From the bestselling author of The Girl in the Corner comes the moving story of a man whose life is changed in an instant. How do you start again when you lose the only love you’ve ever known?

When Nick’s wife Kerry falls ill and dies, he realises for the first time how fragile his happiness has always been, and how much he’s been taking his good life and wonderful family for granted. Now, he suddenly finds himself navigating parenthood alone, unsure how to deal with his own grief, let alone that of his teenage son, Olly.

In the depths of his heartbreak, Nick must find a way to navigate life that pleases his son, his in-laws, his family and his friends―while honouring what Kerry meant to them all. But when it comes to his own emotions, Nick doesn’t know where to begin. Kerry was his childhood sweetheart―but was she really the only one who could ever make him happy?

And in the aftermath of tragedy, can Nick and his son find themselves again?

The Light in the Hallway

by Amanda Prowse

My review

The Light in the Hallway is such a beautifully written story and, overall, it is a heart-warming and uplifting tale. I personally have had so many mixed emotions throughout reading it though. Mainly due to my own anxieties and insecurities.

I was in too minds whether to publish this review as it seems I’m on my own with this one if other reviews are anything to go by. I don’t want it to come across that I didn’t enjoy the story as I really did.

Nick and Kerry are 35 years old. They are childhood sweethearts, they married young and have an eighteen-year-old son, Oliver. At the start of the story Kerry is on end-of-life care and Nick is battling with his own grief and emotions as well as trying to support his son. It doesn’t even bare thinking about. My heart broke for them both and their extended family.

What follows is Nick’s story about moving on and this is where I feel so conflicted. I totally agree that no one should face life alone after such a devastating loss if they can find someone else to love and share their life with and I certainly don’t think it’s anyone else’s business although I can understand the mixed emotions of close family members. However, I cannot for one second imagine being intimate with another man after only four months (or ever to be honest) if my husband went before me and I would like to think he wouldn’t be so quickly concerned by how much he missed sex if I was to go before him. That is my personal opinion though. I don’t think there is any right or wrong way to deal with loss. Everyone deals differently but the thought of my husband being with another woman makes me feel a bit sick, so I hope if I do go first and he moves on as quickly that I’m somewhere I won’t know about it. I hate that I feel that way, as I know how selfish it sounds, but I do. It certainly doesn’t mean I would want him to be miserable for the rest of his life, I just feel sad at thought of him replacing me so quickly. Like I said, conflicting emotions.

How would my children react? I really don’t know. They are both adults, but both currently still live at home. I’m not sure how they would react to another woman in our home. I could understand Oliver finding it difficult and I found his initial reactions very believable.

I really liked Nick though and my heart broke for him. I loved the relationship he shares with Oliver, and I did hope that their close bond would survive the heartbreak.

I loved Nick’s relationship with his best friend Eric, especially the flashbacks to when they were kids. They really made me smile.

I truly felt happy for Nick at the end, but at the same time sad for Kerry and the life that had so cruelly been snatched from her. Kerry is evidently a better woman than me though!

I do feel quite bereft after reading this book. It has been such a rollercoaster of emotions for me. That’s just me being me though. It is a genuinely beautiful story. It made me smile, it made me laugh at times, and it made me cry.

Amanda Prowse is a fabulous writer. I have enjoyed a few of her books now and I have others on my TBR list which I hope to get to soon. I think it goes without saying that this one hit a bit of a nerve for me personally. That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t recommend it as I really do. I think it’s quite a compliment to the author when a book evokes such strong emotions. This one certainly did that for me. It’s one that will most definitely stay with me for a long time to come.