Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. This book is written on Bessie's 16th birthday and flashes forward to her 53rd birthday. The decisions she made as a 16 year old has affected her, her whole life and it has taken this long to realize it. This story is so sweet, I cried through the last 3 chapters. #waitingtobegin #amandaprose #June2021

I found this book a bit slow to begin , but it was definitely worth sticking with it. The story of Bess, her young life and her older self and all the blame and shame and secrets that were destroying her life and people around her. It made me stop and think about all the pain, hurt and misunderstanding that can radiate from a situation like this, when self doubt stops someone from reaching out and asking for help. I really enjoyed the book and raced through it!

Wow! I absolutely devoured this book. I couldn't put it down. I think many of us of a certain age will be able to emphasise with Bessie as a teen and the adult Bessie still reeling from bad life choices. I cried a lot!

Waiting to Begin
Amanda Prowse
Publication date 6-8-21
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a beautifully written story about secrets, forgiveness and letting go. This story is told through Bessie’s point of view from 1984 and present day. Bessie is struggling as a teen in 1984, because of her choices her dream of attending university is shattered. Fast forward to present day Bessie is unhappy- she is married and has two adult children she seems to be stuck in the past and always waiting for something. When she delves into her past mistakes she realizes that instead of waiting for a good life she needs to embrace and let her secrets free and then maybe she will be happy. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of Amanda Prowse’s books as they always stay with me.

Sending a sincere thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of Waiting to Begin for my honest review! Can’t wait to see what comes next!!

Review posted on my Instagram blog
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Goodreads
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Another fabulous read from Ms Prowse! I loved being transported back to 1984 and found it brought back so much nostalgia for me. Jeannie and Eddie were so like my best friends parents at this time. A beautiful story throughout.

I write this as tears are streaming down my face. Wow.. is all I can say. This book has all the emotions putting you on a roller coaster ride. The highs and lows.
Such a fantastic read.. more than 5 stars..
This is going to stay on my mind for awhile. Book hangover in all the best ways

Thanks to the Author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.

Another storming brilliant book from Amanda. She has this gift of storytelling that you are hooked from the first page that keeps you awake at night because you want to know more. The characters do not leave you. This story was no different. Very very moving that will have you in tears as well as joy. This is the story of Bess who made choices when she was young, through no fault of her own, the characters that she surrounded her life with and the effect of those choices that she has carried through her life. Thoroughly recommend. It's a great book

Oh my goodness, Amanda certainly knows how to pull you in! Waiting to Begin is a story told in two timelines - 1984 and 2021 - of a young woman's life and her life now. I really felt as though a was Bess' sister, travelling on the journey with her. Fingers crossed there's a sequel........

WOW!! I was only going to read one chapter before bed and ended up reading the whole book.

The story alternates between 1984 and 2021.

In 1984 we meet sixteen year old Bessie ‘A big girl with big dreams” she has her future all planned out and wants to become an air hostess. She is best friends with Michelle and they are inseparable. Bessie has an exciting secret that she hasn’t told Michelle about Laurence, but sadly Michelle also likes him!!

Bessie goes to get her exam results and she is in for a disappointment that will ruin the rest of her birthday. The day gets worse as later at the rugby club she is told some home truths and realises her secret was not so secret!!

We meet Bessie again in the present time, she is married to Mario and they have two grown up children. It’s Bessie’s birthday but she is not happy with her life and has been thinking about when she was young and had ambition and hope.

I loved this book!! You get to see how the past has shaped how Bessie is now. She has been Keeping a secret from her family that has always haunted her, but she needs to face those demons before she can enjoy living life again.

A beautifully written book that had me enthralled.

A MUST read!! I would have have given it much more than 5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

Another exquisite tale from Amanda Drowse, one of my favourite authors. I really felt for Bess throughout. Difficult to put down- read in one sitting! Would highly recommend.

WAITING TO BEGIN
BY AMANDA PROWSE

I usually love all of Amanda Prowse's novels but this one was disappointing for me. There are two timelines here concerning Bessie the main character and her family which are 1984 and the present. There isn't much happening. Bessie and her best friend in 1984 both like the same boy but Bessie is keeping a secret from her best friend. In both timelines it is Bessie's birthday to which she isn't very enthused at her Birthday gifts.

In the 1984 time line Bessie is disappointed because she discovers that out of 362 people in her class she comes in at 361 (2nd lowest in her class). Her dreams are dashed at becoming an airline hostess and on her way to a dance she learns that her boyfriend has announced that they have had sex to another boy when they had made a pact to each other to tell nobody. This complicates the fact that she had rehearsed a speech to break it to her best friend that her relationship with the boy they both like is not going to turn out as Bessie had hoped.

In the present day it is also Bessie's birthday but she is married to someone else where the doldrums of marriage has set in. She is now in her fifties and has a son and a daughter. She is feeling underwhelmed by her husband's remembering her birthday by his lack of a card. She calls him at work and he surprises her by coming home and he discloses a long ago disappointment that happened that he feels that he didn't get his needs met.

Usually I love Amanda Prowse novels but this one I felt I am in the minority compared to other reviewer's here on Good Read's. This one seemed superficial and less compelling in both the plot and characterization's. This surprises me that I don't feel like this one is very relatable to me.

Publication Date: June 8, 2021

Thank you to Net Galley, Amanda Prowse and Lake Union Publishing for providing me with my Arc in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#WaitingtoBegin #AmandaProwse #LakeUnionPublishing #NetGalley

A fabulous novel again by Amanda Prowse. Bessie has been happily married for over 25 years and with two lovely children her life should have been perfect, but she has carried a secret for over thirty years and when she suddenly starts having problems in her relationship she realises she must finally reveal her past before it destroys her life forever, Beautifully and sensitively written with characters you can warm to instantly and a beautiful emotional story , and I shed tears of joy at the ending. Read in in a day it was so good definitely a 5 ⭐read

Every woman who has wondered if she was good enough will be moved by Bess's story. This story touched my heart and I could relate to Bess in so many ways. On the day of her 16th birthday Bess's life changed forever. On her 53rd birthday, she is reflecting on the path her life took and the weight of secrets she's kept for over thirty years. From the youthful hopes at age 16 to her weary examination of life's disappointing moments, Amanda Prowse writes with tender insight about the relationships a woman has with her mother, children, friends and spouse. This one is a must read, but be sure to have a box of tissues nearby.

Another stonking 5 star read . Live, loss, family friendships, heartbreak and family secrets , all brought together in a fantastic book . Praise again for Amanda Prowse

Another amazing book from Amanda Prowse. Such a rollercoaster of emotions. This story centers around Bess. With flashbacks to the younger Bess in the 80's and back to her current life as a middle aged woman. I see a bit of myself in Bess, maybe all women do. One decision can change so much. I think that's why I love these books so much because they always seem to relate to me. You will need your tissues.

I found the first half of this book frankly tedious. It was worth persevering, though, as the second half was better. Still a little predictable, but a good tale all the same. A lesson in why not to let the past affect the present too much. Most of the action cleverly takes place on 2 specific days, neither of which pans out as hoped or expected.

Oh my goodness, what an emotional and compelling story! From the first few pages I was utterly hooked. Amanda always manages to touch my heart with her characters and their situations, and this book was no different. I found myself willing on Bessie, to find her happiness again and to live the life she so craved .
It’s was beautifully written and I loved reading every page 💗

Found this book a real slow burner, have always loved Amanda prowse but feel on some of her last few books that she's losing her edge, maybe due to so many books being released. I did enjoy it but just didn't live it.

This is such a great read filled with heartbreak and betrayal and loss in a few different ways. Bess learns at sixteen not to trust people and loses the one person she has known from an early age and there are parts of Bess in all of us, again Amanda has written the type of book that is impossible to leave down.

Thanks verbally for allowing me to read This book Bess had an incident in her life that happened when she was sixteen that shaped her life. I enjoyed the different characters in this book.