Book review – Lessons in Laughing Out Loud by Rowan Coleman

Willow and Holly are identical twins. They are everything to each other. Holly calls Willow her rock, her soul mate, her other half. And Willow feels the same about Holly. They are alike in every respect except one – Willow is afraid on the inside. And all because of a secret – one that binds the sisters closely together and yet has meant their adult lives have taken two very different paths.

Willow often feels there are large parts of her missing, qualities she only knows she’s lacking because she sees them in her sister. For a very long time Willow has felt separated from Holly by one terrible moment in time – a moment that meant Willow’s life was never the same again. And when the past catches up with her, Willow realises it’s finally time for her to face her fears, and – with Holly’s help – learn to laugh out loud once more…

As mentioned in a ‘book news’ post a while ago, this book caught my eye because of its fab title and cover. I hadn’t read any of Rowan’s previous novels (this is her ninth adult book and she has also written a childrens series and a paranormal series!) and I honestly cannot believe it’s taken me so long to discover this excellent author. Lessons in Laughing Out Loud is a great  piece of contemporary fiction combining elements of the lighthearted with wryly observed humour and just a touch of magic whilst at the same time tackling issues that are both dark and distressing to create a novel that will make the reader think.

Thirty-nine year old Willow is a likeable lead and the story focuses on how she faces her fears and confronts her past to move forward with her life. Willow is a complex character and I loved the way that Rowan Coleman revealed her layers throughout the book as she reacted to the events that she was faced with. There is a lot in Willow for readers to identify with; on the surface she is the less ‘together’ twin, divorced and possibly in love with her best friend, struggling with body image issues and has a very demanding job to hold down. As we get to know her, we find out that there are events in her past that are holding her back and preventing her from forming the close relationships that she desires.

As the plot progresses, Willow is forced to confront the people and issues that have held her back including her relationship with her ex-husband Sam and his daughter Chloe, her relationship with her own mother and with her best friend Daniel. Through Willow, her friends and family, Rowan Coleman takes the reader through the full spectrum of emotions and I’ll willingly admit to shedding a tear or two as the story progressed. It is only towards the very end of the novel that the true source of Willow’s fear is revealed and I truly admired Willow’s bravery in facing her fears and moving on and found this a very inspiring and believable novel.

I don’t want to give away the plot as the element of mystery to Willow’s past is key to reading this novel and kept me eagerly turning the pages but I loved that motherhood is a major theme together with forgiveness and love. Despite the seriousness of the issues that Lessons in Laughing Out Loud covers, there is a lot of humour in the story too with Coleman showing a wry wit. Willow’s slightly mad boss Victoria really made me smile. Willow is tasked with babysitting film star in crisis India Torrence which makes for some amusing scenes particularly when she encounters teenage Chloe. There is also more than a touch of magic to the story as willow stumbles upon a mysterious shop one day and purchases three items that have a profound affect on her as the story progresses including a fantastic pair of shoes! With several threads, the plot meshes together well and the lighter elements and humor keep the story positive despite addressing some truly heartbreaking issues.

The romantic element to the plot almost seems secondary to the overall story but is actually intrinsically linked to Willow and her future and I thought the outcome was just right for Willow and the men in her life. Lessons in Laughing Out Loud is perfect for readers looking for a thoughtful and thought provoking read that isn’t afraid to address serious issues. With well drawn characters and an element of mystery, I’d recommend this to fans of Lisa Jewell and Marian Keyes.

5/5

I’d like to thank Rowan and her publisher for sending me a copy of Lessons in Laughing Out Loud to review.

You can find out more about Rowan and her novels at: http://www.rowancoleman.co.uk/