The reason I said your mileage may vary on this one is that some people, like Teddy and Arthur for example, might be a lot more forgiving of her behaviour than me. Teddy's story was less successful for me, in that he's a nepo baby who gets upset whenever anyone less privileged dares point out that he's benefiting unfairly from flagrant and overt nepotism, and also a terrible self-centred boyfriend. In fact, through its easy-to-read, relatable style and loveable lead characters, this story wears its heart loud and proud on its sleeve. They do not take it well (another point of contention I had, but I’ll come back to that a lot later).

Don't get me wrong, I loved the book, it's just that the story is sad, but also endearing and, at the same time, it makes you wonder why some people can't accept others the way they are. Anyway, most of this book is them individually and together fighting bigoted views in their hometown and finding (or refinding) love. This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Harlequin Australia. Madeline and Arthur’s relationship was especially beautiful and I loved how they’d been through so much together. In conclusion, this novel needs to check it's internalized homophobia, it's internalized misogyny, it's unlikable characters, and it's generally cliché-ridden writing.

Along with his coming-out journey (which inexplicably takes place mostly in the national media) there's also his grandson Teddy who ends up in a love triangle with his best friend and boyfriend.

It was quick and easy to read, I enjoyed that it portrayed the older generation as people who still aimed to live life to the fullest and I love the message that it is never too late to chase your desires and dreams. There were plenty of lovely moments in the story, along with ones that were realistic to the situation and not nearly as lovely.Then there's Elisabeth, who comes across like a caricature villain rather than a daughter who is struggling to deal with her father's news. But there are so many issues from that start, that I simply couldn't get beyond the first few chapters. At the end, our little nepo baby oh so magnanimously turns down the job at the newspaper so that Ben can have it! It feels very much like a queer book aimed at the masses that is trying to throw in so much that it doesn't do justice to any single issue and simply becomes almost like trauma porn. I’m not perfect, but I hope when I’m not here that the people I love will remember me for the good things and know I did my best for them.

Die Unterstützung, die er dabei von seiner (noch) Frau Madeleine erfährt und die Liebe, die die beiden einander entgegenbringen, hat mich teilweise zu Tränen gerührt. Which, anyone who's ever had to keep a household running knows that that's a full-time job even with the kids long out of the house, so when does this almost 80-year-old woman sleep? The multiple relationship threads running through the story come together beautifully at the end and the book is a joy to read from start to finish! You often see the male family members as antagonists in this genre, but that is absolutely not the case here. Covering around a year of their lives, it's full of interesting twists, characters that really pull you in, and a brilliantly crafted plot.Teddy, whines throughout, Ben is a pantomime villain, Shaquille (I listened to the book so don't know the spelling) was a sad-eyed, love-sick puppy on the sidelines and don't get me started on the rest of the homophobic locals who have a change of heart when it suits.

Without spoiling the plot, alongside the main narrative of coming to terms with sexuality, there are deeper issues such as mental health that are dealt with here in ways that might pull up readers in shock.Wir alle brauchen eine Madeleine in unserem Leben - eine Person, die immer zu uns hält und immer an uns glaubt, egal was kommt. Don’t miss brilliant fiction every week in the pages of My Weekly, plus reviews of the best new fiction book releases. There’s also brought up how Ben’s dickhead ex-boyfriend, who he’s also still friends with, refers to Teddy as a mummy’s boy and somehow this is another charge laid against Ben. In conclusion, by writing this review I have talked myself down from giving this book 2 stars, and now I’m rating it just the one. Love gives his protagonists insightful observations and wise words: Arthur tells Teddy “Life is full of sacrifices, Teddy.