Meet Danny, a 39 year old man who is living in his best friend's garden shed, can't hold down a job and whose favourite hobby is happy hour down at the local pub.

One night, Danny drunkenly decides to paint something philosophical on the path outside his neighbour's house and he finds himself promptly arrested. Being drunk, Danny flips his elderly neighbour the bird in the back of a police car and using that as the opportune moment, his neighbour takes a photo. A photo which will change Danny's life as he knows it...

The story is told through dual perspectives, Danny and 15 year old Wolfie.

The book is very charming, endearing and life-affirming. A very sweet story and one where you'll find yourself rooting for the main characters. However, that being said, I feel like this book could have given a lot more. The premise of the book is always a winning formula for me, a main character who is a bit of a misfortune, a cute child, a sweet dog, and a found family, so I thought this book would be another winner but apart from the ending and some quite funny bits scattered sparingly throughout, it just didn't quite hit the spot. Although, it is a lovely read and I did shed a few tears at the end.

Norman Foreman was a hard act to follow and, for me, this book doesn't quite make it. It tries too hard and although the premise is a good one it was very repetitive. Wolfie is a great character and I did feel for her and her resilience shone through. The rest of them were almost ghostlike despite being mentioned often. Not as uplifting as I hoped for but an entertaining read, if a bit annoying with the over-frequent attempts at humour which never sit well with me. With thanks to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for the e-ARC of this book to read and review.

I can't tell you exactly what it is about Danny, Lou, Wolfie, George or Gentleman that's touched me so deeply. Maybe it's the beautifully evocative writing, full of heart, tenderness and humour. Maybe it's because the story of their lives - the loss, grief, depression, despair and redemption - hit a nerve, or three. Maybe it's because I laughed (out loud and often) and sobbed (ugly and in public) from start to finish. All I know is that I've never felt as invested in an abandoned dog, little boy with a Buzz Lightyear obsession, struggling and spiralling mother and her resilient, damaged daughter, and bloke that lives in a shed, being kept afloat by the loyalty and love of his best friend. Sincerely, Me is about compassion, empathy, family - both blood and chosen, and forgiveness, and I loved it.

This was an amusing and touching story. It was very well written, and was a very original story. I really enjoyed it, it was thought provoking and uplifting.

'Sincerely, me' is the perfect post-lockdown read. It’s the story of middle-aged Danny who lives in his mate Dom’s shed drinking the proceeds of a big gambling win. One drunken night, he graffitis Dom’s front pavement with an esoteric quote. This catches the attention of nosy neighbour and amateur photographer Ray and eventually lands Danny on the front page of the local rag. Thus the wheels of fate begin to turn and loner, waster Danny morphs into a new age ‘Dude’ spouting wisdom as the paper’s agony aunt. He finds a long lost family, too, and so begins Danny’s coming to terms with being a real life uncle to the complex, loveable, Wolfie.

The story is gently told by Julietta Henderson who is the author of the charming ‘The funny thing about Norman Foreman’. Julietta has a light touch that perfectly reflects the kinder, gentler nature of those who have stared their hectic existence bare in the face over the past few years and found it wanting. The addition of the grittiness of life and coping (or not) keep the whole story from going saccharine as do the well-developed characterisations and injection of humour.

If you like your slice of life with a side order of feel-good fries, then this is definitely the book for you. If you’ve read ‘Rachel’s Holiday’ by Miriam Keyes or Matthew Quick’s ‘The silver linings playbook’ and liked their take on the rough and the smooth of life, you’ll like ‘Sincerely, me’. Triggers include alcoholism, depression, self-harm and suicide but the journey of the characters to wellness, or just about, is uplifting.

Thanks to NetGalley UK and Penguin for the eARC, it was a perfect tonic to the beginning of the academic year.

Having read and thoroughly enjoyed the author's previous book (The funny thing about Norman Foreman) I had high expectations when I picked up her new novel - I certainly wasn't disappointed.
Sincerely Me is a heart-warming, life affirming story centred around a family tragedy which fractured its structure and then 16 years later it being healed following a string of events initiated by a drunken night out!
The main characters are skilfully portrayed by the author and are all incredibly endearing in their own very different ways. Whilst the story covers some very challenging and serious issues including attempted suicide, loss and bereavement, alcoholism, depression and loneliness it manages to blend a level of wit throughout making it a truly wonderful read. One of my favourite books this year and I look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.
I am grateful to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC of this book.

Danny is not living a conventional life when a young girl, Wolfie turns up. She is his niece, the daughter of his estranged sister who has had an accident. Danny and his sister parted on bad terms. This is a book full of emotions, some good and some less so, told from the points of views of Danny and Wolfie.
A great read, the story touched me and reeled me in from the beginning . The characters are well portrayed and are realistic. I laughed and cried!
All in all a very good read, my thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Thanks net for the opportunity to read sincerely, me. Not as good as her first book, but enjoyable. It seemed too long but I persevered and enjoyed the end

What a beautiful book! Absolutely adored it, it had it all. Serious, sad and very funny moments, all timed perfectly. Highly recommend

Sincerely Me is the second novel by Australian author, Julietta Henderson. After a night on the turps at the Lamb and Flag, an enigmatic bit of drunken graffiti daubed on the footpath, an arrest and a conditional release, Danny Mulberry thinks that’s the end of it. So he is surprised by the two things that follow in fairly quick succession.

Fifteen-year-old Wolfie Harris has spent her short life watching out for her mum, worrying about her. Lou always insists she’s not depressed, just sad sometimes. But since Lou’s close encounter on her moped with a Tesco delivery van, her injuries have made her even more reclusive.

Seeing the photo of Danny Mulberry in the Double is a complete fluke: Wolfie doesn’t twig straight off that it’s her uncle, but the article with it: could he be the solution to their problems?

Danny Mulberry hasn’t seen his younger sister Lou for sixteen years, four months and three weeks. He’s not proud of why. When he finds her waiting for him in the kitchen of Dom’s house, it’s a shock. Of course, it’s not her, but Wolfie could be Lou’s double. What could she want with him?

Wolfie has her uncle summed up pretty smartly: a jobless binge drinker who is, inexplicably, tolerated by this solid, reliable widower and his totally cute, funny six-year-old son. “Danny Mulberry wouldn’t feel like the adult in the room in a kindergarten finger-painting class.” But despite this, and fairly certain her mum won’t approve, she reveals Lou’s current condition.

Danny has lived for a year in, at his own insistence, the garden shed of Dom’s roomy Belsize Park house. So he shouldn’t be surprised when, following their visit to Lou’s tiny Tottenham flat, he and Dom (hands down the best friend a person could ever wish for) and George come home with two house guests.

Luckily, with judiciously timed visits to the Lamb and sneaking back into the shed, he should be able to avoid, for the time being, a facing the elephant in the room. But probably not forever; he’ll have to work up to it…

Danny’s second surprise is Pete Barker, the journalist from the Double whose imaginative story “a complete fabrication assisted by his unnamed but highly cooperative source, Professor Google” ran with his photo. Pete’s editor has been swamped by correspondence, email and snail, from readers wanting Danny’s advice. But what could possibly qualify Danny, whose own life hasn’t exactly been a huge success so far, to advise anyone?

When Danny reads a few of the letters, though, he can’t resist: he’s always been the sort to help people who need it. Turns out, writing replies has him drawing on his own life experiences, recalling his father’s wise words, and also remembering things that he’d maybe rather not. But his advice is sound, and he both dreads and looks forward to each new batch Pete brings.

Danny and Wolfie are the narrators for this story, while Danny’s replies to letters provide a bit of background. Once again, Henderson writes a cast of characters that easily endear themselves to the reader: Danny, flawed but with a good heart; Wolfie, doing her best to keep her little family together under difficult conditions; George is likely to be a favourite for his irrepressibility; and Dom, like a warm hug.

She gives her characters, even the minor ones, insightful observations, and Ed Mulberry’s theory on birthdays is likely to be popular: “if things didn’t quite go to plan on your birthday, you were allowed another shot at it”. Some of the source of the sibling estrangement gradually becomes apparent as the story progresses, but other aspects, when revealed, are likely to put a lump in the throat and bring a tear to the eye: have the tissues ready.

In a story that touches on alcoholism, depression, loneliness, suicide, coping strategies, and grief, Henderson also demonstrates the vital importance of family and good friends. It's quickly clear that this author is not a victim of second-book syndrome: this one is just as funny, moving, heart-warming and uplifting as her first. Highly recommended.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Random House UK Transworld.

Quite a quirky style of writing but I enjoyed this book. This is a story about a man who could be described as a 'loser'. He lives in a garden shed in his friend’s garden in prestigious Belsize Park. Danny spends his days in the pub, is often drunk and doesn’t have a lot going on in his life. After getting his name in the paper, having painted graffiti in this very upmarket area, his photo and name get spotted by a girl called Wolfie who happens to be his niece. Wolfie has a lot on her young shoulders as she just lives with her mother who suffers from depression and often spends whole days in bed. Wolfie recognises Danny’s surname and makes contact with him. Danny and his sister Lou have not seen each other for many years. Danny blames Lou for the death of their mother who was killed in a car accident and has not wanted anything to do with her since. The story is about the reconciliation of the siblings but also includes the relationships of the other characters in the story, namely Dom and his son who both have a part to play in this reconciliation. In some ways this story is quite farfetched – Danny becomes a sort of agony uncle for the local paper and becomes a local hero. However, the story does have a nice feel to it and covers a number of issues from homelessness to depression and once I got into it I enjoyed it. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me an ARC of this book.

There are books that give you this warm and fuzzy feeling. The ones you can read when you are happy or in need of TLC. This book is it if that's what you are looking for!

I love a book that doesn't portray the perfect character. This is a beautiful book that is accepting of flaws and gives a humorous take to it. The book is equally witty and heartwarming. I love the narration style and perspectives and more importantly the various dynamics. The book is all heart and is a must read!

Thank you NetGalley, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and Bantam Press for the eARC in exchange of my honest opinion.

Stick with it. Danny is an unlikely hero with many flaws but like an onion as you peel back the layers things come together.
A niece in crisis who locates her uncle and family navigates the gap of time.
I loved this book, it is real, truthful and the characters are real with flaws and good bits. Just like real people.
I would love a follow up at the next stages of life.

Loved this story and all it brought in the reading of it. It was happy and sad, an absolute emotional rollercoaster yet funny along the way!

I didn’t think Julietta Henderson could top ‘…Norman Foreman’ but I absolutely think she has! Danny Mulberry,39, is Mr CouldDoBetter, his address is his best mate Dom’s garden shed so definitely not a high bar then, although Danny has propped up a few. He’s caught red handed by PC Maria Hanley, paintbrush in hand, beside a large piece of graffiti defacing a pristine footpath in affluent Belsize Park, London. As Danny has partaken of a snifter or three he can’t remember the actual act but he does recognise the paint he used to write ‘A cat may look at a king’. Very wise Danny. As he’s carted off in the back of a police car, nosy neighbour Ray, who Danny does not get on with, snaps a picture of Danny’s two fingered salute which finds its way into the local press. This leads to the reappearance in his life of his sister Lou who he hasn’t seen for sixteen years, his first meeting with niece Wolfie and a whole new career.

This is a wonderful character driven novel which has me laughing and bawling with everything in between. The characters are simply fabulous, Danny is initially a mess but he’s a diamond geezer underneath it all, Dom is a truly magnificent human being and should be canonised for his patient calm kindness especially to Danny but pretty much everyone he meets. Lou is vulnerable but fierce in her love of Wolfie who is una chica increible! As for Dom’s son George he is sooo funny and so so clever for six! Go Buzz! I should also mention the dog ( yes, there’s even a dog) Gentleman who is very, very wise for a canine! The dynamics between all these characters, including Gentleman obviously, are so well done.

This is a multilayered novel, it starts funny (though there are multiple laugh out moments throughout) but it builds in layers as Danny faces truths in the present day and from the past. At times it’s sad, there are several examples of pain, it’s emotional, heartbreaking followed by heartwarming. Danny’s musings become increasingly perceptive as he channels his beloved late father as inside that messed up exterior beats a kind and loving heart.

This is a very touching, beautifully written book with characters I grow to love. I’ll happily adopt George, he’d fit right in here and Gentlemen can come too!

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House U.K./Transworld for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

I loved Julietta Henderson's firstbook firstbook, The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman, and I didn't know how she could match that, but she certainly has with this book. It's characters are all so beautifully drawn and the warmth and humanity of them shines through the darker elements of the story. It is lovely to see them all progress to fulfilment and I was rooting for them all.

I really enjoyed this book - I love the main characters - Danny, Lou and Wolfie and the secondary characters - Dom and Georgie.

It is a story about rebuilding relationships and coming to terms with the past, letting go of past resentments and building new links.

There is also a side story where Danny finds himself giving advice in the local newspaper to people who are lost (like him) - this allows him to see his own life in a different context.

Not an easy read but definitely one to be recommended.

Just wonderful! I loved this story - I laughed out loud and was moved to tears in fairly equal balance. A beautiful writing style and a tale of family, love, loss and finding yourself again. The sensitivity and empathy of the letters was truly moving. Highly, highly recommended.

This is a wonderful book by an author I haven't come across before. I will be making sure that I look out for this author in the future too. It was a really lovely, heartwarming, feel good book about second chances.

Absolutely brilliant! The story of Danny and his road back from alcoholism. Beautifully written with a great cast of characters. I absolutely loved it!