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Everything Changes But You
Home is where the heart is – but what happens to your heart when the people you love are scattered around the world?
Hannah and Matt are very happy together, living in London's cool East End with their two young children. Hannah has a job she loves as a beauty editor and Matt is always just about to break through as a songwriter.
But then events start to pull them apart, with Hannah certain they'd be much better off down in the English countryside with her family – and Matt's mum needing them with her, back in Sydney, 17 000 kilometres away.
Hannah's mother, Marguerite, mends broken china, but can she can repair her damaged marriage? And Matt's vivacious young cousin, Ali, feels lost, looking for love in a strange city.
All of them have unsettling secrets and while some are better shared, others might be best left unspoken – the problem is knowing which are which.
In this story of three women's search for a place to call home, Maggie Alderson crosses continents and generations to explore how we find happiness – and whether love can survive betrayal.
Hannah and Matt are very happy together, living in London's cool East End with their two young children. Hannah has a job she loves as a beauty editor and Matt is always just about to break through as a songwriter.
But then events start to pull them apart, with Hannah certain they'd be much better off down in the English countryside with her family – and Matt's mum needing them with her, back in Sydney, 17 000 kilometres away.
Hannah's mother, Marguerite, mends broken china, but can she can repair her damaged marriage? And Matt's vivacious young cousin, Ali, feels lost, looking for love in a strange city.
All of them have unsettling secrets and while some are better shared, others might be best left unspoken – the problem is knowing which are which.
In this story of three women's search for a place to call home, Maggie Alderson crosses continents and generations to explore how we find happiness – and whether love can survive betrayal.
- GenresChick Lit
384 pages, Paperback
First published October 24, 2012
6 people are currently reading
185 people want to read
About the author
Maggie Alderson
35 books303 followersMaggie Alderson is a British-Australian author (that’s how I’m supposed to write it, but I’m not very good at talking about myself in the third person, so I’m going to can it).
I was born in London, brought up in rural Staffordshire, and educated at the University of St Andrews - and then at the University of Life, Sydney campus.
I spent many years covering the fashion shows in Paris, Milan, London etc which is the best people watching ever (I had to remind myself to look at the models…).
An obsessed bookworm since childhood, all I wanted to do from the age of six was write books. I also hoovered up every magazine and newspaper I could lay my hands on and by the time I was a teenager was determined to edit a magazine and be a newspaper columnist.
I have edited five magazines (including British ELLE) and my Style Notes column ran in the Good Weekend colour supplement for twelve years, as well as being syndicated to The Times.
My first novel Pants on Fire was published in 2000 and was a bestseller in the UK and Australia. I’ve written eight more novels since, which have been translated into many languages.
I’ve also published four collections of my columns and a children’s book called Evangeline, the Wish Keeper’s Helper, which was shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s Award in Australia.
My latest novel is called The Scent of You and is the story of perfume blogger Polly, facing up to a crisis in her marriage – and her sense of who she is - told through a filter of her obsession with perfumes (and also featuring very well dressed, seriously damaged, red-hot men, which are my speciality).
The book was inspired by attending perfume events in London and realising just how many fascinating people there are in that world (and a fair few brilliant nutters).
You can read my heroine's blog fragrantcloud.net
I was born in London, brought up in rural Staffordshire, and educated at the University of St Andrews - and then at the University of Life, Sydney campus.
I spent many years covering the fashion shows in Paris, Milan, London etc which is the best people watching ever (I had to remind myself to look at the models…).
An obsessed bookworm since childhood, all I wanted to do from the age of six was write books. I also hoovered up every magazine and newspaper I could lay my hands on and by the time I was a teenager was determined to edit a magazine and be a newspaper columnist.
I have edited five magazines (including British ELLE) and my Style Notes column ran in the Good Weekend colour supplement for twelve years, as well as being syndicated to The Times.
My first novel Pants on Fire was published in 2000 and was a bestseller in the UK and Australia. I’ve written eight more novels since, which have been translated into many languages.
