Will is working in a boring dead-end job and in his spare time is a volunteer for Green Shoots, an anonymous phone line along the lines of The Samaritans. . When Annie starts calling they form a connection and Will finds himself always looking forward to Annie's calls.

This is a told from both perspectives and is mainly told in the present although there are chapters here and there that are set in Paris 5 years ago, when Annie was a music journalist and was interviewing the band that Will was lead singer of.
We know that something happened to Will which has made him turn his back on his music career and that Annie is now writing for a website, living with her boyfriend (who is an arse) and has grown apart from her mother and sister.

There are some really sensitive subject matters dealt with in this book and they were all well addressed.

It was a predictable read with no real surprises but it was a nice read.

The Lifeline is a truly special book. It's a book about second chances and hope.

With a dual timeline we move from the present to five years ago to read about a magical and random day in Paris. Will, a singer in an up and coming band, and Annie, a music journalist meet when she interviews the band. Sparks fly between them and they spend a day together making wonderful memories.

But those memories are soured when Annie is stood up by Will.

Cut to the present and Will is living a very quiet life, filled with guilt and shame over a tragic event that changed the course of his life. In a bid to allay some of his guilt he volunteers at a telephone crisis line.

Annie is coasting through life in an unhappy relationship and is consumed with anger over the death of her beloved father.

Little do they know that fate is conspiring to bring them back into each others lives, but as with all worthwhile things, the path is not to be a smooth one.

Heart warming and beautifully crafted, this is a book to cuddle up with and relish.

This one has all the ingredients! Great storyline and really excellent character development. It’s been a while since I really liked getting to know all the characters in a novel and Found myself becoming invested in their lives. Such a great idea to weave a storyline through the medium of a crisis helpline. I felt this was sensitively snd credibly handled. Perhaps “jack” wouldn’t have managed to remain a volunteer without participating in some team activity and supervision but the basic tenets of the training came through nonetheless. The love story with the backdrop of work and loss worked really well. A great read. Four stars

A tender slow burn of a rom-fiction, sensitively told. Annie is a journalist in a dead end job, living with her boyfriend but barely connecting with him, desperately missing her dad who passed away and left a huge hole in her life. She remembers one perfect day 5 years ago when she was interviewing Will the lead singer of the hottest band around and they spent a magical day in Paris together - its miles away from her mundane life now.

Will is now living a very different life too; far from the rock and roll lifestyle he'd envisaged, he's working in an electronics shop in the daytime and works on an anonymous support phoneline in his spare time. He relishes his time there - he feels useful and valued in a way that he doesnt elsewhere.

When Annie turns to the phone line for her own advice, she reconnects with Will - but with both of them giving pseudonyms, what could possibly happen?

A heart-warming uplifting story with plenty of heartbreak and tragedy along the way.

I don’t know why I left this book on my shelf for so long but I absolutely adored it. The only character I disliked from day 1 was dom. I loved Annie and don’s story and absolutely devoured this book in 24 hours.

First of all thank you for approving my request!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The authors writing style had me hooked throughout this book.

I didn't want it to end, a book I really couldn't put down.

I adored this book from beginning to end.
Tom Ellen's writing style is just perfection and allows you to completely immerse yourself in the story. I will be recommending this one to everyone!

Oh I loved this. It deals with loneliness and grief and second chances. I was rooting for Annie and Will throughout. A perfect read.

Such a gorgeous heartwarming book…..two people and how things come round full circle. Annie met Will 5 years ago when interviewing him…..then 5 years later she strikes up a dialogue and the past meets the present. Lovely characters and a really nice message and story.

What a lovely book! Annie and Will were clearly destined to be together, but their story was delightful, nevertheless.
I enjoyed it very much.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this book for review.

enjoyed this story, with a missed connections type vibe but around a very serious topic- but never heavy handed.

I devoured it in a single day. Tackled tough subjects an a respectful manner and the love element realistically. Really impressed and want to read more of his writing!

Chic lit at its best. Predictable, enjoyable, laugh out loud on occasions & a few tears shed too. The characters are great and well written as well as being relatable. Perfect reading for an afternoon in the sunshine.

Will & Annie, how can I even begin?.

Both are stuck in a rut , Will feels like he’s missed his chance at life and is in a job he doesn’t want but he enjoys volunteering at a crisis phone line.

Annie is overwhelmed with grief and is in an underwhelming relationship plus her job is on the rocks.

I kind of guessed what was going to happen after reading the synopsis and the prologue but that didn’t take away from me thinking that the story was absolutely incredible and something really special.

The story highlights grief, mental illness and loneliness but it a tasteful and realistic way.

So many readers will relate to this beautiful story in so many ways, I know I did.

I finished this late into the night because I couldn’t go to sleep until I had finished every last page, the romance and angst had me on the edge of my seat.

Will and Annie will stay with me for a long time as me and my partner had a second chance at love too but ours was around 10 years later.

This book switches between the current day narrations by Will and Annie. And, a day in Paris 5 years before.
The characters were likable and I wanted things to work out for them. However, I thought the story was a bit predictable. I also wasn't keen on the bits in Paris which seemed a bit drawn out in comparison to the other timeline.
It's a nice easy read despite the themes of grief and mental health. Would make a good holiday read.

I couldn't put this page turner down, I was immediately absorbed into the storyline. Told from a dual perspective of Will and Annie, two thirty somethings consumed with their personal grief and floating through life. When Annie rings an anonymous helpline she begins to open up about her feelings and we start to learn about the events that bought her to need to reach out to a stranger. Will volunteers at the helpline as he is consumed by guilt and grief by listening to Annie he starts to open himself up to hope. I really enjoyed reading from both the characters perspectives, I liked and felt so much for them both. It is so well written I found myself sobbing while reading. The characters are relatable and loveable, faults and all. I found this an ultimately romantic and feel good read that deals really sensitively with the effects of isolation, loneliness and grief. I will definitely be reading more books by this author.

This was such a heart warming story based around the 2 main characters, Will and Annie. Told from alternating viewpoints and with a dual timeline this could have been a confusing book but I loved the flow of the story. I fell in love with the characters and the main theme which dealt with mental health.

A few pages in, I knew this book was for me. It focused on mental health, but the underlying humour, the incorporation of uplifting friendships and the tantalising promise of romance kept the story from ever becoming too dour.

The mystery as to what happened in Paris all those years ago hooked me, as I needed to know what could have possibly prevented Will and Annie’s obvious connection from turning into something more. Through both characters, the novel mined into the heavier emotions of grief, guilt and loneliness. They were allowed to express their deeper feelings to the fullest extent, but they were also able to grow from them. It helped that both Will and Annie were surrounded by such kind and supportive friends who they could rely on to lean on and parse through their feelings.

In large part, Will and Annie’s character development was due to their serendipitous phone calls. I liked how they were able to help each other through the simple act of listening. Their conversations flowed effortlessly, making it clear that their connection in Paris hadn’t dampened despite becoming two very different people since then. Will and Annie made each other braver in all aspects of their lives. As it was obvious how good Will and Annie were together, I was desperate for them to figure out who the other person at the end of the line really was.

Along with the need for Will and Annie to meet, the novel was propelled forward by its compelling and powerful final act. It ended on a hopeful and inspiring note, one which highlighted the power of reaching out and opening up.

OVERALL: This tender love story tackled the heavier topics of grief, guilt and loneliness. Luckily, its darker moments were buoyed by subtle humour, supportive friendships and a heart-warming romance.

A gorgeous and heartwarming read. The Lifeline follows Will and Annie as they unknowingly re-form a connection via crisis helpline Greenshoots.

We watch our main characters through the lens of today and five years ago, exploring not only their own relationship but also their relationships with those around them.

The story deals so beautifully with themes of grief, suicide and loneliness- you cannot help but love every single character. Although the subject matter is intense the book still feels so hopeful, it was almost soothing in a way to read.

In "The Lifeline" by Tom Ellen, readers are immersed in a poignant and uplifting story that explores the transformative power of connection and the courage it takes to rebuild one's life.

Will and Annie couldn't be more different: Will is stuck in a dead-end job, sleepwalking through life and avoiding his own problems, while Annie is meticulously planning her future until unforeseen circumstances throw her off course. Despite their disparate paths, they find solace and support in each other through regular phone calls on an anonymous crisis line.

Ellen's storytelling is masterful as he navigates the evolving relationship between Will and Annie. Through their heartfelt conversations, readers witness the depths of their loneliness, fears, and vulnerabilities, but also the sparks of hope and resilience that emerge as they challenge each other to be brave and confront their demons. The author skilfully weaves together themes of love, loss, and the importance of truly being seen and understood, creating a narrative that is as touching as it is inspiring.

What sets "The Lifeline" apart is its authentic portrayal of human connection and the profound impact it can have on our lives. Will and Annie's relationship, born out of anonymous phone calls, is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the capacity for love to transcend boundaries and circumstances. As they navigate their own struggles and support each other through life's challenges, they discover that true connection knows no bounds.

At its heart, "The Lifeline" is a story about courage, resilience, and the transformative power of love. Ellen's sharp wit and deft storytelling make this a captivating read from start to finish. Whether you're laughing along with Will and Annie's banter or wiping away tears at their poignant moments, this novel is sure to leave a lasting impression.

"The Lifeline" is a captivating and heart warming novel that reminds readers of the beauty and importance of human connection. Tom Ellen's insightful exploration of love, loneliness, and the journey to self-discovery makes this a must-read for anyone searching for hope and inspiration in the midst of life's challenges.