When Allie discovers a hidden envelope in her grandmother’s house, its contents make her question everything she thought she knew about her family. Determined to uncover the truth, even though she knows it could forever change not only her life, but the lives of those closest to her, Allie embarks on a trip to Italy, accompanied by her best friend Ed. But will she have the courage and strength to face revelations which could change her future forever?

From the outset, this beautiful story captured my heart and my attention and has taken me on a whirlwind journey full of emotion! I really liked the alternating chapter perspectives of Allie in the first person and Ed in the third person. The flashback chapters were also extremely clever and I love how I was completely surprised by who this character actually was as they were not who I anticipated! There were even greater twists to come, especially with the reveal three quarters of the way through as to who a central character was. I even found myself going back to re-read a beginning scene to marvel at just how brilliantly this was written; I didn’t see it coming at all! The last part of the book completely floored me too and my heart was racing as I waited to find out what would happen to Allie and Ed, who I came to love so much! It was just phenomenal!

I really enjoyed the beautiful imagery that was created throughout too, and felt like I was there experiencing all of the sights and smells of Northern Italy; it felt so vivid and picturesque! I also loved how I felt so many emotions towards all of the characters as this story progressed, especially when the darkness within Ed’s world was uncovered. Some of those chapters brought a lump to my throat!

I really didn’t want this to story to end and know it will stay with me for a long time to come. I can’t wait to see what Catherine Isaac writes next!

This story centers around two lifelong friends Allie and Ed as they both face decisions as they reflect on their past and their future. This was an easy read overall but not one I came racing back to find out the next installment.

Pleasant read but not really my kind of book. HOWEVER its well written and plotted and I think it would make a brilliant holiday read

Messy, Wonderful Us is the perfect book to escape into for those of a romantic disposition. Never cheesy, this is an exquisite and complex look at love, family and buried secrets. Allie Culpepper has been best friends with Ed Holt since secondary school. But recently, Ed has seemed troubled. And Allie's world has turned upside down, upon discovering a hidden letter in her grandmother Peggy's house that makes her question everything she thought to be true.

Who is Stefano? Why is her Mum Christine holding his hand in the photo accompanying the letter? And could he possibly be her biological father? Her Mum Christine died when Allie was six, and she has a wonderful relationship with her father Joe - but the discovery of the letter has consumed her every waking moment, and she is determined to find out the truth.

She travels to Italy to find Stefano, and Ed accompanies her. As they spend time together they realize that they have always loved one another. But Ed is heartbroken as he has just found out that his wife Julia is pregnant, and he will not abandon her, despite the fact that she is emotionally and physically abusive to him.

Interspersed between the chapters are letters from a young girl, who is pregnant and afraid. She is forced to give birth in secret, and her baby boy is cruelly taken away from her without even the chance to say goodbye. All along we believe we know who that young girl is but there is a surprise in store.

As a reader I fell in love with so many of the characters in this lovely book, and I was rooting for Allie and Ed to find their happy ever after together. Do they? I recommend you find our for yourself, you won't be disappointed.

"Messy, Wonderful Us" incorporates a lot into one novel, and succeeds on all counts. It's a multi-generational family drama, love story, mystery and more, with surprises right up to the last page.

Messy, Wonderful Us focuses on the characters of Allie and Ed, who have been friends since their teenage years. I quickly became immersed in the story and really enjoyed the majority of the book until I came to the final chapters. I found that the story became unbelievable and overly dramatic.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC

loved this book - would 100% recommend and am looking forward to reading what this author writes next!

I was really intrigued by premise of this story - it had all the potential to be a heartbreaking tale. Unfortunately the meatiness of this story didn’t deliver for me. It seemed rather soap-operaesque without any of the heart. There were some twists that I didn’t see coming but it wasn’t enough to really grab me.

What if loving someone means keeping a secret that will break your heart?

In 1983, Northern Italy, a letter is written and sent. Its recipient hides it away as it contains shocking and unthinkable secrets. Many years later, academic research scientist Allison (Allie) Culpepper finds a photograph along with the hidden letter amongst her gran's possessions. She tries to discuss the revealing contents with her Grandma Peggy, but her Gran refuses to open up to her about it. So Allie decides to take matters into her own hands and takes a trip to Italy, along with her close school friend Ed, to discover the disturbing truth for herself...

