#BookReview: The Lido by Libby Page @LibbyPageWrites @RebeccaGray @orionbooks #TheLido #5Stars

Book Blurb:

Meet Rosemary, 86, and Kate, 26: dreamers, campaigners, outdoor swimmers…

Rosemary has lived in Brixton all her life, but everything she knows is changing. Only the local lido, where she swims every day, remains a constant reminder of the past and her beloved husband George.

Kate has just moved and feels adrift in a city that is too big for her. She’s on the bottom rung of her career as a local journalist, and is determined to make something of it.

So when the lido is threatened with closure, Kate knows this story could be her chance to shine. But for Rosemary, it could be the end of everything. Together they are determined to make a stand, and to prove that the pool is more than just a place to swim – it is the heart of the community.

The Lido is an uplifting novel about the importance of friendship, the value of community, and how
ordinary people can protect the things they love.

The Lido will be available to buy in ebook and hardback on the 19th April 2018.  You can pre-order your copy here.

My Review:

I loved this book.  It’s been a while since I’ve read such an all round fantastic story that left such an impression on me.  I love reading a book that keeps you thinking about it for days to come.

The sense of community the author has created in the book is brilliantly done.  I loved learning about all the different people who use the lido and what effect it has on them.  The characters are so varied and each one has a different reason for using the Lido which was fascinating to read about.

The two main characters Rosemary and Kate are at opposite ends of their life and would probably not even be friends if it wasn’t for their shared interest in the Lido.  I loved how the lido made them both feel and how fighting to save it made them both do things that they hadn’t tried in a long time.  It was great to read about how the lido brought them and all the other characters together and helped Kate especially to fit in and make new friends.

Interspersed with the fight to save the lido is a beautiful love story of how Rosemary met, fell in love and lived with her husband George.  It is a wonderful story and brought joy to my heart and a tear to my eye in equal measure.  The lido, and the people who use it, seem to have played a part in each part of their journey which was so lovely to read about.

This is Libby Pages debut and I can’t wait to read her next one! If you like uplifting and inspiring reads with a bit of history and a love story you will love this book!

Huge thanks to Orion for my copy of this book via netgalley. A definite must read that I urge everyone to read!

About The Author:

Libby Page wrote The Lido while working in marketing and moonlighting as a writer. The Lido has sold in over twenty territories around the world and film rights have been sold to Catalyst Global Media. After writing, Libby’s second passion is outdoor swimming. Libby lives in London where she enjoys finding new swimming spots and pockets of community within the city.