The Semi-Detached Women is a sweet modern historical fiction novel about an unconventional relationship between two women in early 1960s Britain. It’s not my usual genre, but was recommended by an author friend, and I enjoyed it as a moving story about love and the bonds of friends turned family.

Janine is a lonely young woman who has been taken advantage of by her married employer and then thrown out of her home by her abusive alcoholic mother because she is pregnant. She uses her savings to rent an isolated cottage outside a beautiful Cheshire village, and prepares to raise the baby on her own. Laura is married to a successful solicitor and adores her young son Luke, but when her marriage falls apart, she moves in next door to Janine, with no idea how her life is about to change…

This was a lovely story about an unlovely time not so long ago when homophobia and religious hypocrisy were rife, and women had to conceal their sexuality or risk ostracism or worse by their communities, in this case, the threat of having a baby forcibly removed and adopted out. I d the range of characters, from jolly Lady M, to laid-back hippy Ianto, and there were some odious villains the bigoted moralising Catholic social worker. The evolving romance between Janine and Laura was sensitively portrayed. 4.5 rounded down for the unnecessary present tense narration.

I received an Advance Reviewer Copy from Bloodhound Books and am posting this honest review voluntarily. The Semi-Detached Women is available now.20thc-histfiction arc-or-netgalley bloodhound ...more5 s Misty124 6

I am going to preface this review by saying that historical fiction is not my wheelhouse - I have no idea why, its just not a genre I've vibed with in the past.

This book however has 100% challenged that view because I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was taken by surprise by the beautifully written stories of Janine and Laura and being the giant feminist that I am, women during the 1960's still being oppressed is something I am floored by.

The first half of the book tells the two stories of how the two women came to be in each others lives. Janine has led a very sheltered and neglected life throughout her whole childhood. When she is taken advantage of by her elderly boss and becomes pregnant, she is thrown out by her mother. With no place to go and needing a new start where nobody knows who she is, she heads to the hills of Cheshire and takes residence in a semi-detached cottage owned by an eccentric Lady M.
Laura, after discovering her husbands infidelity for the second time decides she's had enough. She isn't happy and she wants to do what's right for her son, Luke. She divorces her husband and moves in to the cottage next door to Janine.

Janine & Laura's friendship blossoms. Despite the age gap, they come together beautifully and despite Janines hesitations, she begins to trust and admire Laura. Their relationship slowly turns from one of friendship to romantic as they spend more time together but with it being the 60's, they both know their love won't be accepted.

The range of characters was wonderful! Ianto, the Welsh, weed smoking hippy whose caravan is parked in the front garden of the cottage; Lady M & Chivers who don't judge Janine for her circumstances and even more surprisingly, an unforseen redemption arc from Laura's ex-husband that made me tear up.

This was a beautiful story where an awakening in sexuality during a time when it was dangerous to be anything but a man, really captured my heart along with the characters.1 Amorina CarltonAuthor 1 book24

I was a little hesitant when I picked this up. Even the first chapter didn't quite sell me. But after bit, it enraptured me as I watched fate push these two women together. Their similar, but very different, experiences offering them a chance for true, human connection. The atmospheric, isolated setting providing the perfect backdrop for a vulnerability rarely shared, especially during the time. The beautiful writing telling a funny, sweet, heartbreaking, infuriating, and love-filled story.

The work is not done in terms of LGBTQ-plus rights, but the vision of terror and bigotry depicted in this book is raw and real. The early 60s weren't that long ago - the baby in the story would now be the same age as my mother. These women could have been my grandmother. And, in parts of the U.S. South, unwed young mothers, as well as people in the BIPOC and LGBTQ communities still have horrible experiences at home and in public. This story might be historical, but it still matters today. It shows us how much things have changed, but how much they've stayed the same.

The character building and the character growth is awe-inspiring. One character experiences the best growth arc I've ever seen in a story.

The idea of found family, and the family you choose being more important than the family you're born with, has been a hot topic lately, and this story hits on that theme especially well. The idea of found family is a reality in my life. My dad is no less my dad because he didn't father me. And, if something happens to my husband and I, we trust our friends more than our "family" to care for our daughter. Family is what you make of it, not DNA.

I also really appreciate the author at least presenting the idea of pansexuality/panromanticness. We get little (except for the famous wine bottle line), I think because people don't get it, really.

Who's It For?

If you more modern historical fiction, especially romantic suspense, then you'll enjoy this book. It does have several triggers and features some troubling topics, so you will need to be cognizant of that before reading. Even though it was in the description, I didn't realize how I would take the interference of the social worker. That was difficult for me.

