'Peopled with wonderful characters, it's funny, sad, poignant and heart-warming, a tough subject tenderly handled. Have some tissues handy' Choice Magazine
Faced with losing everything, all that matters is Here and Now . . .
Marigold has spent her life taking care of those around her, juggling family life with the running of the local shop, and being an all-round leader in her quiet yet welcoming community. When she finds herself forgetting things, everyone quickly puts it down to her age. But something about Marigold isn’t quite right, and it’s becoming harder for people to ignore.
As Marigold’s condition worsens, for the first time in their lives her family must find ways to care for the woman who has always cared for them. Desperate to show their support, the local community come together to celebrate Marigold, and to show her that losing your memories doesn’t matter, when there are people who will remember them for you . . .
Evocative, emotional and full of life, Here and Now is the most moving book you’ll read this year – from Sunday Times bestselling author Santa Montefiore.
Praise for Santa Montefiore:
'Nobody does epic romance like Santa Montefiore' JOJO MOYES
'An enchanting read, overflowing with deliciously poignant moments' DINAH JEFFRIES
'Santa Montefiore hits the spot for me like few other writers' SARRA MANNING
Marigold is the heart and soul of her family. The one who's kept them glued together all these years. She's a hard-working woman, running a small business, but as possible retirement looms, she still has an adult daughter living at home, another returning to the nest, a retired husband and an elderly mother to care for. All the while, slowly noticing, something is wrong with her mind as simple tasks are forgotten about and can't be recalled.
What's striking is how ordinary the characters are, making them both relatable and likeable. They could be friends, neighbours, just common people going about their everyday lives. So, it's not surprising, they are confronted with similar issues. In this case, it's the heartbreaking decline of a loved one suffering from dementia.
Here and Now is the first contemporary novel I've read by Ms Montefiore and it's same standard and quality I've come to expect when picking up one of her titles. The beginning starts slow revealing the idyllic setting before we slowly begin to see the challenges of Marigold's life. The poignant narrative will tug at your heartstrings as the story unfurls. The author captures the emotions of those close to Marigold perfectly, leaving readers to wipe away their tears.
This novel wasn't an easy one to read for me, but I'm sure am glad I did.
***arc generously received courtesy of Simon and Schuster UK via NetGalley***
