This book is a tale of how family dynamics and how we try to mould ourselves in order to fit in. Our need to be liked and accepted can make us suppress our feelings and this will affect our feeling of worth.
Flora has no family. Her mum died when she was young and she was brought up by her aunt who made it clear that she wasn't really wanted.
Then she meets Jack. Jack has lost his wife, the saintly Becca, who is everything Flora is not. His children don't want her replacing their mother. All have secrets which affect how they feel.
Can it ever work?
Delicious mix, just right for curling up at home, by the fire or in the garden

Flora lost her only parent as a young child and spent her formative years living with her cold Aunt feeling unloved, unwanted and in the way. Now after her Aunt’s death she finds herself forging a life of her own, however it’s not all it’s cracked up to be as it’s made her realise just how small her life actually is, with work being the most exciting thing she has. Flora has followed in her Mother’s footsteps and loves her job working in the same florist as she did and it’s a chance meeting there that turns her life as she knows it upside down.

Jack was thrust into single parenthood after the untimely death of his wife Becca and finds himself relying heavily on his teenage daughter Izzy to help keep things running at home. Realising Izzy deserves a special treat for her forthcoming birthday Jack finds himself staring blankly through the florist window at the huge choice not knowing where to start. In steps talented Flora who knows just the right floral combination to bring a smile to Izzy’s face and before he knows it Jack has asked her to join him for a coffee.

Cue a fledgling romance with the added complication of grieving children who may not be ready for the introduction of someone new in their Father’s life. Fate however has ideas of it’s own when an accident means Flora is made homeless and finds herself not only temporarily living in Jack’s spare room, but invited on the family’s annual trip to Cumbria to stay with Becca’s oldest friend – surely a recipe for disaster?

I expected Family For Beginners to be a relatively light-hearted read despite the mention of bereavement in the synopsis, however I was thrilled when what I actually got was a story with depth and substance. Whilst on the surface it’s a tale of two families coming together to form a ‘blended family’ it actually documents the emotional turmoil and upheaval felt by each and every character and how grief, loyalty and secrets have a significant impact on the ‘moving on’ process.

It’s a beautifully written story -that had me in tears more than a handful of times! – filled with likeable, relateable characters whom I found myself really invested in. In particular I found myself drawn to Flora whose strength of character and fierce loyalty really shone through. Despite having a difficult background herself and not having an easy time getting to know stroppy teen Izzy, she kept a smile on her face and didn’t give up, even when it could be to her own detriment.

A special mention also has to go to the backdrop of this story which begins in the colourful, fast paced city of New York, before switching to the stunning landscapes of my home county of Cumbria. Whilst the contrast between the two couldn’t be any more different, Morgan has written both so vividly I could envisage them both perfectly which added something extra to my reading experience.

I could talk at length about this book, however I want to avoid any spoilers, but suffice to say I LOVED it and would highly recommend – it’s an emotional ride, but will leave you with that warm fuzzy glow! It’s the first of Sarah Morgan’s books I have read, but will actively be seeking out some of her back list, having really enjoyed her writing style.

What a lovely and easy book to read, could really identify with the way the story unfolded. Would definitely recommend

Firstly I’d like to thank Sarah Morgan for helping me get my reading Mojo back. In these uncertain times with this awful Coronavirus I was struggling to read anything. I picked up this book and the way it was written just drew me in and before I knew it I couldn’t put it down and my Mojo was back. When we lose somebody close we all struggle and grieve in our own way. This book has everything in it. Grief, lose, fear, love, friendship and family. Things are always changing, but often we have such busy lives we don’t notice these changes and just carry on. When something devastating happens and our world as we know it stops, this is when we realise that nothing stays the same forever. This is a beautifully written book about love, lose, and new blended family. I highly recommend this book it’s a fabulous 5 star read.

I absolutely loved this heartwarming read about the complexities of love, grief, family and relationships. A really heartwarming story that has substance but isn’t too heavy. Highly recommend..

