Book Review: Anything Could Happen by Lucy Diamond

I am pleased to be welcoming Lucy Diamond to Novel Kicks. She’s here with the blog tour for her novel, Anything Could Happen which has been released in paperback. 

Your big secret is out. What next?

For Lara and her daughter Eliza, it has always been just the two of them. But when Eliza turns eighteen and wants to connect with her father, Lara is forced to admit a secret that she has been keeping from her daughter her whole life.

Eliza needs answers – and so does Lara. Their journey to the truth will take them on a road trip across England and eventually to New York, where it all began. Dreams might have been broken and opportunities missed, but there are still surprises in store…

*****

I loved the title and the premise for this novel so I was excited when I got invited onto the blog tour for Anything Could Happen.

Lara and Ben share a memorable night in New York and have dreams of a potential life together. However, life intervenes, and they don’t see each other until nineteen years later when their daughter, Eliza, tracks Ben down to inform him that he is her father.

For Ben, it’s a big shock, not to mention having to tell his wife, Kirsten who doesn’t take it very well.

Told from the point of view of Lara, Ben, Eliza and Kirsten, this book explores the impact of finding out that you have a child and how that affects your life. It also shines a spotlight on a marriage that was already only hanging on by a thread.

I loved Lara. She’s feisty and, even though she needs a little reminder to not be so scared, she knows herself. Eliza is like her mother – a strong female character. She is trying to find out who she is and discover what she wants from life and right now, she wants to get to meet the dad she never met.

I did also really like Ben. He is a well-rounded male character. He is handsome but, like Lara, has his flaws and does his best to embrace them. He also steps up when it comes to Eliza.

Kirsten is an interesting character. I am not sure how I would react if a child my husband fathered turned up out of the blue and she deals with it in a realistic way I think. In my opinion, she is the character that discovers most about herself throughout the book and, post Eliza, doesn’t always have the best time.

The realistic plot moves along at a wonderful pace, and I felt like you got a well-developed story. It didn’t always go in the direction I thought it was going to so this kept me guessing and wanting to turn the page. I got annoyed when I had to stop reading (thanks for nothing house packing.)

I laughed, smiled, and cried along with these charming characters right up until the end.

It’s full of warmth, humour, and love, whether that be for family, friends or yourself.

Anything Can Happen is a story about embracing life, whatever it throws at you and that it’s never too late to try again and find what makes you happy.

I really did love this book. It’s a perfect escape, even if that is only this book, a comfy chair, and a favourite drink.

About Lucy Diamond:

Lucy Diamond grew up in Nottingham and went to university in Leeds where she studied English Literature. After graduating, she lived in Oxford, London and Brighton, working in publishing and at the BBC. She now lives in beautiful Bath where she writes full-time.

As a Sunday Times bestselling author with sixteen novels, two digital novellas and a Quick Read under her belt, Lucy writes with warmth and honesty about the joy and surprises, as well as the complications, that love, family and friendships can bring. Her seventeenth novel, Anything Could Happen, is out as an ebook this December and published in hardback January 2022.

Say hello to Lucy via her website, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. 

Anything Could Happen was released in paperback on 21st July 2022 by Quercus. Click to buy on Amazon UK and Waterstones. 

by

Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.