An artist and a poet walk into a bar...

The Tick and the Tock of the Crocodile Clock is a debut worth reading. It is full of heart and humor with characters you will root for.

So what's it about? Let's see, there's friendship, family, living a creative life, struggles to keep yourself together and find your place. It reminded me that the best of best friends are those that laugh together. It's true that laughter is the best medicine.

Wendy is a college graduate and a writer of poetry. She is immature for her age, a loner who struggles with anxiety and depression. That is until she meets a kindred spirit. Cat is struggling, too, with her painting and depression and Wendy finds her fascinating. They click. It's funny and entertaining.

Then the adventures and misadventures begin:
a work walk-out,
a poetry reading,
a car chase,
an art heist,
a foot chase,
and a reckoning.

Is Grandma a secret ninja?

The description of smoking pot for the first time is worth the price of admission.

Then someone dies and the pain and the guilt are almost unbearable. Is there light at the end of the tunnel or is it a train?

I thoroughly enjoyed The Tick and the Tock of the Crocodile Clock. Kenny Boyle is a talented writer and very, very clever. Don't take my word for it. Read it yourself and then you can thank me.

Wendy is a poet, and Cat is an artist, they meet the day they both quit their jobs in the same Glasgow call centre. The book follows their friendship and everyday antics.

Wendy is a self declared logophile so there's lots of wordy goodness in this. The book itself ended up not being to my taste, so this was probably my favourite aspect of it. I found this quite an odd read myself, but think plenty of people will enjoy it's quirkiness.

Thank you to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for this e-Arc is exchange for an honest review.

This book made me feel a lot of feelings. I think it is the perfect choice for a bookclub! I can see it becoming very popular.

Wasn't sure what to expect given the title but it's a charmer! Kenny Boyle is a great writer, full of quirky wit. Lots of different subjects covered in this book and I'd recommend to anyone who is looking for a good, quick read.

This was such an interesting and original read. I didn't really know what to expect but I really enjoyed it. It is funny and emotive in equal measure and I found myself really rooting for the characters, I would definitely recommend this book

As the story begins we meet Wendy, who has just committed a felony, an “ art heist”, and is hiding out in the attic of the house she shares with her Gran who raised her. As the narrative progresses, Wendy, who loves writing poetry and learning new words, takes us through the sequence of events that has led to her present state. Unemployed after her love for using big words lands her in trouble in her call-center job, she finds herself alone and depressed, not quite motivated to search for a job. Her friendship with Catriona, “Cat”, proves to bring a breath of fresh air into her life. Socially uncomfortable, with only few friends and lonely, Wendy finds a fast friend in Cat, an aspiring artist and ex-colleague who is also struggling, with whom she has fun (and gets into trouble) and can share her fantasies, stories and poetry, her insecurities and her fears.

Wendy is quirky and endearing and her worldview is unique – partially influenced by her inability to socialize on a large scale and , partially because she traverses between reality and fantasy. However, her story is much more than about how two lost souls find comfort and friendship in one another and the author skillfully turns the discussion toward more sensitive topics, while keeping the tone compassionate but impactful. While friendship with Cat allows Wendy to evolve and find her own voice , it also encourages her to take stock of her own life and understand the motivations of those around her. The author does a wonderful job of depicting Wendy’s feelings of inadequacy and her struggles as she tells us in her own words as she begins to comprehend that she is not alone and others, whose lives may seem more put together, might also be struggling. With humor and compassion, author Kenny Boyle touches upon themes of friendship, trust, bullying, mental health and how important kindness, communication, and conversation is for helping those who are struggling. Well-written and insightful, humorous and heartbreaking but hopeful, The Tick and the Tock of the Crocodile Clock by Kenny Boyle is a story that touches your heart.

Many thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this novel. All views expressed in this review are my own.

“’Because not everyone who stands at the top of the mountain falls,’ Lily tells me softly, ‘but when people think they might, it’s important they get help. Don’t you agree?’ ”

I was initially attracted to this book as it was set in Glasgow, but I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from the story. I was so delighted Kenny Boyle decided to set his debut novel in the Southside of Glasgow, otherwise I may never have got to delve inside the wonderful and mysterious world of Wendy, her gran and her new friend, Cat.
It is a beautifully written book which looks at a period in Wendy’s life when she is having a mixed time, dealing with the loss of her job and opening of a lovely new friendship. It deals very well with serious subject of depression. It has real laugh out loud moments together with seriously sad times.
It is a captivating book which I raced through. I feel thrilled to have seen inside the world of Wendy. I highly recommend this book.
Thanks to the author and NetGalley for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A wonderful novel that discusses an array of themes, including but not limited to mental health, writing, escapism and modernity.

It’s one of those books that I can’t really review without spoiling, so you will have to trust me when I say run don’t walk to the shop to get this.

The journey is moving, as is the plot, and the character focus is sensational.

