Together Again - Milly Johnson

About the book… 

Sisters Jolene, Marsha and Annis have convened at their beautiful family home, Fox House, following the death of their mother, the tricky Eleanor Vamplew. Born seven years apart, the women are more strangers than sisters.

Jolene, the eldest, is a successful romantic novelist who writes about beautiful relationships even though her own marriage to the handsome and charming Warren is complicated.

Marsha, the neglected middle child, has put all of her energy into her work, hoping money will plug the gap in her life left by the man who broke her young heart.

Annis is the renegade, who left home aged sixteen and never returned, not even for the death of their beloved father Julian. Until now.

So when the sisters discover that their mother has left everything to Annis in her will, it undermines everything they thought they knew. Can saying their final goodbyes to Eleanor bring them together again?

Together, Again is the story of truths uncovered and lies exposed, of secrets told – and kept. It is a novel about sister helping sister to heal from childhood scars and finding in each other support, forgiveness, courage and love.

Buy Links: 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Together-Again-laughter-much-loved-bestselling/dp/1471199061/ref=asc_df_1471199061/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=570302354299&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9837416820500382535&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046164&hvtargid=pla-1674961173582&psc=1&th=1&psc=1

About the author… 

Milly Johnson was born in Barnsley, raised in Barnsley and still lives in Barnsley. She writes about strong women, often having a renaissance, all ages and has just released her 20th novel, Together Again. Do check out her latest blog and her website for up to date news and appearance dates.

As well as a novelist she is a professional joke writer, performance poet, newspaper and magazine columnist and also after dinner/motivational speaker which she enjoys doing alongside writing novels.

Contact Links: 

Twitter: @millyjohnson | @simonschusteruk | @ed_pr
Instagram: @themillyjohnson | @simonschusteruk | @ed.pr

My thoughts…

Oh my goodness - where to begin.  Together Again is Milly Johnson’s 20th novel and is something quite special.  Milly always manages to weave reality and characters with real depth that you can relate to into her books but with Together Again she has taken that to another level.

The story is focused on three sisters - Jolene, Marsha and Annis, sisters mainly in name we discover as each of them born seven years apart are near strangers to each other - none more so than Annis who left home and disappeared off the radar some 15 years previous.  They come together, returning to their childhood home Fox House when their mother Eleanor dies. When Annis walks through the door Jolene and Annis are shocked, she never returned for their fathers funeral - why now? Sally close friend and neighbour of their mother Eleanor delivers a letter she left for them, the beginning of which is the opening to the story - Eleanor wants to explain why she was the mother she was, cold, distant and unloving.

As the story unfolds we discover what makes them tick and they discover who they are as individuals and as sisters. Each of them seemingly strong, independent women on the outside but their lives undoubtedly have been shaped by their childhood which in turn shaped their adulthood and the relationships they formed.  There was not much love growing up in Fox House, and as a reader it feels cold and unwelcoming, the heart of the home is definitely missing.  Eleanor clearly wasn’t a naturally warm character - could she make amends from the grave,   I wasn’t so sure but Milly strips back the story like pealing aged wallpaper from the walls - the outer layers glossed over and difficult to penetrate.  

As ever, slowly but surely the sisters and the readers reach an understanding and acceptance of their past, as layer after layer of their past is lifted.  Milly in her usual style tempers the difficult bits with wit, humour and bucket loads of empathy.  The depth of feeling I had for the characters was immense, my heart ached for them and prayed silently for them to find each other, sisters should be close.  These girls weren’t even like friends.  

Their mothers letter is delivered to the reader throughout the book which for me was better than reading it all in one go at the beginning - baby steps were trod as the book got lighter and lighter with both the reader and sisters reaching an understanding and an acceptance as well as the bond that had been missing all their lives.   I just loved this book, I enjoyed the deviation away from Milly Johnson’s usual, style but was glad that the ending was shrouded in happiness and hope, sunshine and light flooding the hearts of both the girls and the house x it was definitely time to move.

This I know is a book that I will return to, to read slowly and read the bits I probably missed on the first read.  Huge thanks to Simon and Schuster for the opportunity to read this amazing book.