It’s a surprising second act for two women who decide to rewrite their lives in this enriching novel of friendship and starting over from the bestselling author of Only One Life.After thirty years, college friends Lena Browder and Olivia Westcoat have met again by chance at an unexpected crossroads: an airport lounge in Atlanta. Lena is running away from home and her demanding family. Olivia is … family. Olivia is trying to find her way after a painful divorce. With their old selves in the rearview, they toast to a new beginning—and it starts with a spontaneous dare.
Agreeing to trade houses for a month of rediscovery, Lena will stay in Olivia’s Charleston condo. Olivia’s retreat? Lena’s isolated river cottage in the Northern Neck of Virginia. Two perfect getaways. Thirty-four days to reset.
With fresh new perspectives and the renewal of a heartening friendship, Lena and Olivia find their passions, reinvent themselves, and reclaim what they’ve lost. When unexpected romance blooms and careers take new detours, it’s also a time for courage and risk. Now they’ll have to make hard choices to follow through on their promise for a second chance and finally have the lives they dream of.
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Lena and Olivia are both at a crossroads in life , needing a change they both set out on a whim to leave their “real life behind for a month of recharging and finding themselves again .By chance they meet each other at the airport where they each loan out their houses, Lena and Olivia both find out there’s more to life to fulfill and restore thier faith for the future .Love this Author and the way you feel as your reading you are going on a Journey with these two ladies
I loved this book idea. I’m pretty sure everyone has felt like just running away and trying something new. I loved the bravery of these women to just go out on a whim and switch homes and locations. They both grew and were able to come to terms with what they needed in life.
Two women who knew each other in another part of their life find each other just in time. One has found herself in a life of being unappreciated and disrespected. One is running from a marriage she thought was perfect. Sitting in the airport they decide to switch homes for 30 days. During this time they find themselves meeting new people and exploring new avenues. Finding yourself doesn’t happen overnight. Watching yourself change takes some time to get use to. Trusting yourself enough to grow and make life decisions when you have hit a time in your life you don’t want to start over. Nice to know that women of a certain age can go and conquer their fears and come out on top. I enjoyed the characters and storyline. Great Read. I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
Ashley Farley is a master storyteller. Every book I have read is different, full of emotion and makes me think for days afterwards. This book is another one that I cannot stop thinking about. I finished it yesterday and waited a day to gather my thoughts before writing a review.
Two women reach a point in their lives that they need time to reflect and make adjustments for the future. They make the brave decision to take a month (34 days) off their normal lives and try to regroup. They “by chance” meet in the same airport, chat and find they are both taking time to escape. They change their next original plan and decide to do a house swap instead, and the story begins.
It is a month of self-discovery, spirit renewal, turmoil, doubt, friendship and strength. The author did a fantastic job of describing the two areas Olivia and Lena stayed. I want to visit each place! The characters are very well developed and I felt I knew them as people, not characters in a book. The plot moved along at a great pace and was extremely well developed. I did hope for the outcome that occurred, but was not certain that the book would end that way. It did have me guessing if I would be correct.
I enjoyed this book so much. The people in it have a very different life style than I do and it was nice to visit their world for a bit. They have the means to drop their lives and take a plane to escape and have financial situation to do that. I think most people have jobs that they could not walk away from. Also they do not have the money to spend on a month’s self-discovery. These characters seem to always be dining out in the best places, drinking wine or mixed drinks. That may be the world out there, but not my life. It was nice to see how these two women, living lives so different from mine, resolved the issues in their lives.
I want to thank NetGalley.com and Lake Union Publishing for allowing me the pleasure of reading this inspiring book. It made me feel, think and travel. That is a great thing for a book to do.
Would you want to run away or change places with someone for a day, a week, or a month to add something that is missing from your life?
This is this premise of Life on Loan by Ashley Farley.
Lena and Olivia meet up by chance after 30 years and agree to live in each other’s home for the next 30 days to find themselves, or at least find out who they are and what they want for the rest of their life. Ashley Farley continues to deliver excellent women’s fiction and this book of second chances is perhaps a dream of all of us at one time.
Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC of this book. The above review and comments are of my honest opinion.
