The Woman at Number 24

by Juliet Ashton

A house holds the hearts of the people who live in it. Under the roof of The Blue House, a now shabby but previously grand Georgian villa in West London, the subdivided space is home to five separate families and five very different lives.
Sarah has just divorced her husband, Leo, and she's feeling bruised and lonely. And it's not helped by the fact he has moved in with his new girlfriend - Sarah's neighbour Helena who lives in the same house. Her loneliness is compounded by hearing their happiness floating up through the floorboards.
Jane and Tom have just moved in to The Blue House, and there's an instant attraction between Tom and Sarah. But it's too soon for Sarah to jump into a new relationship, and she wouldn't dream of breaking up a marriage as Helena did to her.
Mavis has lived in The Blue House for years. She's the oldest resident by several decades and she's not one for socialising. Then her sister comes to live with her, to spend her dying days under the same roof, and Mavis finds she cannot hide away forever.
As the stories of the different residents intertwine, Juliet Ashton weaves a story of love and friendship and community that will move you to laughter and to tears.

Genres: Romance, Chick Lit, Fiction, Contemporary, Womens Fiction, Book Club, Roman

432 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 20, 2017

About the author

​I write books. I'm an introverted extrovert, a homebody who loves going out, a nosey parker who can keep secrets. I live by the Thames. My study feels like the centre of the universe. I share my house with Matthew, who writes songs and composes film music in his studio upstairs, and our daughter, Niamh. Two dogs sleep at my feet all day, Mavis and Zelda, both pedigree idiots.

I'm five foot six, mostly Irish. I find humans fascinating, whether they're evil or sweet or saintly or annoying or ... I just like humans, and that's why I write about them.

Reviews

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

In Notting Hill, there is a rather special property, its not obvious from the outside, put for the people at number 24 it is home. And over the course of The Woman at Number 24, you will get to know all the residents in this house, see how they all interact, and perhaps even become more than just causal acquaintances.

Meets the characters of number 24.

At the top of the building is Sarah, she is trying to recover from discovering her husband having an affair, their divorce, and then a couple of weeks after the ink is dry on the decree, the wedding of him to the mistress.

Oh and this ex-es name is Leo and he lives downstairs in the next flat down, with his new wife, however there are times where you have to wonder about his and Sarah's interactions, given Leo doesn't come across as a particularly faithful man!

Then there are the Boyces, Jane and Tom who have moved into their new flat, after Lewis (Sarah's former best friend) had moved out. Sarah is attracted to Tom but knows she can't act on it, and makes a firm new friend in Jane.

Then there is Lisa and daughter Una. Una is currently going through a period of selective mutism, but whether Sarah, a child psychologist, but suffering with confidence crisis at work, will offer to help out Una, is an initial question.

Finally the last main resident, and important character is Mavis, who lives in the basement flat. She is an older woman, who seems to be in a permanently bad mood, and seems to complain about everything. However she is also one of the most interesting characters, and as the story progressed I loved seeing her fledgling friendship with Sarah emerge.

Oh and there are two rather cool pets in this property, Peck a foul mouthed Parrot who is quite amusing and Mikey who if you are anything like me will fall for on the first meeting.

The focus of the book is on Sarah, and its her life we are following, as she renovates her flat and prepares to move out in a few months time, as living about her ex isn't the best plan. Nothing it seems in her life is that simple, and there are so many moments I loved, not least her reaction to a piece of information that the hints were there for, relating to Tom and Jane.

I was loving the book as I was reading it, and finding myself frustrated that while reading in my lunch breaks that I couldn't just sit back and continue, instead of working for the rest of the day. My thoughts for two afternoons were definitely with Sarah and her friends, especially after some twists I wasn't expecting, which added a whole new dimension to the book.

The Woman at Number 24 is a thoroughly enjoyable story of friendships and of building a community within a building.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story centres on the people who live in the apartments at number 24. Sarah is the main character and through her we get to know the other residents also.

