I really enjoyed Sarginson's writing - her prose made me want to check out more from her, as I felt pulled into the story immediately and rooting for Cora straight away!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily and it reflects my personal opinion.
This is the first book I have read by this author and it won't be my last. The story unrolled at an interesting pace so that I didn't want to put it down. The characterisation was excellent and realistic so that the more I read about Fran the more I detested her, a c!everly-drawn spoilt, selfish brat who behaved as though she was a toddler instead of a 23-year-old woman! I liked the way details about Cora, Luke and Jacob were revealed slowly, bringing us to understand what had made them develop in the way they had. The ending was impossible to predict, just as in human relationships it could have gone either way, (but I found it satisfying!).

I’ve just finished this book and I absolutely loved it. I read it in the space of a couple of days. The characters and storyline were so believable - I couldn’t put it down. I will definitely be recommending this one!

I adored this tender love story, full of forgiveness, longing, secrets and second chances. There are some incredibly moving and heartbreaking scenes, but it’s touching and perfect happy ending filled me with joy.

Cora - a mum of two strikes up a friendship with Jacob but someone else already has their eyes on Jacob. A light fluffy read that I really found enjoyable and would recommend

Lovely romantic read!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read this book in exchange for my review.

I read this romance for a week on my commute to wall on the tube and l could not wait to get back on every evening just to find out what happened next. So well written. and with very relatable scenes urge everyone to read this book

This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher for the copy. An absolutely gripping and beautiful story about how love shines brightly even in the darkest times.

This is a really well written book with flushed characters however the blurb of the book is misleading as the book not only follows Cora but Cora's daughter Fran. Fran's storyline has so many triggering events and I am disappointed it wasn't mentioned on the back of the book or the inside. The books deals with hard themes of drug abuse, s*xual a**ault, r*pe and revenge p*rn. In addition the book starts off with a love "triangle" between Cora, Fran and Jacob and that just gave me the ick and isn't mentioned in the blurb.

I got 50% through the book where I just had to put it down. Honestly if I knew how the book would really go then I wouldn't have requested it as it is not my taste but I still think this will be an enjoyable book for others who don't mind books with these triggers because the writing is well done.

I liked the sound of The Central Line by Saskia Sarginson but the book just didn't grab me. I seemed to have little sympathy with Cora or Jacob. I think this is just a personal reaction to the book and I am sure that it will find many avid readers.

I've read one other book by Saskia Sarginson, How It Ends besides this book, The Central Line. This was a super story with plenty to keep me entertained and wanting to read on. I have a fondness for tales about people meeting on trains and their dalliances which was an attraction for me. With many subplots as well as the main one this was a multi-threaded, fascinating read of family dynamics, struggles, guilt and drama as well as romance. The author's engaging characters made this an absolute pleasure to devour and many will find the book appealing.

This review was written voluntarily and my rating was in no way influenced by the fact that I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel from Little, Brown via NetGalley.

This was a really enjoyable book. I enjoyed The Bench when it came out a few years ago and I will definitely want to read more from this author in the future

@currentlyreading__
Book 64 of 2022

Not to judge a book by its cover but I loved the simplicity of the jacket. The uncluttered nature of the cover and the line drawings of the characters links well with the paths the characters cross on London's Central Line. And it's almost as though London itself is a character within the novel; with locations taking on as much significance as our main characters Cora, Jacob, Fran and Luke.

Thank you to @NetGalley, @saskiasarginson and @littlebrownbookgroup_uk for the e-copy in exchange for my honest opinion. I really enjoyed 'The Central Line' and loved the progression of the characters. On the surface it's a light romance but there are depths with the themes of trauma and mental health running throughout.

Cora is a widow and a mother to two adult children, Fran in her twenties and Luke who is just about to fly the nest for university. Where Luke appears to have his life ordered and very much together, his sister Fran is in disarray, with no prospect of achieving her dream of being an actress and failing relationships aplenty. When Fran falls asleep on the Tube one night, Jacob comes to her rescue and takes her home to her mother. And there we have the Meet Cute but it's not only Cora who takes an interest in Jacob, but Fran, her daughter too!

It was a lovely family drama with twists, turns and personal growth for each of the characters. I liked each of the characters but I feel Jacob was the one who had more of an impact on me, just as he does for the other three characters.

'The Central Line' is out now and if you want a light read but with the depth of some challenging themes then give this a try.