Ashley Farley has done it again with a wonderful life changing book! It pulled me in right from the the very first page and had me reading late into the night. I loved the premise of the book about two woman who were unhappy with their lives and decided to swap houses for a month. They both did a lot of soul searching while making new friends and doing lots of sightseeing in the new locations that they ended up in.
I highly recommend this or any of the authors books. She has become one of my top favorite authors! This book definitely deserves a big 5 stars on this very entertaining and enjoyable story!
Thanks to the author, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for granting me an arc at my request. All thoughts in this review are my own and are completely voluntary.
‘I really enjoyed Life on Loan. Ashley never disappoints, her characters are interesting and the plot entertaining. Lena and Olivia were college. Classmates 30 yrs ago when they meet up at the Atlana Airport. Both women at a crossroads in life and ” running away ” to find themselves. The flight they were both on has been canceled and they start talking. They decide to swap homes for one month. This book is what evolves as they both chance their lives. I think you will enjoy this book as much as I did.
Thank you to Ashley Farely and Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for a fair review
Have you ever had a day that you just wanted to walk out of your life and start over? Be honest now, you know you have — I sure have. In this fantastic new book by Ashley Farley, that’s just what happens – two women walk out on their lives, away from their problems without plans of exactly what they need to do to make changes. Luckily, they recognized each other at the airport – they had been college friends who lost touch over the years. After telling each other what they were escaping from, they decided to exchange houses for a month so that they could re-discover themselves. Lena has walked out on her husband and daughter and goes to Charleston to stay in her friend’s condo. Olivia wants to get away from memories of her divorce and from some toxic friends and she goes to Lena’s river cottage in in the Northern Neck of Virginia. Will this change in locations help each woman or do your problems stay the same no matter where you live?
For me, it was an extra bonus that both of these characters were in their 50s. It’s great to read books with older characters. If you want a book that will take you away from your life (without really leaving), this is the book for you!
Have you ever just wanted to run away from your life and start over?
This is the story about two women, Lena and Olivia who decide to run away. Both women redo their lives by going out of their comfort zones to find themselves. I got totally lost in the lives of these two women and didn’t want to put the book down once I started reading.
Reading this book made me realize chow much women really do for their families. How we put everyone else’s needs ahead of our own. I could definitely relate to Lena and Olivia.
I loved this book!
Thank you NetGalley, Ashley Farley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.
Exceptional storytelling. Throughly enjoyed this book. Great read.
Kudos to Ashley Farley! She took a fairly predictable plot and filled it with remarkable characters and wondrous settings with rich details that made me fall into this story and want to stay. I loved the time I spent seeped in this book. I think you will too!
Make A Decision. This was an excellent book about finding yourself when you find yourself at the end of your rope. Full of sly real-world commentary, particularly as it relates to writing and reading, this book would do well as a vehicle for ageing former Hollywood starlets. The “second life” romance is starting to become more of a thing in women’s fiction, and this book is poised to ride that wave of a so-far apparently underserved market. My second book from Farley in just the last six months alone, this is very different from Only One Life and yet at the same time very much in line with that effort. Excellent work, and very much recommended.
Life on Loan by Ashley Farley was a wonderful addition to her catalog of work! I loved this book as much as I have all her others.
The main characters of Olivia and Lena are both lost in their own ways and reading about how they eventually found what was right for them was so heartwarming.
If you have enjoyed any of Ms. Farley’s earlier books or enjoy women’s fiction, this is definitely a good one to pick up.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for a review copy at my request. All thoughts are my own.
Life on Loan by Ashley Farley tells the story of two women who have decided they need a change. Lena and Olivia are two college friends who meet accidentally at the Atlanta Airport years later. Each woman is soul-searching and wants to change their lives. They decide to swap homes for a month so. Lena moves into Olivia’s Charleston condo and Olivia moves into Lena’s river cottage in the Northern Neck of Virginia. Lena and Oliva enjoy their new lives but these lives are not trouble-free. There are some trust issues that they must resolve and they learn to stand up for themselves. Enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend.
#Lifeonloa n#ashleyfarley #netgalley #lifechanging #reevaluatinglife #soul-searching
When I was a little girl, sometimes I wanted to “run away” and find an escape from what was miserable in my life. I thought there was going to be something better somewhere else. Lena and Olivia are in lives that have pushed them to that point. Escape and find some breathing space to figure out what happened to themselves, find out who they really are, and leave those miserable lives for even a little while. The two former college friends unexpectedly run into each other in the airport and reconnect. They decide to “swap” houses and try to find the person they seemed to have lost in the years their lives were on hold.
