Another lovely read from Amanda Prowse. Having read many of her books now, I'm rarely disappointed. The usual lovely writing style is evident here.

A thoroughly enjoyable and relatable story. The book takes us into Bess's life as a teenage girl at 16 in 1984 and as a wife and mother at 53 in 2021. Teenage friendships, school life, relationships; the references to the 1980s were, mostly, very relatable for someone who lived through that period. At 53, Bess's life hasn't turned out as planned and she is being destroyed by long-kept secrets and a corrosive feeling of disappointment. Both strands of the book hit on major crises in Bess's life and are handled sensitively and engagingly.
I really liked this book but there were some inconsistencies in the references to the 1980s that stopped it from being a 5-star read.

In 1984, Bessie is a confident sixteen-year-old girl who is dreaming of what life will be and what she will bring to this life. Suddenly, everything comes crashing down. She loses her bright and trusting smile and is banished by shame over a secret she will carry with her for the rest of her life. It's now 2021, the last thirty-seven years have been hard for Bess. She is now fifty-three and is visibly weary and her marriage to Mario is in tatters. Bess knows it is now time to face her demons and save her relationship in the hope to honour sixteen-year-old Bessie whose dreams lie in frozen time.

This is a story full of teenage and family drama. It is both lighthearted and painful and most definitely enjoyable. Bess is such a likeable character and her character develops strongly as the book goes on. The story is told through two timelines - August 22nd, 1984 and August 22nd, 2021. A significant date, Bessie's birthday. Due to the fact that this story is told over two days, the majority of the story is told through daily activities, internal thoughts and feelings and personal interactions which all make this book so raw and emotional. However, I think this played a part in what made the book slow and slightly repetitive at times, but I also feel these parts were needed to give the story the emotional impact that it gave.

Overall, another strong book from Amanda Prowse (and I have read my fair share!). I always cannot wait to read her newest installment and I will keep my eyes peeled for the next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Amanda Prowse books never dissapoint and this is no different. Beautiful characters, beautiful take on family life, stunning scenery set by the language she uses and a heart to every story. Eagerly awaiting her next

The flow of the story and the emotions captured in the words made a big book read fast. There was something so palpable about the words that they haunted me for a long time.
Written in dual timelines, the book showed me Bessie’s life and decisions taken by her. The characters were beautifully rounded and kept real.
Didn't like the cover.
Overall, a heartwrenching read.

Amanda Prowse hits it out of the park again with this stunning read. A plot that kept me turning the pages at night and characters that felt so real. A wonderful read.

Having read all of Amanda's book I couldn't wait to read this one and it didn't disappoint.Just the right length, love the storyline of friendship and friendship lost,secrets within a family and with women at its centre.Great storyline.

This is about Bess, or Bessie. We meet her in 1984, when she's a 16 year old with the world at her feet, big plans for her life and what she wants to study. And then we meet her modern times - she's 53, and although her life has turned out well it's definitely not the way that her younger self had hoped. It was a bit of a rocky road getting there, because something from her past has haunted her since she was that 16 year old, and now with her children growing up and making lives of their own she is tired, a bit disappointed, and the cracks are really starting to show in her marriage.

I really enjoyed the way that this book was structured, and the way that the story played out. I also liked how it dealt with a range of subjects. However, in the case of one particular difficult subject (I'm think it may be a spoiler to say what it was, but if you are interested in reading this it was nothing traumatically upsetting to read) I just felt there was something missing. Not enough grit, not enough emotion.

This is an older woman's version of the type of contemporary women's fiction that I'm not really all that interested in, so it's probably just that it didn't mesh well with me personally, but for me a bit this was just an okay book.

Another great book by this author. Bess is a great character, very relatable, and it works really well telling the story in the two timeslines, Bess the naive 16 year old and the middle aged woman looking back on her life. I was hooked from the first pages and really rooting for her so highly recommended

This was definitely one of the best books I have read this year... I did managed to finish this book within a few hours. It was captivating and difficult to put down.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.
Review of this novel will be posted soon

Waiting To Begin by Amanda prose is a women’s fiction. It tells the story of Bessie and her journey in dual timelines. One timeline is set in the present, and the other is set in 1984 featuring a young sixteen-year-old Bessie. At sixteen Bessie is full of life, excited for her future, and full of plans. But life had other plans and takes her down with events that derail her whole life. Her dreams are shattered, and she finds herself retreating because of the shame, and hopelessness the events brought forward. During the present, Bessie at 53 is struggling to find contentment or happiness in life. She feels run over and the hopelessness and despair lead her to make decisions that hurt her family. When clarity comes crashing and old secrets threaten to come out, Bessie has to face the inevitable and make a choice that will alter the course of her life. Will Bessie be able to find happiness? Or is she doomed for failure regardless of her efforts?

