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Anything Could Happen
'Gloriously romantic' The Sun
'I couldn't put it down' Jill Mansell
' A charmingly escapist read ... a tonic for trying times' Daily Mail
'The book we all need - full of escapism, romance, hope and kindness' Milly Johnson
Your big secret is out. What next?
For Lara and her daughter Eliza, it has always been just the two of them. But when Eliza turns eighteen and wants to connect with her father, Lara is forced to admit a secret that she has been keeping from her daughter her whole life.
Eliza needs answers - and so does Lara. Their journey to the truth will take them on a road trip across England and eventually to New York, where it all began. Dreams might have been broken and opportunities missed, but there are still surprises in store...
Anything Could Happen is a warm, wise, funny and uplifting novel about love, second chances and the unexpected and extraordinary paths life can take us down.
' Captivating' Woman & Home
'Tender, bittersweet and funny' Veronica Henry
'Perfect' Prima
'A star-crossed lovers story with so much heart and humour ' Fiona Palmer
'Full of extraordinary surprises' Woman's Own
'A feel-good, uplifting book' Sheila O'Flanagan
'Lovely!' Hello!
'Romantic, uplifting and a total joy' Heidi Swain
'A perfect rainy day read' Bella
'Brimming with humour and hope - this book is a joy to escape into' Cathy Bramley
'[A] warm hug of a novel' Irish News
'A wonderful book about the What Ifs of love and loss' Laura Kemp
'A captivating, humorous and warm-hearted story elevated to must-read status' Heat
'I couldn't put it down' Jill Mansell
' A charmingly escapist read ... a tonic for trying times' Daily Mail
'The book we all need - full of escapism, romance, hope and kindness' Milly Johnson
Your big secret is out. What next?
For Lara and her daughter Eliza, it has always been just the two of them. But when Eliza turns eighteen and wants to connect with her father, Lara is forced to admit a secret that she has been keeping from her daughter her whole life.
Eliza needs answers - and so does Lara. Their journey to the truth will take them on a road trip across England and eventually to New York, where it all began. Dreams might have been broken and opportunities missed, but there are still surprises in store...
Anything Could Happen is a warm, wise, funny and uplifting novel about love, second chances and the unexpected and extraordinary paths life can take us down.
' Captivating' Woman & Home
'Tender, bittersweet and funny' Veronica Henry
'Perfect' Prima
'A star-crossed lovers story with so much heart and humour ' Fiona Palmer
'Full of extraordinary surprises' Woman's Own
'A feel-good, uplifting book' Sheila O'Flanagan
'Lovely!' Hello!
'Romantic, uplifting and a total joy' Heidi Swain
'A perfect rainy day read' Bella
'Brimming with humour and hope - this book is a joy to escape into' Cathy Bramley
'[A] warm hug of a novel' Irish News
'A wonderful book about the What Ifs of love and loss' Laura Kemp
'A captivating, humorous and warm-hearted story elevated to must-read status' Heat
384 pages, Hardcover
First published December 14, 2021
About the author
Lucy Diamond
64 books1,352 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
First of all, a confession. My name isn’t really Lucy Diamond at all, it’s Sue Mongredien. I’ve used a pen name because ‘Diamond’ is a lot easier to spell and pronounce than ‘Mongredien’ and also because I’ve written lots of children’s books too and wanted to keep the genres separate. (There is actually another Lucy Diamond on Amazon who writes religious children’s books. That isn’t me, though.)
I was born in 1970 and grew up in Nottingham. I read English at Leeds University then moved to London and worked for various publishers before I packed it all in to go travelling around the world for a year and a half. When I came back to the UK, I worked in publishing again, then moved to the BBC. I now live in Bath with my husband and three young children and divide my time between writing and looking after them. You can have a look at my children’s books here.
Favourite things: beaches, holidays, chocolate, wine, reading, Green Wing, bubble baths, sunshine, hearing my children laugh, babysitters
Favourite books: The Magus (John Fowles), The Edible Woman (Margaret Atwood), The Secret History (Donna Tartt), The Colour of Memory (Geoff Dyer)
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
First of all, a confession. My name isn’t really Lucy Diamond at all, it’s Sue Mongredien. I’ve used a pen name because ‘Diamond’ is a lot easier to spell and pronounce than ‘Mongredien’ and also because I’ve written lots of children’s books too and wanted to keep the genres separate. (There is actually another Lucy Diamond on Amazon who writes religious children’s books. That isn’t me, though.)
I was born in 1970 and grew up in Nottingham. I read English at Leeds University then moved to London and worked for various publishers before I packed it all in to go travelling around the world for a year and a half. When I came back to the UK, I worked in publishing again, then moved to the BBC. I now live in Bath with my husband and three young children and divide my time between writing and looking after them. You can have a look at my children’s books here.
Favourite things: beaches, holidays, chocolate, wine, reading, Green Wing, bubble baths, sunshine, hearing my children laugh, babysitters
Favourite books: The Magus (John Fowles), The Edible Woman (Margaret Atwood), The Secret History (Donna Tartt), The Colour of Memory (Geoff Dyer)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 394 reviews
December 4, 2021
From New York City to North Yorkshire to Cambridge this is a novel of missed opportunities when something potentially wonderful is lost for various reasons. Nineteen years ago Lara meets fellow Brit Ben by chance in New York, there is a genuine spark and he seems to be the man of her dreams. They are on the cusp of something wonderful but fate intervenes. Eliza is turning 18 and wants to reconnect with her father which takes Lara and Eliza on a surprising journey of self discovery.
