A wonderful, short follow-up to The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. Here we learn more of Maureen, (Harold's wife) and her internal emotional processing during her own trip of discovery to Hexham, Northumberland. This tale gripped me from the first page and added so much to my understanding of Maureen's support of Harold in the previous book. As she travels further north, more information is slowly uncovered in a gentle and caring style which speaks to the core issue of grief which runs throughout the story. An uplifting and kind book that I highly recommend.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A superb rounding off to this wonderfully written series of books. So touching and thought provoking. A short read but an emotional masterpiece.

Thank you for allowing me to review this delightful book.. I found the story to be such an easy going read and a perfect end to the trilogy beginning with The unlikely pilgrimage of Harold Fry, then The Love song of Miss Queenie Henessy. Maureen embarks on her trip to Queenie's garden with her memorial to Maureen's son. The story explores loss and grief in a sensitive manner. Maureen is a shy withdrawn older woman who doesn''t usually leave her home environment., she has embarked on this trip with Harold's encouragement. She doesn't find it easy and is reluctant to accept offers of help.
I can recommend this book to all readers, but especially those who have read the previous books.

Maureen Fry and the Angel of the North is the sequel (and the perfect conclusion) to Rachel Joyce's earlier novels The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy.

I have one word for this book and it is Extraordinary! Exceptional writing, astounding descriptions and sensational expressions of emotions. I am a huge fan of Rachel Joyce and was so excited to read Harold's devoted wife, Maureen's story. Maureen goes on a planned (but eventful!) journey to Queenie's garden - Maureen knows where she is heading but has no idea what she will find once she arrives. Rachel Joyce's writing is phenomenal, such a talented author - I felt like I was on the journey with Maureen, a very emotional and powerful journey.

Maureen's journey allows her to accept her past, to realise that she could not have changed what happened and allows her to move forward. Maureen went on a journey of self-discovery which changed her life and her future not only for herself but for her relationship with Harold too.

An incredible moving and emotional read. 5 Fabulous Stars!

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

I love Joyce’s writing and I did enjoy this, although I found it less memorable and emotional than her other books, despite the emotive content.

Quite a short book and it's the finale to The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry trilogy.
This is about Maureen, Harold's wife and her own pilgrimage to Queenie's garden.
I think you need to have read the first 2 books and I wish I had re read them to remind me of certain parts of this book.
Such a nice book in which Maureen comes to terms with the past.
No spoilers just read it and you won't be disappointed.

Great to read about Maureen's trip too, I always wondered about her...a "difficult child" became a sad and angry woman, but there's a lot more to her than that. Small but powerful book.

What a lovely story, after reading the first two books.. a few years ago, it was a pleasure to delve back in and finish off this series by finding out what happened to Maureen. A simple, short book which pulled on my heart strings.

I absolutely loved this short book. Rachel Joyce takes ordinary people and really brings each and every one to life. I was blown away by the two earlier books which featured Harold Fry and Queenie Hennessy as the central characters. This story looks at Maureen, Harold’s wife who was somewhat marginalised in the other books. I wanted to know more about her, but neither title was the vehicle for that exploration. This book is the answer!

I liked Maureen; caustic, conditioned, obsessive to some extent, but she had a lot to offer. I could visualise her and now she’s made her own journey and come completely to life. I love the cover graphics, which tell their own story. Beryl Reid always said that when she had to get into a character, the first thing she did was wear the shoes they would have worn. That sums up Maureen too, in many ways and the slightly down at heel, well worn but cared for loafers are her tale.

Rachel Joyce’s writing is superb. Sparse but filled with detail. I wanted it to be longer, but it’s perfect. Absolutely brilliant and my thanks to the publisher for a review copy via Netgalley. What next from Rachel Joyce? I’m excited already!

'Maureen Fry and the Angel of the North' is a short sequel to Rachel Joyce's earlier novels 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry' and 'The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy', and offers a touching and satisfying coda to Maureen, Harold and Queenie's stories.

This story takes place ten years after Harold's pilgrimage to Northumberland to visit his dying friend Queenie; Harold and his wife Maureen are living through the pandemic together in Devon when Maureen hears about Queenie's 'garden of relics' which includes a memorial to Harold and Maureen's son David. Maureen decides that she must visit so embarks on her own journey north, albeit by car rather than on foot.

Through this journey, Joyce allows us to better understand Maureen as a character, someone who does not find the world an easy place to inhabit and consequently comes across as much more 'difficult' than her gentle husband. Readers of Joyce's earlier novels will be used to Maureen's abrasiveness but here we are better able to understand the reasons for this - her unhappy childhood but above all her overwhelming feelings of grief, which are sensitively explored.

Maureen's initial reaction to Queenie's garden is one of anger and hostility, but gradually Joyce allows her to discover healing and forgiveness as this story reaches its moving conclusion. This book is a must-read for all fans of Joyce's earlier novels. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC to review.

Maureen Fry is the 3rd book in the series that started with Harold Fry a decade ago. Maureen is a prickly character who goes on her own journey to Queenies home, but unlike Harold she takes the car. Nevertheless, her journey doesn't go smoothly and gives her far too much time to reminisce on her past. She's travelling to visit Queenie's memorial garden after she receives a letter from Kate, who we met on Harold's journey.

It was lovely to revisit the characters from the past 2 books (The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy), especially seeing how the world has changed in that time through Maureen's eyes. Unusually for books of late, the pandemic is heavily referenced and adds to the experience of why Maureen is uncomfortable making this trip.

This is a brilliant book, full of rich descriptions of love, loss and a lifetime of regrets. Rachel Joyce writes such beautifully flawed characters and her description of the journey that Maureen takes, truly takes you into her head. I laughed, cried (or rather sobbed) and empathised with Maureen all the way through and will be sad to leave the characters behind now that the trilogy is complete. A must read for all Harold and Queenie fans!

I received this book from NetGalley as a free ARC in return for an honest review.

I have loved the previous stories in the Harold Fry collection. I really enjoyed this too. I love Rachel Joyces construction of characters and understanding of human traits and emotions. I wasn't sure that I liked Maureens character but this story gave an understanding and insight into her psyche. I very much enjoyed following her journey. My only criticism of this book would be that I felt that it ended rather suddenly.

This is a really sweet and short follow up to Harold Fry and Queenie Hennessy's stories, this time it's Harold's wife Maureen's turn.

Maureen takes her own journey (by car, not on foot!) to find out more about Queenie and the journey Harold made to her.

A heartwarming little read, only takes a couple of hours, but beautifully written as every by Rachel Joyce.

I love Rachel Joyce's writing, so I was keen to read this, the third book about Harold, Maureen and Queenie. This is Maureen's story, however, so both Harold and Queenie appear only fleetingly. It was really interesting to see the story from Maureen's perspective, and to join her on her own journey of self-discovery. Joyce has a real knack for writing characters the reader can empathise with - flawed but likeable, each with their own hopes and fears for the future. It feels a little shorter than the first two books, with a smaller cast of characters, but fans of Harold Fry and Queenie Hennessy will love this, too.

Gripped from start to finish. Didn't think I would warm to Maureen with her spiky character, but as the story evolved so did understanding & empathy. Another beautiful tale so very well crafted & scripted by this talented author. Very highly recommended

This was a quick read and had many touching moments that were beautifully written and poetic. However overall I think it was an unnecessary addendum to the much more surprising and unique story of Harold Fry.
Maureen is a difficult person to warm to and it seemed to me that her transformation was far too sudden and not particularly earned.

I requested an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review having read and loved Rachel Joyce's earlier books about Harold Fry and Queenie Hennessy. Having heard Harold and Queenie's perspectives, this book, the third in the series, provides us with Maureen Fry's perspective as she travels to visit Queenie's garden, and in particular to visit Queenie's 'David'. This book did not disappoint. It felt refreshingly similar to the two previous books. It wasn't the longest of books but I didn't find that mattered - in fact I thought this was probably just the right length. The only query I really had was the title - Maureen passes the Angel but that's the only mention of it

The final part of the Harold Fry story is that of his wife Maureen, told in this novella. I loved the Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and found it very moving, but Maureen was a fairly unexplored, distant character in the book, and in the second in the trilogy: the Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy.

In this book, Maureen sets off on her own personal journey - driving rather than walking, and planned rather than spontaneous. Maureen knows that Queenie has created a celebrated seaside garden on the coast at Embleton in the NE of England, with a sculpture dedicated to Maureen and Harold’s dead son, David. Maureen is a somewhat difficult woman, who finds it hard to connect with people and who is scarred and embittered by her experience of losing her only and beloved son, as well as jealous of Harold’s friendship with Queenie. She is determined to see what the other woman in Harold’s life, and the cause of much grief in her own, has created, and she sets off nervously but determinedly to make the long journey north. After a fraught drive she is angered when she eventually reaches the garden and discovers sculptures of both David, Harold and possibly even herself. How dare she, what right?! However, events transpire to ensure she has to rely on the kindness of others through which reaches a kind of epiphany and understanding.

The book is written with Rachel Joyce’s usual warmth and eye for the world around us, especially the beauty of nature. It is a poignant study of loss and longing and also of acceptance. I enjoyed the fact that Harold supported her in her journey and that he obviously loves her. I’m not sure I liked Maureen, certainly not in the earlier books and maybe not in this, but it did make it easier to understand her. The book wouldn’t work as a stand alone so will require readers to read at least the Unlikely Pilgrimage first, but I thought it provided a satisfying and sympathetic conclusion to the Harold Fry tale and I am glad I read it.

Maureen Fry and the Angel of the North by Rachel Joyce
This is the third boo in the trilogy which began with the Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry so is you have not read this you need to do so before reading this novella. Maureen has been unsettled by news that Queenie has created a memorial sculpture to her son. She searches for the sculpture garden online but the pictures she sees do not answer her questions.
She becomes more and more unsettled until she decides that she will make the trip to see the garden for herself. Her journey will be easier than Harold’s for she will drive but when her journey has only just begun she find herself lost after following diversion signs that then run out.
Maureen is not someone who finds it easy to ask for help or to accept friendship. She seems to hold everyone at arm’s length and is easily offended. But as the journey continues we begin to see the chinks in the armour Maureen has built around herself. The journey she has embarked on leads her to a deeper understanding of herself and others.
She discovers kindness and consideration in places where she would least expect. It is a joy to read and one I will be recommending to all of my book groups.
I would like to thank the author, the publishers and Net Galley for the opportunity to read the book in return for an honest review.

Rating: 3.2/5

It is surprising to think that ten years have passed since Rachel Joyce brought us the wonderful "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry". I can remember being moved to tears at certain points when I read that book. Since then, the story has continued with the addition of "The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy" and now we have the final part of the Harold Fry trilogy, featuring Harold's wife as the central character, "Maureen Fry and the Angel of the North".

This final instalment is in the form of a novella and, as such, makes for a quick read. If you are not familiar with the trilogy already, then I would suggest that there would be little to be gained by reading this as a standalone. It really does need to be appreciated in the context of what has gone before. Readers already familiar with the series will feel swiftly at home with Maureen's journey. The style of Rachel Joyce's writing is as warm and inviting as ever. There is ample content that will tug at the heartstrings, but also plenty of occasions that should raise a smile of recognition.

There is nothing particularly original here, as such - after all, the groundwork has already been done in the previous books - but it is still very much worth taking a couple of hours out of your day for.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.