I raced through this book, from the first page I was hooked.
Now I tell everyone about it, that’s how much I truly enjoyed it!
Roll on pub date 27th June. A delightful heart-warming read that I highly recommend.

The title of this book does not do justice to the story that is told..
At first I didn’t like the Sylvia, the main protagonist, but as her story is revealed and her carefully, created world unravels my sympathy for her grew.
It is disappointing that the ending is predictable but hey –most people like an ending with no loose ends.

52 year old Sylvia has led a relatively quiet life, never married and has no children. She helps out at a Hedgehog sanctuary run by Jonas an elderly retired teacher from his back garden. He carries on with the help of Sylvia but most other volunteers tend to come and go and Jonas pays most of the vets bills himself as donations are limited apart from the odd bequest. Even Sylvia isn’t that dedicated to the rescue of Hedgehogs and does it more to fill her spare time and for the companionship she shares with Jonas, now a widower.

At the beginning of the book Sylvia comes across as a very brusque and off-hand kind of a person, someone who is fond of her own company and likes to keep herself to herself. However as the book moves on, more of Sylvia’s past is slowly revealed and the reader begins to realise that much of Sylvia’s aloofness stems from a desire to protect herself from hurt.

She works as a Personal Assistant to Professor Carl Lomax or ‘Prof’ as Sylvia fondly refers to him. She’s worked at the University for 15 years and has spent most of that time living in hope that one day Prof might leave his wife, notice Sylvia and dreams of living a happily ever after romance with the man she has idolised and looked after for so long. However unrequited love can be a lonely and often frustrating path but Sylvia hangs on and looks forward to her monthly lunch out with the professor and the one day a year when he takes her out for her birthday. When the new PhD student Lola, thirty something single mum turns up for her frequent meetings with the Professor, Sylvia feels threatened and sets out to both protect the Professor and her own love interest too, with less than favourable results.

This is a gentle and humorous story and yet quite moving in some parts. Sylvia leads quite a self imposed isolated life. She sees her sister regularly, kind of tolerates her teenage niece Crystal and has the company of Jonas at the Hedgehog sanctuary when she drops in to help out. But that is her life and her loneliness tends to seep through the pages at times as she wonders where her life has disappeared to.

The chapters are based loosely in a kind of dated journal format. With each passing season, there is a short passage that tells us a little tidbit of information on Hedgehogs. I liked this extra information that was included. I like the inferred analogy between a hedgehog and Sylvia, prickly on the outside but only to offer protection of their soft and vulnerable underbelly.

Just as Sylvia can be a force to be reckoned with and at times you wonder if she’s beginning to lose the plot, you can’t help but feel empathy for her and the situations she gets herself into. The other supporting characters in the book all added to the story but my favourite had to be Jonas for his kindness and his calm, philosophical outlook on life.

I really enjoyed this book, would definitely recommend it and hope there will be further books by this author.

Spinster's story of obsession, vindictiveness and atonement.

Eleanor Oliphant. The Cactus. Needlemouse. Three books on a theme I am very much enjoying lately. Sylvia is such a vivid creation - now middle-aged, she's spent her child-bearing years as personal assistant to a university professor, professionally an ideal aide, personally a women keeping herself looking impeccable for the man she adores.
"This i s my favourite part of the day, when we spend ten, or maybe even fifteen, minutes going through his diary..."

Having little life away from his office, she volunteers at a hedgehog shelter to have something philanthropic to give her more likeability.

Looking back on her faded youth, mistakes she's made, the time she's spent on her Professor, her jealousy and hackles are raised when a mature PhD student begins to spend more time with her Professor Lomax. As Sylvia determines to keep her beloved to herself, her dream of a fairy tale ending begins to tear.

We gradually see Sylvia's past, her relationship with her sister, the hedgehog work that she does to "make people think I'm a nicer person than I actually am", and despite the fact that she really shouldn't be likeable, her delusions and unfulfilled desires make her at least a little sympathetic.

I just adored following the path with Sylvia, from the inevitable lows and 'wake up' moments, to her moments of realisation and connection. What thirty/forty-something cannot identify with the feeling of ageing and being surpassed? "It was about a disturbing new feeling of being left behind and past my prime. A new younger generation of women seemed to be... rising up from the ranks of their career-driven mid-twenties..."

There are some truly heartfelt revelations and moments, some pain evident on Sylvia's part, beneath her prickles she is vulnerable. She does some really awful things, but likewise doesn't seem to realise that she is also capable of some compassionate and kind acts.

If you were an 'Eleanor' fan, this will most likely also be your cup of tea. I loved it, I loved Sylvia, I want to see a film version for a talented mature actress.

Obsession in love, being blind to reality - something all of us have surely at one time or another felt to some degree. The secrets of family, the need to connect with someone... all the most human of experiences.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.

I really enjoyed this debut. I did not take to Sylvia at first but she grew on me. I almost could not believe her infatuation with her boss - despite all the evidence but I was more convinced by her development once forced to confront her life as it was. The exploration of secrets within families and the healing provided by nature and friendship were well written.

I loved the hedgehog theme and the way they mirrored Sylvia.

A lovely read with a positive outcome.

What a wonderful story, this has so much crammed into it but it all flows so wonderful. I loved how the name of the book came about and the information about hedgehogs.
The character of Sylvia is so strong but you get to see the the thoughts and feelings through the brilliant writing. I had to keep reading this as it really hooks you in from a lovely family way because you end up wanting them all to be happy.
I really loved this so a big five stars from me.

This book will be a hit with fans of Eleanor Oliphant. I did find it a bit hard to get going, but overall enjoyed it.
I also learnt quite a bit about hedgehogs!

Completely unexpected plot. Very enjoyable read, if difficult in places. I like that the story was told wholly from Sylvia's perspective, that way, we are able to see her grow and change without judging her through the eyes of other characters. The ability of the author to portray so many characters as having flaws, as well as strengths, was so refreshing. In that way, every character felt whole and not just a pawn to tell a story. Would absolutely recommend.

This is an exquisite and very lovely book. It tells the story of Slylvia and her shut of, defensive life opening up through catastrophic events to a more positive future. It is compellingly told and gradually reveals layers of Sylvia's character as the story progresses. I loved the book and it has been one of my favourite reads of 2019. The interlinking of the story of the hedgehogs and their need for sanctuary is beautifully handled too. I would recommend Needlemouse very heartily to everyone. Great work!

I wasn’t sure what to make of #Needlemouse when I started the book. It was well written, but the main character was not at all likeable and I was frustrated with her infatuation with her boss and wish to control those around her (and him.)
I am really pleased that I persisted with the book however, as it was warm, engaging and had unexpected substance.
And I learned a lot about hedgehogs, which is a very good thing.
Thank you to #NetGalley the author and the publishers for the opportunity to read #Needlemouse

I'm loving the new genre of' 'uplit' as this type of book has been classified as. In the same vein as Eleanor Olifant is Completely Fine, Needlemouse is about a woman who doesn't fit into the modern world completely.
Our protagonist, Sylvia works as a PA to a university professor with whom she's in love but unreciprocated by the man himself. He takes her out for lunch sometimes and buys her birthday presents and they once had a drunken snog at an office Christmas party. Sylvia takes this to mean she's in love. She also has a secret which she's kept for many years about another man.
When she's not working she helps out at a hedgehog sanctuary run by an elderly widower.
I raced through this book in a day. It was beautifully written, very poignant in parts and sometimes a bit cringeworthy because of Sylvia's behaviour.
Really readable, thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read it.

My initial reaction to this was how much Sylvia (the main character and the person from who’s perspective the story is told) reminded me of Eleanor Oliphant with her way of viewing others as an annoyance rather than appreciating others find her to be the strange one. Prickly is definately an apt description and she’s not written to be liked. Her peculiar obsession with her boss and her delusions about him leave you pitying her and the contrasting warmth of Millie, her sister, only highlight her brittleness. I was unsure of how much I was enjoying this until Sylvia’s life started to unravel and from then on I was engrossed, the reasons behind her personality come to life and both the reader’s and Sylvia’s understanding of her alter perceptions. This is a heartwarming story, really well written and in my opinion would be a great book club read.

PS I love the explaination of ‘Needle Mouse’

This is a lovely and easy summer read, definitely one to uplift your mood. I enjoyed reading Sylvia's story, not such likeable character, yet interesting. I was charmed by the writing, so that it made me read this book in one sitting.
You'll surely want this as your beach book :)

Thanks a lot to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a fabulous book this is! When an author can change a reader's perceptions so drastically and in so short a time, that is excellent writing. As the story began to unfold, I formed an opinion of the protagonist, Sylvia, which was one of great dislike and annoyance. This character was seriously weird and her obsession with her boss made for some uncomfortable reading. This woman in her 50's with her introverted lifestyle and spiteful behaviour towards anyone who got close to her beloved Professor, was clearly deluded and unlikable. Even her part time, voluntary, job at the hedgehog sanctuary failed to win her any Brownie points as she appeared to be such a nasty piece of work. However, by the second half of the book we begin to see Sylvia in a different light as we learn more abut her past and what led her to become the way she is. Her unrequited love for her Professor had shaped her life for so long but then (no spoilers) she is enlightened and, like a hedgehog awakening after a long hibernation, she becomes our heroine. Her relationship with her sister and her niece, Crystal was a particular joy in the book as was old Jonas who ran the hedgehog sanctuary and whose love for the prickly residents was so lovely to read about. This book held so many surprises for me - all good ones - and I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it. I shall look out for future books by this author. Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this lovely story.

Yet another feel-good book where an ostensibly unlovable person finds happiness and an understanding of what is important in life. But I was utterly charmed by this tale of unrequited love, redemption and hedgehogs. The main characters are amusingly awful and the story (if predictable) is compelling enough to read in one long session. And everyone loves hedgehogs.

The main character in this tale started off as spiky as the hedgehogs that she worked with. Over protective of her secret crush a threat to the status quo left her evaluating her life. The consequences of which led her to self-improvement. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for an ARC.

This is a lovely little book, I really enjoyed reading Sylvia's story although from time to time I wanted to shake her, and say please, please be a bit more less ignorant!
It was an easy to read, cotton candy read, June is the perfect time for this to be released as it'll do such a good summer read!

I enjoyed this book, although I found Sylvia's car crash of a life cringe worthy at times. I also found Sylvia a difficult character to warm to at first, however by the end of the book she was much more likeable.
This is a pleasant read about the lonely life some people lead interspersed with some interesting information about hedgehogs.
Thanks Netgalley for the advance read copy

I really enjoyed this book. At times an uncomfortable read as you saw the wheels slowly coming off for Sylvia but I warmed to her gradually and wanted to hear her story. Thanks NetGalley!

I enjoyed reading this story but took a while for me to warm to the main character Sylvia. She is a mousy and slightly sinister character with a long held obsession and deluded hopes for love with her professor who she guards and gatekeeps with an inch of her life. I enjoyed the blurred lines of professionalism and how easily kindness can be misconstrued by romantacists and manipulators. Sylvia’s life falls apart spectacularly when a glamorous PHD student breezes into profs life and when Sylvia’s obsession takes it a step too far to “protect him” resulting in her loosing her job. The cringeworthy humiliation and embarrassment that follows forces her to re-evaluate her life.
There are some fantastic supporting characters woven through (family and friends) some are more supportive than others! and her relationship with old Jonas in the hedgehog sanctuary she helps at gives her some focus and the distraction she needs.
I wish the author had delved a bit deeper into her sinister side though, I don’t think there was enough emphasis on prof and Lola’s reaction to her behaviour. I felt like there were 2 different storylines, that had been spliced too crudely and rushed towards the last third of the book. Thankyou to the publishers and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book for a fair review.