“Everybody needs saving sometimes…

For Kate, having a newborn baby means she is almost never alone. But that doesn’t mean she isn’t lonely. The move from London to Somerset with her husband Jay was supposed be the start of an exciting new chapter. But sometimes she can’t help but wonder if she turned the pages too soon . . .

Phoebe needs help. As a mental health nurse serving her community, the wellbeing of her patients has always come before her own. Yet there’s only so long she can pour from an empty cup.

Looking for a lifeline, Kate and Phoebe find a sense of community – and each other – through their local river swimming group. But when things get tough, they realise that good friends can both raise us up and stop us sinking.”

Hello and welcome to damppebbles. Today I am delighted to share my review of The Lifeline by Libby Page. The Lifeline was published by Orion Books on 15th August 2024 and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio and digital formats. I chose to read a free ARC of The Lifeline but that has in no way influenced my review. My grateful thanks to the team at Orion Books for sending me a proof copy.

I have something a little different for you today. Last year, just before I disappeared for six months, the lovely folk at Orion Books sent me a copy of The Lifeline to read. I’ll be honest, it’s not my usual fare. I tend to lean towards dark and devilish fiction. Crime, mysteries, murder and mayhem. But what a lovely surprise it was to receive The Lifeline. And do you know what? I really fancied reading it. A change is as good as a rest, or so they say. So I read this wonderful book and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Disclaimer time. If you’re a regular visitor to damppebbles then you may know about what I’m calling ‘the shoulder debacle’. I won’t go into details as it’s all done with now but I ended up taking six months away from the blog whilst recovering. I read The Lifeline last year (won’t say when, too embarrassed to keep sharing that) but because of life, the universe and everything, it wasn’t reviewed on the blog when it should have been. It deserves to be featured because it’s such a lovely book. My review, however, will be a little shorter than usual. Better late than never at all, am I right?

The Lifeline is the sequel to The Lido but you don’t need to have read The Lido before getting stuck into this heartwarming, uplifting story. I haven’t read The Lido but I may go back and do just that having enjoyed this book so much. Kate, who I believe featured in The Lido, is back having moved to Somerset and has become a new mum. Life is tough for Kate but she’s managing. We also meet Phoebe, a mental health nurse, who is dealing with a heavy, emotional caseload. She’s running on empty. These two women with very different lives find a common bond at the local wild swimming group.

The Lifeline is full of heart. It’s uplifting, inspiring and all about community. It’s about finding your place, your people, and doing something that perhaps takes you out of your comfort zone. This was a very different read for me, compared to my normal book choices, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Kate is doing her best as a new mum. Her worries and concerns took me back to the days when my children were babies. Fretting that you’re not doing your best for them, despite doing exactly that! A gorgeous book with real depth, wonderful characters, a gentle plot that highlights a number of modern-day issues and an all-round warmth that I couldn’t get enough of. Maybe it’s time for me to ditch the crime for Up-Lit! I’m glad I read The Lifeline. Recommended.

I chose to read and review a free ARC of The Lifeline. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

The Lifeline by Libby Page was published in the UK by Orion Books on 15th August 2024 and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio and digital formats (please note, the following links are affiliate links which means I receive a small percentage of the purchase price at no extra cost to you): | amazon.co.uk | Waterstones | bookshop.org | Goodreads | damppebbles bookshop.org shop | damppebbles amazon.co.uk shop | damppebbles amazon.com shop |

Libby Page is the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Lido and four other warm-hearted novels. She lives in Somerset, England with her family. Before becoming an author she worked in journalism and marketing. When not writing she can be found reading, and swimming outdoors.