‘I loved this novel so much, even though it’s probably the most heart-breaking story I’ve read all year … it will totally absorb you and capture your heart.’ That Thing She ReadsBrighton 1963. Mary Pickles and I walked along the street with our arms linked, looking in shop windows. We were best friends and together we were invincible. Dottie and Mary forged a friendship over a bag of penny … forged a friendship over a bag of penny sweets when they were eight years old. They’ve shared everything together since then – the highs and lows of school, family dramas, hopes and dreams and now, at seventeen, they’re both shop girls, working at Woolworths.
As they go out in the world in pursuit of love and happiness, the simplicity of their childhood dissolves as life becomes more complicated. The heady excitement of first love will consume them both, but the pain of unintentional betrayal will test their friendship in ways neither of them could ever imagine…
A charming, heartbreaking and ultimately uplifting novel which brings a bygone era vividly to life. Fans of Nadine Dorries, Mary Gibson and Pam Weaver will love The Girls from See Saw Lane. Counting Chimneys out now.
‘I absolutely loved this book and couldn’t put it down. It has all the ingredients for a perfect read: fantastic, loveable and very real characters, an emotional and compelling storyline, and a brilliant setting in time and place.’ Louise Douglas
‘Sandy Taylor has proven herself to be a very talented and gifted storyteller with an immense insight into family, friendship, love, and forgiveness…This is one of the most endearing, yet heart-breaking, novels that I have encountered in quite some time and will certainly not soon forget…Witty and humorous dialogue written with such ease truly brought this story to life and swept me away between the pages. Filled with unexpected twists and turns, you’ll want to keep the box of tissues nearby!’ Kimberly’s Bookshelf
‘I have just started to read this one and am hooked! I love the vivid details of the time period and the closeness of the best friends.’ Weekend Reading
‘I would recommend it to anyone who loves stories about female friendships, books set in the past…and for anyone who wants an emotionally stirring read!’ My Bookish Ramblings
’A beautiful tale of friendship, love, betrayal and forgiveness and one that will stay with me for a long time to come…The Girls From See Saw Lane is a truly beautiful story that will touch your heart. Mary and Dottie will certainly live on in my head and my heart.’ By The Letter Book Reviews
‘I find it very hard to believe that this is Sandy’s first book. This book is so well written…The relationship between the girls is very heartwarming, but also extremely heartbreaking, there will be times when you will need tissues at hand.’ The Reading Head
‘I recommend this book to all who want to take a wonderful trip back to the 60’s. I would give it more than 5 stars if there were more to give.’ Library Thing
’When you read this book, be prepared to laugh and to cry (it gets really sad) … The Girls from See Saw Lane is a good book to settle in and read on a rainy afternoon.’ The Avid Reader
‘Wow this book had me laughing out loud one minute and bursting into tears the next..A massive page turner.’ Nat’s Reading Cloud
‘I absolutely adored it…so wonderful and so captivating.’ The Book Cafe
’Will make you smile, laugh, reminisce and perhaps even cry a little…an absorbing and charming read.’ Portobello Book Blog
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It was an easy read.
Interesting but troubling on how someone can have such control on another person
Absolutely loved this series and the characters!
Average book. I kept waiting for the plot to develop.
I loved this book! Heart-warming story of how the deep bonds of friendship lift us up to become more than we are on our own.
excellent book
Loved the girls from start to finish
Loved these characters…heart-wrenching twist
Interesting book to read. Setting was Briton Beach in England. Love books with lots of descriptions about the place and the time. Story occurred during 60’s. Fun glimpse of life in England when Beatles were becoming famous. Story had tragic turns, some unexpected in characters lives. Mirrors life. One moment of unusual behavior has a ripple effect that hurts and changes several characters. Good read. Recommend it.
Great story
Absolutely loved it. I’m currently reading the last one of the trilogy, Counting Chimneys, and highly recommend reading all three books. I was born in 1944 and got married in London in 1968 so these books brought back so many memories. The characters are interesting and I enjoyed the stories told.
A wonderful story of the simplicity of days gone by. My era so I enjoyed it.
Story was good but the grammar is atrocious throughout the book. Clearly the person who did the editing didn’t know grammar either.
A great story about friendship and life.
It took me awhile to get into it, but definitely took me back to the 60’s and the thinking of teen-age girls at the time. The characters matured through some pretty hard turns in life; made it more readable for me.
I enjoyed this book. It took a few pages to adjust to the “voice” of the author, but once that was handled, you are taken into a time and place that is likely different that your own experience.
Although this sort of tragedy did occur, it wasn’t a widely shared experience. It is a combination of several tragedies that keep you a bit off balance, but you are have sympathy for the characters.
The teenage pregnancy is easy for everyone to leap into judgement. But again, the time & place aren’t ours to judge. We might have handled things differently, but we just don’t KNOW. So you read it as their story. And put that judgement aside.
I have seen actual cases of the baby blues. It is a serious issue that is so frustrating for those around. People just don’t get it. If you’ve never been depressed, it’s just not something you can make any sense out of. Again, this was not a widely known/accepted illness at the time, so we must read the story as theirs and listen and learn.
Very sweet story full of life lessons. Allows us a view into life in Britain during that period in time when the country was still adjusting from WWII. Unemployment was high and life was difficult.
Very enjoyable book. I went out a purchased one or two others in the series!
I absolutely adored this book and not just because I grew up in the same era and knew Brighton well. The characters were beautifully drawn, incredibly relatable and their humanity was evident on every page. I laughed, I cried and couldn’t wait to buy ‘Counting Chimneys’ to continue the saga and find out what happened to all the characters I loved so much.
A friend recommended this book saying she couldn’t put it down. Once I got into it, neither could I. So now I am ready to request the second book, because I want to see what happens next. I’m still touched by the main character Dottie, who you just fall in love with and want to meet and be a wonderful friend too, and whom you would love to see find her own happy story. I hope she does, and I hope to read about it. And it’s true…some things happen because of choices we make, like, consequences, and some things just come our way, because they are, like, no “respector of persons” or whatever.