A thoroughly enjoyable journey of emotions. Good characters who are utterly believable right to the end.

This is the first book I've read by Amanda Prowse, so I had no idea what to expect. I found the book to be enjoyable and easy to read. It is the story of a woman who has always put everyone else first, but who, due to a change in her personal circumstances, becomes a stronger woman, overcoming heartbreak and discovering who she really is. I look forward to reading more from Amanda Prowse.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Easy reading and writing style from a very experienced author, but just an ok story. However, I always enjoy finding a storyline that a more mature reader I can relate to, so many are about younger people!

A sadly familiar tale about a failed relationship due to infidelity, something that occurs far too frequently in fact and fiction, which is probably why this topic is covered so often. The story covers relationships about families and friendships and the all too often character trait of women to place others people’s needs ahead of their own. Rae spends so much of her life putting her parents, her friends, her partner, her children and their business needs all ahead of her own and one day, far into the future, finds that she has never fulfilled her own. This story does have an inspirational ending, not a spoiler, read it and find out!

Three stars
ARC via Netgalley and publishers.

A contemporary novel about the marriage and lives of Rae-Valentine and Howard. Rae-Valentine met Howard through her best friend, Dolly, Howard's lively and bubbly sister. Rae-Valentine and Howard live a comfortable life, with two grown up children, a lovely home and financial stability. However on the night of their 25th wedding anniversary their world is turned upside down. Rae-Valentine has to come to terms with betrayal and family upsets. She begins to question how her life has turned out and goes to Antigua with Dolly to try and find some answers. The story unfolds from here and I felt so many mixed emotions whilst reading it including empathy, sadness and happiness. I found it a thoroughly enjoyable read.

This is a compelling easy to read story of friendship, family, love and heartbreak. Wonderfully written with great characters and the authors gift of pulling the reader into the emotional mindset of the characters.

Difficult to review without spoilers but read it and see what the happens when the quiet, accommodating Rae Valentine finds her world is blown apart on what should be one of the happiest days of her life, and what the realisation that her life, marriage and friends are not as she thought results in.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the copy of this book - the opinions expressed in this review are as always, my own.

This book just wasn't for me at this time. I had a hard time getting into the story. This is the first book I have read by this author and I would certainly try another one. It just didn't capture my interest.

This was disappointing.
The world appeared grey and the characters bland.
The whole story was just very slow.
Not for me.

Amanda Prowse never fails to keep you entertained. I always love the depth of her characters as if I know them. A moving book about relationships and how fragile they can become. You can only ever really trust yourself. Can you ever rely on someone to not let you down? I couldn’t put this book down.

I have read a few of Amanda Prowse's book before this one and have always found them easy to read - not particularly challenging and great for holidays - as a teacherI struggle to read fiction during the school term. I have to confess I didn't really like Rae to start with - she seemed to be quite a sap and too much of a people-pleaser for my liking. But I had a feeling that would change during the book and I was right - the character developed into a much stronger outspoken woman who showed her independence and bravery, and started putting herself first, much to the chagrin of her husband and some of her friends.

An enjoyable holiday read, worth grabbing if you are at the airport and would like something that isn't too taxing.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity of reading and reviewing this brilliant book by Amanda, I always think that she will not be able to top the last book but she always does. This one is particularly good and I really liked the surprise at the end as was not expecting that.

I love all of Amanda Prowse’s books and The Girl in the Corner was no exception to this.
I was hooked from the first few pages and was a great page turner.

Thank you Netgalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review/opinion. What a raw, heartbreaking and heartwarming book! Great read, I loved the thought process the author put into this book. The message was loud, life's short, and family is everything. Even if it's messy.

I haven't read an Amanda Prowse book I haven't loved and this is up there with her best. It made me smile and cry and so much so I just wanted to hug Rae. Amanda manages to drag every emotion from you with her stories. I loved her setting of Antigua for part of her story this time. It made me feel warm even though it is the beginning of January. What a lovely book to read especially when it's the post Christmas slump.

You will need tissues!
This is my second Amanda Prowse book, and rest assured I intend to find the rest of her back catalogue to read those too. Her characters are so well written.

I really enjoyed this book, enjoyed how Ray-Valentine found her way from being The Girl in the Corner into the person she was always meant to be. Hopefully Amanda Prowse will continue her story in another book as she learns local cuisine while island hopping in Greece.

A well written story that I thoroughly recommend. Thought provoking and believable characters. Well worth reading.

This is the first book that I have read by this author and I’m only sorry that it’s taken me so long to find her. I felt as if Amanda Prowse knew me and was writing about my life. I’m sure there are many women who suddenly realise in middle age that they have lost themselves like Rae-Valentine and I identified with her story and willed her on to become a strong enough character to fight for herself and if not put herself first, at least not to be last. The interwoven story lines of juggling older parents and troubled young adult children along with a marriage that has seen better days will be familiar to many and the author expressed the emotions and thoughts so well.
I found myself reading late into the night to find out what Rae was going to do - no spoilers but I was happy with the outcome!

This book made me think. I have been the girl in the corner my whole life, less-confident, insecure, fearful. The story kept me awake practically the whole night; deeper introspection has led to the conclusion that I am probably coming into my own trying to do new things, but there are still some things I need to change or accept.

I call author Amanda Prowse the Queen of Emotions, and she has struck again bringing to life another topic which many of us have seen - infidelity. Ms Prowse's ability to wrench emotions out of a cold heart is breathtaking. I managed to feel the same anger which the main character Rae feels after the confession from her infidel husband.

I liked the way Rae went on a trip to Antigua to get some sane from the claustrophobic situation at home. But her sister-in-law/best friend Dolly accompanied her, followed by her husband. And that led to my niggles...

Rae didn't really find her inner self till the very end. And I wished she had expressed herself clearly for once, she modified her life for everyone pushing her ambitions deep down till the last few pages.

A woman is strong and dynamic. And with a topic like infidelity, there has to be a counter emotion shown where she finds her own voice. I believe a woman can be in the corner but yet her voice can reach all corners of the earth. We women are that powerful!!

I loved the book for the story, but I wanted it to be more empowering, shining its sparkling rays on me, inspiring me. I liked the book spoke about forgiveness which is difficult in these cases, but it didn't feel real, it came from a place of thankfulness during a crisis.

Overall, I enjoyed the book, and it left me examining my own life...

Unfortunately I have stopped ready 20 pages as I found the plot uninteresting, slow and boring. The character and this special something the book should have was missing here.

Having read several of this author's previous titles, was keen to read this. Once again Ms Prowse's writing does not disappoint. Thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Rae & her family & her whacky loud best friend Dolly. The story begins with a girls only trip to Antigua, where I, as the reader longed for Rae to have a holiday romance with the handsome bar tender, but this is interrupted by the sudden arrival of her husband. Back home Rae tries to forgive her husband for his recent affair & almost does until - not the ending i was expecting, but kept me hooked right until the final paragraph

This author has been recommended to me several times and finally got to read one. Im so glad i have , I loved it and after a while I I was glued to the pages. Be prepared to feel like a human emotional yoyo ...now someone pass me her next book please.