If you read my review of Eliza Hope-Brown’s debut novel, Sanctuary earlier this year, you will know that I was very eagerly anticipating the release of Colours, the second instalment in the Sweet Inevitability series. Well, it’s here and it is glorious!

Full disclosure, once again I was the editor on this project, but this is my unbiased review as a reader and a lover of romantic, contemporary fiction.

I am thrilled to be bringing you my thoughts on this newly-published book. You okay? We good? Right, let’s get into it.

The author.

Eliza Hope Brown, born in rural Wiltshire, is a full time writer of contemporary fiction. She studied English and Foreign Languages at DeMonfort University and was a primary school teacher and graphic designer before writing her first novel, Sanctuary in late 2022. She lives in London with her cat, Morley.

 

The book.

This time around Laura and Dan have been friends for a lifetime. Their families have been close friends forever.

One of them falls in love with someone unexpectedly, and one of them takes up a dream job on another continent.

If you liked Sanctuary, you’ll love Colours. The second instalment of the Sweet Inevitability series.

 

The series.

Sweet Inevitability.

Different universes. Different timelines. Different iterations of the same people.

Can Dan and Laura find their matching pieces in every world?

The same hearts, different lives. Will love find a way?

 

My thoughts.

In some ways, I don’t actually know what I am doing, trying to write a coherent review of a book that has left such a profound, lasting impression on me. There are not enough words and yet I feel I could write volumes about this story.

The first thing to note is that this is NOT a sequel. It is a series of standalone novels. As mentioned above, the characters are different people in different universes and timelines. That said, it is comforting to read a second book featuring character names that I am already familiar with.

As with Sanctuary, the characters in Colours are exceptionally well written. Eliza Hope-Brown has the definite knack of making her main people very real and completely believable. As a reader, it is very easy to become attached to certain characters very quickly.

Personally, it was also extremely easy for me to take against one character in particular and when I tell you I had a visceral reaction to the words and actions of one character.

I’m not a violent person by any stretch, but I have spent more hours than I care to admit idly plotting their demise in a series of increasingly gross and crude ways. Let’s hope I never bump into anyone who looks like that character in the street. Things could get real ugly, real quick. As you can tell, I am hugely protective over some characters – they feel like friends.

The story as a whole is a complete joy to read. Every chapter has something distinctive and special to offer. Once again, the dialogue is outstanding, Eliza crafts conversation and communication so skillfully. There are phrases and actually whole passages of speech that ring round my head long after I have closed the book.

It is incredibly difficult to appraise this story without giving away spoilers. I think it’s fair to say that it will make you laugh, it will make you cry and it will make you think. You can’t really ask for much more than that, can you? There are moments that will make your heart race and soar, which is the best feeling. Honestly, I want to thrust this book into everyone’s hands and scream “READ THIS NOW” in their faces. It has had what I know will be an ever-lasting effect on me.

As a debut novel, Sanctuary was exceptional and there were MASSIVE shoes to fill. Colours has split those shoes wide open – won’t even be contained in the box those shoes came in, this book has everything. Easily in my top three all time favourite books I have ever read. You should know I have been reading for well over fifty years so I couldn’t even guess at how many books I have read; Colours takes a top three spot, sitting alongside Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll and Rachel’s Holiday by Marian Keyes.

I already know that this is a book I will come back to over and over. It fills my heart and makes my soul happy. Reading this book gives me such a sense of comfort. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

If you love a heartfelt, emotional, realistic, uplifting, delightful read then this book is for you. Get your copy of Colours here.

Sanctuary available here. 

 

 

Contemporary Fiction Life Long Friends Love story Romance Sweet Inevitability