There is a whole package of different characters, some more likeable than others. Sarah and Mavis had to be my favourite. Sarah is someone who could be any of us. She has had a lot go on in her life and I loved her strengths and vulnerability. Mavis is your classic nosy old neighbour who likes to know all the going ons and whose tolerance level seems to be very low. There is something about her though that is intriguing as like Sarah, I wanted to get to know her better.

I love how there lots of different threads going off in different directions but yet all tie in wonderfully together. This way we get to find out about each character and have a whole array of story lines that make this a page turner of a read.

The Woman At Number 24 is a wonderful story that the reader can escape into. It is jam packed full of romance, friendship as well as the most fabulous shocks and surprises. Who knew that a book in this genre could have so many twists and turns. Great read and will certainly be reading more by the author.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book is jam packed! Lots of little individual stories going on for the handful of characters that live in different floors of one big house.

Its not long before you are really familiar with the characters and get attached to their stories.

I think its lovely how we see all the friendships bloom and how they all pull together and get through rough patches. They all seem to look out for one another. Some of the characters going further and getting romantic with one another.

Just a beautiful read, like a breath of fresh air. Very heart warming and easy to read.

A great 5 Stars from me!

[Shirley Revill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book and stayed up way too late to finnish the story.
The woman at number 24 is based on the lives of the people who share the house which is now made into flats.
Everyone has their own story and secrets but it is with getting to know each other that a community is born.
Very well written with lots of surprises along the way. Highly recommended.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. It was about the residents who live in a house in Notting Hill. Sarah lives in the top flat and recently became to her ex husband who remarried and lives in a lower flat. You can imagine the emotions that evokes.
We get to see how all the characters interact and how their stories develop. Sarah is a child psychologist and one little girl in the house is selective mute. We wonder what is behind her story and whether Sarah will be drawn in. Mavis lives in the basement flat and is a great character. She is so grumpy most of the time- but after reaching out to her we see a blossoming friendship.
Twists keep the interest high and wondering what will happen next and what secrets might be lurking behind each door.
I can't wait to read more by Juliet Ashton- I love her writing style and the the characters she creates.

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chose this book as I thought it would be a nice easy read. It was so annoying! The author has put twists in the story but some were ridiculous. I skim read the last quarter of the book as I'd had enough.

[Margaret Madden · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Georgian villa in Notting Hill. A mixed bunch of residents. A houseful of stories. Sarah lives on the floor above her ex-husband and his new wife. She is supposedly renovating their apartment, in order to sell and split the proceeds. In reality, she is in denial and struggling to move on. When Tom and Jane move in to number 24, the atmosphere rises a notch and the residents are soon enamored with the enigmatic young couple.

Tom is an instant hit with Sarah, showing his gentle nature in his approach to the youngest resident of the house. (Una is a timid little girl, who is damaged by her parents separation and refuses to speak). Meanwhile, in the basement flat, lives Mavis. An elderly, cranky lady who is a law unto herself. All the residents begin to open their doors, albeit tentatively, and as the summer progresses, new friendships form and the building finds a new lease of life. There are secret liaisons; hidden truths; unspoken words; hedgehog rescues...

Opening up with Sarah attending the wedding of her ex-husband, the tensions within the walls of number 24 become apparent. A child psychologist, she is dragged down with a sense of unworthiness and is uncertain of her future. She has lost a husband, a friend and her joie de vivre. Una is a child that lingers on the edge of the story, with her sad eyes and solitary stress. Tom is the handsome neighbour who adds some sparkle to the tale, but surprising the reader along the way. Jane takes Sarah under her wing and the two form a firm friendship. Leo (Sarah's ex) is smarmy and repugnant, with his new wife, Helena, rubbing salt in Sarah's newly opened wounds. Mavis is an eccentric character and she saves the book from becoming run-of-the-mill. She is sarcastic, quirky and her unusual personality unfolds gradually.


