A wonderful book with endearing characters and a well thought out plot.

Thank you for an advanced copy of this book, it was a treat.

Audio review: Great narrator who brought plenty of energy to the performance and somehow managed to layer the MC's deliberate lack of awareness with her genuine lack of awareness.





I'm still not entirely sure what I make of this one. The MC is on the autistic spectrum and exhibits certain traits such as taking people very literally, saying the wrong thing at the wrong time, lacking certain emotional understanding and hyper fixating on special interests. Her voice is pitch perfect (as far as I can tell) and we're set up to believe that she is an inadequate narrator (ie one who is unable to give the full picture rather than an unreliable narrator who has an agenda and deliberately conceals facts.) However, as the story progresses, Wendy makes more and more questionable choices. I have friends who are like Wendy and what we've all found and agreed together, is that if they misunderstand something, they appreciate it if someone just explains what they missed. And we all agree not to be offended by each other's absolute honesty because you need that to fully communicate. But it felt like Wendy would have bull headedly gone ahead with some of the things she does even if someone had explained it to her. For example if someone had bluntly but kindly told her that Diane did not consider her a friend and was starting to find her a nuisance, and that the relationship you form with someone in your own head based on their tweets is fantasy compared to the relationship you may or may not have with them in real life. Wendy is impossible to shake from an objective once she gets set on it. And then bring in Ginger, 15 yr old girl who really should be removed from her current home by social services due to physical, sexual and psychological abuse. And some part of Wendy knows it but she ignores this in favour of the narrative that Ginger is her best friend.



This is beautifully written. It's compelling. Wendy is by turns likeable and unlikeable. And I'm not someone who subscribes to the idea that all 'representation must be positive representation'. A neurodivergent person can still be a villain, or flawed or selfish etc. But this ended with the uncomfortable parallel between people cutting Wendy slack for her behaviour because she was ND and the fact that her ND led her into criminal behaviour and causing a lot of harm. So was the author saying that ND people like Wendy are unreliable and likely to do things like this if not checked? I hope not. Or maybe she was saying that Wendy hid behind her ND and was actually a thoroughly self-centred person who refused to consider that other people were as real as her? I don't know. Maybe the story was just the story and meant to make you feel uncomfortable, even though it ends on a note of dark humour. If so it succeeded. Overall this was not a comfortable book. I just couldn't see to what purpose that was so.

This book was simply wonderful! I listened to the audiobook which was perfectly narrated and was so believably “Wendy”. Where I thought the book was going from the beginning was totally wrong, there was definitely some twists to the story but nothing too extreme or confusing. The character of Wendy was really strong and I loved her despite all of her flaws. I was so desperate for things to work out for her and really hoped that her friendship with Ginger wouldn’t end disastrously. Highly recommended

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 rounded up to 5.

What a fresh, vibrant, delight of a debut from Elissa Soave, brought to sparkling life by a brilliantly authentic narration by Charlie Mudie. This may be a story flooded with sadness, with a whole slew of emotive themes, but it is also one of friendship and hope, of reaching out and taking chances. And it has at its heart two of the most boldly drawn female characters I’ve come across in a long while.

Wendy is 19 and alone in the world since losing her mum to cancer. She is neurodivergent, struggles with the necessities of daily life, and has few interests outside the routine of her job as a bus driver.

Ginger is 15 and lives with her drunken, drug-dealing uncle. Like Wendy, she too hovers on the fringes of society; a poor, neglected waif of a girl, friendless and unloved.

When the two meet on one of Wendy’s bus routes, it’s like fate has thrown them together. They are drawn to each other like moths to a flame; two lost, lonely souls, whose intense friendship briefly expands and lights up their small worlds before crashing into disaster.

As a character, Wendy is a triumph; a larger-than-life complexity of awkward naivety, childish exuberance and painful self-delusion. Her first-person voice is infectious, addictive even. It’s impossible not to be drawn into the thrill of her every small triumph, as she strives, with encouragement from her social worker, to claim the life she knows she deserves.

There are missteps and misunderstandings in Wendy and Ginger’s journey, along with moments of tenderness and unbridled joy. But, it’s the dark sadness surrounding Ginger — disguised by plucky bravado — that really pulled at my heartstrings.

For a debut, this really is an astonishingly mature and powerful piece of character-led writing. I luxuriated in every perfectly formed sentence and look forward to seeing what Soave produces next.

This was one of the absolute best audiobooks I’ve ever listened to. The story is so indulging; I can’t wait to have a physical copy. I highly recommend it.

Oh Wendy, Wendy, Wendy...
My heart went out to her and to Ginger of course! What a book!
Both found friendship and comfort through living with tradegy past and present and with so many social differences.
A touching book adorably written and it captures loneliness, involves sadness, infatuation and please note, 'warning' of sexual abuse and bullying, which was difficult to read at times.
Yet despite this there were some happy, comforting moments (I think) and a somewhat heartwarming read.
Yes there is a comparison to Eleanor Oliphant but definitely without Eleanor's humor!
I recommend this book to just feel compassion, if you have the strength that is! It really has touched me.
Being visually impaired I rely on audio books and the narrator definitely performed amazingly.
Thank you to netgalley, harper-collins & the author for this advanced copy of this audiobook. As always I'm very grateful for this opportunity.

Sad story of one young girl’s quest to find her place and some friends. Socially awkward and grieving from losing the only stability in her life, her mum she longs for companionship. Friendships that others have, how to achieve them? How to not be a doormat from desperation, how many warnings at work do you need to understand what’s acceptable and what’s against the rules. Despite the angst and mixed messaging there was some benefit of having a friend, and some joy. Well written and took you to the world of someone having nothing to live for yet so much to live for. Thank you #NetGalley for the audiobook to review.

After the death of her mother, the only person who would remind her of what to do each day, nineteen-year-old Wendy is lost, merely coping through each day. She forgets to buy milk and wants nothing more than to drive the buses for her regulars. Her social worker encourages her to try new things, find a new hobby and meet new people so she joins a writing group. There she learns about Diane, a local writer who encourages women writers.

Then Wendy meets fifteen-year-old Ginger. With her bright orange hair and only one coat, she has little to share but is keen to be friends with Wendy. The two spend the summer together until Wendy realises just how complicated Ginger's life is.

'I was already friends with Diane when I met Ginger, Twitter friends anyway, which still counts, maybe even more so because you have to squeeze so much into your 280 characters and then send them out into the world like Post-it notes in a hurricane, hoping they’d reach their target.' 5%

This has been described as being like to 'Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine' by Gail Honeyman and it reads like the author has read it too. This isn't a problem- they both feature characters that struggle to comprehend the nuance and meet someone who helps them.

However, there's a charm that's missing from Wendy. Her awareness of situations seems to fluctuate which shifts how, as the reader, one feels towards her- whether one empathises or simply sees the difficulty. Every chapter ending with a bleak 'that was when it all went wrong'-style comment becomes mundane, eliminating the thrilling atmosphere it seems to be attempting.

'Eleanor Oliphant' also makes comments on other issues that members of society face, namely women and their perception by men. 'Ginger & Me' does this periodically, exploring sexuality, upbringing and family dynamics, but on a smaller scale.

That sums this book up well- it's a study of Scottish life through the narrow lens of two teenage girls. The hardships Ginger endures are poignant and seeing them through Wendy's filter is interesting, although her slow pace for doing so can be frustrating. This is also true for her actions towards Diane.

Soave's writing style incorporates clever remarks in an easy-to-read manner, making apt comments about society alongside Wendy's faux pas.

Mudie's audio narration is clear, using a light Scottish accent to match the book's setting. However, the naturally cheerful tone of her voice jars with aspects of the story, namely Wendy's introspection and Ginger's bleak home life. It's perfectly nice and enjoyable to listen to but also can be said to not suit the book.

I really enjoyed this one. It was very much in the same sort of genre as Eleanor Oliphant but not just because of the character. I loved the way the narrator told you so much she did not realise she was telling you (cleverly designed by the author). The narrator of the audio book was among the best I have listened to and I really think this is a difficult job. Funny in place, dark in places and hauntingly sad in others. Just a clever, witty, engaging novel. There was one terrible moment I listened when poorly with flu and I am very sad I missed a page or two I can’t seem to find scrolling back. Guess I’ll never know what happened with the piled up chairs…

Ginger and Me By Elissa Soave

Coming from Glasgow myself, I absolutely loved this audiobook!

Wendy is 19 and living alone. All she wants is to drive the 255 bus around Uddingston with her regulars on board, remember to buy milk when it runs out and just be ok.

After her mum passed away, there’s no one to remind Wendy what to eat, what to do and most importantly - to love yourself.

Every week Wendy proudly shows her social worker what progress she’s made, such as; the coasters she bought to spruce the place up… even if she does forget to offer her a cup of tea.

But now, Wendy is ready to live life to the fullest again, she decides to join a writers group to share stories including one about being bullied. The other writers amateurs, unlike Diane Weston - a local author who Wendy adores.

Everything changes when Wendy meets Ginger, a teenager with flaming red hair. She’s brave and everything Wendy wants to be.

But is the grass truly greener? Can Ginger make Wendy realise what’s she is missing out on?

This was utterly heartbreaking but beautiful, a story about grieving, feeling lost but finding yourself.

Love love love. Read this!

This was a really interesting story. The prologue tells you where you'll end up but it wasn't obvious how the author was going to get you there. The narrative was well paced. I found the development of Wendy and Ginger's friendship spooled out nicely.
It's also a classic example of an unreliable narrator. You can see that Wendy misses a lot of what is happening but the writer puts in enough detail for the reader to pick up on something a little closer to the truth.
I switched between the text and audio versions. It's something I might do again as it really helped with the 'voice' of Wendy.

Touching and sad in places… An unforgettable debut novel from the winner of the Primadonna Prize 2019 which will stay with you long after the last page.

'Ginger and Me' is a cracking debut from Elissa Soave. Wendy has a simplistic, yet often insightful, world view. She has no filter and is a total breath of fresh air! She just wants to be a good friend and look out for people, God love her. Ginger is a poor wee soul too, and their friendship is a thing of beauty to behold. Along with some heavy-hitting themes, there is great humour in the book. Elissa Soave writes beautifully and cements her characters in our hearts and minds, long after we've finished reading. I also loved to see Lanarkshire as the setting. I listened to the audiobook, which was wonderfully narrated by Charlie Mudie. 'Ginger and Me' is a brilliant read and I can't wait to see what Elissa Soave does next!

A heart warming, heart wrenching, but often funny story about a young woman called Wendy, who doesn't quite fit in. Her mother is dead, and Wendy is trying very hard to cope with life. She is desperate to make friends, and feel like she belongs, but never quite says or does the right thing. When she meets Ginger, a young girl with big problems of her own, Wendy's world expands in a way she never predicted. Brilliant stuff!

'Ginger and Me' by Elissa Soave opens with Wendy (19yrs) in prison. All we know is that her incarceration is linked to her friend Ginger and a writer called Diane Weston.

Wendy is a bit different to other people. She doesn't pick up on the cues other people do, and struggles with social interaction. After her mum dies she becomes mentally unwell, and is therefore regularly visited by Saanvi (support worker) who tries to help her to develop a more meaningful life. This is on top of the joy Wendy gets from driving the number 255 bus. To this end, Wendy joins a writing club and separately befriends Ginger, a 15yr old with flame red hair and purple crescents under her eyes who also lacks a mother. Whilst initially, both bring Wendy happiness they are also the catalyst for her life unravelling.

Charlie Mudie's narration of this book is very well done. Soave has a very clear voice and confident style (which makes the fact that 'Ginger and Me' is a debut surprising) and Mudie brings this to life to such an extent that I actually thought it was Soave reading it. Mundie doesn't overtly do different voices for her characters, but her Scottish accent and female voice works very well and she is able to inject a lot of emotional expression, particularly humour and confusion. As a result, this audio recording of the novel added to its enjoyment and brought a story all ready choc full of Scottish references even more to life.

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I enjoyed listening to this story, I really enjoyed the relationship between Wendy and Ginger and watching it develop.

It was authentically narrated and the narrator added to the story with enthusiasm.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Eleanor Oliphant but make it dark.

Our protagonist Wendy has recently lost her parents, she's 19 and a budding young writer. Wendy has 2 friends, Ginger a 15 year old who is the subject of abuse at the hands of an Uncle and Diane, a successful author who has been Wendy's friend even since Wendy read Diane's novel, followed her on Twitter and Diane liked one of Wendy's comments. We know from the start that Wendy has gone to prison for something that happens in the novel, but we don't know what.

Wendy reads as neural diverse, and in a flashback Wendy's parents discuss whether she has autism.

This is a bleak study of life in Glasgow, of crime, sexism abuse, sexuality, writing novels, feminism, power, but mostly of friendship and the different forms that takes.

The writing sucked me in and I read this novel in 2 sittings, I couldn't put it down. This book is occasionally quite humorous and the characters are alive and vivid.

Thank you to Net Galley for this audio ARC, Ginger and Me is released on the 21st of July.

Wendy drives the 255 bus, since her mum died her only friends are her social worker and the regulars on her bus, the day Ginger gets onto her bus that changes.

I loved the character of Wendy, a true innocent who wanted so much and asked so little in return

From start to finish this audiobook had me spellbound, the narration by Charlie Mudie was superb bringing the character of Wendy to life in glorious technicolor. Exquisitely written, its hard to believe this is a debut novel its a compelling read thats heartbreaking, witty and thought provoking, one of those books you never forget reading. If you read one book this year make it this one.

Naive and 19, Wendy has no friends. When she meets Ginger, the world seems to open up for her.

Soave excels at getting inside the mind of Wendy, showing how her character misreads situations. Also good is the contrast between Wendy's unworldliness and her self-belief.

The foreshadowing and the climax are a little heavy handed.

The audio version, narrated by Charlie Mudie, is full of wide-eyed appeal.

Deals with some dark themes, but in a 'safe' way.

My thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the audio-ARC.

When I think about how I’d describe the characters in this book, the first word that comes to mind is ‘vulnerable’.

As we get to know Ginger we realise she’s been dealt some tough cards in life, but so too has the titular “me”, Wendy, recently bereaved of her mother and best friend who it is clear has always helped her navigate the world.

Wendy is a protagonist who lends herself perfectly to audio, and the narrator is utterly convincing in portraying this naive neurodiverse nineteen year old bus driver and budding writer from Glasgow.
Wendy is just finding her feet again after the loss of her mum, and her solid routine of work, counselling and her writers’ group appears to keep her more or less content. But a chance encounter with 15 year old Ginger changes things. Used to being the one looked after, now it’s Wendy’s turn to take Ginger under her wing, and the pair quickly become a team.

The novel opens to slowly unravel a plot in which it is immediately clear something big has just happened, but what exactly that was is unfolded slowly until the very end when all the loose ends are tied up. This made for satisfying listening, and although much of the story and its content is harrowing, Wendy’s positivity shines through every chapter. She manages to always find the joy in a world which tries to kick her while she’s down.

Much of the plot revolves around Wendy’s growing obsession with local author Diane, which the reader can see for what it is, an obsession, leading to stalking, where Wendy herself just sees a blossoming friendship, a connection between two writers. This naïveté is both endearing and heartbreaking. You want to give her a shake and say, wake up, everyone is against you… but wouldn’t it be nice if we could all be more like Wendy and always see the good in the world?

Overall the novel paints an intimate portrait which allows us to better understand misunderstood young people in present day Glasgow.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Harper Collins audio for letting me listen to an advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for my feedback.