Way back in 2016, it was a pleasure to run a feature for Jane Lambert as she was preparing to talk about her first novel – then called Learning to Fly – at the Edinburgh Fringe (you can read it again here). We met later, her writing then on the back burner for a while because of her acting commitments – but I couldn’t have been more pleased for her when the book was picked up by HQ in 2018, renamed, and I was able to share a review as part of a major publicity campaign (and it was a book I really loved).
We stayed in touch over the years that followed – she helped keep me sane through the lockdowns, as we shared our similar experiences – but we rather lost touch when life returned to an even keel. So I was so pleased when she got in touch to tell me she was writing again, and that there was a new book on the horizon – but also to share the news that HQ, following a few cuts and some heavy-duty rewriting, were planning to release that first book once more. The Start of Something Wonderful is republished today (8th May) – and I’m delighted to be able to share my review again…
It’s never too late to follow your dreams…
Emily Forsyth is on cloud nine…
She has a high-flying job (literally), a hunky boyfriend (soon to be fiancé?) and a life of luxury. But then, out of the blue, her boyfriend dumps her for a younger woman, and Emily comes crashing down to earth.
Suddenly, she’s single and homeless, and the prospect of staying in the same job as her cheating ex is unbearable. So, at forty years not-so-young, she quits steady employment and decides to chase her lifelong dream of becoming an actress.
But with eccentric acting teachers, unreliable agents, and some decidedly unglamorous roles on offer, has she made a huge mistake? Or is this the start of something wonderful?
They’re calling it “a fantastically feel-good romantic comedy” – and so it is, but this is a book that will win the heart of every woman who has ever dreamed that their life could be different, a joyful affirmation that it’s never too late for a new start. Emily won my heart from the very beginning as she walked away from her former life (and love-rat Ben), into her new home amid a landlady’s eccentric collection of knick-knacks, trying to make ends meet while attending the glorious Portia’s acting classes.
There’s a massive cast of characters in this book, as Emily moves from her first small pub stage, through a season in rep, then onto other things – and every single character is a delight, perfectly drawn, with their own little backstory, so cleverly done. Friends, employers, fellow actors – I particularly loved the young security guard who agrees to bring an enthusiastic audience to one of her early performances in exchange for taking her for a meal, and the elderly couple (her parents in On Golden Pond) who find some unexpected joy in their later life. There are lots of little side-stories woven into the plot, beautifully handled – while Emily continued to cycle through the rain into an uncertain future, and the pages turn faster as you hope things will finally work out for her. The romantic thread is also perfect – I lost my heart to Francesco too, but I was already feeling a bit emotional because of the support Emily had from everyone involved in that gorgeous Italian restaurant.
It really is a great story, filled with love and the most wonderful supportive friendships – but this is a “romantic comedy”, so it’s also very, very funny. The humour comes from the situations in which Emily finds herself, and some of the stories from her time in rep had me laughing out loud in a way I rarely do – a sequence of perfectly described little scenes, always with an essence of authenticity and a well-handled feel for the ridiculous. The writing hits its stride into a lovely blend of strong story-telling and wry humour, with a heroine at its centre who becomes your new very best friend. And when Emily finds herself amid beautifully described mountain scenery and wants to twirl like Maria in The Sound of Music? I wanted to dance along with her.
Knowing the author’s own story, this book has to be the strongest argument ever for “write what you know” – and she’s done it quite superbly, with a joyous and uplifting read that so many will love every bit as much as I did. Just wonderful.
And that new book I mentioned? A Scottish Teashop in Napoli will be out on 3rd July, published by Bedford Square, and already available for preorder – and, of course, I’ll be sharing a review!
About the author
Jane Lambert was brought up on the west coast of Scotland, studied Modern Languages at Stirling University, then taught English in Vienna. Her debut novel, The Start of Something Wonderful, was first published by HarperCollins in 2018 and inspired by her rollercoaster transition from globe-trotting air hostess to aspiring actor. She has appeared in Calendar Girls, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Deathtrap and True West in London’s West End.