Amazon Resale
Kindle Unlimited
Unlimited reading. Millions of titles. Learn more
Read now
OR
£2.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon Media EU S.à r.l..

Audiobook Price: £12.24

Save: £9.25 (76%)

Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will pre-order your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships and Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet or computer – no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Nick Alexander
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Half-Life Of Hannah (Hannah series Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Nick Alexander (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars 7,865 ratings
See all formats and editions
Named by Amazon UK as the 4th bestselling indy Kindle title of all time, The Half-Life of Hannah (from the bestselling author of The Photographer's Wife, The French House, and The Case of The Missing Boyfriend) is another #1 ebook phenomenon: over 300,000 downloads!

"5 Stars: a nuanced, well-written tale ... the surprises along the way make it unputdownable" - frothyreads

"5 Stars: I loved this and cannot wait to read more of this author's books" - The Kindle Book Review


Following his 2011 top ten hit The Case of The Missing Boyfriend, Nick Alexander returns with a fresh #1 bestseller: The Half-Life of Hannah.

"If your first love came back to offer you everything you ever dreamed of, what would you do? "

Hannah is thirty-eight and the happily married mother of eleven-year-old Luke, the diamond in her world. Her marriage is reassuringly stable, and after fifteen years she has managed to push the wild dreams of youth from her mind and concentrate on the everyday satisfactions of here and now. The first half of her life hasn’t been as exciting as she had hoped, but then, she reckons, whose has?

When she succeeds in convincing husband Cliff to rent a villa in the south of France for a summer vacation with her sister Jill and gay friend Tristan, she’s expecting little more than a pleasant few weeks with her family.
But they each have their own baggage – their own secrets – ready to explode on this not-so-relaxing holiday in France.
When a phone call at the villa announces the imminent arrival of a ghost from her past, the ambiance is transformed into a raging sea of jealousy as Hannah is forced to question everything she thought she knew and believed.

But is she brave enough to take the life-changing decisions her future happiness requires?

The sequel to this novel, Other Halves, was published by Black & White Books on the 12th December, 2013.
Previous slide of product details
  1. Book 1 of 2
    Hannah series
  2. Print length
    231 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    19 Jan. 2014
  5. File size
    539 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
Next slide of product details

Shop this series

See full series
Shop this series
There are 2 books in this series.
Bundle price: Kindle price
£5.98
By clicking on the above button, you agree to Amazon's Kindle Store Terms of Use
Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.

This option includes 2 books.

Something went wrong.
Please try again.

Product description

Review

This is a fantastic book and I don t say that lightly ... I now have to read Other Halves as I m getting withdrawal symptoms. --All Things Bookie

It is a page-turner and beautifully written. --Liz Loves Books Blog

Beautifully written with a good mixture of characters ... really didn t want to put it down. --A Lover of Books 5/5

This is a fantastic book and I don t say that lightly ... I now have to read Other Halves as I m getting withdrawal symptoms. --All Things Bookie

Beautifully written with a good mixture of characters ... really didn t want to put it down. --A Lover of Books 5/5

About the Author

Nick Alexander is the bestselling author of twelve novels, including The French House, The Half-Life of Hannah and The Case of the Missing Boyfriend. He lives in the southern French Alps with two mogs (Paloma-Paquita & Leon-Pedro), three (nameless) goldfish and a complete set of Almodovar films.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0090L9FEW
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ BIGfib Books (19 Jan. 2014)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 539 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 231 pages
  • Customer reviews:
    3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars 7,865 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Nick Alexander

Nick Alexander

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Nick Alexander is a bestselling British Author who has sold over two million copies to date. His works have been translated into nine different languages.

His novels are:

Where Do We Go From Here? (2025)

The Imperfection of Us (2023)

Perfectly Ordinary People (2022)

From Something Old (2021)

The Road to Zoe (2020)

You Then, Me Now (2019)

Things We Never Said (2017)

The Bottle Of Tears (2016)

The Other Son (2015).

The Photographer's Wife (2014).

Two novels featuring Hannah

- The Half-Life of Hannah (2012)

- Other Halves (2013)

Two novels featuring CC

- The Case Of The Missing Boyfriend (2011)

- The French House (1st April 2013)

The Fifty Reasons Series, following the life of lovelorn Mark

- 50 Reasons to Say Goodbye (2004)

- Good Thing, Bad Thing (2007)

- Better Than Easy (2009)

- Sleight Of Hand (2011)

And the standalone short story collection

- 13:55 Eastern Standard Time (2008)

The Case Of The Missing Boyfriend was Nick's first big kindle hit, reaching number #1 in Amazon's kindle chart, and remaining in the top ten for over six weeks. It was the 27th best selling ebook in the UK for the whole of 2011.

