Scan barcode
A review by beate251
Close Knit by Jenny Colgan
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
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? Yes
5.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this ARC.
I love Jenny Colgan's books and have read them for years, whether it's the early standalones, the series with the sad immigrant doctor on Mure or this book's predecessor, Summer Skies, which detailed pilot Morag's romance with ornithologist Gregor.
The action takes place in Carson, a small town near the sea in the north of Scotland, in the beautiful Highlands, described so vividly, that I, a content Londoner, immediately wanted to move there, for the views, the animals and the close-knit community.
Morag is still in this book quite a bit as new boss of Gertie Mooney, 30, naive daydreamer and knitting enthusiast who hates her old-fashioned name but finds much needed self-confidence with her new flat and new job at the airline as maternity cover for Nalitha. There are plenty of other lovable side characters like all the women from the Knitting Circle - or should I say Knitting Coven? There is mother Jean, grandmother Elspeth and Majabeen whose name immediately made me think of the German cartoon series Maya the Bee (die Biene Maja). I'm sure that's quite unintentional but you can't help your childhood heroes!
As love interests, we meet Calum Frost, rich owner of the airline, and Struan McGhie, dishevelled teacher and musician, and old flame of Gertie's.
Gertie's love language is knitting things for people - socks, sweaters, gloves, scarves, you name it. Unfortunately, it looks like not everyone appreciates the sentiment, and she has to be talked down the ledge when she behaves like a love-sick teenager.
This is a gentle, character-led story which bumbles along quite nicely until the daring mountain rescue in the snow that covered the last 30% of the book and meant I couldn't put the book down until everyone was safe, even silly Mrs McGinty. It was heart-warming to see Gertie find unexpected bravery when she hadn't even flown before!
Jenny Colgan's writing is so descriptive and evocative, I was shivering on my warm sofa while reading the snow storm scenes. I also learned a few new words, like stocious and bampot!
What I love is that Jenny Colgan never just concentrates on a couple of main characters - we meet the whole eccentric community to really round out what it's like living there.
As a small niggle, I have to object to the use of the word "stewardess". It is old-fashioned and generally no longer in use as it's been superseded by the more gender-neutral "flight attendant".
This is a funny, uplifting easy read that will steal your heart completely. I will always read everything Jenny Colgan writes as she has an effortless writing style that gives her wonderful characters enough space to shine while still making sure there is a plot.
"Love wasn’t about grand gestures and showing off; like stories or daydreams. Sometimes love was just about joy, and togetherness, and itself."
I love Jenny Colgan's books and have read them for years, whether it's the early standalones, the series with the sad immigrant doctor on Mure or this book's predecessor, Summer Skies, which detailed pilot Morag's romance with ornithologist Gregor.
The action takes place in Carson, a small town near the sea in the north of Scotland, in the beautiful Highlands, described so vividly, that I, a content Londoner, immediately wanted to move there, for the views, the animals and the close-knit community.
Morag is still in this book quite a bit as new boss of Gertie Mooney, 30, naive daydreamer and knitting enthusiast who hates her old-fashioned name but finds much needed self-confidence with her new flat and new job at the airline as maternity cover for Nalitha. There are plenty of other lovable side characters like all the women from the Knitting Circle - or should I say Knitting Coven? There is mother Jean, grandmother Elspeth and Majabeen whose name immediately made me think of the German cartoon series Maya the Bee (die Biene Maja). I'm sure that's quite unintentional but you can't help your childhood heroes!
As love interests, we meet Calum Frost, rich owner of the airline, and Struan McGhie, dishevelled teacher and musician, and old flame of Gertie's.
Gertie's love language is knitting things for people - socks, sweaters, gloves, scarves, you name it. Unfortunately, it looks like not everyone appreciates the sentiment, and she has to be talked down the ledge when she behaves like a love-sick teenager.
This is a gentle, character-led story which bumbles along quite nicely until the daring mountain rescue in the snow that covered the last 30% of the book and meant I couldn't put the book down until everyone was safe, even silly Mrs McGinty. It was heart-warming to see Gertie find unexpected bravery when she hadn't even flown before!
Jenny Colgan's writing is so descriptive and evocative, I was shivering on my warm sofa while reading the snow storm scenes. I also learned a few new words, like stocious and bampot!
What I love is that Jenny Colgan never just concentrates on a couple of main characters - we meet the whole eccentric community to really round out what it's like living there.
As a small niggle, I have to object to the use of the word "stewardess". It is old-fashioned and generally no longer in use as it's been superseded by the more gender-neutral "flight attendant".
This is a funny, uplifting easy read that will steal your heart completely. I will always read everything Jenny Colgan writes as she has an effortless writing style that gives her wonderful characters enough space to shine while still making sure there is a plot.
"Love wasn’t about grand gestures and showing off; like stories or daydreams. Sometimes love was just about joy, and togetherness, and itself."