Having really enjoyed Tom Ellen’s previous book, All About Us, I was looking forward to diving into his new one, The Lifeline.
I think the set up at the start of the book was quite good, but for me, it very quickly became obvious what had happened in the past and therefore, exactly where the story would go, so I found myself not particularly excited to dive back into the book each day as I felt I knew where the story would go. This wasn’t the case with his previous book, so I was maybe a little disappointed with this one. The writing was good, I just wish the story had a little more in the way of twist & turns to really keep me engaged.
Correct rating 3.5

I loved this book. It grabbed me from the first paragraph and I could not put it down. I loved both main characters and the supporting ones too. It was fabulously written and a real page turner.

This was a simple, fun, easy and quick read. The perfect type of book for your holiday, beach, pool kind of read. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

This is my first Tom Ellen book and I really enjoyed it. I like reading stories where the people connect before meeting and this one didn't disappoint. I cared for the characters and I raced through the book to find out how they would come together. I liked the back story of the two characters and the flashbacks. A great read.

Wow, what a book absolutely amazing read! Make sure you pick this up and read, you wont be disappointed! It’s funny but at the same time it makes you think and it’s also heartbreaking. There is trauma, love and friendship with two points of view.

This book exceeded my expectations as I did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did.
Strong believable and relatable characters and a storyline told from both of their points of view delivered an engaging read with warmth and feeling.
I was rooting for Annie and Will and crossing my fingers that past hurts did not continue to impact on their future lives.
The book is not all sunshine and roses as it does touch on loss, grief and loneliness, and who hasn't lost somebody in their lifetime, but just keep on reading and enjoy the book.

I thought this would be a nice light-hearted easy read - I was expecting clichés all over the place but it's not like that at all.

We meet Annie, still reeling from her father's death from cancer, feeling stuck in a dead-end job that doesn't fulfil her and a relationship that's going through the motions at best. Will is in survival mode after the fallout from 5 years ago, working in his spare time at a crisis call line called Green Shoots.

I enjoyed the dual POVs, I thought this really helped to tell the story in a sensitive way. I wanted to dislike Will but ended up wanting to give both him and Annie a hug - the author has masterfully crafted a story covering big themes of grief, trauma, loneliness and depression without resorting to lots of drama.

The story feels very real and is thought-provoking without being in any way preachy, there is humour throughout and the underlying messages around friendship, relationships and allowing yourself to grow even when change feels terrifying will resonate with most people I think.

Definitely give this one a read.

When i read the blurb to this book, i just knew that i was going to enjoy it and i definitely was not disappointed, it was wonderful and i am so glad that i took a chance and read it.

I loved the two main characters, Will and Annie and really enjoyed getting to know them and finding out how their story unfolded.

This book had me going through all of the emotions and i felt as though i was on an emotional roller coaster - of course in a good way!!

It was a wonderful, heartwarming romance but with a bit more depth to it too…….

I really enjoyed this author’s previous book, so was keen to give The Lifeline at try, and I was not disappointed. Despite dealing with some fairly serious issues, this was ultimately a hopeful and heartwarming read. Annie is a former music journalist who is having trouble moving on after the death of her father. Will was lead singer in an up-and-coming indie band, but now works in a failing electronics store and volunteers for a crisis helpline in his spare time. The story is told from Annie and Will’s perspectives, both in the present and five years before. A large part of the narrative takes the form of phone conversations which come across as very natural.
Five years ago, Annie went to Paris to interview Will and they went on to spend a wonderful day together. She thought they had a real connection, but when he did not turn up to meet her after the gig she assumed the worst. Five years later in London, she is supposed to be contacting the band to write an article, but cannot track them down. Purely by chance she phones the helpline, Green Shoots, and speaks to Will, but neither of them know who the other is as they are using the names Jack and Pia. They make a connection and start to look forward to their weekly conversations. We have to wait until quite far into the story to find out what happened on that fateful night in Paris, but this is good as we have come to care about Annie and Will by then.
The Lifeline is much more than a romance novel, though there is a romantic element to the story. It is really about all forms of love, and the importance of having someone to listen and talk to. The writer does not shy away from serious and distressing topics like loneliness, grief, depression and guilt but handles them with a sensitive touch. The importance of friends and family runs through the narrative, along with forgiveness. There is humour as well to stop it getting too dark, and I particularly enjoyed the pop culture references. This book has left a lasting impression on me – I won’t forget it in a hurry and look forward to reading the next book by this talented writer. Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.

