Yet again Amanda Prowse has reduced me to tears whilst reading a book. She is the one and only author that has managed to do this and she does it so well.

Although an absolutely heartbreaking story this is an emotional ride that you will not want to stop. Rachel, James and Oscar have a fantastic life in ‘Paradise’ but that all changes when one morning Rachel and James wake up to find Oscar has gone, presumed drowned, from their boat. We then follow Rachel and James to see how their lives change and how they manage to cope with just getting up every day and carrying on without their beloved son.

I absolutely found myself consumed by the story and loved Rachel and James, as well as their loyal housemaid, CeCe, who has gone through her own heartache.

This really is a powerful and emotional read that you will not be able to put down, even when the tears are streaming. I read this in one day and everything else was put on hold, I just couldn’t stop reading and I just had to know how things turned out in the end.

I have read many of Amanda’s novels and have loved them all, this one included. Emotions run high and if you are anything like me tears will be shed but it is definitely a book that will remain with me and I am so pleased that I read it.

Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

Wow. What a book. I have read several of Amanda Prowse’s previous novels and loved them for the serious topics and the way she handles them with insight and sensitivity and ends up with a fantastic novel. However this book really takes it up a level. This is the story of unbearable grief. Reading it, I felt like I was experiencing it first hand and there were times when I had to put it down because it hurt too much to read. There were times when I had to pause reading so I could go check on my children when they were sleeping. I probably got through a box of tissues whilst reading this and my husband shook his head at me wondering why I continued. But he doesn’t understand that reading a book that can touch you and affect you so deeply is really a joy to read. Thank you for a brilliant book, Amanda. Highly recommended

It took a lot for me to finish this book.

Rachel Croft, is happily married, and lives a blissful life with husband James. This all comes crashing down when they lose their 7-year-old son Oscar in a boating accident. The rest of this book is about Rachel's grief and eventual healing.

I felt like I was expected to be moved to tears or to feel the grief that Rachel did. It wasn't there for me. Something felt hollow.

I'm sure some people will enjoy this, but this isn't for me.

Thanks to netGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Another fabulous read from Amanda. None of her books have ever disappointed and are always unputdownable. I am always waiting with baited breath for the next!

2.5 stars

This is the second book I’ve read by Amanda Prowse and just like the one I read last year (The Idea of You), I struggled with getting through this and once again, very nearly DNF’ed it. I’m not sure what it is, but I find it hard to connect with this author’s books, even though the subject matter she writes about are things that women in my age group are usually able to identify with. In this, her newest book, the main character is Rachel Croft, whose happily married, blissful life with husband James comes crashing down when they lose their 7-year-old son Oscar in a boating accident – this happens within the first few pages of the book and from there, the entire rest of the story (300+ pages) is about how Rachel attempts to deal with her grief and eventually embarks on a path to healing after reading letters of encouragement from her housekeeper Cee Cee. That is basically the entire plot (no, I am not exaggerating – I’m struggling with finding things to write about the plot because literally nothing much else happens)…

Given the subject matter, I was expecting an emotional, heart-wrenching story, one that would move me emotionally and even make me shed a tear or two…but that didn’t happen. In fact, I found it difficult to get into the story at all and after the first chapter, my attention already started to wane – about a quarter into it, I felt the urge to skim and by the halfway mark, I was in full-on “speed-skim” mode….by the time I got to the end, I was relieved that I FINALLY finished the book. The biggest issue for me (which was actually the same issue I had with this author’s previous book) is that the story dragged way too much – over the course of the first 150 pages or so, page after page was of Rachel either 1) repeatedly denying that her son had died and trying to justify her theories about her son’s whereabouts in every way possible, or 2) constantly arguing with and resenting her husband. The second half of the book was basically of Rachel’s healing process and eventually coming to terms with her son’s death. Now don’t get me wrong – I have no problems with the subject matter being heavy and yes, I do understand that the slowness of the plot was perhaps intentional in order to mirror the real life process of grieving and healing that occurs when we lose a loved one, but for me, the execution was too drawn out, to the point that I felt it diminished the significance of the story. While the writing was good overall, there were parts that were tremendously wordy -- also, the dialogue was repetitive in that every conversation felt drawn out for the purposes of justifying and explaining Rachel’s every thought, feeling, action, etc. Perhaps the purpose of writing the character this way was to make us as the readers feel sorry for Rachel and sympathize with her struggle – I hate to say it but for me, it had the opposite effect in that I grew increasingly irritated with her character as the story wore on. I honestly feel like the story would have been better told if it had been several hundred pages shorter, with tighter writing and less repetition.

Reading this book confirmed for me that, plain and simple, this author’s works just aren’t my cup of tea. I will give her future works a pass going forward but since mine is the lone negative review amongst the dozens of positive ones, I would once again recommend checking out the other reviews for a more balanced perspective. This one clearly didn’t work for me, but perhaps it will for others.

Received ARC from Lake Union Publishing via NetGalley.

Full post visible on my blog Facing the Story

I decided to read this book after finishing Anna by Amanda Prowse which I really enjoyed. Needless to say, it didn't disappoint. She chose a very complex subject matter and explored it through Rachel and James' relationship after their son Oscar disappears at sea. Grief is a particularly difficult topic to discuss which I believe she handled well with a lot of carefully chosen words and phrases. Most notable of all were the different stages of loss that Rachel struggled through which I felt were especially well documented through the first person narrative.

Character development plays an important part in books written in this style and I must say that we saw all characters grow through expressing their thoughts and reflecting on the past. Cee-Cee was a very pleasant character, often driving the plot forwards and supporting Rachel with the healing process. Her empathy and kindness is so comforting and she quickly became my favourite character.

The Coordinates of Loss is an emotional and poignant book, perfect for readers who are after a true to life story and are keen on exploring family dynamics. However, it should also be noted that this book lacks a fast-paced plot and does not provide any relief until the very end, which is something I believe many readers may also be looking for.

Amanda Prowse's book drops you into the middle of any parents' worst nightmare. Rachel Croft went to wake their seven year old son, Oscar, up one morning to discover he is not in his bunk. And the Croft family was on a yacht so there aren't many places Oscar could be. Oscar is gone.
The narrative alternates between Rachel, who is drowning in her grief and confusion and Cee-Cee, their housekeeper, who has walked a similar path, who reaches out to Rachel via a series of letters. In doing so both women come closer to healing and a measure of understanding.
The various reactions of other's to Rachel's reality is interesting. Her brother is rather insensitive to the situation, whilst her sister-in-law is just plain uncomfortable. Her parents, her mom trying to act normal but feeling anxious and useless; her dad using routine to comfort both himself and Rachel. Her friends, Vicky and Gino, with their honesty and steady understanding support.
And in the middle of it - Rachel and James's marriage. Everything has changed - nothing was the same since Oscar died. Can they save themselves and their marriage? Do they want to?
A beautifully written book, the words carry you from sunny Bermuda to gloomy Bristol and in between it all, Cee-Cee's story is interwoven with Rachel's.

This is a book about death, loss, grief, survival, and life. It is full of emotion, perhaps too full. The horror of the situation Rachel and James find themselves in, and the struggle to cope is very well told but very little happens in this book, making it feel too long, too unrelenting, which is of course how it must feel to experience the loss of a child. However as a book it is wearying, and the build up of sympathy, and empathy dissipates by the end which is a long time coming. The character of Cee Cee presents us with a an alternate view, as do Rachel's exquisitely normal parents, but nothing breaks the all pervading grief. For me Rachel is unremittingly self-absorbed, and difficult to like. and James' grief is sidelined and diminished by the focus on his wife's emotional turmoil.
I usually like this author, and I can't fault her ability to get right to the heart and soul of a difficult situation. This isn't her best.

