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The Way From Here
Three generations of women. Three generations worth of secrets. Will a cache of letters from beyond the grave hold the key to unravelling them all? The answer to that question lies at the heart of this addictive and atmospheric novel from the author of The House of Brides.
Growing up, the Anderson sisters could not have been more different. Susie, the wild one, had an adventurous life while Camilla— Mills—followed a safer path. When Susie suddenly dies, Mills falls apart. Until she receives a bundle of mysterious letters from her estranged sister to be read in the case of her death. Each letter instructs her to visit a place special to Susie, both to spread her ashes but also to uncover some truths Susie has long kept hidden from her family.
Growing up, the Anderson sisters could not have been more different. Susie, the wild one, had an adventurous life while Camilla— Mills—followed a safer path. When Susie suddenly dies, Mills falls apart. Until she receives a bundle of mysterious letters from her estranged sister to be read in the case of her death. Each letter instructs her to visit a place special to Susie, both to spread her ashes but also to uncover some truths Susie has long kept hidden from her family.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2022
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9433 people want to read
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May 10, 2022
I want to step right into this cover, and often, when I was reading this book, I could feel, taste, see the atmosphere.
I enjoyed The House of Brides, and I loved The Way from Here even more. It’s a story of sisters who grow up on a farm in Australia. Later, one sister stays there, Camilla, while the other, Susie, travels the world.
Over time the sisters grow apart, and Camilla learns that Susie has passed away. A package arrives with letters inside from Susie. It’s sort of a scavenger hunt set up for Camilla to get to know Susie in ways she hasn’t before and also to spread her ashes in these locations that were special to her.
The letters have Camilla traveling from London to the coast of France and beyond. As she travels she learns more about Susie but also about her mother and grandmother; secrets held across generations.
The Way from Here is a thoughtful and thought-provoking story of family and forgiveness. It took me to unexpected places figuratively and literally. I enjoyed the timelines and hearing from both Susie and Camilla. I’m super excited for Cockram’s next book as I found this one engrossing.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
I enjoyed The House of Brides, and I loved The Way from Here even more. It’s a story of sisters who grow up on a farm in Australia. Later, one sister stays there, Camilla, while the other, Susie, travels the world.
Over time the sisters grow apart, and Camilla learns that Susie has passed away. A package arrives with letters inside from Susie. It’s sort of a scavenger hunt set up for Camilla to get to know Susie in ways she hasn’t before and also to spread her ashes in these locations that were special to her.
The letters have Camilla traveling from London to the coast of France and beyond. As she travels she learns more about Susie but also about her mother and grandmother; secrets held across generations.
The Way from Here is a thoughtful and thought-provoking story of family and forgiveness. It took me to unexpected places figuratively and literally. I enjoyed the timelines and hearing from both Susie and Camilla. I’m super excited for Cockram’s next book as I found this one engrossing.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
February 3, 2022
ADD THIS ONE TO YOUR LIST IMMEDIATELY. You will not want to miss it.
February 28, 2022
When Susie Anderson unexpectedly died on the eve of her fortieth birthday, everyone was shocked. She was too young. But when her sister Camilla (Mills) received a package in the mail from Susie, which held six letters, written and marked for Mills to read in order, she found herself setting off first to London. Susie had been travelling Europe back in 1998 and the letters saw Mills following in her footsteps, discovering what Susie saw and did all those years prior. Mills also had Susie’s ashes which she was to scatter in certain special places.
When Mills was on île de Clair in France, the story in the letters changed. The secrets that had been long hidden were slowly coming to light. With Mills and Susie’s mother, Margaret, joining her on île de Clair, Margaret’s secrets also began to be told. From Margaret’s mother Nellie, the girls’ grandmother, through Margaret and then to her daughters, life as it was written in the past came through to the present. How would the outcome affect the Anderson family? Would there be peace and tranquility once the secrets were told?
The Way From Here by Aussie author Jane Cockram is an excellent, twisty, emotional novel which I had trouble putting down. The intrigue and poignancy of the whole tangled web was incredibly well written, and not once did I have trouble keeping up. I enjoyed the characters (well, most of them!) and found the closeness of Margaret and Camilla very special. The Way From Here is my first by this author and it won’t be my last. Highly recommended.
With thanks to HarperCollins Publishers AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
When Mills was on île de Clair in France, the story in the letters changed. The secrets that had been long hidden were slowly coming to light. With Mills and Susie’s mother, Margaret, joining her on île de Clair, Margaret’s secrets also began to be told. From Margaret’s mother Nellie, the girls’ grandmother, through Margaret and then to her daughters, life as it was written in the past came through to the present. How would the outcome affect the Anderson family? Would there be peace and tranquility once the secrets were told?
The Way From Here by Aussie author Jane Cockram is an excellent, twisty, emotional novel which I had trouble putting down. The intrigue and poignancy of the whole tangled web was incredibly well written, and not once did I have trouble keeping up. I enjoyed the characters (well, most of them!) and found the closeness of Margaret and Camilla very special. The Way From Here is my first by this author and it won’t be my last. Highly recommended.
With thanks to HarperCollins Publishers AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
March 8, 2022
This is the first book from this author that I have read and it is a well written story that takes in the lives past and present of woman from one family two sisters Camilla (Mills) and Susie and their mother Margaret there is also Margaret’s mother Nellie that plays a part in this one as well, it starts in Australia and then we travel to England and France, the story is told from different points of view and some in the form of letters, it was a compelling story with many twists and turns and one that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Susie Anderson is the youngest daughter to Margaret and Bill she has grown up on an outback station in Western Australia and is often in trouble at home, she couldn’t be more different from her older sister Mills who seems to be always getting her out of trouble, when at the age of nineteen she causes more problems she decides that a gap year in England would be perfect for her so off she goes never dreaming what this time would do to her.
When Susie suddenly dies just before her fortieth birthday, everyone is shocked and when Mills is handed a bunch of letters from Susie requesting that she retrace her journey all those years ago and scatter her ashes in places that meant so much to her and also uncover some secrets that had been kept for many years about the family. Mills is not normally a person to jump in feet first but this time she does and what she finds is a story of regret, sadness and so much more.
