Book Review: The Year That Changed Us by Helen Rolfe

I’m happy to be welcoming Helen Rolfe back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her novel, The Year That Changed Us.

A warm-hearted and gripping story of community, secrets and the family we choose that will captivate fans of Lucy Diamond, Cathy Bramley and Jessica Redland.

As young women, Lise and Emma had the kind of friendship people dream about. While Lise’s own family was distant and disengaged, Emma’s was welcoming and warm, and for the first twenty-six years of their life, growing up together in a close-knit community, the duo were inseparable. But when they decide to spend one year living together in Paris, what starts as the adventure of a lifetime becomes a disaster that changes everything. And when Emma returns to Bath the following summer, Lise stays behind in France, their friendship in tatters.

Now, sixteen years later, Lise has come back to their hometown, determined to put things right. But to do so, she’ll have to face up to the truth about what happened in Paris. And with Emma refusing to talk to her, can she get close enough to share her secret?

*****

From the time they were in primary school, Lise and Emma have been the best of friends, even when Lise is sent to boarding school. 

When it is time for them to spread their wings, they decide to spend time in Paris. They are excited about their adventure. However, when the two women fall out and Emma returns home without Lise, their friendship seems forever broken. 

Can they repair what was lost or is their bond broken forever? 

Having previously read Christmas Nights at the Star and Lantern and loved it, I was excited to have the opportunity to take part in the blog tour for Helen Rolfe’s latest novel,  The Year That Changed Us. 

First, I want to give a shout out to the cover. It’s so pretty. The plot also sounded interesting and so I couldn’t wait to get started. 

As predicted, I completely fell into this novel. Told from the point of view of both Lise and Emma, it goes between the present and flashbacks to the past, which gradually explains what happened between the two women. I found this style of storytelling compelling and it kept my interest. I had to know what happened and whether it was going to be resolved. 

Emma and Lise complement each other well and are proof that family can come in all guises. I did occasionally find them frustrating and wanted to bang their heads together. Haha. However, they offer an insight into female friendships and how important they are but how they need to be nurtured just like any other relationship. 

There are many sad moments in this book. Themes such as death are tackled but I feel it’s done with sensitivity and it reminds us that we never know how long we have with the people we love. 

There’s sadness but also a lot of life affirming moments too. 

The Year That Changed Us offers a beautiful tale about friendship, love, family, life and faith. Above all, it tells us that it’s never too late to make things right. 

If you’re looking for that perfect holiday companion or a book with great, relatable characters and a story that leaves you with a smile, this book is perfect. 

I loved it.  

(Thank you to Boldwood Books, Netgalley and Rachel’s Random Resources for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.) 

About Helen Rolfe –

Helen Rolfe is the author of many bestselling contemporary women’s fiction titles, set in different locations from the Cotswolds to New York.

Most recently published by Orion, she is bringing sixteen titles to Boldwood – a mixture of new series and well-established backlist.

She lives in Hertfordshire with her husband and children.

Say hello to Helen via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Bookbub. Click here to sign up to her newsletter. 

The Year That Changed Us was released by Boldwood Books on 8th February 2024. Click to buy on Amazon UK and Waterstones. 

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.