The Half-Life of Hannah was named by Amazon UK in 2015 as the 4th bestselling indy title of all time, and the majority of Nick's titles have reached the #1 spot in multiple international markets.

The Other Son was also named by Amazon's editors as one of the best fiction titles of 2015.

Please note that there are multiple Nick Alexanders on Amazon, and any titles not in the list above are not by the same author.

Nick lives in a sleepy village in the southern French Alps with his partner and four cats and a lot of noisy magpies.

Customer reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars
7,865 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They appreciate the believable characters and their development. Many consider it worth reading, considering it a good value for money. However, some readers found the story dull and uninspired. Opinions vary on the storyline, with some finding it great and unexpected, while others felt it was unrealistic and slow-paced.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more
ReadabilityCharacter developmentThought provokingBelievableValue for moneyStorylinePacingBoredom
1,118 customers mention ‘Readability’987 positive131 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find the story compelling and emotional, with likable characters. The writing is well-done, and the setting is nicely done. Many consider it an enjoyable summer read with nice little vignettes of France.

"...It's told partly in the third person, describing events that are happening now, and partly in the first person; Hannah relating events from the past..." Read more

"...A tale of family secrets this was compelling and emotional and is highly recommended for fans of family drama with heart." Read more

"...look, he leaves it up to his readers to imagine and as they are so well drawn you don't need physical descriptions...." Read more

"...There are also some nice little vignettes of the France they visit scattered amongst the turbulence of the family drama that unfolds...." Read more

314 customers mention ‘Character development’248 positive66 negative

Customers like the character development. They find the characters well-presented, if a little stereotypical. The female lead character is sympathetically written, and you want her to have a happy outcome.

"...They are all very realistic, true to life characters and totally believable and the parts of the story narrated by Hannah in particular really help..." Read more

"...Character driven all the way with a terrific ending that both completes the story and leaves room for more..." Read more

"...enjoyed about all of Nick's books so far is that firstly his characters are so real, they have their flaws and they have their reasons...." Read more

"...For me it never quite happened. I found it hard to believe any of the characters, they were all shallow and two-dimensional...." Read more

101 customers mention ‘Thought provoking’101 positive0 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking with good descriptions and believable characters. They appreciate the realistic outcomes and plausible situations. The storyline unfolds in an engaging way, with some thrilling moments along the way. The pacing is slow but that works well at building a sense of reality. Readers appreciate the historical insights and twists in the story.

"...way with a terrific ending that both completes the story and leaves room for more (luckily for me the "more" was readily available) it is a slow..." Read more

"...The writing story is, of course, contemporary. However, a lot of the time I felt a lot of phrases were either redundant or contrived...." Read more

"...the book lies in the execution of the character traits which are well-observed, despite the echo of other reviewers that as characters they are two-..." Read more

"...believable characters, such true settings and story lines, such realistic outcomes and plausible situations...." Read more

77 customers mention ‘Believable’55 positive22 negative

Customers find the characters realistic and well-drawn. They appreciate the sensitive treatment and believable portrayal of them. The story is true to life with good characterisation. However, some readers felt the ending was neatly wrapped up but left an open question. Overall, it's a nice, readable book that won't intrigue or keep you awake.

"...They are all very realistic, true to life characters and totally believable and the parts of the story narrated by Hannah in particular really help..." Read more

"...the crescendo and (never saw that coming) twist at the end, finishing neatly sewn up but also leaving the story open for further continuation either..." Read more

"...There was a few inaccuracies, in chapter 11 they didn't order a drink for Aisha, yet she picks up her drink of coke a few paragraphs later...." Read more

"...Tristan is lovely (and probably a bit of a gay stereotype). I'd love him to be the food provider here...." Read more

62 customers mention ‘Value for money’48 positive14 negative

Customers appreciate the book's value for money. They find it a steady read that is not too challenging. Some readers downloaded the book for free, finding it to be a good story and worth downloading.

"...but Alexander's certainly isn't one of that category, it's truly good value...." Read more

"...Also currently at a bargain price that represents great value for money" Read more

"...Certainly worth reading and especially as the Kindle price is very low. Treat yourself - you won't regret it!!" Read more

"...wasn’t particularly likeable and the plot seemed far fetched and rather pointless...." Read more

531 customers mention ‘Storyline’322 positive209 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the storyline. Some find it engaging with good twists and drama, leading to a satisfying conclusion. Others feel the story feels impossible and slow-paced, with a thin plot and moments of nonsense.

"...Starting off as a gentle yet intriguing family story, we follow Hannah and co on holiday in France where tension lies just beneath the surface....." Read more

"...Because the story unwinds very slowly you could be forgiven for thinking "when is something going to happen", but it is well worth sticking with..." Read more

"...on 12th December 2014 as despite this book coming to a satisfactory conclusion, I want to read more." Read more

"...is much more than just the return of a lost love, it is about family and friends, their personal interaction and looking into each other's lives and..." Read more

143 customers mention ‘Pacing’60 positive83 negative

Customers have different views on the book's pacing. Some find it well-paced and easy to read, with an enjoyable momentum. Others feel it starts slowly and takes a while to pick up pace.

"...from the outset and I have to say to begin with it was a little confusing to follow...." Read more

"...for more (luckily for me the "more" was readily available) it is a slow burner that will hold your attention throughout...." Read more

"...prepared for lunch, as it was unimportant to the story and just slowed the pace...." Read more

"...Still worth a read and it does race along and take you with it." Read more

61 customers mention ‘Boredom’0 positive61 negative

Customers find the book uninspired and dull. They describe it as cliched, mundane, and not particularly clever or new. The ending is enigmatic but not satisfying.

"...However, a lot of the time I felt a lot of phrases were either redundant or contrived...." Read more

"...These aren't classic or epic novels, but certainly brilliant stories, fantastic escapism and very difficult indeed to put down...." Read more

"...forever to get from one place to another in the story, very slow and boring...." Read more

"...I gave it four rather than five because it is fairly generic, but it is a good example of the genre and I will be reading more." Read more

Nick Alexander - Master Storyteller!
5 out of 5 stars
Nick Alexander - Master Storyteller!
The book definitely deserves five stars. I have been a fan of Nick Alexander for some time. His writing is easy to read but there is a depth to both the characters and the plot. He gradually reveals the links between the main protagonists, all of whom are sharing a villa in the South France for their summer holiday. Hannah has an eleven year old son with husband, Cliff, whose brother James arrives from Australia unexpectedly. We learn of Cliff's lies and deception and Hannah's submerged feelings. Hannah's sister and a gay restauranteur friend are the other key players. The author conveys the atmosphere both physical and emotional and an accident to Hannah's and Luke's son Luke drives the story forward towards its conclusion. For those, like me, who want to know what happens next there is a sequel which I am now avidly reading. Enjoy!
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry, we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • ElaineG
    5.0 out of 5 stars very enjoyable read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 October 2012
    Verified Purchase
    This is a smashing little read focussed around a family villa holiday in France. It's told partly in the third person, describing events that are happening now, and partly in the first person; Hannah relating events from the past and each "segment" seems to complement the other beautifully.

    It is not a book with a lot of action in it, it is very languorous and you really get the feel of being on a lazy villa pool holiday with the sun beating down. Because the story unwinds very slowly you could be forgiven for thinking "when is something going to happen", but it is well worth sticking with because when an extra uninvited guest arrives at the villa, then people's lives are going to change forever.

    An extremely well written book, the real beauty of the story is in the interaction between the characters and the dialogue. They are all very realistic, true to life characters and totally believable and the parts of the story narrated by Hannah in particular really help you get inside her head and right to the heart of the story. All the characters are totally different to each other, echoing the "you can choose your friends but not your family" saying and the author has each characters' foibles, strengths and weaknesses absolutely spot on.

    At times it is funny, sad, shocking; like watching your next door neighbours carrying out their family dramas on the other side of the fence - fascinating to follow!
    8 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Liz Barnsley
    4.0 out of 5 stars Compelling family drama
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 January 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Hannah is thirty-eight and the happily married mother of eleven-year-old Luke, the diamond in her world. Her marriage is reassuringly stable, and after fifteen years she has managed to push the wild dreams of youth from her mind and concentrate on the everyday satisfactions of here and now. The first half of her life hasn't been as exciting as she had hoped, but then, she reckons, whose has?

    When she succeeds in convincing husband Cliff to rent a villa in the south of France for a summer vacation with her sister Jill, and gay friend Tristan, she's expecting little more than a pleasant few weeks with her family.
    But they each have their own baggage - their own secrets - ready to explode on this not-so-relaxing holiday in France.

    Starting off as a gentle yet intriguing family story, we follow Hannah and co on holiday in France where tension lies just beneath the surface..

    I wasnt expecting such a wonderful emotive tale but that is what I got. Cleverly using the past and present to build a picture in its entirety, I loved the fact that this was unpredictable. Character driven all the way with a terrific ending that both completes the story and leaves room for more (luckily for me the "more" was readily available) it is a slow burner that will hold your attention throughout.

    It is a page turner and beautifully written. I found myself reading way into the night as I wanted to find out what would happen next - there are a few twists and turns along the way and you were not always sure where it was going.

    A tale of family secrets this was compelling and emotional and is highly recommended for fans of family drama with heart.
    6 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Jason Yip
    3.0 out of 5 stars Really needs more editing
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 June 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This is the first time I've read such a novel - I normally read crime fiction or 'classics' like "Anna Karenina". Anyway, I'll break my review down to a few headings so you can pick and choose which points might make or break the deal.

    EDITING
    This needs to be the first thing I mention. There were quite a lot of typos, e.g. hinderance instead of hindrance (Amazon has just underlined hinderance in red squiggly lines to show it's incorrect!). I also had trouble following dialogue, i.e. it wasn't always clear who was speaking - using either alternating indenting or the occasional "Speaker 1:", "Speaker 2:" terminology would've helped the dialogue flow a lot better.

    PREMISE & STORY
    The premise of the story is easy enough to understand, and something that most of us (I would hope!) can relate to either through our own or others' experiences. I expected a romance novel (which actually wasn't what I wanted to read), and was pleasantly surprised that it was more than that.

    STYLE
    The writing story is, of course, contemporary. However, a lot of the time I felt a lot of phrases were either redundant or contrived. The redundancy was actually the biggest problem - whilst the story was easy to follow, there was a lot of redundant dialogue, i.e. people saying things to "spell it out", which was absolutely unnecessary most of the time. I think the author needs to make the dialogue much tighter, only saying what's absolutely necessary. There's no need for "filler dialogue", and that's what makes it a weaker novel.

    OVERALL
    If you want a "holiday novel", then this would probably fill that void quite well. It's not ground-breaking, the premise & story are as old as the hills, and it'll never win awards for literary style. But it's nevertheless an accessible and fun read. 3/5 is a bit generous to be honest, but it's the first novel of its type that I've ever read, and I have nothing to compare it to (in the same genre), so it would be completely unfair to give it 1/5 (or 5/5). It was OK (which is what Amazon deems a 3/5 rating to be).
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Sarah
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Read
    Reviewed in the United States on 7 April 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Alexander doesn't disappoint with yet another engaging story about love, loss, family and the messy human condition. I love the detail this author includes which makes the lives of the characters so much more authentic and relatable. We know people like them; we are them, and that's what keeps me reading.
    Report
  • Lisa
    5.0 out of 5 stars Entrañable.
    Reviewed in Spain on 2 July 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Como todos los libros de Nick Alexander, son historias que pueden ser perfectamente reales.
    Tiene, vida propia y suelen ser entrañables.
    Ninguno de sus libros deja indiferente. Tienen sentimientos propios y están magificamente escritos!!
    Personalmente, me encantan! No son para nada, los románticos absurdos!
    Report
  • LHunt
    5.0 out of 5 stars Entreging
    Reviewed in Germany on 29 March 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I was rivited! I finished this book in a few days, and I only read at bedtime. I really loved the sister's relationship, so true to life.
    Report
  • Yvonne Dawe
    1.0 out of 5 stars Terrible compared to the first one of his I read
    Reviewed in Canada on 24 July 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Didn't even finish it. Terrible compared to the first one of his I read.
    Report
  • katia
    5.0 out of 5 stars sorprendente
    Reviewed in Italy on 6 October 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Premetto che ho letto questo libro per migliorare il mio inglese, e sono rimasta sorpresa della scorrevolezza del testo.inizialmente si fa un po' fatica a memorizzare tutti i personaggi ,ma il libro é ricco di sorprese. Consiglio questo libro a chiunque abbia voglia di leggere qual cosa di non troppo impegnativo per migliorare l'inglese
    Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report