It’s a pleasure today to be joining the blog tour for The Split by Amanda Brookfield, and sharing my review: published on 10th August by Boldwood Books, it’s now available for kindle (free via Kindle Unlimited), in paperback, and as an audiobook. My thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for the invitation and support, and to the publishers for my advance reading copy (provided via netgalley).
I’ve been aware of Amanda Brookfield’s books for quite a long time now – anyone discovering her writing for the first time via her Boldwood releases might like to know that this book is her 19th (and isn’t it lovely to discover an author with a back catalogue you can explore?). Although I’m convinced I read at least one of her books in the years before the blog, I just can’t track down an earlier review – but it was a total delight to rediscover her writing with The Other Woman, published by Boldwood in October 2020, one of the best relationship-based dramas I’d read in quite a while (you can read my full review again here). So I was rather looking forward to this one…
Two decades on from a passionate courtship and marriage, Lucas and Esther are getting divorced.
For Esther, it’s proving hard not to feel bitter watching Lucas enjoying his successful career, not to mention the attentions of his gorgeous, intelligent, and predictably younger lover. She meanwhile is struggling to forge a new life for herself, navigating the pitfalls of modern dating, while trying not to despair at the cost of living as a single woman of a certain age.
Then Lucas faces a shattering accusation at the same time as their children Dylan and Lily, start to implode. When Dylan runs away, and as his father fights to save his reputation, Lucas and Esther find themselves back in each other’s lives, whether they like it or not.
Has too much water passed under the bridge, or will long-forgotten loyalties and feelings bring the family back together, just when they need each other the most?
I knew I was going to enjoy this book from its opening chapters, a pair the author calls “First Dates”. We meet Esther, forty-eight years old, facing up to the challenge of her newly single life, riddled with concerns and insecurities, heading for the inevitable disappointment (and, although she doesn’t know it at the time, the ensuing complications) of another meet-up as she reluctantly dips her toe in the dating pool. And that’s in rather sharp contrast to the second chapter – a young Esther, in her twenties and in a long-term relationship with a married man, and her first meeting with the charismatic Lucas, lecturer in medieval English, who goes on to sweep her off her feet, entirely enchant her and promise so much.
Twenty years on, the marriage is over. While Esther’s life is something of a constant struggle – she’s so easy to identify with for any single woman of a certain age – Lucas’ star has continued to rise. His stellar academic career, his younger lover who he plans to marry, his occasional casual parenting of their two children – unlike Esther, he’s moved on fairly seamlessly into his future, and has plenty to look forward to. But then, life happens – an accusation with the potential to wreck his reputation, his career and his new relationship – and a son who refuses to bend to his will, who adds another layer of confusion to both their lives when he disappears.
This is a story about relationships, all of them deliciously complicated – about families, parenthood, friendships, past relationships and ongoing ones – and about the chaos life can sometimes be, veering between joy and pain, always unpredictable. There are no real fireworks, and the book’s pace is gentle – there are a few surprises, but the joy of this book is in its exploration of the messiness of life. While Lucas is the one who initially seems to have everything, the foundations of his charmed life prove not to be as secure as they at first appear – and Esther shows a strength and resilience that has you entirely in her corner, wanting her to have the slice of happiness that she certainly deserves.
It usually takes me less than two days to read a book – this one took me five. I lingered over the intriguing twists and turns of the story and really enjoyed being embroiled in the characters’ lives as Esther began to blossom and Lucas’ life – he’s rarely a particularly likeable character, but it’s hard not to have some sympathy – steadily implodes. There’s plenty of narrative drive – through the family dynamics and the other relationships in both Esther’s and Lucas’ lives – along with some nice touches of gentle humour, strong emotional engagement, and a satisfying and unexpected conclusion. I really enjoyed this one – perhaps not for everyone, especially those who enjoy a faster pace, but it’s a book I’d most certainly recommend – and I’ll look forward to seeing what Amanda Brookfield does next.
About the author
Amanda Brookfield is the bestselling author of 19 novels including Good Girls, her first book for Boldwood, Relative Love and Before I Knew You, as well as a memoir, For the Love of a Dog starring her Golden Doodle Mabel. She lives in London and has recently finished a year as Visiting Creative Fellow at University College Oxford.
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What an interesting review , I shall look forward to reading this…i also enjoyed The Other Woman xx