By the time I read this I’d forgotten what the blurb had promised so after a glut of psychological thrillers this was a breath of fresh air. The story of two childhood friends is told in two periods of flashbacks and remains intriguing even though we know how certain aspects of their lives turn out. I’m sure many readers will identify with at least one episode of Kate’s life and this is one of the satisfying features of the book. Another is the reflection on how we change through our lives and how small actions and decisions can have a massive impact. If you’re looking for a great holiday read that you will keep thinking about even when you’ve finished reading, this is the book for you.

Okay, Okay,
so the first 30-40% through on my Kindle I found rather Boring. I was so ready to DNF this, I couldn't work out what was happening, it was switching from all different years...confusing.

Anyway, with me being rather depressed and having my 'Monthly' it meant I stayed in bed this weekend and read.

And so I pushed on through with this book. Nor only had I not heard of this Author, but I also hadn't read anything of hers.

I had requested this via Netgalley for the sheer fact I loved the front cover and the title of it.

I'm not usually into Love stories...I'm more Mental Health, Murder, Abuse, Substance misuse etc etc

so like I say, to start with I found it plain and boring...

buy I must say, I soon perked up when it got interesting...SPOILER ALERT...

when she began to have some sort of break down, the eptopic pregnancy, hitting the bottle, the sex etc...

I had to keep reading then.
I could also relate to both Kate and Paul when it comes to losing your Mother...I lost my mum, she was 44 😔 and that pain never truly goes away.

I too related to Kate when she gained a mother figure in Pauls Mum too. even though I'm soon to be 29, my godmother loves me and cares fore as her own, and I'm truly blessed to have her in my life.

Ok, enough of the mushy stuff.

let's just say, the last 40% of this book I really did enjoy.

The car crash...yup, I thought she was a gonna, but im so so pleased they stayed together.

what a wonderful and happy ending.

my tbr pile is so so big as are my book shelves, and so I won't necessarily pick up another book by this Author straight away but I will maybe read another of hers when I get a chance too.

because I eventually enjoyed the read I bumped it up to 4*

enjoy all.

Having read Holly Seddon's first novel, it was only going to be a matter of time before I picked up another of her books for an enjoyable read. Love Will Tear Us Apart is very different in that it is the story of 2 kids who grew up together and became best friends. The author takes us on that journey and explores how and whether this friendship can truly transform into a successful marriage. This is not my usual genre for reading, but the author is a talented writer and she has produced another novel that I am happy to recommend to others.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5*
This is a beautifully written, descriptive story of family, friendship, love and hurt. It's very different to the author's first book and I wasn't sure where it was going at times. However, the writing style kept me interested and it's a well told story about a couple who, as childhood friends, promise to marry each other if they are still single at 30.
Kate has a secret and there's a letter.....it's very well written and has emotional moments.
Holly Seddon is an excellent writer, I just wanted so much more from this book as I waited for the twist at the end that, for me, wasn't satisfying.
However, as an easy holiday read, it's a good one, with chapters alternating between the couple growing up (from Kate's perspective) and present day.
Thanks to Netgalley and Corvus for the opportunity to preview this book.

Love Will Tear Us Apart is a story following the lives of two childhood friends, Kate and Paul, who are so close that they make a pact when they are young, that if they're not married to someone else by the time they are 30, they will marry each other.  Hit the fast forward button and we see them married with two children and about to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary, but what is it about the frequently mentioned letter that Kate wants to talk about and why is it so important that she does it on their anniversary?

This is the third book I've read by Holly Seddon and, whilst it's totally different to her other two, they were thrillers, it is equally as good which shows what a diverse author she is.  The story starts off slowly and you have to really concentrate on it due to the constantly changing timelines, but it describes the beauty that starts off as friendship and develops into a deep love between two people that come from different backgrounds, but have always been there for each other.  Can a married couple be best friends? Speaking from personal experience, I know they can!  I have to admit that this book made me shed a tear, even the acknowledgements, which were so honest and open,  resonated with me.  I can't wait to read her next book.

I would like to thank Atlantic Books - Corvus for approving me to read this one, I will post my review on Goodreads now and on Amazon on publication day.

I would like to thank Atlantic Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ written by Holly Seddon in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
Kate and Paul have been best friends since the age of eight supporting each other through thick and thin. When they get to twenty-seven and they’re still single, Paul says that if they’re not married by the time they reach thirty, why don’t they just marry each other. Kate agrees and with their thirtieth birthdays approaching they decide to keep to the vow and marry. Ten years later and with two children, Harry and Izzy, will they live happily every after or will the letter Kate’s carrying around with her change things between them?
‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ is a thoughtful and heart-breaking novel telling of Kate and Paul’s childhood leading up to their tenth wedding anniversary. The transition between the years has been handled smoothly and as I continued to read I became more and more involved with the characters, until I finally reached the conclusion with a tear in my eye. This is a lovely story, it’s been well-written with compassion and is well worth reading.

This is the story of Kate and Paul, both loners, who grew up together and made a vow that if they were both still single by 30, they would get married and raise a family.
I really enjoyed the back story of the couple, their childhood friendship and how they supported each other throughout difficult times. There was a big reveal alluded to throughout the book when a letter was mentioned, however, I did feel slightly disappointed by the eventual 'reveal'. I think because Holly's previous books had been thrillers, I was expecting more from this one. I did enjoy it as a coming of age story about families, relationships and family dynamics though.

A wonderful tale about friendships and relationships and how they develop and change over the years. The importance of communication and knowing each other is also a central topic. I'm always a sucker for "if we're not married in _____ years" type stories. Thumbs up!

I love Holly Seddons writing. She pulls you in and has a hold on you til the book is over. I enjoyed this book and loved both the main characters. I felt I got to know them and cared what was happening. The build up to the 10 year anniversary was overplayed and didn’t amount to the suspense it tried to create and was therefore disappointing. But a lovely and captivating read nonetheless.

Love will tear us apart by Holly Sneddon a four-star read that will pull you apart. This book will make you laugh and cry have you ever told a friend if you weren’t married by a certain time you would wed? I did, but I then married an ex I dated 11 years previously so I saved myself from having to answer the question, and I honestly don’t know if I would have been able to, as I wasn’t the same person when I turned 30 as I was when I was the 21 year old who made the pact. Kate and Paul were brave and stupid at the same time, but you do things don’t you and then wake up 10 years later wondering what if? Holly Sneddon has a great way of writing people, real people who have faults and fears, showing us that life goes on even when we don’t want it to. The flashbacks were a little over the top at times, but hey also played a very important part, so maybe it was just me getting a little flashback frenzy. Overall I enjoyed the book, but there were just a couple of niggles that I couldn’t seem to get over.

This is a wonderful book that delves into the different forms that love and family can take. In the lead up to their 10th wedding anniversary, the book weaves past and present to understand Kate and Paul's relationship and the cracks that are starting to appear.

I adored the flash backs to the 80's and life growing up in a small village, through to the temptations that working and socialising in London create for Kate, and to a smaller extent Paul. The push and pull of their friendship and subsequent marriage is expertly brought to life and really shows Holly Seddon's understanding of human nature. The tease of 'the letter' was really well done. It showed how from something so small mistrust can grow and fester when there is a lack of honest communication within a relationship.

My thanks go to the publishers and netgalley for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.

I wasn't able to get into this book unfortunately, as I've previously really loved Holly Seddon's writing.

I read this blind - had not looked at any reviews and had forgotten the description by the time I read it, so I had no expectations as to how the story would develop. I quickly became immersed in the story and could not put it down. The characters were interesting and I enjoyed the triple timeline which was handled smoothly and without jarring. I was a little surprised at how quickly Katie fell apart, as I thought she had a lot of integrity as a young girl. I also thought the story would turn into something more profound than just a love story, (although I have no idea what!) and so was a little disappointed by the sugary happy ending. However, accomplished writing and a good light(ish) read.