The house is brought to life, page by page, and the interlinking stories are all told from Sarah's point of view. A warm and genuine read, slowly paced but with plenty to keep the reader entertained. (Mikey the hedgehog deserves his own picture book).

Well worth adding to your wishlist, The Woman At Number 24 is ideal for escaping the madness of your own household; the daily commute; the pile of ironing. Peeking into the lives of others, without having to leave the house...

[Viola · Rating 2 out of 5]

I kind of want to give this book 1 ⭐️, but I feel a bit mean doing that… as this was a book club book, I wanted to finish it once I’d started it.

I really did not enjoy anything about it and I found myself rushing through for it to end … but I had to endure 400 pages of drivel. The characters were irritating. No one in the real world behaves or speaks the way they did and the dialogue was terrible. I found myself eye rolling a lot.

If this was one of those escape from reality, sickly sweet “the little old tea shop on blah blah lane” type books, at least you’d know what you were signing up for. I don’t mind those kind of books every once in a while, but I don’t think this was trying to be that, and if it was, then it did it badly.

I realised right at the end that I have read another book by this author and I felt pretty much the same about that one. I wouldn’t have bothered If I had realised earlier.

There is so much more I didn’t like about the book, but I already feel like I’ve wasted enough of my time reading the book so I am just going to stop right there.

[Sharika · Rating 4 out of 5]

কাহিনীসংক্ষেপঃ

নটিং হিলের ম্যারিয়ন রোডের ২৪ নাম্বার বাড়িটি হলো একটি জর্জিয়ান ভিলা। বাড়ির বাসিন্দাদের জীবনকাহিনীকে ঘিরেই আবর্তিত হয়েছে বইটি।

উপরতলার আপাতত নিঃসঙ্গ মানুষটি সারাহ লিঞ্চ। কিছুদিন আগে স্বামী লিওর সাথে বিবাহবিচ্ছেদ হয়েছে তার। আর ঘটনাটির জন্য দায়ী ছিল একই বিল্ডিং এর এক মহিলা হেলেনা। বিবাহিত অবস্থাতেই হেলেনার সাথে সম্পর্কে জড়িয়ে পড়েছিল লিও। যখন সারাহ এই সম্পর্কের কথা জানতে পারে, তখন প্রায় বিদ্যুৎগতিতে তাকে ডিভোর্স দেয় লিও। কিছুদিনের মধ্যেই সেই মহিলাকে বিয়ে করে উপরতলা থেকে সরে যায় লিও। কিন্তু প্রাক্তন স্বামীর সাথে এতো কাছাকাছি বসবাস করাটা মারাত্মকভাবে পীড়া দিচ্ছিল সারাহকে।

সবকিছু আরো খারাপ দিকে মোড় নিলো যখন লিও নানান কাজের ছুতোয় বারবার সারাহর ফ্ল্যাটে আসতে শুরু করে এবং বিভিন্ন মিষ্টি কথায় তাকে নতুন করে ভোলানোর চেষ্টা করতে থাকে। সারাহ বুঝতে পারছে না এই পরিস্থিতিতে তার কি করা উচিত। লিও এখন অন্য কারো সাথে বাঁধা। এদিকে বিল্ডিং-এ নতুন বাসিন্দা টম রয়েসের প্রতি তার প্রবল আকর্ষণ কাজ করে। কিন্তু টম আপাতদৃষ্টিতে জেনের স্বামী। প্রেম-ভালোবাসার চিন্তা মাথা থেকে অনেকটা দূর করতেই হয়ত বেসমেন্ট ফ্ল্যাটের মাভিস-এর সাথে বন্ধুত্ব শুরু করে সারাহ।

মাভিস সবার কাছে একজন বদমেজাজি বিরক্তিকর বয়স্কা মহিলা হলেও তার ���াথে কথা বলার পর আস্তে আস্তে সারাহ বুঝতে পারে তারও রয়েছে নরম একটি মন। নিজস্ব একটি গল্প। আর নাম্বার ২৪ এর অপর বাসিন্দা হলো লিসা। ছোট্ট মেয়েটিকে নিয়ে একা বসবাস করে সে। বাচ্চাটির নাম উনা, মানসিকভাবে কিছুটা বিপর্যস্ত উনা কথা বলে না কারো সাথে। চাইল্ড সাইকোলজিস্ট সারাহ তাকে সাহায্য করতে চায়। হঠাৎ কঠিন হয়ে উঠা জীবনটা ধীরে ধীরে সহজ হয়ে আসতে থাকে তার।

পাঠ-প্রতিক্রিয়াঃ

শুধুমাত্র একটি ভিলার ভেতর সাজানো গল্পে এত টুইস্ট, এক্সাইটমেন্ট আর সুইটনেস থাকতে পারে প্রথমে ভাবি নি। আর কনটেম্পোরারি রোমান্স জন্রায় এত আকস্মিক আর অবাক করার মতো টুইস্ট এক্সপেক্টও করি নি।

শুরুতে সবকিছুই কেমন দুঃখী দুঃখী লাগছিল, ভাবছিলাম শেষমেশও ট্র‍্যাজেডিই হবে কি না। কিন্তু পুরো বইটা ফিল-গুড ধরণের। ভালো খারাপ মিলিয়ে ভীষণ সুন্দর একটা গল্প৷ একটি ভিলার বাসিন্দাদের মধ্যে গড়ে উঠা আত্মিক সম্পর্ক, নিজেদের মধ্যে ভুল বুঝাবুঝি, তিক্ততা তারপর আর সবকিছু গুছিয়ে মানিয়ে নেয়া পরিচিত লাগলো। কয়েক মুহূর্তের জন্য নস্টালজিক হয়ে গিয়েছিলাম। প্রতিবেশীদের মধ্যে সুন্দর সম্পর্ক জিনিসটা কোনো বইতে এমনভাবে বর্ণনা করা হয়েছে ব্যাপারটা ভালো লেগেছে।

আমার পড়া জুলিয়েট অ্যাশটনের প্রথম বই এটা। তার আরো কিছু বই পড়ার আশা রাখছি। বইতে আমার প্রিয় চরিত্র সারাহ এবং টম। সবচেয়ে অপছন্দের চরিত্র লিওর নতুন স্ত্রী হেলেনা। স্পয়লার হয়ে যাবার ভয়ে বেশি কিছু বলতে পারছি না, কিন্তু হালকা এবং মন ভালো করার মতো কিছু পড়তে চাইলে যেকোনোসময় এই বইটা নিয়ে বসে যেতে পারেন।

[Cressida McLaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning book, one of my favourite this year. When I finished it my heart was both full and empty - I never wanted it to end.

[She Griffiths-Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book, very charming and each character shone in their own way.
Particularly love the whole house vibe and how they care for each other xxx

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Enjoyed it but didn't love it.

Felt the romance aspect between Tom and Sandra was rather lacking and the twist re Jane and Tom took far too long to resolve. What on earth she sees in her ex is a mystery and him living the floor below with his new wife was a weird set-up.

The story would've benefited from being 100 pages shorter and having more Tom, a character who was seriously underused.

[donna craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

really loved this book so many twists and turns no one would expect second book of authors i have read and loved both

[Samantha Tonge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written and a real page-turner. Wonderful characters and a well constructed - literally! - setting. Would have been five stars but, for me, too many of the reveals during the latter half of the book felt a little contrived and unbelievable. Still recommended.

