Portobello Book Blog

I do love Miranda Dickinson’s lovely books and was delighted to get the chance to read her latest novel, The Day We Meet Again. I have reviewed a couple of her books before and if you would like to, you can read my reviews by clicking the titles: A Parcel for Anna Browne and Somewhere Beyond the Sea (the latter was one of my top reads last year!).

Phoebe and Sam meet by the Betjeman statue in a very crowded St Pancras station in London when all the trains have been delayed for hours. They feel an immediate spark between them, slipping easily into conversation as though they have known each other for years. The snag is that both are about to head off on grand adventures which will see them apart for a year. Despite only knowing each other a few hours, they sense that they are just right for each other and agree to meet in the same place exactly a year on.

‘We’ll meet again at St Pancras station, a year from today. If we’re meant to be together, we’ll both be there. If we’re not, it was never meant to be . . .’

Oh how I loved the part of the book where Sam and Phoebe meet. It was just so romantic, the idea of them falling in love at first sight and feeling that strong connection so immediately just had me melting. I also loved their agreement – if it was meant to be, it would all work out for them. While they were apart, they agreed only to contact each other once a month. Well, that didn’t last long and I did so enjoy their text messages as they began to get to know each other more.

Sam was off to Mull for a year, the island where he was born, and part of what he wanted to achieve on his year out was to try to find out what had happened to his family way back when he was little. This is a place like many island communities where everyone knows everyone and Sam is sure that he will be able to uncover the mystery. I don’t want to say too much about that so as not to spoil the plot, but will say it was quite an emotional journey that ends up bringing him right here to Edinburgh. It has been a long time since I have been to Mull but after reading Miranda Dickinson’s descriptions of the island, it’s very tempting to hop on a train myself and find a wee pub with a cosy fire and some folk musicians playing. And maybe get snowed as happens at one point although admittedly that’s not likely this fine Autumn day!

Phoebe’s journey was rather more adventurous as she was spending a whole year travelling and working in Europe. This was a real challenge for her, and one many of her friends thought she wouldn’t have the courage to do but she proved them wrong. It sounded like a great way to spend a year but also a bit scary. Her job restocking a library in Italy sounded idyllic. I liked the way that Phoebe seemed to grow more confident with each challenge she faced until one which just proved too much – I’ll say no more!

The author managed to keep up the whole ‘will they, won’t they’ idea throughout the book, throwing in a few surprises along the way. I do feel that this would make a fantastic film, the kind that would have starred Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan when they were younger. It’s a gorgeously romantic story to warm your heart and make you believe in the possibility of love at first sight.

My thanks to the publishers for sending me a beautiful copy of this book to review. It is published by HQ in all formats and should be available to buy or order from your usual book retailer. If you prefer to order online, you can order from Hive (where every purchase benefits your local high street): The Day We Meet Again

From the back of the book

Their love story started with goodbye…

‘We’ll meet again at St Pancras station, a year from today. If we’re meant to be together, we’ll both be there. If we’re not, it was never meant to be . . .’

Phoebe and Sam meet by chance at St Pancras station. Heading in opposite directions, both seeking their own adventures, meeting the love of their lives wasn’t part of the plan. So they make a promise: to meet again in the same place in twelve months’ time if they still want to be together.

But is life ever as simple as that?

This is a story of what-ifs and maybes – and how one decision can change your life forever…

About the author

Miranda Dickinson has always had a head full of stories. Born in Wolverhampton, in The Black Country, West Midlands, she grew up in Kingswinford and dreamed of one day writing a book that would reach the heady heights of Kingswinford Library… Her first novel, Fairytale of New York (2009) was discovered on Authonomy.com – HarperCollins’ site for unpublished authors. Within three weeks of its release, Fairytale of New York had entered the Sunday Times Top Ten Bestsellers List, where it remained for five weeks – making it the world’s first crowd-sourced bestseller. The novel was also shortlisted for the RNA’s Romantic Novel of the Year Award 2010 at the Pure Passion Awards.

Miranda is a six-times Sunday Times Bestseller, with Fairytale of New York, Welcome to My World, It Started With a Kiss, When I Fall in Love, Take a Look at Me Now, I’ll Take New York, A Parcel for Anna Browne and Searching for a Silver Lining. Her Christmas novella, Christmas in St Ives, is a festive treat and also a prequel to her ninth novel, Somewhere Beyond the Sea. She is an international bestseller in four countries and her books have been translated into fifteen languages. To date, she has sold one million books worldwide. The Day We Meet Again is her tenth novel and publishes on 5th September 2019.

Miranda is the founder of WriteFoxy – resources, vlogs and inspiration writing days for writers of all ages and abilities. Her popular vlogs feature her own publishing journey for each new novel, together with advice for authors and lots and lots of hats!

Miranda lives in Dudley with her husband, Bob and daughter, Flo. She is also a singer-songwriter and recently released her first solo album, About Time.

Follow Miranda’s vlog at http://www.youtube.com/mirandawurdy and visit her website: miranda-dickinson.com You can also follow Miranda on Twitter @wurdsmyth, on Instagram @wurdsmyth and on Facebook: MirandaDickinsonAuthor