Emma (SCR)'s Review of Forgive Me Not

by Samantha Tonge

Forgiveness can be hard to come by… An unputdownable new novel from bestseller Samantha Tonge

How far would you go to make amends?

When Emma fled her home at Foxglove Farm, she’d let down and hurt those who cared for her most. But now, two years later, she’s ready to face up to her past; she’s ready to go back.

But Emma’s unannounced return causes more problems than she could have foreseen. The people she knew and loved aren’t ready to forget, let alone forgive. And the one person she wants to reconnect with the most, her mother, can’t remember who she is.

Just as Emma starts to rebuild trust, an uncovered family secret and a shocking past crime threaten her newly forged future...

Sometimes simply saying sorry isn’t enough.

Perfect for readers of Ruth Hogan or Amanda Prowse, this is an extraordinary and unforgettable novel about running away from yourself – and finding a way back.

‘A compelling read, utterly unputdownable; prepare to have your heartstrings pulled and your perceptions challenged.’ Fiona Collins, author of The Sister Swap

‘Forgive Me Not is a brave and beautiful book that tackles difficult themes with grace and compassion. It portrays the cruelty and fallibility of human nature against the backdrop of the powerful dual forces of forgiveness and hope, to tell a story that will stay with me for some time. Highly recommended.’ Rachel Burton, author of The Many Colours of Us

‘Samantha Tonge has created something unique and magical in Forgive Me Not. It’s a one-of-a-kind read!’ Laurie Ellingham, author of One Endless Summer

‘A poignant, bittersweet story of finding forgiveness in the hardest of places—home.’ Kate Hewitt, author of A Mother’s Goodbye

‘A touching, poignant read with real heart about the choices we make, the second chances we hope for and the power of forgiveness’ - Annie Lyons, author of The Happiness List

‘Both touching and thought-provoking with its real-life issues. Emma’s story - especially her experiences of rough sleeping - will stay with me for a long time’ – Jennifer Joyce, author of The Bed and Breakfast by the Sea

‘Thought-provoking and emotional, Forgive Me Not is a brave and sensitively handled story about one woman’s journey home from addiction. There’s an honesty in Samantha Tonge’s writing that resonated with me, and I cried more than once reading this book’ - Fiona Harper, author of The Memory Collector

‘Easily one of the best books I’ve read this year’ Rachel’s Random Reads

This review was originally posted on Star Crossed Reviews I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Thank you to Canelo for my copy of this book via Netgalley. I have previously read some of Samantha's books and I really enjoyed them but this book was a little different to Samantha's usual genre.

Usually Samantha's books are romance based. This book however was not. I don't quite know how to describe it. It wasn't thriller, it wasn't your typical chick lit, it wasn't a horror. If I had to place this in a genre I would really struggle.

Emma left her home and family 2 years ago. She has been to hell and back in that time and has now turned her life around. She returns hoping for a family reunion. While things don't go quite like she hoped I think it was still the right decision. Emma is a hard character to love but also a hard character to hate. She has made so many bad choices in her past. However, in her present she is trying so hard to not to necessarily make up for those choices but to make a difference.

Some parts of this were quite hard to read. It's scary how some of the character's lives changed and how close we can be to the edge. This book really made me stop and think.

Samantha's writing was engaging and I really struggled to put this book down. Like I said I have read some of Samantha's previous books but I think this book was another level. I think this genre suits her writing better than her romance novels.

The ending left the story a little unfinished and I would love to carry on that thread. I think Samantha has another book planned in this genre so I'm very excited for this.

Forgive Me Not

by Samantha Tonge

Reviewed by Emma (SCR) on Jul 22, 2018

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