Review No 10: Distance by Nene Davies

Isobel Richardson and her son Leo have worked hard to build a great life for themselves in Wales. Raising three healthy kids and having lovingly renovated their family home things are humming along nicely when out of the blue Leo's twenty year career at the local power plant ends in redundancy. Suddenly everything about their secure world is on shaky foundations as Leo struggles to find work and Isobel is left to deal with the fallout. Amidst all this stress, however, she finally voices a long held secret desire - to pack up the family and move to Australia.

Once committed the Richardsons set about making their big plan happen. Isobel assumes her beloved mother will come with them and is devastated when she not only refuses to consider the idea but withdraws from their life altogether. As her only child Isobel cannot fathom her mother's attitude but doesn't let it dissuade her from taking the leap she knows will provide their family with the future she has dreamt of for so long.

Distance is a story of dreams tempered with the reality of everyday life. It is told in an engaging way and you cannot help but be drawn into the dramas the Richardson family face as they relocate so far from everything they know. The characters are well drawn and very relatable, especially Isobel as she struggles to keep all the balls in the air while still being the anchor her family have come to know and expect.

I found Distance an easy book to read and enjoyed going along for the journey with Isobel and her family.