Ashley Farley writes wonderful characters. They are so very relatable and easy to become friends with. These characters are written into situations that take a lot of courage and determination to overcome. It’s a story of rediscovery of who they were meant to be. It’s not an easy thing to walk away from 30 years of “life” that they became rooted into. But when there’s no where to go but up from the deep and troubled lives they’re in, they have to pack up and go. There’s no other option. This is also a story of mending relationships that have suffered because of the tensions and struggles of living in miserable conditions, with spouses who are not who they thought they were. It’s a story of developing new relationships that are supporting and unconditional.
As I read through the pages, Ashley Farley had me transferred into the settings with such amazing descriptions. I felt as though I were walking the streets in Charleston, I was seeing the views in New York City, I was in the serene and peaceful Northern Neck of Virginia. Ms. Farley has even described streets and buildings down to the minutest of details. It was so easy to picture myself there with each character and experiencing their emotions as well. I had a virtual journey with the characters in this book that I was able to escape into.
The story is one that brings hope for readers to know that taking a chance to change things in their lives is possible. It is a story written with a powerful message that there is hope in situations that might seem impossible. It is encouraging to find that place where “life is no longer on loan” and step out and live the best life possible. Finding out what that life is, is part of the great adventure! It might not always be a “walk in the park” or “living the high life” but there is a way to balance it all out and find happiness.
I want to thank Ms. Farley, Netgalley, and the Georgia’s Porch, Ashley Farley’s Team on FaceBook for the honor of reading this wonderful book. It’s very highly a five star read for me!
A story about two women who knew each other in college and reconnect years later. This was a lovely story with great characters. It quickly sucked me in and kept my interest to the very end. I really enjoyed the story! Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union for the early copy
Ashley Farley knows how to reach out to her readers, grab their hearts, and squeeze them tightly. This book was another one that spoke to me personally…something that happens a lot with the author’s books.
This story covers the relationship between two women and the relationship with their family…specifically their husbands and daughters. It was interesting to see how Olivia and Lena react to their personal situations and decide what to do with their future. You will find yourself enveloped in the efforts these ladies make in personal growth, new relationships, and healing. There are lots of moments of drama, anger, tears, and cheering. You will experience the gamut of emotions!
Thank you to the author for an ARC exchange for my honest review. I love this author’s books and always look forward to each new release.
Excellent story. Read and find out what happens when the characters make the decision to change their path in life. Would you be brave enough to take a chance and make different choices? This story touches the heart with emotions that people can relate to and understand. Each one of us has opportunity to start over if we need to do so. The bravery and dedication to family and friends in this story is inspiring. I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required.
“Trust in yourself.”
I adored this book!
Who wouldn’t love an opportunity for a “redo” in our lives?
This is exactly what a chance meeting in an airport gives to Olivia and Lena.
A time to regroup and learn from the past.
The two ladies once upon a time were connected back in their college days.
Can they go out of their comfort zone to find happiness as they switch homes for a month and head to unchartered waters to do some soul searching?
Not as easy as you would imagine. What will people think?
Ashley Farley out did herself on this novel.
The descriptions of South Caroline, Virginia and NYC were amazing and I was walking with these ladies on their journey’s.
Do yourself a favor and sit down, get comfortable and begin this story.
You will not stop until the end!
Excellent!
NEW BEGINNINGS!
LIFE ON LOAN is rich in relationships, reinventions and romance. Author Ashley Farley’s latest novel will engage you right away with an enticing storyline, an invitation into her characters’ lives and leave you begging for a sequel! Two friends from college happen to see each other in the Atlanta airport. As they quickly catch up on each other’s lives over the last 30 years, they discover one major point of commonality – they are both running away! Sounds funny for two women in their mid-50’s doesn’t it? Or maybe not! Each has reached a crisis point in her life. They decide swap homes for 30 days to get a different perspective on their lives. What they discover is who they are – women with certain undeniable talents that have long been buried. Farley’s writing style shows why she is fast becoming a major voice in Women’s Contemporary Fiction.