“By Your Side” by Ruth Jones was such a heartfelt and beautifully written story. I was completely drawn in by Linda Standish—she’s dedicated, a little stuck in her ways, and yet so easy to root for. Her job at the council’s Unclaimed Heirs Unit isn’t exactly thrilling, but when she starts investigating the life of Levi Norman Jones, everything changes.

Levi’s story takes Linda from Wales to a remote Scottish island, and what starts as just another case quickly turns into something far more personal. The journey of piecing together his past leads to new friendships, unexpected twists, and a whole lot of self-discovery.

Ruth Jones has such a knack for creating characters that feel real, and this book is no exception. It’s full of warmth, humor, and those little moments that just hit you right in the heart. If you love stories about human connections, second chances, and finding meaning in the most unexpected places, this one is definitely worth picking up.

The characters in this book feel so real, with all their flaws and complexities, and the story beautifully explores love, regret, and second chances. Ruth balances humour and emotion perfectly but then we knew she did that already! This book made me laugh one minute and tear up the next. It’s a deeply engaging read, full of warmth and wisdom and I couldn’t put it down>. Highly recommend it and have already labelled it a must read with friends

An absolutely stunning book.

Packed full of all the warm, heart, and humour you’d expect from Ruth Jones. I was so invested in the story and the characters.

The way the story links up together and shows the impact that one life can have on another without even coming to meet was done so well.

Linda is a character you cant help but fall in love with. We need more plus size middle aged queens at the protagonists of books.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book ahead of release. I loved it! I knew I had to request it when I saw the blurb, I’ve been obsessed with genealogy for years and love Heir Hunters and Long Lost Family. The story was so lovely and sad and uplifting and real and I read it in a day. A brilliant book!

I couldn’t wait to start this book as I have read all of Ruth’s books and loved them all. This one was just fantastic and had me hooked from the first page.
Linda was a beautiful character who works for her local council in the unclaimed heirs unit and has one last case to work on before taking retirement. Her final case is Levi Norman a complex character who lived alone on a Scottish island. What follows is a heartbreaking story of Levi’s life up until his dying day.
I loved the flashbacks that showed us Levi’s story and how he ended up in Scotland.
Linda’s story was also interesting and I loved all the characters she met on her journey.
A fantastic 5 star read that just melted my heart,
Thanks to NetGalley, Ruth Jones and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for an advance copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld for this ARC.

Linda Standish, 54 and divorced, lives with adult son Struan and grandson Zander and works for Boransay Council in Scotland in the Unclaimed Heirs Unit. She really likes her job but one day she is pushed towards early retirement as apparently the job is changing into a more computer-based role. She just has to finish one more assignment that ends up unexpectedly moving her more than she thought because it reminds her of her own repressed grief.

73 year old Levi Norman does not seem to have had any family so the council has to make all the arrangements and clear his little house out. He lived on the remote Isle of Storrich so Linda travels there together in a hearse with undertaker Fergus Murray, where they are welcomed by part-time undertaker Hamish Hamilton and landlord of the Storrich Arms, Brodie McLeod.

Then, in flashbacks starting in 1983, we learn kind-hearted Levi's story, and it's a heartbreaking one. It's the story of a big love tragically cut short and a devoted father who made one big mistake that haunts him for the rest of his life. But might'nt we have done the same in his shoes? Levi loved his wife Diana and his daughter Rachel so how did he end up all alone and reclusive on the little island? Can Linda track down Rachel to learn more?

I absolutely loved this book. It gives us a wonderfully gentle and emotional story but also shows off fictional Storrich and its kind community of quirky characters. The not entirely legal repatriation of ashes scene involving more or less the entire community is the funniest I've read in a long time. The slow-burn romance between Linda and Brodie feels authentic, drama-free and joyful. Linda's relationship with her son who has moved further away to be near ex Lauren is very loving and we feel her pain at losing easy access to grandson Zander.

What a beautiful book. It is brilliantly written and reads fast - I didn't want it to end. Ruth Jones is an enormously talented writer who effortlessly portrays flawed, normal people and their problems, as we have seen in Gavin & Stacey time and time again. I love the character of Linda, and with her relatable weight struggles the author has possibly given Linda something of her own experience. She is my age and if anyone threw me on the scrap heap like that with some lame excuse about digitalisation, I would react a lot less positive than her.

This warm, compelling, relatable and life-affirming story will have you both in tears and laugh out loud and will always feel very real. Highly recommended if you want a sensitively written journey of self-discovery with humour and emotional depth. And if there's a rift within your family, for God's sake, make it up. ALL THE STARS.

Really good book that i will recommend to others.

Thanks for the opportunity to read & review it.

Ruth Jones has a gift for capturing the messiness of life with humour and heart, and By Your Side is no exception. Linda Standish's final case at the Unclaimed Heirs Unit is more than just a job—it’s a journey of unexpected connections, self-discovery, and the quiet impact one life can have on others.

Jones' writing is warm, witty, and full of charm, making even the heaviest themes feel deeply human and relatable. The characters—flawed, funny, and full of heart—stay with you long after the last page. This book is a reminder that even in life’s loneliest moments, connection has a way of finding us.

