In some ways this was a very predictable story line, or at least, I guessed what was probably going to happen, quite early on. But having said that, it is well written, and the two parallel lives, both struggling in different ways and how their paths ultimately cross, is very well written. Augusta is a really likeable and interesting character. My only disappointment, was as mentioned, that I felt it was a bit contrived.

Simply gorgeous. This is written by someone who loves words about someone who loves words for those who love words. I read it in a day and a night and found it moving without being overly sentimental.
I found the relationships within the Hope family quite convincing and the wider community was intriguingly diverse; I wound up looking places up online and poems and art.
Augusta and Parfait's stories are complex and interesting, tied to the political realities of their worlds but operating in parallel - it's hard not to root for them. Julia was less easy to engage with for some reason, but I found it hard to forget about minor characters like Graham Cook and Wilfred, who were beautifully-drawn and came alive on the page despite having no real voices - literally and metaphorically.
I would definitely seek out other books by Joanna Glen. Now I'm off to find out what a mollycroft is!

Augusta and Parfait are form opposites ends of the earth, but both dream of escaping their lives. We chart each of their journeys as they overcome adversity, heartache, finding and losing love, only to find it unexpectedly again. An accomplished debut with a lot of heart! The intertwined stories of August and Parfait is cleverly done and well written. There's a lot of humour in the book, particularly from Augusta, who is a bit of an odd duck in her family, but there's also a lot of sadness. Parfait in particular highlights the horrors of refugee life and what is sacrificed to try to get a better life.

Love the ambiguous title - is this a book about Augusta Hope's twin sister, is it about one [not necessarily true] love, it it about a search for oneself and being complete? If you loved Eleanor of "Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine" and Susan of "The Cactus", you will adore quirky precocious Augusta. The book is fast-paced, entertaining and good-hearted.

One thing that I found slightly annoying was a parallel story of a young guy from Burundu, told in short glimpses and lacking any depth. You can guess pretty quickly where the story goes and what the final will be. And whilst Augusta's story is rich, entertaining and very thought-through, the other story felt half baked to me. I cannot help but wonder what an interesting book it could be if the author would give due time and space to the talented boy from the tiniest countries in Africa.

There are a couple of unexpected twist, one more significant than the other. Narrative changes quite a lot after one of the twists - it almost felt like I was reading a different boo,

Ultimately, this is the story of Augusta Hope who first loses and then finds her other half. One thing she never loses is hope.

Joanna Glen's extraordinary debut is fiercy intelligent, lyrical, interspersed with the magic of Lorca's poetry, questions of what home and family means, amidst our contemporary world and the ills that afflict it. Living in Hedley, Augusta is the younger twin, her beautiful sister, Julia, who is supportive of her and her world, despite the fact that the sisters could not be more different. Julia is the favoured daughter, much more conventional, everything their parents wish Augusta was. Augusta is more challenging, so very bright, obsessed with words and her favourite book, the dictionary, but so socially awkward, correcting teachers, so inquiring about everything, so no, she really does not fit in a family that is so restrictive in its world view. Augusta wants to escape the narrow confines of her existence, and at a young age, she decides Burundi is her most favourite country, as she obsessively sets out to find out all that she can about it.

Augusta's close bond with Julia continues until the point that Julia meets Diego, after which the spaces between them grow. Then a tragedy occurs that breaks Augusta, although she is unable to shed tears. Far away, Parfait and his family are wrecked, devastated and broken by the unimaginable horrors and terrors of Burundi's nightmare civil war. Parfait is desperate to escape the war torn country, he dreams of Spain, making a life there as he seeks all that is missing in Burundi, freedom, safety and security. He sets out on his journey, accompanied by his brother, Zion, his sorrow compounded by further tragedies. Augusta, for whom Spain feels more like home than Hedley, and Parfait, with his huge heart, are destined to meet and connect.

Glen's impressive novel touches on the lives that lie behind Europe's refugee crisis, the losses and darkness experienced in their different ways by an Augusta that manages to snag a piece of my heart, as indeed does the incredible Parfait, so tenacious and determined, and the relationship, that against all the odds, which springs up between the two of them. All though it may not sound like it, Glen infuses her writing with humour amidst the grief and loss, in a narrative lifted by hope and light. This is a brilliant, beautifully written read, emotionally heartbreaking, of a search to fit in and a sense of identity, of families that may not always be what we need them to be, of lives torn asunder, and an exploration of the notion of what home is. Highly recommended. Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.

I cannot believe that I haven’t read this sooner and for that I’m sorry.
I couldn’t put this book down it will certainly make you laugh but this beautiful book will make you cry.
A wonderful fantastic read.

There is a poem by Federico Garcia Lorca which is at the heart of this novel. It goes, ‘I know there is no straight road, No straight road in this world, Only a giant labyrinth, Of intersecting crossroads’.

I wasn’t really expecting to enjoy this book when it started with Augusta and her twin sister, Julia. It all seemed a bit predictable with Julia as the pretty one and Augusta as the clever but nerdish and gawky other half. Their parents appeared as a parody of middle-class, small town, conservativism – prejudiced and limited in their view of the world.

Augusta gets interested in Burundi because she likes words and the story then unfolds with the parallel story of a Burundi migrant called Parfait who travels across Africa to escape the civil war and ends up in Spain as an itinerant artist. Augusta after a series of adventures, several deaths and some bad attempts at relationships ends up in Spain as well and you can guess the rest.

It’s a tribute to Joanna Glen and her writing that she makes this story work. It covers a wide span in years and could so easily have involved some ghastly stereotypes but she draws the human story out really well and slips quite easily into a poetic, almost dreamy, mode which I liked. Early on in the novel, something nasty happens on a Spanish beach and there’s an authenticity about that episode and its repercussions which in many ways is at the core of the novel although Augusta doesn’t know this.

It’s also one of those intersecting crossroads where different worlds collide and what comes out of it eventually is, in different ways, better for everyone. Bits of the dénouement might seem a bit rose tinted for some readers but in overall terms it all holds together and at the end when things look better you realise why she should be called Augusta Hope – because hope is, after everything, what the book is really all about.

This is the story of Augusta and her twin sister Julia and the pull-tug of family bonds. Intertwined with their narrative is the story of Parfait and his family in Burundi and as the stories develop they come together very effectively. I loved this book. It is beautifully written, full of fabulous imagery and poetry and somewhat reminiscent of Lorca, who is often referenced in the novel. If this suggests that the book is hard work, it isn't- it's an easy and very pleasurable read which has lots of fun with language but is never heavy-going. The character of Augusta is gorgeous and she is incredibly vivid and relatable. Recommended.

The Other Half of Augusta Hope is the story of two people: Augusta Hope growing up in Britain, and Parfait growing up in Burundi.

As a child, Augusta is obsessed with words and their layers of meaning and as a 7 year old she finds an atlas and chooses her favourite country by how the word sounds - and she picks Burundi. Over the next few years she learns everything that she can about Burundi. When a new Spanish family arrive in her street she learns Spanish and dreams of escaping her small life here in the UK for a bigger, brighter life somewhere else. She is a kind and thoughtful girl who tries to befriend the disabled boy next door much to her parents disgust. She is the polar opposite to her twin sister Julia who bends over backwards to please her parents and always do the right thing, while Augusta is all about doing what makes her happy.

Meanwhile., life in Burundi for Parfait is very different. Living in a troubled country he witnesses the death of many of his family members, the rape and then disappearance of his sisters and the silence of one of his brothers. Thrust into the role of head of the family at only 14 he struggles to remain cheerful and keep his family safe. He befriends a Spanish missionary who comes to work in Burundi and plots to leave his home land and head to Spain for a better life. He plans to walk to Tunisia and from there sail across the sea that looks like a river and just start again in Spain. Only one of his brothers sets out for Spain with him, the other choosing to stay in Burundi to be near his dead twin brother.

From here it is fairly inevitable that Augusta and Parfait will meet but how they get there is very interesting. This book is gorgeously written and the descriptions are beautiful. It is heartbreaking and uplifting in equal measure.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As usual in my reviews, I will not go into any plot details (plenty of reviews like that already), just my own feelings and opinions.

This was an interesting, and ultimately heart-lifting read. The story shifts between England, Spain, and Africa, and I loved the way the different strands were interwoven, and the way the widely different characters developed as time wore on. Twins are always an interesting backdrop to a story, and it was refreshing to see how very different - yet very connected - the pair were in this tale.

This would be an excellent holiday or journey read.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in return for my honest review.

Overall I enjoyed this debut but there was something missing. Although Glen creates two strong characters, there are times when the plot feels a little contrived. There are some really lovely and powerful elements, it just didn't quite stay with me the way I hoped it would.

I loved this book. A wonderful debut from Joanna Glen. There are really two stories here, one told by Augusta and the other by Parfait.

Augusta Hope is a second born twin who doesn't seem to quite fit in with her family. There is something very unique about her. Augusta is the clever and quite intense sister. Her twin Julia is the pretty and popular sister.

Augusta is fascinated by and loves words. When she was 8 Augusta decided that her favourite country was Burundi, simply because she loved the sound of the name. She is determined she will leave home and go there some day.. Following the most dreadful and shocking family tragedy she does eventually leave home, but not for Burundi. She retreats to Spain to a place where she had once spent a holiday with her family.

Meanwhile in war-torn Burundi orphaned Parfait is struggling to keep his family together.. When tragedy strikes he too is determined to leave for a better life and embarks on the long, long journey. to try to reach Europe.

Their stories are told separately and as their stories unfold you see some parallels in their very different histories and also huge differences. Two stories, different continents. Will their stories connect somehow?

