The Light in the Hallway by Amanda Prowse #bookreview #contemporary #romance

Title: The Light in the Hallway

Author: Amanda Prowse

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Publication Date: November 11, 2019

Page Count: 343

My rating: 4 1/2 stars

About the book:

From the bestselling author of The Girl in the Corner comes the moving story of a man whose life is changed in an instant. How do you start again when you lose the only love you’ve ever known?

When Nick’s wife Kerry falls ill and dies, he realises for the first time how fragile his happiness has always been, and how much he’s been taking his good life and wonderful family for granted. Now, he suddenly finds himself navigating parenthood alone, unsure how to deal with his own grief, let alone that of his teenage son, Olly.

In the depths of his heartbreak, Nick must find a way to navigate life that pleases his son, his in-laws, his family and his friends—while honouring what Kerry meant to them all. But when it comes to his own emotions, Nick doesn’t know where to begin. Kerry was his childhood sweetheart—but was she really the only one who could ever make him happy?

And in the aftermath of tragedy, can Nick and his son find themselves again?

Having read a few of Amanda Prowse’s novels now the one thing I expect to find is a roller coaster of emotion behind every page and The Light in the Hallway was no exception. This contemporary novel is told not only in the present but with flashes back to the past to get a deeper understanding of the characters.

When The Light in the Hallway begins we learn that Nick and Kerry have been in love most of their lives and now Nick is having to say goodbye as Kerry has been ill.  This leads to the question of how does one go on without the one you love in your life? Nick is not alone in his grief as he and Kerry have a teenage son who is also now without his mother so father and son both lean on one another as they learn to navigate what comes after losing that light from their lives.

Although a lot of this novel is dealing with loss and learning to cope with that pain and just how one moves on in life there are also moments of happiness and joy to complete that roller coaster feeling the author is known for. The main character takes a journey emotionally while evaluating all of life’s choices and whether the path he chose was the right one or the what ifs things had gone differently in life. Knowing ahead of time to keep the tissues near I thoroughly enjoyed all the highs and lows of this story and in the end would give this one 4 1/2 stars.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Find this book online: 

Goodreads  /   Amazon

About the author:

Amanda Prowse likens her own life story to those she writes about in her books. After self-publishing her debut novel, Poppy Day, in 2011, she has gone on to author twenty-two novels and six novellas. Her books have been translated into a dozen languages and she regularly tops bestseller charts all over the world. Remaining true to her ethos, Amanda writes stories of ordinary women and their families who find their strength, courage and love tested in ways they never imagined. The most prolific female contemporary fiction writer in the UK, with a legion of loyal readers, she goes from strength to strength. Being crowned ‘queen of domestic drama’ by the Daily Mail was one of her finest moments. Amanda is a regular contributor on TV and radio but her first love is, and will always be, writing.

You can find her online at http://www.amandaprowse.com, on Twitter or Instagram @MrsAmandaProwse, and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/amandaprowsenogreaterlove.