3.81 AVERAGE


Sometimes, the best kind of stories are ones that seem to depict everyday life in a certain way. Have really enjoyed this story and the three characters as they experienced growth, loss and triumphs.

Started this at 11pm in bed. Finished it at 330am! Couldn't put it down!

January always feels fresh and new; a brand new year, full of new goals and promises. When midnight arrives, when you leave December behind and leap into the very first minutes of the first day of the new year, people the world over are clinking glasses and making their annual resolutions. And admittedly, even if some of them don't last more than a few days (of course you'll get round to training for that marathon. Once you've watched all of Breaking Bad), making them is still habitual fun.

So when I heard about The Year of Taking Chances by Lucy Diamond (author of many novels including Sweet Temptation, The Beach Cafe and One Night in Italy, I was quite excited. In her new book, Lucy explores the new-year theme, with the setting of a small Suffolk village and with three women who are about to experience a new year full of unexpected changes.

Gemma Bailey and her husband Spencer are hosting a New Year's Eve party at their house. Among the drinking, dancing friends and familiar faces are two newcomers; Saffron, a PR executive from London who's renting the cottage next door, and Caitlin, who is in the village to pack up the house and of her recently-deceased mother. When the three meet and get to know each other over some cocktails and fortune cookies, they promise to make this year the best year yet.

However, things are about to change in the lives of Gemma, Saffron and Caitlin. When sport-loving Spencer is injured in a work accident, Gemma's life is turned upside down. Not only are the bills quickly mounting up, but Spencer isn't the same person he used to be. And the children, Will and Darcy, are finding the changes hard to deal with. With little money and an unhappy husband, she has to find a way to keep the family afloat.

Meanwhile, Caitlin is still trying to pick up the pieces of her broken relationship, and the death of her mother. Having to go through her mother's things is a task she finds hard to bear. But when she unearths a big family secret, life comes crashing down yet again.

And Saffron, who had rented the cottage for some peace and quiet away from the busy London atmosphere, is also keeping something from her family and friends. And overbearing boss and a client from hell to contend with certainly don’t make things easy for Saffron, who escapes to the village once again to determine her next move.

When the three women find themselves again reunited in Suffolk, it’s time to make changes and finally take some chances.

Due to its premise, The Year of Taking Chances was very appealing to me. It was a book I particularly looked forward to reading, and it didn't disappoint. Each of the women had their own story, and it was easy to get into the lives of Gemma, Saffron and Caitlin, and how they each help one another throughout the novel (though I'm trying not to give too much away!) Each chapter focuses on a different character, which made it so much fun to read (and so difficult to stop). Gemma, Saffron and Caitlin each have their own journey to make throughout the year, and I felt myself rooting for all of them throughout the book. Each of the girls are easily likeable; Gemma, who's worried that she's seen as 'just a mum', web designer Caitlin, who's having a difficult time with the loss of her mum and the end of her relationship, and Saffron, PR girl from the city, who's also having a tough time. Each girl has her own dilemma, and a host of characters too (including Saffron's irritating TV star client). This is a wonderful novel, and quite possibly my favourite of Lucy Diamond's books so far. It's the perfect new-year read!

I listened to this Lucy Diamond book read by Antonia Beamish and loved it.
Larkmead is such a charming and delightfully idyllic Suffolk village with house names such as The Granary, a pub called The Partridge and warm, funny, real characters.
The book follows Gemma, Caitlin and Saffron who meet unexpectedly at the New Year's Eve party Gemma and her husband Spencer are holding. They live in the village with their two children and Caitlin is only back to clear out her recently deceased mother's house whilst Saffron is escaping London, although really she is trying to escape making a tough decision.
The three become the best of friends as they navigate all sorts of stormy events in their personal lives. There is a lot of sewing, emailing, cake-eating, hand-wringing and romance in a book where even the worst scenarios somehow have a happy ending and the reader can relax, knowing that all will be well in the end.
It is light, bright, endearing and uplifting, the way in which the three women help each other come to terms with all manner of unexpected developments.
Each woman is different but entirely loveable and it is the sort of book that has you cheering on from the sidelines, daring them to take risks, have faith, be bold and believe in themselves. It is the sort of read that leaves me wishing I could visit the place and meet the characters, from very annoying minor celebrity Bunty, to Spencer stuck at home, Harry doing the right thing, Caitlin defacing an ex's canvas portrait and Saffron tackling tricky sister Eloise.
I almost had tears in my eyes as I listened to Gemma's letter to Spencer, and as the book comes to a close I felt good about life and how things can work out for the best.
I really enjoy Lucy Diamond books and the narration is superb. Take a trip to Larkmead yourself and fall in love against a backdrop of English countryside and feel-good friendships.
Well done all round to author and narrator!

A lovely chick lit book, some light relief while I knitted the back of a jumper.
hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

What a wonderful feel-good book

3 women with completely different stories but come together beautifully. Such a feel good read!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the characters were great and the story was brilliant and believable, I read it in two days as I couldn't put it down.