Set in the beautiful Adelaide Hills, Tricia Stringer has portrayed a realistic picture of a small town divided over the proposed development of a boutique hotel. While some are in favour of the jobs and increased tourism it will bring, some are worried that it will have a negative impact on their quiet lifestyle. The main character, Margot is dead set against the development an organises petitions and town meetings to oppose the development. She and her husband Dennis live next door to the proposed site and had hoped to buy the land when their neighbour Gunter died. Margot’s sister Roslyn and her adult children have mixed feelings about the hotel but mostly keep their opinions to themselves since she is so fervent in wanting the development stopped.

This is an entertaining read and I enjoyed the way it played out as the developers did their best to work with the businesses in town. The main characters, Margot, Roslyn and a young pregnant, homeless woman called Amber are all well developed although I found Margot a very difficult character to like, as she is very self centred and not very considerate of other people’s feelings. Her family and her partner in their café, Kath always seem to be placating her when she becomes agitated or obsessive about something. She also develops a dislike on sight of poor Amber, even after her sister Roslyn takes her in and befriends her. I loved Roslyn’s approach to dealing with her and her wish to uphold Gunter’s wishes for his legacy to benefit the community. Overall, it’s a good depiction of a close knit small town at odds over whether development and change is good or bad for them and an engaging read.

A very interesting story, written around two very different sisters. Both of whom have conflicting thoughts for their small town. One takes in an unwed mum, the other sister, decides to run for mayor, to assist in preventing a boutique hotel being built. The other has a legacy from a neighbour and friend to both sisters. A lot of misunderstandings on both sides, one not collecting all the facts, before being very nasty with words. The other forgiving and getting on. Amongst it all family is the most important, and all come together in the end, when conversation is had, and both sides understand each other. Great story, can happen to the best of families.

The weather ‘… hadn’t stopped the good people of Jesserton from gathering in the Lutheran church for the funeral of Gunter Brost.’

Set in the fictional town of Jesserton in the picturesque Adelaide Hills of South Australia, Ms Stringer’s latest novel opens with a funeral. And, at the gathering after the funeral, Margot Pedrick learns that a ’For Sale’ sign has already been erected on Gunter’s property. Margot and her husband Dennis lived next door to Gunter, as does Margot’s older sister Roslyn.
Margot wants to buy Gunter’s property and is outraged when it is sold to a developer who proposes to build an hotel. Margot wants to fight the development and falls out with those who oppose it. Roslyn is in a difficult situation: Gunter’s will asks that the proceeds from the sale be donated by Roslyn to a charity of her choice.

The community is polarised: some see opportunity where others see wanton destruction. Amber, a young pregnant woman, has newly arrived in town. Fleeing violence, she is sleeping in her car. A chance encounter at the doctor’s office sees Roslyn offering Amber a temporary home. Margot, who has already had a run in with Amber, is further outraged and the sisters’ relationship is strained.

Anyone who has lived in a small (or smallish) community will be aware of how quickly opinions can polarise over the prospect of new developments. Ms Stringer realistically portrays a community divided as they try to assess the benefit and impacts of what is proposed.
I enjoyed this novel. A couple of twists added elements of tension and Ms Stringer’s characters covered a range of concerns reflecting different life situations. All three of the major characters: Margot, Roslyn, and Amber develop as the story progresses and, yes, I liked the ending.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

This story centers around Margot and her sister Roslyn their family and friends that become family and the ups and downs that this can bring.

A small town in the Adelaide Hills and after the death of a friend, Roslyn is left to oversee a bequeath which has caused secrets between sisters. The arrival of a young pregnant girl running from her abusive ex and the news a new hotel to be built, makes this book a truly exceptional read and one not to miss!

“Head for the hills” with this delightful story by Tricia Stringer based in the fictional town of Jesserton, set deep in the Adelaide Hills. This story is rich with family, friends and feuds which arise after the death of a neighbour who leaves behind an unknown legacy
that begins to cause divisions between the town and its residents. The story focuses on three main characters: Margot, her older sister Roslyn, and Amber, a single pregnant woman who is new to the hills.

