"The Girl on the 88 Bus" by Freya Sampson is a heartwarming tale of interpersonal connections and found family, wrapped in a sweet, soul-healing narrative. The story revolves around Libby, who, after a decade-long relationship, is unceremoniously dumped by her boyfriend, Simon. As she navigates the pain of her breakup, Libby encounters Frank, an elderly gentleman on the 88 bus, whose story of lost love captivates her heart.

Frank, a romantic at heart, has been searching for a woman he met on the 88 bus sixty years ago. Despite his dementia, he clings to the hope of finding her, sharing his poignant tale with Libby. Touched by Frank's enduring love, Libby takes it upon herself to help him locate this mysterious woman. Her journey introduces her to Dylan, Frank's carer—a punk with a heart of gold. Dylan’s unwavering support and genuine kindness gradually help Libby rediscover joy and purpose in life.

As Libby, Frank, and Dylan form a unique bond, the novel beautifully explores themes of friendship, community, and the importance of human connections. The characters, each with their own struggles and strengths, come together to create a surrogate family, showing that sometimes the family you choose can be just as significant as the one you're born into. This touching story will leave readers with a renewed faith in humanity and a deep appreciation for the simple yet profound connections that shape our lives.

Freya Sampson’s writing can be described as both tender and insightful, capturing the essence of London’s charm while weaving a narrative that is as uplifting as it is emotional. "The Girl on the 88 Bus" is a testament to the power of kindness, the resilience of the human spirit, and the unexpected ways in which we can find love and support in the most unlikely of places. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking a feel-good story filled with warmth and hope.

Special thanks to NetGalley, Bonnier UK Audio, Zaffre, and the editorial team for giving me the opportunity to review the ARC in audiobook format and to you, my reader, for taking the time to read this honest personal book review.

If you are interested in other of my book reviews, make sure to follow me on GoodReads! #88Bus #NetGalley #LifeLongLearning

<i> Note: This review is based on an ARC copy </i>

There are two narrative voices in this book. One is of a young woman, lost and adrift, and the other is of a surer older woman who we do not get to actually meet till the very end.

I think my final rating for this book is based more on my ambivalence about Frank’s search. Although the narrator manages to confirm the depth of Frank’s emotions, I was not sure if it warranted the effort. Maybe if the book was slightly shorter, I might have been okay with the way things ended regarding the search itself, but I ultimately felt like it dragged on a bit.

Frank rides the same bus route frequently, hoping to meet a woman he met years ago. This woman changed his life, and he wants to communicate that to her. Frank is in fading health, and his daughter is trying to get him better round-the-clock care. The rag-tag group of people Libby (someone who sat next to him and reminded him of the original lady) gathers around them and sets out to find the ‘girl on the bus’.

Libby has her own issues to deal with. She has broken up with someone, and everyone assumes she will eventually take him back. Rather, Libby’s mother thinks that is the best option. This story is about how Libby finds purpose in Frank’s search and how that alters her own life.

I liked the book overall, and as I mentioned earlier, I might have enjoyed it more if it was slightly shorter. There are careers discussed in the book that differ from the regular ones that show up in some books, and I liked the ending of the book even if the search itself did not satisfy me. I would recommend this book to others who like this genre and would read another book by the author if I had the chance.

I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own listening experience.

What a beautiful story. I loved the characters and the narrators really did a great job portraying them. Everyone who is looking for an emotional and entertaining listening experience should pick this one. It was fun.

Thank you for the chance to listen to this book.

I really enjoyed listening to this book , it was full of love and a warm cosy feeling was to be had. The characters were very believable and made you think about when u have travelled on the bus.

4.5

This book was fantastic. I loved the narrator and I loved the main characters, The friendship between the young woman and the elderly gentleman was both charming and endearing. I have recommended this boo to several people since listening to it and they have all gone on to love it.

I really did like Libby, Frank, and Dylans characters. It was a cute and emotional story and I felt the book was more about friendship, self-growth and I enjoyed the journey the characters took together.
I didn’t like how her mum and sister treated her and how Libby just took it, but near the end I’m glad her sister did stick up for her when her mum had a go at her and she couldn’t see why she was in the wrong or how Libby felt.

I loved how adorable this book was. Full of love and warmth and I really enjoyed the characters, it makes you think about the people you briefly meet in life.

Years ago Frank met a woman on the number 88 bus. But that day he lost her number and what could have been soon changed.

Now Frank is still looking for his girl on the 88 bus, but with a little help from fellow passengers and friends, his mission isn't over.

We follow the main character of Libby as she is dumped, made jobless and homeless all in one day. But while her life is falling to pieces she meets an elderly man on the 88 bus. And together they will help change each other's lives.

This is a truly lovely story about friendship, healing, illness and growth.

Each main character was unique and you truly knew who to dislike in this novel. I especially liked the growth of the main character as she stands up for herself against her mother as well as her exboyfriend.

I felt incredibly sad about Frank's illness but enjoyed the strength and determination it caused throughout the narrative.

I also like the way the author didn't give us what we expected keeping us wanting but understand.

A really lovely escapism read I would recommend.

Unfortunately I could not finish this audiobook because I did not like the narrator. I enjoyed the first couple of chapters of the story and am keen to find out how it finishes so I have bought the kindle version. I have rated

In a Nutshell: A decent read. Contains a couple of interesting protagonists and charming moments. Predictable as expected, but might work for fans of this genre.

Story Synopsis:
Libby Nicholls, newly arrived in London, is boarding the 88 bus broken-hearted and with an uncertain future ahead of her. An elderly gentleman named Frank strikes a conversation with her, revealing that her red hair reminded him of a girl he met in the bus back in 1962. Frank and the girl had made plans to meet but he lost the ticket on which she had written her number, and has been looking for her since the last sixty years.
Libby almost forgets her own personal chaos on hearing Frank’s sad story, and decides to help him search for ‘the girl on the 88 bus.’ Time is of the essence as Frank also has dementia, which is worsening.
The story comes to us in the third person perspective of Libby and the first person perspective of another character, whom we know about later.

This book was originally published in the US under the title "The Lost Ticket".

Bookish Yays:
✔ The prologue set in 1962 gave the perfect start to the story.
✔ Of the main characters, I liked Frank and Dylan – the punker who works as Frank’s carer. (Note: ‘liked’, not ‘loved’.) Of the secondary characters, Esme (Dylan’s friend) and Hector (Libby’s nephew) were charming.
✔ The book has some surprises. Some of these are visible a mile away but many were still fun.
✔ The author sure knows London. It was nice to see the city depicted in such a genuine and detailed way.
✔ Frank’s dementia comes across realistically.
✔ The ending – bittersweet and ‘awwwwww’-inducing. Perfect for the story.
✔ This title is far better than the original title. It suits the book well, and the titular ‘girl on the 88 bus’ can refer to multiple characters and not just the mysterious woman who disappeared from Frank’s life.

Bookish Nays:
❌ Libby just didn’t feel thirty considering her behaviour. Her portrayal made her appear too naïve, especially in her people-handling skills.
❌ Some of the secondary characters were utterly flat. Simon and Libby’s mum are the most boring, being as clichéd as a one-note tune.
❌ While the first half is good, the second half is silly at times. Some scenes at the end are far exaggerated.
🚩🚩 Spoilers below. 🚩🚩
❌ The pregnancy reveal wasn’t a surprise to me, considering how the plot was developing, but the depiction was almost absurd. A sensible pregnant woman won’t drink champagne. Nor would she run (or be able to run) after a bus until its next stop in the final month of her pregnancy (especially when her tummy is supposed to be larger than average.) Now would she be able to ‘bounce’ and dance heartily at a wedding with such a huge bump. Most of the eye-roll content was in how Libby’s pregnancy was written.
❌ Another silly thing was how Frank searched for his dream girl for decades by missing out the most obvious clue. When he knew about her passion for art, it was farfetched to accept that he never thought of looking for her at the National Gallery, a place mentioned to him by the girl herself as a favourite place she frequented for hours.

The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 9 hrs 18 min, is narrated by Annette Holland and Georgia Maguire, one of whom was narrating the third person perspective, and the other voicing the secret character in first person. I loved the second narrator – the person was perfect for the role and gave the character a tone that enhanced the written text and have us an insight into the character’s personality. Unfortunately, the main narrator, while having a charming voice, didn’t appeal to me. Her voices were too farfetched at times, and the way she voiced Dylan, Simon and Hector simple didn’t match their age and/or personality. Her performance were also slightly off, as ‘yelling’ and such expressive emotions didn’t come out convincingly. To be fair, I adored the way she voiced Libby – that part was perfect.

All in all, if you know what to expect from this genre, and if you are looking for a light read where you can take a break from overanalysing, and if you just want to enjoy a predictably cosy book that doesn’t deviate much from the formula, this would be a decent option to try. (So many Ifs!)

3.25 stars.

My thanks to Bonnier UK Audio and NetGalley for the ALC of “The Girl on the 88 Bus”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.

Thank you to Netgalley, Freya Sampson, Annette Holland, Georgia Maguire, and Bonnier UK Audio, Zaffre for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!

I loved this story! I did not know much about this audiobook in advance, so I was not expecting to be as involved in the story as I was. I could not stop listening to the story. In addition, it was narrated lovely.

An interesting, fun, sad, and meaningful story with a variety of interesting characters. This changed my perception of strangers on the bus.

I loved The Girl on the 88 Bus (aka The Lost Ticket) - particularly as an audio, and loved the narrators bringing the characters to life. The story is incredibly heart warming and a little bit heart breaking. I very much recommend!
Many thanks for the audio copy.

I struggled to get into this book as it felt like it was written for a younger audience. I really disliked the way the main character's mum and sister treated her and the way she just took it / excused it, it made it hard for me to connect.

Rating 4.5 stars - rounded off to 5

n endearing and uplifting nested story!

Thanks Bonnier UK Audio, Zaffre and NetGalley for the ALC!

This was a lovely audiobook. The narrators did a brilliant job of emulating all the characters with perfect tones and pacing.

Synopsis –

Libby’s love life is in pieces. Keen to get away from everything, she arrives in London and runs into the elderly pensioner Frank in the 88 bus. When Frank tells her how back in 1962 - he met a red haired girl just like Libby, who went on to change his life. But having lost his ticket on which he had her number, he has been riding on this very bus for the past 60 years looking for her. As Libby takes it upon herself to help Frank find his girl, she is set on a course that will eventually lead her to assess her own past and evaluate the future.

Review –

I was quick to warm up to both Libby and Frank’s characters. The story of Frank’s life was truly unbelievable. Libby at crossroads in her life is in need of a strong purposeful distraction. Finding Frank’s girl on the 88 bus, turns out to be the very thing she needs.

Freya’s unique premise does its magic. She crafts a story within a story and though it may look effortless, there are so many intricacies she deals with in her plot.

I adored Libby’s methodical approach, her penchant for planning and organizing -as these come in very handy for Frank’s mission. Though she is on the verge of a breakup, all hope is not lost when she meets Dylan, Frank’s carer. Freya weaves a delicate and subtle romance that is sure to get your heart dancing for these two!

I started forming all sorts of theories about a ‘mystery voice’ that chimes in in-between Libby’s narrative. This is also the “hook” that will keep you glued to the book. Rest assured you will be wrong like me!

I loved how the author draws parallels between the stories of Libby and the red haired girl from Frank's past. I really prayed for him to get the closure he deserved.

The anticipation builds and builds with Libby’s search mission. With her hard work and determination, this quest not only helps find answers for Frank, but also a great chance for Libby to find her footing and transform her future.

The ending is certainly not something I expected! It left me teary eyed, swirling with all the feels – the bittersweet joy, blissful hope and a hearty satisfaction!

⭐️ 5 ⭐️

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

I adored everything about this book!

I listened to the audiobook and was pulled aboard (sorry!) from the very beginning and thoroughly enjoyed the ride. The narrators: Georgia Maguire and Annette Holland are both excellent and vividly brought the cast of characters to life.

Beautifully written, Sampson took me on an emotional rollercoaster ride — I laughed and I cried on this character-driven, multi-layered journey. The characters are superbly drawn — I grew fond of Libby, Frank and Dylan and found myself fully immersed in their story.

I loved listening to The Girl on the 88 Bus and was quite sad to see it come to an end. It’s an uplifting story of family and friendship and one of my favourite reads so far this year (and definitely my favourite audiobook).

The prologue sets the stage for this story when Jack meets a lovely red headed artist on the 88 bus. They set up a date to meet at the art gallery and she gives him her number on a piece of paper. He is unable to keep the date, but can't call her as he loses the paper with her number. He has ridden the 88 bus for 60 years hoping to run into her again. Libby Nicholls has been dumped and moved out of the home she shared with her boyfriend of 8 years. She is in London to stay with her sister to sort out her life and is on the 88 bus where she meets Jack and hears his story. She decides to help Jack find his lost love and with the help of his carer, Dylan, they begin their search. Meanwhile Jack had dementia and it is getting worse. Will they find her before he won't remember her? This is a story of lost love as well as following your dreams, finding your own happiness and found family.

I absolutely loved this story. Jack, Libby and Dylan are all characters who are searching for something. Jack chose to follow his dreams 60 years ago after his serendipitous meeting, and now he is working in the lives of others to do the same. Libby is a character that is full of self-doubt. Her family have not supported her because she chose not to be a doctor and didn't finish school. Because of that, she really didn't know what she wanted to do and ended up working at a garden center where she met Simon, the man she lived with. She was easy to live with and always took care of his needs, but that means she is boring, doesn't it? Dylan is a flamboyant character in some respects, but also angry at the world, especially his father. When he and Libby began to fall for each other, I cheered. Jack was wonderful. He had a great sense of humor, was a caring person and wanted to remain in his home despite his daughter wanting him in a long term care facility. Can this group of people find what they are searching for, become a found family and fulfill their dreams? Well, I don't want to tell you anymore, but suffice it to say, it is an uplifting story with a HEA for Libby. I highly recommend this wonderful story.

Overall, I thought this was a very cute and emotional story of friendship. I really enjoyed the journey the characters took together and the ending made me tear up.

The only thing I wish was that there was more romantic scenes/tension between Libby and Dylan. But it was still a good friends to lovers story.

The narrator also did a good job distinguishing each characters voice.and personality.

I’ve had this book on my shelf for months, and decided on a mood read to listen to it as an audiobook, and I’m so glad that I did. I loved it and the narration was wonderful!

I absolutely loved this sweet heartwarming story with a side of romance. I’ve come to love an unlikely friendship pairing in books, and their multi-generational friendship was the sweetest.

On the number 88 bus, Libby meets 82 year-old Frank, who is searching for a woman he met on the same bus sixty years earlier.

I loved the alternating POVs and dual narration, and the characters just jumped from the pages right into my heart where they’ve stayed since I finished this adorable story.

*thank you Berkley and Netgalley for the gifted copy and audiobook

4.5*

Before starting on a review, it is probably worth noting that the route of the 88 bus – essential to this delightful story – which winds its way through well known parts of London. It starts in Parliament Hill Fields, and continues through Kentish Town, Camden Town, Albany Street, Great Portland Street, Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Parliament Square, Vauxhall, Stockwell and ends on Clapham Common. The route of the bus forms a backbone to the story and it feels really transportive. Keep an eye on the National Gallery and the painting “Bacchus and Ariadne” by Titian!

It is a dual timeline story, set in 1962 and then picking up in modern day 2022, two stories linked over a span of 60 years.with the 88 bus and its route through central London absolutely at its heart.

Frank, now suffering from early days Alzheimer’s recalls every single day how he met a young red-headed woman on the 88 bus in 1962 and after only a short conversation, they clearly hit it off and arranged to meet at the National Gallery. Frank was due to call and confirm but he lost her number. He has rued that clumsy mistake every single day. He is desperate to find her – still – and all he knows is that she was an art student. He doesn’t even know her name.

Libby is a young woman riding the 88 bus. She too has a shock of red hair and the year is 2022. Frank happens upon her and they strike up a conversation. Libby is so taken with his story of missed opportunity, that she determines to help him by trawling the internet. When that throws up no leads, she decides on another plan. Dylan, Frank’s carer, becomes involved and the three of them, including Esme, another friend, work on ways of tracking down the elusive woman on the bus. But the chances of finding her 60 years down the line are minute, yet they are not deterred. And we have the voice of Peggy, who will inevitably come to play her part in the whole story as it unfolds.

This is a heart warming story of friendship, community, and mutual support, populated by lovely and quirky characters who will charm their way into your heart. There are ups and downs and good dose of real life events that prevent the story from feeling sugary.

I wonder if you might now be tempted to hop on the 88 bus from Clapham through the centre of the city and out towards Kentish Town? And just how many people will you spot reading The Girl on the 88 Bus as you manoeuvre through streets of this great city?

I listened to this as an audiobook and it is delightfully narrated by Annette Holland and Georgia Maguire.

I really enjoyed this audiobook. I loved both the narration and the text itself. The only downside to me was the cliche scene towards the ending which unfortunately I saw coming a mile away. The characters were enriching and I found myself rooting for Libby and Frank. I would read a book by Freya Sampson again, and listen to an audiobook narrated by Annette Holand too.