Daisy Harrop has always felt like she exists in the background, and since her mother stopped getting out of bed, her life has come to a complete standstill. Daisy would give anything to leave the shabbiest house on the street and be more like the golden Kelleways next door, with their perfectly raked driveway and flourishing rose garden…

Winnie Kelleway is proud of the beautiful family she’s built. They’ve had their ups and downs—hasn’t everyone? But this weekend, celebrating her golden wedding anniversary is truly proof of their happiness, a joyful gathering for all the neighbours to see. But as the festivities get underway, are the cracks in the ‘perfect’ Kelleway life beginning to show? As one bombshell revelation leads to another and events start to spiral out of control, Daisy and Winnie are about to discover that things aren’t always what they seem.

My first and certainly not last read by Amanda Prowse. I really enjoyed this story. I felt like it had some hidden life lessons in there. Will recommend to others.

I always enjoy the writing of best-selling author Amanda Prowse. In All Good Things, things are not always how they seem. A classic case of "things aren't always how they seem" & "the grass is always greener". This book takes place over just a few days as we meet the extended Kelleway family & the Harrop family. The book starts with a Golden wedding anniversary, a birth, and the unraveling of many secrets. This book deals with a number of relevant issues, including depression, LGBTQ, & teenage drinking. Throw in some adultery and financial irresponsibility for a complicated & and compelling story. I did feel like the book ended a bit abruptly & did have a few loose ends. Overall, I enjoyed this story.

This book was fantastic. It was the first one I read by the author and it won’t be my last. I can’t wait to read more. The cover was so pretty.

This story is all about two families who live next door to each other. Daisy is the waitress whose mom is deeply depressed. They live next door to the super wealthy Kellaways who flaunt their money and privilege.

Told from the perspectives of all the characters, this is a heartwarming story about love, relationships, and family. It deals with complex issues like affairs, depression, coming out as gay, and the relationships between siblings. It does a fantastic job of showing what's really going on underneath the surface. The language is vivid and engaging. It's a good read!

Wow! This story is a classic example of how things are never really what they seem to be. And while the grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence, if you could really see that other side, you'd see all the weeds growing up and choking out that grass. Definitely holds your interest as one thing after another is revealed.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of All Good Things by Amanda Prowse.

I got to be honest, I didn't care for this, at all. To be honest, I have no clue what the point of this book was, the whole thing just depressed me. It was over dramatic, there was too much backbiting, infidelity, unlikable characters, as not near enough redemption. By the time it ended, I was just bummed. I know it's getting good reviews, so take my issues with a grain of salt, I just know that this wasn't for me.

Nothing like a modern created "normal" family, sad & engaging
Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2023
This author was able to capture each character in striking detail... making it uncomfortable and engaging- from an epic car ride to pruning roses. The facade of wealth and success hides many sins, as each one has secrets that become their true inheritance. The ones who are not golden are the redemption as the others fail to "create" perfect and are miserable. The ending is less than, but it leaves you to decide their fate

This story focuses mainly onbtwo families who live next door to each other. Daisy is the waitress whose mum is held deep in depression. They live next door to the over the top kellaways who flaunt their money and privilege.
Told throught the pov of all characters this is a this is a warming story about love relationship family. It deals with complex issuses affairs. Depression. Coming out as being gayalongside the relationships of siblings. It does a fantastic job of showing what bubbles underneath the surface. The language is very descriptive.
You made me laugh and cry. Thank you to netgallery publisher and author for a heart stopping gead. Highly recommended 5 star

I actually DNF'd this book about half way through, which is nothing to do with the author as I have loved many of their other books.

I just didn't get on with this one - I didn't like the writing style and I didn't vibe with the characters. I didn't get the emotional kick that I believe the book was set out to achieve.

But I will pick up Amanada Prowse books in the future, this one just didn't hit the mark for me.

All Good Things the newest novel by Amanda Prowse tells the story of two neighboring families over the course of day. The book also includes multiple points of view and various flashbacks. While I enjoyed story well enough the structure was tough when I had to reach in short time bursts. I did enjoy the central premise that while we envy others their families, their homes, their jobs, etc., reality is often far different than what is seen on the outside. I think if you can sit and read in better chunks of time rather than 10 minutes at bedtime this book will engage you.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest opinion. All Good Things is available now.

This book is a family/neighborhood drama that explores the differences between a perfect family imagined and the reality of life. The characters have a lot to learn as secrets are exposed and truths revealed. Things are not always as they appear and as the title suggests all good things...

My 5* review for All Good Things by Amanda Prowse.

Another wonderful family drama told by Amanda Prowse in her down to earth style that deals with everyday life, families, secrets, lies and putting on a front for the outside world that hides everything. Does the title refer to All Good Things Come To Those Who Wait or All Good Things Must Come To An End? That is for the reader to decide.

The story centres on one weekend where the Kelleways are celebrating an anniversary dinner in the Italian restaurant that Daisy Harrop (their next door neighbour) is forced to work in because her family is struggling with money, since depression entered their home via her Mum and threw a blanket of sorrow over everyone.

The book is divided into 18 chapters with the story told from 10 different points of view, so we get an intensely intimate insight into the outward facade that the Kelleways are showing to everyone and what their life and relationships are really like behind closed doors. Similarly the Harrop family. I adored both families, for different reasons, and as always the book made me think about my own family and wonder if they could all tell the story of one weekend, how it would sound from each of their points of view?

It is difficult to say too much without spoiling things for the other readers, but I will finish with Gianna's worlds of wisdom to Daisy "Find someone who gets you, likes you and who you like in return", young (or mature) love should be as simple as that.

By the way Amanda, thank you for adding the image of the Ilfracombe harbour, eating fish and chips with the sun setting on the hill by the Church..... I will meet you there one day my lovely friend.

Fantastic! Such a good read. Perfectly imperfect characters, solid storyline. I really enjoyed this one and found myself day reading and staying up too late to read just a little more, This book is told by multiple narrators. Each character has their own chapters, but it all fits together like a solid line. The story is told over the course of about 24 hours, but with flashbacks set in each character's POV. A few surprises in there and excellent dialogue. You really get a feel for the Kelleway family and Daisy's family. Honestly, I'd have liked a few more chapters at the end, but that's up to the author each and every time. It was a satisfying(ish) ending, but I still want to know more. Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

My Review: I had an interesting and fascinating time reading All Good Things by Amanda Prowse. It follows members of two families and a lot of individual perspectives from 3 generations. Parents, Kids and Grandkids. I think that's 3, right? :) There are so many dynamics to this, does love matter? does loss matter? how do you make your life, insecurities and dreams count and matter. Daisy Harrop, Lisa Harrop, Cleo Richardson, Winnie Kelleway and Julie, Cassian, Domina, Bernie, Cleo and Lawrence from the same family. It's clever and fresh, thought provoking. What's more important in life? Closeness, distance, love, support? You'll have to read the book to find out more. I enjoyed knowing the views and experience of all the different people. They were brought to life beautifully.

All Good Things is a family drama full of secrets and lies. Daisy waitresses at a local Italian restaurant to help pay her way. Her home life is a struggle with her mother’s depression causing her to rarely leave her bed. The Kelleways are all glittery and shiny to the eye- the kind of family Daisy wishes she had. But appearances are deceiving and the story quickly unfolds to show all that glitters is not gold. The family that shines puts on a good show even as the ruin other people’s lives and everything wants to come crashing to the ground. Each chapter tells the story surrounding one of the characters until a complete picture forms that will clearly leave the reader picking sides. Sometimes happy, sometimes sad, and full of eye opening moments, the story draws you in and tugs at the heartstrings for a compelling lesson about perceptions. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

I tried getting into this several times and unfortunately I just could not.I wish the author much success with this book.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Daisy envies the people next door
Their grandson is someone she crushes for
But one weekend proves full of drama
Along with a huge dose of karma!

A story involves two homes, side by side,
And the extended families of who there reside.
It shows that includes revelations and surprises
As Daisy discovers and the truth realises.

The fortieth wedding anniversary celebrations
Involve close family relations
But the events also reveal previously hidden lies,
Some of which prove to others a nasty surprise!

Told from multiple points of view
Giving an insight into what they're going through,
A story filled with drama that goes to show
Sometimes situations are different than you know!

For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you,
As I share with you my honest review.

Cover: Not my thing, but I appreciate the simplicity.

All Good Things? It has some excellent traits and traits I appreciated a little less.

The former: the story itself and the main character. Family drama hasn’t been on my radar for a while, at least until the ad on the cover caught my attention—cue me going all starry-eyed, haha. Prowse does deliver on the dysfunctional part, no punches pulled or anything, thus making me quite happy. Daisy, an interesting MC, captures my attention from the start as well, despite my issues in connecting with a younger character. This time, I’ve had a ball following along and cheering from the sidelines as I read.

The latter: the prose. To me, it reads too heavy in places, and it’s because of its descriptive tone. Handling a descriptive novel is not an easy feat, and sometimes it’s a hit and miss—not for lack of talent, mind you. It’s the style itself that’s insidious, even more so when there’s no single pov. The grammar itself checks out. Maybe I’d go easier with subordinate clauses at the beginning of sentences here and there, but other than that, I’ve got no complaints.

3.5 stars on GR

This is the story of Daisy, young girl daydreaming of living the life of the family next door, the Kellerway's. They have the best looking house, cars, family and Daisy is crushing on son, Cassian who is her brother's best friend. Working at the Italian restaurant Daisy is working when the Kellerway's come in to celebrate the grandparents 40th Anniversary. Looks can be deceiving and you definitely should not wish for the life of someone else. Those folks who are the loudest and seem to have it together may be barely hanging on and have nothing at all and those with less may actually have an abundance. Lots of secrets held for the sake of the family with 3 generations of secrets that tumble like a house of cards. Definitely didn't like the way the book ending kind of anticlimatic as you know lives were ruined but what happened next with confrontations not shown.

This book focuses on the lives of two neighbouring families – the Harrops and the Kelleways and we get chapters written from the viewpoints of the Harrop family (Daisy, Lisa and Marty) and the Kelleway family (Winnie, Cassian, Julie, Domino, Lawrence, Bernie) and Cleo Richardson (nee Kelleway, who is married to Georgie and heavily pregnant).
From the outside looking in, it seems the Kelleways have a perfect life. Winnie and Bernie are going out to celebrate forty years of marriage. They have a lovely house, expensive cars and seem to have it all. Their family all live nearby and it seems the most wonderful life being part of it.
In contrast, their next door neighbours the Harrops are struggling. Their house is shabby and has a leaky roof. Lisa has depression and has been in bed for nearly three years as her marriage falls apart. Her daughter Daisy is sixteen, she goes to school and works as a waitress in a restaurant. She also fancies Cassian Kelleway, who is eighteen and Daisy’s big brother Jake’s best friend.
When the time comes for the big wedding anniversary celebrations, the Kelleways eat out at the Italian restaurant where Daisy is a waitress. The differences between the two families are glaringly obvious, but are the perfect Kelleways really so perfect after all?
I thought this was such a clever idea for a book, because we can all relate. We’ve all wondered how things would be if we were richer, had a bigger house, a flashy car. We’ve all felt a bit envious of how “the other half live” and thought how we would feel if we were over there, where the grass is greener. It’s human nature.
But appearances might be just that. Money doesn’t bring you happiness in every way and as the story unravels, we see how this is true for the Kelleways. After all, it doesn’t cost anything to be kind and love is free.
One of the things I love most about Amanda Prowse’s writing is how you get to know so much about a character. The little things they do and say tell us so much. For example, the first time we see Winnie Kelleway, she is looking at herself in the mirror and then goes on to judge her children by their looks, saying how her daughter should dye her hair a different colour, while admitting she has a favourite child.
I love seeing these glimpses into characters because you get a chance to get inside their head and form your own opinions about them, just as if you’re in the room with them. Of course, I was on Daisy’s side from the start. Her family are poor and have issues, but I’d much prefer to be friends with them than with the Kelleways.
The book is set over a weekend and all the secrets and lies come out, so you watch as things begin to fall apart pretty quickly! Your thoughts and feelings are buffeted all over the place as you fit another puzzle piece in and you change your mind about some characters as you find out more about them.
It’s a fabulous read full of realistic, authentic characters and you’ll want to keep reading to find out what happens. Amanda Prowse is a woman with a lot of warmth and heart and this shines through in her writing.