SOLVED. Coming of Age book. Amy's mother dies at the start and she loses her voice and can't speak out of shock. she regains it later. Years later, her dad gets a new girlfriend [s]

[[deleted user]]

Years ago I borrowed a book from the library and loved it. I returned, and years later the book pops into my head, and i thought: I have to read this again!But it turns out iv'e forgotten the name of the book and the authors name. (it's not in my library)

I was sure it was called 'The coming of Age', but i've looked it up several times and I can't find any book by that title, so perhaps I was wrong. Anyway, what I do remember is:

-The author is female.
-The main character was called Amy.
-Her mother dies at the start and she loses her voice and can't speak out of shock. she regains it later.
-Years later, her dad gets a new girlfriend.
-She finds a postcard in her mums old office that leads her to believe she was having an affair around the time she died.
-She goes to italy to find this man.
-She learns that her mothers death wasnt an accident, that her father had pushed her off her horse in rage once he realised she was having an affair.

I've basically given the whole plot,and I have asked around on the internet before and asked at my library for the title but to no avail.

I was hoping someone on this site might know what book i'm talking about?

[Isabel (kittiwake)]

I think this is Coming of Age by Valerie Mendes.

[[deleted user]]

That's it!Thankyou so much!