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.

The premise of Friends of Dorothy really intrigued me and sounded like the type of uplifting contemporary book I usually love. However, it didn’t hit the mark for me and I didn’t finish reading it after about 35%.

The story got off to a strong start. I was drawn into the premise of an elderly woman who won’t leave her house and wanted to know more about Amber and Stevie. But I was never really convinced on why they let Dorothy stay and become part of their lives - something which is probably a key part of really enjoying the story.

As the story progressed the time jumps also became a little confusing. This added to the feeling of not really understanding the motives of certain characters or how relationships were developing. Some characters quirks started to feel quite forced and parts of the dialogue clunky. It really just left me craving more from the characters and ultimately kept pulling me out of the story.

While this wasn’t the book for me, it is a lighthearted and fun story and I love seeing intergenerational friendships explored in books.

Amber and Stevie have just bought their first house together. On moving in day, they find that the previous owner will not leave and it turns out that it is not easy to make her leave.
Exploring the LGBT+ community and also the question of getting older, Candy's wit and comedy shines through this book. Terrific, not to be missed.

Oh this book is so much fun, as well as being also kinda serious. I had an absolute blast reading it and, the only bad thing about it was having to say goodbye to the characters at the end. I'm looking forward to revisiting them in the audio version once it is out!
We start with happily married couple Amber and Stevie moving into their first house, 4 Grimaldi Place. Although it doesn't happen as smoothly as they'd hoped, mainly cos the previous owner is still in residence, and kinda reluctant to move out. Dorothy is an eighty year old "character" who I will leave you to get to know as the author intends. Suffice to say she is so much more that you think, so much larger than life, so many secrets, mostly good ones!
After trying to evict her, many many unsuccessful, but occasionally very funny attempts, she manages to worm her way into their hearts...
And with an absolutely cracking cast of other characters, including Jack, the builders, Agnes the pub landlady, the odd neighbour, and many more, all sort of forming their own "non-biological" very tight knit family, the story ramps up and we finally find out why Dorothy is reluctant to leave...
I could say so much more about this book. How wonderful it is, how it's happy and sad at the same time, how some of the stuff included really angered me. But I can't without spoiling it for you.
What I can say is that I really wish that these characters were real, and that they lived near me, and that I would absolutely love to be included in their family. Cos I really really do...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

“Friends of Dorothy” is a delightful read that blends humour and heart. Amber and Stevie think they’ve found their perfect home, only to discover that the previous owner, Dorothy, isn’t leaving. Dorothy’s sharp wit and no-nonsense attitude bring both chaos and charm to their lives and the ongoing surprises really kept the plot interesting. The novel beautifully captures the essence of chosen families and life’s unexpected twists, with funny and touching writing, making this book a wonderful escape into a world where family is defined by love, laughter and overcoming challenges. Would recommend for anyone who enjoys a good laugh and a heartfelt story.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and devoured it in one day. It was easy to read with great characters and believable descriptions. The book is full of heart and humour and it keeps the reader engaged throughout.
It was a perfect holiday read.

In Friends of Dorothy by Sandi Toksvig, Amber and Stevie move into their first home together, only to discover Dorothy, the elderly former owner, still locked in an upstairs room. Dorothy isn't planning on leaving anytime soon, and so begins a whirlwind of events in this quirky, heartwarming novel.

Packed with an eccentric and lovable cast—including Birdie, Jack, Bobby, Arun, Agnes, and the nosy neighbour Mrs Haggerston—the story pulls you into a vibrant community that you wish you could be part of. Toksvig masterfully balances the fast-paced plot without losing clarity, even with so many characters.

While the novel touches on tender themes, it maintains a light-hearted tone, offering an enjoyable, madcap escape.

http://thesecretbookreview.co.uk

Stevie and Amber have bought a house, on moving day Stevie arrives to find the previous owner Dorothy still in the house, sitting on her red sofa.

This is a glorious story of friendship and family - logical rather than just biological.
Superb characters who you grow to love very quickly.

As soon as I saw author and title (friends of Dorothy being a euphemism for gay people), I knew this story would have a LGBTQIA+ setting, and there is indeed good representation, from Stevie and Amber to Jack the camp bartender, Arun the shy builder and Agnes the pub landlady. Just to warn you, with this comes representation of homophobia and transphobia, in a few minor and one major incident. So if you think this is just about an old lady charmingly bossing people about, you would only be half right, because that happens but not exclusively.

My new favourite genre is “old ladies misbehaving”

With thanks to NetGalley and Sandi Toksvig for the free ARC.

A warm and funny novel of LGBTQ+ friends
It felt like a cross between Ruth Hogan and Armistead Maupin.
I felt sympathetic to the characters, although Jack was self-centred and insensitive to Amber and Stevie's situation. The character of Bobby, the builder doing a women's studies course, was a nice touch.
Nuggets of humorous information were dotted throughout the story, garnered from Sandi's years on QI.

As a rule I am not the biggest fan of “celebrity” authors however, after reading this I may have to change my mind!

Stevie and her wife Amber buy a house but on the day of moving in find it still occupied by the previous elderly owner, Dorothy. At first, the couple try every nice way to get her to leave without any success. Dorothy is known to many in the neighbourhood and appears to be very antagonistic, particularly to her neighbour

The cast of characters is amazing and each of them brings something to the party, none of them are there to “pad out” the story. Stevie and Amber go through many trials, not least with Stevie’s father but to say any more would spoil the story.

I literally read this in 24 hours and really could not put it down. It was one of those rare gems that I really wanted to know where the story would go but equally, did not want it to finish.

A wonderful, thought provoking, emotional but ultimately feel good story