This is the story of Sid and Julia that takes us from rural England to Greenland and Dubai before returning us to where it all began.
It is a second chance romance where circumstances and worry about what people would think, conspired to ensure that when Sid and Julia meet again in their 50s they are both finally almost on the same page. Much of the story centres around music – playing in school bands, earning a living travelling around in a band, and playing for a care home (which brings more surprises).
This story has humour, sadness, grief, new found family, and reminds us that not so very long ago society was not as accepting of same sex relationships as it (mostly) is today. For some of us that is a useful reminder, for others it is a history lesson.

Chapters are written from either Sid or Julia’s point of view and have excellent chapter headings – to give an indication of their content. And I do like a book that uses the word shenanigans. The timeline weaves about a bit – as we explore their interactions over the years.
There is a sort of gritty realism about the life portrayed in this author’s books. They are real people who are not rolling in money, often live in poor conditions, and it feels real.

There is an epilogue – 3 months later.
Aside from the usual wedding being planned – Julia’s mother ( Julia had been so worried about her parents acceptance of her sexuality) thinks it is cool as Jodie Foster married a woman.

I recommend all of Anne-Marie Pellow’s books – hopefully she has started to write another one already.