Samantha Tonge's new departure into writing fiction that deals with quite dark subjects is an interesting one. Her style is still the same and at first, I kept hearing the author's voice which jarred with the serious topics discussed. After a while, though I became thoroughly engrossed in the story.
I felt torn between Emma seeking forgiveness and her sister's inability to forgive. I felt I was being pulled in two directions and both were right. Sometimes we can't forgive yet we need to in order to move on. Emma quite rightly needed to do more than just apologise and the flashbacks to her life before show us that but for the grace of god etc. This is a wonderful book for raising awareness of the plight of the homeless. Perhaps before we judge we should remember that it could happen to any of us. The ending is a shocker yet so poignant. It certainly gives food for thought and perhaps reminds us all simply to be kind to each other as we really don't know what is going on behind closed doors.

This is an emotional, compelling and eye-opening book. The themes of human frailty, addiction, and forgiveness are woven through a poignant story which kept me gripped. Highly recommended!

4 Captivating Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

This was a beautiful book about forgiveness, mistakes, second chances, addiction, family, and friendship... I have a very personal connection to this book... my life as well as the lives of my children have been touched by addiction... so when I read a book like this with an alcoholic who I am meant to sympathize with it is somewhat difficult... because I know far too well what it is like to pick up the pieces and hold a family together in the wake of addiction... will I ever forgive the person in my life who has left me to clean up the mess? Probably not! But I have to say Samantha Tonge has done an extremely good job of creating a very empathetic character in Emma.....

Emma returns home after several years away... she has spent time on the streets, battled her addiction, and now wants to return to her family... The reunion however is not filled with tears of happiness and hugs... her mother is suffering from early onset Alzheimers and doesn’t even know who Emma is... her sister Andrea is bitter and angry, Emma left her to deal with her mother’s health issues and all the family’s financial issues alone.... will the sisters ever have a strong relationship again? And does Emma deserve her sister’s love and forgiveness?

This book really gave you a lot of food for thought.... Emma was a very likable character, especially in the beginning when you did not know her past... but when do you remember the past and when do you let it go? There were times in this book I felt as though Andrea and the other towns people were being very harsh and unfair to Emma, but then I thought that was slightly hypocritical of me.... was Emma a good person who made some mistakes? And if so what should the cost of those mistakes be? I just don’t know.... are all actions forgivable?

This book also touches on the issue of homelessness... The homeless in this Book were referred to as “rough sleepers” a term I have never heard before... i’m not really sure if this added anything to the story? Although there was a character who I particularly liked that was homeless... also I am not quite sure what the laws in the UK are as far as mental illness and homelessness, so the problem might be completely different in the US? I have no idea.... I think it is a problem no matter where you are, it just might be a completely different problem from one country to another dependent upon laws....

This was a well told nicely paste story with well develop characters... absolutely recommend if you enjoy books that really make you think and don’t shy away from the tough issues...

*** many thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book ***

Emma is an addict attempting to make amends for her misdeeds while she used. After a year of homelessness and a failed relationship, Emma goes back home to try and repair her destroyed bond with her sister. Upon return, she discovers that lost time will stay lost forever. Her mother has Alzheimers and several key people in her life have died or left. Despite all of Emma's efforts, many broken stones will never be mended. The author leaves us on the eve of Emma's biggest and most life-changing apology. 

Ms. Tonge does a beautiful job evoking empathy for Emma. She's made mistakes on her journey through addiction and we're allowed to see each embarrassing moment of groveling as she tries to rebuild her life. There are moments when I was very angry with the rigid way that others approached Emma - but there were also many moments where asking this cast to forgive Emma seemed beyond human capacity for love and faith. 

I'm currently in the middle of a very difficult act of forgiveness for one of the addicts in my life and this book stomped all over those tender feelings. I never regret compassion - and this book definitely provoked quite a bit - but I was also angry at Emma for selfishly wanting to be forgiven for her behavior and demanding that of people who had yet to heal. Her year of sobriety SHOULD be a stellar event, and yet, as even the text tells, addiction is rarely a one-and-done experience. My heart ached for the risk each person took as they slowly accepted Emma back into their circle of trust.

Thank you to Canelo for my copy of this book via Netgalley. I have previously read some of Samantha's books and I really enjoyed them but this book was a little different to Samantha's usual genre. 

Usually Samantha's books are romance based. This book however was not. I don't quite know how to describe it. It wasn't thriller, it wasn't your typical chick lit, it wasn't a horror. If I had to place this in a genre I would really struggle. 

Emma left her home and family 2 years ago. She has been to hell and back in that time and has now turned her life around. She returns hoping for a family reunion. While things don't go quite like she hoped I think it was still the right decision. Emma is a hard character to love but also a hard character to hate. She has made so many bad choices in her past. However, in her present she is trying so hard to not to necessarily make up for those choices but to make a difference.

Some parts of this were quite hard to read. It's scary how some of the character's lives changed and how close we can be to the edge. This book really made me stop and think. 

Samantha's writing was engaging and I really struggled to put this book down. Like I said I have read some of Samantha's previous books but I think this book was another level. I think this genre suits her writing better than her romance novels. 

The ending left the story a little unfinished and I would love to carry on that thread. I think Samantha has another book planned in this genre so I'm very excited for this.

Forgive Me Not is Samantha Tonge's first departure away from her well loved romcoms. This story sees the author tackling serious subjects and also issues that some areas of society still struggle to talk about.
We all at times draw a conclusion to someone on their first appearances but when you actually sit down and talk openly to that person and understand the reasoning behind their current situation you start to open your eyes and mind and appreciate that their character is far more in depth than their current situation.
Young Emma's life had been slowly spiralling out of control; disobeying her mum and her sister's wishes she was constantly out partying, had turned to stealing to fuel her lust for her addiction and believed her wild ways made great insta-feed. However, one Christmas Eve her foolish ways became too much and Emma was forced to move out of the family home. Emma thought she'd hit rock bottom then but worse was to come. Now homeless, shunned from her family Emma sought solace in the streets of the city. A total contrast to her home on the farm. She soon adjusted and became accustomed to days rolling into nights and back again looking for her next addictive fix. Her rock bottom came a little later, when not only her life was at risk but the life of another. Eventually Emma had no choice but to ask for help.
Nearly a year and a half had lapsed since Emma's rock bottom and she felt ready to return home. We follow Emma on her journey back home to seek forgiveness from so many, we also travel back to her dark days when times were tough. Would Emma's family, friends and neighbours welcome her back with open arms or would old wounds of the hurt and damage she had caused still be too deep a wound to have healed over?
I was totally absorbed in this story that opened my eyes to situations that people sometimes find themselves, through no fault of their own, in. It was quite thought provoking at times but the author has woven some lovely inspirational, endearing moments into the story. However, there a few twists in the tale that shake your emotions in to a tailspin The story also makes you take a look at yourself in a different light and learning to accept yourself is the first step to any chance of acceptance.
Totally absorbing, thought provoking but filled with a sense of hopefulness.

Forgive Me Not is a beautiful story of family, love, loss, addiction and forgiveness.

Emma is such a warm, relatable and misunderstood character who just wants to go home and make amends for causing trouble in the past. She isn't met with hugs and tears and warm welcomes and has a lot to prove. I admire her strength, courage and determination. There's a lot going on at Foxglove Farm that she isn't aware of.

She has to learn where she fits in to this new world and new life but that doesn't stop her. She is resilient and fights for what she needs and wants.

This isn't a love story. It's a life story. It's not all warm amd fuzzy. It's real and raw. It's sad but hopeful. This is a strong contender for my book of the year.

Well done, Sam. This is a brilliant book!

A new departure for Samantha Tonge, away from the sun kissed beaches and continental glamour to the English countryside where forgiveness is not easily granted.

I found this change in direction difficult as I’ve always found Samantha’s writing to be warm and uplifting - whereas this tale starts with its tail between its legs amongst the homeless in London.

The author’s writing continues to be soft, gentle and enveloping - whilst I didn’t particularly warm to any of the characters, even Emma, I did want to read on and find out what had happened in Emma’s past that made everyone turn away from her.

In the end I think this is an insightful tale into the reality of homelessness and the challenges faced, particularly alcoholism.

An interesting and insightful book from a talented author who keeps you on your toes!

3.75* made me think

Emma returns to Foxglove farm, with more baggage than Heathrow airport in an effort to try and redeem her life after a period of homelessness. But life on the farm throws up a new set of difficulties and sometimes going back is the hardest option of all.

I have long rated Sam as a writer to watch and have enjoyed everything she’s ever written. Her last two books showed signs of a divergence from the cookie-cutter style of romance she’s famed for. But with Forgive Me Not this is a step up again. I didn’t just read this in one sitting, I devoured it.

