Title // Someone Like You
Author // Karly Lane
Publication Date // May 2018
Publisher //Allen and Unwin
Readership // Adult
Genre // Fiction
Australian RRP // $29.99
Rating // ✭✭✭✭✭
I received a copy ofSomeone Like You from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Synopsis
From the best-selling author of Third Time Lucky comes an intriguing, funny and romantic story about past lives and new beginnings.
When bestselling author, twenty-nine year old Hayley Stevens, walked in on her husband, Paul, and her best friend in bed together, she knew her life would never be the same again.
One year later, Hayley stowed her last bag in her much-loved Audi Coupe and said goodbye to the city. She was excited to be heading west to Lochway, a small colonial village sitting on the beautiful Macdonald River. Wanting peace and quiet, Hayley had impulsively bought a cosy sandstone cottage there surrounded by lush rose gardens, with a small overseer's cottage - ideal for a writer's retreat.
What she didn't expect was the almost immediate 'gift' of a very noisy donkey named Errol. Nor did Hayley expect to meet her handsome new neighbour, Luke Mason, when she was covered in mud trying to drag Errol out of Luke's dam. The strange thing was though that Luke seemed very familiar to her.
As Hayley slowly gains acceptance into her small community and starts writing again she becomes almost afraid of the inexplicable visions she sees. What does it all mean? And why does Luke refuse to listen to her?
Written with warmth and humour, Someone Like Youis an intriguing, funny and romantic story about past lives and new beginnings.
Review
Someone Like You was an absolute delight to read.
Reviewing Karly Lane’s books is becoming a staple for me, because I find her writing style easy to read and easy to engage with. Her characters are well-rounded, grounded and easy to fall in love with, which is not always an easy ask in a book.
Hayley’s packed up her life and moved from the city to a small colonial village on the Macdonald River. She’s hoping the move, after her life was upended by the discovery of her husband and best friend having an affair, will give her a fresh start in a beautiful location that’s the perfect retreat to continue writing her books. Within a short period of time she finds herself in possession of a cranky donkey named Errol, and with the arduous task of winning over the locals who see her as an outsider. She also makes the acquaintance of Luke Mason, farmer and neighbour, whose family has a secret history. Meanwhile, she can’t shake the feeling that she’s met Luke before, or that the land around her is more familiar than it should be.
This book had a really lovely thread of magical realism woven through it, as Hayley and Luke begin to unravel the Mason family history, and the tragic love story of two people lost to time. Through a series of ‘visions’ (interpret as you will) Hayley is determined to find the truth and uncovers a story worth writing.
I loved so many things about this book. Hayley is a great character - strong, resilient, and willing to give everything a go. I found it hilarious that she slowly collects an entire menagerie of household guests over the course of the book and takes it all in her stride. She’s determined to uncover the truth behind her visions and sticks to her guns when it comes to confronting Luke about them. Luke’s family were also a highlight, especially his grandmother, who’s quirky and fun and has no issue with trying to play matchmaker.
If you’re looking for something fun, romantic with a little bit of mystery, this is definitely the book for you. I can’t recommend it enough!
I gave Someone Like You 5 out of 5 stars.
About the Author
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Karly Lane lives on the mid-north coast of New South Wales. Proud mum to four children and wife of one very patient mechanic, she is lucky enough to spend her day doing the two things she loves most - being a mum and writing stories set in beautiful rural Australia.
Her bestselling novels include North Star, Morgan's Law, Bridie's Choice, Poppy's Dilemma, Gemma's Bluff, Tallowood Bound, Second Chance Town, Third Time Lucky, If Wishes Were Horses and Six Ways to Sunday. Someone Like You is her eleventh novel.
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