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After Isabella
'Both heartwarming and sad, it's an insightful, thought-provoking glimpse into female friendships, love and loyalty.' - Julie Cohen
'After Isabella is a beautiful, absorbing novel that deals with the issues at the very heart of what it
means to be a woman.' - Tracy Buchanan
'I was lost in this powerful, poignant tale.' - Amanda Prowse
When Esther's childhood best friend Isabella dies of cancer, she is devastated. Years later, she is brought together with Isabella's sister Sally, who cared for Isabella in her last days, and who subsequently nursed their mother through years of dementia.
English professor Esther sees shy, innocent Sally emerge from a life of isolation and loneliness. But as Esther herself suffers blow after blow, and sees her carefully ordered life collapse around her, she is forced to contemplate the notion of friendship and trust. Do the ones we hold dearest always have our best interests at heart?
'After Isabella is a beautiful, absorbing novel that deals with the issues at the very heart of what it
means to be a woman.' - Tracy Buchanan
'I was lost in this powerful, poignant tale.' - Amanda Prowse
When Esther's childhood best friend Isabella dies of cancer, she is devastated. Years later, she is brought together with Isabella's sister Sally, who cared for Isabella in her last days, and who subsequently nursed their mother through years of dementia.
English professor Esther sees shy, innocent Sally emerge from a life of isolation and loneliness. But as Esther herself suffers blow after blow, and sees her carefully ordered life collapse around her, she is forced to contemplate the notion of friendship and trust. Do the ones we hold dearest always have our best interests at heart?
384 pages, Paperback
Published August 4, 2016
About the author
Rosie Fiore
16 books46 followersRosie Fiore was born and grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa. She studied drama at the University of the Witwatersrand and has worked as a writer for theatre, television, magazines, advertising, comedy and the corporate market.
Her first two novels, This Year's Black and Lame Angel were published by Struik in South Africa. This Year's Black was longlisted for the South African Sunday Times Literary Award and has subsequently been re-released as an e-book. Babies in Waiting, Wonder Women and Holly at Christmas were published by Quercus.
After Isabella and What She Left are published by Allen & Unwin.
Rosie also writes as Cass Hunter, and her novel, The After Wife is in translation in nine countries and has sold film rights in China.
Rosie lives in London with her husband and two sons.
Her first two novels, This Year's Black and Lame Angel were published by Struik in South Africa. This Year's Black was longlisted for the South African Sunday Times Literary Award and has subsequently been re-released as an e-book. Babies in Waiting, Wonder Women and Holly at Christmas were published by Quercus.
After Isabella and What She Left are published by Allen & Unwin.
Rosie also writes as Cass Hunter, and her novel, The After Wife is in translation in nine countries and has sold film rights in China.
Rosie lives in London with her husband and two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
May 26, 2017
Rosie Fiore is an amazing story teller. Now I have been swept away reading After Isabella By Rosie F I am now going to read many more of her novels, so do look out in future for my reviews on Rosie's other books.
When nine year old Esther moves from Richmond to north London she starts a new school. Star pupil Isabella Mallais shows her around the school. Isabella and Esther become best friends for life.
Years later when Isabella found out that she was ill, she didn't tell anyone. The story becomes deeply moving, when Sally informs Esther that It has got to the stage that Isabella was so sick she couldn't look after herself. Painfully and heartbreaking Isabella dies from cancer.
Eight years later Esther suffered another blow when Sally writes to her to say that her mother has died.
You feel such a lot of sympathy for Sally as years ago when Isabella was at university and Sally was at school their father had died on the train on his way to work. It had devastated Sally, who had been very close to him.
I do highly recommend After Isabella as it is beautifully written and certainly a book that readers will pay a lot of attention to.
When nine year old Esther moves from Richmond to north London she starts a new school. Star pupil Isabella Mallais shows her around the school. Isabella and Esther become best friends for life.
Years later when Isabella found out that she was ill, she didn't tell anyone. The story becomes deeply moving, when Sally informs Esther that It has got to the stage that Isabella was so sick she couldn't look after herself. Painfully and heartbreaking Isabella dies from cancer.
Eight years later Esther suffered another blow when Sally writes to her to say that her mother has died.
You feel such a lot of sympathy for Sally as years ago when Isabella was at university and Sally was at school their father had died on the train on his way to work. It had devastated Sally, who had been very close to him.
I do highly recommend After Isabella as it is beautifully written and certainly a book that readers will pay a lot of attention to.
August 9, 2016
Esther and Isabella had been best friends since they were nine years old so when Isabella died Esther felt devastated. Several years later, following her divorce, she is now a single parent, concentrating on bringing up her twelve year old daughter Lucie and has a successful, but stressful career as a professor at a local university. However, she is feeling under increasing pressure, from colleagues, friends and even from Lucie, to make new relationships. At this point she also receives a letter from Sally, Isabella’s younger sister, to let her know that their mother, whom Sally had nursed through many years of dementia, has just died. Although Esther had never felt close to Sally, in fact had only ever seen her as Isabella’s rather annoying younger sibling, she gradually becomes more and more involved in encouraging her to broaden her horizons. These had, inevitably, been severely limited during the many years when all of Sally’s time had been taken up with being a full-time carer, first for Isabella when she was dying, and then for her mother. However, as the story progresses Esther herself is faced with one personal crisis after another and it seems that as Sally’s world expands hers is imploding and she starts to lose all confidence in herself and her relationships.
This really is one of the most satisfying books I have read this year; from the very first sentence I felt totally engaged with this very moving and psychologically powerful story. The author’s explorations – which included themes of female friendships, the conflicts of balancing the demands of work and family commitments, dealing with all the tensions of adolescence, negotiating the minefield of relationships with ex-partners, middle-age dating, love, loss, loyalty, betrayal, caring for someone with a terminal illness, envy, guilt – all felt psychologically pitch-perfect. Her reflections on the perils and anxieties of dating in later life, with so many issues surrounding a sense of “exposure” were often humorous as well as being very poignant. As Esther’s background and past experiences were gradually revealed it became clear why, in middle-age and coping with the accumulating effects of so many losses, she had reached crisis point. There was never a moment during the book (I which read in just two sessions because I could hardly bear to put it down!) when I felt that either the character development or the plot lacked credibility; I just felt totally immersed in the story and found myself caring deeply about what happened to the characters. Given the range of themes in this story, I think this would be an excellent choice for reading groups – and I have already been persuading all my book-loving friends to read it!
This is the first book I have read by this author but I suspect it won’t be the last!
Thank you to Real Readers for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
This really is one of the most satisfying books I have read this year; from the very first sentence I felt totally engaged with this very moving and psychologically powerful story. The author’s explorations – which included themes of female friendships, the conflicts of balancing the demands of work and family commitments, dealing with all the tensions of adolescence, negotiating the minefield of relationships with ex-partners, middle-age dating, love, loss, loyalty, betrayal, caring for someone with a terminal illness, envy, guilt – all felt psychologically pitch-perfect. Her reflections on the perils and anxieties of dating in later life, with so many issues surrounding a sense of “exposure” were often humorous as well as being very poignant. As Esther’s background and past experiences were gradually revealed it became clear why, in middle-age and coping with the accumulating effects of so many losses, she had reached crisis point. There was never a moment during the book (I which read in just two sessions because I could hardly bear to put it down!) when I felt that either the character development or the plot lacked credibility; I just felt totally immersed in the story and found myself caring deeply about what happened to the characters. Given the range of themes in this story, I think this would be an excellent choice for reading groups – and I have already been persuading all my book-loving friends to read it!
This is the first book I have read by this author but I suspect it won’t be the last!
Thank you to Real Readers for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
September 4, 2016
The ideas and themes underpinning After Isabella will resonate with many people, especially those who have lost someone young or in the early bloom of youth. For Isabella was just that: a young woman whose life had really just begun. She was successful, well-liked and, we are told by the main character, Esther, beautiful. Then she died - of cancer.
As in life, it is the dying of Isabella rather than the ultimate absence of her - she isn't ever really absent from the novel - that has shaped Esther, her best friend, and Sally, Isabella's sister. So the story, really, is theirs. It's about the stage after, when people pick themselves back up and what they do with that brush of mortality they've just witnessed. Yet Isabella hovers throughout the narrative and at times, this becomes too much. We understand, from the off, how important she was to both women but there are countless memories shared about her that add nothing more to the narrative or the development of any of the characters.
Sally was the real hook as she is an enigma throughout. We only see her through Esther's eyes and Fiore excels at creating a character the reader is both intrigued by and fearful of. I really wanted to know a lot more about Sally and even at the end, I wanted to know about her transition into the person she became.
The novel is gripping, largely because of Sally, and as Esther's life spirals out of control there's a growing sense of despair that echoes off the page. It was difficult, however, to justify some of the more mundane details of Esther's life: the meals she ate, the runs she undertook and the places her and her daughter visited. Fiore may have been trying to underline how normal Esther's life was and how quickly this unravels, but it was difficult to read again and again.
It's a great read, largely because I never knew where it was going or whether I was reading a thriller or not. I almost wanted it to be and if Fiore was intending to make me as suspicious as Esther, she succeeded.
As in life, it is the dying of Isabella rather than the ultimate absence of her - she isn't ever really absent from the novel - that has shaped Esther, her best friend, and Sally, Isabella's sister. So the story, really, is theirs. It's about the stage after, when people pick themselves back up and what they do with that brush of mortality they've just witnessed. Yet Isabella hovers throughout the narrative and at times, this becomes too much. We understand, from the off, how important she was to both women but there are countless memories shared about her that add nothing more to the narrative or the development of any of the characters.
Sally was the real hook as she is an enigma throughout. We only see her through Esther's eyes and Fiore excels at creating a character the reader is both intrigued by and fearful of. I really wanted to know a lot more about Sally and even at the end, I wanted to know about her transition into the person she became.
The novel is gripping, largely because of Sally, and as Esther's life spirals out of control there's a growing sense of despair that echoes off the page. It was difficult, however, to justify some of the more mundane details of Esther's life: the meals she ate, the runs she undertook and the places her and her daughter visited. Fiore may have been trying to underline how normal Esther's life was and how quickly this unravels, but it was difficult to read again and again.
It's a great read, largely because I never knew where it was going or whether I was reading a thriller or not. I almost wanted it to be and if Fiore was intending to make me as suspicious as Esther, she succeeded.
August 14, 2016
Review copy courtesy of Real Readers at www.nudge.com
Esther has lost her best friend to cancer - her cool, fun-loving, rebellious ‘soul sister’ who dragged her away from her tendency to dullness and pushed her to achieve the good life she is enjoying now. And she is in a good place - a few years escaped from an unhappy marriage, she has a delightful pre-teen daughter, her own home and a well-paid, responsible and very busy job she enjoys. No man, but she plans to remedy that soon.
