Daniel is 30 and has been working in Sicily as a walking tour guide for the last five years, but he is now back home in Cornwall, where his sister Annabelle lives with her husband Scott, daughter Mia (6) and son Rasmus (4).
Daniel and Annabelle have inherited their grandmother’s cottage and need to decide what to do with it. Moving from Sicily to the quiet Cornish village of Trevone is a big change for Daniel, so he soon comes up with an idea to get out and meet local people – the Saturday Walkers Club. He is particularly hoping the blonde woman he keeps seeing around will turn up…
However, only one person turns up to join him on his Saturday walk – Hazel, who is widowed, originally from Trinidad, in her eighties and lives nearby. Daniel is disappointed, but as they begin to walk, Hazel tells him how she was good friends with his late grandmother Molly. Daniel hadn’t had much to do with his grandmother in recent years, but now he can learn something new, by seeing her through Hazel’s eyes.
I love novels where strong friendships are made between characters from different generations, such as in Libby Page’s The Lido or Hazel Prior’s Away with the Penguins and this also fits that remit beautifully.
There are some great characters here. I love the character of Hazel particularly in The Slow Lane Walkers Club, she is so full of life and fascinating! The cat is great too and the little girl Mia is just brilliantly realistic!
There’s a lot good to say about this book. I like the length of the chapters. It was very easy to get into and is a really enjoyable read. I will look forward to reading more of Rosa Temple’s novels in the future.

First time reading this author and its a really lovely story that bridges generations., I couldn't put it down.
The story centres around Daniel, who comes home to Cornwall to help his sister Annabelle sort out his late Grandmother's house. He doesn't plan on sticking around though, he left years ago after a falling out with his father, and to be back brings up too many difficult memories. When Daniel meets Hazel, his grans friend, he soon realises he knew so little about his Grandma, is it time to stay still a while and find out more? If he's staying for a while he's needs to keep busy, he hits on the idea of a walking club and it's a good excuse to spend more time with Hazel and chat about his Gran. When Hazel turns up with her walking stick and in her new Crocs for the first walk, he realises this isn't going to be any ordinary walking club, especially as they are all intent on matchmaking and finding Daniel his new love. Throw in an unwanted blast from the past and the arrival of his mates who just want to party, will Daniel ever get his life in order?

Set in Cornwall, The Slow Lane Walkers Club is just the best book! You will feel so uplifted and full of smiles once you have read this book. It is absolutely brilliant and brings out the best of living in a community - friendship, love and support. And if everyone helps just a little bit, the difference that this can bring to someone’s life and the impact on others, is immense.

I fell in love with the characters straight away - different generations with an amazing bond. Hazel is just an absolute gem of a character, full of spirit, full of determination with such a smashing personality. She beams positivity and overcomes adversity with such tenacity and courage. Daniel is such an asset to the community - I am so pleased he decided to stay. Not only would the community be lost without Daniel, he would be lost without the community - they made Daniel feel part of a family and showed him that he could start afresh and make a life for himself. Hazel helped him so much come to terms with his past and to find out about his Grandma. I found reading about Daniel's Grandma's history in the Land Army really interesting. I did get worried when his friends and ex-girlfriend turned up out of the blue ... I did not want them to mess up the life and relationship that Daniel had started to make.

The walking group, set up by Daniel, has enhanced not only his life, but those of many others. It has created friendships, romances and most of all support. Everyone will help each other out in their time of need, no matter what. Daniel and Hazel's friendship was so lovely and to see their friendship (and the other walkers) blossom was just wonderful.

Sometimes we all need a little help to put that one step forward in life, to be brave and to move forward, one step at a time. Who knows where this one step will lead ...?

Without doubt, The Slow Lane Walkers Club is a 5-star read. I loved it so much - such an inspiring book! I will definitely be reading it again!

Thank you very much for my advanced copy. This review is based on a NetGalley ARC provided in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion.

Daniel returns home from working abroad to sort out his grandmother’s home which he has just inherited along with his sister. He had left the area after arguments with his parents and is reluctant to be there. He just wants to sort out the house, sell it and go back abroad.

He decides to set up a walking group as that was what he was doing abroad and it gets off to a slow start as only one person turns up and she walks with a stick. But over time more people turn up and he learns more about his grandmother from her best friend. Will Daniel stay or will he fall in love with the place again and find that special person?

Loved this book. Daniel has to move back to Cornwall to sort out his grandmother's house which has been left to him and his sister Annebelle. He meets Hazel his Gran's neighbour and they start up a walking group which at first is just the 2 of them

Loved meeting Daniel and Hazel. A reminder that we need to live life fully and not let others direct us, we need to work out what makes us happy.
It was good to see that a young person could become a good friend to a mixture of people and help build a community of friends,

I loved this so much and didn't want it to end. I got so engrossed in the characters and their lives that they became friends and I didn't want to say goodbye. A really joyous read.

Fantastic book. Couldn’t wait to read it and found it quite difficult to put down once started. The characters were engaging and interesting. The writing made you take an interest in what happened to them!

Sometimes all I want to read is something gentle and easy on the mind. The Slow Lane Walkers Club fits the bill very well and is as heartwarming as it is uplifting.

An endearing tale of an unlikely friendship between an elderly lady and her new, young neighbour, the book has a slow pace like it’s title, but you are compelled to keep reading. It is a stress-free zone, ideal for reading in the sun with a glass of wine or by the fire with a hot chocolate!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy in return for an honest review.

I hadn’t heard of Rosa Temple before reading this book but I’m glad I’ve come across her now as her writing is just so uplifting.

Even before I started reading it, it reminded me of The Cancer Ladies’ Running Cub by Josie Lloyd in that it just screamed uplifting, warmth and comfort right from the off.

On a side note, I’m loving the amount of books set in Cornwall at the moment. It’s such a beautiful place of the country that I love that it’s getting so much recognition, and it almost becomes a character in its own right.

I wasn’t a big fan of Daniel to begin with, I felt he was too entitled, too self absorbed, too childish, but he soon endeared himself to me once he started bouncing off some of the other characters. I really liked Hazel from her first introduction, she reminded me of a very dear family friend we lost a couple of years ago aged 97, so that was a nice touch for me. I also like how Hazel is not just the token old character, she is a well rounded character in herself and the introduction to her husband was lovely (I won’t say too much on that point). Some characters were bigger than others, more in depth whilst some stayed in the background but they all have some kind of influence over Daniel’s decisions which I enjoyed.

It is a gentle, easy read that fills you with so much joy and warmth throughout. It’s completely uplifting, gives you a great sense of community, and really shows you how your friends can become your family.

A lovely easy going book that will leave you with a warm fuzzy feeling at the end. A story of friendship and overcoming obstacles. Left me with a similar feeling to The Lido or Everything is Beautiful. A great read.

A really good holiday/get away from it all story, well written and paced with pleasant, relatable characters. Rosa Temple has written a story that should appeal to all age ranges with a young male main character and co-lead an elderly lady with an interesting past ( haven’t all elderly people had a more interesting lives than young people think!) The young man has a kind heart and good intentions but in the way of most is a little more interested in his own love life, but all comes good in the end. Thank you Netgalley for ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A real feel good factor book, and a wonderful easy-going read.
I enjoyed the fact that what would seemed to be an unlikely friendship between the two main characters, Daniel & Hazel, really blossomed into a heartwarming story.
Daniel & his sister have recently inherited a house from their Gran. Daniel is newly returned from his job as a walking guide on Mout Etna, and is going to renovate the house ready to sell. He is reluctant to lay down roots, but gradually his friendship with elderly neighbour Hazel, his new found walking club, surfing, cycling, possible job prospects & a new lady in his life start to make him wonder if he should finally settle down.
Hazel tells him tales of her youth, and also of his Gran who he hadn't seen for many years due to a falling out between his own mother and his Gran.
Obviously, obsticles arise and relationships are tested especially when someone from Daniel's past comes to 'haunt' them, but as you've probably guessed, it all works out in the end.
I really loved this book, and will definiately look out for more books by Rosa Temple.
Thank you Netgalley, and the publisheres for allowing me to review this ARC.

As someone who enjoys walking, I was keen to read this book. It was a nice gentle read that I really enjoyed.

Much like the sleepy seaside village it was set in, I found the story to be as wholesome as it was uneventful, but I was able to appreciate it for the simple, low-stakes read that it was.

The lead characters of Daniel and Hazel were perfectly likeable and the formation of their friendship was endearing. I particularly appreciated how Daniel treated Hazel like his peer and equal, instead of some senile old lady who hadn’t lived a life prior. Their relationship helped the restless and aimless Daniel realise that settling down and making long-term plans wasn’t something to be afraid of.

Despite going into Daniel and Hazel’s backstories, I found the story to be lacking in depth. In a similar way, exciting plot points were scarce and any drama usually stemmed from Daniel’s own actions, or more accurately, inaction. I didn’t feel the effect of any intended jeopardy as each storyline took a predictable path to its happy ending.

However, I don’t think the book set out to be gripping or dramatic. Instead, it excelled at highlighting how a community can be built even amongst the most unlikely of people once preconceptions are set aside. I enjoyed watching the walking club band round Daniel when he was dealing with his self-inflicted romance troubles. It showed how the club had evolved into a type of family – unsolicited advice and all.

I really enjoyed this book and would certainly recommend it. Hazel and other supporting characters are an absolute delight. However, I just couldn't get on with Daniel and his sister and was really sensitive about their behaviour. Daniel barely thought of anyone but himself throughout the majority of the book, which surprised me when he struggled to set boundaries when his friends tipped up. And his sister was so interfering. I almost didn't finish because Daniel reminded me so much of a narcissist.

Adventures may not always be where you look for them. Daniel’s life has stalled, and dealing with the aftermath of a return home gives him more than he bargained for. Friendships can be shaped in many ways and sometimes the person least likely to make a difference in your life is right in front of you, ready to create ripples.

Life goes too fast at times, slow down and see what’s really important with Daniel and Hazel, two unlikely friends that are about to have a huge impact on each other in this endearing story that will brighten your day.

A captivating book that I devoured very quickly due to its endearing characters (Hazel was stupendous) and the charming friendships that blossomed throughout.

This is first read from this author and I enjoyed it. The cover would definitely attract the eye on the shelves and I think it's a perfect holiday read.
Easy writing style and fun characters
Thanks to#NetGalley for the advance copy in return for an honest review.

A nice easy read that will warm your heart. I enjoyed the way Daniel’s unlikely friendship with Hazel developed throughout the book as he starts his walking club on his return to Cornwall after many years away.
Yes, it’s slightly predictable and no there aren’t any big surprises - I think it would be a great book to take on holiday.
A good solid 3.5/5.
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

An endearing story which I found uplifting to read. Well written. The story and characters draw the reader in and you feel totally involved in their lives.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.