Obviously I love all that Ruth Jones does, I mean she’s not had a duff thing yet has she ?
She is an author that I buy the book before I read the blurb.
Her books are always about real life and we can all relate to them.
5⭐️’s

Brilliantly characterised and heart-warming novel from Ruth Jones....well worth a read and if I had to sum it up "Carpe Diem" would be the phrase I'd use to describe it.

By Your Side by Ruth Jones is a touching and enjoyable story. It’s about love, friendship, and second chances, and it pulls you in right from the start. The characters feel real and are easy to care about. Ruth Jones writes with warmth and humor, making you laugh and feel emotional at the same time. The story is easy to follow but still full of heart. It’s the kind of book that makes you think and feel, but also leaves you smiling. If you enjoy stories about real people and real emotions, this book is a great choice

A lovely tale, set over different time periods, with the message that you can't regret your mistakes and to grab chances when they come.

Not my usual kind of read but I really enjoyed it, funny and sad.

Thie was such a good read - in parts lovely, heartwarming and sad, kept me reading far longer into the night than I should have been and ai devoured it in 2 days.

It was my first read of a Ruth Jones book and certainly won't be the last!

In By Your Side, is another excellent novel by Ruth Jones. If you like novels with strong characters that are funny and endearing and plots that are compelling then you can’t really go wrong with Ruth Jones.

The story follows Linda Standish, a seasoned employee of the council’s Unclaimed Heirs Unit. After 33 years of being a quiet champion for the forgotten and the friendless, Linda is ready to retire but wants to take on one final case. Levi Norman Jones is a reclusive Welshman who died alone on a remote Scottish island. Tasked with tracking down any next of kin, Linda must journey to the island and untangle the mysteries of Levi’s life.

Linda is an endearing character, meticulous and kind and her reluctant road trip companion is her long-time workplace nemesis, Fergus Murray. There is friction between them which adds interest to the story as well as a touch of humour. This last case swiftly becomes a journey of unexpected self-discovery.

This is an heart warming story with wonderful characters that all add to the strength of the novel. The islanders are eccentric and endearing and all play a part in helping Linda piece together Levi’s life as well as facing her own she’s long buried. The story has a little of everything, aging, grief, love, regret all together in this entertaining novel.

Ruth Jones writes very good stories with excellent characters that excel in her own style of heart warming humour. The result is a novel that is both touching and uplifting. Linda’s last case isn’t just about finding Levi’s family, it’s about finding her own place in a world that’s changing around her.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Random House UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

A gorgeous book about community, chosen family and lost chances. I really enjoyed this book and find Ruth Jones to be such a compelling storyteller, the characters flew off the page and it was filled with so much warmth and heart throughout. The dual timeline worked so well and I really loved how Levi's story was drip fed throughout the book so that the impression that the reader may have had at the beginning of this poor isolated man, changed considerably by the ending of the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this ARC.

First of all I would like to say thank to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is again another fantastic book by Ruth Jones, she just manages to portray people and relationships in such a beautiful way. From the location to the plot all of it was perfect and did make me cry at points - mainly due to how invested you get into the characters lives.

Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.

My first read by Ruth and I really enjoyed it.

Linda is about to retire from her job at the unclaimed heirs unit, before she does she needs to solve one last case.
She must travel to a Scottish island to track down the remaining relatives. She searches for clues and discovers things about herself along the way.

You can always count on Ruth Jones to tick all your comfort boxes.

Heartwarming
Funny
Emotional
Exciting

In her latest novel, we meet Linda, who has one last case at her job at the council’s Unclaimed Heirs Unit, before she can enjoy retirement. While she knows that the case surrounding Levi’s death is going to take her to Scotland, she doesn’t realise it’s also going to change her future.

Told through the lens of Linda as she begins to unravel Levi’s life in Scotland, we also read from Levi’s perspective and uncover what led him from his home in Wales to his final years in the Isle of Storrich.

By Your Side is a beautifully told, heartfelt novel about community, connection and the secrets we keep.

This was an emotional rollercoaster!! Ruth Jones writes the most varied, characters and they feel real. Their relationships were so much fun to read and the plot was perfectly paced - fast enough that everything was moving but without rushing through. I'll be picking up more from her in the future!

Another fab novel from Ruth Jones, of Gavin and Stacey fame.

Linda is a council worker, close to retirement, whose last job is to sort out the estate of a reclusive man in a remote village in the Hebrides. It's a incredibly sad story and as she investigates further into potential heirs Linda finds out more about his background and the reasons why a previously well-liked family man had moved to the middle of nowhere.

As always Ruth's strong and humourous personality is reflected in the character of Linda. I really enjoyed this book, but tissues are needed.

Ruth Jones has a real gift for exploring the complexities of human relationships, and By Your Side is no exception. It’s a moving, quietly powerful novel that weaves together love, loss, guilt, and forgiveness in a way that feels both authentic and deeply affecting.

The story centres on Levi, in the past. and Linda, in the present. What I appreciated most was how gradually their histories unfolded. Jones never rushes the emotional beats; instead, she allows the characters room to breathe, to make mistakes, and to grow in ways that feel incredibly real.

One of the novel’s strengths is its emotional honesty. There are no easy answers or overly tidy resolutions, and yet there’s something deeply comforting about the way the story unfolds. The characters are flawed but sympathetic, and their decisions—while not always admirable—are always understandable. It’s the kind of book that makes you reflect on your own relationships and choices.

Jones’s writing style is accessible yet thoughtful, with dialogue that rings true and a keen sense of place and atmosphere. There’s also a quiet humour that runs through the book, lightening some of the heavier moments without undermining them.

By Your Side isn’t a fast-paced read, but that works in its favour. It’s a novel that rewards patience—a slow burn that ultimately delivers a deeply satisfying emotional payoff.

If you’ve read any of Ruth Jones’s previous novels you’ll recognise her signature style: relatable characters, strong dialogue, and a story that feels deeply rooted in everyday life, with all its imperfections and grace.

Incredible.
Another 5 star book from the genius that is Ruth Jones. I’d love just one percent of the talent she possesses.
This book has everything you need to keep you gripped from the first page to the last, clear your schedule as you won’t want to put it down.

Another smash hit for Jones and I could not put this down. Add in Scotland and I am going to be besotted. Leo's story was so amazing. I adored every moment.

Absolutely fantastic right from the start. Ruth Jones is a fantastic author and I loved the main character Linda. A story that has surprises and a wonderful ending

Absolutely brilliant. This was a catcher o a story from the very first beginning. Ruth Jones is becoming a fantastic novelist

I absolutely love a story that skips back and forth between the past and present day and in this gorgeous story I was obsessed with Leo’s story of his life and how he came to be a recluse living on a remote Scottish island.
I laughed, I cried and I just thoroughly enjoyed this lovely story with such vibrant characters and gripping storyline! A definite must read for Summer 2025.

A light hearted read about a man who moves to a village on an island off the Scottish mainland. He doesn't engage with the locals, only having a drink once a year, on an anniversary? He dies, so say without any relatives and a government employee, on The Unclaimed Heirs Unit is dispatched to sort out the estate. Linda, a divorced, single, large/overweight lady who travels to the island with an undertaker with the intent of bringing back the body and sorting out the estate. She and the undertaker, Fergus Murray, have a mutual dislike of each other to the banter between them is amusing!
The other part of this story is about Linda's relationship with her son, Struan and his son Zander, who are living with her as the son is separated from his wife, Lauren, her choice. Linda is about to take early retirement when this last case comes up on the Isle of Storrich.
Fergus and Linda end up staying longer than intended due to weather ferry delays. A flirtation occurs between the owner of the pub/b&b where Linda is staying, which reignites some forgotten feeling in Linda and she thoroughly enjoys this little romance, but knows that it's just a holiday romance.
The story progresses with Linda finding the estranged "daughter" of Levi Norman and a life of hidden truths emerge about Levi who took it upon himself to protect Diana from her husband Jack who abused and cheated on her. He also took on the role of father to Rachel.
It's a fun read, with humour and sadness, of family misunderstandings through not being totally honest about the whole situation.

I was sent a copy of By Your Side by Ruth Jones to read and review by NetGalley. I have read two other books by this author, neither of which I was totally enamoured with – so I didn’t even bother with her last novel. This story though piqued my interest and on the whole it was really enjoyable and definitely my favourite of hers so far. The book is, it has to be said, very romantic in more ways than one. You could even say idyllic – despite the fact that death is one of the main aspects of the novel. I liked the characters and at odd times I was made to laugh out loud. I thought that things lost their way a little towards the end of the story, perhaps with too much explanation sort of stuffed in at the end. Despite this I think the book warrants a 4 rather than a 3.5 rating for me as I did enjoy it overall.