A lovely book about community and family and how that isn't always made up of people you are related to.
Stevie and Amber move into their new house only to find Dorothy the previous owner still living there. Dorothy inserts herself into their lives and doesn't want to leave.
I really enjoyed reading this one, the interactions between characters, the colourful personalities and all the side stories too.
It's a brilliant uplifting read and one I would recommend you pick up.

I never normally read comedy but I am a big fan of Sandi Toksvig so I was drawn to this book. I really enjoyed the characters of Stevie and Amber although I did think Jack was a little too good to be true. Unlike a lot of books which are promoted as 'laugh out loud' I did find this book very funny in parts and touching in others.

I really liked the idea of this book and I thought the title was very cleverly chosen! I like the author and have always found her amusing so hoped her writing would be the same. I loved the beginning of the book. Amber and Stevie have bought a house together, but find that it comes with the former resident - Dorothy. I enjoyed being introduced to the different characters, and I found the dialogue witty and funny. However, for me, as the story moved on, it became a bit complicated with the characters and I began to lose track of who was who. The storyline was so far fetched (I know it's a story so it can be!) and it wasn't as enjoyable as I thought it would be. I also found it quite gloomy throughout, which was surprising as there were so many laugh out loud parts!

Whilst I didn't enjoy the plot as much as I'd hoped, I did enjoy the humour that the author injected into it. I've watched her on TV for so many years, and always laughed along with her. Her talent to make people laugh comes through the pages is amazing, and it's a shame that this book all became a bit too serious. It was a bit of a mixed bag for me, and I so wanted to like it more.

Let's be honest, it's a rather unlikely scenario. When Amber and Stevie buy their dream home they find it comes complete with the previous owner and no matter what they try, they don't seem able to get octogenraian Dorothy to leave! However, it you are willing to overlook this - and I was - then what you will find is a rather charming story about love, family and friendship in many guises.

As you might expect from a book written by Sandi Toksvig, there is a lot of humour in this book as the couple try to negotiate with Dorothy and make their house their own. However there are lot of deeper issues covered too such as care of the elderly and the challenges faced by gay people as they seek to create a family and how they can still, sadly, face prejudice just for who they are.

As well as Amber, Stevie and Dorothy, there are several other entertaining characters. I particularly liked Jack and his granny Birdie. Many of these characters were quite quirky which was balanced out nicely by sensible Amber and Stevie.

I'd call this a cosy kind of read, full of fun but also rather poignant at times. Recommended if you are looking for an easy to read, heartwarming book.

A lively and effervescent tale, as you might expect from comedian Sandi Toksvig, full of laughter, little dramas and ultimately, a satisfying ending. It's quite a light, fast-paced book with plenty of action, frustrations and solutions, based around Dorothy, the key character of the title, who remains in her house after it has been sold to married couple, Stevie and Amber. She appears to be a force of nature despite ailing health, and manages to involve herself in the lives of everyone in Grimaldi Square where they live. There are plenty of joyful, disastrous and touching moments, at which Dorothy is the centre if not always the cause. A jolly, uplifting read perfect for the holidays.

I enjoyed this book. as it's well plotted, twisty and entertaining. I liked the good storytelling and the fleshed out characters. Good humour
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Amber and Stevie buy a house, but it has a sitting tenant, that they weren't expecting to have. She's 80 years old and doesn't care what anyone thinks and she certainly speaks her mind.

I really wanted to read this book as I loved Sandi's memoir book and her style of writing. Unfortunately for me from the first page I just didn't really gel with the whole premise of the book. Each time I picked the book up I thought the story wasn't progressing very much and I was beginning to get bored.

I stuck with it, and eventually there was a little bit more of a development to the story. Unfortunately whilst I had thought the book would be light-hearted it then went from almost slap stick to covering some darker themes. It felt like a bit of a slap in the face. Maybe the author thought that it was a truer representation of life, but it wasn't consistent with the rest of the book.

I did really like the character of Dorothy and she had some classic lines.

I loved this book. I loved the absurdity of the situation. Can you imagine buying your perfect house and on the day you move in, find the previous owner, 80 year old Dorothy, parked on the sofa and refusing to move.

The first couple of pages had me laughing. Sandi Toksvig writes in such a vivid way. There's a brief but comprehensive description of Grimaldi Square; a description of Stevie, a police officer, waiting outside number 4 for her wife Amber to arrive (Amber's very late); Stevie's encounter with a grumpy, complaining woman living next door. When she finally enters the house she finds 80 year old Dorothy upstairs, sitting on a red sofa, claiming she lives there. Stevie also finds herself inadvertently trapped in the room with Dorothy. Stevie's day isn't quite going as she carefully planned it. It's an unusual situation to say the least. How can Dorothy be encouraged to leave? Surely she has somewhere to go.

I was hooked.

The characters are wonderful. There are quite a few of them but they all have an important part in the story. Amber and Stevie's friend Jack works in the pub on the square. It turns out he recognises Dorothy from when he was a boy. Dorothy knows everyone and is a bit of a character. There are quite a few surprises. She's not a typical 80 year old lady. The dialogue between the characters is so natural and humorous.

It's not all laugh out loud. As you learn about the characters you realise there's some sadness. Dorothy's story is heartbreaking. And there are serious encounters with homophobic thugs who cause trouble in the local pub and problems for the landlady Agnes.

Overall however the book is a joy to read. I'm still smiling thinking about it. (I have no doubt I'll read it again some day).

I've loved Sandi since I was a child watching No 73 but this is the first book of hers I've read.

I don't really know what to say, except I loved it. So well written, such amazing characters, I loved everything about it!