Messy, Wonderful Us is a complex story of love, relationships, self discovery, loyalties and responsibilities. Catherine Isaac has made a great job of seamlessly weaving together three timelines to tell the story; Allie's and Ed's in the present day told by each of them; flashback snippets from their friendship over the years; and someone in the past from an (at first) unnamed narrator.

Set against the backdrop of Northern Italy, the author's descriptions of all the places Allie and Ed visited were so vivid that it almost felt that I was there alongside them, while they explored and took in the sights around them. The characterisation by Catherine Isaac was truly masterful and was particularly entranced by Ed's story, although I was still interested in learning more about Allie and the anonymous narrator's past.

Everything was solidly wrapped up in the poignant and believable denouement and I highly recommend this bittersweet tale about the messier side of love and relationships. The richness in detail together with a large smattering of Italian goodness elicit this affecting and riveting read.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel at my request, from Simon and Schuster UK via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

I loved this book so much. It captured my attention right from the very beginning and was a real page turner. It was so beautifully written with lots of twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. I enjoyed how the author described Italy and introduced us to a group of characters who I grew to love, as the well-written story unfolded. Emotional, engrossing and very enjoyable!

A wonderful book full of intrigue and mystery. I really enjoyed this book. It was an emotional rollercoaster!
The characters are strong and the descriptions are good. Great for reading at any time of year
Thank you to Netgalley, Simon and Schuster and Catherine Isaac for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

With secrets spanning three generation of Allie's family, the author presents a balance of past and present; we hear from Allie and Ed her best friend from childhood who has just left his wife after 2 years of marriage.

Allie finds a letter and photograph hidden in her grandmothers drawers that suggests her dad is not her real father. The man in the photo shares the gap in her front teeth! Her grandmother Peggy refuses to acknowledge Allie with this and shuts her down. Allie decides to find out for herself and when her best friend forever’s wife contacts her for help with her marriage to him she decides to let him accompany her on her journey to Italy to find some answers.

Allie feels very supported by Ed and he encourages and helps her navigate Italy in search of clues about her past, the pair are both forced to face some uncomfortable truths about their lives and make some difficult decisions.
I warmed to Allie and Ed and wished they would get together as they seemed to really match, I loved Allies dads character but Peggy’s character really irked me. Italy was vividly painted in this story and I really felt like I could see the scenery from the descriptions which I loved.

Overall a good pacey read once it got going; I preferred the second half when Allie and Eds relationships were raw and honest. The story covered some tough issues too, which added another dimension to it.

Thank you to Catherine Isaac, Simon and Schuster and Netgalley UK for my ARC for a fair and honest review.

What a well written and entertaining book. I loved how the author describes Italy as much as the great characters and the well crafted plot.
It's a story that keeps you hooked, complex and engrossing.
An excellent read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

I was given an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and independent review.
I just adored this book. A novel about love, loss, friendship and family. An emotional story with wonderful characters who were so credible.
I also loved the descriptive narrative of the places in Italy that they visited. Brought me right back to some of the places I’ve visited there.
I just could not put it down.
4.5 stars

Messy, Wonderful Us was a book I liked, I just found it a little predictable and lacked a bit of oomph.
Allie is a research scientist and after being in her grandparents bedroom she finds a letter and this leads to her questioning everything she’s ever been told about her parents. To uncover this secret she travels to Italy with her best friend Ed. Ed spoiled this book in some ways as he got on my nerves but you may not find that happens to you. Ed has just split up from his wife and uses the trip to Italy to sort his head out whilst Allie uses it to find out more about her life that’s been kept secret from her since she was born. Lake Como sounds lovely and it’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to visit and this book reaffirmed that.
This was an emotional read at times and also perhaps a little dark as secrets on top of secrets are found. It was definitely a book that shows you that you don’t really know what’s going on in someone’s life.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Simon And Schuster UK for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

Wow what I can say about Messy, Wonderful Us that hasn't been said already, it's a story that will take you on an emotional journey with Allie Culpepper as looks for answers about hers and her mother's past little knowing where it will take her. But at its heart is a story about self-discovery, a chance for Allie to take stock and think about what it is she wants from life.