Lovely heart warming read. I went through a rollercoaster of emotions reading this beautiful story. There is so much love in this book. This is a story about love, loss, family, and new beginnings.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Yeh I really liked this. I love Sarah Morgan's books anyway, so this wasn't a surprise.

If you want complicated family dynamics, a complicated, interwoven, character driven narrative and a satisfying conclusion... Then this is for you.

I liked all the characters in some way or another. Isabel and Becca particular favs.

One I'd recommend for sure.

I haven’t read any of Sarah Morgan’s other books so approached this one with a pretty open mind. From the cover design, I thought it might be a bit of a fluffy, light hearted read. But it was actually more than that which was pleasantly surprising.

The book takes it in turns to tell the story from the major character’s points of view. There is Flora who lost her Mum when she was young and is always looking to please others and fit in. She meets Jack who has lost his seemingly perfect wife, Becca, to a sudden and tragic illness. Could Jack give Flora that sense of belonging? There is his teenage daughter Izzy who is desperately trying to hold her family together while having the burden of keeping a huge secret. And then there’s Becca’s best friend Clare who is also keeping a secret for her friend but is hugely resentful for the pressure that has put her under and makes her question their friendship.

All of these stories are expertly interwoven and while the plot is fairly predictable, I found myself caring for the characters. I was genuinely driven to tears by some of the story, particularly the conversation towards the end of the book that felt like a “Daddy, my Daddy” (The Railway Children) moment!

All in all, a heartfelt story told well. I would definitely recommend!

Sarah Morgan never fails to make me happy. I love every single one of her books, and this one is just as heartwarming as I hoped it would be. Perfect quarantine reading!

Izzy is a teenager who is very stroppy and makes it well known to Flora that she is an outsider and does not belong. Molly adores her. Flora realises that she has a lot to live up to.; Becca it seems was without a flaw, perfect in every way. A Mary PI adore Sarah Morgan novels and I was not disappointed in this one, It was extremely well written and I thought the dynamics of the characters were spot on. It is very hard to get over the death of your mum, especially when you are young. As a father you have to keep going even though it is hard to do so. Izzy and Molly were left with just their dad the day their mum died. Izzy went into the mould of Becca (her mum), cooking, taking over the care of Molly, the younger of the two. Jack the dad did not realise that deep inside Izzy was hurting, he thought she was coping extremely well. A year after the fatal accident he goes into a florist wanting a bouquet for his 17 year old daughter. Flora is the lucky one to serve him. Is it love at first sight? Flora had had a wonderful childhood until her mother died. She was sent to an aunt who did not want her. Flora fought to gain her love but to no avail. She knows what it is like to be alone. Suddenly she finds herself in the midst of family life. A teenagoppins of the dance world. All families have secrets. On vacation to see old friends of Jack and Becca the story unfolds. This is a great holiday must read book and I am sure a few people will emphathise with the characters. Thank you Sarah Morgan for entertaining me and NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review

I discovered Sarah Morgan after reading her recent Christmas book, A Wedding in December, which I absolutely loved, so I was thrilled to receive an early copy of her latest, Family for Beginners.

Family for Beginners is a clever romcom spin on Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca. Flora was raised by an aunt who never really wanted her. As a result, she has always longed for a traditional family of her own. When Flora falls in love with widowed Jack, who has two daughters, it seems as if all her dreams are about to come true. But Jack's eldest, the teenage Izzy, makes it clear their family is doing just fine without Flora - and she'd quite like to keep it that way! And the more Flora learns about Jack's late wife, the saintly Becca, she begins to realise it will be impossible to compete...

Despite the themes of grief, loss and abandonment, Family for Beginners is a lovely, uplifting, heart-warming story about relationships between family and friends. The main viewpoints are Flora and Izzy, and we get a terrific insight into two women who, ordinarily, could have been good friends. There is humour, when Izzy's various schemes to trip up Flora backfire spectacularly, as well as sweet and sexy romance. The gorgeous holiday home, overlooking the water in the Lake District, is virtually a character in itself.

