Was a really lovely read with some great charecters and a great story, do love imogens books, never fail to keep me reading

I would like to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book even though I did not finish this book.

With thanks to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review. I was drawn into this book from the first page. Although VERY predictable, it was a well written and satisfying read.

I'm struggling to figure out why I liked this story as much as I did. It is fairly cliched, and it is clear where it is heading early on...so no mystery or surprise to be found here! But even though I knew, I was interested in how it would play out. I also liked the women characters. I didn't find them completely believable, but I wanted to. They pulled at my heartstrings a bit.. This isn't a deep read, but it is an enjoyable one, a welcome and uplifting distraction where everything convoluted works out in the end. Sometimes we need these books. Thank you NetGalley and publishers for providing a digital ARC for review.

I usually struggle with books with so many main characters but I loved this. The individual characters and their arcs were well thought out and developed.

I was fortunate enough to receive an advanced copy of Imogen Clark's latest book and having read all of her other titles was very much looking forward to reading this, her latest. I'm delighted to say I was not disappointed. Ms Clark has cemented her reputation as an excellent writer, able to weave an engaging tale from her clear appreciation and understanding of the nuances of the family dynamic. I devoured it pretty much in one go! Although, I confess, I guessed where the storyline was headed from fairly early on, this did not detract in any way from my enjoyment of the book. The four main female characters are equally strong and the relationships between them are skilfully crafted such that you remain eager to find out how things will pan out for each of them. They each have their flaws which make them all the more convincing and relatable. As with Ms Clark's previous books, there is a cracking pace to the story and the different narrative strands, alternating both between characters and time periods, provide drive and interest. Thoroughly recommended but clear a space in your diary to read it - you won't want to put it down!

Thanks to Netgalley for my copy 3.5*

A tab predictable but a light and enjoyable read. One that would be good as a beach read.

Leah has a tough life with two young children to bring up on her and when the wealthy Clio turns up out of the blue on her doorstep she is surprised and unsure of her motives and why she seems to want to get know her. As the secrets begin to unravel can the fledgling friendship survive the revelations?

A great story with good characters and plenty of twists and turns to keep your interest, perfect summer beach read

I absolutely loved this book!
Even if i figured out some of the subjects along the way, I remained engaged with one of the characters: Grace. And I wasn't disappointed about the epilkgue.
The story gains strength along the pages, and the read turned out to be very satisfying. It's wonderful to find characters able to captivate souls. And this book was full of them.
I hope to read more from this author soon.

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

AMAZING! Very well written, a genuine can't put down book! You follow the emotional and twisting lives of the characters past & present!

This is a new to me author - not sure if this was her debut or not - but I enjoyed this a lot. It was a nice refreshing emotional story. Easy to read and well defined characters.

I utterly adored this book from start to finish! It had a really fantastic, innovate storyline which was engaging, encapsulating and enthralling at every step of the way! I was gutted that it finished so here's hoping there may be a sequel...

A charming read for sure! While it was pretty easy to figure out what was going on in the story pretty early on it was nice to see how it unfolded and get to the know the characters more! I really enjoyed this book.

Are unique plot line. I enjoyed the story and the characters as well. I look forward to the next story from this author.

Clio finds an excuse to meet Leah after uncovering a secret about both of their families. They become close friends, with chapters alternating between their thoughts, as well as those of their mothers, Grace and Melissa. From the beginning you will know where the story is heading, but that does not take away from the enjoyable journey. Social class, marriage as well as the definition of family are themes in this well written piece of women’s fiction . Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I have read other books by this author and loved them. This was the same it's an easy read bok which draws you in from the start and not stop till the end. It was easy to follow from past to present. It was emotional on parts and made you really feel for the characters.

Can anyone truly love two people? Can anyone really live two lives?

This book does a nice job of setting up a believable tale of those who get caught in the cross fire when someone they love keeps some deep dark secrets. I enjoyed the way the book goes through time and the believable reactions and differences in what we all decide we need to be happy. Two points for a very clear picture that simply having oodles of money doesn't make you happy or ensure you get what you want.

Imogen Clark’s Where the Story Starts introduces us to two spunky women who have had completely different upbringings yet are connected in ways neither could have anticipated. Leah, a single mom with two young children, has been on her own since she was 18. Faced with some tough life decisions, she hunkered down, found stable work and is raising her children as best she can given limited resources. Clio has lived in luxury and as such, has not encountered too many of life’s difficulties as she grew up and became an adult. Though privileged, Clio does her best to not adopt a pampered air and truly wants to be a good person who has value and worth.

Once the two women meet, both of their lives are irrevocably changed. Leah starts to live a life beyond ‘single mom,’ and Clio learns about work and real friendship. Along the way, secrets are formed and ultimately revealed, forcing the two women to acknowledge and accept each other despite the information they discover. There are interesting and relevant side characters who enhance the story quite well. Though the reader will figure out the secret long before the two main characters, the really interesting element is learning how they handle it and make their future.

Where the Story Starts was a mesmerizing novel! I enjoyed how the characters were presented and their relationships. One day Clio visits Leah's house. The two women form a friendship and begin to spend time together. Leah has two children she is raising by herself. Clio lives in a huge house with her mother and her brother. The two women lead two different life styles. Leah struggles to raise her children while Clio has it made. As the days go on, the two women together will become involved in something that will forever change their lives. The story alternates between the days now and the past when they were young children. The story is full of emotion and written beautifully!

Lovely cover that drew me to the book. The book was lovely. A feel good read perfect for this time of year lazing on holiday or in the garden. It was easy to read and well written. Great read