I absolutely loved "On Hampstead Heath" by Marika Cobbold - it is a beautifully written and thought-provoking novel that kept me hooked from start to finish. The book explores the complex relationship between truth, storytelling, and the media, and does so in a way that is both poignant and infused with dark humor.

One of the things I appreciated most about this book was the well-developed and relatable characters. Thorn Marsh, the protagonist, is a journalist with a passion for truth who finds herself at a crossroads when the newspaper she works for is bought by a media giant that values sales figures over fact-checking. Her journey to uncover the truth behind a fabricated story of her own creation is both engaging and heartwarming, and I found myself rooting for Thorn every step of the way.

Cobbold's commentary on the state of modern journalism is particularly relevant in today's world, and she does a fantastic job of highlighting the importance of truth in storytelling. Her writing is sharp and insightful, and she manages to tackle serious issues with a light touch that makes the book a joy to read.

Overall, I would highly recommend "On Hampstead Heath" to anyone who loves a good story. It is a must-read for fans of general fiction, and anyone who appreciates well-crafted characters and thought-provoking themes. Don't miss out on this fantastic book!

So charming and adorable. I loved the main character/narrator and she felt fully realized and complex. Also a fun satire on news/social media culture.

The book had some good moments, and I was into it at the start. I thought the author has a witty writing style. However, I felt that the story dragged about halfway through and it became “tired” with a lack of direction.

It was okay.
I enjoyed having the reference of certain places but the story did not catch my attention that much. A little too obvious.

A dark comedy. A journalist tells the story of one of her big new storys and the cost of it. Whitty, funny and sad at times.

If you love character driven stories where not a lot happens and you want to shake the main character at some points....this is for you!

This book had me stop dead on the street in second-hand embarrassment for Thorn, trying to somehow encourage her to make different decisions - so I absolutely loved it. A slow and gentle read that touches on quite a few big topics. Very English romcom feels - another reviewer likened it to a Richard Curtis film, and I couldn't agree more with them. The narration was brilliant, and I feel this works really well in audio form.

If you like dark comedy this book is definitely one to read.
Thorn is a journalist with scruple’s, or so she thought. But up against a deadline and in fear of losing her job, Thorn pens a story based on a photograph that she is shown, never thinking that her story would cause such a stir and lead her straight to the hospital bed of her ‘Angel of the Heath’
Full of witty one liners and sarcasm it’s a tale we can all probably relate to, stretching a narrative here and there to help us meander through life, not thinking of the potential consequences.
I love the narrator on the audio and thoroughly enjoyed the story.

Equal parts intriguing and comforting, I found myself constantly thinking of this novel when I wasn’t reading it. There is a spellingbinding voice and characterisation at the heart of the story that all readers will love.

I live in Hampstead, so naturally I often see this book on display at my local bookshops and I've always been intrigued by it.

The story centres around Thorn Marsh (also known as Rose - that juxtaposition was a bit too on the nose for me I must admit), a journalist who loves her job so much it ruined her marriage. When the London Journal where she works is sold, she's moved from news reporting to the mid-week segment tasked with writing uplifting, feel good fluff pieces - as far as Thorn's concerned, that's the worst thing that could possibly happen to her. She finds comfort in early morning walks with her neighbour's dog and her ex-husband, Nick(who she's still good friends with). With a fast approaching deadline and no inspiration, she goes to the pub with Nick who shows her a photo he took of a man jumping from the Viaduct bridge into the pond below, the morning light creating a halo effect over his fiery red hair making him look like an angel. Fuelled by too much gin and the fear of missing a deadline, Thorn fabricates a story about the "Angel of the Heath" and while she has no memory of filing the story, it's already taken social media by storm when she wakes the next morning.

On Hampstead Heath is a very English rom-com, with typical British humour that may be lost on some non-Brits but I thoroughly enjoyed. The characters are really well developed, and although they're deeply flawed you can't help but root for them. While it is a comedy, there are some heavy topics which were explored really well - it didn't go too dark but didn't make light of the issues either. Hearing Rufus' full story did break my heart just a little bit.
There's also the underlying theme of the danger of "fake news", disregard for the truth for your own gain, and the reduction of journalism to click bait and sensationalism. That's most obvious with Thorn's struggle between wanting to tell the truth and wanting to protect Rufus, but it's woven throughout different pivotal points as well - such as the true nature of Thorn's relationship with her mother, her view of Nick's relationship with his new wife and, perhaps most poignantly, her friendship with her elderly Jewish neighbour.

This is the first book I've read by Marika Cobbold and I really enjoyed her writing style. I listened to the audiobook, which I thoroughly recommend - it's narrated by Tracey-Ann Oberman who does a wonderful job. I have to admit I also really enjoyed reading a book set where I live - it's fun to hear little mentions of the surroundings you know so well.

Thank you to Quercus and NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review

This was not for me. There was a promise of humour, but I found that it was far too fleeting.

The story of Thorn, a journalist, ends up writing an article when drunk, that is far from true, that gets published and the lie snowballs from there. Essentially this is a love story, but I found the pace slow and the characters not captivating in any way.

A relatively short story, so that is a positive.

This is one of those times when I realise how changeable I am and how much it affects my enjoyment of books. When I first started listening to this book I was bored. I couldn't get into the story and so went and read something altogether more gruesome and exciting. However, I ran out of books and thought I would give this one another go. I really enjoyed it. It's a simple tale. Frustrating - you just want her to tell the truth and get it done - but actually quite lovely too. If you want a gentle read without blood and terror, this one hits the spot nicely.

The last time I read anything by Marika Cobbold was "Guppies for Tea" which had made it onto the BBC's Top 100 Reads (back in the very early noughties). I couldn't now tell you anything about the book but looking at notes I gave it 5 stars so it must have been enjoyable.

I was lucky enough to get On Hampstead Heath on approval from Netgalley as an audio book. It is read by Tracey-Ann Oberman who I've never really rated as an actress. However her narration is superb. She strikes the perfect balance between the characters voices so you're never confused about who you are listening to. So narrator gets a big star.

The next 4 stars are purely for the story. It's a sort of love story but nothing soppy (I loathe soppy). The characters of Thorn/Rose, Nick, Lottie and Rufus are wonderfully drawn. Just enough detail to give you a flavour of who they are but still some left back for your imagination.

The story centres mainly on Thorn (also known as Rose) who is a journalist. Her newspaper is turning into a tabloid style celebration of the mediocre celebrity and Thorn is a serious journalist. She is told to change or lose her job but what fluffy feel good story can she write? The answer comes during a drunken meeting with her ex-husband, Nick. Nick shows her a picture of an angel he had taken that morning on the heath.

The day after Thorn wakes up to her worst nightmare - a happy editor, pleased that she has embraced the notion of an optimistic news story. But what does he mean? What has she done? With fear in her heart she takes a look at the front page. There is Nick's "angel" but with her words ... and the story she has made up.

We then follow Thorn as she tries to make things right with the angel, her next door neighbour, her estranged mother and her ex-husband.

I laughed out loud. I cried. I shouted at the characters. I had my heart in my mouth. It was a wonderful ride. Marika Cobbold is back on my to read list. I really enjoyed this. It won't change the world but it will most definitely entertain you. It does delve into some interesting subjects not least of which is the use of fake news and the OTT knee-jerk reactions of people who don't do their homework into how true any story really is.

I'd recommend it for anyone who enjoys a smart rom-com style novel. It is head and shoulders above quite a lot of so-called rom-coms I've read. That Marika Cobbold can write beautifully is not in doubt and if you're lucky enough to get the audio then Tracey-Ann Oberman does not disappoint as a narrator.

An enjoyable listen, narrated with real thought as to the characters and plot development, one to enjoyable during the long winter nights

A brilliant witty observation of life, dry humour and so to the point. Apart from the fake news item springing arms and legs is a poignant story of relationships, of love and family lost, of world history at its worst (fake news in WW2 era) and the effect of loneliness. Thank you to Quercus Audio and NetGalley for the audio ARC. The views expressed all all mine freely given.

3.5/5

I feel a little bit conflicted. Because I really enjoyed this book. However - I don't think I can give it more than 3 stars.

'On Hampstead Heath' follows Thorn, a journalist in a dying medium who has just been 'removed' from her position in the news desk and sent down to pen a column about the lighter side of life. In amongst this change, part of many, she is given a photograph of a mysterious man jumping into a pond on the Heath to save a woman's life. It goes viral. Except it's all a lie...

I loved the writing style of this book. It is delightfully sharp and witty, as the tagline suggests. The first half is caustic and surprisingly heartfelt in moments - I didn't want to put it down. It's the kind of writing that I like to think I could one day produce. And the plot set-up is fascinating too - a 'series of funny misunderstandings' in the world of print journalism with a wholesome tinge that gives it an odd Richard Curtis vibe, just without the romance clogging up the arteries.

Where I began to lose interest was the second half. The story evolves into a different narrative after the 50% mark and whilst I can understand the pay-off it had for the character; I was far more interested in the plot than I was our protagonist. Things get revealed and sort of solved quite quickly and then there's another half of a book where we have to keep reading. I wanted things to get crazier, to get more complicated. There were sparks, but I sort of wish it had kept on one narrative path, rather than switching to the other.

To try and be as spoiler free as possible - I wish he'd stayed unconscious a bit longer. If you read the book, it makes sense.

Read this book for the writing. Because that's it's biggest selling point. I loved the first part, didn't get on so well with the second half, but there is no denying the prose is funny and sharp and rather sweet at certain moments. Dare I call this novel heartwarming? I think I just might.