By Your Side

by Ruth Jones

Linda and Levi will never meet. But they’re going to change each other’s lives.

In her role at the council’s Unclaimed Heirs Unit, Linda Standish investigates the lives of those who’ve died alone and tracks down any living relatives. She’s been a friend to the friendless for the past thirty-three years. And now she’s looking forward to an early retirement.

But before she hangs up her lanyard, Linda takes on one last case – that of Levi Norman – a Welshman who made his home on a remote Scottish island for the past five years.

What brought Levi here? And who did he leave behind? Obliged to travel (by hearse) with her arch nemesis Fergus Murray, and helped (and hindered) by local residents, Linda searches for clues to a life now lost. And in the process unexpectedly makes new friends, and discovers things about herself she never knew.

Bursting with all the heart and humour that has made Ruth’s name as a screenwriter and author, By Your Side is about finding joy in the most unlikely connections, and the importance of holding onto friendship, love and community – especially when life gets messy.

. The warm and life-affirming novel from the author of the instant Sunday Times bestsellers, Never Greener, Us Three and Love Untold.

DON’T MISS THE NEW NOVEL FROM THE BAFTA-WINNING CO-WRITER OF GAVIN & STACEY.

Genres: Audiobook, Fiction, Contemporary, Romance, Book Club, Chick Lit, Humor

400 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication June 8, 2026

About the author

Jones is a Welsh television actress and writer known for her work on shows such as Gavin & Stacey and Stella.

Note: There are multiple writers with this name.

Reviews

[Christy fictional_traits · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Doesn't everyone deserve a farewell? Even if there's only one person there to say goodbye'?

Linda will miss her job at the Unclaimed Heirs Department. She has just one last case (on an island in the Outer Hebrides if you can believe it) before takes an early retirement. To be honest, for her, the job was more than just shuffling paperwork, she enjoyed piecing together disparate clues in order to give people a personalised send-off, an acknowledgement of their lives, with love. Levi Norman, her last case though is puzzling, he was clearly loved by his wife and daughter and had remained close to his daughter until relatively recently. Why then, did he pass away so far from home, and alone?

'By Your Side' is told from two alternating POVs, Linda's and Levi's. As Linda uncovers more of Levi's story, she learns how not facing difficulties in your life- hiding from them, burying them - can have dire consequences and maybe it's time for her to make some real changes.

This story is so heartwarming and ticks so many boxes: small-town cosiness, amateur sleuthing, romance, and life-affirming. I'm sure many readers, regardless of what your mainstay genres are, will enjoy this story.

'Thing is, we're none of us ever truly, completely ourselves with anyone. Nobody knows our deepest, darkest secrets or who we really are'.

[Kate O'Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

Oh, Ruth Jones, that wasn't fair. You made me cry. What a truly lovely story.

By Your Side is split onto two narratives. The first is the story of Levi Norman, a solitary man living on the tiny island of Storrich. Levi is an annual visitor to the local pub where every year he raises a glass then leaves again. This year is his last visit.

The story of how he ended up on Storrich has to be discovered by Linda Standish who works in the Unclaimed Heirs department at the Council. She's the woman who arranges a funeral and tracks down survivors when someone dies seemingly without a family to make the arrangements.

The two stories run side by side as we discover Levi's difficult past and Linda's interesting present. Both are people with secrets that have changed their lives. Can their coming together at this time mean that a brighter future is in store for Levi's family and Linda's future?

I read and enjoyed Ruth Jones first novel but, for some reason, haven't read any others until now. I think I enjoyed By Your Side even more. Ruth is such a talented writer who has spent years honing her skill. She has a knack for writing wonderfully engaging and sympathetic characters whilst not ignoring their obvious flaws.

I loved Levi and Linda. Their stories made me cry and laugh. Linda is as feisty as Levi is calm. The story of Linda's involvement in solving the mystery of Levi is beautifully done. I enjoyed every part of this novel. Ruth Jones is one of the very few writers whose love scenes don't give me the ick. She writes so sensitively. Can you tell I'm a huge fan. Even more so after reading this. I'm going to go back and read the ones I've missed and I'll look forward to what comes next.

Highly recommended.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Random House for the advance review copy.

[Heather Coffee_Kindle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruth Jones the queen of the emotional rollercoasters does it again!

This is a wonderfully told story with multiple points of view, with heart joy and sadness - as always Ruth Jones understands people and relationships and portrays them beautifully across generations and this new book is no different.

When Linda in her role at the council’s Unclaimed Heirs Unit has one last case before retiring, takes her on a trip to an island off the coast of Scotland, where her adventures begin and she is absorbed into the life of dead Welsh Man Levi Norman. The story takes you on a journey through different times as well as perspectives.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

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[Jo Rawlins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really really enjoyed reading this!

Vivid characters and great plot. Tragic and uplifting and wise and funny.

Overall 4.5 stars.

[Jess Thomson · Rating 5 out of 5]

She done it again ♥️

[Rhianna Clay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sooo disappointed with this one because Ruth Jones is normally a 4/5 star emotional read for me. This time however I just didn’t feel the emotion or the connection to the characters and often found the narrative cringey. The voice of Linda the 55 year old Granny main character just irritated me more than anything and her constant mocking of her own body type / weight was not for me.
What I did like was the setting on the Hebridean island, the community there, and the past timeline of Levi.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a lovely story. It explored a variety of sensitive themes really tastefully, and took me through all of my emotions. A really interesting story with a nice mix of perspectives and timelines.

[Ciara Steele · Rating 5 out of 5]

She's done it again. Another fantastic story with beautiful characters. Couldn't recommend her books enough!

[Michelle Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another gorgeous book by Ruth Jones. Characters you just fall in love with instantly! 🥰

[Kasia Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this and thought it was great - loved the characters and the setting. Ruth Jones is a great writer and narrator - can’t wait for her next book 😊

[Charlotte Pearce · Rating 4 out of 5]

first ever audiobook, probably so good because it was Ruth Jones’ voice, wholesome, bit sad, but funny but overall good!

[Claire Grove · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book - couldn’t stop reading it! Great characters, really good storyline - I really wasn’t sure how everything was going to tie up! - and it’s set in one of my favourite places; Scotland! So pleased with the ending - right decision made by Linda (unless she’d gone the whole hog!).

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review which is what I have given.

[Sioni Gibbins · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was a little disappointing- it felt disjointed and sad, even in bits which were supposed to be happy. Her other books have been great but this one left me pleased that I finished it but feeling really sad.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bloody loved this book!! I also love how this author writes - both with books and TV programmes! She gets the characters and their stories just right, with so much feeling, emotions and humour. In this book we meet Linda Standish who works in the council's Unclaimed Heirs department. When she's given the case of Levi Norman, an old Welshman who has been living alone on a remote Scottish Island before he died, she finds herself tasked to track down his relatives. Why did he live there? Why was he alone? What what his story?

This was a fabulous read. Linda Standish is such a great character. She loves her job but finds herself facing early retirement with Levi Norman being her last case. Her visit to the Isle of Storrich, where Levi lived, was certainly an experience especially travelling over in a hearse and being accompanied by Fergus Murray, the funeral director. The story is a dual timeline and we hear both Linda's story in her quest to find Levi's relatives, and Levi's own story from the past. Linda's story is funny at times and, dare I say it but you can't help but liken Linda's character to a certain well known Welsh character also written by this author! It's also a story of self-discovery for Linda who, whilst going through her own personal problems, still manages to form a lovely relationship with pub landlord, Brodie McLeod.

Levi's story however is different. We meet Levi as a younger man and follow his life through the next 30 odd years. It's a heart-breaking storyline and tugged at my heartstrings on so many occasions. I won't go into details for fear of spoilers, but it's certainly one of those "what would you have done?" storylines. I loved Levi's character and thought that the people in his story were lucky to have him around. The last part of his life though was so sad and had me crying in bucketloads.

The book was so well written. I've read all the other books by this author, but this is definitely my favourite. Once started, I couldn't put it down and I was transfixed with Linda and Levi's lives. It flows so well, and you become so involved in all the characters lives. The writing is warm, funny and genuine! I'm at a loss for words as to how people have these stories in them! This is definitely one of those books which I could read over and over again. Wonderful!

[Sam Donnan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's the first Ruth Jones novel I have read, and I was really impressed with the character development (probably no surprise, given her pedigree!), and the characters stay with you longer after the final page is read. The only slight niggle I had was I didn't quite get the Scottish authenticity (I've lived in Scotland over 5 years, and some of the phrases didn't seem quite right).

I will happily read Ruth's other books in the near future.

[Romy Chinery · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed listening to audiobooks and this one kept me entertained on our way to and from Wales (seemed fitting listening to Ruth Jones on our way back from Barry island) I have really enjoyed all of her stories so far, they are comforting with characters who feel really real and you would like to know in real life. There were sad parts of this one but it was a wholesome and enjoyable read overall.

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely devoured this book! Loved it! Linda Standish works for the Unclaimed Heirs department of the council. It her job to investigate the lives of those who die alone and trace any surviving family. She is called to investigate the death is a Welshman - Levi Norman - who lived on a remote Scottish island. I loved all the characters in this book and how the history of Levi is revealed through flashbacks on his life. Tragic and sad in places but overall a heartwarming read 😊

[Jayne Hood · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a fantastic book . It's very engaging. The characters are so well written I feel Linda deserved hero status. It is a wonderful heartwarming and emotional book . Another amazing book by Ruth Jones her books are incredible

[Elisha Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely read

[Lucinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5🌟

A potter-along story that was interesting enough but it sort of lost its way towards the end and needed to finish earlier than it did.

[Linzi Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic read from Ruth Jones. I have loved all her books and this one does not disappoint! I could not put it down.

[Michelle Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 🌟 Audio and hardback. Loved listening to this story going between past and present between Linda and Levi stories. Almost a 5 but I felt the ‘sexy times’ between Linda and Brodie, didn’t add anything to the story.

[Tracey Pearce · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a kindle book but a hardback from library. Only at 13% and loving it so far. I need to know the outcome

Update - I have never read Ruth Jones but I really enjoy Gavin & Stacey of which she co-wrote with James Corden. This is set in the Highlands of scotland and told from several points of view and timelines. I just thought that was just a lovely, enchanting book about loss and family. I purchased Never Greener during the pandemic so I will need to get round to reading that shortly.

[Haylie Romo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved Ruth Jones narration, her scottish accent was on point the whole way and she distinguishes the characters so well. Easy to listen to, sad and funny a good story!

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Linda's job - working for the council as a sort of special detective, helping to settle people's final affairs when they have died and seemingly have no family to help. (Is this a real job, and can I do it?) And I was fully committed to her discovering the truth about Levi, fairly screaming in my head 'but why was he living on his own?!' by the end. The book is the story of Linda and of Levi, but of lots of other characters along the way too.
Ruth Jones is very clever with characters - there's a large cast here, but I felt like I knew everyone as they came into the story, and I enjoyed the mixture of humour and tragedy...some of the book is really, really sad, but then in a moment she's lifting your spirits again. I did find myself reading it, initially, with Nessa's voice narrating the whole thing in my head! But soon the story, and the characters, took over. You know from early on that Levi's story won't be a happy one, but that unravelling of why is really wonderfully, heart-breakingly done. And the gentle reveal of Linda's own tragedy is handled with care. I was fully immersed in these lives as I read, and I felt a bit bereft once it was all over.

With thanks to the publisher & Net Galley for my copy.

[Lisa Martin-Whatley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartwarming book about love and grief and truth

[cathy J · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely book , easy to pick up and put down and was just a warming read with a lovely story line !
First book I’ve read of Ruth Jones and it won’t be the last ❤️

[Kristina Chisnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lighthearted and easy read with a beautifully satisfying finish. I really enjoyed the way the story unfolded through the lens of two lives. I’d especially recommend the audiobook—it's a lovely touch to hear it read by the author.

[Sara House · Rating 5 out of 5]

By Your Side by Ruth Jones ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I absolutely loved this book. The writing and the storyline is exquisite.
Linda works for the council in the heir hunter department. Her story intertwined with Levi’s story is just wonderful. A cast of characters that you feel you know. I’ve loved all Ruth Jones books and this one doesn’t disappoint.

[Adele King · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this as an audio book with Ruth Jones reading and enjoyed it so much.