Homesick

by Silvia Saunders

A story of falling out of love from the winner of the Comedy Women in Unpublished Print Award, for fans of Monica Heisey and Dolly Alderton

Mara becomes an ‘heiress’ overnight after her father's death.

She wants to buy a flat to escape the awful London rental market and her equally awful childhood-friend-turned-housemate, Lewis (who refuses to wash up cutlery because it makes him feel weird).

And she wants her boyfriend, Tom, to move into the new flat with her. Slightly more difficult now that he has decided to leave London – and Mara.

As Mara and Tom navigate their break-up/non-break-up, Mara becomes fixated on the perfect couple living in the flat above her. While her best friend accuses her of being self-involved and her already overfamiliar boss keeps getting her drunker and drunker, the Happy Couple become a symbol for everything Mara and Tom could have been – but, crucially, are not.

Genres: Fiction, Audiobook, Contemporary, Literary Fiction, Mental Health, Romance, Ebooks

381 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 30, 2025

Reviews

[Kyra Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so emotional reading this, but in a good way. The plot of Homesick is centered around first lovers, family, and going through the hardships of growing up/learning how to be alone with yourself. Silvia Saunders is able to really hook you in with all the feelings and situations Mara encounters. I felt for Mara and related to her so much. The other characters weren't just side characters too; they deeply influenced the story and are so complex and well written. Definitely a commentary novel I will buy and read again. Thank you to the publisher and Netgelly for this ARC. 

[krishna · Rating 4 out of 5]

i know mental health is a massive struggle but fuck tom

[Andreea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Silvia Saunder’s Homesick is one book that feels light on the surface but carries depth that sneaks up on you. It’s funny and warm while exploring complicated adulthood moments, like figuring out who you are, learning to live by yourself, and loving others when life isn’t working out for them or you. I enjoyed this book so much that I read it on a Saturday (400+ pages!).

The central character is Mara, a 26-year-old woman who receives a surprise inheritance after her father's death. She’s now sharing her flat with her childhood friend, Lewis, whom she’s not sure she likes anymore. Following her mother’s advice, she makes the immense decision to buy an apartment and attempt to live on her own. But buying an apartment in London is an adventure on its own, and soon she finds out that what she thought was quite a sum of money can barely get her a studio in a good neighbourhood. Nevertheless, she persists, and her effort is rewarded by finding an apartment she feels comfortable to call home (not after some hilarious encounters with real estate agents).

Her struggle for independence is not the only thing that doesn’t work in her life. Her job is a dead end - she is a librarian and loves her job, but her boss is borderline harassing her under the guise of friendship. Her boyfriend of over four years has been distant and hardly gets in touch, as he lives and works on the other side of London; something is going on with Tom that she can’t put her finger on until the moment when he has a breakdown, which reveals he’s been suffering from depression, intensified by his job as a teacher. Mara finds herself as a caregiver, not in a real partnership. Saunders does a great job at building their relationship, emphasising the toll depression takes on the loved ones of people suffering from this disease.

Loving Tom is not easy. Mara finds herself waiting, holding her life in a kind of suspended animation, unsure whether she should stay and hope he gets better or let go and move on. It’s heartbreaking, this limbo of loving someone who can’t fully be with you, of whom you can’t ask anything, as it would make them spiral into intense breakdowns. There is guilt, frustration, and helplessness in Mara, constantly questioning herself: should she stay? Should she leave? Is she doing enough? Is her presence making things worse for Tom?

In her struggles, her mother - now a widow, having lost the love of her life - is constantly on her side, unconditionally loving her and supporting her through everything Mara goes through. I loved the mother’s presence and her sixth sense, constantly feeling when Mara was in trouble and either calling her or showing up just to be with her. Without asking any questions, her powerful presence is enough to stabilise Mara and give her the sense she is not alone in the world, not even when Tom leaves his job and London and her best friend stops talking to her (as she has a different view about how she should have handled the situation with Tom).

The best part about the book is that it tackles all these heavy topics, yet it remains lighthearted and hilarious. Mara’s dry, self-aware humour makes her feel like someone you know, someone you’d want to talk to over a cup of coffee and, perhaps, embrace when she needs it. Saunders also nails the bittersweetness of moving forward in life, and her new flat is a symbol of freedom and self-reliance, but it’s also lonely at times. Adulthood, as the book shows so well, is rarely the clean, empowering journey we expect, it’s messy, filled with doubts and detours, and highly relatable.

Finally, this is a great read, with the right depth and humour to catch you and keep you engaged until the last page. If you like Sally Rooney, Coco Mellors, and books that explore contemporary angst and relationships, this book is a must-read. Thank you, @putrifariza and @times.reads, for the ARC!

[Brodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ great book but lost half a star because a lot of the characters frustrated me

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m sure some people would really enjoy this book but I think I’m just not the target audience. I kinda felt that the blurb spoilt a bit part of the plot as Tom doesn’t actually go back to Birmingham until 1/3 through the book. On the note of Tom, depression isn’t an excuse to string someone along like a puppy.

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed feelings - I enjoyed the writing and characters but the plot was like watching a car crash in slow motion. Especially since it's spoiled by the blurb on the book. I was waiting for the sad thing to happen but turns out that was the whole story. But nice ending!

[Micky Beauchamp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good recommendation from my dear pal Ellie Dickinson (hi Ellie!!). Enjoyed the short snappy chapters and relatable characters, although I kinda wanted a more definitive ending. A great read overall xo

[Nimisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a very homely, sometimes bitter, sometimes sweet reminder that it'll all be okay in the end.

[Devon · Rating 3 out of 5]

186 chapters, 186!

[Ani · Rating 3 out of 5]

If Tom dated one of my friends I would beat him up with a stick, I can tell you that much.

[Niamh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is likely to be a bit biased because I adored this book and it’s going to be a hard one to beat for me. I’ve never listened to an audiobook in less than 24 hours before but I couldn’t put this down, relatively speaking.

Mara is in her mid-20s, working as a librarian in London, living in a flat-share and spends her time with her best friend Noor or her boyfriend from university, Tom.

One day she gets a phone call from her mum to tell her she’d like to give her some money kept aside since the death of her dad to help her buy a flat which she promptly manages to do. It is met with glares of what a lucky girl she is to get on the property ladder so young.

As Mara moves into her new flat, her boyfriend Tom starts to become unwell with depression and moves in to live with her while he attempts to recover. The book then moves through Mara’s different strands of life - her relationship with Tom, her job as a librarian alongside her weird boss Derek and the creepy man who comes into stare at her, her new neighbours and her friendship with Noor.


This is a beautiful novel. It strikes a wonderful balance between the everyday of our lives and how they are often the big moments we exist through without sometimes knowing. The time in our mid-20s when you feel not-quite-an-adult-not-quite-a-child.

We see Tom struggling - and homesick - for his life with his family and friends in Birmingham as he goes through teacher training and moves to London, ultimately to make Mara happy.

Homesick gently emphasises that awkward phase between university and adult life where your life is full of shoulds, and not speaking up, and wondering what direction you might be going in and have you made the right decisions. It is very bittersweet and ironically, did in fact make me a bit homesick.

If you loved Really Good, Actually and Good Material then go grab yourself a copy immediately.

[Mickey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was recommended because it was a very cozy read about the small things in life. But for some reason it did not catch that vibe from this book at all. It felt like nothing was really happening instead and the characters were just a bit gloomy to me. The romance also was not it. Not that I was looking for that specifically in this book. But it would have been better without this romance to me. I was expecting by a cute fluffy book that was super cozy and fun about buying your first home. But instead the book was just about gloomy and depressing, which to be fair I was also not in the mood for, so take this rating with a grain of salt I guess 😉

[Lucy Skeet · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

thank you so much to harper fiction for the finished copy!

i adored this book. mara was such a great lead and her voice was just great throughout. because of the short chapters it was incredibly well paced and i was always entertained. it also wasn’t predictable either which i loved and all of the supporting characters were funny and real too.

out on 30th january!

[Tilly Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s nothing like beginning a debut novel not knowing what to expect, and instantly falling in love with it. That was certainly the case with this brilliantly warm and funny story that I couldn’t put down.

First of all, this book has some of the shortest chapters ever, and that gave it the same kind of pace as the most addictive thrillers. But the real strength of this book is its main character, Mara, who is an absolute gem and who you can’t help but root for from the very first page, as she navigates not just a complex relationship, but also the dreaded London housing market, a pervy boss and issues with her best friend as their lives diverge. My review can’t do it justice but it’s just very insightful, tender, quirky and funny - a super easy five star read for me!

[Abi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Idk how I feel about this, meh

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favourite book I’ve ready this year, really enjoyed

[Ryah Collinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to review this after hearing the author talk last night at book club. Absolutely devoured this book. There was something so relatable about the characters and it felt like gossiping about a friend last night chatting with others. I enjoyed the exploration of mental health in a male character which isn’t often represented!!

Gripped me from the start and found it face paced enough that I managed to finish it in 3 sittings.

Would recommend to someone trying to get out of a reading slump, looking for a summer beach read or just wanting something that feels real-life/ relatable!!

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll be so honest, the synopsis does NOT do this book justice. My expectations were a bit like eh it sounds alright and it came up on BorrowBox so I thought I’d give it a go… and it fucked me up lol. Maybe because I wasn’t expecting it to? Way more complexity and depth than I was expecting and a lot of it circled around mental health and the impact it can have on relationships too and tbh it definitely hit close to home multiple times. It’s not *just* a book about falling out of love by any means.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an easy read and got me through a stressful two days because it’s not emotionally impactful, even though it’s about a girl whose boyfriend is damply depressed throughout and the plot, such as it is, revolves around her limp attempts to support him before they break up. It reads like the central ideas are in the first few chapters (each chapter is one to four pages long, which again, good for stress reading): Mara inherits enough money for a flat deposit in London, her boyfriend is distant, her friend is mean. Nothing much happens. It’s fine. I will likely forget this book happened in a week’s time, but I’m sure the author will follow in the broad wake of Dolly Alderton et al in writing more of these milquetoast books and going on podcasts. If I sound bitter, it’s because I am! I also want to write nothingburgers and go on podcasts rather than do my actual job.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Felt like the female version of Alderton's "Good Material"... boring and droned on (in a brummy accent) until the last 1/5th then the character actually did something instead of just being *generic 20 something girl living in London*

[karla JR · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this story, particularly for how it delves into the complexities of growing up, first love, heartbreak, and grief. The thoughtful exploration of mental health resonated with me, offering heartfelt insights that enriched the narrative. Each character was brimming with depth and authenticity, which captivated me as I immersed myself in their journeys. I felt a powerful emotional connection to their struggles, as if I could truly resonate with what they were experiencing. The storyteller demonstrated an exceptional ability to weave an engaging tale, bringing these experiences to life in a way that was incredibly relatable throughout the reading process. It was a brilliant debut novel, and I’m grateful to Harper Collins for granting me access to this book.

[sharon amenze · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

i’m so glad i stumbled upon this book on my Kindle. after downloading and loving the sample, i just knew i had to read it!
it follows mara, a twenty-six year old essentially navigating life living through london. her occupation, dealing with her manager and weird patrons (ew @ starey man), her relationships, her friendships, her neighbours (loved adele, jerry??) and her grief .

this book felt so authentic, so real and also so comforting, especially as an east london girlie. i enjoyed the writing style, i can’t believe this was a debut??

this book was so comical too and i can’t wait to read more from this author ( would be so so cool to get a novel following adele or noor!!).


“What does he know about Etsy?”

[Gem ~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that you just love but you can't fully explain why. It covers everyday problems and the typical dramas of a quarter-life crisis (comparison, feeling adrift, growing out of friendships and first loves, buying your first home etc) with such warmth and humour you feel caught up in the beautiful mess of it all. There's some brilliantly real characters, people we're bound to recognise in our own lives and Mara's heart & her own longing for 'home' is what really tied me to this story. I just loved it!

[Sanjana Ramesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Silvia Saunders’ Homesick is a novel that hits close to home, especially for young women navigating the complexities of adulthood. I saw so much of myself in Mara—her hesitations, her reluctance to stand up for herself, and the way she let situations unfold even when she knew better. At times, I wanted to shake her, to yell at her to be braver, but deep down, I knew I would likely react the very same way in her place.

While the premise might seem simple—just another coming-of-age story—the emotional weight of Homesick took me by surprise as I caught myself wiping tears whilst reading this on the tube. It’s the kind of book that makes you feel seen, especially as a twenty-something trying to navigate the unspoken rules of adulthood. And really, do we ever truly figure it out?

Highly recommended this read!

[Blanca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the book of the year. I love Mara, she feels like a friend. I loved experiencing live with her. She’s real to me and that’s why this book is so very special to me. I am thankful I bought it in that independent Edinburgh bookshop. It was one that only sold women writers. I didn’t know anything about it but I was pulled towards it. So I bought it though I had no space in my bag anymore. And I’m so glad I did. I will forever love and cherish it.

[han · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just absolutely LOVED this - I ended up caring so deeply for every single character as they were all so fully fleshed out and real. Tom was a GREAT depiction of what being a teacher is like, and my favourite part was the beautiful tenderness Mara has towards her first home - eating a takeaway on the carpet with nothing else in the house, marvelling at the fact that the four walls are yours, getting used to the new noises and the sheer joy of walking around a furniture store. Just gorgeous. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

[Clara Dahlgren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hade den här boken en handling? Började läsa och trodde att jag visste vad som skulle hända = hon och hennes kille gör slut det visar sig att hon var kär i sin chef!!! Det hände inte. Hennes kille är tydligen suicidal och hennes chef möjligen en predatoré något några snäpp längre ned. Det var ändå trevligt.

[Eef]

Herkenbaar worstelen van een 26 jarige. Korte hoofdstukjes, leest vlot, maar geeft me ook het gevoel dat ik stukken mis. Leuke verhaallijn en personages maar wat zijn Mara haar hobbies en waarom heeft ze maar 2 vrienden?

[prosesandploy · Rating 3 out of 5]

on first love, mental illness, home being a person, abandonment

it isn't plot heavy
it has lots of inner monologues
it felt like a diary entry to me ♡

“I wasn’t lonely, exactly. But I was tired of being alone in ways I couldn’t quite explain.”

i loved this :)

[Lilly Winn · Rating 3 out of 5]

painfully relatable! surprisingly similar to current circumstance but very good and not too heavy