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The Turning Point

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About this listen

“Rich, romantic, beautifully drawn and utterly compelling’ Jane Green

Life is short. Sometimes you have to take a chance…

‘A deeply moving tale about never taking life for granted’ Stylist

Two single parents, Frankie and Scott, meet unexpectedly. Their homes are far apart: Frankie lives with her children on the North Norfolk coast, Scott in the mountains of British Columbia. Yet though thousands of miles divide them, a million little things connect them. A spark ignites, a recognition so strong that it dares them to take a risk.

For two families, life is about to change. But no-one could have anticipated how.

 Family Life Genre Fiction Holidays Literary Fiction Small Town & Rural Women's Fiction Fiction Tear-jerking

Critic reviews

‘Beautifully drawn and utterly compelling’ Jane Green

'A stunning read about an impromptu meeting that alters two destinies' Daily Record

‘Gorgeously eloquent and touching…a celebration of the wonderful glory of love and life’ Lovereading.co.uk

‘A moving and poignant novel about long-distance love…will draw you in so deeply’ Heat

‘From the initial spark and through the unfolding drama, it is joyous but understated. And the great cruelties that life harbours are not forgotten, either’
The Lady

‘Keep the tissues close…a gripping love story’ Good Housekeeping

‘Thoughtful and moving’ Closer

‘An emotional tale about finding love in unexpected places’ The Herald

‘Get your tissues out for this one’ Woman and Home

‘A richly drawn, romantic weepy’ Sunday Mirror

‘Thoughtful and moving…a story you won’t want to put down’ Sunday Post

‘[An] outstanding contemporary love story eschews a traditional happily-ever-after ending, but is no less romantic for that… readers will immediately be reminded of the great loves in their own lives… [and] will find it impossible to put down their five-hanky story until the last page is turned.’ Publishers Weekly (Starred)

‘If you cried at Jojo Moyes’ “Me Before You”, get your hankies ready.’ Booklist (Starred)
All stars
Most relevant
Brilliant narrator brought it so to life! Absolutely loved it. Very emotive it made me cry. Well done Freya North 💕

Turning Points-Think we all have them of some sort

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Overall a lovely story, love, happiness and tragedy, it just seemed to drag slightly in some places

Lovely story

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Literally just finished listening to this. What a story! Not at all what I was expecting and it didn't go where I was expecting either! But as a big fan of Freya North (I absolutely LOVE the McCabe sister books), this book really has to be right up there.

I'm less familiar with Frankie's location, but we had the most wonderful time in the area of Scott's location some years ago and could just see, feel and smell the locations as the descriptions were so accurate.

I definitely feel those "mourning" feelings you get when you finish a really good book with well described, genuine characters that you just want to hear more about. DEFINITELY recommend this book!

Oh! One of her best!

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I have hugely enjoyed many of Freya North's previous titles - she has, as one of her characters says, 'a way with words where [she] can condense so much into powerful brevity'.

The Turning Point does nothing to diminish North's reputation as an accomplished, accessible wordsmith but, if you're after a bit of escapist oomph, it is rather missing the power aspect.

The pace and plot is rather plodding. It's a mild and thoughtful tale of a single-mother unexpectedly and wonderfully finding great love which deepens as the book continues. The sticking point is geography - she lives in Norfolk, he lives in Canada. The book centres around navigating, and to some degree, integrating their two worlds.

To avoid any spoilers - something irrevocable takes place about three quarters of the way through and the remainder of the book is a slow and gentle integration of this happenstance.

The characters are all likeable and well-drawn and I generally enjoy a gentle soulful exploration of human emotions but this certainly wasn't one to set pulses racing.

I am bed-bound and was listening to this during a particularly pain-filled and desperate stage of a long and frightening illness so I was in need of absorption and uplifting diversion. This didn't quite provide but I'm sure many will enjoy it as a tender, thoughtful, if slightly tepid, meditation on a deep love that encounters sorrow but endures nonetheless.

Slow, sweet, sad and a little insipid

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Slow, lengthy and in the end a little boring!
Would have been a decent read if shorter and quicker paced-just too drawn out for me without substance of the storyline. I was 4 1/2 hours in before "the turning point@

A short story, long!

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