Isabella’s sister, Sally, on the other hand, is just emerging from a difficult early life in Isabella’s shadow, caring first for her sister and then her mother in her final years. She begins to blossom in her new independence, just as events begin to turn Esther’s life on its head.
Rosie Fiore has created an interesting character in Esther, who is a hard woman to love, likes to be in control and is utterly self-absorbed. I was struck by the way she shows us someone who likes to feel needed but on several crucial occasions fails to notice when she is, and is then outraged that her friends and family confide in someone else, even scenting conspiracy, such is her self-absorption. She sets the upturn in Sally’s circumstances against the downturn in Esther’s perfectly - the emotional tension is carefully and skilfully cranked up little by little. The timing and pitch of emotion were the strengths of the book for me. Of course, Esther starts to lose her grip, to find out just how badly kept me reading, though I was more engaged in the outcome for those around her than for Esther herself.
On the downside, and I hesitate to list them for fear of spoiling the book for others, I was frustrated that the author introduced just a few too many issues for some of them to be handled in much depth.
Esther has lost her best friend to cancer - her cool, fun-loving, rebellious ‘soul sister’ who dragged her away from her tendency to dullness and pushed her to achieve the good life she is enjoying now. And she is in a good place - a few years escaped from an unhappy marriage, she has a delightful pre-teen daughter, her own home and a well-paid, responsible and very busy job she enjoys. No man, but she plans to remedy that soon.
Isabella’s sister, Sally, on the other hand, is just emerging from a difficult early life in Isabella’s shadow, caring first for her sister and then her mother in her final years. She begins to blossom in her new independence, just as events begin to turn Esther’s life on its head.
Rosie Fiore has created an interesting character in Esther, who is a hard woman to love, likes to be in control and is utterly self-absorbed. I was struck by the way she shows us someone who likes to feel needed but on several crucial occasions fails to notice when she is, and is then outraged that her friends and family confide in someone else, even scenting conspiracy, such is her self-absorption. She sets the upturn in Sally’s circumstances against the downturn in Esther’s perfectly - the emotional tension is carefully and skilfully cranked up little by little. The timing and pitch of emotion were the strengths of the book for me. Of course, Esther starts to lose her grip, to find out just how badly kept me reading, though I was more engaged in the outcome for those around her than for Esther herself.
On the downside, and I hesitate to list them for fear of spoiling the book for others, I was frustrated that the author introduced just a few too many issues for some of them to be handled in much depth.
August 18, 2016
This was quite an enjoyable read although there were some parts that were not completely convincing and I thought the ending was a bit too neat. The review copy I was sent (by nudgebooks) compared the author Rosie Fiore to Maggie O'Farrell but I don't think this is of the same quality of writing as that.
The novel shows how everyday events such as bereavement; work stress; stroppy teenagers can have a domino effect on a person's life. At the funeral of Isabella,her best friend since childhood, Esther is brought back into contact with Sally, Isabella's younger sister. However the contact falters until eight years later, Isabella and Sally's mother dies and Esther attends that funeral too. She is shocked to see the change in Sally, who has been her mother's carer. Esther herself is a single mother with a close relationship to her daughter and a fulfilling.. job as Head of English at a university. Sally is overweight, lacking confidence and seems very needy. Esther isn't sure if she wants a friendship with her, but an uneasy relationship begins. As Sally's life improves, Esther's starts to go downhill.
It is not always easy to sympathise with Esther. A lot of her problems seem to be self inflicted. However it was fascinating to see how each small event in her life built up to have a catastrophic effect. Similarly it was interesting to see Sally take hold of her life and change herself. The person who was least convincing was Isabella and I wasn't sure of her significance to the plot.
The novel shows how everyday events such as bereavement; work stress; stroppy teenagers can have a domino effect on a person's life. At the funeral of Isabella,her best friend since childhood, Esther is brought back into contact with Sally, Isabella's younger sister. However the contact falters until eight years later, Isabella and Sally's mother dies and Esther attends that funeral too. She is shocked to see the change in Sally, who has been her mother's carer. Esther herself is a single mother with a close relationship to her daughter and a fulfilling.. job as Head of English at a university. Sally is overweight, lacking confidence and seems very needy. Esther isn't sure if she wants a friendship with her, but an uneasy relationship begins. As Sally's life improves, Esther's starts to go downhill.
It is not always easy to sympathise with Esther. A lot of her problems seem to be self inflicted. However it was fascinating to see how each small event in her life built up to have a catastrophic effect. Similarly it was interesting to see Sally take hold of her life and change herself. The person who was least convincing was Isabella and I wasn't sure of her significance to the plot.
August 24, 2016
Book review
This is a book to persevere with, as I found myself plodding through the first third wanting to give up on something which seemed irretrievably bleak and humourless. After that, however, the pace picked up and as the protagonist's life started to unravel, she became rather less irritating. By the end, I was gripped to the narrative. I have three main criticisms of the book, however. Firstly, the laziness of the writer in making the protagonist, Esther, an English professor - a job presumably bestowed on her primarily because Rosie Fiore knows a lot about English and thus didn't need to spend time researching another profession than because it particularly suited her. Secondly, the awfulness of the teenage daughter, who read far more like a 30 year old who transformed into a 16 year old in her 'bad' periods than a 12 year old was beyond compare, as was the dullness of Esther herself. I found it hard to believe that the deceased titular Isabella, so 'fascinating' when she was alive, would have had much interest in her. Thirdly, of course a book that is largely about people who are dying will be very bleak, but there is always humour to be found in every situation, no matter how black this may be, and this to me is a book very deficient in humour. The novel was saved by the character of Sally, a woman who was surprising and different in comparison to the other characters, particularly Esther herself, and Esther's boyfriend Michael, who was kind without being sappy.
This is a book to persevere with, as I found myself plodding through the first third wanting to give up on something which seemed irretrievably bleak and humourless. After that, however, the pace picked up and as the protagonist's life started to unravel, she became rather less irritating. By the end, I was gripped to the narrative. I have three main criticisms of the book, however. Firstly, the laziness of the writer in making the protagonist, Esther, an English professor - a job presumably bestowed on her primarily because Rosie Fiore knows a lot about English and thus didn't need to spend time researching another profession than because it particularly suited her. Secondly, the awfulness of the teenage daughter, who read far more like a 30 year old who transformed into a 16 year old in her 'bad' periods than a 12 year old was beyond compare, as was the dullness of Esther herself. I found it hard to believe that the deceased titular Isabella, so 'fascinating' when she was alive, would have had much interest in her. Thirdly, of course a book that is largely about people who are dying will be very bleak, but there is always humour to be found in every situation, no matter how black this may be, and this to me is a book very deficient in humour. The novel was saved by the character of Sally, a woman who was surprising and different in comparison to the other characters, particularly Esther herself, and Esther's boyfriend Michael, who was kind without being sappy.
August 30, 2016
Esther and Isabella was best friends since school when one day Isabella dies from cancer and Esther is devastated. Years later Esther meets Isabella's sister Sally (who looked after her when she was dying) and takes her under her wing. As when you first meet Sally she is shy and timid.
Esther life is not going so well, Her colleagues at work saying she needs to get out more, The death of her mother taking her own life. The trials of being a single mother and her job not going so well.
Rosie Fiore's book is a well written book. It showed the high and lows of relationships. Dont get me wrong, It's entertaining and kept me gripped though out. but, for me personally though, I thought there was just too much going on in it and I thought at times what is the point of this.
Esther life is not going so well, Her colleagues at work saying she needs to get out more, The death of her mother taking her own life. The trials of being a single mother and her job not going so well.
Rosie Fiore's book is a well written book. It showed the high and lows of relationships. Dont get me wrong, It's entertaining and kept me gripped though out. but, for me personally though, I thought there was just too much going on in it and I thought at times what is the point of this.
July 17, 2016
I was lucky enough to see a preview of this book.
I found the story utterly compelling. It starts off well, gets even better, then gets better still. The pace is fast but the writing is beautiful and the plot is brilliantly conceived.
There are a few classic scenes that keep haunting me, which I won't spoil. The characters are rich and the relationships are real and complex.
I shall definitely be exploring the writer's back catalogue.
All in all, a brilliant account of the ambivalence of emotions... how love and jealousy, and happiness and resentment, are almost always entangled and rarely absolute.
The book cover is now mangled because I took it everywhere with me. A definite 5/5.
I found the story utterly compelling. It starts off well, gets even better, then gets better still. The pace is fast but the writing is beautiful and the plot is brilliantly conceived.
There are a few classic scenes that keep haunting me, which I won't spoil. The characters are rich and the relationships are real and complex.
I shall definitely be exploring the writer's back catalogue.
All in all, a brilliant account of the ambivalence of emotions... how love and jealousy, and happiness and resentment, are almost always entangled and rarely absolute.
The book cover is now mangled because I took it everywhere with me. A definite 5/5.
October 1, 2016
I honestly have to say that I have never had a book make me as emotional as this one.
It is such a well written piece of literature, and just as soon as you are getting used to one of the turns in the book.....bam....there is another one. Was lucky enough to receive this to be reviewed by #TBC and it really is not a genre I would normally go for, but oh my god I am so happy that I did. As sad as it is in some places, there are still some really uplifting moments and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know these characters. A definite must read
It is such a well written piece of literature, and just as soon as you are getting used to one of the turns in the book.....bam....there is another one. Was lucky enough to receive this to be reviewed by #TBC and it really is not a genre I would normally go for, but oh my god I am so happy that I did. As sad as it is in some places, there are still some really uplifting moments and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know these characters. A definite must read
August 23, 2016
This book is beautifully written, flows well and makes for an easy read.
The author takes on in this book a tumultuous amount of deep emotional scenarios.
And in this novel Rosie Fiore succeeds. She is an author able to deal with and articulate perfectly, the struggles faced by Esther A lady in her mid-life, whose having to cope with family & relationships. How she copes with life, love & loss, and all the changes they bring.
Although at times Esther was hard to connect with, I found on the whole this is a great piece of literature. One I have no hesitation in recommending to everyone.
The author takes on in this book a tumultuous amount of deep emotional scenarios.
And in this novel Rosie Fiore succeeds. She is an author able to deal with and articulate perfectly, the struggles faced by Esther A lady in her mid-life, whose having to cope with family & relationships. How she copes with life, love & loss, and all the changes they bring.
Although at times Esther was hard to connect with, I found on the whole this is a great piece of literature. One I have no hesitation in recommending to everyone.
August 4, 2016
Thanks to Rosie Fiore and TBC on FB for this arc. An interesting read following the lives of Esther and Lucie (her daughter). Esther's childhood friend, Isabella has died as the story starts and we focus on Esther's adjustment to life after this devastating period. I don't want to give anything away, but suffice to say this story shows what can happen when you think you have total control. Would definitely recommend.
July 19, 2016
3:5-4 stars
A beautifully written book on the complexities of relationships.
The story unfolds and to begin with I was unsure where it was heading. Its a well thought out story with a variety of characters.
It's a bit difficult to review without revealing the plot.
A lovely piece of well written woman's fiction, that is haunting and sad.
Thanks to TBC for a review copy.
A beautifully written book on the complexities of relationships.
The story unfolds and to begin with I was unsure where it was heading. Its a well thought out story with a variety of characters.
It's a bit difficult to review without revealing the plot.
A lovely piece of well written woman's fiction, that is haunting and sad.
Thanks to TBC for a review copy.
February 3, 2019
The 'heroine' of this book was so self-absorbed and self-destructive that I found it very hard going.
I chose it because, from the blurb, I had thought it would be about caring for aged parents but in fact it was about someone not coping with things going wrong.
I chose it because, from the blurb, I had thought it would be about caring for aged parents but in fact it was about someone not coping with things going wrong.
February 4, 2024
This was an OK read. Not particularly absorbing but enough to want to keep reading it to see where it was going. At one point I wondered if it was going to be a thriller but no. Ending was a bit flat but an ok holiday read.
June 21, 2017
Beautifully written. Shows the good, bad and ugly in people while still making you want things to work out.
Recommend if you feel like you need a cry.
Recommend if you feel like you need a cry.
June 25, 2017
Book was ok, started off great, ended a little flatly.
April 18, 2020
Compelling
I loved the characterisation in this novel and the storyline was unusual and enjoyable. This author understands people and relationships.
I loved the characterisation in this novel and the storyline was unusual and enjoyable. This author understands people and relationships.
March 19, 2022
Well written but found myself getting quite sad as its not a happy storyline.
February 23, 2017
This was a bit depressing for me - when Esthers' childhood friend Isabella dies of cancer she is broken. Years later she meets Isabella's sister Sally who cared for Isabella before she died and also her mother as she battled dementia.
Its' really about how these characters coped after these events that the book is all about but although well written and thought out it was just a bit depressing for me. I think it was a difficult read and you really need to persevere with it to get to the end and it wasn't helped that the character of Esther was a bit dull and boring.
Its' not easy writing a novel about death and its' even more difficult to read about it - not a novel I would choose to read and not one I particularly enjoyed therefore I can only give this one a 2 star rating.
I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.
Its' really about how these characters coped after these events that the book is all about but although well written and thought out it was just a bit depressing for me. I think it was a difficult read and you really need to persevere with it to get to the end and it wasn't helped that the character of Esther was a bit dull and boring.
Its' not easy writing a novel about death and its' even more difficult to read about it - not a novel I would choose to read and not one I particularly enjoyed therefore I can only give this one a 2 star rating.
I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.
August 18, 2016
Wow, just wow where do I start with this beautiful novel?
After Isabella opens with our protagonist Esther delivering the eulogy at her her best friend Isabella's funeral. Isabella, ironically so full of life, has been stolen by cancer at the age of 40, leaving a void that nothing and no-one can fill. Isabella was the driving force behind Esther. Pushing her into accomplishing things she never believed possible, she wouldn't have the life she's living now were it not for Isabella.
Sally, Isabella's younger sister, was always someone they found irritating as kids. The little sister that wouldn't stop pestering them, hanging around when she wasn't wanted. (Believe me, I know where they're coming from, as a teenager, the last thing you want is your little sister hanging around). But who cared for Isabella in her last months? Who administered her medication, dressed her, toileted her, did practically everything? Sally.
Now Isabella is gone, Sally's care shifts from Isabella to her mother, who is suffering from Alzheimers. Her whole adult life has been dedicated to others, so when her mother dies, Sally, all of a sudden comes into her own. She starts living her own life, doing all the things she never got to do like learning to drive and taking night classes. Her life is just beginning.
Simultaneously Esther's life starts to nosedive. Although she's found love with a new man, her relationship with her daughter is going downhill. She blames hormones, but is that all it is? At the same time Esther's career is suffering, seemingly without her even being aware of what's happening. Her life, in contrast to Sally's, is running away from her.
Just like when Esther and Isabella were kids, Sally seems to be infiltrating into Esther's life and as that life starts to go off the rails Esther can't help mistrusting Sally, who seems to have everything sorted now that her caring responsibilities are over.
This was a beautiful novel. The characters are well-written and believable, the subject matter both poignant and uplifting, and although there are many strands to Esther's life, they weave together seamlessly making it easy to follow and therefore you become absorbed in her world. My first Rosie Fiore won't be my last if this is anything to go by. A beautiful novel that works on so many levels. 4 stars.
After Isabella opens with our protagonist Esther delivering the eulogy at her her best friend Isabella's funeral. Isabella, ironically so full of life, has been stolen by cancer at the age of 40, leaving a void that nothing and no-one can fill. Isabella was the driving force behind Esther. Pushing her into accomplishing things she never believed possible, she wouldn't have the life she's living now were it not for Isabella.
Sally, Isabella's younger sister, was always someone they found irritating as kids. The little sister that wouldn't stop pestering them, hanging around when she wasn't wanted. (Believe me, I know where they're coming from, as a teenager, the last thing you want is your little sister hanging around). But who cared for Isabella in her last months? Who administered her medication, dressed her, toileted her, did practically everything? Sally.
Now Isabella is gone, Sally's care shifts from Isabella to her mother, who is suffering from Alzheimers. Her whole adult life has been dedicated to others, so when her mother dies, Sally, all of a sudden comes into her own. She starts living her own life, doing all the things she never got to do like learning to drive and taking night classes. Her life is just beginning.
Simultaneously Esther's life starts to nosedive. Although she's found love with a new man, her relationship with her daughter is going downhill. She blames hormones, but is that all it is? At the same time Esther's career is suffering, seemingly without her even being aware of what's happening. Her life, in contrast to Sally's, is running away from her.
Just like when Esther and Isabella were kids, Sally seems to be infiltrating into Esther's life and as that life starts to go off the rails Esther can't help mistrusting Sally, who seems to have everything sorted now that her caring responsibilities are over.
This was a beautiful novel. The characters are well-written and believable, the subject matter both poignant and uplifting, and although there are many strands to Esther's life, they weave together seamlessly making it easy to follow and therefore you become absorbed in her world. My first Rosie Fiore won't be my last if this is anything to go by. A beautiful novel that works on so many levels. 4 stars.
August 4, 2016
I was lucky enough to get this advance reading copy through TBC on Facebook. The book starts with the devastating death of Esther’s best friend Isabella, it jumps forward 8 years when Esther is facing up to the onset of middle age and being a divorced single parent to 12 year old Lucie.
Living her life around work and bringing up Lucie, Esther social world is shrinking. Well meaning colleagues start to try to make her change the way she lives her life, telling her she needs to get out more, meet you people, go looking for love but do other people really know best? Is Lucie starting to live her life according to how other people think would be best for her and if so she needs to realise that although friends and colleagues may think they have her best interests at heart but they really may be best leaving Esther to find her own way in life.
A series of tragic events bring back ghosts good and bad back from her past, will Esther be able to seek help and comfort in new friends or will she be best fighting her own corner?
A lovely moving story of the importance of recognising that others may not always know what is best for you, whilst also exploring female friendships and that as a women you can have many different types of friendships and relationships. It also explores the difficulty of finding a second long term love after a divorce, the ending of a long term relationship or when you reach a certain age and often that this love is something that will fall into your arms when least expect it.
I had never read a Rosie Fiore book before but now her other novels have somehow fallen into my Amazon wish list!
Overall a very enjoyable read..I will certainly be recommending this a summer (or any other time) read!
Living her life around work and bringing up Lucie, Esther social world is shrinking. Well meaning colleagues start to try to make her change the way she lives her life, telling her she needs to get out more, meet you people, go looking for love but do other people really know best? Is Lucie starting to live her life according to how other people think would be best for her and if so she needs to realise that although friends and colleagues may think they have her best interests at heart but they really may be best leaving Esther to find her own way in life.
A series of tragic events bring back ghosts good and bad back from her past, will Esther be able to seek help and comfort in new friends or will she be best fighting her own corner?
A lovely moving story of the importance of recognising that others may not always know what is best for you, whilst also exploring female friendships and that as a women you can have many different types of friendships and relationships. It also explores the difficulty of finding a second long term love after a divorce, the ending of a long term relationship or when you reach a certain age and often that this love is something that will fall into your arms when least expect it.
I had never read a Rosie Fiore book before but now her other novels have somehow fallen into my Amazon wish list!
Overall a very enjoyable read..I will certainly be recommending this a summer (or any other time) read!
August 12, 2016
After Isabella by Rosie Fiore faces head on the problems of caring for someone you're close to, having to give up your own life but then trying to rebuild it when they've gone.
Esther's best friend Isabella died of cancer devastating Esther. Years later She reconnects with Sally, Isabella's sister who cared for Isabella and then their mother through years of dementia and is now starting to get her life back.
Esther finds Sally to be clingy and intense, something she finds hard to cope with. As Esther moves on with her own life, dealing with failed romance and then a relationship with an old friend, her daughter Lucie is growing up fast.
Add into the mix an ex husband with a pregnant wife who Lucie seems to prefer to spend time with and lif becomes explosive. Esther has never been particularly close to her mother but when she commits suicide Esther finds it hard to cope with her grief and anger. she starts drinking and the fall out for the whole family is vast.
A story of grief, anger, relationships, taking a carer role and how to deal with the void when that person is no longer around. Rosie explores all these emotions with empathy and a real understanding of how her characters would react.
Esther's career has its ups and downs depending on how things are going with her personal life, and after her mum dies it all unravels with college asking her to take a sabbatical while she sorts her self out. Again Rosie manages to show the reader the trauma grief can bring in a very realistic way,.
A real page turner but at the same time easy to read and relate to, another triumph for Rosie Fiore!
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Esther's best friend Isabella died of cancer devastating Esther. Years later She reconnects with Sally, Isabella's sister who cared for Isabella and then their mother through years of dementia and is now starting to get her life back.
Esther finds Sally to be clingy and intense, something she finds hard to cope with. As Esther moves on with her own life, dealing with failed romance and then a relationship with an old friend, her daughter Lucie is growing up fast.
Add into the mix an ex husband with a pregnant wife who Lucie seems to prefer to spend time with and lif becomes explosive. Esther has never been particularly close to her mother but when she commits suicide Esther finds it hard to cope with her grief and anger. she starts drinking and the fall out for the whole family is vast.
