The Phonebox at the Edge of the World is a fictional novel about loss, grief and hope, that is entangled with an air of fiction - for example, the inclusion of 'The Wind Phone' that can be found on a cliff of Japan. People pilgrimage in their thousands as it is believed that the voices of those who speak are carried on the wind to the souls of the lost. Fans of Mitch Albom will absolutely adore this book, I did! When I initially heard about Laura's novel, I was immediately intrigued with the concept, I knew that I needed to read it. Well, it blew me away, there were tears and there was that warm feeling of hope that embraced me. The Phonebox... is a contains beautiful visualisation, as well as giving the voices of those lost in the March 2011 Tsunami and those that were left behind. Their pain bleeds through this novel, the storyline may be fictional, with fictionalised characters, but at the heart of this story, there is authenticity. The initial information about The Wind Phone, its relation to March 2011, as well as that found in the well placed mini chapters further creates an evocative plotline that will tug your further in by the heartstrings.

The main character is Yui, she has lost everything - her mother and daughter were together when the Tsunami hit, they died together, leaving Yui behind in a world that she feels she no longer belongs. Who is she without them? Yui travels to the Wind Phone because of the urge she has to speak to those she has lost, to share with them the meaningless she feels in a world they no longer exist. We have all sadly felt a type of intense grief, and because of this I was drawn further into the storyline, I identified with Yui and so I felt invested in her story and journey through heartbreak. Laura's character development was spot on, the connection between them and seeing the personal development was really well done, especially as they were the core emotive foundations. I loved this debut!

A moving read that concentrates your mind on how to handle the loss of loved ones. The author clearly describes how different people are affected by loss.

A beautiful & thought provoking read. I enjoyed reading about Japanese culture as well as the story of 2 people coming together through their own separate grief.

This is a really very lovely, gentle book. I liked the style, of the story being interspersed with facts or lists about the characters or situations. I very much liked Yui, and Takeshi - they both felt real, and I was routing for them throughout. I hadn't been sure what to expect, and had half-thought it would be a sci-fi story, but it is very much grounded in reality, and looks at aspects of grief, and aspects of faith.

The story deals with much tragedy, and yet you come away feeling uplifted and hopeful. It is sweet, simple, and made me long to go back to Japan.

I was unable to finish this book. I found it slow and meandering. The plot just didn't grab me. Other people have enjoyed it though. Wasn't for me.

I loved this book - beautifully written, heartbreaking but also full of hope. One I will be recommending in future.

Yui and Takeshi have lost so much - Yui her daughter and mother and Takeshi his wife. They find each other and the phone box which offers them a way through their grief.

They meet other fellow sufferers and help each other through.

A lovely book - gentle and poignant.

Yui has lost the very things that root her to the ground; her daughter and her own mother. Grief comes in waves and is marked by the cutting of the blonde dyed hair she stopped colouring after their deaths. The “halo” of blonde is all that is left when a caller to the radio station where she works talks about how he copes with his own loss. Yui is sure that happiness can be a thing, a tangible object that can be reached out for and touched. So our lovely, lost protagonist heads for the hills, to the phonebox at the edge of the world.

I devoured this book in one sitting. Enchanting, luminescent, endearing, glittering, this story is a special evening in the garden under the stars and a midnight sky. Although it is borne from a tale of grief, it is loving, affectionate, inspiring and heartwarming. For a story of grief to be so hopeful is rare and I thoroughly recommend you spend an evening reading this beautiful and majestic book.

The title of this story drew me in and wasn’t what I was expecting at all. Nonetheless it was still a pleasant easy read that I would recommend

A rather lovely story,dealing with loss of loved ones.
The phone box at the end of the world builds a community,and friendships that help people through their hardest times.
It's one of those books you'll look back on for some time I think.