This is a book with a difference but I won’t spoil it for you. It touches on feelings and every day occurrences which we all have. I loved every page and didn’t want it to end. I would love a Volume 2. A truly lovely book which stays with you long after you’ve finished it.

I have heard a lot of praise for this book and was intrigued by the subject - an investigation of the possible "virgin birth" by Jean Swinney, a newspaper writer in London suburbia. But I did not expect to be dragged into the story so quickly and so fully from the very beginning. The year is 1957, Jean is living her life slowly and predictably, taking care of her mother, taking pleasure is small things and daily rituals until the investigation leads her towards Gretchen Tilbury and her family. Ripples start to appear in Jean's orderly life and as she delves deeper into the secrets of the people she investigates. I was truly charmed by this book and the ending made me gasp. The story was a slow exploration of loneliness and need for companionship, affection and relationships, especially those between mother and daughter. It is also a mystery about what happened to Gretchen, so we follow Jean’s investigation, learning about domestic and social arrangements from that period, especially lives of women. There are also interesting (though not necessarily easy to understand) details on research into parthenogenesis and genetics - a fascinating part of a novel based on the true research conducted in fifties at the University of London. There is a lot of detail in here which makes the story even more appealing. This book was a real treat. PS. Extra points for the cover and tangerines. Many thanks to Netgalley and teh publihser for a free e-copy of the book.

I normally don’t cry because of books i get really into them but it’s not like with movies where i’ll be sobbing but THIS BOOK it made me sob. I finished it in a day and when i read the last page i closed the book and just sat there. It took a good 5 minutes to comprehed the amazing piece of art I had just read. I will never stop recommending this book. It is the most realistic romance ive ever read.

First of all, the cover is extremely gorgeous. The story itself is short and sweet, the sort of thing you can get through within a day. I wasn't blown away by the story by any means, and there was nothing life-altering about it but then again it doesn't claim to be that sort of book. I enjoyed how it captured the time period too.

This is beautifully written - a slow burn but interesting and satisfying story.