It took me a bit to get into this one until I got to know the characters and had a feel for the story but when I did it was a book I didn’t want to put down, so many secrets that start way back with Nellie and then Margaret and then Susie who uncovers so much but didn’t quite get to the truth I think, until Mills arrived and then Margaret and together they got to the bottom of it all. There are many emotions through this story and such beautiful settings, I really liked Susie I felt for her so much she was caring and vulnerable and I liked the other characters probably except for one. This is a great story and one I would highly recommend.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.
Susie Anderson is the youngest daughter to Margaret and Bill she has grown up on an outback station in Western Australia and is often in trouble at home, she couldn’t be more different from her older sister Mills who seems to be always getting her out of trouble, when at the age of nineteen she causes more problems she decides that a gap year in England would be perfect for her so off she goes never dreaming what this time would do to her.
When Susie suddenly dies just before her fortieth birthday, everyone is shocked and when Mills is handed a bunch of letters from Susie requesting that she retrace her journey all those years ago and scatter her ashes in places that meant so much to her and also uncover some secrets that had been kept for many years about the family. Mills is not normally a person to jump in feet first but this time she does and what she finds is a story of regret, sadness and so much more.
It took me a bit to get into this one until I got to know the characters and had a feel for the story but when I did it was a book I didn’t want to put down, so many secrets that start way back with Nellie and then Margaret and then Susie who uncovers so much but didn’t quite get to the truth I think, until Mills arrived and then Margaret and together they got to the bottom of it all. There are many emotions through this story and such beautiful settings, I really liked Susie I felt for her so much she was caring and vulnerable and I liked the other characters probably except for one. This is a great story and one I would highly recommend.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.
March 4, 2022
I absolutely adored The Way From Here. It’s a captivating, engrossing story of family, secrets and truth. Jane Cochran is an author to watch!
April 9, 2022
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
A tale of family bonds, sisterhood, connections, buried secrets, love and destiny, The Way From Here is the second novel from Australian novelist Jane Cockram. Powerful, revealing and involving, The Way From Here signals the start of a very successful writing career for author Jane Cockram.
When a voice from beyond the grave communicates with her family via a cache of letters, plenty of secrets are revealed. When Susie dies unexpectedly, her grieving sister is sent on a journey to unlock a number of hidden truths that directly link back to their family fold. With mysteries to solve, implicit instructions to follow, pathways to take and experiences to be had, Mills is sent on an expedition that strikes at the very heart of her family unit. The collection letters left behind by Susie each reveals a clue to various key events and experiences connected to the heart of this intriguing family. As the past converges with the present, Mills will learn how decisions made in the past have impacted her life right now and possibly in the future.
Family mysteries are my favourite brand of fiction and Jane Cockram dazzles with this contemporary family drama piece. A sensational web of secrets, untold truths and shocks are presented to the reader in The Way From Here. Those who love a potent multi-generational family saga will find this book highly appealing.
Told in two parts and fifty-seven chapters that alternate character perspectives, The Way From Here is the follow up novel to author Jane Cockram’s 2019 release, The House of Brides. An immersive, touching and drama filled read, The Way From Here is a book that I consumed from start to finish a little too easily. With the added bonus of a series of letters released posthumously from a pivotal character, Jane Cockram’s latest kept me thoroughly engaged. Although The Way From Here shifts protagonist viewpoints and timeframes, the prose is very accessible and the reader is never left in the dark. The transitions from place and person are clear, ensuring that this book is easy to enjoy.
What I appreciated the most about The Way From Here was the setting base. I loved being taken on a journey to the island of île de Clair, it was such a quaint coastal town. I know I didn’t want to leave this idyllic locale once my time with this book reached a close. Cockram has done an excellent job in my eyes, she has worked hard to develop a setting base that is vivid, enviable and complimentary of the book’s direction in general. Another area that worked for me in The Way From Here was the characterisation. Cockram has devised a set of full-bodied characters with both agreeable and unlikeable figures. I connected to Susie being the same age as her. It was also very easy to get along with much of the cast of this novel and I definitely valued the company of the general character set in The Way From Here. Conclusion wise, Cockram ends things perfectly, leaving the reader buzzing with satisfaction.
With themes of trust, deception, lies, reflection, love, family, jealously and repentance leading the way, The Way From Here is definitely the kind of fiction tale that I love to recommend.
*I wish to thank Harlequin Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
A tale of family bonds, sisterhood, connections, buried secrets, love and destiny, The Way From Here is the second novel from Australian novelist Jane Cockram. Powerful, revealing and involving, The Way From Here signals the start of a very successful writing career for author Jane Cockram.
When a voice from beyond the grave communicates with her family via a cache of letters, plenty of secrets are revealed. When Susie dies unexpectedly, her grieving sister is sent on a journey to unlock a number of hidden truths that directly link back to their family fold. With mysteries to solve, implicit instructions to follow, pathways to take and experiences to be had, Mills is sent on an expedition that strikes at the very heart of her family unit. The collection letters left behind by Susie each reveals a clue to various key events and experiences connected to the heart of this intriguing family. As the past converges with the present, Mills will learn how decisions made in the past have impacted her life right now and possibly in the future.
Family mysteries are my favourite brand of fiction and Jane Cockram dazzles with this contemporary family drama piece. A sensational web of secrets, untold truths and shocks are presented to the reader in The Way From Here. Those who love a potent multi-generational family saga will find this book highly appealing.
Told in two parts and fifty-seven chapters that alternate character perspectives, The Way From Here is the follow up novel to author Jane Cockram’s 2019 release, The House of Brides. An immersive, touching and drama filled read, The Way From Here is a book that I consumed from start to finish a little too easily. With the added bonus of a series of letters released posthumously from a pivotal character, Jane Cockram’s latest kept me thoroughly engaged. Although The Way From Here shifts protagonist viewpoints and timeframes, the prose is very accessible and the reader is never left in the dark. The transitions from place and person are clear, ensuring that this book is easy to enjoy.
What I appreciated the most about The Way From Here was the setting base. I loved being taken on a journey to the island of île de Clair, it was such a quaint coastal town. I know I didn’t want to leave this idyllic locale once my time with this book reached a close. Cockram has done an excellent job in my eyes, she has worked hard to develop a setting base that is vivid, enviable and complimentary of the book’s direction in general. Another area that worked for me in The Way From Here was the characterisation. Cockram has devised a set of full-bodied characters with both agreeable and unlikeable figures. I connected to Susie being the same age as her. It was also very easy to get along with much of the cast of this novel and I definitely valued the company of the general character set in The Way From Here. Conclusion wise, Cockram ends things perfectly, leaving the reader buzzing with satisfaction.
With themes of trust, deception, lies, reflection, love, family, jealously and repentance leading the way, The Way From Here is definitely the kind of fiction tale that I love to recommend.
*I wish to thank Harlequin Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
December 5, 2023
Note: I received a free copy of this book. In exchange here is my honest review:
I tried for over a month to read this one and it just is incredibly boring 🥱 I’m adding it as a DNF, it just wasn’t for me.
Thank you @goodreads @janecockramauthor and @harpercollins #goodreadsgiveaway
I tried for over a month to read this one and it just is incredibly boring 🥱 I’m adding it as a DNF, it just wasn’t for me.
Thank you @goodreads @janecockramauthor and @harpercollins #goodreadsgiveaway
March 14, 2022
This book begins with a letter from Susie to her sister Camilla, a letter to be read in the event of her death and what a way to begin! I was totally drawn in and couldn’t wait to get stuck into the story. Unfortunately the first half falls a bit flat as Camilla heads off to London and France to scatter her sister’s ashes and discover a family mystery. Grandmother Nellie had worked as a nanny in England before heading to Australia pregnant and only telling people the father died in the war. When she died in 1998 she sent Susie to see a painting in London and then a series of events unfold concerning the family she used to work for. Camilla is the least interesting of the females in the family and I was a bit disappointed that the promise of that initial letter wasn’t kept but then Part 2 kicks in. Margaret, her mother arrives in the story and the mysteries start to be revealed. It jumps around a bit time wise from current events to Susie in 1998 and Margaret in 1968. I really enjoyed the second part, and overall found this an intriguing and enjoyable read.
February 21, 2022
This was a great book to read when unable to travel. Through a request from her deceased sister, Camilla travels to London and then onto île de Clair, a small island off the French coast. Having left Camilla a series of letters to be read at specific locations, Camilla (now a married mother of two boys) tries to work out what happened to Susie back in 1998 when she abruptly returned from an overseas trip that had changed her.
It soon becomes apparent that a complex web of deceit and betrayal led Susie to believe she had fled a serious situation for which she may have been to blame. Camilla tries to piece it all together, but the locals on the island seem determined to keep her in the dark.
Halfway through the book a twist brings realisation that the story involves not just Susie but possibly her grandmother Nellie as well. Family secrets start to be revealed and Camilla is shocked to find that she really knew very little about the lives of her sister, grandmother and possibly even her mother.
Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Australia for the opportunity to read this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It soon becomes apparent that a complex web of deceit and betrayal led Susie to believe she had fled a serious situation for which she may have been to blame. Camilla tries to piece it all together, but the locals on the island seem determined to keep her in the dark.
Halfway through the book a twist brings realisation that the story involves not just Susie but possibly her grandmother Nellie as well. Family secrets start to be revealed and Camilla is shocked to find that she really knew very little about the lives of her sister, grandmother and possibly even her mother.
Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Australia for the opportunity to read this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 30, 2023
https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogsp...
The Way from Here is a twisty family saga that had me captivated from start to finish.
When Susie dies suddenly from a fall from a ladder her older sister Mills is grief-stricken. Then Mills receives a bundle of letters written by Susie to be opened after her death. Each states a place she would like Mills to spread her ashes.
I've read a few books with posthumous letters and I like that they have all had a different style to them and different connections between the letter writer and the recipient
The Way from Here is narrated through a dual time-line with present day Mills on her quest to retrace Susie's holiday and sprinkle her ashes in the places that somehow changed Susie's life forever and 1998 with 19 year old Susie on her summer holiday.
Jane Cockram's writing flows well and the story is easy to read I enjoyed both timelines with the evocative descriptions of the French coastal town of Ile de Clair and the mystery of Mills revisiting these areas and slowly uncovering deep and heart-breaking secrets.
There were lots of red herrings which sent me running off at tangents and never guessing the real story until the very end.
If you enjoy twisty family sagas you will love The Way from Here.
*I received my copy from the publisher
The Way from Here is a twisty family saga that had me captivated from start to finish.
When Susie dies suddenly from a fall from a ladder her older sister Mills is grief-stricken. Then Mills receives a bundle of letters written by Susie to be opened after her death. Each states a place she would like Mills to spread her ashes.
I've read a few books with posthumous letters and I like that they have all had a different style to them and different connections between the letter writer and the recipient
The Way from Here is narrated through a dual time-line with present day Mills on her quest to retrace Susie's holiday and sprinkle her ashes in the places that somehow changed Susie's life forever and 1998 with 19 year old Susie on her summer holiday.
Jane Cockram's writing flows well and the story is easy to read I enjoyed both timelines with the evocative descriptions of the French coastal town of Ile de Clair and the mystery of Mills revisiting these areas and slowly uncovering deep and heart-breaking secrets.
There were lots of red herrings which sent me running off at tangents and never guessing the real story until the very end.
If you enjoy twisty family sagas you will love The Way from Here.
*I received my copy from the publisher
June 28, 2022
I received this from a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
Growing up in the Outback of Australia sisters Susie and Camilla had very different personalities. Camilla is practical and steady while Susie is definitely a free spirit. When Susie suffers a tragic accident and dies she leaves Camilla a stack of letters that follow her journey to Europe in her early twenties. So Camilla leaves for London to read the first letter and scatter some of Susie's ashes. From there she's instructed to visit beautiful Ile de Clair in France. Her arrival raises some concern from some of the locals leading Camilla to question what happened during the summer Susie spent on the island. As Camilla delves into the past family secrets about Susie, their mother and grandmother come to life.
A wonderful family drama interspersed with mystery and intrigue about family secrets and the bonds of sisterhood.
Growing up in the Outback of Australia sisters Susie and Camilla had very different personalities. Camilla is practical and steady while Susie is definitely a free spirit. When Susie suffers a tragic accident and dies she leaves Camilla a stack of letters that follow her journey to Europe in her early twenties. So Camilla leaves for London to read the first letter and scatter some of Susie's ashes. From there she's instructed to visit beautiful Ile de Clair in France. Her arrival raises some concern from some of the locals leading Camilla to question what happened during the summer Susie spent on the island. As Camilla delves into the past family secrets about Susie, their mother and grandmother come to life.