This is a fun mixture of warmth but also of heartbreak which is essentially a good read but it takes a circuitous route and thus sometimes loses plot momentum. It’s definitely slow to get going but it’s well worth persisting as it becomes an enjoyable, entertaining read. The characterisation is very good and they all feel relatable. The standout for me is Eliza who is a ‘character’ that’s for sure. She is a genuine tour de force with so much spirit and on occasions about as much subtlety as a sledgehammer but she makes me laugh and the pages are definitely brighter when she’s on them! Some of the best parts of the book of the dynamics between mother and daughter which are acutely observed as they navigate the big secret that lies between them. There is some snappy dialogue especially between Eliza, Lara and Ben which makes for lively reading. Lara is very wry at times especially about what her life has become and that is something that will resonate with readers. The message of the book is a good one that if you go searching for something you won’t necessarily hear the things you want to, that life is full of bumps in the road which leads to dilemmas which need resolving. It’s emotional at times as characters learn more about themselves and take brave decisions. Although this is a romance novel as with all Lucy Diamond’s books they’re not fluffy, they’re grounded in reality which gives the book a genuine air of authenticity. The ending is nice, predictable but still nice!
On the negative side it does feel too long, there is extraneous detail that gets in the way and maybe a few too many characters. It’s a bit frustrating as I just want the storytelling to speed up!
Overall this has a good premise but not always with a quick pace. However it ticks every box in readers expectations of the genre and I’m glad I read it as it makes a pleasant change from my usual reading. Into the bargain you get some good settings, it’s hard to resist New York City and Scarborough, which I know well, definitely has its attractions though the North Sea swimming club, rather you than me Lara!
With thanks to NetGalley and Quercus books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
This is a fun mixture of warmth but also of heartbreak which is essentially a good read but it takes a circuitous route and thus sometimes loses plot momentum. It’s definitely slow to get going but it’s well worth persisting as it becomes an enjoyable, entertaining read. The characterisation is very good and they all feel relatable. The standout for me is Eliza who is a ‘character’ that’s for sure. She is a genuine tour de force with so much spirit and on occasions about as much subtlety as a sledgehammer but she makes me laugh and the pages are definitely brighter when she’s on them! Some of the best parts of the book of the dynamics between mother and daughter which are acutely observed as they navigate the big secret that lies between them. There is some snappy dialogue especially between Eliza, Lara and Ben which makes for lively reading. Lara is very wry at times especially about what her life has become and that is something that will resonate with readers. The message of the book is a good one that if you go searching for something you won’t necessarily hear the things you want to, that life is full of bumps in the road which leads to dilemmas which need resolving. It’s emotional at times as characters learn more about themselves and take brave decisions. Although this is a romance novel as with all Lucy Diamond’s books they’re not fluffy, they’re grounded in reality which gives the book a genuine air of authenticity. The ending is nice, predictable but still nice!
On the negative side it does feel too long, there is extraneous detail that gets in the way and maybe a few too many characters. It’s a bit frustrating as I just want the storytelling to speed up!
Overall this has a good premise but not always with a quick pace. However it ticks every box in readers expectations of the genre and I’m glad I read it as it makes a pleasant change from my usual reading. Into the bargain you get some good settings, it’s hard to resist New York City and Scarborough, which I know well, definitely has its attractions though the North Sea swimming club, rather you than me Lara!
With thanks to NetGalley and Quercus books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
January 17, 2022
A biology lesson in genetics was the instrument which changed Eliza’s life. Lara and Eliza had been living just the two of them, all Eliza’s life. Now she had turned eighteen and with the biology lesson in mind, decided she wanted to meet her father to discover who he was in connection to her, and why he left her and Lara when she was only young. Orchestrating a meeting without her mother’s knowledge brought shock and rage to Eliza and when she arrived home to her mother, she let fly.
Lara reluctantly told Eliza the story of her biological father – a man who didn’t even know she existed. A young British girl, Lara Spencer was a fashion journalist in New York when she met Ben McManus and their immediate connection was obvious. The arrangement of a second date was exciting – the fact that the date didn’t happen, devastating for Lara. She returned to her home in Yorkshire, pregnant, with the father of her child completely unaware. Now that child wanted to meet her father and get to know him…
Anything Could Happen is my first read by Lucy Diamond and I’m not sure how I feel now that I’ve finished. On one hand, I liked it but on the other, it didn’t keep my attention – I had no trouble putting it down. Anything Could Happen is a story of second chances, missed opportunities and how anything could happen – and often did. The pacing of the novel was slow, and I was left with a feeling of relief when I turned the last page. One thing I do love is the Australian cover. For fans of the author, I have no hesitation in recommending this novel.
With thanks to Hachette AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Lara reluctantly told Eliza the story of her biological father – a man who didn’t even know she existed. A young British girl, Lara Spencer was a fashion journalist in New York when she met Ben McManus and their immediate connection was obvious. The arrangement of a second date was exciting – the fact that the date didn’t happen, devastating for Lara. She returned to her home in Yorkshire, pregnant, with the father of her child completely unaware. Now that child wanted to meet her father and get to know him…
Anything Could Happen is my first read by Lucy Diamond and I’m not sure how I feel now that I’ve finished. On one hand, I liked it but on the other, it didn’t keep my attention – I had no trouble putting it down. Anything Could Happen is a story of second chances, missed opportunities and how anything could happen – and often did. The pacing of the novel was slow, and I was left with a feeling of relief when I turned the last page. One thing I do love is the Australian cover. For fans of the author, I have no hesitation in recommending this novel.
With thanks to Hachette AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
April 24, 2022
Lara and Ben get together one night in New York City. When they wake together in the morning they both seem to feel this is more than just a one night stand. It is the start of something lasting. They arrange to meet that night at Grand Central station. But events conspire against them. Ben does not turn up and although Lara makes a couple of attempts to contact him, he never rings back. Lara ends up pregnant. Lara doesn’t want her child to grow up without a father as she did, so she gets together with Steve, letting him believe the child is his. Which works fine until a few years later tests reveal Steve is infertile. He leaves at that point but Lara never tells her daughter Eliza the truth. When she is eighteen Eliza finds out Steve is not her father. She wants to know who her father is and is determined to meet him, regardless of how Lara feels about the situation.
Just from that you can probably predict where this story is going. I certainly could, but was prepared to go along on the journey with Eliza and Lara. The story was okay. I liked it but didn’t love it. My biggest problem was that it was slow and needed a good edit, as it took took too long to get where it was going. I found myself skimming. It was easy to put down and I never felt in a great rush to pick it up again. The story and characters never actually touched my emotions. So the result? Enjoyable enough, but not exactly memorable. But if you want a light read you may love it more than I did. I’m sure many people will.
Just from that you can probably predict where this story is going. I certainly could, but was prepared to go along on the journey with Eliza and Lara. The story was okay. I liked it but didn’t love it. My biggest problem was that it was slow and needed a good edit, as it took took too long to get where it was going. I found myself skimming. It was easy to put down and I never felt in a great rush to pick it up again. The story and characters never actually touched my emotions. So the result? Enjoyable enough, but not exactly memorable. But if you want a light read you may love it more than I did. I’m sure many people will.
December 23, 2021
I usually love Lucy Diamond’s books but, I really struggled with this one. It felt different from her others and I felt something was missing. It didn’t have the warmth or light-hearted feel to it like her books in the past. I do hope her next book is better. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
July 31, 2024
Nope! Just no.
I couldn’t stand the characters and the whole thing was pretty boring.
One of those books that is very easy to put down and very hard to pick up again.
I couldn’t stand the characters and the whole thing was pretty boring.
One of those books that is very easy to put down and very hard to pick up again.
August 13, 2023
Na een geweldige avond en nacht in New York dacht Lara dat ze de ware had gevonden in Ben, dat dit iets echts, iets wonderbaarlijks kon worden. Ze zouden elkaar opnieuw ontmoeten bij de oesterbar in Grand Central Station, maar hij brak haar hart toen hij niet kwam opdagen. Ze hebben nooit meer contact gehad en hoewel Lara’s onverwachte zwangerschap voor een nieuw leven vol uitdagingen en aanpassingen zorgde, heeft haar dochter Eliza, die is uitgegroeid tot een pittige, eigenwijze en doortastende tiener, haar altijd geluk gebracht. Ze hebben een hechte band en delen veel met elkaar, maar nu Eliza 18 is geworden wil ze op zoek gaan naar haar vader en eist ze, na een schokkende ontdekking, antwoorden van haar moeder. Zullen ze elkaar vinden?
In haar kenmerkende vlotte en warme schrijfstijl neemt Lucy Diamond je vanaf de eerste pagina mee in de roerige levens van deze personages. Het verhaal heeft een rustig tempo en ze neemt de tijd voor uitgebreide karakterschetsen, afgewisseld met inkijkjes in de gedachten van deze mensen, waardoor je iedereen goed leert kennen. Het zijn realistische, levensecht neergezette karakters die allemaal hun eigenaardigheden hebben en nu de confrontatie met zichzelf aan moeten gaan, om moeten gaan met de gevolgen die belangrijke onthullingen teweegbrengen in hun levens en de consequenties van eerder genomen beslissingen, achtergehouden informatie, misverstanden en gebrek aan communicatie moeten aanvaarden.
De afwisselende perspectieven, mooie karaktergroei, sterk neergezette dynamiek en krachtige dialogen houden het geheel levendig en terwijl alle levens op hun kop worden gezet, kiest de auteur zeker niet overal voor de meest voor de hand liggende uitkomsten, waardoor verschillende wendingen je zullen verrassen. Het leven loopt vrijwel nooit zoals je had verwacht en soms is het goed om je levenspad te heroverwegen, je relaties onder de loep te nemen, die ‘wat als’-vragen te beantwoorden en in het diepe te springen om je verwaarloosde dromen toch achterna te gaan.
Sommige connecties zijn net wat té toevallig, niet alle personages zijn even sympathiek en enkele ontwikkelingen zijn wel erg dramatisch, maar dit is vooral een fijn, meeslepend, turbulent en emotioneel verhaal. Een verhaal over liefde, familie, verloren tijd en tweede kansen, over ontwikkeling, ontrafelde geheimen en leugens, confrontatie, spijt, afsluiting en een nieuw begin, een boeiende reis die je plezierige leesuren zal bezorgen!
3.5⭐️
In haar kenmerkende vlotte en warme schrijfstijl neemt Lucy Diamond je vanaf de eerste pagina mee in de roerige levens van deze personages. Het verhaal heeft een rustig tempo en ze neemt de tijd voor uitgebreide karakterschetsen, afgewisseld met inkijkjes in de gedachten van deze mensen, waardoor je iedereen goed leert kennen. Het zijn realistische, levensecht neergezette karakters die allemaal hun eigenaardigheden hebben en nu de confrontatie met zichzelf aan moeten gaan, om moeten gaan met de gevolgen die belangrijke onthullingen teweegbrengen in hun levens en de consequenties van eerder genomen beslissingen, achtergehouden informatie, misverstanden en gebrek aan communicatie moeten aanvaarden.
De afwisselende perspectieven, mooie karaktergroei, sterk neergezette dynamiek en krachtige dialogen houden het geheel levendig en terwijl alle levens op hun kop worden gezet, kiest de auteur zeker niet overal voor de meest voor de hand liggende uitkomsten, waardoor verschillende wendingen je zullen verrassen. Het leven loopt vrijwel nooit zoals je had verwacht en soms is het goed om je levenspad te heroverwegen, je relaties onder de loep te nemen, die ‘wat als’-vragen te beantwoorden en in het diepe te springen om je verwaarloosde dromen toch achterna te gaan.
Sommige connecties zijn net wat té toevallig, niet alle personages zijn even sympathiek en enkele ontwikkelingen zijn wel erg dramatisch, maar dit is vooral een fijn, meeslepend, turbulent en emotioneel verhaal. Een verhaal over liefde, familie, verloren tijd en tweede kansen, over ontwikkeling, ontrafelde geheimen en leugens, confrontatie, spijt, afsluiting en een nieuw begin, een boeiende reis die je plezierige leesuren zal bezorgen!
3.5⭐️
January 27, 2022
This was a very enjoyable read for me, it’s one of those stories that can resonate with any reader about missed opportunities, life long “what ifs”, and you guessed it, anything could happen! We followed Eliza and Lara in this novel as they revisit Lara’s past. Eliza is determined to find her dad and find out exactly why he left her and her mum alone when she was a baby, she doesn’t understand why he didn’t want any kind of parental connection with her. Unfortunately her father didn’t have any idea that she existed because her mum never told him about the pregnancy. When Eliza confronts Lara she finally tells her the story of how she met Eliza’s father in New York and went on a date together, but they never had a second date and it crushed her. She went back home to England while pregnant and never let him know about it.
So now that Eliza knows who her father is, and he knows she exists, will she finally be able to have the relationship with her father that she always wanted? Will Lara ever be able to stop wondering what would have happened if he had gone on a second date with her, would her life have turned out differently? Would they have all been a happy family together? You’ll have to read this book to find out the answers to your questions.
Life does tend to throw us all curve balls and naturally we all wonder what could have been about many different relationships in our lives, it’s this kind of closure that everyone seeks to have, otherwise you always have this little hole that never truly closes.
Thanks Quercus for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my review.
So now that Eliza knows who her father is, and he knows she exists, will she finally be able to have the relationship with her father that she always wanted? Will Lara ever be able to stop wondering what would have happened if he had gone on a second date with her, would her life have turned out differently? Would they have all been a happy family together? You’ll have to read this book to find out the answers to your questions.
Life does tend to throw us all curve balls and naturally we all wonder what could have been about many different relationships in our lives, it’s this kind of closure that everyone seeks to have, otherwise you always have this little hole that never truly closes.
Thanks Quercus for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my review.
March 18, 2022
3.5 stars for a standard formula and strong characters.
More a contemporary novel than romance, the characters kept me reading. There were times I could put it down and if didn’t pick it up again for a few days… I didn’t loose any sleep. The story was not one where I needed to continuously need to keep reading to find out what was going to happen. This was more the laborious plot, rather than my lack the enjoyment of the characters.
Full circle storytelling, with a feel-good ending - exactly the genre and those who enjoy the author will probably love it more than I did.
More a contemporary novel than romance, the characters kept me reading. There were times I could put it down and if didn’t pick it up again for a few days… I didn’t loose any sleep. The story was not one where I needed to continuously need to keep reading to find out what was going to happen. This was more the laborious plot, rather than my lack the enjoyment of the characters.
Full circle storytelling, with a feel-good ending - exactly the genre and those who enjoy the author will probably love it more than I did.
October 20, 2021
Very enjoyable read, love Lucy diamonds books, you want want to put this cosy read down
February 13, 2022
I really enjoyed this easy read. A lovely collection of characters, I’d class this as a family saga/chick lit. Lara and Ben meet in NYC, eighteen years later, they’re forced into a reunion by their daughter, Elisa…that Ben is unaware of! A well put together story, a bit long winded at times, but heartfelt, feel good, well written. One I wish I’d been able read poolside!
Thank you to Netgalley and Quercus Books for an advanced e-copy of this book in return of an honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley and Quercus Books for an advanced e-copy of this book in return of an honest review.
Shelved as 'on-hold-for-now'
June 23, 2024Gotta DNF this one for now. Might come back to it.
December 5, 2021
Anything Could Happen is a hugely relatable story about what-ifs, missed opportunities and the roads that, for one reason or another, our lives never followed. Brit Lara Spencer was a twenty-six-year-old fashion journalist in New York when she conceived Eliza after meeting Ben McManus, a man whom she expected to spend her future with. Their connection was undeniable but the arranged second date never happened and Lara returned to live in Scarborough with Ben unaware that he was destined to be a father. Fast-forward nineteen years and daughter Eliza is an eighteen-year-old with university on the horizon and furious that the man she was led to believe was her father and left when she was three, actually isn’t. Eliza wants answers and when Lara finally discloses what happened she is determined to track her real father down and introduce herself. Ben is not only flabbergasted to discover that he has a daughter but soon finds himself desperately scrambling to save his marriage to betrayed wife, Kirsten. As Eliza gets to know Ben and they start to bond, she can’t help but wonder what would happen if her parents hadn’t gone their separate ways and if there could be a second chance for them.
