Nova Scotia House is a tender read of love, living and grief, set in the 90s, amid the AIDs crisis.

The characters are so palpable. The way the book is written, you cannot help but feel a connection to them. The well-timed shifts help the reader understand how life was for the characters and how it has changed, and allowed the reader a deep insight into Johnny and Jerry's relationship.
It’s an important topic and is done well, and given the style of writing it’s difficult to forget it’s fiction. The characters are beautifully curated and help tell such an important story.

Unfortunately, the stream of consciousness writing style was something I did struggle with. At points I loved it and couldn’t put the book down, but at others it all seemed a bit too overwhelming, reading without proper punctuation and in small spurts of thought made it difficult to keep up with at points. I understand Porter’s intention, but at times it was a bit overdone, and that’s why I’m giving it 4 stars. This is personal preference though!

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin for the ARC!

This was a tender and bittersweet story of love, loss and grief, amid the AIDs/HIV crisis during the 90s.

The characters were so likeable, they each had their own part to play within this book and by the end I felt a deep attachment to them all, especially Johnny. I liked that we got time jumps to Johnny's and Jerry's relationship and saw how life had been for them before and after everything changed. The story in general is an important topic too; it's easy to forget while reading that this is a fiction rather than a biography, all the characters seemed well thought out and I feel could have easily been based on real couples from this time.

Unfortunately, the stream of consciousness writing style in this prevents me from giving it a full 5 stars; I understood what the writer was trying to do but for me, it made the book slightly tedious to read some of the time. This is only personal preference though and I can see how this style would be enjoyable to a lot of other readers.

Aside from that, I still enjoyed this overall. It was emotional and poignant and the characters will live in your head long after the last page.

Thank you to the publisher & Netgalley for my free eARC!

Much of what I would like to say would seem anodyne in the face of the dreams, love, loss, and survivor’s guilt embodied in this novel. It took me a wee while to settle into Charlie Porter’s style of writing, but the isolation and plight of so many during the AIDS calamity clasps one hard, and remains indelible.

This book has a direct confrontational style that suits it subject matter, and that forces itself into your thinking as you read on. Johnny is bereft, still grieving for his lost partner Jerry in the context of a changing London and the fallout from the early days of HIV as it tore across a London scene that had become home.

Johnny looks back at his relationship with Jerry, and looks forward at his prospects for the future in a London which is no longer there for him. The book is harrowing, exciting, confrontational and challenging, from start to finish. And it is full of hope from despair, as you see Johnny start to move forward through his persistent grief to a new space.

Thank you to Net Galley and Penguin Press publishing for a free e-ARC of 'Nova Scotia House' by Charlie Porter.

This was such a beautiful and simultaneously heart wrenching book. As I do with a lot of the ARCs I read, I went into this book not fully knowing what to expect, other than that it is set in the aftermath of the AIDS crisis.

Nova Scotia House is written in a very unusual and interesting way, as others have noted, I found adjusting to the style a bit hard at first. However, it became clear that the book follows Johnny's thoughts as they come, both in the past with his relationship with Jerry, and in the present time in a really immersive way

"oh I've heard all about you, they would say, or words like that, the one who finally settled him down, I would smile, not counter them, settled down, the total opposite of my life with Jerry, he ignited me, he gave me the world"

The relationships and emotions are written about beautifully, especially in relation to confusion and grief. It often felt like I was right there at many of these difficult moments. I had to pause after some of the hard-hitting chapters of this book as it was so impactful - it is such an important remembrance of queer history. I loved the exploration of queerness and 'normality', as well as of Jerry and Johnny's love and their domesticity.

"He taught me to walk where we were not wanted"

"I used to think how we lived was so pioneering, such radicals, but now I realise that we were doing what humans have done for millennia, living communally, in groups. It is only in this very recent history that we have become so segregated and so removed from one another, and this forces those of us who believe in communality to be seen as militant"

For me, reading Nova Scotia House felt like gold prospecting. I was shifting through tones of rubble to find the occasional nugget of gold. The grief was very raw and it really touched me, especially as I am dealing with the loss of my dad right now! But unfortunately those heart-wrenching moments were overshadowed by the unlovable writing style and the history of the queer movement. Sure, there's merit in reading accounts of what it was like, and what people had to go through to finally have some dignity and much needed rights. But for someone who may have read a lot about that, the story showcased in Nova Scotia House will come as a sort of repetition. In my view, the uniqueness of this novel lies in it's deep love story and the grief of losing the most important person of your life. And we don't see enough of that... a shame!

A debut novel with quite an unusual writing style and built around a relationship of two men and the effects of HIV and AIDS and the impact on society and the individuals concerned. For those readers who have witnessed the suffering I imagine it is an emotional tale. I can understand why some readers would not have finished the book as it is harrowing in places. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

This is a stunning novel about love and loss during the AIDS epidemic, in an unnamed city which I think is London. The novel is fragmentary and told in stream of consciousness, which takes a little time to get used to but works beautifully for this story. Thank you for the early copy! One for literary fiction lovers.

Beautiful and devastating, Nova Scotia House is a difficult yet powerful read. The writing style took some getting used to but it doesn't take away from the story.

A beautiful book about queer love, queer magic and grief. Not just grief for the people we lose, but also for the cities we live in and their histories. One of the things that struck me was the elegy to places lost as London has changed through the decades - the queer spaces, the green spaces, the places where people could come together and build new communities and new ways of living.

Like a few other people, I found the narrative style difficult at first and a bit annoying to get a handle on. Then, around halfway through, I found myself getting into the rhythm of things and being swept up by the prose. I did feel that it lost a bit of its impact towards the end and got a bit annoying, but the beauty of the story more than makes up for any minor annoyances over form and style.

It reminded me of Derek Jarman's Modern Nature, a beautiful book in its own right. It's a story that will linger in the memory long after the final page is turned.

Charlie Porter’s debut novel, Nova Scotia House, is a poignant and deeply moving exploration of love, loss, and the resilience of the human spirit. Set against the backdrop of the AIDS crisis and its devastating impact on the queer community, this novel is both a love story and a lament, weaving together the personal and the political with remarkable grace.

The story follows Johnny Grant, a man grappling with grief and the weight of memories after the death of his long-time partner, Jerry Field. Their relationship—beginning when Johnny was just 19 and Jerry was 45—was unconventional, passionate, and deeply transformative. Together, they built a life at Nova Scotia House, a sanctuary that became a symbol of their love and the radical philosophies they embraced. Now, with Jerry gone, Johnny is left to navigate a world that feels irrevocably changed.

Porter’s narrative shifts seamlessly between past and present, immersing readers in the vibrant, defiant queer culture of the 1980s while also confronting the pain and loss that followed. Through Johnny’s reflections, we witness the joy, creativity, and experimentation of a community that refused to conform, even as it faced unimaginable tragedy. The novel is a testament to the enduring power of love and the importance of preserving stories that might otherwise be forgotten.

What makes Nova Scotia House truly stand out is its intimacy and authenticity. Porter’s prose is lyrical and evocative, capturing the complexities of human relationships with a rare sensitivity. The characters feel real and fully realized, their struggles and triumphs resonating long after the final page. Johnny’s journey—both inward and outward—is a powerful reminder of the ways in which we carry our loved ones with us, even as we forge new paths forward.

This is a novel that will stay with you. It is a celebration of queer life, a tribute to those lost, and a call to honour the past while embracing the future. Charlie Porter has crafted a debut that is not only deeply affecting but also urgently necessary. A great read for anyone who appreciate emotionally rich, character-driven stories; those interested in queer history and the AIDS crisis

This book was uncomfortable to read. It is meant to be uncomfortable. It is meant, I think, to shake us out of the ease with which we accept our lives and question what we value and what we're doing with our one wild and precious life.

Written in a style akin to Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway stream of consciousness, the protagonist dips from his current situation, frozen in time, living in a borrowed space he has carved out from the mainstream, still grieving the most important relationship of his life, back to the birth of his adulthood and the one, pivotal relationship of his life. This asks questions about queer spaces, the value of queer lives and questions the sacrifice, literal and metaphorical of the AIDS generation and what we do with that grief and loss and whether it has left any wisdom or insight behind that might allow for different spaces and ways of living to open up in future.

There is so much here to unpack. This is a beautiful, disturbing elegy of a book that paves the way for a reckoning and hope for a queerer, greener future.

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Press for providing me with the eARC of this book!

“Others want us to seek comfort in forgetting. To seek solace in forgetting. To forget would be to assimilate. We live with our wounds they never close.” – P. 209.

Nova Scotia House reads like one long stream of consciousness – emotional, convoluted, panicked, resilient. While some will certainly be put off by the style of narration, it lends itself perfectly to the story being told. Johnny is stuck but also isn’t, wants to hold on to the past but also doesn’t want to get trapped, wants to move forward but doesn’t want to forget.

Nova Scotia House is a poignant story of love, community, loss and grief, injustice and perseverance. It’s a vivid display of the lives and losses of an entire generation of queer men and more than once it had me tear up and cry for the lives we’ve lost due to negligence and prejudice.
This story is also a clear rejection of assimilation, of bowing to normality and in that it brings hope, highlights the importance of building community. In our modern individualist age, it’s a stark reminder of what can be possible if you come together with your fellow human beings.

An incredible read I would recommend to everybody.

Charlie Porter's debut novel 'Nova Scotia House' is a story of love and loss set in the gay community at the time of the AIDS epidemic. Johnny was 19 when he fell in love with the much older Jerry who was HIV positiv. Johnny reflects on their relationship in an inner monologue. The stream of consciousness took a little while to get used to. In the end I found that the unusual writing style suited the atmosphere of the story. The novel gives a great insight into the gay community during that time and the sadness and hope that prevailed in those years.

This was quite a hard read for me, the style of writing is bold, barren and confronting at times. I'm assuming that the text will be a little better laid out in the final copy!

As for the novel itself, it leaves very little to the imagination so I could see many being shocked by the honesty writing. I'm definitely not the target market for this book, being a straight female. But I remember the AIDS epidemic and the impact it made on all who witnessed it, so I couldn't help but cry at certain points of the story. I felt the emotion, the overwhelming sense of grief, the immense sadness. A very powerful, if difficult, read.

A tender and moving account of queer love and life when those suffering with HIV and AIDS were stigmatised and rejected by society. This story relates a deeply personal reflection on how these harsh reactions affected the people who died from the illness, and their loved ones. The narrative runs away with itself - the lack of grammar and punctuation emphasises the voice of the author - the reader is drawn into his mind and thoughts, as if seeing the pages of a journal or listening to him talking. There is much sadness but also vivid descriptions of the hedonistic world of gay men in the late 80's/early 90's. Friendships run deep, even if many sexual encounters seem shallow and unemotional. There is hope for a brighter future at the end of the novel.

Nova Scotia House by Charlie Porter is a raw, powerful exploration of love, loss, and grief, set against the backdrop of the AIDS epidemic. The story follows Johnny Grant, who reflects on his life and relationship with Jerry Field. Thirty years ago, Johnny, at 19, fell in love with 45-year-old Jerry, and together they built a life at Jerry’s Nova Scotia House. Now, Johnny is alone, grappling with the void left by Jerry’s death and the changing world they once knew.

Porter beautifully captures the deep connection between Johnny and Jerry, weaving memories of radical love, sex, and friendship. Through Johnny’s journey, the book reflects on the devastating impact of the AIDS crisis on the queer community while also celebrating its creativity and resilience.

This book is intimate and visionary, offering a poignant tribute to a lost era and the enduring pain of the epidemic. Nova Scotia House is a heartbreaking yet unforgettable tale of love, loss, and the power of memories. A stunning debut from a writer with a unique and liberating voice.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

This is a beautiful book on love, loss, and grief. It takes place in a creative community devastated by the AIDS epidemic. At first I didn’t understand the writing style, the fragmentation, the coherent incoherence. I soon realised what seemed like disparate strands were not, but instead were Johnny’s stream of consciousness. From there on I devoured every word.

Johnny is 19 when he meets Jerry, an older man who is HIV positive. Their life together, their love, is beautiful, glorious, and heartbreaking. How Jerry brings a new awareness and a new way of life to Johnny is breathtaking. I cried. Nova Scotia House is a book which has lingered with me. More than anything when I finished reading it I wanted to pick up another book, one written by Jerry, to hear and feel and experience his wisdom further. Charlie Porter has created a masterpiece of words and of our culture.

My thanks to Penguin Press, NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

It took me a while to get used to the writing style of this book but it is in fact very apt for a reflective book of this nature. AIDs in the 80s was the same as Covid in that they were both new virus’. Both virus’ caused global fear and when it was discovered that AIDs was being passed around the gay community, they not only suffered from the virus but from the way they were treated by society. A very sad time. The book reflects on this as well as on better times. There is grief and sadness but also hope. Thank you Netgalley for an advance copy of this book.

Charlie Porter’s first foray into fiction, NOVA SCOTIA HOUSE, is a beautiful exploration of love, and grief. It centres around Johnny, as he remembers his partner Jerry and their relationship before Jerry’s death at the height of the AIDS epidemic. Twenty-four years after Jerry’s death (and approaching the age Jerry was when they met), Johnny still lives in the flat they shared at Nova Scotia House, watching the world change around him.

Written as an inner monologue, Johnny’s focus moves between his current moments and his memories of thirty years before, when he was 19 and learning how to be a person in a world full of judgement. I loved the tenderness of many of Johnny’s memories of Jerry; especially of things like being taught to make bread, keeping Jerry’s original mother alive and trusting his neighbour to feed the dough if he is away. These moments in the present time add up, as Porter cleverly uses Johnny’s attention to move through time and manages to create an ultimately hopeful narrative out of Johnny’s (and of the wider LGBTQ+ community’s) pain.

A unique love story, about life and legacies. Gorgeous.