I am always sceptical when celebrities turn their hand at writing a book however I needn't have been this is an excellent read.
The characters are brilliant and are well described each having their own characteristics and story that drags you in and does not let you go until the last page.
I was totally enthralled by all of the characters stories and, though some of the storylines were obvious, it still made a for a great book. showing how friendships can develop out of the most unlikely beginnings I thought it was quintessentially British in it's storytelling and subject matter and would undoubtedly make a cracking film,
A must read for 2022

Free Courtesy of Netgalley

Absolutely loved this book, I didn't want it to end. What a debut book for Sara Cox. It made me feel like I did whilst reading Thursday Murder club, relaxed, emersed in the story with a few laughs along the way.

Becky runs the community centre, that her late mam used to clean. It's a bit run down and not used much, and is being held together by Jack the caretaker.

Becky applied for a grant, which she is awarded so she sets up a pottery class. She hires the Teacher, Sasha and has a few locals of the estate sign up.

The story then follows the potters, and what is happening in their lives until they come back together each week for their pottery lesson.

It is a beautifully written book and I hope Sara continues to write.

Thrown was a really comforting read and left my heart feeling full. It also has a few really laugh-out-loud moments, and I really loved Sarah's warm funny writing and thought the idea was both original and appealing.

I did struggle a little at times in the first half of the book to remember who each character was, but I soon settled in and got to know them.

I'd definitely recommend this one, my only little niggle was I felt the ending was a little too open ended. Just a few too many un-tied threads and unanswered questions that I'm now desperate to know, so a sequel is definitely needed please!

Thrown by Sara Cox ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Superb book. A local pottery class at a community centre brings together 4 women. This book is about new friendships. As the clay moulds so do their lives. There are some proper laugh out loud moments. Well written, lovely characters. Highly highly recommended.
I read an advanced copy thanks to Netgalley. Due to be published 12 May 2022.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder&Stoughton for for allowing me access to this eARC. I was really looking forward to reading this one as it’s been on my watchlist for ages but sadly it just did not live up the hype I’d built for it in my head.

I was hoping for a touching story about a group of women that came and grew together but what I ended up with was a book about some, not great, women who were underdeveloped, whose stories centred entirely around men, and I’m honestly not convinced this book would pass the bechdel test. I was disappointed in all the twists and turns and just the characterisation in general. Not sure what Sheila was on but I was not a fan.

Sadly this didn’t win for me but it might for you.

This is not my usual type of read but the fact that Sara Cox had written it made me request it.
Perfect light read for the weekend or on a beach with characters I felt realistic or identify with. Whilst some aspects of the storyline were a little predictable I did enjoy reading this.

In this book we meet four powerful women.

Becky who is a single mother who is so proud of her independence.

Louise who has a loving husband, and gorgeous children, she has a wonderful blessed wide and feels really grateful for her luck in life.

Jamella - works hard and always tried her best. But there is things that she desperately wants in life and she just doesn't understand why it comes so hard for her when it comes so easily for everyone else.

Sheila - is a empty nester who dreams of escaping to the sunshine. But there is something going on with her husband that she doesn't understand and he won't open up about it either.

All of the woman keep themselves to themselves. There are the friendly hellos but then the community centre is in desperate need of help a d rejuvenation. All the women decide to go to the new pottery class where they not only find escapes and peace through making lumps of clay into delicate beautiful vases a d pots but also friendship, heartbreaks, transformations, happiness, laughter, tears and life.

This is a really well written, enjoyable book. All the characters in the book are really wonderful and you really want them all to get the happily ever afters that they are desperately seeking. This book is also really easy to relate to on lots of different levels. Like a big hug in book form.

Sara Cox's debut novel is a pleasant if forgettable read centred around four women who attend a new pottery class. (I like the title - kudos for not calling it The Pottery Class or The Little Pottery Class at the End of the Road or another of those titles).

There's a blossoming romance between community centre manager Becky and hunky pottery teacher Sasha, though Becky's horrendous, violent ex is back on the scene and wreaking havoc. There's also Jameela, Louise and Sheila, who all have various issues to contend with.

Said issues are largely husband-related - nearly every woman seemed to worry at some point that her husband was having an affair. The "Martin" reveal, though, was obvious a mile off. I can't believe nobody considered it. I liked Becky's story, and the thread about Jameela's relationship with her sister.

There's a fair bit of pottery-making information included throughout, so if you're into that, it would add an extra dimension.

Overall the women's stories were engaging enough, and it was an enjoyable but a little unmemorable read.

An enjoyable first novel by the supremely funny Sara Cox. It was easy and enjoyable to read and perfect holiday reading for my first holiday abroad in such a long time. The main character, Becky, is keen to get her new pottery classes up and running and is hopeful that they will be popular in her local community. We are then introduced to some likeable characters and follow Becky and her new friends through some life changing scenarios.
An enjoyable holiday read and I hope this is the first of many novels by this author. ,

I have to admit until Sara Cox presented Between the covers (the BBC book review programme) I didn't have a clue who she was but she spoke so passionately about books that when I heard she had written a book, I had to get a copy and I was very lucky to be approved for a copy through Netgalley.
Having read the book, I'll definitely be buying a paper copy.

This was a brilliant book that focuses around 4 women: Becky, Louise, Sheila and Jameela. It follows them through various situations that are unique to them while they all attend a pottery class together. I loved the sense of community with the 4 women and the different dynamics between them.
I was disappointed to come to the end of the book as I enjoyed it that much so I am hoping there is a follow up to come.

Another thing I enjoyed was researching a couple of expressions I'd never come across before reading this book. "Cocking the snook" was one I found quite interesting.

There are so many tiny details that make this book brilliant. The story behind Becky's nan's ring was cute and the names made me smile. I'm being deliberately vague there as I don't want to ruin the story for anyone yet to read this book.

Overall a brilliant debut book by Sara Cox and I can't wait to see what else she writes.

Wow I wasn't sure what to expect from this book but it definitely gave so much more!

This is the story of four women 'thrown' together in a friendship which they for at a pottery class. Its not just a light fluffy read but deals with a lot of issues and really stays with you long after you've finished reading.

A must read and has left me interested in what Sara Cox comes up with next!

Four women at a pottery class mould a friendship and with the support of their newfound friends, their lives take on a new meaning. A well-written, poignant, sad, and funny story with well-developed characters.

This is a book that centres mainly on 4 women who live on the same housing estate, yet have not really had much interaction before now.
Becky is the manager of a local community centre and has managed to persuade the 'powers that be' to release some funds so that she can invest in some equipment to start a pottery class. She is expecting the pottery tutor to be a 'hippy' type of a woman, but is surprised when a hunky Scottish man turns up at the centre. They connect straight away and Becky finds that she feels a spark that she hasn't felt for a long time.
On the first class night, Becky is worried that no one will show up, and is thrilled when people start arriving.
Sheila, Jameela, Louise are among the new recruits and the pottery class gets off to a good start.
We find ourselves immersed in the lives of the 4 women, every one of them different yet finding themselves getting along perfectly.
This is a well written story, that moves along at just the right pace, and I really like all the characters - with the exception of Becy's ex, Tony who has been unexpectely released a year from prison, and manages to worm his way back into her life.
I wll definitely look out for more books by this author, and was pleased to be able to give an honest review in return for the ARC.

@currentlyreading__
Book 27 of 2022

Thank you to @hodderbooks, @netgalley and @djsaracox for the e-ARC of 'Thrown' ahead of publication on 12 May. It was a lovely read to start my Easter break written with warmth and compassion. Although an 'easy read', there were a few gritty subjects here bringing together the individual struggles of the women in the community. Set in the fictional town of Lennington, Cox uses single-mother Becky as her main character who wants to breathe life into the dilapidated and stagnant community centre by organising a weekly pottery class with handsome potter Sasha. After receiving flyers for the class, Sheila, Jameela and Louise decide to attend. All very different, they have their reasons for wanting to escape the hum-drum of their lives for an hour a week.

I liked the brevity of each chapter and how it focused on one of the women but occasionally brought a couple together like Sheila and Jameela, two very different women but brought together through their shared loneliness despite both being married (although Jameela's husband has moved out). Although some subjects within the book are very sad, Cox manages to make the overall tone of the book uplifting and full of humour. Although the characters are thrown together, they all seem to mesh well, but as in life some are more of a match than others. Sheila is an acquired taste, a bit of a busy-body with a jumpsuit for each day of the week, but she and Jameela, a high-flying lawyer, just hit it off. It would be very nice, given the conclusion of the book, to see how the future pans out for each of these women.

#bookstagram #bibliophile #bookworm #book #booknerd #bookstagrammer #kindle #instabook #reader #bookobsessed #instareads #currentlyreading #bookchat #bookish #books #saracox #thrown #hodderbooks #netgalley #earc

As usual in my reviews I will not rehash the plot (plenty of reviews like that already!)

I expected this to be a light read - but the seam of grit running through the tale made it a more satisfying read than anticipated.

Ultimately it's a "feel good" type of novel, dealing with the relationships between a group of people "thrown" together (sorry, I couldn't resist the terrible pun!) on a pottery course. It's not all sweetness and light, but the writing is warm, witty and sympathetic, and there are some very likeable characters (and a good "baddie" also!)

Looking forward to reading more by Sara Cox, a great antidote to the increasingly depressing news lately!

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

I rate it as 4.5.

Wow, two words, love it! It was mostly an easy read once I got around to the many different characters. Mostly unexpected plots to me at least. I could fully immerse in it and see the way the characters interact within the story. The openness with the romance bit was a little surprising but not too crude.

On the other hand, I very nearly got lost with the many different characters in this book. I remember sighing a breath of relief when I realised I started to recognise the characters and hope no new ones are being added to them.

I like how some of the plots were left loosely for our interpretation and imagination and not like a cliff end - just the right amount. (I hope that is the case as the last 9 pages of my ARC is blank)

Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for this advance review copy via NetGalley in exchange for honest review.

A fun & light hearted read from Sara Cox.

Telling the story of 4 women who live on the same estate. A pottery class brings them together & they soon share their secrets with each other.

Sara Cox has used her experience presenting The Pottery Throw Down to produce this great book about a group of strangers brought together by a pottery class at their local community centre.

The characters are all really well written and likeable (except Tony - Becky's criminal ex) and there is plenty of comedy. I would have liked to have found our more about how Sheila dealt with finding out her husbands alter ego Ann-Marie, but maybe that will come in book two?!

All in all this is a fun rom-com which will make a great summer read.

Becky decides to run a pottery class in a run down community centre in the hope of reviving interest in it. It’s a story about friendship, community and pottery of course! This is just the type of book you would expect Sara Cox to write. It’s warm witty with relatable characters. Not my usual type of read but I enjoyed it!

My thanks to NetGalley and Hodder And Stoughton for a copy of “Thrown” for an honest review.

There have been quite a few “ celebrity “ written books published recently , mixed in their standard.
I found “ Thrown” by Sara Cox one of the better ones, obviously inspired by her past presenting job on “ The Great British Throwndown “ I found the book a nice easy read , although not frightened to cover grittier elements in life.
I thought the characters were well written and relatable and the book was very entertaining .
I look forward to seeing how her her writing style continues .