Review: Daisy and Kate

Title: Daisy and Kate

Author: Meredith Appelyard

Publisher: 30th August 2023 by Harlequin Australia, HQ & MIRA

Pages: 428 pages

Genre: women’s fiction, contemporary

Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

Friendship lost and found again.

Jealousy destroyed their friendship decades ago, but now they need each other more than ever ... 

Once upon a time Daisy Miller and Kate Hannaford were the best of friends, sharing the woes of shift work and nursing, the delights of days off together in their small country town, and the joys of blossoming romances. They couldn't imagine not being the best of friends. Until they weren't. 

Now bearing down on their 70s, life hasn't gone the way either woman expected. Daisy is back in town, homeless and reduced to couch-surfing at her granddaughter's place. Meanwhile, a recently widowed Kate is facing the harsh reality that the home and lifestyle she worked so hard for is hollow comfort when there's no one to share it with. 

More than three decades have passed since the demise of their friendship. Although neither will admit it, they are lonely and in desperate need of a friend. But they can't agree on anything, most of all what it was that brought about the unravelling of their friendship all those years ago. 

Will Daisy and Kate find it in themselves to finally face the past, rediscover what drew them together in the first place, and forgive each other for how it all went wrong for the sake of a new and lasting friendship? 

A compelling exploration of the waxing and waning of friendships; how precious they are, and the heartbreak that happens when it all comes undone.

My Thoughts

I am just so impressed with how Meredith’s tales just go from strength to strength with each new book. I thought ‘All About Ella’ was so very good but her latest release, ‘Daisy and Kate’ was outstanding and cements Meredith in her genre of writing about women in the latter stages of their life. She nails it and it's so refreshing to see this age bracket getting the attention it deserves.

‘I did my best to ignore the grey hairs and I’d just about given up on losing the extra two or three kilos. I’d been trying to shift them ever since the boys were born and Gareth, the eldest, would be forty-three this year.’

Daisy and Kate is a brilliant book … gosh I enjoyed it! Meredith is part of a group of authors writing tales that involve our aging population and I salute her for shining the spotlight on this undervalued age group. It’s not overly dramatic but packs a punch where it counts with real events and reactions that highlight the vulnerability of the aging and the greed of some families. 

‘After living in blissful solitude in a three-bedroom house for a decade, I discovered I wasn’t as amenable to change as I’d thought I would be. Or wanted to be.’

Told from the points of view of Daisy and Kate, Meredith covers all thoughts and angles seamlessly. You cannot help but admire Daisy’s strength of character yet still her need of support and encouragement to stand strong in the face of adversity. Kate may appear brusque and entitled but as she slowly unravels and then mends herself, the reader’s sympathy for her strengthens. Meredith captures these two leads and, with a strong supporting cast, delivers a story that highlights the many differing challenges that can be faced later in life. 

‘My whole life had been about making ends meet, and too many times they hadn’t.’

I just love how this book makes you think, forces you to examine the value we place on our aging population - giving them the support to make their own choices with family to support and not be dominated. It really is about acknowledging the pursuit of  purpose and living a meaningful life at any age. Meredith places Seniors at the forefront of this novel and mixes in grief, family greed, independent living, homelessness, friendships, forgiveness for past grievances and the often simple daily life moments. She really highlights these issues and the challenges that face many of our older population. 

‘One thing I knew for sure, I didn’t like feeling the way I did: old, and ashamed that I hadn’t provided better for myself.’

Only recently I read an article about older divorced/single women and the plight of finding themselves homeless at a time of their life when such things should not ideally be an issue. Meredith has written a truly wonderful tale full of lovely characters who speak to the reader as their issues are real and relatable. The reflections on life, relationships and friendship are something I highly recommend people to read about. 

‘… did a person ever get too old to make decisions about their care and what happened to them? A decade ago I would have answered with a resounding yes, they did, and at that point families needed to step up and take on the responsibility. At seventy-two, I wasn’t as certain. Ask me again at eighty-two. I had a feeling I might give an entirely different answer.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.