Love Divine

by Ysenda Matone Graham

A captivating debut novella by our bestselling author Ysenda Maxtone Graham, set in a Church of England parish in an affluent London suburb over the course of a year. It may evoke your inner Barbara Pym, but with a distinctively modern twist.

272 pages, Hardcover

Published November 1, 2025

Reviews

[Plateresca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It's a super-quick read, a bit simplistic at times, but definitely not stupid. I've read it in four evenings, and I think I laughed and cried on each of them.

This Slightly Foxed edition is, of course, superb.

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was really not expecting to enjoy a book about the congregation of a suburban church so much. but it was so fun!

[Jonathan Lancashire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sharp and very on-the-money about C of E politics. Also some clever and humane touches in the storyline.

[Isabella Speaight · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put Love Divine down, I raced through it and felt incredibly devastated when it was over. I adored it from start to finish. I was quickly and completely invested in everyone’s lives; the characters felt so alive and human that I found myself deeply caring about what happened to each of them, and becoming very fond of them all. The writing is wonderfully observant, funny, and tender, and it broke my heart in places without ever feeling heavy handed. It’s rare to find a book that is so immediately readable while also being emotionally resonant and quietly profound. I loved every minute of it and am still thinking about the characters long after turning the final page!

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure when I started if I was going to be able to follow the story in the format it was written in because I had to keep referring back to see who was who. It didn’t take long before I was invested in the characters and to enjoy the writing and the surprise twists and turns that each one encountered. There were some sad and some funny, clever things happening and overall I am glad I read this book which raises the spirits in a gloomy January. Thoroughly recommend this novella.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!