This is a gentle feel good story of an older man finding a new life outside his farm. It is a nice easy read with some interesting characters. I found some of the dialogue, and some descriptions rather long winded, but the story carried things along.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC

Mr Doubler Begins Again is a heartwarming, quirky read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Mr Doubler is a character that I initially found quite annoying as I felt he was quite set in his ways and quite condescending whilst talking to people. However as the novel progressed I started to learn more about him, I warmed to him and found his little quirks quite endearing. He’s obviously quite a lonely character which might explain many of his flaws and these become slightly ironed out as he decides to get out to make more friends. His attempts to do this and the friendships he makes were very heartwarming to read about and I found myself really enjoying watching him come out of his shell a little bit.

As the reader finds out within the first few pages, potatoes feature quite heavily in the book with the many different types of potatoes and uses for them being described in detail. While this might sound a little bit weird or boring it is actually far from it and I found it quite fascinating to lead more about potato farming. Mr Doubler, and the author, clearly know their stuff and it’s one of the quirks that makes Mr Doubler quite such a unique character.

The reader goes on a wonderful journey with Mr Doubler as we follow him from a lonely, potato obsessed man to his attempts to get out to socialise and the new friends he makes. It was lovely to go on this journey with him and I found myself quite sad to leave him when the book finishes. I hope that this isn’t the last we see of him as he’s a brilliantly character!

This is the first novel I have read by this author and I’ll look forward to reading more from her in the future. It has been compared to The Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry which I think is accurate as the style of the book was similar, and Mr Doubler is a character that the reader can really get behind like Harold Fry.

Huge thanks to Izzy Smith for inviting me onto the blog tour and to HQ stories for my copy of this book via Netgalley.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book about Mr Doubler who is an older man whose life has been spent farming potatoes... And producing surprising products from his potatoes. As the book evolves we realise that this quiet recursive man is actually a success at what he does. There are stories about cross generation relationships, friendships and disappointments.
All told an enjoyable read, warm and cosy for winter weather!

Mr Doubler is a potato farmer who is hidden away from the world at the top of his field sometimes shrouded by mist other times above the clouds in the sun. He is very certain about his opinions and has no qualms in sharing them with Mrs Millwood over lunch after she has done with the housework. He doesn’t realise how important her visits are until her daughter arrives to let him know she can’t make them at the moment. We slowly get to know Mr Doubler, his foibles and his growing bravery to face his fears. Gentle and lovely. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

When the weather is cold and you yearn for a warm blanket and hot drink, reach for this book. It suits this premise perfectly!

Mr Doubler is a very proud potato farmer and like many older people, has loved and lost and now makes do with his lot, with the help of his cleaner.

Until his help falls ill! He starts to struggle on his own and eventually caves in and does something he has avoided for years. Help can come in different forms and can be hard to accept, but what opportunities and joy can be found when you do?

This is a beautiful book in many ways. It is filled with hope, love and compassion. And potatoes. Lots of potatoes!

This was a lovely book to read. I checked early reviews before reading and was pleased to see it referred to as enjoyable and touching which I could definitely see while I was reading. This was a charming and well written look at friendship and relationships.

I loved Mr Doubler right from the start. He's a potato farmer. He loves potatoes, his whole life revolves around potatoes. He may be lonely and old, but he has his potatoes to focus on. He's content.

But when Doubler's cleaner and friend is taken seriously ill, he realises just how lonely he really is. His children aren't there for him, not really. He hasn't even left Mirth Farm for twenty years. Miraculously, though, Mrs Millwood's absence pushes Mr Doubler to make changes and new friends.

This book was almost like a coming-of-age novel, except for a slightly older character. Mr Doubler essentially builds his life anew, making new friends and even serving as the catalyst for other wonderful budding friendships. And while Doubler has been in a dark place after the loss of his wife, he actually finds a way to accept it and move on.

Doubler was a really loveable character, if a bit awkward and arrogant at times. He very much reminded me of Eleanor Oliphant in terms of his lack of social etiquette. It was truly amazing to watch him find himself, and I seriously respected him for confronting his son, Julian. Though Doubler hasn't had much to do with his children for a while, he does still keep in contact. But Julian's sudden show of apparent affection throws Doubler off. With the help of his friends, Mr Doubler realises - and more importantly, accepts - that his son isn't actually a very nice person, and his only motivation is financial. Doubler also manages to reconnect with his daughter, and accept that his wife's absence was not his fault, though Julian disagrees.

The ending was so sweet, too! It wasn't overly happy - there's still a shadow over the characters, a possibility of further loss - but it still made me smile. It was really lovely to just see Doubler so content and comfortable in his life at last.

The only criticism I have is that there were a few typos and such, but as I read an ARC and not the final publication, I'm not too worried about it.

Overall, this was a really lovely book. It sounds boring - an old guy who grows potatoes? - but it was full of some really important things. 4.5 stars.

A delightful story of friendship, I found this book utterly charming. You can't help but warm to the characters (apart from Jonathan and Peele!).

I've read a few novels lately concerning older protagonists and was fearful that I was on overload. However, who would have thought that an elderly potato grower would provide an amusing, sometimes, poignant story? Eccentric characters along with unscrupulous ones makes this a highly enjoyable read. The reality of his family not the best people to have on Mr Doubler's side was a revelation to him, but his venture into the real world, allowed him to find and accept the kindness of strangers. In return, whilst becoming friends, he found he could reach out and be a source of help himself. In doing so, he realised, that kindness, along with his potato expertise, could be his legacy.

This is definitely a book full of hope ... although death, illness, growing old and the struggles of family relationships are all key threads running through the book so it is not unremittingly upbeat. It has humour and some very sweet passages and interactions as Mr Doubler's life begins to change after his sole social contact, Mrs Millwood, is taken into hospital.
For someone who has been quite insular, seeming content to send his life focused on potatoes, alcohol production and a lot of baking, the leaps he makes in interacting with others are huge but this is an endearing, warm book so I don't mind surprising jumps like this too much!
The are some great images and descriptions - I want to visit Doubler's farm and sit above the mists - and a great cast of characters who surprise us and encourage us to see the good in folk.
I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Doubler and his 'friends'.

This is my first into Mr Doubler, which I thought would be very amusing.
Maybe not cup of tea, but at the same time a little amazing in places.
A lonely man seeking Solange with his garden until his housekeeper becomes I'll, he thought he was all alone until the village came together

An easy really enjoyable read. This is a book about loneliness, community and family. It is well told and easy to read in one sitting.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Mr Doubler is a potato farmer, living by himself - his grown up children trying to meddle in his affairs, and his wife is gone. His daily chats with his housekeeper Mrs Millwood is the only intrusion into his self declared (almost) secluded life. When Mrs Millwood takes bad he comes to realise how much he loves her company, and after a request from her over the phone his life is turned upside down by a whole host of characters.
This is a fantastic book - it really is uplifting, warms the heart, and is hilarious quite frankly! Mr Doubler really does begin again!
Fans of Hendrick Groan will especially love this.

My thanks to Netgalley and HQ Stories at Harper Collins for this advance copy in return for an honest review.

A charming story, full of hope and wise words from a man recovering from his wife's abandonment of him and his beloved farm. We first meet Mr Doubler as a lonely man, set in his ways and keeping himself together by his daily routines. Every day he takes a tour of Mirth Farm (a rather ironic name for somewhere which has held so many sad memories for him), tends his beloved potatoes (especially his mysterious barns) and, most importantly, puts the world to rights with his housekeeper, Mrs Millwood.

Mrs Millwood is a compassionate woman. When she becomes ill, she ensures they continue their conversations by telephone from her hospital bed. She also persuades him to volunteer at the local animal rescue centre. This is a lifeline for him, as previously he avoided leaving Mirth Farm by having everything delivered for free. Read the book to find out why! She also sends her daughter, Midge, to do some jobs for Doubler with pleasing results.

Then there's the problem of rival potato grower Peele (potato Peele!) wanting to buy Mirth Farm. Will he succeed? What can Doubler do to stop him? His grasping son certainly won't help. As he grows in confidence, he begins to open up to his new friends, revealing some of his secrets and sharing his fears for the future. He discovers that kindness and compassion can be mutually beneficial and that friendship is a gift worth cultivating as much as potatoes.

Such a feel good read! Just what I needed to put a smile on my face in the dismal month of January.

Mr Doubler is an unconventional farmer; he grows only one crop. His potatoes mean everything to him and he has concentrated solely on them since he lost his wife and his children grew up and moved out. His only company is Mrs Millwood, his housekeeper. But when Mrs Millwood can no longer make the daily trip, what will become of Mr Doubler?

This is a wonderful story; beautifully written and obviously well-planned. It begins innocuously enough, then before you know it you are really invested in the characters and the story. I just couldn't put it down, and raced through it eager to find out where it was going. This holds no disappointments; just amusement and fun all the way from an author who obviously observes fellow humans very carefully to be able to produce such a fabulous novel. It shows a deep understanding of life in general and is a delightful read which left me nodding my head in agreement at the same time as a smile crept across my face. I hope lots of reader are attracted to it as this is a book which deserves to be read and enjoyed. Absolutely recommended!

My thanks to publisher HQ Digital for my copy, which I have reviewed honestly and without bias.

This is an absolutely delightful novel, full of the most endearing characters. It is wise, clever and beautifully written. There is delicate humour, great insight into the meaning of friendship and the debilitating effect that loneliness can have as we grow older and find ourselves alone.

Mr Doubler has lived alone, growing potatoes, at Mirth Farm for many years and he thinks he likes this just fine. His only regular company is Mrs Millwood who comes to clean for him. They share lunch every day. He receives monthly visits from his daughter, who is occasionally accompanied by her brother. Doubler does not enjoy these visits and frequently muses about what he did wrong when bringing up these awkward siblings, after his wife was gone.

When Mrs Millwood is hospitalised, Doubler soon realises how much he misses their conversations and Mrs Millwood’s wry observations about life and people. They continue to speak on the phone every day and the marvellous Mrs M begins to guide Doubler’s life in a different direction.

There is a side story of a competing potato farmer, Peele, who wants to buy Doubler’s farm, but the real beauty of the novel is in the conversations between Doubler and Mrs M, those he has with her daughter Midge and other members of the supporting cast.

I loved this book and cannot recommend it highly enough. It is going to be a real hit in 2019 and I'll be buying it for all my friends.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley and publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.

I loved this gentle and perceptive story of Mr Doubler. In a way it seemed a series of conversations, some with people, some to himself, but all thoughtfully written.
Mr Doubler has been almost a hermit for too long. He feels no need to explore the outside world, and lives for his experimental work with his beloved potato experiments. His house is cared for by the redoubtable Mrs Millwood who has incredibly poignant , sometimes funny, conversations with Mr Doubler.
When she is taken ill and has to spend time in hospital, Mr Doubler finds that she has organised things to happen in his life, all of which will bring him to a place where he begins to live a near normal life, mixing with people, joining in social activities. All this is accompanied alongside telephone convrsations with Mrs M.
So much is covered, relationships with his two (awful) children, relationships with a retired Army man, the effect his amazing baking has on people around.
I so wanted to know what happened next, both with his letter from India and with Mrs Millwood.
A thoroughly enjoyable book. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a review copy.

MR DOUBLER BEGINS AGAIN
SENI GLAISTER

This is a lovely gentle story and the characters really shine out. You can’t help but like Mr Doubler who is wise in many ways and naïve in others. Mr Doubler is a potato farmer on one level but so much more than just a potato grower. He wants to leave a legacy of a new variety of potato and also makes gin and vodka from potatoes. He has been on his own for many years and pretty much brought up his children on his own. He has had to learn to become very domesticated and is a very competent cook with the book describing some of his culinary productions. Mr Doubler has become a recluse since his wife left and has only needed the company of his housekeeper, Mrs Millwood. When she becomes ill their exchanges all take place via the telephone. From her hospital bed she instructs Doubler to become involved with others in the local community and so he learns to make new friends and Doubler starts to blossom. The other thread in the story is the fact that a rival is after his land and Doubler’s son is in cahoots with his rival hoping to take some of the profits. Doubler’s children are difficult, particularly the son who comes across as quite a villain. As the book progresses we see he is falling in love with Mrs Millwood and their telephone calls become the highlight of his day
As I was reading this book I was also reading a thriller for our book club, and although I normally like this genre, I wasn’t really enjoying reading it. Mr Doubler Begins Again was a really good antidote to this. It is an extremely uplifting book about values and friendship and the things that really matter in life. Mr Doubler is a lovely man and you really want everything to work out well for him. The story is quite an unusual one and difficult to categorise but if you want an uplifting book Mr Doubler Begins Again is a good one to read. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to review thi

Such a beautifully-written novel - entering around a character that just keeps on giving. This is a novel that has been described as 'uplifting' but I would argue that there is a world-weariness and a song of experience running through it that means it's much more than that! Comfortable without being overly-cozy, it's the quality of the prose that drives the reader forward here.

I struggled to get into this book at first, it just didn't work for me at all, then I had epiphany and it started to flow.

It was a good story on the whole, but did find some of the descriptive sections overlong and really too drawn out, same with some of the conversations. All the big build up regarding Mr Doubler's wife, to be honest, it became so obvious, was also a little grating.

It is a story of finding yourself in later life and a resurrection for Mr Doubler from loner, to being part of the social hub all thanks to his housekeeper Mrs Millwood, who whilst she is in hospital, insists Mr Doubler takes over one of her volunteering roles.

I felt the book ended quite abruptly with a few questions to be answered properly, don't know if that means a sequel or whether we, as readers, are left to make our own minds up.

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ for giving me the chance to read the book in exchange for an honest review.