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Because of You
Because of You is the deeply moving debut novel by Scandinavian writer Helene Fermont. It’s a gripping work of modern women’s fiction with a distinct ‘Scandi’ feel and a psychological twist.
Because of You spans 36 years in the life of Hannah Stein, a Swedish teenager who arrives in London, at the tail end of the disco era, for a gap year before embarking on a teaching career. The people she meets change the course of her life irrevocably and the novel charts her changing personal and professional fortunes over the next three decades. Because of You is about love, coming of age, friendship, bereavement, stillbirth and rape. Its themes include redemption, acceptance, fidelity and family. Because of You is a story that every woman can relate to.
Scandinavian noir has firmly established itself as a bestselling genre in the UK. Because of You takes the elements that make this style of writing so compelling – the realism and dark, morally complex mood – and combines it with women’s fiction.
This is a dark, morally complex and cross-generational story of enduring love, fate and destiny and will appeal to readers who appreciate an emotive, uncompromising and fulfilling read driven by character and circumstance.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born into a bilingual family (Swedish/English), Hélene Fermont enjoyed an idyllic childhood on the outskirts of Malmö, Sweden's third largest city and a major cultural hub.
Growing up in the early 1970s, she enjoyed a brief musical career on Swedish TV and radio before pursuing a rewarding career as a therapist specialising in children with learning difficulties.
Hélene has lived in London for over 20 years but still regularly returns to her native Sweden, where the unspoiled scenery and tranquility help aid the creative process. Hélene is currently hard at work on her second novel.
Because of You spans 36 years in the life of Hannah Stein, a Swedish teenager who arrives in London, at the tail end of the disco era, for a gap year before embarking on a teaching career. The people she meets change the course of her life irrevocably and the novel charts her changing personal and professional fortunes over the next three decades. Because of You is about love, coming of age, friendship, bereavement, stillbirth and rape. Its themes include redemption, acceptance, fidelity and family. Because of You is a story that every woman can relate to.
Scandinavian noir has firmly established itself as a bestselling genre in the UK. Because of You takes the elements that make this style of writing so compelling – the realism and dark, morally complex mood – and combines it with women’s fiction.
This is a dark, morally complex and cross-generational story of enduring love, fate and destiny and will appeal to readers who appreciate an emotive, uncompromising and fulfilling read driven by character and circumstance.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born into a bilingual family (Swedish/English), Hélene Fermont enjoyed an idyllic childhood on the outskirts of Malmö, Sweden's third largest city and a major cultural hub.
Growing up in the early 1970s, she enjoyed a brief musical career on Swedish TV and radio before pursuing a rewarding career as a therapist specialising in children with learning difficulties.
Hélene has lived in London for over 20 years but still regularly returns to her native Sweden, where the unspoiled scenery and tranquility help aid the creative process. Hélene is currently hard at work on her second novel.
530 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 15, 2018
2 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Helene Fermont
8 books70 followersHélene Fermont’s a practising psychologist with vast experience of people from all walks of life and background. Her Character Driven Psychological Thrillers are completely fictitious with much emphasis on their journey and interaction, intriguing traits and storylines.
After many years in London, Hélene divides her time between London and her home town, Malmö. Her beloved, beautiful cat, Teddy, is her writing buddy.
Hélene’s the proud author of five Psychological Thrillers; Because Of You, We Never Said Goodbye, His Guilty Secret, One Fatal Night, and The Matchmaker. Hélene’s the author of a collection of crime and romantic stories, Who’s Sorry Now? Currently, she’s working on her second collection, Maisie’s Secret which will be released later this year.
Hélene’s novels and stories are known for their explosive, pacy narrative and storylines.
After many years in London, Hélene divides her time between London and her home town, Malmö. Her beloved, beautiful cat, Teddy, is her writing buddy.
Hélene’s the proud author of five Psychological Thrillers; Because Of You, We Never Said Goodbye, His Guilty Secret, One Fatal Night, and The Matchmaker. Hélene’s the author of a collection of crime and romantic stories, Who’s Sorry Now? Currently, she’s working on her second collection, Maisie’s Secret which will be released later this year.
Hélene’s novels and stories are known for their explosive, pacy narrative and storylines.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
November 13, 2016
All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com
I haven’t read a good, epic story of a life in way too long and I hadn’t realized how much I’ve missed them until I started reading Because of You. It was so completely different from the books I’ve been drawn to as of late. It was an emotional, yet sometimes dark journey alongside Hannah Stein. The novel follows her during the majority of her adult life, and the reader experiences all the highs and lows of her life right beside her.
It begins when Hannah is just a teenager getting ready to move from her home to London for a gap year. It seems from the start that she’s led a charmed life, she has doting and kind parents and a good relationship with her brother, Peter. Hannah comes across a bit sheltered and pampered in the beginning, and I found myself wondering just how much I would be able to relate to her. I shouldn’t have worried because as the story progresses and Hannah matures, she becomes a woman that practically anyone could relate to.
I’m reticent to reveal too much about the plot as I really enjoyed going along with Hannah on her journey. She experiences so much throughout her life, and Fermont is not afraid to discuss difficult subject matter. There is divorce, death, grief, loss, epic love, pain, heartbreak, rape, abuse, illness, honestly anything you can imagine that a person may experience in their lifetime. This book had such a genuine and authentic feeling to it and I think it’s partly because all the situations Hannah has to endure are ones that many people have gone through themselves.
Besides Hannah, there is a wide variety of characters, some you will fall in love with and adore, and others that you will hate. Again, this is no different than the types of people we all encounter in our lives, making it all the more relatable. Since it spans decades of her life, she meets a varied and colorful cast of characters along her way.
I was very invested in Hannah’s life and eager to see where she would end up. As much as I wanted to see how it would end, I was sad to say goodbye to Hannah and her friends and family when it was all over. This is a story of love, friendship and family. A story of one woman’s fascinating life experiences and how she copes with all the pain and loss that comes with simply living life.
I haven’t read a good, epic story of a life in way too long and I hadn’t realized how much I’ve missed them until I started reading Because of You. It was so completely different from the books I’ve been drawn to as of late. It was an emotional, yet sometimes dark journey alongside Hannah Stein. The novel follows her during the majority of her adult life, and the reader experiences all the highs and lows of her life right beside her.
It begins when Hannah is just a teenager getting ready to move from her home to London for a gap year. It seems from the start that she’s led a charmed life, she has doting and kind parents and a good relationship with her brother, Peter. Hannah comes across a bit sheltered and pampered in the beginning, and I found myself wondering just how much I would be able to relate to her. I shouldn’t have worried because as the story progresses and Hannah matures, she becomes a woman that practically anyone could relate to.
I’m reticent to reveal too much about the plot as I really enjoyed going along with Hannah on her journey. She experiences so much throughout her life, and Fermont is not afraid to discuss difficult subject matter. There is divorce, death, grief, loss, epic love, pain, heartbreak, rape, abuse, illness, honestly anything you can imagine that a person may experience in their lifetime. This book had such a genuine and authentic feeling to it and I think it’s partly because all the situations Hannah has to endure are ones that many people have gone through themselves.
Besides Hannah, there is a wide variety of characters, some you will fall in love with and adore, and others that you will hate. Again, this is no different than the types of people we all encounter in our lives, making it all the more relatable. Since it spans decades of her life, she meets a varied and colorful cast of characters along her way.
I was very invested in Hannah’s life and eager to see where she would end up. As much as I wanted to see how it would end, I was sad to say goodbye to Hannah and her friends and family when it was all over. This is a story of love, friendship and family. A story of one woman’s fascinating life experiences and how she copes with all the pain and loss that comes with simply living life.
November 10, 2016
This book has proved to be an absorbing read set over a span of 36 years in both London and Sweden. It's the story of Hannah Stein - her highs, her lows, her loves, her losses and all that happens in between!
Hannah moves to London when she's 18 and this book allows you into her head for every new experience, whether good or bad, as she discovers the power of a first love, and how life experiences can change you and those around you, and teaches her to enjoy the little moments and listen to those giving her advice
There are a few characters that appear in her life who are pretty ghastly but this is only reflective of real life - not everybody is nice and has your best intentions at heart, and it is fascinating to see how Hannah deals with those around her and shows that the author is not afraid to sugar coat the realities of life. We also get to see that with some of the topics featured throughout - death of loved ones, rape, dementia and the loss of a baby - it isn't an easy read at time but all these topics are dealt with in a very sympathetic way.
I did find my interest did dip at a couple of points through the book, but think this was to be expected in a 500 plus page novel! But there was always something just around the corner to raise emotions again and regain your interest and concern.
This was a really detailed insight into Hannah as she progresses from an 18 year old teenager into a woman and all those experiences that those years bring your way. Was also fun to have to the little glimpses of the fashion and music around at the time of her stay in London and really helped give you a flavour of the time.
A fascinating debut and I can't wait to see what else Helene Fermont has in store for us with her next novel!
Hannah moves to London when she's 18 and this book allows you into her head for every new experience, whether good or bad, as she discovers the power of a first love, and how life experiences can change you and those around you, and teaches her to enjoy the little moments and listen to those giving her advice
There are a few characters that appear in her life who are pretty ghastly but this is only reflective of real life - not everybody is nice and has your best intentions at heart, and it is fascinating to see how Hannah deals with those around her and shows that the author is not afraid to sugar coat the realities of life. We also get to see that with some of the topics featured throughout - death of loved ones, rape, dementia and the loss of a baby - it isn't an easy read at time but all these topics are dealt with in a very sympathetic way.
I did find my interest did dip at a couple of points through the book, but think this was to be expected in a 500 plus page novel! But there was always something just around the corner to raise emotions again and regain your interest and concern.
This was a really detailed insight into Hannah as she progresses from an 18 year old teenager into a woman and all those experiences that those years bring your way. Was also fun to have to the little glimpses of the fashion and music around at the time of her stay in London and really helped give you a flavour of the time.
A fascinating debut and I can't wait to see what else Helene Fermont has in store for us with her next novel!
May 23, 2019
Because of You by Helene Fermont cover 36 years of Hannah Stein’s life, starting when she was a teenager in London up to her middle age.
It was very unique to have a story cover so much of a life, her loves, her family and how it developed over those years. It has life, family, love and heartbreak and also a slightly dark side to the story too, some domestic abuse and bullying which makes for difficult reading at times, but this makes for a realistic and compelling, immersive read.
Thank you to Sarah at Book On The Bright Side for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.
It was very unique to have a story cover so much of a life, her loves, her family and how it developed over those years. It has life, family, love and heartbreak and also a slightly dark side to the story too, some domestic abuse and bullying which makes for difficult reading at times, but this makes for a realistic and compelling, immersive read.
Thank you to Sarah at Book On The Bright Side for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.
November 10, 2020
The characters in this story are very realistic and well-defined. The style of writing is simple and clear, with just the right level of descriptive detail. I got this book through Hidden Gems, and this is the first time I was just not into the story. I could relate well to the characters and their actions, but just couldn't get excited about the plot. It is more a romance than a psychological thriller.
September 25, 2020
This story has one shocking surprise after another. If you like dark, twisted suspense as much as I do, you can't go wrong with this book!
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
May 24, 2019
This is the second novel by Helene Fermont which I’ve read ( You can read my interview with Helene about We Never Said Goodbye HERE ) and it’s fair to say she has a very distinctive voice. With a strong Scandi noir influence, what strikes me about her writing is her ability to truly capture shade in her characters, the flaws of human character fully exposed and examined in a realistic, yet matter of fact, way.
Because Of You tells the story of Hannah, a Swedish teenager about to embark on adulthood in the strange of exciting city of London. Following her life, the reader meets and experiences the people who influence her, love, loss and grief. Some difficult themes are tackled, such as still birth and rape and complex emotions of obsession, lust and jealousy explored. The author takes the reader on a journey alongside Hannah spanning decades and in such detail it almost feels that Hannah becomes someone you know.
It took me a little while to get into this book, as we are introduced to Hannah and many characters as she begins her new life in London. While there’s an obvious darkness about the book, it isn’t necessarily a fast paced page turner. For me it was a slow burner, one I could read at leisure and take my time with. There are some twists, I’d say this was more of a character study of a woman who is loved and manipulated, faces tragic personal challenges and deals with grief, loss and mistrust several times in her life.
Because of You is an interesting novel, one which draws the reader in fully to the life of it’s main character. Never afraid to reveal the darker side of human nature, the supporting cast are equally as interesting while not all being likable (and some of them are truly awful!). If you enjoy books that really study the characteristics of people then I would recommend you give this a go.
Because Of You tells the story of Hannah, a Swedish teenager about to embark on adulthood in the strange of exciting city of London. Following her life, the reader meets and experiences the people who influence her, love, loss and grief. Some difficult themes are tackled, such as still birth and rape and complex emotions of obsession, lust and jealousy explored. The author takes the reader on a journey alongside Hannah spanning decades and in such detail it almost feels that Hannah becomes someone you know.
It took me a little while to get into this book, as we are introduced to Hannah and many characters as she begins her new life in London. While there’s an obvious darkness about the book, it isn’t necessarily a fast paced page turner. For me it was a slow burner, one I could read at leisure and take my time with. There are some twists, I’d say this was more of a character study of a woman who is loved and manipulated, faces tragic personal challenges and deals with grief, loss and mistrust several times in her life.
Because of You is an interesting novel, one which draws the reader in fully to the life of it’s main character. Never afraid to reveal the darker side of human nature, the supporting cast are equally as interesting while not all being likable (and some of them are truly awful!). If you enjoy books that really study the characteristics of people then I would recommend you give this a go.
July 19, 2020
‘Because of You’ is less of a plot-based story and more of a life story. As such, you’re not going to find any particular action or intrigue and it’s a gentle meander through several decades.
I particularly enjoyed the chapters where I read about life in London in prior decades although, with all the characters seemingly rather rich, it did read very privileged. There’s clearly plenty of money to spare in all these characters’ lives so this is no ‘rags to riches’ tale.
I have to admit to finishing the book not really liking any of the main characters. There are some likeable supporting cast members though. It seemed that the characters who appeared ‘nice’ in the beginning turned out to be pretty selfish, and the characters who were downright nasty in the beginning managed to improve. Perhaps this is a decent portrayal of humanity but I found it a little depressing. I frequently wanted to scream at/shake/slap several characters as they did stupid or unkind things and showed their distinct lack of morality.
The book is definitely a well-told story and it’s so eventful that it made me rather proud of the lack of drama in my own life! The characters are well developed and I felt that I really got to know them, even if that meant disliking them.
This was a fairly enjoyable read, of a good length, that filled many quiet moments. I’m not sure it will really stay with me but it was entertaining nonetheless.
I particularly enjoyed the chapters where I read about life in London in prior decades although, with all the characters seemingly rather rich, it did read very privileged. There’s clearly plenty of money to spare in all these characters’ lives so this is no ‘rags to riches’ tale.
I have to admit to finishing the book not really liking any of the main characters. There are some likeable supporting cast members though. It seemed that the characters who appeared ‘nice’ in the beginning turned out to be pretty selfish, and the characters who were downright nasty in the beginning managed to improve. Perhaps this is a decent portrayal of humanity but I found it a little depressing. I frequently wanted to scream at/shake/slap several characters as they did stupid or unkind things and showed their distinct lack of morality.
The book is definitely a well-told story and it’s so eventful that it made me rather proud of the lack of drama in my own life! The characters are well developed and I felt that I really got to know them, even if that meant disliking them.
This was a fairly enjoyable read, of a good length, that filled many quiet moments. I’m not sure it will really stay with me but it was entertaining nonetheless.
July 11, 2019
Thanks to the publisher for the free ebook copy in exchange for my honest review
This one was a mammoth at just under 550 pages but it kept a good pacing throughout so it didn’t feel like it was quite that big of an undertaking. BECAUSE OF YOU by Helene Fermont is definitely a more character driven novel and you find yourself becoming instantly invested in Hannah and her life. This book does dive into some difficult topics such as loss, abuse, rape, and divorce, but we do get to experience the good events in life as well.
It’s hard to really describe a lot of this book without going into too much more. The synopsis gives the perfect amount of information. We follow Hannah and her life story throughout the majority of her adult life. The characters felt so authentic and real because of the events that occur. I’m sure some elements and experiences will be relatable for some readers.
If you’re looking for more of a character study, then this will be a perfect edition to your TBR. No crazy twists, no need to suspend some belief or reality, just a story about a woman experiences love and loss with her family and friends. Definitely will be picking up more from Fermont in the future.
This one was a mammoth at just under 550 pages but it kept a good pacing throughout so it didn’t feel like it was quite that big of an undertaking. BECAUSE OF YOU by Helene Fermont is definitely a more character driven novel and you find yourself becoming instantly invested in Hannah and her life. This book does dive into some difficult topics such as loss, abuse, rape, and divorce, but we do get to experience the good events in life as well.
It’s hard to really describe a lot of this book without going into too much more. The synopsis gives the perfect amount of information. We follow Hannah and her life story throughout the majority of her adult life. The characters felt so authentic and real because of the events that occur. I’m sure some elements and experiences will be relatable for some readers.
If you’re looking for more of a character study, then this will be a perfect edition to your TBR. No crazy twists, no need to suspend some belief or reality, just a story about a woman experiences love and loss with her family and friends. Definitely will be picking up more from Fermont in the future.
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November 12, 2020his story reminds me 100% of "I am Lucy Barton" by Elizabeth Barton meaning I feel like this is a story just about a normal girl living her life an experiencing love. But nothing really sexy happens its a lot of misunderstandings and small problems being ignored turning into something bigger in a manner of minutes. Honestly not my cup of tea, I strongly disliked the female lead. She's naive to the point I wanted to throw the book across the room. The things she does and that happens to her makes me want to scream. The supporting characters are vague and lack depth I truly believe they became friends because there was literally nothing else to do. The male lead left no real impression I mean I really wanted to understand what there was to love about it other than he smelled nice. If you are into I am Lucy Barton you will really enjoy this story, I voluntarily reviewed this story after receiving a free copy.
November 6, 2020
Seasoned Scandinavian author Fermont, writes a wonderful story chronicling a three decade segment of the protagonist’s life as she leaves Scandinavia and lives in London. There she experiences love, coming of age, friendship, bereavement, stillbirth, and rape and deals with the human issues of suffering, redemption, acceptance, Fidelity and family. This woman’s fiction novel is well written, engaging, and a moving study of the protagonist’s life - her wins and losses as she grows and matures.
An emotive work that speaks of enduring love, fate and destiny. Another winner for Ms.. Fermont, it should win her even more fans!
An emotive work that speaks of enduring love, fate and destiny. Another winner for Ms.. Fermont, it should win her even more fans!
October 9, 2021
This is the story of one woman's life over the span of thirty years. We are introduced to Hannah as she is moving to London from Sweden. I was drawn into Hannah's life and felt like I was experiencing and feeling everything that she did. The story contains some triggers of abuse and violence. I would highly recommend it. I received a free copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving my review.
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December 16, 2019Please see blog for *L*'s review: https://thepturnersbookblog.wordpress...
December 19, 2016
I really enjoyed this novel; it was different to what I was expecting but it was a great read.
Because of You spans 36 years of Hannah Stein’s life – from being a teenager on a gap year in London through until her middle years. It was wonderful to read a book with a long timeline, it was refreshing to get to stay with these characters and see how their lives changed over the years.
I very much enjoyed reading about the older members of Hannah’s family – particularly her grandmother Zipporah, and the older lady, Ella, that Hannah stays with when she first moves to London. I loved how they guided Hannah through her early adulthood and tried to keep her secure without crowding her. I loved Hannah’s relationship with her parents and brother too, it was nice to read about such close bonds within a family and to explore how roles change as everyone gets older. I don’t think this is often covered in novels as the usual short time span doesn’t allow for seeing how everyone ages and changes so it was refreshing and enjoyable to follow all the characters lives in this book. It was moving to see Hannah’s parents age to read about how that then changed the relationship – it comes to us all in life but it’s not often in contemporary fiction that we get to see people go from still quite young and full of vitality through to old age and all that comes with it. Seeing Hannah become the age her parents must have been at the start of the novel brings it all around full circle.
There is a darker side to this novel – mainly from Hannah’s boyfriend Mark when she first arrived in London and after a while we see that he’s becoming quite controlling and then obsessed with her. Later in the novel Hannah suffers at the hands of an obsessive colleague who won’t take no for an answer. Because of You doesn’t shy away from difficult topics and, although at times the storylines were hard to read, it was actually good to see these issues covered in contemporary fiction because these things do happen to people in real life.
Because of You is a great mix of contemporary fiction and noir. I’d recommend this novel to anyone who loves long novels that are cross genre. I’ll certainly be looking out for more books by Helene Fermont in the future, I can’t wait to read whatever she writes next!
Because of You spans 36 years of Hannah Stein’s life – from being a teenager on a gap year in London through until her middle years. It was wonderful to read a book with a long timeline, it was refreshing to get to stay with these characters and see how their lives changed over the years.
I very much enjoyed reading about the older members of Hannah’s family – particularly her grandmother Zipporah, and the older lady, Ella, that Hannah stays with when she first moves to London. I loved how they guided Hannah through her early adulthood and tried to keep her secure without crowding her. I loved Hannah’s relationship with her parents and brother too, it was nice to read about such close bonds within a family and to explore how roles change as everyone gets older. I don’t think this is often covered in novels as the usual short time span doesn’t allow for seeing how everyone ages and changes so it was refreshing and enjoyable to follow all the characters lives in this book. It was moving to see Hannah’s parents age to read about how that then changed the relationship – it comes to us all in life but it’s not often in contemporary fiction that we get to see people go from still quite young and full of vitality through to old age and all that comes with it. Seeing Hannah become the age her parents must have been at the start of the novel brings it all around full circle.
There is a darker side to this novel – mainly from Hannah’s boyfriend Mark when she first arrived in London and after a while we see that he’s becoming quite controlling and then obsessed with her. Later in the novel Hannah suffers at the hands of an obsessive colleague who won’t take no for an answer. Because of You doesn’t shy away from difficult topics and, although at times the storylines were hard to read, it was actually good to see these issues covered in contemporary fiction because these things do happen to people in real life.
Because of You is a great mix of contemporary fiction and noir. I’d recommend this novel to anyone who loves long novels that are cross genre. I’ll certainly be looking out for more books by Helene Fermont in the future, I can’t wait to read whatever she writes next!
November 7, 2016
Because of You is an epic saga spanning the 1970's to the present day and crossing the continent from England to Sweden. Hannah is such a lovely caring character that you feel yourself looking out for her as the story progresses. I've never seen such an extent of growth in a character as I saw in Hannah; she evolved from a quiet young lady to a strong beautiful woman, in spite of all the bumps in the road on her journey.
Hannah comes to London in 1978 to study and lodges with her grandmother's friend, Ella. It was hard for her to leave her family and Sweden behind, but she quickly makes friends with another Swedish girl, Sanna, and gains entry into her circle of friends. As Hannah is introduced to the sparkly discos of the 1970's she catches the eye of reputed bad boy Mark. Mark pursues Hannah and she agrees to give him a chance to prove he's not the bad boy that everyone thinks he is. I was with Hannah's friends on this one and knew he wasn't good enough for her, but the heart wants what the heart wants.
While Hannah is still in a relationship with Mark, she meets Ben at a friend's party. It is clear that Ben is the man for her but Hannah has such strong values that she won't consider taking anything further with Ben whilst she is seeing Mark. Ben cannot forget Hannah and knows that they are destined to be together, and he doesn't care how long he has to wait.
As the years go by, Hannah splits up with Mark (hurrah), starts a relationship with Ben (hurrah) and goes back to Sweden to work as a teacher. She is loved by the children and her colleagues, in fact loved a little bit too much by one of them. Linus is a creepy colleague who is completely infatuated with Hannah. She thinks she can handle him by telling him she's not interested but he doesn't seem able to take 'no' for an answer. Linus is insanely jealous of Hannah's relationship with Ben and the threat of just how unhinged he is seemed to hang over the story like the Sword of Damocles. Linus isn't the only one threatening the happiness of Ben and Hannah. Rich-bitch Vanessa has her eye on Ben and will do anything to get her claws into him, even resorting to joining forces with Mark in an elaborate scheme to break them up. Oh it's all going to end in tears, but for whom?
My heart was breaking on several occasions as Hannah always thinks of other people before herself. She deserves to be happy but she puts her happiness at the bottom of the list and puts other people before herself, even doing what she thinks is best for them rather than what they actually want. There is so much going on in Hannah's life that some part of it with resonate with every single reader. It is written so warmly that I almost felt as if I was part of the family, eating Zipporah's apple cake or celebrating Zadie and Walther's wedding anniversary with a glass of fizz.
A beautiful epic story of life, love and destiny, Because of You captured my heart and captivated me from start to finish. It is so true to life with so many ups and downs but the strong sense of family was a shining beacon of hope throughout. One thing I will say about the characters in this book, they sure do have big babies! Two babies are born in the book, both weighing one stone with not a raised eyebrow in sight. It was enough to make my eyes water!
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Hannah comes to London in 1978 to study and lodges with her grandmother's friend, Ella. It was hard for her to leave her family and Sweden behind, but she quickly makes friends with another Swedish girl, Sanna, and gains entry into her circle of friends. As Hannah is introduced to the sparkly discos of the 1970's she catches the eye of reputed bad boy Mark. Mark pursues Hannah and she agrees to give him a chance to prove he's not the bad boy that everyone thinks he is. I was with Hannah's friends on this one and knew he wasn't good enough for her, but the heart wants what the heart wants.
While Hannah is still in a relationship with Mark, she meets Ben at a friend's party. It is clear that Ben is the man for her but Hannah has such strong values that she won't consider taking anything further with Ben whilst she is seeing Mark. Ben cannot forget Hannah and knows that they are destined to be together, and he doesn't care how long he has to wait.
As the years go by, Hannah splits up with Mark (hurrah), starts a relationship with Ben (hurrah) and goes back to Sweden to work as a teacher. She is loved by the children and her colleagues, in fact loved a little bit too much by one of them. Linus is a creepy colleague who is completely infatuated with Hannah. She thinks she can handle him by telling him she's not interested but he doesn't seem able to take 'no' for an answer. Linus is insanely jealous of Hannah's relationship with Ben and the threat of just how unhinged he is seemed to hang over the story like the Sword of Damocles. Linus isn't the only one threatening the happiness of Ben and Hannah. Rich-bitch Vanessa has her eye on Ben and will do anything to get her claws into him, even resorting to joining forces with Mark in an elaborate scheme to break them up. Oh it's all going to end in tears, but for whom?
My heart was breaking on several occasions as Hannah always thinks of other people before herself. She deserves to be happy but she puts her happiness at the bottom of the list and puts other people before herself, even doing what she thinks is best for them rather than what they actually want. There is so much going on in Hannah's life that some part of it with resonate with every single reader. It is written so warmly that I almost felt as if I was part of the family, eating Zipporah's apple cake or celebrating Zadie and Walther's wedding anniversary with a glass of fizz.
A beautiful epic story of life, love and destiny, Because of You captured my heart and captivated me from start to finish. It is so true to life with so many ups and downs but the strong sense of family was a shining beacon of hope throughout. One thing I will say about the characters in this book, they sure do have big babies! Two babies are born in the book, both weighing one stone with not a raised eyebrow in sight. It was enough to make my eyes water!
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
November 12, 2016
Billed as, Women's Fiction with a psychological twist, I was excited to receive a copy of this hotly anticipated novel by Helene Fermont. Giving the reader a full and detailed account of the love story of Hannah and Ben, starting in 1970's London and spanning the course of three decades,
Fermont creates a beautiful generational set of characters, from young Hannah, to her glamourous mother and her matriarchal and adored grand-mother (whom I have to say was probably my favourite character, I loved her aged wisdom.)
Along with the very good characters, naturally, must come some very bad. And bad they are. I was pleased to discover why they were so callous and heartless, the author gives us plenty of explanation as to why they act the way they do - if you are never shown real love, how can you understand what it is?
Because the timescale was so vast in this novel, it is quite a long book and I sometimes felt some of the scenes were a little superfluous to the plot, had it been cut down a little I feel the pace would have been a little speedier, which would have suited me better, but that is purely a personal preference. In saying that, the timescale did allow the reader to really live the characters lives in detail.
I enjoyed the second half of the novel more than the first as I felt more happened to keep me gripped and wanting to turn the page rather than it just being a book I was picking up because it was very readable (which it most certainly is). I also loved the very strong Scandinavian feel all throughout the book, it was never once lost.
I very much enjoyed this coming of age novel, seeing Hannah turn from a naïve teenager into a determined, strong women through the story of her life.
Fermont creates a beautiful generational set of characters, from young Hannah, to her glamourous mother and her matriarchal and adored grand-mother (whom I have to say was probably my favourite character, I loved her aged wisdom.)
Along with the very good characters, naturally, must come some very bad. And bad they are. I was pleased to discover why they were so callous and heartless, the author gives us plenty of explanation as to why they act the way they do - if you are never shown real love, how can you understand what it is?
