I loved this book with its themes of loss, loneliness, depression and family. Maybe that doesn’t sound like fun, but there is a lovely warm undercurrent to the writing, which makes this irresistible. I really enjoyed the characterisations, especially Danny; I think we have all met many men-children in need of a wake up call. The letters and replies to the ‘agony uncle’ are brilliant and I love the way he channels his late father. Absorbing, tender and moving. I loved it!

2🌟

Thank you very much to Net Gallery for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was one of my most highly anticipated reads of 2023, and unfortunately, I did not enjoy it.

My biggest gripe with this novel is its voice. The tones of the two protagonists are extremely similar, considering they have never met before and have a thirty year age gap. This complicates ease of reading as both perspectives are portrayed in eerily similar voices.

Additionally, during their first interaction, 40 year old Danny accidentally makes lurid and inappropriate comments towards Wolfie, his thirteen year old niece, and although this is intended as a humorous and awkward introduction, it's hard to feel uncomfortable reading about a grown man accidentally making advances on his pre-teen niece.

I was so excited about the premise of this novel, I think it's a hilarious and brilliant idea, but we don't even witness Wolfie informing her mother that she's discovered her long lost family member. For how heart-wrenching the cause of the sibling's separation is supposed to be, and for how long it has drawn out for, Lou accepts her brother's sudden appearance in her life without complaint or nervousness.

Additionally, lots of the humour is so intentional that it is almost in your face and the majority of it comes from George, Danny's friend's six year old son, whose core role is to embarrass Danny by revealing all his private information to whoever is around.

In short, the idea of this novel is brilliant, and I was really intrigued by the premise, but in my opinion, it was poorly executed and needed more refined editing.

I have so much love for this book, my heart felt completely full once I'd turned the last page. When I first started it I was a little unsure and wondered just how a main character such as Danny would be able to capture my attention throughout the whole book. Clearly I was proved totally wrong. Danny is amazing! I adored seeing his relationships change and flourish as the story unfolded and loved how he got involved in answering letters from newspaper readers. His answers had me in floods of tears but also made me smile and it was really special how he looked back on his relationship with his father to provide advice to people. I didn't want it to end!

Danny Mulberry isn’t big on responsibility, maturity and commitment. Bouncing from one dead end job to the next, he and his dog Gentleman are living in his best friend Dom’s garden shed, and spending every night getting drunk in the pub. Even 6 year old George, Dom’s son, seems to have more of a handle on adulting than Danny.

After being arrested for an act of drunken graffiti, a photo and a misleading story about Danny appears in the newspaper, and suddenly letters begin to flood in from strangers seeking his guidance, thinking that he is enlightened and has all the answers to life’s problems.

Wolfie is the teenage daughter of Danny's estranged sister, Lou. She's never met her uncle. But her mother needs help, and so, when Wolfie sees Danny's picture in the paper, she sets out to find him.
Within a week, Danny goes from being responsibility-free to a big brother, an uncle and an unwitting existential 'guru' to some very lost souls, but can he become the man they all need him to be?

This is Julietta Henderson’s second novel, and the first one of hers that I have read, although I will be reading her first one as soon as possible after this! It is moving and touching, and perfectly blends really serious issues like grief, loss, depression, loneliness and attempted suicide, with humour and comedy. It is all done with the lightest of touches and is sensitively handled.

The story alternates between the viewpoints of Danny and Wolfie - a technique which simultaneously allows the reader to be right inside their heads, knowing their thoughts and getting to know them intimately, whilst allowing the story to be revealed piece by piece, a layer at a time, until you finally have the complete picture. As the various pieces of the story are revealed and you learn about the events of the past, you find a context for and an explanation of the whys and wherefores of the characters’ behaviour so far, and then moving forward you also see how they develop and change.

All of the characters are well-drawn and leap off the page, which adds real impact to this character-driven story. They are all flawed, they all have weaknesses, they are all extremely human, they have all experienced great love and great loss…and I loved them all. I loved Danny and Wolfie and Lou who are the 3 main characters, but I also loved Gentleman the Dog, and Dom who is the bestest of best mates, and adorable George. I loved Jaz the Taxi Driver (and I have hopes that one day she and Danny might get together!), and I even loved Ray who is clearly more lonely than malevolent.

The letters which Danny receives and is tasked with replying to, is another very clever technique. These letters reflect many of the same problems and issues which Danny, Lou and Wolfie have experienced, and it is only because of Danny’s personal growth that he is able to reply to them with the benefit of hindsight and newfound clarity and understanding, as well as the wisdom handed down by his father.

As I mentioned there are some very deep themes connected with sadness and loss explored within the story, but it is, above all, a story about the importance of love and forgiveness, about second chances, and about family and friendship.

This is a book with immense heart and humanity, and it is extremely heart-warming. It has the power to make you laugh and cry, but ultimately it leaves you feeling truly uplifted, valuing the time you have spent with these wonderful characters. A really wonderful read!

With thanks to NetGalley and Bantam/Random House for the e-Arc in return for an honest review.

I am very sorry I is try twice to read this book but found it very hard to understand the characters it’s almost like there is another book about just them and I missed it
So I can’t give an honest review
I do apologise netgalley publishers and author

This was my first book by this author, and to be totally honest I was excited to start reading it but as soon as it started I felt like I’d missed something, like I should know these characters and the back story. I even went and checked that it wasn’t a second book in a series. I decided to plough through and I’m so pleased I did, the back story came and the characters built. Danny was an amazing character, we really get a sense of his struggles and I loved being right by his side through his journey of self discovery. His friendship with Dom and before her death Kath really cemented him in Dons heart and life and even though Dom is portrayed as the one who has it together, there is still a loss and sadness within him that we slowly see fade as Danny and his family slowly become more entwined in his home and life.
The second main character is Wolfie, a 15 year old girl who’s had a tough life and in many ways wise beyond her years. At the start, she is more adult than her mum and her uncle. Seeing her learn to live more than her mum, and accept that having a team of family behind you makes you stronger was a touching moment, as was the scene Danny pulls the taxi over and hugs her hard. More than once I had to stop reading as I couldn’t see through the tears.

After a shaking start I’m so pleased I read this book, it really touched my heart and made me think of all the memories within my family that really need to be shared again with a big family get together.

Having thoroughly enjoyed reading Julietta Henderson's previous novel 'The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman' I was delighted to read and review 'Sincerely, Me'. What a super book full of truly likeable characters. (who wouldn't like a George in their life?) For me Danny's story has everything, it's funny, it's sad, it's heart-breaking and heart-warming in equal measures. It's a story of family, friendship, belonging and love and one I highly recommend you set aside some me-time to read and enjoy. From now on I think I'm going to have replacement birthdays #Danny Mulberry
Thank you to the publisher, the author and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to enjoy 'Sincerely, Me'.

I can’t give an honest review about this book . I found it too slow to start and gave up about a third of the way through.

⭐️ 5 ⭐️

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC, in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman was one of my favourite reads in 2021 (if you haven’t read it yet, why not?!), so I was over the moon to get my hands on a copy of Julietta Henderson’s second novel, Sincerely, Me.

The character-driven story is beautifully written — Julietta always creates the most realistic, relatable characters, characters so real they almost jump from the page. I fell in love with Danny, Wolfie, George, Gentleman (the dog) and the rest of the motley crew from the start, and was totally immersed in their story right until the end.

I particularly enjoyed reading the letters that Danny received and his brilliant, often witty replies which had me laughing out loud one minute and in floods of snotty tears the next.

Sincerely, Me is a story of love — a story of friendship, family and forgiveness — it’s a wonderful, heartwarming, uplifting read.

I loved Julietta Hendersons novel The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman so I eagerly awaited Sincerely, Me. unfortunately I didn't like it as much Sincerely me is a solid, feel good story, but the characters felt a little stiff and it was more predictable than the first.

Danny is 30-something grown man who lives in his friends shed, he doesn't have a regular job and often spends his time in the pub.

One night, after drinking in the pub Danny finds himself graffiting the public high street. The police arrive, his neighbour takes a picture and sends it to the local newspaper.

When Danny's picture is printed in the local paper. His estranged niece recognises the name of her mother's brother and she decides to make contact.

Danny and his sister are reunited after 16 years of silence. However Danny's sister suffers from severe mental health issues and he is put to the test. Can he step-up and be the brother/uncle/friend he is expected to be?

This book has a gripping story line. The characters are well developed and it's quite easy to get lost in the story. However, I did have some difficulties with the story from Danny's point of view, as it didn't feel as though it was from the male prospective. Nevertheless its a interesting read with a deep storyline.

The author has explored some important topics regarding mental health and she's managed to captivate the humanisation of her characters when approaching the subject.

I found this book a little bit of a slow burner, it took a while for me to get into it but I’m glad I stuck with it. Very cleverly written and such depth to the characters. No major plot twists, no overly complicated story, just a beautiful portrayal of human emotion and life. I found it really uplifting and the ending made me cry happy tears. Highly recommend for a thought provoking, moving read.

This was a heartwarming story about reconnecting with loved ones, and the importance of lost and found family.
I enjoyed this for the most part, the characters were interesting and I loved George. I thought the author handled the sensitive topics with empathy, especially when dealing with long term depression in it’s various guises. The same gentle humour as Norman Foreman is here, which is definitely the author’s super power.

Danny and Lou are estranged grownup brother and sister, who have both suffered the traumatic experience of losing their mother young. Lou was in the car when the accident happened and Danny blames her for their mother’s death.
Wolfie is Lou’s daughter. When an article in the local newspaper alerts her to Danny and his whereabouts, she visits, concerned about Lou’s mental health and depression.
As Danny becomes an “agony aunt”, dishing out thoughtful advice to strangers as a result of the newspaper article, we gradually get to know his past and him as a person. His opening up and dashes of wisdom help him build bridges with Lou.
The story is told by Danny and Wolfie’s narrative and I can understand that, but it does frustratingly mean that characters like Dom, a best friend who seems like a saint in letting Danny stay and in taking in Lou and Wolfie, are more nebulous. The awkwardness and silence between Danny and Lou is made worse when we don’t hear her side of things.
A nice relationship story with witty dialogue and good heart.

Sincerely, Me by Julietta Henderson

Danny is thirty-something, can't hold down a job, drinks too much and lives in his friend's garden shed. But when a newspaper describes him as a guru following a grafitti incident, people write to him asking for advice. At the same time Lou, the sister he hasn't seen for 16 years and Wolfie, the niece he's never met, need his help. The story follows Danny's attempts to be a better person.

What a beautiful story! I loved Norman Foreman and this is every bit as fabulous. I loved all the characters and the humour and poignancy throughout the book. And so wise..... A book to cheer you up and restore your faith in human nature - perfect for dreary winter days. Very VERY highly recommended.

do you ever feel like you want a charming, life-affirming and endearing book to read? Well, Juliette Henderson’s ‘Sincerely, Me’ was supposed to be all that, and it is in many ways. A sweet story of a girl and her estranged uncle while she tries to hold her family together.

Meet Danny, a 39-year-old man who is living in his best friend's garden shed, can't hold down a job and whose favourite hobby is happy hour down at the local pub. One night, Danny drunkenly decides to paint something philosophical on the path outside his neighbour's house and he finds himself promptly arrested. Being drunk, Danny flips his elderly neighbour the bird in the back of a police car and using that as the opportune moment, his neighbour takes a photo. A photo which will change Danny's life as he knows it... The story is told through dual perspectives—Danny and fifteen-year-old Wolfie—which turns out to be an extremely clever writing device.

The book itself has some great characters with unique personalities that are easy to connect with. I especially enjoyed reading about Wolfie; her naivety was endearing but her rebellious nature made her likeable too. It was also great to see how much she grows throughout the story as she learns more about life from Danny. And speaking of Danny, he's an incredibly likeable character; despite his flaws (and there are many) you can't help but root for him when things start going wrong. His determination and resilience were inspiring to read about and really added depth to the story overall.

Despite its charming characters and heart-warming moments, I think this book could have been better if it had focused more on developing its storyline rather than focusing so heavily on characterization. There were some great plot points sprinkled in here and there, but they often felt overshadowed by other elements of the story; more focus on these would have made this book truly shine! All in all though, ‘Sincerely Me’ is still worth checking out; it's funny, heartfelt and surprisingly thought-provoking - plus you'll feel like part of the family after just one chapter!

However, like her first book, The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman, I found the writing style didn’t suit me well. It felt a little too slow and drawn out and didn’t flowcall as nicely as I would have hoped. The premise of both books is great. They are truly heart-warming and uplifting but I just can’t seem to get past the writing style, though I may try again one day as an audio book to see if that helps.

In conclusion, if you are happy with a slow-paced, long and drawn-out book with a fantastic heart-warming, uplifting message with endearing characters then this is the book for you!

I tried to get into this book….I found it really difficult, I found the story to be disjointed and not enjoyable.

A beautifully tender story about the people we are, the people we pretend to be, and the people we become. Danny is a lost soul, living in a shed and feeling as though his life is wasting away in front of him, but when his estranged niece reaches out after seeing a story in the newspaper he finds himself facing a responsibility he's never faced before, and seeing himself through the eyes of someone else for the first time in ages. Henderson had a unique way of delving into the complexity of different relationships at different moments in our lives.

This was a very moving story about people who are stuck in a rut and need a little hand to reach out to help them out of it. At times I felt it was a little slow to get moving but overall it was a beautiful read.

Sincerely me is the story of Danny, a bit of a waster to say the least. After featuring in a newspaper article, his niece Wolfie who he has never met spots him and decides to find him. Danny and his sister Lou haven’t had contact for 16 years and Wolfie decides she needs his help as her mother is struggling.
What started as a slow start, ended with a really beautiful message. Wolfie is a really lovely character and I just wanted her to be seen and heard. Her mother Lou is troubled and Danny is definitely stuck in a rut.
This book is written really beautifully and delivers such a powerful message of how all is not as it seems with others around you.

After reading and loving Norman Foreman, I was so excited for this one, I even had it preordered, but unfortunately I just couldn't get into it. I struggled with Danny as a character, loved Dom and George, but just not enough to continue past 25%.