Review - The Palace Of Strange Girls by Sallie Day

The Palace Of Strange Girls by Sallie Day

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Time taken to read - 1 day



Blurb From Goodreads



Blackpool, 1959. The Singleton family is on holiday. Seven-year-old Beth is trying to avoid her mother Ruth's eagle-eyed supervision, while her sixteen-year-old sister Helen has befriended a waitress whose fun-loving ways hint at a life beyond Ruth's strict rules. When a letter arrives from Crete, a secret re-emerges from the wartime past of Ruth's husband Jack that could destroy their marriage. As Helen is tempted outside the safe confines of her mother's strict edicts, and Beth forges her own path, all four Singletons must struggle to find their place in a shifting world of promenade amusements, illicit sex and stilted afternoon teas.



My Review



Ruth and Jack are going on holiday to Blackpool with their two daughters, Beth (7) who is poorly and been a sick child for a while and Helen (16), desperate for a bit of freedom from her dominating mother and a little fun. The story is set in the late 50s and introduces us to the way of life at that time and how the family see and want different things. It shows how sometimes the past can come back to haunt us and sometimes the things we want aren't always what we thought they we be and what price comes with them.



What a wonderful wee read! There isn't anything huge or a single event in the book I can say oh that was explosive that is why I loved it but from I read practically read the first page I couldn't put it down. It takes you to a different era, when even the simple things come at a cost and that no matter when in time it is our lives generally go through the same issues.



I got to enjoy all of the characters, even the unlikable stuck up Ruth who whilst at times she really annoyed you, you couldn't help but want to learn more about her character and I think with all of them you can if not identify personally you can empathize with them. First time reading this author and came across it by chance on holiday, 4/5 for me and I would definitely read her again!

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