This novel starts by introducing us to Molly. Molly is 94-years-old and is lying in a hospital bed following on from a stroke and a fall at home. This experience makes Molly realise the sacrifice she has made and the secret that she has kept that will never be revealed. The novel then jumps back in time to the 1940's which is during the time of the Second World War. This part of the novel follows Molly's journey through life, when she falls in love, when she experiences grief, and how she manages to keep her life long secret.

I have to admit, I am not a historical fiction fan at all, but for Amanda Prowse how can I not give it a go?! The fact that there is the romance element added in there obviously helped me out just that little bit - this is a beautiful and heartfelt novel.

Molly is an extraordinary woman. She didn't always have an easy life, but she always sparkled through her experiences. I loved the character of Molly and getting to know 18-year-old her and the sacrifice she made that she had to live with for the rest of her life. Ironically, the title of this book is the complete opposite of Molly's character. Ordinary? Nah. Molly is extraordinary and inspirational. What a woman.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Amanda Prowse did not disappoint yet again!

Another great book by Amanda Prowse! Her books hook you from the very start and keep you reading until the end. I think that Molly’s story will stay with me for a while. The book is beautifully written and I felt everything she went through. Such a great layout to the story.

Lovely read I have read many of Amanda's books and they are always enjoyable and not to difficult to read.Loved the relationship between the 2 sisters in this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to review this book. This was a sweet story. I enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone who enjoys Hallmark movies.

Another brilliant book by this author, I loved Molly she is just the sort of woman you would want as your grandmother! The dual timeline worked well and I loved Molly's wartime story definitely a book that is highly recommended

The story starts off with Molly age 94 writing a very important letter followed by a tumble down the stairs. The book then jumps back to Molly at age 18 working for the British government as a translator during WWII. The story than documents Molly’s life through the decades. First love, war, sacrifice, tragedy, hardship, friendship, forgiveness, hope. Molly didn’t always have an easy life but she always had a bit of a spark. I really liked Molly and enjoyed getting to know her throughout her life. She really made the ultimate sacrifice and lived with the fallout for all her life. Molly's hardships didn't end when the war was over and my heart broke for her. I thought this book was going to be historical fiction focused on wartime but it was so much more as 70 years of Molly's life filled the pages. I felt like she was part of my life and I will miss her and this story. This book was one of the most emotional books I have read. Molly lost a lot and she saw a lot of horrible things in her secret work with the government. She was blessed to have sisters and a brother that loved her and were there for her although her mother was not. Enjoyed the book and the way it unravels the story.

Thanks to Amanda Prowse, Amazon Publishing U.K., and NetGalley

When I think of literary fiction, I think of books just like this one, that gives all the feels and can satisfies just about every reader's heart. This is a perfect books to snuggle up with on any day.

Molly is 94 and looking back at her life. She’s writing a letter to her son Joe, but falls and has a stroke. While she’s lying in bed she relives her life during and after WWII. She was a government translator, and met the love of her life, Johan. She gets pregnant and Johan is killed. Molly leaves her son with her sister Joyce, and went on to become a spy in France, a prisoner liaison and ends up working at a hospital.
Molly suffered greatly during the war and had to make many sacrifices. Still, she feels she’s led an ordinary life even though it was nothing of the kind. I love historical fiction, and this was very good.
4 stars.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

Bring tissues.

Molly was well written, although I questioned some of her "behavior" as being accurate to the time period, but stress and trauma bring out different sides of peoples personalities.

This was such a lovely story, and I absolutely loved it. I loved how it had dual timelines in it and went back and forth between the two. I liked getting to know Molly more. She did not have the easiest life. This story is set during WWll. I thought it was a great read and I would recommend it!

And she’s done it again; another Amanda Prowse cracker that hooked me from start to finish. Loved it.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the author for a copy of this ARC for which I have given my voluntary and unbiased review

Amanda Prowse brings to us yet another powerful story of first love, loss, war and the endurance of a woman through all of this. This is a story that brings out all the emotions and one of the few books that made me shed a few tears.

