An insightful and educational read about the disenfranchised and the consequences of decisions. If you can get used to the Glasgow dialect you'll find it flows better. I'm not sure I'd use the word enjoy but nonetheless a worthwhile read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this e-arc!

This book was interesting enough to hold my attention while I was reading but I didn’t immediately want to keep picking it up!

Overall it was a good read

This book sets out a hugely challenging canvas for its three protagonists, one young, one middle-aged and one elderly, who each suffer personal trauma. The child protagonist is a 12 year old boy by the name of Gerard. He grows up on the streets of Glasgow marked by poverty and gang fare. The oldest child of a drug-addicted mother, he tries his hardest to look after his younger siblings, and to survive at school where he is additionally stigmatised because of his dyslexia. The middle-aged protagonist is a lawyer and recent divorcee by the name of Claire who has recently moved to the area after leaving her previous home to her ex-husband and his new family. The elderly protagonist is Margaret, recently widowed, who is estranged from her son in Australia and becomes the victim of a vicious mugging. How these three disparate characters are related, and what fates they suffer as a result of Social Services and their unique circumstances, becomes clear as the reader works their way through the gritty but clear-faced writing that Karen Campbell offers over the ensuing pages. The insertion of Glaswegian dialect adds to the authenticity of her characters, and the overall novel is challenging but ultimately life-affirming. Thank you to NetGalley and to the publishers for this free ARC that allowed me to familiarise myself with Karen Campbell’s writing and to produce this honest and unbiased book review.

One of those books where you can’t wait to get to the end of the story to discover what happens but you could cry when you do finish it because you enjoyed the read so much. Three tales in one with characters you really get to know yet want to know more. I’m not sure there’s a follow on but I hope there just might be.

I love the writing style of Karen Campbell and think she writes so beautifully.

This is the story of wee 12 year old Gerard, big brother to Anthony and baby Miranda. Their Mum has addiction issues and life at homes very chaotic.

One day he decides he needs to get some money to pay for the meter, new nappies and food and makes a decision that alters his life in so many ways

It's a story about three main characters, wee Gerard, newly divorced Claire and widowed Margaret;
who are all just trying to navigate life as best as they can in their neighbourhood

Gerard has the weight of the world on his shoulders and finds it hard to trust and is unsure of people's intention. All three of them have their guard up in some way due to a loss and it's a story of letting go of the hurt and disappointments in order to feel human.

I found it profoundly moving.

"It is the tiniest gesture, yet it threatens to ripple through his ribcage"

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (4/5)
Richly emotional and steeped in compassion. Karen Campbell’s novel is a meditation on loss, recovery, and what it means to start again. Deeply human and beautifully written—this story shines in its quiet moments of connection.

This Bright Life tells the tale of different characters who are finding their way through difficult times; 11 year old Gerald, Middle Age Claire and the elderly Margaret. What a triumvirate they are.

Karen Campbell has created characters that are full of flaws, but incredibly loveable. The novel has such a wonderful sense of place, both through the descriptions of the various parts of Glasgow and even more so in the voice of the characters.

I fell in love with them all, including so many side characters like Anthony, Miranda, Alistair and Kriss. They all intertwine to share stories of loss and live that will speak to everyone. Im incredibly grateful to have had a chance to read such a heartwarming tale.

First of all, I merely share a name with the author. I genuinely wish I had half her talent!
Secondly, thank you to NetGalley for an arc of this book.
A young boy from a dreadful home background, appallingly neglected by his mother- an addict- and carer for his younger siblings.
A newly divorced woman, fearful and angry about what her new future holds.
An elderly widow, lonely and insular.
A desperate act by Gerard (he hates that name!) starts a series of events which cause their three lives to become intertwined.
Born and raised in a tenement in Glasgow ( a ‘Room-And-Kitchen’, though we were ‘posh’ enough to have an indoor loo), I still think of myself as a Glaswegian, though I’ve not lived there for over forty years, I love KC’s descriptions of the City. She captures its personality to a T.
Trying to describe how good this book is is so difficult…..KC writes her characters ‘from the inside out’. They become real people. You share Margaret’s fear and loneliness, and Claire’s uncertainty, but seeing the world from Gerard’s point of view…….it could tear your heart out.
I don’t want to get too gushy…so I’ll just say I loved this book.

As in her previous book, Paper Cup, Karen Campbell is brilliant at portraying characters and lives that slip under the radar and voices that are too often drowned out or misunderstood. She writes with empathy and understanding and this is a book that will capture many hearts. Recommended.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for sending me an early copy of this book.

