If you get the chance, listen to this on audiobook. I reviewed it for NetGalley and I think listening to it, added an extra angle which you might not get by reading text. I absolutely adored this book, and I spent every spare moment listening to it. Such a beautiful story, so many ups and downs in it, and lovely characterisation – even Frank's wife, who had passed away before the story began!
10 stars, absolutely recommend it to everybody.

Franklin Hayes sees dead people. Most specifically his dead wife Marcie.

No, it’s not a sixth sense. Maybe she’s there to help him, to fix him.

Or is that Leonard Gavin Adair’s job? Does six-year old ‘Red’ see Frank as he once saw Miles the pigeon – something injured, to be rescued and in need of repair.

So here begins a tale that’s perhaps been told before but never, in my reading experience, in such a heartwarming and laugh-out-loud kind of way.

When you actually think about this book you’d wonder why there are so many laughs. We have a dead wife, a semi-reclusive grumpy old man in his late sixties – with an estranged son, then a young boy whose family is going through a divorce, as well as the trauma of starting a new school and being the boy who is bullied for no reason. But laughs there are. In abundance.

The author has pulled off a masterstroke of a debut novel here. Matt has the ability to make you laugh one minute then rip out your heart the next. There’s passion and emotion in the tale and indeed the writing. Even if this isn’t your normal type of read I implore you to pick it up and just feel the warmth resonating from it. And with the audio version you can feel that added dimension to the two main characters and their personalities.

Headstrong Red wins out for me – he is an absolute joy with all the characteristics of your normal young lad. Asks lots of questions, gets words mixed up (cycle path for psychopath for instance), is shark-obsessed (he’d rather watch Jaws than Paw Patrol), is passionate about Pokémon and mad about Minecraft. And don’t get me started on his culinary tastes.

Frank & Red is an absolute joy from start to finish and sometimes – just sometimes – the book you need is the one you never saw coming.

I loved this audiobook so much, I’m not surprised so many people are loving it!
Set in London, it’s told from both Frank and Red’s points of view, as the story of their unlikely friendship is slowly revealed.
I loved both Frank and Red two, completely different characters who ended up needing each other more than they wanted to admit. Red moves into the neighbourhood after his parents have spilt up, so he has no friends nearby or at the new school he starts going to. Frank is a grumpy widower who lives next door and talks to his dead wife Marcie all day, and she seems to speak back to him!
They are thrown together when Red is suspended from school and needs someone to look after him for a week. Red’s Mum can’t get the time off work and so Frank reluctantly ends up doing it. I loved how they adapted to each other and I got to know more about both of them as they spent that time together. There were some very funny moments, especially when Frank’s friend Fat Ken turns up to help mend the fence.
The story then takes a bit of a dramatic turn when Red decides to help Frank with a delicate situation, which ends up with him getting lost on the London Underground. I won’t say anything else as I don’t want to spoil it for you.
I loved the narration by James Killeen, a new-to-me narrator whose voice talents were perfect for this story. I’m definitely keen to listen to more audiobooks read by him.
Highly recommended if you enjoy books about unlikely friendships.

Long story short: you NEED to read this book!

Every now and again I read a book that hits me like a freight train with all the feels. FRANK & RED is just that book. I absolutely loved it and was overawed by its beauty, humour and tenderness. Coyne writes with compassion, sensitivity and eloquence, which meant I found myself completely wrapped up in Frank and Red’s worlds. I loved how the book was told from both of their perspectives and the story unfolds in an engaging, heartfelt and funny way. Both viewpoints are incredibly believable and Coyne writes convincingly as both a 6 year old boy and and a 60+ man. It makes for wonderful reading moving through these two different outlooks and experiencing things from two very different mindsets. This book is hugely about its characters, who have all etched themselves into the very fibre of my being. Frank is irascible, broken with grief, tormented with guilt, and barely existing. Red is finding his place in the world and his new home/school, he’s experiencing anxiety, disappointment and frustration, as well as seeking friendship and making a huge effort to maintain a positive outlook. They seem like polar opposites, but sometimes you need to adopt a little of your opposite to move forward. From the first moment Red boings on his trampoline and clocks Frank over the fence, an unlikely friendship is born. A friendship that gives the other exactly what they need in life. However, the road to such a meaningful relationship is never smooth and there’s a whole host of hysterical and deeply emotional potholes the pair must navigate.