I’ve also published four collections of my columns and a children’s book called Evangeline, the Wish Keeper’s Helper, which was shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s Award in Australia.
My latest novel is called The Scent of You and is the story of perfume blogger Polly, facing up to a crisis in her marriage – and her sense of who she is - told through a filter of her obsession with perfumes (and also featuring very well dressed, seriously damaged, red-hot men, which are my speciality).
The book was inspired by attending perfume events in London and realising just how many fascinating people there are in that world (and a fair few brilliant nutters).
You can read my heroine's blog fragrantcloud.net
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
November 6, 2012
Maggie Alderson's seventh novel, Everything Changes But You, explores the meaning of home, the value of family and the search for happiness.
Hannah and Matt are torn between the needs of their family, which includes their two young children, and the demands of their careers. Hannah loves her hectic job as a beauty editor amongst London's elite fashion scene and Matt's occasional bouts of homesickness for the sunny skies of Bondi are tempered by the presence of his best mate and song writing partner, Pete, but when circumstances force the family to move to a small English village, Matt's dissatisfaction with the relocation breeds simmering resentment that threatens to shatter their happy family.
With care, Alderson examines the challenges faced by Hannah and Matt as they struggle to deal with the conflict between their ambitions and the needs of their children and respective families, complicated by distance, grief and secrets. Where is home when torn between the UK and Australia, city and country? It is a thoroughly modern quandary now that transatlantic relationships are common and difficult choices need to be made despite the conveniences of global travel.
Alderson underscores how conflicting needs, betrayal and a lack of trust undermines a marriage by introducing Hannah's mother Marguerite, and her alcoholic father, Charlie whose miserable partnership benefits no-one.
Ali thinks London will be the perfect escape from her family in Australia but quickly discovers England's charms fail to compensate for all that she has left behind. I liked Ali's flaky, vulnerable yet independent spirit, she feels lost in the city, despite the support of her cousin Matt and his family, but isn't willing to admit defeat. England gives her the opportunity to grow up and sort out what she really wants from life and love.
Despite my feeling that the plot is fairly predictable (and riddled with convenient financial windfalls which smooth the way to happiness), I found Everything Changes But You an engaging read. It has enough emotional depth to sustain interest and the writing is polished as you would expect from an accomplished author.
Though British born, and currently living in the UK with her Australian husband and daughter, Maggie Alderson is considered an Australian author. She spent several years as a fashion columnist for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Cleo and Mode. Everything Changes But You, exploits Alderson's familiarity with both the UK and Australia, an element that proves popular with readers on both sides of the pond.
Fans will likely enjoy this latest release and a s summer approaches it will surely be a popular beach accessory. Everything Changes But You is a light, engaging, contemporary read about relationships, family and love that proves home is where the heart is.
April 20, 2017
Whilst I'm a bit of a Magie Alderson fan I find her books a bit hit and miss. There've been some I've truly loved & others that make me wonder why I'm reading them at all. This one didn't exactly fall into either of those categories but I did find it a bit slow going. As I said, not great but not bad either.
November 20, 2023
I don’t know why I find Maggie Alderson’s writing so comforting, l just do. Her books are like literary cozy socks and hot chocolate for me and I love going back to them.
January 15, 2013
Everything Changes But You (which immediately makes me think of the Take That song, check it out if you are too young to remember that Robbie was in a band once) is the kind of chick lit you can take comfort in. By that, I mean that you know the story will be engaging, the characters quirky and individual and that you’ll be taken on a fun ride that won’t demand the same amount of brain cells that say, quantum physics does. I’m still trying to work out exactly who the character is in the novel that doesn’t change but it’s a good book, excellent for holiday reading.
I was a bit disappointed in Maggie Alderson’s previous book, Shall We Dance? because I felt it moved towards ‘mummy-lit’ with its older central character and problems with university-aged children. I’m pleased to say that I enjoyed Everything Changes But You a lot more – the main character, Hannah, still has a husband and a family, but they’re a lot younger. Hannah also has the requisite job in beauty editing (I love reading about jobs like that, they always sound so glamorous) and a bit of family money. Her husband Matt is a struggling songwriter and expat Aussie, trying to work all night while she works all day. It doesn’t really seem to work and after a change in circumstances, the couple and their two children move to a storybook English village. But the trouble doesn’t end there – there’s family, fidelity and financial issues.
The supporting characters are also delightful, annoying and frustrating in turn. Ali is Matt’s Australian cousin, off on the big London adventure. She’s charming and brings a youthful eye to things. Her previous job as a lap dancer didn’t really fit into the novel all that well I thought, but it’s a minor point. Anthea is Hannah’s mum’s neighbour – a delightfully busybody English stereotype. Her appearances always brought out a wry grin from me as she attempted to control absolutely everything. Finally, Pete is Matt’s Aussie co-songwriter – a cliché of the Aussie stereotype (especially in regard to the word ‘mate’ or should I say ‘maaaaaaate’?) He’s kind of likeable, but also kind of annoying because you know exactly what will happen to him.
Which brings me to the ending – it wasn’t terribly original, but it was the ending that I was probably hoping for. It is just open ended enough to have a sequel, but brings enough closure to end the story there and then. I could have also done with a few more beauty details besides the sparkly mascara, but there was enough description of clothes and shoes to please the majority of fashionistas.
It’s a really well written chick lit that fans in both Australia and the UK will enjoy. Just don’t expect too many changes to the classic formula and it’s a lovely read.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
I was a bit disappointed in Maggie Alderson’s previous book, Shall We Dance? because I felt it moved towards ‘mummy-lit’ with its older central character and problems with university-aged children. I’m pleased to say that I enjoyed Everything Changes But You a lot more – the main character, Hannah, still has a husband and a family, but they’re a lot younger. Hannah also has the requisite job in beauty editing (I love reading about jobs like that, they always sound so glamorous) and a bit of family money. Her husband Matt is a struggling songwriter and expat Aussie, trying to work all night while she works all day. It doesn’t really seem to work and after a change in circumstances, the couple and their two children move to a storybook English village. But the trouble doesn’t end there – there’s family, fidelity and financial issues.
The supporting characters are also delightful, annoying and frustrating in turn. Ali is Matt’s Australian cousin, off on the big London adventure. She’s charming and brings a youthful eye to things. Her previous job as a lap dancer didn’t really fit into the novel all that well I thought, but it’s a minor point. Anthea is Hannah’s mum’s neighbour – a delightfully busybody English stereotype. Her appearances always brought out a wry grin from me as she attempted to control absolutely everything. Finally, Pete is Matt’s Aussie co-songwriter – a cliché of the Aussie stereotype (especially in regard to the word ‘mate’ or should I say ‘maaaaaaate’?) He’s kind of likeable, but also kind of annoying because you know exactly what will happen to him.
Which brings me to the ending – it wasn’t terribly original, but it was the ending that I was probably hoping for. It is just open ended enough to have a sequel, but brings enough closure to end the story there and then. I could have also done with a few more beauty details besides the sparkly mascara, but there was enough description of clothes and shoes to please the majority of fashionistas.
It’s a really well written chick lit that fans in both Australia and the UK will enjoy. Just don’t expect too many changes to the classic formula and it’s a lovely read.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
April 6, 2013
THIS REVIEW CONTAIN A SPOILER!
Not really, the book itself is the spoiler. Chicklit is not my normal genre but I have read my fair share in the past so was surprised at how truly awful this novel is. I'm reluctant to even call it a novel. Maybe I missed the whole point and this is somehow Fantasy (which I don't read and would explain why I thought it was "such utter crap" - to describe it in Maggie Alderson voice). The characters are entirely unbelievable. Who's "hot" husband (in fact, any man ever, especially an Australian) would say, on page 14 no less, "I'm very happily married, thanks, and my wife is much hotter than any of you and she's really smart and has truly magnificent tits.." Well, he did think it rather than say it but I think the only would he actually would have been thinking in that situation was "TITS".
How very fortunate through the book that the people living in the cottage (who despite living in a very nosy small village and being the neighbours of the main character's mother, no-one seemed to know) did a runner leaving a perfectly maintained garden and their chickens...again, REALLY! It just gets worse and worse. I blame myself that I commit to finishing every book I start because I truly wish I hadn't in this case. Two words sum it up for me....boring and unbelievable! If I could rate "no stars" I would.
Not really, the book itself is the spoiler. Chicklit is not my normal genre but I have read my fair share in the past so was surprised at how truly awful this novel is. I'm reluctant to even call it a novel. Maybe I missed the whole point and this is somehow Fantasy (which I don't read and would explain why I thought it was "such utter crap" - to describe it in Maggie Alderson voice). The characters are entirely unbelievable. Who's "hot" husband (in fact, any man ever, especially an Australian) would say, on page 14 no less, "I'm very happily married, thanks, and my wife is much hotter than any of you and she's really smart and has truly magnificent tits.." Well, he did think it rather than say it but I think the only would he actually would have been thinking in that situation was "TITS".
How very fortunate through the book that the people living in the cottage (who despite living in a very nosy small village and being the neighbours of the main character's mother, no-one seemed to know) did a runner leaving a perfectly maintained garden and their chickens...again, REALLY! It just gets worse and worse. I blame myself that I commit to finishing every book I start because I truly wish I hadn't in this case. Two words sum it up for me....boring and unbelievable! If I could rate "no stars" I would.
June 11, 2013
Style is easy to read, but I did find it excessively cloying. I didn't really find any of the characters convincing. Though Hannah has a career, this book seemed very "woman's place", which I didn't really appreciate. Pete was probably the best character, though I could see who he would end up with coming a mile off. Ali's personality transplant from wild stripper girl was ridiculous. Matt's infidelity gets swept under the carpet like it never happened. It seemed a lot was very convenient to help along the story line. I couldn't stand busy body biddy Anthea. As if Domenic would move near to her and her nagging, and him chasing who he did at the end also rang totally untrue.
It's a shame, because this reads well and Maggie has a nice style of writing, but I really loathe this happy families load of BS type of "women's fantasy". I enjoyed it, but I was constantly fighting irritation with comments and actions to do it.
It's a shame, because this reads well and Maggie has a nice style of writing, but I really loathe this happy families load of BS type of "women's fantasy". I enjoyed it, but I was constantly fighting irritation with comments and actions to do it.
July 7, 2017
I have never read a Maggie Alderson that I didn't love....
October 1, 2018
I enjoyed this book, have read it before and it has some good twists and turns. An easy read.
September 17, 2020
A wonderful story about family, love, home and relationships. I loved it. I couldn't put it down.
February 3, 2021
A good read
November 9, 2012
Read my full review here - http://booksaremyfavouriteandbest.wor... (it includes lots about Maggie's author talks and her writing process).
There are two things that always stand out in Alderson’s stories. Firstly, the dialogue. She has the repartee between her characters down pat. It makes me quite sure that in real life, Alderson is surrounded by a sparkling (and I would like to use the word ‘gay’ here, in its original sense) group of friends, their influence wending its way onto the pages.
The second is Alderson’s portrayal of friendships. In the case of Everything Changes But You, it’s all about male friendships (note, a nice diversion from the focus on females in chick-lit) - in particular that between Charlie (Hannah’s father) and Anthony (his drinking buddy and work colleague) and between Matt and the charming ‘Toxic’ Pete. The friendships between these men are perfection. I’d go so far as to say they stole the show. The high-jinx, the banter, the ‘shit-stirring’, the pints shared – it’s all in the little details and Alderson captured them in four memorable characters. Interestingly, Alderson gives you a valid reason to hate (or be a little pissed off) all four of the male characters and yet, you don’t.
“Matt was on his way to the airport when the Pete rang.
‘Maaaaaaaate,’ he said.
‘Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaate,’ said Matt back, laughing. It was all part of their repertoire and never failed to make him feel fully earthed…”
It wasn’t until I read this that I realised my husband answers every phone call from a friend with “Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaate”!
4/5 There are enough characters and small intrigues to keep Everything Changes But You ticking along nicely. There are no gut-wrenching plot twists or unresolved endings – that’s not Alderson’s style. Instead you’ll get a lovely read, lots of fab fashion details and you’ll meet four highly memorable male characters.
There are two things that always stand out in Alderson’s stories. Firstly, the dialogue. She has the repartee between her characters down pat. It makes me quite sure that in real life, Alderson is surrounded by a sparkling (and I would like to use the word ‘gay’ here, in its original sense) group of friends, their influence wending its way onto the pages.
The second is Alderson’s portrayal of friendships. In the case of Everything Changes But You, it’s all about male friendships (note, a nice diversion from the focus on females in chick-lit) - in particular that between Charlie (Hannah’s father) and Anthony (his drinking buddy and work colleague) and between Matt and the charming ‘Toxic’ Pete. The friendships between these men are perfection. I’d go so far as to say they stole the show. The high-jinx, the banter, the ‘shit-stirring’, the pints shared – it’s all in the little details and Alderson captured them in four memorable characters. Interestingly, Alderson gives you a valid reason to hate (or be a little pissed off) all four of the male characters and yet, you don’t.
“Matt was on his way to the airport when the Pete rang.
‘Maaaaaaaate,’ he said.
‘Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaate,’ said Matt back, laughing. It was all part of their repertoire and never failed to make him feel fully earthed…”
It wasn’t until I read this that I realised my husband answers every phone call from a friend with “Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaate”!
4/5 There are enough characters and small intrigues to keep Everything Changes But You ticking along nicely. There are no gut-wrenching plot twists or unresolved endings – that’s not Alderson’s style. Instead you’ll get a lovely read, lots of fab fashion details and you’ll meet four highly memorable male characters.
February 18, 2013
Haven't read any Maggie Alderson before, but really enjoyed this novel. Hannah and Matt have two young kids. They move to England for Hannah's work and so that Matt can work with his best mate, Paul, on their music collaboration. While they are living in England, Hannah has the chance to spend more time with her parents who live in the country and are quite elderly. She is offered the chance to move into a lovely country house right next to her parents, but this causes problems for both, as Hannah has a long commute, and Paul is unhappy with his songwriting career. Will they continue to live in England, or move back to Australia, which Matt has come to realise that he misses? Alderson has a real way with catchy comic phrases and this is an easy, enjoyable read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2015
Really liked this book and enjoyed the characters in it. Everytime I thought I knew what was going to happen I was surprised, which as people who may (or may not) read my reviews know, is a big thumbs up for me,no matter if it's a book I'm reading or in a movie. Loved the fact that one of the characters worked in the music industry, it was something different from the characters always working in fashion or antiques. If I had one fault with the story that would be it, I'd love to see Maggie Alderson change it up as far as her characters professions go, how about a character that works in a different field? - Recently re read this book. can I add how disturbing it was to find a female character in her early 40's (I think?) that calls her parent's Mummy and Daddy? Seriously!
July 27, 2015
I have read nearly every Maggie Alderson novel and this one was just... Bad. It took 2 weeks for me to finish it. I would read a chapter and go "bleh" and put it down again.
The characters are so annoying - I didn't like a single one. The Aussie men are knuckle heads (2 kids, jobless, smoking doobs and mooching off the wife) and the English women are annoying (talking about any issue is a huge embarrassment, what the..?).
I didn't even feel like the story went anywhere. It was just a big nothing! Give it a miss and go for one of her classic like Shoe Money!!!
The characters are so annoying - I didn't like a single one. The Aussie men are knuckle heads (2 kids, jobless, smoking doobs and mooching off the wife) and the English women are annoying (talking about any issue is a huge embarrassment, what the..?).
I didn't even feel like the story went anywhere. It was just a big nothing! Give it a miss and go for one of her classic like Shoe Money!!!
August 6, 2016
I hadn't picked up a chick-lit book for a while and the start of this one left me thinking I should put it down again... not sure if I liked the way she interprets what a man's thoughts might be (I thought Matt was a twat) It was all predictable: I guessed about Marg and Anthony; about Pete and Ali; Dom and Hannah. But it's only meant to be a light read and it works as that. But as I was reading it I was wanting it to be finished so I could get onto another. But I think I always think that with Maggie Alderson. (Too much 'sex as an activity')
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2012
Getting to meet Maggie (again!) here in Melbourne was wonderful and hearing her talk about this book WHILE I was reading it only added to how much I loved it!
Characters are all so lovable, especially dear little Hector...! Despite all the different settings- London, Sydney, country England - the story was easy to follow and very enjoyable.
Great read for this long weekend!
I am a huge fan of Maggie's and am now wanting to go back and re-read my other favs of hers.
Characters are all so lovable, especially dear little Hector...! Despite all the different settings- London, Sydney, country England - the story was easy to follow and very enjoyable.
Great read for this long weekend!
I am a huge fan of Maggie's and am now wanting to go back and re-read my other favs of hers.
February 26, 2013
Alderson is one of those authors in whose books you feel comfort, the curling up with a nice cup of tea feel. The story revolves around three couples, their secrets and their concepts of home. Hannah, the lead of the ensemble, finds by the end, that her home is where her husband and children are. I enjoy Alderson’s storytelling and her characters. I also like how she creates scenes and that each chapter is like a little story in itself.
October 25, 2012
Maggie Alderson captures true to life relationship challenges in this beautifully written novel. Three women challenged by the demands of family, balancing life and work...and keeping secrets.
For the full review visit: http://www.kees2create.com.au/the-oth...
For the full review visit: http://www.kees2create.com.au/the-oth...
December 26, 2012
Didn't love this one as much as all the others by Maggie Alderson but still enjoyed it a great deal! I love the detail she gives to her characters, their personalities really shine out of the stories.
March 6, 2013
Fantastic book to read on a long haul flight, kept me going from Sydney to Hong Kong. I like her easy going style of writing, nothing to tax the brain, I love her columns in the smh so knew I would enjoy it.
March 7, 2015
I love Maggie Alderson and read this is a day, which shows you how much I enjoyed it. Two problems 1) thought Matt was a dag and parts of his dialogue were wooden 2) Yes, women's place in home but was a little bit cloying. But loved evocation of Sydney and London
January 6, 2013
Not as fun as other books of hers that I've read. None of the characters were particularly appealing. Enjoyed the references to highlights of London (Shoreditch) and Sydney though.
February 19, 2013
Meh. Convenient, all loose ends tied up too easily, easy read. I feel I may have done my dash with Maggie Alderson's novels.
July 15, 2015
This was slow and the male characters seemed very immature.
November 10, 2012
Very Maggie Alderson, one day I wish she would branch out and write about ugly people!
Lots of brand names mentioned, moves between England & Australia.
But def one of her better books of late.
Lots of brand names mentioned, moves between England & Australia.
But def one of her better books of late.
January 14, 2013
This story could not grab my attention
February 5, 2013
I'm a Maggie Alderson fan, but this is certainly not one of her best. In fact, it was quite boring in comparison to her other novels. Still better than some other chick lit out there, though :)
March 6, 2013
Not as good as some of hers
March 30, 2013
This book I'm sure. Reflects the author's own experience of living on two continents. The feelings of being torn between the two. I thoroughly enjoyed it
March 6, 2013
Fantastic
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews