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Single All the Way

Karen King (Goodreads Author)

3.80 · Rating details · 161 ratings · 56 reviews

I can see my mother is calling me. I answer the phone, knowing I’ll have to tell her about Oliver and me breaking up. But before I can, she announces, ‘I don’t exactly know how to tell you this… But I’m leaving your dad.’

Single together for the first time, 34-year-old Meg and her warm-hearted, long-suffering mother Sally are cancelling Christmas, and running away to a ti ...more

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Kindle Edition, 286 pages

Published October 28th 2019 by Bookouture

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Oct 23, 2019 Carrie rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley

While Single All the Way by Karen King is technically best classified as a contemporary romance that takes place at Christmastime the cover makes it seem a bit more whimsical than it is. This one is not the light and fluffy feel-good you may normally find during the holiday season but instead a book that takes a deep look into two separate relationships and whether those are worth fighting to keep.

Meg, who is in her mid thirties, has been married to her husband, Oliver, for five years after havi ...more

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Oct 10, 2019 Shelleen Toland rated it it was amazing

Shelves: netgalley-read

Meg is 34 and wants to start a family before she gets to old to have kids. Her husband keeps putting it off and then finally tells her he never wants kids. She feels like she wasted her life and that he lied to her and led her on so she leaves. He feels they should be happy just the 2 of them because they love each other.
As Meg is ready to tell her mom she receives a phone call from her mom that she left her dad. She isn't happy and hasn't been for awhile. He is happy just sitting home and putte ...more

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Sep 22, 2019 LaBibliodeCaro rated it really liked it

Single All The Way is a well-written festive novel that successfully fuses family drama and food for thought about choices we make in life and how they impact our dear ones. I didn’t stumble upon any lengthy portions despite the fact that the action unfolds over a long period of time, which made for a pleasant reading session.

I found the general plot idea brilliant and refreshing. Both mother and daughter find themselves single around Christmastime, but for very different reasons. Basically, the Single All The Way is a well-written festive novel that successfully fuses family drama and food for thought about choices we make in life and how they impact our dear ones. I didn’t stumble upon any lengthy portions despite the fact that the action unfolds over a long period of time, which made for a pleasant reading session.

I found the general plot idea brilliant and refreshing. Both mother and daughter find themselves single around Christmastime, but for very different reasons. Basically, the novel is about couplehood, an intricate relationship made up of compromises, sacrifices, ups and downs. The stakes were deep and interesting and all perspectives were factored in, which allowed for a complete view of the origin of the issues at hand.

From the start, there’s a small suspense about why Meg and Oliver decided to end their marriage. I must admit I figured it out right away. If you don’t want to know what it is, then stop reading. But, honestly it’s not a major spoil. The book is about much more than that. So, there it goes: the fact that Oliver doesn’t share Meg’s willingness to have children was the trigger of their breakup (and he took his sweet time to make up his mind, leading Meg on about the prospect of making babies!). Having such diverging goals in life is obviously a make or break situation. However, I was slightly disappointed that the author chose the well-trodden path of “childhood trauma” to explain why Oliver doesn’t wish to become a father. At the end the author explained she found inspiration in a testimony about a man in a similar situation, so it all made sense. But it is such a stereotypical reason that some people tend to forget that you don’t need some kind of trauma to long for a different way of life, aka child-free. I’ll grant that childhood trauma makes for narrative tension in the storyline. And the resolution between Meg and Oliver felt natural, unforced. A bit conventional, but still satisfying.

My favourite character is definitely Sally, a deeply conflicted retiree who feels at odds between her sense of duty to her husband and family, and her yearning for freedom and world-travelling. She’s a very endearing, touching character who will certainly resonate with many female readers of her age (or not, after all, I’m definitely closer to Meg’s age). I enjoyed reading about Sally’s inner turmoil and how she navigated this difficult tipping point in her personal life. It echoed Meg’s issue because it sort of forebodes what could happen to her, depending on her decisions. I would surely love to read about Sally’s adventures in some sort of sequel.

All in all, I had a great time reading Single All The Way. It deserves being called « unputdownable ». I highly recommend it if you’re looking for a different, deeper Christmas read. You’ll have it all, the family drama, the romance and the feel-good. ...more

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Sep 29, 2019 Shalini rated it really liked it

This was quite a contemplative read which had me pondering over relationships and the complexities that surround it.

Meg and her mother Sally had both left their husbands on the same day, due to reasons unknown. They went to a cottage on the Cornish coast to heal from their pain. They needed to think about their next step. During this entire process, they got to understand each other better and learn a few things from people who entered their lives.

Short precise chapters written with emotions by ...more

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Nov 27, 2019 Alison rated it really liked it

Shelves: advertising-and-marketing, annoying-siblings, contemporary, small-town, second-chance-romance, 2019-read, over-40, cafe, english, irritating-seniors

Meg thinks she has the perfect marriage, until her husband drops a bombshell that changes the way she thinks about everything. Then when she leaves a message on her mother's voicemail that she has left Oliver, her mother Sally announces that she has left Meg's father.

Together Sally and Meg travel to a holiday cottage in Cornwall, the same one in which Sally and Meg's father spent their honeymoon. Together mother and daughter get involved in traditional village activities like the Christmas fayre ...more

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Oct 11, 2019 Vonda rated it really liked it

Shelves: net-galley

This is exactly the type of feel good romance you are looking for the holidays. Has a beautiful flow to it.

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Dec 17, 2019 Julie Morris rated it liked it

This is another ‘catch up’ post, where I try and review all the books I neglected in December! The only problem with this tardiness is, of course, that this is a Christmas book and it isn’t Christmas any more! Still, some people read festive books all year round. Or, maybe you are just looking for a nostalgic read to take you back to the sparkling, joyful days of the holidays and away from the depressing gloom of January. Or maybe you are starting a list for next Christmas. Hopefully this will h This is another ‘catch up’ post, where I try and review all the books I neglected in December! The only problem with this tardiness is, of course, that this is a Christmas book and it isn’t Christmas any more! Still, some people read festive books all year round. Or, maybe you are just looking for a nostalgic read to take you back to the sparkling, joyful days of the holidays and away from the depressing gloom of January. Or maybe you are starting a list for next Christmas. Hopefully this will help somebody, somewhere, somehow!

There are quite a few ‘running away from Christmas’ books around, but I have never read one that involves both a mother and daughter running away together. This USP of the book gives it a really interesting and different dynamic, and explores issues that are perhaps not something much of us give much thought to on a daily basis, beyond the normal mother-daughter relationships to thinking of our parents as separate human beings who have their own relationship problems. This leads to some awkward issues for the pair which the author thoroughly exploits to the benefit of the story.

I loved the location of a cottage in a Cornish village (always a winner!) and the couple getting involved in the local village celebrations. The book has a gorgeous, cosy, festive feel that is just the thing to warm your cockles on a cold, winter day, even when it isn’t Christmas. Beyond the festive fun, though, the book explores some difficult relationship issues with affection and sensitivity. It really moved me in parts, these are extremely common problems that people are dealing with on a daily basis, so I am sure the difficulties experienced by the characters will resonate with readers and give back a little more than festive froth.

The author’s voice is warm and approachable, the book was an easy read, but rewarding as well. A welcome addition to my roster of Christmas reading. I highly recommend it next time you are in mood for a festive book, whatever time of year that is. ...more

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Sep 30, 2019 Anitajt rated it it was amazing

I knew I was going to enjoy this book. Without giving too much away it’s a story about two women who leave their husbands and how they cope over Christmas together coming to terms with their feelings and their lives for the future. Thought provoking, entertaining and gives an insight to both sides of relationships. Loved it.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

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Nov 14, 2019 Vivien Brown rated it really liked it

Two couples splitting up just before Christmas, both for very different reasons. As mum and daughter go away together to Cornwall to think, and to try to come to terms with the breaks in their once happy family, new friendships are formed and decisions are made. Who will get back together, who will not, and will it be for the right reasons? A little drawn out and repetitive in places but a good emotional read.

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Dec 21, 2020 Lizzie Chantree rated it it was amazing

I love a good Christmas read and this book didn't disappoint. The story has such depth that you keep turning page after page. You get drawn into the lives of Sally and Meg and discover that Christmas is the catalyst for big decisions from both go them, that could change their lives forever. Throughout the novel, relationships aren't always as they seem from the outside and new friends and a change of scenery make the characters take time to think about what they really want from love and life. A ...more

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Dec 26, 2020 Melissa rated it it was amazing

Really enjoyed this book. The writing kept me engaged and was such a lovely story. A perfect read for this time of year. I really loved the characters and would happily read a book that tells me what happens next for all of the characters. Deserves 5 stars!!

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Nov 21, 2019 Agi rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2019-releases, 2019

2.5 stars

Meg and her husband own a party planning business. They love each other and they care for each other, so why is it that one day leaves Oliver? And when Meg's mother Sally hears about it, she makes a decision of her own - she always put her family, and first of all, husband first but now feels it time to think about herself. Will mother and daughter be able to save their marriages? Do they want to save their marriages?

I could get into the story but I also couldn't get into it, hope you'r 2.5 stars

Meg and her husband own a party planning business. They love each other and they care for each other, so why is it that one day leaves Oliver? And when Meg's mother Sally hears about it, she makes a decision of her own - she always put her family, and first of all, husband first but now feels it time to think about herself. Will mother and daughter be able to save their marriages? Do they want to save their marriages?

I could get into the story but I also couldn't get into it, hope you're with me :) I understood the meaning, the plot but still I wasn't full involved because it just simply felt too flat and too clichéd. The dialogues and the characters felt much too wooden and too formal and too forced. Huge part of the book is actually about Meg and Sally reflecting on their relationships and wondering what has gone wrong - I missed action, something happening, the book going forward.

I'm really sorry to say but the characters felt very one - dimensional and not real, and the way they acted and interacted was unnatural and it was hard to connect with them. The chapters told from the husbands' points of view didn't make me warm to them, to be honest, and actually we knew then all the points of view, also those of the female characters, but there was no solution and no help, and the other people involved didn't know what the others are thinking.

"Single All the Way" was a holiday romance, light and easy to read, about relationships, the stereotypes of failed marriages and misunderstandings and the author is for sure passionate about telling a story. The title and the cover may suggest that the book is a cosy, Christmas reading but well, for me it didn't give off too many festive feelings. While there was so much potential in it, it didn't deliver, and it lacked in emotional depth so needed to make it work and everything is done half - heartedly. So yes, I think I know that the author wanted to added tons of depth and meaning to the story, to make it not so fluffy but this bit more serious but, sadly, she didn't succeed. However, please do not feel put out by my review, you may fell in love with the characters and the plot of this novel, so simply just give it a go.

Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
...more

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Oct 30, 2019 Rachel Gilbey rated it really liked it

What a really enjoyable story.

Before I get into anything just have to say I loved every mention of Laurel and Hardy, they weren't in it anywhere near enough for my liking, but I just wanted to cuddle both of them. Strangely I find you just don't get pet bunnies in the books that I read that often, so always good to have a cute animal present.

Equally you don't often have bother mother and daughter announcing the break up of their respective marriages on the same day, in the run up to Christmas. What a really enjoyable story.

Before I get into anything just have to say I loved every mention of Laurel and Hardy, they weren't in it anywhere near enough for my liking, but I just wanted to cuddle both of them. Strangely I find you just don't get pet bunnies in the books that I read that often, so always good to have a cute animal present.

Equally you don't often have bother mother and daughter announcing the break up of their respective marriages on the same day, in the run up to Christmas. Which made for a lovely fresh take on a book as the ladies went away to Cornwall, to deal with their heartbreak and see what life may have in store for them in the future.

Both have their reasons for leaving their partners, and the perspective swaps between both Meg and Sally, and on occasion their husbands, to give a reader a well rounded view of the situation.

Right up until towards the end I really wasn't quite sure how anything was going to turn out, there were potential red herrings thrown in for good measure, and I was very curious to see if either marriage would be savable.

The friendships the women made in the little Cornish village were great to see, and I really liked next door neighbours Leo and Sam, and anything that involved balloon animals. I do love a balloon animal, although how some of those designs were made is beyond me!!

There are certainly some lovely Christmassy moments, I loved the Christmas Fayre, the carolling, and seeing just what would happen on the day itself.

This was though so much more than a festive story, its about relationships, its about whether you should just settle when you get to a certain age or whether there can be more to life, its about whether two people are enough in a family or whether children are a deal breaker. So a lot of topics covered, all the while keeping you completely engrossed in the story.

Single All The Way is a really enjoyable, heart warming story set to a festive background that was a joy to read.

Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. ...more

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Nov 06, 2019 Kim rated it did not like it

Shelves: netgalley-reviews

I think this book could have been better if the dialogue was more ... natural. This is a peeve of mine in cozy romantic reads. I just can't stand the folks in a relationship constantly addressing each other so formally. No one in a romantic relationship ends each sentence or statement with their partner's name such as:

"I'd love an egg Meg"
"I'm just going to the bathroom Meg"
"It was hard to tell you about my secret Meg"
"This couch is uncomfortable Meg"

How about at least trying some informal dial ...more

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Oct 30, 2019 Emma Star Crossed Reviews rated it really liked it

Shelves: bookouture, christmas-2019, netgalley-2019

This review was originally posted on Star Crossed Reviews I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Thank you to Bookouture for my copy of this book via Netgalley and for letting me take part in this tour. Last Christmas I read Karen King's Snowy Nights at the Lonely Hearts Hotel and I loved it so I knew I had to read this book when I first heard about it.

Meg and Oliver have split up. Th ...more

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Oct 03, 2019 Cat Kelley rated it liked it

I was depressed all the way through this book....clear through to the end where everyone got their HEA.

The story was extremely well written even if it was subject matter I didn't want. It was true life and tragic. It was a very mature approach to an age-old story. It was well written.

While I can't say it was an enjoyable read, I can say it was a good story with the ending as it should have been.

This book was gifted to me by the author and NetGalley for an honest review. ...more

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Oct 24, 2019 Amanda in Ozerland rated it it was ok

Unfortunately this one was a bit disappointing for me. Most of the book is spent with Meg (daughter) and Sally (mom) each reflecting on their relationships with their spouses and what had gone wrong. Nothing really happens. And while this book is sent around the Christmas holiday it definitely doesn’t give off cozy holiday vibes. The story was just slow and anticlimactic. And then while I love a happy ending in a story I don’t like when they are tied neatly in a bow and this definitely was.

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Oct 23, 2019 Deanna Walker rated it it was amazing

Shelves: christmas, favorites, netgalley

absolutely loved this book! It’s my favourite of this book...How they turned out great! Meg’s parents wants a new things as they’re split up just after Christmas..Glad that he’s okay...

Can’t wait to read this book from this author soon...

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy....

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May 06, 2020 Ruth rated it it was amazing

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Thank you to Netgalley for a pre publication copy. In return for an honest review! #singlealltheway #netgalley

Sally is in her 60's and floating along in life. She has two children, one grandson and of course a husband. Everything that she could wish for! However recently Sally has felt trapped, like she is living in the shadows of her husband who no longer shares her dreams of spreading her wings. Meanwhile her daughter Meg has split with her husband Oliver because he has lied to her for seven y Thank you to Netgalley for a pre publication copy. In return for an honest review! #singlealltheway #netgalley

Sally is in her 60's and floating along in life. She has two children, one grandson and of course a husband. Everything that she could wish for! However recently Sally has felt trapped, like she is living in the shadows of her husband who no longer shares her dreams of spreading her wings. Meanwhile her daughter Meg has split with her husband Oliver because he has lied to her for seven years. He always said he wanted a baby and never has! Can they rectify their retrospective marriages or will this be the end for them all?

The christmassy fun title drew me to this book. I felt it was a beautiful play on words which was unique to this book (and maybe author but she is a new author to me). Although after reading it it is not just a book for Christmas although the main portion of it is over December.

Once opening the book it is a page turner. You are always being given secrets for you to be a detective with. I read this book in 24 hours. Any spare time i had i felt myself wanting to pick this book up to find another piece of the puzzle. In order to work out 1) Was it really as simple as it sounded for their marriage splits 2) Was Meg and Sally falling in love in Cornwall and 3) Could Ted and Oliver story be heard.

This book is a great cosy read and you certainly need the tissues for this one! You never feel that you are missing anything from the story line allowing you to follow it through until the end with confidence. Although there is quite a few ways the author could have taken this story so you draw your own conclusions early on.

Although their are some emotional subjects included in this book such as divorce, teenage pregnancy, single parent hood, health scares and being stifled in a relationship. I do not feel this takes away from the cosy feel of the book and I feel actually gives each character a third dimension to get your teeth into. Making it a very relatistic and heartfelt read.

The characters are all loveable in their own way. You can see they are all clawing at the pages for their story, thoughts, feelings and ideas to be heard. You find yourself wanting to call Sally and Meg and tell them their is more to it all!

However the only aspect of the book I would alter is towards the end. After their new year family celebration I feel the story either needed to end their and allow for a sequel following Meg and Sally's new lives or for the next chapters be expanded on. I feel that the time when Sally heads to Cornwall and decides on living with Rose, where to holiday and seeing Rory. As well as Meg s new life and getting pregnant would be a key aspect to either the sequel or if it was expanded on. Meaning it would draw the reader into Sally's new life rather than feeling that she's moved on faster than you have! However this certainly does not detract from the story. ...more

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Dec 23, 2020 Anthony rated it it was amazing

Karen King (2019) SINGLE ALL THE WAY
London. Bookouture

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 out of 5 stars

The sleeve reads, "Single together for the first time, 34-year-old Meg and her warm-hearted mother Sally decide to cancel Christmas, and run away to a tiny cottage on the Cornish coast. For Meg, it is the perfect place to heal, away from all the mistletoe, while for her mother it has a special, and secret, place in her heart – from a love story that seems a lifetime ago… Meg and Sally find they’re getting to know themsel ...more

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May 22, 2020 Lorraine rated it it was amazing

The cover of Single All the Way looks as if it will be a light, fluffy read without depth – nothing could be further than the truth as the novel deals with some difficult situations. This is not to say it doesn’t have warmth, wit and festive cheer. It certainly does, but this is shown as background to the emotional trauma a mother and daughter are dealing with. Exactly as we have to do in real life!

With their respective marriages in trouble, Sally (the mother) and Meg (the daughter) spend Christ ...more

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Oct 30, 2019 Amanda rated it it was amazing

I have had the pleasure of reading and reviewing a few of Karen’s books now. Each one I have read, I have thoroughly enjoyed. I read the synopsis for ‘Single All The Way’ (nice play on a Christmas carol) and it certainly sounded like the refreshing kind of read that I needed at that moment in time. As soon as I could grab hold of a copy, I started reading straightaway. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Single All The Way’ but more about that in a bit.
I took to both Sally and Meg from the first momen I have had the pleasure of reading and reviewing a few of Karen’s books now. Each one I have read, I have thoroughly enjoyed. I read the synopsis for ‘Single All The Way’ (nice play on a Christmas carol) and it certainly sounded like the refreshing kind of read that I needed at that moment in time. As soon as I could grab hold of a copy, I started reading straightaway. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Single All The Way’ but more about that in a bit.
I took to both Sally and Meg from the first moment I met them even if I did want to slap them with a wet flannel a few times. Sally is the mother of Meg and she has been married to Meg’s father for nearly 40 years now. Her thought was that once they had both retired they would do what they always dreamed of whether that was travelling the world or buying a flash car. The reality is something else entirely as her husband is quite happy staying at home and pottering around the garden. Sally has had enough and takes off to the cottage where she and her husband had their honeymoon all those moons ago. I wasn’t sure whether or not she was hoping that the short, sharp shock was what her husband needed to make more of an effort or whether or not she genuinely wanted the marriage to end. Sally also feels that she is being taken for granted. I began to wonder who I was reading about because Sally’s part of the story could have been lifted from my own family. An aunt and uncle, who no longer want any contact with me (hurrah), are both retired and my ex-aunt had all these ideas about what retirement was going to be like but the reality is much different because my ex-uncle is quite happy sitting in the house watching the television. On to Meg now. Meg splits from her husband because he suddenly tells her that he doesn’t want children any longer. Meg has been nagging him lately because she feels that time is marching on and she wants a baby now!! For goodness sake, Meg isn’t even 40 years old so there’s plenty of time yet. I did think that she and her husband needed to sit down and just talk to each other. When they got married they both wanted children but Meg’s husband has changed his mind and rather than walk out which Meg does, I would have been interested to find out why and then perhaps walk out but no Meg does the opposite. There were certain times when I almost wanted to jump inside the pages of the book and shake Meg slightly by the shoulders or throw a glass of water over her to calm her down. Meg heads off to the cottage to spend Christmas with her mother and they (Sally and Meg) will both take time to think what it is that they really want for the future. Will they make new lives for themselves or are their old lives calling them back? Are there twists and turns along the way? Well for the answers to those questions and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
It’s no word of a lie to say that it took me no time at all to become addicted to reading this book. It was the perfect sort of read for me- a fun, light hearted, amusing, uplifting and romantic tale. As soon as I picked the book up that was it, plans for the rest of the day were cancelled (not that I had anything exciting planned) as I knew that I would not be able to put this fantastic book down. For me ‘Single All The Way’ really is an unputdownable, page turner of a read. I would pick the book up only intending to read a couple of chapters at a time but I became so immersed in the story that I read far more than a couple of chapters. The book wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I didn’t want to miss a single second of the story for fear of missing a vital nugget of gossip or for fear of missing out on something amusing. I reached the end of the story far quicker than I had either anticipated or wanted, which I was disappointed about. I don’t mean that I was disappointed about how the story ended but I was enjoying the story, the characters and the author’s writing style so much that I just wanted the book to continue on and on.
‘Single All The Way’ is superbly written but then I wouldn’t expect anything else from Karen King. She has a writing style that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. She draws you into the story right from the very first word and once she has your attention, she will not let it go. Karen has created interesting characters that seem to really come to life and they seem just as real as you or I. By the time I got to the end of the book I felt as though Sally and Meg had become friends of mine and I genuinely cared about what happened to them. The author writes so realistically and uses such vivid descriptions that I really did feel as though I was part of the story myself. I know that the story isn’t real but if I enjoy a book to the extent that I enjoyed this one then I tend to ‘live’ the story as if it were real.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed this uplifting and funny story, which had me gripped throughout. I would definitely recommend this book to other readers and particularly to those readers who enjoy fun festive reads. I can’t wait to read more of Karen’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*. ...more

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Nov 04, 2019 Gaele rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2019-challenges, british-book-reading-challenge, chick-lit, independent-review, net-galley, reviewed, bookouture

Meg and Olly have a wonderful relationship, a solid marriage and are very much in love. The only thing missing is a baby, something that Meg has been planning on for years. But Olly is not so sure: his childhood was a tumultuous one, and he’s frightened about the commitment. When he tells Meg, after all their years together that he’s not wanting kids, she’s upset and devastated – believing that he’s lied to her for years and time is running out. Meanwhile, Meg’s parents Sally and Ted have been m Meg and Olly have a wonderful relationship, a solid marriage and are very much in love. The only thing missing is a baby, something that Meg has been planning on for years. But Olly is not so sure: his childhood was a tumultuous one, and he’s frightened about the commitment. When he tells Meg, after all their years together that he’s not wanting kids, she’s upset and devastated – believing that he’s lied to her for years and time is running out. Meanwhile, Meg’s parents Sally and Ted have been married nearly forty years, both retired now, Sally is chafing at Ted’s refusal to, and sulking about, her trying new things and socializing. Sally knows that they’ve grown apart and she’s feeling trapped and lonely. Her decision made, she’s rented the little cottage in Cornwall that was her honeymoon site – a place to regroup and decide on her next step. With Meg having left Olly with no plans to go anywhere: Sally invites Meg to spend time with her and they’ll celebrate their Christmas together and without men.

Told in multiple perspectives, we see Sally and Meg try to reconcile the disruption in their marriages and to make decisions about moving forward. While both men are obviously hurt and confused by the choices their women have made, it’s clear that communication has broken down, and while Meg and Olly need to really discuss his fears and worries, Sally and Ted have fallen into a routine – one that she’s not willing to endure for the rest of her life. With introductions and welcome from the local residents, Meg and Sally are soon involved in the local Christmas Faire, helping out and becoming a part of the little community that has welcomed them. And, this gives everyone time to find their feet and start to make choices until Ted’s heath deteriorates in rather dramatic fashion and everyone is sent reeling.

While not quite a “happy happy joy joy” holiday story, the clear explanations and descriptions of relationships diverging and heading down different paths, either with people growing apart or a lack of communication, the story is easy to follow along and understand. Clearly, there is much affection between both couples, and it never gets truly to the ‘recrimination and bitterness’ stage for any length of time. Keeping everyone’s options open and showing just how different Ted and Sally have become, as well as bringing Olly and Meg together to actually discuss a future and find new opportunity and hope in a new place will go a long way to sorting out what was wrong – and love – the ability to let it go or allow it to define your every thought about someone is truly enough here – and lets everyone find a new ‘happy ever after’.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
...more

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Oct 06, 2019 Madeleine McGowan rated it it was ok

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. - Digital ARC provided by Netgalley for review -

I found this book quite painful to get through. The premise had potential - a mother and daughter both simultaneously ending their marriages for very different reasons, and coming together to handle the fallout - but the end result lacked the emotional depth and complexity necessary to make it work. There’s a lot of telling, a lot of surface-level action, a lot of half-heartedly setting things up with little or no pay off, and not a lot of real, be - Digital ARC provided by Netgalley for review -

I found this book quite painful to get through. The premise had potential - a mother and daughter both simultaneously ending their marriages for very different reasons, and coming together to handle the fallout - but the end result lacked the emotional depth and complexity necessary to make it work. There’s a lot of telling, a lot of surface-level action, a lot of half-heartedly setting things up with little or no pay off, and not a lot of real, believable human emotion or, honestly, behaviour.

The characters felt one-dimensional, acting and interacting in an unnatural way with some quite jarring dialogue, and as the story went on I felt no connection to any of them. There were times that I sympathised with the mother, Sally, whose experience I think was explored most thoroughly, but she was the only one I was in any way rooting for by the half way mark. Events and changes of heart seemed to come out of nowhere as and when they were required plot-wise, and there was an odd misdirect love interest hanging around for the majority of the story who never quite became an actual love interest and could have been edited out entirely with no impact.

It's possible that the narrative would have benefitted from omitting the chapters from the perspectives of the husbands, and instead conveying the information those chapters revealed in a more gradual way, as the original two POV characters would have come to learn it. This may have helped to create a sense of mystery or tension, instead of the reader always knowing exactly where everyone stood, and simply being left to wonder which characters were going to have to compromise their happiness/morals/priorities in order for the story to wrap up. It felt a bit like a children's book, being told explicitly how every character felt and leaving very little intrigue or work to do for the reader. In any case, it didn't feel necessary to have four separate POV characters rehashing the same two central conflicts over and over, with no real developments until the very end.

I really love reading within this genre, but I got to the end of this book feeling as though nothing of any real substance had happened, and ready to be done with the characters. I hope this book will find its audience, as it’s clear the author is passionate about storytelling and I’m sure there are elements that will really resonate with certain people, but based on how I’ve rated other books in the past I couldn’t rightly rate this any higher in terms of my personal reading experience. ...more

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Nov 21, 2019 loopyloulaura rated it it was amazing

Meg discovers her husband Oliver does not want children and is devastated by his choice but also by the fact he kept it a secret: she almost feels likes he tricked her into marriage by claiming to want kids too.
She leaves him just before Christmas and when she phones her mum to let her know, Sally informs her that she has left her dad Ted after nearly 40 years of marriage. The spark has gone and Sally is desperately unhappy.
The two women head to Cornwall where Sally and Ted spent their honeymoon Meg discovers her husband Oliver does not want children and is devastated by his choice but also by the fact he kept it a secret: she almost feels likes he tricked her into marriage by claiming to want kids too.
She leaves him just before Christmas and when she phones her mum to let her know, Sally informs her that she has left her dad Ted after nearly 40 years of marriage. The spark has gone and Sally is desperately unhappy.
The two women head to Cornwall where Sally and Ted spent their honeymoon. She wants to relive the time she was happiest and decide if the changed relationship is one she can be content with or whether to break up for good. Meg goes with her to get some space to consider her options: does she love Oliver enough to be happy with being a family with no children or should she find someone who wants to have kids?
Single All The Way is a very deep and complex book as it explores relationships and how perspective is so important. Being able to see both sides of the story makes it so difficult to judge who is ‘right’ or ‘wrong’, and makes us care about all of the characters.
This book makes it easy to identify with the characters, whether you are Meg’s age or Sally’s. My parents are due to retire and I wonder how their relationship will change once they are both at home. Chris and I have decided not to have any more children even though I want another baby. Some things can’t be compromised on and this book explores the complexities of negotiating relationships in a really thought-provoking way.
There is a festive element to the book but the Christmas setting is a device for evaluating the values you hold dearest and assessing your own life. Family is so important but we only get one chance at life and deserve to find happiness, but not at the expense of others. Love changes over time as do we as people, so we need to adapt our expectations accordingly which could make or break a relationship.
Single All The Way was a lovely book to read and I can imagine a book club debating the issues that are explored within its pages. ...more

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Oct 27, 2019 Sharon rated it really liked it

Shelves: sharon-2019, netgalley-books, netgalley-2019, blog-tour-books, karen-king

When Meg and her mother, Sally both leave their husbands just before Christmas, they end up running away to a cottage on the Cornish Coast. With time on their hands they are not just able to think about their respective relationships but get to know their fellow villagers and join in the Christmas celebrations. Whilst there, will the two women decide what their futures hold for them…?

Don’t be fooled into thinking this is a cosy, fun festive read!! It is based initially around Christmas, but it’s ...more

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Oct 20, 2019 Living My Best Book Life rated it liked it

Shelves: christmas, relationships

Single All the Way is a holiday romance all about relationships. Meg and her mother Sally have just made the decision to leave their significant others right before Christmas. They go to a cottage to reflect on their relationships and have to decide if their relationship is worth fighting for.

I love when an author gives us the perspective from more than one point of view. In this book, there are four different perspectives. In this case, it made the story more honest and vulnerable.

Meg owns a pa ...more

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Jan 06, 2020 Micha Sevier rated it liked it

Mother and Daughter Sally and Meg both split up with their husbands just before Christmas. They spend Christmas together in a cosy costal village in Cornwall where they bond, meet new friends and do a lot of soul-searching.

The narrative is mostly split between Sally and Meg’s perspectives with a glimpse at their husbands Ted and Oliver. I liked both Sally and Megs’ characters, their husbands not so much. The emotions and heart-break of failing marriages seemed realistic and I really felt for th ...more

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Sep 19, 2019 Sherry rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2019-release, netgalley, read-in-2019

***I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Karen King and Bookouture.***

2.5 stars

Single All the Way, by Karen King, is a story about the breakdown of 2 marriages. Meg leaves her husband after she finds out a devastating secret. At the same time, she finds out her mother, Sally, is leaving her dad. The 2 get a cottage together to figure out how they feel and whether or not they can salvage their relationships.

I wish I could say I enjoyed this bo ...more

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Nov 04, 2019 msartemysia rated it it was ok

I was kindly provided an ARC of this book by the publisher on NetGalley

Just to get it out of the way: I did not like this book. The writing is okay-ish, but the character development sounded completely off to me and I cannot deal with rushed plots. It's surely is me, because this is potentially a lovely book, but it did not work for me.

The premise is quite simple: Meg and her mother, Sally, are both leaving their husbands at the same time, just before Christmas. Though you learn it a bit later ...more

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About Karen King

Karen King

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Karen King is a multi-published bestselling author of fiction for both adults and children. She has also written several short stories for women's magazines.

Currently published by Bookouture and Headline. Karen has recently signed a two-book deal with Bookouture to write psychological thrillers. The first one, The Stranger in My Bed, will be out in November, and the second one in 2021. She is also ...more