A feel good read, with Sara’s trademark wit and warmth, I really enjoyed this! A quick read, I loved the characters - Josie was a firm favourite and I didn’t want the book to end

I have been a fan of Sara Cox for many many years, I have read her previous novel and enjoyed it so was excited to get my hands on this ARC, We meet Josie, her husband, her best friend and her daughter Chloe. James and Josie's relationship is stale, her daughter is away at uni, her mother is a character. As we delve deeper into Josie's life we gain a heartwarming perspective. its a warm and envelloping novel.

I just love Sara's books....and when her latest came out I had to rearrange my day to sit and relax with her new book Way Back by Sara Cox. WoW this book was so good it was refreshing, heartwarming story about starting all over again after a divorce. It just took my breath away and gave me hope if it ever happened to me or one of my friends., as you never know! It was a book that would make a great pressie to give someone hope!

Josie's life is fine. Absolutely, completely fine. She has a nice husband called James, a brilliant best friend, and a gorgeous daughter who is at uni called Chloe. Josie and James live in a big house of her dreams and it's on its leafy London street is a lifetime away from the Lancashire farm of her childhood.

But, James isn't in love with Josie any more, and maybe she's not in love with him either?

It's just a habit living together, Getting up in the morning, going to work, shopping, going to bed etc! and it's great to have time to herself now Chloe's flown the nest . . . isn't it?
This is the life Josie never believed possible, in all the years they have been married.
But, things seems to be different between them and they decide to split.

Josie is now excited in starting a new life and is not sure what to do with herself. Everything will change quickly around her, but can she do this? and at her age!?

WoW! this book was a page turner and a great holiday read or a read to lift your spirits!

Thanks Sara, you have done it again............Love you

I quite enjoyed reading this book, I felt the main character Josie was great and I liked the perspective of an middle aged perimenopausal woman! I must admit to being a bit bored with some of the farm storyline but the pace was good and the overall story development was good, I would certainly read more by Sara Cox x

In “Way Back”, we meet Josie as she is preparing to divorce her husband James. While still friends with her soon-to-be-ex-husband, their separation marks a shift for Josie, who has found herself single in her fifties, with her daughter at Uni and her best friend about to move away. On a weekend retreat with her best friend, she realises she is close to the farm where she grew up but had to leave all too soon, following the death of her father when she was twelve, and a quick visit leads to Josie deciding to up sticks and move back.

Josie is a wonderful protagonist, and the plot licks along at a nice pace. The supporting cast of characters are hilarious in their own ways, and I particularly liked the complex relationship between Josie and her mother.

“Way Back” is the first novel by Sara Cox I have read, and I loved it! Sara’s humour sings off the page, and her knowledge of – and love for – the farming life is evident throughout. I would recommend to anyone looking for a nice, easy read, and look forward to reading more by this author.

My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for the arc to review.

I thoroughly enjoyed Sara Cox’s novel way back. I loved all the details about farming and I loved Josie, the main character. Her story was brilliant and it turned in directions I didn’t fully expect. I’d highly recommend

Easy to read and nicely written. Sara Cox writes warmly and sympathetically about a middle aged woman facing crisis.A perfect read for holiday.

I love listening to Sara Cox on the radio so was interested to see what her book was like. At first it was ok but not gripping but it soon took off and I loved it!

The characters are all wonderful, flawed and layered as good characters should be. There were enough twists to keep you gripped. I loved the pigs, the quirky retreat and all the brilliant side characters.

Definitely worth reading!

I had read Sara’s previous novel and enjoyed it very much so was keen to read this latest one.

They say to write about what you know and I feel that she did this as the book is set in the north west on a farm. That’s probably where fact ends and fiction begins, though!

I particularly appreciated the characterisation and sense of place in this book. All the characters are well written as are the descriptions of life in a small northern village. I found the depiction of the mother to be particularly interesting.

I very much enjoyed Way Back and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free advance copy of Way Back in exchange for an honest review.

Way Back by Sara Cox is the story of Josie, who is married to James and has a daughter Chloe who is at university. James and Josie are no longer I love with each other so they decide to divorce whilst they are friends.
Josie decides to go back to the farm that she can remember from her childhood, when her father was alive and they were all happy, or were they?
An interesting look back at a childhood remembered, not necessarily as realistic as it was. Parents with flaws and mistakes made.
Maybe Josie has a chance at happiness with someone else?
Highly recommended

When her father died Josie had to grow up fast. Her mother was an alcoholic and Josie escaped first to University, then to a successful career in banking and finally to marriage and motherhood. Now her marriage is over and Josie has a charmed life living in luxury in London, her relationship with her mother is still tense. A trip to a retreat in Lancashire leads to Josie visiting her former home and she decides that she is going to give farming a go, to go back to what she had as a child.
I have a very low tolerance for what I deem to be 'chick-lit' books and very few authors pass my benchmark but Cox is certainly there with this story. It's massively cliched, the mid-life crisis, the dysfunctional family, the local love interest, but it is also very life affirming and obviously written from the heart. As a piece of escapist nonsense it is absolutely brilliant!

Another thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining novel by Sara Cox, establishing her as a very talented author in addition to her dj and presenting skills.

Josie and her childhood sweetheart husband amicably divorce and she is drawn to her farmyard roots back up north and the dad who died when she was a child. After years of a difficult relationship with her mum Josie is finding she has skills as a farmer and developing a good relationship with neighbouring farmer Will. The party to celebrate her new life and welcome old friends and family causes fireworks that none of them expected.

A joy to read and so well written and characterised. I will definitely be recommending this to my friends who enjoy this style of book. I look forward to reading more from this fledgling author.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

A warm easy read. Quite a heartwarming book in general although there are some spiky moments between Josie and her mum both now and in the past. The main character is very likeable and her various friends and acquaintances are well described and brought to life.
I'm not too sure how realistic her plans would be in practice but don't let that spoil an entertaining story. It was a pleasure to read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this ARC of ‘Way Back’ by Sara Cox.

After some pretty heavy books this was exactly what I needed. It was such a nice read with really likeable characters. I really enjoyed the style of writing and can’t fault it. Definitely recommend giving this a read.

After a great debut with Thrown I had fairly high expectations. Sara Cox you did yourself proud. Well researched witty novel. I could imagine her reading it to me.

Josie had it all. Until it all fell apart. What better than to go back to the start. Back to the countryside. Back to where her life began. With the bonus of finding out some answers to questions she has been waiting for.

Great read. Would recommend

I usually love Sara Cox books but this one rambled too much - I don’t care what everyone’s dog is called. It felt like the editor didn’t like to cut out the waffle.

A beautifully written story about childhood secrets, friendship, self discovery, families, love and loss.
I really enjoyed this book, it didn’t disappoint.
It’s full of heart and a rollercoaster of emotions. I enjoyed the humour which had me laughing.
It has lots of likeable characters, an interesting plot, with a few twists to keep you reading and guessing to the end. Josie’s character is so relatable and engaging.
The story just flows really well. I enjoyed the setting and descriptions of the farm. Just brilliant.
Overall, a cosy lighthearted story I couldn’t put down. Definitely recommend.
I look forward to reading future books from this author. @SaraCox
With thanks to #NetGallery @Hodderandstoughton for an arc of #WayBack in exchange for a honest review.
Book publishes 26 March 2024.

Way Back

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this arc in exchange for a review.

As a farmer’s daughter, I could completely relate to Josie’s tales from her childhood growing up on the farm and Sara Cox’s experience captures it perfectly! This is such a lovely story, full of heart and I have already recommended it to others.

Told over two parts, Josie is in the process of separating from husband James, then moving on to her new life, at the same time reminiscing over her childhood. Many things are questioned by Josie, will she learn the truth of what happened back when her father died, a topic her Mum does not talk about?…

A rollercoaster of emotions for Josie in going back to her childhood home. Overall a good read, I’d almost say a slow burner for me personally, but not my usual genre, but definitely worth reading.

Sara Cox's latest offering, Way Back, weaves a cosy, if slightly twee, narrative that delves deep into the themes of midlife discovery, marital dissolution, and the profound journey back to one’s roots. At the heart of this tale is Josie, a character many will find both relatable and engaging. She is a woman in her fifties, embarking on a poignant quest for self-discovery amidst the unraveling of her marriage and the quiet lull that follows her daughter's departure to university.

Set against the backdrop of London's leafy streets, far from the Lancashire farm of her youth, Josie's story is one of longing and reflection. Cox masterfully captures the essence of nostalgia and the ache for a simpler past, as Josie grapples with the loss of her father in a tragic accident—a pivotal moment that has remained shrouded in silence by her mother and unprocessed grief within Josie herself.

The novel shines in its portrayal of Josie’s courageous step to reclaim her life by returning to her childhood farm, an act that serves as a catalyst for her transformation. Cox's narrative is a testament to the idea that to move forward, one must first look back. Yet, the journey is not without its challenges. The novel occasionally falters, particularly in its heavy-handed exploration of Josie's idealisation of her father, which, despite its intentions, sometimes distracts from the story’s heart.

Despite these moments, "Way Back" remains a delightful read, characterized by its light-heartedness and a charming ensemble of characters. It's a book that sails smoothly, inviting readers to reflect on their paths and the possibility of renewal at any stage of life. Predictable at turns, yes, but comfortingly so, making it the perfect pick for those seeking a gentle escape into the complexities of life and the beauty of rediscovery. Cox has penned a narrative that resonates with warmth and gentle wisdom, making Way Back a cosy drama that’s well worth curling up with.