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Waiting to Begin
- Narrated by: Amanda Prowse
- Length: 9 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Genre Fiction
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Summary
From the bestselling author of The Girl in the Corner comes a story that asks: what would you risk for a shot at happiness?
1984. Bessie is a confident sixteen-year-old girl with the world at her feet, dreaming of what life will bring and what she’ll bring to this life. Then everything comes crashing down. Her bright and trusting smile is lost, banished by shame - and a secret she’ll carry with her for the rest of her life.
2021. The last thirty-seven years have not been easy for Bess. At fifty-three she is visibly weary, and her marriage to Mario is in tatters. Watching her son in newlywed bliss - the hope, the trust, the joy - Bess knows it is time to face her own demons, and try to save her relationship. But she’ll have to throw off the burden of shame if she is to honour that sixteen-year-old girl whose dreams lie frozen in time.
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What listeners say about Waiting to Begin
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- I'm all ears
- 11-06-21
Definitely not a thriller
found this title under Physiological Thrillers, which it is definitely not! It's a rather boring story that switches between Bessie's past and present, and basically how she has let the fact that she failed her exams at school and got her heart broken and was humiliated by a boy when she was 16 ruin her whole life (isn't that part of growing up?) YAWN YAWN! kept waiting for something exciting to happen, but it didn't! Enjoyed Bessie's character and was very relatable when she was 16 but found her annoying, dull, self centred and miserable as an adult!
4 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 15-09-21
Slow starter
I nearly didn’t continue listening to this audiobook as the beginning wasn’t really my kind of story but I’m so glad I persisted, as I soon became addicted to the storyline. At times i cried, which is very unusual for me, a thoroughly enjoyable story.
3 people found this helpful
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- Trish C
- 12-12-21
1st audio experience.....fabulous!!
Loved this book. The narration by the author encapsulated me and I felt a part of the story. I lived and visualised every scene as if I was there. I experienced a rollercoaster of emotions loss, laughter, tears, joy...and loved the the ending. This will not be my last audio.
2 people found this helpful
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- Viv Morgan
- 03-10-21
Heartfelt
Really good narration, that kept me wanting more. To think how a young girls life could be turned upside down in a blink of an eye, plus live with and try to hide her grief and what she was made to feel was her shame. Wonderfully described on how things can turn around. A really good story
2 people found this helpful
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- Miss L. Belmont
- 03-07-22
Can’t recommend
Very predictable story. Couldn’t stand the voice. Sounded like it was narrated by a primary school teacher reading to class of 5 years olds.
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- Beverley Riley
- 16-06-22
just lovely!
I laughed all the way through and cried so much at the epilogue. Lovely story, perfect ending
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- Ann Hughes
- 06-06-22
Lovely story
It is a beautiful story well written and very well narrated I thoroughly enjoyed it
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- Mary Lu
- 28-04-22
Hours of dissatisfaction with life
I struggled to finish this depressing story, however it was well narrated which redeemed it a bit. The subject of the book had made bad decisions as a 16 year old and from there followed a whingy story of a dissatisfied woman jealous of others who had made more of their lives and taken better paths. I wouldn't recommend this book.
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- Amazon Customer
- 12-04-22
Most enjoyable.
loved this book, story was very relatable. very well narrated ,great story and characters .
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- Julie
- 26-03-22
I absolutely LOVE this lady's style of writing...
Trawling through many books of all genres, I was looking for something/someone different and came across many books by Amanda Prowse and decided to try one.
The first one was The art of hiding, rapidly followed by The light in the hallway, Another love and now Waiting to begin.
Each time I move on to another AP novel, I genuinely think that it won't be as good as the last one that I read. Up to now, it always has been!
The ones that I've listened to up to now, have dipped back and forth from one period of time to another and the way that the eras meld together so that everything ties up and makes sense is superb. VERY cleverly written.
I can only liken the way these books are written to the conversations you may have with your very best friend turned into a Soap starring your favourite people - only better!
On my current listen, Waiting to begin, I get to the end of a chapter and think, I'll just listen to one more chapter, one more chapter...... Absolutely LOVE it!
Thank you so much
Julie x x
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- Sonogirl
- 15-11-21
A really great and true to life story
I really connected with Bessie and her adult life. This is a true to life, heartwarming story of the kind of damage that can happen as a teen that you carry with you through adulthood. The author was the perfect person to read this story!! Beautifully narrated! 10 stars.
1 person found this helpful
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- Kindle Customer
- 09-09-21
Amanda Prowse never disappoints
Amanda Prowse's books often deal with painful and difficult subjects, but they are dealt with so beautifully that they make me feel more connected to the rest of humanity and less alone. She has become, within just a few years, my favorite author of all time. I look forward to reading or listening to anything of hers. This book was as good as the rest. The characters are imperfect humans just like the rest of us and I am in awe of the author's ability to keep creating such vivid female characters.
Thank you Amanda Prowse for your lovely stories. They bring me hope for myself and others.
1 person found this helpful
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- J Tate
- 21-03-22
Overall a good boik
The story line was a little slow at times but I still enjoyed the book.
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- Talita
- 08-02-22
Disappointing story
Why give attention to such a pathetic character. To ruin your whole life over one mistake even though you have a family and friends supporting you. Some people just choose to be a victim, author shouldn’t give so much support and empathy to that attitude, it encourages others
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- SuzieQ
- 31-12-21
Touching
Wonderful story. I enjoyed all the highs and lows of the family dynamics, the friendship between Bessie & Michelle. I also found the characters very believable. it was easy to laugh and cry with them.
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- Kindle Customer
- 15-08-21
Absolutely Brilliant
Thank you . Thank you. Thank you for writing such a wonderful story. It's shot right up to the top of now being one of my two favorite books of my life. listening to you read your own story made it all the better. Bravo. Well done! And Bloody Brilliant! Touched my life. my heart and my soul in all the right places. I do so hope and pray for the next part to come to life and light.
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- Vanessa Y
- 24-07-21
Loved, Loved, Loved this book!
I love all of Amanda Prowse’s books. She is a great author & narrator. I love that she narrates her own books, because who other than the author would know where & how to put emotions in certain places. The characters are always so developed that u feel u know them. The emotions of how a character is feeling is so well articulated that I’m either crying or laughing with them, to me that makes a good book. But whether listening or reading it myself, Amanda Prowse writes great books.
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- CMV
- 19-07-21
Sweet Story
I finished this book in just a few days. I thought some parts were sad, and I found myself identifying with how Bessie felt about her marriage in general. This story really kept my attention, and I wanted to see how it ended. I liked the ending and felt like this was one of the better books I’ve listened to lately.
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- Sandy
- 15-07-21
very enjoyable
I absolutely enjoyed it. captivating. I would love a sequel. Amanda Prowse is a terrific author.
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- Annette McGill
- 12-06-21
another great book by Amanda Prowse
loved it! listened strait thru on audible. couldn't stop listening! One of her best stories....