This was powerfully written with a compelling story and brilliant characters. Such a warm and thought provoking novel.

Lucy Dillon is a great author who usually delivers a warm cosy hug of a book, I enjoy curling up and escaping the real world. Unfortunately on this occasion the magic was missing, it was still a good story but just lacking. The humour was there, especially with the descriptions of the other therapists and the homebrew. However the romantic relationship with David should never have happened, especially as it's blatantly obvious that Tara needs therapy herself. It was all a bit too neat and unbelievable. Also I struggled with David's gift, much as I liked the idea it felt a little bit too far fetched.

Tara is a counsellor / therapist who is helping people in the village come to terms with being flooded out after a storm. Not only that but she hasn't got over her mum passing away, her twin brother moving abroad to work, the re appearance of her dad who left when they were younger and a new therapist joining the group
Is it any wonder things are starting to get on top of her ?

Loved the story of Tara a therapist and counsellor at Longhampton Wellness Centre., Tara has problems of her own dealing with her father and a half sister.
The story follows Tara as she has to deal with personal problems and also her work as a therapist.
Really enjoyed this book and would recommend highly.
Thanks to NetGalley for a advanced copy.

I have taken over a week to read this book.
Unfortunately I found it very drawn out and not really a lot happening. I found the main character Tara to be whining and moaning all the time. I know this was the character and how she was written but it dragged my mood down reading a book with her moaning or being down and depressed most of the time.
I liked Molly, she was very sweet.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion

I really loved this book. I love Lucy’s characters and being back in Longhampton was a treat. I really enjoyed Tara’s story and seeing how she dealt with everything thrown at her over the course of the book.

A heart-warming story about family and finding yourself. After the Rain is written from the viewpoint of Tara Hunter, a bereaved therapist who is trying to come to terms with the loss of her mother, while also helping her village's residents to rebuild their lives after recent flooding. Cue the return of Tara's absent father who, while offering his company's services with the rebuilding of the village, awakens a number of hidden memories and reveals some family secrets for Tara.

Ultimately a feel good novel, the author doesn't shy away from tough topics including: infidelity, addiction, bereavement, family estrangement and trauma. Descriptive and well written, I experienced a real sense of threat when Molly and Lloyd went missing and the rainwater started flooding Tara's home (and the village), and utter joy when Tara was awarded the promotion and found happiness with David (as well as herself and her family).

A perfect read when you're looking for a bit of escapism which can also provide hope in your own life. I'll be checking out other books of Lucy's in the future.

I so wanted to love this book but I have to be honest and say there was something missing for me. I think I found it a bit too slow moving and if a book doesn't capture my attention straight away, I find it so hard to continue reading. I think the basis of the book being around flooding and Tara, who is a counsellor, helping the victims is a good idea but I think I need more of an escape from real life and that is why I struggled and found the book slow.

In a warm, funny and emotional story, therapist and counsellor Tara Hunter is great at helping her clients at Longhampton Wellness Centre, but she needs to address some problems of her own. She's never come to terms with her father's abandonment of the family when she was just 10, she misses her twin brother in America, she's in a relationship with commitment-phobe Phil and she's recently lost her mother! In a wonderfully engrossing story that begins and ends with floods in Longhampton, she navigates her way through all the emotional turmoil in her life - but will she find true healing and happiness?
This was a gorgeous read! I loved Tara as a character - vulnerable in so many ways, yet fun, loyal, loving and committed to her community. The people who play a part in her story are all such lovely people, too, from the Longhampton therapists (some a bit crazier than others) to her fellow volunteers at the flood crisis centre to her friends and family. Even sexy Phil has his moments!
The plot is well-paced, and the author's light touch brings a beautiful balance of emotion, humour and pathos to the narrative.
I was left with such a satisfactory warm glow after reading this story. This is the first Lucy Dillon I've read, but I'm definitely going to hunt down more.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this new novel.

I have read every bok by Lucy Dillon and enjoyed them but this one I struggled with. I actually put it down since I didn't get into it. I'm sorry for that.

Beautifully written. It's a great blend of serious themes and emotions but also has moments of lightheartedness. There are themes of second chances, family, friendship and we also see the close knit community that surrounds Tara in her life.

I'm so sorry but I just could not get into this book, try as I might. I have read every single on of Lucy Dillon's other books and loved them.
I think that's why I was so excited by the idea of a new novel set in Longhampton. Sadly this just didn't do it for me. I couldn't seem to warm to the characters like I usually can and I just struggled with it. Tara and David could not hold my attention and I just could not seem to believe in them at all.
I do apologise but I'd prefer to be honest and admit that this just wasn't my cup of tea. That being said I'm now going to go back and reread the Lucy Dillon books I have loved.

I'm not sure why I couldn't get into this book, as I usually love Lucy Dillon's books and was really looking forward to reading this one, but it just wasn't for me.

Unfortunately I couldn't warm to any of the characters. Tara, the main character, was just so depressing, and David could hear what animals said, which made him such a great counsellor when people brought their dogs in with them... really? It just wasn't the Longhampton that I was used to. When it got to the point that David recounted a tale of 'hearing' one of his childhood dogs in pain after his dad threw the poor animal out in a thunderstorm, and then dying, that was it for me and I stopped struggling through and gave up.

I've read all of the Longhampton books before this and they've all been really lovely, 4 & 5 star reads for me, so hopefully this is just a blip, but this one definitely wasn't for me.

Lucy is one of my favourite authors so I always like to read anything by her. This didn’t disappoint me and I didn’t want to put it down. Well written.

Lucy Dillon is an author whose book I would read without reading the blurb. This one was no disappointment, making me feel like I'm in the same environment as the main character and a book that I was always desparate to return to. Looking forward to her next book already!

A good read. Tara hasn't seen her dad for years after he left her mother when her and her twin Toby were small. After her mother dies suddenly from a heart attack she has to sort out the family home which has been left to her he suddenly turns up unexpectedly and she struggles to accept him back into her life. She works as a councillor and faces challenging situations but she has to face up to her own problems before she finally finds herself wondering what to do with her life and try to find answers about the past.

I liked this book, its got a good story and the central character is likeable and I found myself rooting for her from the start. She's had a tough time of it, losing her mother and missing her father who basiclaly abondoned her when she was 10, Then theres her brother, who is no support to her at all. You can really feel the depth of her loss,. Its a good story too, set after floods have ravaged a small town.
It's a nice read, good for when you don't want anything too challenging. Easy reading, nicely paced and a good story.

I enjoyed this book, very much, and reading about Tara made me think a lot about my own well being. It is so easy to become the carer for all others, forsaking your own needs, especially if you feel they aren't worthy of being acknowledged, or too painful to analyse.

A shame to say but this book was a DNF for me at around 32%.

I can’t fault the writing at all - it was a very deep, well thought and written story.
I didn't much like the main character Tara, but loved the other therapists and the banter between 'types' of therapist in the centre.
However I just found it quite a slow build with not too much happening to keep me gripped and reading - which isn’t for me, personally.

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for the chance to read an eARC.

Tara is falling to bits Able to counsel others but not get her own life straight.
Her twin is offhand and elusive, her dasher left years ago and now, living in the house her mother bequeathed her she is far from happy
The lively thing about the story is that animals are also central characters.
If you've ever truly belonged to a pet then you will understand David's gift and empathise with him. Heartbreaking, uplifting and exhausting. With a cast of Sybill the cat and Branston and Lloyd both labs and some lovely descriptions of new age therapists and colleagues, to quote one who, "Clapped her hands vertically lik a teenage seal." It's really enjoyable escapism.