A strange encounter. An unlikely friendship. But will it survive when they both know the truth?
As single mother Leah struggles to get her children ready one morning, the doorbell rings. Standing on the doorstep of their terraced house in Whitley Bay is a well-dressed stranger, Clio, who feels an emotional tie to the house that she can’t explain. The story should end there, but a long-buried secret is already on its way to the surface…
In some ways the two women couldn’t be more different: Leah’s a mother of two and the daughter of a barmaid; Clio’s a perennially single heiress to her baroness mother’s estate. But where Leah lacks grown-up company, Clio lacks any experience of the real world, and the unlikely friendship sparked by their curious first meeting offers both of them a welcome respite from the routine of their lives.
It is a friendship that will answer questions neither of them knew to ask, uncovering secret stories from the past that have stayed hidden for decades. But will it also be the catalyst for them to finally feel that they belong?
Internationally bestselling author Imogen Clark has sold over one million books. She writes contemporary fiction about families and secrets. Her books have topped Amazon storewide charts eight times and her third book, Where the Story Starts, was shortlisted in the UK for Contemporary Romantic Novel of the year 2020.
Imogen initially qualified as a lawyer but after leaving her legal career behind to care for her four children, she returned to her first love - books. She went back to University, studying English Literature part-time whilst the children were at school. It was a short step from there to writing novels.
Imogen's great love is travel and she is always planning her next adventure. She lives in Yorkshire with her husband and children.
If you'd like to connect then please visit her website at www.imogenclark.com where you can sign up to her monthly newsletter. Imogen can also be found on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as Imogen Clark Author.
Frankly speaking, I should not have liked the book as much as I did. I understood the storyline from the beginning, knew the events before they happened and generally not a fan of the topic being handled. Despite all of the above conditions, I liked the book, enough to give it four stars!
I do not know what to credit for this strange occurrence, but it might have been the four women of the tale. There are more strong women, but four of them are our main focus. Two women in the past and two in the present cross paths with intent on one side and no ulterior motives on the other. There are men in the story as well, but only a handful are worth talking about in terms of inherent goodness or even the proper behaviour, the others are what form the bones of the story. I do not want to say anything further regarding them, but if you are even remotely like me you will know what you are heading into few chapters in. The author has written well and drawn vivid enough characters to make that possibility very strong. I was not fond of the main 'villain(s)' of the piece, but I do not think we are meant to.
I recommend this to those people looking for a well-written piece of family drama, spanning multiple decades and two families.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is completely based on my own reading experience.
This was all too trite & sugary. The characters were very 2 dimensional & largely too good to be true. The big secret is so obvious that there was no suspense to it & the only characters we got to know were the female protagonists. The storyline would have been greatly improved by giving Charles some chapters.
Si knyga tikrai patiko, palyginus su gyvenimo delione😅 Beliko pacia pirmaja sios autores perskaityti🙃 labai patinka tai, kad sios autores knygos labai lengvai skaitosi💜 Nors ipusejus jau suvedziau galus kas ir kaip- vistiek gan nepavirsutiniskas romanas ir man gaila buvo visu moteru💔 manau as taip kilnasirdiskai neleisciau vyrui issukti uzpakali🏏 Nepaisant vaiku- ismesciau lauk be skatiko, nors manau jis sulauke savo karmos- mirties...o moterys po tiek metu atrado kur kas daugiau nei kvailo vyro dviguba gyvenima💛 Svarbiausia knygos ideja man- reik kalbetis ir pjaut melo saknis iskart, O ne bandyti atitolinti tai kas neisvengiama...
With thanks to Netgalley and Amazon for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.
I mostly read thrillers but I also enjoy women's fiction. This is the first book I have read written by Imogen Clark. If you enjoy Amanda Prowse, I highly recommend this book. Based on Where The Story Starts I think I have discovered a great new author.
I was drawn into this book from the first page. The plot was intriguing even though it was obvious early on how Charles and Ray were connected.
