Rachel Joyce

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. To me it seemed perfectly formed! In 1972 we meet teenage Byron, who lives with his mother Diana and younger sister. His father comes home at weekends and rings at the same time every morning to check on Diana. Their lives seem to be idyllic on one level and filled with anxiety and tension on another. Their large house has a flourishing garden that Diana takes care of and it sits on the edge of the moor. Byron attends a private school and his best friend is James. Diana drives the children to school in a shiny Jaguar. The events of the summer begin with James telling Byron that 2 seconds are to be added to the year to re-set time and this issue churns around in Byron's mind, leading to an accident that changes everything. Diana is lonely, she doesn't appear to fit in with the mothers of other children at the school. Due to an incident she meets Beverley from the estate and they appear to get along well, Beverley and sometimes her daughter, visiting most days during the summer holidays. These chapters are alternated with the story of Jim in the 21st century, who following care in the community, has had to leave his long-term home in a mental health hospital and now lives in a campervan and cleans tables in a supermarket cafe. Jim is in his 50s and struggles with severe OCD and a stammer. An accident changes his life too and slowly and perfectly the two stories are revealed and the truth emerges.… (mere)

A love story, about music, friendship and kindness.

Frank runs a record shop and refuses to sell anything other than vinyl. He listens to people and finds music that touches them. He is part of a small community threatened by modernisation, struggling to stay connected and relevant in a changing world.

The cast of characters is good, Kit the young man who has a tendency to break everything he handles, Father Anthony and his religious artifacts shop, Maud and her tattoo parlour, the Williams' brothers and their funeral home, Pete the barman of England's Glory all connected by Unity Street.

This is a light, easy read, a bit laboured and predictable at times, but there was enough of a story reveal to keep me interested.… (mere)