Portobello Book Blog

If you are a regular reader of my blog you will know I am a big fan of Amanda Prowse’s books. So when I heard that she had a new novella out AND then saw what it was called, I was onto it straight away! I’d like to say a huge thank you to Amanda for kindly sending me a copy to read.

Sophia is an English teacher who has recently resigned having become disillusioned with the profession. She has always loved books and reading and following the sad loss of both her parents, has been able to fulfil a lifelong dream and open Perkins Book Emporium. The previous owner of the shop was Mr Portobello, a well known, somewhat eccentric figure in the neighbourhood and he pops by for a daily visit. As they become friends, they learn more about each other and Mr Portobello encourages Sophia to live life to the full.

Well, for a relatively short book, there was so much packed into this story. I loved reading about Sophia and finding out about her hopes and dreams. It was so lovely to see how Mr Portobello gently (and sometimes not so gently) helped her to see that she needed to move on from the past and do what mattered to her. Mr Portobello himself is someone I took to heart and finding out about his favourite and most treasured book was just so poignant. As always, Amanda Prowse made me feel like I knew her characters inside out very quickly and therefore was very invested in their stories. She is so good at capturing the little things that make her characters feel very real and making their situations very relatable.

If you are needing an Amanda Prowse fix to keep you going until her next novel is out (The Day She Came Back which will be published in July) then hop over to Amazon and buy your copy of this lovely story today. It’s only 99p or free to read if you have Kindle Unlimited. Here’s the link you need: Mr Portobello’s Morning Paper

From the back of the book

Sophia has everything she thought she wanted – so she should be happy, right? From bestselling author Amanda Prowse comes a heart-warming short story about new friends and missed connections.

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.

Still in the throes of grief, having recently lost both of her parents, Sophia is delighted by the daily visits of Mr Portobello, the shop’s former occupant, and their unexpected friendship blooms into something beautiful. In the process of learning about the eccentric eighty-year-old, Sophia learns as much – if not more – about herself. Mr Portobello makes her question her life, her choices and even how she grieves for those she has lost.

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

About the author

Amanda Prowse is an International Bestselling author whose twenty three novels and six novellas have been published in dozens of languages 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. Her books, including the chart topping No.1 titles ‘What Have I Done?’, ‘Perfect Daughter’, ‘My Husband’s Wife’, ‘The Girl in the Corner’ and ‘The Things I Know’ have sold millions of copies across the globe.

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 also 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. Described by the Daily Mail as ‘The queen of family drama’ Amanda’s novel, ‘A Mother’s Story’ won the coveted Sainsbury’s eBook of the year Award while ‘Perfect Daughter’ was selected as a World Book Night title in 2016.

Amanda’s ambition is to create stories that keep people from turning the bedside lamp off at night, great characters that ensure you take every step with them and tales that fill your head so you can’t possibly read another book until the memory fades…