The book was told from the POV of Leah, Clio, Grace and Melissa. It was a nice touch to make Leah and Clio so similar but come from different classes. I liked all four women but I especially liked Leah and Grace. I liked Grace and I could understand why she kept Charles`s secret. However if the story came to light in 2019 about the aristocracy it would probably shock no one.
Charles was an interesting baddie. Charles was a `commoner` so i would of liked to have read about his background. I don't think Charles was a bad man but he was definitely weak and probably scared of losing his status in life. I can't believe Melissa didn't question why Ray went away for long periods of time. I was annoyed that Ray walked out on Leah when she was 18 and never saw her again.
I will definitely catch up on Imogen Clark`s other titles.
I was torn on my rating for this book. The story was completely predictable from very early in, and the characters were a bit one dimensional. However, it was quite an easy and enjoyable read.
Oh I just love anything Imogen Clark puts down on paper 😍 I was lucky enough to receive a NetGalley ARC in exchange for an honest review. The characters in this book felt like friends right from the start. I was drawn in and wanted to follow their stories as their lives and connections began to reveal themselves. I rooted for happy endings for them all! The complexity of choices that were made throughout will make you wonder whether honesty is always the best policy. My highest praise is that I wanted to continue following Clio and Leah after I turned the final page!
Largely predictable and unsatisfying. I might have enjoyed a little more insight into Charles' story. It's possible that I might have hated him a little less if I could have read some of his anguish after choosing to walk away from his "wife" and daughter...but probably not. There's little I despise more than men getting away with their dirty deeds without consequence. I gave it 3 stars because I cared about Leah, Melissa, Grace and Clio.
A quick, good read. The characters were well-developed and the storyline kept me turning the pages. It was not an, "Oh my gosh, what a book!" kind of read, but definitely worth my time and I enjoyed the writing. Parts of it could have been a bit unbelievable, but the author did a great job of making it seem realistic and since things like this do happen in everyday life, it didn't seem far fetched. Moved up from a 3.5 to 4 stars because I really did enjoy it and the ending was satisfying without being too good to be true. A decent book to start out 2021!
I LOVED this book! Even though the reader knows what the big secret is, the suspense is in waiting for the individual characters to find out and see how they will react. The characters were engaging, and the story was very well written. Just when I thought I had read the last chapter, I turned the page on my Kindle, and there was one more! I won't spoil it, but it was almost like a bonus chapter, and I loved it. Perfect ending.
To be honest I skim read this. Very predictable storyline, saccharine ending and very little judgement on the chaos and tragedy that the main character caused.
This was an easy novel to sink into, which is not always the case with me lately. I wasn't sure where the story was going, but I was along for the ride and I was rewarded with strong characterization and some surprising (but not shocking) twists and turns. I really enjoyed the book!
Sadly the story for me was predictable although I enjoyed the characters, it lacked charisma. I was in no hurry to finish, so it took me a lot longer to read. I can't say that I would recommend this book, it left me unsatisfied.
Compelling family drama. I was glued to the pages. From my NetGalley backlist. 4.5 stars rounded up
The synopsis above refers to only one of the timelines in this dual timeline novel. This is a novel of four women and how their lives connect.
Early timeline -
Melissa, a mother of a young daughter is married to Ray, whom she met while working behind the bar at her local pub. Their daughter, Leah, is much loved by them both. Ray is away working a lot of the time, and Melissa misses him dearly.
Grace - a baroness who lives in a stately home in Yorkshire. She is the mother of two children, Hector and Clio, and is married to Charles, a concert violinist.
Present day timeline -
Leah is the single mother of two children. They are her world. She lives in the tiny house she grew up in, near the shores of Whitley Bay, Yorkshire. One day, while in a rush to get her children to school, a young woman turns up at her door. Clio introduces herself, saying she remembers this house and would like to take a look around. Leah, getting ready to leave, says that the timing is not convenient. Another encounter with Clio though, marks the beginning of an unlikely friendship between the two women. Leah, mother of two, who struggles to make ends meet, and Clio, a rich single woman who still lives at home with her mother.
Shortly after Leah's father Ray deserted the family, Leah's mother Melissa took her own life. These events left Leah completely alone and vulnerable. With the help of friends and a woman from the church, she managed to mature and cope with her new life situation. She grew into a courageous young woman who loves her own two children with all her heart.
