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Now and Then Friends

(Hartley-by-the-Sea #2)

Kate Hewitt (Goodreads Author)

3.96 · Rating details · 497 ratings · 68 reviews

The USA Today bestselling author of Rainy Day Sisters returns to Hartley-by-the-Sea...

Childhood best friends Rachel Campbell and Claire West have not only grown up, but after fifteen years, they've also grown apart...

After her father left, Rachel had to dedicate her life to managing her household: her two younger sisters, her disabled mother, and her three-year-old nephe ...more

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Paperback, 368 pages

Published July 12th 2016 by NAL

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Feb 12, 2018 Obsidian rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Ultimately satisfying though I have to say if you are looking for a rah female friendship book, the two main characters have very little do with each other for most of the book which was funny. Instead both of them rely on people they have either just met and or have known for a while before circling back to their friendship. I found it a bit weird, but ultimately liked it. Rachel is still hurting from Claire turning away from their friendship when they were pre-teens and Claire is oblivious to Ultimately satisfying though I have to say if you are looking for a rah female friendship book, the two main characters have very little do with each other for most of the book which was funny. Instead both of them rely on people they have either just met and or have known for a while before circling back to their friendship. I found it a bit weird, but ultimately liked it. Rachel is still hurting from Claire turning away from their friendship when they were pre-teens and Claire is oblivious to the hurt she caused.

This is the second book in the Hartley-by-the-Sea books. We were introduced to one of the characters in the first book, Rachel Campbell. The second character we follow is Claire West.

Rachel has had a hard life. She gave up the chance to go to university and get a degree in chemistry. Instead she is forced to drop out after her father runs out on her, her two younger sisters, and her disabled mother. Rachel takes over her mother's cleaning business and cleans the homes of the residents of Hartley-by-the-Sea and wishes for better things for her younger sister who is about to take her O levels. Forgive me if I got that wrong since I did not grow up in England and always mess up the A and O levels in books. Though Rachel is not trying to, she is pressuring her younger sister to do what she didn't do which is to go to university and get a degree in biology.

Claire is hiding in Hartley-by-the-Sea. After her fiancee calls her parents and claims she's an alcoholic, Claire goes to rehab and then refuses to follow her parents to London. Instead she goes back to her childhood home where she hopes to find a job.

Rachel is surprised to run into Claire when she stops by to clean one day and it brings up all of her anger towards Claire dropping her when they were kids. Claire finds a job at the local store/post office and is doing her best to push her parents and her older brother, Andrew, out of always thinking they know what's best for her.

We have a lot of secondary characters in this one. We have Rachel's two sisters, her nephew, and Claire's brother Andrew, as well as the shopkeeper that hires Claire. We also get some nice sightings of Juliet and Lucy from book #1 as well as Abby Rhodes (who is the focus of book #3) and a few other characters as well.

Hewitt does a nice job with writing about two girls whose lives did not turn out the way they expected. They both get pushed in different ways which was great. Rachel has to learn to let go, and Claire has to learn to speak up for herself and do what she wants, even if it is hard. We do get some romance in this one, but not a lot honestly. Both of the women are the focus in this book and they have a lot going on from beginning to end.

Hartley-by-the-Sea sounds charming though cold and Hewitt does a great job with describing the village and it's inhabitants love of the weekly pub quiz.

The ending has both women on a different path and I hope that Hewitt keeps following up on them in future books. ...more

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Jun 02, 2016 Julie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: e-book, night-owl-reviews, contemporary-fiction, women-s-fiction, netgalley

Now and Then Friends ( A Hartley-By-The-Sea Novel) by Kate Hewitt is a NAL publication

This well balanced, emotional drama touches on class differences, family loyalties and responsibilities, love and friendship. Although Rachel and Claire couldn’t have come from more diverse backgrounds, they shared a common bond that proved to be unbreakable. The long held resentment between the women fall away as they lift one another up, cheer each other on, listen to one another’s problems, and learn accepta ...more

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Mar 28, 2020 Chris Conley rated it really liked it

Very believable story. Both women’s perspectives felt completely honest and very real!

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Jul 05, 2016 Chris C - A Midlife Wife rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-fiction, fiction, penguin-group, chick-lit, reviews, womens-fiction, nal-paperback

Oh to be young again and know what I know now. Sometimes we look back and wonder how it would be if something changed in our past. Would a simple “I’m sorry” make the difference in a friendship long lost? Or was it meant to be a broken friendship?

Author Kate Hewitt takes us on a trip to England and a lovely village where everyone knows who you are and your past is hard to overcome. She tells a story rich with tales of the past and hope for the future. Broken friendships that beg to be healed. An ...more

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Jul 01, 2016 Jeanne Adamek rated it it was amazing

I found this to be a magical novel, you know one of those books that draws you in and you are living the story with the characters. I felt like I was there, could really see Hartley-by-the-Sea...

The characters were wonderfully drawn, some quirky, some charming, but all whom I would have liked to meet. Rachel, one of the main characters irratated me lots of times but I still needed to find out what she planned on doing... I loved watching Claire grow and come into herself.

I also love the fact tha ...more

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Aug 27, 2018 Kate Baxter rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, goodreads-first-reads

This book was an easy and quick story - perfect for summertime reading. Yet, it deals with some difficult issues: childhood abandonment, parental chronic illness, mistrust of or lack of confidence in others, and seeing the world through only your own eyes without consideration of the viewpoints of others. One could almost treat it as a self-help book with a sweet fictional narrative.
This story focuses on two, now grown, women who though once best friends are now virtual strangers after a child This book was an easy and quick story - perfect for summertime reading. Yet, it deals with some difficult issues: childhood abandonment, parental chronic illness, mistrust of or lack of confidence in others, and seeing the world through only your own eyes without consideration of the viewpoints of others. One could almost treat it as a self-help book with a sweet fictional narrative.
This story focuses on two, now grown, women who though once best friends are now virtual strangers after a childhood falling out which just happened and resulted in disappointment by both girls. One is of the poorer struggling class and the other of the wealthy set. It is set in the small Cumbrian town of Hartley-by-the-Sea. Rachel is struggling, running her permanently disabled mother's home-cleaning business while managing the Campbell home and the residing younger siblings and young nephew. She feels as though she's the only one of the family working so hard to keep it all together - just trying to keep the loose threads of their family ties from unraveling. The fact that Rachel's dad walked out on the family 11 years ago sure didn't help matters.
Meanwhile, childhood friend, Claire West, returns to Hartley-by-the-Sea after a failed engagement and lackluster career in Portugal which resulted in an alcohol rehab stint. Claire didn't really feel like an alcoholic. She just felt trapped and gave in to the abundantly flowing alcohol one evening. Her disgusted fiancé, Hugh, suggested to her parents that Claire had a drinking problem and she was quickly shuffled off to a rehab hospital. Claire is so used to everyone directing her life so what's the point in arguing about this turn of events? Following rehab, she chooses not to head to her parents' home in London but rather to her childhood home by the sea. She wants a fresh start and thinks that being on her own will give her that start. Good thought except that she continues to look to others for direction.
The story really picks up as the interaction between these two women develops. Other characters, equally well developed, are introduced and add sparkle and charm to the story. This was a charming feel good story and much enjoyed.

I am grateful to author Kate Hewitt, publisher Penguin Random House and Goodreads First Reads for having provided a free advance reading copy of this book. Their generosity, however, did not influence this review - the words of which are mine alone. ...more

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Jun 01, 2016 Sue rated it really liked it

Shelves: british-authors

This is Kate Hewitt's second book with a setting of Hartley-by-the-Sea, a small town in England. There are a few references to the characters in the first book but this can be read as a stand alone with no confusion.

