Common Decency

by Tom Allen

It may be quiet in the suburbs, but it's far from peaceful . . .

Oak Drive can be found nestled tidily in an unassuming English town. Its uniform front gardens overlook a midsized common which the street's residents survey with quiet, some might say smug, pride.

This is the sort of place where it pays to sweat the small stuff, and let the big things look after themselves. Bins should be placed back in their right positions in a timely fashion and paintwork should share the same tasteful but muted palette.

Sometimes, however, the big things do not look after themselves - and all hell can break loose in sleepy suburbia.

Common Decency chronicles the lives and interactions of the street's residents as they band together to save a beloved oak tree from destruction at the hands of ruthless developers.

As tensions rise and repressed neuroses and resentments seep out, the secrets of Oak Drive threaten to shatter the well-ordered veneer, revealing some rather more unsettling truths. . .

Tom Allen brings his trademark dark comedy to the page in this brilliant novel about what it truly means to be a neighbourhood.

312 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 21, 2026

Reviews

[❀ Tia ❀ · Rating 4 out of 5]

| ARC REVIEW | Publication Date: 21st May 2026

★★★★☆

Summary
On Oak Drive, a quiet, suburban street, four houses are occupied by four very different families: Miranda — an old lady with a young and mischievous spirit, Fanny and Donald — a placid, people-pleasing wife and a controlling, demanding husband, Barry and Alice — a couple navigating a rocky marriage whilst parenting their two teenage children, and Oak Drive newcomers — sensible and anxious Vince, and his boyfriend Nathan Luke, the more confident and adventurous of the two.

For the most part, these individuals are wrapped up in their own lives with nothing in common except the street they live on and the shared hope of keeping their personal secrets under wraps. However, when new planning developments threaten to upend their community, they decide to unite forces and fight together to save the heart of Oak Drive. But, as the neighbours become increasingly more close-knit, they begin to realise that secrets will eventually spill whether they want them to or not.

My Thoughts
It's no secret that Tom Allen is a very funny guy, and his comedy was woven perfectly throughout this book. His talent for ironic, witty and humorous writing made for an incredibly enjoyable story. I found myself grinning on countless occasions whilst reading this book. I also loved how he managed to turn the normal, mundane aspects of everyday life into something so interesting and rather tender.

This book is written from multiple points of view which allowed me to follow each of the four homes' occupants' lives in an alternating manner. I found this an engaging way of including the background lives of several distinct characters. I'll admit, in the beginning I found it hard to keep track of who was who, but Tom Allen wrote about each character in a way that gave them all their own well-rounded, fleshed out personalities and their own little quirks, meaning that I very quickly got to know each character and soon had no problem following along with each one. This detailed character formation is what I think truly brought the story to life. The characters were handled in a way that made them feel so real — almost as if I was living on the same street and that I could step outside of my door and bump into them.

However, I did sometimes feel that the focus on each character switched too prematurely, occasionally losing some opportunity for certain events, interactions, or personal circumstances to have been explored more deeply. — But, after some thought, I feel that this accurately mirrors how very little we often know about the people we are surrounded by and how the relationships most of us have with our own neighbours are more often than not, surface-level and somewhat superficial. I suppose that this means the regularly alternating POVs ensured that the book stayed true to the theme of "you never completely know what's going on in somebody's life, no matter how much you think you know them".

I found each character entertaining to read about in their own ways, however my favourite has to be Miranda. She was such a mischief maker and I found her absolutely hilarious! However, I also really enjoyed Fanny's character development throughout the story and loved how she eventually developed a backbone and stood up for herself.

Although there were some parts of the story that were slower than others, the plot twists that came as a result of everybody's secrets being gradually revealed were enough to give me whiplash! I was totally surprised and found myself very eager to find out what was going to happen next.

Overall
This was a warm-hearted, funny and thought-provoking read which I found very easy to immerse myself in. I know this one hasn't even been released yet, but if Tom Allen doesn't write any more novels then I will RIOT! I really enjoyed his writing and can't wait to (hopefully) read more of his work in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tom Allen, and Hodder and Stoughton | Coronet for gifting this eBook in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. All opinions are my own.

❀ Tia ❀

[Ella Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as both an eBook and audiobook ARC, and the audiobook especially worked beautifully because Tom Allen narrates it himself. 🎧✨ His delivery adds so much texture to the humour, awkward pauses, passive-aggressive exchanges, and emotional undercurrents. You can hear exactly where the comedy sharpens and where the sadness quietly slips in.

This is Tom Allen’s debut novel, set on Oak Drive, a meticulously respectable suburban street where residents become united over saving a beloved oak tree from developers, while simmering tensions and personal insecurities begin surfacing underneath the polished surface of “good manners.”

The closest comparison for me was definitely The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman. Not because the stories are similar structurally, but because they share that same deeply British blend of:
* cozy observational humour ☕
* emotionally lonely but lovable characters 🫖
* understated melancholy
* sharp social commentary hidden inside comfort-reading energy
Where Richard Osman leans warmer and more sentimental, Tom Allen feels slightly more anxious, theatrical, and psychologically observant.

📝 Non-Spoiler Summary
Common Decency is essentially a suburban comedy of manners wrapped around questions of identity, loneliness, status, and belonging. The residents of Oak Drive obsess over small social rules, bins, gardens, appearances, etiquette, while much larger emotional fractures quietly grow underneath.

The book becomes less about the external conflict and more about what happens when people who rely on politeness as emotional armour are forced into uncomfortable proximity with one another. 🏡🌳

It’s character-driven rather than plot-driven, and the real pleasure comes from watching relationships evolve, tensions simmer, and hidden vulnerabilities emerge through everyday interactions.

🧠 Psychological Analysis of the Characters
This is where the novel really excels.
Tom Allen understands social performance on a microscopic level. Many of these characters are desperately trying to maintain dignity, control, or respectability while internally struggling with insecurity, loneliness, resentment, or fear of rejection.
A recurring psychological theme is the conflict between authenticity and presentation:
* characters curate their homes, language, routines, and manners as a form of emotional self-protection
* politeness often masks judgment, grief, envy, or panic
* humour becomes a defence mechanism against vulnerability
* several residents appear emotionally “contained” until pressure exposes what’s underneath
What makes the cast work is that nobody feels entirely ridiculous or entirely noble. Even the nosier or pettier characters are written with enough humanity that you understand why they cling to routine, control, or social rituals.

Tom Allen also captures a very specifically British emotional repression — people saying one thing while clearly meaning another — and the novel gets a lot of humour and sadness from that contradiction. 🇬🇧

🎭 Themes
* 🌳 Community vs individuality — how neighbourhoods create belonging while also encouraging conformity
* 🎭 Performance of respectability — people constructing identities through manners, appearance, and routine
* 💬 Emotional repression — the danger of avoiding vulnerability in favour of politeness
* 🏡 Suburban loneliness — isolation hidden behind tidy homes and social niceties
* 👀 Judgment and surveillance — neighbours constantly observing and quietly assessing one another
* 🫖 British politeness culture — civility used both as kindness and passive aggression
* ❤️ Human connection — despite all the awkwardness and defensiveness, the novel remains hopeful about people needing one another

📖 Tropes & Vibes
* 🏘️ Eccentric neighbourhood ensemble cast
* ☕ Cozy British suburban setting
* 👵 Nosy neighbours with hidden depth
* 🌧️ Humour masking sadness
* 🫖 Comedy of manners
* 🌳 Community fighting external change
* 💌 Quiet emotional revelations instead of dramatic twists
* 🎭 Social awkwardness as both comedy and character study
* 📚 Comfort-read with emotional depth

💖 Strengths
* ✨ Brilliant observational humour
* 🎭 Strong audiobook narration by Tom Allen himself
* 🫖 Cozy suburban atmosphere with emotional depth
* 👀 Extremely sharp social and psychological observations
* 🏡 Rich sense of place and neighbourhood dynamics
* 💬 Dialogue feels authentic and rhythmically funny
* ❤️ Surprisingly tender beneath the satire

⚠️ Weaknesses
* 🐢 Slow pacing at times, especially early on
* 📖 More character-focused than plot-focused
* 😶 Some readers may want bigger emotional payoffs
* 🪴 The suburban minutiae occasionally becomes a little overindulgent

Common Decency feels like a love letter to suburban Britain, but one written with both affection and a raised eyebrow. It’s witty, comforting, socially observant, and quietly emotional without becoming saccharine.

If you enjoy stories about eccentric communities, emotionally repressed neighbours, and the strange theatre of everyday politeness, this will absolutely hit the spot. Fans of Richard Osman and The Thursday Murder Club will likely find a very similar comfort-read energy here — though Tom Allen’s voice is distinctly sharper and more socially forensic.

A funny, intelligent, quietly sad suburban drama that becomes more emotionally affecting the longer you sit with it. 🌳☕✨

Thank you to hodderstoughton and also thank you to netgalley for this arc.

[Georgina Power · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for an advance copy of this book!

“Change is inevitable… but it doesn’t have to be a bad thing.”

That line really captures the heart of the novel. This is a story about transition, about how life quietly moves forward whether we’re ready or not. About how decency, in its smallest everyday forms, matters.

From the very first pages, even just the foreword, I could hear Tom Allen reading this to me. His voice, his rhythm, that wonderfully precise way he has of articulating words… it all just fits on the page. It feels conversational, warm, gently observant. Like he’s sitting across from you with a cup of tea, telling you about the people who live just down the road.

Common Decency centres around four houses on one street, and the lives unfolding within them.

House one: Fanny and Donald, married for forty-one years, navigating their seventies with all the quiet tenderness and stubbornness that brings.

House two: Dr Alice and Barry, in their forties, juggling careers and two teenagers — Arthur and Isobel — with all the emotional chaos that family life entails.

House three: Miranda, eighty years old, observant and quietly formidable.

House four: Vince and Nathan Luke — a household with its own complexities, ambitions and shifting dynamics.

This is very much a character-driven novel. In fact, I’d say it’s almost entirely character-driven. The plot is minimal, more a gentle thread running through a couple of years of neighbourly lives than a structured sequence of dramatic events. Their are every day events such as relationship shifts and wobbling careers, with characters reveal parts of themselves they’ve kept tucked away. There are connections between houses that add interest, but nothing explosive or overly dramatic.

Tom Allen writes people beautifully. I felt exactly what I was meant to feel. I fell in love with the characters I was supposed to love. I felt frustrated with the ones I was meant to feel frustrated by. Every character feels recognisable, like someone you know, someone you’ve worked with, someone who lives three doors down. I think most readers will see a little of themselves (or their circle) reflected somewhere on this street. There’s a comfort in that. It’s an easy, simple read. Nothing graphic, nothing overwhelmingly heavy. Just community, change, ageing, family, identity.

There was so much potential here. The setup, four houses, intertwined lives, felt like it could build into something deeper or more dramatic. I kept waiting for a stronger plot arc to really anchor everything together, and it never quite arrived. I just can’t help feeling it could have been something extraordinary with a more plot depth.

