A moving and thought provoking read. I wasn't sure about this book initially but fell in love with it by the end.

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.
The first 10% of this book was devoted to introducing a bunch of characters who were completely lacking in credibility without a single smile from me. A drunken waste of space - goodness knows why his friend would want him anywhere near his young son - and a young girl who is rude and very odd. Nothing endeared me to this book, it was so uninteresting I stopped reading at that point only to discover that it had been retitled very quickly after it's launch - whatever the reason that didn't work.

Julietta Henderson delivered a heartwarming and witty story with *Sincerely, Me*. This novel strikes a perfect balance between humor and emotion, taking readers on a rollercoaster of feelings as we follow the life of Danny Mulberry, a 39-year-old living in a shed in his best friend Dom’s garden. When a misunderstanding lands him in a local publication, Danny unwittingly becomes a go-to advice columnist.

One of the letters Danny receives is from Wolfie, a fifteen-year-old he soon discovers is his niece—the daughter of his estranged sister, Lou. The story takes a heartwarming turn as Wolfie’s letter reunites the family after sixteen years of silence. With Lou recovering from an accident, she and Wolfie move in with Dom, bringing old tensions and new beginnings to light.

Henderson weaves the perfect blend of awkward reunions, family healing, and self-discovery. The growth in Danny’s character through his letter-writing, paired with the intricate relationships between him, Lou, and Wolfie, makes for a beautiful story about family, forgiveness, and second chances. With her signature mix of humor and heart, Henderson once again proves she knows how to tug at your emotions while keeping you smiling.

The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman was one of my favourite reads in 2021, so I was thrilled to get my hands on Julietta Henderson's newest novel. Despite the appealing blurb though, I just didn't feel the same connection I had with Norman.

In Sincerely Me, part-time drunk and pretty much good-for-nothing Danny finds himself caught red-handed, spray painting nonsense on his best mate's driveway (also his temporary home - actually, shed - of residence) after a few too many beers. When nosy neighbour Ray catches him getting carted off in a police van, the photo is picked up by a budding journalist who paints Danny out to be a man full of wisdom judging by the mysterious message he was spreading. Hailing him as a man with all the answers, members of the public start reaching out to Danny in the hope that he can extend his wisdom and fix their problems too. All are strangers except one. A niece he didn't know he had to a sister he hasn't spoken to in decades. He might be able to fix everyone else's problems, but his own family is a problem he's happy to keep ignoring.

I quite liked the premise of this book and expected it to be a feel-good, character-driven novel with lots of laughs and memorable one-liners. However, I found the writing really cringey to the point where I put the book down and switched to the audio, hoping it would be easier to listen to. It still felt clunky, disjointed, and try-hard, especially with the humour. I also couldn't connect to either Danny or Wolfie. Danny because he was a man-child who was annoying, immature, and consistently made stupid decisions, and Wolfie because it felt like her whole persona was a bit of an act. Lou was basically a shadow and Dom was a pushover. I feel like there was a lot of potential for the storyline but unfortunately it just fell flat with me.

The premise of the story was intriguing. I just struggled a bit with the repetitiveness, and the humour didn't fully hit the mark for me. Having said that there were some nice moments integrated throughout. It sadly just wasn't for me.
#SincerelyMe #NetGalley

Another amazing feel good read by an wonderful new author I discovered!
At times heartbreakingly sad but a story that will stay with you a long time!
Highly recommended!

Julietta Henderson has a really gorgeous way of writing a heartfelt novel with just the right amount of humour.

Sincerely Me follows the story of thirty-nine-year-old Danny Mulberry who currently lives in a shed in best friend Dom's garden. A misunderstanding means he is arrested and a photo of him is in a local publication. This is received very well and all of a sudden, Danny becomes an "agony aunt" style figure with readers sending letters to the publication to him, asking Danny for advice.

One of these letters comes from fifteen-year-old Wolfie who is the daughter of Danny's estranged sister Lou. Danny hasn't seen Lou for sixteen years so he was unaware of Wolfie's existence. Lou has been in an accident and Wolfie's letter reunites them. Dom, being the kind best friend he is, moves Wolfie and Lou in with him whilst Lou recovers.

This is awkward for both Danny and Lou at the beginning but it forces them to revisit what happened to cause their estrangement. I absolutely loved the development of all of their relationships and characters, especially Danny's own through writing his letters. I knew when I read The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman that Henderson has a special way of writing and this is confirmed in Sincerely Me too. Beautiful.

I liked this book, I didn't love it and don't think it's particularly memorable. It's a nice easy read with some laugh out loud moments and some real touching ones too. Danny is loveable, you want to dislike him but you really can't. George is hilarious. I really did smile at Danny's final letter to Wolfie at the end of the book.

Brilliant story with brilliant characters. I laughed, cringed, cried and laughed. Highly recommend. 5 stars

This was an incredible story. It was written so well. Self-discovery is always well written but this author takes it one step further. I loved the characters and each of their storylines. Definitely a beach read for this year and I understand why it is on the Richard and Judy Book Club List.

I received an Arc of this book via netgalley. Danny Mulberry is a man with a somewhat tormented past. The book opens with his arrest for defacing the pavement outside his own home. Released without charge his acts do not escape the attentions of the press and so begins anarrative of metamorphic events. Re connections with lost family and personal transformation that involve his becoming a sort of "Agony Uncle" in the local paper.

It took me a little while to get into the book but then I was hooked. the narrative is full of both humour and pathos . It examines love, life, grief and the attempts people make to be "good" or live life "well"

Danny Mulberry Is living in his best friends shed in the affluent area of Belsize Park. He definitely does not have his life together. One morning he wakes to discover in his drunkenness the night before he has painted graffiti on the floor outside his home. The police arrive and he is promptly taken to the station observed by his neighbour Ray who is not all that keen on Danny. Ray always with camera in hand trying to get shots of the local birds captures Danny being led off in the police car giving him the two finger salute. This photo changes the current course of Danny's life, it not only brings his estranged sister back into his life but also the niece he never knew he had.
I loved the characters in this book and was a bit disappointed to finish as I wanted to keep reading about them. I look forward to reading more books by Julietta Henderson.

This is an engaging read, full of likeable characters. It asks the questions ’what is a family?’ and answers in all forms. The adults are not always grown up, and the characters learn about themselves in helping others. A funny, warm hearted book I would recommend.
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Due to a bit of a reading block, this book took me longer to read than normal but I am glad I persevered

I loved the characters in this book especially Danny, Wolfie and George.

Julietta Henderson brought these people to life, they were not just in a book, they were your friends

You want to read more, you want to get to know these people and the storyline is something that does happen in a lot of people's lives

Definitely a book I would read again and again

This was a great read. So true to life it was funny. I giggled, smiled to myself and felt for the main character in ways I didn’t really imagine I would.
A thoroughly enjoyable read!

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for an exchange for a review. Thank you!

I was really shocked and impressed with this book. I had a hard time getting into it and felt really slow. By chapter 3, I was totally hooked. I loved the characters. They were charming, enjoyable, and mysterious. I just had to know more and needed the background story.

There are a few trigger warnings I feel it's important to mention.
*depression
*alcoholism
*attempted suicide (it plays out as an accident at first so it isn't harsh. Nothing glory or upsetting. You hear the story from that person even though you guessed it already was that.)

I might would read a review like this and be turned away but it really is a great story with great characters. I would definitely read this author again.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the narration style, split between Danny, Wolfie and letters. The characters were understandable and loveable. The growth of characters throughout the book was rewarding.

George was adorable and easily my favourite character.

Having loved Norman Foreman, I wasn’t sure whether to have really high expectations or a sense of trepidation. However, the reality is affirmation that Julietta Henderson should never be doubted!

A chance article about deadbeat Danny reacquaints Danny with his long lost sister and his never-met-before niece Wolfie. A turn of events leads to Danny, his best friend Dom and his estranged family all living together. As Danny begins his unexpected role as agony aunt columnist. he also opens long closed wounds.

Wow, wow, wow. I read this ARC from NetGalley weeks ago and I’ve thought about it often. To the extend that I’ve held off writing this review as it has made such an impact on me as a person, just as Norman Foreman did, albeit in a different way and for different reasons, but both so positive. My heart breaks for Danny, his sister and his niece. It also breaks for his friend. Written with such warmth, feistiness, humour and compassion whilst tackling head on the subjects of grief and trauma. Very few can write such a compelling read - Julietta is one of them.

I thoroughly enjoyed Julietta Henderson's, The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman and I fully expected to appreciate this book just as much. I am pleased to say that I was not disappointed. It is an extremely compelling character driven novel which saw me laughing and feeling sadness too. It’s deeply emotional, heartbreaking but also heartwarming. A beautifully written tale.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bantam Press via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Sincerely, Me is a book that will pull on your heartstrings, make you laugh and make you cry. This wondrous novel is about family—all the things that make families great, all the ways family can hurt each other, all the ways families can heal and love each other. It is sheer chance—a picture in a newspaper—that draws this ragtag family together after years apart. But it is sheer will, understanding, and forgiveness that reunites them….and all of it is wonderful.