#BlogTour: Preloved by Lauren Bravo @laurenbravo @simonschusterUK @RandomTTours #Preloved #LaurenBravo #RandomThingsTours #HighlyRecommended #5Stars

Book Synopsis:

Gwen is coasting through life. She’s in her mid-thirties, perpetually single, her friends are busy procreating in the countryside and conversations with her parents seem to revolve entirely around the council’s wheelie-bin timetable.
 
And she’s lonely. But then, isn’t everyone?
 
When she’s made redundant from a job she hardly cares about, she takes herself out for a fancy dinner. There she has the best sticky toffee pudding of her life and realises she has no one to tell. She vows to begin living her life fully, reconnect with her friends and family, and finally book that dentist’s appointment. 
 
Gwen decides to start where all things get a second chance: her local charity shop. There, with the help of the weird and wonderful people and donated items bursting with untold stories, Gwen will find a way to move forward with bravery, tenacity, and more regular dental care.
 
Dazzlingly witty, Preloved is a tale about friendship, loss and being true to yourself no matter the expectations. Lovingly celebrating the enduring power and joy of charity shops.

My Review:

Preloved is a beautiful, heartwarming and relatable read that I really enjoyed.

Firstly I absolutely loved the main character Gwen. She was so quirky and relatable that I couldn’t help but warm to her instantly. I loved following her through her new start as she makes new friends, goes on job hunts and gets into some awkward situations. I grew very fond of her as the story progressed and wished I knew her in real life so I could help her with a few thing or just give her the cuddle I felt she needed sometimes.

Gwen’s story is interspersed with stories behind some of the items you might find in a charity shop which I really loved. These stories were very interesting and quite emotional at times. It’s definitely made me think about where some of the items in charity shops come from and has made me look more closely at the items in the shops I walk past on my way to work.

Overall I absolutely loved this book and will be recommending it to everyone. The story had a lovely pace to it and there always seemed to be something happening to keep me glued to the page. Even in the slower moments I was just happy hanging out with Gwen, wondering what would happen next.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to the publisher for my copy of this book. If you’re looking for a fun, quirky read I highly recommend this one!

About The Author:

Lauren Bravo is a freelance journalist who writes about fashion, popular culture, food, travel and feminism, for titles including Grazia, Stylist, Cosmopolitan and Sunday Times Style. She volunteers in a charity shop once a week (partly to get dibs on all the best clothes).