Sybil Wiseman goes skating with boyfriend Simon when she hits her head. Also at the skating rink, quite by chance, is Sybil’s old tutor – Helen Hansen – the successful, confident and attractive academic. While Sybil finds herself being patched up, Simon goes home with Helen which, to be honest, made me feel he wasn’t much worth all the anguish that seems to be caused later when it appears that Helen has discovered her new soul mate.

This is a gentle and humorous story. I liked Sybil and her colleagues at the Royal Institute of Pre-historical Studies. I think many of us would sympathise with Sybil, as Helen, an old nemesis, suddenly reappears to cause chaos in her personal, and work, life. Author Ruth Thomas sets the scene well, with Sybil recalling how she first met her old tutor, “Call me, Helen,” who was more popular with the male students than the female. Of how she tried to dampen her academic results and is always unpleasant with a smile…

Although a little out of my comfort zone, this is an enjoyable story. I sympathised with Sybil and thought the work setting worked well. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review. Overall, I would give this 3.5 stars.

I hugely enjoyed this book. I was drawn to Sybil. Her character had me so invested, she felt raw, honest and so relatable. A lovely story and a beautiful book.

The Snow and the Works on the Northern Line

Sybil works at the Royal Institute of Prehistorical Studies in Greenwich and is living a quietly content life until her former university tutor Helen Hansen is appointed a trustee and proceeds to inveigle herself into Sybil's work and personal life. There follows the story of Sybil suffering at first but ultimately exposing Helen for the fraud she is. I loved this quiet story which completely draws you in. I agree with the comparison with Barbara Pym - sometimes a story doesn't need to be dramatic and shouty to be totally engrossing! Highly recommended and I look forward to seeing what the author does next.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

This book is exactly what I expected - a light and amusing read. Not challenging, but not so lightweight that you can skim through it without missing anything.
Perfect for cold, dark evenings, curl up on the sofa by the fire (or the radiator!) with a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy this book.

A disappointing read that failed to connect with me in any way. Sybil works in the Royal Institute of Prehistorical Studies in Greenwich. She seeks to expose her nemesis, the glamorous and successful Trustee, Helen Hansen, after she seduces her boyfriend. Ho hum. I’m sure this book will appeal to many fans of the Eleanor Oliphant genre for example, but it failed to resonate with me in any way. Not caring whether Sybil succeeded or not in her mission to thwart Helen, I abandoned the story half way through 1🌟

Many thanks to @netgalley and @sandstonepress. for this ARC in return for my honest review.

Sybil is happy enough with her life – a boyfriend, Simon, and her undemanding work in The Royal Institute of Prehistorical Studies. Until her former lecturer seduces Simon and her relationship is kaput, and the aforementioned lecturer begins working in RIPS, wanting Sybil’s help in indexing a book. But Sybil knows more about Helen then her lecturer would like so sets about – naturally enough – to expose the noted academic as being less than diligent in her work. I found it to be a subtle read: it’s not action packed, rather quieter but in being so it means you lean forward more, wanting to absorb everything that is going on within the novel. I thought most of Sybil’s reactions felt real and human, and I was endeared to her as a character.