Swimming to Lundy is the latest novel from Amanda Prowse and I’d like to thank the author for sending me a copy for review. In case you are wondering, that island in my photo isn’t Lundy but the Bass Rock near North Berwick. I took that photo on one of the rare sunny days we had this summer! I am a big fan of Amanda’s writing so was really looking forward to reading this one.
Tawrie is a character you will take to heart. She lives a quiet life in Ilfracombe but has big dreams. The loss of her dad in an accident at sea has had a profound effect on Tawrie and her family. Her mum’s grief manifested in a way which caused Tawrie much despair. Her lovely Nana, despite having lost her son, was really the one who kept the family together. Tawrie felt such responsibility to these two women and of course was dealing with her own grief. Rather than following her dreams, she lives at home and works with her cousin in the local cafe. Deciding to break out of her comfort zone and join with The Peacock Swimmers really was a turning point in her life. There is so much to identify with in the Gunn family and that is one of Amanda Prowse’s skills. she writes so insightfully about the challenges and emotions experienced by many families across all generations.
The other strand of the family takes us back around 20 years where we meet Harriet Stratton. Harriet and her family have moved to Ilfracombe to make a fresh start after upheaval in their life. Again, this is something many readers will be able to identify with. At first it’s unclear how the stories are related but gradually the author reveals the connection and it’s rather poignant. Through Harriet’s diary entries we learn more about the community of Ilfracombe at that time which, when revisted years later, will be of help and comfort to so many.
Swimming to Lundy is a story of grief and betrayal, of moving on and finding love. Another moving and engaging story from, as it says on the front of the book, ‘the queen of family drama’.
Full Book Details
Tawrie Gunn feels stuck. She’s spent her whole life in the same seaside town with her beloved Nana and grief-stricken mum, all of them still reeling in different ways from the tragic loss of Tawrie’s dad at sea. Desperate for a change, she challenges herself to take up wild swimming—every morning, no excuses, from March till September.
Daring to take the plunge with the ‘Peacock Swimmers’, Tawrie feels alive in a way she’s never known. Suddenly it seems she might be able to step outside her comfort zone after all and let life surprise her—perhaps even dream of a future beyond the shores of Ilfracombe? Especially when, one day, she spots a man in a pink linen shirt who seems as eager for a new start as she does.
But it turns out taking risks on land is a little different from wading into the sea. Can Tawrie face her fears head-on and find her way to happiness? She knows it’s never too late to pursue your hopes and dreams, but it might be easier said than done…
About the Author
Amanda Prowse is the international, multi-million-copy bestselling author of thirty-one novels, including the chart-topping No.1 titles What Have I Done?, Another Love, My Husband’s Wife and The Girl in the Corner, which have sold millions of copies around the world.
Other novels by Amanda Prowse include A Mother’s Story, which won the coveted Sainsbury’s eBook of the Year Award, and Perfect Daughter, which was selected as a World Book Night title in 2016. Amanda’s seminal first non-fiction work, The Boy Between, co-authored with her son, was also selected to be a World Book Night title in 2022.
Consistently dominating the contemporary and literary fiction bestseller charts, along with several other genres, Amanda has been described by the Daily Mail as ‘the queen of family drama’. Well known for her empathy and positivity, Amanda’s second memoir, Women Like Us, was launched to critical acclaim and received thousands of five-star reviews.
Published by Lake Union, Amanda is the most prolific writer of bestselling contemporary fiction in the UK today; her titles also consistently score the highest online review approval ratings across several genres.
A popular TV and radio personality, Amanda has appeared on numerous daytime ITV programmes. She also makes guest appearances on BBC and independent radio stations, including LBC and Talk FM, where she is known for her insightful observations and infectious humour.
A keen supporter of libraries and library services, Amanda is a proud ambassador for The Reading Agency, where she works tirelessly to promote access to books and adult literacy.
Amanda’s ambition is to create stories that keep people from turning the bedside lamp off at night, great characters that ensure you take every step with them, and tales that fill your head so you can’t possibly read another book until the memory fades.