Book Description
"Rosie Parker has woven together a poignant tale of heartbreak, love and loss - done so with her familiar mix of warmth, humour and empathy.” - Lola Jaye, author of The Attic Child
Ronnie and Jake are twins – obviously not identical, but close as. They even have that twin intuition thing going on.
Ronnie lives with her soon-to-be husband and new-born baby, and Jake is happily married with two daughters. One sunny April day, he hops onto somebody else’s motorbike to ride home when a horrific crash leaves him lying brain injured on the road.
On hearing the news Ronnie rushes to Jake’s bedside. Having once been a physiotherapist, she knows it’s bad, and her life threatens to crack apart as she begs him to return to her.
Fifteen months later, it’s suggested by Jake’s wife that the two families go away to Brittany, France, on holiday. But surely, it’s too soon, thinks Ronnie. The tensions and events which follow threaten to rock both Ronnie’s marriage and her relationship with her sister-in-law, as she tries to reach Jake. And when secrets from their past begin to surface, will Ronnie seek comfort from another man?
At the heart of it all is Jake, who is more than her brother, he is her twin. Once they floated side by side in their mother’s womb. Can Ronnie somehow remind him of the person he once was, or is he changed forever?
The world turns with or without them, a butterfly flaps its wings, and only hummingbirds fly backwards.
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'Only Hummingbirds Fly Backwards' by Rosie Parker.
Read and reviewed for Random Things Tours, Rosie Parker and The Book Guild.
Publication date 23rd March 2022.
This is the first book I have read by this author.
I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. I have twin sons so when I seen this book involved twins I was immediately intrigued. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being The Book Guild. I have yet to read a book published by The Book Guild that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of a prologue and 35 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in England 🏴 UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture.
This book is written in first person perspective and the main protagonist is Ronnie. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them.
'Only Hummingbirds Fly Backwards' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Rosie discusses/includes grief and brain injury.
This book is very well written with vivid descriptions that really set the scene for the reader. The cover and synopsis suit the storyline perfectly.
I wanted to read this book as I have twins myself so any books that include twins I am drawn too. It is a very emotional read and I believe the fact that I had twins myself affected me more when I was reading it. It is based on a true story which makes it even more touching. The storyline shows us how one moment in time can change not one but several lives. Veronica and Jake are twins whose lives are altered forever after Jake has a motorbike accident which leaves him with a head injury. My father and brother have motorbikes and this is one thing I constantly worry about happening to them. This is yet another reason why I was so emotionally impacted when reading this novel. It is a moving and heartfelt account of how Jake's accident impacted on the lives of Ronnie, Angie (his wife) and the rest of their family and friends. There are parts of the story where there are flashbacks to when Ronnie and Jake were children and it is beautiful to see how close they were. However, it isn't all about tragedy and sadness so please don't let that put you off this beautiful novel. There is plenty of humour and love mixed in and I found myself laughing several times too.
Rosie has written a beautiful book and it is one that will stay with me for a long time. It is a fantastic read filled with humour, tension, sadness, love, family and, if you were around in the 1970's or 1980's, some nostalgia too.
Overall a gripping and heart wrenching account of dealing with loss, grief and acceptance.
Genres covered in this book include Family Life Fiction, Modern Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Women's Contemporary Fiction and Women's Writer's And Fiction amongst others.
304 pages.
This book is just £3.39 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 4 /5 (I enjoyed it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
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About The Author
Rosie Parker had a portfolio career including physiotherapy, medical rehabilitation and disability research, before returning to her first love, creative writing. She now has an MA in Creative Writing and is a tutor in Creative Writing at The Open University. A spoken word performer and novelist, Rosie writes in her blue shed on a hill overlooking the Bristol Channel. Rosie Parker identifies as a disabled author living with hypermobile-Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, and this is her debut novel.
Note From Author
This is my first novel under the name of Rosie Parker, and I'm very proud of Hummingbirds. I live outside Bristol with my cockapoo and write from a shed overlooking the Bristol Channel. You can find me on Facebook and Twitter, and am to be found on a new website - www.rosemarydun.co.uk.I also publish under the name of Rosemary Dun www.rosemarydun.co.uk.
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