I received this book from the author to review.

Angie is dead. Her daughter, Romany, has been left alone in the world. For as long as Romany can remember, Angie was her only parent. After weeks of feeling flu-like symptoms, Angie finally went to see a doctor. The news was tragic, Angie had stage 4 ovarian cancer. There was little chance of any treatment being successful. Faced with the knowledge that she would be leaving her daughter alone, Angie began crafting a plan to have guardians care for Romany. Who better to serve as guardians than her three best friends from college? They had watched Romany grow from birth to present day. Angie also had a new friend that she decided to include as a guardian. Angie left explicit instructions for each guardian as to who would teach Romany certain life skills. This came as a surprise to the friends. While they have been in touch with Angie, this is an extremely big request. How will this request be carried out day to day? What happens if they don’t want to help? Romany has a father but Angie never revealed his identity to Romany. Could Romany find him after her mother’s death? Who is Romany’s father? Did he know about Romany or not?

This story is related in flashbacks and present day events. We meet Angie as her university experience begins. She is an unconventional student. Her style is bohemian, she’s not concerned with being fashionable. Much to the annoyance of her neighbors, she ignores the labels on food in the community cupboard and fridge, eating whatever strikes her fancy. One of Angie’s neighbors, Maggie, plans to be a lawyer. Careful and studious, Maggie struggles to understand Angie and her easy going ways. Another neighbor, Leon, is fascinated by Angie and her unusual approach to life. Maggie, Leon, and Angie bond, not because of similar goals, but because of Angie.

Angie’s oldest friend, Tiger, roams around the world. He has no money, no degree, and no desire to stay in any place for very long. Over the years he will flit in and out of the friends lives. What can this nomadic acquaintance provide to a seventeen year old girl? What was Angie thinking? The final addition to the guardians is a relatively new friend of Angie’s. Hope was a well known model who was aging out of the model life. She wanted to start her own swimwear company and met Angie while taking a class on business management. Over the weeks of school, they appreciated each other’s point of view. Hope’s level headed approach to life is something that Angie values and wants Romany exposed to.

Romany is adrift. Without her mom as her anchor, she has to face her A levels (college entrance exams) and choose a university. Who will be at her house each evening when she comes home? Who will motivate her to study for the A levels? While Angie’s plan was a surprise, it is structured to help equip Romany for the world. Romany starts living without her mother and it is bumpy at first but as time moves on, life begins smoothing out. The guardians stop looking at Romany as an obligation and begin enjoying their time together. Each character is changing and growing because of their unusual ties. Will they change for the better? Will Romany be ready to take a step toward university life or will she be too damaged by her mother’s death?

In each of her books, Imogen Clark relates behavior and emotions so realistically. Dialogue is genuine. Her characters feel like people you know. There isn’t any awkward getting to know the characters part of the book. You begin reading and it is like sinking into a comfortable chair. As the story unfolds it becomes more and more compelling. The emotions here are real, no rose colored glasses. The anguish and uncertainty Romany feels toward locating her father is expressed beautifully. Nothing is clear cut and the variables are exactly as you would experience in life. Ms. Clark isn’t writing fiction, she is showing us life, awkward moments and all. This book is about undying friendship, loyalty, emotional growth, and love. Angie gives her daughter and her friends the best gift of all – the gift of each other.

My Rating:🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻of five

Additional Thoughts: There are many humorous moments in the book, despite the topic. One that struck home with me was when Angie thought she was completely prepared to be a mother. Angie finds, as we all do, that you couldn’t be more mistaken than to think parenting is easy. My youngest daughter gave birth to her first child in September. As I watched her experience motherhood, I remembered my first few weeks as a mom. I held a human life in my arms and had no idea what to do. Common emotion, I know. Imogen Clark does such a good job describing Angie as a new mother that all those experiences came flooding back. When I read fiction I like being drawn into the story. The characters, dialogue, and circumstances need to be plausible unless it’s sci-fi or horror. Imogen Clark has a special ability to get to the heart of the character and we are all the better for being there. Pick up one of her books, they are terrific!