I enjoyed this book but I personally preferred the authors previous book to this one
I enjoyed the story and the characters
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for opportunity to read this book

Getting Away is an intriguing novel. It weaves a couple of story lines over several generations, and entirely while we're with the Smith family on holiday. The holidays start in a modest way with a day trip to the seaside by bus. This was a common practice in the 30s when only the wealthy could afford holidays. The destinations change over the decades.
The story line is mostly focused on the differing attitudes to illegitimacy over 70 years. It's told from the perspective of the two women involved and their children. The result is a fascinating tapestry of social history and family relationships. Thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books for the advance digital copy in return for an honest review.

It was a blog post that sent me to Kate Sawyer’s first novel The Stranding. It made me cry and then she did it again with her second This Family. Her third is the lives, loves, tragedies and ceremony of a family over almost a century, viewed through the prism of holidays. And yes it made me cry. Again.

In other hands, this could be dismissed as pile of romantic fluff. But as she is a writer that has shown progression with every novel, so let’s not even go there. This a beach of a novel that has the carefree style of a Summer read, but tread carefully - you might step on some glass.

If you’ve read her previous work, you’ll know she’s fantastic with structure - The Standing flashed back and forward to pre/post apocalyptic times, This Family had what looked like a prefect family with tragedy holding them together, pushing them forward. This has the family moving through history, with events breadcrumbed, reinterpreted, hinted at. She’s excellent at characters, even the worst ones in this book.

Underlying it though is a novelist who is hopeful about humanity. And at a time in history when we need reassurance that human decency and happiness will win out, that is to be celebrated. It’s published by Zaffre on July 3rd and I thank them for a preview copy. #gettingaway.

A great holiday read which follows the trials and tribulations of the Smith family through many decades..
There is a lot of social history in the book that are specific to the different decades which informs the reader of how far our society has progressed.
The title is significant because each story of each decade the family are away on holiday..

An enjoyable read that takes you through the lives of a family. The author manages to encompass many aspects of family life in just one family. It would spoil the read for others to list them all. I recommend readers to enjoy for themselves..

Kate Sawyer’s Getting Away is an extraordinary journey that goes far beyond a typical holiday read. The story follows the Smith family, who embark on a transformative journey through the years, with each holiday destination revealing more about their evolving relationships and hidden secrets.

Margaret Smith, along with her family, experiences an ordinary summer day that turns extraordinary as they leave their familiar life behind for the beach. The simplicity of this first getaway sets the stage for a rich exploration of family dynamics. As the years pass, we see the Smiths change in ways both big and small, their love stories beginning and ending, and their secrets gradually coming to light.

What I particularly loved about this book was the way Kate Sawyer uses holidays as a backdrop for the family’s growth. Each trip becomes a mirror, reflecting the shifts in their lives, while the warmth of the setting contrasts with the underlying complexities within the family. Sawyer’s writing is elegant and empathetic, drawing you into the lives of these characters. There were so many poignant moments that I wanted to revisit, and I appreciated the way difficult and relatable topics were handled with such grace.

With each page, you feel more connected to the Smith family, and by the time you reach the end, you’ll find yourself missing them, as if you’ve lived these years alongside them. This is a book that lingers long after you’ve finished, and it’s one I won’t soon forget.

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