The Best of Everything

by Kit de Waal

The new novel from Kit de Waal, creator of MY NAME IS perfect for readers of A TERRIBLE KINDNESS or WE ALL WANT IMPOSSIBLE THINGS.
She's the last person who would call herself a heroine.
But she's given him a whole new reason to live.
Paulette's the kind of woman who likes the future all mapped the wedding to Denton, the Caribbean honeymoon, the gingham quilt on the baby's crib. Until one morning Garfield, Denton's friend, arrives at her door with news she just can't take that Denton won't be coming around anymore, that there won't be time for her to say goodbye.
Somehow Garfield finds his way into her bed, if not her heart, and sooner than anyone can believe there is a baby, and suddenly giving Bird, her son, the best of everything is what gives Paulette's life meaning.
So why is it another little boy, Nellie, who keeps Paulette awake at night? Nellie who is being raised a few streets away with no sign of a mum, with a grandfather who is obviously struggling. Surely Paulette is the last person who should be getting tangled up in any of that?
THE BEST OF EVERYTHING is a novel about what it means to care, to learn to live in the aftermath of loss, and the love that can steal into our lives - in spite of the best laid plans.

Genres: Fiction, Book Club, Novels, Contemporary

303 pages, Paperback

Published April 29, 2025

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to follow nearer publication date.

I love Kit de Waals writing, I’ve read most of her books and they are all well written. She brings the characters to life and I feel like I know them.
The Best of Everything is a story of love and forgiveness. I felt for Paulette and Frank. The ending was perfect.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Mairead Hearne (swirlandthread.com) · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Rating ~ 4.5*

The Best of Everything by Kit De Waal published April 10th with Tinder Press and is described as ‘a tender celebration of kindness and its power to change lives…one of the most beautiful and uplifting novels you’ll read this year’. If, like me and many others, you have read My Name is Leon you can confidently pick up a copy of The Best of Everything safe in the knowledge that a beautiful and kind novel awaits you.

When Kit De Waal wrote about two minor characters in a previous piece of work, they stayed with her, hence this novel was born. It’s 1972 and Paulette works in a hospital as an auxiliary nurse. Her boyfriend Denton makes her happy leaving Paulette fantasizing about their future life together. Having everything mapped out in her head, she floats along in a bubble of sorts until the day she opens the door to Garfield, Denton’s friend. Garfield has a message that changes everything for Paulette and, just like that, her life is thrown into turmoil. Unable to comprehend how upended her days have become, she starts to rely on Garfield for support and, although she never truly could love him, she soon understands that he will provide and be there for her.

Yet Paulette has demons that she just cannot lock away and, as the years pass, Paulette struggles. The birth of their baby boy Bird injects new meaning into Paulette’s life and, for awhile, she makes sure that Bird is never left wanting, always having the best of everything but the shadow haunts her, leaving her restless and discontent.

One day, Paulette encounters a young boy, Nellie, who is one age to Bird. He lives with his grandfather, Cornelius, who is clearly struggling. Without too much thought, Paulette soon finds herself caught up in their lives. Paulette is a very warm-hearted individual. She has known pain but there is an underlying kindness that surfaces and her naturally caring nature comes to the fore. But why Nellie? What is it that connects her to this young boy?

As the years pass, relationships change and family dynamics shift and sway. As Paulette negotiates these years we witness her at her very worst and best. Her pain is laid bare for us to see yet also her desire to love and be loved is also very much evident.

The Best of Everything is very much a story about people, focusing on its characters’ development and their growth with the passage of time. Paulette is a beautiful person looking to be cared for. She deserves a good life but circumstances keep pulling her back down. Paulette is on a journey and, as we accompany her on her path, she learns how to navigate some very trying events that very much affect her emotional wellbeing. Kit De Waal has created a gorgeous and giving tale. The descriptions and narrative, the dialogue and the setting all combine to create a heart-warming and magical tale of self-discovery and self-worth. A tender story, The Best of Everything is a stirring human tale, one that pulls at all the heartstrings leaving readers in a more hopeful and better place.