I can’t lie this is a slightly odd book, a single narrative perspective, it is Wendy’s story. If you’ve read and enjoyed Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine or The Rosie Project books then I think you’ll really enjoy this. Many chapters in the book didn’t happen and when you begin to understand the way Wendy’s mind work the story is insightful and you realise you’re being given a secret look at her inner most thoughts and feelings. A tale of friendship and always feeling like an outsider it is both funny and sad. An honest and gentle story.

Wendy is gauche and prone to flights of fancy. Very prone. It’s her poet’s soul that makes her do it. She makes up wild stories about why her parents are not here anymore - stories ever so slightly based on popular action movies. When she quits her boring call centre job, she meets eccentric artist Cat and they become best friends.
If you thought that this is a happy, slightly soppy scenario…think again.

I loved this book and raced through it in one go. Loved Wendy’s monologue and her view of life. Loved her poetic turn of phrases, like: “I kept myself to myself. If life were a freshly made bed, I’d try my best to lie on it without creasing the sheets.”

Boyle produces a unique story, a gentle whirlwind of a thought-provoking debut.

Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the eARC.
I absolutely loved this book. It features two young women, Wendy the poet and Cat the artist, who meet after they both quit their jobs at a call center in Glasgow. They form the loveliest, most amazing friendship, bound together heart and soul. The story is told from Wendy's perspective in a funny, quirky, and sometimes heartbreaking way. It deals with mental health problems or, as I like to say, people who listen to a different drummer (a tribe I also belong to).
It's written with a lot of heart and is my favorite book
of the year.
I believe!

Wow this was strange. I was drawn by cover and idea of the book but the execution didn’t work for me. I think the writing was trying too hard to be weird maybe? I’m thankful I tried but it didn’t work for me

First of all, this cover is SO CUTE. I hate to say I was judging a book by the cover but that’s definitely what made me want to pick it up. Anyways, I love love love the way this was written. The whole book feels so personal, and it really feels like you’re in Wendy’s mind the whole time. I loved seeing her perspective on the world.

“I’ve no idea whose the sunglasses were – Elton John’s, based on the look of them.”

“I don’t think he knows much about people or compassion or – based on the coat he was wearing – fashion”

It was underlyingly funny, and I cant tell you how much I enjoyed reading it. I could see this gaining a lot of popularity, and I definitely recommend!!

It was an easy and enjoyable read, but it didn’t feel childish or simple.

“I’m getting this all in the wrong order. I’m talking about things I haven’t told you about yet. Sorry – I’m just having a tough time organising my thoughts because this environment is, well, it’s weird.”

It really felt like we were in Wendy’s mind - scattered and all, but in the right ways. Nothing felt out of place, even though the author had us confused at times.

“I know a different country’s police forces better than my own – that’s Americanisation for you.”

I felt like the whole book was very relevant too, it talked about everyday issues and was up-to-date without being trendy.

“Interrupting her flow would imply that she’s being unreasonable. I don’t think she is.”

The whole book felt so natural, almost as if I was listening in on someone’s thoughts.

The conversations felt deep, and there was so much character development and getting to know Wendy and Cat and Kevin and everyone else in such a short amount of time.

“There’s something about this conversation that makes me want to lie to you.”

It’s like the reader had a relationship with Wendy as well, but at the same time it felt like we were her subconscious.

The plot twist. In no way was I expecting anything that happened. I was thinking maybe it’d end in a love story, or a cute friendship, or something of that sort, but I couldn’t have imagined how it really ended. I was shocked, to say the least.

“It’s not selfish to be a victim,’ I say, understanding.”

Boyle handled a touchy topic with such grace, and I was truly touched. It felt tender and respectful, but not like he was tiptoeing around the subject.

“She didn’t jump. She was pushed.
I’m not angry with her any more. I’m proud. Not that she fell, but that she did all the incredible things she did in her life while the whole time fighting a dragon that no one else could see. I’m proud of everything she was, before the dragon made her its victim. She faced it every day and won every single battle. Every battle except the last.
She was brave.
No knight could have been braver.”

And finally- the ending. It was sweet, yet so chaotic. It was like I could feel the desperation coming from Wendy, and it was written beautifully.

This book was amazing. I’m not really sure how much I was expecting, but the way it was written was so fulfilling, getting to know the characters was so entertaining, and the ending was gut wrenching. I love this book with my whole heart and would recommend to anyone.

I received a gifted copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by Lovebookstours.

The Tick and the Tock of the Crocodile clock is a fun, whitty and quirky read that was exactly what I needed right now!
Wendy and Cat are awesome friends who have so much fun together! Wendys quite a relateable character and her and Cat together are hilarious! This book makes you stop and think and view things differently and I found it an emotional and touching read in a few places too. This book touches on mental health which I am really pleased about as this is still a taboo subject even today. This is definitely a book I'll be recommending to others!