A sincere thank you to the publisher, author and Netgalley for providing me an ebook copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I requested this book purely as there were penguins in the title, however, I loved the characters and concept instantly. It is a story of strength of character; family issues and disappointments; and love and respect. Moreover, it shows how animals can shape humans. Veronica reminded me of Eleanor Oliphant in many ways grappling with heartache, fear, loneliness and overcoming emotion which she had closed herself off to. She may have been prepared for her journey to Antarctica but she wasn’t prepared for the friends and relationships she was ultimately destined to have. Love love this book! 5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Fantastic! Unique! Veronica's a great character. It's brilliant to read about a character in her eighties. I loved learning her back story. I also loved learning about penguins. I want a Pip! The plot surrounding Veronica and her grandson was well-written. Not much in the way of romance here (except a sub-plot towards the end), but it's not required. This is a great story on its own. Highly recommended. With thanks the NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I took a bit of a risk with this book, as it is outside my reading comfort zone. However, I love penguins, so it was worth a try.

I absolutely loved it, it was amazing. I loved Veronica from the moment I started reading, her voice is just wonderful. It took me a lot longer to warm to Patrick, but then he was having a really tough time. Their two characters and different voices really shone through, they were written very well. The whole book, in fact, is written so well that it just flows and it feels like you’re there. Consequently, I devoured it in less than 24 hours!

I don’t want to give away any spoilers, so I’ll just say that this is a wonderful, wonderful book. So well written, and with the message that it’s never too late. Plus penguins, what could be better?

I was given a free copy of this book. My opinions (as always) are my own.

At 86 years old Veronica is the epitome of stubborn and humourless. She leads a life where everything must be just so, although it is down to her long-suffering 'daily', Eileen, to achieve this for her. With no children other than a now deceased son that was adopted out shortly after his birth, Veronica realises that at her age she should be considering what to do with her considerable fortune. With Eileen's help she discovers that the son she didn't know also had a son, Patrick, and Veronica decides to meet him. Patrick is not at all what Veronica is expecting and their brief meeting leaves them both feeling disappointed. Searching for a new outlet to devote her life and money to, Veronica turns her full attention to the plight of a dwindling population of Adelie penguins on a remote and inhospitable island in the Antarctic that she has been following in a nature documentary series on television.

This was the point at which the story switched from being enjoyable to being thoroughly entertaining and engaging. We switch from Veronica's excursion to visit the penguins, depositing herself into the lives of the three horrified resident scientists on the island, and Patrick's humdrum, unfulfilling existence in Bolton as he tries to recover from his girlfriend suddenly leaving him for another man. Much of Veronica's back story is given to us through the journals she wrote as a teenager in war-torn Britain and which she gave to Patrick to read.

This is without doubt the sweetest, most charming book I have read this year. It has made me cry and it has made me laugh out loud. And now that I've finished it, even though it concluded perfectly, I am feeling a little bereft because I want to know more about what the future holds for Veronica, Patrick, the scientists and, of course, Pip the penguin!

My one criticism is that the final scene is completely superfluous. It doesn't detract from the story, but it does distract without adding anything.

I liked this story. I’ll confess to a fondness of penguins and this story features hundreds of them!

Veronica is an old lady. Cantankerous and stubborn, but with secrets in her past.

Patrick is a young man, down on his luck who seems to have lost his way.

This endearing book links the two main characters with penguins, scientists, friends and a dollop of historical backstory.

I didn’t feel we needed the end chapter (it didn’t add anything for me) but the rest of the story trundles alone nicely. It’s not a fast paced page turner, but I did want to find out what happened to all of the characters and I enjoyed the authors writing style.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy of this book.