#Book Review #The Year of Starting Over by Karen King

If somebody gave you £30,000 and a year to spend this money on reinventing yourself, where would you go and what would you do?

Holly grew up with a loving example of her grandparents’ marriage. When she inherits 30,000 from her grandfather, she wants to spend it on a wedding with her boyfriend of two years and possibly a deposit on a house. Unfortunately, he seems to be more interested in spending time with his mates than committing himself in a marriage to Holly. Suddenly, Holly realizes she’s been taken for granted for too long and has made too many compromises. She leaves Scott, moves back to her Mum’s, and starts thinking seriously about changing her life. Holly draws up a list of things she would like to do in the upcoming year.

Her friends Fiona and Pablo have just bought a house in Andalusia. As one of the things on Holly’s bucket list is living abroad, Holly sets off on her journey to help her friends turn their house in an artists’ retreat and at the same time figure out what really makes her happy. Love isn’t something she expects or wants at this stage of her life.

What I loved about this book is that, although there is a love story, it isn’t central. It is something that happens to the main characters Holly and Matias as they sort out their lives, face their fears, focus on interacting with other people, and discover themselves.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.