I loved this beautiful story and was sad to get to thr ending. This is such an emotional book, it has the reader really invest in the characters and their lives. I listened the the audio book (beautifully read by the narrator) and could not bring myself to pause the story at times.

I wish I hadn’t waited so long to read this as it’s just one of the most joyful and heartwarming books I’ve read! I loved all of our characters, especially Frank, and found myself with tears in my eyes for pretty much the last hour of the audiobook as I was so invested in their stories. And whilst it was emotional at times, I finished it with a big smile on my face and would definitely return to it as a comfort read.

I love this book! I love the story - it's just gorgeous. Surpassed my expectations. It's quirky and different and the characters are just fantastic. The narration adds to it - both narrators have been brilliantly chosen!
Thank you for ARC - I definitely want to read - well, listen to - more from this author!

Once I got past the idea that spending 60 years searching for a woman you met once for 15 minutes was more creepy than cute, I found myself really enjoying this story. At times sad but mostly sweet, I found myself really rooting for all three main characters who were all likeable in their own way. Something of a romance but more of a story about friendships, I might have had my dubious moments about the plot but overall I really loved it. The narrators did a really good job of telling the story and were very easy to listen to.

I have read/listened to several Freya Sampson books and really enjoyed them. The cast often has some quirky characters amongst them, which I find endearing and memorable. Libby meets Frank, an old man, on buss 88 and is so moved by his love story that she wants to help him find this woman from 60 years ago. In the process they have a few adventures, become real friends and we meet some other interesting characters. I enjoyed both the focus on Frank's story and on what was happening in Libby's life. I definitely didn't like Libby's ex and Libby's sister rubbed me the wrong way, but I was rooting for Libby. She was just lovely and Frank was perhaps even more special. All in all it was a sweet story that was a pleasure to listen to.

First of all, how adorable is Frank? He's just such a sweet and generous character, no wonder he has so many people who want to support him in his search. Over the years he's made so many friends on the bus journeys and I loved meeting them throughout the book. Libby in particular is fascinated by the search and hearing Frank talk about this mystery girl intrigues her as there are parallels in their lives.
For Frank, Libby, Dylan and many others, it seems like their whole lives are mapped out on the 88 bus route. Home, work, leisure, random meetings with strangers. Now all their time is taken up with this hunt, especially as time is running out. I was drawn into the search too, with my hopes raised and dashed down repeatedly!

My favourite book of the year! So far, but I likely candidate at the end of the year too. A beautiful story about love and friendship. I loved the friendships formed across the generation gaps and “labels” of other kinds. Very well narrated by Annette Holland and Georgia Maguire.

First I want to thank the author, the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
I honestly loved this book because the story is so sweet and heartwarming. I expected this book to be quite straightforward, with a very simple story, but it proved it's a lot more than that. Libby's & Franks' stories are just interesting and getting better.
And the end, it's so unexpected but at the same time so emotional.

A heartwarming tale of unlikely friendships and rebuilding yourself from the ground up when you lose everything. Libby has been dumped by her long-term boyfriend and kicked out of their house and her job at his company. With nowhere else to go she finds herself in London, staying with her sister and looking after her lively nephew. After meeting Frank on the 88 bus for a second time, Libby sets out to help him find the girl on the 88 bus from 60 years ago and befriends him in the process. Little does she know, she’s going to run into a disgruntled passenger from the bus as a result and be meddled into teaming up together by her new octogenarian friend. Friendships bloom in unlikely places in this multigenerational novel and there’s a lot of heartache in each of their lives but these people come together to support each other and stories like this are impossible not to melt into. I enjoyed watching the characters navigate their struggles and find out what they really wanted, helping each other to stand up for what they want instead of being swept away in what’s best for others (mostly, their meddling and/or judgemental family).
I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

A lovely and heartwarming story of how the most unlikely people can cross paths, become friends or even fall in love. You really get to know Libby, Dylan and Frank well (OK, the sister, mother and ex are cliches who wind you up when they pop up, but the core characters are wonderful and kind).

I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.

I enjoyed listening to the mulitple voices narrating the different POV chapters.

Now, I'm a sucker for a cute old man storyline. Especially when they form an unlikely bond with a young female character who is battling through her own struggles. Therefore, this book had great potential for me, and whilst I did enjoy it enough to want to see it through, ultimately it fell a little flat.

Nevertheless, there was plenty to love including the overall warmth of the story. I enjoyed the diversity of the characters and the way in which they came together. There was a real sense of community but not without some troublemakers dotted about to provide some tension.

Admittedly, I struggled a little in suspending my disbelief in terms of the plot. I am aware stranger things have happened but my cynic side had a few eye roll moments where I was thinking, 'oh...really now?'.

Having said that, there were some extremely touching moments and I thought the ending in particular was done beautifully.

Overall, a lovely little listen.

This was such a sweet and wholesome read. My faith in humanity has now been restored. Okay, maybe just a little, not completely.

We follow 29 year-old Libby, who has just been dumped by her boyfriend of 8 years. That leaves Libby with no home and no work (yes, she worked for him) so she moves to London with her sister, brother-in-law and their 4 year-old son.

While she's on the 88 bus with her whole life in suitcases, Libby meets Frank, who is the sweetest man. He tells Libby about when he was a young man and met this amazing girl on the 88 bus, managed to get her number and then lose it. AND HE HAS BEEN RIDING THE BUS FOR 60 YEARS HOPING HE WILL FIND HER AGAIN (how adorable is that??). With nothing else to do, Libby decides to help Frank finally find his girl and in doing so she meets Dylan, Frank's carer and a sweet cinnamon roll of a punk.

This is an incredibly heart warming story and the audiobook is flawlessly narrated, I cannot recommend it enough. But just bare in mind that Frank dementia, so trigger warnings for that in case that's something you're sensitive to.

Lastly, all I need to say is Percy and Peggy are who I want to be when I grow up. I adored this book (minus the Simon storyline).

I chose this book as the storyline appealed. I liked the idea of an elderly gentleman travelling around London searching for a girl he had met 60 years ago on the 88 bus. I have met elderly people on London buses who travel around day ofter day chatting and meeting new people. Granted, it’s not a regular experience but I could see that this book was not the beyond the realms of possibility. It certainly showcased London’s landmarks and I thought that the plot had plenty of potential.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a good job. Unfortunately, I found the writing bland and all of the characters, except Frank, had little depth which was a pity.

With a book like this I feel you have to suspend disbelief a little and I was able to do this until one of the characters made a choice which I could not comprehend on any level. To say anymore would be a spoiler so I won’t. If you are looking for an easy, holiday read then this may suit you well. I really wanted to love this book and a lot of other people did so mine is definitely not the popular opinion.

4.25⭐️

A feel good with a retro element. It came highly recommended by like minded book friends. I had the audiobook read by Georgia McQuire, each character has good distinct voices. She is such a great narrator.

Elderly Frank meets Libby on the 88 bus, he tells her of the bus journey in 1962 when he met a red haired woman who gave him her number on her bus ticket. He lost the ticket, and continues to travel on the 88 still hoping to meet her.
Libby is going through relationship problems of her own. Being a romantic she decides to make it her mission to help him find his lost love.
It’s told from several points of view, the main narrator is Libby.

It’s a lovely gentle, moving feel good, there were a few tears. The characters are diverse and lovely, so it’s easy to get absorbed into the story.
I found it lagged a little around the half way point, it finished strongly, it’s a little different being centred around the 88 bus, there are a few surprises along the way which I enjoyed, amongst the more predictable.
I loved the ending. If you want a gentle feel good, I’d recommend it. I do find I enjoy the audiobook version of feel goods.

A beautifully heartwarming book I just could not stop listening. It was fantastic. Thank you to NetGalley and the published for an advanced copy of the audiobook in exchange for a review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the audiobook of this book.

This book is a lovely story about a woman named Libby helping an elderly man named Frank, who she meets on the bus, find a long lost love. Along the way they receive help from Dylan, Esme and others.

I’m not a fan of the accidental pregnancy trope, and I wish that had been included in the book description.

The themes of found family and the depiction of dementia were lovely. The characters were well developed and likeable.

I loved the way the narrator of the audiobook spoke in the different characters voices, it really bought the characters to life.

Narrated by Annette Holland; Georgia Maguire
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Both of these narrators were brilliant and had such soothing voices

Story by Freya Sampson ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Libby's family is the worst! My God I wanted to punch them in the face!

However Libby was such a beautiful character and I loved the friends she made along the way. The story was such a beautiful slow burn and I loved every minute of it.

Definitely a book I would recommend to people.

This is my first time trying Freya Sampson and after listening to this I was excited to buy The Last Library from the kindle store.

This was a wonderful story of finding friendship in unlikely places, not judging people by their appearance and found family.
It was sad, it was happy, hopeful and profound.
Having enjoyed The Last Library and now The Girl on the 88 Bus I will absolutely pick up anything Freya Sampson writes.
Thank you to Netgalley for a free audio version of this book.

This is a fabulous love story, about London, friendship and finding yourself. I enjoyed riding the no. 88 bus and felt that I was experiencing the sights and sounds of London, while getting to know Libby and Frank.
Highly recommend.

A lovely, but poignant story about intergenerational friendships and dementia.
Libby is travelling on the 88 bus when she gets chatting to Frank an older gentleman who is riding the bus looking for the girl who got away 60 years ago!
Libby is at a bit of a crossroads having split up with her long term boyfriend, so decides to help Frank with his search, much to the consternation of Dylan his carer.
The hope that springs from this book when reading just can't fail to make you smile, the characters were wonderful, were going through some tough times, but were totally loveable throughout.
I just wanted to spend more time with them all.