This book was so moving, so emotional, so joyous and so uplifting. I really enjoyed reading it and I'd absolutely recommend it!

Meredith alone is beautifully written, the subject matter is sensitively handled and I was fully drawn into Meredith's world as she navigates trying to get back to outside life. For over three years she hasn't left the confines of her house where she lives with her cat, Fred.

Over the course of the story we learn about Meredith's backstory, her sister Fiona and their fractured, difficult relationship with their mother who seems like a hard person to like or feel empathy for. Meredith's best friend from school Sadie is still in touch and she knows at least some of the history and provides constant support and encouragement for Meredith's efforts to step back into the outside world again.

The trigger for Meredith's self-imposed isolation is heartbreaking and the ripple effects are far reaching, whether the other people in her life are prepared to acknowledge it or not. Meredith slowly starts to increase her circle through an online support group where she meets Celeste, and also a befriending service which is how Tom ends up appearing on her doorstep weekly.

From an outside perspective, it may seem like not much is happening - but each little challenge met is a triumph (stepping outside; walking to end of path; going to local shop etc) and the struggle involved is not hidden. We are with Meredith when some of her attempts do not work out and she battles with her panic disorder - but she keeps fighting.

I really liked the way the author handled trauma in a realistic way, and gave an insight into how things are for many people who have had troubled childhoods for a variety of reasons, and the impact this can have into adulthood. I was rooting for Meredith to set herself free and could understand her internal struggles and anxiety with trying to do the right thing/be what was expected. I think most people can relate to that to some degree in their own lives.

This was a change of pace from my usual reads, and I am glad I took the time - definitely recommended,

Loved this. You can't help but sympathise with Meredith and the position she finds herself in. We all have secrets and some hold more trauma than others, so it is easy to understand why we all handle life differently.

Sensitively written, although I would not say uplifting? Life affirming fits better.

Thank you, I've already gifted two copies and spread the word that this is the one to read over the summer!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily and it reflects my personal opinion.
I thought this book presented the reality of living with mental health issues very well, especially the length of time taken to progress along the route to recovery with all its setbacks. Meredith's development of new friendships was interesting, and the way her life changed was handled delicately although I thought the bus journey without a panic attack was a little ununbelievable. The story raises many questions, such as the effects of nature versus nurture and the support services available when Meredith was younger and currently.
I thought the narrative style was rather slow and plodding with very little happening at times and the reveal of the events in Meredith's childhood and what happened to her sister was never fully completed. My summary would be that the book is more sorrowful and depressing than uplifting, it's not a book I would like to read again although I believe some readers would find it touching.

How can you not fall in love with Meredith Maggs. For one what a fab name and another she is one amazing strong person. When I started this book I thought yes I would love to be Mer just staying home not having to engage with the outside world but then the reality of seeing how hard it is for Mer to leave and engage again is heartbreaking. I loved loved loved this book and didn’t want it to end. Yes I still wish I could stay at home but unfortunately I can’t cook like Mer, I can’t do jigsaws and I haven’t got a cat for company. Enjoy.

I apologise that I have left it so late after release to review this book but it hasn't felt like a speedy read and I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I don't want to give too many spoilers but I felt that the subject matter was quite depressing and the amount of heavy foreshadowing means that once you get to a big reveal, it doesn't feel like one at all. Some of the dialogue also felt very artificial and clunky. Not for me, sorry.

I really enjoyed this – Meredith is such an appealing protagonist, and the reader really gets behind her and cares about what happens to her. It's written with warmth and compassion, and as Meredith gradually begins to let more people into her isolated world, there's a real sense of joy and belonging. It's heartbreaking at times, but really brilliantly done.

Wow, I loved this book. A tricky subject matter that's perfectly pitched, so you're really rooting for the main character and, despite inhabiting her world, her home and her head for long periods of time, I never once got bored of being part of Meredith's world. My only slight irk was that the mother character wasn't as fully fleshed out as I might have wished for. But, actually, that's an accurate reflection of life – that you can't always fully understand people's motivations and complete backstories. Ultimately, the writing was excellent and the subject matter relevant and poignant. An exceptional read.

What a fabulous enjoyable read this was! I adored Meredith and just didn't want to let her go when I'd finished the book!

Thoroughly enjoyed the life and trials of Meredith's reclusive life. It showed such strength and honesty and I was hooked from the beginning.

Highly recommended and well deserves the 5 stars.

Thank you Netgalley.

Loved this book. One of those that you invest your time and energy into because you get so absorbed in Meredith and her situation. Well worth a read.

Meredith Alone

This was one of those books where it only took a couple of pages for me to be ‘in’ the author’s world and completely convinced by her main character. Meredith hasn’t left her house for more than a thousand days, but her inner world is so rich and full. She was absolutely real to me and I could easily imagine having a coffee and a catch up with her. We meet her at a crossroads in life. She’s trying to make changes. Her daily life is quite full, she works from home as a writer and between work she bakes, exercises by running up and down the stairs, reads and fills in jigsaws of amazing places from all over the world. The jigsaws are the key. Meredith doesn’t stay inside from choice, just standing outside her front door gives her a wave of rising panic. Meredith feels a terrible fear, her heart starts hammering out of her chest, her throat begins to close and she feels like she’s going to die. However, as she looks at yet another jigsaw of something she’d love to travel and see in person, she becomes determined to live a fuller life. Meredith has sessions with an online counsellor and a new addition to her weekly calendar is a visit from Tom, who is a volunteer with a befriending society. With this support and that of her long time best friend Sadie, can Meredith overcome her fear and come to terms with the events behind her phobia?