#bookstagram #bibliophile #bookworm #book #booknerd #bookstagrammer #kindle #instabook #reader #bookobsessed #instareads #currentlyreading #bookchat #thecentralline #saskiasarginson

The title and description of The Central Line really piqued my interest, as I have enjoyed other novels about couples meeting on trains and I also liked the idea that it’s about an older woman finding love again. Cora is a widow who lost her husband six years earlier in a tragic accident. She now lives as a single parent with her daughter who is in her twenties and a teenage son. The book wasn’t quite what I was expecting and it is not the usual light-hearted romance novel. There are some serious topics discussed, including bereavement and mental health issues and the storyline focuses just as much on these topics as it does on the romance. All of the main characters have their own spotlight, highlighting their own difficulties and problems.

At first I wasn’t sure about the mother and daughter falling for the same man, I could not imagine how it would pan out and I imagined it would not end well. However, it was nicely done, the author very sensitively addressed the situation and I loved how the initially volatile mother/daughter relationship developed as the story progressed.

The Central Line is an interesting family drama with some intriguing characters and a nice romance. The author has a lovely writing style and although the book wasn’t quite what I was expecting it was nevertheless an enjoyable, heartwarming and emotional read which kept me thoroughly entertained.

Thank you to the publisher for the eARC to review.

Not quite what I expected but a great read all the same. I thought the Central Line would play more of a part than it did. Loved the romance plot with Cora and Jacob and there were lots of other subplots too, some very mixed up characters in this book. Dealt with themes of grief and guilt very well.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

The Central Line by Saskia Sarginson was an impulse ARC request for me via Netgalley largely due to the cover and title and my fondness for visiting London. What transpired was a novel that actually blew me away with how quickly I became invested in the story. Throughout the chapters are all named after tube stations and I loved the dedication to the theme throughout the book.

The story starts with a failed blind date and then a glimpse across the tube carriage from our main character Cora to a man lost in his book. What follows is the story of Cora and her daughter as they navigate their relationship as mother and daughter and how that changes with the introduction of Jacob to their lives - the stranger on the tube. At times it’s a heartbreaking read and anyone who has ever been a young adult will recognise the rebellious streak in Fran. The story also tackles some mental health issues and the development of Fran’s character really contributes to how that situation is dealt with.

I’d say if you’re a fan of Paige Toon you’ll enjoy this book.

This was a pleasant surprise. I'm really impressed with how Saskia writes, I found her writing style to be incredibly far from boring, it was interesting, and actually very lovely to read. So, I'll definitely be reading more of her work just to experience this. I liked the concept of meeting your person on the tube, and I liked how 2 complete strangers connected so deeply. I guess that made me love the beauty of London even more, there's so many strangers, and probably someone for everyone. I loved the depiction of OCD and other mental health issues. I also really liked how mother/daughter relationships were shown, and honestly it made me reflect on my own, and how at times I have very much been a Fran to my own mother. But it was interesting to learn how things are from the mothers point of view.
I must admit I wasn't a huge fan of both the daughter and mother liking the same man, but I guess it helped the book flow. I also think the plot execution could have been better, I thought the idea of meeting the love of your life on the tube seems sweet and lovely, and honestly kinda not impossible (which is what I'm hoping for 👀) but I didn't like how Jacob and Cora didn't really meet on the tube, and didn't really have their interaction on the tube. I wasn't a fan of how Fran got in the way of it, and made their first encounter be different to what I would expect for a 'tube love story'.
All in all, a great read.

This book was really good and a good mixture of romance, personal growth and grief. It was such a lovely book to read that gave you the feeling of accomplishment at the end. I loved reading as all the main characters grew and opened up to each other. The characters were based on mum Cora (widowed) daughter Fran and son Luke, then stranger Jacob. Paths cross between Cora and Jacob just a glance. Then paths cross between Jacob and Fran that leads Jacob to the door of Cora. Luke then meets Jacob and Jacob helps him get into cycling. All while Cora, Fran and Luke are grieving.

The book has all you want. London, romance, heartache. A solid read and a good one for the romance fans out there. Such a great book to have read over a weekend period!

What a lovely book!

Cora is a fifty year old mother of two. Luke who is busy with his A levels and Fran, who is a would-be actress in her early twenties. Her husband Andrew, died 6 years before.
When Fran is brought home late one night by a total stranger as she was passed out on the tube, neither her or Cora know what is going to happen next. Jacobs the knight in shining armour, lives at the opposite end of the central line on a canal boat. Cora asks him to come back the next day so that Fran can apologise to him. He does and this sets a chain of events in motion that affect more than on relationship.

This is a nice read and you have your fingers crossed for the characters the whole time.