Molly's story starts off in the 1940s in London and goes on until 2019, as she lies in the hospital thinking back to her life. We follow her as she experiences her first love, the loss of her love, her efforts to contribute to the war effort, her experiences with different people and in the midst of the war. In all this, she gives birth to a wonderful baby boy, born out of wedlock and shunned by her mother. With no other choice, Molly requests her sister and brother-in-law to care for her baby while she earns enough money to support herself.

As time passes, Molly becomes a wonderful aunt to her son, who never learns of the truth, but loves her as much as any child could love a mother. Carrying the weight of her decisions, the separation from her son and the horrors of the war, Molly, a very very strong woman faces a life filled with so many secrets. She perseveres on, working for a living whether it is playing her part in the war efforts or supporting herself after the war ends.

The bond Molly shares with her sister is a strong one and something that is great to read about. The strength, support and even jealousy all come together showing us a glimpse into each of their thoughts and in the end how they are there for each other. This is a wonderful example of what family is all about and the bonds that siblings share. The author brings to us the irony of the whole situation under the guise of the character having lived "an ordinary life"!

Amanda Prowse's writing is powerful and will draw the reader in from page one. There is no stopping until the reader gets to the bottom of it all, finds out all the secrets and how the story ends. This book will stay with me for a long time and I highly recommend it to all fiction lovers out there. The book cannot be put into any one genre, it encompasses so many and in the end is just worth it!

I love Amanda Prowse and am always excited when a new book is released, and as usual, this didn't disappoint!

Christmas Eve, 2019. Ninety-four-year-old Molly lies in her hospital bed. A stroke and a fall may have broken her body—but her mind is alive with memories.

A beautifully written plot centres around family, what lengths we go to help them and protect them and the love that they have. Molly has been working on writing a letter for many years but has never managed to finish it. While heartbreaking at the beginning this turns into a wonderfully heartwarming story, exactly wat Prowse does best.

The characters were relatable and well developed and I loved them all. I was very invested in the story throughout and felt sad when the end came,

A great read for any fan of Prowse and for anyone who wants a heartwarming, engrossing story... like all her others!

Another beautifully written and poignant book from Amanda Prowse. I thoroughly enjoyed this and as a big fan of her books this one does not disappoint. Fell in love with the characters and the storyline had me from the beginning. A wonderful story told through a lifetime.

Highly recommended and well deserves the 5 stars.

Thank you Amazon Publishing and Netgalley.

Beautifully written , Molly has lived a very full life though in her mind its a ordinary life, she has lived a amazing life full of memories , some sad , heartbreaking , some loving and Heroic. This was like reading your great grandmothers journal , a woman who has seen so much in her short 94 years on earth. It was a joy to read . The author has a lovely lyrical flow with the writing . Would recommend reading this author over and over .

I received an eARC of An Ordinary Life by Amanda Prowse from Amazon Publishing UK-Lake Union and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
4 stars! This one tugged at the heartstrings. A story about love, loss, family, and a woman whose life was anything but ordinary. Keep the tissues handy for this compelling read!

This book begins as 94 year old Molly lays in her hospital bed after a stroke and a fall and goes back to 1940 in London during the war and tells her story moving forward. It is beautifully written and so descriptive. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because I really felt like it was building up to Molly revealing her secret but it doesn’t happen which made me sad🤷🏼‍♀️ It does otherwise have a sweet ending but I won’t spoil it anymore 😁Highly recommend you buy this book! Fans of historical fiction will definitely love it 📚😍 Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and the author Amanda Prowse for an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest review.

An Ordinary Life by Amanda Prowse An Ordinary Life had me riding the emotional rollercoaster throughout this story. The trials/ challenges Molly faced were overwhelming and how she coped and overcame them kept me engaged and sitting on the edge of my seat. Her life was anything but ordinary and I really enjoyed reading each page of this book. I definitely recommend An Ordinary Life - 4 STARS!

I received this book for free. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own. Thank you to Ms. Prowse and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to review this book.

A compelling read. Beautifully written, well-thought-out characters, and a developed past setting. A little cheesy at times, but I truly enjoyed this one!

Beautiful and strong story about the sacrifices made. I couldn't put it down until the end. Lovely. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher!