A poignant and heartwarming story, a lovely and quirky neurodivergent MC and well plotted story.
I loved the storytelling and this story
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I loved Spacehopper, Fisher's previous book so I have been eagerly looking forward to this one.. But even so I’m not sure I expected to love it as much as I did - this is such a gem of a book, a delightful story that made me laugh, made me cry and whose eponymous hero stole my heart.

Joe-Nathan (or Joe Nuthin as he is cruelly named by co-worker Charlie) is a neuro-divergent twenty-something who likes routine in his life and takes things a little too literally at times. His mother does her best to help him navigate the challenges he faces but conscious she won’t be around forever, she has created two notebooks full of advice for him.

When Joe-Nathan’s life is turned upside down and he is forced out of his comfort zone, he finds himself guided by the notebooks and his uncomplicated approach to life and his genuine kindness ensures he sees the best in everyone and pursues friendships even in unlikely places.

Fisher has created an utterly endearing character in Joe-Nathan, as well as successfully bringing the fabulously eclectic supporting cast to life. It is a story about friendship that reminds us of the dangers of making assumptions about people, as well as the importance of kindness and understanding. All good life lessons but as a story it never feels preachy, just an utterly gorgeous read that will give you all the feels!

I really enjoyed this book; it’s perfect for fans of “the curious incident of the dog in the night time”. Our main character is on the spectrum and his mum worries about how he will cope when she’s no longer around, so she writes him little books with how to different things to help him cope. It’s written really well and doesn’t poke fun at Joe’s thought process, but helps you see how normal he is, with just some little quirks. It’s an uplifting story, albeit sad in parts, and touches on some sensitive subjects. There are many expletives, and graphic references to domestic violence, plus reference to sexual acts, so I wouldn’t advise this book for young teens, but do feel every mature person should read this to help them better understand the thought process of some people on the spectrum, so they can know better how to understand them.

I enjoyed Spacehopper but this is my new favourite book by Helen.

A very emotional book, a mix of tears of joy and tears of sadness. Great characters and a reminder that everyone is unique

A warm hearted book flowing easily. Which tells the tale of everyday life. Everyone can relate to this book which I really like. It's a good read.

I enjoyed this book. It is a really heartwarming story and Helen has written in such an easy way to follow. The storyline could very easily be taken from someone’s every day life, and that is why I enjoyed ready the book so much, it is relatable. I would definitely recommend this book to others.

Thank you to Helen Fisher, Simon and Schuster Publishers and Netgallery for the ARC.

I found this book to be a (very) slow burn. I nearly gave up on it at one point. It just wasn't keeping me engrossed enough to keep going but I'm glad I stayed with it as the character development with Joe was fantastic but overtaken by Charlie's which was incredible. It is a simple style to read and I think at the start I was looking for something that was going to be more philosophical/deep which is potentially why I wasn't gripped by it but the book is what it is. I did enjoy it by the end even though the ending was predictable there was still a twist I didn't see coming which got me through to the end.

Joe-Nathan is on the autistic/OCD spectrum, but just about copes with everyday life with the help of his Mum and a blue book, his Mum’s manual on daily life, like food, clothes etc.
When Mum dies, Joe’s world slowly and quietly implodes, only his “structures” give him some staws to cling to: “Structure brought purpose and certainty and provided those stepping stones that got him from one end of the day to the other.”
He feels safe at the Compass Store where he works, and he is good at his job, but even there are bullies lurking. On the other hand, there are quite a few people looking out for Joe, even in unexpected places. He finds out that “comfort zones” can be left, change is not always bad and life can actually improve.
A gentle story about a gentle soul, told with charm and wisdom.

My thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Publishers for a copy of “Joe Nuthin’s Guide To Life” for an honest review.

I read many books, a lot of which don’t stay in my memory , but Helen Fisher’s previous book “Space Hopper “really stood out from the crowd for me, and I’ve recommended it to so many people .Happily this wasn’t a fluke because with her latest book she’s done it again!
I loved this charming and heart warming story , which covers serious topics but is told with honesty and humour. The characters are so well written and believable and I was really sad to finish the book
We all need a Joe - Nathan , someone without a mean bone in their body , in our lives .
Hopefully it won’t be as long a wait for Helen Fisher’s next book
I cannot recommend it highly enough

When Joe-Nathan unexpectedly finds himself out of his comfort zone and having to make decisions using both his mum’s loving guidance and his own gut instinct, his life takes on a whole new meaning. It is with the support of those around him that he can achieve things he wouldn’t even have previously contemplated.

Helen Fisher has surpassed herself. As a fan of Space Hopper, I was already keen to read Joe Nuthin’s Guide to Life. What I didn’t expect, however, was the most wonderful portrayal of the kindest and purest soul.

Helen has written with such compassion, insight and empathy that even the hardest-to-please readers will find their hearts melting. As impressive, is the way warmth, wit and humour have been woven into the thread throughout.

The characters are so alive and so well written that I feel like I know each of them personally and would recognise them if I saw them in the street. What’s not to love about Chloe?

I’ve always been a champion for the underdog, but Joe-Nathan (Joe) is no underdog. He is wonderful, surprising – and different. In fact, I was rooting so much for Joe that I felt a little bereft when I got to the end of the book. Such a perfect ending but I wasn’t ready to leave him behind, and I hope (aspire) to be a nicer person just for having had Joe in my life.

For fans of Eleanor Oliphant, Hope Nicely or even A Boy Made of Blocks, Joe Nuthin’s Guide to Life ranks amongst them very comfortably. I unreservedly recommend this heart-warming, feel good story!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

This is a an uplifting and heartwarming story with some great characters. It is written in a very simple and straightforward way which reflects the main character Joe’s world, as he loves predictably and cleanliness. However, although I enjoyed reading this book, I did find the plot often mundane and too simple and would have liked a bit more depth. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy.