I really enjoyed this debut. I did not take to Sylvia at first but she grew on me. I almost could not believe her infatuation with her boss - despite all the evidence but I was more convinced by her development once forced to confront her life as it was. The exploration of secrets within families and the healing provided by nature and friendship were well written.

I loved the hedgehog theme and the way they mirrored Sylvia.

A lovely read with a positive outcome.

What a wonderful story, this has so much crammed into it but it all flows so wonderful. I loved how the name of the book came about and the information about hedgehogs.
The character of Sylvia is so strong but you get to see the the thoughts and feelings through the brilliant writing. I had to keep reading this as it really hooks you in from a lovely family way because you end up wanting them all to be happy.
I really loved this so a big five stars from me.

This book will be a hit with fans of Eleanor Oliphant. I did find it a bit hard to get going, but overall enjoyed it.
I also learnt quite a bit about hedgehogs!

Completely unexpected plot. Very enjoyable read, if difficult in places. I like that the story was told wholly from Sylvia's perspective, that way, we are able to see her grow and change without judging her through the eyes of other characters. The ability of the author to portray so many characters as having flaws, as well as strengths, was so refreshing. In that way, every character felt whole and not just a pawn to tell a story. Would absolutely recommend.

This is an exquisite and very lovely book. It tells the story of Slylvia and her shut of, defensive life opening up through catastrophic events to a more positive future. It is compellingly told and gradually reveals layers of Sylvia's character as the story progresses. I loved the book and it has been one of my favourite reads of 2019. The interlinking of the story of the hedgehogs and their need for sanctuary is beautifully handled too. I would recommend Needlemouse very heartily to everyone. Great work!

I wasn’t sure what to make of #Needlemouse when I started the book. It was well written, but the main character was not at all likeable and I was frustrated with her infatuation with her boss and wish to control those around her (and him.)
I am really pleased that I persisted with the book however, as it was warm, engaging and had unexpected substance.
And I learned a lot about hedgehogs, which is a very good thing.
Thank you to #NetGalley the author and the publishers for the opportunity to read #Needlemouse

I'm loving the new genre of' 'uplit' as this type of book has been classified as. In the same vein as Eleanor Olifant is Completely Fine, Needlemouse is about a woman who doesn't fit into the modern world completely.
Our protagonist, Sylvia works as a PA to a university professor with whom she's in love but unreciprocated by the man himself. He takes her out for lunch sometimes and buys her birthday presents and they once had a drunken snog at an office Christmas party. Sylvia takes this to mean she's in love. She also has a secret which she's kept for many years about another man.
When she's not working she helps out at a hedgehog sanctuary run by an elderly widower.
I raced through this book in a day. It was beautifully written, very poignant in parts and sometimes a bit cringeworthy because of Sylvia's behaviour.
Really readable, thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read it.

My initial reaction to this was how much Sylvia (the main character and the person from who’s perspective the story is told) reminded me of Eleanor Oliphant with her way of viewing others as an annoyance rather than appreciating others find her to be the strange one. Prickly is definately an apt description and she’s not written to be liked. Her peculiar obsession with her boss and her delusions about him leave you pitying her and the contrasting warmth of Millie, her sister, only highlight her brittleness. I was unsure of how much I was enjoying this until Sylvia’s life started to unravel and from then on I was engrossed, the reasons behind her personality come to life and both the reader’s and Sylvia’s understanding of her alter perceptions. This is a heartwarming story, really well written and in my opinion would be a great book club read.

PS I love the explaination of ‘Needle Mouse’

This is a lovely and easy summer read, definitely one to uplift your mood. I enjoyed reading Sylvia's story, not such likeable character, yet interesting. I was charmed by the writing, so that it made me read this book in one sitting.
You'll surely want this as your beach book :)

Thanks a lot to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a fabulous book this is! When an author can change a reader's perceptions so drastically and in so short a time, that is excellent writing. As the story began to unfold, I formed an opinion of the protagonist, Sylvia, which was one of great dislike and annoyance. This character was seriously weird and her obsession with her boss made for some uncomfortable reading. This woman in her 50's with her introverted lifestyle and spiteful behaviour towards anyone who got close to her beloved Professor, was clearly deluded and unlikable. Even her part time, voluntary, job at the hedgehog sanctuary failed to win her any Brownie points as she appeared to be such a nasty piece of work. However, by the second half of the book we begin to see Sylvia in a different light as we learn more abut her past and what led her to become the way she is. Her unrequited love for her Professor had shaped her life for so long but then (no spoilers) she is enlightened and, like a hedgehog awakening after a long hibernation, she becomes our heroine. Her relationship with her sister and her niece, Crystal was a particular joy in the book as was old Jonas who ran the hedgehog sanctuary and whose love for the prickly residents was so lovely to read about. This book held so many surprises for me - all good ones - and I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it. I shall look out for future books by this author. Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this lovely story.

Yet another feel-good book where an ostensibly unlovable person finds happiness and an understanding of what is important in life. But I was utterly charmed by this tale of unrequited love, redemption and hedgehogs. The main characters are amusingly awful and the story (if predictable) is compelling enough to read in one long session. And everyone loves hedgehogs.

The main character in this tale started off as spiky as the hedgehogs that she worked with. Over protective of her secret crush a threat to the status quo left her evaluating her life. The consequences of which led her to self-improvement. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for an ARC.

This is a lovely little book, I really enjoyed reading Sylvia's story although from time to time I wanted to shake her, and say please, please be a bit more less ignorant!
It was an easy to read, cotton candy read, June is the perfect time for this to be released as it'll do such a good summer read!

I enjoyed this book, although I found Sylvia's car crash of a life cringe worthy at times. I also found Sylvia a difficult character to warm to at first, however by the end of the book she was much more likeable.
This is a pleasant read about the lonely life some people lead interspersed with some interesting information about hedgehogs.
Thanks Netgalley for the advance read copy

I really enjoyed this book. At times an uncomfortable read as you saw the wheels slowly coming off for Sylvia but I warmed to her gradually and wanted to hear her story. Thanks NetGalley!

I enjoyed reading this story but took a while for me to warm to the main character Sylvia. She is a mousy and slightly sinister character with a long held obsession and deluded hopes for love with her professor who she guards and gatekeeps with an inch of her life. I enjoyed the blurred lines of professionalism and how easily kindness can be misconstrued by romantacists and manipulators. Sylvia’s life falls apart spectacularly when a glamorous PHD student breezes into profs life and when Sylvia’s obsession takes it a step too far to “protect him” resulting in her loosing her job. The cringeworthy humiliation and embarrassment that follows forces her to re-evaluate her life.
There are some fantastic supporting characters woven through (family and friends) some are more supportive than others! and her relationship with old Jonas in the hedgehog sanctuary she helps at gives her some focus and the distraction she needs.
I wish the author had delved a bit deeper into her sinister side though, I don’t think there was enough emphasis on prof and Lola’s reaction to her behaviour. I felt like there were 2 different storylines, that had been spliced too crudely and rushed towards the last third of the book. Thankyou to the publishers and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book for a fair review.

When I first started to read this book, I thought the character of Sylvia Penton was a lot like Eleanor Oliphant, albeit not as pleasant. However, as I got into the book I warmed to her and started to feel really sorry for her. The ‘relationship’ she feels that she has with the Prof is all in her head, and he, of course, is totally oblivious. And then Sylvia’s hopes are further dashed when an attractive PhD student arrives on the scene and it becomes obvious that the Prof is in a relationship with her. I loved how her character gradually changed as the story went on and that she became much less ‘prickly’ and judgemental. Her relationship with her niece is very touching and I really enjoyed the other characters within the book and Sylvia’s relationships with them all. And by the end of the book I really quite liked Sylvia and was ‘rooting’ for her to overcome her obstacles.
This was a lovely debut novel, and I look forward to reading more books by her in the future.

Sylvia is in love. She is sure that her boss Professor Lomax loves her too - after all her takes her for a special lunch on her birthday every year and he has even confirmed she is 'his rock'. It is just a matter of time... And maybe that time will be coming closer as the Professor's wife has just asked him for a divorce. So when Professor Lomax gets a new young, attractive PhD student for whom he will always make time in his diary, Sylvia is on the alert.

It took a while, but eventually I was captivated by this story. To start with Sylvia comes across as a rather ridiculous character who is not particularly pleasant to people she knows and blind to reality. However, as the story progresses another aspect of Sylvia's personality begins to shine through. She develops a close relationship with her niece, Crystal, and as this friendship grows Sylvia softens and I began to feel much more sympathy for her.

When I first heard about Needlemouse I was instantly drawn by the title and I love the parallel between prickly Sylvia and a hedgehog. But Sylvia certainly has a softer side and we discover that after painful experiences in the past it has simply become a habit for Sylvia to hide her gentle nature behind a prickly exterior. It is a delight to see Sylvia begin to uncurl and live her life again.

Jane O'Connor does so well in creating a rather appalling character in the Sylvia we first meet, that I might have been tempted to give up on the book. So I give her full credit for gradually showing us that there is more to Sylvia, but in a believable way. She handles the character very fairly. When Sylvia's plans fall apart, she must acknowledge the part she has played, but she has learned to open us and trust people once more, so she still has the possibility of a happy ending. I highly recommend this book.

There are some delightful hedgehog sketches too.

My sincere thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

Loved this book. Initially I found Sylvia annoying, and rather disturbing. But by the end of the story I felt sorry for her and I liked her. How about a sequel - the next era for Sylvia. What happened in her life

Needle Mouse
by Jane O’Connor

I received this from Netgalley after I requested it amongst others.
I was drawn to it by the synopsis, and it is a book debut.

About the book
Time to come out of hibernation...
Sylvia Penton has been hibernating for years, it’s no wonder she’s a little prickly..

Sylvia lives alone, dedicating herself to her job at the local university. On weekends, she helps out at a local hedgehog sanctuary because it gives her something to talk about on Mondays- and it makes people think she’s nicer than she is.

Only Sylvia has a secret: she’s been in love with her boss, Professor Lomax, for over a decade now, and she’s sure he’s just waiting for the right time to leave his wife. Meanwhile she stores every crumb of his affection and covertly makes trouble for anyone she feels gets in his way.

But when a bright new PhD candidate catches the Professor’s eye, Sylvia’s dreams of the fairytale ending she has craved for so long, are soon in tatters, driving her to increasingly desperate measures and an uncertain future.

The characters are described really well throughout the book. I felt I could visualise them with ease. As the story developed Sylvia was becoming a bit delusional, to me. In saying that, maybe love can do that to a person.
It was therefore a little obvious, in my opinion, where the story was going.
But that didn’t take any of the enjoyment away from my reading it. It was interesting to see how it was all going to pan out!
There were other things going on, which could have concluded in several ways, throughout the book. I enjoyed seeing just how far the characters would go, in terms of protecting their own interests.
I liked and disliked certain characters and at points became really quite cross at them! I felt a lot of emotions reading this story and I’d recommend it as a good read. I look forward to reading more from Jane O’Connor