Published by Orenda on September 30, 2018
Pages: 350
Goodreads
Also by this author: Call Me Star Girl, Nothing Else, Eighteen Seconds
Long ago Andrew made a childhood wish. One he has always kept in a silver box with a too-big lid that falls off. When it finally comes true, he wishes it hadn't...
Long ago Ben dreamed of going to Africa to volunteer at a lion reserve. When he finally goes there, it isn't for the reasons he imagined...
Ben and Andrew keep meeting where they least expect. Some collisions are by design, but are they for a reason? Ben's father would disown him for his relationship with Andrew, so they must hide their love. Andrew is determined to make it work, but secrets from his past threaten to ruin everything.
Ben escapes to Zimbabwe to finally fulfil his lifelong ambition. But will he ever return to England? To Andrew? To the truth?
A dark and poignant drama, The Lion Tamer Who Lost is also a mesmerisingly beautiful love story, with a tragic heart.
My heart has literally been broken. I am completely and utterly blown away. Ms Beech you have broken me, I don’t think I can read any of your other books…..ok I jest I will be reading everything.
What we have here with this book is the most beautifully told love story, but at the same time you have your heart ripped out in two and stomped on, well I did. I can’t stop crying. It has all the feels and so much more and one of the most breathtaking pieces of writing I have ever read. I will be shouting about this book for such a long time from all the rooftops for the entire world to hear. I can not express enough, and I say it again, how beautiful this story is.
This story is going to be staying with me for a while, and my god this NEEDS AND MUST be made for the big screen, I would bring about 10 man size boxes of tissues to get me through it but it would be amazing to see this play out.
Set in the different times and places, we come into the world of Andrew and Ben. Opening up the book, we are transported to the idyllic sunrise that Ben has the opportunity to experience being on a lion reserve in Zimbabwe. He is running away from his problems and not addressing them. But what are these problems? What happened with Ben and Andrew? Why are they not together? We are given snippets throughout just enough to tease to the reader to keep you reading. I couldn’t put this book down, and I never wanted it to end.
The scenery of Zimbabwe was absolutely breathtaking, I would love to be there everyday experiencing that sunrise just like Ben did. It is a stark contrast to the past/future of Hull when we are taken back.
I’m not going to talk too much about the plot, because I don’t want to do it a disservice especially to anyone who is going to pick this up. You have read the blurb and that is enough to get you started, plus I might just sit here and blub and nothing will make sense.
I could not think of one character I did not like in this book, even the one you aren’t meant to like because at the end what did it matter. They all had a journey to go on, and their own conclusions to get there, the one thing that this book resonated deeply is that family is everything.
It is just so magical, to think that someone could take you on an adventure into the unknown and make you feel so attached and protective of two fictional people. But this book does this to you, I wanted to wrap both Ben and Andrew up in cotton wool and occasionally hit their heads together. They are my happy place, end of. So together, in the moment with each other despite the obstacles they faced. What was there not to love about them?
Just do not get me started on that Wish box! Feel the tears already…….
This book should come with a tissue warning because you need them and in the last few chapters, you will need a box or two. I was crying that much that my little lady comes up to me and gave me a hug and told me it will be ok and not to cry. Well, that makes it bloody worse…I promise I have stopped crying now, just something in my eye……..emotional wreck over here.
*Thank you so much to Anne at Random Things tours, Orenda Books and the author Louise Beech for a copy of this book in return for my honest and unbiased review*
If you enjoyed my review or any of my other reviews, please share it on Twitter, Facebook, anywhere for other people to enjoy or if you fancy a chat stick a comment below. Thanks for stopping by! ♥
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
Beardy Book Blogger says
Amazing Review Zoé. It really is a very special book by a very special author. Now go and read everything else 😉
Zoe says
Thank you my lovely! My god it really is so special! It’s got to have its own shelf on my bookshelf! I am don’t you worry! Can’t have you telling me off! ? x
Zoe says
FYI I have just brought them all lol x
Beardy Book Blogger says
Lol, I just saw that on Twitter ? I really hope you enjoy them. How To Be Brave is *possibly* my favourite. Possibly ? x
Zoe says
Oh god I am not going to have to choose a favourite am I lol x
Beardy Book Blogger says
Not necessarily, lol. They’re all very different to each other, but you can recognise Louise’s voice throughout each one, imo. They’re all awesome.
Zoe says
Aah I can’t wait now!! So far The lion tamer who lost is my fav lol x
Beardy Book Blogger says
Well, obviously ?
Zoe says
I know I am well funny aren’t I ?
Beardy Book Blogger says
SO funny. Like, so funny it’s almost like it’s not funny. ?
Zoe says
I know right! God I make myself laugh ?
annecater says
This is beautiful! Thank you so much for this amazing Blog Tour support Zoe x
Zoe says
Thanks Anne for saying so. Thank you as always for having me. Xxx
Lauren Becker says
Great review. I don’t mind books that really gut you. 😉
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
Zoe says
This book is still haunting me. I can’t stop thinking about it.
Unbound Roots says
Wonderful review, Zoe! Looks like I’ll have to add this book to my To-Read list. 🙂 I love books that really affect me. Sounds like this one will do just that.
Zoe says
Thank you for your kind words. This book blew me away it is so beautiful and after reading this I went out and brought all the other books by Louise !
Silvia says
I adored this book and I couldn’t agree with you more!
Zoe says
Thank you for commenting Silvia! It is such a beautiful story isn’t it! Just broke me! x
likeherdingcatsblog says
This sounds like sucha beautiful book. Zoe will you stop adding books to my TBR pile 😛
Zoe says
Whoops! #sorrynotsorry lol Oh I hope you do read it, it is a beautiful story! <3
lucindablogs says
Wow! This book sounds incredible! Fantastic review! ?
Zoe says
Aw thanks! It is such a beautiful story! Hope you manage to check it out!
RoseMarie says
Such a wonderful review Zoe? Yep! Definitely have to add to my TBR list now. Thanks for the warning about having tissues ready, I’ll need them?
Zoe says
The book should come with a content warning ha ha Oh i hope you do get to read it and enjoy it! x
RoseMarie says
Yes it really should?. Are you kidding? I’m definitely going to read it. After your review how can I not??
Zoe says
Oh you are lovely thank you! Will have to see what else I can entice you with lol
RoseMarie says
?
entertainingly nerdy says
I’ll have to look into reading this book! It sounds really good. Great review!
Zoe says
Thanks for reading ❤️ hope you do check it out!
Inge | The Belgian Reviewer says
I love how passionate you speak of this novel, I’m reading this one next :-). Great review Zoé!
Zoé says
Aw thanks Inge! This book completely broke me but I loved it!!! X