The Light in the Hallway

Well, I've only got one thing to say at the moment and that's "SHIT STICKS"!!!!!! I will have a think for a proper review Mandy, but golly, that story was fabulous! The right amount of everything in there; grief, sadness, bewilderment, anger, wonder, enlightenment, empowerment, love, life! Actually, I might just stick with this as a review!

Another great read from Amanda Prowse a story of love, loss,friendship and so much more Father and son Nick and Oliver are in turmoil after losing Kerry a loving wife and mother Everyone deals with grief differently and try to do the best they can to move on with their lives and sometimes form new relationships The bond they share is at the heart of the story and they both face much heartache before finally finding happiness again Loved the way the story is told In the present day but also goes back to when Nick was young and had a happy childhood and two special friends who are still very much part of his life The three amigoes who learned so much from his parents that the memories stay with them forever As Oliver settles into life at university Nicks life also takes a new direction it's hard for them both but eventually they both find the happiness they deserve a beautiful story with lots of lovely little memories woven into the story that tugs at your heartstrings and your emotions The Bairstow boys love them and love this book

As always Amanda writes about a difficult subject with sensitivity, despite making me feel very emotional at times it was also uplifting. Nick and his son trying to come to terms with the loss of wife/mother while Olly is moving to a new part of his life at Uni.
Nick's story is seen through his past and present through tears and laughter.

Another triumph for Amanda Prowse! What a glorious book! Though dealing with the emotional and painful subject matter of a family learning to deal with the untimely death of young wife and mother Kerry, yet it manages to emerge as life affirming and hopeful . Amanda navigates the turbulent waters of mourning, guilt and pain , with her usual unerring touch . Young widower Nick , ties in the past to the present, by skilful use of flashback memories. We get glorious glimpses of his loving childhood where his less fortunate friends, particularly his best mate and soul brother, Eric, are welcomed into his family . We learn of friendships forged in childhood and lasting a lifetime ;dreams that were put on the back burner when life threw up other plans ; hope that burns eternal and love which does not alter "when it alteration finds or bends with the remover to remove" . The complex, loving relationship between fathers and sons is played out over two generations and is exquisitely observed , as are all Amanda's observations on people and life . I love the metaphor of the all round tool , gifted to Nick by his father along with his wisdom and knowledge and love-the tools to cope with all life would throw at him. Nick and his gang of 3 amigos have the " summer of brilliant " as they rebuild an old bike using their magic tool . Well in "The Light In the Hallway" Amanda has written the book of brilliant !- brilliant story, brilliant characters , brilliant writing and brilliant thoughts to shine a light on our own lives and grief and worries and offer hope -rather like the light beams shining through the clouds like the rays from God's torch as Amanda so eloquently puts it. Yes you will cry as you read this book. However you will also smile, laugh out loud and ultimately finish the final page with a song in your heart. Sheer brilliance!

Another 5 star read from Amanda Prowse. You can always relate to her stories as they are based on events that could happen to any of us. This story is different as it’s told from a male perspective. It started off sad, but ended on a happy note. Highly recommend

Brilliant heart warming story dealing with loss,grief and relationships after loss.Makes you laugh and cry at some parts,areal emotional rollercoaster,.
The book looks at Nick happy childhood,with his friends and how he is at present coping with the loss of his wife,and his son going to university and trying to find his own way.
A must read book.

A study in raw grief soothed by family and friends, not forgetting Treacle, the dog

Nick has recently lost his wife, Kerry. He lives in a small northern town where everyone knows everyone else and most people work for the local factory. His marriage was loving but flawed after his wife nearly ruined them with her impulse buys and an affair. Their son, Oliver is about to go to university. Nick had wanted to go to uni himself but got his girlfriend pregnant so married her. Sometimes he regretted it, mostly not.

A strong storyline, interspersed with flashbacks to happier times, with Nick as an innocent lad larking about with his friends. Another gem from Amanda Prowse.

I normally love Amanda Prowse books but I found this one a bit dull. Didn’t really see the point of the book at all . The story just plodded along but nothing really happened that you couldn’t already predict

The story revolves around quite a few characters but the two main characters are Nick and his son, Oliver/Ollie. The story is told from Nicks perspective.
Nick’s wife has recently passed away. She had been ill for over a year and Nick was with her every day. Oliver and Nick are devastated with her loss in their life. What follows is how they cope with the loss of a wife/mother but also with Ollie leaving to go to University.
The storyline is told in the present time and flashbacks to when Nick was younger. There is heartache, humor, grief, loss and nostalgia throughout the story.
A very lovely read and one I recommend you read.
Thank you to NetGallery, Lake Union Publishing and author, Amanda Prowse, for the opportunity to read and give my honest review of “The Light in the Hallway.”

A beautiful and moving story that showcases the human ability to move on and love again.
The characters were well written and perfectly flawed.
I however couldn't connect with the story and felt it braged a bit too much.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review and all opinions are my own.

Luanna

A lovely book about friendship, love and loss, subjects that Amanda writes so well about. I have recently lost my own mum, so I was a little concerned that it maybe would be too emotional for me to enjoy properly, however as always Amanda dealt with the subject of loss and grieving so sympathetically and honestly that I was able to take some comfort from reading it.
Absolutely loved having the story of Nick’s childhood run along side his new life without Kerry as it gave you an insight to his friends that are helping him cope alone and it also showed you his character fully, his ability to put others before himself.
I cried at times and I laughed too, I willed him on and I tutted when things went wrong or he was judged.
Such a wonderful story that was uplifting and positive, and it certainly touched my heart.
I am grateful for the opportunity to read this advanced copy, and this is my unbiased opinion.

Be prepared for tears and laughter as you read this heartfelt story. I enjoyed the beautiful manner in which this book explores grief and coping from a loss.
Trying to navigate life's many unwritten rules is difficult for Nick. His son leaves for university soon after the loss of his wife. There is no rulebook for how to move on with life, but Nick tentatively feels his way though the process. He begins to spend time with a lovely co-worker but he suffers harsh judgement from his son and sister-in-law over this action. Woven throughout this story are flashes back to a special summer from Nick's childhood where he learned lessons that stick with him. As the story progresses Nick gives himself permission to live his life the best he can. I felt so many emotions reading this story, one moment I was in tears over an emotional exchange and the next I was laughing at the banter between Nick and his mates.

Amanda keeps surprising me with her books as they are completely different to each other and I loved this one, it's a bittersweet story of loss and misunderstanding that happens when someone you thought the world of is no longer there and I could empathise with Olly as he tries to to deal with losing his mum and starting college, the idea of everything changing for him can be overwhelming. I would definitely recommend reading this and I would like to thank the publishers and netgalley for letting me have the book to review and the opinions expressed are entirely my own views and are completely unbiased.

This book starts with the death from cancer of Nick's wife Kerry. Nick is left as sole parent to Olly who is just about to set out in to the big wide world and go to university. Yes it's sad but there are also laugh aloud moments. Two men shopping for supplies in Ikea was always going to end in disaster. Then there's the first Christmas and an incident with the dog and the turkey. This author keeps it real and tells it like it is.
Kerry always had the light in the hallway lit as a welcome beacon but now that light's gone out and the house is a lonely place.
Nick has great support from his childhood friends Eric and Alex and we see their relationships developing from the age of just 10 years old in a story that runs alongside the main story. Friends through thick and thin.
Nick struggles to move forward but with the support of friends and family and messages from above from his deceased wife he manages to move his life forward and become himself again and realise that there is a future.
This author goes from strength to strength and never fails to pull at the old heartstrings .

The Light in the Hallway by Amanda Prowse. Well, Amanda is in top gear in this one. The very best of her. I laughed, pushed back quite a few tears and learnt a lot- all elements I have come to anticipate from her books. I wanted to shake Oliver but she took me right to his grieving heart. I just loved every bit of this story.
I hope this isn’t a spoiler....So many times I’ve been disappointed and angry at widowers jumping far too quickly (in my opinion) into new relationships. Amanda’s insight and handling of the topic gently reminded me again of the process of loss and grieving and that it doesn’t always begin at the point of death. Dora’s grace versus Di’s angry judgement..... I’ll try to remember that. Amazing Amanda! And yes, so much potential for what happens next or (as someone has suggested) Eric’s story. Loved loved loved it!

Amanda Prowse tugs at the heartstrings every time and this book is just as emotional. Kerry and Nick were childhood sweethearts who had Oli when they were very young. Right at the beginning we know that Kerry is not far from passing away, and this is the story of Nick and Oli’s journey from that moment. The chapters alternate between the present and the story of the Brilliant Summer when Nick was just a young boy. This was the most wonderful emotional story of moving on.

I enjoyed this latest from Amanda prowse but it wasn't one of her best. This is the first of her novels that hasn't !ad e me cry, never the less still a lovely story and definitely worth a read

Yet another best-seller, me thinks!

Amanda Prowse has fast become one of my favourite authors, with her way of weaving a story, so relatable and believable that you could be living it yourself, or you may even imagine knowing someone in the same situation.

The Light In The Hallway is no different.

We are taken on a journey with Nick, a grieving widower and father, who is still young enough to be in his prime, yet old enough to 'really know better'. At home, alone, having dropped his son to University, he begins to wonder how his life will pan out. How is he to greave? How long for? And with a sister-in-law hell-bent on making sure he abides by the rules society have set, regarding being a widower, and a son who is finding it hard to accept his mother's death, it's not easy.

Alongside Nick's story, runs a parallel tale from nearly thirty years before, involving Nick and his two best friends, Eric and Alex. Three young boys, at the beginning of their summer holiday, given a challenge by Nick's dad to build a bike. And they do. They complete that challenge, and experience a whole host of ups and downs along with it, proclaiming it the best summer.

The friendship provides Nick with a lot of support while he comes to terms with losing his childhood sweetheart and wife, Kerry.

This was a bittersweet tale about loss, and expectations, coupled with hope, and a definite recommended read from me! Mrs Amanda Prowse, I am guessing there will be many calls for a follow-up. We will all want to know what happens to Eric!

May thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a wonderful heartfelt story of how a husband comes to terms with the loss of his wife, dealing with his son going off to University and living on his own for the very first time.

Nick is a gem of a character and my heart went out to him. Olly, his son, is a true teenager and Amanda was spot on in her telling of his angst and grief at losing his mum, mixed in with the excitement of spreading his wings but at the same time worrying about leaving his dad on his own.

Running alongside the grown-up Nick, is the tale of him as a young lad. Amanda really brought to life the Summer of 1992. The inspiration of Nick’s dad finding half a bike for him and his pals to rebuild is superb in its telling and how the ramifications of that Summer shape the boys’ adult lives is not only thought provoking but integral to the story. The early part of Nick’s life left an indelible mark on me and I was in turn, smiling, laughing and reaching for my tissues.

Amanda’s insight into relationships, especially between fathers and sons shone through every page. The connection between Nick and Olly is put to the test when their lives change and move on in different ways. The author deals with both their feelings in a sympathetic but very honest way and it left me wanting to put my arms around them both and hug them to bits.

Absolutely outstanding.

Well Amanda has done it again!! Another brilliant book just like all her others but this one is told from a male perspective rather than her usual female perspective. It gripped me from the first page and I couldn’t put it down. It was a touch sad dealing with grief but flashbacks to happier times made me smile. I wish I could give more than 5 stars. I highly recommend this book and all her other books.

Well I don't kniw where to start, what a truly fantastic read, loved it from beginning to end, the charecters the story, just everything, this is vintage Amanda, I'm gutted I've finished it and wish I could give it more then five stars

"Being adult is hard."
A beautiful, heartfelt, realistic story of love, loss, hurt and reconciliation.
Kerry may be gone, but she is still very much present and in the hearts of her family.
Leaving earth way too soon, her husband Nick tells this story of their perfect and not-perfect lives with laugh out loud moments mixed with sad times.
Their son, Oliver is eighteen and on his way to university.
It is really difficult to not have your Mum as you pack up and go off to your first year away from home.
Even the "reading list" can be overwhelming!
The novel brilliantly goes from present time to past days when Nick was growing up with his best friends and the life lessons learned. What would we do without our friends?

This book is terrific! I loved it! A quick read with characters you will not forget!

I am a big fan of Amanda Prowse so was really excited to read this book.

It totally took me by surprise as her other books are all written from the female perspective and this is from the male. It took me a little while to settle into this new direction but I throroughly enjoyed it.

The book starts with the ultimate emotional kick in the stomach of Nick’s wife dying. The story the. continues with Nick learning to live his life without her and also helping his son with the loss of his mother. This is a real rollercoaster of emotion even delving into Nick’s childhood and his friendships which adds a lot of humour and nostalgia but with depths of emotion you are not expecting.

All in although a different direction than her normal books this is up there with the best.

