This has been an outstanding and magnificent read. I have devoured this book from cover to cover in one fantastic sitting.

I have loved the journey through this one with Anna. She has been likeable and realistic from the very beginning.

I love the glimpses into the past. They have allowed us to really to get to know Anna. This is heartwarming and been a perfect escape from the pandemic.

I adore Penny Parkes, this is a novel which focuses on finding yourself. I would love to revisit characters from this book. Parkes tackles real issues sensitively and within the pages of a beautiful read.

A gem worthy of all the stars.

Anna has no home, but that doesn’t matter to her. She moves from house to house, across countries, countries and continents to look after other people’s homes, the precious pets and their treasured belongings.

Living such a peripatetic life for the last ten years has seen Anna simply live unencumbered by baggage and a base. But even thought she may travel light, Anna is in fact taking the most heaviest of emotions with her wherever she goes. And she cannot out run them.

Through intersperse chapters we learn of Anna’s upbringing and her childhood where she was pushed from pillar to post through the care system – a ‘looked after child’. Seeking solace in literature, reading and books she finds herself at Oxford against or if not despite all the odds probably stacked against her.

On her first day she meets Kate and a lifelong friendship and bond begins, which lasts and as life changes for Kate, she starts to look at how Anna is perhaps conducting her life and that she needs to find the answers to what she wants in one place and not a dozen.

Having read Penny Parkes previous novels, I know she has never been one to shy away from some tricky and tough subject that perhaps do not make for comfortable reading. This book was no different in that respect, but she handled it with real skill and care. I was drawn into supporting Anna as the child and rather like her friend Kate, wanting Anna as an adult to stop running away and stay still long enough to find what she was looking for.

It was great to have a book where it was not all going to be tied up nicely with everyone living happily ever after. I adore those books but I also love a book which is left open ended for the characters to continue just as much as the readers. Whilst this book perhaps felt a bit repetitive in parts and for me a tad too over-laboured, it was still compelling enough to become totally involved in all the characters, no matter how they floated into Anna’s life and how long they stayed there.

I recommend this is one of those books that everyone is going to be reading in 2021.

Wow! Home is an emotional rollercoaster that is heartbreaking and heartwarming all at the same time.

Anna is the lead character in this book and by following her story we see how her present day life of being a professional house sitter, moving constantly, has been effected by her past of growing up in foster care.

When we are introduced to Anna at the start of the book I couldn’t have predicted the journey that we would go on with her. The book is told through Anna’s present day life as well as in the past, and essentially that all Anna has ever really wanted, from being a child to now 30, is a home, somewhere that she belongs.

I think belonging is a key theme to this book and Anna’s story. From being abandoned as a child, from moving around foster homes, to going to university and now in her job, all Anna has wanted is a home, a true home, somewhere that she belongs. I think that this element of the book is something that each and every person can relate to. What we all want is to belong, and to feel as if we are a part of something.

Anna’s story is enticing and heartwarming. I didn’t want to put it down but I also wanted to savour every word. This book left me reflecting on my own life. From start to finish I was hooked, I can highly recommend this thought provoking novel.

This is my first Penny Parkes book and what a treat to read. Thought provoking and emotional, but expertly written. Will be looking for more books by this author.

If ‘Home’ and Anna Wilson don’t break your heart I don’t know what character and book would!

Penny Parkes drip feeds information and allows us, the reader to gain a gradual insight into the life of the main character Anna, and what makes her tick. How the childhood she knew, moulded her into the adult she’s become. She leads a transient lifestyle, moving from place to place, stepping into a multitude of homes in her capacity as a professional house sitter. Never staying in one place long enough to put down roots, have a social life or get too close to anybody. Living on the periphery of peoples lives, whilst not really living her own.

Early on in the story we learn that as a child Anna had been shunted like an unwanted parcel from foster home to foster home. Her confidence and resilience battered a little more with each move. This explains a lot about character, I truly believe that the life we led as children has a strong bearing upon the adults we become and for Anna this was definitely true. She’s seemingly unable to put down roots and attach herself too strongly to either people or places.

Thank goodness for one of her foster parents Marjorie - what an absolute angel, I loved her as a character so much! She was just beautiful and kind, inside and out - boosting Anna’s confidence and teaching her to reach for the stars, to learn and grow. I really thought that Anna would get to settle here, so it was utterly devastating to read that Anna didn’t get to live her happy ever after life with Marjorie. Their interactions, each giving the other the comfort they needed with the life lessons Marjorie taught her instilled in her a drive to succeed, yet no matter what she achieved she never quite believed in herself. The bar set so high she consistently felt she could never quite sail over it. The mental pressure she put on herself was so hard to read at times, she was always striving for perfection but never quite believing in herself, not allowing anyone to get too close, preferring to keep herself to herself with the exception of best friend Kate.

