The Long Way Home: the perfect staycation summer read

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Thoroughly enjoyable, with endearing, believable characters and long-held secrets Katie Fforde
'The perfect summer read' Ruth Hogan
A family secret, a mysterious legacy, and a journey that will change everything

When Isla, a 65-year-old grandmother, is left nothing but an old painting in her mothers will, while her sisters and aunt inherit the estate, she is devastated. Close to retirement, getting ready to live on her own terms, the last thing she expects at this time of her life is such turmoil. So, to find an explanation for her mothers rejection, she embarks on a road-trip.

But, right at the last moment, shes forced to take her sullen and, in her view, impossible 14-year-old granddaughter Charlie with her. Cramped together in Islas car with her smelly old dog, these ill-assorted travelling companions set off to uncover some shattering and life-changing family truths at the same time as learning to love each other

The Long Way Homeis set in the UK and 1950s Paris where the story really begins, spanning four generations of women and the secrets that get passed down through them.

Praise for Fanny Blake and The Long Way Home:

Fanny Blake knows how to pinpoint what goes on in families. She is warm but never sentimental and her stories take a grip on the reader Elizabeth Buchan
No-one does family and friendship better than Fanny . . . Warm, funny, wise and relatable Veronica Henry
Loved it . . . a beautiful story of coming back to life in middle age, full of love, joy and hope Liz Fenwick
A hopeful, warm, generous-hearted novel about how love transcends difference Julie Cohen
'A warm, uplifting read'Rosanna Ley
'The plot reels you in until you have no choice but to devour every word'Heat
'Absorbing, intelligent and an absolute joy to read'Daily Express
'A fantastic read from one of our favourite authors'Bella
'Fanny Blake is a master at leading us gently through the complexities of life'Woman & Home
'The plot reels you in until you have no choice but to devour every word'Heat
'Blake writes fantastically about families and anyone who has ever despaired of a screen-addict teen will especially love this warm-hearted novel' Daily Mail
'Fanny Blake leads us gently and reassuringly through the complexities of everyday family life'Womans Weekly
Just perfect as a grandmother myself it made me smile Dinah Jefferies
'Seamlessly moving from past to the present, this is a heart-warming read'Heat
'A heart-warming story of the importance of family bonds'Peoples Friend

Reviews

Thoroughly enjoyable, with endearing, believable characters and long-held secrets' -- Katie Fforde
Fanny Blake knows how to pinpoint what goes on in families. She is warm but never sentimental and her stories take a grip on the reader -- Elizabeth Buchan
'Nobody does family relationships, resentments and rivalries better and her books are always a JOY!' -- Matt Cain
'The plot reels you in until you have no choice but to devour every word'Heat
'Absorbing, intelligent and an absolute joy to read'Daily Express
'A fantastic read from one of our favourite authors'Bella
'Fanny Blake is a master at leading us gently through the complexities of life'Woman & Home
'The plot reels you in until you have no choice but to devour every word'Heat
'Blake writes fantastically about families and anyone who has ever despaired of a screen-addict teen will especially love this warm-hearted novel' Daily Mail
'Fanny Blake leads us gently and reassuringly through the complexities of everyday family life'Womans Weekly
'Seamlessly moving from past to the present, this is a heart-warming read'Heat
'A heart-warming story of the importance of family bonds'Peoples Friend

Author Bio

Fanny Blake was a publisher for many years, editing both fiction and non-fiction before becoming a freelance journalist and writer. She has written various non-fiction titles, acted as ghost writer for a number of celebrities, and is a former books editor of Woman & Home magazine. She has been a judge of a number of literary prizes, including the Costa First Novel award, the Desmond Elliott Award, the RNA Romantic Novel of the Year award and the British Book Awards. She is also the commissioning editor for Quick Reads and a book reviewer.