An Almost Perfect Holiday by Lucy Diamond

I’ve read many Lucy Diamond novels in the past, and always been charmed; this author has a way of writing heartfelt and realistic characters. An Almost Perfect Holiday likewise features characters that are believable, that have problems that are relatable and have you rooting for them. In the case of this novel, this strength is also a weakness - there are almost too many characters and storylines to make strong investment in any of them.

The Cornwall seaside setting is well done. I liked how the cottages allowed for all the characters to organically interact and develop. I liked how the characters storylines intertwined and played off one another.

Overall, this is a lighthearted beachy read with depth. There’s humour, warmth, friendship. I’d recommend it for people who enjoy character-driven beach reads that have emotion. My main issue is the storylines should have been consolidated - multiple characters to keep track of, making things more complicated than was always enjoyable.

3⭐️

I personally found this book confusing with all the characters and keeping track of who is who. I almost DNF 'd the book but, I trudged through. I am sure the author is very talented and I would be open to reading other books of hers. But this one just didn't hit the nail on the head for me.

An Almost Perfect Holiday by Lucy Diamond is a charming novel that will certainly fit the bill if you are looking for a light and satisfying holiday read. I had not previously read any of Ms Diamond's work, but I will definitely keep an eye out for her books in future.

Lorna's cottages on the Cornish seaside are filling up for the summer season. Among the new crop of visitors are three women who believe that the holiday will provide the perfect escape. Em and Maggie hope that the break will provide an opportunity to strengthen bonds with their teenage children, while Olivia soon discovers that you can never outrun the past. Each of the women will come to realize that while a holiday might hold the promise of a temporary respite, you can never truly escape the bonds of family, nor the weight of secrets.

This is a cosy, heartfelt read that will provide a welcome escape on any day.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Publishers Group Canada for this ARC.

usually love reading Lucy’s books but this one was a bit of a disappointment. I found it hard to get into the book and to keep the characters straight. The premise of the book was intriguing, following 4 different women and their families on holidays in Cornwall. As the book went along, I got more confused, as each story ran into each other. Each chapter should’ve been marked with the character’s name, as it bounced back and forth between them. As I was reading I had to remember who Maggie was, and what her story was....and switch to the next character, Em, and her background and story, then Olivia, and Lorna. Near the end of the book, it got interesting so I was intrigued on how it was going to end. But it was a little too late.

Thanks #netgalley for the ARC.
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