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FIVE SIBLINGS AT 23
In every family, there is one secret that could change everything, and one person who knows the whole story.
On his 23rd birthday, Charlie Fletcher tells his dying mother that he’s gay. In return, she reveals a long-hidden truth, one so powerful it will cast a shadow over the lives of Charlie and his brothers and sisters for decades to come.
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, what other revelations could be waiting? A forgotten photograph of a young boy at Christmas, a letter sealed for more than twenty years, and a dark truth that threatens to tear the family apart.
From the windswept coast of Southend-on-Sea to the golden light of Gran Canaria, each of the five Fletcher children must face their own challenges, when they reach the fateful age of 23.
“Paul Ilett writes so beautifully, his words woven in such a way that they will draw you into the book, and keep you captivated to the last page.”
Victor Nwabuisi, The Online Bookclub
‘Five Siblings at 23’ is an epic family saga spanning more than 20 years. Readers around the world have fallen in love with the Fletcher family and praised the novel’s deeply emotional story and characters who are so real, you will believe you actually know them. An absolute page-turner, it will keep you reading into the middle of the night.
On his 23rd birthday, Charlie Fletcher tells his dying mother that he’s gay. In return, she reveals a long-hidden truth, one so powerful it will cast a shadow over the lives of Charlie and his brothers and sisters for decades to come.
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, what other revelations could be waiting? A forgotten photograph of a young boy at Christmas, a letter sealed for more than twenty years, and a dark truth that threatens to tear the family apart.
From the windswept coast of Southend-on-Sea to the golden light of Gran Canaria, each of the five Fletcher children must face their own challenges, when they reach the fateful age of 23.
“Paul Ilett writes so beautifully, his words woven in such a way that they will draw you into the book, and keep you captivated to the last page.”
Victor Nwabuisi, The Online Bookclub
‘Five Siblings at 23’ is an epic family saga spanning more than 20 years. Readers around the world have fallen in love with the Fletcher family and praised the novel’s deeply emotional story and characters who are so real, you will believe you actually know them. An absolute page-turner, it will keep you reading into the middle of the night.
385 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 21, 2025
About the author
Paul Ilett
5 books39 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 - 28 of 28 reviews
March 3, 2026
Wow this book, I read it on my Kindle and I literally just had to keep reading it. So good, although towards the end I was thinking how much can one family endure but then a letter from decades ago pulled it altogether and kept me in tears but wanting more from this author.
February 11, 2026
What an amazing book that will stay with me for a long time it was so well written and I cared about the siblings instantly a beautiful story and it was so heart breaking but so joyful as well.
I really felt a connection to Charlie and liked that we kept coming back to his story and the rest of the siblings too.
Really worth a read but it will take you on an emotional journey.
I really felt a connection to Charlie and liked that we kept coming back to his story and the rest of the siblings too.
Really worth a read but it will take you on an emotional journey.
January 25, 2026
Wow absolutely loved this book, couldn’t put it down, best book I have read for a very long time, loved every single chapter, if only I could give more than 5 stars 👌
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 !
April 2, 2026
Not 5 stars as it annoyed me that secrets were only revealed when someone was dying. If they were that close as a family no secrets should be kept
But being one of 4 siblings I loved all the bonds they had
But being one of 4 siblings I loved all the bonds they had
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.
January 26, 2026
Read for Book Club, otherwise would not have bothered. Poor 2D characters, poor soap opera plot, poor twists. Overall, just poor.
January 25, 2026
Not my cup of tea
January 20, 2026
If I could give this book more than 5stars I would, its the best book I've read so far this year, very sad in places and also some funny parts, it makes you think of your own siblings(if you have any) i definitely recommend this book to friends and family.
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.”
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 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!
March 7, 2026
I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was easy to read and one of those stories that you simply don’t want to put down. I finished it in just two days , helped, of course, by being stuck in bed with the weather conditions here in the UK but it was such a fast-paced and engaging read that the pages seemed to fly by.
What I loved most was how easily I connected with the characters. Even the characters who only appeared briefly felt real and memorable. While parts of the story may not have been entirely unpredictable, that didn’t take away from the enjoyment. It was still a beautifully told, heartfelt story that kept me turning the pages.
The book is not only heartwarming but also surprisingly informative. There were several topics and pieces of information that I personally hadn’t come across before, and the author explained them clearly and naturally within the story. That added another layer of depth and made the book even more enjoyable.
One aspect I particularly appreciated was the LGBTQ+ representation in the story. It was handled thoughtfully and felt like a natural and important part of the narrative. Seeing that inclusion added richness to the characters and the overall story, and it was something I was genuinely impressed by.
This is truly a book for everyone. It’s the kind of story you could easily take on holiday—something you can enjoy at your own pace without needing to keep track of complex plotlines or constantly refer back to earlier chapters.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and after such an enjoyable experience, I’m really looking forward to reading more of their work in the future. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a heartfelt, engaging, and meaningful read.
What I loved most was how easily I connected with the characters. Even the characters who only appeared briefly felt real and memorable. While parts of the story may not have been entirely unpredictable, that didn’t take away from the enjoyment. It was still a beautifully told, heartfelt story that kept me turning the pages.
The book is not only heartwarming but also surprisingly informative. There were several topics and pieces of information that I personally hadn’t come across before, and the author explained them clearly and naturally within the story. That added another layer of depth and made the book even more enjoyable.
One aspect I particularly appreciated was the LGBTQ+ representation in the story. It was handled thoughtfully and felt like a natural and important part of the narrative. Seeing that inclusion added richness to the characters and the overall story, and it was something I was genuinely impressed by.
This is truly a book for everyone. It’s the kind of story you could easily take on holiday—something you can enjoy at your own pace without needing to keep track of complex plotlines or constantly refer back to earlier chapters.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and after such an enjoyable experience, I’m really looking forward to reading more of their work in the future. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a heartfelt, engaging, and meaningful read.
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.
April 19, 2026
Five Siblings at 23 by Paul Ilett ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This months book club read. What an epic family tale of woe. Starts with a mother’s death from cancer and then follows her children’s lives as each of them turn 23. Dragged on and on for me.
This months book club read. What an epic family tale of woe. Starts with a mother’s death from cancer and then follows her children’s lives as each of them turn 23. Dragged on and on for me.
April 27, 2026
Even 99p was too much to pay for this book.
I cannot believe the 5 star reviews.
Poor character development, boring plot, poorly written.
It was like a very bad soap opera written by a teenager.
Skim read up to 25% in than gave up.
Rubbish. Zero stars from me.
I cannot believe the 5 star reviews.
Poor character development, boring plot, poorly written.
It was like a very bad soap opera written by a teenager.
Skim read up to 25% in than gave up.
Rubbish. Zero stars from me.
May 23, 2026
Best read of the year
Don't usually read books of this nature but I'm glad I did it was so moving,I cried with it and laughed with it so moving,if you don't read another book this year make this your last read you won't regret it,brilliant
Don't usually read books of this nature but I'm glad I did it was so moving,I cried with it and laughed with it so moving,if you don't read another book this year make this your last read you won't regret it,brilliant
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 21, 2026
Emotional story of a family's life, love and loss. My first read of my 2026 reading challenge and I really enjoyed it.
Read
May 5, 2026Not my cup of tea!
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews