Name: Friends for Keeps
Rating: 4 (1 reviews)

Celia Anderson

Violet Silverwood loves her life by the sea in East Sussex, but as a widow with grown-up children, she’s ready for a new sense of purpose – and more fun! So, along with her outspoken best friend Marigold and their surprising new neighbour Iggy, Violet launches ‘The Seaside Singles’ Club’, for people who refuse to believe that friendship (or romance) has an age limit.

Meanwhile, Violet’s daughter Beth arrives home hoping for some breathing space, but is swiftly pulled into village life and her mother’s plans, as well as coming face-to-face with an old flame.

As mother and daughter navigate old tensions and new beginnings, they discover that life truly is better… together. 

Friends for Keeps

Now that I've reached the half century mark myself, I feel ever more drawn to books with older main characters. Especially those who do not follow a predictable path, who take the road less travelled or just out and out refuse to grow old quietly!

Such is the story of the Silverwood's.  Although this story actually covers the interaction between the three generations of the East Sussex family, its main "stars" are Violet and her bestie Marigold.

Violet and her late hubby moved to Lower Linnet for a slower pace of life when they retired. Now dealing with her recent widowhood, Marigold now finds her house filling up with relatives once more when her daughter Beth gets divorced and she and her son Woody, and of course Gwendoline the fur baby, move in with Violet!

Violet and Marigold are sick of seeing those their own age give in to loneliness so they pump some energy into the little town with the Seaside Singles Club.

I love small town settings, they are such a microcosm of the world at large with cliques, factions, feuds, politics, etc. The town soon makes a safe place to land for Beth and Woody and there are a few other endearing secondary characters who will worm their way into your heart. There's even a wee possibility of rekindled love for Beth when a boyfriend from her teenage years appears back in her life! 

Nicola Sarah Brooks

Now that I've reached the half century mark myself, I feel ever more drawn to books with older main characters. Especially those who do not follow a predictable path, who take the road less travelled or just out and out refuse to grow old quietly!

Such is the story of the Silverwood's.  Although this story actually covers the interaction between the three generations of the East Sussex family, its main "stars" are Violet and her bestie Marigold.

Violet and her late hubby moved to Lower Linnet for a slower pace of life when they retired. Now dealing with her recent widowhood, Marigold now finds her house filling up with relatives once more when her daughter Beth gets divorced and she and her son Woody, and of course Gwendoline the fur baby, move in with Violet!

Violet and Marigold are sick of seeing those their own age give in to loneliness so they pump some energy into the little town with the Seaside Singles Club.

I love small town settings, they are such a microcosm of the world at large with cliques, factions, feuds, politics, etc. The town soon makes a safe place to land for Beth and Woody and there are a few other endearing secondary characters who will worm their way into your heart. There's even a wee possibility of rekindled love for Beth when a boyfriend from her teenage years appears back in her life! 

Lots of love, hope and humour!

Friends for Keeps

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