Kate was the closest thing thing she had to family - she was the family she chose and a better cheer leader she could not have wished for. The sort of friend that is always there for you no matter what but, when needed tells you straight, not afraid to gently pull the punches - I loved her she was funny, resilient and dependable.

I loved watching Anna bloom, find herself and discover what Home meant to her - it isn’t always blood and nature that makes a home but nurture, love and gentle kindness. People who love you for you, not because they’re family and should. With Home Penny Parkes has woven a magical tale laced with honesty, openness, resilience, love and friendship. An uplifting, mentally descriptive read - the words painting vivid pictures that were at times both painful and beautiful. I loved it and loved that without realising it Anna left behind a little bit of herself behind with each and every house sit, touching the hearts of everyone she met until eventually she emerges like a butterfly and slowly begins to bloom and trust in herself.

This is a book I'll be shouting about for a long time to come - it is humbling, breathe takingly beautiful and a book that I know I shall read again and again. Thank you SJ & Books and the City for introducing me to another amazing author in Penny Parkes.

Before I say anything anything else, I have to share with you that Anna is the best ‘lost and found’ fictional character I’ve ever read. I found it easy to identify with her and admired her resilience. I even fell a little bit in love with her.

The format of Anna’s life in 2019 juxtaposed with her childhood and key events are really effective in building the overall picture.

Critical realisations flip us back to Anna growing up, each and every one of those giving me an emotional punch.

Anna’s journey of self-discovery is prompted by something truly terrible that has a negative impact for a while but ultimately is the anchor that forces a change. The floodgates are opened and Anna has no choice really but to move with it when she moves on to Dittisham and Bath and the people she meets there.

The characters she meets keep her moving on her path and one in particular teaches her just as much about life as she teaches them. Her best friend Kate is a solid foundation. Friendship. Such a simple word but multi-layered in action and that’s what’s at the core of Home.

There is something that I didn’t see coming that left me an emotional wreck for a myriad of reasons. I so want to talk about this! but no spoilers. Nothing is ever clear cut is it?

Penny Parkes story-telling and writing style had me from the beginning. I loved the ‘show not tell’ discoveries. She is an author who knows what makes people tick, not afraid to dive deeply into those shadows to find the light.

I loved this quote:

“<snip> she felt like a glass of orange squash, diluted down to a pale imitation of herself.”

There are a few nuggets of wisdom scattered throughout the story too:

“A goal without a plan is a wish.”

As Kate’s dad would say 🙂

Home shows us that despite having choices taken away, being overshadowed by others’ perceptions and not feeling as if we belong anywhere, it is possible to find our ‘home’ (not of bricks and mortar). Main caregivers aren’t the only ones who can give unconditional love. It’s possible that there will be others who will love us unconditionally and become our home – if we’re brave enough to let them.

An uplifting and inspiring read that you really don’t want to miss. It’s outstanding.

Anna is a house – sitter, moving from place to place, from country to country, from continent to continent, never stopping, never putting down the roots. The closest to a family that she has is her best friend Kate and her family in Oxford. Anna, from the age of eight, grew up in the foster care, moving from one foster family to another, always in abeyance – she couldn’t have been adopted as she had both her parents, her father usually in prison, her mother simply having left. The only thing that is certain in Anna’s life is her brain and ambition – studying hard, she makes it to Oxford. However, Anna can’t settle, there is something missing in her life. After three unforgettable house – sits in a month, she’s forced to re – evaluate her life and face some of the truths that she tried to forget. Will sie face up to her past? Will it help? Will she find her peace?

I liked how very few main characters there were in the book, as I could truly feel a part of their lives. They were all well developed and interesting, with depth to them.
Anna is such a memorable character! I liked and fell for her right from the very beginning and the more I learnt about her, the more I adored her, her determination, strong character and never giving up. She didn’t have an easy life and while it normally would have broken so many of other people, she kept going. Sure, she had her downs to her ups, it’s only normal, but it made her even more real and genuine. Her – even if unconsciously - searching for the place that she could call home was heart – breaking and so very poignant, there was so much to Anna than met the eye, and Kate had found, long time ago, how precious and valuable person Anna is and how much she has to give.
Anna’s story is told really in a brilliant way, offering us enough flashbacks to satisfy our curiosity and to raise it at the same time, so that we desperately want to read the story. It was lovely to see that she not only had the bad examples in her foster families, but that she also found people who believed in her, who supported her – it was so uplifting. Because you will quickly fall for Anna and will keep everything crossed for her, such a lovely person she is. I had a feeling that she’s growing up in front of our eyes, the author gave such a brilliant perspective and view into her life and deepest thoughts.
I adored her friendship with Kate, well, I actually loved Kate! She was Anna’s family and fiercely supporting her all the time, but also not afraid to tell what she thinks – and this ist he best kind of friend, as our Anna needed it from time to time, to think things over, to re – evaluate, to see the things from different perspective.

