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The Lido

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Meet Rosemary, 86, and Kate, 26: dreamers, campaigners, outdoor swimmers....

Rosemary has lived in Brixton all her life. But now everything she knows is changing - the library where she used to work has closed, the family fruit and veg shop has become a trendy bar, and her beloved husband, George, is gone. Kate has just moved and feels alone in a city that is too big for her. She's at the bottom rung of her career as a journalist on a local paper and is determined to make something of it. So when the local lido is threatened with closure, Kate knows this story could be her chance to shine.

And Rosemary knows it is the end of everything for her. Together they are determined to make a stand, to show that the pool is more than just a place to swim - it is the heart of the community. Together they will show the importance of friendship, the value of community and how ordinary people can protect the things they love.

©2018 Libby Page (P)2018 Orion Publishing Group Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Sports Water Sports Women's Fiction Feel-Good Heartfelt Swimming
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beautifully written, the writer makes Brixton sound wonderful. a lovely blend of where old meets new, where loneliness becomes a community, where love is ageless. if you like stories which are about human emotion and relationships this book is for you.

lovely story of community and friendship

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Unexpected friendship of two women across generations. Uplifting and heartwarming. Made me miss my years in South London.

Lovely read

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Loved this from start to big splash finish. Credible characters sympathetically portrayed by the narrator.

We all need a Lido

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A beautiful novel about existence and the importance of tangible memories locked into a community Lido. So often we aspire to things beyond our means - exotic holidays, relationships with the rich and famous, belongings. The Lido reminds us of the impact of people close to us, if only we make those connections.
Rosemary and Kate become firm respected friends. A tonic to each other's needs.
A beautiful book to escape into!

Makes you want to plunge in!

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If you are looking for a light and gentle read and need to escape from reality for a while, then The Lido is a ideal, feel good, easy read. I listened to the audio version of this book, and whilst I didn’t love the narrator, the storyline was easy to follow and the characters were likeable and believable.

The blurb above describes the story in detail, so I don’t need to rehash it for you. The two main characters Kate and Rosemary are wonderful. Kate has moved from her home, family and friends in Bristol to London to work as a journalist for a small community newspaper The Brixton Chronicle. She is given a story to write about the local swimming pool, The Lido, which is due to close as developers are planning to build an exclusive apartment complex. This is where she meets Rosemary, a wonderful 86 year lady who has lived in Brixton all her life and swam in the lido every day since she was a child.

The two women strike up a wonderful friendship and this is basically the backbone of the story. A sweet feelgood story about friendship, love, loyalty and community.

The Lido

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