Review: The One Day You Were by Husband by Rosie Walsh

 HE PROMISED HER A LIFETIME. HE GAVE HER FOUR HOURS.

Twelve years ago, Carrie said 'I do' on a sun-drenched beach in Thailand. Four hours later, her world shattered when her husband, Johan, was snatched away in a violent abduction. He was never seen again.

Today, Carrie is a working mum, navigating the beautiful chaos of raising premature twins and rebuilding her life with a man who truly loves her. She has finally found peace. The past is a closed book.

Until she sees his face on a computer screen.

Johan is alive. He has a new life. And he never tried to find her.

Driven by a desperate need for answers, Carrie risks the stability of her marriage and the safety of her family to uncover the truth of what happened that day in Thailand. But as she peels back the layers of Johan’s double life, she is forced to face a devastating question:

Is the truth worth the destruction of her second chance at happiness?

Review: Rosie Walsh has such a talent for creating layered, emotionally intelligent stories, and The One Day You Were My Husband is no exception. I loved getting to know Carrie, who was a refreshing protagonist. She is clever, capable and resilient, and it was wonderful to read about a woman who has managed to find love not once, but twice. Even more moving was watching her build a support network through the most difficult moments of her life. Those family connections gave the novel so much warmth and heart.

One of my favourite aspects of the book was its structure. The dual timeline, paired with the story of Carrie's two partners, pulled me further into the mystery with every chapter. Each shift in time revealed just enough to keep me questioning everything. Interestingly, I found myself suspicious of both men throughout the novel. Carrie is such an incredible person that I felt protective of her, and because of that I never fully warmed to either of them. That uncertainty made the emotional stakes even higher and kept me completely invested in discovering the truth.

The reveals and plot twists unfolded at exactly the right pace, arriving slowly but surely until everything finally clicked into place. The payoff was absolutely worth the wait, and even after finishing the book I still can't quite fathom how Rosie Walsh managed to weave together such an intricate, satisfying story. It's a beautifully crafted novel that balances mystery, romance and emotion so effortlessly, and one that stayed with me long after I turned the final page.

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Q2 Reading Wrap Up

 Q2 was a pretty good 3 months of reading. I think it really helped that MOST of my anticipated reads for the year came our this quarter. It also helps that the quick reads were released at the start of April, meaning I got a great start to Q2!

Guest Review: Summer at the French Bakery by Jo Thomas

A new adventure is on the menu . . .

Juliet has learnt that life is too short not to chase your dreams. But when she buys an old watermill in France, her tranquil new start is quickly kneaded into something far more ambitious when the local mayor offers her a deal she can’t refuse: reopen the village’s derelict boulangerie.

With a formidable rival – the owner of the local bread vending machine – determined to crush her, Juliet faces disgruntled villagers, her own lack of baking skills, and hidden secrets within the mill itself.

But with help from her outspoken neighbour and the charming Tabac owner, Juliet battles to bring back the aroma of freshly baked bread – and with it, the heart of the community.

Can she prove that even the biggest dreams start with just a little pinch of courage?

Review: I do love Jo Thomas’s books. They always whisk me off to captivating locations where there are interesting characters and always plenty of delicious food. I was attracted by the sound of a French bakery and could almost smell the bread cooking as I opened the book.

This story centres on forty-eight year old Juliet, who has recovered from a battle with illness and decides that life is too short not to follow your dreams. She returns to a village in Brittany where she spent a holiday with her husband and buys the old deserted watermill intending to turn it into a cafe, or salon de thé. However, her plans are blocked by the mayor, who offers her an alternative deal. She can open her tea shop if first she renovates the derelict boulangerie and starts to produce bread once more for the village. She has no choice but to agree, but is then faced with an uphill battle. There is competition from the owner of the bread vending machines situated in every local village, as well as opposition from the suspicious villagers, the large stumbling block of her lack of bread-making skills and difficulties in sourcing the necessary materials and good quality ingredients. Finally, she is able to enlist the help of a once hostile neighbour and local tabac owner, Laurent. Can she start to produce the baguettes that will appeal to the local people and break through the barriers to her success in starting a new life in this community?

I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Brittany and I am currently longing for a nice fresh baguette. This was a charming story of a woman stepping out of her comfort zone and going for what she wanted, showing determination and courage in the face of adversity from every direction. Juliet surprised everyone by her actions, but her serious health problems had been a real wake up call and she was no longer happy to settle into a quiet retirement. I loved the way in which she dealt with all the setbacks that came her way, not least the difficulties in making an acceptable baguette, until the once unhelpful and unfriendly Laurent stepped up to help her. The setting for the story was lovely. I could easily imagine the quiet little village with the menfolk sitting around chatting in the sun when their wives sent them out for the morning. The description of the watermill and the lake beside it made it sound quite idyllic. I think this would make a great summer read and would recommend it. Thanks to the author for the French onion soup recipe at the end of the book.

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