A Sweeping Tale…
Are some things better left in the past? Probably, yes. This sweeping tale works past and present well as the reader meets with Daisy, a now famous actress wishing to write her memoir and chooses James, a ghost writer to do so. What is the past connection with James and twins Daisy and Bea? James has reinvented himself. But then, don’t we all? With credible, often hideously realistic, characters and an immersive storyline this is both engaging and compelling.

I did enjoy this novel which was slightly spoiled by the fact that I had read another novel about twins a few weeks ago and the ending to both was very similar. That is not the fault of this book however where twins are involved, authors have a tendency to overuse a very familiar plot line and I will leave it there.

The writing itself was very good and the characters, as unlikeable as most of them were, jumped off the page. There were a few instances were believability was stretched perhaps beyond realism however the story was well paced and well plotted albeit with a predictable ending.

Thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan, Mantle for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

1988, Pencalenick, Cornwall.
At seventeen, Jason wants much more from life than working at his father’s pub and when fate, in the form of twins Daisy and Bea and their small circle of friends, offers him a glimpse of another, more glamorous, world, he’s determined to become a part of it. It’s Daisy who Jason is most entranced by, though. Everyone is: she’s the sun around which others orbit. The trouble with the sun, of course, is that those who get too close risk getting burned – and by the end of the summer, one of the group will be dead.

2018, Camberwell, London.
When famous actress Daisy Hemmings decides it's time to publish her autobiography, she chooses James Tate to write it. James is a ghost writer: it’s his job to step into other people’s shoes; to tell their stories for them. And he’s good at it. Very good. After all, he’s had years of practice at pretending to be someone he’s not.

But what happens when past and present – and truth and lies – collide?

A fantastic read about the people we actually are and who we would like to be….. A fantastic book - really enjoyed the story, and by the middle couldn’t put it down until I saw how it ended! Great read!!!!

Well written with a compelling storyline, dual timeline and well developed characters. I couldn't put it down and read it quickly. I really liked it.

Lots of people dislike the version of themselves when they are young. For every golden girl or boy, there are hangers-on and want-to-be's.
When a small group of rich people come to stay at Rashleigh, 17 year old Jason is entranced. He wants what they have. He wants to be them, and definitely wants to be with one of them.
Roll on 30 years, and Jason has reinvented himself, Gatsby-like as James, a ghost writer to the stars. He is offered the chance to get close again to the same crowd and hopes for another shot with Daisy, now he has the right accent and smart clothes. Some things, however, are better left in the past.