The Rossingley series books were my first by Fearne Hill and they also blew me away but Two Tribes did so in a totally different way. Second chance stories are pretty much tied with friends-to-lovers for me as favorite romance tropes and Two Tribes hit both of those with a mighty punch. Two Tribes spans over 25 years: from first love as teenagers, to difficult early adult years and finally to finding the love of your life all over again. Sometimes a book hits me so hard I don’t really know how to describe it. Reviewed by ButtonsMom2003 A very emotionally powerful book. Trigger warnings: written with a light touch but please be kind to yourselves and observe trigger warnings for: death of a secondary character, depression, domestic abuse (off page), self-harm (off page), attempted suicide (off page). It should be nothing more than an opening chapter, right? A short prologue even, before the real test of adulthood begins.

And, in a corner of his mind, wondering what could have been, if only a slender, raven-haired young man hadn’t so abruptly vanished all those years ago.įirst love. On his failed marriage and the dull bore he’s become, on the empty, lonely weekends stretching ahead. Twenty-five years later, and plodding Dr Alex Valentine, recently divorced, is looking back on a life less lived.

Such as his abusive father, the cramped run-down flat he calls home, and the futility of his dreams to escape both. One of those passions is closely guarded, along with a few other secrets Matt tucks away. It’s 1995, and troubled seventeen-year-old Matt Leeson harbours three passions: indie music, wartime history, and the posh boy he sits next to in maths class.

Tropes: Second chances, friends-to-lovers

Coming Together by Fearne Hill