Plot:

Molly Baker is living her best life.

Thirty-eight years old, she lives on the twenty-five-acre Hope Farm in Buckinghamshire, surrounded by (mostly) four-legged friends and rolling hills. There’s Anthony the anti-social sheep, Tina Turner the alpaca with attitude, and the definitely-not-miniature pig, Teacup.

Molly runs the farm as an alternative school for kids who haven’t thrived in mainstream education. It’s full on, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. So when the well-groomed Shelby Dacre turns up at Hope Farm asking to enrol his son Lucas, Molly isn’t fazed.

But Lucas is distant and soon Molly realises he might be more of a handful than she anticipated. And then there’s the added problem that his dad is distractingly handsome. Molly has her beloved farm to think of – could letting Lucas and Shelby in be a terrible mistake, or the start of something wonderful?

Review:

We are introduced to Molly Baker who lives on Hope Farm. There are so many characters at the beginning that I found it overwhelming to keep up with them as the story begins to set in.

When you read a novel I find myself always saying this but it’s true; you find yourself relating to the main character in some way or form.

Molly has a strong personality as well as getting to know all of the wonderful animals and people that I found myself loving her personality however at the same time it was difficult to keep up with to properly engage with the storyline. For example, she had a ‘bucket shower’ as her bathroom, which makes me feel bad for her as she should have at least basic necessities as well as amenities.

Molly helps Lucas come out of his shell more. With daily farm tasks he choose to help Alan which was a good mixture as they both don’t really like chatting to people too much.

I love how even though Shelby (Lucas’s father) is seen as someone full of himself yet him and Molly agreed silently that Scarlett’s behaviour was no different to a toddler. And just like that when everything seemed to be progressing is when the plot thickens and there is a dilemma that has consequences for those involved.

Overall I did enjoy the novel and the message it was sending as it is about spending your time with the ones you care about rather than chasing your ultimate dream it means nothing if you have to leave behind everyone you care about especially as things are progressing.

3/5 Stars