I’m really delighted today to be joining the publication day push for the latest book from the wonderful Jules Wake, The Wednesday Morning Wild Swim, and to share my review. Published by One More Chapter, it’s now available as an e-book and audiobook, with the paperback to follow on 21st July (available for preorder). My thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for the invitation and support, and to the publishers for my advance reading e-copy (provided via netgalley).
We all have our favourites, don’t we? Jules Wake is most definitely one of mine. I remember agonising about which of her books I should include on my 2020 Books of the Year list – The Saturday Morning Park Run made it (you’ll find my review of that one here), but it could just have easily been The Spark (I really loved that one too – here‘s the review). And I expect I’ve mentioned before that she also wrote one of my favourite ever Christmas books, Notting Hill in the Snow (review here!). Her last book, The Secrets of Latimer House, was something a little different, her first foray into historical fiction, a fascinating read about hidden secrets of WW2 – and I very much enjoyed that one too (you’ll find my review here). But I do especially enjoy her more usual style of writing – and her latest really did look right up my street…
She’s trying to figure out her future.
He’s trying to forget his past.
But with the help of some unlikely friends, young and old, and a scruffy dog who just can’t help getting into trouble, a new community is formed – just when they all need each other the most.
This book’s description is wonderfully light on detail – I rather liked that – yet together with the book’s title and the publishers’ tag line of “the most uplifting, feel good novel of 2022” it left me in no doubt at all about what to expect and everything I needed to know. It also means though that I really don’t want to wade too deeply into the story and spoil it for others – but I do promise that if you enjoy the same kind of books as I do you’re going to absolutely love this one.
The characterisation is simply wonderful. I had a smile on my face from the moment I met Ettie – she might have a rather chequered employment history, and can sometimes bend the truth a little, but she has the most enormous heart. In much the same way that she immediately won me over, she unexpectedly secures a job as admin support (perhaps the best description for the mishmash of duties she finds herself doing) at Hepplethwaite Hall, the local “big house” that Dominic and Gracie are in the process of turning into a hotel. Gracie (and what a great older character she proves to be!) knows they’ll get on – if nothing else, it’ll mean that she can still swerve some of the more difficult decisions needed, and it’ll allow her to focus on (some might say “faff about with”) the tasks she enjoys.
Dominic is less convinced, and initially a bit stiff and standoffish – but she soon wins him over too, and it even looks like the beginnings of a rather lovely romance. But before it really gets off the starting blocks, it hits a few problems – he can’t forgive a betrayal of trust, and it turns out there are a few deep-seated issues that make him so diametrically opposed to allowing locals to swim in the lake on the estate. And that’s a shame – swimming is when Ettie escapes from all her problems, has time to think, and it means every bit as much to the group of individuals who look forward to spending time in the water.
If I loved Ettie (and Gracie… and, with understanding and getting to know him better, Dominic too), I certainly felt the same about the whole wider cast of characters, those Wednesday morning swimmers. Every one of them has their own substantial story, and the different threads are wonderfully woven together as their individual stories become clear and are developed further. Ettie’s grandfather is a fantastic character – in fact, her whole family features heavily and adds depth and a good measure of extra humour throughout. The redoubtable Hilda – you’ll remember her if you read The Saturday Morning Park Run – is part of the group, and Claire makes a return appearance too. But every one of this multi-generational group becomes important to the unfolding story, as they become friends and pull together in the name of a cause that becomes important to them all.
And that’s as far as I’m going to go – but with the perfect emotional touch and a lot of gentle humour, this character-driven story really was an absolute delight. It’s so filled with warmth throughout, I don’t think the smile ever left my face – even when a happy ending looked increasingly impossible, and there seemed no way for them all to overcome the many obstacles in their way. Uplifting and gorgeous – and highly recommended to all.
About the author
Jules Wake is the internationally bestselling author of over ten books including The Saturday Morning Park Run. She also writes as Julie Caplin and her Romantic Escapes series has hit the bestseller charts around the world.
After reading English at the University of East Anglia, Jules Wake worked in PR where she honed her fiction writing skills on press releases. She’s now a full-time author and what better job is there than making stuff up! It certainly beats housework.
For Jules Wake
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website
For Julie Caplin
Wild swimming? Brrr!
Must admit, I feel the same! But the book really warms your cockles…