Content Warning: Sexual Assault, Job Loss, Pregnancy, Sexual Shaming/Moral Policing, Infidelity, Homophobia, Drug Use, Divorce, Attempted Child Removal(to protective custody), Alcohol Use, Adult Language, Adult Situations, Religious Ideology, and More. This list is not meant to be a complete list of all subjects that a person may find offensive or triggering.
Michelle Ryles1,141 97

The rainbow and the two women on the beautiful cover of The Semi-Detached Women tells the reader that this is a romance with a difference. Not only is this a romance set in the sixties, but it's also the heartwarming relationship between two women.

I loved both the main characters of Janine and Laura. Janine is a young pregnant unwed woman and what a scandal this is in the 1960s. Forced out of her home she travels to Manchester where nobody knows her to make a new start with her baby. Laura finds it hard to trust anyone after divorcing her cheating husband and she sets up home with her son next door to Janine.

It's delightful to watch Janine and Laura's friendship develop and, although both women are confused by their feelings at first, it's lovely to see their relationship grow into something deeper. It's quite thought-provoking for me (as a child of the seventies) to explore homosexuality in the sixties. I thought it was illegal back then, and it was, but what I didn't realise is that it was only illegal for men. It's quite sad really, considering the sixties had the whole free love ethos. Clearly, free love wasn't free for all.

Alex Quaid uses words as building blocks to reconstruct the 1960s word by word and I felt as if I had stepped back in time. I was so mad when the church tried to take Janine's perfectly healthy and much loved baby from her. I think perhaps people of the sixties found unwed mothers as shocking as homosexuals. There's a hippy in a campervan in the story and something Ianto said really stayed with me, so much so that I wanted to share a quote from the book:
"You think in labels, man, but she doesn't. She's just a woman in love."Be more Ianto and stop thinking in labels! The world will be a much better place for it.

So beautifully written, sensitive, thought-provoking and quietly affecting, The Semi-Detached Women is an outstanding and unforgettable novel.galleys-read Bee353 24

This book is an absolute standout, one of the most compelling reads of the year.

It paints a raw and unsettling picture of single parenthood and sexuality in a time when both were stigmatized. The story follows two women, Laura, a divorcee in her thirties, and Janine, a young single mother. Their journey isn't sugar-coated - it's raw, real, and reflective of the time.

The author, Alex Quaid, perfectly captures the oppressive laws and religious views of the era, which were particularly harsh for those with little protection. Quaid's portrayal of Janine's struggle as an unwed mother is both cautious and heart-wrenchingly realistic.

Laura's life takes an unexpected turn when she discovers her husband's infidelity, leading her from a comfortable middle-class life on London's outskirts to a rustic home in rural Cheshire, adjacent to Janine.

The author paints their stories with a mix of elegance and raw emotion, demonstrating their resilience amidst adversity. Quaid breathes life into the Northern England setting with vivid descriptions of the rustic cottages and serene wilderness.

Their relationship evolves from strangers to tentative friends, and blossoms into a beautiful love story that's the heart of Semi-Detached Women. Their bond is far from perfect, but that's what makes it real. It's a raw, complex love, filled with hurdles and the harsh realities of their time.

Quaid brilliantly showcases the harsh judgement of the Catholic Church that leads to heartbreaking consequences for both women. It's a stark reminder of the Church's past mistakes, stirring a sense of protective rage for Janine and her child.

Semi-Detached Women is a book that lingers long after the last page, stirring thoughts and influencing perspectives. It's a testament to Quaid's storytelling prowess and a story that demands to be read. Claire24

The Semi Detached Woman by Alex Quaid

The Semi Detached Woman is an historical drama based on eighteen-year-old Janine, who is pregnant to her boss, and has been thrown out by her mother. And Laura, much older than Janine, who will do anything for her son, ever since she walked out on her cheating husband. The two women become close neighbours and support each other through turbulent times.

This is a heartwarming story of strength, displaying determination where the characters are stuck in a society that disproves of them — women in the 1960’s, pregnant, unwed women, and female sexuality.

The author’s characters come alive in the novel by the vivid writing. The reader’s emotions are tugged by the lovable characters.
Janine may come across a little naive, but that could be due to her being a young woman. The reader connects with Janine instantly, it’s impossible to not care for her.

The author shows how important all of the characters are, main characters and side characters, by how each one is developed in the story and how they react to each other. The techniques the author uses makes each character feel so real.

The storyline is very interesting, it draws the reader in. The constant wondering ‘what will happen to …’ (sorry, I don’t want to spoil the story) drives the reader to read on. This helps the flow.

My only niggle is, it felt the author didn’t spend enough time on the ending. The story was flowing great then suddenly the story ends abruptly. Maybe it’s just me?

Even with that niggle I do highly recommend this wonderful story. I think this book will capture the interest of those who enjoy mysteries & suspense & thrillers, not just lovers of historical dramas.

I’d to thank Bloodhound Books for the ARC





Kailyn Glassmacher30

The Semi-Detached Women is a sweet modern historical fiction novel about an unconventional relationship between two women in early 1960s in Britain. The first half of the book tells the two stories of how the two women came to be in each others lives.

Janine is a lonely young woman who has been taken advantage of by her married employer and then thrown out of her home by her abusive alcoholic mother because she is pregnant. She uses her savings to rent an isolated cottage outside a beautiful Cheshire village, and prepares to raise the baby on her own. Laura is married to a successful solicitor and adores her young son Luke, but when her marriage falls apart, she moves in next door to Janine, with no idea how their life is about to change…

I d the range of characters, from jolly Lady M, to laid-back hippy Ianto, and there were some odious villains the bigoted moralising Catholic social worker. The evolving romance between Janine and Laura was sensitively portrayed.

I actually enjoyed it as a moving story about love and the bonds of friends turned family. I received book from Bloodhound Books and am posting this honest review on my own thoughts.

Content Warning: Sexual Assault, Job Loss, Pregnancy, Sexual Shaming/Moral Policing, Infidelity, Homophobia, Drug Use, Divorce, Attempted Child Removal (to protective custody), Alcohol Use, Adult Language, Adult Situations, Religious Ideology, and More. This list is not meant to be a complete list of all subjects that a person may find offensive or triggering before start read the book. arcs fiction historical ...more Mallika Ahuja48 8

Book : The semi detached women
Author : Alex Quaid
Rating : ?????
Format : E Book

Beautiful story of two females, who support each other and stand up for each other. The story in this book is marvelously curated and the characters have been portrayed magnificently. The cover is so beautiful and vibrant I couldn't take my eyes off it.

Talking more about the story, the relationship brought out between the characters is really warm adorable. It was really heartening to read, and feel that how some bonds despite the fact of them being developed later in life are the strongest of all.

Such strong bond is the one which develops between Janine and Laura. Their friendship blossoms with time and develops into a romance which is so pure and pious but still lacks acceptance during those old times , since the story is based in the era of 60s.

Janine who is pregnant with a wedlock and Laura who divorces her husband due to his infedility, and with a child, destiny has it all planned when they become neighbours.

The book is a must read, since such stories must be read and shared, its through such stories that a shared strength is radiated to stand up for what is right and what one feels at heart. It is easier said than done , so was the situation with both the FMCs but they stood up for what they felt and how they felt for each other. Liz T192 5

Such an enthralling start as Janine travels from Manchester to High Peaks, Cheshire after being thrown out by her mother. It’s 1962 and history has repeated itself as, her mother, she is to become an unmarried mother after being taken advantage of by her married boss.
Janine has led an extremely sheltered life but she wants to be different from her alcoholic mother and has found a rented house in a remote area to settle with her child.
She rents her house from Lady Margaret who also gives her employment but even at Chapel Hill it isn’t long before questions are asked by Mary O’Reilly from Cedars Moral Welfare who is on a mission to remove the child on the grounds of Janine’s immorality.
When Laura Flint, a divorcee and her son Luke move into the house next door she and Janine strike up a serious relationship which gives further ammunition to Mary O’Reilly to have Bobby removed from her care.
This story has an array of wonderful characters and as a reader I was hoping that Janine would succeed in keeping her daughter Bobby and win her right to live the life she deserved. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it. Thanks to the author and Bloodhound Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Charlotte167 8

Semi-detached Women is a beautiful tale of forbidden love and how the friends we have can become the family we choose.

Set in 1963, it follows Janine and Laura, whose lives have been very different and yet bought them to the same place. They live an almost idyllic life for a while, with their children and new found friend Ianto. But then the peace is disturbed, and societies true attitudes are revealed.

Janine, I was a young, unmarried pregnant woman (although in a relationship). Luckily for me, attitudes have moved on a long way and society is, in the main, supportive these days. Sadly for Janine this was not the case in the 1960s and people tried to use her marital status against her and claim she was an unfit mother.

This was also partially down to homophobia, and probably racism as well. Thankfully things have improved in these areas as well, although they still have a long way to go.

Both women, as well as the other characters, in particular Laura's ex husband Roger, go on a real journey of self discovery throughout this book. At times it felt a little too modern for how I imagine the 60s to have been. But I wasn't there so what do I know
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