Tandem

by Alex Morgan

Paula abandons her London life and travels through the night to a Scottish village where she once spent a childhood holiday. Desperate to avoid a painful loss, she tries to hide away. However, the locals are keen to know more about their unhappy visitor and she is soon tangled in the life of 12-year-old Sanders. Can Paula help her new friend? Can we ever run away from the past?

246 pages, Paperback

First published April 8, 2014

About the author

Alex Morgan is the author of Tandem, winner of the Hookline Novel Competition 2013. Tandem is about love, loss, a celebrity penguin – and riding a bicycle built for two.

Alex was born in Edinburgh and grew up along the coast in North Berwick. She now lives in the Cumbrian town of Cockermouth, birthplace of William Wordsworth, where she works for the National Trust. Alex also has a parallel career as a personal finance journalist. She is married and has two daughters and one granddaughter. Alex has always loved the seaside. Tandem is her first novel.

Reviews

[Natalie O'neill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot wait for more from this author. A beautifully written novel - cleverly woven situations full of heartbreak, crippling grief (yes I shed a few tears) and loss together with humour (I also laughed out loud several times), love and compassion. A story about experiencing the unimaginable and finding the light at the end of the tunnel. The characters are structured in such a way that they relate to a little part of us all - challenging decisions and moments of isolation, to the overpowering need for freedom and the need to be close to someone.

It is one of those novels that you just cannot put down, you read a chapter, and then the next and then the next and before you know it, it's finished. I would love to hear more from the main characters!

If you are interested to learn more about the author, here is her Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/alexmorganau...

[Andy Weston · Rating 2 out of 5]

This didn’t go in the direction I was hoping it would. Having said that is a feature of several novels I read, but they are saved by the skill of the writer; not the case here. Added to that Morgan has a habit of including detailed menus each time a character gets to mealtime. If you’re a keen cook, then maybe it’s for you, but it added to the boredom for me. She even includes prices of various items to the extent that at times it comes across like a third rate travelogue.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely a nice read but only took me a few hours. I like the characters and the setting. The author paints a very vivid picture but felt the story went several different ways at once and it was difficult for me to figure out just what the author wanted to convey.

[Els Louwinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read!, 28 May 2014

By Els Louwinger (The Netherlands). This review is from: Tandem (Paperback)

Tandem, a novel I could not put down, so I read it in just two nights. Now, after a few weeks, I am still thinking about Paula and Sanders very often. Tandem is a great read full of humour ( the drunk hairdressers), grief and love. I loved the father giving his children an extra special birthday. The twin/not quite twin theme , Paula/Peter, Sanders /Sandra is cleverly handled. I now consider a tandem a (Siamese) twin cycle. The way the writer uses Wikipedia to explain about PAIS, is clever too. Tandem is an excellent choice for a book club. I look forward to the next book by this author.

[Sian Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absorbing read from start to finish , although you don't want it to end. Can only hope there's more from this new great author. Story has so many amazing twists & turns. Just when you think you've worked it out you realise you haven't & you are off in another adventure with the captivating characters. It's a must read

[Cath · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly good read and a cracking debut. Stories gradually unveil, little mysteries build,characters reveal themselves and the emotions often pack a real punch. With a marbling of humour as well(attempted abduction of a celebrity penguin - I kid you not!)I would recommend Tandem to anyone, oh and it has an awesome cover!

[Yvonne Barlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's rare for Scottish dialogue to sound authentic in a novel, however Tandem hits the right note - I could hear the characters as though they were in the room.
A lovely read - both funny and touching.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet heartwarming book

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy to read story of a unconventional holiday. Lessons on unexpected relationships learned through the scope of grief.