Customer reviews
4.5 out of 5 stars
522 customer ratings
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Only One Life: A Novel
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Customer reviews
- Only One Life: A Novel
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- Customer reviews
Top positive review
Family Expectations Can Alter One's Future Path
April 24, 2019
Ashley Farley has written a story filled with many unexpected twists and turns. That, in turn, keeps the reader turning pages until sometimes well into the night. The book starts out with a jarring incident right away. That sets the tone for the balance of the book. The main theme is family expectations and how they affect every member of the family not only immediately but also well into the future. Julia is disowned by her father when she gets pregnant in college and marries, in his opinion, beneath her social standing. However, her mother keeps tabs on her through the years without her husband's knowledge. Through a series of events which are both anticipated and sometimes unexpected, reconciliations take place, secrets are revealed, and a path to healing is undertaken by more than one character in this book.
Meet Julia, Iris, Lily, Gus, and Jackson. The reader is also introduced to Julia's father and sister. The author has masterfully crafted their characters to such a degree that I will not even mention their names..
This is Southern fiction written beautifully by a Southern author.
Meet Julia, Iris, Lily, Gus, and Jackson. The reader is also introduced to Julia's father and sister. The author has masterfully crafted their characters to such a degree that I will not even mention their names..
This is Southern fiction written beautifully by a Southern author.
52 people found this helpful
Top critical review
Script for a soap opera
August 25, 2019
This was a tedious trite book written with such melodrama that it could have been written for a soap opera. Julia loses the self proclaimed "love of her life" when he is killed while driving her to the hospital after having so many miscarriages, complete with a horrendous rainstorm during the drive. Penniless, she is forced to move back to her hometown with her parents.
In the following two or so weeks, which comprises nearly the entirety of the novel, she moves out of her parent's home to live with an innkeeper with whom she falls in love in weeks. When she said that, in such a short time, she missed her dead husband less and less each day, it was incredulous to me. You don't stop missing the love of your life every day, but you do get better at living with that loss. Her new love was the son of her mother's best friend and she finds out that her mother had been in love with his father for years.
In that same few weeks, her father is accused of murder in which he framed her mother, dies, her mother is taken to a psychiatric hospital for several breakdowns. she inherits her mother's flower business, finds an empty warehouse, and expands the business, all with her new love dutifully by her side.
There really was no need for an epilogue as the ending was apparent nearly from the beginning. It just became a technicality of actually finishing the book. I wasn't very hopeful that it would get better and it never did.
In the following two or so weeks, which comprises nearly the entirety of the novel, she moves out of her parent's home to live with an innkeeper with whom she falls in love in weeks. When she said that, in such a short time, she missed her dead husband less and less each day, it was incredulous to me. You don't stop missing the love of your life every day, but you do get better at living with that loss. Her new love was the son of her mother's best friend and she finds out that her mother had been in love with his father for years.
In that same few weeks, her father is accused of murder in which he framed her mother, dies, her mother is taken to a psychiatric hospital for several breakdowns. she inherits her mother's flower business, finds an empty warehouse, and expands the business, all with her new love dutifully by her side.
There really was no need for an epilogue as the ending was apparent nearly from the beginning. It just became a technicality of actually finishing the book. I wasn't very hopeful that it would get better and it never did.
4 people found this helpful
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April 24, 2019
Ashley Farley has written a story filled with many unexpected twists and turns. That, in turn, keeps the reader turning pages until sometimes well into the night. The book starts out with a jarring incident right away. That sets the tone for the balance of the book. The main theme is family expectations and how they affect every member of the family not only immediately but also well into the future. Julia is disowned by her father when she gets pregnant in college and marries, in his opinion, beneath her social standing. However, her mother keeps tabs on her through the years without her husband's knowledge. Through a series of events which are both anticipated and sometimes unexpected, reconciliations take place, secrets are revealed, and a path to healing is undertaken by more than one character in this book.
Meet Julia, Iris, Lily, Gus, and Jackson. The reader is also introduced to Julia's father and sister. The author has masterfully crafted their characters to such a degree that I will not even mention their names..
This is Southern fiction written beautifully by a Southern author.
Meet Julia, Iris, Lily, Gus, and Jackson. The reader is also introduced to Julia's father and sister. The author has masterfully crafted their characters to such a degree that I will not even mention their names..
This is Southern fiction written beautifully by a Southern author.
May 4, 2019
Beautiful story! This was definitely one of my favorite books written by Ashley Farley! She had me completely engrossed by the end of the first chapter. When the book begins we meet Julia and Jack Martin who are anxiously waiting for the birth of their baby. They have had a struggle in the past with pregnancy so this is a happy time for them. We find out early on that Julia grew up in a home with money but maybe not the happiest of homes, since she has been estranged from her family since marrying Jack. They don’t have a lot of money and the struggle is real, but they don’t lack in love and devotion to each other. Jack is a great husband. And soon to be a great dad. Julia is anxious to become a mom and looking forward to raising a family together. Unfortunately tragedy strikes when Julia goes into labor and their lives are changed forever...Whether she wants to or not, Julia must now return home to her mother Iris and try to mend the broken relationship they once had. Mother and daughter learn so much about each other. Julia had no idea that Iris was trapped in a loveless marriage all these years. She still has to struggle with a sister her continues her bullying ways, never growing out of her bad behavior as a child. Julia also must face some real truths about her father. He is not the man she had hoped he was. Together, her mother and her forge a new bond and begin to heal together. I love how this book explores all of their lives and even goes back in time when Julia and her sister were young. Ashley has a way of weaving a beautiful story that keeps you engrossed and wanting to know more. This book is suspenseful, dramatic, heartfelt, and loving. I loved the characters as well as the setting. I fully intend to listen to the audible version as well. This was a beautifully written novel! Thank you Ms. Ashley!
April 23, 2019
This book surpasses any expectation I might have had. Only One Life is one of the best books I’ve ever read. I love how Farley writes about relationships, the challenges and the satisfaction that they can bring. This book starts in the present day with Julia, who is the estranged daughter of Max and Iris. She was kicked out of her home because she had chosen to marry a man Her dad felt was not good enough for her. The story jumps back a number of years to when Iris was a young woman who had been raised by an Aunt since she was eight years old because her parents died. Iris met Max while working in a department store. Max came from a wealthy, prominent family. His family felt Iris was quite beneath him so they eloped. The story evolves through many challenging circumstances this family faces, including dysfunction, secrets, illness, as well as forgiveness. This is an absolute must read that you will not want to put down
April 30, 2019
I thought I had read every one of her books, but thank God I’ve discovered one I missed so I’ll be starting that one right away. Ashley writes the most incredible woman’s books that just make you want to forget everything you should be doing, and just read, read, read until the end. Please keep them coming!
May 4, 2019
Another wonderful novel. I wait patiently for your books and am never disappointed. I love that you are so compassionate about women and all the issues women must face. Thank you for each and every story. Your love for the low country and Richmond fill my heart. I’ll wait for our next adventure.
May 4, 2019
I stumbled across Ashley Farley books as they were given to me as a gift. Well I have read all of them and pre order every new book as it becomes available. She is one of my favorite authors. This book was so good. I absolutely loved it.
May 12, 2019
Ashley Farley is one of the greats when it comes to writing Southern Fiction! She delves into family situations and deep friendships as though she’s dissecting them to reveal all their deepest secrets, both old and new. Her latest novel, ONLY ONE LIFE, proves she is a master at her craft.
Farley has chosen to place her novel in the small town of Beaufort, SC, not too far from Charleston. The characters she’s described are so real you’ll feel as though you’re in the room with them watching the drama unfold before your eyes. Oh! What drama there is! Old family money that is guarded until death and beyond. Marriage brought on by “love” or was it out of rebellion? Two children - one conceived in love & one conceived in rage. Best friends and best couple friends. Debilitating depression and temptation. Rage, rage and more rage. Lovelessness and going through the motions. Life and death. Best friends through the thick and then. Pure Evil. Death & Dying. Old friends are new again. Hope Springs Eternal. ONLY ONE LIFE Can you live with the choices you make for the rest of your life?
I was provided an ARC of this book by Lake Union Publishers and NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.
Farley has chosen to place her novel in the small town of Beaufort, SC, not too far from Charleston. The characters she’s described are so real you’ll feel as though you’re in the room with them watching the drama unfold before your eyes. Oh! What drama there is! Old family money that is guarded until death and beyond. Marriage brought on by “love” or was it out of rebellion? Two children - one conceived in love & one conceived in rage. Best friends and best couple friends. Debilitating depression and temptation. Rage, rage and more rage. Lovelessness and going through the motions. Life and death. Best friends through the thick and then. Pure Evil. Death & Dying. Old friends are new again. Hope Springs Eternal. ONLY ONE LIFE Can you live with the choices you make for the rest of your life?
I was provided an ARC of this book by Lake Union Publishers and NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.
April 28, 2019
Grateful is what we are for you writing such novels that
Are so heartfelt and leaves for wanting more.
Loved this book as I have loved and read all of your
Books. I am hoping and thinking that you have left room
For a sequel!
I love the low country!
Are so heartfelt and leaves for wanting more.
Loved this book as I have loved and read all of your
Books. I am hoping and thinking that you have left room
For a sequel!
I love the low country!
August 25, 2019
This was a tedious trite book written with such melodrama that it could have been written for a soap opera. Julia loses the self proclaimed "love of her life" when he is killed while driving her to the hospital after having so many miscarriages, complete with a horrendous rainstorm during the drive. Penniless, she is forced to move back to her hometown with her parents.
In the following two or so weeks, which comprises nearly the entirety of the novel, she moves out of her parent's home to live with an innkeeper with whom she falls in love in weeks. When she said that, in such a short time, she missed her dead husband less and less each day, it was incredulous to me. You don't stop missing the love of your life every day, but you do get better at living with that loss. Her new love was the son of her mother's best friend and she finds out that her mother had been in love with his father for years.
In that same few weeks, her father is accused of murder in which he framed her mother, dies, her mother is taken to a psychiatric hospital for several breakdowns. she inherits her mother's flower business, finds an empty warehouse, and expands the business, all with her new love dutifully by her side.
There really was no need for an epilogue as the ending was apparent nearly from the beginning. It just became a technicality of actually finishing the book. I wasn't very hopeful that it would get better and it never did.
In the following two or so weeks, which comprises nearly the entirety of the novel, she moves out of her parent's home to live with an innkeeper with whom she falls in love in weeks. When she said that, in such a short time, she missed her dead husband less and less each day, it was incredulous to me. You don't stop missing the love of your life every day, but you do get better at living with that loss. Her new love was the son of her mother's best friend and she finds out that her mother had been in love with his father for years.
In that same few weeks, her father is accused of murder in which he framed her mother, dies, her mother is taken to a psychiatric hospital for several breakdowns. she inherits her mother's flower business, finds an empty warehouse, and expands the business, all with her new love dutifully by her side.
There really was no need for an epilogue as the ending was apparent nearly from the beginning. It just became a technicality of actually finishing the book. I wasn't very hopeful that it would get better and it never did.
August 6, 2019
The story is underwhelming. The characters are basic and one dimensional to the point of almost being ridiculous. For example the "bad" sister is so mean with no explanation. The mother stays with an abusive criminal with no reason for 41 years. I could go on and on with the bad plot line. And I'm not sure what the editor was doing but he or she was certainly not cutting out pointless details that did nothing to either being depth of description or move the story forward. I wanted to like this book based on the sample with its dramatic start but it was a terrible let down.
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