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Pastures New: A gorgeously uplifting and heartwarming romance
Amy Nicholson never expected to leave London for the Suffolk countryside. But she also never expected to be a 33-year-old widow, left alone with a young son. Fleeing her memories, she swaps her heels for wellies and embarks on a new rural life. The big-hearted community of Nevermorewell welcome them with open arms. There's old Harry, offering pearls of advice (fuelled by whisky from his hip flask), Saffron, juggling motherhood with business (whilst searching for her lost libido), and Caroline, the scheming local vamp, who tramples over lives as easily as the allotments backing onto Amy's cottage. But just when Amy thinks she's finally leaving the past behind, Ben Martin crashes into her life. Sexy and enigmatic, Ben is haunted by his own secrets. Will love blossom on the allotments? Or will it be once bitten, twice shy?
467 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
May 20, 2013
It's official: the light fiction genre is not for me. Oh, parts of it are cute. The dialogue is endearing. And most of the characters are likable, most of the time. Sometimes I even crack a smile at their antics. But mostly, I just shake my head and wonder why it is that people in Light Fiction Universe don't act the way that people in the regular universe do, especially regarding long-term consequences of actions.
I was going to list a whole slew of examples, but what's the point? These are plot devices, not people. I shouldn't expect anything else. So when a supposedly well-behaved dog jumps on and knocks over a stranger (a.k.a. "meet-cute"), or a little boy's grandmother tells him that if his widowed mother gets remarried she won't have time for him anymore (a.k.a. "keep the two lovers apart"), or a man walks out on his wife and infant (and stepchildren, who have already had a father walk out on them) and pretends they don't exist for months (a.k.a. "Amy and Ben aren't the only couple with problems"), there are no consequences, and that's perfectly normal in this genre.
Oh, hey. I did end up making a list. Would you look at that.
I was going to list a whole slew of examples, but what's the point? These are plot devices, not people. I shouldn't expect anything else. So when a supposedly well-behaved dog jumps on and knocks over a stranger (a.k.a. "meet-cute"), or a little boy's grandmother tells him that if his widowed mother gets remarried she won't have time for him anymore (a.k.a. "keep the two lovers apart"), or a man walks out on his wife and infant (and stepchildren, who have already had a father walk out on them) and pretends they don't exist for months (a.k.a. "Amy and Ben aren't the only couple with problems"), there are no consequences, and that's perfectly normal in this genre.
Oh, hey. I did end up making a list. Would you look at that.
October 26, 2023
Sappy!
It was like taking a brain break.
Much needed brain break.
It was like taking a brain break.
Much needed brain break.
January 17, 2010
Amy Nicolson is a young widow who has recently lost her boyfriend and father of her son Josh in an accident. She wants to make a fresh start away from the memories and the mother-in-law Mary so moves to Nevermorewell, a small village miles away from home.
Amy soon settles into village life and life on the allotments and makes some new friends for her and Josh along the way. Amy is just settling in when local Doctor Ben Martin stumbles into her life and leaves her all confused.
Will love begin to grow on the allotments? Or are the secrets that bind them pull them apart?
I know that the story doesn’t sound like the most exciting in the world, and it certainly isn’t, but what it is is a lovely, heart-warming story of love, confidence, discovery and trust all stuck together by the wonderfully indulgent and enjoyable setting of Nevermorewell and a cast of lovely characters. The author Julia Williams has really opened the eyes of the reader when she created this little world, and totally allows you to lose yourself in her words and feel yourself being sucked into lifen the allotments with a warm cuppa in your hands!
This was what I really loved about the story to be honest. I do love a book where you can just close your eyes and imagine yourself there, sitting alongside the characters, and this is exactly what this book delivered on for me. I could imagine the little houses of Nevermorewell, the muddy but cared for allotments, and Amy’s little terraced house, and this just added to the charm and authenticity of the story itself. Williams really has the knack for writing places that you can instantly imagine yourself in from the first few pages of the book.
As well as wonderfully written settings, Williams has created a likeable and funny group of characters to follow through the story. Being the main character, Amy was the main focus of the book and she was definitely a loveable character. I sympathised with her circumstances, losing her partner and having to leave all her memories behind, but this made me warm to her much more quickly and I therefore wanted things to work out for her. Together with her son Josh, the pair made a lovely family and Williams has written a brilliant relationship between the pair which is touching and heart-warming.
There are other characters throughout that play their own important part as well. Harry, an elderley gentleman who owns an allotment near Amys, is Amy’s first friend in Nevermorewell. He also hits it off with her son Josh, and he features strongly through the book and is the sort of neighbour we would all want! Ben is Amy’s love interest and close friend, a real man’s man who loves his GP practice, his motorbikes and looking after his friends. He was so much like Amy that the pair were perfectly written and seemed so perfect for each other! Caroine is the town vamp and an awful woman but equally laughable, she provides a bit of welcome comic relief into the book. And finally Saffron, Amy’s new business partner and stressed mother of young children, she’s trying to rebuild her marriage as well as her business.
But what I really loved about this book was just the way it plodded along in its own little pace, but it never seemed boring! It was a slightly predictable love story with a somewhat inevitable outcome but that didn’t bother me at all. I could really sit down and immerse myself in this fictional little world, and I came to really care about these people and this village. Williams clearly has a knack for writing things that will touch people, and this is certainly a great debut novel. The third person narrative is enjoyable and easy to read, sweeps all over the countryside and its ways of life, and draws you into Amy’s world of love, discovery and finding your old self. Definitely recommended, a lovely read especially for cold winter months, one to curl up with.
Amy soon settles into village life and life on the allotments and makes some new friends for her and Josh along the way. Amy is just settling in when local Doctor Ben Martin stumbles into her life and leaves her all confused.
Will love begin to grow on the allotments? Or are the secrets that bind them pull them apart?
I know that the story doesn’t sound like the most exciting in the world, and it certainly isn’t, but what it is is a lovely, heart-warming story of love, confidence, discovery and trust all stuck together by the wonderfully indulgent and enjoyable setting of Nevermorewell and a cast of lovely characters. The author Julia Williams has really opened the eyes of the reader when she created this little world, and totally allows you to lose yourself in her words and feel yourself being sucked into lifen the allotments with a warm cuppa in your hands!
This was what I really loved about the story to be honest. I do love a book where you can just close your eyes and imagine yourself there, sitting alongside the characters, and this is exactly what this book delivered on for me. I could imagine the little houses of Nevermorewell, the muddy but cared for allotments, and Amy’s little terraced house, and this just added to the charm and authenticity of the story itself. Williams really has the knack for writing places that you can instantly imagine yourself in from the first few pages of the book.
As well as wonderfully written settings, Williams has created a likeable and funny group of characters to follow through the story. Being the main character, Amy was the main focus of the book and she was definitely a loveable character. I sympathised with her circumstances, losing her partner and having to leave all her memories behind, but this made me warm to her much more quickly and I therefore wanted things to work out for her. Together with her son Josh, the pair made a lovely family and Williams has written a brilliant relationship between the pair which is touching and heart-warming.
There are other characters throughout that play their own important part as well. Harry, an elderley gentleman who owns an allotment near Amys, is Amy’s first friend in Nevermorewell. He also hits it off with her son Josh, and he features strongly through the book and is the sort of neighbour we would all want! Ben is Amy’s love interest and close friend, a real man’s man who loves his GP practice, his motorbikes and looking after his friends. He was so much like Amy that the pair were perfectly written and seemed so perfect for each other! Caroine is the town vamp and an awful woman but equally laughable, she provides a bit of welcome comic relief into the book. And finally Saffron, Amy’s new business partner and stressed mother of young children, she’s trying to rebuild her marriage as well as her business.
But what I really loved about this book was just the way it plodded along in its own little pace, but it never seemed boring! It was a slightly predictable love story with a somewhat inevitable outcome but that didn’t bother me at all. I could really sit down and immerse myself in this fictional little world, and I came to really care about these people and this village. Williams clearly has a knack for writing things that will touch people, and this is certainly a great debut novel. The third person narrative is enjoyable and easy to read, sweeps all over the countryside and its ways of life, and draws you into Amy’s world of love, discovery and finding your old self. Definitely recommended, a lovely read especially for cold winter months, one to curl up with.
October 29, 2013
I could not put this book down from the first page . You fall live with all the people in the book . Amy has a break heart after losing her husband but they had a dream of moving to the country , she moves with her soon to a village far from what she had and meets Harry the lovable neighbor and saffron the mother of a new baby and husband and dealing with the ex and then there is Ben the handsome doctor will he mend her broken heart will she let him !!! If you haven't read this book your should .
June 18, 2015
This was a lovely read, really likeable and relatable characters BUT it was just sooooo frustrating. The story was just strung out way too long and it literally did not come together until the last page.
It was a predictable story, you knew what was going to happen from the very beginning.
A nice easy read if you're looking for some lovely chick lit.
It was a predictable story, you knew what was going to happen from the very beginning.
A nice easy read if you're looking for some lovely chick lit.
August 6, 2016
Predictable and very mellow but I knew this was going to be a lighter book (actually picked it up for that reason as I have had trouble easing back into reading regularly lately). Quick and lovely read.
