Do you know what really goes on behind the closed doors and windows of your neighbours? Not necessarily, but you all know that one nosey neighbour that always has to be right about everything. “Common Decency” takes a us behind those closed doors with a gentle reflection on what happens there and what happens when eventually everyone manages to pull together against a common foe. A warm-hearted, gentle read but don’t skip to the end as you’ll miss all the intrigue in those lives. My thanks to NetGalley and the author for an ARC.

What an absolutely exceptional piece of writing.

It's witty, it's immersive, it makes you think...

From the first line I was hooked. It's just completely absorbing. I felt as though I lived in the little street for it was brought to life so amazingly well.

I loved the various characters and I'm so impressed with their depth.

This story is one which I found incredibly enjoyable to read. You can tell this is written by someone who notices the little nuances in people and appreciates the intricacies of relationships. Absolutely fantastic.

Common Decency is a fabulous read, a real comedy of manners, set in a leafy South London suburb and centres on the residents of Oak Drive.

A new couple move into one of the houses and all the neighbours are excited to meet them to get the lowdown on them. Initially, the neighbours appear to superficially know one another, rubbing along politely and without getting to know each too well. In an act of NIMBYism, they pull together to save a tree in the park opposite their houses.

I really enjoyed reading this book and learning more about the neighbours, who when you scratch the surface are far more interesting and complex than I originally thought they’d be. It beautifully highlighted how we really have no clue about our neighbours and what goes on behind closed doors. I think we’ve all known neighbours like those on Oak Drive, the difficult and bossy Don, the put upon Fanny, the misunderstood Barry, the fabulous Miranda and so on. The book is a feel good book and I raced through it and honestly felt quite sad when the book came to an end because the residents of Oak Drive really felt like friends.

I look forward to reading more novels by Tom Allen in the future!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers Hodder & Stoughton for making Common Decency available to me to read in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The cosiest of cosy suburban observational dramas, with the smart sass and wit you’d expect from Tom Allen. I absolutely ADORED this book! Beautifully written, cleverly paced and emotionally balanced, fans of Richard Osman will go wild for this.