Claire Westland and Rachel Campbell were best friends in school until Claire started to hang out with the popular crowd in junior high. Claire left town as soon as possible to live in Spain and Rachel stayed to take care of her mother and sisters and to take over the family's housecl ...more

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Jul 10, 2016 Cindy Burnett rated it really liked it · review of another edition

3.5 stars

Now and Then Friends was so slow to get started, but I ended up enjoying it. As the story progressed, I was eager to finish the book and see what happened with the characters.

Claire and Rachel were friends as young children in Hartley-by-the-Sea. Their lives diverged, and they each have a different recollection of the way the relationship ended. Rachel has stayed in Hartley-by-the-Sea while Claire went to university and lived in Portugal. As the book opens, Claire’s life begins to fall ...more

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Feb 19, 2017 Tina rated it really liked it

Shelves: light-reading

In her second book, Kate Hewitt expands on the themes of friendship and sisterhood. I enjoyed this book even more than the first one, because the cliche romantic storylines are very subtle and moved to the background, allowing all spotlight to be on the main characters - realistic and believable as they deal with each of their life's circumstances, relationships within each of their families and with each other. The twists and turns in characters' fates are very life-like without any unnecessary ...more

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May 01, 2019 Kathy Heare Watts rated it it was amazing

Shelves: owned, book-i-won, paperback, first-read

I won a copy of this book during a Goodreads giveaway. I am under no obligation to leave a review or rating and do so voluntarily. So that others may also enjoy this book, I am paying it forward by donating it to my local library.

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Nov 04, 2017 Brin Murray rated it really liked it

This is an enjoyable novel, not as fluffy as some. It’s set in Hartley-by-The-Sea, Cumbria, in a small-ish village where everybody knows your name, and the story revolves around two friends who disconnected back in Year Six at primary school, when they were around eleven. Claire was the rich little princess-type, from the big house on the edge of town, who was soon to go to a private school anyway. The other, Rachel, had an unemployed dad who walked out, and a mother who broke her back while on This is an enjoyable novel, not as fluffy as some. It’s set in Hartley-by-The-Sea, Cumbria, in a small-ish village where everybody knows your name, and the story revolves around two friends who disconnected back in Year Six at primary school, when they were around eleven. Claire was the rich little princess-type, from the big house on the edge of town, who was soon to go to a private school anyway. The other, Rachel, had an unemployed dad who walked out, and a mother who broke her back while on a cleaning job and is subsequently an invalid. So cut to present day and Rachel, who is strong, competent and independent, is secretly worn out and over-whelmed with too much responsibility too young. Claire is the opposite: everyone manages her, and treats her like she’s an incompetent child – partly because of a history of health problems, and partial deafness. The characters are well-rounded and I found myself really rooting for them. The constant stress of being short of money, and working long hours to make ends meet, and feeling constantly tired and worn-down, makes Rachel’s predicament very real but also annoying. Her two sisters are apparently idle lumps: there seems no reason on earth why Rachel should work all day and then clean up after them. So that was slightly annoying, she was a bit of a martyr (but nowhere near annoying enough to want to stop reading).
And Claire was incredibly wet at first, but gradually her insecurities and sense of isolation begin to make sense, given her health and family history. I felt the characterization was sound, consistent and in-depth regarding the two main protagonists. I liked the depiction of Dan the post office man, who also figured in Rainy Day Sisters, the first Hartley-by-The-Sea novel. His extreme closed-offness and impenetrability are refreshing: he doesn’t instantly thaw and transform into a chatty socialite when he discovers love, and again his experiences are consistent with his behavior and personality now.
If I have one quibble – and it is only a small one – it is that for much of the story Rachel’s disabled mother is depicted not as a person but as a burden. I felt she was seen very much from the outside, through the lens of her long-suffering carers’ eyes. There was very little sense of empathy for her, or of her as a person at all outside of her nuisance value, until right at the end when Rachel does have a lightbulb moment that it can’t be all that good for her mum either.
But as I say a small-ish quibble. This is a solid, satisfying read, rather darker in places than you might expect but in a good way. It has more depth and realism. Recommended.
For more of my reviews, go to:
http://www.brinmurray.com/ ...more