Because the timescale was so vast in this novel, it is quite a long book and I sometimes felt some of the scenes were a little superfluous to the plot, had it been cut down a little I feel the pace would have been a little speedier, which would have suited me better, but that is purely a personal preference. In saying that, the timescale did allow the reader to really live the characters lives in detail.
I enjoyed the second half of the novel more than the first as I felt more happened to keep me gripped and wanting to turn the page rather than it just being a book I was picking up because it was very readable (which it most certainly is). I also loved the very strong Scandinavian feel all throughout the book, it was never once lost.
I very much enjoyed this coming of age novel, seeing Hannah turn from a naïve teenager into a determined, strong women through the story of her life.
November 10, 2016
I confess to not having tried any Scandinavian Noir, and so Because of You was a new departure for me. The story is essentially the life story of Hannah Stein, from her teen years until well into her 50's. The book starts in the London of the Thatcher years, which for me was a place I could well imagine. Hannah has a roller coaster of a life, and is surrounded by a range of family and friends, as well as enemies who are all explored in some detail during the book. The characters are all well rounded and described down to their aftershave choices, on occasion the descriptions are a little too simplistic, and I would have liked to know, on a more emotional level, why they had become that way. The book deals with a number of very serious situations and life experiences that are perhaps the mark of the Noir rather than Chick Lit. Some of the scenes were very uncomfortable to read. However, I found the book as a whole very readable and enjoyed the sense of time and being with people through a large part of their lives, it was powerful to read about situations that many authors would shy away from. There were some elements that I found irritating after a while and Hannah herself became a less sympathetic character for me than some of the other protagonists. There was a good dilemma for the reader as to who was 'right' and 'wrong' in all the stages of the story, there were no clear 'goodies' and 'baddies' and the relationships between characters were complex and real. I would definitely read Helene Fermont again, but hope with experience comes a slightly more emotional resonance with her characters.
November 7, 2016
I hope this is an inferior translation of a novel originally written in Swedish because what I read was pretty bad. It's poorly written with a lead so wet she's a hazard to the cardboard cut-out characters populating an overlong Smörgåsbord of clumsy clichés, dire dialogue and excruciating exposition.
Chapter 1 opens with the author channeling estate agent speak (Spoiler alert - Hannah's family's bungalow is close to local shops) and the writing never improves from there: the clunkiness is relentless. I could forgive the tell-never-show approach if the characters had come alive through dialogue, but they don't. The dialogue is stiff and unnatural, resulting in the characters being unconvincing. Finishing this was a hard, hard slog.
Chapter 1 opens with the author channeling estate agent speak (Spoiler alert - Hannah's family's bungalow is close to local shops) and the writing never improves from there: the clunkiness is relentless. I could forgive the tell-never-show approach if the characters had come alive through dialogue, but they don't. The dialogue is stiff and unnatural, resulting in the characters being unconvincing. Finishing this was a hard, hard slog.
April 5, 2019
The story of Hannah Stain, this stands her life from the teenage holiday year in London through to Sweden. A life story with all the ups and downs that some go through. The feelings of this woman really shine through and you can almost feel her pain. Loves lost, rekindled and broken with the family thrown in who love and dote on her. Can she ever be happy or is she destined to just love from afar? Her work at the school sees her through so much but even that turns against her in the form of a man with a crush that is not healthy.
I enjoyed this as it was a bit different with good characters.
I enjoyed this as it was a bit different with good characters.
November 4, 2020
Because of You
By Helene Fermont
This is a love story like reality. It’s two people meet they become friends they separate. At different points they realize that they love each other but not at the same time it’s being together, being apart, being together, being apart. It is so true to life sometimes you want to laugh sometimes you want to cry. I enjoyed this book and read others by this author.
By Helene Fermont
This is a love story like reality. It’s two people meet they become friends they separate. At different points they realize that they love each other but not at the same time it’s being together, being apart, being together, being apart. It is so true to life sometimes you want to laugh sometimes you want to cry. I enjoyed this book and read others by this author.
dnf
November 30, 2016I was so excited for this one. However, I am DNF'ing at 10%. Sadly, I just cannot get into it. I am hoping to pick it up again sometime in the future.
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