Member Reviews
Thanks to Netgalley for chance to review. An easy read with friendly characters. It was just like a lot of other books I have read,pleasant but not earth shattering. A good holiday read.
I read part of Till The Cows Come Home, Sara Cox’s memoir and just like that book, Sara’s distinctive voice shines through the narrative. The story covers the lives of four women who all meet up and come together when Becky, single mum with a now grown up son, decides that the local community centre she manages needs something new and interesting to bring in the dwindling visitors. She persuades the council to give her a budget to buy some new equipment, namely clay pottery equipment and soon meets up with the new pottery tutor Sasha
With various story threads of the four women’s very different sets of circumstances, it brings big helpings of both humour and sadness to the mix and covers varying social issues between the ladies lives and families. Described as uplifting by quite a few readers, I personally didn’t really find that to be the case and thought it quite a depressing read at times. However I did like Sheila who brought some much needed fun to the story. I enjoyed her story thread.
As I read further into the book and quite a few mysteries started to develop, I found myself getting more engrossed in the stories and its final conclusion was quite a touching one. As an added extra you learn quite a bit about the art of working with clay and making pottery, but this only confirmed what I already suspected, that I would certainly never have the patience for this kind of creativity.
**To be shared to my blog around publication date.
A great debut novel by Sara Cox.
Becky decides to try and bring the local community centre alive again as it used be in years gone by. She helps start up a weekly pottery class for the community. The book tells the story of four women who come together at the pottery class weaving their lives loves and tribulations through them all trying to master a new hobby. The addition of the very handsome pottery teacher adds to the dynamic too. Friendships are made and love interests are on the horizon in this very readable story with wonderful characters and lots of humour throughout.
A great debut novel from Sara Cox, it's all about a group of people who meet up at a pottery class & how their relationships develop & unfold. Really enjoyed it, hope she writes another
‘Thrown’ tells the story of four women who meet at a pottery class. Each woman has her own issues to deal with and this class brings them together as confidantes.
I was thrilled to hear that Sara Cox had written a fiction book and her fabulous wit comes through in some of the characters. This is a light read, which I found to be quite formulaic in parts - three of the women thought their partners were having affairs and there was a common ‘will they won’t they’ story-line. The character of Tony was well-written and the issue of domestic violence was sensitively covered.
I enjoyed the parts where Sara’s wonderful humour shone through but, for me, the book was a tad predictable and the occasions where I could hear her fabulous comedic talent were too few and far between.
Firstly thank you to NETGALLEY, Sara cox and coronet publishing for this ARC.
I wasn’t really sure what lay in store when I first picked up this little story. It was described as a story about friendship and pottery after all which I must admit sounded an odd combination but it certainly worked. And I loved the rom-com element .
I loved this easy to read, warm, friendly, funny , heartwarming story.
The characters were so fully formed and vividly described that they all came to life instantly for me and I felt completely invested in each of their stories. The pottery aspect was a very clever devise (and clearly the author has used her experience on the great pottery throw down to full advantage) and wove there stories all together seamlessly. I wish I was part of their class!
My only sight criticism is it was a little predictable at times but it was such a fun read I didn’t mind that too much.
I read it in two days as I could not put it down. I must admit I was left craving for more though and would love to know how each of the character stories continue so I really hope this will become a series!
I think this book was pretty much what I expected from Sara Cox - light hearted, humorous (but not lol) and easy to whizz through. However, it was also vacuous. The characters were boring and the plot predictable and although I’m sure some will enjoy the simple escapism and sweet story of women becoming friends through their pottery class, there just wasn’t enough to capture my attention.
With thanks to Netgalley for the arc
The story of how a community centre and a pottery class bring a diverse group of women together. Through each of the women’s stories friendships blossom and it is heartwarming to see their support of each other through their various problems ( mainly man related).I felt that the book dealt with some sensitive issues well. Throughout the book I could really hear the voice of the author with all her warmth and humour and am delighted to see that she will be narrating the audio version. I have raced through this book and finished with a big smile on my face.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC in return for an honest review.
Didn’t catch the book being about pottery but the title is so explanatory about the story. We are all thrown in life and the characters were brilliant and so life like. Loved that it was written by Sara Cox as she really does shine through. Really really good
Sara Cox's debut novel is a lovely story of new friendships forming over the potter's wheel.
