Review of From Something Old by Nick Alexander

This is the story of two couples Heather, who is a 33 year old Nurse, hopelessly waiting for her romantic life to begin. Then meets Anthony in B&Q and projects all her hopes of true love onto the relationship. Then couple number two is Joe and Amy, who meet in a yoga retreat in Spain. Joe feels incredible lucky to have found her as she is the most beautiful woman he has never known.

Queue the story of how love can be blind and when the two couples meet through their children the cracks start to show. Overall a good story and well written, with good character development. Told mainly through the eyes of Heather and Joe.

Another great read from Nick Alexander!
Two very different couples who end up going on holiday together although they don’t really know each other! Both couples are at different stages in their relationships and are now set on a totally different path due to an indiscretion that occurred on holiday! Nick has a fantastic ability to write from both the male and female perspectives particularly when relating to relationship issues, emotions and feelings.
The two wronged partners initially feel devastated, distraught and bitter at their partners betrayal but as with many things time is a great healer and ultimately they come out of the situation much happier, fulfilled and loved and realise that they have been done a favour by their errant partners.
A brilliant read that covers marital infidelity,control and abuse and the power of love! Would highly recommend.
Thank you netgalley for this early read.

I really enjoyed this story. I smiled and I even shed a tear!

The story is basically about two couples, each consisting of one nice person and one I really didn’t like. The first couple we meet is Heather and Anthony. Heather is sweet, but naive and a little to eager to find a boyfriend so when she meets Anthony she has her blindfolds on and just goes with it even though he is far from nice. The other couple is Joe and Amy. Joe is just the kindest man possible and much too nice for Amy, but he falls in love with her and no matter how egocentric she is, he’s there for her. When these two couples meet it ends up being a recipe for disaster, at least to start with.

Chapters are told first person, from the perspective of different characters so we really get inside their heads. The story flows smoothly and is touching and cringeworthy at times, showing not just the good, but also the bad when it comes to love, relationships and parenting.

I would like to thank Nick Alexander, Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Forty something Heather is married to Anthony. It is not a happy marriage. He constantly puts her down leaving her feeling insecure and unloved. When she meets Amy, the mother of one of her son's friends, life looks up a bit. Amy invites them to come to Spain with her and her family and with some misgivings she agrees. It doesn't take much imagination to see what's coming. Amy and Ant hook up leaving Joe (Amy's husband) shattered and Heather... well, she doesn't know if she's relieved or distressed. The author gives us the viewpoint of three of the foursome so we get their take on it all. The loathsome Anthony isn't given a voice which was a wise decision I think.

I enjoyed this book. The characters are realistic though somewhat annoying at times (aren't we all?). Heather is so passive you want to shake her and Ant so controlling it's quite upsetting at times. Surprisingly, the character I liked best was Amy. I really felt for her and I have met people like her who never seem able to settle to anything and are always looking to the latest self help book for help.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Great drama from Nick Alexander, in this read about two unhappy marriages told from the perspectives of three of the central characters.

Heather and Anthony’s marriage is controlling and difficult. Amy and Joe seem to have it all but nothing can make Amy feel fulfilled.

Circumstances lead to the two families spending a summer holiday together in rural Spain, but can their marriages survive the trip?

Each character has their own issues, and themes of alcoholism, and child abuse are explored throughout the book.

This was a deep, intense read, which was difficult to put down as I wanted to find out what happened next. I would definitely recommend. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you, Nick, for giving me back my reading mojo!

Five minutes after starting “From Something Old” I felt as though I was watching a film, each character lit up the screen and my imagination was caught by the breath-taking scenery. A grandiose but remote villa in Spain, where to get a phone signal you had to walk halfway down the mountains. The seaside towns of Whitby, Filey and, my favourite, Robin Hoods Bay made me so nostalgic for those childhood holidays.

Heather is a nurse who puts family first. Anthony, her “Smoking Hot” husband, is a good father to their two girls, but he has been chipping away at his wife’s self-confidence since the first day they met.

Joe thinks he was punching way above his weight when he married the beautiful Amy. He absolutely adores her and will go to any lengths to keep her happy, but Amy is a dreamer and always on the lookout for her next big project.

When Lucy asks her mum and dad if they can go on holiday with Ben and his family, it starts a chain of events that will have leave an imprint on everyone’s life.

The conversations between the four characters are spellbinding, but Mr Alexander is also aware of when a simple glance, a shrug or a touch of hands can say far more than any words. He, above all other authors, has mastered the art of storytelling.

I have to say that the scenes starring Heather’s mother-in-law made my jaw drop with admiration for the way she is portrayed.

Reading a Nick Alexander book is like catching- up with your best friend, the conversation just flows and before you know it the night has ended, and you find yourself crying as you wave goodbye.

Four people looking for love. Four choices could be the start of everything. At thirty-three, nurse Heather is desperately waiting for her romantic life to begin. Then she meets handsome, strong Anthony and is sure she’s found the one. Brushing any doubts aside, she projects all her hopes for true love onto him. Meanwhile, at a yoga retreat in Spain, happy-go-lucky Joe can’t believe his luck when he meets vivacious, witty Amy. She’s the sharpest, most beautiful woman he has ever dated, and the fact that she’s interested in him feels like a dream come true. But new love can be blind, and when the two couples meet, the cracks are easy to see.

The characters are developed, crafted perfectly into their stories. They fit well into other plotlines as if they were meant to be all along. The characters are relatable, they’re your best friends, neighbours, colleagues and family. It’s like cosying up with a story you find familiar yet unwrapping a gift at the same time.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Heather is aware she’s unexceptional, so when she’s pursued by handsome, charming Anthony, she’s initially bowled over. Unfortunately all is not the fairytale she hopes for, and by the time her children are at school, Heather is desperately unhappy.

Maybe a holiday with new friends Joe and Amy will be good for them all?
Just kidding - of course it’s a disaster!

Thus was an enjoyable, if slightly predictable story, and the alternate first person characters work well. I’ll be looking for more of this author’s books.


Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an advance copy. All my opinions my own.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👧Deep, realistic exploration of family👨‍👩‍👦🐈

From Something Old was a riveting read, focusing on the dynamics of two English families and their sudden transformation during a summer vacation together in rural Spain.

It's really well-written and I particularly loved the change of perspective alternating between three of the main characters. I truly got a strong sense of who these three were and how they'd ended up in their predicament. The extra pages used to paint a thorough picture of both marriages right up to the moment of crisis and in the aftermath were well worth the extra reading time. For me, this extended internal glimpse into Joe, Amy and Heather made the story especially appealing.

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

Many thanks to the author, publishers and Netgalley for a free ARC of this ebook.
I've read several of this author's books before and really enjoyed them. This is a well written story of two 30-something couples whose ostensibly happy relationships unravel whilst on holiday together. Some of the characters are especially dislikable, others are a little more charming. It's an easy read, there are no real surprises and some difficult issues are explored very well, e.g. emotional abuse, difficult childhoods.
I recommend this book to those looking for something which goes deep into the characters, and doesn't dwell on the negative.

I’d like to thank Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘From Something Old’ by Nick Alexander in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Heather can’t believe her luck when she meets handsome charismatic Anthony and with their two daughters her life is complete but Anthony is aggressively controlling and belittles her at every opportunity. When their daughter Lucy becomes friends with Ben at school it’s not long before Heather and Ant meet his parents, vivacious Amy and Joe, who live just along the road from them. The two families go on holiday to Spain together where cracks soon appear and on their return to England their lives are change, but for the better or worse?

‘From Something Old’ is the beautifully written story of four people who’ve ignored the cracks in their marriages until an event brings them to the surface. The descriptions of the characters are so lifelike that I feel that I know them, Heather’s mother-in-law the vicious and mean-minded Marge and her narcissistic son Anthony who in her eyes can do no wrong, hardworking Joe who’s always done his best for family, Amy who’s never been satisfied with her life, and kind and gentle Heather who’s learnt not to answer back to Ant’s put-downs.
The further I got into the story the more enthralled I became with the characters until I couldn’t stop reading as I needed to know what was happening next. The author has this amazing ability to keep the reader completely involved and I’d give it more than five stars if I could. This is a thoroughly enjoyable novel that I’m sorry I’ve finished, I can wholeheartedly recommend it.

I really enjoyed this well written, easy to read story. The characters weren’t exactly all likeable but they were very real and the way the author explores their dynamics and back story kept my interest.

I have read quite a novels of this genre in the last few months and enjoyed this as much as the others. The author writes about the characters in a way it does make them seem real and relatable. This for me is very important sometimes and keeps my interest until the end.