Gerard is a 12 year old growing up in Glasgow with a drug dependent mother. He’s trying to be responsible by looking after his sibling, but makes a poor decision which turns his world upside down.

This was an emotional, hopeful book, and it was insightful to learn about fostering, broken families and the power of kindness. Lots of Glaswegian dialect which was new to me and which I enjoyed being exposed to.

A well written, heartwarming, coming of age story which I would recommend.

I am so grateful to the team at Canongate, as well as the team at NetGalley, for taking a chance on me, and allowing me to access the ARC of This Bright Life by Karen Campbell, in exchange for an honest review.

In This Bright Life, we follow a 12-year-old boy named Gerard, who has the weight of the world on his shoulders; his father is dead, his mother is a drug-addict incapable of looking after her children, and Gerard is desperately trying to be a de facto parent to his two younger siblings, stealing when necessary to keep them fed and warm. One fateful morning, in the blink of an eye, Gerard makes a poor decision, which turns his world upside down. Now a product of the care system, Gerard must cooperate with the authorities in order to keep his family together.

When I first started this book, I was a little unsure, as I struggled to understand the Glaswegian dialect, notably the use of local vernacular and colloquialisms. The frequency with which I had to look up words (Scottish Slang in particular), disrupted the flow of this book for me and it took me a little while to relax in to reading it. Furthermore, whilst there were words I could easily research (e.g. Glaikit), there were others I struggled to identify, so the meaning of the sentence was somewhat lost on me (e.g. Ingiefant). However, once I downloaded the audiobook, my reading experience improved dramatically, as the cadence of the narrators speech, as well as her intonations and inflections, helped convey the emotion and attitude of the storytelling.

Once I got over my initial barriers to enjoyment, I absolutely adored this book. At its heart, This Bright Life, is a hauntingly beautiful tale of redemption, loneliness, empathy, resilience and hope, as well as the power of kindness. The book also emphasises the importance of human connection, as we follow 3 disparate characters whose lives slowly coalesce, altering them irrevocably. This book is truly heartbreaking, eye opening and tender, but it is also interspersed with moments of genuine warmth and levity. The characters are wonderfully endearing, and I found myself heavily invested in the outcome of this book. Furthermore, I learned so much whilst reading This Bright Life, notably with regard to social services and the significance of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE's) in shaping the trajectory of our lives. Fortunately, whilst the book deftly tackles challenging subject matter, it is in no way somber or morose. In fact, I ultimately found this to be a hopeful, powerful and impactful book.

All in all, This Bright Life is a truly heartwarming, coming of age story, filled with characters I won't forget in a hurry. Whilst it is a difficult read in places, the audiobook truly helped me overcome challenges with the Glaswegian dialect and vernacular. Caroline Guthrie narrates the audiobook beautifully, which helps convey the nuance and sentiment of the story.

Overall Rating: 3.75 stars, which I rounded up to 4 on Goodreads and NetGalley.

What a hidden gem of a book this is

I loved how Karen Campbell crafted these characters. They were very well rounded. with realistic lives that reflect the messy realities of the city. I especially liked how Campbell has written from the perspective of a child; it really drives the tragic reality of the main character Gerard grows up in.

If I can describe this book in one word: emotionally rich - it'll poke, pinch, swell your heart as you follow these characters' stories. It was hard at times to read through this just because of how depressing it can get, but it's also a sad reminder of the broken system that exists. It's extremely cliché but we should be kinder towards each other, towards people who need help, towards children who need care, towards the elderly who need companionship.

It's a book I'd recommend.

This Bright Life’ will open your eyes and your heart – and in keeping with the Sufi saying, ‘ O break my heart, O break it again, So I can learn to love even more again’, will break it and restore it. A marvellous depiction of the bonds and ills of family and love, anger, and resolution. I defy anyone not to have leaky eyes. Balanced by Glaswegian humour and some terrific local expressions, it is a triumph filled with astute and compassionate insight. I shall be seeking out other works by Karen Campbell.

‘This Bright Life’, by Karen Campbell delves realistically in the tough life and grim choices of youngster Gerard who is shouldered with the responsibility of looking after his younger sibling’s while his Mother languishes comatose in a state of drug use,poor mental health and constant bad decisions.
In an instant born of desperation,Gerard’s life changes through his hasty actions,impacting his family circle and altering the course of other people’s existence as well.
The widespread implications of one person’s actions are revealed in the parallel story threads of Claire,a property lawyer,and Margaret,an elderly widow who have chosen effectively to isolate themselves from life and others due to previous harsh experiences .
The limited options for some to thrive due to their birth parents' behaviour ,postcode and even the effects of being pigeonholed no matter how hard they try to escape the cycles of neglect and violence is authentically portrayed in a moving Glaswegian tale.
Almost like a parable for our times that could be set in many cities throughout the world and still ring painfully true.Absorbing,sad and wonderful in its own compassionate way.


Thank you to NetGalley and Canongate Books for an Advance Readers Copy.

Just a brilliant book!

Gerard is twelve, there’s no money for food or electricity, his little brother’s hungry. His mum’s no use. He’s desperate.

Margaret is the elderly widow, in the wrong place at the wrong time. Claire is the passer-by who tries to help.

The knock on effects from that moment will deeply affect all three lives.

What an emotional rollercoaster! It’s frequently bleak and harrowing, but there is some hope and humour. I loved this book so much I’m struggling for words…

I listened to Karen Campbell’s previous book Paper Cup as an audiobook, the narration was absolutely superb. I had a little hesitancy as to whether I’d feel the same magic reading this but it was absolutely compelling, powerful, moving and ultimately life affirming. The plot is frequently unpredictable, with several unexpected directions, and all the better for it.

This should be a Ken Loach movie, it could be a Kes for our times.

Bound to be in my books of the year. Read it as soon as you can.

Thanks to Netgalley and Canongate

Really enjoyed this book. The characters were all likeable and the storyline was excellent. I loved the connections between the characters and their stories and how they all fitted together.
Would definitely recommend - thanks to NetGalley, author and publishers for the ARC.

This book was very moving and emotional. It is a beautiful story, but the manner in which it is written meant I struggled a bit with it. The narrative is predominately written in a very Scottish dialect with a lot of slang and local jargon, which I struggled with. However, it is a beautiful story.

This was so emotional, tackling sensitive topics. I just wanted to hug the characters who were well developed. Very enjoyable

oh Gerard. oh Margaret. oh Claire. i want to hug you all. im sure they represent a fair few people. in fact i know they do. and i know this too well. and so this book hit me in the gut a fair few times. it felt so true. its not cliche or just done to tick certain genre or trope boxes. it was a story of three very different people. people who then happened to be linked. or who happen to have their lives changed by a ripple effect. and it tells so brilliantly of system that isnt there or isnt good enough. its a system where the most vulnerable of people who need the most compassion are often the ones facing the least! and worse they are often the ones targeted with stigma and less care than is humane.
Gerard is a boy who finds himself wanting to do the right thing. and yes he doesnt do the right thing. but what would you do in the same situation. and what comes next for him isnt ever going to help the boy learn or then be cared for in the way he should. so i feared his future. like many other young children in the same situation the treatment of him will just grow fear, resentment and mistrust in both himself and those who should be making his life better not worse. who shouldnt be shaming a child for doing his best to survive.
Margaret of course was hurt. and that is not ok. and what happens for her next seems cruel. and how something so simple when written down on paper...a denture. can actually be so much more and almost everything to one person.
and Claire who witnessed an accident and finds herself in the middle of a mystery she tries her best to solve.
some books are so important and deserve to be told and then read. this is one of them.
this was a great book. and one that wasnt bashful in telling truths. but didnt do it in such a way that sucker punches you but also doesnt hold back in some very important topics.

This Bright Life is an extraordinary exploration of the nature of vulnerability, dysfunction and powerlessness. The intertwining of the characters who are each victims in their own way, yet also the liberators of each other. It explores the difficulties of poverty, childhood, old age, being female, addiction, crime, communication, and the complex consequences of trauma of various kinds. The complexities of difficult lives are laid bare in an unusual and revealing way. We live in a society which now tends to demonise those in such a position, there is a (false) belief that people bring their misfortunes upon themselves, and that if they could just sort themselves out their lives would improve. Here, the intricacies, histories and obstacles are all revealed, along with the consequences they brought about. That while change can take place, it is hard won, and there remain many obstacles. That we are often trapped by our own pasts. Those who are put in authority well meaning but often wide of the mark, unable to appreciate the reality of their charges’ lives, more often disempowering further rather than helping them find a route out. The ending creates a satisfying resolution without descending into sentimentality or predictable outcomes. I would highly recommend it.