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what_heather_loves's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
4.0
"The faces surrounding Piers all wore various shades of glum. 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."
Present day London and formidable, middle-aged, 'magazine therapist' (agony aunt) Iona travels by train for work. 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. With nothing in common but their commute, they begin to get to know one another. 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. All of them are struggling with imposter syndrome and all of them turn to inspiring Iona for help. Will she turn to them when she needs help too?
As with The Authenticity Project, this is a wonderfully uplifting novel about the power of friendship and community when times are tough. 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). 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.
"'When I'm feeling unsure about anything,' said Martha, 'I just ask myself, what would Iona do?' 'Me too,' said David. 'Who'd have thought I'd end up basing my life choices on an eccentric lesbian? But it seems to work.'"
Present day London and formidable, middle-aged, 'magazine therapist' (agony aunt) Iona travels by train for work. 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. With nothing in common but their commute, they begin to get to know one another. 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. All of them are struggling with imposter syndrome and all of them turn to inspiring Iona for help. Will she turn to them when she needs help too?
As with The Authenticity Project, this is a wonderfully uplifting novel about the power of friendship and community when times are tough. 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). 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.
"'When I'm feeling unsure about anything,' said Martha, 'I just ask myself, what would Iona do?' 'Me too,' said David. 'Who'd have thought I'd end up basing my life choices on an eccentric lesbian? But it seems to work.'"
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Gaslighting
Minor: Lesbophobia and Suicide attempt
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