debbiesummers's review against another edition
funny
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
arthur_pendrgn's review against another edition
DNF
Stopped at Ch. 11, still waiting for something to happen.
Stopped at Ch. 11, still waiting for something to happen.
hollygo12345's review against another edition
4.0
Intrigue on the High Seas
I’ve never been on a cruise ship but I almost feel like I have after reading Sail Away. I expected a fun, light summer read and was not disappointed. I didn’t see the twists coming and was surprised to learn how the characters were ultimately interconnected.
Sail Away is the story of two older British women who each ends up on the same three week cruise ship. It is an entertaining read with some amusing characters and a few laugh ts along the way. There are a few twists along the way which keep it interesting and build the suspense.
Suze is an actress well past her glory days as her claim to fame was a role in the highly rated show Dahlias, which aired 30 years ago. Nowadays she has trouble landing any acting gigs and often has to take on temp work to pay her bills. So when her agent calls offering her a part in The Importance of Being Earnest for a six week run in a Zurich theatre, she jumps at the chance. After two weeks of unpaid rehearsals, Suze comes to Zurich only to learn that the play has been cancelled at the last minute. Without the funds to buy a return airline ticket, Suze is thrilled when her agent comes to the rescue with a job aboard a cruise ship, which will get her home.
Amanda is a grandmother who has sold her house and buys a new flat. Just as she is about to move in, the deal suddenly falls through and Amanda is forced to put her belongings in storage. She tries to stay with each of her children but neither works out. She begins looking for a new apartment and is relieved when her agent calls to tell her the deal is back on but with one caveat, she has to wait 2-3 weeks. After scouting around for an inexpensive hotel without much success, she impulsively opts to go on a three cruise.
The author provides the reader with plenty of back story on each of these women and we get a clear sense of their current situations in life and their motivations for going on the cruise. I really felt like I got to know Suze and Amanda will before the ship set sail.
As the story unfolds, Suze is giving acting classes on the ship while Amanda attracts an admirer. In the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, untethered to phones and internet connections, new difficulties arise for Amanda back home. In the meantime, Suze is desperately trying to succeed at being a lecturer/teacher while still trying to understand what went wrong in Zurich with her acting gig. That’s when the fun begins and there is suspense, intrigue and lots of dancing and drinking.
Thank you to Bloomsbury USA and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I’ve never been on a cruise ship but I almost feel like I have after reading Sail Away. I expected a fun, light summer read and was not disappointed. I didn’t see the twists coming and was surprised to learn how the characters were ultimately interconnected.
Sail Away is the story of two older British women who each ends up on the same three week cruise ship. It is an entertaining read with some amusing characters and a few laugh ts along the way. There are a few twists along the way which keep it interesting and build the suspense.
Suze is an actress well past her glory days as her claim to fame was a role in the highly rated show Dahlias, which aired 30 years ago. Nowadays she has trouble landing any acting gigs and often has to take on temp work to pay her bills. So when her agent calls offering her a part in The Importance of Being Earnest for a six week run in a Zurich theatre, she jumps at the chance. After two weeks of unpaid rehearsals, Suze comes to Zurich only to learn that the play has been cancelled at the last minute. Without the funds to buy a return airline ticket, Suze is thrilled when her agent comes to the rescue with a job aboard a cruise ship, which will get her home.
Amanda is a grandmother who has sold her house and buys a new flat. Just as she is about to move in, the deal suddenly falls through and Amanda is forced to put her belongings in storage. She tries to stay with each of her children but neither works out. She begins looking for a new apartment and is relieved when her agent calls to tell her the deal is back on but with one caveat, she has to wait 2-3 weeks. After scouting around for an inexpensive hotel without much success, she impulsively opts to go on a three cruise.
The author provides the reader with plenty of back story on each of these women and we get a clear sense of their current situations in life and their motivations for going on the cruise. I really felt like I got to know Suze and Amanda will before the ship set sail.
As the story unfolds, Suze is giving acting classes on the ship while Amanda attracts an admirer. In the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, untethered to phones and internet connections, new difficulties arise for Amanda back home. In the meantime, Suze is desperately trying to succeed at being a lecturer/teacher while still trying to understand what went wrong in Zurich with her acting gig. That’s when the fun begins and there is suspense, intrigue and lots of dancing and drinking.
Thank you to Bloomsbury USA and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
lassi's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
christygsp's review against another edition
*3 stars
This book took so long to get going and by the time we actually got onto the ship, I didn’t really care about Amanda and the Susie plot was only just holding me on board (see what I did there…)
The writing was fine, and it was pretty interesting when the story actually started. I did want to find out what went on with the closing of the play and how the characters were going to figure it out on a cruise ship where almost
None of the related people were supposedly located…
The mystery was absolutely horrifying and when I heard about it, I was done - it actually put me in a horrible mood for most of the day: so yeah…
Content warning: child abusive and sexual references
This book took so long to get going and by the time we actually got onto the ship, I didn’t really care about Amanda and the Susie plot was only just holding me on board (see what I did there…)
The writing was fine, and it was pretty interesting when the story actually started. I did want to find out what went on with the closing of the play and how the characters were going to figure it out on a cruise ship where almost
None of the related people were supposedly located…
The mystery was absolutely horrifying and when I heard about it, I was done - it actually put me in a horrible mood for most of the day: so yeah…
Content warning: child abusive and sexual references
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual harassment
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
kniphofia7's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
magpie_books's review
adventurous
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Easy read that now has me contemplating going on a cruise!
snowpea_poulet's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
annagrac's review against another edition
3.0
Celia Imrie is an excellent actress, but I found her writing in this book mediocre. The plot is somewhat convoluted at first as she tried valiantly to make up sensible reasons why all of her characters have ended up on the same boat and after that it chases itself round in circles a bit with people being able to fake IDs and identities with ease...
gelatolady's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75