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nuhafariha's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you to Hodder and Stoughton and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy!
Available August 4th 2020
Like all good slice of life TV dramas, Mike Gayle's "Half a World Away" has all the elements to make for a good tea time story. From a young age, Kerry has had to carry the world on her back whether it was caring for her drug addled mother, fighting to find her younger brother in the foster care system or single-handedly raising her young child. She is the heart and soul of this engrossing drama set in the heart of London's estates and the wide, tree lined suburbs. Little did she know that her younger brother, Jason, had grown up just half a block away in a well to do upper middle class family. Even so, Jason, or Noah as he changed his name, has his own troubles at home. When the two reunite, it is clear to see how little of human nature changes even with class status. A warm, sprawling read that will leave you bawling unexpectedly.
Available August 4th 2020
Like all good slice of life TV dramas, Mike Gayle's "Half a World Away" has all the elements to make for a good tea time story. From a young age, Kerry has had to carry the world on her back whether it was caring for her drug addled mother, fighting to find her younger brother in the foster care system or single-handedly raising her young child. She is the heart and soul of this engrossing drama set in the heart of London's estates and the wide, tree lined suburbs. Little did she know that her younger brother, Jason, had grown up just half a block away in a well to do upper middle class family. Even so, Jason, or Noah as he changed his name, has his own troubles at home. When the two reunite, it is clear to see how little of human nature changes even with class status. A warm, sprawling read that will leave you bawling unexpectedly.
nuhafariha's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you to Hodder and Stoughton and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy!
Available August 4th 2020
Like all good slice of life TV dramas, Mike Gayle's "Half a World Away" has all the elements to make for a good tea time story. From a young age, Kerry has had to carry the world on her back whether it was caring for her drug addled mother, fighting to find her younger brother in the foster care system or single-handedly raising her young child. She is the heart and soul of this engrossing drama set in the heart of London's estates and the wide, tree lined suburbs. Little did she know that her younger brother, Jason, had grown up just half a block away in a well to do upper middle class family. Even so, Jason, or Noah as he changed his name, has his own troubles at home. When the two reunite, it is clear to see how little of human nature changes even with class status. A warm, sprawling read that will leave you bawling unexpectedly.
Available August 4th 2020
Like all good slice of life TV dramas, Mike Gayle's "Half a World Away" has all the elements to make for a good tea time story. From a young age, Kerry has had to carry the world on her back whether it was caring for her drug addled mother, fighting to find her younger brother in the foster care system or single-handedly raising her young child. She is the heart and soul of this engrossing drama set in the heart of London's estates and the wide, tree lined suburbs. Little did she know that her younger brother, Jason, had grown up just half a block away in a well to do upper middle class family. Even so, Jason, or Noah as he changed his name, has his own troubles at home. When the two reunite, it is clear to see how little of human nature changes even with class status. A warm, sprawling read that will leave you bawling unexpectedly.
ciarareads96's review against another edition
2.0
Half a World Away is the story of siblings Kerry, a single working-class mum, and Noah, a successful lawyer, who make their way back to one another after being torn apart as children, which sets in motion events that will change the course of their lives.
I really loved the concept of this book and the harsh realities of race, family and class that it portrayed. I also appreciated that it was written like a love story but for familial love rather than romance, so the empathic tone of the novel really resonated.
However, I think it lacked depth and was a little superficial in places, so I found it a bit cheesy at some points where it could have been more heartfelt. It wasn’t a unique idea and combined with the cheesiness I struggled to rate it any higher, but I will say that emotionally I really related to it.
I really loved the concept of this book and the harsh realities of race, family and class that it portrayed. I also appreciated that it was written like a love story but for familial love rather than romance, so the empathic tone of the novel really resonated.
However, I think it lacked depth and was a little superficial in places, so I found it a bit cheesy at some points where it could have been more heartfelt. It wasn’t a unique idea and combined with the cheesiness I struggled to rate it any higher, but I will say that emotionally I really related to it.
mymidnightbooks's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
mikaelajane's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
lizzillia's review against another edition
4.75
Mike Gayle is becoming an author I turn to for a cosy, easy read that tugs at the emotions. This didn't disappoint. We have two main characters, Kerry and Noah, and the book is told in there alternate POVS. Kerry is a single mum to Kian. She is a cleaner who lives for her son and stirves to give him the best life she can, and to give him an upbringing that will make him a man she can be proud of. Noah is a successful barrister who lives in a big house in Primrose Hill with his wife, Rosalind, and his daughter, Millie. He has every thing, every opportunity that Kerry lacks. They are strangers to one another, they have nothing at all in common. But what Kerry knows and Noah doesn't is that they are siblings - Noah is Kerry's half-brother - who were torn apart as children when they were taken into care. So, when she writes to Noah, neither of their lives will ever be the same again. Throughout the book there are letters that Kerry has written to her brother and left with the adoption agency for him to read if he ever tries to find out his past and I loved hearing her voice and seeing her love for her brother. The two POVs bring bother characters to life. We see Noah's feelings about his past, growing up as he did as a black child in a white family. We see Kerry and the love she has for Kian, her strength and how hard-working she is. We also see the regard her clients have for her. The character arcs are beautifully written and I challenge anyone not to adore Kerry and her love of all things glittery - and Mariah Carey. This will have you reaching for the tissues but at it's heart it is full of love.
barbrokatrin's review against another edition
3.0
An okay book
I liked the blurb, and from the outside it looked like a great story. But once I started reading I found that I had some trouble connecting with the characters, I wasn’t as emotionally invested in them as I’d hoped. There were also a lot more text then dialogue, which put me off a bit. Ended up skimming the text quite a bit. That being said, it’s an okay book if you’re looking for something easy to read.
I liked the blurb, and from the outside it looked like a great story. But once I started reading I found that I had some trouble connecting with the characters, I wasn’t as emotionally invested in them as I’d hoped. There were also a lot more text then dialogue, which put me off a bit. Ended up skimming the text quite a bit. That being said, it’s an okay book if you’re looking for something easy to read.
pixiebell_reads87's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this - even though I read a slight spoiler (by mistake) - so I kind of figured out what was going to happen. 4.5
lydtt's review against another edition
4.0
What a book. Beautifully written, heart breaking but also heart warming.
anneduff's review against another edition
3.0
Mike Gayle is an extremely talented writer. This story is told from the perspectives of both Kerry and Noah - two people with completely different upbringings yet Mike Gayle skillfully gets you inside the head of each character. The dropped stars are because, from the middle of the book, there seemed to be so much padding - soul-searching that was somewhat repetitive and, to me, digressed from the storyline. I admit to skim reading for the last 25% of the book which is a shame because the first half was so riveting.