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FIVE SIBLINGS AT 23
Every family has secrets, but some have more than others.
‘Right from the beginning, I was hooked, and this book did not let me go’ Reitumetse Mokoena, Reedsy
‘It will captivate you until the final page’ Priya Murugesan, The Online Bookclub
‘Paul Ilett’s descriptive prose paint scenes that spring from the page’ Seb Fox, Goodreads
___________________
It’s Charlie Fletcher’s 23rd birthday, the last birthday he will share with his dying mother, and he decides it's time to share with her a secret about himself. But, knowing she does not have much time left, she shares a far greater family secret with him, one that will have repercussions for Charlie and his siblings for years to come.
You see, the Fletchers are a family with more than their fair share of skeletons in the closet, and as one of their most closely guarded secrets is finally revealed, are others about to be uncovered too?
What is so important about a photograph of a little boy at Christmas? Why has a handwritten letter remained in a sealed envelope for more than twenty years? And which of the Fletchers is carrying the darkest family secret of all?
‘Five Siblings at 23’ is an epic family saga spanning more than two decades, visiting the Fletcher household each time one of the children is 23 years of age. From their home town of Southend-on-Sea to the stunning vistas of Gran Canaria, we share in their joys and heartbreaks, their triumphs and their tragedies, as five brothers and sisters navigate love and conflict, seething family grievances, and many, many secrets.
‘Five Siblings at 23’ is a beautifully told and deeply engaging story, a book that you won’t be able to put down.
___
And here are some of the amazing reviews the book has already received from readers and professional critics too.
“Right from the beginning, I was hooked, and this book did not let me go. I kept turning one page after another. It was such an engrossing read that I found myself exclaiming, smiling along, and being saddened and nostalgic over memories that are not mine.”
☆☆☆☆ Reitumetse Mokoena, Reedsy
“You will laugh and cry, with moments that will touch your heart. Paul Ilett writes so beautifully, his words woven in a manner which will draw you into the book, and captivate you until the final page.”
☆☆☆☆ Priya Murugesan, The Online Bookclub
“Paul Ilett’s descriptive prose paint scenes that spring from the page, transporting you to a miserably rainy morning outside a hospice, then whisking you off to the baking sun of the Canary Isles. Within a few short sentences you are there, immersed in the world.”
☆☆☆☆ Seb Fox, Goodreads
‘Right from the beginning, I was hooked, and this book did not let me go’ Reitumetse Mokoena, Reedsy
‘It will captivate you until the final page’ Priya Murugesan, The Online Bookclub
‘Paul Ilett’s descriptive prose paint scenes that spring from the page’ Seb Fox, Goodreads
___________________
It’s Charlie Fletcher’s 23rd birthday, the last birthday he will share with his dying mother, and he decides it's time to share with her a secret about himself. But, knowing she does not have much time left, she shares a far greater family secret with him, one that will have repercussions for Charlie and his siblings for years to come.
You see, the Fletchers are a family with more than their fair share of skeletons in the closet, and as one of their most closely guarded secrets is finally revealed, are others about to be uncovered too?
What is so important about a photograph of a little boy at Christmas? Why has a handwritten letter remained in a sealed envelope for more than twenty years? And which of the Fletchers is carrying the darkest family secret of all?
‘Five Siblings at 23’ is an epic family saga spanning more than two decades, visiting the Fletcher household each time one of the children is 23 years of age. From their home town of Southend-on-Sea to the stunning vistas of Gran Canaria, we share in their joys and heartbreaks, their triumphs and their tragedies, as five brothers and sisters navigate love and conflict, seething family grievances, and many, many secrets.
‘Five Siblings at 23’ is a beautifully told and deeply engaging story, a book that you won’t be able to put down.
___
And here are some of the amazing reviews the book has already received from readers and professional critics too.
“Right from the beginning, I was hooked, and this book did not let me go. I kept turning one page after another. It was such an engrossing read that I found myself exclaiming, smiling along, and being saddened and nostalgic over memories that are not mine.”
☆☆☆☆ Reitumetse Mokoena, Reedsy
“You will laugh and cry, with moments that will touch your heart. Paul Ilett writes so beautifully, his words woven in a manner which will draw you into the book, and captivate you until the final page.”
☆☆☆☆ Priya Murugesan, The Online Bookclub
“Paul Ilett’s descriptive prose paint scenes that spring from the page, transporting you to a miserably rainy morning outside a hospice, then whisking you off to the baking sun of the Canary Isles. Within a few short sentences you are there, immersed in the world.”
☆☆☆☆ Seb Fox, Goodreads
385 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 21, 2025
205 people are currently reading
150 people want to read
About the author
Paul Ilett
5 books38 followersHi, I'm Paul and I've been writing my whole life. I spent more than a decade working as a journalist, which gave me plenty of material for my first two novels (Exposé and Exposed), but it's my experience of growing up in a large, multi-generational family that gave me the inspiration for my new novel, Five Siblings at 23. It's the story of a family with many, many secrets!
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 28, 2025
Loved this book. Couldn't put it down as you didn't know what was going to happen next with the characters. Just a nice book to read
December 29, 2025
Beautiful
Such a beautiful and heartfelt story. Charlie at 23 holding his Mom's as she passed. Then Lizzy at 23 having heard the words her Mom wrote in a letter as she was dying. Describing each child perfectly. Charlie was so strong keeping the family together while dealing with the lost of his 1st true love Jason. But to find love again is what he deserved. Such a beautiful and complex family who all had personal issues but found a way to survive them all.
Such a beautiful and heartfelt story. Charlie at 23 holding his Mom's as she passed. Then Lizzy at 23 having heard the words her Mom wrote in a letter as she was dying. Describing each child perfectly. Charlie was so strong keeping the family together while dealing with the lost of his 1st true love Jason. But to find love again is what he deserved. Such a beautiful and complex family who all had personal issues but found a way to survive them all.
January 13, 2026
Really enjoyed this book! I bought it on a whim as it was only 99p although the title and cover didn't grab me I looked at reviews and bought it.
It's true what they say never judge a book by it's cover!
It was a 'one more chapter' book late into the night wanting to know what was ahead for the Fletcher family. Great believeable characters and I'd love a sequel!
It's true what they say never judge a book by it's cover!
It was a 'one more chapter' book late into the night wanting to know what was ahead for the Fletcher family. Great believeable characters and I'd love a sequel!
December 10, 2025
Disfunction at its finest.!!!
Different type of family, but loved them. Could feel the love,protecting, everyone. A long time since I've read a book with families so loyal !
Different type of family, but loved them. Could feel the love,protecting, everyone. A long time since I've read a book with families so loyal !
October 9, 2025
Excellent!
What a rollercoaster of a ride - excellent read!
Just when you think you might have an idea of how things are going to work out,you find out that you are wrong and have to start rethinking.
What a rollercoaster of a ride - excellent read!
Just when you think you might have an idea of how things are going to work out,you find out that you are wrong and have to start rethinking.
May 28, 2025
Five incredible lives from one amazing author
Over the course of a 23 year period, Paul Ilett tells the emotional story of the Fletcher Family through the eyes of five siblings. At times as heartbreaking as it is funny, we see how secrets come to light and shape the lives of these incredible people in this wonderful story that beautifully explores the joys and sadness of life. I don’t want to say too much about the plot as the pleasure of this book comes from the discovery and how the story unfolds. But this is a book that explores the lives of five siblings, never flinching in it’s honesty and remaining true to its characters, both in the good and the bad.
It’s rare to find a book that is able to weave together the lives of so many people, with so much emotional depth and over so many years, but Paul Ilett does it with almost effortless grace. Moving from one point of view to another, he picks up and puts down character’s story threads as he continually drives the narrative forwards. He knows when to explore a storyline in depth and when to follow it from a distance. And much like a caring parent, he knows when to take us by the hand and when best to leave us to stand on our own.
But he is not just an author who only knows how to write about emotions, his descriptive prose paint scenes that spring from the page. Whether it’s the way he perfectly captures the simmering family grievances at Charlie and Jason’s wedding or the way he describes an A&E waiting area through the frustrated eyes of Vicki. He will transport you to a miserably rainy morning outside a hospice, then whisk you off to the baking sun of the Canary Isles. Within a few short sentences you are there and you are immersed in the world. On top of all this he also knows how to construct a scene for comic or dramatic affect. You feel your heart beat faster as a taxi races to the hospital, your chest tightens as a nervous witness takes to the stand and feel the cheer roar in your throat as Tyler turfs Angel from the house. At times leaning towards the melodrama of an episode of EastEnders (with the final OTT story thread diminishing the book ever so slightly) this book certainly knows how to stir an emotional reaction.
But at the heart of this book are the characters. So distinct and lifelike, they’ve been so exquisitely crafted that they fix themselves firmly in your mind and your heart. So much so that it was with great sadness that the book finally did come to an end, having spent what felt like a lifetime with these characters. And as the author has said this is his “most personal book to date”, I can only hope that the real Charlie’s, Vicki’s, and Billy’s of this book are somewhere out there in the world. Because that means that one day I may just bump into them when strolling along Westcliff-on-Sea.
4.5 Stars
Over the course of a 23 year period, Paul Ilett tells the emotional story of the Fletcher Family through the eyes of five siblings. At times as heartbreaking as it is funny, we see how secrets come to light and shape the lives of these incredible people in this wonderful story that beautifully explores the joys and sadness of life. I don’t want to say too much about the plot as the pleasure of this book comes from the discovery and how the story unfolds. But this is a book that explores the lives of five siblings, never flinching in it’s honesty and remaining true to its characters, both in the good and the bad.
