This is an absolutely delightful story, beautifully written in a style unique to Virginia Macgregor. I have named What Milo Saw in my top 20 books of 2015, so I was absolutely delighted when I was invited to read an advance copy of The Astonishing Return of Norah Wells.

Norah's daughters, Ella and Willa, are such vibrant characters that they were an absolute pleasure to read. I found it hard at first to remember who was who as their names are so similar, but once they made it into my heart I could tell them apart. Ella remembers her Mum, Norah. She didn't know why Norah had left them and had set up a Twitter campaign to find her Mum. Willa was just a baby when Norah left and Norah's friend, Fay, is the only Mummy that she knows. Their lives are thrown into turmoil when Norah returns.

Norah's story is so emotional. It is clear that she never stopped loving her family so it's really hard, as the reader, to understand why she left. Virginia Macgregor tells Norah's story so compassionately that, by the time all of the jigsaw pieces fell into place, the whole Wells family felt very dear to me.

The conflicting emotions of Ella and Willa were portrayed so sympathetically. Ella is so angry that her Mum doesn't appear to have a good reason as to why she left. Willa, on the other hand, is quite accepting and is more than happy to have two Mums. They are both amazing girls and Ella is a perfect example of how we lash out at those we love whereas Willa reminds us to accept people for who they are.

This is a truly magical book with an unconventional family that you will surely fall in love with. Without a doubt, The Astonishing Return of Norah Wells is sure to become one of the big hits of 2016.

I received this e-book from the publisher, Sphere, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Norah Wells dropped her eight-year-old daughter Ella off at school, left her baby Willa with her friend Fay and wrote a note for her husband Adam asking him not to try to find her. Then she walked out of her house on Willoughby Street and away from them all. Six years later she returns without warning only to find another woman in her place. Fay held everything together when she was gone, Norah's youngest daughter calls her 'Mummy' and she shares Adam's bed. Each member of the family has questions for Norah and deals with her return in their own way. But what happens to 'The Mother Who Stayed' when 'The Mother Who Left' walks back into their life?

Full of wonderfully well rounded, complex characters and issues. A fantastic read! ( )