This rather wonderful book follows the fortunes of four generations of a British family. Following a brief near-contemporary prologue we are back in the 1930s, joining Elizabeth, husband Jim, and her young daughter Margaret on the coach, a works outing to the coast. Elizabeth is tense and angry, something her daughter – excited for the seaside - can sense, but not understand. Her mood improves as the journey progresses, only to turn sour once more as they arrive to find the factory owner waiting by his big car. Bill Lacey, charming, handsome, and freshly returned from America some years after his family sent him far from the temptation of Elizabeth, the daughter of one of their domestic staff.

The shadows of their secrets and lies are cast across Elizabeth’s family over the intervening years, shaping their experiences of love and loss through the generations. With great effect, not to mention ingenuity, Sawyer tells the story in snatches, during holidays, long weekends, trips abroad – the “Getting Away” of the title. This works so well, pulling the characters out of their element and into unfamiliar circumstances before the scrutiny of friends, siblings and parents where any tensions must hum submerged. A holiday can be a chance to escape, refresh and reflect, but the backpacks and cases are often not the only baggage which needs handling.

That thing which should have been said years ago, well it just might get said tonight and – far away from home - love may have to take its chances.

Sawyer’s tight third-person narration brings us close enough to touch, and be touched by, her characters, and – in another brilliant stroke – she often gives us no direct dateline. Instead, we get the 1970s, or the 1990s, and she will render the span of a trip with no clear chronology, events in order but how long since the previous paragraph? A day? Two? A week? It feels like firm but imprecise recollection, very human, intimate and affecting.

A dazzling tale of women’s resilience, and the power of familial love.

Kate Sawyer is a fantastic writer. This was such an enjoyable read. A sweeping family saga that dips in and out of a complex family history with a lightness of touch that belies some of the serious issues that are discussed. In snapshots and fragments we are treated to a beautifully evoked sense of what makes up a family in moments big and small. A perfect summer read.

The Smiths family holidays over the years seem to be a catalyst for change and a way to examine the relationships between family members who in various group and arrangements go on holiday together, from a wakes week day trip to more exotic destinations. A major focus of this book is the way the family deals with the illegitimacy of some of the children, and how blood ties aren't always the strongest or most supportive. It shows a development of views and a lot of interactions between family members, with a focus on the matriarch Elizabeth from her girlhood through to old age. A huge range of times, social attitudes and loving relationships are recounted, It is well-written, but in the end lacks the full force of meaning that Sawyer's previous books had, still an engaging read.

I enjoyed this book but I personally preferred the authors previous book to this one
I enjoyed the story and the characters
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for opportunity to read this book

Getting Away is an intriguing novel. It weaves a couple of story lines over several generations, and entirely while we're with the Smith family on holiday. The holidays start in a modest way with a day trip to the seaside by bus. This was a common practice in the 30s when only the wealthy could afford holidays. The destinations change over the decades.
The story line is mostly focused on the differing attitudes to illegitimacy over 70 years. It's told from the perspective of the two women involved and their children. The result is a fascinating tapestry of social history and family relationships. Thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books for the advance digital copy in return for an honest review.

It was a blog post that sent me to Kate Sawyer’s first novel The Stranding. It made me cry and then she did it again with her second This Family. Her third is the lives, loves, tragedies and ceremony of a family over almost a century, viewed through the prism of holidays. And yes it made me cry. Again.

In other hands, this could be dismissed as pile of romantic fluff. But as she is a writer that has shown progression with every novel, so let’s not even go there. This a beach of a novel that has the carefree style of a Summer read, but tread carefully - you might step on some glass.

If you’ve read her previous work, you’ll know she’s fantastic with structure - The Standing flashed back and forward to pre/post apocalyptic times, This Family had what looked like a prefect family with tragedy holding them together, pushing them forward. This has the family moving through history, with events breadcrumbed, reinterpreted, hinted at. She’s excellent at characters, even the worst ones in this book.

Underlying it though is a novelist who is hopeful about humanity. And at a time in history when we need reassurance that human decency and happiness will win out, that is to be celebrated. It’s published by Zaffre on July 3rd and I thank them for a preview copy. #gettingaway.

A great holiday read which follows the trials and tribulations of the Smith family through many decades..
There is a lot of social history in the book that are specific to the different decades which informs the reader of how far our society has progressed.
The title is significant because each story of each decade the family are away on holiday..

An enjoyable read that takes you through the lives of a family. The author manages to encompass many aspects of family life in just one family. It would spoil the read for others to list them all. I recommend readers to enjoy for themselves..

Kate Sawyer’s Getting Away is an extraordinary journey that goes far beyond a typical holiday read. The story follows the Smith family, who embark on a transformative journey through the years, with each holiday destination revealing more about their evolving relationships and hidden secrets.

Margaret Smith, along with her family, experiences an ordinary summer day that turns extraordinary as they leave their familiar life behind for the beach. The simplicity of this first getaway sets the stage for a rich exploration of family dynamics. As the years pass, we see the Smiths change in ways both big and small, their love stories beginning and ending, and their secrets gradually coming to light.

What I particularly loved about this book was the way Kate Sawyer uses holidays as a backdrop for the family’s growth. Each trip becomes a mirror, reflecting the shifts in their lives, while the warmth of the setting contrasts with the underlying complexities within the family. Sawyer’s writing is elegant and empathetic, drawing you into the lives of these characters. There were so many poignant moments that I wanted to revisit, and I appreciated the way difficult and relatable topics were handled with such grace.

With each page, you feel more connected to the Smith family, and by the time you reach the end, you’ll find yourself missing them, as if you’ve lived these years alongside them. This is a book that lingers long after you’ve finished, and it’s one I won’t soon forget.

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