Augusta Hope and her twin sister Julia are bought up in a small town, but they are like chalk and cheese in their personalities. “Augusta loves words like other people love sweets or ice cream” and dreams of traveling to more exotic places whereas Julia is more of a homebody falling in love and marrying a neighbour happy with her life.

I Loved that Augusta was completely unique, she reads a lot and asks lots of questions. Her favourite book is the dictionary and she soaks up general knowledge like a sponge!! People including her family think she is slightly strange and her sister is her only close friend. I could emphasis with her as I was the same as a child, a proper bookworm!!

When Augusta’s life is turned upside down by a family tragedy, she follows her dreams of travelling to find a place she can call home.

Parfait lives with his brothers and sisters in Burundi and dreams of leaving the civil war and poverty behind.

The 2 stories run parallel to each other and you know that their paths will cross but not how or where.

A beautifully written book full of emotion about love, happiness and finding a place where you feel like you can belong. I Felt from the beginning it was fate that would bring Parfait and Augusta together and I was not disappointed in the ending.

Thank you to Netgalley in exchange for a review.

Even more than romantic love this book looks at familial love – and most particularly at the relationship between siblings where unconditional love is mixed in with feelings of jealousy, resentment and the kind of intimate, long-term knowledge which enables someone to deeply hurt with just a word. Augusta Hope is not just a sister, she is a twin who is very close to her sister, Julia, even though they are very different from each other. Julia is outgoing, pretty and charming: Augusta is clever, spiky and awkward, the kind of child who decides that Burundi is her favourite country and then learns everything about it. Meanwhile, in alternating chapters, we learn about Parfait who is growing up in Burundi itself surrounded by a loving family and a terrible civil war. After the loss of both parents and many of his siblings Parfait begins to plan a journey across Africa and, eventually to Spain. The two stories meet in Spain itself where these two characters’ lives become entwined after both suffer great losses. Each has been torn almost in two by the tragic loss of a beloved sibling and, although they are both trying to heal themselves, their final return to wholeness is brought about by the support of the other.

A gentle romance for those who like a little sorrow mixed in with the joy. For fans of Elinor Oliphant or Ruth Hogan.

This is an interesting, quirky and unusual book. I actually read it twice because I wanted to savour the way the lives of the characters intertwine and affect each other's lives. Augusta and Julia are twins who are very different from each other, in looks and approach to life, Julia being the home bird like her parents, Augusta with her love of languages and longing to spread her wings. I love the descriptions of the young Augusta and her imagination and love of words, languages and poetry. She spins a globe and finds a country that she likes the sound of, Burundi, and adopts it as her own, finding out as much as she can about it. The story of Parfait, who is from Burundi, is told in alternate chapters to Augusta's. He lives a parallel life, threads of which intersect with hers. They both have tragedies in their lives and their stories are linked without either of them knowing it until the end. Augusta's parents and their neighbours, far from being minor characters, all have a big part to play in the story. My mother used to quote the poem "The Pedlar Man" to me when I was a child so I loved that bit. I was so happy with the epilogue. It could not have been more perfect, parfait, perfecto, perfectus.

The Other Half of Augusta Hope is a beautifully crafted dual narrative that focuses on family, love, grief and hope. Augusta, an extraordinary young woman trapped in mundane, suburban life longs for adventure. Parfait, a young man born and raised in war-torn Burundi dreams of a better life for him and his family. Their respective dreams cost them both greatly in ways that’ll twist your emotions in knots and make you cry quietly beside the pool surrounded by people (not talking from experience or anything). I think multi narratives often fall into the trap of a fantastic build up but an unsatisfactory ending when those threads are eventually wound together but I am happy to report that this wasn’t the case here. A fantastic debut and I cannot wait to read more from Joanna Glen. Thank you so much to Netgalley and Borough Press for my copy of this fantastic book.

I absolutely loved this book! Augusta Hope is a wonderful character, who I warmed to immediately. Her family is normal and believable, especially her parents, who seem drawn from real life. The contrasting story of Parfait is cleverly interwoven with Augusta's and the result is a really uplifting book.

August loves words, Spain and she is fascinated by Burundi. Thisis the story of her and her twin Julia.
I really liked the idea for this book and I was gripped by the opening chapters. However it lost its way about half way through once I figured out what was going to happen.
The ending felt rushed almost as of the author was running out of time. Too many undeveloped characters and missed opportunities

A beautiful book and, amazingly, a debut novel for Joanna Glen. I almost gave up in the first few chapters, I'm afraid, as I couldn't see how the two disparate strands of this book could possibly be woven together in a coherent way from Willow Close to Burundi. However I'm so glad I stuck with it, as the workings of fate (and this skilled author) gradually manage to merge the two parts of the book in a subtle way, which doesn't feel contrived or awkward. As I became drawn to both characters and invested in their stories, I was totally absorbed in the poetic but credible writing and the roller coaster ride of emotions that actually made me cry at one point. It was one of those books that you want to finish to find out what will happen, but then wish it would go on for much longer. A really lovely exploration of twinned lives and well worth the journey!

Slow-burning but moving dual story of pain, love and finding your place.

From the first, Augusta Hope held my attention: a girl who reads the dictionary, who doesn't fit into the staid suburban life her parents and twin sister take comfort in. Across the world in Burundi, a boy her age sees those he love killed or scarred by civil war, and attempts to escape to where he sees safety and possible salvation in Spain.

The two stories are, on the surface, very different. Parfait finds his way to Spain as a migrant, and then tries to make a new life for himself, despite his tragic experiences, his pain. Augusta grows up in a middle-class dull life with a twin sister content with her childhood sweetheart and traditional, insipid parents.

We know from the start that Augusta's story ends in Spain, years in the future. But we don't know how she gets there. We also see regular connections between Parfait and Augusta and their disparate narratives. Parfait must work for a living, from a young age. Augusta explores her academic interests and eventually gets to escape her bland existence for University.

To discuss the plot in any depth would mar it. It's a slow moving story, though you know the general direction and have to anticipate the future with patience. Augusta takes on much of the narrative, though both characters are well-enough drawn, she is the stronger.

Emotional in its impact, it's also full of love - for siblings and family, friends and lovers. I liked it for Augusta, and the enjoyable settling at the close.

A few too many coincidences throughout, but commendable enough, with themes of war atrocities, suicide and depression, guilt. Despite this, it has its uplifting moments.

With thanks to Netgalley for the sample reading copy.

This book was brilliant and how the two stories intertwined was so clever. Incredibly sad at times, it had a really satisfying ending and I was rooting for Augusta the whole time.

Augusta Hope has never felt like she fits in.

At six, she’s memorising the dictionary. At seven, she’s correcting her teachers. At eight, she spins the globe and picks her favourite country on the sound of its name: Burundi.

And now that she's an adult, Augusta has no interest in the goings-on of the small town where she lives with her parents and her beloved twin sister, Julia.

When an unspeakable tragedy upends everything in Augusta's life, she's propelled headfirst into the unknown. She's determined to find where she belongs – but what if her true home, and heart, are half a world away?

REVIEW:- I had to take some time before I rated and reviewed The Other Half of Augusta Hope, and I'm still not 100% sure how I feel. In some ways I appear to have enjoyed it, reading the book in two sittings, but in others I'm still waiting for the story to sink in.

Written via two povs which doesn't make much sense until you're a fair bit into the book, it's written as if the characters are talking to you. The story is mainly set in the pasts of the two characters. Augusta's pov in particular could be confusing but it did mature as I suppose the character did, her thoughts running away with her. Parfait's chapters were haunting and sad and hopeful and vibrant.

I'd definitely recommend The Other Half of Augusta Hope, it's a beautiful story, and whilst so sad at times, there is hope too.

This book was thoroughly enjoyable. It is a story of someone who doesn’t quite fit in in their own lives and compares herself to others. It was an emotional book provoking myself to look at my own thoughts and behaviours. Extremely well written. The only negative for me was that the end felt rushed but other than that I loved it!!

I absolutely adored this book - one of my top books of the year. The story is told by Augusta and Parfait - the narrator changes with each chapter. Augusta is Julia's twin and the story traces their childhood and how the girls are so different but bound by blood and shared experience. Augusta is slightly socially awkward and is interested in words and language whereas Julia is more 'traditional' and aspires to grow up, marry and raise children. Parfait is from the little known country Burundi and has a very different life. His country is at war and his family face many challenges.

There are so many emotions in this story - I laughed, cried and felt so connected to the characters. Some of Joanna's descriptions are quite simply wonderful. The last few chapters weren't as engrossing as the rest of the book but this does not diminish my enjoyment.

Fans of Eleanor Oliphant, The Versions of Us and Elvira Carr will likely enjoy this.

I highly recommend it!

I liked it but didn’t love it. However, the two storylines, Augusta and Parfait, I found easy to follow and linked together beautifully. Sometimes when this has been done in other novels I found it to be either distracting, difficult to switch or just annoying but here it feels essential to the unfolding storyline. For some reason I just didn’t warm to any of the characters, however it is well written and a good read, just not memorable.
Thanks Netgalley and Harpercollins for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an unbiased review.

Before I started reading this I had heard it being compared with Eleanor Oliphant and I can see some of the similarities in the loneliness and behaviour of Augusta, but that's where it stops. This is a book that starts with Augusta at the age of 6 who chooses Burundi as her favourite place and alternates with Parfait's story of growing up in Burundi. The clever way the author interweaves the alternating chapters was brilliant to read, I never knew which part would be picked up and spoken about next which was good. The harrowing tale of Parfait was hard to read, but didn't go into too much detail. Unfortunately though I didn't love this book, I didn't really connect with Augusta until about 70% of the way through and this detracted from my enjoyment. There are some sucker punch moments throughout that left me needing a minute to compose myself and I can see this author is great at what she does, but I struggled with reading it. Overall, I think that there will be so many people that love this book, but I wasn't one of them.

A beautifully crafted book which deals with all human emotions told from two different aspects.
One from an English twin called Augusta and the other Parfait a refugee from Burundi a war torn country in the continent of Africa.
It describes their journey in life before they eventually meet and fall in love. Well researched it describes how refugees make the dangerous trip to a better life and the losses that they incur to get to where they want to be both before and after they arrive.
It deals with all aspects of human loss in a very humble way.
It is one of those books that leave a lasting effect on you.

I loved reading this book and really was sorry when I finished though at the same time I could not stop reading. The tale is told from two points of view, Augusta and Parfait, chapters alternating between each and taking us on their journey from childhood to adulthood through sadness, happiness, tragedy and love.
Augusta is a twin in England. She loves the sound of words, reads the dictionary for pleasure and wants to travel away from the familiar neighbourhood, ideally in a caravan as in her favourite poem 'The Pedlar's Caravan' and possibly to Burundi, a country whose name she loves the sound of ('like the sea lapping against my mind'), or to Espana, whose name she thinks is light, airy and beautiful, like a butterfly. Parfait is one child in a big family which includes two sets of twins. He dreams of escaping the civil war in Burundi with his family to reach safety in Spain. He learns languages to help him achieve his goal.
Augusta and Parfait's stories intertwine over the years. Joanna Glen takes the ending theme or words from one narrative to begin the next. For example, when a Parfait chapter ends with 'If I could choose, we'd set out for Spain tomorrow', Augusta's chapter starts with 'I first heard the word Espana when Diego moved in--'. This is done subtly but suggests an inevitable meeting between the two narrators. Whether this meeting will ever happen however is a continuing question as both characters face tragedies and personal dilemmas.
The novel stands alone as a great read. However through the story of Parfait it also gives the reader insight into why people flee their own country in desperate need to find a place of safety and the horrific events which may face them on this journey.
I really enjoyed every aspect of this book and will certainly read more from Joanna Glen. My thanks to the publishers via Net Galley for sending me and ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

This book is way outside my comfort zone but I’m glad I read it because it is beautifully written.

I related to one of the characters in a way because she’s slightly off Centre and I enjoyed the way she is written and how she develops.

I found the ending quite obvious but I still felt the book was enjoyable to the end of a little slow.

A thoroughly enjoyable book. A lovely story, beautifully written.
This book made a strong impression, I hadn't read anything so masterfully told in a long time.
I strongly recommend this book,

Augusta Hope has always felt like she has never fitted in. Her parents are baffled by her restless ways and cannot understand why she is not more like her perfect twin, Julia.

Augusta and Julia are as different as chalk and cheese - Augusta is endlessly curious about words, facts and the world around her, while Julia is happy to be unremarkable and content with her life.

At eight years old, Augusta spins the globe and decides that Burundi is her favourite sounding country of all. She is fascinated with it and spends hours finding out everything she can about the country - her obsession will last a lifetime.

Over the years, Augusta also develops a passion for Spain and Spanish literature and poetry - sparked by the arrival of a Spanish family into the midst of their tight little community in Willow Close. Holidays in her beloved Spain convince her that one day she would love to live there herself - travelling about in a gypsy caravan.

Half-way across the World, Parfait's family in Burundi is being torn apart by tragedy and war. He would like nothing better than to escape to the safety of Europe, where he thinks they will be able to live in peace. Eventually, Parfait leaves his homeland with his brother, to walk north across Africa - their aim is to follow their dreams all the way to Spain, but this dream will come at a price.

As time goes by, the course of Augusta and Parfait's lives will bring them closer and closer to each other, but will they actually meet? Can they move beyond the tragedies that have haunted their lives and become whole at last?

What beautiful and moving book this is.
The story is told in chapters which alternate between August and Parfait, as their lives edge closer together across the years and thousands of miles - at times, being so close, but not connecting.
You will find yourself yearning for them to meet, as you feel they are destined to be together, but fate must play out first.

I absolutely loved this book. There is lots of humour to make you laugh, and plenty of horror and tragedy to make you cry too.
You will be completely swept along by Augusta and Parfait and will them a happy ending with every fibre of your being - make sure to bring a handkerchief with you on the journey, because you are going to need it!

I really enjoyed reading this story. The narrative switches between the voices of Augusta and Parfait as they male their way through the challenges life throws at them.

The author describes family dynamics and in built prejudices wonderfully demonstrating the far reaching effects these can have.

I really enjoyed the descriptions of Spain and in particular the poetic way the author described the freedom of flamenco where the dancers rather than being terrified of their own emotions choose to show their passion, pain and loss through the outlet of music and dance.