A wonderful family drama interspersed with mystery and intrigue about family secrets and the bonds of sisterhood.
May 20, 2022
- thanks to @netgalley and @harlequinaus for my #gifted copy
Admittedly, I was not the biggest fan of Cockram's first novel, The House of Brides, but I read the premise of her latest book, and I could not avoid feeling curious and willing to give her writing another try. In hindsight, I enjoyed The Way from Here much more than the author's debut novel.
The most significant issue with this novel is that the author expects the reader to suspend all beliefs for Susie and Camilla's story to make sense. Generally speaking, I do not mind suspending belief when it comes to particular genres such as fantasy, sci-fi, speculative fiction, dystopia, and so on. However, personally, contemporary fiction must make logical sense for the story to be credible, especially the premises.
Sadly, this is not the case with this novel.
Basically, the main event that triggers the plot development is impossible to believe, or, more specifically, it's absolutely random and far-fetched at the same time. The thrill begins once Camilla starts receiving mysterious letters from her sister Susie after her passing, which then means a journey around the world to discover life-long buried family secrets... but Susie's passing was simply an accident. So, if Susie had gone to live another forty years because she was lucky enough not to fall from a ladder, then there would not be a story.
How did Susie know she was going to die? She did not, yet she wrote several letters for her sister in the unlikely scenario she was to die first. But what is the logic in that? She was not suicidal, nor even prone to accidents! Am I supposed to believe that a person randomly writes strange letters hoping that the family's secrets will come out to light one day... without even being terminally ill or having any indication of imminent death? I refuse to believe that a forty-something healthy woman just hopes to die before her older sister without no reason whatsoever.
Overall, The Way from Here is a novel that could have been great had it not been solely based on random and unbelievable events. This book is the perfect example that details matter.
Admittedly, I was not the biggest fan of Cockram's first novel, The House of Brides, but I read the premise of her latest book, and I could not avoid feeling curious and willing to give her writing another try. In hindsight, I enjoyed The Way from Here much more than the author's debut novel.
The most significant issue with this novel is that the author expects the reader to suspend all beliefs for Susie and Camilla's story to make sense. Generally speaking, I do not mind suspending belief when it comes to particular genres such as fantasy, sci-fi, speculative fiction, dystopia, and so on. However, personally, contemporary fiction must make logical sense for the story to be credible, especially the premises.
Sadly, this is not the case with this novel.
Basically, the main event that triggers the plot development is impossible to believe, or, more specifically, it's absolutely random and far-fetched at the same time. The thrill begins once Camilla starts receiving mysterious letters from her sister Susie after her passing, which then means a journey around the world to discover life-long buried family secrets... but Susie's passing was simply an accident. So, if Susie had gone to live another forty years because she was lucky enough not to fall from a ladder, then there would not be a story.
How did Susie know she was going to die? She did not, yet she wrote several letters for her sister in the unlikely scenario she was to die first. But what is the logic in that? She was not suicidal, nor even prone to accidents! Am I supposed to believe that a person randomly writes strange letters hoping that the family's secrets will come out to light one day... without even being terminally ill or having any indication of imminent death? I refuse to believe that a forty-something healthy woman just hopes to die before her older sister without no reason whatsoever.
Overall, The Way from Here is a novel that could have been great had it not been solely based on random and unbelievable events. This book is the perfect example that details matter.
December 19, 2021
I won this book in a Goodreads' Giveaway.
The premise of this book is very similar to the movie; P.S. I Love You. In the movie, the main character’s husband died and left her with a number of letters for her to read after his passing. Each letter sent her to a different place where the two of them had shared a precious moment before and would instruct her to do different tasks to help her move on after his death. This book had a similar plot to it, only this time it is the main character’s sister that had died and she is trying to explain something big that happened to her instead of running her sister through a bunch of memories.
I really liked Susie’s bubble personality. She was definitely corky in some ways, but I loved her. Meanwhile, Camilla was kind of uptight and loved rules and set schedules. During her trip to all the places Susie wanted her to visit, Camilla didn’t go anywhere without a written itinerary to space out her time.
David going along with Lucinda’s story about why Susie would want to poison Isabel made no sense. Lucinda clearly wanted a reason to force Susie to leave the island right away, but I don’t get why David would just believe his mother over Susie. I’m pretty sure Lucinda did this because her and David were close to figuring out the family secret and she didn’t want David finding out that she wasn’t his real mother, but I didn’t understand how David could have so easily believed her. He had just spent weeks hanging out and getting to know this group of friends. He knew Susie and Henri. It doesn’t make sense that he would just accept everything his mother was saying.
Yes, Susie did initially have feelings for David. That was why she followed him to the island to begin with, but then she met Henri and she moved on. During the weeks that those two were dating, Susie and Isabel became very close friends. It doesn’t make sense for Susie to attempt to kill Isabel just because Henri cheated on her, and yet, somehow David says that it seems that the obvious conclusion to what happened that night. He was so fucking stupid.
The premise of this book is very similar to the movie; P.S. I Love You. In the movie, the main character’s husband died and left her with a number of letters for her to read after his passing. Each letter sent her to a different place where the two of them had shared a precious moment before and would instruct her to do different tasks to help her move on after his death. This book had a similar plot to it, only this time it is the main character’s sister that had died and she is trying to explain something big that happened to her instead of running her sister through a bunch of memories.
I really liked Susie’s bubble personality. She was definitely corky in some ways, but I loved her. Meanwhile, Camilla was kind of uptight and loved rules and set schedules. During her trip to all the places Susie wanted her to visit, Camilla didn’t go anywhere without a written itinerary to space out her time.
David going along with Lucinda’s story about why Susie would want to poison Isabel made no sense. Lucinda clearly wanted a reason to force Susie to leave the island right away, but I don’t get why David would just believe his mother over Susie. I’m pretty sure Lucinda did this because her and David were close to figuring out the family secret and she didn’t want David finding out that she wasn’t his real mother, but I didn’t understand how David could have so easily believed her. He had just spent weeks hanging out and getting to know this group of friends. He knew Susie and Henri. It doesn’t make sense that he would just accept everything his mother was saying.