Sarah Morgan is a genius at creating flawed, realistic characters we can all relate to. As much as I loved Flora, I think poor Isabel was my favourite as she struggled to deal with the guilt she felt after her mother's death. The characters are so real, so perfect, so cleverly drawn, I think Family for Beginners is Sarah Morgan's best book yet. One of my favourite reads this year!


Thank you to Sarah Morgan and HQ for my copy of this book, which I requested from NetGalley and reviewed voluntarily.

Flora has felt alone since her mother passed and she was grudgingly taken in by her aunt, she is thrilled when Jack takes an interest. She feels like she has so much to contribute to his family as his two children are going through the same pain. However the reality of meeting them is so completely opposite to her imaginings that she begins to question how the relationship will survive. Jack seems oblivious to the problems and invites Flora on their traditional family holiday where everything comes to a head. Sarah Morgan is so good at describing family interactions. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this story. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

There's one thing I can be sure of with a novel from Sarah Morgan - it will be an excellent read and different to any other of hers!

When Flora meets Jack she falls hard. But Jack comes as part of a package; a widower, he has two daughters and the elder one is very protective of her current family unit and doesn't welcome any outsiders. When it is proposed that Flora joins them on their annual holiday to England's Lake District, she wonders if she can live up to Becca who was, apparently, the perfect wife and mother, and also best friends with the couple they are going to stay with. Can Flora manage to survive these three weeks?

Another terrific read from an author who really understands her characters! This is a wonderful novel, full of hidden secrets and misunderstandings and beautifully written, as always from Sarah. The characters really come alive on the page and it makes for an enchanting read. Perfectly true-to-life with lots of ups and downs along the way, and some of the funniest conversations I've ever come across! A superb read, one I highly recommend and absolutely earning all five sparkling stars!

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

Such a wonderful read and Sarah Morgan at her finest. Family is never easy and it's much harder when you're deceased best friend tells you a secret that prays on your mind. Only the secret isn't a secret, only no one realised that anyone else knows. Highly recommended

I loved this book, it’s a joyous love story and a story of two families blending together
Also a story that reminds us that people put on a pedestal don’t always deserve to be there
I felt every characters pain, fear and happiness
In our uncertain times a beautiful book to transport you to a different place

This book was a little slow to begin with, and confusing as you tried to work out how each narrator is connected but once I got into it I really enjoyed it!

The book follows Flora and Izzy, with a little input from Claire. 
Flora works in a flower shop and is trying to work on pleasing people less when a beautiful man, Jack, comes into the shop. She can tell there is a story behind him and it turns out he is looking for flowers as a gift to his oldest daughter who turns out to be Izzy.
Izzys mum died suddenly last year and she is still trying to figure out life without her in her life.
Claire was Becca, Izzys mums, oldest and best friend and is struggling with the secret that she had hoped died with Becca.


As is expected, I think, Flora and Jack end up hitting it off and dating. However when Jack decides to bring Flora home to meet Izzy and her little sister the girls are less than impressed by the new woman in their lives. The book follows the family as Flora tries to figure out how to fit in and Izzy tries to figure out how to get through all the changes. She has been looking after her little sister and helping her father cope, but with Flora on the scene it seems like her role is slipping away and Izzy isn't sure where she stands in the family without it. 

The characters in this book are very well written. As you are reading you can feel and understand Izzy, especially her feeling of loss which made me want to jump into the book and give her a big hug! I also really enjoyed Floras character, as she develops from someone who will do whatever anyone asks to more of her own person, helped by being part of the family and not hindered by the developing relationship with Jack! 

Although some parts of this book are heartbreaking I think each characters story is beautifully woven together in a way that is both real and believable and this would be a wonderful read for anyone who enjoys womens fiction.

A very enjoyable book, with lots of emotion.

Jack is a father of two girls, Izzy 17 and Molly 7, and they lost their wife/mother a year ago very suddenly. Then when buying flowers for Izzy one day Jack meets Flora, who works in the florist, and a romance starts. Izzy has no family, having also lost her mother when she was young (8 years) and recently lost her aunt who took her in when her mother died, but was very unloving towards her and just put up with her all her life.

