I really enjoyed this novel set in the South and telling the story of two pairs of mothers and daughters plus two teenage grandchildren. It was easy to get swept up into the story and the author has a gift for realistic dialogue. On one level, it is the powerful yet tender story of two best friend who are driven apart when they are teenagers, now meeting up again in their 50’s. On a deeper level, it is an emotionally raw story about race and class in the South (but equally universal).

With thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Another good book by Ashley Farley. One woman no longer wants to have anything to do with her adoptive family, while the other woman doesn't know why. Set in Charleston the story captures many emotions, many wrongs, racism being the chief motive. It would take the health of a family member to bring them about, and even then the lines of communication are misdirected. But don't think for one minute this could be only a story set in the South. Racism is nationwide, not just a Southern problem! It just seems natural to set the story in Charleston for all of its past history, but I don't believe for one minute the rest of this country is blameless, I swanee!

Ashley Farley writes stories set in the South and she does it well. This is another [typical] example of her talent as a writer.

My thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Best friends as children, Nell and Lady did not seem aware nor even that it mattered they were of a different color. Enjoying growing up as almost sisters until a fateful night that changed everything. Nell became bitter and was never comfortable again in that home. Lady never understood what happened that caused their divide and gave up trying to find out why.
So, both girls went on with their separate lives, only to be brought together in a most unexpected way.
Ashley Farley has written a moving book of flawed characters, a friendship put to many tests including prejudice, assault, misunderstandings and a life threatening illness.
A book written about the early South in a time of history that we might not want to remember, but certainly should not be forgotten.

Family is more than you know.

A gentle story that covers racism, sexual assault, stress, cancer, aging, and regrets. The lives of Nell and Lady are woven together that you don't learn everything at one time, it is told slowly over the whole book and allowed me to really understand and know these characters and what they lives were like growing up and now as adults. Misunderstandings, withholding answers, and perhaps even not wanting to know what happened caused the rift in this family. It takes the wisdom of a child to help right things in this family.

I think my favorite character is actually Booker, Nell's son. He seems wise beyond his 17 years. His mom tells him what happened to her as a child and he is able to impart some life altering comments to her about the situation. All true IMHO. Booker is also not the perfect kid - he is very focused on college to the point of anxiety. He has some life lessons learned in the book too.

I always enjoy reading Ashley's books for the setting and the realism - no one is perfect, each has their own flaws and they learn from their mistakes. It may take a lot of time, but it does happen!

Two girls as close as sisters become actual sisters when Lady’s mother adopts Nell after her mother dies unexpectly. But one night of assumptions tears the relationship apart. This was a fantastic story and the intertwining of the girls and their grownup lives is unexpected yet a perfect twist. A story of not everything is as it appears. A highly recommended read! I was hooked from the start and didn’t put it down until the end!

I thank Netgalley for this ARC and I assure this review and the opnions are truly my own. Nell and Lady is a heart-touching novel about love, friendship, family and forgiveness. Mrs.Bellemore, a wealthiest widow, who lives in Charleston, South Carolina with her daughter Lady and her granddaughter Regan. She is actually in her last stages of Non-small cell lung cancer and in her last days, she asked her daughter, Lady to fulfill her dying wish of meeting her adopted daughter Nell,who was her maid's daughter. She adopted Nell after Mavis passed away. Nell and Lady were bestest friend cum sisters, until Lady's sixteenth birthday when something terribly wrong happened to Nell during the birthday party. Despite how Willa treated her, she shut both Willa and Lady away from Nell's life after she joined to college.
It is a touching story woven through love, friendship, family and also some issues like racism, struggled familial relationship. As the novel told by multiple perspectives, we can easily catch up the mindset of each characters. It is such a provoking story, shows us the strong bonds between two mothers and two daughters, which will go through some secrets, resentments, misunderstandings and accusations between the sisterly best friends Nell and Lady. This book is really an emotional ride, though I couldn't put the book down until I finished it. It teaches us the values of love and friendship in our lives. Also shows us how much ever apart we are from some relationship, love and forgiveness can mould it back to normal. I rate this novel 5/5 and I would like to recommend all booklovers to read this simple story to think how we make some judgements or prejudices in our life which makes our life terrible.

The story of Willa, Nell and Lady, Reagan and Booker had me at Charleston, a place I visited and loved last February. More of an actual work of literary fiction than just a novel, the story really captures the feel of living in the south, the character of Charleston as a place and lets you inside the lives of young women coming of age in the 70's.

The characters are genuine as are the problems of growing up when you are young and naïve and don't yet know what it is you don't know. It shows how we can sometimes end up living for decades with misunderstandings in relationships, our lives formed by error and lack of communication and mature judgement.

It was both heartbreaking and healing with a surprising interjection of faith adding a wonderful dimension that many novels lack.

A wonderful satisfying read that I really enjoyed returning to each time.

Although this started out a little slow and confusing for me it ended up being a good Story! The chryerdidtconnectwith me t first but ended up liking them! I really enjoyed the characters of Reagan and Booker! I over how they endured family stress and stayed true to echo other!

Great storyline. Very well told proves that family isnt always blood related.
Misunderstandings, expecting a person to know what is going on without being told.
Loving reunion. Excellent

I requested “Nell and Lady by Ashley Farley from Net Galley as I am a fan of coming of age books and this looked like it would fit the bill. This is the first time reading this author and I was hooked pretty quick. The book is about two girls growing up and after a misunderstanding break their lifelong friendship. Going from past to present the story is about bringing their friendship back together again with their teenage children also involved in the story. Told from different characters perspectives it kept me rooting for good things to finally happen and work out in the end, which it did. A quick read for me which one could read at a long airport layover and flight if not into people watching. Again I really enjoyed “Nell and Lady”and give it a 5 star rating. Thank you Net Galley for the advanced copy.

