“The Light in the Hallway” is a tale of friendship, love, and what happens after loss. The story was well written and although it dragged in a few places my desire to know what happened to characters kept me glued until the end.

Another great read from Amanda Prowse, she is very good at easy reading, tear jerker books that come good in the end.... the journey how they get there is always gripping.

Thanks for letting me review this book

I absolutely loved this story. The friendships, the love, loss and coping....coming out on the other side with dreams and hopes coming true. The closeness of Nick, Eric and Alex is a friendship everyone dreams of having. And then for it to continue on into adulthood is truly a gift!! I just really really adored this book!!!

I have to confess that as soon as Amanda Prowse has a new book out it is added to the top of my reading list. I don't even need to know what it’s about, as it’s guaranteed to make me laugh and cry !!

This latest book is no exception. I loved it from the very start to the very end. We first meet Nick and his son Oliver in the final stages of Kerry’s life (Nick’s wife, Oliver’s Mum). The couple have been together since they were 16 and now they have been parted in such a cruel and final way. After Kerry’s death Oliver finds it hard to show his emotions and Nick try’s to be there for his son as much as he can whilst dealing with his own loss.

A couple of months later and Oliver is off to University, how will Nick cope in an empty house and will Oliver be able to fend for himself. With the help of his best friend and work colleagues Nick starts to move in with his life but is everyone ready for him to move on from Kerry ?

The book is a great read with yet some emotional and heart breaking scenes but also some heart warming, loving sections too. You feel as though you are going on the journey of grief, despair, love, friendship etc with Nick and I have to admit I was absolutely cheering for Nick and Oliver throughout the book, I just wanted them to be happy and content with whatever life had in store for them.

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

“The Light in the Hallway” by Amanda Prowse was amazingly beautiful and wonderfully written. I could not put this book down. The story flips between two time periods in Nick’s life, the summer he was 10 years old and the present at the age of 35. I enjoyed both time periods and getting to see the characters in Nick’s life grow and develop long term relationships.

This novel brought back so many feelings for me and at times there were tears shed. Nick was a young widower and since I was a fairly young widow, I understood everything he was experiencing. There are a wide range of emotions from the initial panic and heartbreak to finding the ability to move forward with life.

Nick was a man who understands what love and life is all about and is not afraid to do the right thing. I would highly recommend this novel.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I like how the story started with the explanation of the light in the hallway and ended with reference to it. Instead of focusing on what the characters didn’t have, the author painted a story about a cast of characters that made do with what they had and still flourished. Death is one of the hardest things to experience and Nick’s was a bit harder as he had 18 year old Ollie’s feelings to contend with. I don’t want to give away too much of the story, but Nick’s explanation of his mourning was a perspective I never looked at. When someone has a terminal illness, the caregivers mourn along the way; it’s everyone else who has to come to grips with the new reality. Nick handled others’ opinions quite well.

The story alternates between now and 1992 and I like how the author let the reader know when she was in the past. Ms. Prowse is a new to me author and I look forward to reading more of her books.

I received this book from the author for an honest review.
What do you do when the love of your life passes away? You go on living, especially if you have a son .Thats what this story is about , and I liked the mix between the past an present to bring the story together, the friendship between Eric and Nick and displays a close relationship with his deceased father. As Nick attempts to move in I rooted for him , because I like him . This was a good story, but the relationship between Nick and Bev at times seemed too formal. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45891138-the-light-in-the-hallway

This light in the hallway was at this moment more than just an aide to ensure a stumble-free trip up the path; it was a beacon, a sign of the life that lay behind the door, the promise of a warm welcome, a cup of tea and company.

Nick a recent widower and his college bound son live in a small English town of Burstonbridge. Where everyone knows everyone and their business. A town that spreads gossip but ultimately pulls together. A family that must start over by tearing down the walls that separate them. The heart wrenching novel starts with Nick saying goodbye to his wife Kerry of 18 years. Nick has been there for his wife in her battle of cancer and now he has the battle of keeping his family together.

His son Oliver cannot deal with the pain of losing his mother and Nick is coming to know the pain of love, marriage and death. The narration is Nick picking up the pieces and keeping his relationship with Oliver intact. Between his sister-in-law and mother-in law, he battles the guilt of going on and what that means for his son Oliver. The relationship between son and father is fragile and strong as they learn to communicate the love of a wife and mother. The narration also goes back in time to 1992 to Nick's best friends Alex and Eric as they build a bike together. Boyhood friendship that taught Nick the fairness of life, the value of friendship and family. It is here that his own father imparted to his son his own value that he somehow lost when hurrying thru life so quickly.

I loved how you see the characters develop and overcome difficult circumstances and arise to the many challenges of life. Highly recommend.

A Speical Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

This is a story of one man’s journey through love and loss. Although I found it to be quite slow, at times, it is emotional and entertaining. I really enjoyed it. I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review

The Light in the Hallway tells the story of Nick after losing his wife, and navigating life alone with his son Oliver. This quickly turns into life alone, as he has to send Oliver off to college. The book asks the questions: how do you live through grief, can you move on, when do you move on? The reader gets insight into how his present life intertwines with his childhood and relationship with his best friend, Eric.
I thought the book was good as a whole, especially the ending. It was slow to start and took me a while to get into it, probably because I did not entirely connect with the characters. I felt some things to be irritating, mostly that Beverly kept showing up on Nick's doorstep out of the blue as though they didn't have phones and she couldn't have called first.
This is a story of picking up the pieces and moving on and moving up. Fans of Amanda Prowse will definitely enjoy it.

The Light In The Hallway is a beautiful and poignant story about loss, family, strength, friendship and moving on. This is the story of a man, Nick, trying to move on after losing his wife to cancer while also raising his son alone while dealing with both of their grief. It also raises the question of when it’s the right time to move on and start a new relationship. ⁣
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This story was beautifully written. It took heartbreakingly sad moments but interspersed it with moments of levity and humor. I also loved how the story moves from present to past so seamlessly and we are given such a complete history of Nick and Kerry. This is an emotional story as it deals with such a tough issue of losing a spouse & mother. It really touches your heart and the issues raised in this story are so relatable to anyone who has lost a loved one. Expect tears but you will also feel hopeful about moving forward and finding happiness again. ⁣
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This was my first book by Amanda but I really enjoyed her writing so I will definitely be checking out her other books. ⁣The Light In The Hallway releases 11/11/19. ⁣
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I received an ARC from @netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Nick Bairstow lives in a small town in England. He works at the local factory as his father did. Living in a small town doesn’t mean life is problem free. His life is anything but simple. His wife dies leaving him and their son trying to figure out how to go on. In flashbacks and current events we see what has made Nick into the man he is. The story is about dealing with grief and life after loss.

Amanda Prowse is a wonderful author. Her story is detailed with characters you can appreciate and understand. The journey we go on with Nick is emotional but rewarding. He is a good man that puts family first and tries hard to do the right thing. The book is rewarding and leaves you with a warm feeling.

I enjoyed the way that Amanda Prowse tells a story. It is smooth, doesn’t drag and is heartfelt. I plan to read many more books by this terrific author.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Amanda Prowse for the opportunity to read and review her latest novel - loved it!

The story begins with an ending - Nick's wife, Kerry, is dying of cancer. Nick must now navigate life without the person that has been by his side since they were teenagers. He's left to take care of their now teenage son, Oliver, as he prepares to leave home to go to university. Nick and Oliver are both overwhelmed with loss and grief but eventually Nick sees a future ahead of him; Oliver and other family members aren't as happy. Each chapter ends with a look in the past as Nick and his 2 best friends live out their best summer.

I loved the title of this book - coming home to a light burning, knowing that there is someone inside waiting for you. Plus - there are loads of great parenting tips in this book! Just a wonderful, heartwarming story - just what you would expect from Amanda Prowse!