August 2, 2017
Avevo adocchiato questo libro dalle segnalazioni di un blog che seguo e all'ultima visita in libreria mi ero decisa ad acquistarlo.
Sono una appassionata del genere, specialmente di quello dal profumo inglese dove i protagnisti vanno sempre a riabilitarsi psicologicamente in campagna, colivando orticelli e fraternizzando con la popolazione autoctona.
Questo libro è proprio parte d questa famiglia di romanzi, l'eroina intende infatti cambiare vita e si trasferisce nel Suffolk col figlio per superare la perdita del compagno scomparso prematuramente.
L'azione si svolge prevalentemente negli orticelli dei vari personaggi, spostando l'azione a quel quatetto di facce note più qualche comparsata. Non sarà un capolavoro e, come detto da altri, la storia sembra sempre non decollare e ad un certo punto tutti i fraintendimenti sono davvero estenuanti, ma ha un ritmo rilassante, sebbene all'inizio mi abbia commossa quasi alle lacrime, il che lo rende una lettura adatta a rilassarsi specialmente dopo una stressante settimana di lavoro.
Una piccola nota: per tutto il libro ho sentito la familiare ambientazione che avevo scoperto con Katie Fforde, un'autrice che apprezzo molto, specie nella sua prima produzione, e arrivata alla fine della vicenda ho notato nei ringraziamenti anche il suo nome tra quelli delle altre amiche scrittrici della Williams.
Sono una appassionata del genere, specialmente di quello dal profumo inglese dove i protagnisti vanno sempre a riabilitarsi psicologicamente in campagna, colivando orticelli e fraternizzando con la popolazione autoctona.
Questo libro è proprio parte d questa famiglia di romanzi, l'eroina intende infatti cambiare vita e si trasferisce nel Suffolk col figlio per superare la perdita del compagno scomparso prematuramente.
L'azione si svolge prevalentemente negli orticelli dei vari personaggi, spostando l'azione a quel quatetto di facce note più qualche comparsata. Non sarà un capolavoro e, come detto da altri, la storia sembra sempre non decollare e ad un certo punto tutti i fraintendimenti sono davvero estenuanti, ma ha un ritmo rilassante, sebbene all'inizio mi abbia commossa quasi alle lacrime, il che lo rende una lettura adatta a rilassarsi specialmente dopo una stressante settimana di lavoro.
Una piccola nota: per tutto il libro ho sentito la familiare ambientazione che avevo scoperto con Katie Fforde, un'autrice che apprezzo molto, specie nella sua prima produzione, e arrivata alla fine della vicenda ho notato nei ringraziamenti anche il suo nome tra quelli delle altre amiche scrittrici della Williams.
March 14, 2020
I actually first read this book when it was first published back in 2007. I was recently sorting out some stuff that I wanted to donate to charity. I came across this book and remembered how much I enjoyed it the first time round. Plus, I’ve been reading some heavier fiction over the last 12 months, so I decided I was going to give it another read. I wasn’t disappointed.
Amy Nicholson, a young woman who was unfortunately widowed due to a motorcycle accident, leaving behind a young son called Josh to bring up on her own. Amy has relied heavily on her mother in law Mary, for support, comfort, help with Josh etc. But she feels like needs a fresh start away from London, in order for her to grieve privately, and try to forge a nice life for herself and for Josh. She finds a lovely house in the countryside village of Nevermorewell in Suffolk. The people of Nevermorewell are all incredibly friendly, and Amy and Josh are quickly made to feel at home. Her next door neighbour, Harry is almost like the father she never had, and she finds that she has so much in common with Saffron, one of the mums from school. Plus, the house also comes with a plot on the allotment, and Amy is a keen gardener, she has taken a course in gardening, aiming to swap from teaching in a school to gardening as her career. Most of the villagers have plots on the allotment too, and there’s a huge sense of community, something that they never had when they lived in London. Another one of her neighbours is Dr Ben Martin. She instantly feels an attraction to him, and it becomes apparent that the feeling is mutual. However, Amy is worried about how Josh May react to a new man in their lives. She also really doesn’t know if she’s ready for love again, not while she’s still grieving for Jamie.
It’s one of those stories where you know that there’s going to be a happy ending, but because of the world it draws you into, you don’t mind. A lovely, heartwarming romance.
Amy Nicholson, a young woman who was unfortunately widowed due to a motorcycle accident, leaving behind a young son called Josh to bring up on her own. Amy has relied heavily on her mother in law Mary, for support, comfort, help with Josh etc. But she feels like needs a fresh start away from London, in order for her to grieve privately, and try to forge a nice life for herself and for Josh. She finds a lovely house in the countryside village of Nevermorewell in Suffolk. The people of Nevermorewell are all incredibly friendly, and Amy and Josh are quickly made to feel at home. Her next door neighbour, Harry is almost like the father she never had, and she finds that she has so much in common with Saffron, one of the mums from school. Plus, the house also comes with a plot on the allotment, and Amy is a keen gardener, she has taken a course in gardening, aiming to swap from teaching in a school to gardening as her career. Most of the villagers have plots on the allotment too, and there’s a huge sense of community, something that they never had when they lived in London. Another one of her neighbours is Dr Ben Martin. She instantly feels an attraction to him, and it becomes apparent that the feeling is mutual. However, Amy is worried about how Josh May react to a new man in their lives. She also really doesn’t know if she’s ready for love again, not while she’s still grieving for Jamie.
It’s one of those stories where you know that there’s going to be a happy ending, but because of the world it draws you into, you don’t mind. A lovely, heartwarming romance.
October 18, 2022
A Great Read!
This is the second time I have read this book and I think I enjoyed it even more second time around! I loved all of the characters especially the lovely Harry. It was such a down-to-earth, heart warming story and I was totally engrossed! Can’t wait to read another of Julia’s books.
This is the second time I have read this book and I think I enjoyed it even more second time around! I loved all of the characters especially the lovely Harry. It was such a down-to-earth, heart warming story and I was totally engrossed! Can’t wait to read another of Julia’s books.
November 17, 2025
Un romanzetto davvero divertente e a tratti commovente, sarebbe un perfetto film commedia per signore, in onda al pomeriggio. Mi ha intrattenuta con i suoi personaggi ben delineati e i colpi di scena. Unica pecca, forse dovuta alla tradizione, é la presenza di errori e l'imprecisione temporale, che ogni tanto confondono il lettore.
August 1, 2025
An enjoyable read.
March 1, 2013
Pastures New is yet another entertaining book Julia Williams which has a gardening theme. This really attracts me to her books especially with my longing to get back out into the garden.
Amy Nicolson sells her apartment and takes her son to the Suffolk village of Nevermorewell to start a new life. She is missing her boyfriend and son Josh's father so much after his death that it seems the best thing to do. Right away, Amy starts to feel part of the community and meets many new people through the allotments just outside her back garden. The house she has rented comes with one of those allotments which is just perfect for Amy. Part of her trying to deal with her grief was taking a gardening course so she is looking forward to getting out and digging in the dirt.
She has however gotten off to a bad start with Dr. Ben Martin. A series of mishaps seems to make them see each other in quite a bad light. But then when Amy looks again, Ben is a very handsome man who makes her feels comfortable in her new surroundings...
She meets her neighbor Harry who becomes the father to her and grandfather to Josh that they never had...
She runs into Saffron while walking to school one morning with Josh. What she doesn't know is that she and Saffron share a love of gardening that will bring Amy a new job...
With Gerry who is Saffron's ex-husband and his girlfriend Maddy, her landlady Caroline who was traveling the world but suddenly shows up to upset everyone, Linda the pole-dancing teacher and Edie and Ada with their cakes, there is a fun mix of characters in this little English village. Julia Williams has a way of making the villages she writes about come to life in your mind's eye.
Amy Nicolson sells her apartment and takes her son to the Suffolk village of Nevermorewell to start a new life. She is missing her boyfriend and son Josh's father so much after his death that it seems the best thing to do. Right away, Amy starts to feel part of the community and meets many new people through the allotments just outside her back garden. The house she has rented comes with one of those allotments which is just perfect for Amy. Part of her trying to deal with her grief was taking a gardening course so she is looking forward to getting out and digging in the dirt.
She has however gotten off to a bad start with Dr. Ben Martin. A series of mishaps seems to make them see each other in quite a bad light. But then when Amy looks again, Ben is a very handsome man who makes her feels comfortable in her new surroundings...
She meets her neighbor Harry who becomes the father to her and grandfather to Josh that they never had...
She runs into Saffron while walking to school one morning with Josh. What she doesn't know is that she and Saffron share a love of gardening that will bring Amy a new job...
With Gerry who is Saffron's ex-husband and his girlfriend Maddy, her landlady Caroline who was traveling the world but suddenly shows up to upset everyone, Linda the pole-dancing teacher and Edie and Ada with their cakes, there is a fun mix of characters in this little English village. Julia Williams has a way of making the villages she writes about come to life in your mind's eye.
August 27, 2016
Take one sleepy Suffolk village Add a young widow Throw in a local vamp and a harassed mum Stir it up with a sexy, secretive doctor And watch feuds grow, tempers fray and love blossom...Amy Nicholson never expected to leave London for the Suffolk countryside. But she also never expected to be a 33-year-old widow, left alone with a young son. Fleeing her memories, she swaps her heels for wellies and embarks on a new rural life. The big-hearted community of Nevermorewell welcome them with open arms. There's old Harry, offering pearls of advice (fuelled by whisky from his hip flask), Saffron, juggling motherhood with business (whilst searching for her lost libido), and Caroline, the scheming local vamp, who tramples over lives as easily as the allotments backing onto Amy's cottage. But just when Amy thinks she's finally leaving the past behind, Ben Martin crashes into her life. Sexy and enigmatic, Ben is haunted by his own secrets. Will love blossom on the allotments? Or will it be once bitten, twice shy?
**
**
April 16, 2009
I enjoyed every page of this lovely story. Julia Williams has created a cast of interesting, warm and realistic characters who are all very human. It's a comforting read - covering issues that most of us wil deal with in our lives sometime. The author deals with all of the issues in a humourous and realistic way - there are characters I detested and some I really loved - just like real life, and there were times I would have like to knock a few heads together - but this all added to the novel.
December 19, 2010
I enjoyed listening to this book, though it was a little frustrating in a couple of areas with both Saffron and Amy but overall a good story.
Amy Nicholson has been widdowed for 2 years has recently come to live at Nevermorewell with her 5 year old son Josh. Here she meets a doctor Ben Martin, her widdowed neighbour Harry and Saffron, who she met when taking her son to school and her husband Pete. The story works around these 5 main characters with a few other thrown in, they get to know each as they work on their allotments.
Amy Nicholson has been widdowed for 2 years has recently come to live at Nevermorewell with her 5 year old son Josh. Here she meets a doctor Ben Martin, her widdowed neighbour Harry and Saffron, who she met when taking her son to school and her husband Pete. The story works around these 5 main characters with a few other thrown in, they get to know each as they work on their allotments.
August 29, 2016
I was given this book by my mum and not having heard of the author before was intrigued to start it as soon as possible. I really enjoyed the story and the characters. My favourite character was Harry, he just put a smile on my face right from the word go. I like the fact it isn't just based around Amy's life, you also get other people's stories too. I found I didn't have to concentrate too much which is good when you have a busy life. I will be looking out for more of Julia Williams books now.
January 30, 2008
Amy, a young widow, and her young son Josh move from London to the countryside. The book charts their progress, the friends the make, and their relationships. Reasonably well-written and interesting, but the characters don't come alive at all. Too much authorial explanation for my tastes. But a pleasant enough light read.
November 15, 2010
Se dovessi dare un voto al libro in base a quante ore mi ha tenuta sveglia per farsi leggere dovrei affibbiargli il massimo. C'è da dire che però la storia è un po' banalotta e alla lunga stanca, appassionano di più le storie a latere. In ogni caso mi ha ricordato Katie Fforde e questo gli fa prendere la più che sufficienza.
April 20, 2009
Started out very well but I felt that this book could have done with being a bit shorter, the last few chapters felt like they had been padded out. By the end I was getting a bit fed up of the lead characters falling out/getting back together/misunderstandings etc.
February 23, 2015
Not a bad story, but I found Amy too annoying & wishy-washy, & when you don't like the heroine it's difficult to like the book. I got very tired of the name, Nevermorewell, & the little jokes around it, too.
Rated 5/10 at http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/1....
Rated 5/10 at http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/1....
February 22, 2008
A nicely written book with a good rolling plot full of highs, lows and humour, and warm, rounded and believable characters. I don't normally 'go' for romance novels but I enjoyed this one immensely.
December 24, 2011
It was an story that I thought went a little long. I liked most of the characters and the story progressed well if not a little slowly.
October 9, 2012
I really enjoyed this book, and discovered that it was the 2nd time I'd read it after a few pages.
The characters were very likeable and each had a story to tell, that you really wanted to hear.
The characters were very likeable and each had a story to tell, that you really wanted to hear.
March 17, 2019
Amy is a warm lead character. An easy romantic read.
July 30, 2013
Really not my cup of tea.
May 14, 2014
An easy read. Amy and Ben as the main characters are very likeable and the rest of the characters fit in to the story line very well.
November 21, 2014
A light, pleasant read.
November 29, 2014
Great story and characters but got frustrated a bit with their will they wont they ? I was like .. Come on ! Overall very entertaining though
January 27, 2015
This was a sweet, charming story. I very much liked the characters and setting.
July 21, 2013
Lovely book!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews