This was a magical, heartwarming book and the fox was brilliant. My only negative is that it was a tiny bit repetitive in parts. I'm excited to see what this author does next!

Bobby Palmer wrote the beautiful Isaac and the Egg, so I knew I'd love this - and it's absolutely gorgeous. A spellbindingly gentle tale of love, distance, and rediscovery, it's the kind of tale that sticks with you - the tenderness making a lasting mark. Fantastic

I absolutely LOVED Bobby Palmer's debut 'Isaac and the egg' so snapped this up when it appeared. I tried very hard to manage my expectations but I'm not sure I did very well..

We join Jack, who hasn't been home in years, as he is suddenly called back to the family home - his mum has gone missing.

It starts off a little odd, with the typography in a chaotic layout on the page, and whimsical nonsensical wording. Plus we are introduced to a talking fox. This in itself I do not mind, I like a little magic and intrigue, but it felt a little gimmicky at times? this kind of quirkiness and metaphorical way of writing worked really well for the last book, but I'm not sure it worked so well this time round - I actually found myself completely disconnecting from the book quite early on unfortunately!

This book has similar themes of grief and loss of self. While focussing on the concept of generational trauma and the complex relationships within a family unit. This is very much a character driven book - we meet Charlotte, Jack's much younger sister, who is very put out about him leaving her behind. Gerry, Jack's Dad, who is starting to forget things and confusing Jack with his late brother, Johnny. Then there is Jack's mum, who is nowhere to be found.

Through flashbacks we learn about Jack's parents and this part I found more engaging. I also started listening to the book at this point which I felt helped, as I was finding my mind wandering when physically reading it. This has nothing to do with the writing itself, which is beautiful and lyrical - but more so to do with the story itself. There are some wonderfully tender moments, especially between Jack and Gerry, but I also found the lack of / poor communication between all the family members super frustrating. I know this is common place and the whole point of the book, but it felt quite jarring at times, and a lot of the plot is based around it.

I enjoyed learning of Gerry's connection with nature, although he couldn't grasp why his son Jack didn't have the same interests as him. I really love the cover, and there is a lovely subtle explanation about the title choice which I liked. The ending was a bit of a non ending but also felt apt - as if to remind us that we have just been granted a snippet of insight into this family. That there is a lot of work still to come behind closed doors, many connections to be rebuilt, and a constant personal journey to travel. I do like Bobby Palmer's writing and messages, so will definitely be picking up more of his books, even if this one didn't quite hit the mark.

"You could rewild a common, or a gold course, or the grounds of a country estate. Could you rewild a human being?"

(Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC)

Small Hours is the second novel I've read by Bobby Palmer, and as someone who loved Isaac and the Egg, I was eager to dive into this one.

At first, I wasn’t sure what to think. We were introduced to Jack and a talking fox and I had no idea where the story was going. However, I’m glad I persevered with the story, because this book turned out to be profoundly moving.

At its heart, Small Hours is a story of connections, both within a family and to nature. It also shows the characters rediscovering what truly matters in life.

Bobby Palmer creates a family of flawed yet lovable characters, and I especially felt drawn to Jerry and Hazel, who are written with such warmth and depth.

The depiction of Jerry’s experience with dementia is particularly sensitive, with a stream-of-consciousness style that feels both authentic and heart-wrenching, as the story jumps in a way that mirrors his mind.

The nonlinear structure and jumps in perspective took a little getting used to, but I felt it was so fitting for this story. Palmer’s tender, unique writing style really brings out the family’s unspoken love and the moments, big and small, that have shaped them.

Overall, Small Hours is a memorable, beautifully crafted novel and its story and message will stay with me for a long time.

3.75/5

There are so many things that I liked about this book. It follows a family who have drifted apart from each other, and the journey they take to heal their relationships.
The character development was great.
I enjoyed the nature aspects and the inclusion of the talking fox added a whimsical charm which I appreciated.
This book is fairly slow paced as we weave our way through this families complicated relationship.
The writing is lyrical and at times captivating, and it's all wrapped up in a compelling setting.
The main negative I found, is that it did feel a little repetitive in parts.
But overall I really enjoyed this book and think it would suit people who like slow paced character driven literary works.

Isaac and the Egg was one of my favourite books of 2022, so I was unbelievably excited for Small Hours. I really enjoyed it, but it didn't quite match up to Isaac and the Egg. Will likely still read future books by Bobby Palmer.

After falling in love with Isaac and the Egg on the recommendation of a friend, I couldn’t wait to hear what Bobby Palmer would come up with next. When I found out about Small Hours, I had high hopes, and it exceeded every one of them. This book is a true masterpiece.

For me, Small Hours serves as a poignant reminder of how deeply intertwined our lives are with nature. It shows how we can rediscover ourselves by simply paying attention to the world around us, how our most meaningful connections often come when we immerse ourselves in nature, and how being surrounded by it allows us to be our most genuine selves. There’s also a quiet wisdom in the animal world that this book captures beautifully—we just have to be willing to listen.

Having loved Isaac and the Egg after being urged to read it by my wonderful bookselling friends Amoy and Mason, I was thrilled to hear that Bobby Palmer had a second book in the works, Small Hours, which is nothing short of a masterpiece.

For me, Small Hours is a reminder of how everything in life comes back to nature. How we find ourselves through paying attention to it, how we connect with others in the most meaningful of ways when we are immersed in it, how we are able to be our most authentic selves when we are surrounded by it, and how we learn so much when we listen to animals, for they have so much wisdom to give us.

I am in awe of how Small Hours has taken inspiration from The Overstory, a beautiful book about the importance of trees and specifically the myriad of ways that they change our lives on a daily basis, through monumental events, and gradually over time - AKA my favourite book of all time, my Roman Empire - and done something so incredibly beautiful with it that is so singular and so unique and so Bobby Palmer. Thank you thank you thank you for such a special book.

Love this author and I am glad I dove in and took a chance,. I found myself engaged and wanting more. 5 sunny stars. More please.

Isaac and the Egg was such a special book I was a bit hesitant to start this but it was truly lovely. The characters were amazing and it takes you on such a lovely journey. Highly recommended.

Stunning. Exquisite.

Anything Bobby Palmer writes finds its way to worm itself into my heart. I have not stopped thinking about or recommending this book.

As sweet and magical as Palmer's previous book, this novel follows the same topics of family and grief, loneliness and kindness. There's a talking fox and an estranged dad, a missing mum and an angry sister. And a young man trying to understand where his life went wrong.

I read and Loved Isaac and the Egg by this author and really looked forward to reading this. However, it was very much a book of a different kind. It had some similarities in that it dealt with people in crisis. In this case the problems associated with aging and reducing mental faculty, the distance between a grown child and their parents. It did this through the eyes and voice of a talking fox. The narrative was slow and lumbering for the most part. It was hard work to plough through and I can't say that I would recommend it to others.

It really does take a lot for me to truly fall in love with a book. Small Hours had me at hello. One of the most beautiful books I've ever read. Seamlessly beautiful writing, lyrical, whimsical. Moving. Reduce you to tears moving.

A family, fractured and distant. A missing Mum and in some ways a missing Dad. A sister who's given up her dreams, a son and brother reduced and filled with panic.

A fox. Magnificent character.

Perfection like this is rare, but I was captured by every word, I was in another world, alongside this family I was rooting for.

Absolutely life-affirming, and brimming with softness and bravery and heart in a world that increasingly feels sharp and spiky.

I really loved Isaac and the Egg by Bobby Palmer so I was excited for a new release. This book is absolutely beautiful with stunning nature themes and a wonderfully important topic.

Jack Penwick loses his city job and whilst in a park, stumbles across a fox who begins talking to him. Jack's sister calls to let Jack know that their mother has left and knowing his father has what seems to be dementia, he begrudgingly heads back to his childhood home of Mole End. What transpires is a stunning novel surrounding family, connections, nature and it feels truly magical and emotional.

I will admit that I struggled a bit with the ebook (personal preference - nothing against the actual book!) so I switched to audio which was a fantastic experience. Stephan Mangan narrates beautifully and the addition of nature sounds and the style in which the fox's narrative is recorded really added an extra dimension.

A great follow up to Isaac and the Egg.

A dysfunctional family try to make sense of their lives that are aided by a talking fox.

Bobby Palmer returns with his second novel following his debut Issac and the Egg, which was one of my five stars reads in 2023. If you have read his first novel you will know to expect the unusual, some magic realism and beautiful lyrical writing brimming with snippets of wisdom.


I look forward to lots more from this talented author.

Small Hours By Bobby Palmer

I thoroughly enjoyed Isaac and the Egg so I was looking forward to reading the latest novel by Bobby Palmer. The writing throughout is beautiful and the descriptions of nature powerful and vivid. Jack returns home from the city and struggles to connect with his family, his dad with dementia and his sister who has been trying to hold the family together by herself. It is a beautifully written story and emotional at times. I enjoyed the detail given about Jack's parents when they first met. I recommend adding this book to your Summer TBR.
Small Hours is available now.
Thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#netgalley #irishbookstagram #scottishreader

I loved this story, the strained relationships amongst humans, the magic realism, the animals.
There's a lot of strong emotion, a poignant story, an excellent storyteller that kept me hooked.
I loved it and it remained with me for a long time.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Sadly this book wasn’t quite for me. I loved Issac and the egg so much, and therefore I really anticipated this one, but I just couldn’t truly click with the book. However, I feel it’s one I’ll come back to as perhaps this was more a book at the wrong time for me and hope I can update my review to a more positive one. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review #netgalley

“Small Hours” is the eagerly awaited new novel from Bobby Palmer, the author of the critically acclaimed debut Isaac and the Egg. Set against the backdrop of a wild old place, the story unfolds in the early morning hours, where secrets, connections, and fractured relationships come to light. In this enchanting tale, we meet Jack, who returns home after years away, determined to be different from his father. Gerry, the man under the same roof, prefers talking to animals over engaging with the angry Jack. A mysterious fox stands between them, and everything that follows is because of it. Jack’s mother is missing, and their lives intersect in unexpected ways.

The novel spans generations, exploring big dreams, lost time, and the moments that shape us. The healing power of nature, male mental health, and father-son relationships are beautifully woven into the narrative. If you met these characters in the small hours, you’d begin to piece together their intricate story.

This is a spellbinding read that delves into love, loss, and the transformative impact of the natural world. Bobby Palmer’s poetic prose invites readers to explore the quiet moments that define our lives. Remember, the small hours hold secrets waiting to be discovered, and this novel captures their magic!