Rachel and James are successful , blissfully happy and wealthy and living the life of luxury in Bermuda, when ironically their son Oscar goes missing overnight from their private boat.
Now, Amanda Prowse is the only author to have ever made me cry whilst reading her book Will you remember me and whilst this book didn’t open the floodgates I have to admit to a tear or two. This authors knows exactly what strings to pull and writes about subjects that women everywhere can relate to .
My favourite character was the gorgeous Cee Cee , their housekeeper who is no stranger to loss and the introduction of Oscar in to her life helps some way towards overcoming this loss until he too is cruelly torn away from her.
Cee Cee has found a place within this family and is determined to help Rachel and James move on and pours her heart out in a series of letters detailing her own tragic past.
The loss of a child very often contributes to the breakdown of a previously happy marriage and for this couple too , it’s not an easy path.
Thank you to Amanda Prowse for another brilliant read which has really brought back my reading mojo following a miserable drought

To lose a child must be the most heartbreaking event to happen to anyone but to not know their fate is beyond comprehension. The story is predominantly about Rachel and James and how their life spirals out of control when they lose their beloved son Oscar at the tender age of seven. There is also another sad story that is told in letters to Rachel from their housekeeper Cee Cee who also loved Oscar dearly but also had to live with betrayal and a tragic loss of her own. The story is told sensitively but it was almost too sad to read and left me feeling bereft.

I read this book with tears streaming down my face. What an emotional rollercoaster. This is a tale of the loss of a dearly beloved child and the ensuing emotions that follow, grief,despair and ultimately grief.

The descriptions of Bermuda and Bristol were atmospheric and beautifully written. I loved the character of Cee-Cee and cried throughout the letters she wrote. There is nothing sugary sweet about the raw emotions shown by each person in this book and the different ways they deal with the grief. The author has written a beautiful story that will stay with me for a long time.

This is a story packed full of emotion exploring the sadness and heartbreak of losing a child. Rachel is comforted by letters from her housekeeper Ce- Ce. This unique relationship helps Rachel to slowly heal and begin to recover. The book is beautifully written and you really feel for the characters. Hope is offered at the end and you really feel Rachel's journey. Packed with an emotional punch. Be prepared to cry! Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me review this book.

Amanda Prowse writes from the heart, and has a way of getting right into your soul with her writing. Losing a child is the cruelest and most devastating trauma a person can go through. This tale is one of exactly that, a couple dealing with the tragedy and loss of their young child, it will tug at your heart, it will leave you feeling emotionally drained.
Coordinates of loss is breathtaking, raw, heartbreaking, emotional and it is beautifully written, don’t forget the tissues.

An immensely readable, tear-jerking tale that I raced through. This is the first Amanda Prowse book I’ve read and I really enjoyed it. It tracks the grief of a young couple living in Bermuda who struggle to cope after their seven-year-old son Oscar dies. While at times the book was harrowing, it was never overwhelming, thanks to the kindness and generosity of the couple's housekeeper, Cee Cee, who lifts on the page. As the couple’s relationship starts to disintegrate, the boundaries between the wealthy employers and their housekeeper blur. At first it seems that Rachel and James will buckle beneath their terrible burden of grief and guilt, but I’d urge you to hold out for the uplifting ending. An intelligent and considered quick read.

I haven't read a book that has brought tears to my eyes so many times. A truly heatbreaking storyline following both a Mother and Father and their elderly housekeepr following the tragic death of their 7 year old son. It follows their battles to come to terms with their loss with a similar story being told in the background through the letters from their housekeeper. Liked the way the different threads of the story were finally brought together. This is only my second book by this author but I will certaily be reading more.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

Rachel, James and seven year old Oscar Croft were ex pats living in Bermuda. On dayThe family went on a three day break on their boat. On the second day of their trip Rachel and James had a leisurely lie in, later when Rachel went to wake Oscar he had vanished.

After searching the boat with no success, James called the coastguard. It was at that point that James and Rachel`s marriage first started to disintegrate. So wrapped up in their own grief they were unable to help each other. After a couple of months Rachel hated Bermuda and found herself blaming James for what happened. After trying to commit suicide Rachel moved back to their home city of Bristol to get her thoughts together.