I’ve heard many writers describing writing as the journey but as an analogy I place it in my own personal Room 101 alongside phrases such as Blue-sky-thinking and In the Back of the Net. I view writing in the same way I do nursing in that it’s a progression from From Novice to Expert, a five stage progression towards Competence, as coined by Benner in 1984. Each person progresses through the stages at their own pace and not everyone can ever reach that final accolade. With this book Sam has aced writing. I wonder what she’ll turn her hand to next?

A well-written book, and very thoughtful. It tackles alcoholism and homelessness. Friendship and family relationships take the focus - this is not a romantic story. What Tonge did so well was get into the head of Emma, the main character. We go on a journey with her, and I for one felt she was treated too harshly by some of the characters. There was much to reflect on - readers can apply many of the things Emma learnt to their own lives. Bravo, Samantha, for writing this book. One very small criticism - the story felt unfinished. Presumably a sequel is due, but books really should be wrapped up a little more than this one was so that they can stand-alone, whilst at the same time lending themselves to a sequel or series.

With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was lucky enough to be invited on the cover reveal for this title a few weeks ago and since then I've been itching to read this latest offering from Samantha Tonge. Her last book One Summer In Rome wowed me and I became quite hooked on her style of writing and emotive content. This book offered so much more of this from the blurb and I was not left disappointed.

I would say that this moves away from the contemporary romance genre and centres itself firmly in family drama. The dynamic between the sisters, as well as Bligh, and the neighbours of Healdbury (all with their own faults, heartaches and problems) is key to the journey this book takes you on.

It tackles some pretty difficult subjects including dementia, addiction, homelessness and bereavement; you are constantly considering your own viewpoints as you navigate the choices and stories of the characters and I think it will really make some people realise their own preconceptions about these issues are based on inaccuracies. This book is clearly so well researched and written from the heart; this makes it compelling and incredibly poignant. However, despite the hard hitting issues, it is ultimately uplifting, full of hope and a celebration of an "ordinary life" which many often take for granted.

One final thing to say is, wow what an ending, very cleverly done and leaves you with plenty to consider.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Emma has returned from Manchester, living on the streets as an alcoholic now following the 12 step program. She knows it’s time to make amends with her sister, Andrea and Bligh, her ex boyfriend for walking out on them and ruining their lives and her own. Their mother has Alzheimer’s and doesn’t recognise her and the villagers despise her. Can Emma make peace before she makes a challenging decision.

This was an emotional read and I really enjoyed it. Beautifully written.

Can you go home again? Emma hopes so. She's trying to make amends for things she did when she lived at Foxglove Farm with her family. It's not so easy, though, as things have changed, her mom no longer recognizes her, and she's got a big burden to shift. Of course there's a family secret which changes her view of herself and her situation. This is a well written story of a woman coming into her own and understanding her own place in the world- and gaining the forgiveness of others but more importantly of herself. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is well written and thoughtful.

A well written contemporary novel that I enjoyed reading. I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys contemporary.

I jumped on this without a blurb, details or anything as I read her last book and loved it! The review of One Summer in Rome can be found here. This book did not disappoint in the least! I'm so glad I jumped on board.
I felt for Emma, she honestly thought her family would be so much better off without her than confronting her problems. It took her to hit rock bottom on the streets of Manchester for her to change her life. This book really is all about forgiveness. Emma feels she needs the forgiveness of her family and friends from home. But first she must learn how to forgive and love herself. She encounters problem after problem, but tries very hard to resolve them and to regain the trust of everyone around her.
This read is completely different to her Samantha Tonge's previous novel "One Summer in Rome". It is gritty, full of truths, secrets, miscarriage, self-discovery, homelessness and alcoholism. I couldn't put it down and I found myself desperate to know what happens after the book finishes. I was gutted it ended! I'm giving this book a 4/5 rating.

I’ve read some books by this author before and they’ve all been light-hearted romantic chick-lit type books. This book has gone in a completely different direction, and is nothing like her previous books! Two years on, Emma has returned to Foxglove Cottage, her home that she left after she’d let down and hurt the people who loved her. Returning was never going to be easy and she quickly realises that she is not welcome in the village….by anyone. Her mother, the one person she seeks forgiveness from, is suffering from dementia and can’t remember who she is, and her sister certainly isn’t welcoming her home with open arms. Can she rebuild their trust?

Emma’s character initially, for me, was confusing. There was no clue at the beginning as to what had happened two years previously, just that nobody was pleased to see her return home. As the book moves on, you realise that two years before, Emma was on a road to self-destruction with her alcohol addiction and as a result she ended up homeless and sleeping rough on the streets. You do feel for Emma throughout the book, although sometimes in a more negative way, thinking of all the hurt she caused people when she was in such a dark place. You can also feel for her family when she returns, as she had obviously done unforgiveable things and behaved in such a bad way before she had left, that it was very difficult for them to even consider forgiving her.