The Lifeline by Tom Ellen

If I learned one life lesson from Tom Ellen’s lovely romance novel, it’s that I’m not the only one who has a weird celebrity crush on Richard Ayoade. What a relief! Usually I get quizzical looks and questions so I felt vindicated. I often say I don’t like romances, but I really did enjoy this story about Annie and Will. They met one day in Paris when Will’s band The Defectors were the next up and coming Indie band. Annie is sent out to interview them before a gig and hits it off with cute frontman Will Axford, who I was imagining as my Indie crush Damon Albarn. Annie finds his floppy hair, dimples and the gap between his front teeth very sexy. He seems to be clicking with her, but she’s still surprised when he catches up with her after the interview and suggests they spend the day together. Later as they watch the sunset from the Pont Alexandre III bridge, he asks if they can meet after his gig on the same spot. So, Annie is standing there at 11pm waiting for Will to arrive but when he still isn’t there at 11.30pm she gives herself a good talking to, fancy falling for the patter of a rock star. He’s probably with another girl already or tries this on every girl he meets. How stupid to think he would genuinely like her! As she pays for an extortionate last minute hotel room on her credit card, she’s already mentally writing up her interview full of anger and disappointment.

Fast forward five years and Annie works for an internet magazine, one of those that suck us into a blur of what 1980’s celebrity’s look like now or the best one hit wonders. It’s not what she wanted to do when she started out, with a pile of short stories and novel proposals, but it pays the bills and she loves her colleague Lexi. So, when she’s asked by her boss to write a new “Where Are They Now?’ series to go with some very lucrative advertising revenue, she jumps at the chance to do something more interesting. Then her boss asks her to track down The Defectors. Behind the scenes Annie is having a hard time. Her father died just over a year ago and her different approach to his cancer diagnosis has left her estranged from her mother and sister. Her live-in boyfriend Dom isn’t her dream man, they’re just muddling along while friends are making huge life changes like marriage and baby. The thought of losing Dom or her job scares her, but maybe a big change is exactly what she needs? As she tries to track down The Defectors she sees one of them has shared a phone number on a black background, which stands out in the usual technicolour of Instagram. It’s for a lifeline called Green Shoots, a listening ear for those who are bereaved, anxious and lonely. Annie needs someone to listen to everything that goes round in her mind, so decides to call using her middle name Pia. When Jack answers she finally feels she can open up.

Jack volunteers at the lifeline as often as he can but he doesn’t use his real name. Of course he has regulars and I fell in love with these callers, perhaps because they reminded me so much of my own work in mental health. Work I’m not well enough to do at the moment. I understood that fondness for certain callers, because it’s hard to avoid clicking with certain people. There’s Eric who calls and often makes hilarious commentary on whatever he’s watching. Some of these programmes, despite his advanced years, are things like Love Island and Made in Chelsea. I fell in love with him straight away and those times when he called feeling low I was heartbroken. Then there’s the breathing lady, who calls just to have someone to breathe with, until she feels calmer. Jack and Pia hit it off on the phone straight away, there’s energy between them. So when she says she’ll call back, he finds himself looking forward to her call. I really felt for Jack because working with peoples deepest emotions can forge strong connections, it’s hard to be detached from some callers. I loved that his friend and colleague Tanvi felt the same way too. He had been avoiding the get togethers and catch ups with other volunteers, mainly because he’s struggling with making friends and being social. Years before, there was a friend that Jack wished he could have been there for and he finds the guilt is crippling.

I felt for Annie too, especially her journey through grief and the struggle to cope when her father was diagnosed with terminal cancer. The author presents beautifully how even the closest people can grieve in their very different ways. There’s a need to give each other space and respect what they need to do in order to cope. It’s so hard when someone is terminally ill and perhaps their wishes don’t align with our own. It’s hard to let go of someone we love, even when we know they’re ready. I thought the author paced the story perfectly and the misunderstandings on the road to romance were believable, rather than formulaic ones that make me groan. Also I really liked and understood the characters, so I was into the story and not noticing the ‘scenery’ as much. Equally, I loved the revelations along the way. This was a lovely bittersweet novel about love and the people we lose along the way, and I read every word hoping these people would find each other.

This is the first book I have read by Tom ellen it won't be the last.

A beautifully written Romance that wasn't predicatbale boy meets girl.