Clio, on the other hand has just recently lost her own father. She lives a rather aimless life. She has never worked, or trained for a job of any kind. It was deemed unnecessary, as she is an aristocrat who doesn't need an income.
Once the two young women meet, they find that they really enjoy each other's company. Clio admires Leah and becomes fond of the two children. Though she is the wealthier of the two, she finds herself jealous of what Leah has...
This is touted as a romance, but I would classify it as engrossing women's fiction. The characters were well developed and I found myself completely immersed in their life stories. Though the reader is made aware of the connection between the women early in the novel, it was compelling to follow each woman as she discovers the connection for herself. I liked all four women and wanted their stories to end happily.
This is my first time reading this author's work, but I am now very eager to read more. Highly recommended to readers who enjoy richly drawn characters and enthralling stories of women's lives. Compelling family drama!
Loved this book- the characters, story and writing style!! I loved the previous books by the author, but this is my new favorite. I just love the way Imogen Clark tells a story. I get caught up and feel like I'm a part of it. Clio, Leah and Grace were my favorite characters. They were all amazing in their own way. Charles was simply a terrible. All he thought about was himself. Did he even love his wife? He honestly thought he got away with everything and was great at keeping secrets/lying. I'm not sure how he was able to keep up his charade for so long. Leah ended up being alone because both of her parents were only thinking about their own feelings. I can't believe how her father never contacetd her. Leah struggled but she ended up being able to take care of herself and two children. I loved the friendship she created with Clio. They were exactly what each other needed. I enjoyed how the book alternated between characters and the past and present. Loved the ending.
Definitely recommend the book and all of the author's previous books!!! I look forward to reading more. Loved the cover of the book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Amazon Publishing UK through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Puiki istorija! Perskaičiau jau antrąją šios autorės knygą ir esu sužavėta.. ši knyga tikrai labai labai patiko. Šeimų istorija... susipynę likimai. Nutylėti skausmai ir pasekmės. Meilė, santykiai, šeima, atsidavimas ... patiks tiems kas žavisi šeimų istorijomis! Susidarau įspūdį, jog ši autorė rašo panašiai į Diane Chamberlain ar Kristin Hannah. O tas man lbai patiko!
Enjoyable story about love, friendship, and betrayal, Leah has had a rough life since her mother committed suicide but is finally feeling contented with life when a young woman around the same age knocks on her door asking to see inside her house, a friendship soon develops but can the truth spoil everything.
Leah and Clio meet outside Leah's front door. And they are so far apart in society but end up becoming the best of friends, bringing out the best in each other and supporting the weak parts in each other. I clicked the story-line quite fast, although I had a few doubts every now and then. The author has taken a rather predictable story-line, added twists and turns and colourful characters that make it a most enjoyable read. No matter how deep you try to bury a secret it has a way of coming out when least expected and hurting the innocent. A tender, goose bump-inducing read that really made a predictable story totally unpredictable.
It is obvious where this story is heading but this doesn't detract from enjoying the story as it unfolds. We follow two very different women who are related (half-sisters) but don't know it. We step into the tow very different lives of one man who has two wives and two families in two different places. I love the way the story weaves in and out of the past and the present, tracing the beginning of and development of love and parenthood and what happens when two worlds collide. It is a testament to duplicity, for knowing but choosing a very different course of action, of sticking to decisions and trying to help others. It is warm, interesting and the characters are delightful. Follow Leah, a single parent and Clio a very privileged but bored individual keen to make things right and throw love Leah's way. Instead of long buried secrets blasting the friendship apart the truth actually liberates these two women and something very special is nurtured, forgiveness, acceptance and finally a sense of belonging. I will read more of Imogen Clark!
I won this Kindle version of the book in a giveaway on Goodreads. I read it in one day which is indicative of the fact that I found the story and the characters to be very engaging and charming. The story takes place in England. The plot is a story of bigamy, and the ultimate effect it had upon the wives and families. It was quite clear to the reader, long before the story's characters were aware, of the duplicity of the father figure. The text flowed well, and was nicely written. An objection I have is the incorrect use of pronouns, as in "me and Clio" and "me and the kids" and "me and Stacy." These are jarring oft repeated usages too common in language today. Not as if the rest of the text was written with lower level language to match. Nice story. Readers will be satisfied.
