Nice story from start to finish but a slow burner for me. More deeper meaningful friendships than love but was an ok read.

I could not get into this book, ultimately it was not form me and I could not finish it. It may be one for other readers

This must be my favourite book of 2023 so far. It's the story of Jane, Duncan, Jimmy, Aggy, Frieda and others over a period of two decades or so. It's a story of ordinary lives, with highs and lows, captured gently with tenderness and humour. I absolutely loved Katherine Heiny's prose and I will be on the lookout for her other books.

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest and impartial review.

A love story with so much emotion. Highly recommend. Thank you to both the publishers and NetGalley for gifting me the book

I was so, so excited for a new full length Heiny, and this didn’t disappoint. She is the author I recommend most and most often, and now I’ll be recommending early morning riser as well as standard deviation.

Jane fell in love quickly with handsome charmer Duncan who thought they were just having a thing, he seems to have slept with everyone within a 20 mile radius. There seems little emotional room in Duncans life which seems to still heavily include the ex wife, her husband and his work colleague Jimmy. This is a humourful light read with quirky characters who are dependant on one another and become more of a melded family in a mundane small town life. It is funny, warm and heartwarming and felt like a warm hug. Thank you to Netgalley UK, Harper Collins and Katherine Heiny for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unusual love story. More about deep friendships that take a while to realize. Some interesting characters who are very believable, with scenarios that I’m sure do happen in small communities. However, this book seemed a bit run of the mill, pleasant characters, with sad and funny happenings, but not memorable.

Superb writing, this is one you don't want to miss!
With a big heart, quirky characters, and humour, it is one to be savored.

this was a well written LOL funny in parts book. I have read her other books but I liked this the most! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

I love Katherine heanys work she’s a truly brilliant comic writer , standard divination is a triumph , early morning riser is her usual style whip smart and full of whit and dry humour , nothing ever really happens in her novels they are more a story of human behaviour not fast paced or a gripping page turner but you go with the flow . I didn’t love this one early morning riser as much as her previous works but still a great enjoyable read

A lovely book, which had so much joy in it, it was a pleasure to read.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

A pleasure to read - so many characters in a small town. All believable in their own right but coming together to make a whole

What can be said about the genius of Katherine Heiny that hasn't already been said? Other than to note that this was my introduction to her writing and I went and bought Standard Deviation straight away as well. She has such a skill for comedy and pathos and I look the way she observes the world and tells us about it. Brilliant.

I loved this book and immediately went to seek out her other novel Standard Deviation, (which I would highly recommend too). Her writing is so precise and detailed but so gentle and easy to fall into. The characterisation is brilliant - Jane, Duncan and Jimmy all felt real- flawed and human and messy. One of the best books of 2021.

An emotional, heartening and life affirming book about life in a small lake side town. Seen through the eyes of second grade teacher Jane and over several stages of her life. I enjoyed her previous novel Standard Deviation and the collection of short stories, an author I want to read more of.

I loved this from the very beginning, funny, light and tender with its approach to its characters but with real grit at its heart. I have recommended it to everyone i know, it is so appealing and broad-reaching in what it covers and how it feels about the characters. Beautiful and well worth all the praise it has already received.

My second Katherine Heiny read and thoroughly enjoyed it as much as the first! Heiny has a way of creating characters that stay with you after you've finished reading

A downright fantastic, heartwarming book that was not only witty but also held so much charm.
Jane, a second grade teacher, moves to Boyne City a small town in Michigan. She meets and falls for Duncan, a local handyman and carpenter who has slept with nearly every female in town. Over the years, Duncan and the other small town characters become a firm part of Jane's life. Every one of them is endearing and quirky.

Good book, not like anything I've read before. Enjoyable from a writer who is new to me. Would recommend.

A warm and pleasant read, this book felt familiar and comforting once I had gotten to know the characters. I really enjoyed this; it wasn't fast-paced, nor were there any big twists or turns, though I found myself wanting to learn more about the situations Jane found herself in. This is a heart-warming tale of love, family and friendship over the course of twenty years. It's witty and Jane has some wry observations which I found myself smiling at.

I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a feel-good novel with relatable characters (we all know someone like Aggie!), this is a gentle but smart tale of living in a small town where everyone knows everyone and everything about them.