The detail and intricacy of the writing in this book are gorgeous. It has a calm quiet to it, but there are strong emotions running throughout, and I found myself very invested in the characters. Jean as a protagonist is appealing, but for me Gretchen, the woman who contacts the newspaper where Jean works to claim she gave birth to her daughter through an immaculate conception, is fascinating. Set in the late 1950s, the period detail is precise and believable.

I first read Clare Chambers’ ‘Learning to Swim’ almost two decades ago and it has been one of my favourites ever since. The kind of book I can read over again and I don’t have many of those. Her latest novel seems to have been a long time coming but it’s been worth the wait. The same seemingly effortless flow of the story, her lightness of touch and oh so poignant observations are all here. I was completely entranced by Jean’s character and predicament. Equally by her portrayal of life in the London suburbs in the years just before the swinging sixties really took hold. I particularly enjoyed the household hints Jean writes for the local paper (which the author says in her afterword are real examples). A flavour of these:

‘Never throw away an old plastic mackintosh. The hood cut off will make a useful toilet bag. The large back panel may be used to line a suitcase to ensure safety from damp should the case get wet when travelling.’

I confess the virgin birth strand interested me less but didn’t detract from a welcome addition to my Clare Chambers collection. Highly recommended.

A gentle, pleasant read which I think suits the word "cosy". Its slow-paced in a good way, and ideal for fans of Dear Mrs Bird.

Set in 1957, Small Pleasures tells the story of Jean, writer at the local newspaper The North Kent Echo after they receive a letter from a local woman, Gretchen Tilbury, claiming that her ten year old daughter Margaret was born of a 'virgin birth'.

Jean is set to investigate this women and her claims and in doing so, her life becomes strangely intertwined with The Tilbury's: with Gretchen and Margaret themselves but also with her Husband Howard

Without going into too much detail I will just say that this book was both delightful and heartbreaking. It was such a pleasure to read. I fell for Jean, she is a brilliant character (as all of them where). A unique story and a book I'd definitely recommend

Thank you for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Oh my goodness, Small Pleasures – what a book! I’ve been reading a lot in lockdown, and this one really pops out. That’s how I know it’s good. It’s been a while since characters and a wonderfully crafted story like this have captured my heart. I was fully emotionally involved, which made it all the more wrenching when it was over.

Set in 1957, we meet the lovely Jean Swinney. She is 39 years old, a reporter on the North Kent Echo newspaper and lives with her mother out of duty, really. She is not married, her father has died and her sister has moved the Switzerland, so it falls to Jean to look after her mother. This leads to a rather mundane and restrictive life for her, until she takes on a job at work that changes everything.

Gretchen Tilbury writes to the newspaper with an extraordinary claim: she believes that her 10-year old daughter, Margaret, was a virgin birth. In that, Gretchen was a virgin when she had her, no man had been involved.

Eyebrows are raised at this claim in the newspaper office, but when one of Jean’s fellow reporters asks: ‘Does anyone want to go and interview Our Lady of Sidcup?’ Jean agrees (or rather, being the only woman on the newspaper, this job falls to Jean). She is a great little investigative reporter. It is due to her research, diligence and sharp eye for detail that the mystery of the virgin birth unfolds.

While researching her story, Jean becomes close to the whole Tilbury family – Gretchen, her daughter Margaret and her husband Harold. It is this blurring of Jean’s professional and personal boundaries that gives the story its engrossing, heart-piercing hook.

Small Pleasures opens with a newspaper account of a real railway crash in 1957 that tragically killed 90 people and injured 173. This happened on a train line very near my own, yet I didn’t know about it, so this element was fascinating and perhaps made the story a bit more visceral for me.

As the book begins with this account, you can only assume it will weave its way into the story somewhere. Once I realised this was the case and was invested in the characters, I started to panic about who it would involve. I will say no more as to leave this a spoiler free zone, but its this added level of subtle tension that adds to the brilliance of Small Pleasures.

You know when some books just punch you so hard, emotionally? That’s what Small Pleasures did to me. It worked so well as it is, in essence, quite a gentle read, so it almost blindsides you – in a brilliant way – in the last quarter with its conclusion. And, oh, that ending!

It’s a nuanced look at the little things in life, at how the littlest decision can have a huge impact. A wonderful story to let yourself get wrapped up – add to your summer reading list now!

I absolutely adored this book. It drew me in from the first page and had me fascinated until the very end. In fact, I think I gasped aloud when I made the connection between the opening newspaper report and the sad ending I was powerless to stop!

I was a fan of Clare Chambers' earlier books and was delighted to see she had a new one out. If you're after a comforting yet gripping read where you disappear into a different time, into a world so finely drawn and filled with characters you come to care deeply about, then Small Pleasures is the book for you. Highly recommended.

With thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an ARC.

Jean Swinney is a 1950s journalist for a small local newspaper. She also takes care of her aging and unappreciative mother with begrudging yet quiet efficiency. Her dull and predictable life is brightened up one day with a chance scoop of an interesting story of a possible 'virgin birth' from a reliable source; sensible Gretchen Tilbury.
These two women become good friends as Jean investigates Gretchen's allegations. Jean starts to spend more and more time with Gretchen and her family with unforeseen results.
The writing is gentle and sensitive showing the characters' finer qualities and manners as well as Jean's selfless devotion to her mother. She uses words beautifully to bring out the the slightest nuances of suppressed emotions and the vivid descriptions convey deep feelings and fine observations.
It is a great story but the reasons why I loved this book so much were because of the beautiful writing style and the poignant, tragic ending - it was this that tipped it over to a 5.

Thanks to netgalley and Orion (W&N)

This novel, set in and around 1950s London and following a lonely journalist who happens upon an unbelievable story, is incredibly engaging, with characters that you root for. I read it in a day, and I was absorbed from the first chapter. However, (not wanting to spoil anything) the author includes an explanatory note at the end about why and how she tied together two strands of unrelated history into the fictional world of the novel and it only confirmed for me that actually one of those strands was unnecessary and a distraction. The story would have held its own without this element of tragedy.

(I have removed my previous review because it contained spoilers! Sorry - I didn’t know I couldn’t hide them on here! I will post my original review on goodreads behind a spoiler click)

I was really intrigued by the premise of this, as it reminded me of Emma Donaghue’s The Wonder, despite being set at a completely different time frame and location.

I really loved the story of Gretchen and Margaret and was really interested in the family but I have to be honest, the romance plot didn’t interest me me as much and I lost interest half way.

I can’t such much without spoilers, but this book didn’t end up being about what I expected, however the ending and afterword added a lot to it.

I thought this was brilliantly written and I will definitely read more of Clare Chambers’ work in the future.

A wonderful novel that took me on an emotional journey and broke my heart at the end. I had not heard of Clare Chambers before but I will remember her name after reading this. Bravo!

I have very rarely felt so emotional about a book but this novel hit me hard. I noticed a recommendation from Sarra Manning on twitter about it and although I hadn't heard of the author, I decided to give it a try and I'm so delighted I did. Clare Chambers is a marvel and I can't wait to read her other books.
This story sounds rather unassuming - a journalist named Jean investigating an alleged case of a virgin birth but it is so much more than that. The characters live and breathe with pulsing life and the narrative is heartbreakingly beautiful.
I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Jean, a single woman who lives with her Mother, works as a feature writer for the local newspaper. After featuring a piece about potential virgin births, Jean receives a letter from Gretchen, who claims to have experienced one.

So begins a relationship between the two women as Jean investigates Gretchen's claims. Becoming involved with Gretchen's family will change Jean's life forever.

Having seen a lot of good things about Small Pleasures on social media, I was really interested to pick up a copy so I was delighted to be granted permission to read a copy of the ebook via Netgalley.

I've not read any of the author's previous novels but I found her writing to be excellent and very easy to read. It was easy to get swept away by the story of such an incredulous claim.

Jean is an interesting protagonist and narrator who you really root for. Gretchen is a curious woman who you're never sure to believe. I loved the time setting of this one too. It's lovely to imagine the streets of London in the late 50s, along with the fashions.

Overall I really enjoyed this one! A huge thanks to the publishers for granting me access to read Small Pleasures in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book.

The story is engaging from the start and it kept my interest throughout. Jean was a likeable and well-rounded protagonist and her fate was heartbreaking.

My only criticism is that I would have liked a more dramatic reveal of Margaret's parentage. It felt a little overlooked and it would have been stronger to tell Gretchen - but not telling her obviously added to Jean's overburdened character who put the feelings of others before hers.

It was a well-written and really enjoyable book that I devoured in a day.

Already a huge fan of the work of Clare Chambers I was eager to read 'Small Pleasures', her first novel for nine years. By coincidence I had recently read a Barbara Pym novel and found that Clare creates an authentic post war period feel in this departure from her previous works of humorous contemporary fiction. This novel has a perfect balance of character and plot, with both developing in unexpected ways throughout the course of the book. Protagonist Jean works as a reporter on a local newspaper in Kent, and in the course of an investigation into a claim of virgin birth she finds much more than the answer to her quest. The small pleasures of the title are consolations for the disappointments of life and the deprivations of war. As a single working woman in the postwar era, Jean is offered a glimpse of much greater pleasure but this comes at a price as she struggles with the conflict of duty and social convention versus personal happiness.

Intriguing plot and engaging characters; Chambers' "Small Pleasures" is a quick, heartwarming and heart-breaking book, not life-changing yet totally worth the read.

SPOILERS

This book was a very pleasant find... a crazy story about a woman claiming to have experienced a virgin birth.
Jean ,the journalist researching the story,is a bit lost I'd say in her life.. left at home,caring for her mother,and seemingly not very happy.
The introduction of Gretchen,her daughter Margaret, the supposed miracle child,brings light relief to her life.
I was drawn completely into the story,wondering the how's and where's,and could it really be,as Jean followed the leads.
I completely cheered the romance between Jean and Howard.
The ending though... I'd forgotten the opening chapter,and once they were brought back to mind,I had a real moment of sadness (as much as you can) for the characters.
It's quite a feat to have you feel invested in fictional characters lives. 
The author did it brilliantly here.