Such an original storyline. I haven't read a novel quite like this before. Rich characters and an intriguing plot. This was a good read, full of strong women.

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

***AUDIO BOOK VERSION***
Back to Her Future is an emotional and heartfelt story about family trauma, friendship, and rediscovery.
We follow Maryam, who receives a call from her brother to tell her their father is dying. Maryam returns to Turkey to say her goodbyes and, upon hearing a shocking confession, then travels to London to reunite with her childhood friends Alma and Sammy.
Maryam was abducted when she was a teenager and forced into an arranged marriage to a man twice her age by her father. Her devoted mother was left behind in England, and Maryam was lead to believe she no longer cared about them. After connecting with her old friends Alma and Sammy, she goes to an 80s weekend in Blackpool, where shocking secrets come to light, and the women reconnect on a whole new level.
The narrator was absolutely perfect for this story and had a very easy-to-listen-to voice and calming tone. The story and themes are very well written and handled.
Some of the topics in this story may be triggering to some, so do check trigger warnings.

I like reading novels that are so poignant it feels like it could be a memoir. And maybe it is, for safety reasons. Its so gripping, hard, and good, all at once.

Back to her Future follows Meryem as she embarks on a journey to uncover hidden truths about her past after a shocking revelation from her dying father. While the pacing felt slow at times, the emotional depth of the characters kept me engaged. The deeper themes of resilience and friendship really stood out, as Meryem grapples with her past and her relationships.

What a fun book.
It’s a heartfelt portrayal of resilience and the power of friendship, wrapped in a delightful wave of 80s nostalgia, including a George Michael impersonator. Each chapter cleverly takes its title from a Wham! or George Michael song, adding a playful touch. Yet, beneath the humor lies a deeper narrative that brings new significance to the iconic phrase "Choose Life."

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.25 stars

This was a well written and impactful women's fiction that provided a glimpse into the ill treatment of women in rural Turkey. I knew very little about the living conditions of women in this region, so it was quite eye- opening. I also thought the characters were well developed and the plot heartbreaking.

At age 14, Maryam was kidnapped by her father and taken from her mother in the UK to his home village in Turkey. While living there, she was treated as a second-class citizen, not allowed to go to school, and forced to marry a man twice her age at 17.

Now, as a grown woman, divorced and living independently in Dubai, she returns to Turkey to see her dying father. She discovers that her mother did not completely abandon her as she was told her whole life but rather wrote letters to her, which were sent back by her father. She is livid and upset, so she decides to go back to the UK to learn more about her deceased mother. While there, she reconnects with her teenage best friend Alma, who has secrets and guilt of her own.

My only complaint with this book was that it was difficult to buy into Maryam and Alma's close relationship after so many years of not having contact. Losing contact at such a young age seemed unlikely that one could just show up out of the blue 20+ years later and pick up where they left off.

However, I enjoyed the banter between the characters, and Maryam was flawed but likable. I became emotionally attached to her and grew to care about her. There were some tears shed at the end.

A poignant audiobook that was well performed. The narrator used a broad range of voices,
which brought the story to life.

Thank you #DreamscapeSelect and #NetGalley for an audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
#BacktoherFuture

4.5 stars.

Abducted by her own father as a teenager from England to Turkey, thirty years later Meryem is finally free to live life on her own terms. Divorced and wealthy, a whispered confession from her dying father sets her on a path back to London and her childhood friends, Alma and Sammy, with whom she embarks upon an impromptu 80s nostalgia weekend. The women, once so close, struggle to reconnect as forgotten memories and shocking revelations surrounding Meryem's abduction, tear open unhealed wounds.

This was such a unique book, with a deep, harrowing premise I hadn’t encountered anywhere else. It zoomed in on an event caused by a cultural clash, which had a collateral impact on multiple lives and families across generations.

I was prepared for a heartbreak going in, knowing the premise about Meryem, but I totally wasn’t prepared for the impact it had on Meryem’s mother. My heart was decimated, and I was sobbing through some gutwrenching scenes.

Cary always writes exceptional stories featuring older characters, and this was no exception. The audiobook was once again narrated by none other than Lisa Armytage from Neighbours. Her voice delivered Cary’s words perfectly (just like her previous books).

I loved the female friendship element in this one so much. And true to its title, of course we got a lot of nods to the 80s’ ‘Back to the Future’, which is one of my all-time favourite movies ever. I’d recommend you all to pick up this book, and discover Cary’s amazing writing.

I enjoyed this audiobook.
It has some references to secrets and holding back when the characters reunite after many years, and this kept me engaged and listening avidly. The narrator does a stellar job with the accents and voices of each character so it's easy for listeners to follow.

Cary J Hansson has done it again! ‘Back to Her Future’ is a gorgeously heartwarming rendition of enduring female friendship, in the face of years-long separation and adversity. I also thought the book was excellent on forgiveness and judging other people.

The audiobook narration by Lisa Armytage is first class. Few people write middle-aged female friends as well as Hansson. She really gets it. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Miriam, Alma and Sammy. I also loved going back through time to find out more about their past. I flew through the audiobook and, as always, I look forward to whatever Cary J Hansson does next.

