My heart went out to Laura, she'd gone through so much trauma already, being assaulted, her agoraphobia brought on by said attack, and now this...the person who vows he adores her, loves her doesn't come home...well not to her anyway. Jim sounded so perfect too, yet here he was living his best life with his gorgeous wife AND his other wife and kids...what an absolute 'bleep!'

I love Swatman's books, even though they're pretty good at making me cry.

I'm so happy that Laura found her happy ending with a man who was everything Jim wasn't. I guess we also need to thank Jim in a way, because without him, Laura would never have overcome the agoraphobia or found love.

A highly enjoyable, emotive read with wonderful, engaging characters, Jim doesn't count.

Laura was once attacked not far from her home and although she and her husband have now moved house, Laura hasn't stepped outside the door as she is too afraid. She relies on her husband Jim and her friend Debbie who lives several miles away. One evening Jim, who works away several days at a time, doesn't come home and the police won’t do anything for 48 hours. Debbie provides some support by phone but finally Laura realises that she may just have to step outside to find out what has happened to him. Between Laura and Debbie they make a plan to ask the neighbours on the close, several of whom spoke to Jim regularly and see if they can piece together anything about where he could be. The first step is to get Laura through her own door.

I really enjoy Clare’s books. There’s a special something about them- a warmth and depth of character and plots that quickly draw the reader in. There is also that “ je ne sais quois” that keeps the pages turning and that extra something that isn't in the story if you get my meaning. Maybe a reflection on life, of our own lives perhaps or just how little we know of others or may judge incorrectly, and be grateful for what we have in our own. Of resilience and determination, of life and being brave. “ You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think” (AA Milne) (amazon posted- misfits farm)

When Laura's husband fails to return home after working away she is devastated as Jim is her absolute lifeline because, you see, Laura is desperately afraid of the outside world and she relies on Jim for absolutely everything. Laura's only close friend is Debbie who has a family of her own and yet she does all she can to help Laura through this traumatic time. With Debbie's help Laura tentatively starts to emerge from the shackles she has placed around herself and as the story progresses we start to see a very different Laura emerge. There's a lovely community feel to the story and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the neighbours in Willow Close who rally round to help Laura and Debbie solve the mystery of Jim's disappearance.

I'm not going to spoil the story by saying much more except to say that I was engrossed in Laura's story and enjoyed the forwards and backwards in time element as we got to learn more about Laura, and Jim, and of the events which have caused her to be so afraid of the outside world. The author explores the nuances around unresolved trauma and also looks at the nature of coercion and control which brings Laura to life in a believable way so that our sympathy very much side with her.

The World Outside My Window is not so much of a mystery, as pretty early on in the story I had my own view about what had happened to Jim. It is, however, very much Laura's story, her indecision, her mental health struggles and her absolute fear of almost everything is written about with a sensitivity which resonated throughout the whole of this lovely, immersive story.

Besides loving Clare Swatman’s writing style, I was attracted to this book because of it’s premise. Thanks to disability and then shielding throughout lockdown and beyond, I spend much time watching the world go by my window or screen. Though not, agoraphobic I felt a connection with Laura from the start.

The short description of the attack leading to her fear of leaving home set the scene well to explain her present emotions and made me care for her and cheerlead her future decisions. Living in a new area, Willow Crescent the new start she wanted had failed to materialise until Jim’s disappearance.

While the majority of the novel focused on two timelines, Laura’s present and her past beginning with her first meeting with Jim until both timelines converged, you are treated to snippets of the other residents’ lives giving them emotional depth and wholeness to the plot. Each insight added to the tight sense of community in the road.

The clues the residents give Laura and the retrospective study of her and Jim’s love story meant I predicted certain threads early, but this didn’t alter my enjoyment. Beautifully written, it was the warmth of the neighbours, the dynamics in her friendship with Debbie and Laura’s reaction to the ongoing revelations that kept me turning the pages until the big unveiling of Jim’s truth. Each difficult theme that was covered in their lives was handled with compassion.

The descriptions of Laura’s response to her attack and anxiety throughout, especially on leaving the house, felt authentic and I liked that there wasn’t a miraculous cure of her agoraphobia within a few pages but required constant effort and intervention. Though the neighbours aided her recovery, the transformation came from herself.


This cleverly written novel provides a punch of emotion and is a tale of self discovery, determination and the healing power of friendships.

What a truly stunning read this book is and Clare never fails to disappoint. Heart warming and beautifully written.

After suffering a traumatic assault, Laura finds herself afraid to leave her house until her husband Jim goes missing and she needs to start looking outside her home to piece together the details of his life. While it seems almost inconceivable that Laura would know so few details about her husband’s job, family, friends and past, she is shocked when he mysteriously disappears, and she has no way to reach him. A gripping read!

REVIEW
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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This book was very good. A book about a woman, Laura, learning to rediscover herself after being lost. I really admired her strength and perseverance before and after.
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However, my favorite part of this book is the side characters, the neighbors, and Debbie. Debbie is the best friend I want to be. She was literally there for Laura every step of the way, and she never faltered. I loved her. The neighbors were so helpful, nice and very good people. I wish to have neighbors like that, neighbors who are like family.
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While I admit that Laura might have been a victim and she doesn't deserve what she went through, there were a lot of red flags she chose to ignore, and I didn't like that. I also wanted more of her past, but I didn't get enough.
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I was still able to enjoy this book even though I already guessed what it was about in the first few chapters. I liked amateur sleuth-ing and Laura's self re-discovery. There's also a HEA. I likedcthis book, and I'm sure you will too.

My goodness, what a wonderful read – I read it in a single sitting, entirely caught up in Laura’s desperate predicament, attempting to overcome her issues and connect with neighbours when her husband Jim suddenly and inexplicably disappears. My only small quibble is the publishers calling this one the author’s tour de force – that rather implies that she’ll never write anything better and, given that her every new book is better than the one that went before, I’m quite certain there will be many more superb reads like this one to come.

It’s some years since Laura has stepped outside her home, following an attack when returning at night from her job as a chef in a prestigious London restaurant. Increasingly fearful of the outside world, her anxiety has made her agoraphobic – and, cut off from the world and propped up by her alcohol deliveries, she’s entirely dependant on her husband Jim for her survival. When she became convinced there was someone watching the house, he agreed to them moving to a quieter neighbourhood – but, if anything, that only increased her isolation, living among people she doesn’t know. Now at a distance, only one supportive friend remains, the wonderful Debbie – and when Jim doesn’t come home one night, and his absence continues, that’s who she first turns to in an attempt to find him. But the effort has to be hers too – Jim was friendly with some of their neighbours, and they might just hold the clue to where he might be. So, with Debbie’s support and drawing on every reserve of bravery she can find, she sets about connecting with those individuals she’s never even met – and finds a network of individuals only too happy to recognise her bravery and desperation, offering her their help.

This book really isn’t so much about the mystery of Jim’s disappearance – you might well draw your own conclusions fairly early on, as I did, and you might just be right. It’s far more about Laura’s increasing strength and bravery, and the painfully slow transformation of her life of isolation – and the interventions of the diverse and quite wonderful group of individuals who were always there, just outside her window. It’s a book you feel rather than just read, but it’s not all traumatic – there’s a particular welcome and warmth just waiting out there for her, the wider cast of characters just so wonderfully drawn. Arthur and Carole next door might be archetypal nosy neighbours, but with hearts of pure gold – and widower Ben, who’s been through plenty of trauma of his own and perhaps understands her better than most, provides much needed practical and emotional support.

Emotionally, this book is particularly intense. I loved Laura from the book’s beginning, felt deeply for her, and really appreciated the insights into her pre-isolation life and the development of her relationship with Jim. Her journey into isolation is entirely believable, understandable, and so sensitively built and handled. And every step she later takes outside her front door is acutely painful – the author vividly captures her experiences, making every moment of approaching panic hurt and the reader’s heart beat almost as fast as hers does. As she makes slow progress – and I found myself cheering every small win with tears in my eyes, the friendships and the way they helped build her courage especially moving – the author really made me present in every moment. And that included those moments when it became possible to smile, even laugh a little – once the mystery of Jim’s disappearance is finally resolved, this really is one of the most joyous and uplifting and books I’ve read in a long time.

This book was everything I could have possibly wanted it to be – so emotionally engaging, a compelling story, and an extraordinary portrayal of trauma and recovery. Unforgettable, and without question one of my books of the year – one that really should be on everyone’s reading list.

The moment I started reading The world outside my window I was pulled in and intrigued.

Main Character Laura, seemed as really interesting, and having a strong personality. In some moments I did not agreed and did not understood the choices, the decisions main character made. For example at the beginning of the book she says she lobes cooking it always makes her feel better, get her mind of the troubles and clear her thoughts- but after the attack she it seems to much.

As a person who have experienced some issues which were in the book in some close family members I found the alcoholism very difficult to handle while reading in a book as I do not justify people who takes this solution to feel better.

I loved how Author wrote about the neighbourhood and the neighbours as sometimes family can be found.

Overall I quite enjoyed reading this book it kept me hooked on.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

thank you to netgalley and boldwood books for this arc! i enjoyed the premise of this book, and it explored some heavy topics while still keeping them light. i felt like it wrapped up a little quickly and could've been drawn out a bit longer, but it's still a book i'd recommend!

3.5⭐

It has been eighteen months since Laura Parks has left her home. A chef employed at a restaurant in London, her life was upended after an attack by a masked assailant one night near her home left her traumatized and agoraphobic. Her husband Jim, hoping that a change of scene would help her heal moves them from London to Willow Crest, a charming cul-de-sac outside London. While Jim begins to interact with their new neighbors, Laura remains at home, turning to alcohol and limiting her interactions to just her husband and best friend Debbie, unable to step outside her home and content to watch the world outside from her window. One day, her husband doesn’t return home from work and Laura begins to panic. When the hours turn into days and weeks and the police seem unable to track Jim’s whereabouts, Laura is compelled to step outside her home and ask for help. Jim had no close family having never met any of Jim’s work associates, she turns to her neighbors for any clue as to Jim’s state of mind and where he could have gone. As each of her neighbors begins to share seemingly insignificant details of their interactions with Jim, Laura begins to realize that the man she was with for seven years, might not have been completely honest about who he was. Laura begins to face her fears, deal with her trauma and find out what happened to her husband, embarking on a journey of healing and self-awareness and in doing so takes the first steps in emerging a stronger person.

I have mixed feelings about The World Outside My Window by Clare Swatman. I loved the premise of this novel and the cast of characters in Willow Crest, the found family theme and the way the author writes about relationships, friendship, isolation, trauma and mental health, emotional manipulation and vulnerability. I did feel sympathy for what Laura endured and how it affected her life and mental health. The author also gives us a glimpse into the complexities of relationships, emotional dependence and vulnerability and how some could misinterpret control and manipulation for love and protectiveness.

However, seven years with a person is a long time and while I can’t fault her for her dependence post her traumatic experience but from what we gather from the narrative that moves back and forth detailing the beginning of their relationship and the events leading to the present day narrative, there were quite a few red flags that should have aroused her suspicions much earlier on. The depiction of this aspect of the story and Laura’s cluelessness were a tad unconvincing. Parts of the past narrative are shared in the first-person PoV from Laura’s perspective and the remaining in the third person, which doesn’t quite make for a fluid reading experience. The narrative moves in a predictable direction and the reveal is not surprising (plenty of breadcrumbs that make it rather easy to pick up on). Overall, while I was invested in Laura's journey and did enjoy parts of the story, I wasn’t as taken with it as I had hoped.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Laura has acrophobia; she’s unable to leave her home. Luckily she has Jim her husband to look after her. Jim works away in Leeds for half the week; so Laura locks herself away until her returns. One day; Jim doesn’t return. Laura knows he would never leave her; he knows how much she needs him. The police can’t help for 48 hours , but Laura is desperate. Best friend Debbie helps Laura to take some small steps to get to know her neighbours in case they can give some insight. Slowly but surely;
Laura takes steps into the outside world. Slowly she pieces some information together as to what might have happened to Jim. No spoilers, but I did guess quite quickly what the case must have been; but it was a great read to see what the full story was.

Laura and Jim moved areas after a horrifying attack on Laura, leaving her with crippling agoraphobia. Jim abruptly leaves, leaving her alone to contemplate her life…

Through this storyline, Swatman makes a significant contribution to raising awareness about mental health issues and does so with the sensitivity and honesty it deserves. Written in three parts, this was absorbing and engaging.

The charming friendship dynamic between Laura, her best friend, and the neighbours is endearing. This place has such a great community vibe, I'd love to call it home!

I was close to giving it a 5-star rating, although I remain unconvinced of the swift resolution of Laura's problems. However, her journey should not be underestimated.

If you are seeking a rollercoaster read, which has everything from heartbreak, recovery and second chances, you will love this summer read!

I've never read anything by Clare Swatman before, but it's clear she's a very talented writer. As you can tell from the blurb, The World Outside My Window deals with some really emotional topics and the author approaches them with some wonderful use of language and detailed research that really brings the reader into Laura's small world, where the atmosphere feels very oppressive and claustrophobic.

The majority of the story is told from Laura's point of view. This is a brilliant technique, as Laura's mental health issues and issues with alcohol make her quite unreliable. This makes it difficult for the reader to be sure that the things Laura sees, hears and remembers are real. Despite her issues, I did feel sympathy for her as a character and I wanted her to find the truth about Jim and find the confidence to step outside.

The story is set in the early 1990s and flips between this time and the mid 1980s when Laura and Jim first met. This gives the reader a glimpse into what Jim is like, and the guy made my skin crawl. He's a walking red flag and there were times when I wanted to jump into my Kindle and shake Laura - but this just demonstrates how good the writing is! I'm not sure why the author chose to set the novel thirty years ago, but it did bring back some nostalgic memories like calling a landline and leaving the phone off the hook!

At the centre of The World Outside My Window is a mystery and I did enjoy trying to piece it all together using the clues from the different neighbours (who are all wonderful characters). I did guess what was going on quite early in the story, but I still found it an engaging and thought provoking novel.

As always this author has written an emotional read and has covered sensitive issues by bringing them out in the open.

The story had dual timelines of the then and now and is written in the first and third person. As the story unfolds we get to learn more about how the main character Laura became acrophobic and the reasons behind it and how she dealt with the issues thrown at her and emerged out the other side stronger and with a new sense of purpose thanks to help from supportive friends and neighbours There was also the mystery element intertwined surrounding the disappearance of Laura’s husband.

This was an uplifting read which I couldn’t stop thinking about for days afterwards and it is so hard to write a review that does this book justice as this author has such a skill of writing about real people and real emotions that hit you to the core with a page turning gripping story that you can’t put down.

This really is quite the book. It took me through many emotions, and I immediately took Laura to my heart. I could completely understand her reasons for staying at home, but in all honesty, couldn’t imagine a life so cut off from those around me. However, trauma affects people differently, and just because I would seek out the comfort of company, that’s not necessarily true for everyone. In fact, who knows how I would react if I had actually endured her trauma?
Faced with the disappearance of her husband, Jim, the clever, careful way that Laura eventually found the strength to reach out to her neighbours was sympathetically handled. Not without some scary moments and definitely filled with many opportunities to throw the proverbial towel in and retreat to the safety of her own home.
I particularly enjoyed Laura’s relationship with best friend Debbie; not Jim’s number one fan, but the reasoning behind that is eventually revealed. Debbie is everything that a best friend should be, and her support provides the strength that Laura needs to venture out of the house.
I adored the neighbours and enjoyed their idiosyncrasies. In particular, I loved Arthur and Carole, they reminded me of the seventies couple, George and Mildred. Despite their busybody personas, they were the kind of people we all need in our lives.
Finding support from widower Ben, Laura’s investigations lead her to a most shocking discovery that leaves her reeling. As the truth behind Jim’s disappearance becomes apparent, I was genuinely surprised by the twists that led to the discovery.
This is a compelling look at the human mind’s reaction to trauma and how it’s possible to recover what has been lost. I loved Laura and felt her pain as if it was my own. This ultimately uplifting story has it all and I can happily recommend it.

This is my first book by this author and won't be my last. I thought this was an amazing story of resilience and inner strength. I loved the character growth of Laura, every time she took another step outside I was cheering her on. Its a valuable lesson to us all, to not give up. Although this was a romance, I felt that friendship was the main theme, which made this a charming book to read. It's definitely perfect for curling up with on a summers evening, or any evening.

As someone with agoraphobia, I felt a need to read this book. I was so excited at the prospect of a main character who I could massively connect with. I didn’t quite connect as well as I’d hoped. Laura had many worries about Jim being injured or even dead somewhere when he went missing, yet it still took her a lot of time to build herself up to even reach her back doorstep. If I had those anxieties about my partner, I know for a fact my love would overcome and I’d be out of the house without a second thought. But maybe that’s because her agoraphobia is at a worse extent than mine, as I can actually leave the house if I’m accompanied, so she just wasn’t relatable to my own struggles.

I enjoyed getting to know her neighbours and watching the community come together to help find Jim and support Laura. It’s sad that the community spirit isn’t often felt anymore. It made me crave for this same sort of neighbourly support and friendship, as it’s something I’ve never experienced.

I thought Jim would have been more of a main character than he was. He kind of faded into the background for me despite being present in every chapter, as I was so intrigued by the other developing stories within. I wanted Laura to find him purely for the resolution of the book, not because I liked him. He wasn’t a particularly likeable character, and the more I learnt about him, the more I wondered how the hell Laura had ended up so wowed by him.

A satisfying ending, but I wish the clues as to Jim’s disappearance were less obvious, as it was clear where the story was heading and what the reveal would be from pretty much the get-go.

Thank you to NetGalley, Clare Swatman and Boldwood Books for this DRC in exchange for an honest review.

Laura is drowning since the attack. She can’t leave her house. But her husband is missing. Can she face her demons and try to find him even if the true might not be what she expect? A powerful story about love, self esteem, true friendship. Sometimes is difficult to follow the story because the author speak from different point of view in the same scene.

The World Outside My Window by Clare Swatman is a simply marvellous contemporary novel that I just could not put down.
The lead character is outgoing until her life changes in an instance (at the book’s start). The reader witnesses the change overnight as her world shrinks, confidence is shattered and agoraphobia kicks in. She is a likable leading lady and easy to empathise with as Clare Swatman writes part of the novel in the first person, enabling us to understand her fears.
Necessity forces the lead to face her fears. New neighbours show care and compassion, providing love and support that is beautiful to see.
Having lost sight of herself, we delight as the lead begins to discover herself again.
The book alternates between ‘now’ and ‘then’ and is written in both the first and third person.
I thoroughly enjoyed The World Outside My Window. I always love Clare Swatman’s books. They are a pure delight, always warming my heart and making me smile.
I received a free copy via Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.