‘Step by step we’d let each other in, and
now it was hard to imagine that we hadn’t always been there for each other.’
This lovely debut novel combines the lives of
three different women as they meet by chance and form firm friendships. Jenny
is our first person narrator; she is browsing at a car boot sale in
Charlesworth, an old market town in Sussex, and we share her delight when she
happens upon precisely the items she has been searching for, a vintage teaset.
Just at that moment, two other women swoop in who are equally as interested in
the very same items. The three women decide to share the teaset, each making
use of it in turn for their own special purposes, and from this unique
beginning, their stories unfold.
Jenny is looking forward to her forthcoming
marriage to Dan. As her plans move forwards, she is thrown by the sudden unexpected
contact from a woman who has played no part in her life for many years, and she
worries that her happiness could be damaged. Maggie is a strong, independent
career woman, forging ahead after the disappointment of her failed marriage and
Alison appears at first sight to be a happily married woman with two daughters,
but things are never as straightforward as they might seem, for any of them.
One of the aspects I liked about the main
characters in this novel is that the women are not all the same age, and they
have different experiences of life. This brings an interesting dimension to
their relationships with each other, across the generations. It was lovely to
read how such a strong, supportive bond develops between the friends, and this
friendship that forms isn’t affected by this difference in their ages, for
example when they share exciting news with each other; ‘A twenty-year age
gap made no difference to our levels of girlish excitement.’
A favourite part of the narrative for me
involves the history of the teaset and culminates with a perceptive comment
which is made about life and love, how
‘As you get older you see that what you thought were little things,
why they were really the big things all along.’
This is a sparkling debut novel. I really
enjoyed reading it. It is an easy, engaging read with likeable characters,
between whom a lovely, believable and supportive friendship grows. The
characters develop and the women support and encourage each other to follow
their dreams and be successful and happy. When times are tough and romance,
family or careers are getting them down, they are there for each other to share
the pain, and they celebrate this: ‘To new friends, a port in the storm.’ Vanessa Greene paints a lovely
portrait of female friendship across the generations. I would definitely look
out for and look forward to the next novel by this author. I love the
beautiful, attractive and very fitting cover design.
All that really remains to be said is for the
prospective reader to settle back with a good cuppa (preferably in a pretty tea
cup) and read all about these ladies and their ups and downs revolving around
vintage teacups!
Reviewed by Lindsay Healy
Published by Sphere
Thanks to the publisher for the proof copy of this novel which I received as a competition prize.
This was alongside a lovely invitation to attend a vintage tea party with the author - you can read about this here.
You can follow the author on twitter @VanessaGBooks
