Mr Portobello’s Morning Paper by @MrsAmandaProwse #ContemporaryFiction #Novella #TuesdayBookBlog

Author: Amanda Prowse

Published: May 2020 by Lionhead Media

Category: Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Book Review

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Sophia Perkins gives up her job as a teacher to realise a life-long dream of owning a second-hand bookshop. Free from the wearying monotony of marking until the early hours and swallowing the disappointment of trying to educate disinterested young minds, she embraces her new life.

This new story with a warm vintage feel brings to mind the age-old saying: Be careful what you wish for…

Mr Portobello’s Morning Paper is a lovely story. I saw it featured on Joanne’s blog and scooted off to Amazon straight away. It centres around Sophia Perkins. Still grieving the loss of her parents, as well as feeling disillusioned with trying to teach classes of seemingly indifferent children, she gives notice, leaves her job and fulfils a long held dream of owning her own second hand bookshop.

The previous tenant of the building, eccentric eighty year old Mr Portobello, takes to calling into the bookshop each morning for a chat as he walks past after collecting his morning paper, and the two build up a special friendship over several months. Then one morning Mr Portobello fails to arrive at his usual time, and for the rest of the week there’s no sign of him. Worried, Sophia decides to find his house and make sure he’s not ill. She discovers all is not as she believed.

She had seen Mr Portobello out and about — who hadn’t? He was, as the phrase went, a real character; someone who stood out, a man everyone recognised, but knew little about. He kept himself to himself, but was one of those people who was like the local war memorial, the fancy library steps or the Gothic fountain in front of St John’s, part of the fabric of the street, someone you expected to see, although usually didn’t look too closely.

Amanda Prowse is an author whose books I enjoy very much and Mr Portobello’s Morning Paper is no exception. I loved the descriptions of the book emporium and the customers that found their way there. For all this is a novella Mr Portobello’s Morning Paper is quite a touching and insightful story, tinged with sadness, the characters brought to life beautifully. I could empathise with Sophia and enjoyed the friendship between her and the lovely Mr Portobello—he talked a lot of sense trying to make Sophia understand that life was for living and not to waste a moment living in the past, and also that happiness can be found in places you least expect.

Book links ~ Amazon UK | Amazon US 

About the Author

Amanda Prowse is an International Bestselling author who has had twenty novels published in dozens of languages. Her chart topping No.1 titles ‘What Have I Done?’, ‘Perfect Daughter’ and ‘My Husband’s Wife’ have sold millions of copies around the world. Published by Lake Union, Amanda is the most prolific writer of bestselling contemporary fiction in the UK today; her titles also consistently score the highest online review approval ratings across several genres.

A popular TV and radio personality, Amanda is a regular panellist on Channel 5’s ‘The Jeremy Vine Show’ and numerous daytime ITV programmes. She makes countless guest appearances on BBC national independent Radio stations including LBC and Talk FM, where she is well known for her insightful observations and her infectious humour.

Author links ~ Website | Facebook | Twitter |