Reasons To Go Outside

I was really excited to read this debut novel by Esme King after reading the book description. My initial thoughts would be that I would be introduced to the next Eleanor Oliphant or Harold Fry, those fictitious characters that stay in your heart , and Pearl Winter may well be in that category.
The story is based around Pearl, Connor and Nate and how life can throw you disappointments and challenges and how they can be overcome with resilience and taking opportunities. The gentle writing and great characters, whom I liked immediately ensured I did not want to put the book down.
It has been described as uplifting and heartwarming and I can see why, it is about finding friendship in the unlikeliest places and facing your fears................needless to say, I loved this book and would not be surprised to see in this year’s bestsellers list!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher Hodder & Stoughton and Esme King for allowing me to read this ebook advance review copy.

Where do I start? What a beautiful book!
Three main characters and a story that spans over 40 years.
Pearl is a woman in her late 50s, gripped by the hands of aggressive agoraphobia, with not a soul to reach out to or the ability to help herself.
Connor is an 18-year-old with a big life change ahead of him. Something he is not entirely sure he should be doing. and his own dreams which are being squashed to fulfil those of another.
Nate is a 60 something man with not much but memories to keep him going after being made redundant.
All three have a story that ties them together.
It is a story that has its roots in an awful tragedy, but as it grows, and with love and nurture, it bears the fruit of love, friendship, and reconciliation.
I truly loved all three of these characters, and I feel they will stay with me for a long while. And the cast who support them is equally memorable. There is a lot of goodness in this book, which I think the world needs right now.
A story filled with loss, hope, determination and, above all, friendship in the most unlikely of places.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book the characters and the storyline drew me right in.I read it in a day Inwas so involved couldn’t put it down highly recommend.#netgalley #hodderstoughton

I loved this book - it was a glorious read. To be highly recommended.

We meet Pearl - a 50 year old agoraphobic - Connor - a 18 year old about to face big life changes and Nate - made redundant and trying to find his way. A story spanning 40 years links them - as their pasts are brought to light each finds a way forward from tragedy to love, reconciliation and peace.

I liked all three characters and the supporting cast as well.

A memorable story - it will stay with me.

Such a beautiful book that was a pleasure to read. Likeable characters and a story that has so much. Love, friendship, sadness and joy. Looking forward to more books by this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an honest and unbiased opinion.

Reasons to go Outside is one of the loveliest books I've ever read. I fell in love with Pearl, the main character, who has a fear of leaving her house since 1976. She develops an unlikely friendship with a young man, Connor who she hires to maintain her garden. This sweet story will leave you reaching for the tissues as you fall in love with the characters , their lives and the challenges they try to over come to find happiness. Totally recommend . An adorable feel good book with a quirky twist.

Reasons To Go Outside is a well written gentle story about friendship and love spanning time and generations. Pearl, Connor and Nate are such beautiful characters that will enter your heart and stay there. I absolutely loved this book and can't recommend it highly enough. I look forward to reading more from Esme King. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advance copy of this truly delightful book.

At times you would come across work of literature, so beautiful in its nature that it simply takes your breathe away and makes you heart warm and cosy and you feel that the world is a beautiful cozy place, a place of human emotions. This book made me feel all of that. The characters are so well built, so well written that it'll stay with you even after completing the book. Absolutely marvel of a work.

This is a truly beautiful book that I read in just a few days as I was so engrossed in the story that I was loathe to put the book down I fell in love with the three main characters and I am quite bereft now that I've finished the book as it feels like leaving behind good, kind and lovely friends. Pearl is a character that will stay with me for a long time. This 59year old lady whose life has been on hold since 1976 due to her agoraphobia was a wonderful protagonist. I was rooting for her the whole way through. 18 year old Connor who she hires to tend her overgrown garden is a young man whose future is uncertain as he grapples with some life changing decisions. Nate is in his 60's, alone and volunteering at an animal shelter . These three people are to discover a connection that will change their lives. The whole storyline and the people involved stole my heart and only the rarest and most touching books tend to do that. I absolutely loved it and will be recommending it to all my book loving friends and family. I shall be eagerly looking out for the next book by this author. My thanks to Negalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book which it is my pleasure to review and recommend.

This was a fabulous book with two wonderful main characters in reclusive Pearl and struggling teenager Connor as well as Nate who has had to embrace a big change in his life. Despite her agoraphobia Pearl is actually a very warm and welcoming person but lacked the ability to meet people, she was understandably scared about getting a gardener and the presence of Connor in her life unsettled her but it was great to see her blossom herself. Connor has some great friends but his home life is difficult as he’s still grieving his mum, feels distant from his dad, overwhelmed by his dads new partner and on top of that dreading going to university. This built up the relationship between Pearl and Connor so well and it was great to read both their perspectives. Pearl’s agoraphobia was sensitively considered as was the reason behind it and it was incredible to think of the things she was unable to do because of it. The characters in this really do make this the wonderful read it is, very uplifting and easy to read but incredibly thoughtful too. 9/10

I was lucky enough to be sent a copy of this by the publisher for which I am very grateful.

Ah Pearl 😘 I devoured this book in one sitting. It's an emotional, funny heartfelt read that I absolutely loved.

The characters are lovable and you feel like they are your friends, just great fiction.

Absolutely 5 stars from me, will definitely be looking out for more from this author.

Loneliness, love and kindness. The story centres on Pearl, Connor and Nate. Pearl hasn't been outside for many years due to severe agoraphobia. When young Connor comes to tidy her neglected garden, he decides to help her, not realising that she can also help him. Nate is suddenly made redundant in his sixties and finds himself with time on his hands. A great debut novel from Esme King.

A beautiful, heartwarming story filled with delightful and intersting characters that, at times, had me sobbing! I really didn't want it to end. Thoroughly recommend! My thanks to Netgalley for my copy.

This is such a lovely book. A book filled with kindness, characters filled with empathy and generous spirits.
Our main characters are Pearl, a lonely, gentle soul, who clearly had a bad experience in her youth, which stills impacts her life 40 years later. Connor, a teenager, who lost his Mum a few years earlier, and is trying to find his own path, not the path others want him to follow. Finally Nate, whose relevance to the story will reveal itself through the pages.
There are also a lovely array of supporting characters, a warm, quirky bunch of friends. The four footed characters at The Happy Tails rescue centre, are a wonderful bonus to the story too.

Chance brings Connor into Pearl’s life, the start of a firm cross generational friendship, that enriches them both. Connor and his friends, Derek and Molly, decide to care, they choose to help, a lesson I think most of the world could learn from currently.

If you’re in need of a light, heart warming book, that makes you feel that you’ve been wrapped up in a wonderful hug, Reasons To Go Outside is definitely a book you should read. It was such a delight to read, I flew through the pages so quickly, becoming so very involved in Pearl’s story. Eager to find out what had happened to her, what had shaped her adult life. Ultimately, this 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ book, is about love, love in different forms, and it is a truly lovely book.

Reasons To Go Outside by Esme King tells the story of Pearl Winters, a fifty-nine-year-old woman who has not gone beyond her front door in forty-nine years. This novel is a beautiful life-affirming love story. It is a debut novel that any seasoned writer will be glad to be credited with. The Dartmoor's setting is brought to life with a vivid description of the view from Pearl's house. We are also introduced to Connor Matthews, an eighteen-year-old Gardner whom Pearl employs to maintain her garden. In his quest to help Pearl overcome her agoraphobia, Connor enlists the help of his friends. Here, we are introduced to characters that are unique and relatable and bring a new dimension to the story. Nate Williams is another character that features prominently in the story and Pearl's life. The book is delightful to read as each character's innate trait intertwines for a common purpose. The message of hope is conveyed brilliantly in this book. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging read.

Quite possibly one of the best books I have ever read- 5 stars does not do it justice.
Pearl is a wonderful character, complex and thoughtfully portrayed in her isolated little world.
As that world expands to include Connor, her new friend and gardener, her horizons change to include new people and experiences and to possibly make contact with old friends too.
Each step Pearl takes in very emotional and there are scenes in the book that moved me to tears.
You will be rooting for Pearl, Connor and the mysterious Nate from the word go.

This really is a heart warming book about second chances, unexpected love and the joy of looking out for someone other than yourself. Full of wonderful characters and lots of cake, this is a lovely, gentle read that will make you smile and cry a little bit but restore your faith in human nature.

I loved this story, it's life affirming, hear wrenching and heartwarming at the same time.
It moved me, made me smile, and made me feel good.
I loved the storytelling and the great characters.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. I absolutely loved it the characters were fabulous and the story so real and believable, I will be recommending it to everyone I know.

An absolutely enthralling read. I read this book in one sitting. It’s a poignant read dealing with some very serious issues and how they effect the characters. Three main characters whose stories interweave. Beautifully written, a book that will stay with you long after you’ve finished it

What a beautiful read. Spread over a timeline of over 40 years this is full of wonderful characters and a brilliant story. Pearl and Connor are looking for eachother without realising and when they meet, their lives change completely. With a few tears and lots of smiles I loved this story from the very start.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

The story was very well written about love and friendship lasting over time and generations.

The characters of Pearl, Connor, Nate were characters that will stay with me. .

I highly recommend this book and am looking forward to reading what the author writes next.

A wonderfully heartwarming book which I just loved reading. A gloriously gentle read giving back one's faith in humanity, kindness and community spirit. Delightful characters tackling everyday issues but pulling together being there for each other I just wanted to bask in the story's warmth forever. Evoking a whole range of emotions without being cloying it is just a really lovely book that develops and rolls along at a natural pace. One of the very few books I'd love to give more than 5 stars too.

A really wonderful and sad at times but heartwarming story about love, friendship, overcoming challenges in life and loneliness.

Reclusive Pearl and Connor her new gardener and friend who meet and their worlds open up together and intertwine so beautifully. The story is told from three different rent perspectives. Pearl, Connor and Nate who we find out more about within the story.

The characters are very well written and thought out and I found I was easily turning the pages as I was enjoying the book so much. I read it in 2 sittings!

Very highly recommended and I shall definitely seek out more from the author Esme King in the future.

Thank you to Hodder and Stoughton publishers and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

I absolutely loved reading this book, it pulled me in from the first page and kept me hooked. The main characters are Pearl & Connor but we meet plenty of other people along the way that feature in their story & their journey. A wonderful heartwarming book that I heartily recommend.