Firstly, I would like to say thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this book. For anyone planning on visiting the city of Prague, in which the story is mainly set, this would be a great insight and a brilliant alternative from the usual tourist guides. However, as I was reading this book purely for the story I felt a little bogged down with the shear amount of facts about the city and felt they somewhat overshadowed the underlying story slightly. The story in itself was very good and the twists that cropped up towards the end took me by surprise and compelled me to continue reading, just to find out the outcome. The closing couple of chapters brought the story to a nice agreeable conclusion.

Unputdownable, poignant, evocative, endearing read

Reading this book during the Christmas holidays gave it a special feeling. As the blurb suggests – three women from different backgrounds and ages travel to Prague for three very different reasons. They have one common denominator – love. One knows that she has definitely found her soul mate; the one she knows she wants to spend her entire life. The other is not so sure – is this her soul mate or merely a friend. And, the third thought she had known love but realised it was a mistake. This is her second chance and yet …. Um if I tell, it would be a spoiler. In her novel Broom attempts to explore that elusive emotion love that has been eulogised throughout the centuries, the reason for wars, the reason for living or dying. She reaches deep into the hearts of these three women and lays bare their very souls as she shares their emotions with the reader. And yet, it is much more than that – growing up gets a whole different meaning in Broom’s novel. With tenderness and insight, Broom mesmerises the reader as she draws one into the plot. Unputdownable one forgot to live, totally immersed in the book as it twists and turns from start to finish. The beautiful city of Prague springs to life under Brooms penmanship. The sights, the sounds all meld skilfully with the plot. If one has never visited Prague, one will certainly yearn to visit it after reading this novel. Brooms love for the city shines through or she may have an ulterior motive lol. There is only one small blip as she loses it briefly towards the end for one of the protractors. I am not at all sure life could be rearranged so easily though it has been known to happen. However, this does not detract from an enthralling read. This is definitely a keeper for many more cold dark and wintry nights.

This book follows three women as they head to Prague on life changing moments of their lives. The book was nicely written, at a nice pace and going back and forth between all the connected narratives. It was fun to get to know Prague through the knowledge and discoveries of the characters, and great knowledge (or research) from the author I presume? If anything it definitely made me want to head to Czech Republic. I liked the legend of the 'year and a day', but it literally made no sense in the context of this story which, as you'll find out, doesn't last for a year and a day. It was also interesting to see the characters evolve along the narrative, but I saw the different endings coming from the beginning. So while suffering from cliches, it was a lovely read, perfect for a winter holiday!

Very intriguing story, with an unexpected twist at the end.
Absolutely loved all of the characters and really got to know them.
Highly recommend.

Please note: I have not finished this book. Nor do I intend to finish it.

It's quite out of character for me to choose to opt out on a book, I mean I don't think it's sinful (it's the right of any reader), but I do hate leaving a story incomplete. I need to know its end, even when I don't particularly want it to end, else it would just plague my thoughts.

That's where this book is different. I think it had a lot to do with there being three couples: Hope and Charlie, Ollie and Megan, Sophie and Robin. Usually I can handle there being a handful of (well, in this case: three) stories at one time. But, for me, with this book, it was exceptionally difficult. Perhaps because I only really cared about one couple: Sophie and Robin. So, when the other characters came into the story, I didn't really care much. I've been procrastinating so much on reading this book, which is a huge rarity for me: books are supposed to be my tool for procrastination.

Usually this would be no problem, reading about that one couple that I cared about would sustain me. But, when they actually link in together, actually speak to one another, I really couldn't stand it. I quite like it when the other couple is in a different time, or they're living parallel lives, or involved in a huge event, without ever having met one another. Or when it all adds up at the end, and they all come together. In other words, this wasn't the book for me. This, I found was also the case in regard to the actual writing. The characters were significantly oversimplified, the writing was riddled with phrases that have come to be overused. For example, a character reflecting on how each snowflake is unique. This, is only really memorable because it came across as though the character had microscopic vision and was able to distinguish between snowflakes.

I will though, be giving other books by this author a chance.

I received this book through NetGalley.

This is the first book I have read by Isabelle Broom and I thoroughly enjoyed her writing style. “A Year and a Day” was a great read, captivating and heartbreaking at times. This book follows three women, who go to Prague for holiday separately, but end up meeting each other and developing a friendship. The setting of Prague is perfect for the story line and it is described beautifully, as the cover would suggest. Of the three women, I found Sophie’s story to be the most interesting and felt for her and the emotional struggles she faces throughout the book. I read this book in a day and I am anticipating more from this author.

Wonderful novel with a heart and a gorgeous setting.

This is your typical chick lit book, so going into it, I wasn't expecting too much. It's pleasant in a light, girly kind of way, and the author does well in describing Prague and making you want to go experience it for yourself.
However, the characters are very flat and could do with being more developed. Megan was an irritating character to read, and difficult to sympathise with. Sophie could have been handled a lot better - her storyline had real potential to be quite moving, but instead she comes across as a delicate little bird, not a grieving, devastated woman. Hope is probably the best character of all, but even then, we don't fully get an insight into her. I would have liked to read more about her character.
Overall, its a sweet, frothy, light read. The author did a nice job but fell short of the mark making this any kind of a meaty, substantial read. A story with potential, but ultimately forgettable as it is now.

A Year and a Day by Isabelle Broom.

Contemporary Romance.

“ A Year and a Day” is really a love letter to the wonderful city of Prague. It is a character in its own right within this narrative and acts as a counter point to the emotional turmoil being played out beneath its turrets and upon the frosted cobbles. The traditional setting is wonderful against some very contemporary facets of love

This is a perfect story for the wintertime, you can almost taste the rich meaty goodness of the goulash and smell the spiced sweet scent of the mulled wines, ciders and deep creamy hot chocolate. In fact as a reader in the week approaching Christmas, this was a near perfect choice.

There is a surprisingly deep current of melancholy pervading the stories of each of the main six characters here, three couples all at differing points in their relationships, bound together by shared hotel accommodation and chance encounters which lead them almost unwillingly to become spectators into the hidden depths of their fellow travellers complex feelings, turmoil and loves.

Each person is approaching their trip as a chance for change or renewal, hoping that magic will mend what is fractured. All are stymied by fear of some sort, all are hiding hurts and disappointments that they all seek to bury in the romance of the magical city. This is not a cosy romance, but it is all the better for the jagged edges of the emotions played out.

These are all good people with the most sincere of intentions, but to some degree all in denial. You warm to them all the more because of their frailties and so are more emotionally invested in their travails. My personal favourite is Ollie, the best friend who aches for more, but I liked all the characters and whilst I had realised pretty early on the curveball we would be presented with, as with any great story, the journey is as important as the destination.

There is a particular magic in the way Ms Bloom evokes the atmosphere of Prague in the winter and I sense that the Czech Republic will be boosted in their tourism trade as this book hits the public consciousness, forget the trite tales of Parisian lovers , now comes the grittier, earthier story ,set in gothic splendour and olde world charm with a bite as strong as the frigid wind in the Wenceslas Square.

This is a treat of a book, so settle down with the spiced hot beverage of your choices and enjoy. Many Thanks to the great folks at Netgalley and to author Isabelle Broom for the chance to read this story, a solid Five star experience.