A New Map of Love

by Abi Oliver

How can you pack for the journey of a lifetime? George Baxter thought he knew how retirement might look. With his wife Win by his side, the way it had always been. But when Win dies, George is faced with a different kind of future. A future where he's free to create a new life - a life alone. With his loyal dog Monty by his side, George throws himself into his work. His village antiques business is at the heart of the community, and all sorts pass through the doors - in search of their own little piece of history. George becomes increasingly interested in the stories surrounding the antiques - where they are from and who might have owned them. Unbeknowest to George, this will lead him to uncover some mysteries in his own past . . . Maybe there is a chance for a new tomorrow?

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary

352 pages, Paperback

First published April 20, 2017

Reviews

[Monique Mulligan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A New Map of Love by Abi Oliver brings readers an old-fashioned life-in-an-English-village story about George, who leads a predictable but comfortable life until his wife, Win, dies. Life is suddenly a whole lot less predictable but a whole lot more exciting, especially widow Sylvia arrives on the scene with her heaving bosom and fluttering eyelashes. I enjoyed this sweet and cleverly characterised story - at one point I was telling George what I really thought about Sylvia, but he didn't listen! And what I liked was the gentle way George finally experienced his loss before accepting the life he now had.

[Paula Sealey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gentle plot and beautiful writing with lovely observations carry this sweet story about George. Recently bereaved, he is trying to put his life back into some sort of order and along the way encounters women who are set to change his future.

I loved all the characters, conniving Shelia, heart of gold Vera, George himself and even Monty the dog! They were all portrayed so well and village life was described in such a charming way.

A lovely book to lose yourself in for a few hours.

*I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A New Map of Love is a lovely, gentle read following George Baxter as he comes to terms with the death of his wife. They had been married for 26 years but it is only now that she has died that he realises that their marriage had perhaps become rather too comfortable. Although filled with feelings of guilt, he starts to feel that he does not want any more of his life to simply drift by. Most of all he wants to find a soulmate, a true soulmate which he feels his late wife wasn't. There certainly seems to be no shortage of candidates!

George was an endearing character who put me in mind of Rachel Joyce's Harold Fry. He is a decent, hard-working man running his own antiques business and trying to do his best for all his employees. I did get the sense of his being older than he actually was, especially when he referred to his wife as 'old Win'. He was only 56 which these days is nothing and he certainly wouldn't be considered old, but perhaps in the 1960s when this book is set, he would have been considered older. I would say he was a true gentleman but sometimes his thoughts were far from gentlemanly! I would love to have known from Win what she thought of their marriage and whether she had been contented or not but this, of course, was not to be and was something George also wondered about.

It is the characters which made this book so enjoyable for me from George himself, to his wife's friends who he dubs 'the cronies', widowed Sylvia who I couldn't help but wonder if she was all she seemed, pompous Lady Byngh, eager young worker Kevin who got so excited at auctions, wise and dependable Vera as she moved from housekeeper to more valued employee and not forgetting his beagle dog, liquorice-allsort-loving Monty. This varied cast of characters are all portrayed so well and combine to make this book a delightful depiction of small English country life.

Add in some mystery regarding George's past, the hunt for an elusive antique, various women who see George as quite a catch, not a small dash of warm humour and you have all the ingredients for a quietly compelling story. A New Map of Love is a charming and uplifting read.

[Sina & Ilona Glimmerfee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inhalt: Nach 26 Ehejahren sieht sich George Baxter damit konfrontiert Witwer zu sein. Einziger Vertrauter ist sein Bassett Monty, doch dieser kann ihm nicht die Liebe einer Frau ersetzen. Bald beginnt George sich nach ein wenig Glück und Zweisamkeit um zusehen.

Art des Buches: Ein schöner ruhiger Frauenroman, der in den 60er Jahren spielt.

Wie fand ich das Buch? Ich mochte den sympathischen Antiquitätenhändler George Baxter auf Anhieb, auch konnte ich seine Handlungsweisen gut nachvollziehen. Ich mag seinen Sinn für Schönheit, seinen Antiquitätenladen und seine bisweilen anstrengenden und wunderlichen Kunden. Auch seine Angestellten sind durchweg sympathisch, das Setting sehr schön und alles in Allem eine Umgebung, die zum Wohlfühlen einlädt. Ganz nebenbei werden die Probleme der Frauen dieser Zeit auf angenehme Art angesprochen und wie es ist, sich nach so langer Zeit wieder auf Partnersuche zu begeben

Gab es etwas zum Nachdenken und/oder Nachforschen? Ich habe mir bei Google unter anderem Mackintosh Mantel, Porkpie Hut und Schottische Eier angesehen.

3 passende Wörter zum Buch? Wohlfühlroman - Liebe - Basset

Wem empfehlen? Allen Lesern, die ruhige Romane ohne große Action mögen. Ich fand es sehr erholsam mit Monty und George Boot zu fahren und mich einfach wohl zu fühlen.

[Maggie BB · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a charming book, but not exactly a book for me. There was nothing I particularly disliked about it, but nothing that really grabbed me either.

This is very much a character driven book, and Abi Oliver creates a wonderful cast of varied characters. They all have such unique and full personalities - even bit characters who have very little page time come out of the page as real people and you get a immediate sense of who they are. I really like that.

The story is sweet, and real. George Baxter's experiences as he find his way through life after his wife are believable. His marriage wasn't perfect, and he certainly is a flawed individual, and his journey to new happiness hits some bumps along the way... and that is real life. This is a book about life. The people we meet, the experiences we have, and the impact they can have on us if we let them.

I don't really have any complaints about the book, and I think if you are more drawn to charming, understated stories of loss and love that are more light and airy vs dramatic and heavy than you will enjoy this book. The writing is good, and the story flows well and it reads like you could easily believe this to be a true story about real people.

[Justkeepreading · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is very well written. It has some flawed but humane characters that burst out of the page and feel like you know them as soon as you first meet them. It is very light and would be great for people who don’t like to read heavy books. Abi’s observations and circumstances that are written about in this book as all very well thought out and feel very down to earth and believable.

Unfortunately thou the book was just not for me. I felt it was a little hard to like George the main character. Who had been having an affair behind his wife’s back. I also thought that some parts of the book were a little long winded and certain parts seemed to go on for far to long. I also didn’t like some of the characters and felt it difficult to get really into it.

Other than that it was a book for me that was ok. Not great but ok.

[Linda Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Newly widowed George Baxter finds he is somewhat out of practice when it comes to women!

I so enjoyed this lovely book. Abi Oliver has created a world where the rhythms of life, nature and society hark back to a gentler age so that reading A New Map of Love feels like a nostalgic and wistful homecoming.

I thought the settings were wonderful. The 1960s are so well evoked through the musical references and the terrible dilemmas George has in balancing chivalry with emancipation. Vera in particular embodies the new spirit of the age whilst George really doesn’t have a clue which of the many women he encounters following Win’s death can be relied upon or who are genuine. I enjoyed meeting all the people between the pages of A New Map of Love. Yes, there are villains, but they are loveable rogues rather than psychotic murderers of so many books and I was frequently reminded of P. G Wodehouse as I read. I thought George was a triumph. He’s genuine, warm and not a little foolish so that I felt I wanted to protect him as he feels his way to a new life after Win. It makes such a change to read about those not still in their first flush of youth and to have them portrayed as real people who retain emotions and desires.

Abi Oliver has a super writing style so that there is great humour in A New Map of Love. It isn’t hilarious side splitting prose, but there’s a wry and familiar drollness and irony that is infectious and I found myself chuckling frequently. However, what I appreciated most was the attention to detail. The antiques of George’s world are vividly described so that I could picture them incredibly well, but for me it was the natural imagery that helped make A New Map of Love so beguiling. I felt transported back to the landscape of my youth.

If you’re a lover of hard boiled crime thrillers then Abi Oliver’s A New Map of Love is probably not for you. If, like me, you’re looking for a gentle book with loveable characters that will transport you to a more benign and serene era, then you’ll love it.
https://lindasbookbag.com/2018/01/25/...

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was provided an e-arc of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. A New Map of Love is a charming story about a small-town widower connecting with his past and re-discovering love after the death of his wife. Set in 1970's rural England, George is an antiques dealer grieving the loss of his wife, and a marriage that was perhaps more practical than passionate. Now middle-aged, he works to process his conflicted feelings of grief and freedom, manage his business, re-discover his sense of self, and deal once again with the challenges and rituals of courtship.

A bumbling, good-hearted sort to whom women are a bit of a mystery, you can't help but like George, even when he makes terrible decisions. The book is populated with a delightful cast of characters, full of their own quirks and small problems. A stroll through a community on the cusp of significant change, we follow George, his employees, neighbors, and love interests through a year of life with all of its ups and downs. There are some funny moments and some poignant ones as well, all leading to a quite satisfying ending.

However, I will say that even for a slow-paced book, this one dragged at times, getting bogged down in unnecessary detail beyond what was needed to paint a portrait of events. I also took issue with the fact that George's foibles extended to infidelity with a partner who was also married. This was used as an important plot point, portrayed as positive but unsustainable, and I just wasn't on-board with that.

On a better note, I liked how the author discussed the possibility of men being sexually assaulted by women, and not just the other way around. The author also takes a more feminist stance on women's abilities to have successful careers and George is generally supportive of this, although he sometimes struggles with society moving away from more traditional gender roles Overall, this was a sweet story with entertaining characters, despite problems of pacing and a light take on infidelity.

[Karen Mace · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet and gentle paced read following George as he tries to get on with life following the death of his wife. He sees this as an opportunity to grab life and try new adventures but when faced with choices it seems he doesn't really know what he wants and it shows him how much he misses his wife and realises how he may have taken her for granted while she was always around.

With his faithful dog, Monty, by his side there are many humorous observations to be had by the reader as you see him dealing with life on his own -always seemingly surrounded by a number of helpful (!) women who seem only too keen to care for him which he often takes full advantage of.

I didn't connect too well with George as he wasn't the most likeable of characters - at first he seemed almost relived that his wife had died and would blame her for the fact he'd not been more adventurous and missed out on a few things because of her.

It does a great job of showing the minefields of dating when you're older, and the whole process of moving on and becoming too set in your ways to enjoy a change in routine. There was a big twist at the end which came out of nowhere which did add an extra element to the story and I think I would have liked more of that, than him dealing with various women throwing themselves at him! But it still made for an enjoyable read, and I listened to some of the audio version too which was brilliantly read and brought to life.

[Rosalind Bryden · Rating 3 out of 5]

The opening of 'A New Map of Love' sees George Baxter running for the hills rather than meeting and greeting people at his wife's funeral. Although he is lost without Win, when George looks back on his marriage he wonders if he could have been a better husband and whether there really was love in his marriage - or maybe just routine.

George keeps himself busy running his successful antiques business. And he realises that being only in his 50s he has a lot of life still to live. But what will that life look like? When Sylvia comes on the scene and they start to enjoy evenings out together and afternoon picnics on the river, he begins to see a new future ahead... But things turn out to be rather more complicated.

This book is full of great characters, not least George's rather liquorice-loving dog. There were also some very funny scenes: rather than telling his wonderful housekeeper that he doesn't actually like rhubarb pie he hides half of it in the bin and the other half in Monty!

I enjoyed my time with George. I think I saw him as a rather old Lovejoy, especially when dealing with the pompous Lady Byngh whose sideboard turns out to be not quite what she expected. I enjoyed the glorious summer weather and the drives out into the countryside. And good for George for finding joy in a relationship that isn't traditional and for enjoying it a day at a time as it develops.

[Jasmine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was surprised to discover that this book was written by a woman, as it read a bit like a middle-aged male fantasy. As if the [male] writer had written the story using the *pen* down the front of his pants (if you know what I mean). I just couldn't understand why women were throwing themselves at the protagonist, George - some of them two decades his junior - when he seemed to me rather unattractive with his domestic ineptness, his grouchiness, and his very average job. I never quite grew to like George as a main character and I didn't particularly want him to have a good end. I had hoped that he would, instead, experience an epiphany. And, in some ways, I guess the author suggested at that in George's new-found comfort in taking a lover, rather than in finding a wife who would give up her life to support his. I think what turned me against George in the first instance was that he had an affair with his neighbour while his wife was on her sickbed dying, because he had a 'need'. I simply couldn't warm to him after that.

[Leeza Robertson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I need to preface this review by saying that I do not normally read books about white middle age men. Mainly because I don't really relate to them as main characters and this book was no different. I could not get into the MC of this book. I just did not find George relatable at all. But, again, this is a personal thing. The book itself is beautifully written and the supporting cast in this book is wonderful. Kevin, Vera and in the end Elizabeth are wonderful characters. I also liked the inclusion of the Venus and Mars antiques into the thread of the narrative. The antiques and the thrill of finding the separated pair would have actually made a better main story. I will say this, I did find the book far more interesting near the end, but even then, I found it really hard to feel any empathy for George.

All in all, a well-written book with an interesting take on finding love in middle age, just not a book for me.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely book. It’s like a lazy afternoon under the trees or a long bubble bath. It’s set in a small English village, with a mostly lovely cast of characters. While I wasn’t completely enamored with George, he was entertaining. It’s beautifully written, and the author does a good job describing the characters and setting the scenes. My biggest complaint was that on occasion it could get a bit verbose, there could be too much time spent on descriptions or even too much time spent in George’s head. It’s a book that requires you be in a certain mindset. But if you are looking to spend some time just lazing in a hammock, or luxuriating in a bubble bath with a glass of wine, this book could be worth trying out.

I received a copy of this novel via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new map of love
By Abi Oliver

After a long and comfortable marriage to his wife Win, George Baxter has recently become a widower. Now the only companionship that he has is his loyal dog Monty, a stream of Win's well-meaning friends and his successful antiques business.
George meets local widow Sylvia Newsome and quickly becomes besotted with her and begins to see his future as very different as to what it would've been with Win. However, things never turn out the way you expect them to and meeting Sylvia certainly changes many things for George.
A lovely, gently read which would be perfect for fans of 'A man called Ove', 'The Love song of Miss Queenie Hennessey' and 'The Pilgrimage of Harold Fry'.
I will definitely be tempted to read further books by Abi Oliver.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not a literal road novel, as suggested by the cover and a passage near the beginning of the book, but a metaphorical...no, I won't use the 'J-word'! I have read and enjoyed lots of the author's work under her other name. I can see why she wanted to have a fresh start for this one, as it's from a man's point of view whereas she has mainly written about women before. A very tender and 'grown-up' story about a widowed man and his struggles to find love. He finds more than he expected in the end! Very satisfying.

[Susan Aldridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came across this book through a mention in Myslexia, a magazine for women who write that I subscribe to. Listened to on audible while walking around on a mini-break in Ambleside! It's about an antiques dealer looking for love when he becomes widowed after a less than satisfactory marriage. At first I thought this was just a bit 'quaint' and easy reading, but actually it's better than that - very well structured and a very nice portrayal of supporting characters. The background of antique furniture and so on is very well described too. Would recommend as a satisfying read!

