Putting Alice Back Together: A Review

I've been so preoccupied with this IVF cycle that I've found it hard to tune out and keep my brain occupied. What better way to try and pass the time than by getting back into reading mode? A few weeks ago, I was sent an advance copy of the book 'Putting Alice Back Together' by Carol Marinelli from the folks at Morey Media.

I took the book with us to Thailand, and I have to say - it was the perfect beach holiday read. 

The protagonist of the novel is Alice - a happy, fun-loving, hard-working 27 year old with nothing at all to worry about... except, well... her job was really great (10 years ago), she is madly in love with her best friend (but he's gay) and her credit card bills are piling up (under the bed, unopened). But maybe the biggest problem for Alice is that she has a secret. A secret so big she can't tell anyone.

To tell you the truth, I was hooked on the book from the first chapter that I read online. I knew the secret would be the biggest part of the story, and it was. The author takes us from present day Alice to past Alice, and really unpacks how her life, while seeming pretty normal and average, is actually unravelling at the seams. It's set in Melbourne, but flashes back and forth to the UK as well - something that I quite enjoyed, since that was our life not all that long ago too. The story read well and Alice is a likeable character. (Also, I'd kind of kill for those gorgeous red curls.)

Putting Alice Back Together by MIRA is available for purchase online at Harlequin books or in store nationally from 1 March at the RRP AU$29.99.

If you're interested in finding out more, and even potentially winning some goodies for yourself, I've got some hints and tips for you. If you visit the Harlequin Australia website, you can read the first chapter for yourself & enter to win a $500 preloaded debit card. And it gets better! You can hit up the competition page here at Yahoo to win a copy for yourself & an iPod - I know I'll be entering!