Ten Years - Pernille Hughes

They’re perfect for each other

They just don’t know it yet

Becca and Charlie have known each other for years – ever since they met at university.

And for every one of those years, they've bickered, argued, offended, mocked and generally rubbed each other up the wrong way.

Until now. Until Ally’s bucket list. The death of their loved one should mean Becca and Charlie can go their separate ways and not look back. But completing the list is something neither Charlie nor Becca can walk away from.

And sometimes, those who bring out the worst in you, also bring out the very best…

Over the course of ten years, Becca and Charlie’s paths collide as they deal with grief, love and life after Ally.

Blurb taken from Goodreads.

I was provided with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I'd seen a little bit of hype about this one, so I was looking forward to reading it. Upon reading the synopsis, I was a little bit apprehensive - this sounded like a very emotive read, but I generally prefer more lighthearted stories.

However, I was pleasantly surprised. The long timeline means that this story is very fast-paced, and I found myself liking the central characters more than I thought I would. It would have been nice to have slowed the story for a little more depth and a build up of additional characters. However, all in all, I did enjoy this one.

Rating: ✫✫✫

The Story

The timeline for this story is long, as the title suggests. We follow Becca and Charlie through ten years of grief and personal challenges. With that in mind, this is a very easy read. There is such a huge amount of time to cover, the author does not get bogged down with insignificant details, and each time we focus in on a moment in time, there is a purpose to the dialogue, and a purpose to the timing of each stop along the way. It's fast-paced, making for a swift read.

However, the problem I found with this is that we do not get to spend enough time with the characters to really connect with them. They are likeable enough, and I genuinely did root for them. But we don't get chance to get into the nitty gritty of their inner thoughts and feelings, as we are forced to move swiftly on for the purpose of the wider plot. 

Additionally, we don't have much time to waste on supporting characters. There are a couple, and frankly they make for a refreshing change of pace when they do make an appearance. Yet it's very focused on Becca and Charlie. It's understandable, but I'm not sure it's entirely effective.

Nonetheless, I really enjoyed what the author was trying to do. I was not entirely convinced it would be a story for me, but I was pleasantly surprised. Ally was a presence, but she wasn't overwhelming. I'm not sure I entirely believed Ally's intentions for Becca and Charlie, but it was convincing enough in the parameters of the story. 

The Verdict

Overall, this was an original story, and one I enjoyed more than I thought I would upon reading the synopsis. I think there was significant space for building more depth into the story (including some secondary characters who could have elevated the story a bit), but as a whole, it was different, easy to read, and sweet.