I even loved the dedication in this book – so true and one to which everyone can relate. So, a good start. Life is a jigsaw, made up of many pieces. To recognise the fact and to be grateful that each piece, good and bad, creates the whole, offers a certain contentment, or so I believe. Likewise, there is an acknowledgement at the end which highlights the value of novels such as these, novels ‘about the extraordinary things that happen within the parameters of ordinary life…books [which are] pure unadulterated entertainment…are not lesser books’. This might not be some lofty or deeply political treatise but it is well-written, entertaining, crafted and polished and certainly deserves its place on my somewhat eclectic bookshelf.

And now to the novel, itself. Ladies who lunch or have coffee at least, rely on friends to whom they can spill the beans, whatever those beans are, and the novel revolves around a group of such women, not that they know each other at the start.

Ray’s Diner is the centre of the universe, bright, modern and a distinct change from Bettina Boot’s ‘faded-Victorian drawing room’ style of tearoom, which it had previously been. It takes a little time for the locals to embrace it, but they do.

I even loved the dedication in this book – so true and one to which everyone can relate. So, a good start. Life is a jigsaw, made up of many pieces.

The characters step up one by one. Amanda, who looks after her ungrateful, elderly mother, has a somewhat spoilt, greedy and untrustworthy brother. Sky, (with a delightful array of teddy bears which she both mends and makes) still struggles to come to terms with her father’s death and the unfair stigma he endured in his life. Bon and Erin have an unusual relationship. Is it really lying if you simply don’t tell the truth? Things are so much easier when they come clean. Astrid is a cleaner as well as working in a cracker factory; she’s also a widow with a beautiful home of her own who doesn’t actually need to work but does need something to do. As for Mel and Steve, all I can say is bloody school reunions (my own was lovely and as far as I know, caused none of the problems Mel and Steve encounter), and thank goodness for Postman Pat!

This novel is a slice of life, or rather several slices of life, or maybe that should be several slices of several lives. The narrative leaps from one to another so there’s a need for some mental gymnastics until you get everyone fixed in mind but as a simultaneous montage of different lives, it works well. Each story develops and as the characters gather in Ray’s Diner, on a Tuesday evening ‘for coffee and cookies’, they share their experiences, providing support as only good friends can.

That all sounds trite and clichéd but it really isn’t. It’s just life: a slice of Victoria sponge, with a bit of icing, the odd cherry and, just occasionally, a disappointingly soggy middle.

Themes include death, bullying, family life, trust, the menopause, middle age, dreams, and now and then there is an ‘injection of joy’. Love, lies and longing, betrayal and forgiveness, responsibility and doing the right thing – or not. Not everyone values integrity. The thrill of love and lovers, of desire and daring to face the challenge head on. The thing is, Johnson presents it all as believable, not as extreme or contrived as the soap operas which fill the small screen. You do actually feel for these people, share their ups and downs, explore their minds, get angry on their behalf and share the moments of love and laughter, sadness and frustration. A bit of romance lightens everyone’s load – we’re all worth it, to borrow a well-known catch phrase. That all sounds trite and clichéd but it really isn’t. It’s just life: a slice of Victoria sponge, with a bit of icing, the odd cherry and, just occasionally, a disappointingly soggy middle.

The best advice comes towards the end: ‘Don’t let fear hold you back’, because when you are bold and believe in yourself, anything is possible. And everyone needs someone in their corner; acknowledging that, identifying the right ‘one’ and letting them in, really is the best tonic. The women in this novel discover each other and find a way to open up. ‘A problem shared is a problem halved’ seems to sum it up beautifully - and a bit of Karma doesn’t go amiss!

By the way, I actually read this book in April, starting it on the first, and coincidences so often occur: the first chapter of the novel mentions the awful day Amanda has had ‘a classic first of April and she’d been the first class fool entertainment’. The novel wasn’t even on the top of the pile, I genuinely selected it randomly, as I looked for something a little bit lighter than my recent fare. Spooky.


Same Time Next Week is published by Simon & Schuster