A hugely charming, genuinely uplifting story that shows it’s never too late for new adventures and unexpected friendship – for fans of HAROLD FRY, DEAR MRS BIRD and THE LIBRARIAN.

Meet Eve, who has departed from her thirty-year career to become a Free Spirit; Sally, who has waved goodbye to her indifferent husband and two grown-up children; and Anastasia: defiantly independent narrowboat-dweller, suddenly vulnerable as she awaits a life-saving operation.

Inexperienced and ill-equipped, Sally and Eve embark upon a journey through the canals of England, guided by the remote and unsympathetic Anastasia. As they glide gently – and not so gently – through the countryside, the eccentricities and challenges of canalboat life draw them inexorably together, and a tender and unforgettable story unfolds.

Disarmingly truthful and narrated with a rare, surprising wit, THREE WOMEN AND A BOAT is a journey over the glorious waterways of England and into the unfathomable depths of the human heart.

Written with Warmth & Humour!

This is – on the face of it – a lovely gentle read but, trust me, there are many hidden depths!

Sally, Eve and Anastasia are unknow quantities to each other; for differing reasons, they are all at a crossroads in their lives. Anastasia, fiercely independent, finds herself in need of some help as she faces a life-saving operation. Sally and Eve, each for their own reasons, would like to get away from it all. Perhaps they met for a shared purpose?

A very enjoyable read which will draw you in to the lives of these three women and you may very well find yourself in a reflective mood as you progress through the book. Written with warmth and humour, this is one of those stories which makes you begin to think you are a part of it. First of all we find out what the characters are doing with themselves now and then, as the story unfolds, we get to know each of them more intimately. Beautifully written, this is a wonderfully honest, heartwarming tale which kept me in it’s thrall until the very last page. I can see that it perhaps won’t be for everyone but personally I found it to be a rather soothing read and one I’m happy to give 4.5*.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is – as always – my honest, original and unbiased review.

Tags: women’s fiction

• Format: ebook, paperback, hardcover, audiobook
• Size: 330 pages
• Publisher: Transworld Digital
• Publication Date: 12 November 2020
• Links: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51816326
  • https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Anne_Youngson_Three_Women_and_a_Boat?id=qGylDwAAQBAJ
  • https://www.foyles.co.uk/witem/fiction-poetry/three-women-and-a-boat-a-bbc-radio-2-bo,anne-youngson-9781784165338
  • https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/three-women-and-a-boat
  • https://www.whsmith.co.uk/products/three-women-and-a-boat/anne-youngson/hardback/9780857527097.html
  • https://www.waterstones.com/book/three-women-and-a-boat/anne-youngson/9781784165338
  • https://wordery.com/search?term=Three+Women+and+A+Boat+Anne+Youngson
  • https://www.amazon.co.uk/Three-Women-Boat-Anne-Youngson-ebook/dp/B0855PRHRP

Author Bio

Anne Youngson worked for many years in senior management in the car industry before embarking on a creative career as a writer. She has supported many charities in governance roles, including Chair of the Writers in Prison Network, which provided residencies in prisons for writers. She lives in Oxfordshire and is married with two children and three grandchildren to date.