Synopsis: “What you want isn’t always what you need…
In 2006, Beth didn’t expect to get pregnant at seventeen. Nor did she think she’d lose the name and address of the father of her child. Swept up in romance on her French exchange, all she remembers is that his hair smelt like mangoes. Now, in 2026, at her school reunion, she opens the time capsule she wrote to herself at that time. A letter that alters everything Beth thought she knew about her past, and provides an all important clue for finding the father of her 19-year-old daughter, Maisie. Hit hard by the difference between the life she hoped for and the one she’s living, Beth is faced with a choice: chase the adventures she once dreamed of, or embrace the new opportunities life presents?”

My Review

This was a such a lovely book, one that I pre-ordered after reading Linda’s wonderful review.

Beth is a lovely caring hospice nurse, and a single Mum to Maisie, who has just gone off to university for the her first year. Beth is very busy working all hours to fill the hole that Maisie’s left in her life.

The story is told from Beth’s point of view, as she reluctantly heads to her school reunion, after her daughter Maisie persuades her to go and find out what she wrote in the time capsule 20 years ago. She gets angry at the words her 16 year old self wrote, but is also disappointed that she hasn’t done any of the things in the letter. Oh how naive we are at that age!

I loved Beth and Maisie right from the beginning of the book, it felt like I was spending time with old friends. I loved following Beth as she discovers the time capsule letter and decides what she’s going to do with her new life as an empty nester.

I loved reading about her life with her patients, how caring and thoughtful she is, especially when she goes to work on New Year’s Eve at a stately home, and meets Cleo, her old nemesis from school, and her brother, Jack. They end up talking about their time capsule letters and discover new things about each other, and realise that neither of their lives have worked out how their 16 year old selves thought they would.

I loved this part of the book as it was a real catalyst for happens next to Maisie, Jack, and Cleo. A wonderful journey of self discovery, fun and adventure.

I won’t say any more because I don’t want to spoil it for anyone, as it’s a really lovely uplifting story.

This is the second book by Charlotte Butterfield I’ve read, and I’m looking forward to what she writes next and reading her back catalogue.

Highly recommended if you’re looking for a lovely feel good, second chance, novel!.

Book 4 of 20 Books of Summer 2026