Dear Rosie Hughes - Melanie Hudson

Available to order on Amazon

From Goodreads:

It’s been fifteen years since Aggie’s friendship with Rosie Hughes ended abruptly. But now she’s heard from the village rumour mill that Rosie is off to war, she knows her best friend needs her more than ever – despite what’s happened between them in the past.

As Rosie faces a desert full of danger and Aggie falls further from the path to love she’ so wants, the two friends write each other letters. The comfort in their shared words is an anchor to the life they knew before…and the only constant in a world as increasingly unpredictable as the wind.

My Review:

This is one of those books that will stay in my mind for a while. I don’t know what I was expecting but I got way more than I bargained for (in a brilliant way). I need to be careful as I don’t want to give anything away. You may believe it will the predictable story of lost friendships and renewed love, but it is more, and in my opinion, very well done. I had visions of how the story would go, and found myself surprised -at times.

The story is told through a series of letters, messages and emails, unusual but brilliant – it made me pay attention, focus on who was saying what and think about how their stories were playing out. I love the attention to detail and the little ‘tit-bits’ of back story every so often, enough to make you try and put the pieces in place but not too much to reveal it all in one go. I liked this, and I was eager to know why these two best friends, that seemed to slot back into each other’s lives very easily, could ever lose that relationship.  
 
I think the friendship between Rosie and Aggie was wonderfully written, funny and emotional. Aggie has a great sense of humour and is a character that I would love to have as a friend – cheerful and positive yet reassuring and full of love. Although she is outwardly confident, she does have a vulnerable and sensitive side, she’s really looking for love and has a difficult relationship with her Mum. Rosie strikes me as vulnerable too yet given the circumstances she’s showing how tough she can be.

With an eclectic mix of additional characters, you will read some light-hearted and comedic moments whilst overall the story shows how everyone has the capacity for kindness, love and that we all may find ourselves in a situation that leaves us feeling vulnerable and  in need of the care, loyalty and support of their loved ones.  I think some characters could have been included and developed more whilst some seemed a little redundant and a little unnecessary, but it didn’t ruin or distract.

 ‘Dear Rosie Hughes’ is a great read that I highly recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Impulse for allowing me an advanced copy to read so to provide an honest review.