I received a proof copy of this book in exchange for a review. Erica is one of my all time go to authors, one whom my mum used to love and one of the first adult authors I ever read. I feel I’ve been on a writing journey with Erica as her style developed through her earliest books into something quite special. Her latter books have been much grittier, quite heart wrenching at times (A Swallowtail Summer), but this story feels like a little lean towards Erica of old. It’s hard to put into words what this book really is. It’s kind of an observational study of a multigenerational family, managing life to the best of their ability at the time, reflecting back and forward as to how these strategies have and continue to affect their thought and decisions. In that way it’s quite slow paced, a gentle lumber through the countryside on a warm spring day; the odd cloud blowing up, but subsiding without too much of a chill. It’s really quite lovely to be in it for the ride. Not too intense but not too airy fairy. Just perfect. It covers some significant issues many of us face in life; relationship problems, infertility, pregnancy, step families etc. The last 20% turns a bit more gritty, you do feel a storm cloud on the horizon, so it’s predictable and requires nothing more than a rain Mac and a huddle with a loved one under a tree to weather it out. However, the story then gets a little contrived with a rather irritatingly simple solution that feels too easy. Think being stuck up to your neck in a mud bath and suddenly a digger appears out of nowhere and carries you away. That said a perfectly good read - it’s not the first or last book I’ve ever read where the author finds a convenient solution to the complex picture that’s been painted. Read it, I’m sure you too will enjoy the stroll 😍