Jo Harding fell down some stairs, and lost the memory of the past year. Her husband would prefer she not remember the last year, but Jo feels she needs to find out what has happened in her life and family. Could her estate agent husband Rob ( Doctor Who's Christopher Eccleston) have pushed her in anger, or did she stumble because she was drunk – and if so, why had she been drinking? Amanda Reynolds’ debut novel, Close To Me, published in 2017 by Headline, was adapted by NENT Studios UK as a major six-part TV series starring Connie Nielsen and Christopher Eccleston. The series aired in 2021, on Channel 4 in the UK and on Sundance AMC in the US, as well as many other countries worldwide.

Close To Me by Amanda Reynolds | Goodreads Close To Me by Amanda Reynolds | Goodreads

Really enjoyed Close To Me by Amanda Reynolds, wasn't sure what to expect this being a debut author but I certainly wasn't disappointed.And why on earth can't she remember volunteering at a drop in centre with a lovely lady called Rose, whose messages she has found, and who seems extremely concerned about Jo. One of the things I liked about Close To Me was the family dynamics and the rather realistic dramatic reactions to things that were happening. It came across like a reality show at times, with “looks” between different family members, non communicative children and lots of emotional responses once hidden secrets had been revealed. With Jo being of the age she was, she had to deal with “empty nest syndrome” as well which cruelly often coincides with the menopause which can make women more emotional and sensitive as well as having a dramatic effect on their sex life. Jo thinks she may have had an affair but if so who with? And is that the reason that she feels her fall wasn’t an accident? Due to the way the story was set out, sometimes we could see what had lead to events before Jo did but the twists and turns towards the end weren’t the ones that I had been expecting! I trusted nobody in this book and that’s just the way I like it!

Close to Me - Is the Channel 4 drama based on a book?

I liked the family drama portions much more than the mystery element (did she fall or was she pushed) especially the relationship Rob and Jo have with their two children, growing pains for everyone as they leave home and make questionable choices. I did kind of guess where this was going but it didn't detract from my overall enjoyment reading this. If you are looking for an entertaining novel about the ups and downs of a happy family with a positive outcome, this novel may not appeal to you . On the other hand, if you enjoy reading about troubled families and unloving relationships with a little bit of mystery and twisted characters, this may be a good book for you. What begins as an intriguing twist on a tired trope ultimately falls prey to ill-defined stakes and underdeveloped characters. Jo Harding wakes up on the way to the hospital in an ambulance. Everyone around her is telling her she fell down the stairs. The last thing Jo can remember is taking her son, Fin, to university with her husband, Rob. The problem is that was a year ago.

The plot is fast-paced, the drama superb, and the twists and turns in this novel are all excellent and are sure to keep you on your toes. While the characters are not exactly likeable, they are compelling, and as different scenarios ran through my head I wasn't sure which way the story was going to go - and I love the fact that I was kept guessing! While the story line is good/intriguing, I was confused by the timeline that switched between Before the fall (with different increments of the months) and After the fall. I felt like I was reading different versions of the same events over and over. I also felt the story was being told by Jo, but I wasn't experiencing it. I was never pulled in or interested in finding out the truth.

Close To Me ending explained - Digital Spy Close To Me ending explained - Digital Spy

Danish language interpreter Jo Harding ( Connie Nielsen) suffers head trauma after a fall in her home, causing her to lose her memory of the past year. Harding works to piece her memories together along with her husband Rob ( Christopher Eccleston) to understand what happened to her, and in doing so learns that her life was not as perfect as she thought it was. [2] Cast [ edit ]

In this domestic thriller debut, a woman with post-traumatic amnesia struggles to regain her memories only to realize that perhaps ignorance was bliss. Overall, this was a solid debut. It felt a little slow in parts, but that's expected when it's a more character focused suspense. I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for more from Amanda Reynolds in the future! stars. When Jo Harding fell down the stairs at her home, she wakes up in hospital with partial amnesia. She can't remember anything that's happened in the last year and her husband wants to keep it that way. Was Jo having an affair? Lying to her family? Starting a new life's? She can't remember the night she fell.

Close to Me | Stream free on Channel 4 - All 4 Watch Close to Me | Stream free on Channel 4 - All 4

When Jo finds herself at the bottom of the stairs, after a violent fall, the paramedics asking her endless questions, her only thought is that she doesn't want her husband near her. But why? He's trying to help? Isn't he? What would you do if you woke up and couldn't remember anything from the last year of your life? CLOSE TO ME by Amanda Reynolds follows Jo Harding as she struggles to find out what happened to her the night she fell as well has the year of memories she has lost.

Wife and mother Jo Harding ( Gladiator's Connie Nielsen) has to recover a year’s worth of missing memories in Channel 4’s Close To Me following a fall down the stairs that left her with nasty bruises, a grisly head wound and amnesia. Jo was relatable. She and her husband had been married for over twenty years, their kids had left home and started their own lives, and Jo and her husband were adjusting to their new lives. Jo started to suspect that things were not as perfect as she was led to believe, and she started to followup on her suspicions. Ravindran, Manori (10 August 2020). "Connie Nielsen, Christopher Eccleston Set for 'Close to Me' Series From NENT Studios U.K. (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety . Retrieved 6 December 2021. Ma. Reynolds has something to say and I look forward to her future works. In CLOSE TO ME she blows the door wide open on familial issues: indifference in relationships, the solitary life couples lead once they are empty nesters, realizing the family glue is the children and no effort has been taken to preserve the first love. Strong, thought provoking messages, unraveled in a tragic setting, but is is an important read.