I have loved Amanda’s books since reading Poppy Day many years ago so was looking forward to this read!
The light in the hallway is a beautifully written down to earth book that explores loss and grief in a sensitive, tender, realistic manner that is easy to relate to and very believable. I found it very poignant as my cousin has just lost her battle with breast cancer so found it very relatable and realistic.
This book shows the capacity we have as individuals to cope with devastating circumstances and how we come out the other side as changed characters, this is beautifully illustrated via the characters particularly nick and his son Ollie who lost Kerry ( wife and mother) but also other family members and friends who were also affected.
Thank you net galley for this emotional, believable read.

Amanda has yet again knocked it out of the park with her latest offering!

Right from the first few pages I was an emotional wreck with this story, I hadn’t expected to be hit so hard with the emotions that Nick was going through so early on. This story wasn’t all tears though, far from it. As Nick and his son Olly try to get on with their lives, the story takes a bitter sweet turn letting us see the highs and lows of life after the death of a loved one.

At the end of every chapter, we are taken back to Nick’s younger days when he lives at home in one particular summer. I absolutely adored these chapters. Seeing the bond between Nick and his dad as well as with his two best friends Eric and Alex. Eric in fact is very much the under dog in this story. He stole the show more than a few times and is a truly fabulous character.

Nick, I was routing for throughout the story. To lose your partner in life does not bare thinking about but of course it happens everyday to someone. This was a great insight into how not only someone deals with their own grief but the grief and pain that their partners family feels also. It certainly was a bit of an eye opener.

The Light in the Hallyway is a novel that I could never shut up about. I loved everything about it. The author writes in such a way that with every story and new set of characters, they steal a piece of your heart and you fully devote yourself to their story. This was so many things, death, loss, grief, moving on, bonds, relationships, friendships, it really did have it all. Nick definitely stole my heart and I cried tears of joy and sadness at the end. Perfect, just perfect.

First time reading this author and found it quite enjoyabke. It takes a bit to get into the story but it doesn't disappoint. All about friendships, life, death,family,childhood memories and succeeding in life. Yes, it is somewhat predictable but it's the story and how they get to a place of bonding and beginning to live again after a death. A few laugh out loud moments and some that might bring a tear and one character you'd really like to slap! So yes, some believable moments. It is a book to be read slowly and will challenge thought about life events.
I received this book as a complimentary copy for an unbiased review.The opinions expressed are my own.

I really enjoyed The Light in the Hallway. I connected with Oliver on a personal level as my mother passed at an early age from cancer and my father started dating a few months thereafter, which my siblings and I had a very difficult time accepting. The insight into all of the characters’ emotions and the development of the childhood and later adult relationships among Nick, Eric and Alex as well as Nick’s family was heartfelt and totally believable. This was another heartwarming, occasionally tear-inducing, and thoroughly enjoyable read! Amanda Prowse, this is another winner for sure!

Another great book from Amanda Prowse. A book of love, friendship and grief which kept me utterly engrossed until the end. Highly recommend

You know you’ve read (or are reading) a good book when you think about the characters while going about daily life, even after the book is finished, almost as if they were real, people you knew, could relate to, miss even…. And that’s exactly how you feel reading an Amanda Prowse novel. This one possibly more than others, as it was so real, so raw, so honest...
Nick has just lost his beloved wife, his first love, and Mother of his only son to cancer. He is desperately trying to deal with the grief of losing someone he has loved since the age of 17, along with keeping things together for the sake of his son, Olly, who is about to sit his final exams in the hope of heading off to college. Nick reflects on the past, on the issues in his marriage that mean it was less than perfect, and the battles of living in a small town where everyone knows your business whether you like it or not. His wife’s family are adding to the stress, and he feels torn in his own grief and helping his almost-adult son deal with the loss of his beloved Mum. Nick is trying to rebuild his life, Olly is trying to build a life, both of them not quite being able to find their way without Kerry. The two have a strong bond, but it is threatened when Olly feels that Nick is moving on too fast, replacing his Mum, and that is something they need to work through together. The fact that both Kerry’s family and Nick’s Mum have their opinions, only adds to the difficulties. The story is told with flashbacks to a Summer when Nick is around ten, happy times with his gang of three, who remain firm friends and colleagues to this day. It’s a nice tale that lets us understand a bit about the three boys and their upbringings.
There is such a theme throughout this book of friendship, family and love, and it all ties together so nicely in the way it is written, the references made and the fact that this could be absolutely any family, any group of friends in any small village.
My heart melted on a few occasions, but I don’t want to spoil the storyline for anyone who is yet to read it. I just loved how things came together, I adored Olly and his gesture of love and acceptance. He has struggled with so many issues and it shows the love of his Dad has gotten him through. He grows up and realises Nick is still young, still has a life to live, which doesn’t mean he loved Kerry any less.
The end was wonderful and so nicely done, it was heartwarming to see how it all panned out for everyone. I definitely think if any book deserves a sequel then this one does. And we all know how well Amanda can tie books together, perhaps we could find out how Olly gets on in future, or the story of Eric and Jen…. I’ll keep my fingers crossed on that one.
Thank you so much to Amanda & NetGalley for the privilege of this ARC.

Another tear jerker from the Amanda. Its a beautiful story of love and loss and growing through the process.

Amanda instinctively know just how to pitch her writing and does so in a way that makes you feel good whilst it breaks your heart.

Im looking forward to reading more.

I absolutely love reading Amanda's books and this book was another superb read that pulls you in and makes you want to keep reading.

Nick and Olly are left reeling after the loss of Kerry and this story is about how piece by piece they start putting their lives back together. Nick learns how to stand up for what he believes in and show Olly the importance of continuing to live, love and move on.

A book full of love and strength that is emotionally charged throughout and will have you reaching for the tissues.

Another great read by Amanda, a story of love, loss and moving forward, it brought a tear to my eye, great character that really grow in you, a recommend read.

Another brilliant book from Amanda Prowse. This book takes you through love, loss, friendship and survival. Amanda is extremely good at capturing the emotions of the characters which allows the story to flow and unfold. In this book and all her other ones, you can connect and feel the characters, I also enjoyed the flashback to the childhood era. Overall, a sad but at the same time, a heart warming story. Thank you.

I received a complimentary e-book copy of this book from Lake Union Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Amanda Prowse, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

First off, this book really struck home with me. My daughter is a high school senior and our lives will be changing very shortly. The main characters, Nick, and his son, Oliver/Olly are going through similar changes themselves with a recent tremendous loss in the family and with Olly going to University. I could totally relate to the characters and their stories.

The things that I like about Amanda Prowse is that she writes about REAL people in REAL situations. There is honesty, loveliness, and truth in all of her books. Her character development in this book is strong and the storyline was interesting and fun. Amanda has a beautiful way with words and I can totally visualize her characters and locations in my head. BTW, there is one scene in the book where I LITERALLY laughed-out-loud!! It has a LOT of fun moments, but that scene was HYSTERICAL!!

This is a DEFINITE recommend! 4 stars!!

Wow! Where to start? Amanda Prowse has done it again! She has a fantastic way of writing which connects with the author and has tears falling that you didn’t even realise! Although there are times that are sad, it is written so cleverly that you are just fighting for the main character Nick throughout. All the characters are so relatable and realistic, including Auntie Di! It is a truly ‘heart in the right place’ story that has you fully supporting the ‘Bairstow Boys’ from the beginning. As a family who have been affected by cancer, I feel it is an uplifting story that you can relate to.

Another brilliant read from this fantastic storyteller. I had mixed emotions reading this book, one minute I was laughing and the next I was reaching for the tissues. It is basically a story about everyday family life where they live through good and bad times. It is the way that it's told that kept me up while the early hours, I loved it.

This is another brilliant and beautifully written book by this author which I would highly recommend. I look forward to reading more by this author.

Another beautiful book by Amanda about a father and son moving through the motions of grief after Nick loses his wife and Olly loses his mother.

Amanda balances the emotions of this book perfectly as father and son try to deal with when is the right time to move on.

What rounded this book up was the links between the friendships made over the generations, the love shown from family members and new love and hope.

This is a feel good book, a very easy, relaxing read that will leave you smiling.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Love Amanda Prowse books and this is no exception. It follow the story of 3 boys, Nick, Eric and Alex from 1992 until present day. It goes back and forth from when they were boys into adulthood,

This is a lovely Amanda Prowse book, sticking closely to what she does well - love, life, relationships and sadness. This one is definitely emotional as it deals with a father and son moving through their bereavement and examines how they cope with the loss of their wife/mum. I really really empathised with Nick, the main character and absolutely loved the flashbacks to his childhood. His friendships were so lovely and nostalgic. It’s not all easy reading, and it does make you think about what’s important in life, but it is ultimately an uplifting and enjoyable read.
Thank you to netgalley, the author and the publishers for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

The Light In The Hallway by Amanda Prowse.

I’m reviewing this book for Netgalley and of course because Amanda Prowse is an absolute favourite author of mine.

The story begins with heartache for Nick and his teenage son Oliver. Nicks wife Kerry, Oliver’s mum, dies after a long battle with cancer.
This leaves Nick with time he’d previously spent at her bedside suddenly to himself. This spare time is then added to, when Oliver gets into University.
There are money worries and guilt upon guilt, alongside questions of ‘how should I behave’. Also being in a small town where everyone knows everyone, isn’t always easy.

The emotional rollercoaster from this book hit me straight away. The feeling of how desperate and suddenly alone Nick feels is clear, with everything he now needs to deal with alone. Oliver would most likely talk to his mum about these feelings, but now Nick has to find a way of supporting him in a new way.
This was made relatable by the author, by Nick often asking himself ‘what would Kerry say’.

The book flips back and forth, smoothly showing Nicks childhood throughout one awesome summer!

There are so many funny parts to this book and even a Batman reference.
Eric, Nicks best friend was probably my favourite character, he’s cheeky and hilarious when many might expect him to be quiet and perhaps sullen.

This book exactly what I wanted it to do and I felt it to be a stand alone book. Questions were answered and I found myself smiling at the end of the book. I highly recommend it 5stars!

Another wonderful book by Amanda who has an uncanny talent of getting to the heart of a characters emotions. The Light in the Hallway is significant as it represents the welcome of a home. The story deals with the raw emotions of grief seen through the eyes of both an adult and his teenage son but intertwined in this emotion is the story of three ten year old boys and their escapades & heartaches one summer

As always I recommend Amanda’s books highly and reader you won’t be disappointed

With thanks to Lake Union Publishing & Amanda Prowse for ARC in return for an honest review

I have read and loved all of Amanda Prowse's books and always eagerly anticipate the new ones. Wow, Amanda has done it again - I am not sure how she manages to write such beautifully powerful but different stories!

This is a bittersweet story of how a husband comes to terms with the loss of his wife. I really enjoyed how this book is written from a male perspective as we follow Nick's journey throughout the book. This book made me cry but also laugh in places and is ultimately an uplifting story. I particularly enjoyed the flashbacks to Nick's childhood summer.

I highly recommend this poignant story which has touched my heart. I would give it many more than 5 stars if I could. I can't wait for the next one!

Thank you to NetGalley, Amanda and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I requested this book based on the very positive reviews on the NetGalley website, but I must confess I don’t get all the rave reviews. I plodded through ⅔ of it until I threw my hands up from an excess of boredom and a complete overload of trite and stale writing and situations.

I’m glad so many people like it. Obviously, I didn’t. This is the second book by Amanda Prowse that I’ve read this year. The first one was equally dull.

I received this book as an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley.

Thank you for opportunity to read this book I am a huge fan of Amanda's work and this book did not disappoint.I loved the friendship between the men in this book and how it spanned over many years and the unrequited loved with the sister.A really lovely novel hope Amanda writes many more.

I was given this book from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book, from the very first page. It was hard to put down and just a lovely story. Thank you NetGalley!

This was a sweet tale about loss and loving again that I very much enjoyed. More in the romance section thatn lit fiction but very enjoyable.

After reading another Amanda Prowse book and disliking it, I decided to give her another try based on the great reviews she received. However, I was again disappointed and won't revisit anymore of her books. I think she writes well for the most part. An overuse of names in conversation is a bit distracting though. But mostly, I think I just don't enjoy the dismal narrative. Others may - this was simply my experience.
I was given a copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed are entirely my own.

I enjoyed the story but I didn’t just love it like so many others. It was well written with likeable characters.
Thanks to Netgalley for the early copy

Amanda Prowse is my go-to author when it comes to contemporary fiction, family drama, and emotional analysis. She often reminds me that writers hold the key to understanding the deepest, darkest, and most innate feelings a person can hold. The Light in the Hallway, due out on 11/11/19, is a prime example of why Prowse will always be one of those special few who have a tidal wave impact on my mindset. No other author has truly pushed me to think about a situation, feverish to determine what, if any, is the best answer to a problem with no solutions.

At the beginning of this book, we know Kerry is dying. When it happens, we are hurt but can move on, as we don't know a whole lot about her. Left behind are her mother, sister, husband, and son. Her husband, Nick, is strong, but we can feel his pain. Son, Ollie, is unable to show his emotions. Until he is. And then the entire story has you reaching for a tissue box. Less than 3 months after her death, Nick takes Ollie to his first year at college. Within a day, Ollie wants to come home. Nick drives there to get him, only to find things are not what he expected. A year goes by over the course of the remainder of this book... during which time we understand the profound loss Kerry's death has had on her family.

