The Friendship Circle – review (AD)
I was kindly given an advanced electronic copy of The Friendship Circle by Amanda James in exchange for an honest review.*
The Friendship Circle book blurb
Eve moved to the coast to be alone.
After the loss of her beloved bakery and the life she’d spent thirty years building, a small cottage by the sea feels like the fresh start she desperately needs.
But from the moment her neighbour Ruth appears on the doorstep with a casserole and an inexhaustible supply of warmth and wisdom, Eve begins to suspect that the village – and the secret hidden at the bottom of her garden – has very different plans for her…
My overall thoughts on The Friendship Circle
There is something rather lovely about a book that reminds you of the power of friendship, community and women coming together.
The Friendship Circle by Amanda James is exactly that kind of read.
When Eve moves to the coast after thirty years in one place, leaving behind her much-loved bakery business, she finds herself starting over.
An inquisitive neighbour, Ruth, introduces her to a little magic at the bottom of her garden, and before long, a friendship circle begins to grow.
With a local legend involving a circle of hag stones thrown into the mix, there’s a lovely sprinkling of whimsy along the way.
What I loved most about this book was the sense of community and the way the women rallied around one another. Each has her own story, her own reasons for finding her way into the circle, and her own challenges to navigate.
There’s something really heartwarming about watching these friendships develop and seeing what can happen when women support, encourage and lift each other up.
I also loved how the story challenges our preconceptions of people.
It’s a gentle reminder that we should never be too quick to judge someone, particularly when we don’t know the full story or understand the circumstances behind their behaviour. There’s often so much more going on beneath the surface than we realise.
While there are themes of loss and grief woven throughout, there’s plenty of positivity, hope and feel-good moments too.
Is it entirely realistic? Perhaps not, but sometimes that’s exactly what you want from a book.
A little escape from everyday life, a touch of magic and the reassurance that things can work out happily in the end.
The Friendship Circle is a lovely, easy read, full of warmth, friendship and whimsy.
A feel-good story that celebrates kindness, connection and the importance of having people around you who have your back.
A lovely four-star read from me.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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*Disclaimer
This review has been written with 100% honesty.
I was not financially compensated for this post. I was given an advance copy of this book for review purposes. The opinions expressed in this post are completely my own based on my own experience.
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