Think I should have read the start of this series before this one as I was becoming more and more confused as I went on! The characters were confusing as some names were too similar and the narrative was a bit staid. Too many people at the beginning of this book threw me and just couldn't find a way back. Sorry, my personal view.
Many thanx to NetGalley, the author and publisher for allowing me to read and review this book

Oh my what a tear jerking story. It really got my water works going. The sadness that I felt was so emotional that it left me drained.

This was a hard book for me to read. The story was good but the triggers were high. Watch out for the many trigger warnings that should be on this highly emotional read.

I tried to read the book, but I guess it was part of a series. I couldn't keep up with the characters ' names.

I have loved and read all of Pam's books. I'm so glad she has resurrected the Raiders. They are my favorites, so when it was announced, I couldn't wait and wasn't let down.

Full of sadness devastation, and laughter, with twists and turns you don't know how it will pan out.
Pam has a great way of keeping her readers interested and loving her books. Great characters you can latch on to and described so well you can picture who they are.
Another blinder.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this entertaining book. xx

Pam Howes' most recent book, Daughters of Mersey Square – the third in the Mersey Square series – brought me back to the nostalgic year of 1984. The novel is filled with references to songs and artists from that era, making it a delightful read.

The focus of the book revolves around Sammy and Roy, and their struggle to overcome the worst tragedy of their lives. Sammy is faced with the challenge of uncovering more of Roy's secrets, leaving her to grapple with her inner turmoil.

From the very first pages, I found myself unable to put the book down and only took breaks to eat. If you're a fan of the series or simply enjoy a good read, make sure to grab your copy today.

The Daughters of Mersey Square | Pam Howes | ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Set in the 1980s UK, with retro rockstars, heartfelt friendships, romance, adultery, scandal and drama, well, this one's sheer entertainment.

It's a most engaging, page-turning family saga that will make you smile, stew in anticipation and also make you reach for your popcorn and that box of tissues.

It's kind of soap operaey, not in its tonality but the plot, and it draws you in from the first sentence and you won't even know when you get through the 400 odd pages!

📖📖📖📖📖
Roy and Eddie are bandmates and best friends and now even at 40 plus, they sure drive the ladies crazy. However, they are happily married for years to their childhood sweethearts Sammy and Jane. Now they are an enigmatic song-writer duo, retired from touring, living in their plush bungalows and swooping around town in their BMWs and Ferraris. What's more, with thier families being as tight-knit as ever, their respective children Nick and Jess are in a band together and they are dating.

Sounds perfect, right?

Throw in a devastating tragedy, adultery, death, teenage pregnancy, separation, coming to terms with their children's sexuality in a not so evolved time and society, sprinkle some scandal, semi-incestual relations, unknown parentage, media and mayhem. And you have got yourself the most convoluted yet most entertaining read ever.
📖📖📖📖📖

Are all the characters loveable throughout? No.
Are they at times insufferable and too full of themselves? Yes
Are the kids pampered and entitled? Yes
Is it something you will buddy read with your pre-teen? Absolutely Not

But then, we are talking about Rockstars in the 80s. We are talking about the age of Queen, Sting, Speeding Cars, Leather jackets, Groupies, unhindered Passion.
The flawed characters is what makes this real, and the setting gives us a deliciously binge-worthy sneak peek of the RocknRoll lifestyle.

That said it's also about enduring love, unbreakable bonds and learning to dream after devastation.
It's about how very extraordinary seemingly regular things can be and how sinusoidal and unpredictable life really is.

