Book Review - After The Rain by Lucy Dillon

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Title: After The Rain

Author: Lucy Dillon

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Transworld Digital

Publication Date: 17th March 2022

Rating: 4 Stars

After the storm it's time for a fresh start . . .

First, the clouds...

Tara Hunter is a therapist on a mission to restore Longhampton's community spirit after catastrophic flooding. But with her boyfriend AWOL, her family fragmented, and only a cat for company, Tara's own life is crumbling.

Then the storm...

On top of everything, Tara's father - last seen as he walked out on her when she was ten years old - is suddenly back, with a surprising offer that could change everything.

And after the rain...

Dr David Dalloway is Longhampton Wellness Centre's new star counsellor. He's charming, caring and has a knack for reading people's minds - which is the last thing Tara needs right now. Will having David and her dad around make for a bigger storm on the horizon? Or is this Tara's chance for a fresh start?

I'm sure I've said it before, and I know I'll say it again but the best Lucy Dillon books have dogs in them, and there were certainly some 4 legged presence in this story, I just wish there had been more. 

The story starts with some dramatic descriptions of the local awful floods, and of Tara working as a counsellor to try to help people come to terms with everything.  She is a therapist, but omg she really needs therapy.  The amount of things she keeps hidden, refuses to talk about to anyone, it was driving me nuts. 

And her family dynamics were interesting, because she has clearly been brainwashed by her mum not to think about her dad, let alone dare care for him or his whereabouts, so is completely thrown when he suddenly reappears. 

I just found the Tara bugged me at times, whereas David the brand new therapist at the Wellness centre that Tara is working at, well I wish he had been the main character. He was fabulous, has an interesting talent, and I just loved him entirely. 

I enjoyed seeing the character development from Tara as the story progresses. It was a gentle, enjoyable story. 

Thank you to Transworld and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.