The author touches upon important issue upon important issue, one of them the children being in care and how being moved from home to home, how having no-one special in their lives, nobody they could trust, affects them. I loved how, indirectly, she also showed us that behind every door there is a story to tell, each one so different. The tale jumps between present and past and we get the chance to learn about Anna, her life and her choice, and to completely understand her, her ways, her angst. It’s easy to follow the changes in time, I’ve never felt confused where we are and which moment of Anna’s life we are in.

Penny Parkes’s previous books, the Larkford series, were light reads but with depth to them. However, with „Home“, the author has shot herself up to totally different level of heartfelt, evocative and thoughtful. This was a lovely, emotionally charged read about the fact that family is not only about blood. It was about the power of friendship, about finding people who love you and accept you just like you are. It is a poignant story, full of sad moments, nevertheless there is this overwhelming feeling of hope and that everything will be okay. It was really well thought – over and I think every situation and every character was needed and had their place in this story. It feels nostalgic and melancholic and the yearning for finding your own place in the world is there, all the time. This story is not only milk and honey, it touches upon some uncomfortable truths, nevertheless it’s written in such a beautiful, almost lyrical way that makes the reading a truly gentle experience. It’s a raw, honest and very emotional rollercoaster journey, insightful, gentle and filled with hope – a gorgeous read, so thought – provoking and unforgettable. Highly recommended!

A gripping and heartfelt story about overcoming the past and finding where you belong.

Anna Wilson travels the world as a professional housesitter – stepping into other people’s lives - caring for their homes, pets and sometimes even neighbours. Living vicariously.

But all Anna has ever really wanted is a home of her own – a proper one, filled with family and love and happy memories. If only she knew where to start.

Growing up in foster care, she always envied her friends their secure and carefree lives, their certainty and confidence. And, while those same friends may have become her family of choice, Anna is still stuck in that nomadic cycle, looking for answers, trying to find the courage to put down roots and find a place to call home.

Compelling, rich and evocative, Home is Anna’s journey to discovering that it isn’t where you settle down that matters, but the people you have around you when you do.

I haven't read any Penny Parkes books before , although I have bought some and have them to read. Having seen her previous work I expected this to be a easy uplifting read - I was so wrong! I absolutely loved this book, it deals with some serious tough topics and describes them so well. The reader is taken on a journey with Anna, her current day and childhood, some of the passages are tough reads but o very well written, an excellent piece of literature.

I have already been recommending this to friends, an absolutely brilliant read.

Moving and heartbreaking at times. Home is about Anna, and her life in foster care. The novel dips back and towards in time to recall significant events in Anna's past. It is easy to follow the place and time of the events. I absolutely adored this book! I could not put it down, probably the fastest I have read a book in a long time.

If there's one thing this last year has taught us, it's that the people we choose to spend our time with, and choose to love, don't always have to be our blood family to make us feel loved and grounded and that's something Anna hasn't yet worked out.

The story starts with Anna turning up to yet another house-sitting job and looking forward to an easy couple of weeks doing what she is good at - stepping into someone else's life and trying it on for size, all while not having to face up to her past. While Anna is at this post, she's attending her best friend's wedding and hoping not to bump into her ex. 

The story is set in several different locations as we follow Anna - past and present - trying to find her place in life and trying to reconcile her past. She wants to live a 'normal' life, like everyone else - but it turns out that no two people live the same lives and that behind every front door, there's a different story to be told (or to be hidden). Along the way, Anna makes some unexpected connections and comes to some very important realisations (sometimes too late).

I really loved this book. As always, when I was reading it I was like "oh yeah, that's going to happen" but, because of the brilliance of Penny's writing, I was wrong about 97% of the time (and the 3% I was right was just before it actually happened and it couldn't have been more obvious!). I adore Penny's books and I love how she adds in animals as extra characters in the plot (in this case, the animals emulate the character of the people who really do live in the houses Anna is looking after). Penny doesn't shy away from difficult subjects either and she really does tackle quite a few issues in this book - and it's incredibly well researched too. It was exactly what I needed to read right now. My only complaint is it made me miss travel - Bath, Oxford, St Pancras.......

Remember: Home is where the heart is.