What do you think?
Rate this book
What I Didn't Say
'An unforgettable page-turner that will leave you heartbroken... captivating and flawless... will leave you sobbing… grabbed my attention from the start and I could not put it down!’ Goodreads reviewer
If you could wish one thing for your daughter, what would it be?
Jenny lost her beloved mother as a teenager. As a parting gift her mother left a bundle of letters, one for each significant day of Jenny’s future. First date, first broken heart, wedding day, when she becomes a mother…
But now Jenny is in her late twenties, and while at the hospital where she works she helps other women start families every day, she still hasn’t opened the letter for the day she meets the love of her life, let alone the one for having a baby.
And Jenny is still writing back:
I’m sorry I don’t love cycling.
I’m sorry I don’t always dream about you.
I’m sorry the last thing I whispered in your ear was, ‘can I stay up late?’ when it should have been ‘I love you’.
When a case of mistaken identity leads to an unexpected friendship with Helen, a kindly shopkeeper in her fifties, the bond growing between them makes Jenny wonder: she treasures her mother’s words more than anything, but are they keeping her stuck in the past?
Can we ever heal from a loss that cuts so deep? Can Jenny find a way to let go, and start living life to the full, as her mother truly wanted?
An absolutely unforgettable book-club read that will break your heart. If you love Jojo Moyes, Cecelia Ahern and Nancy Thayer you will love this unputdownable page-turner.
If you could wish one thing for your daughter, what would it be?
Jenny lost her beloved mother as a teenager. As a parting gift her mother left a bundle of letters, one for each significant day of Jenny’s future. First date, first broken heart, wedding day, when she becomes a mother…
But now Jenny is in her late twenties, and while at the hospital where she works she helps other women start families every day, she still hasn’t opened the letter for the day she meets the love of her life, let alone the one for having a baby.
And Jenny is still writing back:
I’m sorry I don’t love cycling.
I’m sorry I don’t always dream about you.
I’m sorry the last thing I whispered in your ear was, ‘can I stay up late?’ when it should have been ‘I love you’.
When a case of mistaken identity leads to an unexpected friendship with Helen, a kindly shopkeeper in her fifties, the bond growing between them makes Jenny wonder: she treasures her mother’s words more than anything, but are they keeping her stuck in the past?
Can we ever heal from a loss that cuts so deep? Can Jenny find a way to let go, and start living life to the full, as her mother truly wanted?
An absolutely unforgettable book-club read that will break your heart. If you love Jojo Moyes, Cecelia Ahern and Nancy Thayer you will love this unputdownable page-turner.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 30, 2018
375 people are currently reading
408 people want to read
About the author
Jade Beer
4 books175 followersHello, The Palace Dressmaker (or The Memory Dress as it is known in the USA) may be my most glamorous novel yet. Its opening scene takes place at Christie’s auction house in New York in 1997 during the sale of Princess Diana’s dresses. Eighty dresses were listed to sell that evening but only 79 did. One of them is missing and it is what happened to this missing dress that is the central mystery of my novel and the love story that unfolds over thirty years across its pages. I hope you will enjoy the tour through some of the most famous dresses in Diana’s wardrobe. I certainly enjoyed retracing where some of these incredible gowns were worn in order to write this story.
As for me, after decades working in glossy magazines in London, I now live in the beautiful English town of Cheltenham with my two daughters and my husband. It’s where we used to spend romantic weekends plotting our future together, long before the girls came along, and is now where I write my books.
Women have always fascinated me. I think it comes from seeing first-hand how truly brilliant we can be and how wonderfully flawed. I've been lucky enough to work with some incredibly talented women throughout my career as a journalist and editor - ones who juggle the most all-encompassing careers with family and friendships and everything else that life throws at them. It’s why women of all ages and the friendships they form always feature largely in my books.
The need to present one version of yourself to the world, while keeping the grittier, less polished reality under wraps, is a thread that runs strongly through my novels too. In my former job as the editor of Conde Nast Brides, I shared my working life with editors of some of the glossiest magazines in the world - Vogue, Tatler, Glamour - and I had the enormous privilege of travelling the world and sitting front row at beautiful fashion shows and working with the world's leading florists, cake makers and stylists. But I also took a daily peek into the lives of young women who were experiencing one of the most intense times of their lives - planning their wedding days. This, above everything else, was the fascinating bit. Hearing their thoughts, fears, worries and ambitions for the future. This really powerful cocktail of glamour and reality is there, I hope, on the pages of all my books.
Take a peek inside my life on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jadebeerbri... or at https://jadebeer.com/
As for me, after decades working in glossy magazines in London, I now live in the beautiful English town of Cheltenham with my two daughters and my husband. It’s where we used to spend romantic weekends plotting our future together, long before the girls came along, and is now where I write my books.
Women have always fascinated me. I think it comes from seeing first-hand how truly brilliant we can be and how wonderfully flawed. I've been lucky enough to work with some incredibly talented women throughout my career as a journalist and editor - ones who juggle the most all-encompassing careers with family and friendships and everything else that life throws at them. It’s why women of all ages and the friendships they form always feature largely in my books.
The need to present one version of yourself to the world, while keeping the grittier, less polished reality under wraps, is a thread that runs strongly through my novels too. In my former job as the editor of Conde Nast Brides, I shared my working life with editors of some of the glossiest magazines in the world - Vogue, Tatler, Glamour - and I had the enormous privilege of travelling the world and sitting front row at beautiful fashion shows and working with the world's leading florists, cake makers and stylists. But I also took a daily peek into the lives of young women who were experiencing one of the most intense times of their lives - planning their wedding days. This, above everything else, was the fascinating bit. Hearing their thoughts, fears, worries and ambitions for the future. This really powerful cocktail of glamour and reality is there, I hope, on the pages of all my books.
Take a peek inside my life on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jadebeerbri... or at https://jadebeer.com/
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
November 3, 2018
A festive and beautiful story filled with wedding bells and Christmas trees....
I absolutely loved Jade Beer’s first novel “The Almost Wife”.... so I was so delighted to see that this book featured some of the characters I had grown to adore in that book, Helen the owner of the wedding boutique and her daughter Betsy... Helen was an absolute stand out in the previous book, and she definitely did not disappoint in this one! She is The mother everyone deserves, and the mother who is not completely appreciated by her own daughter....
The blurb for this book is a bit missleading, the focus is not solely on Jenny but also on Helen, her daughter Betsy, and Nat... all these women bring something wonderful and different to the story... Helen brings her heart, Jenny brings her vulnerability, Betsy brings her confusion, and Nat brings her sass.... and what we get is a lovely and engaging read filled with romance, friendship, and laughter! You will cry for these girls... you will laugh with these girls... you will roll your eyes at these girls... you will want to reach through the pages and hug these girls... and by the end of this book you will adore each and every one of them!
Jade Beer paints this delightful story about women for women.... what I love so much is on the surface this appears to be about weddings, wedding dresses, wedding drama, etc. etc. etc. but at its heart this book is about women and how strong they are, and how smart they are, and how amazing the bond is between them.... just like a woman this book is pretty and soft on the outside, but on the inside it is fierce! A ferocious story in a fluffy package!
Absolutely recommend to anyone who is a fan of women’s fiction, this is an author not to miss!
*** A huge thank you to Bookouture for my copy ***
I absolutely loved Jade Beer’s first novel “The Almost Wife”.... so I was so delighted to see that this book featured some of the characters I had grown to adore in that book, Helen the owner of the wedding boutique and her daughter Betsy... Helen was an absolute stand out in the previous book, and she definitely did not disappoint in this one! She is The mother everyone deserves, and the mother who is not completely appreciated by her own daughter....