The author tells Meredith’s story on a day by day basis, with the amount of days she’s spent indoors at the beginning of each chapter. There are also flashbacks that take us to Meredith’s childhood, living at home with her mum and sharing a room with big sister Fi. Underpinning her childhood is such a well-constructed tale of psychological dysfunction. Of course all families are dysfunctional in their own way, but Meredith’s broke my heart. Her mother is inconsistent in the way she treats her daughter, as Fi later says, their mother was horrible to both of them, but saved her fiercest venom for Meredith. She would insult her youngest daughter’s dark hair and withheld medical attention when Meredith developed eczema. She tells her itchy, uncomfortable child that she has faulty genes and it takes Fi to engineer a visit to the GP without their mother knowing. Meredith can remember happy times or at least times where she felt safe, such as a memory of being freshly bathed and drying off in front of the fire with hot chocolate. Fi and Meredith lie in bed at night conjuring up a future where they leave home and get a flat together, finally leaving their Mum to her bitterness and the alcohol. If it’s true that our self image is made up of those rules our parents tell us about ourselves and life, then Meredith is left with low self-esteem, no sense of security and the sense that she is strange or tainted in some way. It’s a recipe for mental ill health and it’s amazing that Meredith grows into such an intelligent and kind-hearted woman. It’s even more amazing that it’s Meredith who has the strength to leave.

I truly enjoyed the friends Meredith manages to make along the way and the resourceful way she tries to make herself part of the outside world from her living room. She chats in a forum of people struggling with their mental health and Celeste becomes a particular friend, even going as far as visiting Meredith and cementing their friendship in person. I loved how her befriending visits with Tom develop, because at first Meredith is slightly suspicious of his motives and keeps the extremities of her condition to herself. They have a drink together and stay in the kitchen doing one of her jigsaws, but soon they’re baking together and the relationship is becoming more of a two way street. Less befriending and more of an actual friendship. They share and Meredith realises that other people around her struggle too in their own ways. She even strikes up a friendship with a little boy who comes to ask if she wants her car washed. The upsurge of positivity in her current life is exhilarating to read, but it’s also necessary because I knew that I was also getting closer to finding out what had brought Meredith home one day, close her door and not go out again. Claire Alexander balances this beautifully and where many authors might have gone for the schmaltzy ending, she doesn’t. She keeps it realistic and in doing so made me aware of everything that Meredith has had going for her all along. She’s so self-aware, independent and knows who she is. Above all, even as she starts to overcome her demons she’s determined to do it on her own two feet. She appreciates support, but gives it as well. She doesn’t want to become dependent on an emotional crutch. Meredith is perfectly ok. Alone.

Ah I lovely feel good book, just what the Dr ordered! And uplifting tale with a beautiful lead character, just fab, a great summer beach read for sure

Meredith Alone is a well paced novel with believable characters. Meredith is content to stay at home with her cat Fred, completing jigsaws. Her life begins to change when her one friend Sadie persuades her to register with a volunteer service and Tom begins to visit her, as she also makes a friend via an online support group. Gradually, the effect of this friendship is felt, as the past catches up with the present and we discover why Meredith has stayed at home. Highly recommended.

The more I read, the more optimistic and hopeful I felt.
Beautiful novel about the power of friendship and healing.

Funny, clever and really intriguing, I was thinking about it long after I finished reading.

I was gripped from start to finish.

A good, enjoyable read. It deals with some difficult subjects which some readers may find hard to read about but it deals with them sensitively and delicately.

If you enjoyed "The Girl Who Couldnt Leave" by Catherine Miller then you should enjoy this.

For me personally, it ended a little abruptly but that's the only downside.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

If you liked Elinor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, you'll like this book. Meredith is a sympathetic, if not exactly likeable, character at the beginning but as you learn more about her life and the circumstances around her situation, you can completely understand why she's stuck in her house. Alexander addresses mental health from several different angles, as well as discussing both child and domestic abuse in a sensitive way. Meredith's progress throughout the book is completely realistic, and I particularly liked the emphasis on the transformative power of friendship and connection. Not a happy read, necessarily, but a good one.

Absolutely excellent read. I devoured this in only 24 hours and I really believe it will stay with me for a long time. Absolutely loved the characters of Meredith, Celeste and Tom and their developing friendships.

A beautiful story of friendship and courage. There are a lot of tough subjects covered so plenty of trigger warnings but I will say that this author has clearly carried out extensive research, or has personal experience because she nails every topic. The guilt and enduring effect of sexual assault. The insidious effects of childhood abuse. The courage it takes to ask for help, and the strength required to begin the journey out of a dark place.

Meredith hasn't left her house for 1 214 days. She is paralysed by panic attacks and her life has shrunk. She fills it with working from home, baking, working out and spending time with her cat Fred. But when Tom, a befriender, shows up, he becomes just one amazing cog in her small but mighty support network and with true grit, Meredith finds herself stepping outside again.

Absolutely loved this wonderful book and it left me with hope and all the feels.

I could not put this book down! The story was completely absorbing from the very first page, the main character was charming and incredibly believable, and the overall bittersweet, realistic energy of this extraordinary story was spot on!
An excellent, non-romance, holiday read option that will make you smile and leave you feeling warm and fuzzy long after you've finished the book. A fantastic debut novel for the author, I look forward to reading lots more of her work in future!

Thanks to NetGalley.co.uk and Penguin Michael Joseph for the free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.