Review: The Bellbird River Country Choir

Title: The Bellbird River Country Choir

Author: Sophie Green

Publisher: 27th July 2022 by Hachette Australia

Pages: 425 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: women’s fiction

My Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

A warm-hearted story of fresh beginnings, unexpected friendships and the sustaining power of love and community, from the Top Ten bestselling author of The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle and Thursdays at Orange Blossom House.

Bellbird River, 1998: Teacher and single mum Alex is newly arrived in the small NSW country town of Bellbird River after escaping the city in search of a change of pace and the chance to reconnect with her young daughter. Across town, well-known matriarch Victoria and her globe-trotting, opera-singing cousin Gabrielle find themselves at a crossroads in their personal and professional lives, while local baker Janine and newcomer to the district Debbie are each secretly dealing with the consequences of painful pasts. With its dusty streets, lone pub and iron-lace verandahs, Bellbird River could just be a pit stop on the road to somewhere else. But their town holds some secrets and surprises - and it has a heart: the Bellbird River choir.

Amid the melodies and camaraderie of the choir, each of the women will find the courage to leave the past behind. And together, they'll discover that friends are much closer to home than they'd ever realised.

My Thoughts

I have read all of Sophie’s books and loved them. In The Bellbird River Country Choir she  has produced another delightful tale with writing that is immersive, confirming and heartwarming. In this hectic world we live in, who does not wish for escapism that provides an uplifting story about family and friends. 

‘Gabrielle has been an habitué of big cities for so long that she's forgotten the grace of the Bellbird River kind of living, in which everyone is important yet also knows they are part of the whole, existing in concert for the benefit of all.’

The Bellbird River Country Choir brings together a diverse group of people meeting one night a week for choir practice. As a result of this, new friendships form, a sense of place and belonging is achieved so that together life and its many challenges can be faced. The reader appreciates how Sophie, through a choir, brings together completely different, yet strangely similar characters - their problems could easily be your problems. The secret attached to this is how Sophie then goes on  to resolve these issues in the most organic and realistic way. 

‘Life is hard enough to navigate when people tell the truth; trying to circumnavigate lies makes it almost impossible.’

For me, Sophie’s writing style is so gentle, moving at a pace that allows her readers to lose themselves in the story. Through each of the narratives readers are sure to find a little of themselves, such is the genuine nature of these lead characters. My personal feeling is that on this occasion there were too many characters and I would have preferred a firmer focus on fewer for a richer reward. 

Congratulations Sophie for another beautifully written story. A story that is affirming of how family and friendships enable you to make changes to your life  that may help unlock an even better you.

‘That's all anyone can really ask of another person, isn’t it? If we all do the best we can, every day of our lives, we are that much further ahead in making life better for everyone.’

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.