I loved the tag line for this about life not being about the destination but the journey, because it’s so true, but also that’s how I felt reading this beautifully written book. The author takes you on a well crafted and skilled journey. I loved how you travel with Pepper and watch her grow and learn, that due to the wonderful descriptions by the author you feel like you travel with Pepper to Lisbon, Barcelona etc. I absolutely loved the journey this book took me on because it was one of joy and happiness, please pick this book up to read, it will make you smile and take you on a journey you can’t currently take, but this book may just make up for it. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

Pepper is from a small coastal Suffolk town and has never ventured far, mainly due to a significant loss in her family. When a friend insists she accompanies her to Lisbon, she falls in love with travel and a dashing stranger. I really enjoyed following Pepper's travels, Broom really brought the cities to life and seeing familiar places through Pepper's eyes was lovely. The only bit I didn't like was the ending, it was quite abrupt and not what I would have chosen!!

There’s never been a better time than a literary getaway courtesy of Isabelle Broom. Ah this writer is wonderful for weaving wanderlust-inducing locations with heartwarming and heartbreaking plots. Hello, Again is quite the literary journey! We follow Pepper as she goes on a journey in more ways than one.She’s had a bad time of it lately and has only just existed really since a tragedy in her family. Enter good friend Josephine who asks her to be her travel companion as she wants to revisit countries where certain memories have been left behind. (Josephine can I just say I am available for any such travel!) Where does Josephine want to travel to and why? What will the journeys mean for Pepper? From then on, Isabelle takes us on a tour of Lisbon, Hamburg and Barcelona to seek out Josephine’s trail of memories. This in itself is a lovely story and sad too, about why she’s travelling around like this and the effect it’s having on her. Pepper is enjoying the travelling as an escape but it won’t be long before she has more than escaping to think about. Ooh dare I say more? What a wonderful story of two women travelling together with one following a trail of memories whilst the other makes new ones.Two very strong stories woven together with a writer whose skills is evident on every page. Each place, practically every ‘scene’ she paints comes to life right off that page. I felt I was wandering the streets in Lisbon and walking down La Rambla in Barcelona. It was Germany that provided the best surprise though! The locations moved the stories on, shaped them, coloured them and gave clues as to the stories of the characters themselves. I like to think of each place in the novel like a postcard – Isabelle showed a wonderful images of each city, but behind it, on the other side, you could read between the lines and see how these places were affecting the characters. That stamp then linked their journey to the story and family they had left behind. Ok so enough of the postcard analogy, this was just such a cleverly woven plot and style of writing that I want to read this all over again. Would Pepper find romance? Would Josephine complete her trail? Oh I was there every step of the way. I miss them now I’ve closed the book. I might have to go back in. Hello, Again as it’s name suggests could also be titled Read, Again.

I love Isabelle Broom’s style of writing and this latest charm is no exception. Featuring Pepper (Philippa) who has been broken since the tragic death of her younger sister over twenty years ago and her lively older friend Josephine who has happy memories of her travels in her teens in the sixties. Pippa has lived a small life having never travelling abroad before but an opportunity to travel to Portugal and Spain with Josephine bring brightness and love into her life. Pepper is a wonderful character, held back by the past and her fractured relationship with her mum yet she adds joy to the lives of many through the art classes she runs. I loved reading about her travels and the artistic discoveries she found,, the locations were brought to life so well and they were all very enticing. The parallels between her art and personality were very intelligently written and really made me think about the experiences we have and the impact on us.

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton for a digital review copy via NetGalley - the comments are my unbiased opinion. I've read a few books by Isabelle Broom and have enjoyed being whisked away to different countries such as Sri Lanka, Greece and New Zealand. This book offers a scenic tour of three European cities in Spain, Portugal and Germany - all of which sounded wonderful in very different ways. The story follows Pepper as she starts to move forward with her life after the tragic loss of her sister many years ago. Visiting Lisbon and Barcelona with her older friend and art client Josephine inspires Pepper to seek out happiness and new creative ideas. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Beautifully written as usual, characters to care about and an epilogue that made me weep. I've also found myself googling how to make mosaics. The ebook publication date has been brought forward to 4th June 2020 and the paperback is published on 9th July 2020.