This book. examines the feelings of parents when a child dies, the fall out and knock-on effect on siblings. Having said that it was not all doom and gloom and I really enjoyed reading it

Stella and Jack were the perfect couple young and in love with the world at their feet. Their marriage was blessed with a young son and they were looking forward to a new addition when tragedy struck.

Fast forward and now Stella and Jack are divorced. They are now both with new partners but have to meet up again to help their daughter who is expecting her second child!

The love and feelings they once shared suddenly appear again and this takes them both by surprise. Should they give into temptation? or is it too late to rekindle their relationship? What about their new partners.

Tragic events are very testing on family’s and relationships. Each person deals with it individually and the implications are far reaching .

This book explores relationships in later life beautifully. Sometimes life and circumstances get in the way and although you may still love someone events can take over.

The authors writing style had me feeling like I was in the book rubbing shoulders with the very true to life characters. Love , loss and family relationships were all beautifully written about in this easy to read book. I loved the ending!! Hilary Boyd is definitely an author I will be looking out for in future!!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for my chance to read this fantastic books.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the book in exchange for an honest review.
I have read books by Hilary Boyd before and they are always an enjoyable read. They are the kind of books to read snuggled up in bed or in front of a warm fire or even on a sun lounger on holiday.They make you feel good.
In this story a husband and wife divorced for over twenty five years develop feelings for each other, the problem is the ex husband has remarried and the ex wife is in a long term relationship. It is a good read and one I recommend.

Jack and Stella were married and had a son called johny but tragedy struck their little family. Their daughter Eve has one son Arthur and is expecting her second child unfortunately her husband is in the Antarctic and will only be home right before his wife is due to give birth.
So Stella moves down to live with her daughter and help with Arthur, Jack has a cottage not far from Eve's and he comes down there with his new wife Lisa
But due to complications in her pregnancy Stella and jack are thrown together to care for Arthur, and slowly the tragedy that struck their little family is revealed and when they finally let go they realise they have feelings for each other. Will they be able to work their love out 2nd time around?
This is a beautiful crafted book the author has described things so well you feel like you are with them, really enjoyable read perfect for the summer holidays

Stella and Jack were young and in love. They married and had a son and another baby on the way. Then tragedy stuck and their lives were never the same again.
Years later and both with new partners they meet again when their daughter needs them. What will happen? Is it to late to love again? Can they put the past to rest and look forward to the future?

Stella and Jack are blissfully happy together until tragedy cruelly tears them apart. Sometimes true love conquers all and many years down the line they are brought back in to each others lives by their Daughter Eve who is in need of both her parents. The old feelings come flooding back but both have moved on,, Jack married to a glamorous , much younger wife and Eve in a long term relationship with a rugged gardener.
I loved both the main characters, both selfless and both scarred by a cruel past. I found myself rooting for them both.
This is a story of love, loss and doing what ultimately makes you happy. I loved it!

I really enjoyed this book. Stella and Jack separated a long time ago when their son, a child, died. But their daughter wants them both in her and her sons lives. So Stella and jack must find a way. This book is about love, loss, grief, hope, family dynamics, heartbreak and recovery. And I loved it!

Heartbreaking at times, The Anniversary was a very moving book, of family complications, love, sadness and happiness - what more could you want for a good read on a summer’s day? Lovely.

I only read about half of this book before giving up... too predictable and characters were not really interesting enough to grip me.

This story has love, loss and a will they wont they, relationship. It has some incidents in the story that im sure many a reader can relate to. We go on a journey with a family that experience a loss in their lives. Written with depth and humour, you are really drawn in.

This year has been a year where I’ve wanted to mix things up a little in my romantic reads, new authors and a shift from what I usually read in terms of age groups, so the fact the characters in this book are older at 60 and 65 is partly what drew me to The Anniversary.

“First they ruin my childhood by being totally vile to each other twenty-four/seven. Then I grow up and they don’t speak for a decade. Then, out of the blue, they decide to kiss and fall in love. But oh, no, it doesn’t end there.”

This is a book which worked for me in terms of writing style, general character likeability and feeling. Do I think I’m the ideal reader at 41? Not necessarily, as I’m of a similar age to Jack’s (quite unlikeable) second wife, plus my own parents are the same generation as Jack and Stella—I found myself relating a little more to their daughter— and that had impact on how I viewed this, but it doesn’t detract from the emotion their reconnection creates as they await the birth of their second grandchild which itself is fraught with stress and difficulty. And, through flashback chapters, we see their younger selves as time rewinds thirty years to bring us the story of how and why their marriage failed.

“I want both of you in my life, Mum. So, basically, you’ve got to find a way to get on.”

I can’t deny I found the story a somewhat predictable and the ending seemed pretty rushed considering what had occurred on the run up, however I did enjoy these characters and their plight with family and feeling at the very heart.

This is a brilliant read. I got totally caught up in Stella and Jacks lives. I laughed and I cried. I was totally immersed from the first page. Beautifully written. Stella and Jack separated after their young son died. Years later they get to know each other again. Every part of the story seems so real and the characters seemed to come to life. I would definitely recommend this book and I will be looking out for other books by this author.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Stella and Jack were the perfect couple until tragedy got in the way.
From the opening pages I was drawn into this thought provoking novel. Beautifully written characters and easy to read, its a poignant and moving story about relationships and how tragic events affect not just those involved but others around them.
Not all heartache and tragedy it was well balanced, with moments that lightened the load.
Overall a good thought provoking read but no real surprises at the end

What a fabulous novel enjoyed it from the first page a beautiful love story from which a terrible tragedy enfolds and Stella and Jack are torn apart but finally find their way back together again in difficult times and come a full circle to create this wonderfully written novel loved it and thoroughly recommend it

A very easy, enjoyable read with a divorced couple coming back into each others lives nearly 30 years after their 3 year old son died. Lovely to have an older couple as the central characters. Have read all of the author's other books and this one lived up to expectations as well.

A book all about family and the strains of relationships that inevitably make or break a relationship. Hilary Boyd tells the story with great honesty and I could empathise with the characters and their situations. A great cosy read.

Hilary Boyd does it again with another family story that is so easy to sit and read in one go .. Highly recommended

This book made me cry and laugh. You felt for the family and what they had gone through and were willing them to find their way back from the tragedy which has shaped their lives.

A lovely book.

Stella and Jack divorced decades ago after tragedy struck their family. Stella has always had a strained relationship with her daughter Eve but when pregnant Eve calls for help Stella drops everything to be there for her.

Stella hates Jack with a vengeance, she blames him for the death of their son and their relationship has remained tarnished for years but with Eva needing both her parents to be involved in her life together, can Stella and Jack put the past behind them. On their son’s 30th birthday they come together to remember all the good times they had with him and finally lay the past to rest, they also come to realise that the feelings they had for each other haven’t changed.

A compelling well written book with good relatable characters which includes family dynamics, heartbreak and forgiveness. An excellent book which I highly recommend.

Another great read by Hilary Boyd. Have read all her work so was thrilled to be able to read & review this one. I wasn't disappointed. A family tale- Stella and Jack apart for many years after the death of their son. Reunited to scatter his ashes- this usettles things for everyone. Their daughter, Jack's new wife, Stella's partner are all touched by the rekindling of their parents relationship. Nothing is ever easy as they all find out. The characters are well drawn, and believable. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.