In a Nutshell: A literary fiction about a family that has drifted apart over the years and how one incident sets the wheels in reverse motion. Lyrical, character-oriented writing. A few interesting magical realism interludes. A bit repetitive at times. Not for every reader, but a good choice for lit fic lovers.

Plot Preview:
After having suddenly lost what he had assumed to be a secure corporate job, Jack is back home, which is a wild place at the edge of the woods. His aged father Gerry is teetering at the brink of sanity because of his memory issues, and Jack’s younger sister Charlotte is frustrated with everyone and everything. His mother Hazel is missing, and no one has any clue about where she has disappeared.
Jack and Gerry have always been the opposite of each other, but they now seem to have one thing in common – they both can speak to animals. And to Jack’s disbelief, one fox actually talks back.
These five characters (four humans and a fox) guide us through this literary narrative in their third person perspectives.

I am a huge fan of this author’s debut work, ‘Isaac and the Egg’. It was such an innovative piece of writing that it left a huge book hangover back when I had read it. So it goes without saying that my expectations were unrealistically high from his sophomore work. The novel does tick many items on the quality checklist, but it doesn’t end up as impactful as the first book.

Bookish Yays:
💐 The lyrical writing, with plenty of poignant thoughts and beautiful narrative about nature. It creates a soothing yet melancholic atmosphere that suits the plot well.
💐 The character development: so essential in a character-oriented work. The writing feels so intimate that we know and understand the characters even before the characters understand themselves.
💐 The quirky yet relatable family, which isn’t dysfunctional the way we typically see in fiction. Each family member is their own person and yet considers themselves a vital component of the circle. The story thus contains a genuine portrayal of human relationships with and without loved ones.
💐 Gerry’s memory issues, covered so sensitively and realistically.
💐 The highlight on the quandary of personal vs. professional pursuits, which are constantly at odds with each other.
💐 This is one rare story that focusses on male characters’ emotions even more than the female characters’ feelings and depicts them authentically.

Bookish Mixed Bags:
🌹 The talking fox is an interesting touch, for sure. I really enjoyed the fox’s perspective. However, unlike in ‘Isaac and the Egg’, there’s no rationale behind this strange occurrence. It felt whimsical for the sake of it.
🌹 Many of the chapters feel like they offer an ode to nature, with extensive natural descriptions and animal perspectives. This adds literary merit to the writing but does not add value to the plot itself. These sections with extended descriptions also make the pace slower.


Bookish Nays:
🌵 The content, whether from the human interactions or the natural descriptions, gets a bit too rambling at times. It is easy to zone out on audio because it often feels like a creative writing essay full of literary flourishes. After a while, the plot begins to feel dragged because of this repetitive content.
🌵 The characters of Jack, Johnny and Gerry are easy to muddle up because of their similar-sounding names, more so on audio where Gerry sounds exactly like Jerry. I wish books would always use distinct-sounding names for the key characters.


🎧 The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 9 hrs 47 min, is narrated exceptionally well by Stephen Mangan. He doesn’t go overboard with his character voices, but offers enough of a distinction in his pitch to help us distinguish across them easily. There are some added sound effects in the audio version that make the book an even greater treat. If you aren’t the kind to zone out easily during lengthy descriptive sections [writing this with a sheepish grin], the audio version is the way to go.

Overall, I did like this book quite a lot, but the author’s debut had made such a powerful impact that this fell slightly short. ‘Isaac and the Egg’ was much more bizarre in concept and yet it felt natural in its storytelling. ‘Small Hours’, on the other hand, should have felt more grounded but ends up feeling forced.

I think that I would have enjoyed this slightly better had I actually read it. There are many beautiful sections in the writing that I couldn’t fully get into because of the audio version, despite the narrator’s outstanding performance.

Definitely recommended to readers who would enjoy the blend of literary and magical. It is not for those who dislike character-oriented fiction or who prefer a literal interpretation of text. This is a mood read, so pick it up when you want something contemplative and descriptive.

3.75 stars.

My thanks to Headline Audio and NetGalley for the ALC of “Small Hours”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.

I adored this book just as much (more?) than Isaac and the Egg. This is a completely separate story, but has a similar magical realism view about important life issues. In this book, Jack works too hard for an unappreciative employer and ends up redundant, but instead of finding an egg, in this story, Jack stops to help a fox, who thanks Jack for his troubles.

