Couldn't really get into this book. Loved the idea, but the vibe just wasn't there for me. Bit bummed, but maybe I'll give it another shot when it's out. Hoping to fall for it then!

Wow, what a book. I was not expecting the content, but what a lovely story. I enjoyed the characters of Florence and Norman and the way they got on with each other. I would have like the story to have been a bit longer (or maybe I read it too quickly!) to delve a bit more into some of the characters, like Sally. I did think that Norman coming out as Ethel and waling down the street was a bit rushed as i'm not sure an 86 year old would do that, but maybe I was just thinking of people I know that age. Maybe they are more accepting that I know! However, it was a lovely read and i shall recommend it to my friends.

A really moving and heartwarming story. I enjoyed this overall, although it did lack in parts slightly for me. Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book ahead of its release.

I immediately fell in love with cross-dressing, self-described 'curmudgeon', Norman/Ethel and instantly warm Florence. I'm a sucker for a 'grumpy old person goes on journey with grand-child' story and this delivered, with an inclusive twist. It's a charming, touching book about friendship, identity and hope. I gulped this down over a couple of days - very enjoyable.

This was beautiful, life affirming, and very much a needed novel. I could imagine it being a Channel 4 series! I feel like the grand daughter suffered and almost became a plot device which is a shame but I understand why:

Oh my goodness this is an outstanding ,wonderful read .I cant recommend it enough ,i laughed and cried all the way through .

A partially successful attempt at a heartwarming story. Norman's joy of crossdressing was really sweet and I loved his character development throughout the book. However, the choice of narrative voices was questionable as the writing made it pretty obvious the author was neither an 86-year-old man nor a teenage girl. Florence felt like a mouthpiece for social justice and the lack of subtlety made it jarring to read; moreover, the whole point of her character was to encourage Norman's own growth, which I didn't enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for providing a copy for review. All opinions are my own.

I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley, however all opinions are my own.

How I read this book: eBook

So the reason I wanted to read this book is because I saw the way that it was described on Netgalley and instantly knew that I had to read it so I applied to get it. I am so incredible happy that I did receive this book and I am so shocked about the amount of emotions I felt whilst reading this. This is a beautiful story about an 86 year old crossdressing man who's teenage granddaughter turns up out of the blue to visit him. This was such a heart warming story of Norman coming to be comfortable with himself with the help of his granddaughter. I really like that this book not only is set in the present but has little moments where it flashbacks into the past to give us more detail about the characters we're reading about. This story is so much more than just about Norman and his granddaughter, Florence, but about how things have changed so much between the ages of Norman being a young adult and now, as well as how much things have also stayed the same for some. One thing I will say about this book, is there is some language in it that isn't okay to use in this day and age, however the way it is used is not to be offensive, but in a way to show that Norman is as old as he is and is quickly corrected by his granddaughter, I still found it a little jarring though. I found myself crying both of happy and sad tears throughout this book, and there were so many happy moments that filled my heart with joy. There were also moments which showed people can be cruel, but those were few and far between. If you want a nice little contemporary about a cross dressing grandad coming into his own with the help of his granddaughter please, please pick this up when it comes out! You won't be disappointed!

My Favourite Characters:

- June: June is an amazing side character to this story and I loved her so much. I appreciate the amount of effort she went through to make sure that Norman would be okay.

- Florence: Florence is a beautifully written character and I'm so glad that she was able to help Norman in all the ways that she did as well as finding out the truths for herself.

- Rex: Rex is another amazing side character and I genuinely wish we got a little more of him. I loved the moments we had with him.

My Least Favourite Character:

- Sally: I actually put in my notes "Sally is such a nosey old cow", because that is exactly what she is. She was too much in everyone's business and truly needed to mind her own.

(If you'd like to see more of my reviews please go to my blog:
https://doesden.blogspot.com/)

This is a heartwarming, funny and thoughtful story of cross dressing Norman/Ethel Cartwright learning to be themself at 86, when their granddaughter Florence comes to visit. I fell in love with all three characters, and ended up highlighting several sections which really stood out to me. It’s a shorter novel with such an easy flow and writing style, that I read this in 2 days. And I’d recommend it to anyone who needs a literary hug and reminder to accept ourselves and others.

I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.

A perfectly beautiful read. This book has my heart. Embrace yourself, be happy and love life! There is nothing more to be said.

In Search of Ethel Cartwright is an absolutely lovely book. It opens with Norman living on his own aged 86 and still coming to terms with the death of his wife. He has little to do to fill his time, mainly growing vegetables and taking part in his local neighbourhood watch group. The unexpected arrival of his teenage granddaughter, Florence, soon shakes him up. Both of them have things which they need to, but don’t feel ready to, discuss. They need time to get to know each other again after so many years apart. No family is perfect, but theirs seem to have a great deal of problems. Will they be able to resolve the difficulties and improve both of their lives? Will will find Ethel Cartwright? Will Norman be happier if Ethel reappears?
Tom Watson has written a really lovely book, the characters are so beautifully written and the storyline develops well. 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.

“It was true, there were some dark clouds gathering, but the same could be said of life itself. Sometimes the sun shines, sometimes it doesn’t. All that matters is what you do with the day.


In Search of Ethel Cartwright was a pleasant read with a nice message behind it. I personally would have liked to see some more development with some of the characters and their story lines but I still enjoyed reading it!

This was great to see cross dressing talked about in a novel and to see the development of the character throughout.

Norman is a grandfather, a retired truck driver and a widower, and occasionally Ethel Cartright (his secret alter ego). This is a heartwarming tale of his reconnecting with his granddaughter who teaches him to embrace his truest self. A cosy, comforting read, perfect for Christmas.