This has such an intriguing storyline. When charity worker Debbie Jones knocks on the door of Ruth Waverley they both get the shocks of their lives. It is like looking in the mirror. What follows is a story about self discovery, the uncovering of secrets and new beginnings alongside a look at family dynamics and human nature. I thought that the interactions between each of the characters very well thought out and sensitively written. I found this very easy to follow and liked all the characters, who were all very individual. This is an emotional and heartbreaking read but also heartwarming. Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC

I'd heard so much about this book and it didn't disappoint at all.
Ruth and Debbie are 2 women who are going about their daily lives. Ruth's life is full of family and baking, while Debbie is staring again in a new place and is finding friends as she goes. A chance encounter one day changes their lives forever. Secrets they didn't know were hiding in their pasta are unravelled and lives change dramatically from what they were. This is a story of hope and love with a message to just be yourself and do what's right for you.

The Woman Who Met Herself by Laura Pearson is a most charming contemporary novel that I thoroughly enjoyed.
This is a novel about families and life. Families can be complicated affairs. We meet a mother who has given her whole life to raising her twin boys but now they are in their thirties she is struggling to discover her own identity.
A chance doorstep encounter opens up a whole new life but also a can of worms as there are more questions than answers.
The other lead character is childless but struggling with the sudden loss of her husband. Now she needs to discover who she is as a newly single mother.
We see that some lives just attract others to them. Brief meetings can soon turn into new friendships.
The theme of motherhood is a major one. We see that motherhood is very different in the 1960’s. A young mother struggling with her mental health gets little support. “Back then [1960’s], mental illness was a shameful secret.” She makes a monumental decision that will still be impacting lives in present day. A secret in 1962 is finally unlocked in present day, to the shock of all concerned.
A slow decline into dementia is a hard journey for all concerned. “It’s a slow loss, dementia… It’s losing someone over and over. It’s an ocean of grief.” Grief is a daily companion. The losses are keenly felt by all.
All the characters were well drawn, likable and believable. The story is told through the eyes of both leading ladies, and there is an occasional voice from the past.
The Woman Who Met Herself was a powerful and heartfelt read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
I received a free copy via Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

I was expecting more magical realism when I started THE WOMAN WHO MET HERSELF, but to say more would spoil this book. The premise is so good: what would you say if you met a stranger who didn’t just look similar to you - but was identical?

I enjoyed the characters, and how they’re so different from one another, yet also alike. This is a story that makes you wonder how your life would have been if you took a different path, or if your circumstances were different. I liked that the two main characters, Ruth and Debbie, are older and able to reflect on their lives, yet still have so much ahead.

What didn’t totally work for me were the many side stories, which I was never able to get invested in, and I feel the book could have been much shorter and still had the same impact.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the early digital ARC of THE WOMAN WHO MET HERSELF in exchange for my honest feedback.

Wow what a story. I loved it . Two complete strangers meet when one knocks on the door of the other while collecting for charity and wow what a story you get. I could not put it down. You have a stale marriage , dementia, a lovely sister , mature romance and an amazing ending. Hard to review without spoiling . Read it. Laura Pearson is an ace writer.

Extremely well-written, but there is a kind of monotone to the narration, and there is a lot of telling rather than showing. The story was bleak at times, with very little hope. I think Debbie's story was a little more hopeful towards the end, rather than Ruth's. Compared to Laura's previous books, something was lacking from this one. An interesting premise though. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I've read a few books by this author and have loved them all. In this book we get to meet Debbie and Ruth. Ruth is in her sixties, and looks after her family and her mother who has dementia. Debbie, who has recently lost her husband, has moved away for a new start and has a job supporting a charity by going door to door. They both get a surprise when Debbie knocks on Ruth's door and they find themselves looking at mirror images of themselves.

This was an interesting and enjoyable read. Both Debbie and Ruth are completely different characters and have obviously lead very different lives. Neither of them knew they were twins, so when they meet it was obvious that there was always going to be a lot of questions and secrets that needed to be revealed. I liked both their characters and as they each had their own issues going on within their individual lives, it was heart-warming to see them open up to each other.

It is quite a sad storyline at times throughout the book as things which have been hidden for years are revealed. However there are also lots of warm-hearted moments revolving around family and friendships which balance everything out. The characters are well written and you can really connect with them all. For me though, Debbie's storyline was the one which tugged at the heart-strings more, and I loved how it caused them both to look at their own past with a hint of jealousy and regret.

The book flowed well and held my attention throughout. The author has written it well and is sensitive about some of the issues that were brought up. This was an uplifting read which will warm your heart and leave you thinking about it long after you have finished. Would recommend.

I'm always delighted to hear about a new novel from Laura Pearson, and The Woman Who Met Herself. At the beginning, I wasn't sure where it was going, but it exceeded my expectations in so many ways and I really loved reading this story.

The Woman Who Met Herself works so well because Laura Pearson has created such wonderful characters and I connected with most of them almost straight away. Ruth and Debbie have very different personalities, but I could also see the similarities between them and it is credit to the author that these nuances shine through. The supporting characters - the family and neighbours of Ruth and Debbie - are also multidimensional, and I loved the dynamics between them all. There are some chapters in between the main narrative which are letters between two unidentified characters written in the past. This gave me some insight into what had happened in Ruth and Debbie's past, but also provided a lot of intrigue which kept me engaged in the story.

Laura Pearson is a wonderful writer, and she writes very sensitively about issues of identity, mental health, grief and relationships. The emotional aspects of this story come through the pages in swathes, and I loved the journey that the characters went on together, which I found so poignant.

This author is quickly becoming one of my “must read” writers and I can't wait to see what she does next!

Laura Pearson tells the best stories- and “The Woman Who Met Herself” is no different!
This story follows twins Debbie and Ruth, who only learn of each other by chance in their early 60s. It’s a story about family (both found and biological), relationships, friendships, forgiveness, and love. It’s a beautiful, feel-good story that leaves you feeling grateful for the people who matter in your life.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the digital arc!

Debbie, a door to door charity worker, is stunned when she knocks on a door just to have it opened by a mirror image of herself! I was so intrigued and excited to find out where this story would go. As well as Debbie and her newly discovered identical twin, Ruth, there were several side plots relating to both of their very different lives.

This was a sweet story that explores familial relationships, acceptance and friendship. It didn't have the magic or emotion of Laura's previous books, it was written more like an account of what happened, rather than drawing the reader in deeply, but it was an enjoyable read.

3 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley,Laura Pearson and Boldwood for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed reading this, it has a simple plot but the beauty of the read lies in its simplicity. I also found this to be a joyful, life-affirming read. Ruth and Debbie are two great characters, I liked the similarities of the characters as well as the differences. Getting to know them as they got to know each other allows the reader to really understand them. I also enjoyed seeing how they both develop and change as the book goes on.
I thoroughly enjoyed this read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advance copy.

A heartbreaking and lovely story, Laura has her niche and does it perfectly every time. This is a story that touches on so much of society, but never in a way that feels trite. The pace is great, the prose is touching, and the characters are beautifully crafted

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for allowing me to read an ARC of The Woman Who Met Herself by Laura Pearson, in exchange for my honest review.

Laura Pearson is an amazing storyteller!

This was a beautifully written story of motherhood, family, friends, and finding where you fit in your life.

Wonderfully executed blend of some not-so-easy topics with realistic and relatable characters.

Laura Pearson has become one of my "must-read" authors and I look forward to more of her delicious surprises!

Review of ‘The Woman Who Met Herself’ by Laura Pearson, due for publication on 23 May 2025 by Boldwood Books.

I was delighted to receive this ARC as I am a big fan of Laura’s previous books. This is another fabulous story, beautifully written with empathy and compassion. This book covers many different emotions, mental health, grief, loneliness, love and humour.

The two main characters both feel ‘lost’ in their own way, one having recently been widowed, the other in a stagnant marriage. When they find each other, their journey to discover who they are to each other is heartwarming and moving, shaping both their futures.

Recommended read.

A lovely, heartwarming book that was easy to read. The story was engaging, with surprises throughout. The pacing was well balanced, and I found the characters interesting and well developed.

The book explores a range of themes, including grief, loneliness, mental health, marriage, and family dynamics. I especially liked how Debbie’s character portrayed kindness and empathy and how she ‘collected’ people.

Overall, the book was uplifting, and I would definitely recommend it. I received an advanced review copy from NetGalley and this is more honest review.

Many thanks to Boldwood Books for the gifted ARC of The Woman Who Met Herself, a novel that explores an impressive range of emotionally charged themes — from motherhood, grief and mental health to identity, loss and healing.

Laura Pearson is an author whose work I deeply admire, and while this novel carries her hallmark empathy and graceful prose, it didn’t resonate as powerfully for me as her previous books. Despite a moving and highly relatable depiction of early motherhood — a part of the story that struck a personal chord — the emotional thread felt more narrated than lived, keeping me slightly at arm’s length. The novel's ambition is admirable, offering something for every reader to connect with. Yet, by addressing so many significant topics, the emotional weight sometimes felt diluted.

Still, Pearson’s talent shines through and many readers will find this life-affirming story both meaningful and memorable.

Sixty-two-year-old Debbie Jones is enjoying her new job knocking on doors trying to get people to sign up to support a local mental health charity. Her life is turned upside down when one door is opened by a woman who looks identical to her.

