Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC!

This was so good! Such a quick and easy read! I enjoyed the characters and the story! I loved the dual timeline and the multiple POVs. This was hard to put down.

What a gem of a book! It is a fantastic read and had me hooked from the very first page. Thank you Helen for this great read.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I enjoyed reading this book, about two best friends.

Emma and Lise, have been best friends since nursery school, they both have different upbringings, but live within walking distance of each other.

Over the years, as their friendship develops, they enjoy spending time together.

After university they travel to Paris, meaning to stay there for a year, but, something happens that breaks their friendship.

Now, as their children form a friendship, will Emma and Lise be able to put their own friendship back on track?

I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Super enjoyable read. Well written book about friendships. As soon as I read the summary I knew I had to request this one.

Everybody loves a second chance story but what about a duo double chance story?
What fractured the friendship between Lise and Emma? I figured out a key part of the plot fairly early because I figured it just had to be.
The part I enjoyed the best was when the two girls hit Paris for a year.
One part of Emma’s story was very bittersweet.
Sometimes it is beneficial to let and other times one needs to just remain firm.
It does have a happy ending.

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. This was a really enjoyable read. I was engaged with Emma and Lise's story and Rolfe switched between the past and present well and created an engaging cast of supporting characters. A lovely tale of friendship.

This is a story of two best friends. As children they lived a few doors from each other. Where Emma had a happy loving family, Lise lived with parents who really took no responsibility for her. and were lacking in showing any kind of emotions.
As soon as the girls finished university they travelled to Paris with the intention of living there for a year before returning to England. Before the year was out the girls had a huge falling out and while Emma returned to England Lise stayed in Paris. Sixteen years later they meet again.

I really enjoyed this story. I liked both girls and couldn't believe it when they parted. There is a lovely supporting cast in this book and they all helped to enhance the story.
A few really sad parts too including one I was shocked at and really wish the author hadn't written this character out.
I am enjoying the books by Helen Rolfe and slowly getting through them. Loved this one.

For once, I read the synopsis for this book and knew that I was in for a bumpy ride. My female friends are treasured, but I’d be lying if I suggested that none have drifted away over the years, or that others haven’t been willingly disconnected. The challenge of regaining a friendship is a delicate matter, but this book handles the subject beautifully.
The setting up of the friendship between Emma and Lise is particularly gorgeous and I was instantly invested in their connection. I loved reading about the innocence that childhood brought to their friendship, how seeing your best friend can be the most important part of your day,
Emma and Lise – short for Annalise – come from different backgrounds and it’s their differences that help form the tight connections. Whilst this book is somewhat different, I could hear the echoes of Beaches by Iris Rainer and knew that when the friendship became damaged, I would feel the shockwaves. Thankfully, Helen Rolfe handled the conflict without added drama, and I managed to not shed too many tears.
I felt my allegiance to the friends switching as each element was revealed, but ultimately, this book focused more on the recovery than the injury and I welcomed the front-row seat for those developments. The introduction of the additional cast was expertly timed, and I found myself hoping for the best outcome. I even had a wild idea about what Lise’s big secret may be, but I will keep quiet about whether or not I was right.
This incredibly special book celebrates friendship. It is rich with perfectly flawed characters and relatable themes that had me visiting many emotions. Ultimately, it’s perfect and I can highly recommend it.

This was just so good! The characters felt real, the storyline was gripping, the twists were great, I loved the time flips and dual pov, and it all had an intensity to it that made it so difficult to put down. I laughed, I cried and felt bereft when it was all over!

Life

This book is a story of how life happens, causing change, then more change. A pair of best friends from childhood, Lise and Emma always found their way back to each other. They lived in the same neighborhood, but even when Lise's parents' sent her to boarding school, she couldn't wait to get back to Honeybee and see Emma.

Coming of age, venturing out into the world, well, to Paris, anyway. The two girls go on their adventure, rooming together, eating their way through Paris, finding jobs, finding first loves and eventually experiencing some difficulties that led to their long separation. This is where the story lost some of its gloss for me, though, when I found out what was behind "the year that changed us" and the reason for the separation. I don't write spoiler, so I can't give any more details on that.

I felt the book was well-written and a bit slow-paced in parts. I would read another by this author.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

After a slow start I really got into this book, enjoying the story immensely as it travelled back and forth. Emma and Lise grew up together in Bath and, when older, travelled to Paris, the City of dreams, cue love, misunderstandings and fallout but all comes good when they reconnect 20 years later, a really enjoyable story

Years have passed since the long friendship of two women blew up. They reunite testily with issues to resolve. Meanwhile, their daughters connect and become friends without knowing the trouble between the friends
This is an unforgettable story of the power of friendship and the impact it makes on one’s life.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A long term friendships story that shows the ups and downs over the years. Good story if you are looking for a light read.

The Year That Changed Us by Helen Rolfe is the story of Emma and Annalise. They’ve been best friends since childhood. They’ve shared everything - dreams, secrets, adventures - and vowed that nothing would come between them. But some vows get broken. After a 16-year estrangement, Annalise is back in her hometown. Will they be able to put aside their hurt and anger to rekindle their friendship?

This story will pull at your heartstrings as Emma and Annalise try to find their way back to the friendship they once shared.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

I love Helen’s books. This one is another great read. Two childhood friends take a year out to go to Paris. They enjoy discovering their culture, architecture and soon fit into their way of life. Eventually their friendship becomes strained ending with a huge argument. It is several years before they come face to face back home. One trying to resolve their differences with a passion as she has news to tell her old friend, the other intent on not listening. This is a good story with lots of detail. You will discover family, friendship, love and loss. I highly recommend it.

The Year That Changed Us by Helen Rolfe is a captivating story of friendship and secrets that spans over sixteen years. The book follows the lives of Lise and Emma, who had a deep and close friendship since childhood. However, when they decide to spend a year living together in Paris, their friendship takes a turn for the worse, and they become estranged.

Sixteen years later, Lise returns to their hometown, determined to make amends and put things right. However, she has to face up to the truth about what happened in Paris if she wants to restore their friendship. But Emma is unwilling to talk to her, making it harder for Lise to share her secret.

The story is well-crafted, and the emotions are portrayed with great depth. The author has done an excellent job of capturing the complexities of friendship and how it can be tested by life's twists and turns. The characters are well-developed, and their struggles and emotions are relatable. The book delves into the themes of forgiveness, redemption, and the power of secrets.

The descriptions of Paris and the French countryside are vivid and transport the reader to the heart of the city, making it an excellent read for anyone who loves travel and adventure. The narrative is engaging, and the pacing is just right, keeping the reader hooked until the very end.

Overall, The Year That Changed Us is a beautifully written book that explores the ups and downs of friendship, the importance of communication, and the power of secrets. It is a must-read for anyone who loves emotional dramas with a touch of mystery and adventure.

An amazing story. I really liked the two timeline storyline where we get drip fed the back story. It was really interesting to try and piece it together and make guesses as to what had happened and was going to happen. There were some very pleasant twists and surprises. Each character was well rounded, even the secondary characters. Emma’s parents may not have many lines but I really felt I knew them and could feel the love they felt for their children.

A wonderful read about friendship, love and family.

This was a good read. Not always a fan of moving back and forward in time with a story but it works. It is a story of a very close friendship. . You get some sad parts , parents can be so different . It is a clever read and keeps you gripped. I could not put it down as desperate to find what happened. No spoilers , read it.

A lovely story about childhood friends, Lise and Emma, and their friendship. What I really loved about this book was the ending, it was just so perfect, with everything wrapped up in a bow, but it wasn’t sickeningly sweet.

A heartwarming tale of friendship that I really enjoyed.

Thanks for the opportunity to read & review it.