Member Reviews
What an amazing book, I devoured it in a day. The most beautiful story spanning four generations of one family and all the hurt, harm and secrets that have been hidden. The matriarch of the family, Grace who is fast approaching her 90th birthday appears to be the stalwart and it would appear that nothing could unduly worry her apart from the separation from her daughter thirty years previously. The story is told from each of the women, Grace, her daughter Alys, her granddaughter Elin and great granddaughter Beca. Each women has troubles in their lives but we are given a history of their past which goes some way to explain their actions and what has made them the women they are today.
This is a wonderful book, full of emotion but also with some brilliantly funny characters, particularly Soozie, and one you won’t want to put down.
From Grace, nearly 90, to Beca, 16, this is the story of 4 generations of strong Welsh women. The plot covers their sorrows, their triumphs and their loves.
This is the first Ruth Jones book I have read, and it was totally unexpected. I did expect something much grittier. However, after a slow start I really enjoyed it and the ending was absolutely perfect! Reviews say that this is not a favourite amongst RJ fans, so I look forward to now reading all her other books if they are better than this!
If I have one criticism, it’s the overuse of ‘bach’, which became very annoying!
A slow burner, but definitely livened up, one to recommend.
Thank you NetGalley.
I am new to Ruth Jones books and I enjoyed this. I really loved the characters, the main characters being 3 friends, Judith, Catrin and Lana who are from a small welsh town and we follow their friendships over the years but things don't always go smoothly with the friendships over time. I did find it slightly predictable but its a nice solid read
This is the second of Ruth Jones' novels which I have read and is a real tour de force. "Love Untold" is the story of 4 generations of women and the relationships between them. Grace is the 89 year old matriarch, her daughter Alys is an estranged recovering alcoholic, and grand-daughter Elin is head teacher of a secondary school where her daughter Rebecca is a pupil.
The book explores their lives, loves and inter-relationships. Pre-conceptions are smashed and new bonds are formed. This is an emotional blockbuster of a novel.
Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book.
I have read all of Ruth jones’ books so far and absolutely love them. But unfortunately I didn’t think this one was quite as good as her others. That said, I did still enjoy reading it.
I won’t give anything away but my favourite part of the book by far was the end! I didn’t expect it and it absolutely warmed my heart.
I found it really hard to warm to some of the characters. Obviously I loved grace, but Elin, not so much
Oh wow! This is a fantastically moving story about four generations of women in one Welsh family.
The secrets you keep hidden well from those who think they know you best.
A 16 year old Beca struggling with her GCSE's, terrified of what her mother will do when the results come out.
Her mother, Elin, head teacher of the school hoping her daughter does well and goes on to further education.
Elin's mother, Alys, missing from their lives for 30 years and read as far as Beca is aware.
Then there's Grace, Grama Grace, almost 90 years old and glue that holds everything together.
I loved it.
Thanks to @netgalley for my arc of this book and the publishers
Fabulous book but I would expect nothing else from Ruth Jones
I can even hear the voice of Soozi being the voice of Nessa it was so similar in the book I loved reading every word she spoke
The book follows the lives of one family of women Grace the eldest and grandmother of the group who lives in a beautiful house in wales near her best friend Cissie and her brother John. Then Graces daughter Alys who is the black sheep of family hardly ever there people think she’s dead. Elin is Alys daughter who has lived with her grandmother since she was 11 and therefore treats Grace as her mother
Finally there is Beca the daughter of Elin who is Soozi’s girlfriend
The story is brilliantly written it’s really hard to put to down and it made me laugh out loud and shout out loud and cry to so thank you Ruth for another fabulous book
Third novel by Ruth Jones and readers will not be disappointed.
Story of one dysfunctional Welsh family headed by Grace who is almost 90.
Grace needs to find her estranged daughter to heal the rifts in her family.
A story of mothers,daughters and things left unsaid.
An enjoyable read with likable characters.I would highly recommend.
After throughly enjoying Ruth’s last book I was eager to read this one and it didn’t disappoint. Great characters and plot. Look forward to seeing what’s next from Ruth.
Ruth Jones writes great books. I loved her last one, and was eager to get my hands on this one. It was well written with subtle humour, and great characters. I love her writing, and am sure other readers will be in for a treat with this book.
This is another really beautiful book by Ruth Jones. Ruth really does know how to write an engaging book. She weaves love, loss, sadness and happiness into the storyline in such a sensitive way and fills the pages with such great characters and a feel good storyline.
Such a beautiful multi layered story about love, loss and just living life. Ruth Jones does not disappoint. Would recommend.
Told through four female generations of one family, this lovely gentle story is beautifully written by Ruth Jones. I really enjoy the way she writes and how deeply her characters are developed. All of the women in this book are strong, with vivid personalities and different issues, all of which we explore. This is a beautiful read which made me laugh and cry and think.
This was a deep book about the complicated relationships between three generations of women within the Meredith family. Grace was truly an inspiration. 89 and swimming daily in the sea, looking out for her grand daughter and great grand daughter but longing to build bridges with her own daughter. All of the women- Grace, Alys, Elin and Beca, are great characters. Interesting, complex, and very real. A lot of issues are covered in the book and it gets very emotional at points. A beautiful story and one I’m thankful to have read.
Thank you for allowing me to review this latest book by Ruth Jones. I loved it. The story follows 3 women over time. Grace, 89 years old wishes to find her daughter Alys who disappeared from her life many years earlier after leaving her daughter Erin to be looked after by her Grandmother. The relationships between these women are explored well and at different times my sympathy lay with each.of them. The story explores many issues including relationships, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, abortion and control. How should we bring up a child? What do children need to develop as emotionally able adults? What about parents, what do they need? This story covers so much in an entertaining and enjoyable story. It has been very well written.
This is a real page-turner, with (unsurprisingly) great characters and excellent dialogue. The story is compelling with a real twist at the end, which I wasn't expecting. My only complaint is that it tried too hard to be inclusive and "relevant" to the extent that it seemed completely unrealistic. A good escape from reality though.
I really enjoyed this book - the second I have read by Ruth Jones. Grace is almost 90 and wants to find her daughter, Alys and reunite her family. She is close to her granddaughter, Elin and Beca, her great granddaughter. Each of the feisty women are struggling with life, each with wounds which need healing.
This is a story of mother and daughter relationships, a bittersweet tale of heartbreaks, forgiveness and joy.
I was surprised by the ending but enjoyed it anyway.
One I will be recommending.
Ruth Jones has the gift of being able to write really relatable characters. This book tells the story of four women who all hail from the same family. Secrets, lies and mystery are all at the core of this novel with a good dose of Welsh humour thrown in for good measure. ‘Nessa’s’ voice shines through in Soozi, who made me laugh out loud. Her brash yet vulnerable character was one of my favourites.
The last few chapters tugged at the heart strings. This is a great read.
Please keep writing Ruth Jones - I love all three books so far! This is thought provoking in terms of forgiveness of past mistakes, family secrets and relationships. Characters become so real and the story is engrossing.
Ruth Jones is amazingly talented, never understood why Corden got all the recognition for their scriptwriting, this book just confirms my suspicions