A Fresh Start (Short Stories)

(Amazon UK link)

A couple of months ago a friend gave me the book ‘A Fresh Start’, telling me that she thought I would like it. It’s a slim volume, containing ten short stories. Apparently there’s an agency that produces very short books to try to encourage people to read more. Not a problem I have, but I wanted something quick that I could put down easily in between chapters, so a book of short stories seemed ideal.

The stories are by different authors, half of whom I’d heard of. I particularly like the novels by Louise Candlish, JoJo Moyes and Sophie Kinsella, so was looking forward to reading their contributions. I don’t think I’d read anything by Ian Rankin or Adele Parks, but I knew the names. I didn’t recognise any of the others, although they are all listed as 'bestselling authors'.

They are quite a mixed bunch of stories, as would be expected of ten different writers, but the overall theme of each relates, as the book title suggests, to some kind of fresh start. One, for instance, involves a married couple making a new commitment to each other. One involves a father and daughter becoming closer, one involves an unexpected inheritance. Two of them involve women determined to get their lives back after a stressful marriage, or discovery of infidelity; the methods used, however, are entirely different.

There’s no particular genre in which these stories fall, so there’s something for everyone. One of them is about a new police officer, for instance, the ’fresh start’ relating to her new career. They are mostly somewhat light-hearted, but there’s poignancy too. And they’re all very well-written, with believable characters even if some of the situations or plots are a tad unlikely.

There isn’t much (if any) bad language in these short stories, nor anything explicit, although there are some implications and innuendoes in some of them. They would be appropriate for anyone of about fifteen and upwards to read, as well as for adults looking for a short book to pass an hour or so. There are only about 110 pages in all - so it really was extremely quick.

The book says on the back that it was sold for a pound and I see that Amazon is still selling it for that small amount, so it’s the kind of thing that could easily be added to a book order (perhaps to bring the total cost up to the level needed for free postage). Indeed, I’m delighted to find this series of ‘quick reads’ in case I need to do that at some point in the future. No doubt books like this can also be found at charity shops, too.

Ideal for holiday reading, or in a busy period to allow brief escapism. More likely to appeal to women than men, but could be read by anyone.

Review copyright 2020 Sue's Book Reviews