Storytime
THE GREEK ESCAPE by Karen Swan, Macmillan
Don’t be put off by the outrageous indulgences of the super wealthy that scatter the chapters of this millennial-age romance. Once we establish the role and credentials of its English-girl-in-New York protagonist, Chloe Marston, it settles down into the timeless appeal of a good love story, with a handsome hero who might not be as heroic as first thought, the reappearance of a hashe-mended-his-ways ex and caught-in-themiddle Chloe, who finds herself flitting between bustling Manhattan and the beautiful, laid-back Greek Islands, dodging relationship chemistry and manly magnetism as she goes about the work of being a concierge to her rich, powerful and seriously self-centred clients. Phew… nothing like an ordinary life here! A pretty cover, wonderful settings, likeable characters and a bit of mystery and underhand skulduggery will whisk you away on your own little escape from reality.
YOU, ME, EVERYTHING by Catherine Isaac, Simon & Schuster
If you’d spent eight hours in labour trying to contact the father of your child, who finally appeared covered in pink lipstick, smelling like a brewery, completely missing the birth of his son, it’s fair to assume you’d feel upset. Jess split up with her boyfriend Adam after exactly that scenario and for 10 years has been raising their son William on her own. But now she’s being pressured into spending summer with her ex. At the behest of her ailing mother and her son’s desire to get to know his dad better, she and William take the long trip from Manchester to Dordogne, France. Her former partner now owns a chateau he has turned into a resort and he’s invited them and some of Jess’ friends to visit. But will old hurts rear their ugly head or will the spark they once had be reignited? Certainly not if Adam’s young, blonde bombshell of a girlfriend has anything to do with it! This charming, tender novel draws you in, then flips what you’d think will happen on its head. Emotionally rewarding, it will tweak the heartstrings and remind you that joy can always be found, even if life doesn’t play fair.
THE PERFECT MOTHER by Aimee Molloy, Hachette
In an over-hot summer in Brooklyn, the May Mothers group of new mums meets regularly with their babies for friendship and support. They all agree being a new mum is hard work, so when it’s suggested they enjoy a girls’ night out together, they can see no harm in it. But the night has a devastating consequence, when Winnie’s baby son Midas is kidnapped. Convinced the police aren’t doing enough to find the baby, Winnie’s new-mum friends decide to investigate the case themselves. In doing so, they realise how little they actually know about each other and their former lives. As secrets are revealed and sleep deprivation takes its toll, we’re left wondering if little Midas will ever be found and whether the mums will collapse under the strain. While it’s sometimes hard to keep tabs on just what is happening, it’s worth sticking with, not only for its honest portrayal of new motherhood, but also for the unexpected concluding twist. With film rights already optioned, The Perfect Mother is due to follow the likes of genre-mate Gone Girl to the big screen.