This was the first book I have read by this author and I had high hopes for it. It is beautifully written, with heartbreaking moments. But I felt the story dragged on and went by very slowly. I was hoping there would be more to it after the tragic event. I did enjoy the way the story was written, going back and forth between present day, and in the past when Nick was young and built a bike with his father and friends. This story brought out many emotions in me, but I gave it three stars because it moved along very slowly.

A poignant tale of loss, The Light in the Hallway deals in a very compassionate and believable way with the difficult topic of grief, and moving on from loss. The book opens with the death, after a long illness, of Kerry, who was married to her childhood sweetheart Nick and mother to their son Olly. Despite knowing that the day was coming , Nick is still crippled by the loss of the woman he was married to for nineteen years, and worried about how this loss will impact on Olly as he heads away to University. It really does seem like his whole world has come crashing down, he has no idea how he will cope on his own having been half of a pair for so long, but day by day, with the help of friends and family he begins to put his life back together. He begins to get close to a woman at work, Beverly, but struggles with the idea of moving on, a struggle that is made more difficult when Olly reacts badly to the idea.
The book is told in two timelines, the current day, and 1992 when we see how the strong relationship between Nick and his friends Eric and Alex was formed, a friendship that has stood the test of time, and supported Nick on his darkest days.
This is a profoundly hopeful book, one that really aims to show the reader that there is always hope, even on the darkest day, and that sometimes a second chance is worth taking. It does not minimise the impact of grief on a family, but rather seeks to show that moving on is natural, and not something to be ashamed or afraid of.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

Nick and Kerry are high school sweethearts. Nick has plans to go to college, but, as happens so many times, life has other plans. This story is about love..parental, family, friendship and marriage. It’s a beautiful story that begins with tissues and your heart hurting.

Another emotionally charged book by Amanda Prowse. Ms. Prowse delves into the real life issues of working people better than any other author. I love seeing how her characters develop and mature, while going thru their issues. Her descriptions of this blue collar village, where nothing is ever a secret because everyone knows everyone, is spot on. This book resonated with me deeply for so many of the issues and made me look at things from a different perspective. This book can easily be read in one sitting, you just get that sucked in.

Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone!

Also reviewed on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

I read and reviewed this book voluntarily.
The book begins with Nick losing his wife Kerry to Cancer, leaving behind himself and there 18 year old son Oliver.
The book documents Nick's journey in the months and years after her death. How he copes and tries to navigate life for him, Oliver, and his in laws.
The book goes between the present and a summer from his childhood. You also learn how Nick met Kerry and how their lives ended up where they were.
There are some twists and turns. And learning to live again.
The book was very emotional for me.

A truly wonderful book. Amanda perfectly captures with sensitivity the emotional upheaval felt in the face of tragedy and trying to do the right thing by everyone. Poignant mix of sadness with humour and incredibly observant about ordinary folk and the tangled lives we lead. The book is set within two time zones, when Nick (the main character) was 10 and enjoying an innocent fun sunny summer holidays with his friends and present day where life has thrown him 'curved balls'..

All Amanda's books I have read have been different but equally engaging but I can honestly say that I probably enjoyed this one the most as just totally down to earth with good honest folk.

I was excited to be granted my wish on NetGalley to read and review this latest book from Amanda Prowse.

I know I need to be prepared for tear-jerking moments when reading a book by Amanda Prowse and this one is no different.

The tale goes between present day and Nick's childhood telling the story of how a father and son come to terms and move on with their lives following the death of the wife and mother.

Amanda Prowse writes beautifully inspirational tales and each one is a new heart being opened and shared with the reader. Look forward to her next release!

It took me a bit to get into the book, the opening was a little confusing. But it didn't take long for Ms. Prowse to hook me, I loved the characters, loved the honesty, and eventually could not put it down! Very entertaining, if predictable ending....sort of. 🙂