Yes, Susie did initially have feelings for David. That was why she followed him to the island to begin with, but then she met Henri and she moved on. During the weeks that those two were dating, Susie and Isabel became very close friends. It doesn’t make sense for Susie to attempt to kill Isabel just because Henri cheated on her, and yet, somehow David says that it seems that the obvious conclusion to what happened that night. He was so fucking stupid.
May 9, 2022
The Way From Here was a solid 4 stars for the first half of the story. For me it went downhill starting on page 172 where the wrong character is accidentally inserted into a conversation. You just know if the author and editor missed that then bad things are on the way. Suddenly the novel added convoluted twist after twist that made the plot difficult to follow. Characters that seemed real were now behaving in a ridiculous manner. By the times secrets were revealed I no longer cared. 4 stars for the first half of the book, 1 star for the second half giving us an average of 2.5.
January 20, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and Publishers HQ Fiction, subsidiary of HarperCollins Aust Pty Ltd for this uncorrected copy to read, comment and review.
This is a beautifully descriptive read. While it is about relationships and secrets, the author takes the reader on a wonderful journey contrasting the harshness of the family's property in Australia to the picturesque island of Îsle de Clair. The author has given voice to both sisters in this read which ultimately reveals the histories and secrets of their Nana and Mother.
From the Kimberley country is the farming property of Matilda Downs, two sisters Camilla (Mills) and Susie, opposites as sides to a coin in personalities argue about a driving practice. Susie is a new learner and bored with the big wet pressures Camilla into taking her out in the old farm vehicle. As usual Susie wins out with Camilla reluctantly placating her. It's not driving practice weather, the ground has turned into a quagmire of deep mud making driving difficult even for the most experienced driver. Susie is just one of those people that has to push the barrier and ignoring Camilla's pleas to slow down results in the car crashing and taking their mother's much loved horse with it. Unable to come to terms with the guilt of the death of the horse and with no concrete plans after finishing her school education Susie decides to head off to the UK with Nana Nellie's blessing; these two are close while Camilla is close to their mother, Margaret.
Susie, furnished with information from Nellie who had immigrated to Australia as a young woman, takes up her new life in London. The last letter she receives from Nellie contains newspaper clippings and a request to go and view a particular painting. Susie, sitting in front of the painting, can't make out the connection. When a young man sitting next to her wakes up from his sleep Susie starts to discuss the painting with him. She does a pick up line, invites him for a drink and then to his house where sitting having a small picnic, David's mother turns up and makes the wrong assumption about Susie. After a small discussion about Îsle de Clair, Susie decides on her course of action, cancels all her plans and job and turns up uninvited to the small island. It's here on Îsle de Clair that Susie starts putting two and two together regarding her family's connection to David's.
Returning to Australia, Susie is unsettled, different; finally she returns to London. She has an accident and from this Camilla receives six letters from her with instructions of where to go and what to do. Camilla follows the same path as her sister had done, finally ending up on the same small island but where here, her mother unexpectedly arrives knowing full well that Camilla with her tenacity will discover her secret.
This is a beautifully descriptive read. While it is about relationships and secrets, the author takes the reader on a wonderful journey contrasting the harshness of the family's property in Australia to the picturesque island of Îsle de Clair. The author has given voice to both sisters in this read which ultimately reveals the histories and secrets of their Nana and Mother.
From the Kimberley country is the farming property of Matilda Downs, two sisters Camilla (Mills) and Susie, opposites as sides to a coin in personalities argue about a driving practice. Susie is a new learner and bored with the big wet pressures Camilla into taking her out in the old farm vehicle. As usual Susie wins out with Camilla reluctantly placating her. It's not driving practice weather, the ground has turned into a quagmire of deep mud making driving difficult even for the most experienced driver. Susie is just one of those people that has to push the barrier and ignoring Camilla's pleas to slow down results in the car crashing and taking their mother's much loved horse with it. Unable to come to terms with the guilt of the death of the horse and with no concrete plans after finishing her school education Susie decides to head off to the UK with Nana Nellie's blessing; these two are close while Camilla is close to their mother, Margaret.
Susie, furnished with information from Nellie who had immigrated to Australia as a young woman, takes up her new life in London. The last letter she receives from Nellie contains newspaper clippings and a request to go and view a particular painting. Susie, sitting in front of the painting, can't make out the connection. When a young man sitting next to her wakes up from his sleep Susie starts to discuss the painting with him. She does a pick up line, invites him for a drink and then to his house where sitting having a small picnic, David's mother turns up and makes the wrong assumption about Susie. After a small discussion about Îsle de Clair, Susie decides on her course of action, cancels all her plans and job and turns up uninvited to the small island. It's here on Îsle de Clair that Susie starts putting two and two together regarding her family's connection to David's.
Returning to Australia, Susie is unsettled, different; finally she returns to London. She has an accident and from this Camilla receives six letters from her with instructions of where to go and what to do. Camilla follows the same path as her sister had done, finally ending up on the same small island but where here, her mother unexpectedly arrives knowing full well that Camilla with her tenacity will discover her secret.
March 28, 2022
2.5 stars. Thanks to Better Reading for my copy. I enjoyed the settings in this novel, particularly descriptions of Ile de Clair, what a magical sounding place. This story has a very complex plot that relies heavily on coincidences and this may have ultimately resulted in compromises in other areas. The vocabulary felt contrived and artificial and the reveals where a bit forced. Ultimately it was enjoyable to imagine the idyllic island but in no way did this feel like a possible scenario. The characters were interesting but did not respond to events in a way that felt realistic. As a debut novel I feel the author has done a good job but perhaps they should have included less complications in the plot.
January 22, 2022
I love sister mysteries, and family secrets, so THE WAY FROM HERE was the perfect book for me, as it spun both themes into a suspenseful story that touched my heart.
Camilla has always been the sensible, rational Anderson sister, whilst Susie was the wild, spontaneous, rebellious one. When Susie dies tragically just before her 40th birthday, Camilla is left with just a bundle of letters from her sister, urging her to go overseas and visit places from Susie’s past that changed her life and put a distance between the sisters that Camilla could never fully explain. Intrigued, Camilla sets off to France to walk in her sister’s footsteps and solve the mystery of what happened to her that long ago summer that had such a lasting effect on Susie’s life ....
I loved the way Cockram portrayed Camilla and Susie’s sister relationship, a bond that seems tenuous at times and yet draws the siblings together time and time again, despite the differences in their personalities. Camilla’s quest to find out about her sister’s past was as touching as it was intriguing, and I was instantly hooked and fully invested in finding out the answers for myself. It certainly also helped that Cockram sets her story on a picturesque little French island, adding some delicious armchair travel to the mix. The more clues Camilla uncovered, the clearer it became that this was one family mystery that would go deeper than just your average misstep on a youthful backpacking adventure. We learn how all the women’s fates in the family are connected, from the sisters to their mother and grandmother, each of their decisions affecting the rest of their lives as well as future generations.
THE WAY FROM HERE is a story about three generations of women bound by a secret that will have far-reaching effects on all of their lives. All relationships are wonderfully drawn, dipping into a well of emotions that touched my heart and made me connect to each character on a visceral level until I felt like a participant in the story rather than just a casual observer. Nellie, Margaret, Susie and Camilla each have unique voices that tell their side of the story as we gradually uncover the dark shadow that has lain over the family for generations. Intriguing and bittersweet, this book will appeal to readers who love a good character driven sister mystery.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Australia HQ for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
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Camilla has always been the sensible, rational Anderson sister, whilst Susie was the wild, spontaneous, rebellious one. When Susie dies tragically just before her 40th birthday, Camilla is left with just a bundle of letters from her sister, urging her to go overseas and visit places from Susie’s past that changed her life and put a distance between the sisters that Camilla could never fully explain. Intrigued, Camilla sets off to France to walk in her sister’s footsteps and solve the mystery of what happened to her that long ago summer that had such a lasting effect on Susie’s life ....
I loved the way Cockram portrayed Camilla and Susie’s sister relationship, a bond that seems tenuous at times and yet draws the siblings together time and time again, despite the differences in their personalities. Camilla’s quest to find out about her sister’s past was as touching as it was intriguing, and I was instantly hooked and fully invested in finding out the answers for myself. It certainly also helped that Cockram sets her story on a picturesque little French island, adding some delicious armchair travel to the mix. The more clues Camilla uncovered, the clearer it became that this was one family mystery that would go deeper than just your average misstep on a youthful backpacking adventure. We learn how all the women’s fates in the family are connected, from the sisters to their mother and grandmother, each of their decisions affecting the rest of their lives as well as future generations.
THE WAY FROM HERE is a story about three generations of women bound by a secret that will have far-reaching effects on all of their lives. All relationships are wonderfully drawn, dipping into a well of emotions that touched my heart and made me connect to each character on a visceral level until I felt like a participant in the story rather than just a casual observer. Nellie, Margaret, Susie and Camilla each have unique voices that tell their side of the story as we gradually uncover the dark shadow that has lain over the family for generations. Intriguing and bittersweet, this book will appeal to readers who love a good character driven sister mystery.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Australia HQ for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
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March 29, 2022
Camilla is the safe sister and Susie is the wild one. When susie suddenly dies, Camilla falls apart.
Susie, before she dies writes her sister several
letters asking her to go to places around the world that are of importance to her to scatter her ashes. Camilla does as her sister asks but along the way finds out a few things kept secret in her family's past.
I finished this book over two weeks ago and still don't really know how I feel about it.
It was just lacking something. It had great potential but the plot seemed to change direction mid way through the story or that particular storyline was introduced to late.
Sometimes the names and dates were wrong and the characters were incomplete.
I get what the author was trying to achieve with this story but I just did not feel the mystery or the love between the family members.
Susie, before she dies writes her sister several
letters asking her to go to places around the world that are of importance to her to scatter her ashes. Camilla does as her sister asks but along the way finds out a few things kept secret in her family's past.
I finished this book over two weeks ago and still don't really know how I feel about it.
It was just lacking something. It had great potential but the plot seemed to change direction mid way through the story or that particular storyline was introduced to late.
Sometimes the names and dates were wrong and the characters were incomplete.
I get what the author was trying to achieve with this story but I just did not feel the mystery or the love between the family members.
March 2, 2022
The Way From Here by Jane Cockram is such a great read! It truly had it all …. twists and turns that I simply did not see coming. The perfect balance of emotional investment combined with family drama, with a touch of mystery and intrigue.
‘A promise to myself that one day this story will be told. Even as I write them, I worry about getting the words down right, so I have a crazy idea. Reading the words is not enough. I want you to walk in the hushed halls of the National Gallery of London, to breathe deeply in the salty island air of the Île de Clair and shelter in the green gardens of Pond Cottage. I’m going to ask you to visit these places and do something for me. And because I’m dead and it’s my last request, you’ ll have to do it!’
What attracted me from the outset was the concept. Susie unexpectedly dies just before her fortieth birthday, shocking everyone. Her sister, Camilla, then receives a set of letters where Susie requests they be read in order and at specific locations of where to scatter her ashes. The inclusion of the letters was genius, on top of first person narratives from both sisters (and the mother at a later date) it really added another dimension to the tale. Camilla then sets out on a journey following the footsteps of the trip Susie had made in 1998.
‘She was here because her sister wanted to tell her something she hadn’t had the courage to tell her when she was alive. It was never going to be easy.’
The first part of the book established both sisters in the past and present and I thought I was in for a solid reflective and introspective read. Then bang! Halfway through the first of what would be several twists hit the story. Now I was fully hooked! This was a story that would involve three generations of the same family and would prove to be shocking to some, if not all, members involved. Slowly, Jane tells the story moving seamlessly between character voices and timelines - it was, in fact, faultless. Family secrets slowly unfurled as its members come to realise past mistakes and regrets.
‘Nostalgia is laced with sadness and regrets. The could-haves and should-haves. Do you have any of those, Mills?’
I have nothing but praise for Jane’s writing and the way she pulled all the various threads of this intriguing tale together for a most satisfying story. It is about families and the often difficult relationships, yet, it is also about life and meaning, all set against a backdrop of some picturesque locations - from Australia, to France, to England.
This book, with such an original plot, is one full of intrigue and drama set across three generations of women. There are secrets that, when revealed, will have lasting impact on all involved. The melding of voices through the sisters and especially the letters is unique and bittersweet. I simply can't wait to read what future stories Jane has lined up for us next.
‘… the future I looked forward to then hasn’t turned out the way I expected. They say youth is wasted on the young, but it feels to me like not a moment is wasted - we carry our youth with us forever. How I felt when I was sixteen, who I loved when I was nineteen, what I regretted at twenty-one - none of this goes away. It’s all me, it’s all still here.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
‘A promise to myself that one day this story will be told. Even as I write them, I worry about getting the words down right, so I have a crazy idea. Reading the words is not enough. I want you to walk in the hushed halls of the National Gallery of London, to breathe deeply in the salty island air of the Île de Clair and shelter in the green gardens of Pond Cottage. I’m going to ask you to visit these places and do something for me. And because I’m dead and it’s my last request, you’ ll have to do it!’
What attracted me from the outset was the concept. Susie unexpectedly dies just before her fortieth birthday, shocking everyone. Her sister, Camilla, then receives a set of letters where Susie requests they be read in order and at specific locations of where to scatter her ashes. The inclusion of the letters was genius, on top of first person narratives from both sisters (and the mother at a later date) it really added another dimension to the tale. Camilla then sets out on a journey following the footsteps of the trip Susie had made in 1998.
‘She was here because her sister wanted to tell her something she hadn’t had the courage to tell her when she was alive. It was never going to be easy.’
The first part of the book established both sisters in the past and present and I thought I was in for a solid reflective and introspective read. Then bang! Halfway through the first of what would be several twists hit the story. Now I was fully hooked! This was a story that would involve three generations of the same family and would prove to be shocking to some, if not all, members involved. Slowly, Jane tells the story moving seamlessly between character voices and timelines - it was, in fact, faultless. Family secrets slowly unfurled as its members come to realise past mistakes and regrets.
‘Nostalgia is laced with sadness and regrets. The could-haves and should-haves. Do you have any of those, Mills?’
I have nothing but praise for Jane’s writing and the way she pulled all the various threads of this intriguing tale together for a most satisfying story. It is about families and the often difficult relationships, yet, it is also about life and meaning, all set against a backdrop of some picturesque locations - from Australia, to France, to England.
This book, with such an original plot, is one full of intrigue and drama set across three generations of women. There are secrets that, when revealed, will have lasting impact on all involved. The melding of voices through the sisters and especially the letters is unique and bittersweet. I simply can't wait to read what future stories Jane has lined up for us next.
‘… the future I looked forward to then hasn’t turned out the way I expected. They say youth is wasted on the young, but it feels to me like not a moment is wasted - we carry our youth with us forever. How I felt when I was sixteen, who I loved when I was nineteen, what I regretted at twenty-one - none of this goes away. It’s all me, it’s all still here.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
April 17, 2022
A fantastic sophomore effort! Loved reading this compelling book on my Easter long weekend. Mystery! Coming of age! Family secrets! Romance! All the major food groups…
February 8, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy.
I was disappointed to discover that this works across several timeframes, moving from one to another between chapters. I prefer a more linear approach. I am, however, almost converted. The generational story told here emerges so powerfully because of the way the story unfolds and the way we are drawn into the lives of each woman in her generation while finding the connecting threads.
The worlds are created around us. Every decision makes sense in the context to which we are being drawn.
The grandmother of the first generation story is Nellie. I am currently researching and trying to write an account of, the family history of my grandmother, who was also Nellie. There are secrets in her life and her family which I’ve struggled to uncover, understand and explain. This book has given me a much greater confidence and context. It provides a credible, empathetic world making sense of what must have been the experience of many women in many times and generations.
I will also recommend this to my Crime Fiction Book Club. It is certainly not traditional crime fiction, but could, I think be considered and discussed in the context of that genre.
I was disappointed to discover that this works across several timeframes, moving from one to another between chapters. I prefer a more linear approach. I am, however, almost converted. The generational story told here emerges so powerfully because of the way the story unfolds and the way we are drawn into the lives of each woman in her generation while finding the connecting threads.
The worlds are created around us. Every decision makes sense in the context to which we are being drawn.
The grandmother of the first generation story is Nellie. I am currently researching and trying to write an account of, the family history of my grandmother, who was also Nellie. There are secrets in her life and her family which I’ve struggled to uncover, understand and explain. This book has given me a much greater confidence and context. It provides a credible, empathetic world making sense of what must have been the experience of many women in many times and generations.
I will also recommend this to my Crime Fiction Book Club. It is certainly not traditional crime fiction, but could, I think be considered and discussed in the context of that genre.
January 13, 2022
Quite a complex and engaging story. A family saga spanning 3 generations and a sleuthing trip across the oceans the story certainly gets you in. Of course there are revelations and secrets to be found across the characters.
Susie has written a series of letters and her normally by the book sister Camilla is following the instructions. Mills as she prefers to be called is at first reluctant to be involved but is certainly drawn into a more and more complex past.
I found both sisters initially quite irritating. Their strongly different personalities are grating in different ways, Susie reckless and seemingly unaware of her impact on others. Mills is so restrained and emotionally corseted that it is hard to empathize with her.
It is a relief that quite soon the characters are built up to richer more complex people and I was hooked both on their journeys and their growth, particularly Mills. Other characters are also often spiky, but that of course is just who they are.
A quick and complex read. Lots of well managed time shifting as the narrative is from different points of view through out. Sometimes this sort of story telling can lose you but the author has managed this intelligently and well.
Recommended
I have had an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. My review is independent. #TheWayFromHere #NetGalley
Susie has written a series of letters and her normally by the book sister Camilla is following the instructions. Mills as she prefers to be called is at first reluctant to be involved but is certainly drawn into a more and more complex past.
I found both sisters initially quite irritating. Their strongly different personalities are grating in different ways, Susie reckless and seemingly unaware of her impact on others. Mills is so restrained and emotionally corseted that it is hard to empathize with her.
It is a relief that quite soon the characters are built up to richer more complex people and I was hooked both on their journeys and their growth, particularly Mills. Other characters are also often spiky, but that of course is just who they are.
A quick and complex read. Lots of well managed time shifting as the narrative is from different points of view through out. Sometimes this sort of story telling can lose you but the author has managed this intelligently and well.
Recommended
I have had an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. My review is independent. #TheWayFromHere #NetGalley
January 11, 2023
Two stars for effort! I wonder if authors who write the glowing reviews for the front and back covers actually read the book? Makes me less inclined to try one of theirs when they recommend this book so highly!
September 19, 2022
*A copy of this book was received as part of the "Better Reading" Preview.
