The Women who Wouldn’t Leave – review (AD)
I was kindly given an electronic copy of The Women who Wouldn’t Leave by Victoria Scott in exchange for an honest review*.
The Women who Wouldn’t Leave book blurb
Two women. A community under threat. Can they save their home?
In the peaceful Worcestershire village of Stonecastle, Matilda Reynolds lives a quiet, contented life with her animals for company.
Then a fall lands her in hospital, and she must rely on her strange young neighbour, Connie, for help looking after her home.
Connie is coming to terms with her own trauma, and she doesn’t trust easily.
But just as the two women embark on an unlikely friendship, the community that brought them together comes under threat.
As they fight to save their beloved estate from a greedy developer, Connie and Matilda discover they have more in common than they thought…
My overall thoughts on The Women who Wouldn’t Leave
I absolutely loved The Women who Wouldn’t Leave.
The story is told from Matilda and Connie’s points of view via alternating chapters.
And I just love Scott’s writing style and how she brings characters to life on a page.
The two women are neighbours who don’t really know each other but they have a lot in common.
Both women are hiding from life and their issues, have deep seeded secrets and keep themselves to themselves.
Their worlds collide when Matilda has a fall at home and Connie reluctantly takes on the responsibility of looking after Matilda’s beloved animals and garden.
Connie is struggling with alcoholism and mental health issues and looking after Matilda’s garden and animals becomes the best therapy for her.
Once Matilda is discharged from hospital, they slowly strike up an unlikely friendship and the community they have tried so hard to hide away from becomes their solace and purpose in life.
Victoria Scott has a wonderful way of making her characters’ lives feel very real and I connected to these wonderful characters, flaws and all.
I was rooting for them from start to finish.
Connie, Matilda and the residents of Roseacre Close take on a David and Goliath challenge of a community vs the local council, as they fight against the selling off of their council homes to a property developer.
There’s themes of abuse, sexual assault, death, mental health, hoarding, as well as love, friendship, community, and hope.
I loved seeing the transformation in both Connie and Matilda as the story unfolds.
And I really enjoyed the supporting characters – the residents of Roseacre Close and getting to know them and how they have been quietly supporting each other in the background.
This was such a poignant heartwarming story and once again Victoria Scott moved me to tears.
Without a doubt five stars.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher 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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