3.5 Stars.

This book was a heart-wrencher. There were times when it made me cry, made me angry and made me smile. Maryam, at age 14 is taken back to Turkey by her father. When her father is on his death bed he tells her that her mother had written her letters that he never gave her. Maryam returns back to where she grew up to find out what really happened to her mother. While back she's reunited with friends from the past. This book takes on a journey through the lives and struggles of three women, each who have had their own struggles and hardships. It's a story of strength, struggle, resilience, and friendship.

The audio narration was really great, although the "laugh/giggle" was something I found super annoying. Overall this was a good book - something different than my usual go-to reads and if Hansson writes more books with these characters, I will be there for them.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC audio of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to listen to this audiobook in return for an honest review. This story left me with so many mixed emotions, sad, heartbreaking, joyful and funny in parts. A real delve into the cultural differences that exist and the enormous impact that these differences have. A story about loss, love, family and friendship that I totally adored. Excellent character development and I loved the dynamics between the friends. This story really made me think and it will stay with me for a while. Highly recommended. 5 stars

Narrated by Lisa Armytage ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Story by Cary J. Hansson ⭐⭐⭐⭐

WOW!

What a powerfully heartbreak story. To me this is just a story but sadly this is the reality of some women still around the world.

I absolutely loved and was heart sick over this story. The cover and title do this novel a disservice. This is not a light easy going story about missed opportunity by choice. It is about a life that was stolen and the grief and tragedy that ensues.

Maryam’s father is dying and his dying wish is for her forgiveness. She refuses to give it after finding out he deliberately kept correspondence from her mother from her. Abducted by her father at 14 and married off to an older man by 16; Maryam has resented her mother for not intervening. Returning to the UK, she reunites old friends while searching for information about her mother. In one weekend she finds out more than she could ever hope and discovers her lost identity in the process.

I would absolutely recommend this novel. The audio production was fabulous as well.

4.5 out of 5 stars

This novel is well done! Generation X'ers will appreciate the nostalgia of Back to the Future, George Michael, and other 1980s references throughout, but the story itself tells a compelling tale of three middle-aged women who were friends as teenagers before one was taken away. Moving from the present to the past, and moving from the perspective of one character to another, this novel shows the journey of women who have struggled and suffered in different ways, and have emerged strong and resilient. The book includes well-developed characters, an interesting story arc, and moments both heart-wrenching and heart-warming -- with 80s music to boot! The audio book is expertly narrated, with characters' personalities showing through. One thing that did bother me was the inconsistency on the characters' ages. The math did not add up, if the characters were born in 1971 and were 44 years old, but George Michael (who died in late 2016) had already passed. Overall, a worthwhile read/listen!

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher and Dreamscape Select for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Scarred but resilient is right. This was emotional ride, but it reminded me that we can face deep challenges from childhood trauma and still make it out on the other side. Enjoyed this read and honored to be able to get an early look at it.

What an emotional roller coaster of a book!

This is the story of Meryem, Alma, and Sammy, childhood friends who find themselves suddenly reunited after 30 long years. The story starts for us when Meryem's father reveals a long kept secret, but their story starts long before that. Little by little, the reader comes to know more about each of the women and of Sonia and Cathy, the mothers of Meryem and Alma. Eventually, the circumstances that tore Meryem from them unexpectedly at age 14 are revealed.

I enjoyed this audiobook so much more than I expected to. This book has so much more depth than its blurb and cover art let on. The narration was excellent. I look forward to the author's next release.
4.5 stars, rounded up.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for allowing me early access to the ARC audiobook edition of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Select and Hansson publishing for this AAC in exchange for my honest review.

A sincerely sentimental story featuring three resilient female characters who drift apart as they each embark their own individual journey through life.
Although many themes that surface throughout are devastating, this book highlights the beauty of female friendships that withstand the test of time.

I was unable to get into this story at all. I found the premise very intriguing but as I was listening I just could not find enjoyment. I had to DNF.

When Meryem's father is dying, he tells her that the life she has been living isn't what she thinks it is. She goes back to her old life to try and find out about it.
I listened to this on audiobook and the narrator was very good, but I found the storyline itself very longwinded and slow.
Thanks to Net Galley for an advanced copy

I did enjoy very much this audiobook, while the story seemed simple it wasn’t what it looked like… three different women that were friends in the past, and because of their life choices, life path, or even choices that weren’t made by themselves, they drifted away. Its a very sad story, but at the same time it ends with high hopes for the future.

I was lucky enough to be given the audiobook to listen, and Lisa Armytage did a terrific job bringing the book to life, the different women we got to listen through this book, all had different voices and a different ring to their part, I love when someone reading a book does this, it makes the story feel so much more alive.

I really recommend this book, it was a sad story, and there were some revelations that I was dreading we were going that way, and in the way they became true, but that is life, what can one say…

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Select, Hansson Publishing, for the free AAC and this is my honest opinion.