As the blurb says Allie discovers a hidden letter which suddenly makes her question everything she thought she knew about herself and her family. She starts to question who she really is and knows that she won't settle until she gets the answers she so desperately wants, although the one person who could answer them is no longer around. So with her best friend Ed by her side she heads to Italy on a trip little knowing that how this will change their lives for ever.

Interwoven with Allie and Ed's story is a third voice from the past and it's not until the midway point that it becomes clear who it is narrating this aspect of the storyline and the pieces of the deeply-hidden secret are revealed. With each chapter from Allie, Ed and the mystery narrator's point of view we get to know each of the characters a little better as we see an insight into who they are as people, what's happened in the past to bring them to this point and what is currently going on in their lives.

As much as I was invested in getting to know more about Allie and the mystery narrator's past, it was Ed's story in particular that I found eye-opening, and one that made for uncomfortable reading at times, as it just goes to show you never really know what is going on in other peoples lives behind closed doors.

Set against the backdrop of Northern Italy, the descriptive writing of all the places Allie and Ed were so vivid that it almost felt that I was there with them as they explored the narrow streets and took in the sights around them. Catherine Isaac has clearly done her research, not only about the locations within this story but also regarding Allie's job as a research scientist working towards a cure for Cystic Fibrosis.

Messy, Wonderful is a poignant tale that explores some taboo and sensitive topics within its pages but ultimately at its core it's a story about family, friendship and love.

This is my first book from Catherine Isaac and I absolutely loved it. Utterly dreamy, with a great lead and some lovely Italian settings. I'll definitely be reading more from her!

Having read - and absolutely loved the author's previous novel - You Me Everything (5*), I was rather excited to have this one making it's way up my reading list!

Allie has been well-loved all her life, but when a hidden letter shows up it opens a can of worms for her and makes her doubt who she is. Now she's had a peek into her family's past, she can't rest without knowing the full story and hires a private investigator which stretches her finances. With a bit of a lead to go on, she grabs a cheap flight to Italy to try and find out what happened all those years ago - and how it affects her.

This is my very favourite kind of novel; rich in detail with a fine cast of characters and a multi-faceted story, I feel as if I've been in a completely different world whilst reading. It gobbled me up, heart and soul! Catherine Isaac's skill as a writer shines through in her ability to weave such a luscious tale; with everything wrapped up in a tight ball it unravels slowly and deliciously with something new popping up every now and then. This is an author I shall be watching closely in future; with two such classy novels under her belt I don't want to miss her third. As with her first, this is a definite five star read and one I strongly recommend.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

This was a perfect weekend read, the settings were lovely, specially when in Italy.

It kept me entertained while reading.

Made me feel, and there's even some little twists in the story that were so good! Definitely not expecting them.

Allie was an identifiable character, however I do not support some of her choices in this book.

First book I read by this author, and definitely need to go read You, me, everything.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this one.

Messy really is just the word to describe the family and friend dynamics in this book. The further in you get into the story, the more you realise nothing is quite as it seems.

There are secrets spanning three generation of Allie's family and you slowly get the real story filtering through in amongst the present day activities.

In addition to Allie, we get chapters from Ed's point of view. He is Allie's best friend and again we get their story from childhood to present day story told interlinked with the current action.

i was taken completely by surprise from most of this story, and it take in some tough issues too, which added another dimension to it.

There is a big mystery that leads Allie and Ed, to Italy, and I loved the whole section in Italy. Including seeing Lake Garda and then Portofino. The scenery was described so well, I could have been there.

The characters all seemed really realistic and there is no doubting that the book is well written. I did find the timeline jumping back and forth was confusing at first with no real indicators, but I soon got into the swing of the book.

This is a book that certainly kept me on my toes and I really did enjoy it.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Bookouture for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.