The plots are resolved nicely, not everything fully finished off but enough positivity and hope to make it a relaxing and reassuring read. There are a few hard-hitting themes confronted here: sexist bullying at school, toxic masculinity, ageism and coercive control, but again they’re all woven into the plot in a natural way. Everyone has an Achilles heel or what they see as a weakness, and I found nurse Sanjay’s panic attacks particularly moving. The cast is diverse, of different sexualties and ethnicities without it seeming like a box-ticking exercise, and kindness is prized above all other qualities. I really liked how Pooley introduced the characters one by one, and the way we triangulated them by their names for each other, Iona, the sort of linchpin of the group, with her bright clothes and uncompromising attitudes being Magic Handbag Woman to one, Rainbow Lady to another. There’s love, heartbreak, loss, protection, support and life changes to come through the book, and several of the characters aren’t quite as they seem … We meet a cast of characters who commute on a train from the Hampton Court area into London and gradually find out about them as they find out about each other and themselves. 'Who'd have thought I'd end up basing my life choices on an eccentric lesbian? But it seems to work.'"
"'When I'm feeling unsure about anything,' said Martha, 'I just ask myself, what would Iona do?' 'Me too,' said David.
All of the main characters are well drawn, with their own lives and Iona, in particular will stay with me #WhatWouldIonaDo This is a warm, funny and poignant tale that makes for a great read. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know each of the characters through their perspectives (although I was concerned Iona's wife Bea didn't have her own narrative). Will she turn to them when she needs help too?Īs with The Authenticity Project, this is a wonderfully uplifting novel about the power of friendship and community when times are tough. All of them are struggling with imposter syndrome and all of them turn to inspiring Iona for help. Meeting nurse Sanjay, PR advisor Emmie, school pupil Martha, banker Piers and solicitor David opens each of their eyes to their assumptions about one another. With nothing in common but their commute, they begin to get to know one another. Despite her years of experience, eccentric Iona she is bullied at work by younger colleagues for being 'a dinosaur', so she decides to enlist the help of regular train passengers (whom she has given funny names, like 'Smart-but-sexist-Surbiton') after one of them has a near death experience in their carriage one day. Present day London and formidable, middle-aged, 'magazine therapist' (agony aunt) Iona travels by train for work. It occurred to him that they were each individual spokes of a wheel, but Iona was the centre, the axis, and without her, the group of them had no purpose at all, and very little in common." "The faces surrounding Piers all wore various shades of glum. My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley this is – as always – my honest, original and unbiased review. The author created such a wonderful story that I really didn’t want it to end and found myself continually trying to set it aside to make it last, then failing to leave it alone as I was enjoying it so much! Absolutely terrific all the way through – every single detail has been well considered and adds to the overall delight that this delicious novel delivers if you pack books for your holiday, then please don’t leave this one out! There is no doubt that this is a five star read – it is worth each and every one along with my recommendation! This is such a marvellous read a fabulous array of characters coping with the vagaries of everyday life and, as a collective, showing warmth, humour and love for their fellow man (and woman). This is my first encounter with Clare Pooley’s work but, based on this one, I have already added her previous novel, The Authenticity Project, to my wishlist. Life on the 8.05 to London is never quite the same again. After all, that’s the law of commuting, isn’t it? Then one morning ‘Smart-but-Sexist Surbiton’ chokes right in front of her and, as he turns blue in the face, Iona stands up and with a booming voice appeals for medical help. The warmest, most uplifting novel I’ve read lately – and I loved it!Įach morning, Iona boards the train to the city and spots the same fellow-travellers she has noticed them so often that she has coined her own names for them all but, naturally, would never dream of speaking to any of them.
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