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.

What a beautiful read. I was so emotional reading this book dying is not a subject most people like to talk about but it was so beautifully written that I found it uplifting and inspiring. When George was visiting his late wife at the cemetery he came across a funeral which was arranged by the council and where there were no family or friends to say goodbye and found this so sad he decided to attend the next one as he didn't think anyone should go out of this world alone and from there he along with some friends came up with the idea of the Light a Candle society. It was a pleasure to read this book full of warmth and charm, wonderful characters and learning the stories of people who without George and his friends would have gone on their final journey alone I found it uplifting and not at all morbid a 5🌟read and I highly recommend it.

Ruth Hogan’s latest novel is a very enjoyable read. A range of characters are introduced who either become members of the light a candle society or who are in need of their help. I found the story to be heartwarming although sad at times as many of the people who had died and required a funeral to be provided by the council had suffered during their lifetimes either through mental illness, the loss of other loved ones or similar circumstances.
I have read several of Ruth Hogan’s books and would recommend them all, including The Light a Candle Society. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review

A poignant, heartwarming story written with sensitivity and compassion.
Ruth Hogan does it again and delivers a powerful and touching read with a set of delightful characters, each with their own interesting past.
A book that celebrates life more than death and gives you good food for thought.
Most recommended.
Thank you to Atlantic Books- Corvus, NetGalley and the author for an early copy.

This is an emotive and thought provoking read about what happens to those with nobody after they have died. Widower George is concerned when he observes a funeral with no mourners and discovers that it was a public health funeral organised by the council as the deceased had no family to arrange it, the thought of this echoes in his head until he decides that he could attend the next one himself and when he mentions this to his acquaintances they support him and form the Light a Candle Society.

This is a wonderful character read which centres around George and his increasing number of friends as they commemorate the lives of those whose funerals they attend whilst building on their own relationships too. There’s some interesting glimpses into the lives of these strangers and a hint at how they died, some cases more despairing than others but throughout all of that is the love and caring that the Light a Candle Society gives. This is a joyful book about life more than death, about reaching out to people and also the impact we can have on others.

This book does a great job of making the characters seem very real, I don't just mean George, Roxy and all the others.
I mean the ones we meet briefly, it fleshes them out and gives them a back story, before the end comes, and they are being buried.
A great cast of characters anyway, that share some heart warming moments, and give you lots to ponder upon.
A nice addition to the Ruth Hogan catalogue.

I loved this book - an emotional heartwarming book.

George McGlory - recently widowed, part-time librarian and pub quiz enthusiast - witnesses a public health funeral and is saddened by the sight of no flowers or mourners in attendance. He is determined to ensure that such people are remembered and their lives celebrated.

He joins up with Elena, a florist, Edwin, an undertaker, Sid, who clears houses, Roxy, his librarian colleague and Niall from the local council. They form the Light a Candle Society to honour the dead.

As he investigates those whose funerals they arrange he learns more about himself and is forced to face his own secrets and fractured relationships.

One to be recommended.