Would definitely recommend

It takes quite a remarkable writer to create such a compelling story from what looks like an unremarkable domestic drama, but this is what we have from Nick Alexander. Two unhappy couples and their children go on holiday to Spain. Without internet and wi-fi, the unravelling of their relationships happens at pace and we look at the consequences from the perspectives of three of them - Heather, Joe and Amy. The novel explores their back history and what has made them who they are and the way they rebuild their lives after the holiday. It gives some pause for thought over what makes some relationships tick and other relationships toxic and by giving the reader insight into the parents of the four main characters, makes you think about how parenting shapes personalities and the way people handle relationships. Not surprising therefore that Joe is the most grounded and resilient of the four, with such a kind and thoughtful father. A great book club read, with lots to analyse and talk about. I loved it and will seek out more books by this author. Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the novel pre-publication.

Heather and Antony and Joe and Amy. Two couples who are very different - and very alike. They all have their say in this novel that put them together, along with their three kids (two for Ant and Heather and one for Joe and Amy) in a house in Spain. There aren't many distractions there so this forces them to face some truths they've been avoiding. This could have gone hard to the nasty but it doesn't. No spoilers from me on how things work out but know that it isn't easy for anyone. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I always enjoy Nick Alexander's books, he is such an expert at characterisation. He writes so perceptively about relationships and you really get under the skin of his characters. The abusive relationship which features mostly in the first half of the story is difficult to read but very believable. I guessed the direction the story was heading in but that isn't a criticism, we don't always need massive twists to satisfy us as readers, a well crafted character driven story is extremely satisfying. Very enjoyable read and I would recommend all of Nick's books.

Heather and Ant are in a relationship where Heather is being pushed around constantly by Ant. Their daughter, Lucy, is friends with Ben, a son to Amy and Joe. The 2 families go on a holiday to Spain together, mostly for the sake of their children. A good holiday turns out horrible, but the ending is good!

This book is about compassion, love and sacrifices. The book is engaging, although I have read a more-engaging can't-stop-reading books. Ultimately, I put this on the genre (personal preference) - love stories cannot be as engaging as thriller/horror books. Throughout reading the book, I did have some kind of expectation on how I want the ending to be, and it turns out just as I wanted it to be. So the shocking element, to me, is sort of lacking. The way Alexander describes the background, all the information, it feels like an autobiography. I thought the story might be boring at first, but further into the book, I find that it is actually a good book.

What I do like about the book is that it's different. I read love stories quite a lot, but this one is different from the others in a good way. I like that the opening sets a great and relevant background to the story, but at the same time I find it a bit too long.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 This book is a perfect example of how unexpected changes can lead to significant new beginnings. This book, From Something Old by Nick Alexander, is a cautionary tale about “settling” or cautiously agreeing to live without trials and tribulations. It’s simply isn’t good to play it safe all the time. Let’s be honest. No marriage, no matter how great it is, will go through some bumps in the road, that is how couples communicate and grow healthy marriages or relationships. But always trying to avoid those bumpy roads is going to lead to a wreck. From something old, you can get to something new, and this book was excellent. The author introduces us to love, marriage, children, homes, verbal abuse, poor negotiation, lack of communication, and so much more. But it’s told in a fresh way and with a wee bit of humor at times. I liked it and was pleasantly surprised. That’s always a good thing. Thank you to Netgalley for the free ARC. #marriage #divorce #FromSomethingOld #nickalexander #familylife #may-publication

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I like everything this author has written and this was no exception. Great story, lovely characters and I really enjoyed it.

I make no secret of how big a fan of this author I am... I started with the 50 Reasons series back in something like 2011 when I got my first Kindle and have devoured and loved everything he has written since. So... it'll come as no shock for me to say - I Loved This Book!
OK so... I could kinda see where we were probably going with the storyline - but, as I often say with this genre of book - it's not the destination, it's the journey. And the journey this book took me on was delightful and wonderful and, well, so many emotions both positive and negative. But all very valid.
It really helped that I connected with all four main characters right from the off. Some more than others, some also in a more positive way. But, as with ALL of the characters this author has created over his stellar career, all were well crafted and all felt completely real. Throw them into a cracking storyline, full of life twists and turns, sprinkle with some ups and downs and more of the sht that life generally throws at people and you got yourself one heck of a compelling read. Well.. that's how I saw it anyway.
Oh and there is no waffle or padding to be found. Nothing to distract from the story and characters. Enough description to colour the narrative and not a word more. Which means that the story gets on with itself very well and it's easy to fall under its spell and stay there for the duration.
In fact, the only bad thing about it is reaching the wholly satisfying end and having to leave the characters that I have got to know along the way. It's always a wrench doing this but I guess we have to leave them to get on with things on their own...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.