Let me first mention this cover, I love everything that this cover stands for - from it's simple times, friendships, and the fact that color doesn't exist.

This book takes place in a city that I'm obsessed with, Charleston, SC in the 1970's. Nell's mother Mavis is a maid in the home of Willa and Lady Bellemore. But to be honest, she's more of a best friend then worker. She and Willa just clicked from day 1. Then one day May May gets pregnant and hopes that Willa won't kick her out of her home. Instead Will lets her stay on and raise Nell with her daughter Lady from day one. Hence how Nell and Lady became best friends.

Then Nell's mother passes and the light goes out in Nell and she's trying to figure out where she belongs. While this transformation is taking place something tragic happens at 16 that breaks the bond that Nell, Lady and Willa have. Nell takes off to college and is barely heard from again.

Years later Lady contacts Nell and tells her Willa is not doing well, they don't know how long she may have.

The past comes to the for front again and they all need to learn from it and try to build a bridge to mend their families for the future.

There are many different tragic moments these families need to endure, but with the strength of love they may just make it.

Filled with complex characters and long-held secrets, Nell and Lady is an emotionally stirring book about families and forgiveness. I loved that the story was told from multiple points of view, so that we could really get into the minds of all of these characters, adding wonderful layers to the story. Ashley Farley has once again melded characters and story into a book that I couldn’t put down.

Ashley Farley has written another beautiful, Southern story, Nell and Lady. Born four months apart, Nell and Lady are raised together by Lady’s mother, Willa, and Nell’s mother, May May, who is not only Willa’s housekeeper but her best friend. Nell and Lady are sisters of the heart and then sisters through adoption after May May dies suddenly. Their endearing friendship is torn apart by an incident at Lady’s 16th birthday party when something terrible happens to Nell. This is a tender story of bonds being forged, broken, and rebuilt with love. Like all of Ms. Farley’s books, you will remember her characters long after the book ends.

Oh my! This one had so many issues that were addressed. This book made you stop and take a moment to think about how you respond to certain situations, about your prejudices, about your life and what you've made of yourself. Lots and lots of things to delve into and while the story is about Nell and Lady, it makes you take a good hard look at yourself.

This story is heart wrenching and heart warming. You will find pain and joy, anxiety and enjoyment, love and loss throughout the pages. You will definitely be taken on an emotional journey. While Southern charm is am amazing thing, it doesn't always make people feel comfortable. And in the Bellemore grand home in Charleston, SC, you will experience Southern charm but with a little bit of bite to it.

You will also experience the precious gift of friendship ... and yet how that friendship falls apart. But is it possible to recapture the bond that initially brought them so much joy?

What an emotional tale of family secrets and how those secrets can impact your life! Can a long lost friendship be rekindled? Wonderful book and I encourage you to take the time to get lost in the story of Nell and Lady.

Thank you to the author, Ashley Farley, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

A wonderful ARC about a three generation family and the secret that divided the family, for the next two generations. It has an authentic Southern flavor, with the sweet tea and cheese biscuits. The characters are strong women, despite the flawed men in their lives, and the color barrier that always seems to rear its ugly head.
Nell and Lady are estranged, their mother Willa doesn’t know why, and their children Booker and Regan are desperate to know their story.
This wonderful novel will keep you engaged, as we get to know their interesting stories and what it takes to fix estrangements and get back to the love that never left. Thank you to Lake Union and Ashley Farley for the ARC. I hope my review does justice to this engaging read.

This was a fast hard to put down story!
I enjoyed the story, maybe a little predictable at times but still good! Definitely recommend!

A beautifully written and heartfelt book about two young girls, one white and one black, who grew up together and then because of circumstances unknown to one, severed the friendship for over 30 years. As they find themselves back in each others lives due to an illness, the past is brought to light. This book touches on racism, alcoholism, abuse, cancer; so many things to heal including the best of friendships.

Ashley Farley has once again brought her readers a wonderful story with characters who will resonate with her readers. It's a dual time line book that takes place in the 70s and today in Charleston, SC about three generations of woman and their love for each other.

1970 in Charleston and May is the housekeeper for the Bellemore family - Willa, her husband and their daughter Lady. The housekeepers daughter, Nell, lives in an apartment in the house with her mom. Lady and Nell are exactly the same age and are best friends. When May dies suddenly, Willa decides to raise Nell along with her daughter and eventually adopts her despite the whispering from her neighbors about how inappropriate it is for her to adopt a black daughter. The family becomes estranged after an event at Lady's 16th birthday party and stays that way until Lady contacts Nell after 30 years of silence to tell her that Willa has cancer and would like to see her. As Nell and Lady struggle to connect along with the additional fact that they each have teenage children who go to the same school and are friends, tempers flare and old wounds are opened up. Will they be able to become friends and sisters again?

This is a story about family and love and forgiveness and racial inequality. Family is more than blood ties but is also made up of the people that we choose to love no matter the differences.

Thanks to the author for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

A touching story of hidden secrets, shame, friendships, family and forgiveness. Parts of the story made me cry and other parts made me feel anger when thinking about how this could be a true story. The relationship between Nell and Lady and other characters in the book remind me how we are all flawed and are in need of forgiveness. Great read. I received a complimentary copy of this book and this is my honest personal opinion. No review was required.

I have loved all of Ashley Farley 's books, Nell and Lady is no exception. I was lucky to be able to read this advance copy. A great read only problem
see a second book on how Nell and Lady's son and daughter.