Keeping Up Appearances  by Tricia Stringer was for me a delightful, engaging read. It is set in rural Australia and a small community.

There is single parent Paige who has arrived with her three children to make a new start. She is not well off and everything is a bit of a struggle. However by various means she finds herself eventually very involved with the community.

Briony and Vince find themselves with their three adult children at home. And all three of them bring various kinds of headaches for Briony, who is very much all about keeping up appearances.

Marion (Vince's sister) and Len have two adult children but they live far away. Marion is a retired school teacher and Vince still works the farm although he is nearing seventy. A time capsule is about to make its presence felt and Marion suffers much from it.

The story lines were engaging and I loved all the characters, those mentioned above and those I haven't. They are ordinary, flawed human beings dealing with issues that are challenging. They keep secrets, some people gossip, some find it hard to accept that life is not going to turn out as they had hoped. Tricia Stringer guides them along, and as a result I felt compassion for each and delight when they stretched and grew.

I really enjoyed this story, especially the authors writing style which was like she was talking directly to you. Set in rural Australia I liked watching the relationships and secrets of the three main women (Paige, Briony and Marion) get revealed. The characters were people you felt you could come across in your own life. I loved the dialogue in this one and will definitely be checking out more from this author.

After reading and thoroughly enjoying Birds Of A Feather, I was so thrilled to read an early copy of Keeping Up Appearances, and it did not disappoint.

Tricia Stringer is such a beautiful story teller. Her realistic portrayal of small town life and the characters that inhabit it made this an utter joy to read.

I will be recommending this far and wide. A gorgeous Australian read.

I love stories that are close to home for me, visualising the places and people and understanding the lingo. Small town stories are the best, the characters are caring and helpful and all know each other's business, well there has to pros and cons. Paige and her children are newcomers to this town. She joins a local fitness group and secrets start coming out, relationships break down. The characters are typical of small towns, set in their ways, not really open to changing times. I was amused though, they were raw and real. This was a heartwarming story and I really enjoyed it.

EXCERPT: 'It seems to me that keeping things quiet only causes angst later.'

'What are you referring to?'

'Everything and nothing.' Vince shrugged.

Briony glared at him, but he met her look with one of quiet resignation.

'Buried secrets, love ... they have a way of working their way to the top.'

ABOUT 'KEEPING UP APPEARANCES': Privacy is hard to maintain in Badara, the kind of small Australian country town where everyone knows everyone else's business. So discovers single mum Paige when she and her three children arrive from the city seeking refuge. Paige's only respite from child care and loneliness is the Tuesday gym club, where she had feared the judgement of the town matriarchs, but she is met only with generosity and a plethora of baked goods. Besides, both the brusque Marion and her polished sister-in-law Briony are too busy dealing with their own dramas to examine hers.

Well-to-do farmer's wife and proud mother Briony is in full denial of her family's troubles. Even with her eldest daughter's marriage in ruins and her son Blake's recent bombshell. Suddenly Briony and husband Vince have a full house again - and the piles of laundry aren't the only dirty linen that's about to be aired.

For Marion, the unearthing of a time capsule - its contents to be read at the Celebrate Badara weekend - is a disaster. She was only a teenager when she wrote down those poisonous words, but that doesn't mean she won't lose friends and family if they hear what she really thinks of them - especially as the letter reveals their darkest secrets to the world.

When the truth comes out for Badara, keeping up appearances may no longer be an option for anyone ...

MY THOUGHTS: Keeping Up Appearances is a great title for this novel. Most of us are influenced to some extent by the thought of what other people will think of us. And that is fine to a certain extent, but Briony takes it to a whole other level. Her life and actions are ruled by worrying about what other people think, and her inability to put this aside and accept the reality of situations may just be the thing that tears her family apart. After all, truth will always out.

Tricia Stringer writes captivating family dramas. Her characters, by the end of the book, feel like old friends; although I have to admit that it took me some time to settle into this read. But once I did, I was frantically flipping pages to see how the problems that the various characters faced would be resolved - if they were to be resolved at all.

Issues include a single mum on the run from her family with her three children; a woman who can't accept that her children aren't living the perfect lives she envisaged for them; a woman afraid to face her friends again after a family scandal not of her making; and a woman whose teenage actions come back to bite her on the you-know-where.

Unusually for Stringer's characters, initially they mostly irritated me. I really didn't warm to any of them. But as their pasts were revealed I began to understand and empathise with them. Briony was the most irritating. I really just wanted to pull that poker right out of her ass. I loved Sarah. She just exudes love, warmth and generosity; and I loved how she took Paige under her wing.

Despite a bit of a shaky start, I ended up enjoying this read. It's not my favourite of her books - that honour goes to The Family Inheritance, closely followed by Birds of a Feather - but it's ultimately a rewarding read.

⭐⭐⭐.8

#KeepingUpAppearances #NetGalley

I: @triciastringerauthor @hqstories

T: @tricia_stringer @HQstories

THE AUTHOR: Tricia lives in the beautiful Copper Coast region of South Australia, often exploring Australia's diverse communities and landscapes, and shares this passion for the country and its people through her authentic stories and their vivid characters.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harlequin Australia via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Keeping Up Appearances by Tricia Stringer for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage

Keeping Up Appearances is the fifteenth novel by best-selling Australian author, Tricia Stringer. When Briony Hensley’s eldest two children come home to roost, the news each of them brings is not something she wants broadcast. And then her youngest shares an equally disturbing revelation. If the town finds out, the perfectly-constructed image her family has always tried to project will be ruined.

Since her retirement, Marion Addicot has kept herself busy with community involvement, but the idea of opening the fifty-two-year-old time capsule during a fund-raising function fills her with dread: the nastiness that her angry sixteen-year-old self included for posterity must remain unseen.

Marion is later glad that dementia hasn’t dulled her mother’s capacity for sensible advice: “All you can do is apologise with true remorse. And a thoughtful gift can show positive contrition. But don’t make excuses. It just sullies things. If people won’t accept your apology, that’s their problem, not yours.”

Paige Radcliffe has brought her three children to Badara, South Australia: pop. 300, seeking refuge, but in such a small town, everybody knowing each other’s business could be an advantage or a drawback. Might what initially seems like an assault on hard-won privacy actually turn out to be a generous and caring support network?

Badara feels like a wonderful place to live: there might be a few cranky souls, but most of its residents really care about their town and each other. Watching Paige slowly relax enough to allow people in, watching the minor dramas evolve and resolve, and watching people come to realise what is much more important than appearances, it’s a lovely journey when described by Trisha Stringer.

Her characters are easy to care about and hope for, they surprise and delight, and she gives them wise words and insightful observations: “It seems to me that keeping things quiet only causes angst later... Buried secrets, love… they have a way of working their way to the top.” This is another winner from Tricia Stringer.

This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley, Better Reading Preview and HQ Fiction.

Another fabulous story told in the special way Tricia Stringers tells her stories, stories that pull me in and bring to life towns and characters that have me cheering and crying, her stories are filled with emotion and honesty and this is one that I loved come along to Badara in South Australia and meet Marion, Briony and Paige.

Badara is a small country town where a lot of the residents have lived all of their lives, many are related by blood or marriage, keeping secrets is not always easy, but is it always good to keep secrets or it is good to keep up appearances?

Paige moves to Badara with her three young children as a single mum she works hard to look after her kids and give them a life they deserve and when she feels the need to leave her life in Victoria, for a better one, a google search finds a house to rent cheaply in Badara, and a new life begins for her and her children hoping she has made the right decision.

Marion has lived here all of her life, she grew up on a farm and is also a teacher, now retired, she is married to Len and they have two married children now living in other states, life hasn’t always been easy but she has gotten through, but when an old time capsule that is uncovered from fifty years ago, she is distraught, Marion was a teenager when she wrote those words and now the repercussions will turn Marion’s world upside down with maybe her darkest secret being reveled.

Briony is Marion’s sister in law and she lives with her husband Vince and youngest of three children on the family farm, now Briony likes things the done the right way and everything to be perfect and when all of a sudden her eldest daughter is back home after leaving her husband and her son returning from London with news that will rock Briony so badly, add to that the message from time capsule and Briony is not coping very well, nothing is going the right way now.

This is such a wonderful story, my views on these three woman changed throughout the story, I felt the pain and heartache they went through at different times as we get to know them even if I didn’t always agree with their thinking, but I loved seeing them open up and care for each other in so many ways, I loved the setting and the many other characters who added so much to the story, there were happy tears when I reached the end and I would highly recommend this story to anyone who enjoys a top notch read.

My thanks to Harlequin AU for my copy to read and review.

Thanks NetGalley for the chance to read keeping up appearances. A great idea and plot but too long. Do people really live like this??? Not certain in this day and age.

I am becoming a big fan of this author and once again she delivered. In this book, Paige is a newcomer in a small town in rural South Australia. She is not sure how it will work out with nosey and somewhat intimidating locals, but as a single mother of three children, she is going to give it a go as the rent is incredibly low.
Briony, Marion and Jean are all born and bred in Badara and soon try to take Paige under their wings through a local fitness group. However, when past secrets start to surface and tempers fray, relationships break down and the sense of community appears to be fracturing.
What exactly has Paige got herself into?
There is a lot of heart and humanity in this book and I enjoyed every minute of it. Thank you Harlequin Australia and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this digital ARC.

Another winner from Tricia Stringer, Keeping Up Appearances is one that her readers will love. Capturing the small rural town vibes, Keeping Up Appearances is just that, what people do to hide their lives from the outer world. Following some lovely local ladies and one newcomer and their own stories that unfold throughout each chapter. A did enjoy the slow burn of the story line which kept you invested and turning pages.

A story of love, loss and keeping secrets, Keeping Up Appearance will tug at your heartstrings and give you pause throughout. A beautiful weekend read to lose yourself in, it is one I highly recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for this early reading copy,

A small fictional country town called Badara in South Australia, is the setting for Tricia Stringer’s latest offering, Keeping Up Appearances. A place where lies and secrets are about to all come out - don’t they always? Tricia writes a real to life story of the fallout and ramifications of keeping secrets in an effort to ‘keep up appearances’.

“We just got on with it, I suppose ... We were…” Briony felt sick. "Keeping up appearances." Chelsea nodded. The realisation that her daughter had learned to keep secrets like she had hit Briony like a rock to the head.’

As usual Tricia includes a strong cast of characters that cover all ages, from early twenties to those in their seventies, and their accompanying diverse family circumstances. There are some big issues in this book - sexuality, drugs, relationships - and Tricia deals with them in her usual sensitive way. Some people may find opinions and viewpoints dated but that comes down to Tricia covering a spectrum of individual ages, experience and personal opinions.

‘You're not the only one who can keep up appearances - but what's normal anyway? Who really knows what anyone's marriage is truly like? Is anyone's relationship like the images we're bombarded with in the media?’

This is an easy read with engaging characters, encompassing problems and solutions typical to small town living. Yet, delve a little deeper - this is a story about how we each have our flaws and imperfections and the facades and secrets we apply often lead to drama. This is a story of understanding and compassion, growth and development. As the title so aptly indicates, what lengths people are prepared to go to in keeping up appearances for others and more importantly, at what cost?

This is another great story of family and friends with Tricia, a master at producing authentic and real people and places that takes you right to the centre of the community. A story of the pressures of keeping up the facade as opposed to love and acceptance.

“Deep breath in." Courtney dipped her hands below her knees, swept them in a high arc above her head and flung her arms out as they came down. "Throw away your cares.”





This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

I loved this book, it was a perfect blend of imperfect people trying so hard to keep up appearances.

Add some small town vibes and all that goes with it, it made for the perfect read.

In this book you will discover that holding on to secrets isn’t always the best thing, and that sometimes letting down walls and allowing people in can open up so many other wonderful possibilities.

I love how the book began and ended with a fictional extract from The Country Courier. It perfectly balanced the story!

Keeping up Appearances is a domestic drama set in a small Australian town called Badara. There are lots of characters, but most of the action is around the families of three women, Paige, Briony and Marion.

The title says it all as most of the characters are concealing secrets which they feel make them appear less than they wish to be. Briony is possibly the worst case as she is not just disappointed in all three of her adult children but is embarrassed by them as well. Of course, secrets have a way of coming out especially in a small town.

I was frequently irritated by the foolish choices the characters made but by the end of the book I was completely involved and could not wait to see how each woman would deal with her issues. Recommended for fans of this genre.

Paige had fled Melton in Victoria's south for the small town of Badara in South Australia, with its approximately three hundred people. She was sure she and her three children, Jayden, Kodie and Levi would be safe, and keeping her own counsel would further secure them. But as a single mum Paige had it tough, and it wasn't long before the kind, caring townsfolk took her under their wing. First it was the casual exercise class of a Tuesday morning, with Marion, ex school teacher and brusque manner offering her homemade sausage rolls, then it was the kindly Sarah who'd, up until recently, been a recluse. And Sarah's son Dane and his son, Zuri, a bit older than Jayden. There was family football, barbeques and more. Paige took a while to accept it for what it was, but she finally felt content.

Briony and her husband Vince had owned the farm which had been in the family for eons. Youngest daughter Madeleine lived with her parents, living for her love of horses. When first Chelsey arrived home, loaded with her luggage and in tears, then Blake, who'd lived in London for the past three years, arrived home, their home was full with family again. But it wasn't a happy vibe, and Briony was shattered at the revelations. But she was of the opinion they must keep up appearances - no one should know...

The fifty two year old time capsule, which had been buried at the last Badara Festival, was going to be unearthed and the contents read at the upcoming Badara Festival - and Marion was beside herself. She wanted to find and destroy the capsule before it was too late. But would that happen? The secrets that had been hidden for so long were rising to the surface and people were bound to be hurt.

Keeping up Appearances is another spectacular novel by Aussie author Tricia Stringer and I loved it. Heartfelt, shattering, filled with tension, the characters were down to earth, kind and caring, but each family held secrets tight against their chests. Whenever I read a Tricia Stringer book, I know I'll be entertained. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

A small country town called Badara in South Australia is the setting for this most absorbing read from Tricia Stringer, where we soon discover that lies and secrets always have a way of surfacing, and never is the time right.

This is a small country town where everyone knows everyone and many are even related in some way. So when secrets get out, they have a way of affecting many with long reaching consequences…sometimes one secret leads to another and the impacts can be felt far and wide.
Sometimes a secret kept turns out to be worse than the actual secret!
The ramifications of keeping secrets, big or small, are fully examined during the unfolding of this complex yet credible story about life and lifestyle choices.

Paige is a single mum of three and she has run away from the city in search of someplace far away from the prying and insistent interferences of her eldest son’s grandparents.
She has chosen a house for rent in the remote SA town of Badara from a random advertisement, the house is affordable and offers her and her children an opportunity to start over, away from the pressures of families.

Paige plans to keep a low profile and avoid any unnecessary scrutiny in order to keep her whereabouts unknown to family and extended families. Protecting her privacy and her kid’s privacy is paramount.
However, small country towns are notorious for finding out everyone’s business, as Paige soon discovers when well meaning locals start to make her feel welcome.
Another thing Paige didn’t realise was how lonely it can get in such a place.
As lovely as it is in the country, and as relaxed and settled as they are all feeling, it is so quiet during the day when the kids are at school and Paige is alone with her youngest pre schooler.
It isn’t long before she is convinced to join the Tuesday gym club where she meets a few of the other local ladies and, although somewhat intimidated by a couple of them, she is welcomed with open arms…and even though she tries to keep to herself as much as possible, she finds it increasingly difficult to avoid their natural curiosity about their newest neighbour.

As Paige becomes more settled in her new environment, she begins to relax and open up a bit more. She meets more of the local people and starts to get involved in local social activities as her kids also begin to integrate.
The pace picks up as Paige and her kids get more and more settled in their new environment and mingle with other people, getting involved in their lives.

Settle in for an addictive read as you learn more about the individual’s that Paige becomes involved with, and learn some of the very intimate secrets that some people share…or don’t share with others. And the consequences of keeping secrets…or not.


4⭐️s

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy to read and review.

“Keeping Up Appearances” is another strong novel from Tricia Stringer, exploring a feeling that most have had at some time or another through the lens of multiple women.

The title tells you exactly what Stringer’s interested in here: the lengths people will go to in maintaining appearances for others, and the potential cost of those efforts.

Although this novel is marked with Stringer’s usual empathy, I found I didn’t connect with it quite as strongly as some of her past novels. That’s probably just a personal thing; I’ve never worried too much about what other people think. Mind you, I don’t think anyone can honestly claim to be completely immune, and that’s what will draw most readers in.

The cast of characters is broad, despite the small town setting. They cover all ages, from early twenties to their seventies, and their family circumstances are very diverse. Indeed, it’s mostly in the context of their family that these women worry about appearances.

In some ways Briony is the central character of the novel. There are many other characters, and they all get the same sort of time and space in the story. But it’s Briony who’s particularly obsessed with appearances, Briony who may be trashing her whole life in her efforts to keep up appearances for others.

Mostly, it’s about her kids. They’re all grown up now, and Briony loves and misses them. However, she’s also quietly horrified by many of their life choices – particularly their partners – and goes to the extent of asking them to lie to others in order to keep up the conservative and proper façade she’s worked so hard to erect. Not surprisingly, this has a really bad effect on family relationships.

At the other end of the spectrum, Paige is a remarkably young mother, with three kids to different dads, and essentially no support. Despite her youth and loneliness, she works hard to be a good mum to her kids and generally succeeds. She worries, though: what will people think of her age, her singleness, her lack of money? How will it all impact on her kids?

And then there’s Marion. She’s happy enough with her choices, but she’s been living a lie for a long time. She’s not sure it’s anyone else’s business, so can’t decide whether to tell the truth or just maintain the story she’s been telling.

Badara is a very small town – almost a failing one, if we’re honest. There are no shops, few services, and little in the way of work if you’re not a farmer. But community is very important to those who live there. They’re generous and supportive towards each other, even when they’re annoyed with each other. As a result, the idea of a fundraiser to restore the community hall seems like a great idea with multiple benefits. Unfortunately, the opening of a time capsule buried at the initial dedication of the hall exposes more than one secret.

As usual, Stringer knows how to ground her story. The setting feels very real, as do the interactions between all the characters. It’s not always easy, but it’s always believable.

I enjoyed reading this very much. Although it didn’t strike a strong personal chord with me, I empathised with each of the characters. Stringer makes it easy to understand their points of view.

Thank you to NetGalley for this preview book. Such a great read, the country town was like any other country town where everyone knows everyone or everyone thinks they know what is happening with everyone. The characters are such a mixture of ages and personalities which is what happens so often in a small country town, they’re also as frustrating as they are likeable. Overall a great book.

This book was given to me in exchange for a review via Netgallery.

This is a story of friendship, secrets and revelations. A heart-warming but realistic story set in a rural South Australian town called Badara, outside Adelaide. The community is mainly made up of small to large farms alongside a small town with a Post Office, church and community hall, beach and a football oval or grassy area. It’s the community hall which is the centre of a new concept: an exercise class. Three central characters come together here. Marion, is a bossy and determined woman in her sixties who organises the class and urges women to come along. But she misses her children and feels restless when she retires. Paige is a young mother of of three children, aged about 30, and Briony is a wife, and mother of grown children, in her sixties with perfectionist tendencies. They come together in the hall for exercise and friendship. As the novel progresses we get to know each of the characters and their foibles and problems. Marion is worried about a time capsule buried 50 years ago where she wrote nasty things about people she still knows which may come to light for a new town festival. Briony struggles with news from her children and Paige struggles to trust people and escape from her past.

Although I found the novel was slow to start it picked up momentum as the Badara Festival is organised, personal challenges are worked through, and Paige learns to open herself up to the community. A real sense of community is shown through the iconic home baking and giving of sausage rolls and other gifts such as fruit. Also shown are checking on sick residents of the town, helping businesses and the give and take of farm work, plus helping out parents with financial difficulties with football uniforms etc. I particularly liked the friendship between Paige and Dane, her son Jayden’s friend, Zuri’s Dad.

I didn’t have a favourite character but enjoyed the different aspects of all the main characters. I did find Briony a rather annoying character because she clings so much to her rigid beliefs. The author fleshed out her reasoning over the course of the book but I still said ‘oh no’ several times when she was in action. More minor characters make the novel well rounded and some are central such as Briony’s children Chelsea, Blake, and Madeline. Her children really don’t help around the house or farm which I thought was a bit much. I liked the character of Jean who attends the exercise class, she’s an energetic and compassionate character of older years.

I found it an emotional read with the different issues it raises and realistically shows the struggles between parent and child, and societal expectations. Modernity and old fashioned values intersect very much here.

Although aimed at a middle aged and older readership I think younger people would enjoy it as well. There a younger characters, children, and young men and women in their 20’s and 30’s. The difference between the generations is certainly shown here. There’s also a display of country life although animals other than dogs are not described. It’s more about growing produce and staples on the land. For those interested in rural life in Australia and complex family relationships, alongside the rewards of friendship this would be one for you. The writing is excellently written and engaged my interest.

I thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful small town story, Tricia Stringer writes a highly readable novel!
Moving to a small country area can be daunting, when you’re a young single mum, finding how you fit in is a challenge!
The storyline is perceptive with characters that are easy to relate to, a little like an extended family!
The main characters all live with their insecurities, coming together to work through their concerns enables them to grow. The emotional connections are raw, sure to pull on your heartstrings!
A fundraiser for the town hall repairs brings the community into focus, relationships are given the opportunity to heal and also allows the women to open their hearts!
A highly recommended read!

Huge congratulations to the publisher, NetGalley and the fabulous Tricia Stringer for providing another great read!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Keeping up Appearances by Tricia Stringer is a relaxed, enjoyable read that I found easy to pick up and engage with.

Set in a fictional South Australian farming town, Bedara, the story focuses on a group of women who come together for a new weekly fitness group. Some have lived all their lives in the area and are looking for something different plus a couple of new arrivals to town who join in the hope of starting a new life in the small community. The more we get to know this group of characters and their families, we see that they all have secrets – some they have held on to for 50 years! When they start to be revealed they all deal with the fall out differently and nothing will quite be the same again.

I really enjoyed the accurate descriptions of country town life with its run-down shop, multigeneration farming families and everyone knowing each other business whether for good or bad! The characters were mostly all likeable and even though at first, I found it difficult to keep up with who was who, their stories are all important to the overall small-town community feel of Bedara.

There are some big issues dealt with this in this book and even though all were dealt with sensitivity and love, I did find some of the reactions outdated even for a small town. And there were some plot turns that were predictable and not entirely believable to me.

Overall, I enjoyed this engaging family drama and would happily read more books by this author.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Australia for sending this book for honest review. All opinions are my own.