When Becky, the manager of a community centre, secures funding top put on pottery classes for the locals, she doesn't understand the impact it will have.
This is a well written book in the style of Tony Parsons' "man and boy" and is a good,easy read.
A great new novel. Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for letting me read it
I love Sara Cox and adore Between The Covers, so I was really looking forward to reading Thrown, Coxs debut novel. I was a bit cautious that this would be a light frothy read, which I suppose in a way it is- it is a feel good read that you come away from with a warm glow- but it’s also so much more, a funny, well written story of community.
This story opens with Becky, manager of a tired community centre, and Jack the caretaker, supervising the unloading of some very large crates. Becky has an idea to revive the centre and the community spirit of the estate. She is starting pottery classes.
So begins a novel bringing together the lives of women on the estate, unlikely friendships and love. It's an easy read, charming and satisfying Definitely left me feel good and uplifted.
Becky is a single mum in charge of the local community centre.
Louise is fed up with her job and her life, despite having a loving husband and two lovely children
Shelia wants to move to Spain but her husband has a mum with dementia and seems to be hiding something from her.
Jameela just wants a baby but needs to make it up with her husband first.
Then Becky arranges pottery classes and friendships are formed, people are talking to each other and helping each other.
This is story of life, hopes, loves,friendships and communities.
This book was absolutely amazing! For anyone who watches The Pottery Throwdown it was obvious that it was the author's muse, it had drama, friendships, heartache and community spirit and I didn't want it to end, brilliant!
I really wasn't sure what to expect from this book but I dived in with an open mind. I am so glad I did. I absolutely loved it. This is a story of female friendships, couple relationships and recovering from the trauma of domestic abuse. Although it covers some heavy subject matter it does it in a light hearted way without being disrespectful to the matters in hand. It makes you want to keep on reading and has humour and a feel good factor. I read this in three nights. That tells me it was a good story that kept me interested. Well done Sara Cox. You smashed it! Highly recommended.
Wow, what a wonderful read, had me hooked from the start, a really lovely story with some amazing characters, a real heartwarming easy read
I was looking forward to reading this to see whether the humour that Sara Cox is known for comes through in her writing and I wasn’t disappointed.
The story follows a group of locals who all enrol onto a pottery course at their community centre and who all have their own secrets and issues that are usually kept behind closed doors. But as the story progresses we find out about these things, some maybe a little more obvious to the reader than others, but that didn’t mean I enjoyed the book any less.
This reminded me a little of the two incredible recent books by Clare Pooley, where a group of strangers end up coming together in a heartwarming story that has plenty of ups and downs and the odd twist here and there to keep the reader interested.
Sara writes this story well, with plenty of laughs along the way mixed in with some sad moments that help make her characters believable. Her expertise in pottery throwing is obvious as she describes all the aspects with great knowledge helping to bring this eclectic group of neighbours together in a wonderful, feel-good book.
My thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review
I love how stories like this one make you take a moment to look at the community around you and wonder about what is going on behind the scenes in the lives of people you come across regularly. The mum on the school run who looks totally put together, the couple you see walking along who look happily in love… The inventors estate is full of people with their own stories and it was lovely to read his joining pottery opened up many of them to getting support from their neighbours. From Becky and Sasha to Sheila and Jameela. I really enjoyed seeing relationships and friendships develop and thrive. A wholesome, easy to read and interesting story.
What a charming book! I adore Pottery Throw Down and Sara Cox has clearly channelled everything she learned about pottery during her stint as a presenter into this book,
It’s a story of friendship and finding yourself, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s packed with really well-drawn characters - both male and female - and despite tackling some difficult subjects, including domestic abuse and infertility, it never becomes heavy or overwrought.
I raced through this book and found the relationships between the characters heartwarming and believable. If you’re after an easy read with heart then this is the book for you!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Residents of Investors estate get to know each other at "Go Potty", a clay workshop at the community centre
managed by Becky. The participants have to deal with issues including
domestic violence. infertility and infidelity but gain strength to muddle through and enhance their lives.
This is a charming, funny, and uplifting story. The therapeutic value of clay cannot be underestimated,
I enjoyed this book so much.