Twenty-six year old Tess Harrington is comfortably content with her life in the city. Originally from a small country town, Tess now works in a hair salon she part-owns with her friend Pamela, located in a quirky street full of culture, art, and plenty of tea and coffee. She couldn’t be happier spending her days interacting with the locals who work in the wonderful shops that line the street, and indulging in quiet nights in her nearby apartment, where she reads her many books, sips tea she makes with her prized teapot, and eats delightful gourmet sandwiches from the local deli.

She treasures the antique finds which adorn her apartment, attends her monthly “shop girls” soiree at a swanky club called Vinnie’s, and is never lonely, for she has her books, which introduce her to the romance and adventure she quietly longs for, and which satisfy her hidden desire to run free amongst storms, and to swim in surging seas.

Life couldn’t be going more smoothly for Tess, and she intends to keep it that way. With one failed marriage already under her belt, Tess decides to forgo relationships altogether, as does her friend Pamela, who finds herself in a similar predicament. They tell themselves they don’t need men in their lives — not even the handsome restaurateur Silvio, who swoons over Tess and calls her his muse. But when someone threatens this almost too tranquil world she has built for herself, will she be strong enough to resist the outside elements of the “real world”? Will an unexpected surprise on her doorstep cause Tess’ cosy world to change irrevocably? Or is it the change Tess needs, to finally live a colourful life, and not just read about it?

At the start of True Colours, we meet Tess Harrington. Tess is in her late twenties and after a hard time throughout her school years with bullying and then marrying the wrong man, she moved to Sydney for a fresh start.

Fast forward to the present time and Tess is the part-owner of a hair salon business with her friend Pamela. The salon is located in a vibrant street consisting of food, art, culture, and some wonderful cake and coffee shops. Despite building a protective wall around herself to stop herself from getting hurt again, Tess couldn’t be any happier right now in her life. She has made many friends and enjoys the social aspect of her life but also her quiet time such as reading and getting lost in her little world of classic books in her beloved apartment.

Enter Desiree, who moves into Tess’s apartment building. Desiree just happens to be the one and only ‘IT’ girl who made Tess’s life hell in school and it seems she is back to finish the hurt and pain that she started years ago. Desiree is out to tarnish the reputation that Tess has built and to destroy any relationships she has.

Will Tess survive Desiree’s full force of hatred or has she come a long way since school and can now fight her own battles?

Anthea Syrokou puts her readers firmly into the middle of True Colours. I could vividly imagine walking up and down the street savouring the smells and moments that were brought alive in the book.

Tess Harrington is a very likeable character and I found myself warming to her quickly. She handled herself very well in the situation with her nemesis, which made for great reading.

Anthea Syrokou is an author who grew up and resides in Sydney, Australia. Anthea’s love for writing was planted at a young age when she studied Greek mythology. Her love for literature continued well into her teenage years when she enjoyed reading novels by many of the great English writers. As a young adult, she immersed herself in reading women’s contemporary fiction and writing about topics, that many could relate to, in a witty, light-hearted way, which became a passion – one that she takes very seriously.

Anthea has a BA degree, majoring in psychology and industrial relations, and a diploma in counselling. She also studied Greek literature at university and has worked in direct marketing, and insurance and investments. When she isn’t writing or reading, Anthea enjoys travelling, yoga, spending time with her family, and escaping to the vineyards. A quiet house with some jazz playing in the background, surrounded by a few lit scented candles is her idea of relaxation. Even though Anthea dreams about hosting the “perfect” dinner party, she is more likely to be found at a cosy, candlelit restaurant. She lives with her husband and their two sons, and often jokes she may be the only writer who doesn’t own a cat.