Ingrid is dependable. She holds down a partnership at a prestigious accounting firm and for the last year has been raising her preteen daughter on her own. Her less then dependable husband has spent the last year “finding himself” abroad, but now he is back and wants a divorce, and custody. Ingrid’s sister sends her off to the Lakes district for a getaway where she has a steamy encounter with Jacob, a handsome woman who rescued her in the wilderness. When she returns to work after her getaway the last person she expects to see walk into the boardroom is Jacob. Trying to balance parenting, her divorce and her attraction to Jacob will push Ingrid to the limit.
So this was a bit of a slow starter for me, I couldn’t quite get attached. And then Ingrid started to stand up for herself and I couldn’t put the book down. I love watching a great character find their backbone and I was cheering for Ingrid as she finally said the things she needed to. The romance was incredibly sweet and Ingrid’s relationship with her sisters and daughter were beautiful. This really is a book about love in multiple forms.
Thank you to @ronalicollings @netgalley and @emblabooks for letting me have an advanced copy to review. Look for #anyonebuthim February 11 2025
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Ingrid is a mother, works full-time as a partner in one of the big four accountancy firms in London, and has to do all of this pretty much single-handedly since her husband seems to spend his life on various holidays and retreats 'finding himself'. Also, despite being a partner, Ingrid still seems to do all the work while her less able colleagues get the kudos and her performance appraisal is never better than average. Add in an interfering (but well-meaning) Sri Lankan mother and her life feels like one big struggle.

When Ingrid's husband comes home after his year long sabbatical to tell her he wants a divorce, half the house, and custody of their daughter, Ingrid calls a code red with her sisters. She can't believe he thinks he can walk all over her. Ingrid's sisters send her away for what she expects will be a pampering spa retreat, only to discover that it is instead more of a wellness retreat all micro dinners and ten mile yomps in the Lake District. When she gets lost, a charming stranger helps her out and lets her stay the night in his cottage there is definitely a spark.

When Ingrid returns to London she discovers her mysterious good Samaritan Jacob is the new Investment Bank consultant on her big new project. But is getting involved with a younger man a good idea at this time?

I was going to say it was an unrealistic portrayal of life in a big UK accountancy firm but I see the author worked in international tax for sixteen years for PWC so I guess she knows what she is talking about - glad my firm isn't like that!

This was okay. Jacob was a bit of a Unicorn, just too perfect. There was some pointless drama with his mother and I am left with the feeling that somehow Ingrid wouldn't have turned her life around if it hadn't been for Jacob's support - ie not that she did it on her own.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Es un libro sobre las dinámicas familiares, el divorcio, el racismo, la misoginia en el trabajo y en general, la maternidad y las segundas oportunidades.

Ingrid es una mujer de más de cuarenta años que ha dedicado su vida al bienestar de su esposo e hija, hasta que se da cuenta de que su marido no vale la pena, la trata mal y está cansada de tener que fingir que todo está bien. Además, lleva un año sin verlo, por lo que decide pedir el divorcio.

En su trabajo, conoce a un hombre más joven y entre ellos comienzan a surgir chispas. Aunque intenta alejarse, debe trabajar mano a mano con él, y cuanto más lo conoce, más le gusta. Le da miedo lo que pensarían en su trabajo, en el que ya tiene que esforzarse el doble solo por ser mujer. Si comienza una relación con un compañero, su reputación podría quedar dañada. Además, debe pensar en cómo reaccionaría su hija y si aceptaría a un nuevo hombre en la vida de su madre.

La madre de Ingrid no la soporte y odie a su ex.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.