Dear Ms Blythe
We are dealing with an estate of which you may be a beneficiary.
Please send any documents in your possession that relate to your birth and adoption.
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. But when she sees the place - the orange gate, the garden, the tree, the bumble-bee door knocker - she doesn't want to let it go. Not yet. Then the members of the book club arrive, and she begins to discover the story of the family she didn't know. And to make new friends.
September feels safe here. But money alone can't bring contentment. September is just at the start of a journey full of surprises, shocks - and opportunities, if she's brave enough . . .
I can already picture the Hallmark movie that could be made from this story - although romance isn't a huge part of it, unlike most Hallmarks. This is far more about September, and in a smaller way about Lucia, the great aunt she doesn't know but who ends up shaping her whole life.
The story is told in two timelines, September's and Lucia's. Things don't happen simultaneously - mysteries in September's timeline aren't immediately solved in Lucia's, which adds to the intrigue of the story. The best thing is the found family aspect. I adore a good found family and this one is spectacular, with Lucia's found family seamlessly adopting September, and her adding a few members as the story continues.
The author clearly adores books, and they're woven into the fabric of this story; there's the book club, of course, but possibly more important are the books Lucia bought for September during their separation. Although they tend towards the old fashioned, each one teaches September a lesson or touches her in a way she hadn't expected. I also love the titular books of kindness - lists Lucia kept of kindnesses she gave and received during each day. I might have to start doing it myself! It seems like a wonderful gratitude ritual.
This is definitely a book I'll reread when I'm feeling down - it left me crying, but in the good way. I can't recommend it enough.
Book recommendation: For a similar found family and a woman finally learning who she is, try Cat Lady by Dawn O'Porter. It has the same happy crying feeling as Book of Kindness.
Movie recommendation: If you’re drawn to the themes of personal transformation and finding a sense of belonging, The Hundred-Foot Journey is a perfect fit. It follows the journey of an Indian family that opens a restaurant in a small French village, challenging the established Michelin-starred restaurant across the street. The growing connections, cultural exchange, and eventual mutual respect evoke that same feeling of finding family in unexpected places, just like in Book of Kindness. It’s a heartwarming story about embracing change, building new relationships, and the power of kindness.
The Book of Kindness (listed in some places as The Second Chance Book Club) publishes on the 27th of March, 2025. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.
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