I wasn't sure what to expect from this, I'm aware of Mark Watson's comedy but hadn't read anything by him. He handles a very difficult subject well but the ending felt rushed and underthought.

My thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for a copy of “Contacts” for an honest review.

I hadn’t read anything by Mark Watson before and was only aware of his work as a comedian, which is why I chose to read this . It took me a little while to get into this book , but I’m glad I persevered.
What could have been a bleak tale of loneliness and an impending suicide was told with humour and well written characters, that made you care about the outcome and how they would all react to James’s text .
A thought provoking read.

A story about human interactions, their outcomes, their past stories, and that unites them, with the protagonist, when their cell phones light up and show a message, the story begins, you do not know how it will end, you are on the edge of the story with the character, becomes one with the story and we unravel with the story until its end.
It was a great read, I loved the focus and the way it was written.

A book about suicide a book on an emotional heart wrenching subject.James texts to say he is going to commit suicide.From that moment we are woven into his life we hear his friends feelings about James his issues and I read through hoping he would be saved .A book I will be recommending,#netgalley#harpercollinsuk

I really enjoyed reading this book, the storyline kept me guessing on how it would end - would James take his own life or would the collective support that had gathered virtually, reach him in time.

The story had varying perspectives from his friends and family and how each are/were woven into James' life. The text message they received from James shone a spotlight on them in and forced them to look at their own role in how James ended up where he did. This was all done without any finger pointing or blaming, just an introspection on their part which was very refreshing.

I would have liked an epilogue to tie up some some loose ends because I did end the book wanting to know what happens next but overall, it was a good story that held my attention to the very end.

Contacts is such an interesting concept. The whole idea of sending a ‘ Suicide note‘ to everyone on your contact list is so thought provoking. A cry for help or a last goodbye - in times of crisis people do strange things. The impact of this message on everyone was the real gift in this book- a little message to say you are loved, Or a request to reach out and get help. I found this book fascinating- little bits of humour wound around a very serious topic. If you learn one thing from this book, it would have to be- people do care about you, even if you’ve not heard from them in years.

I really enjoyed this book, even with its heavy storyline. The cast of characters really made this book feel as if you were completely immersed in James' world. I think this book would be a great selection for a book club as it raises lots of interesting questions about both the book and life in general. Will certainly be recommending it in my library.

I love Mark Watson's stand-up comedy so I was eagerly anticipating his latest novel, despite it being on the topic of suicide.

Whilst this is clearly a difficult subject to tackle, Watson does so with tact, sensitivity and without becoming too dark or heavy. In fact, parts of the novel are funny and uplifting.

All the characters, from the main protagonist James, to his best friend, roommate, ex-girlfriend, sister and mother are all well written and relatable. By experiencing the perspectives of these characters and the struggles they are experiencing, we are able to build a picture of their lives and what has in turn lead James to his heartbreaking decision.

Watson writes beautifully, helping the reader not only understand and appreciate James' decision, but also to see the thoughts and flaws of his family and friends and understand why they have been hesitant to reach out or brush off any concerns despite the love and empathy they have for James. Something that is all to easy to do in real life.

I did feel that the ending was a little abrupt and I would have liked an extra chapter on the immediate aftermath in order to have a truly satisfying end and to answer a few remaining questions but I appreciate that this wasn't necessary to fully enjoy the story.

Overall, a moving, honest and touching story. Written beautifully with relatable and interesting characters. Recommended.

Thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the ARC.

I have been intrigued by the synopsis from the very beginning. Even though I was aware that this book can only end in two possible ways, I wanted to know what the author chose. The story follows a train journey of a lonely middle-aged man for whom everything that could go wrong turned out even worse. He decides to warn everyone in his contacts about his planned suicide and turning the phone off only focuses on his plan and his snacks.
The story is told with multiple perspectives of people who got James's message. Some of them don't care, some care more than they would ever imagine and mainly his close ones start to think about the way James is important for their life. I think the story is quite sweet and shows the connection between people in a very subtle but powerful way. I like the storyline with his ex and her way of coping with the message.
Overall, I have enjoyed reading this book and I think that it is a pleasing read for almost everyone.

Novel about life and death. James is adamant to commit a suicide, so he sends a farewell message to all of his phone contacts.
Different perspectives, interesting characters, who and how will they help James?

Very thoughtfully written.

Thank you for the advanced copy of this book.
Such a difficult subject to tackle and done so superbly by the way each characters story unravels showing their own journeys and current issues and their link to James.
The opening chapters regarding the text being sent written beautifully and you cannot help but try and put yourself in the same position.

I really wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this book, and was slightly apprehensive as the topic is suicide, which can be very difficult to portray with sensitivity. I was impressed though how the characters and storyline kept it light hearted enough, yet delved into the mind of James and all the important people in his life and how they had affected him, and all combined to bring him to the point he was at.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn’t sure what to expect, suicide is such a difficult topic to explore but this one really pulled at the heartstrings in all the right ways.

James is on the sleeper train from London to Edinburgh, when he gets to Edinburgh he intends to end his life. At the start of the journey he sends a message to all the contacts in his phone explaining his plans before turning it to airplane mode. The book follows James and those closest to him as they respond to this.

Through each of the important relationships in his life we gain an increasing insight into James’ life and what lead him to his decision. This is done very well, creating a complex picture that allows you to understand and respect his decision whilst also wanting the opportunity to tell him all the ways his life is still worth living!

The supporting characters, James’ friends and family, are also well portrayed. Switching between their perspectives allows you to understand what they are going through at the time of receiving the message and the burdens that each of them carry through their own lives. All of them are flawed in very human and recognisable ways and while none of them are solely responsible, at times they each consider what they could have done differently to help James.

Despite the clearly serious themes of this book it never felt too heavy or dark. The book feels very honest about life and how easily it can sometimes get away from you which is refreshing. There are also plenty of uplifting moments throughout, from the recollection of good memories from James’ past to the efforts of others to help in the present.

Another element to this story that I felt was well done was the commentary on the modern world, in particular mobile phones and social media. Both the negatives and positives of living in a more connected world are highlighted but not dwelt on, so while the sentiments are clear it never felt forced. It fits into the narrative just as mobiles and the internet have slotted into our daily lives.

I did feel the ending was a little abrupt, perhaps because of the build up and threads that were all coming together so well beforehand. I have lots of unanswered questions, some that I can understand but a couple that just left me feeling the book wasn’t quite over.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.