Revisiting her past and remembering the young woman she once was provides Lara with the perfect opportunity to take stock of her life and the ambitions that she set aside when she discovered she was pregnant. Likewise for Ben, as he reconsiders how his future turned on the death of his father and how he settled for a life that he could never have imagined. What I appreciated about this book was how Lucy Diamond considered the repercussions of these events on all three main parties with all the complications that real life entails. This was my first read of one of her books and I certainly understand why her style is so popular as this was such an easy book to read with a definite heart-warming and feel-good vibe. Whilst it doesn’t require a huge level of engagement to follow, the characters have enough depth to feel realistic and the plot isn’t all sunshine and smiles. The story certainly has enough moments of reality (and things not going perfectly) that ensured the book never strayed into twee territory despite the reader feeling safe in the knowledge of things always turning out ok in the end. Gently humorous and largely predictable escapism with my main complaint being how needlessly drawn out the entire second half felt. Whilst I usually like a novel with a little more intrigue involved this book was an undemanding and engaging break from my usual genres.
Revisiting her past and remembering the young woman she once was provides Lara with the perfect opportunity to take stock of her life and the ambitions that she set aside when she discovered she was pregnant. Likewise for Ben, as he reconsiders how his future turned on the death of his father and how he settled for a life that he could never have imagined. What I appreciated about this book was how Lucy Diamond considered the repercussions of these events on all three main parties with all the complications that real life entails. This was my first read of one of her books and I certainly understand why her style is so popular as this was such an easy book to read with a definite heart-warming and feel-good vibe. Whilst it doesn’t require a huge level of engagement to follow, the characters have enough depth to feel realistic and the plot isn’t all sunshine and smiles. The story certainly has enough moments of reality (and things not going perfectly) that ensured the book never strayed into twee territory despite the reader feeling safe in the knowledge of things always turning out ok in the end. Gently humorous and largely predictable escapism with my main complaint being how needlessly drawn out the entire second half felt. Whilst I usually like a novel with a little more intrigue involved this book was an undemanding and engaging break from my usual genres.
December 19, 2022
Periaatteessa tämä oli kivaa kevyttä hömppää, oikein tuttua ja turvallista. Vähän jäi kuitenkin sellainen olo, ettei tämä oikein antanut mitään mitä en olisi arvannut tai mihin en olisi aiemmin törmännyt. Lukukokemukseen vaikuttaa varmasti myös se, että olen erinäisistä syistä viime aikoina kuluttanut melkolailla romanttista hömppää, ja nyt romantiikka alkaa tulla jo korvista ulos.
February 5, 2023
One chance encounter leads to Lara and Ben being tied together for the rest of their lives. Ben did not know about Eliza for years. They strike quite the bond when they get to know each other however not in replacement of her mum. Ben and Lara enjoyed each others company first time. When they meet again they do not totally like each other until they start getting to know each other properly. Set inbetween the UK and New York they both stand out in different places
November 13, 2022
Usually I enjoy this author’s books but I found this quite boring, for once.
Eliza came over as a very immature 18 year old, still very teenager-like in her behaviour e.g. when she meets potential fathers, she just rushes in regardless. Lara and Ben were one dimensional characters, and his sisters were OTT. Kirsten was the only one with any gumption and spark of life in her.
A lot of the book could have been cut out with little impact on the plot too.
Eliza came over as a very immature 18 year old, still very teenager-like in her behaviour e.g. when she meets potential fathers, she just rushes in regardless. Lara and Ben were one dimensional characters, and his sisters were OTT. Kirsten was the only one with any gumption and spark of life in her.
A lot of the book could have been cut out with little impact on the plot too.
January 6, 2022
There is just something so comforting about reading a Lucy Diamond book. I loved it but then I have loved all of Lucy's previous books, I feel as though the subject line could be a relatable situation to many people, and I hope it helps them feel as though they are not alone. I loved the characters, I liked Eliza I felt as though she is a strong young women but sometimes can get things wrong, but her mum Lara is always there to help pick up the pieces. Eliza has never known her father and she wants to find out who he is but Lara her mother is keeping a secret from her. What happens when they track him down and Lara is face to face with him that she has not seen for a very long time. How will it go? the story is based on love and second chances but there is also an element of how we can be lead down a completely different path that we were expecting to go down. I think the ending was good too, when I had finished it I had a warm and uplifting feeling.
July 31, 2024
De manier waarop het verleden wordt terug gehaald en er samen een nieuwe toekomst wordt gemaakt, vond ik echt prachtig. hHet moment dat de vreemdganger blijkbaar sameb is met een vrouw die al heel veel miskramen heeft gehad, was wel shocking
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 18, 2023
This is a nice story about a girl finally meeting her real father and forming a relationship with him, after 18 years of her mum hiding who he was was and the true origins of how she met him. It was an easy read, but I struggled to connect with the characters and really visualise their looks and personality. This made it difficult to be emotionally invested in the story and its characters. I therefore found myself reading it quickly to finish it, as it also dragged in parts. I found Eliza very immature to say she was 18 years old in the book, making childish decisions and just an attitude which annoyed me throughout the book. The ending was quite predictable from the get go. I think it would have been nice if the ending wasn’t what we expected - by not forcing two characters together who obviously did not click throughout adulthood. I think it would have been nice to show that complicated relationships don’t always work out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2021
So, a new Lucy Diamond would be a treat, right? Well, yes or no. I started reading the book hoping for a great, interesting story but the more I read, the slower and slower and slower and also reptitive it became, so much that I found myself skim - reading the last third - even though it probably contained the most important information and resolutions. But it wasn't able to keep my attention anymore - sadly.
The characters were lovely described but nothing made them unforgettable to be honest. They were your average, likeable characters - except for Kirsten which I immediately disliked and my feelings towards her didn't change. She was always unhappy, always blamed other people and she herself was not the most loyal, adorable woman she thought she is. They were realistic and relatable. The plot was super easy to follow with some twists and turns on the way but also the feeling of predictability and the happy end was only a question of time - however, this time, it didn't bother me, I read Lucy Diamond's books because I want this happy end!
Nevertheless, it was a readable, easy story about second chances and missed opportunities and what ifs. Story about family relationships and bonds, lovely and in a very realistic way exploring the relationship between mother and daughter. It was heart - warming but altogether it dragged on and the pace was very slow. I liked how the author has mixed the happy moments with the more serious ones and with things not always ending in a good way but with the feeling that, whatever happens, everything will be positively sorted out. Lucy Diamonds handles all the ssues with care and gentleness and explores the feelings and emotions of the characters - sometimes too much. But altogether it was a nice enough, engaging read from the gem that is Lucy Diamond.
The characters were lovely described but nothing made them unforgettable to be honest. They were your average, likeable characters - except for Kirsten which I immediately disliked and my feelings towards her didn't change. She was always unhappy, always blamed other people and she herself was not the most loyal, adorable woman she thought she is. They were realistic and relatable. The plot was super easy to follow with some twists and turns on the way but also the feeling of predictability and the happy end was only a question of time - however, this time, it didn't bother me, I read Lucy Diamond's books because I want this happy end!
Nevertheless, it was a readable, easy story about second chances and missed opportunities and what ifs. Story about family relationships and bonds, lovely and in a very realistic way exploring the relationship between mother and daughter. It was heart - warming but altogether it dragged on and the pace was very slow. I liked how the author has mixed the happy moments with the more serious ones and with things not always ending in a good way but with the feeling that, whatever happens, everything will be positively sorted out. Lucy Diamonds handles all the ssues with care and gentleness and explores the feelings and emotions of the characters - sometimes too much. But altogether it was a nice enough, engaging read from the gem that is Lucy Diamond.
August 10, 2023
Eliza a 18 ans et lorsqu'en cours de biologie, l'enseignante aborde le thème de l'hérédité, elle décide de partir à la recherche de son père. Une aventure qui entrainera sa mère vers un chemin qu'elle n'aurait pas pensé reprendre un jour.
C'est cheesy comme on dit en anglais, mielleux et couru d'avance à souhait mais ça fait tellement de bien. J'ai plongé complètement dans cette lecture toute douce qui donne envie de croire que tout est possible.
En bref : lecture doudou assurée !
C'est cheesy comme on dit en anglais, mielleux et couru d'avance à souhait mais ça fait tellement de bien. J'ai plongé complètement dans cette lecture toute douce qui donne envie de croire que tout est possible.
En bref : lecture doudou assurée !
January 6, 2022
Back then, Lara was a fresh-faced young fashion journalist spending a few months working in New York and trying to live her best life. One night her colleague drags her to a bar for a drink and she meets Ben, a graphic designer on holiday with some mates. Their connection is instant and all consuming, both of them thinking 'This is the One', they arrange to meet that night - but fail to connect.
Fast forward nineteen years and Eliza is an angry young woman confronting her father about why he left her and her mother when she was only small. Her father drops a huge bombshell that shakes Eliza to the core - he is not her father. Lara has been lying to her for her entire life. When Eliza does eventually connect with her real father, Ben, it also causes repercussions in his marriage.
Can Ben and Lara uncover what actually happened in New York, can Eliza forgive Lara, can Ben and Eliza develop a relationship and make up for lost time?
I love Lucy Diamond novels, never twee, always about people's feelings, about messy families who drive you up the wall but you still love them, and this is no exception.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
Fast forward nineteen years and Eliza is an angry young woman confronting her father about why he left her and her mother when she was only small. Her father drops a huge bombshell that shakes Eliza to the core - he is not her father. Lara has been lying to her for her entire life. When Eliza does eventually connect with her real father, Ben, it also causes repercussions in his marriage.
Can Ben and Lara uncover what actually happened in New York, can Eliza forgive Lara, can Ben and Eliza develop a relationship and make up for lost time?
I love Lucy Diamond novels, never twee, always about people's feelings, about messy families who drive you up the wall but you still love them, and this is no exception.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
February 12, 2023
Thank you so much to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book, all thoughts are my own.
In this book we meet Eliza, she is an 18 year old girl who is about to finish her school life and trying to find out exactly who she is and where she fits in, in her life.
We also meet Lara her mum, these two have a very close relationship and adore one another. Lara is a strong lady who has been through some hard times in her life but spent the last 20 years being the best mum that she could be.
I really enjoyed the storyline to this book, for the first couple of chapters I really though Eliza was a bit of a brat, it really was just her circumstances though and I loved seeing her grow as a person and mature into a lovely strong independent young woman.
I can’t go too deep as I don’t want to give anything away, what I can say is that it’s a lovely sweet second chance romance filled with a few twists and turns. It is a nice quick easy read, perfect for the beach.
Recommended to everyone.
In this book we meet Eliza, she is an 18 year old girl who is about to finish her school life and trying to find out exactly who she is and where she fits in, in her life.
We also meet Lara her mum, these two have a very close relationship and adore one another. Lara is a strong lady who has been through some hard times in her life but spent the last 20 years being the best mum that she could be.
I really enjoyed the storyline to this book, for the first couple of chapters I really though Eliza was a bit of a brat, it really was just her circumstances though and I loved seeing her grow as a person and mature into a lovely strong independent young woman.
I can’t go too deep as I don’t want to give anything away, what I can say is that it’s a lovely sweet second chance romance filled with a few twists and turns. It is a nice quick easy read, perfect for the beach.
Recommended to everyone.
April 30, 2022
A pleasant easy read. The characters are believable with realistic interaction between them. The storyline is quite predictable .
January 5, 2022
It all began 19 years ago and a chance meeting of Lara and Brian in a New York bar. There was an instant attraction between the pair, and after a very intimate night, they parted company planning to meet that evening. Events were to keep them apart, but Lara would have a constant reminder of that night when nine months later, she gave birth to their daughter, Eliza. The thing was that when Lara had arrived back in the UK, she had a bit of a fling with another young man, who believed Eliza was his. That was until it was proved that she couldn’t be.
Time passed, until at eighteen years old, Eliza demanded to know who her real father was. She was full of anger, reckless and unstoppable. Brian had been blissfully unaware of her existence all this time.
To be honest, I didn’t like Eliza at all, she was like a bulldozer stuck in high gear with a five-year-old driving it, she didn’t care about the wreckage that she would wreck into other peoples lives. Lara, I found weak, with her daughter in control of their relationship, setting the rules and demanding. So after a few chapters disliked both of the two many characters in the story immensely.
There are some cringing moments in the story and heartbreak in many other ways. It was strange because I still felt compelled to find out where this would all end. I liked the story because it brought out such strong emotions in me, even though they may not have been the ones I was supposed to feel. So would I recommend this book? Most definitely.
I wish to thank Net Galley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book that I have reviewed honestly.
Time passed, until at eighteen years old, Eliza demanded to know who her real father was. She was full of anger, reckless and unstoppable. Brian had been blissfully unaware of her existence all this time.
To be honest, I didn’t like Eliza at all, she was like a bulldozer stuck in high gear with a five-year-old driving it, she didn’t care about the wreckage that she would wreck into other peoples lives. Lara, I found weak, with her daughter in control of their relationship, setting the rules and demanding. So after a few chapters disliked both of the two many characters in the story immensely.
There are some cringing moments in the story and heartbreak in many other ways. It was strange because I still felt compelled to find out where this would all end. I liked the story because it brought out such strong emotions in me, even though they may not have been the ones I was supposed to feel. So would I recommend this book? Most definitely.
I wish to thank Net Galley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book that I have reviewed honestly.
January 7, 2022
If you love a little family drama in your books, you're going to want to check out Anything Could Happen. It's told from several shifting perspectives. First, we have Lara and her 18-year-old daughter Eliza, who just learns that the man who walked out on her when she was younger isn't in fact, her dad.
After thorough internet searching, Eliza makes Lara take her to Cambridge to meet Ben, her biological father, who Lara met one serendipitous night out when she was interning in NYC. While Ben and Eliza build a relationship, Ben's marriage to his wife falls apart.
As you can see, there are a lot of complex relationships forming and collapsing in Anything Could Happen. It's a book that undeniably takes you on a journey as Eliza and Lara both connect (and reconnect with Ben). Every character has their flaws, which to me makes them so much more real and relatable. Filled with heartbreaking, heartwarming and tender moments, the book had a good pace as it takes you on a journey.
At its core, Anything Could Happen is a book about love, family, second chances and how one decision can truly change your life. I think fans of both Lucy Diamond and Paige Toon will enjoy going on a journey across the UK and to New York alongside the cast of characters in Anything Could Happen.
Thank you to Quercus Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for this honest review.
After thorough internet searching, Eliza makes Lara take her to Cambridge to meet Ben, her biological father, who Lara met one serendipitous night out when she was interning in NYC. While Ben and Eliza build a relationship, Ben's marriage to his wife falls apart.
As you can see, there are a lot of complex relationships forming and collapsing in Anything Could Happen. It's a book that undeniably takes you on a journey as Eliza and Lara both connect (and reconnect with Ben). Every character has their flaws, which to me makes them so much more real and relatable. Filled with heartbreaking, heartwarming and tender moments, the book had a good pace as it takes you on a journey.
At its core, Anything Could Happen is a book about love, family, second chances and how one decision can truly change your life. I think fans of both Lucy Diamond and Paige Toon will enjoy going on a journey across the UK and to New York alongside the cast of characters in Anything Could Happen.
Thank you to Quercus Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for this honest review.
July 20, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books for letting me read this one for an honest review.
What I thought about this book:
This is actually my first time reading anything Lucy Diamond has written and I will make sure to try out her other books.
Anything Could Happen started of with a really good beginning that was in an prologue. After reading that I knew I would like this book a lot.
So this story contains two big secrets hidden by Lara, one of the main characters, surprise you have a daughter, surprise your dad isn't your dad, a possible car theft, possible second chances, humor and sometimes you get 4 pov which really isn't hard to follow.
The story had a great flow during the reading and it wasn't too obvious what would happen at some points.
The characters are easy to like especially the daughter Eliza because in my opinion she made the story funnier with her ideas and thoughts.
I recommend this romantic feel-good book to those readers that just want an easy romantic feel-good without any spicy scenes in it but also to you who usually read romantic feel-goods with spicy scenes in it because it was a cute and funny likeable read.
I give this a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5
What I thought about this book:
This is actually my first time reading anything Lucy Diamond has written and I will make sure to try out her other books.
Anything Could Happen started of with a really good beginning that was in an prologue. After reading that I knew I would like this book a lot.
So this story contains two big secrets hidden by Lara, one of the main characters, surprise you have a daughter, surprise your dad isn't your dad, a possible car theft, possible second chances, humor and sometimes you get 4 pov which really isn't hard to follow.
The story had a great flow during the reading and it wasn't too obvious what would happen at some points.
The characters are easy to like especially the daughter Eliza because in my opinion she made the story funnier with her ideas and thoughts.
I recommend this romantic feel-good book to those readers that just want an easy romantic feel-good without any spicy scenes in it but also to you who usually read romantic feel-goods with spicy scenes in it because it was a cute and funny likeable read.
I give this a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5
January 6, 2022
A very enjoyable story about missed chances, along with a few hurt feelings which stopped some matters being resolved a lot earlier.
Lara and her nearly 18 year old daughter have a good life, but Eliza is feeling a bit lost without her father (Lara is divorced) and goes to confront who she thinks is her father, only to find out he's not her biological father and her mother has kept a secret about her birth all these years.
The rest of the story is about Eliza finding her real Dad, Ben, and upsetting the apple cart with his marriage, although to be fair it was on the rocks anyway.
Eliza is very determined to reconnect with her father, who is delighted to find out he has a daughter, but equally upset that he missed all her earlier years. Lara and Ben have a lot to sort out too, as their 'relationship' was only one day whilst they were both in New York and events transpired to part them, but is the spark still there, after the hurt feelings are sorted out?
A very easy-reading story.
Lara and her nearly 18 year old daughter have a good life, but Eliza is feeling a bit lost without her father (Lara is divorced) and goes to confront who she thinks is her father, only to find out he's not her biological father and her mother has kept a secret about her birth all these years.
The rest of the story is about Eliza finding her real Dad, Ben, and upsetting the apple cart with his marriage, although to be fair it was on the rocks anyway.
Eliza is very determined to reconnect with her father, who is delighted to find out he has a daughter, but equally upset that he missed all her earlier years. Lara and Ben have a lot to sort out too, as their 'relationship' was only one day whilst they were both in New York and events transpired to part them, but is the spark still there, after the hurt feelings are sorted out?
A very easy-reading story.
January 21, 2022
Eliza has just turned 18 and although she hasn't seen her father Steve in years, she now wants to reconnect with him. However, when they eventually meet, Steve drops a bombshell. Her real father is a man called Ben who her mother Lara spent a night with in New York, but never saw again.
Lara didn't tell Ben about her pregnancy so, when headstrong Eliza determines to track him down, she dreads admitting the truth.
When the three eventually meet, their lives change forever. They embark on a shared journey of discovery and revisit old haunts, culminating in mother and daughter taking a trip to the Big Apple where the story began - and where Lara and Ben thought it ended 18 years ago.
With a stark contrast between Lara and Eliza's quiet life in Scarborough, and Ben's lively family life, there are poignant moments showing how differently Lara and Ben's story might have turned out. But these are balanced out by Lucy Diamond's funny and heartwarming storytelling.
It's a touching, feelgood story to escape into, full of love, hope and joy.
Lara didn't tell Ben about her pregnancy so, when headstrong Eliza determines to track him down, she dreads admitting the truth.
When the three eventually meet, their lives change forever. They embark on a shared journey of discovery and revisit old haunts, culminating in mother and daughter taking a trip to the Big Apple where the story began - and where Lara and Ben thought it ended 18 years ago.
With a stark contrast between Lara and Eliza's quiet life in Scarborough, and Ben's lively family life, there are poignant moments showing how differently Lara and Ben's story might have turned out. But these are balanced out by Lucy Diamond's funny and heartwarming storytelling.
It's a touching, feelgood story to escape into, full of love, hope and joy.
July 6, 2022
This book centres around Laura and Ben who meet in New York and fall in love. Circumstances get in the way and when Laura finds out she is pregnant she pins her hopes on her new boyfriend Steve, being the father. Fast forward 19 years and Eliza, Laura’s daughter is devastated when Steve walks out of her and her mothers lives. Laura has always protected Eliza from the truth but when she finds out Steve is not her biological father she sets out on a mission to find out who is.
Do people get second chances at love? When years have passed can the spark which brought young lovers together reignite? Or do events and other relationships get in the way? All these questions are answered in this twisty second chance story.
I love a feel good story and this book certainly delivered , after a slow start I was soon engrossed. I loved the wonderful ending which really brought the plot together in a satisfying way.
Do people get second chances at love? When years have passed can the spark which brought young lovers together reignite? Or do events and other relationships get in the way? All these questions are answered in this twisty second chance story.
I love a feel good story and this book certainly delivered , after a slow start I was soon engrossed. I loved the wonderful ending which really brought the plot together in a satisfying way.
November 8, 2021
Another great read from Lucy diamond! A tale of missed opportunities and second chances!
Lara and Ben met in New York, had an instant spark/connection after spending a romantic all consuming night together, agreeing to meet the next evening, however circumstances conspire against them and they don’t meet!
Lara finds herself pregnant and alone despite attempts to contact Ben and brings her daughter Eliza up as a single parent.
Eliza on reaching eighteen decides to find her father, but rather than do it in a considered manner rushes into everything with several consequences!
Ultimately Eliza has that childhood dream of a family unit comprising of the three of them and tries in Her unsubtle way to matchmaker!
The ensuing read shows that true love wins, the road may be long and hard but ultimately worth the ride!
Lovely heartfelt read.
Thank you netgalley for this early read.
Lara and Ben met in New York, had an instant spark/connection after spending a romantic all consuming night together, agreeing to meet the next evening, however circumstances conspire against them and they don’t meet!
Lara finds herself pregnant and alone despite attempts to contact Ben and brings her daughter Eliza up as a single parent.
Eliza on reaching eighteen decides to find her father, but rather than do it in a considered manner rushes into everything with several consequences!
Ultimately Eliza has that childhood dream of a family unit comprising of the three of them and tries in Her unsubtle way to matchmaker!
The ensuing read shows that true love wins, the road may be long and hard but ultimately worth the ride!
Lovely heartfelt read.
Thank you netgalley for this early read.
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