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Jul 08, 2016 Leah rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: books-read-2016, for-review

Kate Hewitt has been a must-watch author for me since I read her book This Fragile Life a few years back. It was such an emotional read, it made me cry, even about a subject that's something so far away from my own life, which I always think is a good thing. So I've tried my best to keep up with her novels and nowadays she's writing a series set in Hartley-by-the-Sea, in Cumbria. I haven't actually read Rainy Day Sisters, and I don't think you particularly have to, although Juliet & Lucy are in Kate Hewitt has been a must-watch author for me since I read her book This Fragile Life a few years back. It was such an emotional read, it made me cry, even about a subject that's something so far away from my own life, which I always think is a good thing. So I've tried my best to keep up with her novels and nowadays she's writing a series set in Hartley-by-the-Sea, in Cumbria. I haven't actually read Rainy Day Sisters, and I don't think you particularly have to, although Juliet & Lucy are in this book, but not a lot is mentioned of the plot, what happened, etc, so you can easily read these books as standalones.

Now and Then Friends tells the story of two girls who used to be friends, Claire and Rachel, and their very different lives in Hartley-by-the-Sea. Claire finds herself there after an incident with her fiance in Portugal, and Rachel finds herself stuck there permanently due to family health issues, the two were best friends way back, but not any more, and it's fair to say Rachel holds a bit of a grudge about it all. In fact, Claire's brother Andrew, was spot on when he said Rachel had a chip on her shoulder. It was the size of Great Britain, in fact. Though I will say, for everything that Rachel went through, I could understand why she had a chip on her shoulder. I could understand why she nagged her sister's, Meghan and Lily to do better, to help her out, to tidy up.

This really wasn't a cheerful read. Rachel is downtrodden, rightly so, and I felt stressed on her behalf. Everything in her life was fraught with worry, and Meghan and Lily irritated the living daylights out of me, with their inability to just bloody help. Or for Meghan to actually take care of her son, Nathan. If I was Rachel my head would have exploded in anger, I'm not even kidding. It was Claire's story that I really enjoyed though, I mean I liked Rachel, but her chapters always had me fretting for her, whereas Claire's story actually saw her stand on her own two feet for once, and see how she liked it, including getting a job in the local shop-cum-post-office. After a lifetime of being told what to do, by everyone, it was really nice to see her do her own thing, and realise what she wanted in life.

I really enjoyed Now and Then Friends. It really wasn't the most cheerful of reads, at times, but it was nice to see Claire and Rachel's friendship re-blossom. It was also lovely to read a book set in Cumbria. This was such a good read, and I'll definitely have to go back and read Rainy Day Sisters, and here's hoping there'll be a third Hartley-by-the-Sea novel soon. ...more

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Jul 19, 2016 Viviane Crystal rated it really liked it

Life hasn’t turn out the way Rachel Campbell or Claire West expected. They were both best friends when they were in elementary school many years ago. Now, they meet anew when Claire West returns to Hartley-By-The-Sea and the awkwardness between the two is obvious to everyone else in the small town where everyone knows everyone else’s business. But no one knows what the problem between these two characters is and the two women really can’t put their finger on the problem either. Suffice to say th Life hasn’t turn out the way Rachel Campbell or Claire West expected. They were both best friends when they were in elementary school many years ago. Now, they meet anew when Claire West returns to Hartley-By-The-Sea and the awkwardness between the two is obvious to everyone else in the small town where everyone knows everyone else’s business. But no one knows what the problem between these two characters is and the two women really can’t put their finger on the problem either. Suffice to say that both women are “empty and a tad angry” inside.
Rachel’s Mom broke her back years ago and is an invalid; thus, Rachel must care for her family as her father has been gone for years as well. She cleans houses to make a small living and it’s obvious hers is a hard life. Claire West, on the other hands, grew up as a rich girl who could have anything she wanted. But now she’s returned, she has to honestly admit her life has been one big “show” run by her family and then fiancé. Now she’s seeking something new but excessively timid as she’s never learned to function alone. While this sounds like a dour story, it isn’t that bad at all. There are enough snarky comments to add some humor to Rachel and Claire’s situations.
Obviously, from the title, these two women might have a chance as good friends again, but first they have to get over their bitterness, fear and animosity toward anyone who reaches out to them with compassion. One can see how these chronic attitudes can wear on other characters, but the chemistry between the two women just might thaw enough to make a different future. Ironically, even though there are brief, bleak scenes, there’s a magic in this story that keeps the reader hoping for something better than what these two women have at the beginning of this novel.
Life is as hard as one makes it. Those who know Rachel and Claire also know that still waters run deep and turbulent, and the reader gets to see the unwinding of some rather nasty background junk. Stuff sometimes only friends can unfreeze. Very nicely written and recommended contemporary fiction!

...more

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May 30, 2016 Abbie rated it really liked it

Shelves: june-2016

Now and then Friends takes you on an emotional journey about friendship, family and self-discovery.

Told in third person narrative with each alternating chapter unfolding the story of the two main characters, Rachel and Claire, I felt I go to know both women really well. It highlights how both women feel and that there are always two sides to a story, as both women have different views as to why their friendship ended.

The characterisation in the book is fantastic. Two very different women with ve ...more

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Feb 03, 2017 Anita Johnson rated it really liked it

Rachel and Claire were best friends until they were eight years old. Twenty years later, they are both in Hartley-by-the Sea, miles from London in all ways, and find that it might be impossible to rekindle their friendship.

I had really enjoyed Rainy Day Sisters, the first in the Hartley-by-the Sea series, and have found that it isn't necessary to read these two in order although the two sisters in the first book do have minor roles in the second. I hope Kate Hewitt has a third coming soon. ...more

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Oct 21, 2016 La rated it liked it

Although I really like her characters and her writing style, I kept waiting for the book to take off.

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Oct 27, 2016 Jana rated it really liked it

A nice book. Nothing amazing, but readable and enjoyable.

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Sep 10, 2017 OpenBookSociety.com rated it really liked it

Shelves: jerjen

http://openbooksociety.com/article/no...

Now And Then Friends
Hartley-By-The-Sea, Book #2
Kate Hewitt
(ISBN13: 9780451475596)
http://www.kate-hewitt.com/
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer jerjen

Synopsis:

The USA Today bestselling author of Rainy Day Sisters returns to Hartley-by-the-Sea…

Childhood best friends Rachel Campbell and Claire West have not only grown up, but after fifteen years, they’ve also grown apart…

After her father left, Rachel had to dedicate her life to managing her household: her two y ...more

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Nov 24, 2017 Kay Garrett rated it it was amazing

Shelves: want-to-read

Now and Then Friends is the second book in the Hartley-By-The-Sea Series. It can definitely be read as a stand-alone book but I enjoyed catching up on the characters from the first book, Rainy Day Sisters. I found this book to be every bit as enjoyable to read as the first book.

Kate Hewitt deals with a lot of emotions in this book and she does it very well. There’s the childhood friendships that become strained to adulthood and how they are able to reclaim those friendships through a lot of pati ...more

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Aug 29, 2020 Michele rated it it was ok

This book is the second in a series based in this small coastal town in the UK. I did not enjoy this one nearly as much as book #1 mostly because one of the main characters, Rachel, was so unlikable. She had dreams of attending university and making something of herself but had to leave after 2 weeks when her father deserted the family. She went back home to take care of her invalid mother and two sisters. Yes, she was dealt a very hard hand in life but she did nothing but feel sorry for herself ...more

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Apr 26, 2018 Crystal rated it it was amazing

This is the second in a series of books by Kate Hewitt. As with Rainy Day Sisters, it contained very good people characterizations. Though it is a work of fiction, the scenarios within could happen in the real world which is what makes fiction stories a good read for me. This story centered around two women who were good friends in elementary school, but then went their separate ways, having a sort of falling out/misunderstanding at a young age. One stayed home in Hartley-by-the-Sea, the other m ...more

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Dec 21, 2020 Olgas Movie rated it did not like it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 17, 2017 Beth rated it it was amazing

Finished the second book in the "A Hartley-By The Sea novel " series, Now and Then Friends. The first book "Rainy Day Sisters " and "Now and Then Friends are a must read. The characters come to life and each has a story that you get so caught up in. Kate Hewitt is an awesome writer, the story never lacks and I'm very excited to know that Kate Hewitt has the third book in" Hartley-By the Sea" series. Thank you Kate for bringing Lucky, Juliet, Rachel, Claire and the men in their lives and friends ...more

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May 12, 2019 Kim rated it liked it

I liked a lot of things about this book, the charming little village, the story, the way I felt right in the heart of the town and the lives of the characters.

The only thing I didn’t like, that almost made me not read the next book was how disrespectful, cranny & unfriendly a lot of the characters were to others. I just find it hard to believe people would treat other how some of them did. Nothing really mean just not very nice. It’s the reason I stopped reading the first book only a few chapte ...more

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Jun 16, 2017 Darlene Wilson rated it it was amazing

Childhood best friends Rachel Campbell and Claire West have not only grown up, but after fifteen years, they've also grown apart...After her father left, Rachel had to dedicate her life to managing her household: her two younger sisters, her disabled mother, and her three-year-old nephew.
Running into Rachel brings back memories of past mistakes, and Claire wonders if she now has the courage to make them right. Claire’s brother, Andrew, asks Rachel to keep an eye on Claire. As their lives threat ...more

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Aug 20, 2018 Sarah rated it really liked it

It seemed a bit slow at the beginning as the characters were developing. But I’d heard good things about it so I kept reading. Once the story started picking up a bit more, I took a liking to the characters. I liked how as time went on they realized they weren’t the only ones with challenges, and how we’re often so caught up in our own misery that we don’t see those close to us struggling. By assuming things or intentions of others, we often set ourselves and them up for failure and hurt. Good l ...more

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Jun 12, 2018 IrishFan rated it liked it

This was the 2nd book in this series. It was pretty good, same rating as book #1. I liked Rachel and Claire. Felt that they both have had hard lives, both were afraid to speak up, etc. I never figured out if Claire told Rachel about her hearing loss, I wonder if that would have made a difference in their friendship earlier. Not sure if I'm happy that Rachel ended up with Andrew, I guess we will have to see what happens in the 3rd book. ...more

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Feb 19, 2021 Ada Iaboni rated it it was ok

Although I enjoyed part 2 of this series, because it expanded on the people and the town and their connection, this particular story left flat.
Most of the story went nowhere. It went on and on but said very little. In the last, maybe 5 or 6 chapters more was happening, but that also left me flat. There was little heat between the main character and her new man, and next to none at all between the other main character and hers, except for one kiss and that said little.

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Jul 22, 2018 Faith Ann rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I am a sucker for all English seaside villages, cuppa’s, pubs, shops and putting the kettle on so even if the plot was a little weak at times I still loved this book and am excited to know there is a 3rd in the series.

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Jul 26, 2017 Jenna Marie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2017

I really enjoy the Hartley by the sea novels, I wish there were more.

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About Kate Hewitt

Kate Hewitt

819 followers

Kate is the USA Today-bsetselling author of many books of both historical and contemporary fiction. Under the name Katharine Swartz, she is the author of the Tales from Goswell books, a series of time-slip novels set in the village of Goswell.

She likes to read women's fiction, mystery and thrillers, as well as historical novels. She particularly enjoys reading about well-drawn characters and avoi ...more