Very thought provoking read . I was drawn into Rachael's heart and felt every thought and emotion she went through .

Another amazing book by Amanda Prowse. All about love, loss and moving forward. Beautifully written and tear jerking. Loved it

I had never heard of this author before but the description of the book was intriguing.
I am so glad I read it. It is an amazingly sad and joyful book - at the same time.
It is not to be missed!

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I did the ugly cry through the entire book. Between Rachel and Cee Cee it was too much. Brilliantly and beautifully written. This is a powerful story of love, loss, and moving forward. A great read.

I always know that when I read an Amanda Prowse book, I need to have the tissues on standby and this book was no exception.

It is the story of Rachel and James and the unexpected loss of their little boy, Oscar, and how they make their way through the dark days that follow this incredible loss. At first, I wondered how this was all going to end up, and I was feeling pretty low myself, but bit by bit, just like Rachel, I started to feel better.

Cee-Cee is the housekeeper of Rachel and James' big, beautiful house in Bermuda. She becomes a substitute grandma to Oscar and she feels the loss of him keenly. She, however, has a beautiful way of looking at the world that ends up being so incredibly beneficial to both Rachel and James.

I love how this story is told from the points of view of Rachel and Cee-Cee. Both of them women who have been through a terrible loss, but women who seemingly have nothing much else in common. I thought Cee-Cee was wonderful and she was such a pivotal character in the book.

This story was truly beautiful and I highly recommend it.

5 stars from me.

The Coordinates of Loss by Amanda Prowse
Oscar her seven year old son, not in his bed, nor anywhere she looked on the boat, she stood still as though frozen. There lives now changed. To leave the water, the boat, seemed so wrong, to go home, and Cee-Cee, nodded he wasn’t there either. She was more than a house keeper, she was the glue that held the family together, with their busy life style. She was always there and teasing Oscar, especially for breakfast. How does one gone on, the hurt, the struggle. What they had known, and taken for granted would not be. Even for the two of them, words, feeling seemed almost barren . Powerful look at Loss, the author did a good job and will linger with the reader. Given ARC for my
voluntary review and my honest opinion by Net Galley and Amazon UK.

This author is on my top ten list and this book, like many of her others, is simply stunning! A story of loss, grief, guilt, but ultimately of forgiveness and love. Rachel and James live an idyllic life in Bermuda with their adored 7 year old son, Oscar. One day, while they were out on their boat, Oscar disappeared. Rachel went to his room to wake him in the morning and he was simply gone. The story that follows is gut-wrenching but so beautifully written that I felt I was there grieving with Rachel and James. This book is not to be missed!

This review may read more like a warning, and I suppose,in a way, it is.

I knew I was torturing myself needlessly when I requested the book from NetGalley. It was obviously going to be based around someone's death. As it is less than five months since my husband died suddenly I am grieving; only just managing to speak to people without crying.

I have to assume that the author has experienced great loss. You can't just make up what she has written. It is heartfelt and soul shredding. The beautiful descriptive passages about Bermuda do nothing to make what happens any less horrible.

I cried. I wept and at times my own grief took over and I wailed in anger about the injustices that fall on too many good people.

Having Cee Cee's story unravel through the book is genius, as is the journey back to Bristol with its petty jealousies and parents who struggle to communicate.

There are many trigger points in this book. If you feel fragile leave it for another day. If, like me, you find that crying can be cathartic there is no better book around at this time.

Although this book dealt with the feelings involved in the death of a loved one, it was far too contrived for me - how everything 'worked out' when Rachel went back to England. It seemed to make light of loss.
The other thing was I expected something to happen throughout the book, and I really thought we would either find out Oscar had been taken or his body would be found. The fact it was left up in the air and we never found out what happened made the book feel unfinished. There was one part where Rachel had Oscars toy with her, but at the same time Cece found it down the side of the bed in Bermuda - nothing more was ever made of this and my mind was running wild with 'James said he has forgotten Mr. Bob on the boat' and 'why is Mr. Bob in two places at once? Did James buy two of them? Or three?Is it something to do with him?' but once again, nothing.
All in all, not the book for me. It felt unfinished, boring and lengthy whilst skimming over the 2 months of terrible grief, which happened in about a sentence.

This is such a beautifully written book, one that will stay with me for a long time I think. I felt like I was really able to get into the mind of Rachel, and even feel what she was feeling. Such a sad story, but hopeful too.

They seemed to have the perfect life until the event that turned their lives upside down, and it think it allowed them to see what was really important. And I loved the relationship with CeCe.

Again, just beautifully written.

This hauntingly painful and beautiful story deals with the loss of a child and the road to recovery. James and Rachel lose their seven-year-old on an overnight trip on their boat and the consequences and sadness while reading it are palpable. It's a very interesting book one that I think anyone with a heart would enjoy reading. Thank you, Amanda Prowse, for such a powerful story.

Be prepared to have your heart broken as you take the journey with Rachel and James as they struggle with loss of their 7 year old son Oscar. Can they ever find happiness again?
This was a heart wrenching story. It brings to life disbelief, guilt, blame, grief so raw I could feel it as I read.
As a mother and grandmother I had a hard time reading the story. I couldn't imagine how I would deal with losing a child and never know what happened to them. I loved Cee-Cee and her letters had me crying as I read them. Make sure you have tissues as you read because tears will flow.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.

When Rachel Croft wakes up on her family’s boat in Bermuda, it’s to sunshine and yet another perfect day…until she goes to wake her seven-year-old son, Oscar. Because the worst thing imaginable has happened. He isn’t there.

In the dark and desperate days that follow, Rachel struggles to navigate her grief. And while her husband, James, wants them to face the tragedy together, Rachel feels that the life they once shared is over.

This is a 'classic' Amanda Prowse book that takes the reader and drags them so deeply into the book that you end up convinced you are actually living the story.

I feel that this had the depth and emotion that we have come to expect from Amanda and is yet another 5* read from her.

#The Coordinates of Loss# NetGalley #

I was given an advance copy of this book from NetGalley for a fair and honest review.

This is the first book I have read by this author and it won’t be the last. I absolutely loved this book. It is happy and sad all at the same time. I can only imagine how losing a child would totally devastate a family. The process of mourning a loss of this kind was very well depicted, the ups and downs. To be separated from your husband at the very time when he is needed the most is hard. And the struggle Rachel had in coming to believe that our God is merciful and loving and provides a heavenly home for all seemed to take her a long time to accept.. She had many of life’s lessons along the way in her healing. I was anxious to find out how the author was going to end the book. I’m happy it ended as I wanted. This is an easy read and I finished it in one sitting. There were some grammar and spelling errors, but am certain they will be taken care of before publication.

I felt that the book was repetitive and I found myself skimming. This book just didn’t work for me.

I’ve read quite a few books by Amanda Prowse and am happy to say, having finished this one, I still can’t say I’ve been disappointed by any of her stories. This one was very touching; in brief, a story of two women who both lost a young child and their subsequent heartache. Heartstrings tugged at once again. With thanks to NetGalley, publisher and author for the opportunity to review a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

OMG.......This book "The Coordinates of Loss" by Amanda Prowse should come with a Warning message!!!!!
So make sure you have a Big box of tissues handy as you will so need them.

I have read many books by Amanda Prowse but this book is just beautifully written throughout and will make sit back and think of what you have read and what would you do if you lost a child.

Rachel and James Croft wake up on their family boat whilst in Bermuda. Its another beautiful day with the sun shining. Rachel goes and wake up her seven year old son called Oscar. The worst thing imaginable Oscar isn't there!
This book is very powerful throughout and tells of the struggle and grief of the loss of their son Oscar. You can feel for Rachel and James and my heart went out to them throughout this book.

This is a brilliant read but remember tissues and your mascara will run!!!! So be warned!

I would like to thank NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and the Amanda Prowse for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
So Big 5 stars for this beautifully written book xx

The Coordinates of Loss maps the painful journeys of James and Rachel Croft, and their housekeeper, Cee Cee, after the tragic disappearance of the Croft’s son, Oscar, from their boat offshore Bermuda.

Before the event that changed their lives forever, James, Rachel, Oscar, and Cee Cee, who loved Oscar as though he were her own, seemed charmed. Perfect. But all of that washed out to see when Oscar disappeared, never to be found again.

This story chronicles the agony that is grief, and the ways we try to go about recovering who we are when an essential part of us is gone. I know recent grief, not of a child, but of a friend of 51 years, and I cannot imagine a better way to describe the whirlwind of feelings, the desire to crawl into bed and never get out, and the way we start to heal than this beautifully crafted book.

Thank you to Amanda Prowse, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this magnificent book.

Yet again, Amanda Prowse doesn’t disappoint. This book was fantastic from start to finish. The storyline drew me in straight away, I couldn’t wait to pick the book up, even though I knew I’d be reading it with tears in my eyes. Highly recommended.

Coordinates of loss

The story starts with the MC and her husband suffering one of the most painful tragedies one could imagine. The first 1/4 of the book is painful and raw and is in some parts, difficult to read.

The rest of the book is about dealing with loss, recovery from the lowest ebbs of grief, starting again and the support structure that enables us to do so.

The story emphasises the power of talking about personal tragedy and the power empathy can have in such circumstances.

The subject matter is handled delicately and is truly realistic. Despite the awful event at the start, there is still a lot of warmth to be found and positive take-aways. The pace is on the slower side, which conveys the process of overcoming tragedy but I did feel at times there wasn’t always enough to grip me in the later chapters of the book.

Thank you to Amazon / Lake Union Publishing, NetGalley and the author for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.