This is the wonderfully brilliant Sandi Toksvig's latest offering, and before you even start you know it is going to be ridiculously funny, witty, offbeat, and a joyous experience. Stevie Baxter, a meticulous and detailed planner and cop, is waiting for her wife, paramedic Amber, as she opens the door to 4 Grimaldi Place, London, their new home. As she opens the door, climbing the stairs, she has no idea just how chaotic and surprising her day is going to be. First, there is a woman on a red sofa, a 79 year old Dorothy Franklin, both of them screaming when they catch sight of each other. It turns out she is the former resident that they have purchased their home from, and she is going nowhere!

Then Amber comes home late, having been caught up in an unexpected emergency in which she helps deliver a baby, and shockingly, out of the blue, she announces that she wants a baby. Dorothy is a force of nature, swinging sledgehammers at walls with gay abandon, mini cab driver, cooks like a dream, taking her suitcase with her everywhere, and has a penchant for interfering in the lives of others, and as much they wish to be rid of her, Amber and Stevie cannot help being charmed by her too. Dorothy introduces them to their neighbours and vibrant local community, a slew of characters that include Agnes at the Onion pub opposite. As the outrageous narrative progresses, there are surreal, tender, hilarious, and challenging scenarios and parties that will test the newcomers and community alike, as the connections between them grow.

There are fabulous quirky characters that include piano playing Jack Parker, builders Arun and Bobby, the green fingered Birdie, the nosy religious neighbour, and more. Toksvig provides social and political commentary with her focus on our contemporary society, transgender issues, homophobia, the treatment of the elderly, caregivers, and the state and running of care homes. A beautiful picture is painted of the logical, not a biological, family at the centre of the novel as they fight, but their hearts are open as they support each other. This is a cracking read, delightfully entertaining, Dorothy is an absolute star with her secrets, that I am certain this is likely to appeal to fans of the author and a wide range of many other readers too. Highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

I absolutely loved this book. It was well written, funny, sad and had plot twists. What more can you ask for!
Filled with adorable characters, I never wanted this book to end. A real page turner.

Friends of Dorothy begins as Stevie and her wife Amber move into their new home to discover that the old owner, an elderly woman named Dorothy, is still there and that getting rid of her may be harder than it should be.

It's a lovely read, there's a real development of community and exploration of the word 'family' and what that means, or what form it can take. The characters are charming and really grip you in as a reader, with most of them bringing a comedic edge to he book. The plot rumbles along nicely although there are points which feels a little far fetched and then some which feels underdeveloped or not explored enough it does flow well. It touches on a lot of issues - homophobia, depression, how the state looks after the elderly- and these are dealt with empathetically but also with humour. The play on words of the title sets the tone for the whole book which is say is written very much in Toksvig's dry, witty style.

I enjoyed this book and would look out for other work by Toksvig in the future.

Friends of Dorothy is a charming, funny novel about Amber and Stevie, a couple who buy their first home only to find the previous owner, Dorothy, still living there with no immediate intention of leaving. Dorothy is a lively, memorable character who quickly becomes part of their lives, connecting them with a diverse group of neighbours. The plot is primarily about the characters and their relationships, giving the book a warm, slice-of-life feel.

There are however, some really serious issues covered within this story. In particular, there is one awful homophobia/transphobia incident which was very distressing to read.

I really loved this book, it was my perfect end to the summer read and is perfect for readers who love character-focused stories with a sprinkle of humour and heart.
I had never read any books by Sandi Toksvig before but I’ll be on the look out for them now!!!

This was a fun romp with a great cast of characters. Filled with humour and wholesome moments, I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next.

I have previously read one of Sandi Toksvig's memoirs and enjoy seeing her on QI and other TV programmes, so I thought it was time to try one of her novels. I had forgotten about the meaning of "Friends of Dorothy" so took the title at face value. What a wonderful character Dorothy is; contrary and stubborn but with a heart of gold, and she is someone who never forgets her friends. This is an amazing, life affirming, inclusive book full of tolerance, love and friendship. It is something that everyone should read.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

If you find Toksvig entertaining, I’m sure you’ll love this quirky tale. It’s a genuinely feel good story; sharply observational throughout and Dorothy is a remarkable individual and, to my surprise, adorable. She stays on in her former home after it’s sold and implausible as this sounds, inveigles her way into the lives of the new owners. Dorothy is a pensioner and two generations olde than the new owners, a couple who work with the emergency services. This is such a heartwarming story. Nothing much happens, but there’s a laugh out loud moment on almost every page. I find Toksvig very funny in a quiet and understated way and this reflects her humour. On the way, some more serious issues are explored but in a sensitive way and there’s really no downside, it’s an original and well thought out premise and for sheer entertainment, this ticks all the boxes.

When Stevie and Amber buy a house they are not expecting to find an elderly lady already living there.
Their resident OAP, Dorothy, is not, however, any ordinary elderly lady. Very quickly Dorothy takes over and is the orchestrator of happy endings for the many lovely characters in this book.
Sharp little bursts of humour abound in this book, alongside many serious issues.
One of the best books I've read for a long time. I love Sandi Toksvig, and now I discover I love her books too!

One of my books of the year- one of the best books I’ve ever read. When you move into a new home, you don’t expect to find the previous owner Dorothy, happily sitting on a sofa in one of the rooms engaging you in conversation and ending up helping you. Stevie and her wife Amber both work in the emergency services and are excited to own their first home. Dorothy has a wit, a heart and a life well lived and the couple soon find that she becomes part of their “ logical not biological” family. (what a wonderful phrase). This is the story of the three of them getting to know one another in ways they never imagined.

Oh be still my beating heart. I can't say how much I enjoyed this- but I'm going to try! I didn’t realise that the title of this book is a euphemism (look it up) that perhaps originated from the wizard of Oz. This is a treasure of a read and I quickly found myself enveloped in the pages wanting more and more. Dorothy is a wonderful, gem of a character, someone who says and does exactly as she thinks but with a big heart. This is such a wonderful read, one that restores faith in human nature and made me smile and even cry. (thanks Sandi!) . A joy, a treasure, a real gem. Sign me up for the next one now please. 10* If I could.

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An enjoyable read with many happy endings engineered by Dorothy of the title. Sandi Toksvig has taken over the mantle of Maeve Binchy in creating strong characters who have the power to positively influence the lives of others.

When you buy a house you don't expect the previous owner still to be living there. The start of a friendship, acceptance and community.
A true heartwarming story. Finding your place, love, friends and community.
Enjoy meeting Dorothy and everyone she knows, or so it seems. Amber and Stevie are the couple we aspire to be despite many obstacles in their life.

This is Toksvig’s sixth novel. It’s an amiable read, but offers little in plot development. Stevie (a policeman) and Amber (a paramedic) but their first home in a quiet part of London. The only trouble is, the previous resident, an old woman called Dorothy is still there. As Stevie and Amber cope with a new home, deciding to have children and demanding, often dangerous jobs Dorothy becomes a constant presence in their lives.

Fan’s of her warm, yet cheeky humour will lap this up. Dorothy (who likes pop music and Minecraft) is a fabulous creation. And it is nice to see such a queer friendly, acceptant novel. The real problems lie structurally. There is no real sort of plot, it sort of ambles from situation to situation. That episodic nature will work on TV. And although the novel ends on a sweet note, a shocking situation in the final third is resolved far too easily.

Some may enjoy this, but I found its lack of focus problematic. It’s published by Little Brown on September 26th and I thank them for a preview copy. #friendsofdorothy.

A quirky funny read, very refreshing. I love Sandi's books and this one hit the spot for me. I loved the character Dorothy who was so feisty. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

A very enjoyable easy read with a great cast of characters. Made me smile quite a lot. If you are extremely sensitive, there is swearing and the F word but ye gods, we do live in 2024 and we are adults. I prefer Sandi's non fiction to fiction but this was very entertaining

Friends of Dorothy centres around Stevie and Amber who are moving in to their new house in Grimaldi Square. The new home comes with a surprise; an old lady sitting on a red sofa upstairs. She introduces them to friends and neighbours and Stevie and Amber become part of large cast of characters, in a vibrant community.

It’s a fairly fun read with plenty of capers, although there are some serious points made about issues such as: homophobia, transphobia, the breakdown of relationships within families and the way that the elderly, those in care homes or living in inadequate housing can be neglected and failed by the state. However, by the end everything is neatly wrapped up with satisfying endings for all.

A note for those who are sensitive to swearing: my Kindle counted 94 F words. I think that’s rather over the top. The flavour of the working class community could have been illustrated with fewer expletives.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

Stevie and Amber have just bought their dream home but they haven’t bargained on the elderly homeowner refusing to move out. Dorothy is essentially squatting in their new home but as they settle into the neighbourhood and meet other people around them they begin to build their new family. It’s a light little cosy book and it’s not hugely gripping but it’s a pleasant enough read.

Sweet, funny, poignant, occasionally scabrous, and queer - what's not to like? Great summer reading.

Everything and nothing happens in this book. It’s a slice of life. Historical fiction starting in the 1980s. A group of friends living life together.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book UK for this ARC.

Amber, a paramedic, and Stevie, a police officer, are newly married and have just bought 4 Grimaldi Square, an old place that has seen better days but is their first home together. Unfortunately, there is a teeny tiny problem - the former owner, a lady in her eighties called Dorothy, has no intention of leaving. She's very charming about it and soon starts cooking delicious meals for them all, but nothing seems to be able to dislodge her.

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.

Dorothy has secrets about why she is not leaving her old house, what's in the suitcase she's carrying around with her and who it is she's anxiously waiting for. And why is the pub called The Price of Onions? She can't stop meddling in other people's business, and while the people around her are (growing) fond of her, they are also often furious with her, as she is wont to do things in the name of "I just wanted to help".

There is a great set of supporting characters, including Jack, Arun, Bobby the builder with the unfortunate last name but a very enlightened attitude, Dorothy's green-fingered friend Birdie who is Jack's nana, and Mrs Haggerston from next door who doesn't seem to have a first name and is a pain in the proverbial but also owner of the most splendid Notre Dame bird feeder. There are also various parents and their not always so nice reactions to their offspring's gayness. (The Christmas visit comes to mind!)

The sense of togetherness is strong though, and this is a very enjoyable, smart and wise story of how to make your own family (logical not biological) and not let hatred win, and I was here for that. If your parents disappoint you, surround yourself with people who don't.

I really like Sandi Toksvig's writing style. It drew me in so much that I finished the book in one sitting. The ending is fantastic and I was happy with how Dorothy's secrets were dealt with, all the loose ends were tied up and everyone got exactly what they deserved. This is funny, witty and warm and I heartily recommend it!

I haven't read any of Sandi Toksvig's writing before, and I enjoyed her style. This was an enjoyable, fun story that was perfect for my holiday reading. The central idea, of an elderly lady refusing to leave her house after it is sold manages to be both tragic and, with Sandi's writing, very funny. I really liked Dorothy, and I was intrigued as to what was going on and how Amber and Stevie were going to manage the situation.

We're introduced to a good range of characters, all of whom are interesting in different ways, and have their own little stories along the way. I was intrigued throughout as to what Dorothy's story was going to be, but I wasn't sure that it evolved as I would have liked it to, so that was a little disappointing. Things do get wrapped up nicely, but I think I had just been hoping for a different rounding out of Dorothy and what was happening to her.

But there were lots of little moments that I really enjoyed - especially the builders who come to work on the house, and the extremely painful parental Christmas visit (and I was very happy about Stevie's mum at the end!)