The blurb for this book is a bit missleading, the focus is not solely on Jenny but also on Helen, her daughter Betsy, and Nat... all these women bring something wonderful and different to the story... Helen brings her heart, Jenny brings her vulnerability, Betsy brings her confusion, and Nat brings her sass.... and what we get is a lovely and engaging read filled with romance, friendship, and laughter! You will cry for these girls... you will laugh with these girls... you will roll your eyes at these girls... you will want to reach through the pages and hug these girls... and by the end of this book you will adore each and every one of them!
Jade Beer paints this delightful story about women for women.... what I love so much is on the surface this appears to be about weddings, wedding dresses, wedding drama, etc. etc. etc. but at its heart this book is about women and how strong they are, and how smart they are, and how amazing the bond is between them.... just like a woman this book is pretty and soft on the outside, but on the inside it is fierce! A ferocious story in a fluffy package!
Absolutely recommend to anyone who is a fan of women’s fiction, this is an author not to miss!
*** A huge thank you to Bookouture for my copy ***
January 5, 2019
Heartwarming, touching, & delightful!
This was my first book that I have read by JADE BEER and will definitely not be my last. I hope to read her first book sometime some, The Almost Wife!
I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this book and what an absolutely lovely read it was. Normally I would read the authors previous books beforehand because without realizing that this one features some of the same characters that were in her first book sort of makes me feel a little sad that I didn’t get to know them sooner. Well not in this case though as I didn’t realize that and this one can definitely be read as a stand-alone. It does make me even more excited to read The Almost Wife now though.
WHAT I DIDN'T SAY (Promise Me) by JADE BEER is a captivating, touching and beautiful read that I was immediately drawn into and had me emotionally interested in all of these ladies lives right to the very end. It took me on an emotional journey that I absolutely loved which was filled with some tears of happiness and sadness.
JADE BEER delivers an engaging and beautifully written story here that was filled with lovely characters, an interesting setting, and a heartfelt storyline. I enjoyed each of these ladies individual stories equally and they complimented each other so well. I absolutely loved how their stories connected in the end. I definitely wanted all of these ladies to have their happy ending.
There were plenty of moments throughout that had me laughing, cheering, smiling, and feeling such admiration and love for this book.
Norma’s Stats:
Cover: That lovely cover definitely caught my eye and definitely allured me into requesting and reading this book.
Title: The cover and title fit so well together. They are both extremely fitting and an excellent representation to storyline.
Writing/Prose: Well-written, fluid, beautiful and engaging.
Plot: Engrossing, interesting, heartwarming, gratifying, perfectly-paced, and entertaining.
Ending: Completely satisfying, pleasing & gratifying!
Overall: This was an all around fabulous feel good story that left me feeling contented and completely satisfied! Would recommend!
*Traveling Sisters Read with Brenda & Lindsay*
Thank you so much to Bookouture, NetGalley & Jade Beer for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review!
Blog Blitz reviews can also be found on Two Sisters Lost in a Coulee Reading:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/2...
This was my first book that I have read by JADE BEER and will definitely not be my last. I hope to read her first book sometime some, The Almost Wife!
I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this book and what an absolutely lovely read it was. Normally I would read the authors previous books beforehand because without realizing that this one features some of the same characters that were in her first book sort of makes me feel a little sad that I didn’t get to know them sooner. Well not in this case though as I didn’t realize that and this one can definitely be read as a stand-alone. It does make me even more excited to read The Almost Wife now though.
WHAT I DIDN'T SAY (Promise Me) by JADE BEER is a captivating, touching and beautiful read that I was immediately drawn into and had me emotionally interested in all of these ladies lives right to the very end. It took me on an emotional journey that I absolutely loved which was filled with some tears of happiness and sadness.
JADE BEER delivers an engaging and beautifully written story here that was filled with lovely characters, an interesting setting, and a heartfelt storyline. I enjoyed each of these ladies individual stories equally and they complimented each other so well. I absolutely loved how their stories connected in the end. I definitely wanted all of these ladies to have their happy ending.
There were plenty of moments throughout that had me laughing, cheering, smiling, and feeling such admiration and love for this book.
Norma’s Stats:
Cover: That lovely cover definitely caught my eye and definitely allured me into requesting and reading this book.
Title: The cover and title fit so well together. They are both extremely fitting and an excellent representation to storyline.
Writing/Prose: Well-written, fluid, beautiful and engaging.
Plot: Engrossing, interesting, heartwarming, gratifying, perfectly-paced, and entertaining.
Ending: Completely satisfying, pleasing & gratifying!
Overall: This was an all around fabulous feel good story that left me feeling contented and completely satisfied! Would recommend!
*Traveling Sisters Read with Brenda & Lindsay*
Thank you so much to Bookouture, NetGalley & Jade Beer for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review!
Blog Blitz reviews can also be found on Two Sisters Lost in a Coulee Reading:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/2...
November 1, 2018
Promise Me is not my normal type of read. I do like to step out of my normal reads for a change of pace and Promise Me was just that change of pace that I needed.
Promise Me is a tender and emotional story that explores four very different women through their own emotional journeys. Their lives become intertwined as each woman is somehow involved in weddings.
Jade Beer does a great job exploring the emotions of the four women in this story. Each has different conflicts and relationships that are explored. I loved the dynamics between the characters and I was drawn into each of their storylines.
There is a lot of drama going on here. Sometimes this can cause a story to be weighted down for me however I thought the drama here was needed to move the story forward. I loved the ending and thought it all wrapped up so well for a satisfying ending. I recommend for a light yet emotionally satisfying reading experience.
Thank you so much to Bookouture, NetGalley & Jade Beer for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review!
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/2...
Promise Me is a tender and emotional story that explores four very different women through their own emotional journeys. Their lives become intertwined as each woman is somehow involved in weddings.
Jade Beer does a great job exploring the emotions of the four women in this story. Each has different conflicts and relationships that are explored. I loved the dynamics between the characters and I was drawn into each of their storylines.
There is a lot of drama going on here. Sometimes this can cause a story to be weighted down for me however I thought the drama here was needed to move the story forward. I loved the ending and thought it all wrapped up so well for a satisfying ending. I recommend for a light yet emotionally satisfying reading experience.
Thank you so much to Bookouture, NetGalley & Jade Beer for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review!
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/2...
November 7, 2018
3.5 stars.
An emotional, charming and lighthearted romp with a touch of romance. Not my usual genre of choice, but extremely refreshing to branch out and try something different.
This novel revolves around four women who are each at a turning point in their lives. Jenny, Nat, Betsy and Helen are four independent, hard-working women who each face a life decision/struggle that they are challenged by. Their lives intertwine and intersect in surprising ways that lead them toward figuring out their path toward true happiness.
My favourite part of this novel was the letters from Jenny’s mom who passed away when Jenny was sixteen. Before cancer took Jenny’s mother, she wrote several letters to Jenny with notes on the envelopes explaining when she wanted her to open and read them. These were extremely emotional thoughts and reflections from mother to daughter that I found deeply touching.
While I enjoyed branching out and exploring a different genre, I also felt reminded of why I don’t often read lighthearted chick-lit. A little too much drama and predictability for me.
This was a Traveling Sister read with Norma and Brenda. It was a great change of pace book for us and made for a fun discussion. To find this review, along with the other Traveling Sister reviews, please visit our blog at :
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/2...
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Jade Beer for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Promise Me is available now!
An emotional, charming and lighthearted romp with a touch of romance. Not my usual genre of choice, but extremely refreshing to branch out and try something different.
This novel revolves around four women who are each at a turning point in their lives. Jenny, Nat, Betsy and Helen are four independent, hard-working women who each face a life decision/struggle that they are challenged by. Their lives intertwine and intersect in surprising ways that lead them toward figuring out their path toward true happiness.
My favourite part of this novel was the letters from Jenny’s mom who passed away when Jenny was sixteen. Before cancer took Jenny’s mother, she wrote several letters to Jenny with notes on the envelopes explaining when she wanted her to open and read them. These were extremely emotional thoughts and reflections from mother to daughter that I found deeply touching.
While I enjoyed branching out and exploring a different genre, I also felt reminded of why I don’t often read lighthearted chick-lit. A little too much drama and predictability for me.
This was a Traveling Sister read with Norma and Brenda. It was a great change of pace book for us and made for a fun discussion. To find this review, along with the other Traveling Sister reviews, please visit our blog at :
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/2...
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Jade Beer for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Promise Me is available now!
November 1, 2018
Jenny is only sixteen years old when her mom passes away and still to this day, twelve years later, she is devastated by her loss. She often wonders if she is the daughter her mother would be proud of. Her mom left her a series of letters to open up on monumental occasions such as First Kiss, First Heartbreak, and Graduation Day and we get to experience some of these letters through Jenny’s eyes. Jenny mom made her promise that she would live her life to the fullest even if she has to do it without her mom.
Jenny often struggles with her job as a midwife. She loves bringing in babies into this world, but she often wonders if she will ever get the chance to be a mom one day. This brings her to tears and makes her ache for her mother even more. When she is mistaken for a bride to be by Helen, owner of a bridal boutique, Jenny goes along with it, even though she knows she shouldn’t. But, could this chance meeting with Helen open up a whole new world for Jenny?
Jenny is not the only woman in this story. We have Helen who is still reeling over the death of her husband and her daughter Betsy who is engaged and dragging her feet over her upcoming nuptials. Last, but not least is Natalie. Natalie has been a bridesmaid fifteen times. She has her own ideas of marriage and is often questioning herself about her job of choice.
When each of the women collide with one another centered around this wedding boutique, can these ladies find the courage to embrace life, live in the moment and love each other unconditionally?
Promise Me by Jade Beer is everything a great story should be. It will pull every emotion out of you from sadness to laughter as you delve deep into each of the women’s lives and at times even feel some sort of connection to each of them. Beer has easily written real women with real life issues that anyone can relate to in some way. I especially love the letters from Jenny’s mom. They were so sentimental and heartfelt and made me think of my own mom and the special relationship that we share. I found myself teary eyed as I read through the letters and if a story can pull that emotion out of me, then it deserves a spot on my keeper shelf. Beer easily pulls you right in and does not let go until the last page is read and that is when I found myself wishing there was more because I did not want to let these women go. What a beautiful, moving and touching story.
Promise Me delivers a heartwarming and emotional story that is sure to make you laugh and cry and hope that the story never ends. I connected with each of these women and found myself rooting for them even when life has them down. Have a box of tissues ready because the tears will come…..a lot. I do not think this book can have been any more perfect! Jade Beer definitely has a new fan! I cannot recommend this book highly enough and it is well deserving of five stars.
Jenny often struggles with her job as a midwife. She loves bringing in babies into this world, but she often wonders if she will ever get the chance to be a mom one day. This brings her to tears and makes her ache for her mother even more. When she is mistaken for a bride to be by Helen, owner of a bridal boutique, Jenny goes along with it, even though she knows she shouldn’t. But, could this chance meeting with Helen open up a whole new world for Jenny?
Jenny is not the only woman in this story. We have Helen who is still reeling over the death of her husband and her daughter Betsy who is engaged and dragging her feet over her upcoming nuptials. Last, but not least is Natalie. Natalie has been a bridesmaid fifteen times. She has her own ideas of marriage and is often questioning herself about her job of choice.
When each of the women collide with one another centered around this wedding boutique, can these ladies find the courage to embrace life, live in the moment and love each other unconditionally?
Promise Me by Jade Beer is everything a great story should be. It will pull every emotion out of you from sadness to laughter as you delve deep into each of the women’s lives and at times even feel some sort of connection to each of them. Beer has easily written real women with real life issues that anyone can relate to in some way. I especially love the letters from Jenny’s mom. They were so sentimental and heartfelt and made me think of my own mom and the special relationship that we share. I found myself teary eyed as I read through the letters and if a story can pull that emotion out of me, then it deserves a spot on my keeper shelf. Beer easily pulls you right in and does not let go until the last page is read and that is when I found myself wishing there was more because I did not want to let these women go. What a beautiful, moving and touching story.
Promise Me delivers a heartwarming and emotional story that is sure to make you laugh and cry and hope that the story never ends. I connected with each of these women and found myself rooting for them even when life has them down. Have a box of tissues ready because the tears will come…..a lot. I do not think this book can have been any more perfect! Jade Beer definitely has a new fan! I cannot recommend this book highly enough and it is well deserving of five stars.
October 31, 2018
This book whisked me away to the frothy world of weddings, fabulous designer wedding dresses and all the excitement and stress of wedding planning. Full of wedding tensions, but not from the usual angles, this was a book that was very easy to relate to.
The characters were an entertaining mix, ranging from motherly characters that I want to adopt me, to a lonely want-to-be-bride that I wanted to both hug and slap. I ran the full gauntlet of emotions with them, laughing some big dirty laughs and then sadly sniffling my way through the pages. It both broke and then mended my heart.
One thing I really loved was that it wasn’t the story I was expecting. I felt maybe the letters theme was a bit overdone, but this played on the concept that what if you hadn’t met the traditional milestones that your mother might have expected. That felt very realistic and also very touching.
If you like poignant books, eclectic characters to care about, heady romances and a twist of humour then you might just love this book too.
Recommended to fans of Sheila O’Flanagan, Claudia Carroll and JoJo Moyes.
The characters were an entertaining mix, ranging from motherly characters that I want to adopt me, to a lonely want-to-be-bride that I wanted to both hug and slap. I ran the full gauntlet of emotions with them, laughing some big dirty laughs and then sadly sniffling my way through the pages. It both broke and then mended my heart.
One thing I really loved was that it wasn’t the story I was expecting. I felt maybe the letters theme was a bit overdone, but this played on the concept that what if you hadn’t met the traditional milestones that your mother might have expected. That felt very realistic and also very touching.
If you like poignant books, eclectic characters to care about, heady romances and a twist of humour then you might just love this book too.
Recommended to fans of Sheila O’Flanagan, Claudia Carroll and JoJo Moyes.
December 9, 2018
The story alternates between four women, Jenny, Nat, Helen and her daughter Betsy. I was very intrigued to see how these four women were going to be connected. Let’s just say that by the end I was a sobbing mess wearing a stupid big grin on my face.
Without a doubt, the hardest parts to read in this book were the chapters to do with Jenny. Mainly due to the letters her mum has written her before she died. I could feel myself filling up every time Jenny was reading one of them and I just couldn’t imagine how hard it was for her not having her mum around to talk to and share special moments with. I didn’t envy Jenny with her very weird flat mate of which, no way could I have ever shared anything with her!
Helen has to be one of my favourite characters in the story. She is very much a mother figure and just oozed comfort and compassion. She also has a lot of things going on in her life that she is trying to deal with yet she still finds time to befriend Nat and Jenny.
This story is all about relationships as well as dealing with personal struggles that we might be going through. You can’t help but get wrapped up in all of the four women’s lives and feel everything that they are. I think that’s why the end of the story got to me as much as it did, as these women were more than just characters and I had grown to care deeply about them.
What I Didn’t Say is a compelling read that had me on a roller coaster of a ride sending my emotions all over the place. It really is wonderfully written and whether you are a mother or daughter, it will make you think about your own relationship that you have with that person. Definitely a book to be cherished.
Without a doubt, the hardest parts to read in this book were the chapters to do with Jenny. Mainly due to the letters her mum has written her before she died. I could feel myself filling up every time Jenny was reading one of them and I just couldn’t imagine how hard it was for her not having her mum around to talk to and share special moments with. I didn’t envy Jenny with her very weird flat mate of which, no way could I have ever shared anything with her!
Helen has to be one of my favourite characters in the story. She is very much a mother figure and just oozed comfort and compassion. She also has a lot of things going on in her life that she is trying to deal with yet she still finds time to befriend Nat and Jenny.
This story is all about relationships as well as dealing with personal struggles that we might be going through. You can’t help but get wrapped up in all of the four women’s lives and feel everything that they are. I think that’s why the end of the story got to me as much as it did, as these women were more than just characters and I had grown to care deeply about them.
What I Didn’t Say is a compelling read that had me on a roller coaster of a ride sending my emotions all over the place. It really is wonderfully written and whether you are a mother or daughter, it will make you think about your own relationship that you have with that person. Definitely a book to be cherished.
October 30, 2018
First of all, I fell head over heals in love with this cover. I just had to read it and I was pleasantly surprised to meet up with a few characters from the previous book (The almost wife). If you have not read that one, I can highly recommand it, by the way, but back to this book.
The author takes us back to the world of weddings, to lovely brides and bridezillas, to wedding parties that run smoothly and others not so. It's about people finding love, others craving love so much they invent their own love story and people realizing their old love has died and new adventures are beckoning.
Love can overwhelm you, love can let you down, love can sweep you off your feet, love can turn into something less nice, but we all need it, don't we? It exists in so many different kinds that however deep you have fallen or been let down, there is always someone to pick you up and have your back.
Books can make me emotional, without a doubt, but not many can really bring tears to my eyes. Those by Jade Beer do it every single time.
This story is a mix of laughter and sadness, love and dislike, lies and promises. It's a kaleidoscope of feelings in stead of colours. 5 stars.
Thank you, Jade Beer, Bookouture and Netgalley.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
The author takes us back to the world of weddings, to lovely brides and bridezillas, to wedding parties that run smoothly and others not so. It's about people finding love, others craving love so much they invent their own love story and people realizing their old love has died and new adventures are beckoning.
Love can overwhelm you, love can let you down, love can sweep you off your feet, love can turn into something less nice, but we all need it, don't we? It exists in so many different kinds that however deep you have fallen or been let down, there is always someone to pick you up and have your back.
Books can make me emotional, without a doubt, but not many can really bring tears to my eyes. Those by Jade Beer do it every single time.
This story is a mix of laughter and sadness, love and dislike, lies and promises. It's a kaleidoscope of feelings in stead of colours. 5 stars.
Thank you, Jade Beer, Bookouture and Netgalley.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
December 30, 2018
One of my favorite characters Helen, owner of the wedding dress shop, is back in Jade Beer's second book. Jade's stories have beautiful well developed women whose lives get intersected in this wedding store.
In this book too, we got to see the lives of Jenny, Betsy, Nat and Helen. Each painted this story with a different color. Helen was calm and kind, Betsy was brash and confused, Nat was bold as straight, and Jenny was the sweetest. The letters written by her mother before she passed away were the most heart touching.
It was fun to read the different equations come to play between these women. There were a lot of emotions which this book evoked but the one that remained in my mind was the strength in all of these women, which Jade brought out beautifully with her words. I was more emotionally invested in this book than her previous one as this story saw me laughing and smiling and surreptitiously crying too.
Overall, I enjoyed this fast entertaining emotional read.
In this book too, we got to see the lives of Jenny, Betsy, Nat and Helen. Each painted this story with a different color. Helen was calm and kind, Betsy was brash and confused, Nat was bold as straight, and Jenny was the sweetest. The letters written by her mother before she passed away were the most heart touching.
It was fun to read the different equations come to play between these women. There were a lot of emotions which this book evoked but the one that remained in my mind was the strength in all of these women, which Jade brought out beautifully with her words. I was more emotionally invested in this book than her previous one as this story saw me laughing and smiling and surreptitiously crying too.
Overall, I enjoyed this fast entertaining emotional read.
January 2, 2024
It’s not everyday that I come across a book that stops me in my tracks and leaves me speechless. This beautiful book did exactly that.
I absolutely adored this book. It really is heartwarming. When I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about it.
I loved all the characters in this book, they are very different to each other but all tied to the bridal boutique, The White Gallery.
Helen, who owns the boutique helps many women find the perfect dress for their perfect day, but can she open her heart to love?
Nat, a professional bridesmaid, seems to have her work cut out, many women wanting different things from their weddings and some that aren’t worth considering, in my book anyway! Does she have it in her to take a step down and focus on herself?
Betsy, she is the one I felt connected to the most throughout my reading journey, with her complicated love life, who will she choose?
Jenny, is another one I felt a deep connection to. Losing her mother when she was just sixteen was devastating, but her mother leaves her a bundle of letters, one for every occasion, ‘you’re engaged’ etc… which prompts Jenny to make some drastic decisions. Will Jenny tell the truth?
Jade Beer expertly delivers this book with such a heartfelt sincerity that really shines through to the reader.
Definitely a book that will stay with me and one I won’t stop bragging about!
I absolutely adored this book. It really is heartwarming. When I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about it.
I loved all the characters in this book, they are very different to each other but all tied to the bridal boutique, The White Gallery.
Helen, who owns the boutique helps many women find the perfect dress for their perfect day, but can she open her heart to love?
Nat, a professional bridesmaid, seems to have her work cut out, many women wanting different things from their weddings and some that aren’t worth considering, in my book anyway! Does she have it in her to take a step down and focus on herself?
Betsy, she is the one I felt connected to the most throughout my reading journey, with her complicated love life, who will she choose?
Jenny, is another one I felt a deep connection to. Losing her mother when she was just sixteen was devastating, but her mother leaves her a bundle of letters, one for every occasion, ‘you’re engaged’ etc… which prompts Jenny to make some drastic decisions. Will Jenny tell the truth?
Jade Beer expertly delivers this book with such a heartfelt sincerity that really shines through to the reader.
Definitely a book that will stay with me and one I won’t stop bragging about!
November 16, 2018
All reviews can be found on my blog at https://thewritinggarnet.wordpress.com
As a major cover lover, can I just say how absolutely STUNNING this cover is?!?! Wow! Simplistic yet so mesmerising. I love it!
So, Jade Beer unintentionally set the bar incredibly high for herself with her debut novel, ‘The Almost Wife’, and I had everything crossed that she would blow me away a second time.
Did she?
Well, with a storyline that centres around multiple women and their own individual heartbreak, heartache, and general uncertainty where both romantic and family relationships are concerned, I can safely say that Jade Beer blew me away in a completely different way than before.
For me personally, Jenny’s story was the one which tugged on the heart strings more than the others due to the mother-daughter relationship. My little girl is far too little to think of marrying anyone except Mr Tumble or Olly Murs, but the whole ‘if you could wish one thing for your daughter, what would it be?’, sent my emotions into a frenzy. Being truthful with your own emotions is a lot harder than pretending, and I think that the way Jenny handled her situation will no doubt resonate with a lot of readers in various ways.
Jenny’s story isn’t the only one in this book, and I loved how different each one was as it highlighted so many different emotions and outlooks on life, being the voice of reason for many readers young and old. Whilst I didn’t agree with Betsy’s choices, I had to remind myself; ‘who am I to judge?’. Hell, who are any of us to judge? Yes, all the ladies in this book have made decisions that are guaranteed to raise a few eyebrows, but how can anyone sit there and judge a situation that they only know a snippet of?
‘Promise Me’ is a tender, enchanting read which rugs on the heart strings left, right and center. Jade Beer has once again showcased her beautiful, beautiful way of story telling and I have to say that she has done every one of her characters proud. An enchanting, escapism of a read where romance has its time in the spotlight, just like a bride on her wedding day.
As a major cover lover, can I just say how absolutely STUNNING this cover is?!?! Wow! Simplistic yet so mesmerising. I love it!
So, Jade Beer unintentionally set the bar incredibly high for herself with her debut novel, ‘The Almost Wife’, and I had everything crossed that she would blow me away a second time.
Did she?
Well, with a storyline that centres around multiple women and their own individual heartbreak, heartache, and general uncertainty where both romantic and family relationships are concerned, I can safely say that Jade Beer blew me away in a completely different way than before.
For me personally, Jenny’s story was the one which tugged on the heart strings more than the others due to the mother-daughter relationship. My little girl is far too little to think of marrying anyone except Mr Tumble or Olly Murs, but the whole ‘if you could wish one thing for your daughter, what would it be?’, sent my emotions into a frenzy. Being truthful with your own emotions is a lot harder than pretending, and I think that the way Jenny handled her situation will no doubt resonate with a lot of readers in various ways.
Jenny’s story isn’t the only one in this book, and I loved how different each one was as it highlighted so many different emotions and outlooks on life, being the voice of reason for many readers young and old. Whilst I didn’t agree with Betsy’s choices, I had to remind myself; ‘who am I to judge?’. Hell, who are any of us to judge? Yes, all the ladies in this book have made decisions that are guaranteed to raise a few eyebrows, but how can anyone sit there and judge a situation that they only know a snippet of?
‘Promise Me’ is a tender, enchanting read which rugs on the heart strings left, right and center. Jade Beer has once again showcased her beautiful, beautiful way of story telling and I have to say that she has done every one of her characters proud. An enchanting, escapism of a read where romance has its time in the spotlight, just like a bride on her wedding day.
October 22, 2018
This is my first read by Jade Beer. I was pleasantly surprised by this read and how Jade Beer can take multiple characters and weave them into one story that all connects together. We are thrown into the world of wedding planning, picking out dresses, and even fake Bridesmaids. Even though you are following multiple main characters, this story was easy to follow and was well planned out.
Jenny lost her mother as a teenager and was devastated, as you can imagine. Her mom left her a stack of letters to read on certain special days. Jenny longs for her mom so much that she ends up reading some of them even though that special day has not arrived yet. Will Jenny be able to live up to her mom's expectations for her life? Once day when Jenny is passing by a wedding dress store, she is caught by the worker, daydreaming about what she might look like in one of those gorgeous dresses. When the owner, Helen, tells Jenny to come in and she will help her find that perfect dress, Jenny is left to think of a story to tell her so that she won't think that she isn't planning a wedding for herself. So, the lies begin.
We also meet Betsy, Helen's daughter, and find out that she is planning a wedding. With Helen owning a wedding dress store, it should be a fun time for them planning out Betsy's wedding day. Helen has plenty of experience with all of this. The only thing is that Betsy is not being totally honest with her mom and secrets begin to be revealed.
While Betsy and Helen are still getting over the loss of their husband and dad, we find that Helen has pretty much had a secret admirer for awhile that she never even realized. With this, we get another couple that is falling in love. Is Helen ready to move on though and how will all this play out with Betsy supposedly planning a wedding as well?
You will fall in love with all these characters and long for more of them when the book ends. I couldn't out this one down until I was done. I was reading every chance I got because I was so caught up in these ladies lives. Jade Beer definitely got my attention from the very beginning until the very end. Such a great read!
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Jenny lost her mother as a teenager and was devastated, as you can imagine. Her mom left her a stack of letters to read on certain special days. Jenny longs for her mom so much that she ends up reading some of them even though that special day has not arrived yet. Will Jenny be able to live up to her mom's expectations for her life? Once day when Jenny is passing by a wedding dress store, she is caught by the worker, daydreaming about what she might look like in one of those gorgeous dresses. When the owner, Helen, tells Jenny to come in and she will help her find that perfect dress, Jenny is left to think of a story to tell her so that she won't think that she isn't planning a wedding for herself. So, the lies begin.
We also meet Betsy, Helen's daughter, and find out that she is planning a wedding. With Helen owning a wedding dress store, it should be a fun time for them planning out Betsy's wedding day. Helen has plenty of experience with all of this. The only thing is that Betsy is not being totally honest with her mom and secrets begin to be revealed.
While Betsy and Helen are still getting over the loss of their husband and dad, we find that Helen has pretty much had a secret admirer for awhile that she never even realized. With this, we get another couple that is falling in love. Is Helen ready to move on though and how will all this play out with Betsy supposedly planning a wedding as well?
You will fall in love with all these characters and long for more of them when the book ends. I couldn't out this one down until I was done. I was reading every chance I got because I was so caught up in these ladies lives. Jade Beer definitely got my attention from the very beginning until the very end. Such a great read!
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
November 13, 2018
This was a sweet story about four women whose lives become interconnected through a series of events centering around Helen and her bridal gallery. Each of the women has flaws and a complicated life but each manages to find her own happiness by the end. Some of it is tearful as we see relationship breakups and newly-formed relationships but each must make peace with her own life. Now I am on the Beer's debut novel, The Almost Wife as it features Helen, the most likable of characters.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
October 21, 2019
What I Didn't Say, was your traditional heartwarming, light hearted, tear jerker that really showcased four fantastic female characters. Each women's stories are told in dual timelines and you get to see how they are all connected in one way or another. I liked how the author did this and i was only sad to see that there is a first novel and i didn't realise until i'd finished this one!
Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 11, 2018
This was a different read for me from my usual murder, mystery and psychological thrillers, but one which I thoroughly enjoyed. This is a book that follows the story of four women Helen, Betsy, Nat and Jenny, about the changes that are going to happen to their lives as they prepare for Christmas. They are all brought together through the ‘The White Gallery’ and all have different stories to tell. This book evokes all kinds of emotions, you will need plenty of tissues at hand. It is a book with a very emotional storyline, I loved all the characters and the feel good feeling it left me with. A lovely read!
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
November 27, 2018
I read Almost Wife by Jade Beer a few months ago and absolutely loved it. It broke my heart and was a beautiful story that I can’t stop thinking about. I couldn’t wait to read Jade Beer’s next title, Promise Me.
I was delighted to reconnect with my favorite character from the first book, Helen. She has a shop selling wedding gowns but Helen isn’t just a regular gown seller. She forms bonds with the brides-to-be and her store is usually an open place where a lot of sharing occurs. Her daughter, Betsy is also back. This time around, she is planning her own wedding but something isn’t quite right. The story also introduces readers to other new characters, Jenny and Nat.
The story is narrated by the 4 women. Like in the last book, weddings are a prominent theme in this story. However, it isn’t all rings and roses. The author delves into very deep themes. The mother-daughter relationship as portrayed by Helen, Beth and Jenny was uplifting, heartbreaking, quite realistic. There was the theme of grief as portrayed by Jenny and this one had me fighting back tears. I can’t imagine what Jenny was experiencing, having to go through the most important moments in her life without her mom. I love my mom dearly. She is the person that I am closest to and we have been through a lot together. This made me sympathize with Jenny whose mom was no longer around. We also get to see Nat take the journey of self-discovery as the story progresses.
There is a lot to unpack through these women’s journeys. One thing that I can say for certain is that the themes are realistically portrayed. I could identify with each of the women. This story took me on a personal journey. It made me think about my own wedding plans and the relationships that I have. Interestingly, it also made me reconsider some of the decisions that I had already made. For instance; I thought I had found my gown already but I now realize that I shouldn’t just settle for whatever. Getting married is a big deal and like the brides in this story, I want to experience that joy and aha moment when you get the right gown. What I really need now is a Helen!
Promise Me by Jade Beer is a beautiful, poignant, thought-provoking story. It will make you smile, cry and perhaps have some self-reflection. I am so glad that I had the opportunity to read this gem and can’t recommend it enough.
I was delighted to reconnect with my favorite character from the first book, Helen. She has a shop selling wedding gowns but Helen isn’t just a regular gown seller. She forms bonds with the brides-to-be and her store is usually an open place where a lot of sharing occurs. Her daughter, Betsy is also back. This time around, she is planning her own wedding but something isn’t quite right. The story also introduces readers to other new characters, Jenny and Nat.
The story is narrated by the 4 women. Like in the last book, weddings are a prominent theme in this story. However, it isn’t all rings and roses. The author delves into very deep themes. The mother-daughter relationship as portrayed by Helen, Beth and Jenny was uplifting, heartbreaking, quite realistic. There was the theme of grief as portrayed by Jenny and this one had me fighting back tears. I can’t imagine what Jenny was experiencing, having to go through the most important moments in her life without her mom. I love my mom dearly. She is the person that I am closest to and we have been through a lot together. This made me sympathize with Jenny whose mom was no longer around. We also get to see Nat take the journey of self-discovery as the story progresses.
There is a lot to unpack through these women’s journeys. One thing that I can say for certain is that the themes are realistically portrayed. I could identify with each of the women. This story took me on a personal journey. It made me think about my own wedding plans and the relationships that I have. Interestingly, it also made me reconsider some of the decisions that I had already made. For instance; I thought I had found my gown already but I now realize that I shouldn’t just settle for whatever. Getting married is a big deal and like the brides in this story, I want to experience that joy and aha moment when you get the right gown. What I really need now is a Helen!
Promise Me by Jade Beer is a beautiful, poignant, thought-provoking story. It will make you smile, cry and perhaps have some self-reflection. I am so glad that I had the opportunity to read this gem and can’t recommend it enough.
October 30, 2018
Reading this beautiful novel took me through a tidal wave of emotions from tears to laughter, but what a read it is! Charged full of emotion I found it nigh on impossible to put down.
The story takes you on a journey of four women whose lives intertwine for varied reasons. Jenny's story is a standout piece in the book reducing me to tears with every letter read from her mother. But for me, I would have liked her storyline to come to a more detailed conclusion as I do feel that we left her at such a vulnerable moment that I'm still wondering if she will be ok as I formed such an emotional attachment to her character through the beautiful writing.
Nat's journey doesn't reach the emotional heights found in other storylines but creates moments of light relief and pure joy to contrast the deeper elements in the book. She is every girl's best friend and the glue keeping characters together and I loved living vicariously through her unique line of work.
Helen's piece moved me greatly at the amount of love one woman can show to so many people in such a selfless manner. An instantly likeable character and a one I wish I could meet in everyday life, she is brave yet vulnerable with a fierce protection towards her daughter Betsy.
But for me, Betsy proved the most difficult character to get along with as I found my affections towards her kept turning hot and cold, but this certainly held my attention and kept me reading on and I loved the major cliff-hanging moments to her storyline.
These four main women added so many special qualities to the book creating an emotional storyline but I have to mention the comedy gold moments that came from Jenny's roommate Marianne, whose crass antics had me in fits of giggles creating extra light relief when needed and adding even more layers to this wonderful piece of writing.
Promise Me captures female relationships magnificently, in all their flawed glory, creating a standout piece of writing that moved me greatly. I loved everything about this book and didn't want it to come to an end and I can't wait to read more from this author in the future.
The story takes you on a journey of four women whose lives intertwine for varied reasons. Jenny's story is a standout piece in the book reducing me to tears with every letter read from her mother. But for me, I would have liked her storyline to come to a more detailed conclusion as I do feel that we left her at such a vulnerable moment that I'm still wondering if she will be ok as I formed such an emotional attachment to her character through the beautiful writing.
Nat's journey doesn't reach the emotional heights found in other storylines but creates moments of light relief and pure joy to contrast the deeper elements in the book. She is every girl's best friend and the glue keeping characters together and I loved living vicariously through her unique line of work.
Helen's piece moved me greatly at the amount of love one woman can show to so many people in such a selfless manner. An instantly likeable character and a one I wish I could meet in everyday life, she is brave yet vulnerable with a fierce protection towards her daughter Betsy.
But for me, Betsy proved the most difficult character to get along with as I found my affections towards her kept turning hot and cold, but this certainly held my attention and kept me reading on and I loved the major cliff-hanging moments to her storyline.
These four main women added so many special qualities to the book creating an emotional storyline but I have to mention the comedy gold moments that came from Jenny's roommate Marianne, whose crass antics had me in fits of giggles creating extra light relief when needed and adding even more layers to this wonderful piece of writing.
Promise Me captures female relationships magnificently, in all their flawed glory, creating a standout piece of writing that moved me greatly. I loved everything about this book and didn't want it to come to an end and I can't wait to read more from this author in the future.
October 28, 2018
In Promise Me we catch up with Helen Whittaker, the owner of the White Gallery bridal shop that we first met in the Almost Wife. This time she takes a bit more centre stage as we see her starting on a new relationship as she finally feels ready to move on after the death of her husband. We also meet Natalie Butler, Jenny Archer and Helen’s daughter Betsy Whittaker.
Natalie is a bridesmaid for hire, a job she likes most of the time and it brings her into regular contact with Helen as she uses her shop for all her dresses. They have built up a really good relationship but it still comes as a bit of a shock to Natalie when she realises that one of the weddings she working at is that of Helens daughter Betsy.
Jenny is a bit of a loner. Her mother died when she was only 16 and she is estranged from her father as she couldn’t understand how he could start a new relationship quite soon after her death. A chance passing of the shop sees her caught up in a lie that she has no idea how to get out of.
Betsy is supposed to be marrying her long term partner but between his dedication to the novel he is writing and her increasing attraction to her boss, there is a distinct lack of interest on both their parts on the ever impending nuptials.
I really felt that there was more to Helen’s story in the last book so I was glad to see that the author explored both her relationship with her daughter and the new man in her life. Despite there really being four stories within the story, all being told from their respective points of view the book worked with Helen being the pivotal character that pulled it all together.
I am not a gushy, sentimental person but there is definitely something about Jade Beers books that I just love and keep me hooked. Even the letters that Jenny’s mother had written to her before she died hit just the right note and were not over sentimental. The characters are ones that you are hoping will get their happy ending even when they are maybe not at their best. Although this could be classed as the second book in a series due to the links to The Almost Wife it can certainly be read as a stand-alone. For me this is well worth reading and I can’t wait to see what the author writes next.
Natalie is a bridesmaid for hire, a job she likes most of the time and it brings her into regular contact with Helen as she uses her shop for all her dresses. They have built up a really good relationship but it still comes as a bit of a shock to Natalie when she realises that one of the weddings she working at is that of Helens daughter Betsy.
Jenny is a bit of a loner. Her mother died when she was only 16 and she is estranged from her father as she couldn’t understand how he could start a new relationship quite soon after her death. A chance passing of the shop sees her caught up in a lie that she has no idea how to get out of.
Betsy is supposed to be marrying her long term partner but between his dedication to the novel he is writing and her increasing attraction to her boss, there is a distinct lack of interest on both their parts on the ever impending nuptials.
I really felt that there was more to Helen’s story in the last book so I was glad to see that the author explored both her relationship with her daughter and the new man in her life. Despite there really being four stories within the story, all being told from their respective points of view the book worked with Helen being the pivotal character that pulled it all together.
I am not a gushy, sentimental person but there is definitely something about Jade Beers books that I just love and keep me hooked. Even the letters that Jenny’s mother had written to her before she died hit just the right note and were not over sentimental. The characters are ones that you are hoping will get their happy ending even when they are maybe not at their best. Although this could be classed as the second book in a series due to the links to The Almost Wife it can certainly be read as a stand-alone. For me this is well worth reading and I can’t wait to see what the author writes next.
October 30, 2018
This was the first book I have read by Jade Beer, and I am excited to read more by her.
This story follows four different woman who are all interconnected.
Jenny who lost her mom at 16. Jenny has letters from her mom for each milestone of her life, but what about those moments that aren't milestones?
We also meet Nat, who is a professional bridesmaid. There to make the bride's day easier whatever that may mean. Though she has been in countless weddings that doesn't mean she has any interest in a romance herself.
Then we meet a mother daughter duo. Betsy a young woman who is engaged to be married and her mother Helen the owner of two bridal boutiques. Both woman are going through their own life but also working on their own relationship with each other.
