The Way Back Home by Freya North.

This year I had been so excited for June 19th. Why I hear you ask well, I am a massive bookworm (well when I get the chance) and my favourite author, the lady who reignited my love of reading nearly 10 years ago was releasing her 13th novel. I had space already and waiting on her special shelf, the top one on my bookcase. You can read about it in my I Heart Books post.

Freya North: The Way Back Home

Her 13th novel broke something of a tradition of mine. I am a confessed cheapskate and usually wait for books to go on offer, but I had waited so long for this book, almost 2 years since her last if I remember rightly, I pre-ordered! Pre-ordered seriously, from Amazon. Obviously in a hardback mainly out of respect as this is Freya’s own personal preference when reading but mainly as I have all her other books in the proper book, paper form why stop now!

So, on to the book, the first of hers to be released in a hardback,

We were who we were, the children of Windward – a little ragtaggle tribe defining the ethos and eccentricity of the place…

I had the book for 10 days before I actually read it, I didn’t want to be disappointed, yet I desperately wanted to read it. And I read it in 2 days pretty much around work, sat in the sun in the garden, it was the best way to enjoy it.

What happened 18 years ago when they were 15? Where had she been? Why was she back?

After years of living in the States, Oriana came home to Derbyshire. To reconnect with her old life and start again. She comes home to live with her mum, but you soon start to get the idea she isn’t really wanted there and so sets about starting to stand on her own two feet. Building a new life whilst searching for answers and figuring out her past.

Freya North does an excellent job filling in pieces in a slow, methodical way, like slowly peeling off the layers to reveal the secret at the heart of the story. Taking us on Oriana’s journey with her, through every step she takes. From revisiting her childhood home Windward and her meeting up again with the two men who were such an important part of her life before the incident and how they accept her being back in their lives and the feelings it stirs up in all three of them.

The story is beautifully told.

Carefully and gently, letting us in only when Oriana herself is ready, and the more I read, the more I wanted to know to find out what had happened, would she make the right choices and was going to live with Jed in Sheffield the best choice to make? The past finally comes to a head in the present without spoiling anything, but is it what is wanted, or needed by all parties involved? For me? It was I was hooked from page 1 with the suspense over the accident being held the whole way through until the reveal, and I’m not ashamed to say I teared up a little at the end, by this time feeling so emotionally attached.

Speaking of being attached, I do get attached to many of the characters in Freya’s books. For me, I was delighted by chance to catch up with one of my favourite leading ladies, Cat who herself has her own book as do her sisters and one about the family. Almost like they are somehow becoming friends who I have never met (and don’t exist yeah yeah I am aware!) So a big thank you to Freya for this.

So all in all, what did I think? I wasn’t disappointed, love, romance, family dramas, and suspense for me. This book has it all, and I recommend to everyone looking for a new summer read for the beach this summer holiday you won’t be disappointed at all! 10/10.

You can read a free ebook sampler of this novel here, a try before you buy if you like.

*Disclaimer: I bought this book myself and was in no way asked to write this review. I have done so as I really enjoyed the book and wanted to let you know*