Carol’s mother is determined to get to the bottom of things, she won’t see her daughter suffer in this way. It seems there are secrets in Declan’s past, strange rumours that were never confronted and suddenly the house they shared takes on a more sinister significance. And don't get me started on Joan. She let her husband keep her away from her children for decades? No mother would allow that. I might have fallen for this part of the story if we'd had a clearer picture of who Declan was before he met Carol, and before dementia changed him. Was he controlling, angry, difficult? Did he use threats to keep Joan away? We don't really get a strong sense that he did, or that he mistreated Joan while they were together, so why did Joan agree to it? I need way more information for me to find this part of the story reasonable. I really enjoy the writing of Graham Norton whether is be his biographies or perhaps more surprising his novels. The stories are well written, full of interesting characters and plenty of emotions. ‘Forever Home’ is another excellent read and I found it so difficult not to read from start to finish in one sitting. In his tense and darkly comic new novel Norton casts a light on the relationship between mothers and daughters, and truth and self-preservation with unnerving effect. Carol met and fell in love with Declan later in life, and unfortunately, he has developed early onset dementia, forcing her to move out of his house which she shared with him when his children move Declan to a nursing home and decide to sell up. In the ensuing months, some deep, dark secrets emerge from Declan’s past, which leave Carol questioning everything she knew about him. Enter Moira, Carol’s mother, to bring about a crazy resolution to the drama that’s unfolding 😅.

Wonderful. . . . Dark, funny, full of emotional intelligence and gripping from the start . . . beautifully written.”— Daily Mail At the core of this Family Drama is a focus on mother-daughter relationships, the price one pays for keeping long-held secrets, and, through it all, attempting to live your best life.A winning mix of family drama and comedy crime caper... you may well find yourself reading it in one sitting.' HEAT

I feel the first half is stronger than the second where there are moments I caught myself daydreaming. There are secrets that are waiting to come out and twists you may or may not have guessed! The conclusion was a happy and satisfying one. Overall, I had a wonderful time listening to Graham Norton's delightful narration. 3.5⭐NORTON: I mean, they're not autobiographical, but, you know, if you read any novel, it does give you an insight into who wrote it because, you know, it all came out of their head. So these people in this novel - you know, they borrow from me. They borrow from people I know. They borrow from people I've met. So it's kind of an amalgamation of all of that. So, you know, if somebody wanted to psychoanalyze me to the Nth degree, it's all laid bare.. Carol is a divorced teacher living in a small town in Ireland, her only son now grown. A second chance at love brings her unexpected connection and belonging—and sparks a flurry of speculation. What does a woman like her see in a man like that? What happened to his wife who abandoned him and his children all those years ago? Carol and Declan know their relationship is the talk of the town, but the gossip only serves to bring the couple closer. Dark, funny, full of emotional intelligence and gripping from the start. ..beautifully written... Wonderful.' DAILY MAIL