5* Top rating and highly recommended.

For such a sad subject, dying alone without relatives or friends, this is a very funny and emotional book, even developing into utter farce at several points. The narrative switches between multiple characters and split timelines. I didn't want to put it down, so I didn't, and read it in less than 24 hours.

I laughed and even shed a tear while reading. Rarely do I finish a book and feel tempted to immediately re-read. This is one such book.

With thanks to Random House and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book, this review is my personal, unbiased opinion.

What a fabulous read, following the lives of Levi and Rachel. Linda, who investigates the lives of those that die without known family, is the basis of this story. Heartbreaking and joyful in equal measures. Highly recommended. I was lucky enough to receive an advance reader copy and leave this review voluntarily.

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from Netgalley. Jones' novels just go from strength to strength, and 'By Your Side' was my favourite yet. I was captivated by Levi and Linda's stories, and the subplots added even more depth to the story. The book was filled with heart, humour, and emotion, with well-written characters who Jones created real connection with. Absolutely perfect - best book of my 2025 I think.

Beautiful novel! I really related to this as I come from a small family and it’s heartbreaking to know that people do in af t die alone. It brought tears to my eyes but this book also brought hope as well! Beautiful read!

I've read and loved Ruth's previous books so was really excited to receive such a gorgeous edition of her latest, By Your Side.

Ruth's writing has a way of getting under your skin and she makes the characters so alive through her descriptions that they are as clear in your head as real people.

By Your Side is gorgeous and heart warming with touches of humour and grief thrown in.

The group of characters Ruth has created all bring a sense of purpose to the story and I loved the dual timeline of Linda's work in the here and now and Levi's past leading up to join the present day.

Definitely will be in the running for one of my books of the year, I'm giving this all the stars.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

What a compelling, emotional yet heart-warming story of love, family relationships, life struggles and community spirit. It had me living in Linda’s shoes from start to finish. With characters that were realistic and relatable, it had me gripped. I struggled to put it down, read it within 24 hours and just needed to find out, who was Levi Norman, did Linda manage to solve the case, was there a happy ever after for Linda and Brodie?
Ruth wrote this book in such an empathetic way. She gave me a real mix of emotions from smirking at the antics to shedding a tear at the heart wrenching situations.
I think this book may stay with me for a while yet!
Thank you Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for the opportunity to read and review this advance copy.

Linda Standish and Fergus Murray went to school together, she works for the Boransay Council Unclaimed Heirs Unit and he is an Undertaker. When someone dies on one of the Scottish Islands without any next of kin, Linda is dispatched to sort everything out.

A lovely story of love, loss and family relationships, sympathically told by Ruth Jones

This is the second book I’ve read about someone who works for the council sorting out the affairs of those who have died with either untraceable or no surviving relatives. Those who die alone with no one to arrange their funeral and no one to sort out their affairs. In spite of the subject matter the last book I read was funny, as was this. Having read both books, I think it must take a special someone to be able to do a job like that.

Both the previous book I read and this one have the central character going above and beyond their job role with great sensitivity and thoughtfulness. I like to think that those in real life take the same approach and do their best to give a reasonable send off, as well as doing their best to try and find anyone who may have survived the deceased who might wish to at least take away some memories.

It’s such a compelling story. Some parts go back in time, before Levi Norman died, back to his much younger days (he was in his 70’s when he died) back to when he met the love of his life and together they left their previous lives to set up home in a remote part of Scotland where they could escape their troubles.

It then flips back to the present as we follow Linda Standish in her quest to sort through Levi’s belongings and effects to see if she can find any evidence of any of his surviving relatives before she arranges his funeral. Whilst Linda is the main character, there are some brilliant supporting characters and together they provide all the good hearted humour, of which there is lots, keeping what is really a very poignant and emotive story from ever getting too morbid.

It’s brilliant and filled me with a great deal of joy while reading it.

Ruth Jones does it again! A wonderful story with completely relatable characters and a storyline that absolutely hooks you. It's a rollercoaster of emotions but overall is completely heartwarming. A pleasure to read 😊

I have read all of Ruth Jones’ previous novels and enjoyed them, but I must say that I think this one is her best yet. Great characters, good plot and pace.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this advance copy.

Unique, Surprising..
An unusual and unexpected angle is explored in this emotionally astute and keenly observed tale of lives, loves and human nature in all its own chaotic forms. It is true that Linda and Levi will never meet - but through Linda the reader is pulled into the past and into Levi’s own world and, through that, Linda herself experiences her own from of unexpected enlightenment. Heart warming and endearing, unique and surprising.

I’m a fan of Ruth Jones as an actress and have also loved every book that she’s written so far.
By you side Is a beautiful gentle story about how one man’s love can lead to him dying and being totally alone.
I laughed and cried throughout the book as Ruth tells such a touching and emotional story of how one man’s love can change many lives.
Well done on another fabulous read.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this fantastic book.

Thanks to Penguin Books and Netgalley for the ARC of this book.
What can you say. Ruth Jones is a fantastic writer whose writes and real people doing real things. This book was no exception. Read in a day as also being a "Linda " who is the wrong side of 60 and a size 18+ the story totally resonated with me.
The thought of trying to sort through people's life by what is left behind is heartbreaking in itself but obviously it need not be that way if people really care what they are doing and Linda went that extra step. The trip with the undertaker to collect Levi's body was delightfully told and the few days on Storrich which ended abruptly but then turned round was extremely well written. So glad Linda's story had a very happy ending.

"By Your Side" is a wonderful, heart-warming story centred around a mature woman with an unusual job. When a resident of a small, remote Scottish island dies Linda travels with the local undertaker to collect the body and look in to the estate of the deceased. The story unravels the past of Levi, who died alone, but had an interesting past. Along the way Linda makes new friends and discovers more about herself; she can have her own life and it doesn't have to centre around grandson. Hopefully this novel won't encourage too many people to travel to the Scottish islands and spoil them.

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

Absolutely marvellous...yet again.

Jones manages to create warmth in every single character, of which all are equally pivotal to the success of this story. The island lot are a comical bunch.

And of course how can you not love Linda Standish- what a woman. Unequivocally herself, flaws and all. I felt every moment of her sadness, her anguish, her love, with her, and laughed alot.
Frankly, as I did with Leon too. I rooted so hard for him...

The parallel stories ran seamlessly together, where each motion in time made me desperate to read more from both narratives.

If anyone takes anything from this, I'd say it's the reality of humanity and time. We all make mistakes, time will always be against us, so the best you can do is live.

Honestly, an utterly faultless book in my opinion.

What a great book. It is set in Scotland. Levi Norman is found passed away and the story revolves around his past and why he is alone on a Scottish Island with supposedly no family. He does not mix with the islanders and, therefore, once he is found there is no one who can help with his life. Linda Stanadish is a divorced lady and works for the Council in their unclaimed heirs unit. Linda is taking early retirement, not through choice, and she is given her last case and that is to find out if Levi had any family and if so, find them.. Off she goes to the island with Fergus Murray, the local undertaker . Linda is no happy about her companion he being a thorn in her side at school. Anyway they make it to the island still talking. Linda starts her investigations and this helps her with her own troubles. Her son and grandson are moving away – only an hour away but for Linda it may as well be abroad. The book is a joy to read. It is obviously sad in places but the humour in the rest is glorious. Linda is a fun loving easy going person and this makes life easier when she on the island trying to find out about Levi. She does her job well and finds what is needed including a love interest for her . I could carry on with the story of the book but don’t want to give the story away. Please read it everyone- it is a great read.

This is a brilliant, life-affirming feel-good book. My favorite read of the year. The characters are so warm and the relationships so well written it feels like you are reading about friends. Highly recommended.

Having read and thoroughly enjoyed all of her previous books I was delighted to get an advanced copy of this one.

By your side is mainly set in Scotland and is mostly about Linda Standish who works for the local authority trying to trace family of those who die alone. This includes going through their belongings respectfully and arranging a funeral is necessary. She is about to reluctantly leave her much loved job and so puts extra effort into her last case, the death of Levi Norman. This involves a trip to the island of Storrich.

This is a more gentle story than the other books but no less enjoyable. It still covers important and sensitive issues, not least that women in their 60s can still very much have an active and enjoyable sex life.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC, it was much appreciated and very enjoyable.

Selected this book by mistake when submitting review for another book - Review for this book will be submitted closer to the release date

I just love the way Ruth Jones brings her characters to life, I really feel like i know each and every one of them. This is a book full of love and heartache and I would definitely recommend it.