And Now You're Back

And Now You're Back

By Jill Mansell

Full of fun, laughter and plenty of heart.

Published: Headline Review 21/01/2021 and now available in kindle, hardback, paperback and audio.

Book review, no spoilers I swear!!!

Welcome fellow book lovers. Today I am sharing my thoughts on Jill Mansell's And Now You're Back. A novel that I started just over two years ago and only just finished it now. I am aware that it makes me one slow reader however, it wasn't the book that was long, life just got in the way of me finishing it. So before we start, how about I let you guys know what this book is about first? And don't worry, this review has no spoilers so you can read without having it ruined for you.

Blurb:

One magical night in Venice, Didi fell in love. But it ended - and he left without even saying goodbye.

Now, thirteen years on, Shay Mason is back.

The old spark is still there, but Didi's determined to ignore it. As manager of a stunning Cotswolds hotel, she's happy at last, and soon to be married. Anyway, Shay isn't staying. He's made a promise to his father. He's going to keep it. And then he'll be gone.

But Shay's return stirs up long-forgotten emotions, and the scandal that led him to leave raises its head once again. It's time for buried secrets to come to light. And it seems that this was someone's intention all along . . .

Thoughts?

Jill Mansell's books are like warm hugs, you know exactly what kind of story you're going to get. You're going to have some love, some laughter and a lot of twists and turns. You're always in luck for a happy ending which many of you might find boring but I as much as I love books with a happy ending. It's not always the happy endings I'm looking forward to. Its the journeys the characters take.

Our main love interests are Shay and Didi, sweethearts at one point in there youth and now old lovers who have walked very different paths in life. Didi is the independent woman who as much as she would love to prove that she isn't easily distracted by matters of the heart and past, she would be very wrong indeed. Shay is a heartthrob from the very beginning and as much as you want to find a flaw with him, its very hard too. Trust me, I tried. As much as I wanted the two of them to get together, I didn't think they were the best interests in the novel. In fact, I preferred the side characters more.

The side characters and there stories were more entertaining and if I'm being honest, I was more interested in the love bubbling on the side. For example, Layla's story was fun, sad and extremely entertaining, in fact I would argue that Layla should have been the main character and Didi the side character. I did enjoy the story but for me, it was the side stories that really pulled the main story together, without them, I feel like the main characters wouldn't be enough to keep my interest.

Overall, its a fun, enjoyable read with a lot of twists and turns along the way to keep you wondering a 'will they? won't they?' premise.

Rating: 3 out of 5*

After all tomorrow is another day spent reading.

Till next time,

Phoebe

And Now You're Back is available to buy in multiple platforms and from all good bookstores.