Warm and funny. Like summer in a jar. Sandi Toksvig has created something special here. An absolute must read

I love Sandi so was really excited to read her book but it just wasn’t for me. I found some of the conversation too quick and hard to follow and I just wasn’t invested in the storyline or the characters. I’m afraid I left it at 63% of the way through.

I have read and enjoyed Toksvig's works before but sadly this one was not for me. Friends of Dorothy centres on Stevie and Amber, a queer couple who have moved in to a new house they have purchased and find that the previous owner (Dorothy) will not leave. The whole premise felt so unrealistic and the lack of believability kept pulling me out of the story and it was quite jarring. The main characters are nicely rounded but there does not seem to be a lot of plot and plods more between situation and situation rather than a flowing story / narrative arc.

I think I will stick with Toksvig's non-fiction moving forward.

Note: This was a DNF at 47% for me.

"Friends of Dorothy" by Sandi Toksvig is a charming, funny and sad novel about Dorothy, a woman who finds friendship with a gay couple in her old house, when she doesnt move out as expected on moving day. The book has relatable characters and a positive message about being true to yourself. It’s an enjoyable and uplifting read.

Very very funny as you would imagine from a book by Sandi but there is a very serious side to this book. It's sad and poignant and so the book as a whole wasn't what I expected. I hoped it would be funnier but of course given the subject matter it's better how it was. I still love it but it was sad to read in places.

I have quite mixed feelings about this one. It wasn’t quite what I was expecting.

From the blurb, this seemed like it would be a funny, light relief type book. Whilst some of it was very funny, there was a lot of serious stuff too. That’s not necessarily a bad thing; it just seemed like there was A LOT going on.

It started off strong and I was enjoying it very much at the beginning. At first it had quite a fun farcical feel. Plus, there’s such a great mix of characters with lots of representation that I like to see - lesbian, gay, trans and cool older ladies! My favourite thing about it was the found family vibes.

However, as it went on I just started to lose interest. It started to feel chaotic and cluttered. There were so many issues popping up and then horrible side characters that were super icky. I mean I guess that reflects real life to an extent, but it just didn’t work for me.

I guess I’m a reader who likes to escape and feel uplifted, and a lot of the content just depressed me. It was a shame because I did like the main characters and some of the humour was great.

Not really for me, but I do think a lot of people will enjoy it. My experience might have been different if I’d had different expectations on picking it up.

Just wonderful. Hilariously funny, lots of endearing characters and plenty to think about and reflect on too.
Amber and Stevie, a married couple buy their first home only to find the previous owner, Dorothy, still in situ with no intent to leave! Dorothy is quite a character and quickly becomes part of their lives, connecting them with a diverse group of 'interesting' neighbours.
The book does cover some serious issues too, in particular homophobia and transphobia along with controlling and abusive relationships.
This was my first read by this author but it certainly won't be my last.
I am grateful to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC of this very entertaining book.

Stevie and Amber have just bought their first house together, everything is perfect... except for there's an old lady sat upstairs.

Dorothy is the seemingly unmovable fixture, and although she's initially a source of great frustration, it's soon clear that she's a friend to the whole community, and a never ending source of surprises.

This is a great easy and fun read, packed with colourful characters, and Sandi Toksvig's usual wit and humour.

I’m completely lost for words at how wonderful this read is it’s just got everything I love about reading and wow Sandi Toksvig you certainly know how to write a fantastic tale. This was a book that I really needed in my life right now as I’m going through some health problems and to read a book like this it just brought a massive smile to my sad face and also made me laugh out loud many times. This really is a real feel good story with a whole heap of wonderful characters, I was sad when it came to an end I really didn’t want it to finish It and I shall miss being a part of all the peoples lives in the story because it all felt so real and I got lost in the beautiful, funny and sometimes sad world of the friends of Dorothy.
So a superb 5 star read that I will never forget and a massive thanks to Sandi Toksvig I absolutely loved it.
My thanks also to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group, Virago for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Fabulous!!! Loved this book. Sandi writes with humour and care. Her characters are believable and you warm to the story very quickly.
Dorothy is discovered in the house that Amber and Stevie have just bought on moving day. Why she won't move out is a mystery at first.
This is a feel good story, with some family drama and bit of chaos thrown in.

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.