This is a book that draws one in slowly but it is well worth sticking with it. I returned to it having put it aside, after struggling with the all pages. Second time round I let Melody Janie, our narrator, take control without puzzling over who she was and gradually it got me hooked. Not a happy read, but very powerful, with brilliant use of the beautiful but harsh Cornish setting.

Sadly this was not the book for me. It's really well written but I struggled to get into the story and gave up after half way as I just wasn't making progress or getting into the story.

This is one of those books that stays with you after you’ve read it but its hard to read and I wouldn’t actually say I “enjoyed” it. The story is about a young woman living alone on the remote, bleak Cornish coast after a series of tragedies. She hides from tourists and her Cornwall is not the county of cream teas and pasties. This is the Cornwall of winter and desolation and the area reflects Melody Janie’s spirit. When a stranger speaks to her and she is “seen”, a series of events impacts her life and she has to make choices.

The book is incredibly well written and one of the reasons it is difficult to explain is that you are in Melody Janie’s head and that is an uncomfortable place and yet because you are, you see past the bleak and the mental health issues and see the beauty and the hope that she feels. You see beyond the loneliness and wish her to be happy. Mr Carroll has written a book where we really care what happens to the main character and want to castigate her and to hug her throughout the narrative while never ceasing to turn the pages.

I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley in return for an honest review.

This is an unusual novel. I chose to read it mainly due to the setting in Cornwall. I was also intrigued by the range of early reviews. To coin the phrase this really is a marmite book: You'll either love it or hate it.

After finding it hard to really understand where the story was going, I nearly gave up but there was something about the way in which the central character, Melody-Janie, was developed was developed which kept me engaged.

I ended up liking the almost childlike first person storytelling, through which her character was drawn out, which managed to end up with me liking the book a great deal. The author has managed to weave an intriguing plot around some of the coflicts between locals and visitors. He has also created a thought-provoking insight into some disturbing mental health issues.

I understand that this is the first time that author Charlie Carroll has written a novel. I for one will certainly look forward future books by him on the strength of this book.

This is a novel which will probably remain in my mind for some time. I give my thanks to Netgalley and John Murray Press for a copy in exchange for this review.

Away from the Boden wearing PadStein holiday makers there is another hidden side of Cornwall that the tourists don't see.
Melody Janie is a young girl living in a dilapidated caravan alone since the death of her father and the disappearance of her mentally ill mother.
She lives on land near the family business which she regards as hers and tries to keep emmets as she calls tourists at bay. When a stranger moves into a nearby cottage they strike up a friendship.
I enjoyed reading The Lip and found myself empathising with Melody's feelings towards outsiders. Living in a tourist city myself I know how difficult it is for young first time buyers to get onto the property ladder.
Plenty of twists and turns make for a very good read.

This was an interesting book and the believable characters really drew me in. With mental health being very much in peoples' minds this shows a different aspect to it and how easy it is to read situations wrongly. An excellent book. A great book to discuss at book club.

Childhood isolation, mental health, all told in a brilliant voice - this novel shows you the Cornwall that you don't see in the travel brochures..

Wow! what a read this turned out to be. The Lip starts quite slowly and gently and I was a little frustrated at the narration style, particularly when Melodie Janie recounts every minute detail of what she is doing - though the reason behind this is revealed further into the story.

I love Cornwall and was intrigued to read this book. I am an 'emmet' according to the author and in this book would be perceived as a danger to Cornwall. I felt it fails to acknowledge that Cornwall depends on its visitors for a vast proportion of its income, but presents visitors in a hostile manner. However, you do need to read on to understand the narrator's hostility and disdain for the unwelcome hoards that intrude on her land.

The Lip is a story about a 19 year old girl who is living alone in a caravan which is hidden in some woods. She is the owner of some land and her parents' beloved 'cafy' which she appears to be custodian of. It is clear that Melodie's circumstances are strange and isolated. She views all with suspicion and appears to be simply existing int he hope that her parents will reappear. As Melodie's story unravels, it is evidence that her life has been struck by tragedy more than once and all the people close to her have left her to struggle on alone. An unexpected 'emmet' to the area adds further intrigue as Melodie appears to be threatened by his very existence.

Whilst I think the places named in this book are mainly fictional, the descriptions of the coastline of Cornwall are breathtaking and very realistic. I love the Cornish coastline and could close my eyes when reading this and it would take me right back to my last holiday.

The more I read, the more I loved Melodie. She is a quirky character that you really need to get to know. I cannot imagine how unbelievably hard her life experiences must have been and felt quite frustrated at her parents' (father especially) lack of preparation when raising their daughter for the genuine hardships of real life. Melodie clearly adored her father and held him on a pedestal but he was a dreamer with an answer for everything - often not grounded in any fact or science. Just wait until you learn about his shopping habits and Cornish Chow Mein.

Beautifully written in a wonderful setting. Great characterisation as the tale unravels.

Melody Janie Rowe, recently bereaved, lives in a caravan atop a cliff along the Cornish coastal path. She has a tiny broken café, a house she doesn't live in, and a life that fills pages though none of it excites her. Until one mysterious emmet and his lovely dog catch her attention. That's when Melody Janie starts confronting the isolation, secrets, and harsh truths that haunt her tiny patch of Cornwall: The Lip.

The feeling of encroachment is pervasive in Melody's story. Her meticulous attention to the daily details of her life written in tense first person present provide a safe space where she doesn't have to look at the 'big picture'. But, the devil is in the details, and soon it's not only emmets and sea birds that threaten her safe little life, but Cornwall itself.

Cornwall is one of those places on the planet that gets into your soul. Apart from the dramatic coastline and stunning views, there is the long history of piracy: whether a lust for natural resources or shipping cargo. These days, the theft still happens: property, identity, language. It is a landscape of extremes. The countryside --seemingly gently laid out -- is a trap of emerging rock formations, disused copper mine chimneys and weather controlled by piskies. The wealth of tourists and second-homers contrasts violently with the reality of Cornish poverty. This is where Melody Janie is to be found, on the Cornish end of things.

The book is not an easy read. The writing is heavy-handed. Though Melody is supposed to be a young person (her classmate has just started uni), the vocabulary seems too mature and forced. Perhaps this was meant to show the weight of her situation but to me, I questioned the authenticity. Charlie Carroll didn't convince me he was writing about a young woman living alone in a caravan; bullied, and in charge of a house and a business. I do compliment him on portraying a healthy female friendship which added enchanting realness.

I enjoyed the way the author handled the tension and arc of the story. Irritated by its (almost Victorian) overwriting, by 1/3 the way through, I was ready to give up. Deftly, the author brought the mystery to the fore -- in terms of main and sub plots -- and hooked me. I felt this was a true Cornish touch, the charm of Cornwall: stories and the promise of stories. I believe, too, that the depiction of what it is to be living in modern Cornwall was an important message that the author put forward very well.

This story isn't a dainty cream tea on the seaside, it's not a half of scrumpy and a pasty, it's a flask of Cornish moonshine and a punch-up after a force majeure.

Oh my heart. What a story.

Melody Janie lives on the South West Coastal Path in Cornwall... a custodian of the land. As she guards and protects it from the tourists or ‘emmets’ that come to this coastline we follow her dark story and that of her father, mother, little sister Lucy and the mysterious Mr Brown.

There is a dark and brooding violence that surrounds the story. That of the ferocity of the elements and the mistreatment of people and animals. The anguish of mental health that cracks open whole lives and also of the healing balm of love and friendship.

There are trigger warnings to this story but none that I will put here as not to give spoiler alerts.

I felt a strong connection to Melody Janie as I did with Eleanor Oliphant - can we really trust other people’s narratives and memories. It made me really think of the communities that are decimated by others’ privilege and wealth. And also I couldn’t help consider the media and the power it can wield.

A corker of a book. 💛

i loved this book and couldn't put it down, it is very well written and a bit cryptic but tells an honest story of heartbreak and depression and of how it can change and effect someones life for ever.
The story line was different but believable

I was a bit surprised when I first picked this up, I wasn't sure if I would enjoy it but boy was I wrong. Set in Cornwall, well that speaks for its self to begin with. Melody is an unseen character but she sees all. Someone comes into her life and everything changes, she learns so much about herself.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

At the beginning it was quite a strange story. It took time to get into and to get to used to the narrator's voice. Melody Janie is no easy person and her being alone in her own world influences the way she views the world and tells this story. Her connection to the nature is raw and strong, it made me feel strangely satisfied but it was also not understable. I could not imaine any situation like that and I found her very strange and different.
With the time I noticed that she was not that different at all. She was just not able to react and cope the way we expect, but at the same time I must say her way has become plausible. And I started to like her and her ways.
The intriguing connection between the nature and the stroy is quite different, but also worthy to have a look at.
I recommend this book!

The Lip is this author’s first fiction novel and what a read it is. I appreciate it won’t be for everyone as it is quite a painful read, covering mental health, loneliness and fear. But I have to say it’s the first book in a long time that I just couldn’t put down, I was totally engrossed. The descriptions of the Cornish coast were fantastic and even smaller things like the ‘Cafy’ and caravan were described really well, I just felt like I was there. The twist was heartbreaking and unexpected. I really hope this author writes more fiction. Thank you to NetGalley and John Murray Press/Two Roads for letting me read and review this book.

Great escape to the Cornish coast. Interesting and sometimes devastating character exploration with the focus on instability which was done very well.

The scenery comes to life and I really felt as though I was experiencing things for myself. A unique read for me and one I’ll definitely be recommending.

This was just a beautifully writen book. I didn't expect to love this so much, but I really did. Thank you so much for this copy.

I loved this so much. The writing is really beautiful , it’s an addictive and well paced read, it’s written so well, as it focuses a lot on mental health which could be overwhelming, but it’s not at all due to the great authors style and the characters arcs, I especially loved the message about the healing power of friendship. A really emotional and powerful read, highly recommended

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

There was a joy to reading this book that I can’t quite explain. It connected with me somehow. It had a certain magic to it. The writing is beautiful, the setting is serene, the plot is well-paced and well-crafted, the characters have great arcs, the messages about isolation and solidarity and avoidance and the healing power of friendship are amazing. All of this is enough for a perfect book for me. However, it is not without fault. A small criticism is the number of nature descriptions. It was just too much for me. And the biggest hurdle for me was my interpretation of how the author portrayed mental illness. His characters used phrases such as “I was afraid of turning into her” or “I was afraid you’d become like her” when referencing someone with a mental illness. The problem I had with this is that the person with the illness was not dangerous. So why be afraid? Putting these issues aside and you get quite an amazing story.

This is a very strong story full of emotive issues and it stays with you after it is finished to haunt yor thoughts. . As ths was written in the first person the vivid descriptions of making food, state of the Cafy and the Caravan add to the atmosphere that Melodie is living in. Melodie was certainly an unstable woman but in a strange way very likeable, she meant no harm to others but just wanted to be left alone in her closed in little Cornish world. I did find it a slow read but that allowed Melodie to become more real as I read and for me to feel her emotions, however muddled they may have been.
I loved the descriptions of the land, the local people and her general take on life. The ending was totally unexpected and cleared everything up to a lovely ending so naturally.
I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others.

I read THE LIP a couple of weeks ago now and I’m still thinking about it. 🤔

Melody Janie is hidden. She lives alone in a caravan in Bones Break: a small cliff-top on Cornwall's north coast. She spends her time roaming her territory, spying on passing tourists and ramblers, and remembering. She sees everything and yet remains unseen. However, when a stranger enters her life, she is forced to confront not only him but the terrible tragedies of her past.
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I really enjoyed the writing style. It was very emotive, vivid and raw. Melody is struggling to come to terms with family loss and set against an unseen and bleak side of Cornwall, you really get immersed in this book. The descriptions of the Cornwall coast were written beautifully, and the land and sea play a major part in the Melody’s story. The narrative switches from past to present so you better understand Melody’s character, and it’s interesting as at times the narrative feels really unstable. I liked Melody and I kept wanting to find out more about her. I wasn’t sure what was happening at times though, or what was reality etc..🧐 Charlie explores grief, loss, mental health, childhood and isolation with a great deal of compassion and insight. So when I say the narrative felt unstable at times, I think it’s because Charlie really delved into the core of his character and wants us to see the world through Melody’s eyes. Well that’s what I think. 💁🏼‍♀️ It’s best to go into this one with no spoilers as I didn’t see the twist coming and I’m glad. 😅

THE LIP is a moving, atmospheric and sad story with a powerful twist. A really strong debut.