“Sometimes, the friend you need is the one you never saw coming.”

What a lovely debut this was! As Frank finds himself drowning in the depths of grief, six year old Red appears like a life jacket pulling him towards the light. The ghost of Marcie has been Frank’s only companion for months and he finds it harder with every passing day to deal with the world outside his window. That’s until Red’s mop of messy hair appears on the other side of the fence and his relentless curiosity and disregard for boundaries leads to an unlikely friendship. Red is fighting his own battles with the move across town, separation of his parents and a new school with all the social annoyances that come with it. He finds comfort in sharing his troubles with Frank and they end up becoming exactly what the other needs.

Thanks to Netgalley and headlinebooks for an advance copy. This is the heartwarming read you were looking for!

this book has all the emotions!
it’s such a well written heartwarming story of friendship.
i loved how each chapter was written from either franks or Reds perspective. it’s an emotional read but filled with things to make you smile

I really enjoyed this book, it manages to be charming and heartwarming with laugh out loud moments. The relationship between six year old Red who lives next door to grumpy old Frank was quite joyous, even if they didn't always find it to be. Warm, witty and very well observed, you can't fail to be cheered by their story. Highly recommend!

This was an excellent book. A story of 2 people going through difficulties in their lives and how they help one another even if one of them doesn't want to. One of them happens to be 6 years old and the other in his sixties.
This is a heart warming tale of love, loss and friendship told through the eyes of the two protagonists, Frank and Red.

Don't be expecting any twists in this tale as it leads pretty much where you would expect but that's the point.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my review copy.

This book is so, SO good!

I’ve been following Matt Coyne’s parenting humour blog since Minishine was tiny, so already knew he could make the most relatable stories funny and interesting, but here he proves he can also move readers to anger, tears and more with his tone-perfect capture of those small, everyday human interactions that can turn into the biggest relationships in our lives.

Witty and heart-wrenching, real and raw, the author makes us live the experience of an elderly bereaved man who has given up on almost everything in his life and at the same time experience the life of an enthusiastic young boy who has hope and optimism to spare, despite his current circumstances. Both are struggling with big changes in their life and neither see in each other the potential for a real friend, but it is surprising how contagious one child’s hope and optimism can be and just how far it can take you.

I giggled, rolled my eyes, sighed and cried. I love Frank. I love Red. And I love Frank and Red.

Now I just need to buy a ‘keep’ copy for myself, and for my mum, and my best friend, and…!

A truly beautiful read. There is something very pure about this story. It’s simple, it’s heart warming and it’s impossible to put down. You’ll love Frank and Red from the moment you meet them. Their friendship is uncomplicated and truly special. A thumping great read! Read it, you won’t be disappointed.

Thank you Netgalley

I absolutely loved this book. It’s funny, heartbreaking and a wonderful depiction of the power of friendship and the hardship of grief.
Frank is a devastated widower and Red is a bewildered 6 year old that has had his own life upended too. Against all odds they become what the other needs to start life over again.
Wonderful writing, spot on depictions of what a 6 year old is like (without being childish) and a cast of characters you care about from the start. I loved the alternating narration of Frank and Red as the story never lost its pace. This is a really good book and I will be recommending it to everyone.

I loved the synopsis of this book and could not wait to read it.

I was not disappointed.

I loved Frank as a character and also Red.

It reminded me of a Man named Ove but still such a great read

It is astounding when you like a book so much that even though the year is new, you already know it will be at the top of your 2024 'best' list. "Frank & Red" is just such a book.

It reminded me a bit of another favourite novel, "A Man Called Ove" by Fredrik Backman. The similar, curmudgeonly widowed men I guess. Also, it reminded me of a favourite television show, "After Life", featuring Ricky Gervais. So much so that I pictured Frank's late wife Marcie, as looking like Kerry Godliman. But I digress...

Frank is in his late sixties. Since his wife Marcie passed away he is not coping with life. His only son has become estranged from him after a fateful decision to not tell him just how serious his mother's illness was... Now he has become a virtual recluse with more than a touch of agoraphobia. He seldom leaves his house and enlists kindly neighbours to do his shopping etc.

Red is six years old and lives with his Mum who works as a nurse in a care home. His parents have recently divorced and Red is having a difficult time adjusting to life without his Dad. He and his Mum have just moved into the house next door to Frank. He hates his new house, his new school (where he is being bullied), his new life... He misses his best friend from his old school.

The only good thing in his life is his budding friendship with the grumpy old man who lives next door.

This friendship evolves painfully (on Frank's part) and persistently (on Red's part). Along the way we share in their lives. We experience their joys and their sorrows.

If Frank and Red had a recipe, it would be thus:
Take a grumpy and very lonely old man. Add a confused, endearing, intelligent, and very lonely six year old boy. Stir well. Be patient while the mixture melds... The result will be a story that you'll cherish, as I did. A heartwarming 'Uplit' story that made me laugh aloud and shed some tears.

All the stars...

I was really excited to read this because the blurb reminded me of the relationship I had with my late grandfather - grumpy old man made soft by childlike joy. Sadly this one wasn't for me though - I found the voice of the adult protagonist quite over exaggerated which made it difficult to be immersed - this was fine for comical parts but for the parts needing more emotion such as when talking with the ghost of his wife, this was quite uncomfortable. Love the concept, just found it hard to be pulled in on this one.

Frank is in his late sixties and has become a recluse since his wife Marcie died. He fell out with his grown up son, doesn't see his friends anymore and doesn't leave the house. And then one day, six year old Red moves in with his mum Sarah. Red has a trampoline and talks to Frank while he is jumping.

What a gorgeous, lighthearted read between Frank and Red.

I haven’t got words to express my love for this novel, honest to god I adored it and didn’t want it to end. A beautifully written book about love and loss and friendship, a literary gem of a book and I hope to god there’s another one like it on its way soon. Absolutely outstanding!!!!

A really lovely heartwarming read, clearly written by someone who knows children. I knew where it was going but enjoyed the ride and there were some actual laugh out loud lines.

This is the best book I have read in a long time! I loved every page.
Frank has lost his wife and he misses her terribly. He has found himself cut off from the world, and estranged from his only son.
He never leaves the house except to put the bin out, and even then he doesn't set foot off his own property. He sees his beloved wife everywhere, but ony in his imagination. He talks to her all the time, and imagines her replies. She is his only company.
That is, until Red and his mummy move into the house next door.
This is a heartwarming, and (at times) funny story of a blooming friendship between Frank and Red. Full of humor, sadness & adventure (on Red's part).
This is one book not to miss!

A lovely story about a young boy and an elderly man dealing with their own personal troubles. Red’s parents have just split up and he has moved house and school. Frank’s wife has passed away and no longer leaves his house. A really heart warming story with some bits of humour. I would definitely recommend. It reminded be of A Man called Ove and Up.

This novel goes to show that age and friendships don't have to be on the same level. Frank the widower and Red is just 6 but their friendship develops into something special. 5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley, author and publisher for this ARC

Frank and Red by Matt Coyne a NetGalley review. Frank comes across as a grumpy old man, a recluse that won’t leave his house. Red a young boy is is nearly 7 moves in with his mum next door to Frank. Red is a typical 6 old and the two form an unlikely friendship. It’s already known that Matt Coyne is already a talented writer with his very popular blog man vs baby @manversusbaby however these talents roll over to writing fiction and wow what a book from the very first page. The book immediately grips you, Frank isn’t just a grumpy old man he’s grieving and Red isn’t just a young boy into everything, he’s trying to get his head round his parents separating, moving, starting a new school and his dads new family. The other character that I loved was the ghost of Franks wife Marcie (ghost/figure of franks imagination), having her there in the story I think brings the story together and makes it all feel relatable, as don’t we all when we’ve lost someone talk to them like they are still there. It’s a book about tough subjects without a shadow of a doubt but Matts talent for comedy and laughs comes through and show cases what a hugely talented writer he truly is. Red is a typical 6 year old, inquisitive, determined, non judgemental, kind, listens to adults unquestioningly, he’s also scared and unsure but he has the biggest heart and once he has an idea in his head there’s no stopping him. I live the quirks in the book, a blind man and his dog visit Red’s school, they are called Amit and Kiki and I thought I recognised these names (and it’s sad I know this)but these are character from a programme on Cebeebies called The Dog Squad! This book reminds me of the Disney film Up and the film A Man Called Otto, dealing with subject such as death and grief. This book has been a huge success and has great reviews on Amazon and there’s no doubt why, it’s sad, it makes you think, it will have you laughing out loud and reading for the tissues and I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author . I couldn’t put this book down, wanting to know what happened and not wanting it to end, so without a doubt this is a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ will be recommending to everyone 📚📚

Funny and warm, proper page turner!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 February 2024
I completely loved this story, I fell in love with Frank and Red, who both need each other so badly, without even realising it. It starts more slowly as you get to know them, but really quickly becomes a total page turner. The characters were relatable and well rounded, with a good share of the narrative between Frank and Red. It made me laugh and smile, made me tear up and my heart swell. What a read, one of those that you don’t want to finish

Oh Matt what have you done to me ? I laughed, I cried but enjoyed every second of the book, didn’t want it to end
Red is a happy cheerful 6 but nearly 9 year old and has just moved into the house next door to Frank who is a 67 year old grumpy,miserable widower after his mum and dad split up.
Red pretty much forces Frank to talk to him by being there pretty much whenever Frank sets foot outside his front door.
They are thrown together when Franks advice to Red about bullying causes Red to be suspended from school for a week so Frank ends up having to look after him as Reds mum blames him completely and can’t take any time off from work as she will get sacked.
A fantastic story, absolutely loved it

I have been following Matt Coyne on Instagram for quite a while now and have always found him to be extremely funny. So when i saw that he had written a fiction book then i just knew that i had to read it and i definitely was not disappointed - i loved it!

I read this book in a couple of sittings as i couldn’t get enough of it and each chapter pushed me along to the next one just so that i could find out what was going to happen next.

This was a wonderful, emotional story and i loved everything about it…….