With an emphasis on local produce, food, wine and family gatherings and the hint of a push to help others it is the possibility of a new hotel being established that starts to cause mixed reactions and tensions between the local residents including setting the two sisters on opposite sides at times.

The strength of the disagreements are spearheaded by Margot who often comes across as self centered and jealous with a tendency to attack first and think later. In contrast the seemingly cold Roslyn slowly melts and emerges into a warmer character who starts to think about and care about others including Amber. While Amber slowly starts to find a place for herself and to experience what it is to find a place where she is cared about.

This is a story abundantly filled with detail and with characters that are quickly established as being well described and relatable. Tricia’s writing is so seamlessly and well written that I felt more like I had read a series rather than one book, such was the strength and awareness of the different characters. I would love to see a sequel to this because there is still so much that could be said and shared; and yet, this is also a wonderful snapshot of a brief period in time and was a joy to read.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Australia for letting me read an advanced copy in exchange for a review. Due out in Australia on 2nd October 2024.

loved the setting of this book, the Adelaide Hills. It sounds like a lovely place to visit.
I’m sad to say this wasn’t one of my favourite books by Tricia Stringer.
I didn’t find Margot to be a very likable character and her husband was even worse. Her sister Roslyn was ok.
I can definitely imagine a proposed major development causing big problems in small towns like in this story.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. It's a bit like a soap opera, but really is just a snippet of what daily life can look like, especially in a small town where everyone knows everyone else’s business. The story is about Roslyn and Margot, two sisters, and their lives in their small Adelaide Hills town where things may be changing. It would be a lovely book to read on a holiday, relaxing by the beach. Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for giving me this book for an honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and fell deep into while reading it. Focusing on two sisters as the main characters, Margot and Roslyn, and the small town they live in the author, Tricia Stringer, makes you feel like you’re part of their lives and part of their extended family. It brings their small town in the Adelaide Hills along for the ride and is so relatable to living in a small country town. It was a delight to read!

Margot and her older sister Rosalyn have lived in the town of Jesserton in the Adelaide Hills most of their lives, their family was one of the first to settle in the area and the sisters are close and not just because they share a fence line.

When their neighbour Gunter dies, in his will he states that his house and vineyards will be sold and for Roslyn to donate the money to a charity and it’s to be a secret, between her, his sons and lawyer.

Margot and her husband Dennis had let Gunter know, if he ever wanted to sell they would be interested and his property borders theirs. Margot finds out a developer wants to buy the land and build a luxury hotel, she’s worried it will not only spoil her view and the peace and quiet and she’s concerned about the environmental impact. Margot decides to join the running to be the new Mayor, but she’s surprised when not everyone in Jesserton thinks building a new fancy hotel with accommodation is a bad idea and it divides the residents of the town.

Rosalyn has a different opinion to her sister, she can’t share with her what believes and her involvement with Gunter’s legacy. A young and pregnant women called Amber arrives in Jesserton, this gives Rosalyn an idea of what to do with Gunter’s money and it opens her eyes and mind to the plight of women less fortune, escaping abuse and what help is available to them locally.

In all small country towns, people take sides, it creates friction and tension, a petition against possible building of the hotel is created and distributed, things are said in the heat of the moment, and rumours spread like wildfire.

I received a copy of Head to the Hills from NetGalley and Harlequin Australia in exchange for an unbiased review. Tricia Stringer has given readers an idea of what’s it like to live in a small Australian country town in the Adelaide Hills, and believe me it’s extremely accurate. The well written and engrossing narrative highlights the division and differences between communities, people, families and those with wealth and others who are just barley scraping by and the preconceived judgement young and pregnant women still get and many are escaping domestic violence.

This is my tenth book I have read by Tricia Stringer and I understand why she's one of Australia's bestselling fiction authors, I certainly had warm and fuzzy feelings while reading it and made me think about people who are struggling and what I can do to help and I highly recommend.