REVIEW: The Lodgers by Eithne Shortall

Genre: Fiction | Romance | Contemporary Fiction

Release Date: Expected 3rd August 2023

Publisher: Atlantic Books | Corvus

One house. Three strangers. A second chance at happiness.

Tessa's life as an activist and volunteer worker takes a hit after a fall. At the ripe young age of 69, she's no longer able to live alone and decides to take in two lodgers for free.

After the recent death of his brother, Conn is riddled with grief and determined to make amends. A free room seems too good to be true - until he meets the other lodger.

Chloe arrives at Tessa's house to deliver a package and leaves with a room. But she takes an instant dislike to Conn, who refuses to say where he disappears to at night. With everyone so busy keeping their own secrets, the mysterious package is forgotten. It's addressed to Tessa's daughter who's been missing for 10 years - and only the contents of the package have the answer to what happened...

"You need to stop thinking about yourself as an extension of other people. You're your own person. Remember that."

A heartwarming, sweeping story about the beauty of human connection that is so full of heart and warmth.

Our unlikely trio find themselves brought together in unlikely circumstances, with people they’d likely never speak to each other in their lives before — all of them were so real, their personalities quickly distinguished with unique voices that take their turns telling the story.

I adored Tessa’s dry wit and her strength and Chloe’s hopeful optimism and determination. Conn was a bit prickly, abrasive — but there was definitely something more going on under the surface. Every one of our characters has a secret, something heartbreaking they're running from — but their individual journeys and stories slowly merge together into one as they join together for a common cause to save their community centre which turns into a hilarious, chaotic adventure with a brilliantly eclectic cast of characters.

The story is slow, but well paced — spending plenty of time just being with our trio and watching their lives in their unexpected new home together. The setting was beautiful, invoking a sense of calm and bliss all around, a warm and comforting feeling of home and family.

Cosy, emotional and bittersweet — The Lodgers is the type of story to get lost in.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was gifted an advanced reviewers copy of this title in return for an honest review.

Cw; mentions of terminal illness and suicide injury, loss, controlling/abusive relationships.

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