What amazing book I read this on my flight to and on return flight from Spain

What amazing story this book is and I love all the characters apart from the boyfriend who a idiot

I love the story of the second chance book club and giving people second chances and I loved this story and would highly recommend it

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read the arc of this book in exchange for this review

Fabulous! I couldn't put this down. I loved September's story, and finding out about her family too. There's sadness, but joy too. I loved the book theme. And the romance was just right. Thought provoking at times. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

September is struggling with life, romance and financial struggles. Things keep going from bad to worse for hen she inherited a house and money from her great aunt who up until now she didn't know if her existence. Her first thoughts is to sell up. But then the community that her aunt built around her takes her in, providing her with information about her life before she was adopted. Helping her find answers, love and happiness along the way.

I have only recently discovered this author so I was keen to read their latest offering.

This was a delightful read of hope and kindness and friendships and a journey of self discovery. This book made me laugh and cry in equal measure and loved how it gave book suggestions throughout and a comprehensive to read list was provided. It was a cleverly written books intertwining a book about books into it.

I would love to be a part of Septembers book club.

I will definitely look out for more from this author.

This is my first novel by Stephanie Butland, it will not be my last. I look forward to reading many of her previous works. I was drawn to The Book of Kindness in part by its name and its cute cover art. I originally thought this was going to be a light and fluffy book, I was wrong it was deep, insightful, and heartwarming. It is about a journey of self-discovery, connections, love, friendships, family, and kindness. The characters are richly developed, you will laugh and cry as you learn about each of them and go along their journeys.

Butland refers to many books in this novel, she provides a comprehensive booklist at the end of the novel.

I highly suggest you put this on you TBR shelf for 2025

Thank you #netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Adopted as a toddler a letter from a solicitor disrupts September's life. Inheriting a house and money from her biological aunt causes so many issues. No longer a wage slave just to meet the bills, unravels the deceit of her boyfriend. Adoptive parents are dead but they were a family unit rich in love and living a good life. Secrets and family arguments from the past directly relate for to why Saturday was adopted.
A fascinating and illuminating book. In turn it will make you angry, smile and cry but you will feel the emotions.

September feels as though she is alone in the world and is struggling in many ways. When she discovers she has inherited a house she realises a family history she never knew about. A book full of love, hope and kindness.

The Book of Kindness by Stephanie Butland

September is struggling with financial worries and an unsupportive partner when she finds out she has inherited a house and money from a Great Aunt, Lucia, who she didn't even know existed. At first she intends to sell the property but she finds a community of people Lucia had brought together and more information about her pre-adoption background. Can September finally find happiness she deserves?

Oh what a gorgeous book, absolutely beautiful! I've loved all of Stephanie Butland's books and this one is no exception. A fantastic story of the power of books, reading, libraries, community and friendship, along with families and their secrets. Perfect! Very VERY highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

I, thank you NetGalley and Headline Headline for entrusting me with this book! I loved it.

This book takes me on a journey of self-discovery and connection. September’s story is full of twists and heartbreak, but also moments of hope and strength that will stay with you. The relationships, especially the found family, really shine showing us that family isn’t just who we’re born to, but who we gather along the way. It’ll make you laugh, cry, and leave you thinking about it long after you’ve finished.

Wow what a read - couldn’t put it down. The links between past and future are so well written that it just flows through. A great finding yourself book

First of all my TBR list just increased massively! Loved the very wide range of book recommendations and how they link to the story and characters involved, all of who strengthened the message of the story with the very many themes throughout.
An enjoyable and warmhearted read about coming together with discovery, growth and connection in an otherwise lonely and sometimes isolated existence.

This is an inspiring book filled with kindness. This book will make you care deeply for September and her story that has so many twists and wrong turns, this is sad in places, but its also inspiring, listening as September sweeps you into her world, she will bring you along to book group and make you want to read along to the stories they devour. There is so much going on in the story, but it’s the sense of home that shines through, showing us family isn’t who we are born with, but who we collect along the way.

This book broke my heart all the way through it and I cried at the Epilogue.
September lives with her boyfriend who doesn't work. She works in a supermarket and yet cannot seem to make ends meet. She never goes out with friends,never has enough to eat and is just exhausted from all the worry.
A letter arrives one day from a solicitor which tells September that she has to attend the offices in person as she may have inherited some money.

September was adopted after being left in a hospital at the age of 15 mths. She has no idea who her family was or why she was abandoned.
I really don't want to give any spoilers away for this book.
I think you should just read it. Be prepared to meet some horrible obnoxious people. I can't actually find enough words to describe them.
There are also so many truly lovely people in this book too; like Willam,Lucia, Esin and Marina to name a few.
And September is a delightful character.
There are some beautiful parts of the book and happy parts but it will also make you angry and break your heart.
Now go and read it!

Truly magical, feel good, uplifting and inspirational book, this is going to be very popular!

September is living from payday to payday, wondering how she can stay on top of her debts. Then a letter from a solicitor comes and Septembers life dramatically changes.

This book has everything covered, from heartbreak to new beginnings and everything in between. Everyone needs to sprinkle a little kindness around!

This is a beauty of a book. It absolutely has kindness running all the way through it, even those that perhaps don’t deserve it at first glance. September ends up all alone and feeling betrayed by her boyfriend and the book takes this as its starting point to bounce around in time. September has no one in the world and yet one simple letter allows her to build a life full of people. She gathers friends and importantly, they gather her up and include them in their kindness. September blossoms becomes just the right level of care for the people around her. This book is an excellent story of what can happen and even when things go wrong there is a future if people are willing to help each other.

“September is at her wits' end. There's never enough money to support her boyfriend and herself. September has nothing to look forward to.

Then the letter comes. September has inherited a house from a great-aunt she never knew she had. It would make sense to sell it.”

As September spends time in her aunt’s home she discover more about her aunt and her long lost family but also herself.
Lovely feel good stories make me feel better. Highly recommend

Such a pleasure to review one of Stephanie Butland's novels. I have read several and enjoyed them all. Let us not get carried away, none of them is classic literature, but then, none of them purports to be anything more than a charming feel good read.
The Book of Kindness brings together a disparate group of characters through, of all things, a Book Group😉
While the story arc is fairly predictable, Stephanie Butland's gift is to clothe her characters with nuanced back stories which elicit real sympathy from the reader.
In this instance, the two main characters, Lucia and September, linked as Aunt and niece, have stories of charm and, in Lucia's case, gentle melancholy.
The book of kindness, is written by Lucia. Kindnesses shown to her and those shown by her are recorded in notebooks which September finds after her death.
Don't look for great incidents and drama, but relax and enjoy a kind story of ordinary people getting on with their lives as best they can helping others as much as they can, whenever they can however they can.
Buy it, read it,enjoy it, then share it...it's the least you can do!
Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for an earc copy of this lovely book in exchange for an honest review.

Lovely book. September is at her wits end about money. It doesn't seem to matter how much she works there's never enough. She keeps getting letters from a solicitor which she doesn't open. She then discovers that her boyfriend Shaun has been swindling her of money. She then discovers that she's been named in a will of a person she doesn't know

I absolutely loved this book! Once I started, I just didn’t want to put it down and felt real sadness when I finished it; I loved the characters so much.
It has such a wonderful story, funny and heartbreaking in turns. Its about family, lost and found, loss and friendship and how life can turn on one decision. But overall it is about the positive impact of kindness. A truly beautiful story ❤
Thank you to NetGalley, Headline and Stephanie Butland for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

'So long as someone knows your story, you are alive in the world.'

So many important themes that are written down in a truly heartfelt way: racism, adoption, women's rights. And it is a book about books :) Lucia, I really enjoyed as a generous person, not exactly financially, but more when it came to support others, especially April.

This could've been a lovely story, I think, but the part about September feels stilted, as if it is off or odd. I don't understand how she can say that now she is no longer poor she has a future, instead of thinking that perhaps it was simply a different future. She feels sorry for those with a childless marriage, Cassie is made a caricature (the only unkind character and her daughters on a lactose- free diet). That sort of assumptions and stereotypes made me feel uncomfortable, because the obvious themes (as described above) were so properly handled.
I also fail to understand how the details can be so insufficient or inconsistent: was her birthday on the 21st, 22nd, or 25th?! A birthday present for her 17th birthday is mentioned twice, but with different gifts. People's names being mixed up.

However, I do think 'be kind and pay it forward,' is an essential ingredient for life these days with the world being on fire...

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.