A story of grief, anger, relationships, taking a carer role and how to deal with the void when that person is no longer around. Rosie explores all these emotions with empathy and a real understanding of how her characters would react.
Esther's career has its ups and downs depending on how things are going with her personal life, and after her mum dies it all unravels with college asking her to take a sabbatical while she sorts her self out. Again Rosie manages to show the reader the trauma grief can bring in a very realistic way,.
A real page turner but at the same time easy to read and relate to, another triumph for Rosie Fiore!
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August 15, 2016
What a sad story from beginning to end with a few lighthearted and haunting moments in between. The story follows the life of Esther, best friend to Isabella and single mum to Lucie. The story begins with the sad tale of her childhood best friend Isabella who is dying from cancer and being cared for by her younger sister Sally.
After Isabella and Sally’s mum both pass away Sally befriends Esther and Lucie at one point you have to question how Sally views the friendship. Esther has many hurdles to go through, during the course of the story and we are introduced to her boyfriend Michael who is able to reinforce that the friendship is genuine between the two ladies. The story comes to a head when Esther’s mum passes away and her career takes a massive overall and Lucie asks to go and live with her dad and new wife.
This is a lovely read with the true meaning of friendship between mother and daughter, best friends and partners and ex-partners. I found that I was able to warm to all the characters and you are able to relate parts of your everyday life into the story. There are some funny moments, some sad moments and the occasional hunting moment.
On a personal level as a big fan of the hit TV show neighbours, I did laugh out loud to the neighbours reference in chapter 24.
An all round enjoyable read but in parts will make you think hard about your own friendships with individual people.
After Isabella and Sally’s mum both pass away Sally befriends Esther and Lucie at one point you have to question how Sally views the friendship. Esther has many hurdles to go through, during the course of the story and we are introduced to her boyfriend Michael who is able to reinforce that the friendship is genuine between the two ladies. The story comes to a head when Esther’s mum passes away and her career takes a massive overall and Lucie asks to go and live with her dad and new wife.
This is a lovely read with the true meaning of friendship between mother and daughter, best friends and partners and ex-partners. I found that I was able to warm to all the characters and you are able to relate parts of your everyday life into the story. There are some funny moments, some sad moments and the occasional hunting moment.
On a personal level as a big fan of the hit TV show neighbours, I did laugh out loud to the neighbours reference in chapter 24.
An all round enjoyable read but in parts will make you think hard about your own friendships with individual people.
August 15, 2016
Thank you Real Readers/ Nudge for the opportunity to review the following book.
Isabella, dear friend of Esther is diagnosed with cancer and dies shortly before her 40th birthday. Sally, isabella's sister has been nursing their mother who has dementia, who unfortunately dies leaving sally lonely and unloved. Esther upon meeting sally again, takes Sally under her wing and befriends her. Sally who was shy and socially awkward, finds a new lease of life, including a new boyfriend phil, who happens to be an associate of Esthers...
This book took me on a rollercoaster of emotions, i laughed, i felt emotional and i felt sympathy, all crammed in from one book. This book is written so beautifully that i was totally absorbed into the plot, i felt the characters emotions,i could empathise with them and could put myself in their shoes. It dealt with the situation of death in a tasteful way, but also very touching. The storyline is very poignant, although the whole book is about death and grieving, it grips you from the first page and makes you want to find out what happens. Rosie Fiore has really touched my heart with this book and im still thinking about it days after finishing it.
I'm really hoping that Rosie writes another book of similar nature, as i believe she has the talent for this type of storyline.
Isabella, dear friend of Esther is diagnosed with cancer and dies shortly before her 40th birthday. Sally, isabella's sister has been nursing their mother who has dementia, who unfortunately dies leaving sally lonely and unloved. Esther upon meeting sally again, takes Sally under her wing and befriends her. Sally who was shy and socially awkward, finds a new lease of life, including a new boyfriend phil, who happens to be an associate of Esthers...
This book took me on a rollercoaster of emotions, i laughed, i felt emotional and i felt sympathy, all crammed in from one book. This book is written so beautifully that i was totally absorbed into the plot, i felt the characters emotions,i could empathise with them and could put myself in their shoes. It dealt with the situation of death in a tasteful way, but also very touching. The storyline is very poignant, although the whole book is about death and grieving, it grips you from the first page and makes you want to find out what happens. Rosie Fiore has really touched my heart with this book and im still thinking about it days after finishing it.
I'm really hoping that Rosie writes another book of similar nature, as i believe she has the talent for this type of storyline.
September 10, 2016
Esther is devastated when her best friend, Isabella, dies. Some years later she encounters Sally, Isabella's sister, at a funeral and Sally enters her life. Sally has cared for both Isabella and her mother through their illnesses, cancer and dementia respectively. Dowdy, naïve and lonely, she wants to be friends with a reticent Esther. Meanwhile, Esther, whilst fairly content, is stuck in a rut of work and a humdrum homelife when she endures a loss of her own and her life takes a downwards spiral.
This is a novel about relationships, between friends, family and lovers. An easy read but I felt that whilst it was an enjoyable book there was a lack of depth of character, almost as if we just skimmed across the veneer of the various parties lives. I didn't believe that Esther would act the way she does from the middle of the book onwards, it just didn't ring true. Rosie Fiore's description of loss is very well written and I feel that had she imbued her main character with more depth this would have been a great book instead of just a good book. I think it would make a good screenplay and could easily see this becoming a TV drama in a few years time. If you like comtemporary women's fiction, give it a go! Thanks to Real Readers powered by Nudge for the proof copy of the book.
