoint.

It was lovely to return to Beddingfield, and it took no time for my memory to catch up with the events of the first book in this series, A Class Act. Robyn was still living with her family while working as a teacher, and was now dating her barrister boyfriend, Fabien Carrington. Although Robyn and Fabien feature in this book, there is a new focus on the rest of the family, which felt perfect.
Matriarch Lisa has long wondered where her heritage traces back to. Her adoptive mother remained tight-lipped, refusing to tell her anything more than the fact that her mother was Asian and had given her up for adoption at a young age. That lack of knowledge, coupled with a loveless childhood, had led Lisa to make some questionable life choices, including allowing the father of her daughters to drift in and out of their lives without a real commitment.
Lisa's eldest daughter, Jess, was determined to improve her place in the world and had serious hopes of finding success as a chef. She had won a recent cooking competition, beating Robyn’s partner into third place. She was now working at a local care home, cooking for her family in the evening and for the residents during the day, alongside managing the daily operations in her role as manager.
The main story focuses on Lisa and Jess, but everyone gets a mention. Julie’s writing is a testament to her ability to weave a complicated story effortlessly. The book never felt laboured, and it flowed beautifully. The outstanding element for me was seeing Lisa evolve from her safe harbour to spread her wings as she found the strength to fight for her independence, her sanity, and her place in society.
With a clever cast of characters lining up alongside such an incredible story, I was easily sucked into the dramas and loved every part of it.
A standout character, for me, was Eloise. Despite her escalating dementia, she remained aware of her history and maintained her grip on reality sufficiently for the book to weave its magical yet bittersweet threads.

I didn't realise that this was part 2 of a series but that didn't spoil this story although I think I will read the first book as I read this quite quickly.
Julie Houston always has good characters in her book and this one is no exception. I loved Lisa who has two grown up girls and a teenager. Lisa was adopted at birth through a private arrangement by two of the most awful people you could ever meet and had a horrendous childhood. Lisa also has a health condition which has made her ill on and off for years but is now on medication which has it under control. She is finally enjoying her life but then decides she must find out who her birth parents are in order to discover if they had the same illness as her.

Lisa's teenage daughter Sorrell finds herself in trouble, Robyn who has found the love of her life is insecure, and Jess who is in charge of the local care home is in fear of her job as she hears the owners are about to sell up.

This was a lovely read with mostly good and kind people and we all need to read stories like this.
We are shown the difference between happy people who care for others and those people who stay bitter their whole lives and take their unhappiness out on others.
I can't wait for the next book in this series.

This is another warm, witty, and emotionally rich installment in the Beddingfield series. The novel continues to shine through its vibrant cast. Jess and Robyn remain relatable and strong, despite the chaos around them. Robyn’s jealousy over Fabian feels a bit overblown given her own history with Mason, and Sorrel’s wild behavior continues unchecked—though her storyline takes a serious turn that adds emotional depth. Lisa’s transformation, thanks to her medication, is one of the more satisfying arcs, especially as she finally sees Jayden for who he is. Her backstory and the truth about her birth mother are compelling, even if not entirely surprising.

Karen and Adrian Foley are convincingly awful, and their treatment of Lisa adds a darker layer to the book. Karen’s late-in-life cat adoption is a small, ironic detail that adds a touch of dry humor. Meanwhile, snippets of Eloise’s past and lovable Roger Rabbit bring charm and heart to the narrative.

Though not all loose ends are tied up and some characters’ development may frustrate readers, the storytelling, humor, and strong sense of place more than make up for it. Beddingfield sounds like a place readers will want to return to again and again. A highly enjoyable read with plenty of heart—I’m already looking forward to the next book!

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

This book follows on from A Class Act,

The story is about the Alken family, but mainly Lisa,, the mother.

It has some twists and turns and we get to read about how life was like in the 1960s, regarding unmarried mothers and race. It was interesting to read about those times.

There was romance and it also covered other issues.

I hope that there is another book to come in this series.

I highly recommend this book.

I am adoring this Beddingfield set series by Julie Houston. We may only be two books into it, but it's shaping up to be a total cracker of a series.

Having read the first book, it really didn't take too long to totally feel at home again with the Allen family.

We also get to know Lisa a lot better this time, and discovering more about her past.

There is also a new resident at Hudson House, and we get chapters from her young adult years.

I put two and two together about something and came up with the right solution for a change, even if some of the logic was wrong.

Also enjoyed seeing Robyn's latest attempts at teaching, and all things to do with Jess and Sorrel.

So many wonderful characters, and I am loving these looks at their lives. I can't help but think this series could potentially make a fabulous soap opera.

Just brilliant.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

This was such a great book. I have not read the one prior, but I still was able to fully enjoy this book. The characters are absolutely amazing. I loved them all and their relationships between each other. I loved the mystery of who the parents are for Lisa. I loved that Lisa was able to find out who her parents were and finding out about her history. Following the back and forth of each character and the stories that Eliose tells when she is spending time with Lisa was so interesting.