It certainly isn’t a light-hearted book. It tackles some strong and sensitive subjects, which some may find upsetting to read. But it is also a book of self-discovery and forgiveness. Without giving away any more of the story I think it’s safe to say it is completely different to the author’s previous books! It is though, most definitely, a book where you will need a couple of hours and a box of tissues to fully appreciate Emma’s story!

One stunning read to leave your emotions all over the place. Emma left Foxglove farm two years ago under rather a large black cloud. We learn more about this as the book progresses. Some chapters are now some then in decreasing time periods. She let people down as well as herself in a big way. Not only family but other people in the village where she had lived most of her life. She became homeless and lived on the streets and whilst there learnt a lot about herself as well as about others in similar circumstances. “You are braver than you believe ,stronger than you seem and smarter than you think”- a quote from Winnie the Pooh which is in the book. This is one of those books that draws you in in and you don’t quite know why. There are some sensitive issues tackled very well, however some may find this a little distressing. A girl learning about herself whilst having to fend for herself as well as fending off others in order to survive. You feel for her but have that feeling that she may have done more than had a few drinks for people to dislike her in the way that they do. Forgiveness is hard to come by and although the person themselves may move on, others have long memories and lives that were affected. Moving forward is not as straightforward as it may sound. A very meaningful read that makes you think about others’ situations and maybe even your own.
(rest of links as part of blog tour)

What a fantastic read! Insightful and enlightening...this book is an education on how it feels to be homeless (rough sleepers) as their called in England. The main character takes center stage. With the help of counselors and friends and even other rough sleepers she sees her way clear of her "character flaw"...alcoholism. I was astounded with the author's ability to delve into her emotional world. And the ending...very surprising! I even think my eyes grew wider for a minute. Thanks for for the opportunity to read this book.

Emma has been away from home for two years and in that time her problems have spiralled out of control. Having sought help she feels the time has come for her to return home to the family farm and face the mess she left behind when she fled on a whim one evening, leaving everyone and everything she knew behind.

She may have changed, but it’s clear on her return that not only her family but the local villagers can’t bring themselves to believe her. To them Emma is still the same liar and thief that left a trail of destruction her wake and it’s going to take more than a simple “sorry” for them to change their mind. Emma thinks that because she has changed her life she would be welcomed back into the fold like nothing has happened, sadly for her it’s not that simple, life has continued without her. She needs to rake back over the past in order to move forward and learn to forgive herself in the process with the only hope her family and friends will do the same.

This book joins Emma as she is en-route home to visit family and it’s not immediately clear what has happened to her since the last time she was there. The story flits between past and present gradually building a picture of Emma’s relationship with alcohol and the descent she found herself experiencing which lead to her living on the streets in Manchester. Once she hits her rock bottom we are taken on a journey, walking alongside her as she seeks help to change her life. Emma’s situation is so real for so many people and it’s impossible not to warm to her, she was my favourite character and I was rooting for her throughout.

Forgive Me Not pulls no punches, it’s a hard-hitting, gritty read that tells it like it is. Dealing with real, serious issues including homelessness, miscarriage and alcoholism, it’s a world away from Samantha’s previous novel One Summer In Rome. Despite being in stark contrast to her previous work, I absolutely adored this book, it had me in tears – always a sign of a good read – and Samantha’s writing style has the knack of drawing me in making it her books extremely difficult to put it down. The storyline of this novel is both gripping and thought provoking and really gave me plenty of food for thought about both giving and receiving forgiveness.

This is absolutely brilliant. I just feel like the more I read by Samantha Tonge, the better her books get! This was lovely and heartwarming and I couldn't put it down. It was mesmerising and I was so eager to find out what had driven our main character Emma away from her hometown a couple of years ago.

It's a beautifully written novel about family, forgiveness and learning to let go of the past. Emma tries her hardest to put things right after the mistakes she made but is it enough? Will those closest to her forgive and forget?

It's a gripping story and one I really enjoyed. There are twists and turns but this just makes it an even better read. I wasn't so sure on the novel at first when I saw the cover, as it's not the type of cover I usually get drawn to, but I've read novels by Samantha Tonge before and I enjoyed the blurb so was really pleased that I decided to give it a go. Unsure now as to why I had any doubts in the first place!

Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this novel via Netgalley which I have reviewed honestly.