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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Every book Ashley Farley has written, I think is the best and although I do have a few favorites, I believe every book she writes really is the best. Life on Loan falls into that “best” category! Farley has a gift of writing about women and the various phases and circumstances of life. When I am reading one of her books I feel like I am part of the story and can often feel the emotions of the characters in the book. This book is about Lena and Olivia, two middle-aged women who were friends in college and about 30 years later run into each other at an airport where both have a lay-over.. As they begin to catch up, it becomes apparent they each are running away from some difficult life circumstances and as a result, an important decision is made to cancel the remaining leg of their trips and instead swap houses for a month. They take a selfie to capture the moment with the plan to take another one when they meet up a month later. Olivia heads to Lena’s cabin in the Northern Neck of Virginia and Lena will spend the month in Olivia’s waterfront condo in Charleston. The new friends they make, the issues they encounter and new adventures, along with the changes that take place in both Lena and Olivia will keep you turning the pages. The two women who take a selfie at the end of the month aren’t the same women in the first selfie. Loved this book!
Life on Loan by Ashley Farley is the first book I have read written by her. This definitely will not be my last. Ashley Farley wrote a wonderful story which drew me in, making me forget the world around me and did not let me go until I turned the last page. I did not want to put it down. This is very well written and the characters are so believable you feel like you are friends with them. There was so much in this book that I can relate to. I loved that the characters were in their 50’s. Ashley Farley writes with such wonderful descriptions that you feel like you were right there with the characters seeing the sights, walking the streets feeling every emotion that they feel. This was a very enjoyable book and it will have me thinking about it for a long time. It shows that no matter what stage in your life you have the power to change your life. I highly recommend this book you will not be disappointed. Now if you’ll excuse me I am going to find another book of hers to read. Thank you Ashley Farley for sending me this wonderful gem to read and review.
Life on Loan is the latest novel by Ashley Farley. Lena Browder is at a definite life crossroads. Her grown daughter Kayla has moved home after college with no job prospects in sight and living like a spoiled teenager. Her husband, Charles, is distant and terribly judgmental. He belittles Lena at every opportunity. The final straw is when Kayla fails to rise for an interview and Lena knocks and enters her room to find a naked Lothario quickly dressing to escape. When Charles goes through one of his tirades, Lena says enough, leaves the house for a long walk, and decides to run away from home.
Olivia Westcoat has had it being caught between the shenanigans of two wealthy Charlestonians as their exploits have taken over her blog. She is barely scraping by and the settlement from her ex-husband is quickly dwindling. She must escape the drama and does so with a wonderful post on an area caterer rather than the outlandish party she was attending. She heads to the west coast, hoping to stay with her daughter.
When Lena and Olivia run into each other in the sky lounge in the Atlanta airport they recognize each other from college. They had been acquaintances and used the many weather delays to catch up. Neither has a lot of funding for their escapes, but they do arrive at an interesting solution. Olivia has a condo in Charleston she isn’t using. Lena has inherited her family’s river house in Northern Neck, Va., that is vacant. They decide to trade places for the month of October.
This novel follows the parallel journeys of these two women on a middle aged quest to find themselves and meaning in their lives. Over the course of three months, so much happens for these women as they make new friends, develop new relationships, and find the direction they sought. This was a very good book with rich believable characters and a plot that illuminates many issues dealt with by women every day. I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it.
LIFE ON LOAN by Ashley Farley is a beautifully-written story of friendship, love and fresh starts in life. By chance, college friends Lena Browder and Olivia Westcoat meet again after thirty years when they are waiting in an airline lounge for their flights. Both women are trying to escape from the painful reality of their current lives, hoping to find a new, more fulfilling direction to turn for the future. They decide to swap homes for month and come back together after they have had time to reflect on and refocus their lives. What follows is a heart-warming and inspiring story of their struggles, triumphs and the self-discovery that leads to permanent changes in their relationships with their friends and family. I was completely immersed in their emotional story and found myself cheering them on from beginning to end. I loved the descriptions of the two settings, Charleston and the isolated river community in the Northern Neck of Virginia. The characters are delightful and wonderfully-portrayed. For anyone who has wished for the courage to start over, this is a must-read. I couldn’t put it down! Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy.
I loved everything about this book! Strong female characters and good character development with a wonderful message of overcoming and rediscovery of one’s self. Loved everything including the author’s note at the end. I’ve said it before and I’ll repeat it now; If you haven’t read any of Ashley Farley’s books, you need to start now! What a fabulous author 🙂
Life on Loan by Ashley Farley is a fabulous and encouraging story about two women who decide to change the direction of their lives! Two college friends unexpectedly meet in the Atlanta airport thirty years later and on a whim decide to swap homes for a month.
Lena Browder has reached her limit with being a doormat for her family. She has lost herself over the years and has decided to run away for a month. Lena grabs her old camera before she leaves her house in hopes of rekindling her interest in photography.
Olivia is running away from her life for a different reason. She has upset the pattern and plans for the two “Kates and the Scapades” she has blogged about for the past few months. The competitions and scandals of the women have drained Olivia of all her inspirations and energy. She is planning to run away and escape from the resulting drama when her most recent blog post goes live. I won’t post spoilers but I LOVED this novel which is filled with so much emotion, hope, and strength among the characters who are thriving during a time of transition in their lives. I also enjoyed the photography and writing themes.
Publication Date: October 8, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Lena Browder and Olivia Westcoat met 30 years ago in college photography courses and haven’t seen each other since they graduated. . A chance meeting in the Atlanta airport redirects their lives in unexpected ways – careers, romance, self-image, residence. Both are running away from home. Lena is running from her confrontational relationship with her husband and adult daughter. Olivia is running from results of a devastating divorce. They decide to switch homes for a month – Olivia to live in Lena’s summer cottage in Virginia and Lena to live in Olivia’s condo in Charleston. They redefine themselves and their goals in ways they totally did not expect.
As usual, Ashley has created a stunning story. I have yet to read anything she has written that I didn’t love. I picked up this book from NetGalley in the morning and couldn’t put it down until I finished it late that night. In her Notes from the Author, she says “Hands up if you’ve ever felt like running away.” I think everyone has wanted to make a major change but maybe haven’t had the courage that Lena and Olivia had to create their own adventures. I loved this book and have already read it a second time.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. The comments above are my own opinion.
Two old friends, Olivia and Lena meet unexpectedly in an airport after 30 years. They each are trying to get away from their problems. One recently divorced and the other trying to get away from her demanding husband and daughter. They decide to trade places, Lena going to to Olivia’s condo and Olivia going to Lena’s cottage. Each is trying to find their way and start over. Their new locations inspire them in ways they never imagined and brings new meaning to their lives. Ashley has outdone herself once again.
In Ashley’s “NOTES FROM THE AUTHOR” she really struck a cord with me when she said: ‘To find happiness in your life, believe in yourself, be kind to yourself, constantly remind yourself of your worthiness.’ Are we living the best life that we can? I received this book as an ARC for an honest review. #LifeonLoan#NetGalley
Life on Loan by Ashley Farley
Have you ever wanted to “just leave it all behind”? Have you ever wanted to recreate yourself and just start over? In Ashley Farley’s Life on Loan two women get to do just that? Start over.
After a chance encounter in an airport lounge Lena and Olivia exchange homes for a month and have the opportunity to start fresh. Ashley Farley takes them both through many adventures and presents them with new opportunities.
I have read most every book that Ms. Farley has written and will continue to do so with each future story. Her style is one that keeps you interested and turning the pages. Her characters become friends you wish you had. At times I wanted to step into the page and have a discussion with numerous characters.
If you have never read a book by Ashely Farley, start today. When Life on Loan becomes available…READ IT!
08.22.19