Wow, what an emotional book that was!

The premise of the book, that a promise of marriage if all else fails you, might then lead to a different kind of love together, is played out in a painful and believable way. Secrets come out of the well buried closet and run riot, causing even the reader to question what real love can actually survive. Just great fun to read!

The author has a very fluid writing style that makes her books very accessible and enjoyable. Highly recommended.

A gentle love story that kept me engaged as I genuinely liked the two main characters and wanted them to be together. The story alternates between childhood and adulthood and then comes right up to date at the end as it tells of how Paul and Katie are drawn to each other as misfits in their respective schools. Their history entwines them and we follow their fate through good times and bad.

A brilliant story of an endearing love that has many obstacles to overcome.. Paul and Kate have been together as friends since they were 8 years old, they are from totally different social backgrounds. I loved the way this book was written, it is a love story first and foremost but not in a mushy hearts and flowers sort of way. There is depth to it and I thought it worthy of 5*

I was very excited when hearing there was a new Holly Seddon novel, after thoroughly enjoying ‘Don’t Close Your Eyes’

Let’s start off with saying this was a fantastic book. It came as a breath of fresh air after the recent run of the mill psychological thrillers that have been churned out (well at least the books I seemed to be reading of late) This book is emotionally raw, a window into a families upbringing and their real tribulations and celebrations.

Early on the book we are presented with the foresight of an impending ‘conversation’ between the two main characters, Kate and Paul, scheduled for their imminent 10 year wedding anniversary. From there the story is relayed by following the current timeline, as it draws closer to their anniversary, as well as 2 earlier timelines, all of which aid in painting a picture of the deep relationship between Kate and Paul, as well as what has transpired to bring them to this juxtaposition.

Holly’s way of articulating thoughts and emotions is truly exquisite. Even mundane thoughts, or thoughts that we’ve all had but never acknowledged (or perhaps more accurately thoughts we chose to ignore as giving them prolonged thought would in turn give them credence and perhaps give ourselves a reason to second guess our very character, or perception of ourselves) were so perfectly relayed that I couldn’t help but be drawn into Kate’s world.

There were so many times in the book I wanted to cry, or scream, or smile, but most emphatically, I’m left with the urge to cherish every moment with my kids, to tell my wife how lucky we are, to tell her I love her, to share in appreciation for a wonderful life, to ensure I don’t end up lamenting time lost, words not spoken, feelings not expressed.

This story won’t leave you when you close that last page.

Thank you NetGalley and Atlantic Books for a review copy.

Although I enjoyed the story overall I found all the to-ing and froing quite confusing, not always knowing at what part of their lives we were at.

Love Will Tear Us Apart by Holly Sneddon is a story about Kate and Paul who have been childhood friends and made a pack to marry each other if they were still single when they reach the age of thirty. They now have two children and have been married for ten years and the cracks are beginning to show.
The story is told in two time frames and I found it slow to start.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Atlantic Books for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

I've really enjoyed Holly Seddon's previous novels - which were more traditional thriller types than this one - but I was intrigued by the premise of keeping a promise to get married if you're still single at 30.

The story is told in present time when Kate and Paul are on holiday, about to celebrate their 10th anniversary but Kate has a secret that could blow their world apart. And then in flashbacks, not all in chronological order, we see all the events from when they meet aged 11 that have brought them to this point and what the secret is.

I enjoyed this novel and the dual timeline narrative - and I particularly liked the character of Kate. However as I'm quite a big thriller fan I was a little disappointed with the ending - but that's just personal taste and no reflection on the story or Seddon's skill as a writer. I really enjoyed reading this and would describe it as a good, engrossing novel, perfect for your summer holiday!