The winter nights are drawing in and I’ve been on the hunt for some new books that I can read in front of a roaring fire. Or, if you are reading this in the summer months, I need something to read by the paddling pool. Either way, I’m on the prowl for something new. Today I’m looking at Pivotal by Nikki Vallance.
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The Story
Four lives, three siblings, two secrets, and one pivotal moment. When a mysterious bequest throws the lives of four women into chaos, they seek support from hypnotherapist, Dr Kath O’Hannon. Through a process of self-discovery, their newfound knowledge weighs heavily, as they unpick four decades of life choices and are forced to make bold decisions about the next stage of their journeys. This is a split narrative story portraying the impact of a life-changing moment on four women with seemingly unconnected lives.
Thoughts on the Book
It’s always great to get an interesting female lead book, and this one has four of them. I tend not to be a fan of the multi-point-of-view story for a few reasons. The main reason is that it can be hard to follow if there are too many characters on the go and it can ruin the overall vibe of the story. But this was very well done. Each character was unique enough that I could easily tell them apart, but also how each character had their own voice and tone. That is incredibly difficult to do and it is even rarer that it is successfully executed. The only thing that let the story down was the use of certain labels. I have no idea what certain brands are like (such as La Perla, sad I know) so I felt that I had to Google the brand in order to get the image in my mind right. Although this is a minor point, I feel like it is worth mentioning.
Thoughts on the Author
Nikki is a writer and coach who works with others to unlock their writing talents. She runs coaching programs and one to one sessions to help aspiring writers achieve their goals.She began writing her debut book Pivotal nine years ago, whilst still working in her recruitment career, following a flash of inspiration in a session with her own coach. She has given talks and presentations on her writing process and career. Nikki is married with a blended family of five children across two hemispheres. Although a beginner, she’s a big fan of Argentine Tango, which she hopes to dance in Buenos Aires one day.
Overall
This book looks like it could be one of those underrated reads that probably deserves a bit more hype than it has received. I did have a minor note about the use of brands but that was mainly because I was unfamiliar with some but that minor quibble is not enough to write off the book. Overall, it was enjoyable to read and felt like proper grown-up fiction. It did remind me of when I read Watermelon by Marian Keyes. There is a newness and a freshness to the writing that only comes from a new author. If you pop this book on your Christmas wishlist, you won’t be disappointed.
Often it happens that a book needs more attention than what we give it, it could reveal surprises!
Sounds like this book may be next on my list! Thanks! We love empowering stories.
It’s always interesting to hear other people’s recommendations on books. I heard about this book before and now it’s really making me want to give it a read!
I’d never heard of Pivotal before. Probably because I’m not a big reader but your thoughts on it definitely enticed me! Four female leads sounds like my kind of read!