Unusual, interesting, thought provoking and heartbreaking in places. A masterpiece

A beautifully written and thought provoking book which has left an indelible mark on me. So simple, yet so effective. The book just got better and better the more that I read it. I would highly recommend you to read it. My thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for the advance reader copy.

Having loved Joanna Cannon’s debut novel, The Trouble with Goats and Sheep, I couldn’t wait to read Three Things About Elsie. And Cannon has done it again – created a cast of original characters who sweep the story along.

Lifelong friends, Florence and Elsie, are whiling away their days in a sheltered housing complex, doing their best to ward off boredom by railing against the expectation that they enjoy the activities offered in the common lounge. We feel Florence’s fear as her health declines, her anxiety when memories dance and weave like swallows, hard to pin down.

However, life takes an unexpected turn when a new resident arrives, a ghost from their past, who throws all they thought they knew to the wind, creating a mystery waiting to be solved. To make matters worse, Florence suffers a fall and whilst waiting to be discovered, worries that secrets from her past are about to be revealed.

The way Cannon portrays Florence, who is suffering from early stage dementia, is both astutely and sympathetically observed; Florence’s dry wit both realistic and a joy.

I can’t finish a review of Three Things About Elsie and not mention how much I love the pretty cover. A nod to when a mountain of Battenburg cake appeared puzzlingly in one of Florence’s cupboards.

Perfect for fans of Emma Healey’s Elizabeth is Missing or Catherine Miller’s The Gin Shack on the Beach, Three Things About Elsie is a reminder that everyone has a story to tell.

I really enjoyed this book despite guessing part of the twist within the first few chapters.

It's a lovely gentle read and I grew to feel very attached to Florence.

I didn’t know what to expect when I picked up this book, as I hadn’t read the blurb, or any of the press or social media posts about it…it was a conscious decision to go into it blind.

Florence is living in sheltered accommodation and as the story progresses, herself and her friend Elsie unravel a mystery that went back years concerning an old acquaintance, Ronnie Butler. Ronnie has now appeared as a new resident at the sheltered, and it has baffled both Florence and Elsie, because Ronnie died sixty years ago, although he is now living under the pseudonym of Gabriel Price.

I hate to say it but this book didn’t do anything for me, and if I’m completely honest, I was bored by it. I guessed quite early on the twist, and was then waiting to hear the Three Things About Elsie. It felt that it could quite easily have been a short story, but was padded out to make a novel.

I hate it when I don’t enjoy a book, because I know that writing a novel takes blood, sweat and tears for the author, and I also know that it is an individual preference.

This simply wasn’t for me, but I know (and hope) that many many people enjoy it.

The writing styles and characterisations are wonderful in this book but due to personal circumstances the character of Florence is just too close to the bone at the moment and I had to stop reading. I will go back to the book and it deserves all the praise and success going.

Lovely Lovely book! Elsie is Florence's best friend since they were children and she helps Florence to remember things. Florence is 84 and lives in Cherry Tree Home for the elderly. A man arrives at the home whom Florence recognises as someone who she thought died a long time ago. This is a sentimental, sad and funny book all in one - beautifully written with gorgeous descriptions and lovable characters. Brilliant ending and I did shed a few tears whilst reading this. Her previous book The trouble with Goats and Sheep was one of my favourite books of last year and this one so far is a favourite !

Unfortunately could not get past a few chapters with this novel. There was an evident disconnect with the authorial voice right from the very start and I found myself having to dart back for character references as she lost me from time to time.

Definitely not one I will be recommending to others.

I really enjoyed this book. It was sad, funny, poignant and beautifully written. For some reason I am drawn to books about elderly people, the quirkier the better, and was delighted to receive a copy of this book as an arc from Netgalley.
Poor Florence is in the early stages of dementia and has had a fall at her sheltered housing. She has been living in fear over the past couple of weeks as she believes someone from her past has come back to terrorise her. The reader isn't quite sure how reliable her memories and perceptions are due to her confusion, but as the story unfolds, past events are slowly revealed.
I was surprised by the ending, I really didn't expect it. This was a great read, I loved it. it was funny at times, poignant and desperately sad. I need to read the author's first book now! Would highly recommend this book.

I am probably going to be in the minority but I just could not get into this story, no particular reason just did not grab me enough to want to read more of it.

In this story - that is going to break your heart, btw - our main character Elsie is a 84 years old who lives at Cherry Tree (beautiful name, even though there are no cherry tries there), a sheltered accommodation. She spends her days with her friends Elsie, whom she knows for many, many years, and Jack. Florence is lovely and you just can't help but fell in love with her a little. There is still spirit to her and she's not an easiest resident of the home, she requires answers to her questions and is not easily satisfied. She just wants to live - I loved her no - nonsense approach. When a new resident arrives, Gabriel Price, she starts to believe she knows him but under a different name - is she right, and is in danger now? Or did she forget? Together with Florence, Elsie and Jack we set out on an incredible journey of looking for the truth, journey full of secrets, lies, abuse and mysteries, but also full of antics the three get up to.

"Three Things About Elsie" is a very special story about some very special characters that will stay in your heart for long. I actually immediately fell in love with Florence and Elsie, it was so easy to imagine them both sitting at the window and gossiping about all the other residents. They were jumping out of the pages of this book and they felt so true to life. Also, the background characters, such as Miss Ambrose or Handy Simon were incredibly well developed and had their own voices and stories that were so very touching, and really, they made the story feel more whole - I really hope you know what I mean here. So we don't only get Florence's point of view but also we get to know her life through other characters' eyes. Elsie's character is also incredibly likeable. She's Florence's best friend and it is Elsie who knows how Florence ticks best and how to make her feel better. Her words are the most memorable to Florence and she always asks what Elsie would do or say. It is Elsie who helps her, who finds all the positive things and who helps her to navigate through the minefield of losing memory. Their friendship was so beautiful and pure.

This story offered some curves that I really didn't expect. I was reading a lovely, touching story about Florence, Elsie and Jack and then the author has thrown some so unexpected twists and the story went in totally different direction to the one I was expecting - which is just brilliant, I love to be surprised - and in the end it turned out to be a little of mystery, a little of memories, with very realistic characters. I also never could say what is real, is Florence right or is it really her dementia speaking, and the final reveals just took my breath away.

Joanna Cannon is a very, very talented author. I haven't read her debut novel yet, it is still on my kindle, but her turns of phrases, the way she constructs the dialogues, the vividness of descriptions, the bringing the characters to life and the complex storyline speak for themselves. This book, "Three Things About Elsie", is this kind of a story that is getting better with every page turned and it leaves you thinking and reflecting on what you've just read. It is a funny and sad, sentimental and it just tugs at the heart - strings. The author writes in such a gentle way, her words are full of sympathy, heart and understanding. They make us laugh and cry and think and reflect. And I can't not mention it but the cover of the book is absolutely gorgeous, and it is also the perfect reflection of the story - you'll see for yourself when you read the book.

Joanna Cannon explores friendship in her book, people that we hold dear, and indicates how important they are to us, and how important it is to not to lose our trust. Altogether, it was a beautiful, sensitive book, full of many poignant moments. And I didn't guess the third thing about Elsie. It took me totally by surprise and made me cry like a crocodile. Highly, highly recommended!

I have not read The Trouble with Goats and Sheep and so the author Joanna Canon was new to me. Three Things about Elsie centres around Florence and Elsie, two life long friends in sheltered accommodation.. A new resident reminds Florence of someone she knew 60 years ago. who was believed to have drowned. Could it be him? If so, his presence is seen as a threat, given events in the past. Florence is fairly convinced but her memory is patchy and at times confused. Elsie, as ever, is the reassuring one.
This is a sensitive look at the world of the elderly where shades of dementia are around. It paints a realistic picture of both residents and carers, about how they relate to one another and the differing interpretations of events etc. Not necessarily a book to 'enjoy' but well crafted and thought provoking. It may affect the way you view the elderly and how best to respond to their preconceptions (and needs)..

Interesting book from a different point of view. Thanks for letting me have an advance copy.

This is a lovely book about Florence, 84 yrs old and living in sheltered accommodation. She doesn’t enjoy taking part it any arranged activities within the home and likes to keep herself to herself. It is an easy, quick read but one which is also deep and poignant. I loved the way the book combined a mystery with a story about real human experience and meaning.
I enjoyed the way her friend Elsie was included in the narration and the way the mystery of the new resident was told along side the story of the characters within the book.
A beautifully written book about human nature, memory, old age and of being alone.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I so wanted to love this book as much as The Trouble with Goats and Sheep but sadly I didn’t, not quite. A major barrier for me was the character of Elsie - I think it was quite obvious what her ‘secret’ was and the fact that it was never directly referred to, even by the other characters a bit further into the story, I found incredibly irritating! So there was that. I also missed the incredible sense of time and place from Goats and Sheep which was rarely apparent here. It was nicely written with a good sprinkling of touching moments but these too could be a little heavy-handed sometimes. There was some lovely gentle humour but I think the darker aspect could have been explored more fruitfully and I think I would have much preferred this as a time slip novel as I did find the main narrator’s voice and the care home setting a little limiting and the narrator’s memories didn’t go far enough to create that real-world feeling. That said, I remain a Joanna Cannon fan and eagerly await her next novel

I was sent a copy of Three Things About Elsie by Joanna Cannon to read and review by NetGalley.
This is another gem from the pen of Joanna Cannon. I chose this book because I adored Joanna Cannon’s debut novel The Trouble with Goats and Sheep and this, her second, didn’t disappoint. It is written in her own inimitable style – descriptive without being flowery, evocative of time and place, witty and with great characterization. Add to that a great story and you have the perfect mix.
While The Trouble with Goats and Sheep was centred around children, this novel deals with characters from the opposite end of the scale, but don’t worry, there’s nothing old and stuffy about this very entertaining tale. I won’t say anything about the plot – just read it for yourself and enjoy!

I really found it hard to get into this book and yet the synopsis sounded like it would be a good read. Found myself very much skim reading through it.

Having enjoyed "The Trouble With Goats And Sheep" I was delighted to have the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book, and I was not disappointed!
As 84 year-old Florence lies on the floor of her sheltered accommodation waiting for help after a fall, she thinks back over events from both from the recent and distant past and draws the reader in to the mystery of the new resident at the complex and why he is identical to a man who died over 60 years earlier.
The story is moving and poignant as we see the realities of old age through Florence's eyes, but I also found it gripping and that it kept me reading "just another chapter" to find out what would happen next. The question mark over the reliability of Florence's narrative, due to dementia, added to the mystery.
I would highly recommend this book!

Goats and Sheep I really understood and enjoyed. This was also well written and will be a full blown success, I just didn't quite 'get' it. I wish Jo every success with it and look forward to book 3.

One of those stunning books that you are thinking about long after you have read it. Flo lives at Cherry tree court-sheltered housing for the elderly with a distinct lack of Cherry trees. When a new resident arrives she is sure that he is someone from her past under a different name. The trouble is the man she knew died and there was a mystery surrounding him. Flo and Elsie, her lifelong friend, try and delve to find out more about the mysterious man and involve others in their escapades. Flo has also fallen down in her flat. In “timed” chapters she thinks about things and reflects on when the ambulance will arrive and the things around her. This is an amatuer sleuth story written around residents of the home and the poignancy of a life once lived. There are so many beautifully written sentences-from the humorous to the reflective “ Panini- what’s that” “They are what they call a sandwich if they want to charge you twice as much” . The shop was heavy with the scent of dust…. it smelled as if the past had found a hiding place, safe and sheltered where no one could be rid of it ever again”. “ Because sometimes you need to run away. You need to believe in something without looking for proof. You need to enjoy a thing without finding a need to measure it’s value”. I re-read the last few chapters so that I could reabsorb some of the wonderful words on the pages- I really didn’t want to let them go. A stunningly written highly enjoyable read to make you smile and make you think. One of the nicest and best books I have read in a long time. 10* if I could….