Reviewed by Wendy Lipke
Sophie Green’s books are like joining a social group over a cup of tea or coffee. They are not dramatic, chilling or fanciful. They are about ordinary people just like the rest of us who have ups and downs in life. In her latest book, Lessons in Love at the Seaside Salon, we learn about four women from various stages in their life journey who have a close association with the hair salon.
Trudy is the owner of this establishment and has lost her life partner. She is having difficulty getting over her sorrow, yet she turns up to work every day and puts on a brave face. Evie works for her and is the mother of a young lad. Although his father is still around, both his parents accept that they are not a good fit but wish to be there for their son.
Josie joins the salon as an apprentice. She had trouble fitting in at school but finds in this new situation that she has skills that she can be proud of. She is beginning to take control of her own life which up until now has been very restricted. Anna, another mum of young children, does not often go to a salon for herself but dutifully takes her mother regularly.
Each of these women find supportive relationships with each other and eventually romantic love. Explorations of the problems consuming each of these women and the way they overcome their concerns on their way to finding fulfilment dominate the storyline. It is not often that such an age difference occurs among the main characters in the one book, yet a hair salon is a fitting place for this to happen.
This is the type of book which would appeal to women as many would find that they have been in a similar situation to at least one of these women characters. It is a pity that it is generally not the type of book that appeals to male readers because there are issues raised that men really need to become aware of if relationships are to last.
From crushes on the wrong man, to the wonders of first love, these topics are sensitively explored. This is also the case with how others feel frustration at having to shoulder all the time and worry associated with child-rearing and housework. The dynamics within the family group once children grow up also comes to the fore in this story.
Interesting factors like the way people feel once they no longer are part of a ‘two’ but are now an odd number and parenting styles when illness or religion play a large part, can be seen to influence behaviours within this story.
It is human nature to want to be special to someone other than one’s children. This story highlights how we often spend our life trying to be what others want us to be rather than what we ourselves feel we should be.
Lessons in Love at the Seaside Salon (love the alliteration) is set over four months in 1986 and as the months go by a page is presented which provides four or five special events that occurred at that time including films and music albums popular then.
Sophie Green has published several books with the same insight into human feelings. In each of these she has provided a group setting where her characters benefit from the social interaction. These include swimming circles, country choirs, gardening groups, book clubs and art activities all in different locations around Australia.
For me this is certainly a feel-good story which taps into everyday activities and individual feelings.
Lessons in Love at the Seaside Salon
(2025)
by Sophie Green
Hachette Australia
ISBN:978-0-7336-5309-4
$34.99;351pp