I just picked it up and couldn't put it down

This romantic comedy is an absolute gem that has captured my heart with its endearing storyline, lovable characters, and insightful messages that have left a lasting impact on me. It is a rollercoaster ride of emotions that I never expected at the start, and I can't help but feel grateful for discovering such a beautiful book that has enriched my life in more ways than one.

Along with the captivating love story of Will and Annie, the narrative is profoundly contemplative and insightful, encouraging readers to ponder on life's complexities and nuances.

This exciting book will take you on an emotional journey that will leave you feeling both broken and whole. It's captivating storytelling will keep you completely invested from start to finish, and you'll find yourself flying through the pages, unable to put it down. With its message of love and warmth, this book will stay with you long after you've turned the last page, leaving you feeling moved and uplifted. I found it to be a truly inspiring read, and I'm confident you will, too!

A good book, which I enjoyed. It follows Will and Annie who first met in Paris 5 years ago but whose potential relationship never even managed to get started, due to a tragedy which Annie was completely unaware of . Through complete coincidence, they end up speaking to each other again some 5 years later, without even knowing it. Both are in quite a different place in their lives but will things work out for them now? Will they ever find out who they both really are and will the spark that appeared to be there in Paris really be something substantial?

I would recommend this book; it explores plenty of life, with Will helping out on a telephone crisis line having gone through a personal life changing event and Annie trying to come to turns with the loss of her father. I just felt that the middle of the story was a bit slow - it didn't seem to be getting very far very quickly, but it did pick up again towards the end.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review, which is what I have given.

A really lovely read, Tom Ellen has created a story full of heartbreak, compassion and love.

Annie first meets Will when she has to interview his band in Paris, after spending a wonderful day together Will stands Annie up for their nighttime date, and Annie never heard from him again. 5 years in and life is very different for both Annie and Will. A really great book.

Another enjoyable book from this author. As someone who has experienced a fair share of grief in the past few months, I found this to be particularly poignant. I did cry through the last few chapters and the whole book served as a good reminder to always check on those around us. Great read. Thoroughly recommend.

My second Tom Ellen book and while I didn't rate this one as high as my introduction to the author (All About Us), I still had an enjoyable time.

The topic of grief, and the consequences for family dynamics and mental health are handled really well. I also liked the two main characters and was rooting for them.

I couldn't however get past the actions that happened at the crisis line. I've volunteered at one of these, and the scenarios played out for plot purposes just would not happen in real life.

This is a beautiful escapist read that both describes and evokes powerful feelings, with various elements of the story underpinned by strong and often challenging themes.

Told from the dual narratives of Annie & Will as they both, separately, navigate through their lives after tragic events. Annie’s grief is revealed early on, whereas Will’s is gradually revealed through the plot.

This story touches very sensitive areas: drug and alcohol abuse, suicide, grief, mental health, work stresses, family relationships and the power of friendship, all introduced thoughtfully and handled well.

The excellent characterisation made me feel I knew everyone personally and intertwined alongside the main story, there are many side stories to become involved in along the way, like Eric, a frequent caller to the helpline (a real joy)!

The main plot, although somewhat predictable, is not a problem, as I felt Tom Ellen had written so brilliantly around other areas and included such a range of interesting characters and issues, with a fabulously satisfying ending. Thoroughly recommend.

A joyous read that, despite being predictable as hell from page one, really made me smile from ear to ear.

📖 BOOK REVIEW 📖
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#TheLifeline by #TomEllen @hqstories

➡️for synopsis

This was a cute little read; predictable to the hilt but non the less an enjoyable easy read.

I found the split narration between Annie and Will, how their background and present lives were revealed with perfect timing and overall setup of the book very pleasant, the writing/format easy to follow and read. Although it was obvious where the plot was going, a few surprises did appear along the way and the plot kept mostly a good pace.

This was a completely no stress read as with the previous Tom Ellen books I’ve read, just what is needed at times and can’t wait for more!

With thanks to author TE, #hqstories and @netgalley for allowing us to read this one early!

RELEASING: FEB 29th

-EMILY

@the_book_girls_1

This is a beautifully crafted novel about friendship, grief and learning to accept the past with its inevitable effect on the present. The main characters are likeable and very relatable, but the secondary characters are also excellent and add real depth to the story line. This is a romance, and the ending is no surprise but this in no way detracts from the story.
My thanks to the author, the publisher and to Net Galley for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.