Easily one of the most enjoyable & memorable books I have read this year!

A story of a very unlikely friendship across generations.

Frank is a 'more than just miserable' surly man who is still reeling and raging at life after the loss of his beloved wife Marcie. No longer able to leave his own home past his front gate, he is not impressed when the new neighbours move in, especially when he hears the springs of a trampoline whilst he is trying to complete his daily crossword.

Red is the gorgeously curious 6 year old boy who has just moved in next door with his Mum Sarah after the break up of his parents marriage. Not only is it a new home it's a complete new start which includes a new school.

Like any small child, Red is hugely inquisitive and has questions... lots and lots of questions. Not put off by Frank's unfavourable manner, he decides they will be friends!

After an 'incident' that leaves Red in Frank's care for a few hours each day, a rather unlikely but timely friendship ensues. A friendship that made my heart happier, whilst reading, than any other book I'd read in a long time.

Matt Coyne's writing style is just spot on. Bringing humour and emotion together is such a way it felt like I knew the characters in real life. The whole way through I was smiling insanely, giggling away to myself and in the next heartbeat feeling myself well up.

I absolutely adored the characters, they were so well executed and the storyline just flowed perfectly. I cannot recommend this highly enough.

'Books give a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything'

Huge thanks to netgalley and Headline, Wildfire for the ARC.

I didn’t publish my top reads of 2023 until the last day of the year and thank heavens I didn’t otherwise I’d have missed this one which is definitely going to go on my top 5 list despite the fact that it’s actually published in 2024.
The story looks the relationship between a grieving, older man and his new neighbour, a small boy. When we meet Frank, he is being visited by the ghost of his beloved wife,this is a great way for the author to allow us to see his inner thoughts and feelings.
The novel is witty and sharply observed , it is highly emotional at times and it had me in tears on several occasions. The story looks at grief, loneliness and divorce quite weighty topics, but despite this, the novel has and optimistic lightness and it’s a joyous read The characterisations were perfect.
The setting of the novel make it a a particularly British read , most of us would be easily able to visualise the houses that Frank and Red live in for example
The author has a lyrical flowing writing style, and the book was a pleasure to read.
I would recommend this novel to those who like a relationship and character based novel If you liked a man called Ove I Fredrik, Bachman, A quiet Life by Ethan Joella or Isaac and the egg by Bobby Palmer then you might like this book

I read a copy of the novel on NetGalley, UK the book is published in the UK on first of February 2024 by headline books.

This review will appear on NetGalley, UK, Goodreads and my book blog bionicsarahsbooks.Wordpress.com
After publication the review will also appear on Amazon, UK

This is the story of a friendship. Frank who is an old man who has been widowed but still speaks to his wife. He has not been able to leave his house since she died. Red is 6 years old and has just moved in next door to Frank as his parents have recently split up. Red is having a hard time readjusting to his new living conditions. Red befriends Frank although Frank being a grumpy old man is not very receptive to Red at first their friendship grows.

This was a very sweet story about of a man and a boy dealing with their own struggles and forming a friendship. Although I enjoyed it it was very predictable and not very realistic but a lovely sweet story. I would highly recommend it.

I highly recommend this book for both the young & the old as it's a poignant story that spans the generations & even has a Ghost. It's about over coming adversities both large & small no matter what age you are , it's about over coming other peoples perceptions about who you are & what you do , it will make you chuckle with laughter & also reach for the tissues as you shed a tear or two. I adored every chapter of this book along with it's colourful relatable characters #NetGalley, GoodReads, #FB, #Amazon.co.uk, #Instagram, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/8a5b541512e66ae64954bdaab137035a5b2a89d2" width="80" height="80" alt="200 Book Reviews" title="200 Book Reviews"/>, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/ef856e6ce35e6d2d729539aa1808a5fb4326a415" width="80" height="80" alt="Reviews Published" title="Reviews Published"/>, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/aa60c7e77cc330186f26ea1f647542df8af8326a" width="80" height="80" alt="Professional Reader" title="Professional Reader"/>.

Frank is a grumpy old man. He barely leaves the sanctuary of his home speaking only to the ghost of his wife Marcie. When his elderly neighbour is taken ill her family takes her to live in a seaside town the house is empty for months. Then Red and his mom move in next door.

Red is six and is trying to come to deal with his parents splitting up and moving to the other side of the city and a new school. Red is smart, very curious and has a trampoline that makes a noise that is the bane of Franks life. Red spots Frank in the garden and never stops talking to him. Despite Franks gruff demeanour an unlikely friendship is born and it will change both Frank and Reds lives forever.

This book had me chuckling from the off. Despite Frank being a grump you can’t help but love his character. Red is such an annoying little one, but in a good way as we have all probably experienced a six year old that wants to know everything and more. The way he calls Frank “Mister” is so cute. This is so well written that you cannot help but fall in love with the characters and their friendship. I have loved reading this book and the ending was just perfect.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the Arc of Frank and Red by Matt Coyne in return for my honest review.
This is a beautifully written story of the friendship between six year old Red and elderly widower Frank who desperately misses his wife Marcie.
The story covers the issues of grief, loneliness and bullying beautifully.
With its laugh out loud moments and a few tearful ones I will defiantly be recommending this book to everyone.

What a wonderful warm hug of a book. Six year old Red has moved into a new house after the break down of his parent’s marriage so he has a lot to contend with…new house, new school, new friends. Frank lives next door - an elderly slightly grumpy man whose world has shrunk after the death of his wife. An unlikely friendship blossoms between them in this novel which has you both laughing and crying. Not scared to handle some big issues the characterisation within the story is pitched just right. A book that I will remember for a long time and will be recommending to all my friends. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this novel in return for an honest review.

This book is an absolute delight. The relationship between Frank and Red is just lovely and I didn’t want it to end. Highly recommended.

Widower Frank leads a quiet life. Estranged from his only son and unable to leave his home life is a set of routines including the ghost of his late wife Marcie.

When 6 year old Red and his Mum move in next door Frank’s quiet life gets pulled apart and an unlikely friendship between Frank and Red helps to heal both of them and the troubles they are facing.

With vibes of Ove Frank and Red will have you laughing and crying and learning that it’s never too late to let new people in.

This was a wonderful, emotional read. Funny and moving, this story of a grieving widowers relationship with a young boy is beautifully done, the humour offsetting the sadness in a way that makes it a joyful experience.

I absolutely loved this book. Honestly, I was dubious at first, I love ManversusBaby on Instagram, so I wasn't sure what to expect. But Frank and Red is a great read, both characters are loveable and I didn't want the book to end.

I enjoyed every page of this book. I fell in love with both the main characters. Frank the grumpy old man afraid to leave his house and his dead wife’s ghost. Red the six year old who’s life has suddenly changed and is trying to be brave. It was funny and poignant. I’m sure these two character could have adventures together in the future. I look forward to reading more by this author Matt Coyne.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Frank is an old man and Red is a 6 year old boy, who live next door to each other. Frank is miserable and Red is not. How does Read manage to get this friendship going? And why is Frank so miserable?

This was a really heartwarming story. It’s not something I’d usually go for, but I was so thankful I did. It was such a lovely read, that dealt with some current topics. I loved both the two main characters, and it made the book what it was. A lovely story about friendship and fighting your way back to the light after living in the dark for so long. Loved it!!

A charming, sweetly funny book about what happens when a recently-widowed cantankerous old git meets a six-year-old boy who has not a gram of guile about him.

If you loved ManvsBaby, you will love this too.

This is a really lovely if well worn story line. The curmudgeonly elderly recluse (Frank) has his life disturbed by a young person moving into the area (Red). It is made a little more unusual by the prescenceof the curmudgeon's dead wife's ghost - and a very interesting ghost she is too. I loved both characters and Red's desire to fix Frank by undertaking his difficult mission. Of course everything turns out well in the end

It is well worn but also well told and I really enjoyed it . The pace was excellent and the novel had a great cast of characters

This has been one of my favourite books this year. Matt Coyne has created 2 brilliant characters in Frank and Red who could easily be people who live in your street. He has captured the workings of an imaginative 6 year old and an elderly, grumpy, widowed man really well . Amusing following the logic(!) of Red and sad seeing how losing your soul mate can leave you feeling bereft. Well written, good story line. A thoroughly good read.

Frank and Red is an absolutely delightful book, filled with emotion and humour. Red is is six years old. Frank is 67. Their unlikely, yet beautiful friendship develops as both of their worlds have been turned upside down. Red has had to leave his family home, his friends, his school and his dad to move with his mum to an unknown place and live next door to a grumpy old man, Frank. Frank, is consumed with grief, he feels unable to continue with his life after losing Marcie, his wife (although she is still with him almost every day ‘in spirit form’). Frank is tied to the house, cannot venture beyond the gate, often not further than the front doorstep. When Frank and Red meet, they seem destined to be good friends and to help each other adjust to a new way of life, but the path to their new lives will not be smooth...
I highly recommend this book.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

An uplifting and emotional read that really spurs the generational discussion. This feels like a heart-warming, albeit brutal, concept that really hits the nail on the head.

Absolutely loved this book. Not many can make me laugh out loud but this one did, The two main characters Frank and Red are brilliant. Red is a typical 6 ( nearly eleven) year old, Always on the go and asking questions. Frank on the other hand is a miserable old man who hasn't yet come to terms with his wife's death. Marciec appears now and then to pass on advice or suggestions. An absolute joy to read. Highly recommended

Firstly, Frank and Red is a brilliant book that will stay with you for a long time after you finish reading it. It is also a lovely read. I cried and laughed and cried again.
It’s an odd couple book, frank being the grumpy old man who doesn’t what to speak to anyone, to Red, who is looking for a father/grandfather figure.

I know that frank and red will be a bestseller when it is published, I will be telling everyone about it.