I've read a few Ruth Jones and this is my absolute favourite! Filled with warmth and a really compelling story, I found myself falling in love with Linda and Levi and I devoured this book in no time at all! Highly recommended. Thanks to Bantam, Ruth Jones and NetGalley for the ARC.

As always Ruth Jones writes a wonderful poignant touching yet down to earth humourous book. By Your Side has two narratives running simultaneously. One tells the story of Linda a middle aged divorcee who is about to be made redundant from her job of 30 years at the Unclaimed Heirs Unit at the council. Running along side Linda's story is the story of her last case. That of newly deceased Levi and his strange, sad little family. Ruth's characters are beautifully depicted. You can easily picture them speaking the words she gives them and feel their emotions. I was brought to tears on several occasions. A wonderful book from a very talented lady. Recommended unreservedly.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Oh my what a beautiful book, I cried! A heartwarming story about Linda, a mum, a grandma and an heir hunter!
So well written and descriptive, I really took to Linda and her ways, she is sweet and kind and funny and quick.

She travels to a Scottish island to find the heir to a man called Levi, I loved his story and the twists and turns how life turns out, how life can be so cruel, and how mistakes really can follow you.

Ruth Jones can’t write books quickly enough for me. I’ve read all of her books now. I love the way she weaves humour into deep and emotional topics. This book has a very well thought out plot, many people will be able to relate to the step father relationship described throughout. The characters were so well developed and the underlying theme of female vulnerability was so sensitively tackled, I could relate to every page. The topics and subplots were current and very relevant. My favourite parts were around the topic of weight- women are so often pressured to be a skinny silhouette - shedding the pounds can be so hard and this book opens up to the reality that trauma is often linked to weight issues. Well done Ruth- you really face the subject head on and showed weight is just a number. Beautiful souls are what count. I can’t wait until your next book.

What a fabulous writer Ruth Jones is! I was immediately drawn into the story of Linda, working for the council for the department that deals with a persons estate who has died with no known relatives. A very depressing subject you would think but Ruth brings the story of Levi's life alive before his death so the reader understands how he ended up alone. Levi is to be Linda's last case as she has opted to retire, this is before she realises that her own life is about to be turned upside down when her son decided to move closer to his ex with Linda's beloved grandson. Little did she know that while uncovering the tragedy of Levi's life, her own future was going to be transformed. The best read I've had in a long time. More please!

By your Side by Ruth Jones

Linda Standish investigates the lives of those who’ve died alone and tracks down any living relatives. She’s been a friend to the friendless for the past thirty-three years. And now she’s looking forward to an early retirement.
But before she hangs up her lanyard, Linda takes on one last case – that of Levi Norman – a Welshman who made his home on a remote Scottish island for the past five years.
A touching story , loved the character Linda who Ruth described so well , could really imagine her as a person and someone I'd share a coffee and a chat with .
I never knew my great grandfather but his name was Levi so I was kind of putting him in the character also.
A fabulous read.

Such a sad but enthralling story. I prefer to read NetGalley books without knowing the author's name or celebrity status. I started reading the book and I was immediately immersed by the characters which the author brought to life in a way few authors can. Spell binding until the very end. I then read the final pages about the author. I was not surprised that Ruth Jones was the author. To Ruth’’s credit there is so many of her writing skills and traits that makes this a truly excellent book. Despite the sadness there are many lighthearted moments which again is credit to Ruth Jones writing abilities that are often seen in her tv series.

5* Top rating and highly recommended.

For such a sad subject, dying alone without relatives or friends, this is a very funny and emotional book, even developing into utter farce at several points. The narrative switches between multiple characters and split timelines. I didn't want to put it down, so I didn't, and read it in less than 24 hours.

I laughed and even shed a tear while reading. Rarely do I finish a book and feel tempted to immediately re-read. This is one such book.

With thanks to Random House and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book, this review is my personal, unbiased opinion.

What a fabulous read, following the lives of Levi and Rachel. Linda, who investigates the lives of those that die without known family, is the basis of this story. Heartbreaking and joyful in equal measures. Highly recommended. I was lucky enough to receive an advance reader copy and leave this review voluntarily.

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from Netgalley. Jones' novels just go from strength to strength, and 'By Your Side' was my favourite yet. I was captivated by Levi and Linda's stories, and the subplots added even more depth to the story. The book was filled with heart, humour, and emotion, with well-written characters who Jones created real connection with. Absolutely perfect - best book of my 2025 I think.

Beautiful novel! I really related to this as I come from a small family and it’s heartbreaking to know that people do in af t die alone. It brought tears to my eyes but this book also brought hope as well! Beautiful read!

I've read and loved Ruth's previous books so was really excited to receive such a gorgeous edition of her latest, By Your Side.

Ruth's writing has a way of getting under your skin and she makes the characters so alive through her descriptions that they are as clear in your head as real people.

By Your Side is gorgeous and heart warming with touches of humour and grief thrown in.

The group of characters Ruth has created all bring a sense of purpose to the story and I loved the dual timeline of Linda's work in the here and now and Levi's past leading up to join the present day.

Definitely will be in the running for one of my books of the year, I'm giving this all the stars.

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