Alexander Potter has created a wonderfully enchanting story about a group of strangers who are all coping with different types of loss. Set in a Yorkshire village, the neighbours are brought together by a rescue dog named Harry, showing how different generations have a lot to give and gain from each other.

I loved all the characters, especially Harry. It’s an easy read, although quite emotional in places. There is something that will resonate with everyone reading. One Good Thing has lots of life lessons sprinkled throughout the story with an overall ethos of kindness.

An enjoyable read indeed!

I’ve been a longtime fan of Alexandra Potter and especially enjoyed her previous novel, Confessions of a 40-something F*** Up, so was especially excited to receive a NetGalley copy of her latest.

One Good Thing starts with Olivia at her lowest ebb in London, abandoned by her husband who has left her for another woman. With a hankering for her past and the joy brought to her by the Yorkshire Dales as a child, Liv makes the life changing choice to buy a dilapidated house in the Dales. She knows no one there but is ready to begin again…she thinks.

Told over a year, Liv meets and engages with a cast of characters from the village, including Valentine, Stanley and Maya, all of whom will also benefit from finding a good friend.

I loved reading this book. I lived in the Dales for a few months and smiled as I recognised aspects of village life there. Beautifully written and character driven. Thank you Alexandra and NetGalley for a lovely read.

This story was a little bit too quaint for my taste personally, but it was well-written. I prefer a bit more snark, a bit less sweetness, but it was easy to read and an ultimately upliting story, though it did bring a tear to my eye a couple of times.

I received an ARC of, One Good Thing, by Alexandra Potter. This book was ok. I liked Liv and some of the characters she met, especially Stanley. I thought the book was too long and a little boring.

Not for me. I can see that it is well written but not in the right head space for all the sadness at the start of the book

A definite feelgood book with more ups than downs, just the read to lift the spirits. A delightful set of characters with a strong sense of friendship and feeling of community. Set in a village in the Yorkshire Dales where people come together to get through life's setbacks. Ranging from Stanley with his autism and death of his mother through to pensioner Valentine dealing with his wife's dementia. A book of hope, new beginnings and second chances to dispel the more gloomy days of winter or relax with on holiday

A really enjoyable book by Alexandra. I love this autors style of writing its so relatable and flows so easily. This story was jam packed with magic moments. A lovely story of a woman (liv) who divorces from her husband and goes to live in the country away from London. Soon making friends with a dog ( harry) and a sweet old man ( valentine) and an autistic boy called Stanley. And his dad (Ben)As a sen parent I was happy with how Alexander wrote about this and was easily relatable. Over all I really liked this book. There was lots happening in this. And it was a simple read. I'd recommend this one. 4*

I was thrilled to be approved for this on NetGalley and it didn’t disappoint, I really enjoyed it.

Liv is our main character and we join her post divorce, on the brink of a new start. Moving from London, to the heart of Yorkshire, she’s on her own and terrified of what life will be without her marriage and the future she thought she had. Liv is a great character as she’s vulnerable enough to care about, with enough gumption to keep you interested. I enjoyed her inner thoughts and musings that are woven into the story. The book covers some really important issues, without it feeling forced. Grief in particular and the forms it takes - whether it’s a literal bereavement or the more subtle ways we can grieve for things lost. Its also refreshing in the sense that Liv’s focus is on building a life that feels good to her, rather than what a she ‘should’ want.

Liv rescues a dog called Harry on a whim and from there a new life unfolds. We meet a wonderful group of characters, each with their own struggle, who in coming together find a way forward. The friendships formed felt natural and I enjoyed the time I spent with the characters. I cared about all of them.

This is a love letter to dogs and the joy they bring. It’s also a love letter to Yorkshire, the descriptions of the scenery made it a character in itself. I love a village story and the sense of community, I felt at home in no time.

This is a book full of warmth and heart, I really enjoyed it. It’s not twisty or turny, but a feel good story of what happens when one good thing happens to you and makes you believe again.

Having loved this authors other book I was looking forward to reading this one and it certainly didn’t disappoint. This was a beautiful heartbreaking yet heartwarming read.

The characters are all very relatable and lots of real life issues are covered in this story such as divorce, grief and loneliness and also shows us all that a little bit of kindness goes al long way and that so much more can be achieved with a bit of community spirit and everyone pulling together.

Harry the dog is the star of the show and also the glue that holds everyone together and enables new friendships and bonds people together. How does the saying go dog is a man’s best friend that is certainly true in this heartwarming read.

This book had me laughing and crying in equal measure and Is a poignant read.

I would love a sequel to this book to see what happens with liv and her new found friends.

Newly divorced Liv has left London for Yorkshire, to live in the village where her grandparents used to live. Everything seems difficult until her one good thing - Harry, her rescue dog.Harry means lots of things to different people he meets in the village, and seems to be helping everyone.
A great read.

What a lovely, gentle, heart-warming and thought-provoking story! I spent a lot of time just smiling at the observations and interactions of all the characters. It was so easy to get totally involved with each person's story: Liv who finds herself newly divorced in her 40's returning to her grandparent's small Yorkshire home town where she has fond memories of life as a child; the arthritic scruffy dog she adopts; the little boy with special needs and his widower dad; and the sad old neighbour who is watching his wife shrivel away with Alzheimer's. There are also plenty of quirky small town characters scattered throughout.

With the unpredictable and worrying world we are all living in right now, this is the perfect read to distract us from reality and also remind us that it only takes "one good thing" no matter how small, to change our perceptions and thoughts from dark to light.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I love this authors books, they always bring a smile to my face and this was no exception, funny, warm and a real good storyline. Loved it.

One Good Thing by Alexandra Potter

Liv Brooks is falling appear when she least expected it. In her forties she finds her husband is having an affair with someone young enough to be his daughter. She divorces him and packs her life up and moves to a 300 year old cottage that is falling apart in the Yorkshire Dales to rebuild her a new life.

This is a wonderfully heartwarming story covering many issues beautifully.

There are many wonderful characters and humour along the way but really the main star is Harry.

The book eases you gently in until all the threads come together beautifully and there are many twists and a bit of mystery for good measure.

Loved it a must read

This is a really uplifting novel about fresh starts and companionship for both humans and an ageing scruffy dog called Harry. Told in an interesting style, not quite a diary yet not quite a traditional story the chapters offer excerpts over a year told mostly from the viewpoint of divorcee Liv but also from seven year old Stanley, teenager Maya and pensioner Valentine each of whom is struggling in their own way and none of which have anything in common until Harry comes into their lives and friendships blossom and their lives start moving on. The characters in here are so varied but each has much to offer and is so well formed, the steady pace of the Yorkshire village sounds lovely but not without its challenges and the gentle storyline has a lot to offer, this is a lovely little dose of positivity.