Gillian Reads: However Far We Fall by Fran Clark| Historical Romantic Fiction Review
- gillianyoung
- 59 minutes ago
- 6 min read
I love finding a book that completely takes me out of myself and immerses me in another world. For me, that kind of pure escapism requires three things: memorable characters, a compelling story, and a writer with the talent to bring it all to life. However Far We Fall by Fran Clark delivers on all three.
I was delighted to be invited by Fran to review her latest novel and the second book in the Hope series.
Having read the first book in the series, Wherever You Will Go, I was eager to revisit these characters and discover what happened next. Fran has a remarkable ability to create believable, engaging characters that readers genuinely care about. I found myself equally invested in the lives of those featured in her Island Secrets series and standalone novel Lovers, making this latest release one I was particularly looking forward to reading.
Before I share my thoughts on the book, here’s a little more about the author and the novel itself.
AUTHOR BIO
Fran Clark has been passionate about storytelling since childhood. Raised in West London by parents from Dominica in the Caribbean, she grew up immersed in both Caribbean and British cultures. This rich blend of influences has shaped her perspective and become a defining feature of her writing.
The connection between London and the Caribbean lies at the heart of Fran’s work, alongside themes of identity, belonging, and the strength and resilience of women. Much of this inspiration stems from her mother, whom she credits as the greatest storyteller she has ever known. Through vivid tales of life in the Caribbean and the challenges of building a new life in London, her mother helped nurture Fran’s love of stories from an early age.
Her first novel, Holding Paradise, was published by Indigo Dreams in 2014. Although not strictly autobiographical, the novel draws on experiences that echo both her own life and her mother’s. The story later evolved into the Island Secrets series, with a reimagined edition of Holding Paradise released as the first book in the series in 2024. In 2023, she also published the standalone novel Lovers.
Inspired by her early success, Fran went on to study creative writing, first through adult education courses and later by completing a Creative Writing MA at Brunel University. Alongside her fiction writing, she has worked in ghostwriting, copywriting, and content creation.
Fran is also the author of the Hope Series, which includes Wherever You Will Go and However Far We Fall. Her work continues to explore compelling themes of family, identity, love, and personal resilience.
Now living in the English countryside with her musician husband, Fran teaches vocals and leads a local choir. When she is not writing, she enjoys music and the pleasures of rural life.
Writing under the pseudonym Rosa Temple, she has also published contemporary fiction with HQ Digital and Simon & Schuster UK, allowing her to explore different genres while maintaining her distinctive storytelling voice.
BOOK BLURB
A sweeping, emotionally rich novel about love, loss, and the secrets that echo across
generations.
For decades, Essie and Lizzie have been bound by a truth they must keep hidden. What
happened in the years after the war shaped both their lives – one shadowed by guilt, the
other by grief – and the fragile peace between them depends on silence. But secrets have a way of rising to the surface.
After almost seven years away from London, Alice returns for a rare visit to her parents’ home – only to find Archie, the boy she once loved, back in her life. And with him, the past she thought she’d left behind.
As old feelings reignite, so too do long-buried questions. Because Alice and Archie’s love is not just complicated – it is dangerous. And as they are drawn back to one another, the truth their mothers have spent a lifetime protecting begins to unravel.
Spanning post-war London, the Swinging Sixties, and culminating in the long, hot summer of 1976, However Far We Fall is a powerful story of forbidden love, family loyalty, and the cost of keeping secrets.
Perfect for readers of multi-generational historical fiction filled with emotion, atmosphere, and unforgettable characters.
MY REVIEW
As with every book I’ve read by Fran Clark, this was an immersive read, filled with characters who feel vividly real from the moment they step onto the page. A story of love, loss and long-buried secrets, However Far We Fall unfolds across generations, drawing the reader deep into the lives of those at its heart.
Readers are reunited with Essie, Lizzie and Eugene, familiar faces from Wherever You Will Go. This was a particular joy for me, as I was left wondering what the future held for them after finishing the first book. Although very different individuals, fate continues to weave their lives together in fascinating ways.
Alongside these returning favourites, Fran introduces compelling new voices, including Archie, Lizzie’s son, and Alice, Essie’s daughter. Both bring fresh energy and depth to the story while feeling perfectly at home within the wider narrative.
Spanning London in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, and reaching across the Atlantic to the vibrant island of Dominica, the novel combines romance, mystery and moments of real danger. Each thread pulls the reader further into the story, creating an emotional journey that is difficult to put down.
Despite being surrounded by such a memorable cast, my favourite character has to be Archie. Complex, troubled and often misunderstood, he remained the character I found myself thinking about long after I had finished reading.
Thank you, Fran, for providing me with a digital copy in exchange for my honest review. As always, it was a pleasure to read one of your books, and I’m already looking forward to discovering where the next instalment in the series will take these characters.
COMING UP NEXT…
I'm delighted to be joining the online book review tour for The Shattered Radiant by Luca Ottenello, hosted by literally PR.
My full and honest review will be published here on my blog, as well as on Amazon, Goodreads and social media, on 8th July. Links to these platforms can be found below.
In the meantime, here is the book blurb to whet your appetite!
"The Shattered Radiant follows irreverent archaeologist Artemis Stark, who comes into possession of a mysterious artefact linked to the spirit of a girl from ancient Palmyra. Unable to inhabit human bodies, the girl chooses to accompany Artemis by possessing a cat.
Together, they are drawn into a race against time to recover a series of powerful stones, each granting abilities that Artemis struggles to control. The stakes rise dramatically when a mysterious antagonist arrives at the museum where Artemis works and murders the director using one of the stones.
Their epic journey spans the Americas, Europe and Africa, and even takes them back in time to the eighteenth century. Along the way, the stones are revealed to be part of an ancient prophecy connected to advanced technology from a previous version of Earth and a mysterious device known as the Radiant.
As the truth unfolds, Artemis discovers a far greater threat lurking beyond the stars: an alien race nearly wiped out by humanity billions of years ago, now returning to settle an ancient score."
WIP UPDATE
As many of you will know, I’m currently working on two very different books: my debut YA supernatural thriller and the fourth instalment in The Crazy Cream Adventures series, featuring my two golden retrievers, Poppy and Devon.
For the time being, work on Poppy and Devon’s latest adventure has been paused while I focus on editing the first draft of my thriller. However, life has had other plans. My dad has been unwell recently and, at 89 years old, any health setback is naturally a cause for concern. As a result, my writing routine has been somewhat interrupted as family has needed to take priority.
Many writers will understand the challenge of switching between real life and fictional worlds. One moment I’m deep in my manuscript; the next I’m checking medications, making cups of tea, or helping with appointments. Then it’s back to the story again!
Thankfully, Dad is now improving, for which I’m extremely grateful. This means I've been able to return to my edits and am currently working through the manuscript, refining points of view and bringing the story even more vividly to life. It’s an exciting stage of the process, and I’m hoping to place the manuscript into the capable hands of my editor very soon.
Once that’s done, I’ll be returning to Poppy and Devon’s next adventure, which I know many younger readers are eagerly waiting for.
Until my next check-in, happy reading!
Gill xx
#BookReview #BookBlogger #FranClark #HoweverFarWeFall #HistoricalFiction #FamilySaga #BookRecommendations #AmReading #WritingLife #WIPUpdate #TheCrazyCreamAdventures #PoppyAndDevon