book review The Girl In Between @Duffythewriter

The Girl In Between

If you are a follower of Duffythewriter, you will probably guess (quite correctly) that my favourite book genre is thriller.  I seek out pages full of darkness, suspense, twisted characters, and twisted plotlines. So, you might be wondering what I was doing reading The Girl In Between. Well, I also fancy myself as a bit of a joker, love nothing more than pub banter with my mates, and find myself lurching from one ridiculous social situation to another in life, so it’s this side of my life that lead me to read  Anna Daniels new fiction, The Girl In Between.

“Lucy Crighton has just moved in with some gregarious housemates called Brian and Denise…who are her parents. She’s also the proud mother of Glenda, her beloved 10-year old…kelpie. And she has absolutely no interest in the dashing son of her parents new next-door neighbour… well, maybe just a little…”

I immediately took to the character Lucy. She’s 32, and far from having it all, in fact, she’s almost on her last $50. I could completely relate to having a relationship end in my 30’s and the sheer cliff-face of doom and failure that smacks you in the face, spending your days just trying to scramble back from the brink. That feeling of not wanting fall apart, yet having no idea what to do to make it alright. What also resonated with me was the support of family and friends that rally around to get you out of your funk through love, bloody tough love, adventures, opportunities, and lots and lots of vino. That’s what this book is all about.

The mad, yet adorable Rockhampton Crighton family will have your heart.  So much so, you’ll feel like you’ve sat on the couch and had a cup of tea with Denise yourself. Lucy’s headstrong, no filter, gregarious, best mate Rosie is laugh out loud funny, and you really do feel a part of this fiction book as you hang out with the Crighton’s and Lucy tries to get her life together. There are plenty of so-called chick-lit books out there, but The Girl In-Between has the edge if you want relatable madness. There are some genuinely funny moments, with on-point observations of the locals in Rocky, the nuanced details of London that ring oh-so-true, and of course Sydney. A really fun read.

Being an ex-pat from the UK, who went through a similar situation and ended up living in Sydney, I didn’t have any other choice but to be drawn to this book. I would tell you it’s a great holiday read, but it’s more than that. It’s a bloody good read, wherever you choose to turn the pages, so get out and buy it. You won’t regret it, and it will be sure to do the rounds with your mates!

The Girl In Between was given to me in exchange for an honest review via the wonderful Allen & Unwin and  Beauty & Lace Book Club

Buy from Booktopia today and have it shipped next day!

About Author Anna Daniels

Anna Daniels has enjoyed great success as a comedic storyteller since kicking off her career by winning the ABC’s ‘Comedy Segment of the Year Award’ for an interview with Russell Crowe. She then went on to co-create the ABC’s first online sketch comedy series ‘Tough at the Top’ with Melbourne comedian, Anne Edmonds. For several years Anna wrote and presented funny upbeat stories for The Project, winning over viewers with her warm, silly, endearing style.

Having grown up in Rockhampton, she particularly championed the stories and characters of rural and regional Australia with affection and humour. As well as The Project, Anna has written, presented and/or produced radio, TV and online content for Queensland Weekender, Red Symons’ Breakfast Show, and the BBC One series, ‘John Bishop’s Australia’. Anna can now be heard presenting statewide programs on 612 ABC Brisbane.