Have tissues at the ready for this one because this one hits hard and is absolutely gut-wrenching but so beautiful and important. Dealing with loss, grief and loneliness this is so needed and emphasises checking in on those you love.

I really liked Annie and Will and loved their interconnecting storylines. They were such realistic and relatable characters that you couldn't help but root for them in their personal lives and their romance.

The Lifeline is a wonderful yet heart-breaking story that is so gripping you'll struggle to put it down. I definitely recommend picking this one up but like I said make sure you're ready for the hard hitting moments!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The story starts with aspiring musical journalist Annie interviewing an up and coming band in Paris, striking up a friendship with one of their members, Will.
Fast forward five years later and Will is struggling in a dead end job, whilst also helping out at a crisis line. Annie is now in an unhappy relationship, unhappy at work and ends up calling the crisis line, unaware that she is actually talking to Will, whilst he doesn't recognise her either.
This is one of those oddball stories that I found that I was really enjoying. The story gradually becomes clearer, switching between the present day and the meeting in Paris all those years ago. Very emotional, with sad moments but also more positive ones. Written by someone who has obvious knowledge of helplines and how they can help people I ended up being totally engrossed in the story and praying that everything worked out in the end. Highly recommended.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

A nice fun rom com told in dual pov.

I really liked this one, if fluffy feel good rom coms are your thing then this will be for you. It also deals with some tough topics such as suicide, mental health and grief but done well.

I found I felt more for Will, rather than Annie. I didn’t think there was as much depth to Annie as there was for will. I felt way more emotion reading wills chapters but that was just me.

I also adored one of the side characters, Eric. He was so sweet and a nice addition to the story. I liked how his part of the story wrapped up and tied in to Wills story.

Overall a nice sweet romance read. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this arc.

''I read somewhere once that grief is like weather. As in: constantly changing, impossible to predict. You might be expecting clear skies but instead you get storm clouds. That seems about right. But I'm not sure how much longer I can go on, never knowing exactly when I'm going to get caught in the pouring rain.''

Will and Annie have found themselves at a crossroads. Which way are they going to follow?


Will wanted to become a rock star. That’s all gone now. Now, he works in a shop that is barely functional and volunteers at a crisis line where he gives hope to those who need it most. If only he could see it…Instead, he has chosen to live in the past, fighting the same terrible demons day in, day out. Annie works in a job that doesn’t meet her wishes and talents and has to put up with an insufferable boyfriend as she struggles to overcome her grief for her father’s death and her anger towards her family. One day, Annie decides to call Green Shoots. And everything will change as two strangers open themselves to each other in the blink of an eye?

But are they strangers?

Without further ado, this book is perfect. The writing is impeccable. Modern but not cliched, vivid but not cringe-inducing as most contemporary novels have become. The characters of Will and Annie are outstanding. Tangible, sincere, acting as actual human beings would act when hopelessness, exhaustion and apathy take over. Their concerns and fears can be found in every single one of us and their voices are distinct, kind and memorable. Tom Ellen manages to turn London and Paris into characters and the descriptions of each city are so lively that you feel yourself walking (and recognizing) the streets, the alleys, the parks, the buildings.

Excellent characters aside, the real strength of the novel lies within the use of its main themes. Loss, disappointment, grief, misunderstandings. How do we cope with the loss of the most important person in our life? How do we manage to get up and walk when we feel that this bereavement came to be through the inertia of others? How do we forgive? And how do we forgive ourselves when we feel that we are the cause of our pain?

Tom Ellen’s novel is a breath of fresh air. It is a contemporary masterpiece. Some have mentioned that it is the British You’ve Got Mail. As much as I love this film, The Lifeline is a gazillion times better.

Many thanks to HQ and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com/

Will works at a call centre listening to people and their troubles but he has problems of his own.
Annie is trying to sort out her life and finds a crisis centre phone number.
Soon Will and Annie are talking but under different names neither of them realising they had already met on a day neither of them will ever forget but for different reasons.

I'll preface this review by saying that I was once a Samaritans volunteer years ago, so I understand the ins and outs of volunteering for a crisis line. I was drawn to this story by the obvious ethical implications from the blurb of a volunteer and caller starting some kind of relationship and I wondered how the author would handle it. I'll get more into that in the spoiler section below.

Anyway, appreciating that this is fiction, I really enjoyed it. The story was much more than a simple romance, the writing style was lively and it cast light over issues such as loneliness, grief and guilt. A very good example of contemporary fiction.

SPOILERS BELOW


From the acknowledgements, the author seems to have volunteered at an unnamed crisis line, probably Samaritans, given the organisation's reach. What I can't quite figure out is the misrepresentation of the organisation, training and procedures. Green Shoots seems to be a stand in for Samaritans, but then it mentions 'tv adverts for the Samaritans with rows of volunteers in headsets sat beside each other in an open plan office'. Definitely not how Samaritans operates-it's two volunteers at a time manning a small office. Each volunteer goes through a rigorous training program.
This Green Shoots operation has volunteers working alone, which wouldn't offer required support to the volunteers, and there is only a monthly optional debrief. Samaritans has a debrief at the end of each shift.
The plot with Eric is simply ludicrous. There seems to be a lack of training at Green Shoots- Will doesn't even know that the calls are anonymous and untraceable. Properly trained crisis line staff know not to give any personal information out about them for various reasons, they know how to handle every type of call, including a suicide in progress. They certainly would not hunt the caller down and try to intervene in their life. Samaritans has a policy of self-determination i.e. it is the caller's decision if they want to end the life and volunteers are only there to listen. Frankly, lots of callers would not get in contact if they thought volunteers were going to judge them or talk them out of it.
The relationship with Annie/Pia- it is completely inappropriate to arrange to meet a caller in person. It puts the volunteers safety at risk and could be seen as taking advantage of a vulnerable person. There have been a few real-life incidents of this nature, and rightly these have been dealt with. The book appreciates this to a point, but there doesn't seem to be any consequences for Will having broken the rules.

I really enjoyed this book. Great cast of characters and really well written. I loved the details of the helpline too. Highly recommended.

(Thank you to Net Galley and HQ for giving me an ARC copy of this book)

"The Life Line" follows two people Will and Annie who are connected together from a shared experience 5 years before who find themselves unknowingly connecting again on a crisis helpline.

We have all experienced loneliness in our lives, whether that is when we are completely alone or seemingly surrounded by people but still feeling that deep rooted ache.

Tom Ellen explores the themes of love and loneliness beautifully in The Life Line. I like the fact that there are snippets of Will and Annie's backstory that is weaved into the narrative. He also has a great knack of reaving secrets bit by bit making us, the reader, desperate to read on. The characters were wonderfully developed and I loved the narrative on suicide and mental health without being too jarring.

I finished this within a few days and I couldn't put it done. The only criticism I have is at points there were too many unnecessary pop culture references that might make the novel age badly. However, that is more a personal preference more than anything.

I loved loved loved the lifeline!!! A story set over five years that follows the lives of a journalist and an up and coming indie pop star who meet for a brief time on a fateful day that sets the course for the next few years.
The story also highlights the trauma of grief and the effect it has on our lives. I loved the characters and the style of writing. It is not a predictable storyline and I was completely absorbed from the start. It is one of those books that you really do not want to end. Well done Tom Ellen, I will be looking out for your other books.

It sounds like a cliche but I really could not put this book down. It’s a miserable Saturday in February and this is just what I needed - it’s sad, it’s funny but mainly it’s joyful. For me, I felt that, as well as a great story, there was a message about kindness and making connections.

Annie and Will spent a few wonderful hours together 5 years ago but their arranged meeting later the same night didn’t work out and they went their separate ways. Fast forward to the present day and they are both heartbroken through loss but a chance encounter sets them on a path or rediscovering their true selves.

Heartfelt and eye-opening, full of compassion and hope!
Lifeline is such a beautiful and highly emotional book, Tom Ellen has written a story about hope, care and kindness. It's got some darker undercurrents in the fact that Will is helping on a crisis line and all those reaching out are in the darkest and bleakest places where they can find themselves and Will may be the only person to help them when life becomes too much. Will never dreamed of being in the position he is in, and I enjoyed his story and how he and Annie grow closer over the phone though neither knows who the other is.
It's full of sensitivity and compassion, with a few twists thrown in to keep you on your toes, it's a gorgeous story of life and friendship and shines a light on those who have genuine kindness and care for others, I enjoyed it and recommended it!

Will was the lead singer in a band that seemed to be heading straight for the top, but one dark night in Paris it all came crashing down. He now works in an electronics store in Tottenham Court Road, has no friends or social life, and volunteers for a small, little known crisis line.
Annie works for a publication, has 2 best friends and lives with her boyfriend, but she isn’t happy. She blames her mother and sister for the death of her beloved father from cancer, so doesn’t see them, and her relationship seems to be going from bad to worse. When Annie sees the crisis line number it seems like a sign, and she begins speaking to Will. Neither knows that their lives are about to change dramatically as a result of their conversations
I really enjoyed this book, even more than I expected. It was in turns funny, and painfully sad. Well written with believable characters. I definitely recommend it.

When I started this book I thought it was going to be pretty lightweight and not really give me much to hang onto, however, as the story progressed I found myself really getting involved with the characters and becoming increasingly gripped by the plot. Although aspects of the mystery were fairly obvious, the way in which they unfolded meant I remained interested and enjoyed the writing and the relationships. I didn’t actually enjoy the epilogue at all as I found it far too contrived and would have preferred it not to be there at all.
On balance, the Green Shoots characters and the relationships between Will and Dev and between Annie and her mum meant that this was an enjoyable read.

A powerful story about how anonymity allows you to really talk. A beautiful book that will tug at your emotions but lighthearted at times with lovely characters. A joy to read.

I thought this book was just going to be a boy meets girl chick lit and it was so much more. Will used to be the front man of an up and coming band and now has a job in a shop and volunteers at a crisis helpline. Annie is an aspiring writer who is still struggling with grief from the loss of her father and a fractious relationship with her mum and sister. Annie, known as Pia after ringing Green Shoots lifeline and is building a relationship with Will, whose safe name is Jack.

This book delves into the need for crisis helplines and the sort of people who use them and why. There are many supporting characters and I admit to having a massive soft spot for Eric.

This is so much more than a “fluffy easy read” and I loved it.

My heart broke so many times while reading The Lifeline. I was so invested in Annie's and Will's stories, both grieving and not living their lives to the full. Their unknown connection to one another when they're speaking on the phone and seeing them grow as people and learn to deal with the tragedies that life has dealt them. This really is a wonderful read and truly highlights the importance of human contact. Just listening to somebody can make the world of difference to them. It's a stroy that will stay with me for a long time.

I absolutely adored this book, it’s the perfect heartwarming romcom read - it’s one of my favourite reads of the year so far!

I loved Tom’s previous novel, All About Us, so was really looking forward to getting lost between these covers.

In The Lifeline we meet Annie and Will, two people who met in the course of their respective jobs. Now, five years on, we meet them again in their separate lives. Outwardly, they may seem to be fulfilled, but their realities are different. Both feel that life is passing them by.

The story is told in a dual narrative, with dual timeline chapters to give more detail on the backstory of what happened on that day, five years ago. Slowly, we start to learn what has shaped them to be the people they are today.

This is such a lovely book, but it is far from saccharine sweet. Most of the characters are dealing with modern life’s pressures, in one way or another. Some issues are bigger than others, grief, loneliness, depression are all within the pages.
It is a tale of how life can change for the better, when we allow ourselves to open up to others. How being a little brave, can have a positive impact on ourselves, and those around us. It is also a reminder to look out for those around us, and that a little kindness goes a long way.

I always read the acknowledgements at the end of a book. I think it’s says so much of the author themselves. In this instance, it really shows how much of him himself Tom put into the book. I loved this kind, cosy book, I feel like I’ve been wrapped in a warm hug since turning the last page. It’s 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me.

Nice easy read with engaging characters. Alternative chapters from Annie and Will, as well as backwards and forwarding between the present time and five years ago, which nicely gives you the back story of these two. The story deals with some important issues too, such as bereavement and mental health, family friction, loneliness and relationship breakdowns but also has an uplifting spin. Would recommend.

A wonderful story of love, grief and heartbreak. Hard to put down, ideal reading for a cold winters day.