“A golden summer, an idyllic place, a mystery from the past.”
The book "The Way From Here" was okay. It begins with a bundle of letters with instructions left behind by Susie after her accidental death, for her older sister Camilla, which prompts a journey from Australia, to London, to the French island Ile de Clair, in order to scatter Susie’s ashes. Along the way a family secret is revealed, one slowly pieced together through Susie’s requests and reminiscences of the past.
The story is told in a series of short sharp chapters, which make for a quick read. It flicks between past and present, from Susie’s summer of 1998, to their mother Margret’s regret in 1968, to Susie’s letters and Camilla in present day. However, the characters aren’t terrible endearing and their stories are a bit trite. The main protagonists lacked depth, both in representations and their lives, and are often contradictory in their nature (Susie was terrible at keeping secrets yet never said a word about the biggest family secret until she wrote letters in case of her death alluding to it). Much of the story, and the family “mystery”, hinges on constant chance meetings and blindly-followed family obligation, which oft times seem incredible and improbable. This book will require readers to really stretch their suspension of disbelief.
“A golden summer, an idyllic place, a mystery from the past.”
The book "The Way From Here" was okay. It begins with a bundle of letters with instructions left behind by Susie after her accidental death, for her older sister Camilla, which prompts a journey from Australia, to London, to the French island Ile de Clair, in order to scatter Susie’s ashes. Along the way a family secret is revealed, one slowly pieced together through Susie’s requests and reminiscences of the past.
The story is told in a series of short sharp chapters, which make for a quick read. It flicks between past and present, from Susie’s summer of 1998, to their mother Margret’s regret in 1968, to Susie’s letters and Camilla in present day. However, the characters aren’t terrible endearing and their stories are a bit trite. The main protagonists lacked depth, both in representations and their lives, and are often contradictory in their nature (Susie was terrible at keeping secrets yet never said a word about the biggest family secret until she wrote letters in case of her death alluding to it). Much of the story, and the family “mystery”, hinges on constant chance meetings and blindly-followed family obligation, which oft times seem incredible and improbable. This book will require readers to really stretch their suspension of disbelief.
February 2, 2022
I'm not sure what grabbed my attention with this one, but I saw it on NetGalley and clicked the Read It button.
Cockram is an author who is new to me and I'm so glad that I took a chance on this one. I was captured from the very beginning. There were some pretty twisty turns in there that I wasn't expecting and it all added to the story.
Gorgeous, vividly drawn settings with a diverse cast of characters and a sense of suspense that held out til the very end.
Full review to come but I had to get something down immediately. Loved it.
Cockram is an author who is new to me and I'm so glad that I took a chance on this one. I was captured from the very beginning. There were some pretty twisty turns in there that I wasn't expecting and it all added to the story.
Gorgeous, vividly drawn settings with a diverse cast of characters and a sense of suspense that held out til the very end.
Full review to come but I had to get something down immediately. Loved it.
December 12, 2021
I didn't figure it all out before the end and was completely wrong on a couple of guesses, I love books that I can't fully figure out. Fun, witty, made me laugh, made me cry, made me cringe, made me want to see the places that the characters in the book traveled. Will definitely read again, this one goes on my book shelf!!
November 24, 2021
Beautifully written from beginning to end. I typically read more darker thriller type books but Cockram threw in just enough mystery to keep me hooked through the entire book. I highly recommend this book, no matter what your preferred genre is, you won’t be disappointed.
March 18, 2022
Three generations of secrets and lies. A trifle too twisty and improbable, in my opinion.
May 28, 2022
Overall weak and oddly written. Annoying characters and waaaay too many coincidental meetings/overlaps.
February 25, 2022
This beautiful novel about sisters is set in the harsh environment of a farm in Australia versus lush and beautiful places in London and France. It's about two sisters who are totally different. Even though they grew up close to each other, their lives and attitudes took them in different directions. Camilla still lives in Australia, teaches school and is married with two children. Susie has travelled all over and is always looking for the next big thing to follow.
When Camilla finds out that her sister has died, she is very upset even though they haven't been close in years. Soon after she receives a package from Susie mailed from a friend. In the package are six different letters that her sister has written to her. She wants Susie to go to several locations in Europe and read the letters when she gets to the location in an attempt for Camilla to understand her better. Susie also requests her sister to spread her ashes in each of the locations.
The first letter sends her to the British Museum in London to view a particular painting. The next letter sends her to the Ile de Clair, a small isolated island off the coast of France. After she reads the letter there, she meets many of her sisters friends from her time on the island years earlier. The people Camilla meets, don't want to share stories about Susie but they finally break down and tell her about the time that Susie spent there that changed her life forever. Camilla also finds out secrets about her mother and grandmother that had been kept from the sisters. She realizes then how little she knew about not only her sister but also her mother and her grandmother.
This was a wonderful story about the love and forgiveness between three generations of a family. The scenery is beautifully described and I'm ready to book a trip to Ile de Clair. The story is told in several different timelines - Susie and Camilla in 1998 and in present day. It wasn't difficult to follow the timelines and it really enhanced the story to get input from both characters in different time lines. This is a debut novel for this author and I can't wait to read her future books.
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
When Camilla finds out that her sister has died, she is very upset even though they haven't been close in years. Soon after she receives a package from Susie mailed from a friend. In the package are six different letters that her sister has written to her. She wants Susie to go to several locations in Europe and read the letters when she gets to the location in an attempt for Camilla to understand her better. Susie also requests her sister to spread her ashes in each of the locations.
The first letter sends her to the British Museum in London to view a particular painting. The next letter sends her to the Ile de Clair, a small isolated island off the coast of France. After she reads the letter there, she meets many of her sisters friends from her time on the island years earlier. The people Camilla meets, don't want to share stories about Susie but they finally break down and tell her about the time that Susie spent there that changed her life forever. Camilla also finds out secrets about her mother and grandmother that had been kept from the sisters. She realizes then how little she knew about not only her sister but also her mother and her grandmother.
This was a wonderful story about the love and forgiveness between three generations of a family. The scenery is beautifully described and I'm ready to book a trip to Ile de Clair. The story is told in several different timelines - Susie and Camilla in 1998 and in present day. It wasn't difficult to follow the timelines and it really enhanced the story to get input from both characters in different time lines. This is a debut novel for this author and I can't wait to read her future books.
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
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