Worlds Apart

Debut author Jane Crittenden is certainly going to become an auto-purchase author for many readers! I truly could not put this book down. The story of Amy and Chris was beautifully written, and I ripped through each page dying to find out what happened between them. The author’s lovely depiction of the seaside New Zealand town transported me there and the community of minor characters all contributed splendidly to this warm and heartfelt story. Not to mention the character of Olivia (Amy’s friend) was so complex, I empathized for her all while questioning her choices. If you love JoJo Moyes or Liane Moriarty, you will absolutely love Jane Crittenden!

This book transported me to New Zealand a - country it's clear the author knows well. I loved experiencing it along with the characters! The book has a then and now structure, so we gradually discover the secrets that led to the main character's situations in a very satisfying way. I was rooting for Ivy and Chris to reconnect after so many wasted years, but it was hard to see how this could happen - a sign of an excellent romance, because who wants it to be easy?! The author made me care for her characters as well as to despair and worry and celebrate right along with them. A highly enjoyable read, and I can't wait to read Jane Crittenden's next book!

What happens when everything you thought you knew about your past—and the great lost love of your life—turn out to be all wrong? Jane Crittenden explores that question in this dual POV, dual timeline debut about second chance romance. I loved the complexity of each character, particularly the protagonist, Amy. You can’t help but root for her happiness even as the life she’s built begins to unravel with each new (and surprising) revelation from her past. But each twist is matched only by the book’s huge heart. It’s a love story, but it’s also a beautiful story of family, friendship and forgiveness.

This gorgeous book whisks you to the other side of the world, to a waterfront cafe in New Zealand... and then back to the UK, 18 years before, where Amy and Chris first met. The power of first love with all its faltering, shy and unsure moments is captured brilliantly by Jane Crittenden. Likewise, the way that, even as so-called grown-ups, unfortunately we continue to miss the right moments to speak the truth and put things right.
I was rooting for her characters and so invested I wanted to reach into their world and help straighten out the tangled strands of Amy and Chris's love story. But the course of true love never did run smooth and there are plenty of surprises and twists in store for our star-crossed lovers. You're kept guessing until the very end in this lovely debut about forgiveness, families, mistakes and misunderstandings. Worlds Apart takes us on a journey around the globe but centres on the fundamental emotions that forge - and sometimes thwart - our most important relationships.