Friends and Lovers
This tale is about Vivien Preston, whose mother broke conventional boundaries of the time and therefore created chaos for Vivien. Their mother-and-daughter relationship spans continents and impacts the lives of friends and family around them with its consequences. Vivien is trying to create a new life for herself in 1950s Liverpool with reminders of her mother and her family affecting her every decision. This is made worse when her mother decides to return from America back into Vivien’s life. Throughout these events, Vivien decides to find out who her father is, which sets off a chain of events that reveals people’s true colours and how they bond together in Vivien’s family. Vivien finds love with Nick, a man who her mother is against and tries to get between them. Will Vivien ever be able to find a balance between love and family?
The author successfully creates a 1950s Liverpool, with people fully aware of what the neighbours think in their small communities. This brings customs and social norms to the fore as the characters navigate their way through their lives while feeling constantly aware of what should be done. The relationship between characters is well-written, and overall, the story is a good read, emphasising the strength of family bonds and the importance of forgiveness.