She wasn't a saint. She wasn't a sinner. She was human, made mistakes, and will be missed by many. Nick, on the other hand, has a group of friends who get him through each day. Through alternating chapters, we see Nick's life as a young teen with these friends... going through first love, becoming men, building friendships... each chapter tells us who he is today. We also see shades of Ollie in his father. Nick's life is tough, but he is determined to succeed. He and Kerry had Ollie when they were 18, so he's only 35 when she dies. His life is far from over... but how does his family react when he begins to date Bev?

Throw in a few complicated situations at work, Ollie's first girlfriend, an issue with Nick's in-laws, and money problems... this book covers so many heartbreaking moments, it's tough to get through without stopping for a breather. While not the most I've cried when reading a Prowse novel, there were a few moments where I felt it so intensely, I had to step away. A scene near the end with a watch broke me. I suspect it will break you too, but for all the reasons you won't ever expect.

Ah... reading days like this one are quite nearly perfect.

I love Amanda Prowse and her style of writing which brings her stores to life ! This is a book of loss and love and conflict and hope . As always an emotional read in places and uplifting In others . I enjoyed this read but I have to admit not as much as my previous reads from Amanda .thank you for the opportunity to read

I am inclined to agree with some of the reviewers on here in that I too haven't particularly enjoyed Amanda's last few books. I have read so many of her earlier ones and absolutely loved them but this definitely wasn't for me.

I think it's about time that I stopped reading her books now but thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

If you are a fan of author Amanda Prowse, you will love her latest book, The Light in the Hallway. If you are not familiar with her books, this book will make you a life-long fan. Author Prowse once again had me smiling, laughing and crying. Her books are filled with sentimental sweetness that will pull at your heartstrings. But her stories are also uplifting and encouraging as she shows how regular people get through the tough parts of life.

In this book, which may be my favorite, we confront big, life-changing problems and sorrows through the lovingly and carefully described details of life in a small Yorkshire market-town. The characters are marvelous, not a cardboard place-holder among them. We grow to love Nick and his mates, his wife, his child, his extended family by seeing them go about their daily lives. Some moments are funny, some so sad, as the book draws you into their world.

The story alternates between the summer of 1992, and the present and I was enthralled with each time period. In 1992, Nicky and his two friends were free to wander the small town and moors and have adventures, and free to learn more about life and their place in it. That summer became Nicky’s “light in the hallway”, his touchstone. The book shines with the sweet and touching details- the boys’ innocent banter, made-up games, their big project. But even that season was fraught with sadness and problems.

Nick in the present day, at thirty-five years old, has the same life of small pleasures, mixed with grownup problems. He loves his wife and son, he works at the local factory, but hadn’t he always dreamed of more? Nick’s life changes when his young wife dies and he no longer has someone who turns on the “the light in the hallway.” Nicky fears that he is lost, but once again, it’s the ordinary rhythm and rituals that guide Nick to a new life.

This is a book where the joy of the writing itself equals the story. I know you will love and remember Nicky and his mates and family as much as I did. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital review copy. This is my honest review.

In his mid-30s with a teenage son, Nick loses his wife Kerry to cancer. He must navigate his new life and his relationship with son Olly. There are flashbacks to the life of 10 year old Nick and his 2 best friends.

This is a gentle tale well told. For me it was rather too gentle and I'm not sure that I would have continued, had I not chosen it to review. That said its a life affirming story of small town life with a mother always ready with the frying pan, an annoying sister and sister in law....a boss in a big leather chair....

Another great story from Amanda Prowse - they just keep coming! In this one 35 year old Nick is coming to terms with the death of his wife. Their 18 year old son is about to go off to university. This is the story of loss, family and new beginnings. I especially liked the sections set when Nick and his 2 friends were young boys. These were funny and moving. I recommend this as a good read. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

This is a heart-warming story of loss, friendships, love and finding love again. This story is told through the eyes of Nick, a man who loses his wife, Kerry, to cancer early on in the book. Nick and Kerry have a teenage son, Oliver, who is all set to go off to University when his mother dies. Nick and Oliver need to start anew; figure out how to live and go on without Kerry. This book is a lesson on carrying on, learning to live again and forgiving oneself for living when an important person in your life is gone forever.
Thank you to Amanda Prowse and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another wonderful book from the very talented Amanda Prowse. I loved the characters especially Eric who just made me laugh throughout. Such a lovely story from start to finish. I laughed and cried buckets but not once did I feel the story was sad. It was a story full of hope.

I absolutely love Amanda’s books and although this was a slightly different one it was still amazing. This is written from the perspective of a male character with references to a central female one. The family interactions are true to life cutting across different ages from a youngest who goes off to Uni, Dad and the older generation. When I read a review I don’t want to know all the details otherwise why read the book but suffice to say there is great truthful interaction as the timeline moves. Thanks Amanda Prowse and NetGallery

This book is magical. Amanda's ability to tell the story from a male perspective so accurately is incredible.
I love the characters so much. I'm in awe of the way she is able to create such remarkable relationship dynamics between all the characters, especially with the flashbacks and memories of a summer many years ago. I love that she once again tackles difficult subjects and complex relationships in such incredibly sensitive yet accurate ways. The stigma about mental health, the perception of men not showing each other their feelings, talking about personal issues or making physical contact and the way it goes on to have an impact on people throughout their lives, even on a subconscious level to me is staggeringly accurate. The story is beautifully told and although a little sad in places, which is necessary given the subject matter, it is uplifting and heartwarming and so very full of hope for the future.
I enjoyed it so much I can't wait to listen to in on audio. I always find, because Amanda narrates her own stories, that there is an added depth of passion and emotion that takes it one level up from using my own imagination with the book.
Another brilliant 5 stars for what is a truly remarkable and enjoyable read.

Another poignant story about families from Amanda Prowse. I don't know how she does it, but it is like she gets into the skin of the characters and from the first page I am absolutely on board with what they are going through. I FEEL the pain that Nick feels, not to have his beloved Kerry with him anymore and the special moments that she is missing, especially when it comes to Oliver.

I have to admit, this book took me a little while to get into, in terms of the going back and forth from Nick's childhood to the present day but slowly the story unravelled and it all made sense. I loved the relationship that Nick had with Eric and Alex and how the community rallied around. Living in a small town myself, I understand the annoyance with everyone knowing your business and yet, when the chips are down, people are there for you too.

Nick was a lucky man in so many ways, even though he spent his life working in a factory. Some things didn't go to plan but he was a decent man, father, husband and son. It was interesting reading about his extended family as well, and their various approaches to what he was doing, post-Kerry. I wanted to slap Di, so clearly the author was doing a great job with HER characterisation! lol.

Anyway, all in all, another terrific book.

4.5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing.

Another well written heart felt story from Amanda Prowse with an amazing opening chapter that had me captivated from the off.

This tale tells of Nick a man who not only has to come to terms with living life without Kerry his deceased wife but also to overcome grief and be strong as Olly their son begins a new chapter in his life by going off to university. As Nick learns to laugh and love again he is helped by family and friends but it is no means an easy time and fraught with emotion.

Entwined with this current story are delightful chapters of Nick and his friends growing up in Burstonbridge showing us just how strong their bond is.

I was given an ARC digital copy of The Light In The Hallway from Net Galley in return for an honest opinion.

Thank you for the advanced copy of The Light In The Hallway by my favourite author. What a pleasure this book was to read.
It was sad bit also uplifting, showing that time does eventually heal and that happiness can be found again even if it is not an easy road to finding it.
Having a book written from a male point of view is also refreshing as most books show the emotional angst from a women's point of view so hearing how a man deals with heartache was enlightening.
I'd love to have follow up from the sons viewpoint.
Another well thought out, emotional
but excellent read by Amanda Prowse

I received a digital ARC of this book from the author and Net Galley.

This is the second book I’ve read by Amanda Prowse and I loved it just as much as the first. I love that her characters are so relatable and she writes them so well. I loved this story and the fact that the main characters were male. It was a nice change from the norm. I don’t want to give away the story but I love the family bond that is woven throughout and I was very happy with the ending. I always appreciate closure to a good story. Amanda did not disappoint! I look forward to reading more of her books in the future!

Another brilliant book from this author. She never fails to write an excellent novel
I loved everything about this book. The author manages to drag you into the book.
I cried tears of joy and sadness at the end of this book

This is a book about love, grief, friendship, growing up and even parenting, And you know what? The main character is a man!

This book focuses on Nick, Eric and Alex. They've been best friends for years. Throughout the book there are flashbacks to their childhood where they enjoy an incredible summer.

The "present day" finds one of the characters going through the loss of his wife.

I loved this book and the way the author was able to write from the point of view of Nick.

A good read about a family, friends, survival, and moving forward. It started out a little dark, but you just jump right in. How could you not cheer for Nick and Olly, Eric and Alex, and the rest of the characters who fill this book?! There’s sad, there’s shock, there’s humor, there’s a mother’s love. Family dynamics, biological and not, are at the heart of this story. An excellent and very readable example of contemporary fiction.

This was a sad but heartfelt read. I enjoy Amanda Prowse's books and this didn't disappoint. A great book from the male perspective. Set in Yorkshire, will Nick and Ollie recover from their loss, without damaging their relationship? I love how Amanda writes so honestly about the loss of a loved one and how life goes on after the tragedy.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

#netgalley #thelightinthehallway

I always enjoy this author’s books. She has a very gifted way of writing. A beautiful tale of how it is possible to enjoy life again after a time of grief. Great characters and storyline. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

Amanda Prowse delivers a very moving novel about relationships between fathers and sons, between a grieving husband and his dead wife and between three lifelong friends. As Nick deals with his loss, questions arise about when is it time to move on, and who should be the best judge of that. I loved the back story of Nick and his two friends, their hope of a better future and the meaning of success.

Yet another wonderful story by Amanda Prowse. Well written, great characters and totally real life.
Nick is the main character whose wife falls ill and passes away leaving him and their son Oliver.
We follow Nick and his best friends Eric and Alex from their childhood in 1992 to the current day. Seeing how their childhood very much links to the way they are today. I love the way the book covers the two timelines and flows effortlessly.
This story is sad. heartwarming, funny and so much more.
You only have one life and you have to live it.
I loved this book

Another brilliant book by Amanda Prowse.
This book tells the story of coping with life, and learning to love again after loosing a loved one, and follows the lives of father and son through this sad time. I love how it’s so easy to relate to Amanda’s stories and they are so believable that you just know that this is quite possibly happening to people everywhere, which gets you evened deeper into the story

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This story is about childhood friendships, death, grief and starting over. I loved it!
Nick and Ollie were slowly moving on and it wasn’t easy for either one of them and at 50% I wanted to throw my kindle across the room. People can be awful and why do they think they can decide when someone can move on? Grrrrrr......
Anyway I thought this was good and there was a lot going on in this story. I’d definitely recommend it to my friends.
This was a NETGALLEY gift and all opinions are my own.

Amanda Prowse is one of my favourite authors. Her books never fail to delight, provoke thought, and entertain, and this is no exception. I loved it, and couldn't put it down. In fact I read the last 70% in a morning. As my youngest is about to head off to University it was all the more poignant.


Nick is in his 30s, having married extremely young as his wife Kerry was expecting their son Olly. Nick gave up his dreams of going to University to support his wife and child, but here he is 18 years later with Olly about to start University, and his wife newly passed on due to cancer.


Nick has a support system in this small town, where everyone knows everyone else - his best friends Eric and Alex, his mum and sister, and his mother in law and sister in law, but Nick still feels very alone.


Nick has to cope with life on his own, a son who is just starting a journey of his own whilst missing his mother acutely, and a life with a Kerry shaped hole in a town where everyone has their opinions on what he should be doing and feeling - especially his sister in law!


This is a book that will have you alternately smiling and tearful, but will leave you elated with some interesting food for thought. Highly recommended

Thanks to the publisher and author for providing me with a digital ARC of this title via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I ready my first title by Amanda Prowse earlier this year and really liked it so I was excited to receive this title. I find her to be a sensitive author that is able to create characters and stories that touch the reader. The Light in the Hallway is a sweet story about a wife and mother who passes away from cancer at a young age and how her death affects her husband and son. It is a story about family, loyalty, grief, and finding love and happiness after loss. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by Prowse. .

Amanda Prowse is back with another insightful and sensitive novel. One of the main characters passes away right at the very beginning, yet her influence is felt throughout. Her husband and son struggle with her loss, but within this they find new beginnings. We get plenty of flashbacks to Nick’s childhood, with his two best friends who remain in his life now. Will everybody get their happy ending? You’ll have to read the book to find out!
I was excited to review this new book for NetGalley, and I certainly wasn’t disappointed. It is sensitively written and the characters are very well drawn. I would recommend this title to anybody, and if it is your first read of her novels, it would certainly get you on a hunt for the rest!

This is the second book I have read by this author, and I really like her style. Her stories delve into the goings on of everyday life by looking at all aspects of the characters. She gives us a story from youth to present day, showing us how the actions of the past resurface throughout life, and how the actions have defined the characters in present day.
This story is about Nick and his son Olly, who are going through the loss of their wife and mother., and how the relationship takes many turns as they navigate life going forward.
It also delves into the close friendships growing up between Nick and his two best friends, Eric and Alex, a strong bond that follows them into adulthood.
I am really looking forward to reading more of her stories as I feel I have benefited from her insight as well.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK.

This is a beautifully written story which had me laughing and close to tears from start to finish. Parts were heartbreaking. I felt that everything was written with sympathy and understanding. I have really enjoyed all the books that I have read by this author.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

I just finished this book and I already have people in mind to recommend it to; it's one of those books that makes you feel and see things from every side, and I would say that in short, that is at least part of why Amanda's writing is so wonderful. Grab this one and pass it on. It's a perfect Autumn read.

Wonderful book about real life and the trials of everyday life! The main characters were funny and easy to conjure up! Tale of difficult life path, but also the strength of the human spirit to overcome obstacles and rise again! Thoroughly enjoyable read!

Yet another fabulous read from Ms Prowse. This book felt slightly different to previous ones - maybe because it is told from a male perspective. A truly enchanting story that really draws you in. Heartbreaking and heart lifting at once this story is just lovely.

As I am a working class northerner this book was completely up my street. I loved the use of language both in the 1999s and present day. It was a simple story but well written and dealt with grief very well and kept my attention. A few hiccups along the way but lovely to read such a happy ending for everyone.

This is another great book from a amazing author. The story had me hooked from the beginning it was so good, I felt like I was reading about my friends and family and found I was thinking about them when I wasn't reading this book. Definitely a good read

I enjoy Amanda Prowse books; she writes about real people experiencing real, often everyday events with sensitivity and insight. I wasn't sure about 'The Light in the Hallway' when I first picked it up however. The subject matter is emotional stuff. Father and only son, Nick and Oliver, experience the loss of a significant other, Kerry, the wife and mother, to cancer. We enter their story first at the point of Kerry's passing, and what follows is the story of how Nick and Olly learn to cope with their loss and finally to move on with their lives. It was a slow burner at the beginning, and about quarter of the way in I wasn't sure I was going to be able to continue as the story didn't seem to be going anywhere. Whether that was part of the author's intention in order to impart to her readers the sheer emptiness of Nick's life without his life partner I don't know, but suddenly began to pick up just about at the point that Nick's life started to improve. Running alongside this main life event was the tale of Nick's childhood relationship with his own parents, particularly his father, and his friendship with Eric and Alex, which certainly added a bit more depth to Nick's character.
If you happen to pick up this book, don't expect a mind=blowing mystery or thriller, or even an intense domestic drama. This is, quite simply, a really good read on a life that any one of us could be living.
I give this book 3 stars.

What a masterful journey of emotions! Amanda Prowse takes you on the roller coaster of life, love, loss, and recovery. This book delves into real life emotions of marriage, struggle to stay afloat, and raising a family. The title says it all...what everyone really wants in the end is a light in the hallway.

Another 5* read from Amanda Prowse. This author has a knack for drawing the reader in to real life situations.

I loved this being written from a male perspective and liked the character of Nick. Although it made me cry in parts, I did also have some uplifting parts. Her writing style is so easy to read and this is highly recommended.

Amanda Prowse writes about true life events that could happen to any of us and this is no exception.

This is a story of family, love, loss, friendship and moving on. The characters were well drawn, the plot realistic, and the story all came together to a satisfactory conclusion.

Overall, I enjoyed this story. One problem I had though was thinking the main character, Nick, to be older than he was because the way he spoke, the phrases he used etc. I thought he was 50+, but it turned out he was in his mid-thirties! This could have been because he got married and had a baby very young and had been the breadwinner ever since. Old before his time perhaps?

Nick's relationship with his wife, her death etc. was written extremely well. It was touching, as was the relationship between Nick and his son, Ollie.

The other characters were all depicted well, and I especially liked Tasha, Jen, and Eric, Nick's childhood friend. Also, Treacle the dog. :-)

There are flashbacks to Nick's childhood, which helped to explain his character, and which I mostly enjoyed, but some of the sections were too long.

I thought Nick's new romance was dealt with well. SPOILER ALERT: I can't help thinking the unplanned pregnancy was cliched. Come on, two adults in their thirties? I found it disappointing because Nick first became a father when he was young, around 17, and I wish the author had given him some more time.

A good read, albeit a bit slow at times.

I’d like to thank Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Light In The Hallway’ by Amanda Prowse in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

When Nick’s wife Kerry becomes ill and dies he feels that after nineteen years of marriage his life has ended. His son Oliver is off to university and doesn’t accept that Nick needs to start enjoying life again, making it clear that the family home is his mother’s and nobody else’s. Can Nick navigate a path between his son, Kerry’s family and his own, keeping everybody happy?

Amanda Prowse has written an amazing story of a family living in a town in the North of England and follows the death of a much-loved wife and mother, showing compassion and sensitivity for an ordinary family, bringing out their strengths and weaknesses. I liked the characters of Nick who’s been earning a living in the same factory all his working life, Bev who works with him and becomes his friend, sister Jen and his best-friend Eric, although I found Oliver thoroughly unpleasant, selfish and demanding. It’s a remarkable and beautifully written novel that finishes with a touching and perfect conclusion. Thank you, Amanda, for writing yet another heart-warming and thoroughly enjoyable novel!

Not for me sadly. It wasn't awful, the plot was nice enough and the writing wasn't bad, I just couldn't get into it. I found the narrative a bit off paced, and it just dragged for so long. I have to admit though, at the time of requesting there was not a synopsis available on NetGalley - I requested it instead on the basis of never having read one of her novels before. If I had read the synopsis, I probably wouldn't have requested it, as I've read a lot of books like this and rarely find myself interested in them.

Another winner by an author I have really come to enjoy! Prowse has a way of crafting very real characters and stories that are moving and engaging without dragging you down and this one is no exception. Definitely recommended!

The Light in the Hallway by Amanda Prowse
This is the first book by Amanda Prowse that I have read. It won’t be the last!
The characters were well developed and the story was fluid. It is the story of life-long friends, love, loss and rebirth. One can’t help but become entangled in their story. Hope there is a sequel to this book.
You will definitely need to add this to your TPR list.
#TheLightInTheHallway #Netgalley

Amanda Prowse is becoming my favorite author. This book is about a family trying to go on after the mom dies. This book was such an emotional, well written book. Have plenty of tissues !

The Light in the Hallway by Amanda Prowse a five-star read that will shine a light as you read. This is a touching and heart-warming read, there was so much heart and depth to this story, but there is also a need for tissues while reading as they will be needed. By far my favourite read from this author, usually I find it hard to get into the writing, but this one just pulled me straight in from the start. Oliver and Nick have faced devastation in this story, and they will show you their story in a way that will make you feel like its your story. The loss they face, you will feel the loss more than you feel the loss of the character Kerry as you know that she is dying when you start the story, so you don’t get the deep emotional connection with her, but you will care. Amanda Prowse is definitely an author I will look out for more from.

iAmanda Prowse has tugged at the heartstrings yet again!!! Tearful, heart rending but also filled with joy and laughter this book takes you on a roller coaster ride of emotions. A simple story of everyday folk, it leaves you with a skip in your step.

Amanda Prowse is one of my favorite authors. I was a little shy to ask to review this one - afraid it would be too depressing. But it was not! I felt more uplifted than sad and the characters were more down to earth than we see in SO many books.

Kerry passes away after a noble fight with cancer. She leaves behind her mum, sister, her husband, Nick, and son, Oliver. Touching stages of grief, memories and acceptance prevail. Olly leaves for university not too long after his mum passes. This leaves Nick alone with his dog, Treacle.. Eventually, Nick does venture into the outside world but not without trepidation.

A heart-warming story with sadness, loneliness and humor. Good reading for all fiction enthusiasts!

Many Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for a very good read!

Thanks to Galley I was given copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
I enjoyed this book, story of a man who's wife his first and only love dies. This is his story on how to be a Dad without his wife and best friend. How his son deals without his mom and how he related to the changes in life...wonderful story of how they get thru and life goes on...

The Light in the Hallway
Amanda Prowse
November 11, 2019


Nick and Kerry were married right after high school. Ollie was born 9 months later. Nick worked at a manufacturing plant for lights. There was no college for him or his wife. They needed to provide for Oliver. Kerry worked as a waitress at a breakfast cafe. Burston was the small town in England they called home. The Siddley family ran the plant where many of the townsfolk worked. Generations spent their days working for the Siddley clan. Nick and Kerry had problems like any other family but in the midst of Ollie’s last year of school Kerry had a diagnosis of cancer. It was difficult for Nick worrying about her health, bills, and getting on without her paycheck. As the days went on Kerry was too sick to continue doing the usual things that Ollie became used to. She was his mom, how would he function without her? It wasn’t long before she was admitted to hospice.
After Kerry’s death there was Ollie and his going to college, making do without her, carrying on with life in the empty house; Nick was alone. Life at Siddley was difficult. The story continues telling us how Ollie’s life changed in college. Nick discovers his best friend could be moving to Australia. Prowse gave us a dark script to read. It became difficult as it seemed the story grew more grave with each chapter. The conclusion was like a dream one of the characters might have had. I will not give away the ending but it somehow didn’t seem possible considering the plot that prefaced it. Her writing was excellent as all of the books that I have read from Amanda Prose. This one was marose and then it wasn’t. I don’t want to not recommend The Light in the Hallway as many of her readers will find this very good. Lake Union Publishing will release The Light in the Hallway by Amanda Prowse on November 19, 2019.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review . This book is about grief loss friendships and new beginnings. This story is told from the perspective of modern day and when The main character Nick is 9 years old. The childhood writing is told from the child’s perspective and at times laugh out loud funny. The adult theme is based on grief and very raw at times but very well written.

I really enjoyed this story and will look for more titles by this author

I was on an emotional roller coaster while reading this book. I lost my daughter seven years ago and this book revived some of my grief. Grief is a process though and this author captured that. I will definitely be seeking more of her work.
Many thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Amanda Prowse never fails to deliver a real story with real people and real issues. As always her way of writing draws you in from the first page and makes the reader feel part of the story.
Heartfelt, moving and hopeful this book was excellent. I just could not put it down.
I particularly loved the relationship between father and son during their difficult times and the relationship between Nick and his two best mates.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for giving me an ARC in exchange for my independent review.

Nicks wife had recently died, she had been ill for a while and Nick spent every day with her throughout her illness. Oliver (their son) and Nick need to find a way to move on with their lives without her. We find out how they cope without her, Oliver goes to University and Nick tries to move on in the house and town they shared together.

The story is told in the present, then every now and again it goes back into the past of when Nick was younger. It is a lovely story of love, loss, heartache and even some funny moments. I really enjoyed reading this.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher Amazon Publishing UK for an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

Another amazing book by Amanda Prowse, such a touching tale of the struggles faced when Nick and Oliver have to try and pull together after the devastating loss of wife/mother at a young age. Must read book

Oh I loved this book, there is something about the way that Amanda Prowse writes that really draws you into her characters. You almost feel you know them by the end of the book. This was a perfect read, engaging, funny, sad and I didn't want it to end. I highly recommend - thank you.

This was a very sweet story dealing with difficult family issues.
It was really sappy.
I’m sure it will be enjoyed by many, but just not my kind of book.

I appreciate the ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

A beautifully written story about love, friendship and the struggles of moving forward after the death of a loved one.
This was a fantastic story that had me laughing at times and crying at others. Listening to it via text-to-speech in the car on my commute to work, there were times I had to stop listening as the tears blurred my eyes too much to be able to drive safely (plus I didn’t want to turn up for work with a red puffy face).
I would definitely recommend this book, but would advise you have a tissue handy whilst reading.

I just don’t know how Amanda Prowse does it but every book she writes is fantastic. I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book !! This story covers so many human emotions in such a emotive readable way.

The bonds of father and son Nick and Oliver are tested to the limit when their wife and mother dies young. The struggles facing Nick as he sees his son leaving for university without his mother’s presence is heartbreaking. As life goes on they both face hurdles as new relationships appear and each struggle differently with their grief . Moving on after a loved ones death must be very difficult and this was explored in a very realistic way.

The story moves from present day to Nicks childhood and introduces the reader to the special relationship he shared with his two childhood friends Alex and Eric. These friends remain constant in Nicks life and have shaped his past as well as his present.

I loved this book and the ending was fantastic. Thank you Amanda Prowse you have done it again,,, The Bairstow boys will stay with me for a long time,, My thanks also to netgalley and the publishers for my chance to read this brilliant book.

This book tells the story of father and son - Nick and Olly - as they deal with the loss of wife and mother Kerry. Amanda Prowse has a wonderful ability to create characters with who the reader can connect with at an emotional level. Her description of Olly's grief in chapter one was so profound it shocked me into tears. The story is also told from Nick's childhood with his friends Alex and Eric, and the lessons they learn about life. There are some really touching scenes such as the boys' innocent view about 'Dave The Milk". The three characters remain friends in the current day chapters. At times I found the story a little slow, but the emotional journey of the characters and how their lives move on kept me engaged with the book. It's a novel rich with emotion that will make you smile and cry.

Absolutely brilliant book. I was in tears within the first few pages. The book is written so well it really captures the heartbreak of nick and his family and they go through some horrible times. The way the book changes from current to nicks younger years is also done very well, and it is so relatable.
The story is compelling and I literally couldn't put it down. It deals with horrible situations with ease, really making the reader feel the emotion and stress that the character feels. Amazing book I would recommend to anyone.

I received a copy of The Light in the Hallway by Amanda Prowse from Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

I give this book 5 stars! The Light in the Hallway by Amanda Prowse has all the feels. Emotional, uplifting and encouraging...definitely recommend!

The Light in the Hallway is a very well written book. The plot deals with the loss of a wife and mother. And the husband and son dealing with their grief. A very believable story and characters. I received a complimentary copy of the book and this is my unbiased review.

Thanks to netgalley for a chance to read this book.

When Nick’s wife Kerry dies at the age of thirty-five from cancer, he and his eighteen year old son Olly struggle to come to terms with her death. This a story of grief and life’s struggles to move on and carry on living a life.

This is a lovely and emotional story, The Light in the Hallway. It is the story of Nick who is thirty five, his wife Kerry, has just passed and he is now alone in the house with his eighteen year old son, Ollie. They spend time trying to make everything new and cope with their loss. Ollie heads to university and Nick starts to move on with his life which includes his mum, sister, Kerry's mum and sister and life long friends and fellow colleagues at work. The story is sweet, a tearjerker and will give you hope in friends, family and those who can love you. Loved it! Thank you. #netgalley #thelightinthehallway #lakeunionpublishing

Whenever I pick up an Amanda Prowse book, I know that I am going to find myself engrossed in the story and so it was with The Light in the Hallway. I always find that there is something about her characters which I find so relatable. She writes about her characters with great insight into their emotions so that it's hard not to be touched by their situations. Her characters are ordinary people, like people you may know and that's what makes her books so addictive. The situations they find themselves in are situations you will identify with, may even have been in yourself.

Nick married Kerry when they were both in their teens with a baby on the way. He gave up his dream of going to Uni, going to work for a large local employer. Despite this, he has few regrets and a happy life with Kerry and their son Oliver. When Kerry dies in her mid thirties at a hospice, Nick has to cope with losing the love of his life and working out how he and Oliver will move forward. The first chapter was heartbreaking to read and Amanda Prowse was really spot on with showing not just Nick's grief but the way Kerry's death affected all her family. The unspoken rules of what was and wasn't allowed for the newly bereaved were a bewildering maze for Nick to negotiate. The difficulties of how to keep connections in a family when the person who connected you is gone were clear as was the hurt and anger sometimes felt.

Not only was there a big hole in his life from the loss of his wife, Nick also had other major changes to cope with as their son, Olly, moved away to University. I think many parents will identify with the worry over their child not settling at Uni and feeling overwhelmed. This was another loss for Nick albeit in a different way. Throughout the book it was lovely to see the bonds between father and son grow stronger despite the physical distance between them and despite some other challenges.

Each chapter ends with a scene from 1992, a year when Nick and his lifelong friends Eric and Alex were building a bike. But more than that, they were building lasting friendships and learning skills and attitudes which would stand them in good stead for the future. They learned about what really matters in life, they learned to take pride in their work and they learned how to value things. I loved this insight into Nick and his friends as young boys and you could see the good men they would become.

The light in the hallway of the title was both an actual and metaphorical light, shining a welcome and lighting the way. As with all Amanda's books, I was completely caught up in the characters' lives and all that was happening and simply could not put the book down, devouring it in only two days. The Light in the Hallway is a heartfelt, emotional and hopeful story and one I loved!

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I really like this author and yet again she has written a great book. I was an emotional wreck reading this.

This is a touching story about a father and son learning to live again after the loss of a wife and mother. Oliver, the son is 18 and about to go off to college, while his Dad struggles to adjust to his new normal. WIthout giving any spoilers I'll say the ups and downs they experience along with the love and support of family and friends, they made new lives for themselves. This is a sweet story of new beginnings without forgetting what came before

This book was an emotional roller coaster. The emotions started within the first few pages. It made you laugh as well as cry. First book I have read from this author and it was a decent quick read.
I received this book from Netgalley and I am leaving an honest review.

This is my first book by Amanda Prowse, and I was very impressed. Nick has just lost his wife to cancer. He and his son, Ollie, must move on with their lives and emotionally deal with all the changes. This touching and soul-searching story also includes flashbacks to Nick’s life as a child that give insight into his parents and friends. The characters and storyline are very believable, and you can’t help but feel touched by each character’s circumstances. Consider reading this book. I definitely recommend it. I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Nick's wife Kerry passes away in the very first chapter and the rest of the book walks us through the struggles both Nick and his son Olly endure after her passing. This book was unique that I felt like a fly on the wall watching Nick trying to find his place in life after Kerry dies. I read it in one afternoon so much that it kept my attention through out but let me also say that this is a sad story of two boys hurting. Thank you to Netgalley for our ARC.

Nice feel good book. It flowed very well. was easy to read. Nice characters. Good storyline. What’s not to love.

This is a delightful read, both joyful and gut-wrenchingly sad.
The title refers to Nick’s childhood home’s hall light which always throws out a big welcome to those coming up the path. But more than that, it is “a beacon, a sign of the life that lay behind the door, the promise of a warm welcome, a cup of tea, company, home.” For me, this description is a metaphor for Amanda Prowse’s writing. Reading one of her books is like slipping your feet into your comfy slippers and curling up in your favourite chair. She writes about everyday people facing life’s challenges, and has this incredible ability of writing totally familiar, real and believable characters. But while her writing is cosy, it is certainly never mundane. And she doesn’t romanticise life, but lays it on the line, warts and all.
The Light in the Hallway is about Nick, who has just lost his wife to cancer, and their son, Oliver. Oliver moves away to university while they are both still trying to get to grips with their loss. The story also takes us back to happier times: Nick’s boyhood in the early 1990s which he shared with his two best friends. I loved these glimpses into the past, which centre around one summer holiday during which Nick, Eric and Alec build a bicycle from an old bike frame – and a bicycle multitool becomes their most precious possession. As a keen cyclist this added another compelling dimension to the story, and Half Bike as the boys called their beloved bicycle was a character all of its own.
Amanda Prowse draws her readers right into the heart of her characters’ lives so that we rejoice for them and cry with them. I relished Nick’s great friendship with his old mate, Eric, and warmed enormously to the likeable, straight-talking Bev. And I would love to meet Nick’s wonderfully generous mum; she’s just what everyone needs in a mother.
Despite being very sad sometimes, this was such a feel-good book. It’s also very funny in parts, especially the boyhood humour and pranks repeated in adulthood. I was in hysterics when Eric covers the conference room seats with bin bags when schoolboy friend Piss Pants Will - now an important banker - comes for a crucial meeting.
The Light in the Hallway is all about families and love and friendships. It’s also about healing and dealing with the difficulties life throws at us. I particularly loved reading about those (mostly) halcyon days of the young boys with their bike, and seeing how they later faced the trials of adulthood.

Publisher’s description: When Nick’s wife Kerry falls ill and dies, he realises for the first time how fragile his happiness has always been, and how much he’s been taking his good life and wonderful family for granted. Now, he suddenly finds himself navigating parenthood alone, unsure how to deal with his own grief, let alone that of his teenage son, Olly.

In the depths of his heartbreak, Nick must find a way to navigate life that pleases his son, his in-laws, his family and his friends—while honouring what Kerry meant to them all. But when it comes to his own emotions, Nick doesn’t know where to begin. Kerry was his childhood sweetheart—but was she really the only one who could ever make him happy?

And in the aftermath of tragedy, can Nick and his son find themselves again?
************
Amanda Prowse’s books always make me run the gamut of emotions, and “The Light in the Hallway” is no exception.

Only in his mid-30s, Nick loses his childhood sweetheart to cancer just as his son Oliver is about to go off to university. He and Olly are devastated, and even though Nick and Kerry’s marriage was not perfect, Nick is lost without her and needs to learn how to navigate life without Kerry and face the loneliness of his newly empty nest.

With Kerry’s voice in his head as a guide, Nick faces the trials of when and how to move on if that’s even possible for him to fathom. He seems to disappoint Olly and his sister-in-law at every turn, and he finds himself the victim of bad timing over and over.

The story unfolds with alternating chapters between now and the “summer of absolutely brilliant” (1992), so we learn as we go how Nick became the man he is today.

This book is an emotional, heartbreaking-to-happiness journey worth taking.

Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. This title is scheduled for release on November 11, 2019.

The Light in the Hallway is a sweet story about Nick and his son, Oliver, after the passing of Kerry, Nick's mom. Both father and son are grieving in their own ways, and the months after Kerry's passing are difficult on their relationship. Throughout the story, Nick remembers the days of his youth and the friendships that he held dear. Nick ultimately finds happiness in his work and his life with friends and family outside work. This book is quite predictable, and the story is not especially original. It will appeal to female readers looking for a light read with a satisfying ending.

When I first read the book description, I thought that I had enough drama in my real life to be reading about someone else’s fictional suffering. Yet I decided to give the first chapter a chance. About 12 hours later, I was finishing the last chapter, after a journey through pain, grief, longing, recovery, redemption and hope. The setting of the story may have been foreign to me, but the feelings conveyed by the nicely written prose are universal. A great read, a great comfort.

This gut wrenching story will have your emotions all over the place. Nick takes us along his journey as he triumphs over the tragedy of losing his wife and dealing with the fall out as it affects his son. It is a well written story that puts you front and center to the drama as it unfolds in the story that you are sure to remember well after reading. I voluntarily agreed to receive an ARC of this book for an honest review.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book, it was very enjoyable. I found the plot line engaging and the characters believable.I love Amanda Prowse and this is another brilliant novel! I will be recommending this book to friends and family.

“The Light in the Hallway” by Amanda Prowse

Amanda Prowse is the author of many novels based on strong women as her main characters in her storyline. While the message of the light in the hallway is poignant around the story of one woman in the novel and how the light was always inviting to those coming home or dropping by for a visit. It is a story how it stopped being lit due to an unplanned event in her life that affected so many, but mostly her husband and son.

This is a novel about her husband and son and how they move forward over time. While they are surrounded by many strong women, and even meet ones of their own along the way, it is really about how the two men find their way in the world despite the fact that they never remembered to turn on the hallway light so they were never coming home to a dark, sad or lonely home. It is a story of how they healed and went on with their lives, never forgetting the woman who always turned on the hallway light, and yet found other ways of doing so themselves.

It is a novel about family, first and foremost. About healing and finding a way to move forward after tragedy and when things happen in life one was never planning, but how you make the best of those situations and grow from them. It is about the support from their friends and family and learning what is the right path for themselves, even when some may disagree. But most of all, it is a story of love and all its many facets and how, in the end, that may be the most important aspect in life.

Rating: 4.5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️



** I chose to read and review an advanced copy of this novel. All words, thoughts and every aspect of the review is my own.

I love the fact that all of Amanda's books are so very different. I don't know how she does it but this is yet again another lovely story with characters that are so true to life and who make you care deeply for them. A tale of childhood sweethearts who marry but have their future together cut short when the wife dies of cancer at a young age. The story is told from the perspective of the widowed husband, Nick and their son Olly and their journey following the death of the woman they both loved so much. Emotions such as grief, anger, regret and guilt run through the pages as the pair deal with heartache in their different ways. Olly is just starting at university so father and son being separated as they deal with all of this is an additional strain on their relationship. Interspersed with the sadness, however, are chapters telling of Nick's childhood with his 2 best friends - together, the 3 Amigos - dealing with one particular summer - the 'best summer of their lives'. There is humour and poignancy and a wonderful sense of innocence which I found very moving and nostalgic. The fact that they boys continue to be best friends even into adulthood lends an even more enjoyable aspect to the story. The conclusion is excellent leaving a feeling of happiness and fulfillment upon turning the final page. I loved it! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in return for my unbiased review..

Another great read from Amanda Prowse. A sensitive subject that is beautifully written. It will pull at your heart strings & take you on a tale of sadness, forgiveness & happy ever afters

Heart wrenching Amanda Prowse has written another beautiful tear jerker.A father and son cope with the death of their wife, mother ..A path of learning to live again find joy .A big box of tissues needed.#netgalley#amazonuk

At the beginning of the book, you know that Kerry is dying, and that the love she shares with Nick is special. It’s what happens to Nick (and their son Olly) after Kerry dies is what’s at the heart of this latest offering from the queen of emotion, Amanda Prowse. This book is full of raw emotion; the pain of losing a loved one, the heartbreaking journey that grief can take you on, and the emotions every parent goes through when their child grows up and doesn’t need their parent anymore. This had me crying regularly. Amanda knows how to pull you into the human story of her characters and lets you feel their pain with them. But there’s always positivity in her books, and this one is no exception. You walk with Nick (and Olly) as they find their new normal, and adjust to life without Kerry. And this book is laced with humour, just at the right moment. A lovely read about love, grief, friendship and family.

What a truly wonderful and realistic read. I have to admit, I was not in the right frame of mind when I started this book, and it seemed to start out slow. I am used to reading murder mysteries and medical thrillers and the like, and this book is not like that. Rather, it is a story about love, loss, doing the right thing and starting over. The characters are well fleshed out, and the story is very relatable. The story also has flashbacks to 1992, when the main character, Nick, and his 2 best mates, spent a summer together building a bike. I like that the friendships from that time carry over into the current story, as well as little tidbits that relate to the current story. I found myself crying and cheering multiple times.

Nick, at age 35, loses his wife of 18 years to cancer. He now must figure out how to move forward and help his son, Oliver, to do the same. Along with his family and friends, he learns to navigate this new life and figure out how to live and love again. There are lots of mistakes and mishaps that make this a very funny and touching story.

“Everything can prosper with a bit of love.”

How do you start again when you lose the only love you’ve ever known?
After Nick’s wife falls ill and dies, he finds himself lost, navigating his life and parenthood alone, trying to deal with his grief and to guide his teenage son through it.
The Life In The Hallway is a powerful and emotional book about grief and finding yourself again after loss.
The story alternates between Nick’s younger days and the present.
It started a little slow for me but it was a beautiful story overall, full of sad and sweet moments and hope.

“Life throws curveballs and you’ve got to either catch them and throw them back or dodge them.”

“Grief is not a linear journey. Sadness is not a sequential thing.”

“Life is a gift and we have to live it the best we can. Both of us. We owe it to everyone who no longer has a life.”

Thank you Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

http://www.instagram.com/booksandcoffeepleasemx

I am so glad I got to read a copy of this book early. I will be honest, the last 2 books I did not care for but this brings her right back up to the top for me. It is a beautiful book. And I truly enjoyed reading it and so will you ! Great book !

Amanda Prowse has written a great novel. It covers most subjects. Love. Loss and friendships.

Nick and his son have just lost Kerry after he battle with cancer. The book covers how they both struggle with their grief. Oliver goes off to Uni but doesn’t want his dad to move on. The book uncovers their relationship and those around them.

The book also flashes back to Nicks early life and his two friend Eric and Alex. And how those bonds of boyhood shape your life.

An enjoyable read.

The meaning of the title The Light in the Hallway is not revealed until late in this heartfelt story. It refers to the light you see when you look in the windows of a happy home. The novel, set in a small town that becomes almost a character of its own, takes place in the present day where Nick is grappling with the death of his wife Kerry. There are flashbacks to Nick’s childhood, his best friends and the unforgettable half bike. Nick and Kerry married right out of high school, had their son Oliver soon after and Nick went to work in a factory to support his young family. While their marriage wasn’t perfect, they were deeply in love and Kerry’s voice speaks to Nick, giving him advice and encouragement. When Oliver leaves for the university, Nick supports him as well as he can. And when Nick enters the dating world, he finds a new relationship. Themes of friendship, family and change run through all the little stories the weave themselves into this one big, bursting at the seams with emotion book. Read it. It will made you laugh, cry and leave you smiling.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing and Amanda Prowse for this ARC.

This is a well written and emotional read about moving on after the death of a loved one, as well as love and friendship. It's a book that will likely touch the hearts of the reader (but be prepared to need some Kleenex along the way). I don't read a lot of books, especially emotional ones, from the male perspective, so that was a nice twist. It was a bit too sappy in parts for my liking, but I'm sure it will hit home with many readers.

Amanda Prowse has done it again this was a brilliant, touching and heartwarming read. What a story from beginning to end I was captivated. Loved the ending.

When I picked up this book to start reading it was a wee bit slow going. The back and forth of the time period confused me at first. I thought the led character was thinking back to when his son was younger but was in fact flashing back to his childhood.

Once I got through the first few chapters I got into the storyline. The author really delved into human emotions following a tragedy. It was this real-life emotion that eventually drew me in.

Overall A very enjoyable read, however, be sure to have tissues on hand.

Well, wow. The book was a very deep and thought-provoking ride. It touches you deeply. I cried, laughed and wanted to stay awake to finish. During the holidays it would be excellent for someone to read. Beautiful.

Nick finds himself a widower at 35 with an 18-year-old son after losing his wife, Kerry, to cancer. She was his high school sweetheart and was his one true love. After her death he is trying to do what is best for his son, Oliver, and for his and Kerry's family and try to navigate the rules of mourning like when is it okay to go out in public, how many times are you supposed to visit the grave and what flowers should you bring. In their small town of Burstonville any mistakes are duly noted and passed along the grapevine.

Nick had a great support system in his mother and mother-in-law and his two best friends growing up, particularly Eric. Nick's sister, Jen, isn't a very well developed character and I wish she had been fleshed out more because I would have liked some explanations behind some of her actions. Oliver is a typical 19-year-old, on the cusp of adulthood, scared because he lost his mother but just moving to university and becoming an adult and starting a relationship with a young woman. Nick and Oliver seemed to have a good relationship but, again, I wished we knew more about them.

Part of the story was told in flashbacks to the summer of 1992 with his friends, Alex and Eric, when they built and shared a bike together. It was interesting but I didn't see the point of it and really just wanted to get back to the main story.

I think the ending was overdone. It had a nice conclusion but I think it could have been less. If you read it I think you'll understand what I mean.

You can always count on Amanda Prowse to take you on a deep, thoughtful emotional journey. This book proves that theory. At a very young age Nick and Kerry found each other and thought they were in it together forever though it meant their original dreams were forever altered. They had each other and their beautiful a sweet delicious little boy that meant the world to them. Unfortunately their forever was cut short after a horrible cancer diagnosis. Is there any other kind?? Nick and Ollie are trying to deal with life after death. They are both stuck, but in different ways. Nick is trying to do the best he can for a very closed off son. And so begins a journey of the two of them, their family and friends trying to find a whole new normal and create new and love filled lives, because that is what Kerry wanted! Keep some tissues nearby when reading! Enjoy this beautifully written story that is so very real, true and a testament to love and the human experience.

WOW another great book by Amanda Prowse, that delves into the characters emotions in a heart wrenching way that me laugh and cry. I couldn’t put this down and read it in one sitting!!

The story starts with Nick rushing to the hospital to say goodbye to his wife Kerry, she is dying of cancer. They were childhood sweethearts together at 16 and have an eighteen year old son Oliver.

Nick is trying to carry on with life and be supportive to Oliver who goes away to Birmingham University, but he is also struggling to come to terms with losing his mother and feels like his dad is trying to move on too soon.

Loved that at the end of each chapter we go back to the summer of 1992 where Nick and his closest friends Alex and Eric bond whilst building a bike. Their strong friendship carries them into adulthood.

Even when I was not reading this I was thinking about the characters. It made me think about what Nick was going through and I could see how hard it would be for Kerry’s family to see him moving on. All of the family are affected in different ways.

I cannot recommend this book enough, there is light and darkness In this story but it also portrays hope and the opportunity of a second chance of love. I was routing for Nick and was over the moon with the ending.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

Another great book by this author,who captured a trail of life events that could happen to anyone. A brilliant story. Thank you netgalley

I laughed and I cried reading this book. It's rare for a book to stir such strong emotions in me. I absolutely loved reading every single minute of this book and will miss it now that I have finished.
I took Nick to my heart, and really felt what his character went through. I loved reading the book in the present and in the past, and loved seeing the friendships grow.
This just might be my favourite Amanda Prowse book so far, and I've read a lot of her books. I decided this was a 5 star read by the time I had read 9% of it.
Thank you to Amanda Prowse, and netgalley for the advanced copy of this book.

Endearing story of how a man copes with losing his wife to cancer and wanting to do right by his son and his family and the in laws. This story is told in two parts - Nick growing up and Nick the man. He has good friends growing up that stayed with him as a man and helped him cope. Otherwise, the man feels so torn. Its so worth the read.

I liked the idea of this story. I struggled with absorbing it as I was reading it. Unfortunately it wasn’t holding my interest and I gave up about a third of the way through

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Nick has just lost his wife after a long illness. Now he and his son need to put the pieces back together. This is a beautiful story of showing two men trying to move on and learn about each other along the way. A great read.

Amanda Prowse does what she does best in this novel. She writes sensitively about human relationships. In this case she deals with the emotions of a father and son left behind when their wife and mother dies young. It is a well observed story that has an uplifting end.

The Light in the Hallway has a slow and sad beginning. Nick’s wife (his high school sweetheart) dies of cancer in the first chapter. Nick is struggling especially about how to help his 18 year old son, Olly. Olly moves away to university shortly after the death. Nick manages to begin to put his life back together but at every turn he seems to do something that annoys or offends Olly. I feel like the end was a little too wrapped up with a bow. Things turned out well without any real stress or difficulties to reach the ending. I’m glad that I didn’t give up on the book. If you find it slow, stick with it. I will say it wasn’t at all what I thought from the Amazon description.

This book was so heartwarming and emulated that what is simple in life is the best appreciated, such as love and friendship. Nick and his love for Kerry was evident and he knew that she wanted him to live his life. I was happy that he found Beverly. The boyish joy and friendship between Nick, Eric and Alex was a cause to be celebrated as they reveled in just being boys in a small town where imagination needs to be utilized. I also liked that Nick realized his own potential and that he could succeed beyond his expectations.

Another great read from Amanda. The book is told in two times Nick, Eric and Alex are best friends and we read about their times together as young boys and also what happens to them as men. It’s easy to be drawn into their lives and all the ups and downs along the way just how life really is. I really felt for Nick and how he coped with the tragedy and problems he went through. Although this is just a story the way Amanda writes she brings it to life. I highly recommend this book.

THE LIGHT IN THE HALLWAY
BY AMANDA PROWSE

This is a great story about a man who loses his wife to cancer when they are only in their thirties. Don't worry she is already dying in the beginning second chapter so you really don't get to know her. Nick and Kerry have been together since they were sixteen and Kerry got pregnant with their now teenager son Oliver who also leaves Nick for university right after Kerry dies. I did feel bad for both Nick and Oliver. They both are trying to carry on with their lives.

Nick is more of a main character than Oliver is and I felt bad for him because he is left to live in the same house without his son or his wife where memories lurk around every corner. By marrying Kerry Nick gave up on his chance to go to university and fulfill the big dreams both he and his own dad had for him. Nick isn't sorry.
The small town life has everybody knowing everything about everyone else's business.

What worked for me is that Amanda Prowse writes really warm and lovable characters. Nobody is mean and there isn't any crime in the town where this story takes place. The story takes place in the present because people are using cellphones and texting. Its alternating chapters take place in 1992 when Nick is only twelve and he and his two mates build a bicycle to share that they call half bike. That is because Nick's father gives Nick a half of a bike. Alex and Eric help Nick build the bike that they all share.

I felt bad for Eric because although I said there are no mean characters, Eric's mother is mean to her son Eric. We never meet her. We just hear about her from Eric. She runs off with Dave the milkman and she either doesn't want Eric to live with her or is to caught up in her new life to keep her promises to Eric and he doesn't live with her long after they move. Eric moves back to town and lives with his dad which makes Nick happy.

These characters are all charming and I got the feeling that money was tight. Nick's mother is very kind and is always feeding Eric when they are in the 1992 timeline. Nick in his adult years is just trying to move on and he gets a hard time from Kerry's sister Di and Oliver for having a girlfriend.

All in all a lovely story that gave me hope that we can move on if we lose our significant other. It is quaint that the young Nick and his two sidekicks are able to entertain themselves without spending any money. If you are in the mood to spend some time with some endearingly and very kind people, then this is your book. I really loved it and thought it quite charming..

Thank you to Net Galley, Amanda Prowse and Lake Union Publishing for providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own

Quite sweet story boy meets girl, they get pregnant and married
Have baby boy live happily ever after?
No wife dies and this is a story of how a son a father and all the family navigate their own grief whilst being very aware of how others feel they should behave

This book had me balling my eyes out in the first chapter.
while it is heartbreaking it is also a heartwarming story about grieving, love and essentially finding a way to carrying on living. Beautifully written as all of this authors books are.

My 5* review for The Light In The Hallway by Amanda Prowse.

Another brilliant heartbreaking and heartwarming book from Amanda Prowse. This is perfect to snuggle up with on cosy nights in, as it will break your heart, warm your heart and make you laugh in equal measures with this lovely story about an ordinary family who face tragedy and struggle to carry on when life pulls the rug out from under your feet.

I am not giving anything away by telling you the book is about a father Nick, his wife Kerry who is dying and his teenage son Ollie. It is a refreshing change for the story to be about a widower and son dealing with grief and emotional turmoil and is both tender and endearing as well as refreshingly honest about what a loss can do to a whole family and small northern community.

I loved the way the book went back to 1992 which was apparently "the best summer ever" when Nick and his friends Alex and the hysterically funny Eric with his wonderful Yorkshire humour (and way of calling his mates by girls names e.g. Wendy or Shirley, when he wanted to wind them up), built a bike from the frame up. The Raleigh multi-tool kit gifted by Nick's dad to him, played a lovely poignant part to their friendship and was so reminiscent of how things were back in the 1990's when everything was treasured when you literally had nothing...... not even a whole bike haha. I must just mention Nick's sister Jen too, whose character I loved.

Learning to live and love again after the end of a relationship and dealing with teenage boys is obviously something Amanda is familiar with because it was all so honestly written, with a sprinkling of humour, plenty of emotional moments and all beautifully tied up with a ribbon at the end, with a final chapter.

My final overall lasting memory of the book is the truth that "Life is a gift and we have to live it the best we can. We owe it to everyone who no longer has a life" which Nick says to Oliver when they visit his Mum's grave together, and which enables them both to learn to love and live again.

Another great one from Amanda Prowse, she totally nailed it to wrap everything from friendship, loss, forgiveness, love and moving on into one story.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

I'm pretty sure I fell a little bit in love with Nick as this story progressed. The story was told through two points of view, back when Nick was a 10 year old boy and the present when Nick is going through a critical time of his life as he tries to navigate life as a new widower with a son. I thought it was a well-written story and found myself in tears as I got towards the end of the book. I felt that Amanda Prowse did a great job of conveying the emotions of all the characters in a realistic and appropriate manner. I've never read anything from this author but I will definitely look for more of her books.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest opinion and I'm really glad that I got a chance to read her story.

When Kerry does nick and Oliver have to learn a new way of life despite wanting to live in the past. She Oliver goes off to college Nick is alone and when the opportunity of a new relationship comes Oliver doesn’t want him to move on. This is a story about moving in and living instead of living in the past. A sweet story! Thank you NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review

Nick’s wife is dying and he can face this but their teenage son just can’t. Soon nick is having to deal with the families and friends trying to help while navigating his own grief and that for his son.
An emotional read which was beautifully written and made you think about life and your own loved ones. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

"Do things your way and at your pace. This is your journey, no one else's"
This is the second book I have read recently with a male lead whose wife has passed away. But in this book, the husband and son have had time to prepare for the coming death.
This story examines Nick's grief at losing his wife, but also his realisation that just because she is dead, doesn't mean he is. This leads, as expected, to major conflict with his son and in-laws. Using flashbacks to when he was growing up and lessons he learnt from his dad and close friends, the choosing of paths which lead you in a different direction than what you had planned, we get to understand his way of thinking.
A sensitive topic handled beautifully and with such care. I closed the book thinking what a great person Nick is. I think he is so far my favourite male character of all the Amanda Prowse books I have read. He truly deserves the ending his story got.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me the chance to experience this book.

A moving book full of raw emotion. We meet Nick and his son Ollie when they are facing the loss of his wife/Ollie's mum. The feeling of life as you know it being ripped away is so strong and that feeling of not quite being able to reach one another just when it is what you most need is just beautifully portrayed. This book does deal with loss but also change, in other forms, as well as exploring relationships between family and friends.
I loved the flashback to Nick's time as a child and they mirrored some of those adult feelings really well. I felt that I wanted more of Eric and Alex. Perhaps we might see a book for them in the future ???
Another thought provoking read, full of human emotion from Amanda Prowse.

This book gave me some much needed laughter. A touching story of friendship, love, loss and family.
Thank you to the author Amanda Prowse, netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the arc book.

This story is about life, childhood friendships, dreams that have come true, others that remain at our fingertips not yet in reach. To loves that we had and lost, and loves that have started to blossom. From being a child to having a child of your own, too expecting another child all while not knowing if you're doing the correct thing, questions, doubts and never stop believing in yourself. It's sad and uplifting, and it has all the feels.

3.5 stars

I really wanted to like this more than I did, but I found myself having trouble connecting. It was well written, and emotional. I do of course recommend you read it yourself (when it releases) as I'm sure it will appeal to most readers. I received a review copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The story starts out and is very depressing. I almost stopped reading it a couple of times. The 2nd half of the book picked up, but it was very predictable.

What a beautiful Down to Earth Book very sensitively written about subjects that even in today's so called Modern World many people find hard to discuss even when those events are happening or have happened in their own lives! I cried & I laughed with Nick & his best mates Eric & Alex, I both laughed & I'll admit cried even more with Nick & his son Oliver over the loss of the big love in their joint lives Kerry! I got very annoyed at Nick's Sister in law Di, I wanted to shake her at times or slap her her face , others will realise why when they read this Book & I highly recommend that lots of you do.
So thank you Amanda Prowse for a truly wonderful read.

Nick's life changed early, when he was just a teenager, and he found out his beloved Kerry was pregnant. He had planned to go to university, but that wouldn't happen under the circumstances. Instead, he decided to go to work to support his new family at the biggest (pretty much only) employer in their small town. Now, eighteen years later, his son is ready to go off to university, and his wife is dying of cancer. He's still at the same job, and he's just not sure how he's going to navigate through everything, get on top of the bills, and carry on without his beautiful wife. This story is sad in places, uplifting in others, and so full of what real life brings. I found it insightful as Nick wrestled with problems and triumphs, situations we all go through, as we try to find our own happiness and also keep a balance in our relationships with family and friends when they may not agree with you. I was inspired by his determination to live his own life in spite of what others think. And I cared about what happened to him and those around him. This is a "real-life" story, and I highly recommend it. (I did receive an advance copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.)

Amanda Prowse does the seemingly impossible and makes a story about a young widower upbeat, inspiring, and even funny.

Nick and Kerry were high school sweethearts who married sooner than planned when their son, Oliver, was on his way. Nick gave up his dreams of university, and went to work for the local manufacturer. Shortly after Kerry dies after a long illness, Oliver leaves for university, forcing Nick to deal with two losses.

He has both the support and the eyes of the whole village upon him. Nick navigates some sticky situations with grace and humor, learning how to better deal with his son and bitter sister-in-law. Intermittent flashbacks to his childhood shows the solid base his mother and lifelong friend, Eric, have provided.

The Light in the Hallway will make you squirm, laugh, and cry, and enjoy nearly every minute of it. (And, yeah, Shit Sticks!) #NetGalley #TheLightintheHallway

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Nick has lost his wife to cancer and is left mourning and raising his teenage son. How he , his son Oliver and the rest of the family cope with the loss and try to build a new life is the subject of the novel. At the end of each chapter, there is a flashback to Nick’s own childhood. I found the book extremely predictable, one knew pretty much from the beginning how it will all pan out. No more than three stars for me.
Thanks NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the advanced copy.

Amanda is one of my favorite authors. I never need to read the synopsis because I just know I want the book! The story is really about Nick and his teenage son, Olly, navigating their way through their grief. Nick’s wife and Olly’s mother, Kerry, dies near the beginning of the story. Nick and Kerry were relatively happy. They married young when Kelly was pregnant but they were in love. Olly finds her death particularly hard because he wants nothing to change. Simply beautifully written.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A tale of life, love & death. This book pulled me up short a couple of times and I had to put it down. Father and son struggle to come to terms with the loss of their wife & mother respectively. I’m sure there’s a lot of folks out there that can relate to this even without the tragic loss. Recommended read.

The Light in the Hallway is a beautiful story of love, self doubt, and redemption. On one hand the story of three friends who grow up middle class, learning what is really important in life. The friendship is carried through adulthood. When one of the friends loses his wife to cancer while in his thirties, he faces the unhappiness of his college age son who thinks he should devote his life to him. He soon realizes that what he is asking his father is unfair, but not before Dad has to face some serious soul searching, Amanda Prowse develops wonderful characters for all of us to identify with and love. A feel good story....curl up and enjoy!

The story covers the loss of Kerry, Nick’s wife and Oliver’s mother, and the grief that the various family members feel. Bits of their several years of marriage are mentioned throughout the story and I couldn’t decide to like or dislike Kerry due to issues she caused. But it seemed realistic on the good and not-so-good times of a marriage.

I enjoyed the past when Nick and his friends were young and innocent and then to the present day and their friendship. The Half-bike part of the story was entertaining and an excellent learning tool provided by Nick’s dad. It was good to see the three boys as adults and how they ended up so differently than what they expected.

Nick seemed quite innocent and surprised when they got pregnant at a young age and seemed overly accepting of the problems Kerry caused later in their marriage. His age is mentioned but at times he seems too naïve and other times as if he was much older.

The story was quite slow for me and while I enjoyed the English slang, I started to skim portions of the book. I had heard so much about the author and her work so was disappointed that I didn’t enjoy it that much. The majority of the book was sad but had a happy ending.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book.

Right at the beginning of this book, we know Kerry is dying. When it happens, we are hurt but can move on, as we don’t know a whole lot about her. Left behind are her mother, sister, husband, and son. Her husband, Nick, is strong, but we can feel his pain. Son, Ollie, is unable to show his emotions. Until he is. And then the entire story has you reaching for a tissue box. Less than 3 months after her death, Nick takes Ollie to his first year at college. Within a day, Ollie wants to come home. Nick drives there to get him, only to find things are not what he expected. A year goes by over the course of the remainder of this book… during which time we understand the profound loss Kerry’s death has had on her family.

She wasn’t a saint. She wasn’t a sinner. She was human, made mistakes, and will be missed by many. Nick, on the other hand, has a group of friends who get him through each day. Through alternating chapters, we see Nick’s life as a young teen with these friends… going through first love, becoming men, building friendships… each chapter tells us who he is today. We also see shades of Ollie in his father. Nick’s life is tough, but he is determined to succeed. He and Kerry had Ollie when they were 18, so he’s only 35 when she dies. His life is far from over… but how does his family react when he begins to date Bev?

Throw in a few complicated situations at work, Ollie’s first girlfriend, an issue with Nick’s in-laws, and money problems… this book covers so many heartbreaking moments, it’s tough to get through without stopping for a breather.

You never know what genre you are going to get when reading an Amanda Prowse book, will it be funny, romantic, sad or scary? I had no clue when requesting this book on NetGalley as there wasn’t any blurb on there or Amazon (it has since been updated!). So I requested it blind knowing that all her books are well-written regardless of the genre.
This was an emotional and very sombre book about a man that has lost his wife, and if he makes one wrong move, he will potentially lose his teenage son as well. He’s having to learn the rules of mourning and fast. Apparently, it is unacceptable to go out for a pint of milk the day after your wife dies. It is against the rules! It is hard to remember the bad things about a relationship when one half of the couple dies. You only remember the good, so when you need to start moving on, it becomes a tricky situation. This is what Nick discovers when he starts to feel attracted to another woman. All the usual guilty emotions ensue. So this is a book about acceptance and overcoming the loss of your other half. It made a change for the husband to be the one left behind. I’ve read so many books where the wife loses her husband, but this is the first this way around.
The chapters are very long, some stating 45 minutes long when starting. This can be a real hindrance to reading a book. I had 30 minutes before my husband was due home to read some of this book, but I was faced with a 42-minute chapter. I knew I wouldn’t get it finished before he arrived back so didn’t end up reading it until later that night. Had there been ten-minute chapters, I would have read three of them and felt as if I’d achieved something. Long chapters can be daunting, I’ve said this many times before. Luckily, at the end of each chapter, there was a section set back in 1992 following Nick and his friends when they were ten. This did break the book up a little.
However, the relevance of these chapters is a little ambiguous. Yes, little tidbits of what happened back then are referred to in the present, but I don’t feel as if it had much bearing on the bigger picture. If it had been when he had met Kerry and him messing about with his mates, it would have made more sense. However, it was just a fun summer when they built a bike; he hadn’t even met Kerry at this point in his life. I kept waiting for the past to be relevant, but it didn’t really happen. It was like reading two separate stories within one book.
The pace of the book was a bit slow, but the topic and the characters kept me interested enough in it to continue reading. I did keep hoping something significant would happen, and it does pick up a little in the story towards the end, but it did still plod on a little.
It was still a very heartfelt and heartbreaking story and enjoyable enough to read, but I probably won’t remember much about it in a week or two. It won’t leave a lasting impression.

Lovely story about love, loss, and friendship. Nick's childhood sweetheart Kerry dies of cancer, leaving Nick, a very young widower, and Ollie, their son who has a terrible time acknowledging his grief. This switches back and forth between 1992 when Nick meets his friends Alex and Eric and the present as Nick and Ollie set a new course for their lives. Nick has a number of regrets but never about Kerry and Ollie. Now he's dipping his toe into new water with a girl friend; his family, including Ollie, doesn't make it easy for him. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is nicely written with good characters you will both recognize and root for.

I ended up loving this book. The only thing that could make it better? If I had listened to it, as I would LOVE to hear the accent and all the slang that was used with the right sound.

Nick is married to Kerry, who falls ill and dies shortly after. Theirs was a teenage romance that was a whirlwind and changed their lives quickly. Their son, Olly has just graduated and is moving on to advanced schooling. Nick is left with a broken heart, a family that sometimes lives much too close, and the opportunity to discover a new chapter in his life.

There is so much greatness happening in this book. The humor is great, the story is sweet (mid-90's and present day), the friendships are wonderful, and the overall lessons are fabulous. There is a little bit of language in this one (some of the English ones I have no idea, but I'm guessing they're there).

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book for my honest opinion.

Another 5 star offering from Amanda. Heart wrenching, heart warming and thought provoking. Brilliantly written.

I received an ARC of this book. A poignant story of love, loss and hope for the future. I thoroughly enjoyed this story of a man whose world falls apart and his struggle to pick up the pieces and carry on. It hit close to home for me. I highly recommend this moving story.

I have read several of Prowse’s novels and she is someone who never disappoints when it comes to family dynamics and the emotional impact of life. This book was no exception and followed the story of Nick and his son Ollie. At the beginning we find out that Nick’s wife Kerry is dying, but even so we feel the seismic shock to the family when she does go. This year was always going to mark a huge shift in family life. Son, Ollie has done his A Levels and is scheduled to leave for university. Now in the space of a few months Nick will have to get used to living alone. Added to this, Kerry’s mum and sister are also grieving.

Prowse alternates Nick’s present with an insight into his past. We see the group of friends, who are helping him through his loss, back when they were when they were teenagers. We get an insight into the sort of young man Nick was and how these friendships have grown through first love and starting their careers, He meets Kerry very young and they have Ollie when they’re 18. This brought me up short as I realised Nick is only 35 when he loses his wife. We get some more insight into Kerry’s character and see some of Ollie in his father.

Nick takes his son to university, only for him to decide he wants to come home again. His in-laws are very supportive but how will they respond when, later in the year, Nick considers starting to date. Prowse shows us that the year following a loved ones death is life changing and complicated. Nick and Ollie don’t always know how to continue and find themselves wanting to make big changes to their life plans. This is a very relatable book with characters I could understand. Having lost my own husband at 35 I can honestly say this was a well written and real book about a family’s worst moments.

The Light in the Hallway, written by Amanda Prowse, ripped my heart apart and then put it back together piece by piece. Ms. Prowse is fast becoming one of my favorite authors when I need a warm, heartfelt story that I can wrap myself around and become immersed. She takes ordinary people and puts them in impossible emotional situations that will challenge them to their very soul. Her characters are well written and thoroughly developed, but most importantly, they are everyday people that are very relatable. When there seems to be no happy ending in sight, she surprises us, taking us on a journey filled with joy and love. I loved that she used the title of this book as a metaphor, representing love, comfort, and a place of belonging.

The Light in the Hallway is about everyday life, about how precious, beautiful, and fragile life can be. It’s about the people in our lives and the relationships we have with them and how we should never take them for granted because, in the blink of an eye, everything we love could disappear. This is a story about a man who has experienced a love that should have lasted a lifetime.

The Light in the Hallway takes place in the small town of “Burstonbridge” on the North York Moors in Yorkshire, England. This book flips back and forth between two different timelines, the present day and 1992.

The Light in the Hallway starts in 1992 with three teenage boys, Nick, Eric, and Alex, as they build a friendship that lasts into adulthood. We get to experience the incredible bond formed between these three boys. Ms. Prowse perfectly captures the pure innocence of these boys and how they grew up together and then ties it in beautifully with the men they became.

We then find out that Nick’s wife, Kerry, dying after being ill for over a year. Kerry was the only woman that Nick has ever loved. Although their life together wasn’t perfect, Nick loved her wholeheartedly. As this book progresses, we experience the day to day struggles and feelings of intense loss that Nick and his son Olly must push through now that they have a life without the woman who was their rock. While trying to work through his grief, Nick must not only endure the resentful judgment from his sister-in-law but also navigate small-town living where every move he makes is seen and judged. The big question is, will Nick be able to find his second happy ever after?

Ms. Prowse packed this novel full of love, loss, grief, friendship, soul-wrenching sadness, self-insight, anger, and living life to the fullest. There were many moments throughout this book that I reached for my box of tissues, but this book also made me smile. It reminded me that even when life is difficult, and we feel tremendous grief, with the love of family and friends, we can live and love again. I enjoyed reading this book, and I highly recommend it.

*** I kindly received this galley by way of NetGalley/publisher/author. I was not contacted, asked, or required to leave a review. I received no compensation, financial or otherwise. I have voluntarily read this book, and this review is my honest opinion. ***

Nick’s wife of nearly 19 years dies after an extended illness, leaving him a 35 year old widower with a teenage son about to leave the nest. Nick and Kerry have been together their whole adult lives, and in her absence, Nick has to figure out how to be a person in his own right. While attempting to sort through his own grief, successfully launch his son Oliver into adulthood, and figure out how to fluff the cushions, he’s also dealing with his deceased wife’s relatives, a best mate obsessed with Nick’s sister, and an increasingly friendly coworker, Beverly. Nick’s main concern in navigating all of this is his love for his son, Oliver.

This is a really sweet read, reminiscent of the kind of “fade to black” romances my Grannie reads. The constant flipping back from present to the summer of 1992 was a little distracting for me. I would have appreciated more time and details invested in the present, or more connections from the past showing up. The dialogue occasionally fell a little flat to me, but my favorite conversations were the ones between Nick and Oliver. There was something intriguing about reading a “women’s fiction” style book with a male protagonist, especially one who’s British and working class. Overall I enjoyed reading this wholesome book!

3.5 stars

***I received an ARC from NetGalley and am posting my honest review***

The Light in the Hallway asks the questions "..Who's to say when the time is right? How soon is too soon? After 19 years of marriage, Kerry loses her battle to cancer and Nick's life must go on as he sends their son, Oliver, off to university. Nick feels like Kerry wants him to be happy, wants him to find love again, but Oliver and Kerry's sister, Di, are not happy with Nick moving on at what they believe is too soon.

I really enjoyed the look back, at the end of each chapter, to Nick's childhood where he and two friends, built not only Half a Bike, but a lifelong friendship. The end of the story was absolutely perfect and exactly what I had hoped for Nick.

This is the first book I've read by Amanda Prowse and I fully intend to read her backlist. I love being introduced to new authors that have an extensive backlist I can catch up on. This book publishes November 11, 2019, so be sure to check it out!

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for the advanced copy; all opinions are my own.

Amanda Prowse has the rare talent for taking an ordinary, everyday life circumstance and turning it into an extraordinary heartwarming story. She has done it with every one of her books that I have read and she continues this satisfying tradition with The Light in the Hallway.

The story opens with Nick going to the hospital to say a final goodbye to his wife Kerry, who is dying of cancer. They married young when she discovered she was pregnant with their son, Ollie, and she has been Nick’s whole life, certainly at least his whole adult life. Having married my childhood sweetheart I can relate.

It’s been a good life for the most part for Kerry and Nick, but in some ways kind of a life he has settled for, a compromise, circumstances dictate. He can’t imagine life without her. There’s no welcoming light in the hallway anymore to let him know Kerry is home and waiting for him. But he’s young, so there has to be life, HIS life, right? Even if others don’t understand. And others never understand. Your children don’t understand what your relationship is or was, the good and bad of it, no one does, they just see you as a unit. But they judge you anyway and you feel guilty. And you already feel guilty so it just compounds it. And that’s where Nick is right now, wondering what the next half of his life is going to be like. More of this overwhelming loneliness and uncertainly about every decision he makes?

We follow Nick through his grief, Ollie through his, and the support, interaction and interference from friends and family, some of whom mean well, and some, not so much. Nick takes one tentative step after another, until his steps aren’t quite so tentative. He’s a good man and loved Kerry very much, and now it’s time for the next chapter.

Interspersed throughout the story are peeks back into 1992, when Nick was 10 and spending the summer with his best mates Eric and Alex, still his best mates today, building Half Bike. These chapters are charming and tell us a lot about Nick and the man he has become.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Light in the Hallway. A friendship of three boys has turned into a solid friendship of three men, but life for all three of them is much different than expected. That’s the thing about life, and the thing Amanda Prowse always portrays so magnificently. Things always change. They don’t turn out like you think they will. Even good surprises are still surprises. There might be a Master Plan for your life floating around somewhere, but the older you get the more you learn that you are not really in charge of that plan. That’s what happened to Nick and the others. Life.

Thanks to fantastic author Amanda Prowse for providing me with an advance copy of The Light in the Hallway via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This book is wonderful. Absolute 4 1/2 stars. I'm very stingy with that fifth star.

You're drawn in from the first page, and while it was a pretty fast read, it was also something I savored, and thought about while doing things other than reading it.

In the spirit of all the recent UpLit, this one ranks right up there. Soul affirming words contained within these covers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for the ARC.

The domestic dramas that I am a sucker for usually show a women going through a hard time, battling through and coming out on the other side so it was quite refreshing to see the roles reversed. Nick loses his wife and is left dealing with his teenage son, Oliver.

When I read an Amanda Prowse book, I am not reading a book full of characters, I am reading a book about people. This story is heartbreaking at times whilst also making me laugh out loud.

Nick has lived and grown up in the market town of Burston Bridge. The friends he had as a child are the friends he has now and I loved the flashbacks to the 90’s, the long summer holidays were boys played out and got up to mischief from morning till night.

The loss of his wife hits Nick hard, he’s lonely and lost. Not only has he lost his wife but his son, Olly is moving away to University. The heartbreaking scene where the wen to buy essentials really touched me. The loss of a mother and a wife was really hitting them hard. When Nick starts to form a friendship with a female colleague, he starts to realise that life has to go on. Olly is horrified. He struggles to see why things have to change and struggles to come to terms with his dad’s new friendship.

Living in a small market town it’s not long before everyone knows Nick’s business and everyone has their own opinion on the matter. I love the way that the family is forming opinions and taking sides but when it really matters they are all there for each other no matter what.

I loved this book from start to finish and cannot praise it enough. It was the perfect book to get comfy on the sofa with in my PJ’s, whilst drinking hot chocolate.

A great book about the strength and love of strong women your lives. This book looks at father and son through their journey of healing after having to say goodbye to the special woman.

Thank you Net Galley, Amanda Prose and Amazon Publishing for the opportunity to read this wonderful book. This book centres around Nick, a hard working man who is dealing with his wife dying. He is a fantastic character with so much depth that you will be loving him from the first page. The book goes from 1992 when he was a young boy, building a bike with his two best friends to present day. He still lives in the same town with the same two friends, and his son. The author tells this story with such clarity that I find myself walking the same street as Nick, laughing with him and crying with him. Watching he and his son rebuild there bond is heart wrenching yet beautiful. This book will pull you in with the story line and wonderful characters. I was so content when it was over and happy to have read this book.

Amanda Prowse has a knack of getting under the readers skin in every book she produces and this one is no exception, right from the first chapter my tears were flowing when Nick's childhood sweetheart, Kerry dies and Nick is left wondering how he's going to cope without her and what sort of dad he will be to his 18 year old son Olly now that he's got to go it alone as a single parent, as Kerry was always the mainstay in their marriage.

This is a story of love, loss, relationships, friendship and family and is told over two timelines; the present day and, at the end of each chapter, 1992 where we are taken back to Nick's childhood in which Amanda portrays the strong bond of friendship between Nick, Eric and Alex beautifully and the trials and tribulations they are faced with as they are growing up.

This author brings her characters to life through the pages of her books and makes them so realistic that I feel I'm living their lives with them. She covers topics that resonate with us all as we, or someone we know, face these at some point in our lives, she delivers them so on point and so beautifully that it's impossible not to be affected in some way, I cried so many times through this one. Nick really captured my heart, dealing with not only his own grief, but also having to consider the feelings of his son and Kerry's family as he continued with his life after her death, I just wanted to wrap him in a great big hug and take all the pain away from him. I'm a huge fan of Amanda Prowse and she totally smashed this one, another bestseller I reckon which I highly recommend.

I'd like to thank Amazon Publishing and Netgalley for the auto approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and on Amazon on publication day.

I received an advance copy from NetGalley, but my opinions are my own.
This book was special. I particularly enjoyed that it was written from the husband's point of view, versus other stories that typically focus on the widow. The way he had to learn to navigate his son's coming of age struggles, along with the reality of being a younger widower was crafted beautifully. Highly recommend.