Julian Jessop is an elderly artist and widower in London, who is so lonely that he writes the truth about his life in a green notebook and leaves it in his local cafe. The next person to read it, Monica, the cafe's owner, answers the truth with her own. The notebook continues to circulate among strangers, including Hazard, a young man who is a recovering addict, and Alice, an influencer who hides the reality of her life. Clare Pooley writes about how honesty can break through loneliness, and she builds a community around the cafe.
It suits readers who like feel-good ensemble novels with a gentle moral. It is warm without being saccharine, and it leaves a hopeful impression.
Inward-looking and clear-cut; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Empathetic Explorer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2020
- Language
- EN
