This is such a heartwarming story filled with growing up, first love, hilarious moments, self discovery, heartbreak, grief, and going from variations of emotions. Finding hope and love again. The mental health issues has been addressed well. Author has done big exploration of love, friendship, grief, and life experiences shaping individual.

Thanks to the Publisher.

I just absolutely LOVED this - I ended up caring so deeply for every single character as they were all so fully fleshed out and real. It was a GREAT depiction of what being a teacher is like, and my favourite part was the beautiful tenderness Mara has towards her first home - eating a takeaway on the carpet with nothing else in the house, marvelling at the fact that the four walls are yours, getting used to the new noises and making somewhere a home. Just gorgeous. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

I really tried, but gave up at 54%. I appreciate this book for the theme of mental health problems and Mara clinging to her mother when she is about to buy a house and doesn't exactly have the confidence to feel like an adult.

But apart from that, Mara was a confusing character. Lots of things she did (buying blue boots, buying a house, going to the pub) seemed to be because others wanted her to do just that. She wasn't particularly warm and I had no idea she loved to read until it was mentioned when she visited her downstairs neighbor at his home.

On top of that it was quite flat when it comes to diversity. In a city like London, surely there are more flavors of the human kind? It doesn't have to be a theme, but it would have been nice to have characters included who are worth mentioning when it comes to skin color, sexual orientation, religion, history, cultural background, or chronically ill or disabled people, you name it. Unfortunately, I keep adding that to a lot of reviews on books I've read recently...

An emotionally packed debut that follows a woman who is discovering what's important to her in her current stage of life. And that's not to say that some things in her life aren't important at all, but maybe more that she's finding out the order she needs to put them in. It's a heartbreaking journey to read at times, funny at others. Saunders explores love, friendship, family, grief, loneliness, mental illness, work, and city life, in such a way that feels important and relevant. You may read that list and think...it's doing too much, but Saunders handles it all convincingly and masterfully. Mara's life is completely and wholly believable and relatable. This book really opened my eyes to how much we humans struggle with so many different layers on a day to day basis...and we have no idea the extent of it for one person or another. Through Mara's life and challenges, Saunders paints a truly emotional portrait of a life in transit from one season to another, with all the pain and hope it requires.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an proof of this title in exchange for an honest review.

I was so surprised when I realised this was a debut! It reads like it was written by a seasoned author.

I didn’t really know how to feel about Mara at the beginning but really warmed to her over the course of the novel.

I also think that Silvia Saunders tackled more sensitive themes, such as mental health and grief, in such a sensitive but stunning way. The writing was also just gorgeous.

I cannot wait to read more from this author!

Thank you so much to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the arc. 🫶🏻

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book..

This is a quick and enjoyable read. I liked Mara and Tom from the start and felt invested in their lives. All the characters had a truth to them, no stereotypes, nothing overwritten. In other books, for example, Derek would have been a sinister baddy instead of just an annoying man. I am past the age where I would have the same issues and life problems as Mara but I would think that the book, which seems so honestly written, will resonate with people at the same stage of life as Mara.

I liked how Tom was portrayed, a decent man in touch with his emotions and not ashamed to cry. His mental health issues were very well described. I would say, however, that I am of the same opinion as the Birmingham barman - why do people move to London with all its expenses, inconveniences and difficulties to do a job, such as teacher or librarian, that they could easily do somewhere more congenial with a much better quality of life?

The pacing of the book was generally very good although I felt it dragged just slightly after the wedding and the end was possibly a bit abrupt although fairly satisfying. I would have liked to know more about Jerry the neighbour, he has potential I think. I loved his cross notes and parking wars and the humming of Eye of the Tiger as he emerged triumphant.

An enchantingly written book about a relationships and what ‘home’ really means. I loved the protagonist and became very invested in her story very early on in the novel. A great read.

Firstly wow. This book was seriously impressive, particularly for a debut! Honestly this book was both heartbreaking and a warm hug at the same time. It follows a woman in her mid twenties who is essentially going through a transitional period. It tackles first love, grief, mental illness, heartbreak and learning how to be alone. The writing was gorgeous and to a point where it almost was like catching up with a friend and you forgot you were reading at all.

I think this is a must read for anyone struggling to figure out their place in the world. A story of heartbreak and hope! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. 4.5 stars ✨

This feels like you just drop into Mara's life for a bit. Her relationship, family, friends and job are all covered.
I wasn't sure how much I liked the character of Mara. But, as I read more I came to warm to her. She is flawed but that makes her seem very real.

This book is fast paced and treats its characters delicately and empathically. I would recommend it to anyone who feels in a transitional period of their life.

The book cover caught my attention straight away and once I had read the book description I knew I had to read it.
Fresh and dynamic... Fast-paced and spellbinding...a book you will have a hard time putting down.

I enjoyed this book and wouldn’t have guessed it was a debut novel. The character voice was very reminiscent of Dolly Alderton - quick witted and empathetic.

At times it was easy to forget I was reading, and it was like catching up with a friend. Mara’s mum was absolutely divine and was the mum all millennial women need!

A really relatable novel that explored themes like first loves, heartbreak, mental health, grief, friendship and changing life stages with ease.

Would definitely recommend for fans of really good actually/ good material/everything I know about love!

As a librarian who's recently bought their first house, this one hit so close to home in many ways! My wants and Mara's wants are the same: desperately wanting to know what happens next, growing and developing friendships while also wanting to work out how to be alone. In general, a lot of the plot happens to the other characters in Mara's life as opposed to Mara herself. She's trapped in a cycle of reacting to others rather than being the agent of her own story, so my only wish was that the narrative had kept going for a little longer so we could've seen that shift more apparently. If you enjoyed Sara Pascoe's 'Weirdo', then I think you'll like Homesick!

A brilliant book for a debut. I really enjoyed this book and read it quickly. I love a novel with a young female protagonist that I can relate to for sometimes making bad choices and living a chaotic life. At times I wanted to shake Mara and other times I wanted to give her a hug. The novel flowed well, likeable characters (even Jerry!) and I felt the ending wrapped everything up and left me feeling satisfied.

As someone in their late 20s, life after 30 terrifies me and the idea of moving or falling out of love is a huge fear. This book resonated with me in ways I didn't expect, and I thought the ending was absolutely perfect. I found myself wanting to shake and hug half the characters at the same time. I felt the writing really allowed the characters to grow and make mistakes and be perfectly human like the rest of us.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a very gentle read and the prose flowed really well. I read it over the course of an afternoon and it was a really nice read. The story has lovely pacing and the characters are flawed but sympathetic.

I was surprised it was debut novel as it was well plotted, well examined, funny with strong characters. A really great look at what’s it’s like to be a woman today and addressed mental illness with sympathy.

I was so emotional reading this, but in a good way. The plot of Homesick is centered around first lovers, family, and going through the hardships of growing up/learning how to be alone with yourself. Silvia Saunders is able to really hook you in with all the feelings and situations Mara encounters. I felt for Mara and related to her so much. The other characters weren't just side characters too; they deeply influenced the story and are so complex and well written. Definitely a commentary novel I will buy and read again. Thank you to the publisher and Netgelly for this ARC.

Homesick is a beautifully crafted story that explores the complexities of love, friendship, and the search for belonging in the wake of life-altering changes. Following the sudden death of her father, Mara unexpectedly inherits enough money to purchase a flat in London, prompting her to escape the dreadful rental market and her equally dreadful childhood friend-turned-housemate, Lewis, who has a peculiar aversion to washing up cutlery.

Mara's hopes are pinned on her long-term boyfriend, Tom, moving in with her— a natural progression for their relationship. However, Tom's decision to leave London—and Mara—throws their future into disarray, leading to a rather complicated break-up that feels more like a slow drift apart.

As Mara grapples with the fallout of her relationship, she becomes increasingly fixated on the seemingly perfect couple living in the flat above her. This "Happy Couple" embodies everything she and Tom could have been, highlighting the chasm that has grown between them. Meanwhile, her best friend Noor struggles with feelings of envy towards Mara’s new circumstances, putting a strain on their friendship. Additionally, Mara's boss at the library begins to encroach upon her personal space, his overly familiar attitude becoming increasingly unsettling.

Throughout the year, we follow Mara as she settles into her new flat, navigating the challenges of her relationships while attempting to establish her independence. The narrative is lightly told yet carries profound depth, capturing the highs and lows of her life with remarkable authenticity.

Homesick is filled with memorable characters and relatable situations, making it a heartfelt exploration of first loves, found families, and the bittersweet experience of growing up. This is an excellent debut that resonates deeply, and it beautifully illustrates the process of embracing the world around us while learning to say goodbye and hello. Highly recommended for readers seeking a poignant and relatable tale.

Read more at The Secret Bookreview.

Was unsure if this would be for me I was really hoping it wasn’t not being one the books that is a really Rom-Com tarted up as literally fiction, I am so glad to report this debut is moving , smart and told with true humour. It was really well written I was surprised it was debut novel as it was well plotted, well examined, funny with string characters. A really great look at what’s it’s like to be a woman today. A real treat if read