[Shameela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not want this story to end- sobbing into my tea at the pure beauty of this story- a genius in her craft. ❤️

[Ross · Rating 2 out of 5]

kind of boring tbqh!

[Mrs · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Paulette is mighty. She is righteous. She has heartbreak and grief and loss on her side.”
Paulette will stay with me for a long time. I cried for her, I sighed when she went after another married man. I admired her courage.
A story of kindness, and its consequences. Did she do the right thing in reaching out to Nellie? (we ask at one point) Who are we responsible for?

This line broke me for a bit-
“He nods and smiles. ‘He’s mine’ he says.”

Gorgeous.

[Helen Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a gorgeous book.... Full of love, forgiveness, compassion... There's tragedy too and much of the story is created around loss.... Kit de Waal is a very skilled writer with insight and wisdom... I loved this book!

[Chloe Emmerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Kit de Waal

[Christine Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

A highly readable, although at times sad, novel, reflecting on family, home and loss. The first third was sufficiently plot-led to draw you in quickly, while the remainder was more ‘characters living their lives’ territory. Grief, love, loss, forgiveness all feature. I enjoyed the writing style.

[ruthie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just want to give Paulette the biggest hug! 🩷

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Best of Everything follows main character Paulette as she deals with fallout of a tragedy. She forms some new and unexpected friendships which will affect her life immeasurably, not necessarily positively.

Recommended if you like a character driven family drama.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This account of a West Indian woman in England and her relationships with her son and his unlikely friend and a whole host of other characters is a poignant but gripping read. Paulette was wonderful in her simple kindness. saying anything else would ruin the read.

[Maris · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

This is hard to rate - not much is happening after the first third of the book, but all together it provides a deep dive into the meaning and purpose in life.
Even though the story is quite painful at times, the writing is really good.

Spoiler Alert: Not recommended to 'soon to be empty nesters' :-)

[Patricia Power · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best of everything by kit de waal. Beautiful read about Paulette, Bird, Nellie, frank and Garfield . After a huge loss their lives become intertwined, book is about culture, loss, moving on and for me the biggest part was about trying to find a new purpose as life moves on . Loved it

[✰matthew✰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was really well written but super sad.

i thought the character writing and development was absolutely fantastic, i appreciated and / or liked all of the characters.

the plot was a little on the sketchy side for me, this was primarily due to the changes of time period, involving progression. a simple header indicating how much time had passed would have helped.

development throughout the novel was great, the progression through the lives of our main characters, particularly paulette, was very well done. the character of nellie was really deftly done too.

this novel was considerably sadder and emotive than i had thought it would be, the main character is hit by a constant barrage of awful and difficult events to deal with.

the ending left me a bit cold, i would have liked more from it.

[Julie Atherton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. This is a book about kindness, love , grief and family. We meet Paulette who after losing the love of her life marries and has a son called Bird . The love she has for her son is so moving , she is a nurse at the local hospital and she does her best to keep him on the straight and narrow. They find it hard because of racial prejudice especially with the police. She helps Frank and Cornelius who then become a prominent part in her life. What follows is tragedy and loss. The characters are so real and Paulette is so full of compassion and love. It’s a tale that tugs at the heartstrings and after everything that life throws at her , her resilience shines through. I loved the relationship she had with her neighbour and how you can turn your life around .

[Jo Rawlins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paulette is a wonderful character: complex, conflicted and convincing.

The Best of Everything is tragic in many ways, as Paulette loses Denton in a terrible car accident that has surprising consequences. Well plotted, with a good pace and a perceptive exploration of relationships by tge author.

Themes of grief, motherhood, betrayal, guilt and kindness.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

[Yana Vunder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the level of kindness I would love to see in the world.
Such a beautiful book!

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book we meet Paulette. Initially she is ticking along with her boyfriend Denton. Although her hopes of marriage and a family and the happy ever after always seem to fall on his deaf ears. He works away a lot and promises a lot, but appears to deliver notsomuch. But they tick along... until the day that his best friend and supposed housemate Garfield knocks her door to say that he has been hurt in a car accident and that, no, she can not go to the hospital cos, well, reasons... but also that he will not be coming back to her. Eventually, after chipping away with his support, Garfield is happy to take his place in her bed, also giving her the thing she mostly craves, a son, Bird. But although Garfield is a good substitute to Denton in most ways, she does not love him and eventually they break up...
Life goes on and Paulette becomes close to a rather dysfunctional family, Frank and his grandson Nellie... but I'll leave you to find out about them and how they fit in with Paulette's past and present for yourself...
As well as all this, we also go back in time to see how Paulette got from St Kitts to the UK with her Gran. These are wonderful vignettes and give colour and clarity to both the story and Paulette's character.
This is very much a character driven novel and the characters that the author has created are brilliantly complicated, and delightfully dysfunctional on occasion. I did find Paulette to be a bit too naive and trusting at times but I think overall she was a well created character who also developed well as the book progressed. She is lonely and feels alone even when with people who obviously care about her. I think we can all relate to that, I definitely can. But she is also feisty and determined and, well, you'll see...
And the story, which spans decades, is both interesting and intriguing. It's chock full of emotions too but never gets too heavy. It's about living and learning and connection with other people. Most of all, it's about being human and making mistakes and forgiveness, it's also about grief, for more than just lost people. And lost opportunities. And family who aren't blood... But mostly it's about kindness and hope. The hope that things will eventually work out if you just try your best to be kind... and you'll have to read the book to find out if they do...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

[Cleopatra Pullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this author's book, My Name is Leon and whilst the focus of The Best of Everything is different, some of those big themes are present in this book too, as is the assured writing that pulls the reader into another world.

This book is a poignant and deeply moving novel that explores the resilience of human nature through the life of Paulette, an auxiliary nurse. Paulette is a woman who meticulously plans her future, envisioning a perfect life with her fiancé Denton. However, her dreams are shattered when Denton's friend Garfield delivers the heart-breaking news that Denton will not be coming back.

In the midst of her grief, Paulette finds herself entangled with Garfield, leading to the birth of her son, Bird. Paulette's life gains new meaning as she dedicates herself to giving Bird the best of everything. Yet, her heart is troubled by another child, Nellie, who lives nearby without a mother and with a struggling grandfather. Despite her own challenges, Paulette feels a deep connection to Nellie and becomes involved in his life.

The author masterfully portrays Paulette's journey of love, loss, and resilience. The novel delves into the complexities of human emotions and the unexpected ways love can enter our lives. Paulette's story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the capacity to find hope and meaning even in the face of adversity.

The characters are vividly drawn so that they step off the page, allowing the reader to feel deeply connected to their struggles and triumphs. The Best of Everything is a beautifully written novel that captures the essence of what it means to care for others and to navigate the unpredictable twists and turns of life.

[Izabela Górnicka-Zdziech · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was honored to meet Kit de Waal at Queen’s Park Books Festival few weeks ago. My book is signed by her. The meeting with her was fascinating, she told some interesting stories about her life which had an impact on her writing and she talked as well about this particular book. I liked the idea that the main character, Paulette, was waiting to be described in the book and that the author keeps her characters in kind of waiting room waiting for their turn to appear in the books. This is the very first book of Kit de Waal that I read and I have already ordered My name is Leon. The best of everything ask some questions. Is anyone’s life ever what it was supposed to be? How to live with a heartbreaking unexpected loss? What is left then? Is the best of everything something we can get or rather we can give or both?… I like this book a lot, I must say, because this is great story of love, loss, anger, forgiveness and hope. There is some unexpected twists like in life it is. Paulette is a nice young lady totally in love. She is naive and takes what she gets with blessing. Life will surprise her quickly and will teach her humility. Yet, she can get another chance… We get to know her and empathize for her, even in tears, I tell you from my own experience. What can save us is good heart, seems to say the author, the heart can guide us. As I went through very difficult and emotional moments in my life I can feel for Paulette and admit, that you never know who will give you a hand and will become your biggest supporter, you really never know… I think Kit de Wall wrote it from the bottom of her heart and wisdom. I recommend you to read it.

[Haxxunne · Rating 5 out of 5]

When life hands you denatonium
—
Apparently denatonium is one of the bitterest substances, an additive to make things unpalatable for children, even in tiny doses. In de Waal’s quiet masterpiece, Paulette has her life mapped out, a respectable life with her perfect boyfriend Denton, soon to be her husband, children, a loving home, friends and work. But Denton is not who he pretends to be and when he is lost to Paulette forever, she’s left to re-create her life as best she can. She finds a kind of love, and then along comes her perfect son Bird, but her life takes another abrupt turn when she meets another little boy, Nellie, and his guardian Frank, instrument of Paulette’s unfulfilled dreams of domestic bliss.

The heart of the book is Paulette’s dilemma, seeing the pain of another human being and having to decide whether to be judge and jury, or to be her natural giving self. Angry at her lost dreams, angry at Denton, angry with herself for being taken in by him, Paulette doesn’t forgive anyone easily, but she does the right good thing. De Waal shows that forgiveness is not instant, that it takes a lifetime to recover from a lost dream, and to find a new way of living.

Paulette is the best defined in this intensely detailed, character-driven novel, but the supporting cast is also well drawn, from the incidental characters to Bird, Nellie and Frank, the unexpected foils to Paulette’s beautifully rendered life.

Four and a half stars

[Hayley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very easy to read that follows one main character Paulette. Set in London late 70s/early 80s. Paulette is having an affair with a man named Denton. She dreams of having his baby. But he is killed in a car accident and then she learns he was married with children. She gets with his best mate Garfield and they have a son called Bird. She breaks up with Garfield but he remains a father, collecting Bird every weekend.
She finds the man (Frank) who killed Denton and confronts him for ruining the life she was dreaming of. He has a boy, who turns out to be his grandfather, called Cornellis (Nellie) Frank is clearly struggling and Nellie is not being fed properly. She starts to take Nellie in to feed him and he becomes friends with Bird. We stay with the story as the boys grow up and Nellie sees Paulette as his mum. His own mum died as a result of the car crash that killed Denton and Frank was driving the car.
Garfield moves to US with his new family and Bird goes with him so he doesn't go off the rails. Nellie is going off the rails and steals cars.
Paulette visits Bird in the US and when she returns she gets depressed that Bird is moving on with his life. Nellie returns into her life and he has got himself sorted by becoming a sous chef in a caribean resturant, citing everything he learnt from Paulette's cooking as he was growing up.

Bit of a vanilla story but good character development and easy read domestic drama.

[Annette Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I defy you not to feel a tug on your heart strings if you read The Best of Everything by Kit de Waal, it is such a beautiful book about kindness, found family and hope. As always with this author it is the characters that are the heart of this story and I think that Paulette and Nellie in particular will live long in my heart and my memory.
Paulette, the central character of the story is an immigrant from St Kitts in the Caribbean now living in London and working as a health care assistant in a hospital while dreaming of her wedding to Denton, the love of her life. When Denton is tragically killed in a car accident the course of her life is changed completely and she finds herself forming some very unexpected relationships that will bring great joy and great heart ache to her life. The growth of Paulette over the course of the book is its main driving force and I found myself rooting for her even when she made choices that I struggled to understand - I may even have shed a tear or two at the triumphant ending.
This is book is a love letter to the characters, and if you love character driven stories with interesting family dynamics this book is a must read for you.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

[JanGlen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is set in the 1970s and is told from the perspective of Paulette. She is 29, a nurse aid who came to Britain from the West Indies as a child. She is in a long-term relationship with Denton and is obsessively in love with him, ignoring warning signs about his behaviour. She is planning marriage and an idyllic future with him when he is killed in a car crash and she learns that he had a wife and children he hadn’t told her about. Devastated, she soon finds herself living with Denton’s best friend. They have a son called Bird but the relationship does not last. All of this happens in the first pages of the book.
Then the real story begins - the very complicated relationship she forms with Frank, the man who accidently killed Denton, and with Frank's son, Nellie.
Paulette can be an infuriating character. She is feisty and far from perfect; she makes quick judgements and can be one eyed, but her innate concern for others shines through. We understand her and can't help liking her.
This is a beautifully written character driven book about grief, kindness and the lengthy process of forgiveness. It's warm and loving but always feels real. Recommended.

