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The Trouble with Sister Francis
Not yet published
Expected 27 Aug 26A heart-warming sophomore novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author of FRANK AND RED
I'll always remember the first time I saw Sister Francis.
It's not that I have a great memory, or anything, it's just kind of hard to forget the first time you see a 60-year-old nun, barrelling along at the wheel of a decrepit 1968 Ford Transit. Especially when the nun in question has a cigarette dangling from her lips, and the minibus in question is spewing dark smoke, backfiring, and has - in ornate type - the words 'ASS VIRGIN' written along its side.
I know. This deserves explanation.
1981. Richie, Bennett, Kenny, and Stan are four best pals from the Whittle council estate, with not much to do but get up to no good. After a run-in with the local bullies, they find unexpected refuge in the crumbling boys' club at the local church.
The Blessed Assumption Boys Club is run by Sister a sweary, chain-smoking and unlikely nun . . . and the most remarkable person any of them will ever meet.
Set against the backdrop of early '80s Britain, The Trouble with Sister Francis is a funny, heartwarming and heartbreaking story of unlikely heroes, quiet rebellions, fierce loyalty and unexpected hope.
And at the centre of it all, a long-forgotten journal that might just change everything.
Praise for FRANK AND RED:
'Best book of the year!' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'A fantastic debut' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'A lovely feel-good treat' The Times | 'Simply perfect' Daily Mirror | 'Hilariously funny . . . and beneath it all really quite lovely' Metro | Brilliant, just brilliant' Huffington Post | Debut of the Year Woman and Home | A Prima Book of The Year
I'll always remember the first time I saw Sister Francis.
It's not that I have a great memory, or anything, it's just kind of hard to forget the first time you see a 60-year-old nun, barrelling along at the wheel of a decrepit 1968 Ford Transit. Especially when the nun in question has a cigarette dangling from her lips, and the minibus in question is spewing dark smoke, backfiring, and has - in ornate type - the words 'ASS VIRGIN' written along its side.
I know. This deserves explanation.
1981. Richie, Bennett, Kenny, and Stan are four best pals from the Whittle council estate, with not much to do but get up to no good. After a run-in with the local bullies, they find unexpected refuge in the crumbling boys' club at the local church.
The Blessed Assumption Boys Club is run by Sister a sweary, chain-smoking and unlikely nun . . . and the most remarkable person any of them will ever meet.
Set against the backdrop of early '80s Britain, The Trouble with Sister Francis is a funny, heartwarming and heartbreaking story of unlikely heroes, quiet rebellions, fierce loyalty and unexpected hope.
And at the centre of it all, a long-forgotten journal that might just change everything.
Praise for FRANK AND RED:
'Best book of the year!' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'A fantastic debut' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'A lovely feel-good treat' The Times | 'Simply perfect' Daily Mirror | 'Hilariously funny . . . and beneath it all really quite lovely' Metro | Brilliant, just brilliant' Huffington Post | Debut of the Year Woman and Home | A Prima Book of The Year
- GenresFiction
Kindle Edition
Expected publication August 27, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 14, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"Bennett had started to roll. 'Oh fuck,' Kenny said simply. Sister Francis didn't even bother to correct his language. We were all now too transfixed by the sight of the boy on the purple Raleigh Chopper, dressed as a Hell's Angel from the neck up and a wicket keeper from the neck down, as he quickly picked up speed. He was off."
I don't even know where to start, I knew it was going to great, (I mean I'm still not over Frank and Red and I finished that 2 years ago )), but The Trouble With
Sister Francis surpassed my already high expectations.
I laughed, I cried, I cheered, 1 gasped and I swore at times. @manversusbaby creates a story that you live with the characters, they become friends, you champion them and they stay with you, it's something really special and he makes it look effortless, it's a little piece of magic.
Set in the early 80s, it's a real feel good adventure that needs to be experienced by every reader this summer, there aren't enough stars for how much I loved it and I feel so lucky to have read it early. I'll tuck Lucy, Reggie, Rich, Kenny, Bennet and Stan into that little corner of my heart right next to Frank and Red who are still living there rent free 🥰🥰
Thank you @manversusbaby @netgalley @headlinebooks @headlinebooks for the advanced copy
📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖
She's sixty, sweary, drives like a lunatic and smokes like a stacked chimney . . . and she runs the Blessed Assumption Boys Club.
Richie, Bennett, Kenny and Stan are four best friends from the Whittle council estate with little to do but get up to no good. After a run-in with local bullies, they discover the crumbling, forgotten club and find themselves in the company of the most remarkable person they will ever meet.
Set against early 1980s Britain, THE TROUBLE WITH SISTER FRANCIS is a funny, heartwarming, and heartbreaking story of unlikely heroes, quiet rebellions, fierce loyalty and unexpected hope.
And at the centre of it all lies a long-forgotten journal that might just change everything.
"Bennett had started to roll. 'Oh fuck,' Kenny said simply. Sister Francis didn't even bother to correct his language. We were all now too transfixed by the sight of the boy on the purple Raleigh Chopper, dressed as a Hell's Angel from the neck up and a wicket keeper from the neck down, as he quickly picked up speed. He was off."
I don't even know where to start, I knew it was going to great, (I mean I'm still not over Frank and Red and I finished that 2 years ago )), but The Trouble With
Sister Francis surpassed my already high expectations.
I laughed, I cried, I cheered, 1 gasped and I swore at times. @manversusbaby creates a story that you live with the characters, they become friends, you champion them and they stay with you, it's something really special and he makes it look effortless, it's a little piece of magic.
Set in the early 80s, it's a real feel good adventure that needs to be experienced by every reader this summer, there aren't enough stars for how much I loved it and I feel so lucky to have read it early. I'll tuck Lucy, Reggie, Rich, Kenny, Bennet and Stan into that little corner of my heart right next to Frank and Red who are still living there rent free 🥰🥰
Thank you @manversusbaby @netgalley @headlinebooks @headlinebooks for the advanced copy
📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖
She's sixty, sweary, drives like a lunatic and smokes like a stacked chimney . . . and she runs the Blessed Assumption Boys Club.
Richie, Bennett, Kenny and Stan are four best friends from the Whittle council estate with little to do but get up to no good. After a run-in with local bullies, they discover the crumbling, forgotten club and find themselves in the company of the most remarkable person they will ever meet.
Set against early 1980s Britain, THE TROUBLE WITH SISTER FRANCIS is a funny, heartwarming, and heartbreaking story of unlikely heroes, quiet rebellions, fierce loyalty and unexpected hope.
And at the centre of it all lies a long-forgotten journal that might just change everything.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
When this book landed in my inbox it filled me with two emotions, one of complete excitement but also one of trepidation but all boiling down to one reason.... I felt such a connection with Matt Coyne's previous novel Frank & Red, a connection that to this day still feels palpable, I was slightly anxious that it wouldn't live up to what I now wanted, what I wanted to feel. Within the very first chapter that anxiety vanished entirely!
Matt has this marvellous way of bringing the reader into the pages, making you feel like your walking alongside the characters. His writing style seems to have this pull that I've never experienced before. The characters feel alive, within touching distance and the locations are no different. I can so clearly visualise the roads, the buildings and the scenery.
I'm not going to go into much detail as regards to the storyline as this is a book that MUST be read and I don't want to give even the tiniest spoiler, just know that if you love novels that sit in your brain, in your heart and your belly for days, weeks and even months (or in my case years) afterwards, this is the book you need to read.
Sister Francis is a nun I'd love to befriend! A bit foul mouthed with a cigarette always to hand, drives like a lunatic and is friends with the local mob boss but who loves deeply for those she chooses to, even though she wouldn't admit it!
Told over dual timelines of 1980' and WWII, this is a tale that had me laughing out loud, reminiscing about childhoods of playing out, scraped knees and youth clubs but also wanting to stand beside Sister Francis and fight alongside her, in the past and the present.
Heartwarming, heartbreaking, relatable and completely unputdownable, this will definitely sit in my brain for a long while and as it sits there I will be shouting from the rooftops recommending it to everyone!
Thanks to Netgalley and Headline, Wildfire for the ARC.
Matt has this marvellous way of bringing the reader into the pages, making you feel like your walking alongside the characters. His writing style seems to have this pull that I've never experienced before. The characters feel alive, within touching distance and the locations are no different. I can so clearly visualise the roads, the buildings and the scenery.
I'm not going to go into much detail as regards to the storyline as this is a book that MUST be read and I don't want to give even the tiniest spoiler, just know that if you love novels that sit in your brain, in your heart and your belly for days, weeks and even months (or in my case years) afterwards, this is the book you need to read.
Sister Francis is a nun I'd love to befriend! A bit foul mouthed with a cigarette always to hand, drives like a lunatic and is friends with the local mob boss but who loves deeply for those she chooses to, even though she wouldn't admit it!
Told over dual timelines of 1980' and WWII, this is a tale that had me laughing out loud, reminiscing about childhoods of playing out, scraped knees and youth clubs but also wanting to stand beside Sister Francis and fight alongside her, in the past and the present.
Heartwarming, heartbreaking, relatable and completely unputdownable, this will definitely sit in my brain for a long while and as it sits there I will be shouting from the rooftops recommending it to everyone!
Thanks to Netgalley and Headline, Wildfire for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 rounded up
Matt Coyne has me chuckling from the start, that’s an image and a half!
Allow me to introduce you to Sister Francis, once met, never forgotten. She drives an ancient van with panache, smokes like a chimney, takes no prisoners and is given to the odd swear word when provoked. Yes, that will be you, Father Sheridan. She’s runs the Blessed Assumption Boys Club for years, but it’s elapsed of late and now she wants to revive it.
Richard Ellison and his best mates Stan, Kenny and Bennett live on the Whittle estate in Sheffield and have little to keep them occupied. After a run in with a bunch of local bullies, they get to meet the inimitable Sister Francis and the rest would be telling.
The story is told via Richie in the 1980’s and a long lost journal from World War Two.
This is another highly entertaining, beautifully written novel from Matt Coyne. He has quite a way with words, creating characters that spring from the pages in vivid technicolour and the settings are equally easy to picture especially the dilapidated boys club. Sister Francis is absolutely brilliant and an unforgettable character, as are the four boys who are all likeable in different ways. The dialogue is fantastic and there are numerous occasions where I laugh but also there are moments of sadness but the overall emotion is of an uplifting, heartwarming tale which ends with a cracking joke!
Overall, this is one I can very easily recommend. I think the author has written another best seller.
P.S. Thank you, Matt for Mr Gillott- you rarely see that name in any literature and that just happens to be my maiden name which makes my father, Mr Gillott!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Headline/Wildfire for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
Matt Coyne has me chuckling from the start, that’s an image and a half!
Allow me to introduce you to Sister Francis, once met, never forgotten. She drives an ancient van with panache, smokes like a chimney, takes no prisoners and is given to the odd swear word when provoked. Yes, that will be you, Father Sheridan. She’s runs the Blessed Assumption Boys Club for years, but it’s elapsed of late and now she wants to revive it.
Richard Ellison and his best mates Stan, Kenny and Bennett live on the Whittle estate in Sheffield and have little to keep them occupied. After a run in with a bunch of local bullies, they get to meet the inimitable Sister Francis and the rest would be telling.
The story is told via Richie in the 1980’s and a long lost journal from World War Two.
This is another highly entertaining, beautifully written novel from Matt Coyne. He has quite a way with words, creating characters that spring from the pages in vivid technicolour and the settings are equally easy to picture especially the dilapidated boys club. Sister Francis is absolutely brilliant and an unforgettable character, as are the four boys who are all likeable in different ways. The dialogue is fantastic and there are numerous occasions where I laugh but also there are moments of sadness but the overall emotion is of an uplifting, heartwarming tale which ends with a cracking joke!
Overall, this is one I can very easily recommend. I think the author has written another best seller.
P.S. Thank you, Matt for Mr Gillott- you rarely see that name in any literature and that just happens to be my maiden name which makes my father, Mr Gillott!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Headline/Wildfire for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*4.5 stars*
Told across two timelines - WWII, and the 1980’s, “The Trouble with Sister Francis” truly has that major feel- good factor.
Sister Francis isn’t like any nun I’ve ever met, (and I’ve met and been taught by a good few)! She swears, smokes, drives like a bat out of hell, but she’s amazing!
11 year olds, Rich and his friends, Kenny, Bennett and Stan, are facing a summer without very much to do. There isn’t much money to go around, so they’re pretty much stuck where they are. That is until Sister Francis turns up and announces that she’s reopening the Blessed Assumption Boys Club that ran for many years. The boys aren’t interested at first, it sounds boring and besides there’s bible study included, and they’re definitely not up for that!
However, Sister Francis is very persuasive, and after helping to spruce the place up, the boys begin to enjoy it, and it becomes their special ‘go to’ place.
Gosh, this is a delightful read, set in a time before the advent of technology, before kids were glued to one screen or another. It’s a joy to see how relationships develop within this little group, and also with Sister Francis.
I’ve laughed, I’ve cried, but overall, I’ve had such a fun time with this one. Following his success with ‘Frank and Red’, this is most certainly another winner for author Matt Coyne!
BTW, loved the joke in the acknowledgements Mr Coyne!
*Many thanks to the publisher for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
Told across two timelines - WWII, and the 1980’s, “The Trouble with Sister Francis” truly has that major feel- good factor.
Sister Francis isn’t like any nun I’ve ever met, (and I’ve met and been taught by a good few)! She swears, smokes, drives like a bat out of hell, but she’s amazing!
11 year olds, Rich and his friends, Kenny, Bennett and Stan, are facing a summer without very much to do. There isn’t much money to go around, so they’re pretty much stuck where they are. That is until Sister Francis turns up and announces that she’s reopening the Blessed Assumption Boys Club that ran for many years. The boys aren’t interested at first, it sounds boring and besides there’s bible study included, and they’re definitely not up for that!
However, Sister Francis is very persuasive, and after helping to spruce the place up, the boys begin to enjoy it, and it becomes their special ‘go to’ place.
Gosh, this is a delightful read, set in a time before the advent of technology, before kids were glued to one screen or another. It’s a joy to see how relationships develop within this little group, and also with Sister Francis.
I’ve laughed, I’ve cried, but overall, I’ve had such a fun time with this one. Following his success with ‘Frank and Red’, this is most certainly another winner for author Matt Coyne!
BTW, loved the joke in the acknowledgements Mr Coyne!
*Many thanks to the publisher for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Trouble with Sister Francis by Matt Coyne is a fantastic novel that perfectly blends humour, heart, and nostalgia. What I loved most was the dual narrative, told through Richie’s perspective in 1980s Sheffield and the diary entries of Reggie, an evacuee in WWII, which gradually reveal secrets from the past. The two voices are distinct and engaging, and I found myself equally invested in both stories.
Reggie’s diary adds an intriguing layer of mystery and emotion, slowly uncovering events that connect beautifully with Richie’s story. Matt Coyne does an excellent job of weaving the two narratives together, keeping the reader eager to discover how everything fits together.
Richie, along with his friends Bennett, Kenny, and Stan, is a wonderfully relatable character, and their adventures at the Blessed Assumption Boys Club are full of warmth, laughter, and genuine friendship. At the centre of it all is Sister Francis, whose compassion, determination, and unique approach to helping others make her impossible not to love.
This is a touching and uplifting story about friendship, community, family, and the lasting impact one remarkable person can have on so many lives. With memorable characters, plenty of humour, and an emotional payoff that feels truly earned, I could not stop crying at the end. This book comes highly recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
Reggie’s diary adds an intriguing layer of mystery and emotion, slowly uncovering events that connect beautifully with Richie’s story. Matt Coyne does an excellent job of weaving the two narratives together, keeping the reader eager to discover how everything fits together.
Richie, along with his friends Bennett, Kenny, and Stan, is a wonderfully relatable character, and their adventures at the Blessed Assumption Boys Club are full of warmth, laughter, and genuine friendship. At the centre of it all is Sister Francis, whose compassion, determination, and unique approach to helping others make her impossible not to love.
This is a touching and uplifting story about friendship, community, family, and the lasting impact one remarkable person can have on so many lives. With memorable characters, plenty of humour, and an emotional payoff that feels truly earned, I could not stop crying at the end. This book comes highly recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Trouble with Sister Francis.
As with the previous book Fred and Red this story is a joyous read. Full of great humour and brilliant characters. Sister Francis is absolutely wonderful as are the four young boys this story revolves around. The humour in the dialogue and the boys escapades provide many laugh out loud moments.
Set in the early ‘80’s with back flashes to the 1940’s these eras come together and tie in beautifully to the story adding to the depth of emotions that flow through the story.
A story that is emotional, uplifting and at times tragic it is one that brought me to tears of laughter and sadness and one I’ll be recommending to everyone.
Mr Coyne your joke at the end had me howling with laughter and I did read all your acknowledgements so thanks to all the wonderful people that get your books out to a very grateful public.
As with the previous book Fred and Red this story is a joyous read. Full of great humour and brilliant characters. Sister Francis is absolutely wonderful as are the four young boys this story revolves around. The humour in the dialogue and the boys escapades provide many laugh out loud moments.
Set in the early ‘80’s with back flashes to the 1940’s these eras come together and tie in beautifully to the story adding to the depth of emotions that flow through the story.
A story that is emotional, uplifting and at times tragic it is one that brought me to tears of laughter and sadness and one I’ll be recommending to everyone.
Mr Coyne your joke at the end had me howling with laughter and I did read all your acknowledgements so thanks to all the wonderful people that get your books out to a very grateful public.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Well, Matt Coyne does it again. He has crafted some fabulous characters and created such a lovely community vibe with this book.
Richie and his 3 best friends are 11 and about to spend the summer with not much to do. Their families don't have much money, so when Sister Francis turns up and mentions a boys' club, they end up going along.
Let's start by saying how much I loved reading about the boys' friendship. It isn't something I come across often in books, and it was so joyful to read.
Sister Francis was a brilliant character, quirky and caring.
The story splits between the present day (1981) and the setting up of the club (1941) with journal entries, which added to the rounded story.
I would highly recommend you preordering this one.
Richie and his 3 best friends are 11 and about to spend the summer with not much to do. Their families don't have much money, so when Sister Francis turns up and mentions a boys' club, they end up going along.
Let's start by saying how much I loved reading about the boys' friendship. It isn't something I come across often in books, and it was so joyful to read.
Sister Francis was a brilliant character, quirky and caring.
The story splits between the present day (1981) and the setting up of the club (1941) with journal entries, which added to the rounded story.
I would highly recommend you preordering this one.
June 16, 2026
Matt Coyne has truly outdone himself once more! I absolutely adored Frank and Red so when I received an ARC of The Trouble With Sister Francis I was thrilled to dive in.
It was a delightful read. I laughed, I cried and felt enveloped in a warm hug throughout. It transported me back to childhood and a time before social media dominated our lives. The prose was simply delightful and the nostalgia took me straight back to summers spent at my grandparents’ house. I’d stay out all day coming home covered in grass and mud just as the streetlights flickered on. Coyne’s characters are so well-crafted; their quirks and individuality had me laughing out loud countless times. This is a truly wholesome book that will linger in my memory for a long time.
A beautiful read—Matt Coyne can do no wrong!
It was a delightful read. I laughed, I cried and felt enveloped in a warm hug throughout. It transported me back to childhood and a time before social media dominated our lives. The prose was simply delightful and the nostalgia took me straight back to summers spent at my grandparents’ house. I’d stay out all day coming home covered in grass and mud just as the streetlights flickered on. Coyne’s characters are so well-crafted; their quirks and individuality had me laughing out loud countless times. This is a truly wholesome book that will linger in my memory for a long time.
A beautiful read—Matt Coyne can do no wrong!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. I loved it from the first page, and I couldn't put it down but at the same time I really did not want to finish the book as that would mean saying goodbye to the wonderful characters within . This book made me laugh and it made me cry, it will stay with me for a very long time and I will be recommending it to everyone I know.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This uniquely touching , funny & very emotional roller coaster of a Book must be one of the highlights of this year’s Reading so far! It lifted my spirits beyond measure especially as I’m still Housebound & Medically Shielding 5.5 years on from the start of COVID! Matt Coyne truly knows how deep emotions run in side both the young and the old so I will be highly recommending this book to both family & friends #NetGalley, # FB, #Instagram, #Amazon.co.uk
June 11, 2026
⭐️ 5 ⭐️
Absolutely loved it!
Review to follow.
Absolutely loved it!
Review to follow.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Absolutely brilliant. Can't say anything else except read it . You will not be disappointed. One of my best books this year.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews