Leah
Written on May 9, 2017
There aren’t many authors who write books in different destinations abroad (I am still weeping over the fact Belinda Jones has disappeared into the ether) but Isabelle Broom has taken over the mantle perfectly, with books set in Greece, Spain, Prague and (the upcoming) Lake Como. The best thing is Isabelle writes so provocatively; so beautifully, her descriptions are out of this world amazing, and she really makes you feel like you’re there with her characters, that you’re experiencing the heat and the sights and the smells.
Then. Now. Always. is one of those books you devour. I was hooked from page one, when Hannah confesses to having a major crush on her boss, Theo, in such an honest way you can’t help but love her. The trip to Mojacar is her chance to prove her worth to Theo, and she’s determined to make her time in Spain count. Until her sister (sorry, step-sister) Nancy gatecrashes and things don’t seem to be going as swimmingly as Hannah would like… Especially when her best friend, Tom, seems quite enamoured with Nancy (which, dude, is gross. There’s a bro code, bloody well stick to it. Barney Stinson would be rolling in his grave, if that bus had killed him. Which it didn’t. Bros do not date/like/anything other bros sisters or step-sisters).
Hannah is super easy to like, until Nancy comes on to the scene and they basically revert to two teenagers dying to be the one to get someone’s affection. Hannah acts like Nancy is this big monster, come to ruin her life and Hannah doesn’t actually stop (at all) to let Nancy confess why she’s come to Mojacar (which, considering their relationship, should have set alarm bells off all over the place, and Hannah should maybe have took her head out of her bum to wonder why other than to suspect sabotage) and she continually brushes her off and it’s almost like there’s two sides of Hannah. There’s the lovely, sweet girl, doing the interviews with ex-pat Elaine, and then there’s the Hannah who turns into a sulky teenager with everyone whenever Nancy is in the vicinity and I just kind of wanted to punch her in the face and tell her to grow up. We get it! Your dad left your mum and moved on with Nancy’s mum, perhaps overlapping (sounds like they need Jezza to come sort things out) but the pure hatred for Nancy seemed a bit OTT even with all the so-called evidence that may have been exaggerated??
On the whole, I did like Hannah. I felt like the trip to Mojacar did change her life, just not how she expected it to and while it did take her a while to finally stop reverting to a sullen teenager around Nancy, I liked how their relationship panned out (and I knew Nancy’s secret well before anybody else). It was the setting, though, that I loved so much. Mojacar sounded absolutely fantastic and I loved Elaine’s story as to why she moved there and the Indalo Man superstition was brilliant. I’ve never heard of it, though according to Wikipedia it features on houses all over Europe, but it was fascinating to learn all about it.
Overall, I really enjoyed Now. Then. Always. I had a couple of issues with Hannah, as I mentioned but it was on balance a brilliant read. The cast was amazing, the setting was out of this world incredible, and I really think Isabelle’s books should come with free holidays for all, because it’s incredibly cruel to tease us with such fantastic destinations without giving us something in return! Isabelle is one of the best new writers to appear within the last couple of years and long may she transport me to places I’ve never visited, because you do really feel like you’re there with her characters, her writing is just so evocative. I can’t wait for her next book, The Place We Met. I’m already planning my trip to Italy in my head…