A gentle, thoughtful story about ordinary lives, just slightly “middle range” for me, but still undeniably very Tom Allen.

[Ry Gibson Moss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of advanced copy received from NetGalley

I so enjoyed this book! I haven’t laughed this much in ages. The last time I LOLed this hard at an audiobook was Jasper Fforde’s ‘Shades of Grey’.

Due to my lack of mainstream TV knowledge I requested an Advanced Listened Copy of this book purely on the cover (I know but we all do it, right?!) and the description. It was only part way through when I thought, who is this author? They’re really good for a debut novelist and their narration is outstanding! So for anyone else that isn’t familiar Tom Allen is a successful stand up comedian and TV presenter in the UK. His expertise as both a wordsmith and an actor is very clear and he smashes both out the park with this audiobook.

The book warms up slowly. I was interested enough to keep going but it took until about a third of the way in before I was hooked. And then I was in that position of being annoyed that daily life was interfering with my listening time!

The tale is set in a London suburb with a cast of characters we come to know as the story unfolds. The book follows Vince, Alice, Fanny and Miranda with their families and acquaintances coming in and out of focus. I particularly liked this style of writing - all in the 3rd person but zooming into particular people and their stories at different times. This created a gently moving perspective that kept the story interesting and engaging without resorting to overwrought drama or hugely unrealistic happenings.

The neighbourhood that Vince and his boyfriend Nathan Luke have just moved into, is brought together through the threat of losing a beautiful Oak tree that stands in the small park by their houses. The council wants to build an EV Charging station and the neighbours come together to try and protect their tree.

Issues of climate change, NIMBYism, homophobia, ageism, Queerness, and misogyny are woven throughout but never in a heavy handed way.

As a newcomer to Tom Allen’s work I was impressed by how funny it was but also how emotionally adept it became. And as a Queer person that’s spent way too much time in suburbia it hit home on the humour but also the challenges of suburban life.

When I was doing my usual checks on the author, I ended up watching lots of reels of his work on instagram and having a right old giggle. And that’s what I’m off to do again now!

With thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an ALC in return for an unbiased review.

[Kath · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once I got over the fact that maybe this guy's sense of humour doesn't quite match mine - especially wrt the crass joke he pulls very early on I had a better time once the story really got going.
We meet the inhabitants of Oak Drive - just 4 houses situated by a small park complete with the eponymous tree, a community centre, local shop and hairdressers.
Three of the houses' occupants have lived there for a while, but there is a new couple on the block, Vince and Nathan Luke, and everyone wants to know their background, and involve them into the community. Meanwhile we also get to know Miranda who although getting on in years, is still young at heart and has a bit of a wild past. Then there's Fanny and Donald - chalk and cheese. He's a bit of a bully all told. Finally, we have Barry and Alice and their two kids. They are going through a bit of a sticky patch in their marriage. The usually ticking along, not really trying stuff...
But then there's a note from the council planning department informing them of a new development which threatens both the park and their peace, as well as the tree! Will this be enough to unite and ignite our characters into action...?
The focus of the book switches between the four households so you meet them and get to know them gradually. Maybe too gradually. I think for me the focus switched too often and too soon and, as a consequence, I didn't feel I bonded with any of them properly. And they all went through quite a lot of change as the book developed, most of which felt forced rather than natural. Despite the main trigger being the threat to the park and tree, I though it all happened too coincidentally to be really believable. And cos it is a very character driven book, the characters have to be able to hold up the story and I don't feel they did here.
The story itself flowed reasonably well and there were a few shocks and surprises along the way. But I felt that the ending felt a little flat and I didn't finish the book with much of a satisfied feeling.
All in all, I think that this is probably a case of me as a reader not really getting on with him as an author. Some of the jokes hit home, other's fell quite flat, some even irked me a tad. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

[Mary Lawrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I appreciate Tom Allen’s brand of humour, so I was interested to read his first novel, Common Decency. As I read I could hear his voice coming through, & there were plenty of funny moments throughout the story. I loved the basic premise & the setting in suburbia; having grown up in suburban North London, I found much that was relatable & true to life. Oak Drive is a very believable corner of suburbia, which could easily be part of the London I grew up in. There’s some great characters who wouldn’t have been out of place on the street where I grew up. Not all of them are likeable, but that’s the thing about neighbours isn’t it?

Oak Drive is a small terrace of 4 houses overlooking a park where there is a large old oak tree, a local landmark. The residents are a mix of people, as you’d expect. There’s Dennis & Fanny, the elderly couple who’ve lived there forever, she’s quiet but nosy whilst he tries to control everything around him. There’s the family next door, with 2 teenagers, mum’s a GP, dad’s a house husband but doesn’t do enough around the house, & both embarrass their children! Then there’s my favourite character, the enigmatic Miranda; aged 80 & retired, but no-one knows what she did. She appears frail but isn’t. I loved her attitude to life with her “f**k-it” list of things she wanted to do regardless of what people thought! The fourth house is currently empty, but new neighbours are moving in soon; everyone wants to know everything about the gay coupled - they must have spent a fortune on renovations but how can we get to see what they have done? The community finally starts coming together, sort of, when the council publish development plans for the park opposite & Dennis tries to organise a protest. Then all sorts of secrets & tensions start emerging from every household. So …. you get a flavour of the kind of things that go on.

It’s a good story; written in small chapters which makes it easy to read, but I’d recommend allowing yourself an hour when you first pick up this book so you can get to know the various characters & their relationships. It’s a lovely gentle read, written with a keen eye for detail & observation of human interaction.

[Ceecee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Location: a short row of four attractive terraced houses, though not all retain their original features. Close by is a small park, a community centre and a large oak which gives the road its name. It’s quiet but it’s not possible to describe it as entirely peaceful, as this is a place where everything is observed and not necessarily approved of, especially about the bins and the state of the garden at number three. They’re a disparate bunch but when the council threatens to develop the park and fell the aged Oak, then maybe they can come together to fight it. One thing becomes very clear though, beneath the veneer of respectability some of these characters are harbourIng secrets.

I like Tom Allen and enjoy his dry, witty barbs and so I’m keen to see if he can write novels. So, what’s the verdict? Well, absolutely yes, he can! This is a delicious slice of suburbia with a little bit of everything from laughter to sadness, to intrigue and secrets and battles lost and won. I enjoy it very much and could easily picture the characters and their interactions. It’s as witty as the author, it’s a bit quirky but it’s presented with an affectionate examination of a small neighbourhood whose differing personalities are very well portrayed, giving a strong sense of what it means to be part of a community. The cover sums up the novel and its contents to perfection.

There are some very creative, lively and dramatic scenes some of which made me chuckle or cringe with everything in between.

It’s fair to say there isn’t a huge amount of plot as it’s more about the personalities, their lives and lifestyles but it’s very entertaining. I like the “never judge a book by its cover” presentation of some of the inhabitants and I think we all may know a jobsworth like Donald!

I enjoy how it ends as it leaves me with a smile so it’s a case of a job well done and I’ll happily read anything. Tom Allen writes in the future.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.

[Tzia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life in suburbia - it happens slowly. On a street next to a park sits a row of houses; and in them live all the characters you might expect to find. There's the over-anxious, timid woman who runs the local shop and her domineering, some might say pompous husband. There's the GP who's overworked and unsatisfied with her life - craving some excitement what with her two teenaged children and her underachieving husband making sure home life is usually more of the same. There's the elderly lady who lives alone; often underestimated she's lived a more interesting life than anyone would suspect. And finally the occupants of the house on the end, the gay couple who have extensively renovated their suburban semi, and moved here to have a quieter life.

This is above all a very sweet book. In telling the individual stories of the residents of the street, we also get to see how a group of individuals come together to form a community, and how every individual can have an impact on the world and people around them. Far from being action packed, the pace is as slow as any year in suburban England - ebbing and flowing with the seasons and centering around a couple of key events which may or may not bring change with them.

I think everyone can identify with the setting in this book, and most of the people in it. Whether we realise it or not we all know a Donald or an Alice, and we can all picture a place like Oak Drive - and that's the real beauty of this story. There are cringeworthy scenes, unlikely friendships, and heartwarming moments as we follow the residents through a year or two of their lives. And of course, this being suburbia, there are just bound to be some secrets waiting to come out.

If you're a person who wants high-octane or deep mystery then this won't appeal. However, I really enjoyed this as a lovely gentle book about change, acceptance, belonging, and community.

- Thanks to NetGalley for granting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review -

[pastiesandpages - Gavin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a light hearted and gentle read set in a suburban town and the residents of Oak Drive.
The street contains a cast of characters that very quickly become real people with the way they are written. Gay couple, Vince and Nathan Luke have moved in and renovated their house and are at a crossroads in their lives and relationship. They miss the faster pace of life in London but they want to feel that they belong to a community but have no idea how to go about it. Their nearest neighbours consist of elderly Miranda, who at 80 is living her best life and not at all what she seems, Alice and Barry have two teenage children, a typical suburban family, but the kids are frustrated with their parents, Alice is the local doctor but dissatisfied with her life and her marriage as, husband Barry, flits from one project to another. Older couple Donald and Fanny, have been married for years and Fanny doesn't know how she puts up with him as Donald spends a lot of time writing letters of complaint, berating the council and generally getting angry about everything.

The book eases you into their lives gently. They're familiar types and the situation doesn't allow for a lot of humour until things start to come together as the community park is under threat of redevelopment and a surprising stage show is being rehearsed at the local community hall.

I could hear Tom's voice in my head as I read further which made it funnier and also made me realise that he'd made the characters and story his own.
It was easy to get caught up in the day to day struggles of the Oak Drive residents. There are a few secrets & surprises although one big twist was telegraphed in advance and I wasn't sure if the reader was supposed to know before the characters did.

If you're after a gentle, cosy read with a little dark comedy then this could be for you.

Thank you Netgalley for the review copy.

[Books Before Bs · Rating 2 out of 5]

‘Common Decency’ offers a caricature of English suburbia, replete with shallow stereotypes and reveals so predictable I could have sworn the information had been overtly stated earlier in the novel. It has a fairly amusing tone overall—if you can get past the initial infantile joke, that is—though the situations it presents and the characters’ actions are far from realistic, and it lacks anything even resembling plot.

The cast is large, but due to the cartoonish nature in which they are written, they feel reasonably distinct after the first eighty pages or so. However, their lack of depth and the author’s heavy use of filtering and telling, creating a substantial narrative distance, makes it hard to connect with any of them. Plus, none of them have any goals, which makes them impossible to root for.

The writing is okay, but in need of tighter editing. Ungrammatical constructions and head-hopping are a frequent occurrence, and they make for a jarring and disorienting read. The writing also trends towards a melodramatic, soap-opera-esque quality as it nears the end. This is particularly true of the big reveal, which somehow manages to be both predictable and completely unfounded in the story up to that point, and of the climactic scene—though, to call it ‘climactic’ is a stretch, as that would suggest a culmination and resolution, whereas this is just a random, big event shoved on the end.

‘Common Decency’ could be a good choice for you if you’re looking for an undemanding and vaguely amusing read; however, if you’re in the mood for a well-written story with characters you can care about, you’d be better off picking something else.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Tom Allen and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC.

⚠️ Drug use, alcohol

[Cosywithblaise · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Why did we discard older people so quickly?” “Why did we assume they were just passive observers in a world they had long since outgrown rather than people still living lives full of hopes and dreams?”

Do you ever look at a book’s cover or read the premise and just know you’re going to enjoy it? That’s exactly how I felt when I requested this ARC. It sounded like so much fun. I love books set in suburban neighbourhoods where secrets are quietly hidden behind closed doors. I had loved Tom from TV but being awful with names I hadn’t immediately made the connection. Once I looked into the book a little more I was even more excited to dive in and Tom absolutely did not let me down.

This book has been such a joy during dark times. I genuinely cannot remember the last time I laughed this much while reading. It is laugh out loud funny but also incredibly moving, with moments that really stay with you. The characters and the writing were just perfection and I felt completely immersed from the start. It played out like a movie in my head and I felt as though I had met every one of these characters at some point in my own life which made it even more enjoyable. My favourite character had to be Miranda. She is everything I hope to be when I grow up.

Although this is one of the funniest books I have ever read it also holds real emotional depth. We see the struggles within the characters’ lives, the monotony of day to day existence and how easy it is to lose yourself along the way. There is also redemption, love, care and a beautifully realistic feel running throughout the story.

I absolutely loved this book with every inch of my soul. It was an absolute pleasure and joy to read. A huge thank you to Tom for creating something so special.

[Ann Dewar · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5-4 This is a light and enjoyable soufflé of a novel, depicting the vicissitudes in the lives of the inhabitants of 4 adjacent terraced houses on a suburban street on the outskirts of London.

There are bound to be comparisons drawn between the redoubtable Miranda (aged 80) and Richard Osman’s Elizabeth from the Thursday Murder Club because of the spy link. I didn’t mind the similarities because Miranda is much more amusing and I loved the idea of her “Fuck It” list (a bucket list but with attitude).

Then there are Donald and Fanny and here I became confused. They are in their late 70’s yet Fanny still runs a local shop and pops in each day to help an elderly neighbour who is only a few years older than she is. Donald remains 2-dimensional throughout, a drain on patience. Fanny seems to transform as the novel progresses but without any real reason until near the end of the book.

Alice and Barry are experiencing a midlife crisis. Their children need them less and they suddenly have more time to examine their own relationship.

Then there are ‘the Gays’ Vince and Nathan Luke (a name I found inexplicably irritating). A mismatched couple who have ostensibly moved to the suburbs to save their relationship.

There are lots of amusing scenes and comments - unsurprising given the author - but I do feel that he was trying to do an awful lot in quite a compressed space. Much of it was implausible but there is also a lot to enjoy, it just seems a little too confused overall. To possibly quote Barry and Fanny, a little thinning out would have provided more room for growth.

With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Lindsey Pope · Rating 3 out of 5]

Four neighbouring houses with very different people living in them.
Meredith, the oldest yet wisest of the lot who reminded me a lot of Elizabeth from the Thursday Murder Club with a past that would surprise her neighbours (and by far the best character in the book)
Alice and Barry, a couple with teenage children who are struggling with life and Barry’s inability to stay in one job longer than six months.
Fanny and Donald, a traditional husband and wife of retirement age. He’s a belligerent man who always expects his own way and she’s the downtrodden spouse who looks at videos of horses to get away from the stress that living with Donald brings.
Finally there’s the Vince and Nathan Luke, the gay couple from London who have sold up and decided to live life in the suburbs.
They are all brought together to try to save the park that their houses are opposite from the council’s building plans.

While this seemed like a book right up my street with a promise of community and friendship, it really fell flat for me. I find Tom Allen incredibly funny and love his humour. However I was sadly disappointed with this novel.
Nothing really happened for the majority of the book. It got more interesting from the 85% mark onwards but by that time I wanted it to just be over. It look me over two weeks to read which is unheard of for me for a relatively short book. I kept getting bored and would go off and start doom scrolling on my phone instead (never a good sign)
I’m sure some people will love it but unfortunately it was not for me.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was interested in reading this book as I’m a huge fan of Tom Allen. However, it doesn’t always follow that just because you like the celebrity, you’ll like their writing.
This book is not my usual genre, I’m a murder/mystery/police procedure girl and this is none of those, in fact, I’d be hard pushed to slot this into a genre. I have no idea why I liked this book as much as I did, I just did. It’s set around a common area with a big tree which is at the centre of the controversial decision to fell the tree in order to put in electric car charging points. This idea brings together a set of neighbours who previously kept themselves to themselves.
The lovely thing about this book is the little individual stories around all four houses - Barry and Alice and their stale marriage, Fanny, the long-suffering, down-trodden wife of Donald, the quintessential over-bearing, pain-in-the-ass organiser (there’s always one), Miranda with her secret past, Vince and Nathan Luke, the gay couple who’ve just moved in and modernised their house. They each have their own agendas as well as the shared agenda of saving the tree.
I just kept picking my Kindle up as often as I could to see what was going to happen next. It’s just a lovely story and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved Tom Allen’s writing style, his descriptions, similes and analogies were fascinating. I’d definitely want to read another of his books.
As always my thanks go to the author, the publishers and NetGalley for an advance reader e.copy of this book.

[whatmrsdobbsreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to snag an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of Tom Allen’s debut novel, Common Decency, and it was exactly the "love letter to suburbia" I hoped for.

Just reading it is hear Tom's voice in my head as if it was an audiobook narrated by Tom himself.

The story centers on Oak Drive, a leafy suburban street where residents obsess over bin placement and muted paint palettes until a local oak tree is threatened by developers. While the initial setup feels like a classic "NIMBY" (Not In My Backyard) protest, Allen quickly peels back the well-ordered veneer to reveal the complex, hidden lives of the neighbours.
What I Loved:
The Characters: They are "garden-variety weirdos" you’ll immediately recognise from your own life. Standouts for me were the "fabulous" Miranda, the bossy Don, and the put-upon Fanny.
The Tone: It strikes a perfect balance between Allen’s trademark acerbic wit and genuine emotional depth. It’s laugh-out-loud funny but also a "heartfelt tear-jerker" as it explores themes of loneliness and redemption.
Suburban Satire: Allen perfectly captures the "small stuff" that dominates suburban life—from neighbourhood WhatsApp group drama to community theatre scandals.
If you enjoy the observational humour and cosy-but-sharp drama of writers like Richard Osman, you will adore this. It’s a warm, immersive read that makes you wonder what’s really going on behind your own neighbours' closed doors.
Huge thanks to the publisher, Hodder & Stoughton, and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Lynda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely love Tom Allen and his dry acerbic wit so I had high hopes for this book. It’s a cozy character driven story about a small road, Oak Drive, which has just four houses in it. A fairly large cast of characters all with equal billing - Vince and Nathan who have just moved in, overbearing Donald and his mousy wife Fanny, GP Alice and her laid back (so far back almost falling over) husband Barry (and their two children) and retired Miranda who was my favourite character, totally bonkers but fun.

Briefly, there isn’t much of a plot, it is more of an expose of the secrets the various characters are hiding. The only real plot running through the story is the neighbours trying to save the small park and its ancient oak tree, opposite their homes, which the council want to turn into a vehicle charging point centre. Other notable events include illegal drug dealing and a queer performance of Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, you get the idea!

There is a bee at the beginning of the novel that returns at the end and I think more could have been (no pun intended) made of this. I liked the bee! It’s all very far fetched and there is a lot going on, I did get lost a couple of times about who was narrating but was reading an e-arc so the layout may have been tidied up. It was a pleasant story but I think I set my expectations too high. I did wonder if the author was voicing an audio book as I thought that would work well. It was worth the read and I would read more from the author. A cozy entertaining book.

[Lorraine Woodall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Common Decency is a sharply observed and genuinely funny novel that captures the strange rituals and quiet absurdities of suburban life. Tom Allen brings the same dry wit and elegant humour he’s known for as a comedian, but the novel also has a warmth that stops it from becoming simply a satire of middle-class manners.
What I enjoyed most was the way Allen turns ordinary suburban interactions into something hilarious. Dinner parties, neighbourly tensions, local gossip, and petty social rivalries are all exaggerated just enough to feel comic while still remaining believable. The humour is subtle and character-driven rather than loud or farcical, which makes the awkward moments even funnier.
The characters feel recognisable in the best way. Almost everyone in the novel is trying to appear polite, respectable, and “decent,” even while quietly judging each other or hiding their own insecurities. Allen clearly has affection for the world he’s writing about, even as he gently mocks it.
Beneath the comedy, the novel also says something interesting about loneliness, social performance, and the pressure to fit into suburban expectations. That emotional undercurrent gives the story more depth than a straightforward comedy.
At times the plot feels secondary to the observations and dialogue, but the strength of Allen’s writing voice keeps the book entertaining throughout. I found Common Decency witty, charming, and surprisingly insightful, a clever comedy about the small dramas and hidden anxieties of suburban life.

[Teresa Auden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Tom Allen's humour and style as a 'TV personality', so was intrigued to see if this came across in his new novel. Common Decency is set in a quiet suburb, and follows the inhabitants of a small row of houses as they come together to save their local green space. Full of humour, several touching moments, and lots of relatable characters and conversations, this is a very funny read.
There were a couple of things that I didn't particularly like. Miranda, the loveable old lady with a past and a dubious Fuck-It List! She had some stellar moments, especially on her quest to buy and try recreational drugs. However, by making her a retired spy she felt like an extra from The Thursday Murder Club. I would have liked a different back story for her. The reveal of the family connection between two of the households at the end didn't seem necessary to me. It felt a bit forced and the story could have panned out exactly the same way without it.
That being said, there were many things I loved about this story. The introduction of all the main characters via the journey of a bee at the beginning of the novel (and it's return at the end). The affable but useless Barry, who found a love of gardening and managed to produce a ridiculously over the top queer production of Joseph.
Overall a hilarious read about community and family dynamics that, despite a few niggles on my part, was a joy to read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

[Jen James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Common Decency is the story of the residents of Oak Drive, a row of four terraced houses, in a leafy, well heeled suburb. The houses face a large park, which has the focal point of an ancient oak tree. These four homes have very different residents, who haven’t really progressed from being neighbours to real friends. Common Decency is comedian Tom Allen’s debut. I’m a fan of his sharp cutting humour, so was eager to dive in.

This is a character led story, with the focus very much on the lives of the residents. The day to day minutiae, and the bigger moments that life has in store for us all. The characters were all varied, and well explored, Miranda being my personal favourite.
I could feel Tom’s wry wit and observational humour in the words.

Common Decency was narrated by Tom, I could almost see his raised eyebrow in my mind at times. I have always wondered how narrators find inspiration for voicing their characters, could it be from fellow comedians? Is it a coincidence that occasionally his voice took on an Alan Carr tone, when the character was getting a little excitable.

I felt that this was a story of a community learning to grow together, despite their obvious differences and views; of learning that coming together for a common purpose, can build bonds, and from that true meaningful friendships can grow. It’s also a reminder that assumptions are generally wrong, people have far more going on in their lives than we think.

[Kena · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Ink · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me preface by saying that I adore Tom Allen as a comedian. He is witty, acerbic, sharp as a tack and so quicksmart, you don't realise he has roasted you until the scorchmarks show up half an hour later. He is the epitome of the person that you want to have responded to at the time but still cringe about being dumbfounded years later. The man is genius

That being said, would this humour and with translate to a novel? I honestly was not sure. Would interactions on a panel show or stand-up comedy translate to a novel about the loves and lives of a London suburban community? Well yes, yes it does and it does it so very very well.

The story surrounds a new couple moving into the street and becoming immersed into the community. You know how it is, the smiles to your face and the deep dive into your socials and all previous lives behind your back, all the while poddling along in a fallacy of camaraderie, unknowingly serving each others purposes. While the community is coming together to save a local beauty spot, the tree in the park, their interactions serve as a foundation to peek into their homes and what goes on behind closed doors. This is a work of absolute comedy gold.

Thanks to NetGalley, Tom Allen and the publishers Hodder & Stoughton for this utterly outstanding ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

[Lynne James · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars really but I can't figure out how to do that!
There are many good points in this, Tom Allen's debut novel; but, overall it is a case of
" B+ could do better"
The set of characters in the little suburban street on the Common are nicely drawn, and, cleverly, Tom Allen allows them to worm into the readers' affections rather than making them immediately appealing. I say the whole set; but one character remains resolutely unlovable, a little like a pantomime villain, one can almost feel the boos from the reading audience!
Suburbia in real life may seem a little dull and boring. .very little visible drama. .But Tim Allen gives the lie to this being a tedious neighbourhood as each family has the curtain drawn back on their private lives where little dramas play out every day.
As with pantomimes, everything ends well, with happy endings all round, well almost all round..highly unlikely in the real world of course. But this is a gentle, amusing, light read so happy endings are de rigour.
Pleasant, occasionally acerbic, witty and neat...could be describing Tom Allen's himself, but jn this case it nicely describes Common Decency.
I am sure there will be another novel from Tom Allen's pen..and I think he will indeed "do better"
New Galley supplied and earc and this is my honest review

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

How can you not love Tom Allen? He tells it like it is, in a totally respectful way of course. I loved his first 2 autobiographical books so I had to check out his dive into fiction.

The audiobook was so fun. Tom reads it himself, and ai am sure ai would have read the book in his voice anyway. He brought the humour and emotion to life so well, his way of telling a story is just brilliant. I laughed, I was shocked and I was entertained, I listen to this in a day.

This is a character driven story that most people can relate to. Set in Oak Drive in the suburbs, we learn about the residents and all their darkest secrets. The council plans to make changes in their street that will change their lives and little community in ways that they are not happy with. They band together to stop them ruining their way of life.

What I loved most about this story was that it was all so simple and relatable. We have all had that neighbour who complains about someone not bringing their bins in, or keeping their lawns too long. It was funny and full of heart. There are a lot of characters but they were all unique with their own voices. I did love some more than others 😆

Thank you Hodder and Stoughton Audio for my early audiobook to listen to. I could listen to Tom Allen talk for hours.. and I did! Out on May 21st.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started to read this, but I know what I didn't expect. I didn't expect to be so completely immersed in it, especially as there wasn't one murder in it. Not one. 😱 I know, right! I'm as surprised as you, believe me, but I kid you not. I loved, loved, loved this book, despite its lack of serial killers and burned out coppers. 🏡🌳
I suppose you want to know what it's about now. Well, it's about a little street in suburbia, that place The Pet Shop Boys sang so eloquently about, and the residents on that little street. We get a ringside view of their lives, their highs and their lows, and how they all come together to save their local park from being transformed into a charging station for EVs. 🏡🌳
The story is told from four POVs: Fanny, Alice, Miranda and Vince, each representing the four houses on this particular street. 🏡🌳
Common Decency is very character driven, and with the exception of Fanny's husband, Donald, they are all likeable characters. Miranda, for some reason, reminded me a little of Miriam Margoyles. Donald, on the other hand, brought to mind Victor Meldrew, just not as funny. 🏡🌳
There are some laugh-out-loud moments throughout. Well, I'd expect no less from Tom Allen. 🏡🌳
All in all Common Decency is a cracking good book, and I think it's perfect summertime reading. 🏡🌳
Thanks to Hodder and Stoughton and Netgalley for the ARC.

[Jo Bardgett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Common Decency
By Tom Allen
Published by Hodder & Stoughton

Do you know your neighbours?
Do you ever wonder what your neighbours are doing?
Well Common Decency does just that!
Prying into the neighbourhood.

Tom Allen, cheeky comedian and now novelist, takes us on a witty, suburban journey.
Allen introduces us to the characters as they unveil their true identities, bit by bit via opinion and protests whilst hoping to save their beloved Oak tree.

As each resident begins to share their stories, their characters, whether shy or bold, loud, quiet or reserved are exposed page by page.
Because this is where your voice and your actions matter. This is where it pays to look after the small things.
Like keeping your garden tidy.
Taking in your bins promptly.
Keeping your paintwork tasteful.

Set in suburban Britain, Common Decency speaks loud and proud of the lives and interactions of the street's residents as they come together to save their beloved oak tree from destruction at the hands of developers.

But as tensions rise, so do resentments as the secrets of the street's neighbours threaten to shatter more via surprising twists, turns and truths!

Joanne Bardgett - teacher of littlies, lover of Children’s literature.
#Netgallery

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book from NetGalley.

This is Tom’s first novel which tells us of the residents of Oak Drive, a terrace of four houses in suburbia. You don’t need me to give you the blurb because you can get that from the back of the book so instead I will tell you my thoughts.

I love Tom Allen - his eloquence, his dry wit and his natural humour. These all really come out in his writing - it is definitely written in his voice. At times it also had the feel of a Richard Osman. I thought the characters were well written and diverse enough that I didn’t have to keep reminding myself who was who as you sometimes do. The sympathetic characters were likeable and the less appealing characters were suitably odious.

I read this very quickly as it was an easy read and a real page turner. It’s a shame the big reveal wasn’t a shock in any way but there were some less predictable outcomes. It was just a lovely feel good read and I hope Tom will continue to write novels as I would definitely read more from him.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton and Tom for my advance copy in return for an honest review.

[Rev Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intriguing and fun with a lot of plot in the last few chapters.
I wanted to love this book, and whilst there was nothing wrong with it, it just didn't quite hit the mark for me.
It started well; with a bee motif, which returns at the very end - by which time I had forgotten about it because it wasn't mentioned in between.
The introduction of the characters kept me reading; but then suddenly there was a lot of information about each household, and I struggled to keep all the threads in play in my head.
There were some really interesting threads that were never developed, and so many questions unanswered and left to fizzle out as the narrative moved on.
The passage of time was confusing too, whilst chapters were given day names and times it wasn't;t always clear when days, weeks and months had been skipped over.
Some plots were too subtle to have the impact they needed and others had too much air time.
As ends were tied up in the closing chapter, the epilogue really, I realised that I had enjoyed the book and was satisfied with where the characters were left, but I was sad that I hadn't got to know them better during the story.

[Amy Capewell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oak Drive is just like any other sleepy street in leafy suburbia. Our story centres around the lives of the occupants of a small row of four terrace houses and the secrets that lie behind the curtains.
Our main cast: Donald, the overbearing, grumpy bully and his long-suffering wife, Fanny. Alice, the busy, overworked and under-appreciated GP and Barry, her flaky husband, who are navigating some choppy marital waters. Octogenarian Miranda with her ‘fuck-it list’ and a secret past. And finally Vince and Nathan Luke, a couple who have moved from a trendy city district to settle into community life.
Each of our new friends has heir own secrets that are gradually explored as the book progresses, revealing interesting tidbits at just the right pace to keep the story engaging throughout.

When a notice arrives from the local council that the little park opposite their homes will soon be dug up and turned into a charging station for electric vehicles, it galvanises Donald into action - a local WhatsApp group, Residents’ Association meetings, and even a podcast follow. Which act as a rolling undercurrent to the storyline as other funny events - such as a middle-class drug buy and a Queer reimagining of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat - unfurl. Can the small band of residents prevail and change what is apparently, a foregone conclusion?

This is a great debut from Tom Allen - if you are familiar with his comedy then you’ll likely, as I did, find yourself reading some of the quips in his voice.

Is it far-fetched? Yes. Is it an enjoyable read? Also yes. Common decency is A warm, intriguing and fun tale which doesn’t ask too much of the reader as you are wrapped up in a comfortable story that gradually builds to a dramatic and satisfying crescendo.

[Rebecca Palmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Tom Allen - I find him incredibly witty, so when I spotted his debut novel on Netgalley it was a no brainer to apply to review it.

Common Decency is set within the leafy suburbs where there are 4 houses overlooking a park. There's the older single lady (octogenarian) who is definitely the sparky one- reminds me of Elizabeth in The Thursday Murder Club. There's a traditional family set up of 2 teens where the mum is the stressed breadwinner with the dad trying to find himself. Then there's the older couple with the brow beaten wife and the domineering husband. Then cue the gays who move in, leaving their fancy London life.

The book centres on community and how each house has their own issues but can come together for the sake of community and each other.

Not much really happens. There are a couple of brief chapters where there was a glimmer of excitement but were quickly dimmed and the book moves on.

The writing is amusing rather than funny and the characters tend to fall a bit flat. It was an easy, gentle read but no doubt easily forgotten.

[Dee Groocock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of advance copy from the publisher.

Oak Drive only has four houses but is anything but quiet. Vince and his partner, Nathan Luke have just moved in after refurbishing the house they’ve bought there. GP Alice and her husband, Barry, alongside their two children, as well as local shop owner, Fanny, and her husband, Donald, and octogenarian, Miranda, also live on Oak Drive.

Everyone wants to get to know the new couple on the street, Vince and Nathan Luke, but they seem to be keeping to themselves for now. When there is talk of the council getting rid of the Oak tree to enable them to add electric car chargers, the residents come together to fight the plan.

This is a fun and entertaining read, which reminded me of when I lived in a small village as a child … nothing is private!

The characters were relatable and believable, and Miranda was my favourite, with Donald being the worst one of them all!

I enjoyed reading this insight into other people’s lives, no matter how mundane their day was, it all felt real and kept me entertained. We all love a bit of gossip and there was plenty in this story!