With the war finally over, London sends out a call for help to rebuild the big smoke. Lawrie, among with a group of 'Windrush' men disembark from Jamaica to London in the hope they would receive a small fortune. Touring the streets in Soho at night and postman by day, Lawrie Matthews is determined to make a name for himself, but no matter how hard he tried, making a home in London was beyond his reach. 1950's was not a good time to be a black man, so perhaps 'This Lovely City' wasn't quite so lovely at all...

Being the only black woman in the city, Evie Coleridge couldn't wait for the arrival of the 'Windrush' men - no longer would she be outnumbered! Lawrie moved next door and instantly, they connected and it couldn't be a more beautiful, but like all novels, things weren't going to be easy...

Just the cover alone grabbed my attention before I even read the synopsis. Eager to read this, I dived straight in with no expectations of what this book was even about! I loved the way Louise writes from both points of view. She really captivates how tough it was to be of a different colour post war time. This isn't just a story of one man, but a story of a whole community of races trying to make a living for themselves in such troubled times. Despite some parts being difficult to read, I cannot recommend this book enough!

I am struggling to believe that this is Louise Hare's debut novel as it is so well written, plotted and the characters feel so human and real. A truly excellent first novel.

Set in post-Second World War Britain, it educated me a lot about the Windrush generation and the arrival of many immigrants from Caribbean countries, under British legislation that allowed citizens of colonies right to British citizenship.

What was appalling, and portrayed so well in this book, was the racism that such arrivals were subjected to. This racism forms the crux of the plot where Lawrie, a recent arrival to London, finds the body of a baby that is clearly of Caribbean origin. He immediately comes under suspicion as the perpetrator of murdering the baby (although the white woman who found the baby right before Lawrie arrived on the scene is not under similar suspicion).

While this is the main 'plot' so to speak, the real focus of the book is on the relationships between the characters - many of whom were new arrivals to Britain. I particularly loved the relationship between Lawrie and Evie, a mixed race girl who lives next door with her white mother. Evie also faces racism but has a different background to Lawrie so her struggles do differ.

The novel was very evocative of the era and I could practically picture the jazz clubs where Lawrie and his band played, the office where Evie worked and the houses in which they all lived. The characters also seem to behave in a manner that perfectly portrays that era - with some postwar abandonment but still the decorum and manners of the era.

I did not expect Evie's story to go the way it did but it was wonderfully written; sensitive, realistic and moving. I really felt for her, and for Lawrie in turn. I even felt for Evie's mother too, despite her underlying racism towards her own daughter she did seem to mean well in some ways and was faced with some difficult situations.

I look forward to Louise Hare's next novel.

Thanks to HQ, Netgalley and the author for this ARC.

This was a beautiful book set in post War-London. The Windrush Generation have recently arrived on the streets of London. Lawrie is a young clarinet player and postman adapting to life in a new country. He is in love with the girl next door. Life should be perfect. However there is an ever constant undercurrent of racism that hinders his day to day life and this is brought to the fore when he stumbles upon a shocking discovery in the park that brings him and the others in his community to the unwanted attention of the police.

This is a well written, endearing and heartfelt book. It did drag a little in places but the characters were relatable and likeable, the plot was intriguing and believable and it dealt with difficult issues with a lot of heart. A really enjoyable book that I would recommend.


Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This Lovely Life is a fascinating look into postwar London which manages to be both poignant and hopeful at the same time.

Firstly the author does a great job of setting the scene in this book and I felt completely transported to postwar London. As you could well imagine the atmosphere at the time was quite unsettled, tense and suspicious after so many years or fear which is vividly described in the book. I haven’t read much about this period so found all the historical details very interesting especially learning more about the windrush generation and their experiences here. The shabbiness of London is contrasted well with the fun and hopefulness of the time too which helped bring some light moments in an otherwise sad book.

There are some fantastic characters in this book who I enjoyed getting to know. Lawrie was definitely my favourite character and I loved how positive he tries to be even when faced with daily discrimination. DI Rathbone on the other hand- ooh how I hated him! He’s such a nasty, cruel and racist man that I wished I could have reached into the book to give him the slap he really deserved. I felt my blood rise with indignation for Lawrie as he was so horrible to him!

