Embracing The Present

Autumn Dreams At Mermaids Point by Sarah Bennett is the most delightful contemporary novel. It is the second book in the Mermaid’s Point series but can be read as a stand-alone.

The novel has the dual themes of loss and new beginnings. No matter how much time has passed, grief is still raw. We have to learn how to live again and adapt to the new normal.

As a father of two, the lead character finds it hard to adapt to being the sole parent. His own grief and job as a busy London GP sometimes hampers his ability to deal with the grief of his children. A fresh beginning is what is required.

The fresh air of Mermaids Point contrasts with the closed atmosphere of London. The reader can almost ‘feel’ the salty air on our faces due to full descriptions by Sarah Bennett.

The characters were wonderfully and realistically drawn. Strangers receive warm welcomes as the hurting are held close to hearts. It is refreshing to have the lead characters in their forties.

It is important to live in the present. The past is gone and the future is not yet here.

Life at school can be hard when you are twelve and sixteen. Sarah Bennett has realistically portrayed the struggles, decisions and choices faced by the two school children. Peer pressure is huge as the children feel trapped by the system.

You never stop being a parent and caring. The reader watches a father- son relationship in need of repair after a misunderstanding thirty years earlier.

There is a wonderful dog who unites the characters, giving them a focus for expressions of love.

I always adore Sarah Bennett’s books and I loved Autumn Dreams At Mermaids Point.

I received a free copy of the book via Net Galley. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

JULIA WILSON