I loved getting into the book and personally found Nat's story the best. I found myself looking forward to her chapters the most. The letters from Jenny's mom were tear jerking and touching. Though Jenny as a character was unlikable. I wanted to like her but found her decision making to be confusing and hard to rationalize.
Overall a very enjoyable read. Light hearted and quick. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
This story follows four different woman who are all interconnected.
Jenny who lost her mom at 16. Jenny has letters from her mom for each milestone of her life, but what about those moments that aren't milestones?
We also meet Nat, who is a professional bridesmaid. There to make the bride's day easier whatever that may mean. Though she has been in countless weddings that doesn't mean she has any interest in a romance herself.
Then we meet a mother daughter duo. Betsy a young woman who is engaged to be married and her mother Helen the owner of two bridal boutiques. Both woman are going through their own life but also working on their own relationship with each other.
I loved getting into the book and personally found Nat's story the best. I found myself looking forward to her chapters the most. The letters from Jenny's mom were tear jerking and touching. Though Jenny as a character was unlikable. I wanted to like her but found her decision making to be confusing and hard to rationalize.
Overall a very enjoyable read. Light hearted and quick. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
November 6, 2018
I don’t like to give bad reviews, I always try to give the author the credit for the many hours and hard work they put into the story. Unfortunately for this book, I have to be honest, I would not recommend. It took me a week to finish it, several times I came so close to stopping, and I rarely stop reading a book. I continually checked my reading progress, feeling it had to get better, that just didn’t happen. I could not wait for the ending.
If the books main focus would have been as the description listed, of letters written by Jenny’s terminally ill mother, it would have had potential, but that was so overshadowed by the lives of the 3 other women, Nat, Betsy, and Helen. All of them in some sort of self centered drama, filled with an all consuming focus of mis-guided events of love, guilt, lies, and loss. Helen was the only one I almost related to, but her feelings of guilt for her grown daughter’s behavior was to much. I had no empathy for any of them. Jenny's lack of professionalism in a medical setting also did not sit well with me.
I was granted the opportunity from Net Galley and Bookouture to receive a free copy for my honest review. This one gets 1*. I wish I could do a little bit better but this book was not for me.
If the books main focus would have been as the description listed, of letters written by Jenny’s terminally ill mother, it would have had potential, but that was so overshadowed by the lives of the 3 other women, Nat, Betsy, and Helen. All of them in some sort of self centered drama, filled with an all consuming focus of mis-guided events of love, guilt, lies, and loss. Helen was the only one I almost related to, but her feelings of guilt for her grown daughter’s behavior was to much. I had no empathy for any of them. Jenny's lack of professionalism in a medical setting also did not sit well with me.
I was granted the opportunity from Net Galley and Bookouture to receive a free copy for my honest review. This one gets 1*. I wish I could do a little bit better but this book was not for me.
November 6, 2018
This is the second book that I have read by this author. We are introduced again to Helen, the wedding dress shop owner who we meet in the first book The Almost Wife. Helen and her shop is back alongside her daughter, Betsy who is getting married. Helen is worried that there is nothing organised for her wedding, but it appears that Betsy is holding something back from her mother. We also meet Natalie, a professional bridesmaid. She is a regular in Helen’s shop collecting bridesmaid dresses and organising the brides, but Natalie is put in an awkward position when she realises that one of her brides is Helen’s daughter Betsy. The main character of the story is Jenny. Jenny, one day, finds herself staring wistfully into the window of Helen’s shop. Jenny’s mother died when Jenny was a teenager and left her letters for special occasions in Jenny’s life. Jenny worries that she will never get to open the letter meant for her wedding day and wouldn’t be able to fulfil her mother’s dreams for her. So when Helen invites Jenny to pick out her perfect dress, the lies begin….
As I said when I reviewed the first book, I love books about weddings so I was instantly attracted to this book! Also from reading the first book, I knew I was going to be taken through a myriad of different emotions as, so I’ve found out from reading both of these books, this is what this author does best! The story straight away had the tears flowing and had me reaching for the tissues as Jenny’s story began and this tearfulness continued right through the book! The chapters alternate between each woman, and whilst you think this may be confusing with four different women, it really isn’t….the whole story flowed so perfectly!
This is basically one big book of love, but some of it is love that you have now, some is love you have lost and some is love that is still to come. There is sadness and happiness, regret and contentment. I loved all the characters as they were so different from each other, but then in other ways complemented each other so well. A fabulous feel good book which is so cleverly written it stays with you long after you’ve finished it. Would love to see another book featuring the wedding dress shop! Highly recommended!
As I said when I reviewed the first book, I love books about weddings so I was instantly attracted to this book! Also from reading the first book, I knew I was going to be taken through a myriad of different emotions as, so I’ve found out from reading both of these books, this is what this author does best! The story straight away had the tears flowing and had me reaching for the tissues as Jenny’s story began and this tearfulness continued right through the book! The chapters alternate between each woman, and whilst you think this may be confusing with four different women, it really isn’t….the whole story flowed so perfectly!
This is basically one big book of love, but some of it is love that you have now, some is love you have lost and some is love that is still to come. There is sadness and happiness, regret and contentment. I loved all the characters as they were so different from each other, but then in other ways complemented each other so well. A fabulous feel good book which is so cleverly written it stays with you long after you’ve finished it. Would love to see another book featuring the wedding dress shop! Highly recommended!
October 12, 2018
Promise Me by Jade Beer is set to be published on October 30th.
Here's a quick synopsis:
If you could wish one thing for your daughter, what would it be?
Jenny lost her mother when she was a teenager and was left devastated. Before she died, Jenny's mother left her a bundle of letters to read at important times in her life, including one to open when Jenny meets the love of her life. Those letters are everything for Jenny but how can she become the successful, confident woman her mother wanted her to be when she is still broken by her loss? When an accidental meeting has Jenny pretending to be someone she is not, Jenny learns that sometimes, pretending is the easiest way to tell the truth and that loving someone can mean to let them go.
Promise Me is an unforgettable page-turner that will leave you heartbroken. Grab a box of tissues because this captivating and flawless read will leave you sobbing tears of sadness and happiness with the four main woman in the book. This book grabbed my attention from the start and I could not put it down!
Here's a quick synopsis:
If you could wish one thing for your daughter, what would it be?
Jenny lost her mother when she was a teenager and was left devastated. Before she died, Jenny's mother left her a bundle of letters to read at important times in her life, including one to open when Jenny meets the love of her life. Those letters are everything for Jenny but how can she become the successful, confident woman her mother wanted her to be when she is still broken by her loss? When an accidental meeting has Jenny pretending to be someone she is not, Jenny learns that sometimes, pretending is the easiest way to tell the truth and that loving someone can mean to let them go.
Promise Me is an unforgettable page-turner that will leave you heartbroken. Grab a box of tissues because this captivating and flawless read will leave you sobbing tears of sadness and happiness with the four main woman in the book. This book grabbed my attention from the start and I could not put it down!
December 19, 2018
Heartwarming, Emotional, Charming!
This hook will captivate your attention from start to finish! A heartwarming emotional exciting story that follows the lives of four different women and each one has their own struggles! The characters are real women with very relatable life issues!
The author does a remarkable job of weaving and connecting different characters together.. the story was easy to follow and very thought out! have the tissues handy because you can feel the emotions strong in this book!
Even though it's an emotional story as we follow Jenny's story and how her mom left her letters for each milestone in Jenny's life.. you can really feel the bond and love that a mother had for her daughter!
The story also gas exciting and fun moments as the characters explores the adventures of wedding planning, trying on beautiful dresses!!! The author describes everything in such a beautiful and vivid fashion that you feel like you're there alongside the characters as it's all unfolding!!!!
I definitely recommend this book!
This hook will captivate your attention from start to finish! A heartwarming emotional exciting story that follows the lives of four different women and each one has their own struggles! The characters are real women with very relatable life issues!
The author does a remarkable job of weaving and connecting different characters together.. the story was easy to follow and very thought out! have the tissues handy because you can feel the emotions strong in this book!
Even though it's an emotional story as we follow Jenny's story and how her mom left her letters for each milestone in Jenny's life.. you can really feel the bond and love that a mother had for her daughter!
The story also gas exciting and fun moments as the characters explores the adventures of wedding planning, trying on beautiful dresses!!! The author describes everything in such a beautiful and vivid fashion that you feel like you're there alongside the characters as it's all unfolding!!!!
I definitely recommend this book!
October 18, 2018
Having read the authors previous book which features the same dressmaker, Helen, I couldn’t wait to read more about her. I was not disappointed.
This time we delve deeper into Helen’s relationship with her daughter, Betsy, as they plan Betsy’s wedding. Unfortunately Betsy isn’t being totally honest with her mother and his leads to some awkward conversations.
We also meet Jenny and Nat, both of whom I loved throughout this book. Jenny is hiding a lot from those around her as she attempts to deal with not having her mum around to support her. Nat is also hiding something. As Helen comes closer to discovering that secret, Nat goes to great lengths to try and avoid that happening.
The lives of these four women become intertwined and I loved seeing their stories begin to come together more. The ending was a lovely way to finish the story as a whole while leaving a little something for future books, I hope.
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for providing a copy.
This time we delve deeper into Helen’s relationship with her daughter, Betsy, as they plan Betsy’s wedding. Unfortunately Betsy isn’t being totally honest with her mother and his leads to some awkward conversations.
We also meet Jenny and Nat, both of whom I loved throughout this book. Jenny is hiding a lot from those around her as she attempts to deal with not having her mum around to support her. Nat is also hiding something. As Helen comes closer to discovering that secret, Nat goes to great lengths to try and avoid that happening.
The lives of these four women become intertwined and I loved seeing their stories begin to come together more. The ending was a lovely way to finish the story as a whole while leaving a little something for future books, I hope.
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for providing a copy.
February 16, 2019
This is the story of four woman all connected to a wedding shop. Helen is the owner of the shop but feels that she is growing apart from her daughter Betsy. Betsy is engaged to be married but has no interest in planning the wedding..... in fact she thinks she has fallen out of love with her fiance but doesn't know how to tell him... or her mother! Jenny lost her mother a as a teenager and has never really moved on, her mother left her a bundle of letters to open at importance stages in her life like marriage and childbirth and she feels guilty that she hasn't reached these milestones. Nat is a professional bridesmaid and so keeps turning up everywhere. When Jenny tells a lie it snowballs and soon one lie leads to another and how will she be able to get out of it!
A good read with some great characters a a good storyline. The stories were told by the different points of view so you got the full picture and they blended in well together
A good read with some great characters a a good storyline. The stories were told by the different points of view so you got the full picture and they blended in well together
November 22, 2018
3.5 stars upgraded to 4. *Spoilers ahead*
This was a quick read for me. At first I was confused with the individual chapters introducing the characters, but then I was able to keep track of the four women who dominate this story. Each has their own complicated life, and how they know each other soon comes to light. I thought Nat's story was the best - I loved the idea of her being a professional bridesmaid.
However, Jenny's storyline didn't really work for me. The grief she felt with the loss of her mother - and the letters left for her to read - was very poignant, her storyline was just a little too 'Murial's Wedding' for my taste.
Overall I enjoyed this book, read it quickly, and was anxious to get back to it when I had to put it down. Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a quick read for me. At first I was confused with the individual chapters introducing the characters, but then I was able to keep track of the four women who dominate this story. Each has their own complicated life, and how they know each other soon comes to light. I thought Nat's story was the best - I loved the idea of her being a professional bridesmaid.
However, Jenny's storyline didn't really work for me. The grief she felt with the loss of her mother - and the letters left for her to read - was very poignant, her storyline was just a little too 'Murial's Wedding' for my taste.
Overall I enjoyed this book, read it quickly, and was anxious to get back to it when I had to put it down. Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 1, 2019
Having read Jade Beer's 'The Almost Wfie', I was delighted to get hold of this book and even more delighted to see that some of the characters have returned!
A wonderful, heartwarming story of four women, Helen, Betsy, Nat and Jenny set in a wedding boutique. Helen owns this gorgeous, quaint boutique which has women queuing up to get in. Her daughter Betsy is engaged and is showing no interest in planning her wedding leaving Helen perplexed and worried. Nat, on the other hand seems to be invited to a lot of weddings, as a bridesmaid! All Jenny did was see a wedding dress be tried out and that was her downfall.
A beautifully crafted book (just like the dresses from Helen's shop. A perfect feel good book when you feel you need a fix of happiness.
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the review copy of this book.
A wonderful, heartwarming story of four women, Helen, Betsy, Nat and Jenny set in a wedding boutique. Helen owns this gorgeous, quaint boutique which has women queuing up to get in. Her daughter Betsy is engaged and is showing no interest in planning her wedding leaving Helen perplexed and worried. Nat, on the other hand seems to be invited to a lot of weddings, as a bridesmaid! All Jenny did was see a wedding dress be tried out and that was her downfall.
A beautifully crafted book (just like the dresses from Helen's shop. A perfect feel good book when you feel you need a fix of happiness.
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the review copy of this book.
December 9, 2018
This was a nice heart-warming story and i loved reading it.
When i started reading it, i thought it was mainly about Jenny. Before dying 10 years ago, her mother wrote her a series of letter to open in specific moments of her life.
But the story was more than just that. It revolves around three other women: Helen, Betsy and Nat. Each of these women is at a crossroad of her life, with different problems, mistakes and choices to make. I found it interesting how these women were connected in various ways, offering support to each other during the difficult moments.
Sometimes, part of the stories felt a bit over the top and a bit rushed but otherwise it was a very enjoyable read.
Thank you NetGalley, the Publisher and Author for this copy in exchange of an honest review.
When i started reading it, i thought it was mainly about Jenny. Before dying 10 years ago, her mother wrote her a series of letter to open in specific moments of her life.
But the story was more than just that. It revolves around three other women: Helen, Betsy and Nat. Each of these women is at a crossroad of her life, with different problems, mistakes and choices to make. I found it interesting how these women were connected in various ways, offering support to each other during the difficult moments.
Sometimes, part of the stories felt a bit over the top and a bit rushed but otherwise it was a very enjoyable read.
Thank you NetGalley, the Publisher and Author for this copy in exchange of an honest review.
December 31, 2018
I really enjoyed this book which tells the emotional stories of four women all connected by a wedding dress shop. It is sad in places and made me cry but happy in others. It is a heartwarming story of grief, love, friendship and new beginnings. I really liked all of the characters and enjoyed all of their stories. I loved how the stories all came together at the very satisfying ending.
Highly recommended - a perfect read for a cosy afternoon or holiday. I loved it.
I hadn't read The Almost Wife which introduces some of the characters but I certainly have it on my TBR pile now. I look forward to reading more from Jade Beer.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Highly recommended - a perfect read for a cosy afternoon or holiday. I loved it.
I hadn't read The Almost Wife which introduces some of the characters but I certainly have it on my TBR pile now. I look forward to reading more from Jade Beer.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 31, 2018
This was book was a lovely read. There were four main characters whose lives were all linked to a wedding dress shop. Jenny has letters written to her by her deceased mother. Jenny feels she has let her mother down as she’s not married. Helen runs a wedding dress shop and Betsy is her newly engaged daughter. Nat goes to a lot of weddings. The story written from all their POV in turn shows the women discovering that paths are not set in stone and can be changed.
This is a great read even though you can guess how the story is going to end is doesn’t detract from the enjoyment.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture
#PromiseMe #NetGalley
This is a great read even though you can guess how the story is going to end is doesn’t detract from the enjoyment.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture
#PromiseMe #NetGalley
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews