This was the first novel I have read by Graham Norton, which coincidentally was the subject of an interview with Graham on UK radio that same week. It seemed a while before I could get a sense of where this book was headed - a slow gradual build up, leading to intrigue and a page-turner. Set in a fictitious village on the Irish coast, the families’ lives merge and the hidden secrets of over twenty years finally emerge. To cut to the chase, mother and mature daughter discover a frozen body in the freezer of the basement of a recently purchased house. Best described as a mystery, it goes deeper. With credible gregarious characters, a story of childhood suffering and loss, and family relationships and emotions. An enjoyable, amusing, uncomplicated book.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers Hodder and Stoughton for this advance copy.

As the book begins, Carol is having to move out of the home she has shared with her partner, Declan. He now has dementia and his children have decided to sell the home that their father always swore not to sell. Carol’s father buys it for her. But what is that smell coming from the basement? The mystery unravels at the same time as you learn more about each character. I felt most sympathy for Sally who seemed so lonely and hopeless and needed her mother. I did not end up feeling too much sympathy for Carol and the way they dealt with the last seemed a bit unrealistic. Thanks to Netgalley for and ARC.

Graham Norton has written an intriguing and amusing story of family secrets and lies coming home to roost.

The characters are credible and the author’s voice is strong and recognisable throughout.

Highly recommended to fans new and old.

Unusual and highly entertaining read. I wouldn't know how to classify it - mystery, family secrets...?

A maladjusted family completely breaks down when the father Declan gets dementia and is sent to a nursing home. The family home is sold when his ungracious, selfish son gets Power of Attorney. Carol, Declan's partner is out in the cold. She has no rights, they were not married. Declan's children, Killian and Sally resent the woman that took their mother Joan's place, even though it is years since she abandoned the family never to be seen again.

Carol's parents have a solution; it's not to Carol's taste but she gets swept along with it. A later discovery in a cellar changes everything. Unexpected personalities emerge, family secrets are exposed. This funny, thrilling book takes a chilling story but manages to make the characters likeable (apart from 2 definite ones), and you find yourself rooting for people that are managing a situation so awful and in such an outrageous manner that you question yourself. I've tried very hard not to give spoilers; this is pure entertainment. My first read of 'serious' Graham Norton - I loved the black humour. Highly recommended.

Absolutely loved this new book by Graham Norton! As always, it was sharp, witty with fantastic characters and with a great story line. The plot was far fetched and, to be honest, ridiculous at times but in this style of humorous (but slightly dark) book, it really worked. Carol Grottie is devastated when her partner Declan’s health deteriorates so much that his family intervene, placing him in a home. Carol then has to leave the house she shared with Declan and move back in with her parents. This starts off a chain of events which stirs up the lives of Carol and her family, as well as Declan’s family. I love the author’s characterisation as the little anecdotes about people such as the nosey neighbour, Mrs Buttimer, really reflect small town life. Thoroughly enjoyed this and highly recommend it.

Intriguing plot with a hint of dark humour, the usual Irish mammy with a few more not so likeable characters thrown in. Not keen on a doormat character, Carol put your big girls pants on. Overall easy read enjoyable book. Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy

I have read Graham Norton's previous novels and enjoyed them all. This one not so much. It is family drama set in a small town in Ireland. The book starts off with two children 'evicting' their father's partner when he is admitted into residential care suffering from dementia, in order that they can benefit from the proceeds. The partner - Carol is in her mid forties and is forced to return to the family home and live with her parents. From this point on the story becomes more of a crime novel as family secrets are revealed and they encounter a serious problem that needs 'fixing' in the most bizarre manner. It just didn't work for me.

It is an easy read but lacks the feel good factor found in Norton's previous novels.

Thank you to Net Galley and Hodder & Stoughton for the advance copy of this book.

Having read and enjoyed Graham Norton's previous fiction novels, I was intrigued to read his new novel being described as darkly comic. I think Norton writes quite comforting novels, reminiscent of some of Maeve Binchy's work, with their small-town Irish settings.

Forever Home follows this format initially and I was quickly drawn into the fictional town of Ballytour where the book is set. Carol has been in a relationship with Declan for ten years. Carol was previously married, and Declan's wife walked away from their marriage years previously. They live together in Declan's until Declan is diagnosed with early onset dementia. Declan's adult children step in once Declan moves to residential care and sell the house. Carol finds herself in her late forties, devastated by what is happening to her partner and back home living with her parents. At his point the book shifts gear and the family drama swerves into a crime caper of sorts with past secrets becoming unveiled and a pressing problem that needs to be "fixed". It just didn't work for me.

The saving grace of the book for me was Carol's mother, Moira. She was the only character I cared about and enjoyed reading and she was written with huge wit and warmth, something the other characters lacked. She made me smile and made me keep reading when the plot wasn't holding my interest.

There is some lovely writing within and it's an easy enough read. Non taxing but lacking the warmth or comfort that made Norton's previous novels enjoyable reads. Moira elevated this to a three-star read for me.

* I found the arc quite poorly formatted, and this could have taken from my potential enjoyment of the novel.

The gossips had a field day when Carol moved in with Declan - the love of her life. His wife disappeared many years ago leaving him with their son & daughter, neither of whom approved of their father's 'bidie-in' but over the years things settled down. Now she is devastated when she finds it impossible to continue caring for Declan as his dementia progresses. Unknown to her, Sally & Killian have managed to get power of attorney & now Declan is in a care home they plan to sell the house. Carol has to go back to her parents, protesting that Declan never wanted the house sold. Moira, her mother is a very determined woman & arranges for them to buy it for Carol but a discovery as they view their purchase they discover something that might explain why Declan didn't want the house sold.

I love Graham Norton's book & in particular his portrayal of that powerful force that is the Irish Mammy! I raced through this book blown from one event to the next. His dark humour makes the narrative sparkle along. I loved this book. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this great book.

3 & 1/2 ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️
Iv read Grahams previous books and loved them, this one not as much although I really did enjoy it. I love his writing style, characters and settings but it was a over halfway through before I could really get into this story. Moira is the absolute heroine of the book and i had some real laugh out loud moments with her, she is brilliantly written. Could not take to Killian and Sally but then we maybe wernt supposed to, Carol needed to toughen up at times but all in all I enjoyed this and a big thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced copy

Another triumph by Graham Norton. I loved this book. His writing is so enjoyable. The empathy he shows his characters is extraordinary. Do not hesitate to read this book. You will not be disappointed!

You know that it is nearly Christmas when every Thursday has a deluge of new release books out and you can’t swing a cat for all of the authors and personalities popping up on the radio promoting their new book! In the last few weeks one of the big releases was Forever Home by our favourite Irishman, Graham Norton. If you like his radio or television shows I think you’ll really like the novels that Graham writes set in contemporary Ireland. They have a black comedy element to them that makes for compulsive reading. When he makes fun out of ordinarily taboo subjects you can’t help but laugh.

Carol is a school teacher in a small town in county Cork in the south of Ireland. A divorced mother of a grown up son, she’d given up on the idea of finding love again when she meets Declan. He’s a fair bit older than her and there is much gossip in the town as to why his first wife vanished years ago leaving him alone with two small children. As time passes Carol begins to realise that Declan’s health is deteriorating fast and that early onset dementia is setting in. His cold and unforgiving grown up children put him in a nursing home and sell the family home to fund it (and a hot tub!). Carol finds herself out of a home and having to move back in with her own parents. After the house is sold there is a shocking secret waiting to be discovered.

Beautifully observed, Forever Home is quite a dark comedy that feels like it could only take place in Ireland! All of the characters just leap off the page at you and it does feel like are right there in the small Cork village with Moira Crottie and all her family. I’m reserving the window seat in the coffee shop so that I can keep up with all the goings on down there!

Another really lovely book written by Graham Norton. It has a great cast of characters and is set in a really charming Irish town. You felt like you were in the heart of the action and going along with the characters in the storyline.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for my early copy!
A very ‘Irish’ book by Graham Norton set in a small town with a great cast of characters. Quite a dark story but told with great humour with characters who are very well developed, especially Moira who is a very formidable and entertaining older lady. A very quick read, mainly because I couldn’t put it down until I saw how it ended!

This was my first book byGraham Norton and it was an ARC, which frustratingly had no chapter breaks, making it hard to follow and know when characters change.

It took about a third of the book before I was captured by the story. The narrative is told from a few POV’s, but mostly Carol’s. The references to Declan’s progression into dementia was touchingly accurate as were the feelings Carol went through.

The outstanding character for me was Moira Crottie, most of the others failed to draw my empathy and Carol I really wanted to get her to put her big girl pants on and get her life sorted!

I found ‘small town’ Ireland interesting and whimsical and the sense of community came across strongly.

The book delivers a wide variety of approaches to grief and loss and whilst it was warm, it lacked real emotional connection.

The plot was intriguing and overall it was an interesting read but I definitely didn’t catch any humorous undertones.

I enjoyed this book so much. You'll be invested in the characters immediately. His strength really is writing ordinary Irish people and I think he has a particular talent for writing the down-to-earth, strong, soft but don't-cross-her, Irish mammy type. The story is, yes, a bit far-fetched but by the time you realise that you're far too engrossed and are wiling everything to turn out fine. The are some very funny moments but also a lot of sadness underpinning it. Families and relationships are really under the spotlight. I loved everything about it.

I found this to be an interesting, overall, 'good read' set in Ireland about a woman who has loved and lost and whose husband appears to have had secrets.

Graham Norton has a skill for Irish 'family drama' books and this is no different. Although, for me, it was a tad confusing at times and not sure it should be marketed as a comedic read? However, as an Irish community mystery/drama, it works well and maintained my interest.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the opportunity to preview.

I really enjoyed this, an entertaining read.
It’s slow paced with brilliant content and intriguing storyline. A family drama set in a small Irish village.
It’s a good, easy read, brilliant plot line with twists and turns to keep you reading, and great characters that are realistic and relatable. I loved Moira, Carol’s mammy who likes to always be in charge.
Definitely recommend. I couldn’t put it down.
Thanks to #NetGallery and #HodderandStoughton for an arc of #ForeverHome in exchange for an honest review.

A very enjoyable book. Yet another to add to his list of good books. Unlike many celebrity authors Norton can actually write. Although the plot revolves around the aftermath of Declan requiring to go into a home as he is suffering from dementia, the light humour and great characters stops it being morose. Moira is a wonderful character. I'm sure as a comedian Norton has spent his life observing people and seeing the humour in all situations. He has used it deftly in this book.
This is an honest review of a complementary ARC.

First book I've read by Graham Norton and i must say I was pleasantly surprised by it. The characters were great and the plot am easy read and enjoyable. I will definitely look out for another book by Graham.