The audiobook is very well produced and narrator James Killeen perfectly captures the gruff and uncouth nature of Frank, as well as the wide-eyed, inquisitive innocence of Red. All of the humour is flawlessly delivered and I found myself laughing out loud at a number of points. This novel builds to a really tense and exhilarating conclusion and the audiobook really expressed the change in pace and the heightened drama well. I was on the edge of my seat listening to the final few chapters and Killeen got the tempo just right. Similarly, all of the heavyweight emotional themes came through perfectly too. This wonderful book is very much about life’s journeys. Both Frank and Red embark on different journeys that end up colliding, setting them both on a course to a new life. Frank journeys through grief, loneliness and fear. Red journeys through upheaval, loneliness and fear. Both arrive at new beginnings and all the better for having meat each other. This is a story to touch your heart and I can’t recommend it enough.

I loved this book! A cosy story of grumpy frank and the new 6-year-old kid next door and the adventures they get up to. Very wholesome and an uplifting read.

Such a lovely book told from two very different perspectives. I listened to the audiobook of this and really enjoyed the narrator.

A heart warming story of an unlikely friendship and community coming together. Like a warm hug of a book.

It may be true that sometimes, the friend you need is the one you never saw coming, but in my case, it’s more like the book I needed was the one I never saw coming. So many readers were raving about this book before they even read it, they loved the blurb, they loved the cover. Honestly? Neither really spoke to me. I dismissed Frank & Red as not for me. But then so many of my bookish friends read it and were super enthusiastic about it and, yes, I’ll admit it, FOMO got the best of me.

Dear reader, I’ve never been happier that it did! I loved loved LOVED this book! Yes, Frank is grumpy and moody, and in real life, I’d probably avoid him and never get to know him enough to know that he’s not himself because he is still very much grieving the loss of the love of his life, and the fact that he lost all contact with his son in the process. Or that he’s funny in a delightfully sarcastic way and has a much bigger heart than his stern exterior might show. And truth be told, in real life, I might avoid Red and his billion questions a minute and his squeaky trampoline as well, but I’d be missing out cos I swear that boy had stolen my heart only a few chapters in.

Frank & Red is not my genre at all, but I couldn’t tell you a single thing I didn’t love about it if I tried. It had me laughing out loud quite a few times, it had me swallow a lump in my throat on multiple occasions, it had me tackling all kinds of chores just so I could keep listening. With a 4.68 average on Goodreads (at the time of my writing this), I’m sure Frank & Red is one that will pop up on many a “books of the year” list come December, and it most definitely will do on mine.

The narration is done by James Killeen in a fantastic Irish accent. I found his voice and accent soothing and relaxing but not in a soporific fashion, which, honestly, can be a problem for me, especially with male narrators. It was always clear what was happening and who was talking, even if he doesn’t do a lot of voices, which was actually a bit of a relief, because narrators trying to voice children or people of the opposite sex can fail spectacularly. If anything, this narration only made the story better.

I had the very best time with Frank & Red and nothing I say can do it justice. Believe all the good things everyone’s been saying and find out for yourself. And if audiobooks are your bag, then treat yourself to the audio version. Need I say it? Probably not but I’ll say it anyway: highly recommended.

Frank & Red is out now in hardcover, digital and audio formats, with the paperback to follow in August.

Massive thanks to Headline Audio and NetGalley for the audiobook. All opinions are my own.