In what seems to be his style, Bobby Palmer has created loveable flawed characters muddling through to find their way. We find out that Jack had moved away to make his money many years ago, leaving his sister Charlotte responsible for their aging parents. Gerry, their dad, is confused and has a dementia-like illness, and his mum seems to have gone missing.

What follows is a creative and imaginative story of how their family has ended up here, and how they could, somehow, make it through. Aided by a talking fox. Love it!

I ended up buying my own copy but I'm grateful to NetGalley and Headline Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Much like Isaac and the Egg, this is a poignant and offbeat read that will get you in the feels!

I realise that a talking fox might not be for everyone, but the connection to wildlife and animals is so key to the family at the heart of this book that it kind of makes sense. As an animal lover, I did find certain elements of the story tough, but I think it was important to raise awareness about many of the issues faced by our local wildlife, and it was done in a very unique way.

The fox is just a conduit for a family who have grown apart though, especially a father and son who have lost their way from each other, despite sharing more of the same ideals than they’d admit. Gerry’s battle with dementia was really emotional, especially when he and his wife had such big dreams - I especially loved the little flashbacks to their early relationship and more nomadic lifestyle, which again connects to the animals and nature. The writing is quite literary and quirky at times, and whilst I listened to the audiobook I know that there’s some funky formatting in the book itself which people will either enjoy or find frustrating! But anyone who enjoyed Isaac and the Egg will know to expect the weird and wonderful, and whilst it’s a very different story it does feel recognisably ‘Bobby’, which is impressive given it’s only his second novel!

Loved this authors previous book! One of those books that will always stick with you once you’ve read it. It’s been days and I still can’t get this breathtaking story out of my head. I honestly don’t think there are words adequate enough to describe how hard I fell for this book and the beautiful story it holds!

Having loved Isaac and the egg I came to this book with some trepidation. How could Bobby Palmer possibly match the raw emotion of that book? Well, I’m so pleased to say that I need not as worried as once more he tackles a difficult topic with sensitivity and panache. Having coped with some of the issues dealt with in this novel, I was swept away in the story and yes I may have shed a tear or two. The writing is just wonderful and the descriptions of nature and the countryside are outstanding. The audio was narrated by Stephen Mangan, who does an incredible job and gives the novel at times a dreamlike and mystical quality. So Bobby Palmer- you have done it again and I can’t wait for your third book. I can’t say how highly I would recommend this audiobook. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the AR see all this novel in return for an honest review.

I'd like to thank NetGalley for approving me for an ARC of this book.

🥰Family
🎶Lyrical
🦊Nature
🍁Unique

What I love about Bobby Palmer's writing is his ability to give us a quiet story with so much power. From the beautiful prose to his unique plots, his stories always seem to resonate with me. What a tremendous talent it is to take popular, relatable themes and give them a unique voice. A truly memorable story!

⭐⭐⭐⭐

A lovely sensitive book with a profound understanding of human nature, that touches on generational struggles and the complexities of love while being a love letter to the natural world, the changing seasons both in life and nature.

Jack, a workaholic city boy is unceremoniously fired from his high-demand but somewhat anonymous city job, and on his way home finds an injured fox. This kick starts his wake up call, furthered by a call from his sister back home in the country at Mole End, telling him his mum has gone missing.
Jack reluctantly returns to his rural roots, all the while followed by the fox. Is it a vision, is it real? Who is the fox and why has it chosen him?

The book is quiet, sensitive and revealing.
It has a similar intimacy to Bobby Palmer’s brilliant Isaac and the Egg, getting right into the heart and soul of the characters and showing us their vulnerability in a way that is refreshing and emotional.
There are beautiful parallels to nature throughout. We get to know the Penwick family in their entirety, Jack’s parents; absent-minded naturalist Gerry and dedicated matriarch Hazel and their nomadic lives before the children came along, and the surroundings of Mole End. The barn owl, the oak tree and the enigmatic fox.
A gorgeous read, made even more immersive by the audiobook brilliantly and emotively read by Stephen Mangan.

I was a huge fan of Bobby Palmer’s first book, Isaac and the Egg, and very excited to encounter his unique and perceptive writing style again.

