Becoming Beth
by
Meredith Appleyard
She's remembered the truth about her own life... what happens now?
Publisher: Harlequin Australia
Publication date: 7th September 2022
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Pages: 418
RRP: $32.99AUD Paperback
Source: Beauty & Lace Book Club
My review of Becoming Beth
This review first appeared on the Beauty & Lace Book Club
Becoming Beth is a story about finding yourself after major life upheavals and moving on.
Beth is in her 50's and back at her childhood home after an unexpected marriage breakdown. She has left her job and needs time to mourn not only her marriage but also decades of old hurt and the loss of her mother after a severe stroke.
I loved that Meredith has given her readers an older character having to start over in life. Beth is living with her elderly father however he is not frail and is quite able to care for himself and Meredith Appleyard touches on the stigma of mature children living at home with their parents unless they are a carer.
Becoming Beth is set during the pandemic with mentions of lockdowns, social distancing and disinfectant spray. These were all a part of our lives for so long and I liked that it was included in the novel rather than setting it during a previous year. I think I am now ready to read books with covid restrictions affecting families with parents dying, no visitors, no funeral. I couldn't have done that a year ago.
In Becoming Beth Meredith Appleyard highlights problems faced by small country towns with fundraising to maintain community halls. I loved how the townsfolk all worked together and helped each other. The whole book had a lovely community feel with people of all ages working together for the good of the community.
Meredith Appleyard portrays the heat of an Australian summer with ease. I breezed through this book, it was such an immersive story with just the right amount of drama and a couple of mysteries running through it.
The only thing I would have liked a bit more of was the romance element.
My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
About the author