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

In February George runs away from the funeral of his wife of over twenty years, by November he finds himself. A New Map of Love is a character driven story about self-discovery in your fifties, loss, new beginnings, making mistakes and learning from them. I can't say that I was smitten with any of the characters, except perhaps George's dog, Monty, but I could certainly relate to them. We all have so much to learn, let's hope we use the time we have to accept who we are and become who we always hoped to be.

[Natasha Ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I started this book I felt it was a bit twee and dated and not really for me. Found it strange that a woman was 53 yet portrayed like an old woman. As the cover was quite contemporary it took me a while to realise book was set in the 60’s/ early 70’s. I found some of the detail too much and a tad boring.

Different era I know but the amount of drink driving George does is amazing.
Whilst it wasn’t a bad book, I felt it was aimed at someone older than me (late 40’s). George was an idiot and I just couldn’t relate to any character.

[Hannah Symonds · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the sound of this book from the blurb so was looking forward to reading it. Not a great deal really happens in the story, George is the main character and after recently been widowed he finds unexpected time on his hands, along with his dog Monty they try and carry on no matter what. Then he meets Sylvia and he sees what his life could be like. It was an ok read, thought provoking and I felt calm reading it. I just felt as though a lot more could of been added to make it more interesting.

[Fee-Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eigentlich fand ich den Klappentext und auch den Schreibstil sehr süß. Lässt sich schön lesen, allerdings hat mich der Hauptcharakter mit seinen Seitensprüngen direkt angekotzt. Es gibt keinen guten Grund seine (kranke und sterbende!) Frau zu begrüßen, ganz egal wie unglücklich die Ehe auch gewesen sein mag. So war das Buch dann eine echte Qual, da ich den Hauptcharakter eben so wahnsinnig unsympathisch fand. Davon mal ab, dass er jede Frau die ihn unter die Augen kommt als üppig und waaaahnsinnig attraktiv beschreibt - gähn.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An antiques dealer in a small village in England, George becomes a widower and feels a sense of starting over. Never experiencing deep passion with his wife, George is anxious to experience more. The minor characters in the book are all appealing and well described. As George meets new people, his horizons expand and his view of what a companion should be evolves. I enjoyed the story, and the quirkiness of the characters. A nice read.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lovey and interesting read. Greatly enjoyed getting to learn more about antiques through George's narrative.

Not without faults but completely enjoyable. Abi Oliver's writing really brings the character of George to life. The story is fleshed out with a whole cast of interesting characters.

[Suzy Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Utterly small village England in the late 1960's - what a quaint place.

Poor old George! He has quite a time of it but muddles through. Filled with extremely staid yet lovable British characters, in what was really very changing times.

I rarely say this, however this book was a delight from start to finish.

Would thoroughly recommend, and very much look forward to more from Abi Oliver

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story with very believable characters and emotions. The charming setting of English village and the beautiful narrative does pure justice to this story. The story is funny and at the same time poignant and uplifting. It was an engaging read.

[David Gill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit slow at first and I might not have continued reading, but as it was a book group read I persevered and I'm glad I did as it turned out to be a delightful book, full of quirky characters and interesting turns of event.

[Nicole]

I loved Vera, Kevin and Elizabeth but wasn't a fan of any of the other characters and often found myself annoyed at them and what was happening. George did go through some character development and by the end I liked him somewhat, but I think this just wasn't my book.

[Jumana · Rating 2 out of 5]

hmm.. I'll keep it short and simple: the characters were quite disjointed and the writing... absolutely unappealing..

I try to diverge from whats become my comfort zone in the book world, and publications like this one throw me back into ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Sophie Elinor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read in just a few days. George is not always likeable, but is very human. And Monty is a character. A very sweet story of bereavement and finding love in later life, in a changing world. Looking forward to another novel by same author.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loveddd this book! Such a nice summer read, lovely characters and a really great story! A really great read.

[GailW · Rating 3 out of 5]

The storyline had some good moments - and then there were parts that dragged on just a bit too much (I mean, seriously, he couldn't see how fake she was??)