In this clever, funny and thought-provoking novel, we follow 30-something Nessa Byrne who works at Layton Park, an aged care facility. Nessa has a soft spot for her work and many of her residents, referring to them as ‘lovelies’.

After a horrific car accident, Nessa works to heal herself both physically and emotionally. It’s easier for her to hold people at arm’s length, surrounding herself with a close-knit circle of people. These include her terminally ill father, sister, niece and a few other colourful characters.

After receiving her ‘Dad’s guilt voucher’ in the form of a rundown property set among the natural bush beauty of Navada, a few hours south of Perth, she sets out to turn it into a wellness retreat for women. Offering a variety of mediative and fitness activities, coupled with healthy, wholesome delicious meals.

With her feisty niece, Lily, they work at marketing the retreat into a profitable venture. What comes to life are some hard truths that neither are prepared for, but must face. There is a wonderful cast of animated characters that Cox masterfully brings to life.

I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this. What I did not expect was the range of emotions I would go through. I went from crying to laughing to feeling all the warm fuzzies.

Storylines is a tender, heart-warming novel about moving past the fear of rejection, vulnerabilities, how we view ourselves in an age of social media and unrealistic beauty standards. It’s a delightfully funny and uplifting story.

Reviewed by Linda Raiti

READ A Q&A WITH CARRIE COX

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carrie Cox is a journalist and author based in Perth, Western Australia. She has published a non-fiction book, You Take the High Road and I’ll Take the Bus, based on her weekly satirical column for multiple Australian newspapers, and a previous novel with Fremantle Press, Afternoons with Harvey Beam, which was hailed as a ‘brilliant debut’ by The Australian Women’s Weekly and ‘sensitive and impressive’ by The Australian.