There’s only one problem if you opt for the audio version, which is brilliant in every other way. Through the narrator's voice, you will discover at least the gender of the mysterious ‘C’, which eliminates half of the potential suspects from the list. Reading the book would have helped retain the mystery better. This review was written voluntarily and my rating was in no way influenced by the fact that I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel from Embla Books via NetGalley UK.

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But someone is sending her notes with cash, signed with “C x”: she believes it’s Cilla but, except for the one read to her by the young man in Sainsbury’s, she has no idea what they say, and she’s reluctant to ask Wayne, because he will probably think she’s lost it. She likes the life she has now, her routine and the people in her life, and the last thing she wants is to be put away again. Great review! I’m always on the lookout for books with senior protagonists. Thank you for sharing. I am adding it to my TBR now. It is written in the same language and style that I imagine her talking in. Bad grammar and all. This makes the story feel authentic. I imagine the audible version would be good. There are a few characters that are a bit clichéd at the home where she grew up. But there are lots of other interesting secondary characters.

Thank you to Bonnier UK Audio, Embla Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own. What a wonderful book! The story of Margaret Small will stay with me forever. She was abandoned, lied to, ridiculed and mistreated terribly. But she never lost her optimism and kindness. I won't retell the story as I believe everyone should read this and feel humbled. So many of us complain about the smallest of grievances, and yet there are so many, much, much worse off and just get on with it. Congratulations to the author, your caring heart shines throughout this story xx When reading, the locations mentioned were very vivid to me – largely in part to the fact that just last week I binge-watched the second season of “Whitstable Pearl” on Netflix.

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Compelling and authentic . . . Margaret's story is quiet but her voice is mighty' - Julietta Henderson

The best part about this is anyone can read it, doesn't really belong to a specific kind, just a beautiful tale about the life a women forced to disappear. We are always delighted to hear from authors. We are currently open for review requests and we are happy to review a wide variety of genres. Please submit your information below and we will be in touch asap.Ich bin so begeistert von dieser Geschichte. Aufgefallen ist mir das Buch - ich glaube, auf Facebook - und als ich es als Rezensionsexemplar erhalten habe, freute ich mich sehr. Ich wusste nicht genau, was mich erwarten würde, aber mit dieser intensiven Story habe ich nicht einmal ansatzweise gerechnet. A wonderful book that everyone should read. And please don't forget to read the author's note at the end. It is enlightening. I really enjoyed Margaret’s story. It was sweet, sad, touching, charming and uplifting. I found every opportunity I could to listen to it! Fictional books with characters with learning challenges are often a bit jarring and their abilities inconsistent, but this character felt well-rounded and ‘real’. Margaret tells us her story. She uses the present (2015) and the past (1947-1970) alternately. The past is very interesting, learning how she grew up. Margaret leads a hard life. But throughout it all, there are many moments of joy for her and she accepts her lot in life. She learns to live her life around her disabilities, always forging her way forward. She is so loveable for the fact that she is naive and vulnerable. But, the opportunity to make her own choices is not available to her, which affects her for the rest of her life. Let me introduce you to Margaret Small, our narrator. She has spent most of her childhood and much of her adult life at St Mary’s – a home for children with learning difficulties and disabilities and now aged 75 she lives by herself in Whitstable with the support of Wayne, her care worker.