This book is so heartbreaking. The story is told in dual timelines. The author has developed the characters so well. The ending felt rushed.

I loved the author's previous novel Little Big Man so was looking forward to reading How To Find Your Way Home.
Emily Nelson hasn't seen her older brother Stephen for over 10 years, despite their strong bond and closeness growing up. Emily now works as a homelessness officer and is reunited with Stephen after he comes into her office one day. We discover that Stephen went to prison in his teens and although the reason is hinted at throughout the novel the reader discovers the truth gradually.
I absolutely loved this novel, Katy Regan writes beautifully, I adored both Emily and Stephen and the author portrays them both with real warmth and sensitivity. The novel explores dysfunctional families, estrangement and homelessness and yet throughout it is filled with a sense of hope, partly through Stephen's connection with birds and the natural world. A gorgeous novel that I would recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

I have read a few of Katie Reagan's books before and I have always enjoyed her books this book did not disappoint. When Emily and her brother Stephen find each other after being estranged. Emily works to build a relationship with her brother again. They must overcome secrets of the past to build a new relationship.

This was a lovely poignant read about siblings reconnecting after many years apart. I loved the characters and the connection they had throughout the story.

Definitely a recommended read.

Thank you Netgalley.

A thought provoking read about family relationships and the rippling effect choices can make.
I was glad both siblings were able to reconnect and reflect on their childhood and adulthood. We are taken through the family journey going from past to present which I liked as you got to really understand the characters and their development.

The story of two siblings a brother and sister who lost contact as adults. The search begins when they re meet - what follows is a sinking relationship. Quite a different storyline, one most of us can relate too. Enjoyed this one. .

A wonderful book about the love between two siblings. Emily and Stephen have been estranged for quite some time over something bad that happened to Stephen, leaving him serving time in prison. Now he is living on the streets and Emily, a housing officer is desperate to find him. The book, told from both Stephen and Emily's perspectives had me riveted, it was quite refreshing for a book to focus on the relationship of a brother a sister . The love Stephen has for Emily is often paternal, protecting her from harm, teaching her new things and watching her grow in awe of everything that she is. He simply lives to love her. Now it is time for Emily to be there for Stephen. Can she step up to the job. Get your tissues ready for this one.

In a Nutshell: A slow-paced literary fiction that explores sibling relationships with all its ups and downs. Somewhat predictable, but it still manages to tug at your heartstrings.

Story:
When Emily was born in 1987, her four year old brother Stephen was probably the happiest. Holding her in his arms, he vows to keep her safe forever.
Thirty years have gone by and Stephen and Emily are no longer in touch after a traumatic family incident. Stephen is homeless, he wanders the streets of London with his beloved binoculars around his neck, pursuing his passion for birds and surviving by sketching and selling bird drawings. Emily works with the local council. When circumstances bring them together again, will it be easy to go back to where they were all those decades ago? Can their relationship survive the secrets and the heartbreaks of the past and even the present? Or is the chasm too wide to jump over?
The story is mainly narrated in the contemporary timeline from the 1st person perspective of Emily and 3rd person perspective of Stephen. There are also some 3rd person flashbacks about their younger years.


Where the book worked for me:
✔ I loved the experience of reading a book that is dedicated to a sibling relationship and focusses only on it without forcing in a mandatory romantic side-track.

✔ The main characters and a few of the secondary ones are quite well-sketched. Stephen is the best carved. While you might feel a certain prejudice against him at first, he grows on you as the story progresses. Emily takes the exactly opposite character path. To see them both in tandem, working through their issues is a nice experience.

✔ I loved how birds and bird-watching were integrated into the story, much beyond theirs being Stephen’s passion. Even the flashback episodes were named after birds such as swift and geese and every flashback had something to do with a bird-related memory.

✔ The ‘home’ in the title can be interpreted in so many ways. Stephen is looking for a home. Emily is trying to complete her home with her long-lost brother. Their parents have chosen their own homes over their families. The birds in the story are also either looking for homes or finding a way home. It’s been ages since I have seen a title that is so perfect for the plot, both literally and metaphorically.

✔ The cover of my UK edition copy is gorgeous and it does perfect justice to the book. I love this cover so much better than that of the US edition.


Where the book could have worked better for me:
⚠ Some parts of the plot seemed to work too conveniently. The ending especially seemed a bit rushed, as if it was much in a hurry to tie everything together neatly.

⚠ Some things in the past, especially some decisions related to the secondary characters, are left unexplained. I understand that this would have shifted focus from the siblings to the other family members, but at least a sentence or two would have provided some clarity on the rationale for their actions.

⚠ The middle part of the book gets a bit dragged and repetitive. It is also quite slow at times. If you are in the right mood for literary fiction, this unhurried pace won’t affect you much.


All in all, this is an emotional and a heartwarming read. If you read it when you are in the right mental space, it will provide you a touching and uplifting experience. Definitely recommended, but to be picked up on the right mood day.

4 sentimental stars.

My thanks to Pan Macmillan, Mantle, and NetGalley for the ARC of “How To Find Your Way Home”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.


Trigger warning: One horrifying scene of animal (bird) cruelty.

What if the person you thought you’d lost forever walked back into your life? WoW! WoW! WoW! What an absolute mind spinning, beautiful story this was! when i read a book i like a book to keep me gripped from the beginning and this book certainly does that

Thank you to #NetGalley for the advance copy of #HowToFindYourWayHome by #KatyRegan

When Emily was born Stephen promised to always look after his little sister, now the are both adults and have lost contact with each other. Emily has been searching for him for years and one day he walks into her workplace. Can they find their way back to each other and to home.

Very good book, with strong relationships, and a good story. This book grabs you and is quite different to anything I have read .Cracking book, well worth a read.

This was a lovely character read featuring thirty five year old Stephen who is desperate to turn his life around after a troubled past that led to him spending many years on the street and his estranged sister Emily who has been trying to find her brother for a number of years. Both characters were well written, I thought Stephen’s struggles adapting to being in a house again were well considered and it was interesting to see how events in the past were viewed by each of them in the retrospective chapters. Overall this is an emotional read, it didn’t offer much in the way of surprises to me but it was very heartfelt, 7/10

What a fabulous book about sibling love and forgiveness. If you're a bird-lover or nature-lover then this book is for you. It swaps time perspectives in each chapter between Emily and Stephen as children and as estranged adults. As the story unfolds we discover the reasons behind Stephen's homelessness and the horrors of his childhood. However some secrets aren't revealed until the very end, and believe me, you will have a tear in your eye at the end. Left me feeling really good. 5 stars

This was such a beautiful piece of writing. The relationship between the siblings is so powerful and really adds a new level to the story. It is well written and the chracters are well developed and relatable.
The storyline was both heartbreaking and full of hope and had me shedding tears mulitple times. I loved it

Many thanks to Netgalley/Publisher/Author for an advanced copy of this book!

This book had me sobbing from the start, a beautiful story based around two siblings who lost each other, you follow the lives of Stephen and younger sister Emily throughout the chapters before reading about them both together in the present.

Stephen has been through a lot, now he's homeless and seeking out Emily, which is all Emily has wanted. They take a bird-watching trip together, and Emily hopes that this will help Stephen, and bring them closer again.

Throw in a surprise turn at the end of the book, and this left me wanting to read more!

Heartwrenching and beautiful, I would highly recommend this book!