Okay so I started writing a review when I was about a quarter of the way through. At that point in this book I was having a love-hate relationship with it, but now, not so much. The first few chapters feel a little rushed, there’s not a lot of character building or even introduction. The relationship between the MC and her husband also feels a little overbearing and controlling and it felt a little horrid to read, but I can assure you this part all helps understand the reveals further down the line.

By halfway through, I was entirely invested. I gobbled the last half of this book in about two hours. Finishing the whole thing in just 24 hours. There’s a lot of mystery, a lot of unworked through trauma and family history. But there’s also beautiful revelations and relationships being built. I felt like I really needed to read this book, and it will stay with me. I look forward to reading future works by this author.

This book took me a little bit of a while to get into. I did enjoy the author style of writing, and I would definitely like to check out more books from the author in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital copy in exchange for an honest review. And honestly? These are the types of books I love so much...this was a book about family dynamics and there really wasn't much I DIDN'T like about it...I loved the premise, I loved most of the characters and I loved the setting...family estrangement, old diaries, wills, and family you didn't even know you had...I would recommend this one to pretty much any one who likes contemporary novels...I can't even say it was all romance this time...as it was mostly about family and growth.

Interesting book about family dynamics in the aftermath of parental separation. Also includes adoption and baby loss, and controlling relationships so not for the faint of heart… a few tears along the way (particularly towards the end) but it does lead to many different possible conversations. Would be a great book club read. But I do think the title doesn’t do it much justice…

This story follows Pearl as she grapples with the news of the death of her father and what he had left behind. She lives in her dream home with her husband Denny in rural France. Pearl received a call from her brother, Greg about her father’s death and she is presented with a dilemma about attending his funeral as they have been estranged for over thirty years. Pearl went ahead to the funeral and instantly regrets it as her father left her an unexpected set of diaries. What will she find in them? Will it resolve what happened all those years ago?

I really enjoyed reading this. I didnt get to finish the arc so I had to find the ebook for this but I love how complex the characters are and the emotional baggage they carry. The story covers layers of complicated family dynamics and secrets and it was quite emotional as Pearl uncovers each one.

It is filled with bittersweet moments and heartbreaks but it also holds hope and forgiveness for this family as they reflect on missed opportunities and words left unsaid.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the arc.

Thanks for the copy of The Woman Who Came Back to Life. The story drew me in from the start and was a really emotional one until the end.

I like big messy family drama and this book didn’t disappoint. I liked the setting in France. I did feel like the writing was a little simplistic or trite. “Jeanie’s face was red with fury” and talking about the “gloves coming off” reminded me of books for middle grade readers, not adults. It wasn’t bad, I just like a little more nuance especially if there is going to be a fairly slow plot.

What a beautiful story! Pearl, who is 52, has been living a secluded life in a cabin with her husband. She has been estranged from her father and siblings for years, but when her father passes away and leaves her his diaries...everything starts to change. So much tragedy and heartbreak...but also second chances. I really enjoyed this!

Pearl Flowers lives in a fairy tale cottage in the woods in France. Her life is small, strict and safe. Everyday is planned. Mondays she takes the middle path through the trees, on Wednesday the right, and on Fridays, her special day, she takes the long way into the village. If she makes sure to follow her routine, she can avoid thinking about the past. But then an unexpected phone call throws everything into chaos: Francis, Peral's estranged father, has died and left her a bequest. One she can only claim if she agrees to come to his funeral and see the family she's been hiding from for so long. The pace is steady in this heart-warming and heart-breaking read. Pearl is in her 50s and set in her ways. When her father dies, she has to go back for his funeral and meet the family she's been estranged from. I was intrigued by the premise and I wasn't disappointed by the storyline. The story is set between France and England. It did take a couple of chapters for me to get into the story, but once I did, I was hooked.

This is my first book by Beth Miller and I more or less read it in one sitting - it's that good! A story about a daughter abandoned by her father at a very important time in her life, and the belief that he then spent the rest of his life not caring or thinking about her or her brothers, the family he left behind when he met his (future) second wife.

The story has a lot of characters, all with their own complexities and perceptions of the past so is a bit convoluted until you understand how they all fit together. A wonderful book that brings many of our human flaws - wanting to protect those we love, our assumptions and perceptions - into the light. Relatable and touching, and a fantastic read.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC to read and review. All opinions are strictly my own.

Meh. This wasn’t bad but I also couldn’t say it was good. Pearl was an infuriating character. Whining about being labeled Little Miss Mouse but acting meek and helpless at every turn. She can’t seem to make any decisions for herself and has let her husband “lock” her away in the woods. But it turns out she’s been lying to him all along, or at least omitting everything that’s happened in her life. Yet when he finds this out and is understandably mad what does she do? Lie some more. More lies, more cover ups. It’s really terrible. Denny and Pearl both met as carers and instead of being unburdened once they lost both of their charges, Pearl makes Denny her carer. And then complains about it. It really irked me that even after realizing she had kept so much from her spouse, she starts lying about and hiding new things. Not in the least getting on a plane to cross the country instead of traipsing around town as her husband was told. Sticking her nose into everyone else’s business but getting mad when they dare ask about her.

The backbone of the story here is what happened to the father, Francis. Even after the big “reveal” it’s noted that one of his kids knew exactly what was going on and did nothing. This man was in hell for 30 odd years. His kids? “Oh well” Maybe his decision to stay with his new family is exactly the kind of messed up decision Pearl would make herself.

I just felt this was very messy and not well thought out. Everyone in everyone else’s business but doing absolutely nothing to help. Treating each other poorly and then crying when they are on the receiving end.

Pearl has mixed emotions when her estranged father dies. Their relationship deteriorated when he left his first family to set up a second, and now thetre is no chance of a reconciliation. Now Pearl is given a bequest in her father's will and it reveals secrets that make her re-evaluate the past and her present...
The Woman Who Came Back To Life is an emotional novel about the twists and turns of love and life, intricate family relationships, and the bravery needed to face the past and the future.
Pearl Flowers has an unhappy past with very strained relationships with her family. Her father's death and bequest leads her to re-establish relationships with her siblings as well as others from her past that she thought were lost forever. However this puts pressure on her marriage to Denny as she pulls away from his protective security.
The book is written from Pearl's and Carrie's first person perspectives which give us an intimacy into their lives and situations. The narrative tone is naturalistic and has lovely touches of humour which soften the pathos of the plot. The family relationships vary from completely estranged to teasing exchanges, long lost love and new beginnings. There is plenty of grief at all that has been lost but also thankfulness for the love left behind.
The Woman Who Came Back To Life is a wonderfully warm novel about accepting the past and looking to the future.

Hairdresser Pearl lives a routine and contented life with her partner in a French cottage surrounded by woods. When she gets a call from her brother to say their estranged father Francis is dying in England, she is thrust back into the drama of the family that she sought to escape.
Her father has left her a special bequest which may just allow her to make peace with her past and forge a new future.
Meanwhile Carrie needs to fulfil her mother’s dying wish and attend Francis’ funeral even though she has never met him.
This was an endearing, poignant tale as Pearl goes on a journey to learn why her father abandoned her and realises the importance of reconnecting with family.

I enjoyed this a lot more then I thought I would. This is definitely a read that looks at family dynamics - relationships, past hurts, buried secrets, what we believe to be the situation is not necessarily that in someone else’s life. Lots of different characters but written so well that the characters are easily identifiable. I really enjoyed this authors style of writing and even if 2 characters are coming from opposite sides you can identify with both. Listening to this storyline unfolding and it’s not all plain sailing and some issues can’t be resolved but I liked that it didn’t all just work out and portrays how life plays out sometimes. The biggest lesson I took away from it is if someone’s actions hurt you try to keep an open mind and consider there may be more at play and a lot of the time you can’t keep everyone happy and in order to keep some happy others can get hurt in the process but it’s not intentional. Really enjoyable listen that gives you all the feels 🥲🥰…

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this ARC that was published on the 5th of 2022.

Wow loved this book what a fantastic read. I have never read any by Beth Miller before but i would read hers again. Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to review such a beautiful book.

Loved it!!! I couldn't put the book down, then when I got to the end I was sad the story was over. I wanted to read more about Pearl, Carrie and the rest of the crazy family. I'm pretty sure I went through every emotion while reading this, I know there were even tears. Jeanie was a piece of work and a horrible stepmother. You can't really call her a stepmother because she wanted nothing to do with her husband's children. Francis played his part in not seeing his children. He chose his wife over his children. He allowed his wife to dictate the relationship that he would have with his children. By the time Francis realized what an awful person Jeanie was, it was too late and he stayed with her. I'm pretty sure it was because of manipulation, not love. The worst part was I could understand what Pearl was going through with her father. Denny and Pearl's relationship was not healthy. Denny wanted her secluded and all for himself. He loved her but was too smothering. Pearl going to her father's funeral was the best thing for her. She started breaking out of the mold that she had been stuck in for the last five years. Carrie was a surprise to the whole story. I'm still on the fence about Andrea. When she went to visit with Pearl, I thought they might be able to have a good relationship. Andrea needs to get away from her mother. Jeanie is toxic. Loved this book and all the relationships the characters had with each other.

Definitely recommend this book. Loved the characters, story and writing style- so everything about it. The book was magical and beautifully written. I felt like I got to know everyone and was part of the dysfunctional family. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookouture through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Excellent read, this is an emotional look at starting again. Pearl has been sticking to the same routine for years, but when a family emergency brings her home, she has to take a look at her life from the outside. Is it ever too late to make a new start and find happiness?

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me access an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

If your favoured reading material is a compelling tale with a good sprinkling of relationships, imperfection, redemption, secrets and family then The Woman Who Came Back to Life by Beth Miller is a must-read for you! This book is substantially about estrangement, loss, love, parent-child relationships, and lost opportunities, and the synopsis also implies a soupçon of mystery, which was exactly the reading experience I had.

Beth Miller has an admirable writing style: it is seamless, flows well, and is wonderfully expressive. The characterisation is impressive with an unforgettable cast of people that are complex and determined, though difficult and flawed to somewhat varying degrees. The character-driven plot is told from the points of view of Pearl and another initially unknown character named Carrie, as well as extracts from Francis' (Pearl's father) diaries. The story covers the period from 1981 to 2018, but not chronologically. This was an exceptionally compulsive story and the ending was good. I really enjoyed living in the characters' pockets throughout their respective journeys. Warm, deeply emotive, heart-rending, funny, heart-breaking all at once - this book is very highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

I loved this book. I was hooked from the very beginning. Such a lovely story both heartbreaking and heartwarming in the same measure. The diary written in shorthand that could only be understood by Pearl was a wonderful touch. I loved how the story unfolded and really enjoyed reading about each of the characters. A very powerful and touching read. Brilliant.

I think this is the first Beth Miller book I’ve read, but it certainly won’t be the last, I don’t think I’ve felt so many emotions from a book in a long time, it’s so emotional, heartwarming and moving. The writing in is so beautiful, the descriptions so atmospheric and enveloping you as you read, I love an author who truly makes you feel like you are there with the characters. The characters are well constructed and captivating, you really go through the emotional journey and those diaries ! No spoilers, but you need to read this treasure of a book.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion