Nina has to find the way to hold it together after losing her husband in a car accident. She finds that the perfect life she has lived for the past twenty years is not what she thought it was. This story is about a mother who finds her way back to herself. She also finds the strength to move on and provide for her sons.

The Art of Hiding, Amanda Prowse

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre:General fiction (adult), Women's Fiction

I love Amanda's way of telling stories, bringing everyday scenes to life, showing us Real people in Real situations. This story hit the spot once more. 

So, Nina's life isn't a real story for most, her situation is what many see as privileged, distant from the reality of money struggles most of us face. She's got a husband who adores her, runs his own successful business, two lovely healthy boys at private school, and a house most can only dream of.
But is her life really so perfect? When Finn dies suddenly it all comes crashing down, and all the things she thought were real prove false. Its a real picture of the old adage Money doesn't buy Happiness ( though I'm a great believer in that it does let you be miserable in comfort! Poverty doesn't equate with happiness either...) 

Faced with dealing with finding a home, job, school for the boys, sorting out finances, Nina slowly regains the sense of herself that had become lost in her marriage, where she'd tried so hard to please everyone that she'd forgotten who she was. 
I love her sister Tiggy, the way she's brash and yet practical, the way she's there for Nina even when Nina seems to have left her far behind in her new shiny perfect life. They really get back that sister closeness, and I enjoyed seeing how Tiggy helped the old Nina come back. 

The boys were pretty selfish to begin, but kids of that age often are. They do think life revolves around them, its only natural. When it all fell apart they reacted in very different ways, but it was clear how badly they both were hurting.
The other parents, their schoolfriends and their old school, the neighbour - its true you really find who your friends are when you need help. They were so horrible, and forced Nina to look at what she had considered priorities when she was in their situation.
 
Its another great read, very real, very thought provoking. It could have been a very grim read, and yet its not, its full of tiny light spots that lift it, a real rainbows from rain story. ( much nicer than lemons/lemonade)
I don't do the book club thing, I like to read for me, enjoy a book and move on, but I can see this is a perfect read for clubs, with themes that will have people reacting differently and give lots to talk about. 

Stars: five, a great read, giving lots to think over after. 

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

Lovely, emotional, and thought provoking. It's a bit of a riches to rags (well, not quite rags) story. The main character is very hard to identify with at times, but I still found myself rooting for her. The older child was quite bratty throughout most of the book. They're all going through something awful, but there were times I wished Nina would call him out on his selfishness! The disrespect he showed her bothered me, but he evolves during the story along with the rest of the characters.

Nina lives a bit of a sheltered life. Her husband works, she stays home. She is responsible for taking the kids to and from school. She doesn't have any real friends. Her life completely revolves around her family and her home... and what an impressive home that is! Her husband has been very successful, and they've never wanted for money. When she needed it, it was given to her. They never discussed finances or business, she didn't pay any bills or know the passwords to the accounts or computers. That is eventually her downfall.

When husband Finn dies suddenly in a car accident, the family is bereft. They have no time to grieve before the rug is pulled out from underneath them... literally. The business was down the tubes, and Finn had borrowed heavily to try to keep it afloat. They all must say goodbye to the fancy school the boys have attended since they were old enough, the immense house, the car, the extravagant furnishings and appliances... everything. Nina is left with practically nothing but a debt of over eight million pounds.

In recent years Nina barely saw her big sister Tiggy, but the woman still rushes to her side when she hears of the terrible news, offering help. Nina brushes it off, but soon realizes she actually does need someone to lean on. Tiggy doesn't have money to give, but she's willing to help in any way she can. Nina moves her boys back to the town she grew up in. Nina knows poverty, as she lived through it in the beginning of her life, before Finn swept her away. Her boys don't, and they are dismayed. Nina too has her world rocked, never thinking she would return to this kind of life.

Nina scrambles to find a job to pay the rent for their tiny little apartment and keep food on the table, often sacrificing her own meals so her boys can have full stomachs. She just sees this as a means to an end, hoping to pull herself back up into her old world eventually. With help from Tiggy, she might start to see things in a new light.

I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Lake Union Publishing, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.

The Art of Hiding is a fascinating story about a family which is torn apart by a death, a family starting over and discovering what is most important in life. Nina lives in a spacious, beautiful home, her sons attend an exclusive private school, her husband is a successful businessman; until one day it all comes crashing down. How will they move on when it appears that everything they had is now lost? This book is filled with interesting characters and a compelling story of love, loss, and resilience.

A very sweet story about a family having to adapt and rebuild their lives in the wake of loss. Nina is a great example of resilience and doing what you have to do despite the odds stacked against you.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book is very well written. It is thought provoking, but I found it to be too slow for my taste

Description

Nina’s husband, Finn, dies in a car crash. Nina is devastated at this sudden loss but thinks that having to tell Connor and Declan, their two sons, that their father is dead will be the hardest thing she will ever have to do….

And then Nina’s world really comes crashing down around her. Finn has gone but his business was bankrupt, he had mortgaged their home and stopped paying the school fees. There was £8 million of debt and Nine hadn’t a clue.

Finn had always dealt with their finances, had encouraged her to give up on having a career, discouraged her from getting too close to others because, after all, they were enough for each other – their happy, idyllic family. now it had allcome tumbling down and the one person she needed was dead and, perhaps, even the cause of all this pain.

Review

Nina finds herself without a home, no money, no job, no skills she is in mourning and floundering. She and the boys are grieving, in shock, devastated, confused, angry and still clinging on to Finn as they knew him, or thought they did. Tiggy, her sister, reaches out. Tiggy is a terrific character in the book. With her support Nina starts to sort her and the boys lives out. There is quite a bit of guilt from Nina and frankly a lot of readers will agree – she had lived in a cocooned world of luxury giving little heed to the realities of life. Perhaps the angst is a bit overdone at times. Nevertheless, Nina needs to pull herself together and build a new life for her, Connor and Declan. Indeed had she really had a happy life with Finn, was it as perfect as she had thought?

This is a well written story of loss, what really matters in life and rebuilding lives from heartbreak and devastation. I would certainly recommend this book.

Rating: 4*

Information

I would like to thank Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for a pre-approved copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Amanda Prowse has written another great book showing a woman's battle to stay afloat and sane after some life changing events. Although her main character has flaws, the author expertly deals with them without being over sintimental or unrealistic.
The initial feeling of regret that she has by having to change her life, is replaced by a new positive attitude. I admit I shed a tear at the end few pages as I have had a similar scenario with my own son. Loved this book and will look for more from her.

The Art of Hiding is about a young woman who is married with two children. Her husband dies suddenly and their lives are forever torn apart. She must now survive by relying upon her childhood poverty education.
Overall the book was good, but I felt that it lacked substance. Mostly it was all fluff...poor me, I was poor, married rich, and now I am poor again. It was also pretty cliched with the poor life is sooo much better than being rich.
The characters were cookie cutter and I felt they were too contrived.
I kept expecting the book to get better....it never did.

There is much to take away from this story. It is a story about a very fortunate and financially comfortable family that looses their financial provider. In addition to loosing the husband and father they love, there are additional reasons the family is plummeted into financial ruin. Engulfed in grief for the loss of their loved one, loss of their home, school and everything comfortable, they begin to rebuild and heal.

So many times I've heard the verse "the UHaul doesn't follow the hearse" and in this story we get to contemplate just that. What's really important and how much do we really need? These question often require a lot of soul searching, when living in a material culture where the haves and have nots are so divided.

This book took me back to an experience in my own life. After the loss of my husband, I was driving with my nine year old in the back seat of the car and overheard her gossiping to her little friend about what one of their classmates was wearing at school. We lived in northern California at the time. That year I made the decision to relocate us to NH where I felt the quality of life was better and simpler. Where kids wore sweats to school without any peer criticism. At the time children respectfully addressed their friends parents with the title of Mr. and Mrs. and children could go out and play and be kids without the pressure of the haves and have nots. A complete opposite lifestyle than what Northern California was offering.

Women tend to be caretakers in general and can lose themselves in this responsibility. Having a good balance provides stability and happiness for the soul as Nina discovers.

Excellent read.

Imagine having very little while growing up but finding your way into a nice life with nice things. A nice house in which you cook meals for your husband and your toughest choice of the day is your choice of tea, a nice private school to take your beautiful kids to in an equally nice car. Imagine suburbia heaven was your dream and you got it, until it turned into a nightmare.

When a tragic accident kills Nina’s husband Nina is not only left to support her two sons and pick up the pieces of her broker heart, but also to patch back together a semblance of a life after she learns her husband left his family in financial ruin and forcing her to go back to a life and people she had long ago left behind.

I'll be really honest. This is not what I was expecting nor is it in my regular kind of romance. I'm not even sure how it came up as a recommendation. That said, I liked the cover and summary, I also like the feeling of jumping into a book with some unknown aspect and then being pleasantly surprised. The Art of Hiding certainly achieved that as it is a beautiful tale of loss and self-discovery. It is heartbreaking, yet uplifting and thought provoking.

Nina has to live through the stages of grief, face adversity and make tough choices. It’s an emotional rollercoaster, a journey that requires strength and courage not just on Nina’s part but her sons as well. The story is well written and powerful in the fact that it rings very real and true and I found it to be very engaging because of it.

I seldom include personal tidbits in my reviews, but this one merits it. I’m a minimalist to the core. “Things” don’t appeal to me. I would much rather spend my valuable time celebrating a friend’s birthday by inviting them to dinner than giving them something they’ll likely never use. But this is not the norm and I’ve found the most people focus on “things”. This book addresses the importance of friends and family above material belongings.

The Art of Hiding by Amanda Prowse

I have seen this author's other books for quite some time. That made me curious to give Amanda Prowse's "The Art of Hiding," a try. I am so glad I did experience first hand the storytelling of this amazing novel. What gives us the right to keep our loved ones in the dark of life altering misfortune perpetrated by our own hands? Are we really protecting them or ourselves? The premise of this novel begs the question of is it pure selfishness that drives us to keep secrets from the ones that depend on us most for their well being?

Nina grew up in poverty and marries into money, privilege, and is living the life dreams are made of. Her two beloved son's have attended a posh, expensive private school since they were both three years old. One ordinary day Nina is waiting for her husband Finn to join her watching their eldest son compete, when she receives the phone call we all dread. Life as she knows it will never be the same for her and her two son's.

I really enjoyed this novel. The more I read the more I got pulled into this very realistic fall from grace. I loved the way Nina tried to shield and protect her two son's. Imagine being married with the very best life has to offer only to have the rug pulled out from under you. Do we truly ever know everything there is to know about our spouses? Sometimes we marry and put all of our trust and faith into our doting husband's and in Nina's case are unable to stop the fallout that visits us at the least expected times. Hopefully we can dig deep within ourselves to find redemption and rebuild our lives especially our children's lives as well.

Nina discovers that material things don't matter nearly as much as their cracked up to be. Protecting her son's she returns to the town where she grew up to start life anew. Leaving her beautiful home behind and starting fresh there is much rebuilding to do. Leaving behind a life of splendor her boy's view Nina's origins as abject horror. Will Nina and her two son's learn that all that glittered doesn't always equate with all that does not shine?

I was offered this digital copy from Net Galley, Amanda Prowse and Lake Union Publishers in exchange for a fair and honest review. Many Thanks to all for an inspirational reading experience

Publication Date: August 22, 2017.

This was a very compelling read ,a story of rags to riches and rags again .Nina finds out when her husband is killed in a car accident that her life is not what it seemed ,she is no longer rich and has to leave her mansion and most of her belongings behind and move back to the town of her youth .She has to struggle to survive with her two boys with the help of her sister .I found the book an emotional and uplifting story about love and loss and the real meaning of happiness.

Nina is your typical soccer mom in which tragedy strikes. The book was okay and the author has a way with words. There was just something missing from the book.

This is one of the best reads this year. The main character Nina and her family take you on a rollercoaster of emotions. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

I was looking forward to reading this, I love getting stuck in with a new author for me. I really wasn't sure what to expect having not read any of her previous works.
​The writing is great, it's very well done and put together. I just had one niggle through the book.
​Nina. At times I felt for her, I could have opened my arms and given her a great big cuddle, and then as the book went on, by god she grated on me. Once or twice I could have happily given her a slap. But saying that, her life did change dramatically and it was interesting to see how she and her family coped. 
​Once past my dislike for her I began to really enjoy the book again. I guess for an author to have you feeling so strongly about a character, then they have done their job brilliantly.
​Nina, Connor and Declan really do go on a journey of discovery. Learning a whole new life after the tragic loss of Finn, Husband and Father.
I finished the book feeling proud of how everyone had changed. I especially liked Tiggy, she was a real Character. 
​This book really does make you think how different life could be, how things can change so quickly.
​It's safe to say I will read more from this author.

I guess I"m one of the few readers who isn't a fan of Amanda Prowse's work.. I found the characters to be flat and unoriginal, while the plot was extremely stereotypical, The opening chapters were quite dull and predictable, which made it a challenge for me to care about the protagonist and her grief-stricken sons.
I won't be posting a review online, since I was not interested in finishing the novel. Thank you for the opportunity.

Beautifully written. I laughed and I cried. When Nina loses her husband she realises that he had been keeping secrets. They were in substantial financial difficulty. Her life changes dramatically. This story is about love and finding the inner strength to survive and thrive when you have to. Amanda Prowse always writes beautifully. She has a wonderful talent for bringing characters to life. She brilliantly illustrates that money does not necessarily bring happiness. She creates characters you can empathise with and writes books that are memorable.

This story, just wow! Talk about emotional and making you FEEL with every fiber of your being.

The Art if Hiding is real life and it hits you hard. It makes you take a look at your own life, at yourself. It’s about loss, pain, grief, and healing. It’s about finding yourself, about strength, courage, hope, and love. It gives you perspective and appreciation. It’s humble, it’s raw, it’s beautiful.

Nina’s strength and courage is the rock and strength her son’s Connor and Declan needed. To see the growth of this family from the many hurdles they faced was heartwarming and beautiful. I smiled, I cried, I hoped. I was inspired.

The writing is so gripping that I felt as though I was living this story. It is so incredibly real and raw and my heart bled.

Another incredibly touching, heartfelt story by Amanda Prowse that completely swept me away!

The Art of Hiding is an intense story about love, loss, wealth, poverty and happiness. Nobody knows what's waiting around the corner.

Nina was taken from a life of poverty, into a life of luxury when she married Finn. They have two sons, Connor and Declan, who attend the best school that money can buy. Nina looks after their home and the kids. Finn makes sure that she doesn't have anything to worry about, until one fateful afternoon when her life is turned upside down.

When Nina learns about her husband's accident, she can’t imagine how she is going to cope. Her grief and that of her sons are more than she can bear. Then she learns that her life isn't what she had imagined. Her husband had mastered the art of hiding! She begins to wonder if she really knew him. The family is now facing the worse situation. They have nothing left. Nina has never worked and she has to find a way of keeping a roof over their heads and keep them fed.

Her sister, Tiggy comes up with a solution. Going back to her roots, living in a council house in a deprived area. From one extreme to the other. She has to find a way for them to somehow survive. Declan is fairly flexible, but Connor is resentful and bitter. Can Nina find a way to survive and keep her sons happy?

Despite her lack of experience, Nina shows her resilience and determination. She learns how to make ends meet whilst keeping the family as comfortable as possible. The most difficult and upsetting part of this story. Her tolerance and acceptance are applaudable. The gradual changes in Connor are refreshing. It shows that nothing can be taken for granted and adapting to new situations is not easy, but making the most of what's available is worth it. It's a potent and exceptionally well portrayed novel with some strong messages. Wealth doesn't always equate happiness, but money is a necessity of daily living. Highly recommended.

I was kindly issued with an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley and the views expressed are my personal opinion.