Their housekeeper CeCe lost her son Willard Jnr when he was just seven weeks old. Oscar had been like a grandson to CeCe and he adored her. To try to help CeCe wrote a series of letters to Rachel back home about her life, love and how she accepted her baby's death.

Wow, this was not a very easy read. It was so beautifully written I felt Rachel`s loss like a punch to the stomach. I appreciate we all deal with grief differently and the loss of a child is different to the death of a parent or elderly relative. The different ways Rachel and James coped with their grief was interesting. Rachel`s grief was all in encompassing but I could understand why James felt the need
to return to work weeks after Oscar`s disappearance. I enjoyed reading about Rachel slowly emerging from her grief and living her life without Oscar.

Best of all were the beautiful letters CeCe wrote to Rachel. Her letters were about her childhood best friend Clara and when she first met her husband Willard Senior as kids. CeCe`s letters were so poignant but sprinkled with love and hope.

This Is my first book by Amanda Priest but I will definitely read more from her in the future.

This is a beautifully written, heartbreaking book. It focuses on Rachel and James, whose son Oscar disappears during a family boat trip in Bermuda. It captures the emotions of the couple perfectly and reflects accurately on how such a tragedy impacts on families and relationships. I also loved the story of housekeeper Cee-Cee, told through her letters. I do love Amanda Prowse as an author, however, this book fell slightly short for me because I felt I was still looking for answers at the end.

Amanda Prowse certainly knows how to tug at your heartstrings and wring every ounce of emotion from you but in a beautiful way.
Rachel and James live in Bermuda and have a little boy(Oscar)who they adore, when they get a chance they often go out on their boat for a couple of days and this is where we meet them. On this particular morning they were awake before Oscar woke them up and when Rachel goes to wake him he isn't there. They frantically search the boat but he has disappeared, I can only imagine how it would feel to lose a child and how much it impacts on so many lives is devastating. Watching Rachel and James go through the grief and her inability to connect with people is very raw but also so compelling. Be prepared for the emotions it provokes and have plenty of tissues on hand. I don't know how Amanda does it but I do hope she keeps on writing these amazing books.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of the book.

Rachel and James look like they have a perfect life. They live in a beautiful house in Bermuda, own a boat and have a beautiful 7 year old son Oscar until one tragic night where Oscar has bee taken away from them and they need to find their way to deal with their grief after losing a child. An impossible task.

Cee Cee was the housekeeper and adored Oscar. After losing her own baby boy when she was young having Rachel, James and especially Oscar had made her feel alive again but although broken hearted she stands strong to help Rachel and James each in different ways.

This is a beautiful written story about a horrible tragedy no one ever wants to experience. You will fall in love with Cee Cee, I dare you to try not to! The back and forth between Rachel’s point of view and Cee Cee’s was a brilliant decision by the author! Have tissues as this is definite going to pull on your heart strings.

A moving book about the power and destruction of grief, and the importance of time in the healing process., The Coordinates of Loss is the story of Rachel, a woman who has a loving husband and beautiful son and who is living a dream life on Bermuda. Her world comes crashing down around her one terrible morning when she discovers that her son has drowned. His loss almost destroys her and damages her marriage so badly that she flees back to England in order to slowly try to come to terms with a life changed beyond all recognition and almost beyond bearing. While the support of family and friends helps, what really shines a light for her in the darkness are the letters she receives from her former housekeeper Cece, another grieving mother who lost a young son.
While there is undoubtedly a lot of sadness in the book, I think it is very realistic in its portrayal of the implosion of a marriage following tragedy, and its account of the complex grieving process. It is not without it's moments of hope, but the overwhelming tone is a sombre one,which may be difficult for some readers.
I loved the character of Rachael, her struggles, doubts and tiny moments of hope really resonated, and she felt like a very rounded character. While her husband appears less in the book, the changing dynamics of their relationship is one of the driving forces of the story, and on the rare occasions where he expresses his grief and loss, it is always very moving.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.