Preloved: A sparklingly witty and relatable debut novel

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When Gwen’s made redundant from a job she drifted into a decade ago and never left, she realises it’s time to make a change. There can be a real disconnect between the friendships we imagined we would have and the friendships that we actually have. The story covers lots of topics like loss, bereavement, family relationships, romantic relationships (or lack of) and finding your way in life. Lauren points out, “Fiction can play a really important role in making people think about issues and humanity. I just hummed along with the first, rather long like 2/3's of the book, and then all of a sudden it made sense.

laurenbravo • Instagram photos and videos laurenbravo • Instagram photos and videos

I loved the concept of this, but it seemed a bit long-winded and sometimes I had a hard time focusing because I just wanted the plot to move along.Others see them as Aladdin’s cave full of wonder and mystery just waiting for you to discover your next treasure. Full of relatable anecdotes, lively, funny and modern, Preloved is a moving tale of emancipation and friendship.

Female friendships (and sustainable fashion) are at the heart

Now it’s time for Gwen to get out of her life in pause, and to find a way to move forward with bravery and humanity—and more regular dental care. Are all her friends (married, cooped-up, privy to a life she doesn't care for or have access to) secretly having fun without her? It's not always the flashy or expensive thing that you become sentimentally attached to… often it will be a really innocuous item that sparks some kind of memory.This is something that many struggle with…and the author handles Suze’s decision and her knowledge that she has to be selfish in making the choice is written very well. Gwen felt a bit hapless which made relating to her hard, though it does become clearer why as the tale unfolds. I understand I can change my preference through my account settings or unsubscribe directly from any marketing communications at any time.

Preloved by Lauren Bravo | Goodreads Preloved by Lauren Bravo | Goodreads

Suze and her husband are at an impasse when it comes to the topic of children; he wants them, but she doesn’t. It's completely enchanting, completely captivating, completely brilliant, I adored everything about it. As the story progresses, it becomes clear how these people link to Gwen and other characters in the book.You feel surrounded by a variety of objects as the reader doesn’t just follow Gwen’s story but are told stories about certain items and how they ended up in the donations. The topic of trauma when talking about the death of Gwen’s brother Luke who died suddenly at just 19 is handled sensitively. After working seven years in marketing at Invigorate Media, Gwen is nervous to start her first shift but she quickly finds her feet and enjoys the rhythm of using the till. I’m an author and award-winning journalist, writing about fashion, food, pop culture, travel, feminism and life,for people like Sunday Times Style, Grazia, Refinery29 UK, Cosmopolitan, Stylist, easyJet Traveller, Foodism, Delicious, The Telegraph and The Guardian.

Preloved eBook by Lauren Bravo | Official Publisher Page Preloved eBook by Lauren Bravo | Official Publisher Page

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. Not wanting to give much away, but I also really loved the story between Gwen and her parents, and how they are handling a personal loss that happened to them. When she’s made redundant from a job she hardly cares about, she takes herself out for a fancy dinner. It’s only when she takes herself out for dinner and she experiences the best sticky toffee pudding ever that she realises she has no one to tell. While the importance of these detours is not always apparent, they do play a vital role in the unfolding story.However, the endless self deprecation "humour" alongside a cast of neuro-diverse volunteers wore thin fairly quickly for me. In a world of fast fashion, fast friendships and fast opinion, this is a refreshing and relatable alternative, celebrating and challenging our ideas about objects and ownership.