Laura Pearson has written some wonderfully heartwarming novels. The last two novels have had a slightly mystical theme, with The Woman Who Met Herself the author is back to reality.

The reader is quickly introduced to the two protagonists. Debbie Jones and her husband Richie relocated to Loughborough and then Richie died of a heart attack. Feeling lonely she's signed up to work for a mental health charity trying to encourage people to make regular donations. Ruth Waverly is also sixty-two, is married to Nigel and has two grown sons. Ruth runs a small bakery business from her own home.

It's the knock on the door that sets everything in motion. When Debbie knocks on Ruth's door both women are shocked to see their own faces looking back at them. Unable to process what she is seeing Ruth closes the door, leaving Debbie floundering.

The women are obviously related, and when we learn that Ruth's sons are twins it is clear that the two women must also be twins. The big questions are why didn't they know about the other's existence and why were they separated? It's impossible to turn to family for answers, Debbie's mother died when she was a teenager and she never knew her father. Ruth's father is dead and her mother has Alzheimer's. Working together Ruth and Debbie unearth the mystery of their past and find out about each other.

The Woman Who Met Herself is a story about motherhood and identity. It is easy to understand the confusion both women feel as they wonder about the mothers who raised them. My heart went out to Debbie who didn't have an easy childhood and looks at Ruth with a hint of, understandable, jealousy. Ruth seems to have it all, a comfortable home, a loving husband, healthy and happy sons, and a family she knows. Meeting Debbie forces Ruth to question her life, realising that she can do more, be more. It was encouraging to see each woman inspire the other to step out of their comfort zone.

Debbie Jones, recently widowed, is a door to door charity fundraiser. She is a people person, experienced in dealing with any reaction when the door is opened to her. Apart from the day that Ruth Waverley opens the door, and looks back with a face that is hers, exactly like hers. Both women are surprised, understandably. To give any more of the story away would be a spoiler, so I will leave it there.

Laura brought the characters to life extremely well, I felt that I knew them, that they could have been my friends.

It is a story of envisaging what your life may have looked like, how your personality would have formed, if another path had been yours. Also of learning that even though the grass seems greener outwardly, it isn’t necessarily the case; understanding that there is still time to make a change, it’s not too late.

Laura Pearson writes with great empathy, with a lot of heart. She always makes me wonder how I would react in the same situation. This is a heartwarming book, which I raced through. It is a gentle, light read, just over 300 pages, a book you can lose yourself in for an enjoyable day.

The Woman Who Met Herself is another triumph from Laura Pearson, who is rapidly becoming a go to author for me. The premise for this one hooked me immediately. Debbie Jones has just started a new job going door to door trying to raise money for a mental heath charity as a way to try to get out and about again following the death of her husband a year before, At 62 she is significantly older than her co-workers but she's not going to let that hold her back, One day she knocks on the next door on the street her team has been assigned only for it to be opened by a woman who is her double.
Ruth Waverley is comfortable in her life as wife and mother to two grown up sons, it may not be very exciting but as a woman in her sixties what does she expect? She certainly did not expect to open her front door one day and have the comfortable life she knows turned upside down but that is exactly what happens when she comes face to face with DebbieAs the two women come to terms with the discovery they decide to work together to try to uncover the truth about their relationship and how they were separated and grew up unknowing of each other's existence , a task that is made even more diffiult as the only surviving parent has dementia and is unlikely to be able to help them.
This was a wonderful, heart warming and ultimately uplifting book but it also tackles some complicated issues including mental health and homophobia Both Debbie and Ruth are wonderfully compelling characters, each one facing their own challenges oustide the search for their shared history but many of the supporting characters are also very sympathetic and facing problems of their own . I loved that the author showed that both Debbie and Ruth had full and active lives and seeing them develop a strong bond despite being very different people. The plot of separated twins has obviously been done before and in less skilled hands this premise could have seemed a little fantastic but Pearson makes it very very human and very relatable.
This was a beautiful book and I loved every woment I spent with these wonderful characters.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

The Woman Who Met Herself by Laura Pearson

Ruth is sixty-two years old; she is married to Nigel and has lived in Loughborough all her life. One day there is a knock and Ruth opens the door to see Debbie on her doorstep and she is the splitting image of herself. Even her family cannot believe how much alike they are. But who is Debbie? A long lost relative or just a doppelganger? Ruth’s sister, Kate, does not know and their mother has dementia so she can’t shed any light on this mystery.

Debbie is also sixty-two years old; she is working for a charity knocking door to door when she stumbled on Ruth’s doorstep. Her mother passed away a long time ago so she can’t ask her. Now they must all work together to solve this mystery.

I enjoyed this book very much and would recommend it to anyone that loves reading books that leave you with a warm glow inside.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Boldwood Books for a copy of this eBook in exchange for an honest review.