Blog tour ~ book review: Over the Garden Fence by Karen Louise Hollis

I am delighted to be on this blog tour ~ thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for organizing.

⤵ check out what my fellow bloggers thought of this one ⤵

3⭐
Genre ~ friendship fiction
Setting ~ England
Publication date ~ November 16, 2023
Est page Count ~334
POV ~ multiple 3rd
Featuring ~ characters in their late 70’s, a second chance at happiness

I love the author’s dedication ~ “For my grandma Elsie (1917-2023) who lived to be 106 and my nanna Violet (1907-2007) who lived to be 100. They both showed us all how much you can achieve in later life.”

Molly & Janice are next door neighbors who began hanging out in their gardens together as a way to get some fresh air and avoid loneliness, especially during the pandemic.

There’s plenty to love about this story:
~ 2 widowed older ladies passing their days in like company
~ how each were independent, yet sometimes you just need someone looking in on you to make sure all is okay and recognizing when it’s not
~ how Molly found a companion in Poppy
~ how making the first move can lead to a second chance at happiness
~ the animal adventure they went on which led to something special
~ Molly and her 21 year old granddaughter, Bethany’s, relationship was beautiful. This was my favorite part of the book as it really made me miss my grandma.

While I did think this was overall a lovely story of friendship I did find it a bit redundant in their daily discussions about the weather and what they each did when not in the other’s presence. I do think this will appeal to those that are looking for a lighter, comforting read.

*Thanks to the author and Rachel’s Random Resources for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*

Over the Garden Fence

What can two elderly women do, when they want to live their best lives, but don’t know where to start?

Next-door neighbours, Molly and Janice, are in their seventies and are both widowed and lonely. In lockdown, they had their garden fence removed so they could have socially-distanced chats outside. Now the pandemic is over, but the conversation continues. In fact, it has become a daily ritual – weather permitting.

As their friendship develops, talk turns from news headlines, the Sewing Bee and the Royal family to their own long-lost hopes and dreams. Is it ever too late to contact a former boyfriend? Or to heal family rifts? Or to try new things? Of course not! Because growing older doesn’t mean giving up.

Purchase Links – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CMDPRR7Z

Author Bio –

Karen Louise Hollis was born in Lincoln in 1969 and is a full-time carer for her mother and a single mother to her son.

She has had books published and self-published since 2003, including short stories and poetry, and non-fiction books on motherhood, gymnastics and Doctor Who.

Her book Un-Conventional : 13 Years of Meeting the Stars of Doctor Who was published by Hirst Publishing in 2010 and her biography of actor Anthony Ainley – The Man Behind The Master was published by Fantom Publishing as a hardback in 2015, later as a paperback and audio CD.

Her first novel Welcome to Whitlock Close was published in 2022 and her second novel Starting Again in Silver Sands Bay in 2023.

Karen Louise usually writes books based in Lincolnshire and including characters of all ages. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and writes books in various genres including non-fiction, romance, recent historical fiction (1980s) and contemporary women’s fiction.

She also reviews books and writes a book blog – iheartbooks.blog – and is very active on social media, especially on Twitter/X at @KarenLNHollis

Social Media Links – https://twitter.com/KarenLNHollis

https://www.instagram.com/karenlouisehollis/

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