About The Lido
Meet Rosemary, 86, and Kate, 26: dreamers, campaigners, outdoor swimmers...
Rosemary has lived in Brixton all her life, but everything she knows is changing. Only the local lido, where she swims every day, remains a constant reminder of the past and her beloved husband George.
Kate has just moved and feels adrift in a city that is too big for her. She's on the bottom rung of her career as a local journalist, and is determined to make something of it.
So when the lido is threatened with closure, Kate knows this story could be her chance to shine. But for Rosemary, it could be the end of everything. Together they are determined to make a stand, and to prove that the pool is more than just a place to swim - it is the heart of the community.
The Lido is an uplifting novel about the importance of friendship, the value of community, and how
ordinary people can protect the things they love.
My review of The Lido
The Lido is an absolutely beautiful book. From the very first page I knew that I would fall in love with this book and these two characters, and I did. This book is about friendship, new love, long established love and the importance of community.
The novel is set in Brixton, and although I have never been there, I could imagine myself wandering around the market, buying flowers, browsing in the second hand book shop, the fruit and veg market, and visiting Rosemary's much beloved Lido. Brixton and the people who live there are an integral part of the story, and I needed to understand this area, its culture, and its history, to fully embrace and understand this story
So, we are introduced to Rosemary, a widow of 86 who lost her beloved George only two years ago. They had been together since she was 16. He was the love of her life. As we read, we learn of Rosemary's past, her life with George, and why the Lido means so much to her. The closing of the Lido could mean so much more than just the lack of somewhere to swim.
We also meet Kate, whose story rums alongside Rosemary's. She is a local journalist, aged only 26, and the potential closure of the Lido means the beginning of a news story and a new chapter in her life.
You couldn't get two more different women who form a friendship, and it has nothing to do with their age. Rosemary is confident, has seen it all and has the tee shirt, whereas Kate is incredibly self conscious, unsure about herself and what she can achieve, but the two women compliment each other, they make each other whole, and this is what is so strikingly beautiful about this novel.
I adored the story. Its rich storytelling, its gentle nature and beautiful romantic undertones. It's a story about hope, about never giving up, and that community and being part of that community is everything.
Wity thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for ptoviding an Advanced Reader Copy.
The Lido is published on 19th April by Orion. It can be found on Amazon here.
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