Having only known Sandi Toksvig as a comedian and a television presenter, I didn't know what to expect from this novel. As it turns out the story of Amber and Stevie is both amusing and romantic. When you find an old lady in the house you've just bought, you're caught between trying to get rid of her and also making sure that she is safe and protected. Knowing where this excellent read was going to go from there was impossible to guess. I did wonder if they were going to offer Dorothy a room in their home, but it digs far deeper than that while remaining amusing, funny and also difficult when covering the homophobia that Stevie and Amber have been through and then discussions about abusive and coercive relationships. It turns out it's very good to be able to treat these discussions with some amusement because it's then easier to take them in, learn and move forwards. Should this writer continue with another novel, I'll be first in the queue. I found the style of writing most easy to read, while not being dumbed down.

I loved loved loved this book. I need a Dorothy in my life. Shortest review I have written. The first sentence says it all. A fab book

My thanks to Little Brown Book Group Uk and NetGalley for a copy of “ Friends Of Dorothy” for an honest review.

Ive really enjoyed Sandi Toksvig’s previous non fiction books but this was my first fiction of hers I’ve read.It took me a little while to get into it but once I had I loved it !
The characters were really well written and relatable.As any book written by Sandi Toksvig would be , it had interesting facts thrown in , as well as humour and warmth, but serious issues are covered .
I could imagine this being adapted for television.
A highly recommended read

This was exactly what I expected and needed, a funny, clever and heartwarming story about love, family and friendship.
I loved everything about this book and it has won a place in my heart.
Dorothy is the most amazing character, and her story is heartbreaking and yet she is strong, feisty and a veritable force of nature.
Everyone should be friends with Dorothy!

Amber and Stevie buy their first house, to discover 80 year old Dorothy upstairs. The previous owner has nowhere to go.... A witty, feel-good story of friendship, compassion and love. A very enjoyable read.

Not sure about this one. Several times I felt like giving up but I ploughed on.
It was a very mixed bag, funny at times, chaotic at times and often just..
I didn’t feel anything for this book or the characters in it and was glad when it finished.
Thanks to NetGalley for this.

Really enjoyable book with a fun set of characters. Each with their troubles and unique way of looking at life, they characterise the neighbourhoods of my childhood - where everyone knows everyone’s business!

I really enjoy Sandi Toksvig’s writing - it flows effortlessly and draws you in!!

4.5* a great, fun and uplifting read

Thank you for allowing me to review this book. I found it to be absolutely delightful. Dorothy is a very unusual lady with a very unusual life story. It is amusing and fun to read. I was hooked from the start.
Recommended read to those who enjoy amusing stories and light reading.

Oh this book! The joy and love and laughter and inherent Sandi-ness! I couldn’t have loved it more than I did. The characters are warm and engaging and the story draws you in from the first page. I would have been surprised if I didn’t like something written by Sandi, but I was surprised by just how much I adored this. The characters feel like friends and I’m sure they will stay with me for some time to come.

I am not usually a fan of celebrity writer’s books as I have been disappointed in the past.
It took me a little while to become absorbed in the story but eventually it was the characters that got me interested. The story centres around Stevie, a police officer who aspires to be a detective and her wife, Amber, a paramedic, arriving at their newly bought property 5 Grimaldi Terrace and finding that the previous owner, Dorothy, is still on the premises. Of course, it should be pretty straightforward forward to get Dorothy evicted but that will take time and perhaps Dorothy will worm her way into their affections before that can actually come to fruition. There are some poignant moments in this book and lots of humour as you might expect. In the end, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The last thing anybody moving into their new house expects to find is the former owner still in situ But that’s exactly what happens to Stevie and Amber when they take possession of number 4 Grimaldi Square. Dorothy Franklin sits comfortably on a red sofa in one of the bedrooms with a suitcase by her side and she has no intention of leaving. Despite Stevie and Amber’s best efforts, there’s no getting through to Dorothy who appears to be staying for a reason she isn’t willing to disclose.

Life with Dorothy turns out to be anything but boring. From a demolished internal wall, via delicious meals, to heart-stopping rides through London, Dorothy keeps the two young women on their toes. She also introduces them to the neighbourhood and the pub across the road that has seen better times and is called The Price of Onions. Without being sure how it happens and while they’re busy trying to come up with a solution for Dorothy that doesn’t involve her living with them, Stevie and Amber find their new life taking shape and their circle of friends growing.

This is mostly a lighthearted, at times laugh-out-loud story. However, it isn’t without its deeper and darker moments. It is also a commentary on parenting, the housing market, the way society deals with our elderly, and LGBTQ+ issues, for starters. It is fair to say that while I found myself crying on numerous occasions while reading this book, most, but not all, of those tears were triggered by laughter. Overall though I would call this a feel-good read. While the book itself states that it isn’t a fairytale, the story does come with perfect happy endings for all the characters who deserve them.


I adored this book. It’s almost certainly going to be (one of) my favourite book(s) this year and goes straight to my ‘extra-special’ list. There is so much to love on these pages. Quirky and charming characters, lively dialogue, and not a boring moment, make this a memorable read. While the stories are different, the atmosphere of this book, the diversity of the characters, and the idea of logical rather than biological families reminded me of the Tales of the City books by Armistead Maupin. Considering how much I loved those tales the comparison is a compliment.

Finally, I’m pretty sure Sandi Toksvig referenced herself in her book when she wrote:

“That lesbian on the telly – what shername – she has kids.”

And yes, this was one of many times when I laughed out loud.

Long review short: Friends of Dorothy is a delightful book! So much so that I want to live in Grimaldi Square, be part of that world, and become one of Dorothy’s friends.