It’s rare to find a book that is able to weave together the lives of so many people, with so much emotional depth and over so many years, but Paul Ilett does it with almost effortless grace. Moving from one point of view to another, he picks up and puts down character’s story threads as he continually drives the narrative forwards. He knows when to explore a storyline in depth and when to follow it from a distance. And much like a caring parent, he knows when to take us by the hand and when best to leave us to stand on our own.
But he is not just an author who only knows how to write about emotions, his descriptive prose paint scenes that spring from the page. Whether it’s the way he perfectly captures the simmering family grievances at Charlie and Jason’s wedding or the way he describes an A&E waiting area through the frustrated eyes of Vicki. He will transport you to a miserably rainy morning outside a hospice, then whisk you off to the baking sun of the Canary Isles. Within a few short sentences you are there and you are immersed in the world. On top of all this he also knows how to construct a scene for comic or dramatic affect. You feel your heart beat faster as a taxi races to the hospital, your chest tightens as a nervous witness takes to the stand and feel the cheer roar in your throat as Tyler turfs Angel from the house. At times leaning towards the melodrama of an episode of EastEnders (with the final OTT story thread diminishing the book ever so slightly) this book certainly knows how to stir an emotional reaction.
But at the heart of this book are the characters. So distinct and lifelike, they’ve been so exquisitely crafted that they fix themselves firmly in your mind and your heart. So much so that it was with great sadness that the book finally did come to an end, having spent what felt like a lifetime with these characters. And as the author has said this is his “most personal book to date”, I can only hope that the real Charlie’s, Vicki’s, and Billy’s of this book are somewhere out there in the world. Because that means that one day I may just bump into them when strolling along Westcliff-on-Sea.
4.5 Stars
July 2, 2025
4.25
Loved the story and characters.
Not sure about the body under the patio at the end, seemed pretty unnecessary as I’d pretty much forgotten/didn’t care about Nate.
Loved the story and characters.
Not sure about the body under the patio at the end, seemed pretty unnecessary as I’d pretty much forgotten/didn’t care about Nate.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2025
Fabulous book!
What an incredible book. A tale of life, love , loss and every other emotion in between!
I laughed, I gasped, I screamed and cried. Paul’s words paint a wonderful portrait of the complex relationships within families, but he reminds us that, although blood is thicker than water, we can welcome and embrace others into our lives and hearts and that, they too can become family.
What an incredible book. A tale of life, love , loss and every other emotion in between!
I laughed, I gasped, I screamed and cried. Paul’s words paint a wonderful portrait of the complex relationships within families, but he reminds us that, although blood is thicker than water, we can welcome and embrace others into our lives and hearts and that, they too can become family.
August 13, 2025
This is an epic family journey spanning generations - the kind of book that could be made into a film and keep you entirely captivated. Loved the movement of time and the focus on each of the children at different points in their lives. Beautifully written, and highly recommended.
September 19, 2025
Just a beautiful story
I have not found a book like this in a long while, it is amazing to me how much I care about this family. Bravo to some excellent writing and the wonderful book.
I have not found a book like this in a long while, it is amazing to me how much I care about this family. Bravo to some excellent writing and the wonderful book.
August 2, 2025
it's not very often i write a review, but this story had me gripped from the start all the way to the end, thought-provoking and emotional and beautifully written.
September 9, 2025
This was a great read, however, I did figure a lot of the secrets.. I like that it jumped over years, instead of reading unrelated stuff.
January 12, 2026
AI Narrated book. Had I known that before I checked it out, I would not have listened to the book. Personally I don’t want to support that, but additionally it was not done well. Timing was off. Inflection/tone was also not appropriate at many points. Some of it flowed well, but at points there were weird pauses. I did not enjoy the narration and it detracted from the story.
Overall, I enjoyed the story, or what I could separate from the “narrator.”
Overall, I enjoyed the story, or what I could separate from the “narrator.”
December 11, 2025
Very good
Five siblings, aged 23 to new born. This is the story of their lives, all the ups and downs, and a family sticking together, through it all. Some good people, and a few great villain s, I really liked this.
Five siblings, aged 23 to new born. This is the story of their lives, all the ups and downs, and a family sticking together, through it all. Some good people, and a few great villain s, I really liked this.
January 6, 2026
An emotional read
At some points I read this with a lump in my throat. Quite salacious, in other parts. Overall, I really enjoyed it.
At some points I read this with a lump in my throat. Quite salacious, in other parts. Overall, I really enjoyed it.
January 10, 2026
I did enjoy this book and the way is was told, it did dip slightly but picked up again. Definitely worth a read!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews