This was such a sweet and uplifting story - I really enjoyed the originality of the premise and the characters it featured.

Some years ago, travelling to Hull - yes, I even remember where and why (to meet with an old work colleague who was then employed at the University, to discuss a book/ paper we were jointly writing), I left behind my 'back friend'. At the time, a somewhat unusual, and expensive, seat cushion for people with bad backs. It provided a steel frame, well padded, and ergonomically shaped double cushion for both the seat and back of a chair. Extremely comfortable.
I notified Lost Property, but it did not reappear, and sadly I purchased a replacement.
Some months later- after the required 3 months in fact, I was told it had been handed in.
On collection, it was noticeable that a different shaped bottom than mine had sat in it, for long enough to create an impression. We suspect a train driver..
My father, as a Black Cab driver often had items left which he later collected- after the 3 months had expired. And I sometimes became the recipient of odd bits of jewellery or umbrellas this way.
Lost property is fascinating. Such stories you can conceive and weave around them. Who had owned them. Why they had been left. Where they had been going and more - who was missing them, and how badly, especially in the case of children's toys. For an imaginative child they were treasure.
This book too is treasure. Read it and hoard it. It is worthy.

Lost Property
by Helen Paris

A beautiful and well written book that follows Dots seemingly mundane life collating records of lost property for London Transport and visiting her mother in her care home. It was not always this way 12 years ago she was in Paris starting an exciting career until there was a change of course. The story covers so many feels grief guilt sadness and Dot has to forgive herself and sometimes memories are not always are you perceive them to be.

It’s such an uplifting , warm feeling and deals with some sensitive issues really well. 4.5/5

📚Book Review 📚

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I want to thank NetGalley for approving me for an ARC of this book.

🥹Tear Jerker
💗Grief
🥰Family
🚶🏻‍♀️Self Discovery

What a beautiful story! Don't be fooled by the pretty cover, this one packs a punch! Dot was a brilliant main character that you wanted to see succeed, she stole a little piece of me with her courageous story.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

The blurb really did not do this book justice. Paris has managed to weave such an emotional tale around a seemingly simple plot. Dot’s story is so much more than the recording of lost items. It’s about family secrets and growing old, and overcoming life events that leave you bereft. Great read!

This unique tale of love & loss is brimming with so much warmth you won't want it to end!

Dot steals the show as she should, a fabulous character that will stay with me long after I've finished turning the pages.

A delightful read - i really enjoyed this one! Beautifully written and i shall look out for this author in future.. Thank you NG,.

I really enjoyed this book. I just thought the story was just beautiful and the characters were adorable.

I struggled to get into this book but this was due to the timing of when I read and personal events. The story revolves around the main character, Dot, whose father has died and she is still struggling with her grief, alongside coping with her mother being in a care home with dementia, hence the book is very sad at times. Dot puts her focus on her work helping people find their lost possessions whilst handling a new difficult boss, and in particular helps an old gentleman looking for his late wife's missing purse. A well written story but a challenging read.

I enjoyed this book, slightly unusual as it is. Maybe not a page turner but worth a read. Recommended.

This was a beautiful story of loss, of searching and of finding hope. Lost property was not so much the Lost and Found department where Dot worked but more the loss and finding of one's self.

Dot was a wonderful character, unique and extremely quirky, diligent at her job but carrying a tremendous weight on her shoulders when it came to her family. Her father died when she was younger, her sister was married and trying to live an Instagram-perfect life yet did not seem very happy and always seemed to look down on Dot as a disappointment, and her lovely mother was suffering from dementia which was taking its toll on Dot. She was also suffering the loss of her home as she lived with her mother until she was moved into a home and her sister insisted upon putting the house on the market right away.

So she focuses on work, in particular, an old gentleman searching for his late wife's missing purse, not a valuable item but priceless to him nonetheless. However, work is undergoing some changes, the installation of a new boss, one she despises with good reason. She goes to extreme lengths to locate and return the item to him, finding a lot about herself and her own feelings along the way.

Very well written and delicately handled, the author captured both the ups and downs of a person with a great deal of sorrow and worry, yet still a sense of worth in the end.

There is a smattering of romance in there but this is not a romantic story, but of finding your place in a world that had different plans for you than you originally intended.

Triggers: Suicide, suicide attempt, sexual harassment, dementia

Really enjoyed this book. Dot was a wonderfully, quirky character and you really invested in her journey. Very emotional and thought provoking.

Dot works in Lost Property but really she is a little lost.
Somehow by learning more about how hard she is finding it and as the story gets more and more involved and she spirals out of control we love her more
Lovely characters and a really quiet lovely story

A slow burner but quick to pull on your heart strings. Tackles some very serious issues (suicide) making it a tough read, although beautifully written and leaves you with a sense of hope.

Please note that this book is not for me - I have read the book, However I had to DNF and because i do not like to give negative reviews I will not review this book fully - there is no specific reason for not liking this book. I found it a struggle to read and did not enjoy trying to force myself to read this book.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused and thank you for the opportunity to read this book

'Lost Property' was an easy and quick read. I liked the storyline and the characters. We follow Dot through the heartache linked to her father's suicide, her mother's dementia and the course her life has taken due to these events. Dot is very committed to her job in the TfL Lost & Found, secretly hoping that by being able to reunite people with their lost belongings, she herself might find something or someone lost during the sad events of her life so far. There was something missing and I can't quite point out what this is. Perhaps it's the (lack of) characterisation of Dot herself. 3.5 stars from me.

Thank you to the editor and Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest and impartial review.

Was an average ok 3 star read, it wasn’t bad but neither was it outstanding. The blurb initially peaked my interest, personally I found it to be an easy slow and steady read.

A very nice book by Helen Paris. I’ve never read a book by this author before so I wasn't sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the story and the characters.

Absolutely loved this book, it is sad, funny, poignant and easily kept me reading until the end. Dot is an Eleanor Oliphant type character adorable and quirky. It's a story of lifes up and downs, So sad in places, laugh out loud in others.

The description are so well written easy to read Lovely romcom to get your teeth into. Well written.i recommended to you all a good story