Once again the author turns his attention to difficult relationships and complex emotions seen largely through the mind of male characters. A father’s perspective is distorted by grief and dementia. His son, Jack,who has lost his job, returns to the family home after a strange encounter with a fox. He has been estranged from his family for many years but has almost always struggled to connect with his father. His Mother has disappeared and his sister has given up plans for university to look after their Dad.
Through the fractured and wide ranging perspectives of Jack and his Dad the reader pieces together the story of this family. Gerry’s dementia necessarily distorts his narrative, and rather like a camera the lens zooms in and out, blurs images and details leaving the reader to piece the puzzle together. Weaving through the memories and heartache of family breakdown, death, grief and alienation is a fox, some gorgeous scenery and naturistic detail..
The story started very slowly and then gradually built up. I swam in and out of love with it sometimes feeling lost and detatched and at other times feeling deeply emotional and captivated by such an original story. The subject matter is difficult and, given the element of dementia and memory, confusion is not surprising, but I felt that sometimes it felt like the author had just loosened the reins a little too much..
The narrator was excellent with a voice that captured the character of Jack beautifully and reflected all the emotional colours of the read.

With many thanks to Netgalley and Headline Audio for my copy of this beautiful story.

Small Hours is a story about a father, a son, and a fox, it is also a heartfelt exploration of family dynamics, self-discovery, and the challenges of dementia. Palmer shows us Jack and Gerry’s strained relationship from both sides and really captures the difference in their personalities and how they look at the world. I enjoyed the small magical realism element of the talking fox and thought it really help tie the characters together.

I also really enjoyed Stephen Mangan’s narration, it really brought it to life for me.

I think fans of Elizabeth is missing will enjoy this one.

Issac and the Egg knocked me for six when I first read it and in Small Hours, Bobby Palmer once again absolutely has my heart.

I loved isaac and the egg by Bobby so i was really excited when i heard small hours was being released.

So small hours has the quirkyness in sense of a talking fox this time, but also looking at a differcult topic and how it can affect a family. The fox being a bridge was such a clever way but also add an element to help process.

After isaac and the egg bobby became an instand buy author for me, and small hours 100% increases it as his writting and talent is so fresh, especially when approaching topics.

The narrator really did this book justice, but also the sounds and use of effects helped definiate between the characters and the fox and was easy to follow.

Can't wait for book 3.

3.5

Small Hours is about the stilted relationship between a son and his father, repaired by a well-meaning fox.

I enjoyed Small Hours’ themes of family, freedom, life and death and the exploration of these through the natural world. I appreciated the level of detail Palmer placed in his characters‘ history and the depth he gave them. However, I struggled to connect with Jack. I connected with his parents and their stories more than I did with him.

The writing style in this felt distinct from Isaac & the Egg, which speaks to the author’s range, however I did find it quite clunky and contrived at times. It could sometimes be difficult to follow what was happening. The book is also incredibly slow and more of an atmospheric read.

Overall, though, an enjoyable book.

Thank you to Headline Audio for the ARC.

This book is like medicine for the weary, an escape from the fast paced, endless grind of contemporary capitalist society. Small Hours is a novel that is deeply beloved by my friend, and ex-colleague Leah, and I had the pleasure of working with her whilst she was reading it for the first time, hearing her growing enthusiasm for the story on a daily basis

Having heard her love for Small Hours, as well as Bobby Palmer’s other book Isaac and the Egg (which was a favourite among the booksellers at my old job), and seeing the audiobook available on NetGalley, I decided to give it a go. It turned out to be exactly what I needed.

The novel opens with our protagonist Jack being told that the company he has worked so hard for is being sold, and that he has been made redundant. After leaving the office, he comes across an injured fox, which he rescues, and then is promptly summoned back to his parents’ house by his sister to deal with a family emergency. What follows is a story of the complexity of family, nature, and interconnectedness.

Palmer interrogates individualistic capitalist ventures without romanticising alternative community models. This is heartwarming and refreshing read that will leave you feeling energised about the world and its beauty. The audiobook in particular is absolutely fantastic with Stephen Mangan’s narration elevating the story to a level of exceptional authenticity. I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this story so that I can experience it all over again.

A lovely, tender, story about loss and family and growing up. Told through the lense of an old man who sees himself as a barn owl (somehow separate from the other owls - struggling to communicate, confused by their culture, and bullied by them) and his son (an injured city fox).

Triggers: abandonment, child emotional neglect, dementia, death.

A story about a family drifting apart, brought together by a loss, and maybe a Fox.

The most important character in the story is not the humans but the fox. The author has used anthropomorphism to develop a sense of communication, playing a vital role in helping the father and the son understand each other. The story felt like it was being narrated from an empath's PoV, which kept the reader in a sedated form.

The book is slow-paced with a handful of twists that occur in due course. If you are looking for a book to practice slow reading and increase comprehension, this can totally work. However, if you enjoy fast-paced books with back-to-back unhinging revelations, this is not for you. Very audience book, must pick it if you love anthropomorphism elements.

Thank you, @netgalley @headlinebooks and @thebobpalmer for the digital ARC.

Genre: #fiction
Rating: 3.5/5 ⭐️

There’s a talking fox. That’s all you need to know.
Jack is must return home and face what he’s been suppressing when his mother disappears with no explanation. There, he must face his estranged father, disappointed sister, and his disappointment in his career.

This is a story of a family in crisis and the ghosts of the past who still haunt them, of life-changing conversations in the early hours of the morning, and of understanding, compassion, and love.

Sadly, I found this too boring. I kept waiting for something to happen, yet this was more of a melancholic read. As I didn’t connect to the characters, I didn’t find it heartening or overly saddening. I think I’m just not a contemporary fiction reader that’s more in this vein.

Thank you to Headline Audio for providing the audiobook exchange for a review.

This authors first book, Isaac and the Egg, was a very memorable read, so I was looking forward to reading this.

Jack is having a pretty rubbish day... bad news at work, coming across an injured fox then getting a worrying phone call from his sister meaning he has to head back to his childhood home to face up to the issues that he has been running from for too long.

I don't want to say much more as I believe going into this knowing as little as possible would be better, but it is a beautifully written, character-driven story about family and the sacrifices you make for those you love. I found it particularly poignant to read the chapters from Gerry's point of view after having family members suffer with dementia. Enlightening and heartbreaking, but done in a sensitive way.

Jack is estranged from his family and has been for a while, but on the day he loses his job in the city he not only rescues a fox, he also receives a phone call saying his mother is missing.
Travelling back home, Jack finds his father struggling with dementia, a sister who is fed up with trying to keep everything together and the same fox, who is also able to communicate with Jack.
This is a quiet book, it is about a fractured family and the relationship between a father who doesn't really understand how to communicate with a son, but maybe through the conduit of the fox, they can learn to become closer.

I really liked Bobby's debut, ISAAC AND THE EGG, so I was really excited to hear about his new book, Small Hours. Thank you to the publisher for a physical proof and early access to the audiobook. I adore Bobby's lyrical, almost poetic writing style, which really comes to the fore in Small Hours. I have to say, I preferred this book to his debut and felt even more able to connect to the lovely family featured in the story than I did to dear Isaac. Jack and Jerry stole my heart and the beautiful connection they finally managed to forge through flora and fauna. The adorable fox, the majestic owl, the decrepit oak tree... all were just as important characters as the humans in this book. The audiobook is absolutely mesmerising and I think the story may work even better in this format than on the written page. And I would respectfully request that Stephen Mangan reads all my books to me forever more! What a wonderful narrator, he truly made this story come alive.

I adored this lovely book, I really really did.

A very intriguing premise. I wasn’t quite sure how I felt about a talking fox, but decided to run with it and see where it led me.

I didn’t like Jack; I found him self-centred and selfish, even when his family were clearly in crisis, and that made it difficult for me to care about what happened to him. However as the story progressed, I enjoyed his conversations with the fox, especially when they bickered!

I really enjoyed Gerry’s story, his inner dialogue was so well written and as his and Hazel's story unfolded, my heart broke for him. Gerry made the book for me and I felt sad that his family didn't seem to "see" him, beyond him being a slightly needy and annoying old man.

Slow in places and repetitive at times, but enjoyable enough and good to read something a bit different.

The narration by Stephen Mangan was excellent - he captured each personality and animal really well.

3 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Bobby Palmer and Headline for an ARC in return for an honest review.