Jo Leevers

Another random Kindle Unlimited pick that I wasn't sure about to start with - not another 'autistic people are aliens' character, I thought! But Henrietta Lockwood - a nod to Wuthering Heights? - isn't exactly like Eleanor Oliphant, or any of the many similar caricatures I seem to be drawn to. Yes, she struggles with small talk and making friends, and she has her own way of doing things, and prefers to observe the lives of others rather than living her own, but these traits are more of a reaction to a traumatic childhood. Her blunt conversations with Annie did make me cringe at first, and her formal speech didn't help ('do you know you sound like you're reading from a leaflet?'), but I loved that she was able to soften her approach and actually reach out. By the final chapters, I really came to care for Henrietta, and loved that the 'failed librarian' - hey, that me! - blossomed in her career and made new friends.

The storyline with Annie was a bit contrived, but kept me reading when the pacing started to drag a little in the middle of the book. I loved Annie, however, and the inevitable ending broke my heart a little. Jo Leevers was clearly writing from her heart, and the final moments of Annie's life were both realistic and beautifully written.

'Shit life, strong woman', as one character sums up the women in this captivating novel - Henrietta, Annie, Kath and Cerys are struggling in different ways, but they are all the more sympathetic for not being perfect. And Dave the dog is the star of the show!… (plus d'informations)

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

This features Henrietta, who takes up a new job interviewing people at the end of their lives and then turning their life stories into books for their families to keep. One of her clients is Annie, whose sister Kath disappeared, presumed drowned, when they were teenagers. Annie's husband died a couple of years ago, but she seems less troubled about that. Henrietta determines to find out what happened to Kath, and along the way she finds a friend in Annie and reveals some secrets about her own past.

I found this touching and I liked the 'unusual' Henrietta and her extremely anti-social dog, Dave. Henrietta is I think intended to read as being on the autism spectrum, but she develops as a character through the book and overcomes many of the limitations she has put on her life. I found this a quick read, although the shape of the plot got messy towards the end. I'm not sure we suddenly needed chapters from the perspective of Cerys. The resolution to the mystery of Kath's disappearance was convincing though.

Well-written with well-rounded main characters. I quite like the idea of the Life Story books too.… (plus d'informations)

Tell Me How This Ends is a charming debut novel which had many qualities that I enjoy in a book. What mainly attracted me was the plot with Henrietta listening to and transcribing people's life stories, often those who are terminally ill. So many stories are forgotten and I love the idea of memories being recorded to make life story books. The other side of the plot is that of Annie who is telling her story to Henrietta. She's never been able to get over the disappearance of her sister many years earlier and Henrietta turns into a bit of a detective on her behalf.

The two main characters are such well-drawn creations. Henrietta is very formal, very precise and very awkward and I had to smile at her behaviour and the way she speaks to people. I loved her little smelly dog, Dave! There's a lot lying under the surface with her though, and her interactions with Annie draw much of it out into the open. Annie has such a sad story and something about her touches Henrietta and her tenacity is just what is needed to try and find the ending to Annie's life story. The two strands are intertwined beautifully.

This is a book full of heart. It's sad in many ways, but ultimately it's also uplifting. I really enjoyed the mystery element and how that particular plotline unfolded, along with the gradual but long overdue blossoming of Henrietta. It's a story of friendships, family and finding your place in the world. I'll be looking out for more from Jo Leevers as this is such a strong debut with a quirky yet relatable storyline and characters that I couldn't help but love.… (plus d'informations)