I am happy to say that this story didn’t disappoint and brings forward a young girl’s journey and her fight to survive in a cruel world and also how long-suppressed trauma and depression can come out in unhealthy and often detrimental ways. Overall, I enjoyed the story and if you love character-driven stories, you will enjoy it. People who enjoy women’s fiction, chick-lit, and family stories should check it out. I gave the book 4 stars and highly recommend checking out this book.

I enjoyed the book the further along I got into it but found the beginning a bit dull.

Bessie is 53 and it is her birthday she is married to Mario with two children. Things with Mario have not been going well for a number of things. Mario feels she is holding back and doesn’t seem to be interested in him.

We go from her past when she turned 16 and also her life at 53. What happened when she was 16 has had an huge factor in her life.

The writing was very good and some bits of the book I wanted to read on to find out what happens but as I say was a bit dull in places.

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.

I loved this book. Going back and forth through Beth's story was interesting and I am sad it has ended.

This is my first book by Amanda Prowse that I have read.

This was in fact a very good story and a lovely book to read. I loved how the author took us to the old times and back to the present. The story takes place in two timelines, both involving the main character Bess and (sadly) her crashing dreams of the future. This is a story of a confident, full-of-dreams 16 year old girl who then struggled for 30 years to keeps a secret. 30 difficult years, and once the secret was out a (good) weight was lifted off her shoulders.

The book explains to the reader how everything you do has consequences and how sometimes your actions can change who you are… and who you become. The book is an emotional read and beautifully written. If I had to say anything negative about it (thinking very hard here…), I would have probably liked to know more about Bess and her new-found daughter….

It’s certainly a book that I would recommend and thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for giving me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a fan of Amanda Prowse, her books tug at the heartstrings every time. Waiting to Begin is no exception. It’s told along two timelines, the first is Bessie’s 16th birthday and the second is Bess’ 53rd. The difference in Bess between the two is stark. At 16, she was fun and optimistic, ready to become an air hostess and see the world. A traumatic incident with a boy left her depressed with her future on hold. At 53, Bess is married with 2 adult children. Her marriage is stale, and she’s been carrying the secret of her 16th birthday ever since it happened. It’s affected her entire life and she’s ready to let it go, but she’s not sure she can.

The characters were relatable and real. The plot makes you think, and might make you cry. I recommend this book, 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

This was the first book I have read by Amanda Prowse, thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read an advanced copy. I enjoyed the way the story jumped between 1984 and 2021 although I think I preferred Bessie when she was 16. Maybe I could relate more to that stage of life than the mid-life crisis stage. Her world does get turned upside down and the idea of significant choices determining your future is a theme that runs throughout the book. The story will keep you hooked and for me personally I look forward to reading more books by the same author.

I have always enjoyed Amanda’s books, but as the title suggests I was oftentimes left ‘waiting to begin’ right alongside Bessie- I felt the story was a little slow compared to her previous works, but I did find it a nice change of pace. Whilst some might not like the slow pace I enjoyed it I felt like I was riding the story right beside Bessie – great title and great way to make the story fit it as well!

Set across two timelines and two birthdays – in 1984 we have Bess celebrating her sweet sixteenth, waiting on exam results and a best friend who she is keeping a secret from, and then her 53rd birthday in 2021 where he secrets from the past still haunt her to this very day and it is causing strain with her relationship with Mario her husband (in such a way that he doesn’t realise).

Bessie’s past secret was pretty easy to ascertain fairly early on, though once revealed, it was heart-breaking none the less – it was a secret that destroyed her brothers relationship with their parents and one that cost her, her friendship with her best friend Michelle.

What you get with ‘Waiting to Begin’ is a story that is real and relatable, and as with Amanda’s other works it is a story that you will struggle to not enjoy from the get go.

Waiting to begin was a very powerful, heartfelt book. It shows how everything you do has consequences and sometimes can change who you are. I really enjoyed this book. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.