I loved this! Frank and Red’s relationship was lovely. Great humour throughout and brilliant narration. I will definitely look for more by this author in the future. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers.

Oh my goodness FRANK AND RED!!!

Fred is an old ornery man, who wants nothing to do with anyone. Red is the sweet motormouth six year old newly moved in next door. Fred just wants to be left alone. Red just wants to make a friend.

Frank and Red soon become a part of each other's lives, one that will change them forever.

Absolutely lovely book and the narrator was brilliant!

This book is surprisingly unsurprising...what I mean by that is the author of 'Man vs Baby' fame has transferred his social media wit to prose.

This book doesn't read like a debut novel, it reads like a seasoned pro on his 10th novel.

The story is about an unlikely 'friendship' that develops between a 67 year old and a 6 year old who live next door. Frank, is grieving his wife and Red is grieving his old house, school and moving away from his best friend Noah.

I haven't laughed this much at a novel in quite some time...and I mean actual Laugh Out Loud. It is painfully funny and the scenarios depicted resonate to me as a dad of 3 children, 2 of them boys.

However, it isn't just comedy that is fully loaded, the feeling and depth of emotion the author derives from Frank as a widower is quite astonishing. You can feel his pain and understand why he is dismissive of the world.

I give this book 5/5 and the only regret I have is I can't read it for the 1st time again.

I Really enjoyed listening to the story of Red and Frank, and seeing there relationship grow Between them.

Sometimes a older person needs a friend and someone who won't give up on them.

Would really Recommend this for a feel good listen.

Thank you net galley for a early listen to this wonderful story .

oh wow, my heart broke and was healed again with this book ❤️ Loved everything about it! There was so much humour in this as well. The main characters of Frank and Red are so loveable in completely different ways. A real joy to read (or listen to as I did! The narrating was excellent). #FrankAndRed #MattCoyne

This is a fairly lighthearted tale of how 6 year old Red befriends elderly Frank next door, and they both deal with their struggles (Frank leaving the house, Red with a bully in a new school). It was clear that it was very much in the vein of the Man Vs Baby account on social media, because it’s written by the man behind that, and at times it did feel like it was trying a bit too hard to be the precocious and hilarious child - it’s a tough line to walk between cute and annoying, and admittedly it did veer across into annoying for me at times, though that may have been because I listened to the audio book where it was a grown man putting on a kid voice.

It tackles a few things like adjusting to divorce/bereavement, moving into a new school and a class bully… but fit didn’t really stick the landing for me on those. There’s a brief mention of Frank’s new relationship with his son at the end, and when Red goes back to school, the bully asks to sign his arm cast and they become semi friends… but it’s not really enough of a resolution. And there’s no real explanation that I remember, as to why Frank and his son are estranged - apologies if it was there and I missed it.

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

Frank is in his late sixties and has become a recluse since his wife Marcie died. He fell out with his grown up son, doesn’t see his friends anymore and doesn’t leave the house. And then one day, six year old Red moves in with his mum Sarah. Red has a trampoline and talks to Frank while he is jumping. He is determined to be Frank’s friend, despite the fact that Frank is rude and grumpy and won’t really engage with Red.
Red is finding life tough – his parents are recently divorced and he has had to move house, leaving his best friend Noah behind. His dad has a new family that he insists on trying to involve Red in when he isn’t too busy to see him. And to make matters worse, Red has to start a new school where he doesn’t know anyone and really struggles to make friends, especially as one boy seems to have it in for him. He confides in Frank about school and his advice leads to Red being suspended. Sarah is furious with Frank but because she has to work and she sees the situation as Frank’s fault, she insists he look after Red for her and an unlikely friendship in born.
I’ve loved reading Matt’s musings on having a child on his blog Man vs Baby so when I saw he had a book out, I had a feeling I would love it and I did. I listened to the audio and the narration is superb, capturing both characters brilliantly. You can’t help but feel sorry for Frank despite his hostility to the outside world – I loved that he still “sees” Marcie and that she doesn’t let him get anyway with any nonsense, offering advice and instructions he is never happy about!
And Red is absolutely adorable. He is funny, Pokémon obsessed, a little bit naughty and full of questions and I loved him! Their relationship is wonderful – I loved the way they helped each other. And it is so funny – the things they say to each other and the observations they make actually made me laugh out loud.
A book that pulls at the heartstrings with outstanding characters. Can you tell yet that I LOVED this book? I know we are only in February but this will definitely be in my top ten reads of 2024 and may even take the top spot!

Frank is scared and alone following his wife’s death. Red is scared and alone after having to move house and school. They now live next door to each other and will be forced to get to know each other.

Really enjoyed this well written and well narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook). Love the way these characters are so well rounded and the narration brought them to life. So easy to care about what happens to them.

The future they face seems sad and dark but events will bring them to a new future. A feel good novel, enjoy.

I loved this book! It’s a heartwarming story about a lonely man who has lost his wife and in some way lost his son, but in pops Red the neighbour that he didn’t want but discovers that he needed and as it happens that Red needed Frank too!

A beautiful book about lost love but new love in the shape of a beautiful new friendship between an elderly widow man named Frank and a lovely young boy named Red! The unlikely friendship between them just warmed my heart and made me smile and laugh!

I would highly recommend reading this book!

I would like to thank NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book, it’s a really beautiful book!

A fabulous book highlighting the transformative power of inter-generational friendships.
Frank is a reclusive, grumpy old man following the death of his wife. He drinks heavily, has stopped contact with his son and doesn't leave the house. The only communication he has is with the ghost of his wife. He is then horrified when a recently divorced woman moves in next door with her very inquisitive but sad and lonely son, Red. Worse still for Frank is that Red has a trampoline and is insistent on talking to him! Things get off to a very bad start but the intense difficulties both characters face at different ends of the age spectrum are alleviated through the learning they gain from each other.
Beautifully narrated, funny, poignant and emotional in equal parts. Highly recommended.
I am grateful to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced listener copy of this audiobook and am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

Wow!!
This was an amazing debut novel. This was so funny I was smirking and trying to hide my grinning as I walked around listening to this book trying not to draw attention to myself!
I was kind of hoping it would’ve been narrated by the author himself and whilst I had no problem with the narrator the voice didn’t quite relate to the characters who were much older or younger and the narrator had an uplifting cheery voice that didn’t really sound like Frank and his nature!


It was such a moving, emotional, sweet and truly a heartfelt story that was reality but just a little bit brighter, or maybe a glimpse of how the innocent kindness of our children should be an example we all learn from.
Maybe not realistic in that I wouldn’t be leaving my 6 year old with virtual stranger even if they were my neighbour..
Whilst it may sound like I have holes to pick and it wouldn’t be a 5 star…it really is I’m just being REALLY nitpicky!

I received this book as an ARC and am providing an honest review

Sadly dnf'd at 14% of thr audio book.
Loved the tragix humour, the audio reader & the sad story line. But, having worked with children for so many years, there is no way that a 6 yr old has such a complex reflect & analysis mind. The author has not captured how a 6 yr old sees the world & how they don't understand their complex emotions. Felt like a adult man in the 6 yr olds body & mind.

4.5 stars rounded up.

A heartwarming story of an unlikely friendship between a widowed elderly man and the 6 year old boy who moves in next door.

I loved this one. It made me laugh, it made me cry. It was so insightful and funny without being overly sentimental. I loved both Frank and Red.

Told in a dual POV, this book seemed to capture both the thoughts of a grumpy man in his 60s and a 6 year old boy perfectly. I actually laughed out loud at Red’s inner thoughts so many times.

I listened to this on audio and the narration was perfect. Really didn’t want to turn it off.

The epilogue was just perfect! What a great debut novel!

Thank you to Netgallery and Headline Audio for the audio copy.