Reluctantly Home

By: Imogen Clark

Narrated by: Karen Cass

From the bestselling author of Where the Story Starts comes a tale about dealing with the past - and finally facing the future.

Pip Appleby seems to have it all, with her prestigious job as a human rights lawyer and her enviable London home. But then a tragic accident stops her life in its tracks, and in an instant everything changes. Retreating to her family’s rural farm and the humble origins she has been trying to hide, Pip is haunted by what she has done.

When she discovers the diary of actress Evelyn Mountcastle in a box of old books, Pip revels in the opportunity to lose herself in someone else’s life rather than focus on the disaster that is her own. But soon she sees parallels - Evelyn’s life was also beset by tragedy, and, like Pip, she returned to Southwold under a dark cloud.

When Pip and Evelyn’s paths cross in real life they slowly begin to reveal the hidden stories that are holding them back. Can they help each other forgive what happened in the past and, perhaps, find happiness in the future?

©2021 by Blue Lizard Books Ltd. (P)2021 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

So enjoyed this story!

Wonderfully read and could relate on so many levels. I’ll be looking for more from this author.

A comfortable enjoyable book.

I Always enjoy books by this author! I Love the narrarators British accent as it puts the listener so in tune with the characters.

This was an unexpected feel-good story.

After a shocking beginning, Reluctantly Home turned an unthinkable tragedy into a warm, positive ending.

On her way to work, Rose had no idea a split-second decision by a child would completely change the trajectory of her life. Once a highly successful barrister in London, Rose lands back at home on the farm under her youthful name, Pip, while she starts to navigate personal healing, grief, and the knowledge that she took a life.

Evelyn, a 70-year-old recluse, hasn't left her house in over thirty years, not since the tragic death of her then 3-year-old daughter, Scarlet. Pregnant under sketchy circumstances, Evelyn didn't have the language or backing to point the finger and take control of her life. But when Pip unearths Evelyn's diary that was inadvertently handed over to a charity shop, the two women meet and learn life is too short to harbor misplaced guilt and unspoken truths.

Reluctantly Home covers a gambit of hard-hitting topics brought to the surface in a kind and gentle manner, leaving no one feeling more awful than when they started reading (which is a bonus). There are no ah-ha moments in Reluctantly Home and it will likely sit on the shelf and not be re-read, however, it is without a doubt worth a first read and you will be left feeling good about the outcome of many issues that began with an awful start. Very well written by Imogen Clark.

Life Goes On

Wonderful descriptive prose. Characters are nicely developed and fleshed out in the story. The cycle of life continues, regardless of the story line, proving the strength of people to eventually pick up where they left off.

Very Good

I really enjoyed this book,
healing and forgiveness in an unlikely friendship very good story