This is a book that is great to get lost in as there is always something going on to keep the reader absorbed in the story. There are some twists that took me by surprise but ultimately this is a story of joy and hope in a bleak time which was brilliantly written. I think this would make a great book club read as there would be lots to discuss.

Huge thanks to Joe Thomas for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.

Set in post war Brixton, we follow Lawrie and his efforts to integrate into a city ravaged by rationing, the hangover of war and prejudice. Exploring community and relationships, this story sees Lawrie find a job, play music with his band and find love, but there are complications at every turn, often in the shape of the unlikeable detective Rathbone. His relationship with Evie and the secrets of her past wrapped up in twists and turns of discovering the truth about a murdered child made this story an unpredictable journey.

This was an empathetic and insightful story of racism in Britain after WW2 when there was an influx of West Indian men into the country. They were invited to Britain the fill the gaps in the jobs market, caused by the loss of life during the war.. Some of them had served in the forces, others coming straight from the West Indies on the Empress Windrush. Very interesting read..

I really, really enjoyed this. It gave a great insight into the windrush arrivals and the problems they faced. The ongoing mystery that ran along in the background was really cleverly woven into the story. Great characters too. Definitely recommended.

This is louise hares debut novel and what an amazing debut novel it is.

It's an historical story with loss, grief, murder and mystery all in one.

I went into this thinking it's just going to be a light hearted romance but I was wrong. 

It kept me gripped from beginning to end.

If you like historical novels then please dont hesitate to pick this up

I found the story of Laurie and Ellie sad beyond measure, in the knowledge that this was undoubtedly how immigrants were viewed and treated at the time that the story is set.
The language used is difficult and shocking to read, and the intolerance and racism described by white people towards people of a different race is appalling to read in detail. I’m a mature reader, with background knowledge of how immigrants struggled then, but no personal experience, for which I’m very thankful.
It is a well written story, but rather too slow to maintain my interest enough to overcome my discomfort with the language.
However, reading this I was made aware of how far our country has moved on since those days, in how we treat people who we perceive to be ‘different’ to us - for the most part.
I am sorry to say that I did not finish this book.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this title.

Great book, struggled to get into it but when I did I enjoyed it. A little twist to add to the tale, I liked it!

I should start by saying that this is not the sort of book I would normally read. However, that was all part of joining Net Galley for me - to try different authors and styles of books that I wouldn't usually go for! And I have to say that I am pleased that I did! I enjoyed this book - it possibly took me a little while to get into but once I did, I liked the way the story kept unfolding. I was never sure where it was going to go next and I didn't guess the ending at all!

I did struggle a little with some of the Jamaican way of speaking, but don't let that put you off - there isn't a great deal of it. I also struggled slightly with the way the story flitted between the 2 different years but I think that was possibly due to the fact that this was not the fully published version and may not have been as clearly set out on my Kindle.

However, all in all, an enjoyable read. Thank you to Net Galley & the publishers review this book in return for an honest opinion.

Lawrie Matthews came over to England on the Empire Windrush, but even two years later, London is still in the grip of austerity following the war. When he finds the body of a young baby drowned in a pond, the police automatically suspect him of involvement in the death, because of the colour of their skin. But is there a connection to the baby that he isn’t aware of?

This Lovely City is a mixture of a book - is it a murder mystery, with the baby’s death, or is it a commentary on the plight of the Windrush immigrants and the racism they were subjected to on a daily basis? The characters are well created, with Lawrie and his band mates being popular for their musical talents, but treated with suspicion elsewhere. Even Evie, Lawrie’s girlfriend and next door neighbour, is treated differently for being mixed-race.

I did find myself getting confused at times with so many different characters and settings, and with the story flitting between when the Windrush first docks in 1948 and 1950 when the baby is discovered. At times the story didn’t really move on at all and dragged through the middle. The ending was unexpected, in a good way, although I still found the behaviour of Evie’s mum unlikely.

Overall, a good social statement of the time, with an average detective investigation thrown in.

Lawrie answered the call from post-War Britain and landed with high hopes of a future. Missing his Caribbean home he falls in with a group of musicians, finds a job as a postman and starts courting a young mixed girl. However when he finds a child in the pond on Clapham Common his world starts falling apart. Already used to the basic racism he encounters on an everyday basis Lawrie finds his life spiralling out of control.
This is a terrific book and a very strong debut by Hare. Superficially a story about a crime, the setting among the Windrush generation is very cleverly observed. The roles of women in post-War Britain are skilfully depicted, the fact that on marriage they are expected to give up work, that divorce is scandalous and very difficult to obtain. Obviously the inherent racism of society is writ large and racist attacks feature yet are treated as almost commonplace. All of this shows a very deft touch from the writer as the love story between Lawrie and Evie is kept central and the (rather melodramatic) plot winds around this.

I couldn't get enough of this book.  
Set in London not long after the end of World War 2.  The country is still struggling and men from the Caribbean are given the chance to come to England with the promise of a house, job and an all round fantastic life. 
Unfortunately some of these men and their families find it difficult to integrate for a variety of reasons.. 
A wonderful book that I shall be telling everyone about.

Lawrie is a young man travelling from Jamaica in 1948 to live in London. He has answered the call to rebuild the city and help her get back on her feet. Part of the Windrush generation, all he wants is to work hard and be accepted. But he and his friends face deep prejudice and racism. We follow him through the post war years of 1948 - 1950. He meets a nice girl Evie, but she has secrets. And when Lawrie makes a grim discovery in the park one day, it sets in motion a terrible chain of events that will lead to the truth being revealed. This debut novel is many things, part historical fiction, part murder mystery. It held my attention and was filled with interesting characters. And a story still relevant in today's society, unfortunately, 70 years later.

Lawrie is a postman by day and a musician by night, a true gentleman whose girlfriend Evie lives next door. This is such a moving book showing the horrible injustices and racism they both had to deal with. It is a window on how hard the daily lives of the Windrush generation were in post-war London. Lawrie innocently gets caught up in a police investigation resulting in him being made a scapegoat. It is a very powerful book which is important in highlighting the awful discrimination and inequalities in society due to ethnicity, social class and gender. Therefore, at times, it creates feelings of helplessness and anger at what some people have to suffer. A very powerful book. Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

What a fantastic debut from Louise Hare. This Lovely City is London, the title being ironic as it follows a group of Windrush immigrants from Jamaica, the welcome they receive is not what they expected and about as warm as the climate. These optimistic travellers expected ‘The Motherland’ to welcome them with open arms in order to help rebuild war ravaged Britain. Instead they are shunned, face appalling racism and prejudice and sometimes violence. One such hopeful immigrant is Lawrie Matthews. After a rocky start he is able to secure employment as a postman and he plays clarinet in a jazz band formed by fellow Jamaicans and they play in Soho jazz clubs. Lawrie meets Evie Coleridge who he likes very much. Their relationship begins in a promising way in 1948, halts for a while and resumes in 1950. However, one day after work Lawrie makes a horrifying discovery that’s turns their lives upside down and which brings the dangerous, poisonous and dogged presence of DS Rathbone into their lives. This poignant and emotional tale is told from the perspectives of Lawrie and Evie and goes backwards and forwards from 1948 to 1950.

The characters in the book are fantastic although not all likeable. I especially admire Lawrie who is a real gentleman and very honourable. Evie is mixed race and has lived in London all her life and has faced much prejudice. She too is very likeable and I admire her strength. The book captures their emotions very well and their story is moving although not always easy reading as some of the racism makes you gasp. It portrays post war London society and attitudes very effectively. The capital like so many cities at this time is still recovering from war as the bomb damage is still all too evident, food shortages remain and there is rationing but with a thriving black market.

Overall, this is a really well written and believable story that keeps you interested throughout and invested in the characters and storytelling. There are plenty of elements such as mystery and secrets, kindness and love, danger and violence, illusion and delusion but also hope for the future. This is a very relevant book especially in the light of recent news surrounding Windrush immigrants and their descendants. Highly recommended.

This Lovely City tells the story of the Windrush generation; the people who came over to the United Kingdom after the Second World War from countries like Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and other Caribbean islands, to help with the post-war labour shortages that were being experienced. Many of them had served in the British armed forces and decided to come to live in Britain.

The Windrush generation was so called after the ship, MV Empire Windrush, which arrived at Tilbury Docks in Essex on 22 June 1948 carrying nearly 500 men, women and children. The aim was for them to be welcomed into and be housed in the local communities to help rebuild the country, but they were treated with contempt, suspicion, discrimination and racism rather than being received with open arms and appreciation.

In this fictional story, one of the Windrush men is 19-year-old Lawrie Matthews who spent nearly all his savings on a ticket to England and was shown to a deep-level shelter in Clapham Common when he arrived. He ‘hated that they’d been shoved down into the bowels of the city, unexpected guests that no one knew what to do with’ and initially struggles to find work after a run in with a local man leaves him with a black eye.

Lawrie is a musician and enjoys playing his clarinet in the dance halls in Soho at night time with his band, formed with some of the other men, and then rushes to his morning job as a postman. While playing their music, the men are respected and admired but Lawrie soon discovers that this turns to suspicion and mistrust afterwards and, fearing for his safety, he learns how to keep his head down and avoid antagonising anyone.

He moves into new lodgings, a tiny boxroom, next door to his 16-year-old girlfriend, Evie, and her mum, Agnes Coleridge, and all seems to be going well for him at last. Until, one day, while delivering a ‘special package’ for the rather dodgy Derek, his housemate and son of his landlady, Nóirín Ryan, he makes a startling discovery on Clapham Common, which has far-reaching repercussions that affect all that he knows.

In the quest for the truth of the matter, the local policeman, Detective Sergeant Kenneth Rathbone, questions Lawrie, Evie and others connected to them, and locals start to turn against anyone black, in shocking displays of racism and unrest, blaming them for the awful incident.

The story was told in a few time periods, 1948 and March to April 1950, and from the points of view of Lawrie and Evie, cleverly interspersed with articles from newspapers and letters between Agnes and her sister, Gertrude.

I really enjoyed this beautifully written, compelling story and it was an eye-opening insight into the Windrush generation and how they were so badly treated when they were just here to help the country rebuild. It was cleverly plotted with some intriguing twists and turns and tense moments. Several of the characters were hiding some big secrets from each other and I certainly hadn’t guessed how everything would pan out!

This Lovely City was so captivating and absorbing and I could really imagine all the scenes in the book and was desperate to see how the story unfolded and hoped it would have a satisfactory and happy conclusion for all. The Windrush migrants were so unfairly and unjustly treated at times and I felt quite upset and angry at some of the unsettling incidents I was reading about.

Overall, I really enjoyed this touching, though-provoking story, which evoked some strong emotions about an event and period in history that I didn’t know much about, and I’m looking forward to reading the author’s next book.

I enjoyed this book but it failed to make the impact on me that I think was intended. The story deals with issues of race and immigration in 1950's London and half of the book follows Lawrie, a Windrush immigrant from Jamaica. The other half follows Evie, a mixed race British women. Throughout the book their lives intertwine in various ways - mostly centred around the death of a baby which Lawrie is unfortunate enough to discover. I loved the social commentary on race within this book but I feel like it could have explored issues of gender more within Evie’s narrative. There were some serious issues touched upon which could have been more in depth. The story was interesting and the writing really transported the reader to the streets and jazz bars of 1950s London. A good read.

This book was provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

I received an ARC copy of this book in return for an honest review. This is a well written book about the early experiences of the Windrush immigrants set into a fictional narrative. This has a storyline which draws you in and good characterisation although the police leave much to be desired. I enjoyed it . as the blurb says a charming rood. Great for a rainy day but I am not sure that it deserves the ratings it is getting. Certainly the mystery of what happened to the baby is very predictable.