[Ela | everydayescapes · Rating 5 out of 5]

MEINE MEINUNG
"Wir haben alle Trauer des Verlustes in uns. Es sei denn, wir haben nie geliebt. Und das wäre ein noch weit größerer Verlust." S. 97

In Juliet Ashtons neuem Roman liegt der Schwerpunkt auf Protagonistin Sarah. Sie steht vor den Scherben ihres Lebens nachdem ihr Mann sie für Helena verlassen hat und ist nun einsam und voller Selbstzweifel. Zu Beginn der Geschichte hatte ich einige Schwierigkeiten mit Sarah. Die Trennung von Ehemann Leo mag schwierig gewesen sein und dass ihr mittlerweile Ex-Mann jetzt mit der Frau, für die er Sarah verlassen hat, nur ein Stockwerk tiefer wohnt, kann schon Mitgefühl beim Leser erzeugen. Aber ich konnte einfach nicht verstehen, warum Sarah trotzdem so nach Leos Aufmerksamkeit fordert und nicht von ihm loskommt. Leo selbst ist nämlich alles andere als sympathisch und immer nur auf seine eigenen Vorteile bedacht. Besonders in den Dialogen mit Sarah zeigt er immer mehr sein wahres Gesicht und mit jedem Wort von ihm, mochte ich ihn weniger. Ich verspürte tatsächlich Erleichterung, als Sarah anfängt zu reflektieren und einige gute Einsichten bekommt, die sie zu einer starken und liebenswerten Frau machen.

An Sarahs Entwicklung nicht ganz unbeteiligt sind die anderen Bewohner des Hauses in der Ivy Lane, zu denen Sarah im Verlauf Kontakt knüpft. Da wäre zum einen das neu eingezogene Ehepaar Tom und Jane. Diese Freundschaft die sich zwischen den dreien entwickelt ist absolut wunderbar zu lesen. Besonders mochte ich Jane. Sie ist bunt, quirlig, verrückt und war sofort in der Lage, hinter die Mauer von Sarah zu blicken und hatte keine Scheu, ihr auch die Meinung zu sagen. Bei Jane fällt Sarah es schwer, ihre Fassade aufrecht zu erhalten. Aber auch der permanent schlecht gelaunten und gereizten Mavis kommt Sarah bei gemeinsamen Mittagessen näher. Mavis ist dabei mit ihrer bissigen Art ein ziemlich schwieriger Charakter. Jedoch ist sie mit ihren vielen kleinen überraschenden Lebensweisheiten auch Gold wert und je näher man sie kennenlernt, desto mehr mag man sie letztlich doch.

Ich muss gestehen, damals hat mich „Immer wieder du und ich“ der Autorin nur bedingt überzeugt, weswegen ich zwar trotzdem neugierig, aber ohne große Erwartungen an diesen Roman rangegangen bin. Und diesmal wurde ich positiv überrascht. „Das Glück wohnt in der Ivy Lane“ ist ein wunderbarer Roman über Liebe, Trauer, Vertrauen, Geheimnisse, Selbstwertgefühl und Freundschaft. Oft wird es tiefgründig, manchmal traurig und nachdenklich, zwischendrin aber sogar humorvoll. Juliet Ashton spielt hier mit vielen Fragen und Erwartungen des Lesers. Warum flirtet Tom ständig mit Sarah, obwohl er doch mit Jane verheiratet ist? Warum ist Una, die Tochter von Lisa, die ebenfalls im Haus wohnt, so schweigsam? Und was hat es mit der Person namens Smith auf sich? Im Verlauf kommt man den einzelnen Charakteren gut näher, erlebt wie sie miteinander interagieren, sich verändern und entwickeln. Dabei hat die Autorin einige überraschende Momente parat, die der Geschichte immer wiede eine neue Dimension und neue Blickwinkel verlieh, sodass es nie langweilig wurde.

ABSCHLUSSWORTE
„Das Glück wohnt in der Ivy Lane“ ist ein bezaubernder (Frauen-) Roman mit einer klugen Handlung und vielen reifen, nachdenklichen Themen. Die Bewohner des blauen Hauses in der Ivy Lane lernt man nach und nach gezielt kennen und lieben, sodass man irgendwann selbst Bewohner dieses Hauses sein möchte. Mit Protagonistin Sarah hatte ich zwar zu Beginn einige Schwierigkeiten, aber auch sie mochte ich zum Ende hin sehr gerne. Und bevor die Spannung abflauen kann, überrascht Juliet Ashton mit einigen unvorhergesehenen Wendungen. Ein Buch der leiseren Art, das aber wirklich Spaß macht zu lesen.