[Lucille · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kit de Waal always writes with great empathy for her characters and in The Best of Everything she achieves that once more with Paulette, a warm hearted auxiliary nurse who wants only the best for her son, Bird. After discovering that her lover, Denton, was married when he dies in a road accident, Paulette rebuilds her life, first by marrying then divorcing Garfield, Bird's father and Denton's best friend. But Paulette wants to know more about the accident that caused Denton's death and she tracks down the man directly involved. As a result she becomes attached to his son, Nellie as much as she is to Bird when the boys become best of friends. The main difference between the boys is the colour of their skin, which never weighs heavily in the narrative until both boys are arrested by the police. Here it becomes obvious that people of colour are treated very differently to white people. Paulette is a great character and her story illustrates love, forgiveness and compassion in spades. The Best of Everything is sure to win more fans to Ms de Waal's writing.

[Jo-anne Atkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paulette knows what she wants, a family with her man Denton. Then Denton dies and suddenly Paulette's future is not the same. She starts a relationship with Garfield but despite having a son realises he is not the man for her so her love is poured into Bird. She also comes into contact with Frank, the man who killed Denton, a lost soul caring for his grandson Nellie. As Bird and Nellie grow up, Paulette learns that love has many different forms.
This is a lovely book that wraps itself around the reader like a great big hug. Paulette is a wonderful character and it was great to read of her redemption at the end. There are so many really strong strands to the story, not least the immigrant experience in the 1970s and 1980s, but also mental health and bereavement in many forms. Despite this, the story is life-affirming and the writing tender and heartfelt.

[Kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paulette comes to the UK as a girl with her granny, from St Kitts and "The Best of Everything"; is the story of her failures and successes as she builds her life here. I really enjoyed this book. The characters are really vivid and the themes that were easy to emphasise with. Central to the novel is love and forgiveness. The characters make mistakes , but ultimately they are forgiven as we are all human. The book comes full circle in a very satisfying way in that Paulette's version of the Best of Everything would be completely different at the end of the novel from the start. A few things in the plot didn't make complete sense to me otherwise this would have been 5 stars , an enjoyable read that I suspect will stay with me.

[Mrs Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paulette is black, lives alone has boyfriend Denton.He gets killed in a car accident,
Paulette is comforted by Garfield and becomes pregnant.
She dotes on Bird.
P goes to look for the man who drove the car causing the death of Denton. she calls him shirt and tie. he has a young boy with him and when he sees P he says take the boy.
P asks them round, feeds them and gives the boy clothes. Nellie a little younger than Bird.
Nellie starts to get i to trouble as a teenager and one day he picks up bird in a stolen car. Birds dad then says he is taking Bird to America. P is devastated. She is very cross with Nellie and Frank and becomes depressed. She is sent home from work. one day she wakes to find d Nellie has cooked for her. She forgives them and starts training to become a nurse.
God book, good characters, well written

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw a new Kit de Waal book on Netgalley I jumped at the chance as I absolutely adored My Name Is Leon. From the start I really felt for Paulette and the other characters despite their flaws and my heart broke and was mended many times. It made me think about the different ways family can be and was a great depiction of British working class life at points in time. I hope it does really well.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Fleury · Rating 2 out of 5]

At the beginning of this book I really thought that it had potential.
This book is all about grief, and family.
It has lots of loss, love, forgiveness, and compassion. It's a tender story, a stirring human story.
The protagonist Paulette is unique and full of flaws. She is kind and is a survivor.
But this book spent ages going nowhere, I was hoping that it would improve but it really didn't. It kind of dragged.
I'm quite disappointed because this book is highly recommended.
Sadly, it wasn't really for me