This book was sweet. A nice, light read. Definitely more Women's Fiction than Romance.

Nice to have an older protagonist, but I wasn't a big fan of the whole sister storyline.

Very cute, but ultimately not my cup of tea.

Full disclosure: this was an advanced reader copy provided by NetGalley.

How can you not root for Stuart Borefield?!

Synopsis: Stuart Borefield put his life on hold and left teaching to be a full-time carer for his father until his death. Now aged 55, his two older, wealthier brothers (who didn't care for their father at all before his passing) are pulling the rug from underneath Stuart - saying that they want to sell the house he's been in for years, even though his father willed it to him. They "generously" allow Stuart to stay in the home for one more year before it's sold, but after 25 years of being a full-time carer, Stuart is now in a spot where he desperately needs an income and a plan. He finds employment as a carer for William and finds a roommate to supplement rent - Florence - who immediately brings necessary brightness and color into Stuart's life. Florence is a singer in a band, just left her husband, and would be called "wild" - but these polar-opposite roommates bring the best out of each other - Stuart out of his shell and Florence to a state of stability.

As I said, you can't help but cheer nonstop for Stuart. He's SUCH a sweet, wholesome guy, and the characters around him (his elderly neighbor, Florence, William) are also wonderful. I left the book feeling like I may need to make a life change just as Stuart did - take risks, try new activities, invite a wild, colorful flatmate into life, and something extraordinary will happen.

Plus, it's just enjoyable to read a novel from the perspective of a 55-year-old. You don't see that often, but it's good to see examples of fantastic "middle-aged" characters living exciting, full lives!

Thank you to NetGalley and ChocLit for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book makes you feel everything, the joy, the sadness, the anger, all the emotions you can think of, bundled up together and woven into such a perfect story. I would be highly recommending it.

This was my first book by this author and was a heartwarming yet heartbreaking read at the same time. This was a poignant read of grief loneliness and finding yourself again and also had a smattering of romance thrown in.

I loved the characters in the book and the humour thrown in amongst the sadness and how the main character was a man in his 50s discovering his life again after the death of his father and starting over again

Stuart is a 50-something man who has never really lived his own life. Circumstances starting at birth put him in precarious situations with this parents, siblings, and peers. He has an unconventional relationship with his twin sister which informs many of his quirks and ultimate maturation throughout the story.

As the youngest child, Stuart is tasked with caring for his aging father. This leads to an isolated life that Stuart is released from only upon his father's death. He is then forced to seek outside paid employment and we are introduced to one of the many well developed "mature" characters, William. As William's carer, Stuart performs necessary daily tasks and learns what it is to be a friend.

There is a bit of romance and intrigue as Stuart takes on a female lodger (Florence) to pay his bills and an old girlfriend (Jayne) resurfaces. I found the interactions to be realistic on many levels: dialog, choices, outcomes, needs. I found Jayne to be very unlikeable and selfish and Florence's quirky honesty was a nice foil.

I was able to discern the "twist" about half way through the book and frankly, I'm glad I was right. Things weren't all nicely tied up with a bow at the end - very much like real life.

Thanks to NetGalley for access to this ARC.

This was a very enjoyable story that tugged at your heart strings.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read such a wonderful book.

Stuart spent much of his adult life caring for his ailing father and being dismissed by his brothers. When his father dies and only his older brothers are in the will, not him, he is given one year to put his life together and move on from the only house he's ever lived in and be completely financially independent after not working for a decade.

Stuart is a character that you simultaneously want to jump in and help but also shake him by the shoulders and tell him to come on and get on with it. Watching his growth through the book was rewarding and the characters that helped him get there were so great it really elevated the story. I love that it wasn't a simple ending but it fit perfectly with how each of the characters were set up.
Definitely a book I recommend.

#arc
#netgalley
#waitingforabrightnewfuture

Waiting for a bright new future is an easy read book that most nights I didn’t want to put down. You just wanted to keep going into the next chapter!
The story is of Stuart, whose father had recently died and how he figures out who he is again. Helped by 2 ladies Jayne and Florence along the way. A really enjoyable book!

3.5* - an enjoyable, easy read. Loved Stuart's transition and journey throughout the book and because he's a nice chap it was joy to root for him. There was enough drama to keep the story going without it being boring whilst keeping a gentle pace. I loved that the ending didn't tie everything up with a big bow but left enough for some imagination as to where Stuart's story/life would continue. The characters were all written well and overall just a lovely, cosy read. Perfect for the winter months.

Jenkins is a great writer, no doubt about that. I liked this story because it was written from a male point of few and I often just read women's voices. It was refreshing. The story flowed well and Jenkins crafted amazing dialogue that was like I was right there in the book. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Five stars.

I loved it. It is a sort of belated coming of age story. It was lovely to see how Stuart changes his dull life in the hope of a bright new future.
The plot is interesting from the start to the end with some twists, I suspected and hoped for how it ended, but it was still great to see the twists and turns.
The characters are interesting and well-drawn. Not only Stuart, the main character, but also the supporting characters. I loved Lillian, the elderly lady who is fighting dementia.
The language and writing style of the author is really enjoyable. It was a treat to read.
I loved this story so much that I went to buy the author's other book: Little Museum of Hope.
I can recommend this novel to absolutely anyone who like a good story well written.

This was just meh. It could have been so much better. Jayne was abusive to everyone and even tried to maim a tortoise for the most ridiculous reason I’ve ever heard. Florence was too flighty and even in the end didn’t say how she really felt. Stuart himself was a dishrag even in the end, being used and abused by nearly everyone in his life. Thank goodness he found a few good eggs. But the man really was daft. His family was utterly abusive.

Lillian and William were the best characters. Jayne made me feel ill.

It's never too late to start finding yourself and to have a bright new future! This pulled on the heart strings and I wanted nothing but the best for Stuart.

Stuart put his life on hold to care for his father. He was 55 when his father passed away. He discovered his father had forgotten to put him in the will. His two brothers got the house, and they allowed Stuart to live there for just one year, then he had to leave.
At first Stuart was devastated but one day, he decided he was going to have a bright future, and he set out to make it happen. He found a job, he made some friends, and he started living life each day. His life started to change, and as time went on, he started to see the world in a whole new way.
The greed of his brother's forced him into choosing between despair, not knowing what to do, or take a stand and make a bright future for himself. I really disliked what his brothers did to him, but as his sister-in-law said to him, I am glad you broke free, and stay free for me too. I enjoyed this book, and it was a reminder of what one can do.
I received an ARC from Choc Lit through NetGalley.

One of the best books I have read this year. I loved the ending. Rarely so I ask for a part two, but this book definitely deserves a part two. Realistic characters and plot. Continue writing authentically.

Stuart is a big softie at 55 after living almost like a hermit while taking care of his ill father for a quarter of a century. And then he seems to be afraid of what the world has got to offer, I felt like cheering him on. Him being gentle and honest (didn't make it with the last hill) made him quite a surprising character, yet at the same time being a tad too soft for his own good?

PS – there are those who are indeed have been waiting for a bright new future for a very long time, yet are physically unable to have some control either their health or their life generally... So if you ever run into anyone ill with ME (18 years and counting for me), LC, or any other kind of disability or long-term illness, please be kind. Whatever the world has got to offer, lots of it is out of our reach.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.

This thoroughly enjoyable read really stirred my heartstrings! I was behind Stuart all the way through, kept turning the pages to make sure he got what was coming to him (in such a good way!) at the end. I love how the author kept me guessing between Nancy and Florence, and how she so adroitly led me from wanting one of them for Stuart to wanting the other one.

At its heart, this story is of a fifty-something man who is learning to start life on his own terms and to give himself a life that isn't just convenient and comfortable, but truly authentic and pleasurable. And the "characters" he meets on this journey each add something to what he learns about himself and what he truly wants/needs.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

beautiful heart warming story from sally jenkins ,was especially good to hear from a mans point of view .i was cheering for stuart all the way through .