The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker
Meet Lucy, aged 25, and Brenda, aged 79. Neighbours and unlikely friends.
Lucy Baker is not your usual 25-year-old. She is more at home reading and knitting in her cluttered little flat than going out partying and socialising.
79-year-old Brenda is full of wise and wonderful advice, but when she’s diagnosed with dementia her life begins to change. Before her memories slip away for ever, Brenda is desperate to fulfil one last wish – to see Lucy happy.
Gifting Lucy the locket that helped Brenda find her own true love, she hopes to push her reticent neighbour in the right direction. But is Lucy Baker ready for the opportunities and heartbreaks of the real world? It’s about time she put her knitting needles aside and found out…
The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker will be the most charming, heart-warming and feel-good novel you will read this year, perfect for fans of Ruth Hogan and Gail Honeyman
My review
All I can say is what a fantastic book. As debut novels go this is certainly something very special. The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker is a joy to behold, I was drawn into the storyline and immersed into a world of love and friendship with a side order of magic thrown in for good measure.
I loved everything about Lucy Baker. Her simple life and quirky hobbies are not the general set up for your average 25 year old but they all add up to create an instantly likeable character who you can't help but love and cheer on. Lucy's unlikely friendship with her elderly neighbour Brenda is by far my favourite element of the book. Brenda is gregarious, unique and colourful with an effervescence for life that is infectious. For me she is the shining light of this whole story as she marches to her own drum spreading joy and magic wherever she goes.
This story is built upon unlikely matches and Lucy's pull towards the elusive and moody George is another play on the power of opposite attraction. I didn't know what to make of George initially as he certainly doesn't carry the usual qualities found in a leading man and his charm offensive leaves a lot to be desired. But his character evolves as the story plays on pulling you towards him in a favourable light and before I knew it I found him endearing, uniquely charming and the perfect match for Lucy Baker.
Jenni Keer has created a beautiful story of unlikely connections that have all been woven together with love and magic. But it's not all light and breezy as the story tentatively touches on the difficult topic of dementia, which is handled with great care and consideration to keep the mood and feel of the book to a perfect balance.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent in the company of Lucy Baker and couldn't recommend this book enough. It's charming, unique and a little bit magical.....the perfect winning combination. I can't wait to see what Jenni has in store for us next.
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Author Bio – Jenni Keer is a history graduate who embarked on a career in contract flooring before settling in the middle of the Suffolk countryside with her antique furniture restorer husband. She has valiantly attempted to master the ancient art of housework but with four teenage boys in the house it remains a mystery. Instead, she spends her time at the keyboard writing women's fiction to combat the testosterone-fuelled atmosphere with her number one fan #Blindcat by her side. Much younger in her head than she is on paper, she adores any excuse for fancy-dress and is part of a disco formation dance team.
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