Waiting to Begin is a poignant story that explores the consequences of teenage choices and the complexities of adult life. Told across two timelines—Bessie's 16th birthday in 1984 and her 53rd birthday in 2021—the novel delves into her struggles with past regrets, empty nest syndrome, and a stale marriage.

While the dual narrative provides an interesting structure, Bessie herself is not always a likeable character. Her teenage decisions, driven by impulsiveness, set her life on a difficult course. As an adult, she remains caught up in superficial concerns, like the number of Facebook messages she receives, which makes it hard to fully empathize with her. Despite having a loving family and a supportive husband, Bessie’s dissatisfaction with life can feel frustrating at times.

However, Amanda Prowse’s clever and emotional writing keeps you engaged, and the gradual unraveling of Bessie’s long-held secret adds layers to her character. The novel isn’t as intense as some of Prowse’s other works, but it’s still an enjoyable read that tackles family drama, personal growth, and redemption.

I love dual time line books and this one was hard to put down. It pulls at the heart strings. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

I’m writing this with tears still in my eyes because I cried and cried at the ending. It’s the ending I needed for such a difficult book because I was mad and sad and down right brokenhearted by the middle.
Terrible hurt and sadness loomed over most of this story and I just didn’t like the Bessie. But when the rest of her life fell apart I couldn’t stop reading. I wanted something good to happen for her and I loved her wonderful husband so much!!
I’m grateful I finished this because it was a beautiful ending.
This author has such a special touch for writing meaningful, heartfelt themes.
Thanks Amazon Publishing UK via NetGalley.

This is told in a dual timeline
The storyline is true to life. The main character was sometimes unlikeable
The writing is so clever and gives you all the feels

At 16, Bess will bury a kernel deep into her heart and surround it, allowing the scars to build. At 53, in order to save the life she has so carefully built, she will have to peel away the scars and allow sunlight into her family's life.

Waiting To Begin is an absolutely achingly beautiful story of love, loss, hope, and healing.

Bess is such a wonderful character. I think we'd be friends, both as teens and adults. The things she has gone through in her life shaped her into the wife and mother that she is. Not perfect, but trying her best.

The people around her and the relationships they share are so complex. Secrets being kept means that no one is fully honest, which means that not everyone has completely given themselves to their loved ones.

As truths are told and secrets are revealed, Bess and her family can start to heal and rebuild in the hopes of mending broken bonds.

I absolutely loved this book! Amanda Prowse can do no wrong.

Waiting to Begin is my second book from Amanda Prowse but unlike the first I didn't like this. I disliked Bess and could have cared less about what happened to her.

You know this is going to be a good book or something is seriously wrong and she steuck gold again!
A story told when Bess is on her 16th Birthday and again on her 37th birthday and it flits between the two eras as she sifts through life decisions. An emotional story which will tug at your heart strings. Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

This book started off slow for me and that is the reason why I gave it 4 stars. I did end up enjoying it. I would recommend this book.

Nobody can sever your heartstrings quite like Amanda Prowse and this outstanding storyteller is back with a dramatic and captivating new novel, Waiting to Begin.

Sixteen year old Bessie has the world at her feet. The confident teenager’s future is bright and rosy and she simply cannot wait to see what life has in store for her. Bessie plans to conquer the world – until all her hopes and dreams come crashing down around her ears. With her entire world in tatters and battered by shame and guilt, Bessie finds herself distraught and weighed down by the heavy burden of a dangerous secret that will haunt her for the rest of her life.

Thirty-seven years later, Bess is now fifty-three and that bright and trusting smile is lost forever. With her marriage to Mario in tatters, Bess is weary and forlorn. With her son newly married, a determined Bess vows to do whatever it takes to save her marriage – even if it means confronting past demons and facing up to the shame that had destroyed her life. Vanquishing old ghosts is not going to be easy, but it is only by confessing her secrets to Mario and unshackling herself from the past that Bess can at long last be free.

Will Bess finally find the happiness that has long been denied to her? Or will she be condemned to a lifetime of further shame and heartbreak?

Keep a box of tissues handy when reading Amanda Prowse’s Waiting to Begin because this book is going to make you cry buckets. Amanda Prowse’s strength is in writing strong women who might go through the emotional wringer, but who always find the courage and fortitude to keep going even if the odds are stacked against them and in Bessie she has created another in a long line of heroines readers will relate to and care about.

A powerfully written tale about confronting the past, healing from old wounds and dangerous secrets, Amanda Prowse’s Waiting to Begin is a searingly emotional novel that is impossible to forget.

Thank you for providing a review copt of this book. I didn’t enjoy it as much as I hoped and did not finish. I appreciate the opportunity.

In Waiting to Begin, author Amanda Prowse expertly tells the story of Bess, a sixteen-year-old girl whose bright, confident spirit is ruined when a life-altering event brings shame and a secret she'll keep forever. Thirty-seven years later, Bess is a tired, discouraged woman whose marriage to Mario is in pieces. Watching her son in a newlywed state of joy, Bess decides it's time to come to terms with her secret and to honor the girl she once was.

This poignant novel deftly portrays a journey of healing and forgiveness that has something for everyone. Through Amanda Prowse's gorgeous writing and the rich, relatable characters she creates, we witness the transformational power of love and the courage it takes to pick up the pieces and keep moving forward. Waiting to Begin is a deeply affecting story of finding peace and hope in life's broken places.

A great story told from the two different eras of time for Bessie. One is a young 16 year old girl and the other is an adult with her own children and a life that she is still not fully satisfied with. It was a good read that made you feel for what young Bess was going through and how it impacted her life moving forward.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. Another amazing book by this author that I found hard to put down. Absolutely recommend.

Another fantastic novel by this author! Like every novel that I have read by her, its filled with emotion and gets you hooked on right from the start, and you end up getting lost into the plot that you don't even realise that you have the end!

"You should take the time to think about your life. You need to live a life you like."--- This line from this book is meant for each and every one of us!

Thank You NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for this ARC!

This is the first book I have read by this author and I loved it, it was an emotional and powerful read and I will definitely be looking out for her other books.

Once again Amanda Prowse has written a book that will leave you emotionally drained by the end. This one is full of teenage drama. The characters are well developed and the storyline will pull you in. There were times when I really disliked Bess, the main character. Ge ready for an emotional ride once you open the book and get lost in the pages.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Pubishing for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

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I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. A heart warming story about different times of our lives and how you wish and wonder about the things from the past and worry about the future.

Waiting To Begin Amanda Prowse
If Amanda writes it, I will read it. I really enjoyed this book, and switched between reading and audio. I loved the narration, but then Amanda can read me anything.
I love Bess, in both the past and present tense and loved the crossover between then and now.
I love how Amanda tackles the difficult topics and doesn't wrap them all up in a pretty bow to finish a story.
I'm a fan, always will be.

Another cracking book by Amanda Prowse, she never fail to completely absorb me into the story. A beautiful, thought provoking story, wonderfully written as always.