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This was a decent read but I have to wonder what kind of adult woman Lydia Grey was to spend 1.5 hours to put on a full face of makeup and straighten her hair to go…climb a mountain. Ridiculous really. I tried to overlook it but she was just obsessed with appearances throughout the whole book, then complains about her ex husband being obsessed with her appearance. What? Jake mistakes Lydia for Lily when he offers to help her complete the list, but tempted to be someone – anyone – other than plain old Lydia Grey for once in her life, Lydia doesn’t correct him. This insightful story takes Lydia and Jake to the great outdoors of England on a venturesome quest to complete the list. I loved the excitement of the escapades amid some beautiful settings. Dyson deftly portrayed Lydia, who had faced losses, as a woman with flaws who made mistakes. With themes of new beginnings and personal growth, along with some surprises, Dyson's writing kept me entertained and interested. Reasoning for a lower ranking? Even though Lydia's story is relatable, I do not know why she felt like she needed an alias "Lily" to give herself permission to start over/find herself. The book also got predictable in some parts. I did love the ending and felt it was suiting. Thank you to One More Chapter, Harper Collins Canada and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this absolutely delightful ebook.
This book is fantastic and shares a great message to its readers. Hold onto those who bring out the best of you and let go of the ones who try to change you. This book gives you strangers to lovers, adventure, love, tears, and so many laughs. I have can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard while reading a book. So, if you want to read a book that will make you want to go on an adventure, this is the book for you. Its lead is Lydia Grey, who at 39 has returned to live with her parents following the breakdown of her twenty-year marriage to Adam. Lydia definitely feels washed up and is just going through the motions. In addition her daughter, Ollie, has just embarked on a six-month overseas trip and Lydia is missing her. However, deception aside, I really liked Lily and just adored Jake. Together they made a believable and lovely couple and I was rooting for them throughout the book. I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.***
I haven’t been so excited to read a book like this in a long time. These characters just pulled me into their amazing group of love and friendship making me feel like I belonged there with them. Never before have I felt like I was part of a story until this book. As the impending final date of divorce ears, Lydia discovers her relationship with her husband, a man she married young after an unplanned pregnancy, a man she has spent her life with to raise an amazing young college aged woman, that the defining relationship with her husband had been a lie. For on an unexpected evening, her husband states he would like a divorce without having had so much as an argument, a conversation, a moment. Just like that exits leaving Lydia stunned, confused, abandoned, and betrayed. Uncertain about why he left the marriage, Lydia reasons after observing him with younger, attractive, and vivacious woman that he desired adventure and had perceived Lydia as boring. Enter Jake Jones, a table tennis pro who has recently retired after breaking his wrist. At their initial meeting Jake assumes that given the name on the list that she is Lily Bennett. Lydia figures it will be ok “because Jake was only going to be her adventure friend. Did it really matter so much if he never knew her real name?”
Jake assumes Lydia is Lily and she doesn't put him right, which later causes a bit of trepidation and wonder about what she is going to do when it comes to it, as they embark on the adventures together. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.” This was such a fun, delightful, and adorable read. I finished this in less than 24 hours because I couldn’t put it down. I loved the writing style, the magic, loved just about everything. She was beginning to develop very real feelings for her very fake boyfriend. Her very fake boyfriend who, as of that moment, still thought she was somebody else.”
The man smelt nice enough, fresh and masculine, and he kissed with a vigour which she was sure came from a place of passion, but something about the rhythm of his movement and the firm grip of his hand on her shoulder left her cold. His name was Matt, or maybe it was Mark – she wasn’t sure. He’d introduced himself, of course, but Lydia had been so distracted that she’d only half heard him. After making herself the perfect wife, and devoting her time to being mum to Ollie, she's found herself alone.
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