The Daughters of Mersey Square by Pam Howes is part of a much larger saga. And an entertaining one. It is the story of an aging rocker and his family and close friends. It had been twenty years since the Raiders had been in their heyday but Eddie Mellor and Roy Cantello had made successes of themselves in writing songs for other artists. They had grown children. They both had wives they loved and good lives. Then things started to fall apart. Nick, Roy and Sammy’s son, was in love with Jess, the daughter of Eddie and Jane. This chapter starts as both families are going to clear out the home of Eddie’s now deceased parents. There was a lot to clear out and then the house to be sold. Everyone was on board, especially his two children. Jess and Jon, who had also received monetary inheritances. Jess was going to use her money to fund a flat for she and Nick to move in together, as soon as they got permission from both sets of parents. Jon worked in a record store, which was more than simply records and one of his co-workers was Livvy who had a fabulous voice. The youngsters had a band as well. It was called The Zoo. The band wanted her to join as a vocalist but Jess objected as she though Livvy was after Nick. It got much more complicated, in fact, turned into a soap opera of sorts.

This is an ongoing story with this being several books in. The characters are all terrific, with plenty of “growth” on all parts. There are complications but the fact remain the two couple are devoted to one another. The marriages are rock solid. Livvy turned out to be a conniving manipulator, but she did it well. The plot was thin, it was more of a timeline, a narration, if you will. It was like a train wreck that one couldn’t look away from. The adults had all been in school together, before any sort of fame. There was all kinds of English idiom and word usage that helped set the stage. It was, however, very entertaining. The characters were all likable, even Livvy at times and there were many real-life scenarios played out, although they usually don’t all happen in just two families. It was a fun read.

I was invited to read a copy of this book by Bookoutre. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Bookoutre #PamHowes #TheDaughtersOfMerseySquare

I have followed this series from the beginning and thoroughly enjoy returning to Mersey Square to catch up with the characters as they live their challenging lives in this part of Stockport.

Sammy and Roy Cantello have been sweethearts since they were children, however, their long marriage hasn't been straightforward and as we meet them in 1984 it is about to get even more complicated when their son is involved in a tragic accident and Sammy discovers something about Roy which puts their whole life together in jeopardy. Not only are Sammy and Roy facing challenges but also their close friends Jane and Eddie Mellor must also face the events of their past when secrets threaten to expose what they have kept hidden for so long.

As always the story flows beautifully and the author does a great job of including the past whilst at the same time bringing the individual characters forwards in time. The introduction of new people into the story-line is done with a fine eye for authentic detail and I especially enjoy the musical references which are reminiscent of the time and evoke memories of the 1980s. This is the third book in this series and whilst it can be read as a standalone story I rather think that these complex family dramas are best read in order so as to enjoy the emotional connection with each of the characters. I look forward to catching up with the Cantellos and the Mellors as they move forward into their next family drama.

Wow! The Daughters Of Mersey Square by Pam Howes is the third book in the Mersey Square Series. I suggest reading the books in order so you will know what is happening and because they are so good! This is an amazing read with a rollercoaster of emotions.
Sammy and Roy have been married for twenty years and share a son. One night their son has a horrific car accident. It also comes out that Roy has a younger girlfriend who is pregnant with his child. I don’t want to give away any spoilers but I’m looking forward to the new book in the series. This book will have you flipping the pages so fast to see what happens. Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Pam Howe's "The Daughters of Mersey Square" is a tapestry of emotions, intricately woven and bursting with the vibrant colours of life's trials and triumphs. Howe, demonstrates a remarkable prowess in storytelling, creating a narrative that is as heart-wrenching as it is heartwarming. The novel, the third in a series, stands proudly on its own, welcoming newcomers with open arms into its richly crafted world.

At the heart of this family drama are Sammy and Roy Cantello, a couple whose love story, rooted in childhood, blossoms through two decades of marriage. Their life, a harmonious blend of everyday joys and struggles, is shattered one night with the news of a devastating crash involving their son. Howe captures the raw, gut-wrenching agony of a parent's worst nightmare with such authenticity that it tugs at the very core of the reader's heart.

The narrative meanders through the lives of the Mellors and the Cantellos, painting a vivid picture of love, loss, scandal, and redemption. Howe's characters are sketched with such depth and realism that they leap off the pages, pulling you into their world, making you laugh, cry, and rage with them.

However, not all is perfect in this literary piece. There are moments that strain credulity, where the reactions of the characters to certain dramatic turns seem unusually composed, perhaps a nod to changing societal norms or a slight oversight in an otherwise impeccably woven story.

"The Daughters of Mersey Square" is a must-read, especially for aficionados of historical fiction. It's a journey that promises to sweep you through a gamut of emotions, leaving you enriched and reflective. Howe's narrative is a clarion call to the resilience of the human spirit, a reminder of the strength we possess, even in our darkest hours. This novel is not just a story; it's an experience, a mirror reflecting the complexities and beauty of life itself.

The Daughters of Mersey Square
Pam Howes
2023
4.5 Stars


Thank you NetGalley and Publisher Bookouture for my copy of The Daughters of Mersey Square by Pam Howes. I have not received any rewards or compensation for this review and therefore all views and opinions are of my own, the reviewer.

In summary: Life, fame and love in the fast lane in England 1984.

This is my first book by Pam Howes.

This book is a lot to digest due to length. I enjoyed the writing and the characters although I didn’t enjoy a couple of elements of the story. Main character Roy involving himself with a younger woman to who he has a child with and the story line of possible incest (spoiler: Inferred it was possible but turns out there was no incest - thank goodness).
It’s 1984 and anything goes for the quartet of musicians of the group “The Raiders”. A tight knit family like group that hit their highest of highs as a band and then break up, although two of the characters still song write together and are deeply involved in each other’s lives as only best friends can.
I felt the story was well developed and despite my grievances on those plot devices I found I could not put the book down. I had to admit I was addicted and had to see the book through despite the length. The story was engaging, characters were well developed and it was fun to see life through the rich and famous back in their day.

This is the third in the series of Mersey Square.There are lots of heartache to come in this book but still loved it all the same.Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture.

This is a review for the three Mersey Square novels out in January 2024
I love Pam Howes' series as the characters become sort of book friends and I root and feel for them.
This is a new to me series and I like to read about life after war, the rocker and how it was going to change.
All Mersey Square novels are moving and entertaining, features a cast of well thought characters and a vivid historical background.
I was moved, rooted for the characters, and travelled in time to a a different age even if I was old enough to attend university.
Highly Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this amazing novel

what a drama, this book catches up with all the drama going on from the last two books

eddie and roy are both at home still writing songs but no longer performing, eddie is a stay at home dad as jane goes out to work

roy also is at home but likes to keep busy with song writing, sammy his wife is a successful business woman

but all their lives are about to be brought to a halt when the unthinkable happens

oh my goodness me what a ride this book gives you, so much happens as you go from one drama to another with everyone, nobody lives stay the same as they all have to adapt what is about to hit them all

cant get enough of this series and the way this authors writes... amazing and compelling

The Daughters of Mersey Square by Pam Howes is a poignant and emotionally charged historical novel set in Stockport, 1984, that delves into themes of tragedy, betrayal, and the resilience of the human spirit. Through the lens of Sammy Cantello's life, Howes masterfully portrays the complexities of family dynamics and the turmoil of unexpected life events. Howes's attention to historical detail and the socio-cultural context of the time enriches the story, making it not just a personal journey but also a reflection of the era's challenges and norms.

What a great read full of drama and a page turner as anted to see what happened next. Liked all the characters even with their flaws. Would recommend

Book three in this wonderful historical fiction the Cantello and Mellor family.
Another heartbreaking book as we see these families grow and strive.
Its a unputdownable page turner, leaving me eagerly to find out more, the characters all grow on you and hold such a strong bond together.
I just loved it.

I really enjoyed this series, though you do need to read them from the start, I like the book covers they relate tothe novels.

Sins and secrets get found out and they certainly did in this story. Some of the story is down-home, cozy family setting but overall not to my taste. I do not care to read of so much lust and bedroom intimacies. As far as the dynamics of actual writing goes, the author knows how to weave a story so that those reading with more liberal mindsets may like the narrative.

~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~

December 2023

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.