Published: March 26, 2023
Pages: 351
It’s 1979 and Amanda Fernsby, nineteen and inexperienced, dreams of lasting love. She leaves London with her parents to start a new life in rural Sussex, moving into Marshywood, a charming, rustic cottage. Now, surrounded by nature, she is excited to begin her new life, but there are bumps in the road ahead.
What about Samantha, her closest friend, who she’s going to miss? And then, of course, there’s Mark, Sam’s gorgeous cousin, who, frustratingly, she’s only just met. Being miles apart, what chance do they have now? Will she find another job? And, perhaps Amanda’s biggest worry of all, does life in the countryside limit her opportunities for finding true love?
When Sam and Mark visit in the summer, a series of shocking events begin to unfold and Amanda finds herself on an emotional roller-coaster with all her hopes unravelling. What will the future hold for her now? Has her parents’ gamble to pursue the rural dream created more losers than winners, or will there still be a pathway to happiness?
Delve deep into the beauty of the natural world and get lost in the music and culture of days gone by in this refreshingly different and moving debut novel. Uplifting, real and straight from the heart, it will take you along an entertaining journey which has the potential to stay with you for years to come.
What about Samantha, her closest friend, who she’s going to miss? And then, of course, there’s Mark, Sam’s gorgeous cousin, who, frustratingly, she’s only just met. Being miles apart, what chance do they have now? Will she find another job? And, perhaps Amanda’s biggest worry of all, does life in the countryside limit her opportunities for finding true love?
When Sam and Mark visit in the summer, a series of shocking events begin to unfold and Amanda finds herself on an emotional roller-coaster with all her hopes unravelling. What will the future hold for her now? Has her parents’ gamble to pursue the rural dream created more losers than winners, or will there still be a pathway to happiness?
Delve deep into the beauty of the natural world and get lost in the music and culture of days gone by in this refreshingly different and moving debut novel. Uplifting, real and straight from the heart, it will take you along an entertaining journey which has the potential to stay with you for years to come.
I received an audiobook version of this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review.
This story had a bit of an Under the Tuscan Sun feeling to it, but only in the choosing slower rural life over the city rat race kind of way. Sadly, it didn't really transport me to the countryside like I had hoped it would.
I found myself getting annoyed by Amanda, and I'm not even really sure what exactly about her personality was rubbing me the wrong way, but I just did not like her at all. And realistically I should have related to her, but I really just wanted to smack her for most of the story.
The narration was fine, but the opposite gendered voices were a little lacking for me. They felt a bit like caricatures, and I hate that in an audiobook.
Overall I give A Year At Marshywood 2.0733 out of 5 stars. - Katie
Marina has been passionate about music and creative writing since childhood. British-born to Caribbean parents and a solicitor by profession, she left London to move to East Sussex several years ago and is now blessed to live at the foot of the beautiful South Downs National Park, where she enjoys nature and walks with her husband and three grown-up sons.
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