what a lovely book this was. i need not know who the author was really because i did know if that makes sense. Ruth Hogan knows how to write. and her writing is completely her own. its her own way of touching you deep and the writing just does this thing that feels like a lyrical and woven set of words that flow off the page and through you.
and this book was the same song going through you as all the others were.
George sees a public health funeral taking place(something i have actually thought about before). and George himself is moved by this, the thought of someone with noone there even at this last moment. so he tries to make sure he cant at least stop this in ways he can. and he finds other that might want to help him do this too. who then comes around to help is a group of brilliant characters all very different but all intriguing to follow.
this book just delivers so much. so much compassion, so much kindness and so much tender and heart moving moments. i feel like i learnt from this book. i dont know quite what. maybe just in the moment of reading it made me notice things, feel things and want to do better myself. but even then i felt with a capital F. part of me really hopes this is happening out there in the world. to get to know these people who are on their own, and giving their goodbyes a personal touch i think is something that would be such a cherished job to do for people.
superb book. absolutely superb.

A warm hug of a read, emotional, sad but uplifting and full of joy. The group of characters are a mixed bag but come together to celebrate life in all it's glory. Just lovely.

This was such a bittersweet read, the author has a gift for creating warmth and hope in the dark, quiet corners.
George is a wonderful, kind and caring person. He radiates compassion and attracts a found family of people who are also kind and thoughtful. Together they shine a light for those who are alone at the end. Absolutely heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal

The Light A Candle Society by Ruth Hogan ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Another great book by this author, full of love, life, happiness and friendship. George notices a lone hearse at the crematorium when he is tending his wife’s grave. There begins a tale of public health funerals for people who die with no relatives or friends. This book oozes kindness, emotion and love. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this advance copy.

When George puts flowers on his late wife’s Audrey grave. He notices a hearse pull up with no flowers on it and a woman with a clip board the only one attending. He is horrified when he finds out from an undertaker having a quick smoke on the side. That the funeral is a public health one. When the person has died and has no relatives or friends to attending and the local authority sorts out the funeral. They basically died alone.
With the help of the undertaker, his colleague Roxy who he works with at the local library and Elena the florist and Sid the Bric a Brac man they form the light a candle society. Where they research the deceased persons life and find out if they have any friends and relatives and make sure the person have a good send off.
Once again Ruth Hogan has written a beautiful emotional story. How people once had a place in the world but end up dying alone. Some of these stories which were very sad but believable ones. But also, a story of kindness for people to do something to make sure they are remembered and not forgotten. The characters in the story were so likeable especially Mrs kettle and her biscuits. I really enjoyed this heartwarming tale. 4 stars from me.

Actual rating 4.5.

Another gloriously heartwarming and uplifting novel from one of my favourite (and criminally underrated!) authors, perfect for fans of Clare Pooley or Freya Sampson. Whilst some people may find this story a little sentimental, I adored this group of big hearted characters as they helped celebrate the lives of people who died with nobody to arrange their funeral. It was heartbreaking at times, but also hopeful and a joy to read.

I ended up listening to the audiobook, but didn’t love the narration at times.

A lovely book about the kindness and caring of a group of strangers who decide to make public health funerals more palatable. This book based on a real group according to the notes, makes one believe in the goodness of people in a world that seems to get more violent and horrible every day. Faith Hogan has found a way for her characters a group of very different souls, to make a small but very significant difference to the deaths of those who have no one. I loved the way she gives us a little vignette of a happy time of their life before we find out how they die. In just a few sentences making the character very real. 
A delightful easy read but have your tissues ready especially at the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

I loved this book! The subject matter may appear dark, but it is an uplifting read full of believable characters fulfilling a role in society which is definitely needed. I enjoy Ruth Hogan’s writing and this novel lived up to my high expectations.

It’s such a bonus when I find a book with a good engaging storyline AND characters who become very real through the writer’s skill in descriptors and personality development. This was one such book. The underpinning story didn’t detract from getting to know all of the assorted characters. George and Roxi, Elena, Niall and Edwin along with Captain to name just a few.,Every one of them was credible and has a story of their own. This was a really lovely read and brought a few tears to my eyes too. Four and a half stars

When widower George witnesses a lonely public health funeral he resolves to help those who die alone without anyone to arrange or attend their funeral. Together with a group of friends and acquaintances the Light a Candle society is formed so that no one has a solitary funeral. The stories of those whose funerals are attended by the society are diverse and poignant. This is a beautifully written and powerful story where kindness and compassion, friendship and love are triumphant. One of the best and most thought provoking books I’ve for a long time.

This author always writes such fabulous books but this one was even more exceptional. This was such a special and beautiful story that will stay with me for a long time. I am still thinking about it now. A few days later. It was an incredible story of special people and also covered the topic of grief and death in a very Sensitive way and each of the characters story’s were written in a way which made you think of them as real people that you knew rather than just names on a page and with every chapter the kindness of strangers is evident and there definitely needs to be a lot more people like George in the world.

This was a poignant and emotional yet heartwarming read that shines light on the darkness and restores your faith in human nature. This is definitely up there with one of top reads for this year so far.

Oh but this book is lovely
"All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle

George McGlory - recent widower, part-time librarian, pub quiz enthusiast and lover of loud shirts - witnesses a public health funeral and is deeply moved by the sight of the lonely coffin with no flowers and no mourners in attendance."

So he does something about it. Helped by a brilliant and diverse group of people George works hard to make sure that those who do not have anyone to mourn them are not left to be interred alone.
Satisfying and kind, the story of humans who are trying to help each other. But I did weep.

An amazing novel that showcases the kindness of human beings when they actually stop to think. It is so easy to become insular in our busy lives, but this book shows how small acts of kindness can snowball and affect so many others around us. A wonderfully researched and well thought out book that provokes so many emotions. One of the best I have read for a long time.

What a lovely, heartwarming book this is! It is about the goodness and compassion of ordinary people and is full of characters readers will love, with their many quirks and individualities. Librarian George is putting flowers on his wife’s grave when he notices a funeral with no mourners, no flowers and no ceremony to honour the life of the deceased. This stirs something in George who begins his campaign to ensure that every funeral at his local crematorium is a celebration of a life lived and ended. He attracts a cast of wonderful supporters who believe in his idea and the ‘Light a Candle Society’ is born. Ruth Hogan’s writing is full of sensitivity and compassion and the book is simply a delight!

This is a truly amazing book, set around public health funerals, which is something I knew nothing about. And a community that start off small but grow as word gets around, supporting those that have one of these funerals. The story is written with compassion. Highly recommend this one.

Ruth Hogan always writes wonderful books, but I think that this may be her best yet. The Light a Candle Society is a powerful novel about people, the kindness of strangers & ultimately, love.

The premise of the story is that there are people who die totally alone & so have no one to attend their funeral. George, a widower who works part time at a library, is horrified that this happens & decides to do something about it.

The characters in this story felt real to me, so much so that I wish I could join the Society & get to know them properly. Each person, including the ones who only make brief appearances, are written so compassionately that you grieve for what you know is coming.

Wonderful, I’d give it 10 stars if I could.

I loved Ruth Hogans last book The Phoenix Ballroom so I was very happy to be given a chance to read this book for an honest review.
The Light a Candle Society should be a sad story but I found it uplifting and heartwarming. A lovely read which I read in two sittings.

‘All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle‘.

George McGlory - recent widower, part-time librarian, pub quiz enthusiast and lover of loud shirts - witnesses a public health funeral and is deeply moved by the sight of the lonely coffin with no flowers and no mourners in attendance.
George is upset that some people die alone and with the help of his colleague The Light a Candle Society is born.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Comfy, cosy and heartwarming - just what Ruth Hogan is brilliant at.

This is the story of George, an elderly widower who takes it upon himself to brighten up public health funerals - to give a name and a presence to those anonymous lonely ceremonies, and who before long finds he has inadvertently founded the 'Light a Candle' society, and has a whole bunch of new friends dedicated to doing the same.

A lovely warm read.

This is a truly lovely book. At its heart it’s about people, kindness and love. Highly recommended to anyone wanting a feel good read.

I appreciate how much research and how many experiences led Ruth Hogan to writing "The Light a Candle Society". It's a very authentic story, filled with full-bodied, complex characters (most of whom are either approaching their mid-life or are past this point, which still feels rare in contemporary stories) and an uplifting message, despite the core subject that is fearsome to some - dying alone.

In "The Light a Candle Society" the author presents a unique talent to write scenes that despite very few details really fuel the imagination and represent the mood well, especially considering the chapters that include the stories of those who died.

It's a very atmospheric novel that was such an enjoyable read.