December 12, 2024 – My Sanctuary

Sisters And Husbands By Amanda Brookfield

Ever since the death of their father twenty years before, beautiful thirty-two-year-old Anna has acted as her younger sister Becky’s support, playing the peace-maker in her stormy relationship with their mother, and counselling her through the traumas of a life that has always appeared charmless and problematic in comparison to her own.

Now married to wealthy, handsome David Lawrence, with a luxurious country home and a successful career in broadcasting, Anna’s good fortune looks set to continue. But when she unexpectedly falls pregnant and Becky’s marriage runs into trouble, the door to the sisters past suddenly swings open, exploding all their long-held perceptions both of each other and themselves.

Gina Bennett has had enough after her husband of twenty-seven years lets her down one time too many. Deciding to choose herself, she embarks on a transformative solo journey to break free from the monotony of her life.

She escapes to the gorgeous Greek island of Kalosiros, where she holidayed in her youth, and where she had her first romance with the handsome Nico. Encountering two kindred spirits in Rosie and Deedee, the women bond over art classes and cocktails, renewing their lust for life and a shared quest to find Gina’s lost love.

Together, they navigate the challenges of middle-age, self-discovery, and the liberating power of skinny-dipping. Will Gina find love again with her teenage sweetheart Nico, her husband, or with someone new?

About The Author

My Review

The novel follows 49-year-old Gina as she revisits the Greek island of Kalosiros, where she once enjoyed summers with her mother and a teenage romance. After her mother’s death, Gina led a practical life with her husband. When she finally saves for a return trip, her husband can’t join, so she travels alone, encouraged by her employer. In Kalosiros, Gina befriends fellow solo travelers Deedee and Rosie, leading to a lively girls’ holiday. The journey helps Gina confront her past, search for her first love, and reconsider her future. Celebrating friendship, self-discovery, and the vibrancy of older women, the novel is heartwarming and uplifting.

My Rating