This is a novel about relationships, between friends, family and lovers. An easy read but I felt that whilst it was an enjoyable book there was a lack of depth of character, almost as if we just skimmed across the veneer of the various parties lives. I didn't believe that Esther would act the way she does from the middle of the book onwards, it just didn't ring true. Rosie Fiore's description of loss is very well written and I feel that had she imbued her main character with more depth this would have been a great book instead of just a good book. I think it would make a good screenplay and could easily see this becoming a TV drama in a few years time. If you like comtemporary women's fiction, give it a go! Thanks to Real Readers powered by Nudge for the proof copy of the book.
August 8, 2016
I was very fortunate to receive a copy of this wonderful book After Isabella by Rosie Fiore from Real Readers powered by nudge. The book begins with the death of Esther’s very close childhood friend Isabella, they were very close like sisters as children and it jumps forward a few years where Esther is a divorced single women with a 12 year old girl called Lucie.
Esther’s life is not going too well, it revolves around work and taking care and bringing up Lucie, her social life is nearly not existent and her work colleagues and friends are trying to tell her to change her life and meet someone new. The book focuses strongly on recognising that people you know don’t necessarily know what is best for you and how difficult it is to find someone new to love after you divorce, she then starts re-evaluating who she can really trust within the people she knows in her life.
It is a very moving and emotional read, especially if you are going through something like this or have done, you would really identify and feel what Esther is going through. I have thoroughly enjoyed it and I thank Real Readers who sent it to me and I am sure you will enjoy it too. Highly recommend.
Esther’s life is not going too well, it revolves around work and taking care and bringing up Lucie, her social life is nearly not existent and her work colleagues and friends are trying to tell her to change her life and meet someone new. The book focuses strongly on recognising that people you know don’t necessarily know what is best for you and how difficult it is to find someone new to love after you divorce, she then starts re-evaluating who she can really trust within the people she knows in her life.
It is a very moving and emotional read, especially if you are going through something like this or have done, you would really identify and feel what Esther is going through. I have thoroughly enjoyed it and I thank Real Readers who sent it to me and I am sure you will enjoy it too. Highly recommend.
August 15, 2016
When Esther’s childhood best friend Isabella dies of cancer, she is devastated. Years later she is bought together with Isabella’s sister Sally, who cared for Isabella in her last days.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was a surprisingly good read, taking you through Esther’s journey through love friendship and life as a mother and juggling a career. It has so many situation that many women can relate to and think I have been through that. It follows Esther’s relationship with her Isabella’s sister, who she did not really know before and was only thought of as the younger sister.
It follows both of their journeys which first appear that Esther’s life is falling apart as Sally’s blossoms but all is not as it seems. This book will make you laugh, cry and think “that happened to me”.
It is written in a beautiful way which makes the characters in the book very easy to relate too. I was fortunate enough to receive an advance copy of this book and could not put it down having read it in a weekend. Will definitely be seeking out more books by this author.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was a surprisingly good read, taking you through Esther’s journey through love friendship and life as a mother and juggling a career. It has so many situation that many women can relate to and think I have been through that. It follows Esther’s relationship with her Isabella’s sister, who she did not really know before and was only thought of as the younger sister.
It follows both of their journeys which first appear that Esther’s life is falling apart as Sally’s blossoms but all is not as it seems. This book will make you laugh, cry and think “that happened to me”.
It is written in a beautiful way which makes the characters in the book very easy to relate too. I was fortunate enough to receive an advance copy of this book and could not put it down having read it in a weekend. Will definitely be seeking out more books by this author.
August 2, 2016
I was lucky enough to to be given this book to read by TBConFB in return for an honest review. The book is beautifully written and deals with lots of emotions throughout from childhood friendships, growing children, ageing parent, death and new relationships in middle age as well as all the other things that go with life, jobs, exes and day to day life. In all honesty I really enjoyed the book and the only reason it has got four stars and not five is that I could not form any great feelings for any of the characters. Having said that I would recommend it to anyone else who wants a slightly higher brow chick lit read.
July 31, 2016
This would probably a 3.5 star for me, if I could give half stars. The story of a lady in middle age, friendships, lovers, who to trust and who not to, and how circumstances can change relationships for better or worse, but our choices can change things too.
An easy holiday read, but somehow I never felt attached to the main character, or felt I truly understood her. I wonder if it is a story I will come back to reflect on in future though, and I do feel it would do well on screen. With thanks to TBC on FB for the chance to read and review it.
An easy holiday read, but somehow I never felt attached to the main character, or felt I truly understood her. I wonder if it is a story I will come back to reflect on in future though, and I do feel it would do well on screen. With thanks to TBC on FB for the chance to read and review it.
August 11, 2016
This was a really well written book about family, relationships, loss, coping with life and it explored things well but I struggled with at times as I really didn't see where it was going and I didn't like the the oath Esther's character took in the second half of the book. It didn't seem to fit with the Esther we saw in the first half. It covered some tough themes such as euthanasia and dementia.
The writing was wonderful though and the book will stay with me because of that.
Thanks to TBC for a review copy.
The writing was wonderful though and the book will stay with me because of that.
Thanks to TBC for a review copy.
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