I really liked the wonderful storytelling cleverly interwoven. All the characters are interesting, not just Augusta, Julia and Parfait. The tale is funny, sad, tragic, devastating, frightening and heartwarming. and most of all enjoyable.

Definitely recommended.

For fans of Eleanor Oliphant...meet Augusta Hope. A very quirky narrator engages the reader throughout, making Augusta Hope feel like a friend. A bittersweet read, heartbreaking but also heartwarming. Really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend!

Fabulous
The intertwined story of Augusta and Parfait.
So sad and tragic but so beautiful at the same time.
Really well written book. Very knowledgable author.
Very likeable characters.
Enjoyed it a lot.

This was a book which appealed particularly to me. I love words and language and have a special affinity with Spain and Spanish. The story of immigration tragedies resonated deeply with me; the lives lost in the Mediterranean, perusing the dream of a better life, indeed, of any form of life, are heartbreaking. It was so moving to read and understand one of the stories that drives migrants to such depths of despair. I love the way the two stories interwove; such different backgrounds, but both searching for that elusive something or someone. I loved the warmth of family relationships, and the sense of hope from the changes undergone by the flawed personalities. Are we not all flawed? Yet, in this truly moving novel, redemption and hope are clearly possible. Hope, esperanza; wonderful. Read it and prepare to be deeply moved.

Augusta loves words and feels like she doesn't belong.
On the other side of the world in Burundi where there is a civil war going on we meet Parfait who desperately wants to build a better life for himself.
The two are destined to meet.....
I found this to be an okay story. I struggled to connect to Augusta whos very quirky bordering on odd and it felt like her narrative dragged for me slightly.
The saviour of this book for me was Parfait! I just really felt a lot of empathy for him.
This book does deal with issues such as grief and loss in a really sensitive way whilst also being quite witty in other parts of the book.
Overall if you are a fan of quirky, eccentric characters I would recommend this one. Thanks to Harper Collin's UK and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started to read this debut novel from Joanna Glen, but one thing I can tell you. I was not left disappointed at all.

We follow the story of Augusta Hope, one half of a set of twins: Julia and Augusta - two girls born on either side of midnight July 31st, meaning on was born in July and the other in August.

As can be the case, the girls were polar opposites in many ways, from appearances and personalities to likes and interest, but they still had that twin pull.

We are taken to Burundi as well, a little known African country, which has captured Augusta's interest from a young age, and meet Parfait and his family, caught in a country suffering from bloodshed.

How the lives and stories of these two characters intertwine, is a testament to the brilliance of the author, and I did wonder... 'Who actually was the other half of Augusta Hope?' at the end.

Definitely a recommended read.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK and Borough Press for granting me a wish with this ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book. It was a good story and it was interesting to see how the separate stories were interlinked. Augusta Hope is a very likeable character. I recommend this book.

A mesmerising and unique read, this was captivating and well written. One I will definitely be rereading. Highly recommended.

What a fantastic book!

I can honestly say that from the beginning, I was mesmerised. The book is in a dual narrative with alternating chapters between Augusta and another character called Parfait. It’s soon apparent that Augusta is writing these memories in the present, looking back on her past.

Burundi’s political unrest and troubled history is brought to the fore in this novel in a heartbreaking and authentic way. I knew a little about this subject but this really opened up the way it affected people so vividly. War is never an easy subject to tackle but it’s done fantastically.

Interwoven with this is the story of Augusta and her family living in suburban Britain. The familiar sights and smells of this neighbourhood are very easy to relate to for anyone in the UK and the sometimes mundane nature of that is something that Augusta starts to rally against from a young age. Her twin sister Julia is more easy-going and wants to please her parents. Despite this, there is a deep bond they share.

They navigate their way through adolescence to adulthood and then comes a significant event on holiday that is alluded to by Augusta before we learn of it. This is a turning point for the whole family and points everything in a new direction.

Augusta and Julia’s relationship is damaged. There are now secrets between them and as they continue through life, a part of the bond they share is no longer the same. Meanwhile, more catastrophic events are also taking place in Parfait’s life and he suffers more tragedy and ever changing circumstances.

As the story develops there are some definite surprises along the way. Julia’s story is very poignant and moving and had me in tears. As their family starts to unravel, I was caught up in the rollercoaster of emotions they experienced.

Parfait’s story is different and original as we learn more of the culture of Spain and of dancing! There are some very poetic and beautiful moments in his life and as his and Augusta’s stories start to intertwine, there is redemption and hope for the future.

This is such an original storyline and definitely unexpected for me. It weaves you in with a spell and is utterly captivating. It’s a coming of age story with a difference and has everything from love and romance to tragedy and family breakdowns. It is a beautiful observation of the way we live our lives and of the human spirit. I loved every moment and when it comes out in June, I’m sure you will too!