Flora was a really lovely character, although a bit too much of a 'pleaser', trying to make everyone happy, sometimes to her detriment. But this slowly changed as the book went on and she became slightly more assertive, but still keeping the lovely caring person that she was.

Jack, whilst obviously a loving father and nice guy, was clueless and did irritate me quite a bit. He had absolutely no idea what was going on in his daughters lives, especially Izzy who was really struggling but had stepped into the mother role and was acting perfectly, as if everything was really under control, to keep everyone happy.

But then Flora got together with Jack and things started to get interesting, as another woman coming into the mix was bound to cause friction with Izzy.

There are secrets being kept by a few people that come out as the story progresses and are eventually resolved, most revolving around the deceased wife/mother, Becca, who still seemed to be controlling everyone even after her death.

A really enjoyable read that got better and better as the book went on, with the story definitely revolving around all the female characters, with the male characters taking more of a back-seat.

This book was a real roller-coaster. I laughed, I cried and I wanted to scream at some of the characters. Sarah Morgan paints a picture of love and grief within a family unite perfectly. You could feel the hurting pouring from the pages. Very powerful stuff.

Flora is a florist. Through living through her own challenges Flora has become a people pleasure, never saying no or putting herself first. As a result when she meets Jack a widower and with two young daughters, Flora does everything to "fit in" even as far as go on a three week holiday to Britain to stay with friends of Jack's late wife. Things aren't going smoothly as she had hoped, especially trying to get Jack's oldest daughter to accept her.

This book is as real as books can possibly get. It shows the stages of grief and loyalty. We never really know what is going on in a family dynamic. It is also a slow burner.

I would recommend this book.

Firstly, this is my first Sarah Morgan novel and although I am familiar with name, I have not yet have read her books until now. The only thing is that I can say is that now, I know why this author has such good word of mouth and I am thoroughly and deeply impressed.

The novel is rife with deep emotion, empathy and understanding which is rewarding experience as the reader is able to experience the pain of passing and how each character is able to guide you through the many facets of the emotion. The characters are all deeply written with a three dimensional concept that breathes life into them. Dealing with death in a family and people on the outside looking in, Morgan does an exceptional job to explore the many levels of grief.

The plot flows at extremely good pace and the personal experiences found within the pages makes the novel even more engaging. The many different aspects of the novel are fully explored giving the story an overall richness.

Overall this is a fantastic read that should be experienced by everyone. With its fully developed and realised characters to the exceptional way the source material is handled. Morgan has deserved her crown of fiction and here she shows what her calibre is able to accomplish. A must read.

I am a massive fan of Sarah Morgan, I have read many of her series of books, my favourite being her 'From Manhattan With Love' series. I've read a few of her stand-alone novels too and recently reviewed the wonderful 'A Wedding in December' so I pounced upon the chance to sample her latest work and I was not disappointed.
Families are a complex thing, no two families are alike yet I think we all have that idea in our heads of how a family should behave. In reality, there are no set rules and everyone has to find a way to make their family work, and joining a new family can be hard as our heroine Flora discovers. Her new man Jack recently lost his wife, Becca, less than a year ago and still bears scars naturally. Jack seems perfect but although he wants her in his life, he doesn't seem to include her in everything as she eventually discovers. Jack's two daughters are very different in their attitudes towards the newcomer into the fold, the younger daughter Molly's acceptance and the elder daughter Izzy's hostility. So it's inevitable things don't go to plan and a holiday with her predecessors best friend doesn't sound like the best idea, especially as Becca seemed to be the perfect woman.
One of the main messages of this novel is to be yourself. If you're trying to it in or putting on a different persona to your own then it's not long before things go wrong. By being true to yourself, by remaining honest with those you love, that's how you resolve problems and learn to live together happily. A good lesson for us all to learn.
Also set primarily in the Lake District setting which I love was a great pull for me and I loved the idea of the boathouse on the lake and all that lovely scenery on your doorstep. Sarah has a wonderful style of writing that just brings everything to life so vividly and clearly. And a bonus was that the dog's name was Chase, just like my sister's adorable bundle of fluff.