Review: Here and Now

Here and Now was my first Santa Montefiore novel. Which, for a reader like myself who reads pretty much anything that stays still long enough, and for an author like Montefiore, who has 21 books (according to her website), is pretty strange. I had been wanting to check out her novels for awhile so when Simon & Schuster offered a copy of Here and Now, I said, yes, please!

Here's the synopsis:

Meet Marigold and Dennis, two happily married empty-nesters in their late sixties. They should be enjoying their golden years in the idyllic English village where they live. But when their two grown daughters, Daisy and Suze, move back into the family home, both mother and father must learn how to deal with the upheaval.
Meanwhile, as Daisy and Suze soak in the familiar comforts of home, they soon discover that their mother isn’t quite the same woman she was a few years ago. Sure, she is still kind-hearted and always willing to help, but something about their mom is different, and it’s becoming harder and harder for the family to ignore. For the first time in their lives, Dennis and his daughters find themselves caring for Marigold rather than the other way around.
Here and Now is a gorgeously evocative novel brimming with characters who are so recognizable they’ll walk right off the page and into your heart. This is a novel about what it means to grow up and to grow wise, and how the new generation learns to carry family memories and hope into the future.

Montefiore's novel falls into that weird genre hole where I can't think of an easy way to describe it. I suppose I could say it's a contemporary family drama. Each family member jumps off the page and you really get a sense of how each of them is coping while they help Marigold come to terms with her memory loss. 

The novel is told in third person but follows both Marigold and Daisy closely. I liked this because it gives the reader a taste of a little bit of everything - a mother's love, a daughter's realization that roles are being reversed, a long marriage, and a new relationship. Plus, while mother and daughter were quite different, you could also begin to see how they were similar. Most importantly in how fiercely they cared for their family, especially in tough times. They just loved a little differently. I definitely enjoyed having the story told from both their perspectives.

I think part of what really endeared me to this novel was the location. Isn't it funny how you sometimes pick up a book that is just exactly what you need even though you didn't know it? It turns out I needed to read about a tiny English village and the interfering (but well-meaning) villagers. I loved that we got a glimpse of the large estate in town where Daisy went to paint as well as the corner shop that Marigold ran. Plus, as a Canadian, I very much enjoyed the connection to Canada and the brief visit to Toronto.

This is a heartbreaking novel with many serious topics addressed. I'd definitely suggest having a mood boosting book or movie lined up for when you're done. It's worth the heartache though because the story really grabs hold of you. And you may find yourself wishing you could hug all of your family members tight (which is especially hard right now, I know). 

While I won't exactly be raving about Here and Now, I did very much enjoy my time spent reading Santa Montefiore's latest novel (and staring at the cover which I find immensely pleasing). I now very much want to read some of her other novels - though she has so many, I'm not sure where to start!

*An ARC of this novel was provided by the publisher, Simon & Schuster Canada, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*