Book Review: Alexander and Maria by Soulla Christodoulou

About the author (as seen on the back cover)

Born in London to Greek Cypriot parents Soulla Christodoulou was the first in her family to go to university and studied BA Hotel and Catering Management at Portsmouth University. Years later, after having a family of her own, she sudied at Middlesex University gaining a PGCE in Business Studies and an MA in Education. Formal creative writing classes in 2015 ignited her life-long love of writing. She lives in North London and is currently working on her next two novels.

Website: http://www.soulla-author.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/schristodoulou2

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/soullasays

Publication date: 28 December 2020

Publisher: The Conrad Press

http://www.theconradpress.com

ISBN: paperback 978-1913567477

also available in Ebook format

Pages: 352 pages

Genre: contemporary fiction

Format reading: Paperback

Copy provided by: author

Blurb (as seen on the back cover)

An authentic story about love and life in all its messy, unpredictable, imperfect glory. A truly heart-warming read.’ Jane Lacey-Crane If you’re looking for a book that will keep you captive, between its pages, until you’ve reached the end, then this is it. A story about overcoming adversity in all its forms, it will have you rooting for the characters as they fight for real love. Sexy and passionate it’s written in a beautiful and sensitive prose. Trust is a big word, when life has always let you down. And everyone deserves love a second time around, don’t they? Alexander, locked in a loveless, cold marriage, has melted into the humdrum of life, hiding behind his cerebral palsy. Maria, a single mother, is still reeling from her husband’s gambling and abandonment from years before. They click with their first tweet.

My review

Firstly I would like to say a massive thank-you to Soulla for not just asking and sending her book to me her book, but also for her kindness and patience in waiting for the review.

I’ve read two of Soulla’s books which you can check out here: Book Review On: The Summer Will Come by Soulla Christodoulou and here Book Review On: Broken Pieces of Tomorrow by Soulla Christodoulou

Alexander lives in Scotland in a loveless marriage, and his son has long since left home. He also lives with a health condition cerebral palsy; which affects his daily life. Feeling lonely Alexander joins Twitter to reach out to the wider world and he comes across writer Maria.

Maria is a single mother to teenage daughter Natalie. Maria is are still picking up the peace’s of their life after her gambling husband leaves her life upside down. Maria being an inquisitive writer joins Twitter to reach likeminded people like her.

Alexander and Maria strike up a mutual friendship through messaging and explore their love of literature. They are honest with each other and for the first time finding someone who accepts them for who they are. The attraction beings to grow for both of them, but will they both take the plunge and meet up? Is this friendship more than that? Will Alexander leave his loveless marriage?

What a beautiful read this book is. I really enjoyed following Alexander and Maria’s journey together from start to finish. I have to say as someone who suffers from a chronic health condition myself I though Soulla has written in such a sensitive and careful way, which comes across really well. Soulla has highlighted the condition cerebral palsy of which I didn’t really know much about until I read Alexander and Maria. For me this story is about friendship, acceptance, love and not being defined by a health condition. So not only have a read a great fiction story, I’ve learnt something too; which Soulla always manages to do. I just love her beautiful writing style!

Marie’s Book Boutique gives

Alexander and Maria by Soulla Christodoulou

4 Sparkly Stars