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tellmeastoryxx's review
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
leannep's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
I struggled with this one. I found the writing simplistic, the characters stereotyped, so many things clichéd, and I didn't care about the characters. It took too many words to get anywhere. Two things kept me reading: The protagonist's name was Leanne, there were small bits about a boy called Daniel and his father.
Eventually, 200 pages in, Daniel and Leanne connect, she fosters him. By then I was invested in the plot, a bit. Was he right about his dad? Who was the murderer? Would Daniel be 'dangerous'?
In the end cliché, cliché, cliché.... aarrgh. (Which my phone wants to autocorrect to alright... so maybe the AI is right!)
Eventually, 200 pages in, Daniel and Leanne connect, she fosters him. By then I was invested in the plot, a bit. Was he right about his dad? Who was the murderer? Would Daniel be 'dangerous'?
In the end cliché, cliché, cliché.... aarrgh. (Which my phone wants to autocorrect to alright... so maybe the AI is right!)
kath61's review
3.0
Not too keen really. It covered some difficult themes and there was an interesting take on the personal effects of Brexit, as well as some observational passages on a mother and teenage daughter relationship. But other parts were unrealistic, especially around fostering, and characters were not layered enough in my opinion.
silverxox's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
alisonh's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
itsallaboutthebooksuk's review
5.0
Leanne and her daughter Abby haven’t had an easy time, Leanne’s husband, Abby’s Dad Jack, committed suicide and struggling mother and daughter have moved to Ash Morley Farm where Leanne grew up. Leanne’s mum Wilkie stays at Ash Morley too and is a fantastic character. Also staying there is Klaudia and her two children, Klaudia having originally come from Poland is having to wait to see if she will be permitted to stay in the country while facing the backlash of xenophobic feeling post the Brexit vote.
Straight away I fell in love with the setting of Ash Morley Farm, a cosy family hub where everyone has their own space but never needs to feel alone. Obviously this would only work if everyone gets on and thankfully nearly everyone does.
Leanne and Abby have a tense relationship, Abby carries a lot of anger which is understandable considering her Dad has committed suicide, she’s been moved away from where she grew up and has had to leave behind all her friends. There’s also a bit of jealousy towards the relationship her Mum and older sibling Kate have. Although Kate has a different Dad and is living in America, Abby can’t help feeling jealous. Leanne is trying her best for Abby but Abby being a typical teenager isn’t making things easy at all.
I have to say the character that stood out for me was Wilkie, she’s everybody’s friend and the heart and soul at Ash Morley. She’s not afraid to stand up for what she believes in, even if it might get her into a wee bit of trouble from time to time. She’s very passionate about her causes and she just seemed to shine and jump straight off the pages.
Although Believe in Me does tackle some difficult issues it’s a very easy book to read. It’s written so beautifully that you just seem to slip inside the story and get washed away. It’s a story that really gets under your skin and isn’t easy to put down. It focuses on so many subjects like, family, loss, love, trust with added suspense and mystery. It really is an all-rounder that I think will appeal to many.
This is the first book I have read by Susan Lewis and one thing that really struck me about the book was that I felt like I could have been reading a real life story. It all just felt so realistic and easy to picture in my mind as I was reading, like a film going through my head.
After finishing the book I had to go and look up other books by the same author and was surprised to see Susan Lewis is the author of thirty-eight novels, why have I not come across them before? I honestly thoroughly enjoyed Believe in Me so much its a must that I catch up with some of the others.
Believe in Me is a fantastically compelling story that will sweep you up and drop you right in the middle of Ash Morley Farm. The Daily Mail say’s its spellbinding and I think I’d have to agree.
Straight away I fell in love with the setting of Ash Morley Farm, a cosy family hub where everyone has their own space but never needs to feel alone. Obviously this would only work if everyone gets on and thankfully nearly everyone does.
Leanne and Abby have a tense relationship, Abby carries a lot of anger which is understandable considering her Dad has committed suicide, she’s been moved away from where she grew up and has had to leave behind all her friends. There’s also a bit of jealousy towards the relationship her Mum and older sibling Kate have. Although Kate has a different Dad and is living in America, Abby can’t help feeling jealous. Leanne is trying her best for Abby but Abby being a typical teenager isn’t making things easy at all.
I have to say the character that stood out for me was Wilkie, she’s everybody’s friend and the heart and soul at Ash Morley. She’s not afraid to stand up for what she believes in, even if it might get her into a wee bit of trouble from time to time. She’s very passionate about her causes and she just seemed to shine and jump straight off the pages.
Although Believe in Me does tackle some difficult issues it’s a very easy book to read. It’s written so beautifully that you just seem to slip inside the story and get washed away. It’s a story that really gets under your skin and isn’t easy to put down. It focuses on so many subjects like, family, loss, love, trust with added suspense and mystery. It really is an all-rounder that I think will appeal to many.
This is the first book I have read by Susan Lewis and one thing that really struck me about the book was that I felt like I could have been reading a real life story. It all just felt so realistic and easy to picture in my mind as I was reading, like a film going through my head.
After finishing the book I had to go and look up other books by the same author and was surprised to see Susan Lewis is the author of thirty-eight novels, why have I not come across them before? I honestly thoroughly enjoyed Believe in Me so much its a must that I catch up with some of the others.
Believe in Me is a fantastically compelling story that will sweep you up and drop you right in the middle of Ash Morley Farm. The Daily Mail say’s its spellbinding and I think I’d have to agree.
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