Marshmallows for Breakfast by Dorothy Koomson

Synopsis :


When Kendra Tamale returns to England from Australia she rents a room from Kyle, a separated father of two, and begins a new job. She’s looking forward to a fresh start and a simple life.

Keyle’s six-year-old twins, Summer and Jaxon, have other ideas and quickly adopt Kendra as their new mother – mainly because she lets them eat mashmallows for breakfast. Kendra eventually becomes a part of their lives, even though she’s hiding a painful secret that makes her keep everyone – especially children – at arm’s length.

Then Kendra bumps into the man who shares her awful secret, and everything falls apart : she can’t sleep, she can’t eat, she’s suspended from work and then the kids are taken away by their mother. The only way to fix things is to confess to the terrible mistake she made all those years ago. But that’s something she swore never to do...

I love the cover of this book. It’s so sweet and endearing. Slightly pinkish and lavender tone. The book lives up to expectation too. So far, my encounter with books by Dorothy Koomson has been rather endearing as well. My Best Friend’s Girl was the best but I haven’t review that yet. I have to reread it first. The Cupid Effect and Chocolate Run were both good.

Having said that, beware, Marshmallows for Breakfast is more than just a girly-feel-good-book. It has a deeper and darker message and it won’t be long before you are caught in the pain of the characters as they share their hurt and sadness with you as much as their hope and dreams.

Kendra, the main character is a loveable person and with Kyle’s twins starving for some attention, it wasn’t long before she’s a fixture in their lives and theirs in hers. In a way, they all heal each other as Kendra is not the only one with secrets. The twins are so cute and Kendra is what they need to balance out their tipsy turvy world they are in. Kyle is so misunderstood and he’s trying so hard to be both mother and father to the twins in the absence of their mother. Ashlyn, Kyle’s wife is as much a victim and at the end, you just want to root and cheer for her to be able to overcome the addiction that took her away from her family.

Certain parts are pretty heart wrenching, especially pages 351 to 354 and especially if you are a mother.
Hint - this is one of those books you should not bring when you travel. Especially business travel.

Comments

  1. SverigeMay 26, 2012 at 12:19 PM

    Kyle is the perfect man. Sure he is flawed, ignoring his alcoholic wife's problem for too long, but when called upon he steps up. Kendra seems to think he and Ashlyn belong together, but I think Kendra and Kyle belong together and Kendra is too blind to see it.

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