The No.1 Amazon bestseller! A brand-new uplifting and heart-warming family drama from the Sunday Times bestselling author of An Ideal Husband – perfect for summer 2026

‘Uplifting… full of hope and joy’ Sarah Morgan

Fall in love with this feel-good tale of old secrets, new friendships and second chances from the Sunday Times bestselling author, Erica James

'You won’t want to put it down once you start reading' Five Star Reader Review

'Had me hooked from the first page. The characters feel like friends and I find myself laughing with them or crying beside them. Fabulous' Five Star Reader Review

‘A real page turner and a truly wonderful read’ Five Star Reader Review

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In the glorious Cambridgeshire countryside, Hope Hall was once a grand country house, but it's now been converted into beautiful luxury apartments and its new residents are moving in…

Cassie is blissfully in love with her partner Ben and looking forward to life in their new home, but shadows from Cassie's first marriage loom large.

Gallery owner Nina needs a fresh start since losing her husband two years ago, but moving on will mean confronting a painful decision that will shatter her mother-in-law's dreams.

Into their lives comes Venetia, a lively seventy-nine-year-old with a penchant for secrets. As Venetia faces her own bittersweet history with Hope Hall, the lives of the three women become intricately connected, revealing the power of friendship and the courage to confront the past.

With sparkling storytelling, Erica James’s new novel is an enchanting tale of love, resilience and friendship.

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Praise for Erica James:

‘Uplifting… full of hope and joy’ Sarah Morgan

‘Brimming with warmth and compassion, Erica reveals her characters’ secrets. A heartwarming tale and a delight’ Veronica Henry

‘She's so consistently good, isn't she? Wonderful on characterisation and family dynamics, and done very deftly, with that wry humour of hers’ Marian Keyes

'Erica James writes upliftingly and humorously about family life' My Weekly

'A heartwarming tale' Platinum

'We're certain you're going to love it' Glamour

‘So, so good… shades of dark and light in every character which are gloriously done. A deliciously satisfying story’ Cathy Kelly

‘A wonderfully compelling family drama that deftly touches upon some serious issues. Her characterisation is excellent, the setting beautiful and the slow reveals are delicately and sensitively handled. In this warm, escapist and utterly uplifting read, she’s on top form’ Sunday Express

'A beautiful tale of self-discovery' Woman