I picked up this little book on a whim as I quickly needed something to listen to on a walk, and I was pleasantly surprised! Where The Story Begins is set in the coastal town of Whitley Bay, England and follows two families over several decades. The story centres around four strong female characters - two in the past and two in the future - and their unlikely but intertwining relationship to one another.
Imogen Clark creates such a vivid and familiar setting in a working class seaside town, which felt so welcoming to me. Whilst the main plot is fairly predictable, the rich character development and themes of family, motherhood, friendship, and social class encouraged me to remain invested in the conclusion to the story.
A pleasant and easy read, perfect for a fresh summer walk along the beach! 🌾🌊🐚🏘
It’s strange to read a book about bigamy and find nearly all the characters likable. Both Grace and Melissa were endearing and easy to see why Charles fell in love with both of them. I thought perhaps Clio was going to be a scornful, malicious, betrayed daughter, but I couldn’t have liked her any more. Leah was so resilient and down to to earth. While this book wasn’t a spiderweb of deceit it did have its surprises. It’s a story about the complicated relationships within families. I enjoyed this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Well to do Clio and working girl Leah become friends despite coming from totally different backgrounds. But what is it that compelled Clio seek out Leah in the first place? A wonderfully woven story with lots of secrets, lies, and deception which can only lead to heartache. Well written and entertaining from beginning to end; a real page turner for me.
A well written family drama. That spans generations and has many deep dark secrets in it. It is very well written. With some sensitive subjects. Great characters and a lyrical style to it. That is very enjoyable to read.
So far all the novels I've read by Imogen Clark have been wonderful. While I generally go for mysteries or police procedurals, this women's fiction genre is exactly what I needed now. The story is told in present time with a few switches to the past allowing the reader to see three different points of view. Our narrators are Grace, Leah and Clio. All are well developed characters. Love, friendship and betrayal are the major themes.
Leah is a woman in her thirties with two children. She is a single mum and doing the best she can juggling work, finances and being a good parent for her children. In the first chapter Leah is struggling to get her kids ready to leave the house when there is a knock on the door. Clio is standing there and introduces herself to Leah. She said she'd been to the house before on a holiday wih her father and wondered if she could come in.
Eventually Leah and Clio become good friends despite their very different upbringing. While Leah is clipping coupons and living on a tight budget, Clio is rich. I mean extremely rich living on an estate which could well be a National Trust home. These women have more in common than they initially thought.
The author had inspiration from a true story. I liked this book and read it in two days.
I absolutely adored this book. It was light hearted to read, full of lots of ‘ooh’ moments and a truly twisting, satisfying novel. Although upon reading, it was quite easy to guess the plot lines, it was still a pleasure non the less. The chapters and jumps in time between the four female characters, ensured as a reader all points of the plot were covered from the different perspectives and points of views. The last chapter was also a welcomed addition to the story, again helping to understand exactly what and why certain events took place. The evolution of character Clio really was a beautiful one to read.
I found this a surprisingly good book. I thought it might be a very light story which in a way it was. Rather it is a story of pain and sadness that is underlain with positivity all handled with a light touch. It deals with the complex emotions of five people caught up in a painful deceit. The story is handled really well with some very satisfying writing.
I don’t like to write reviews with spoilers. I’ll just say some of this book was predictable. It makes a statement about how different women view marriage, social status and financial matters. Also, addresses that age old question regarding the possibility of being in love or loving two people at the same time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
While reading this book, I kept thinking, no that's not really probable so I'll be glad to hear what the folks in the book club think. I can't say more or else it will be giving away a big secret. This book is a very fast read.
You can tell from a mile away everything that’s going to happen in this book. I usually can’t stand predictability. But the author wrote these characters so well you can’t help wanting to be a part of their lives...So you keep reading and end up enjoying every minute of it. At least I did. :)