What I read in May

Happiness for Beginners by Carole Matthews

The plot:

Molly Baker lives on a twenty five acre farm in Buckinghamshire. She runs the farm as well as an alternative school for kids who haven’t thrived in mainstream schools. She loves her work and making a difference to the students and lives a quiet life in her caravan.

When celebrity soap star Shelby Dacre arrives to enrol his son Molly is happy to help. But Lukas is mourning the loss of his mother and Molly has to work hard to get to the root of what is troubling him. She also doesn’t realise what a handsome distraction Shelby is. Could letting them into her life be a mistake or something unexpectedly good?

What I thought:

Carol Matthews writes lovely books that I’ve always enjoyed. Yes I guess the plot early on but her books are a downright fun and comforting form of escapism. This time to a beautiful farm brought to life with rescue animals that all have a story. Molly is a great character and you just want her to get her happily ever after.

My Goodreads rating: 4 stars

The Family Next Door by Sally Hepworth

The Plot:

When Isabelle moves into a house on Pleasant Court she instantly has the attention of the neighbours. Isabelle is single and child free and doesn’t fit the mould that most households in Pleasant Court do.

Essie, Fran and Ange are all married with children and feel unsettled with the arrival of the newcomer. Essie is intrigued, there is something familiar about this woman and she wants to know more.

Their new neighbour has an agenda of her own but has no idea of what secrets those around her are hiding. Ange doesn’t trust her husband, Fran is hiding something huge from hers and Essie once went to the park with her daughter and arrived home without her. Something she never talks about.

As the neighbours work hard on keeping their secrets hidden, it asks the question - do we ever really know the family next door?

What I thought:

This is the first book I’m reading by Sally Hepworth and I cannot wait to read more. I couldn’t put this book down. It was full of surprises that kept arriving with each chapter.

I didn’t guess the ending - that was a complete surprise! Absolutely briliant.

My Goodreads rating:

5 Stars - highly recommend!

Linking up with the fabulous Steph https://www.lifeaccordingtosteph.com/ and Jana http://janasays.com/ with Show Us Your Books.