[Fabulous Book Fiend · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, everything that could possibly happen inside Number 24 literally does happen. This is a book packed full of twist, turns and dramatic revelations and that made for some fast-paced, Page-turning reading for the entirety of the second half! Number 24 is a house split into flats in Notting Hill and each of the residents, or former residents in these flats each have their own dramatic story lines going on but Sarah, who lives in the flat at the top of the building and is the titular woman, is the lynch pin that holds it altogether. So whilst there are so many dramatic story lines taking place, this is a very character driven book, I loved that about it.

The novel begins fairly pacey because we are working out who all the residents are and how they relate to one another. each chapter begins with a quote from the calendar from the Chinese takeaway that Sarah uses and is a piece of wisdom that someone in that chapter could definitely use. I loved the little clues that Juliet Ashton left in the form of the wise sayings and other little clues about people throughout the chapters, and just like her last book, i enjoyed working out what everyone's story was and the skeletons in their closet.

It is fairly hard to pass judgement on many of the characters in this novel because there are so many twists and turns and everyone is not who they seem to be. I loved the relationship that the characters had and developed with one another though. Many people in London do not know their neighbours and this book certainly starts of being that typical set up, with only a couple of exceptions. There are many changes over the course of the book, but I liked seeing how the characters and those changes affected relationships within the doors of Number 24.

Sarah is a great character to hold the whole story, and the house, together because she is very relatable. She is recently divorced but having to see her husband on a regular basis. Because of the housing situation, in cities in particular, many people are faced with this situation The crisis of her sudden divorce has also made her question her professional capabilities and so we have to go through that with her as well, making her even more easy to sympathise with as a character. She is just a normal woman who is determined to make the best of herself but questions her choices at every turn. I loved the friendships that she forged during this novel and I loved watching her grow and change as a person over the period of time that this story is set.

The beginning and end of this book (I'd say the first 30% and the final 40%) are very pacey and I read those sections all at once. I couldn't believe some of the twists that this story took on and found myself shouting at the characters to realise what was going on right in front of their eyes. The very middle of the book dragged a little for me, it was focused on one storyline in particular and I just didn't click with that one. Overall though this was a great read and in keeping with what I have now come to expect from this author. This would be a great book to read over the bank holiday weekends that are coming up and if you haven't read any of Juliet's other novels, definitely add those to your TBR too!

[Linda Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Divided into flats, number 24 has some interesting characters including Sarah, whose ex-husband Leo lives with his new wife Helena in the flat below.

I think one word will suffice for my review of the Woman at Number 24 – wonderful. Or maybe fantastic. Or possibly outstanding. Hmm. As you can tell, I utterly adored this read.

What I loved was the sense of traditional unities so that there was a wonderful coherence to the story. I loved the fact that there was a straightforward time scale that flowed effortlessly because of the quality of the writing. The unity of place at Number 24 gives a fabulous structure with most of the action taking place there so that the house almost becomes a character in its own right.

As for the characters, they are so brilliantly wrought. Leo brought out the worst aspects of my own personality and I really did feel quite violent towards him so that slapping his face would have given me considerable pleasure. I did have to remind myself that these are actually characters and not people I really know. Mavis is a triumph, but you need to read the book to find out exactly why as to explain would spoil the read. I so wanted Sarah to be happy, and in common with the other characters, she seemed totally plausible and real. The letter from her father broke my heart. Juliet Ashton writes so well that even Mikey the hedgehog and Peck the parrot were vibrant and real.

However, it is the plotting that is the triumph here. Yes, The Woman at Number 24 fits the genre of women’s fiction perfectly, but it exceeds it too. Juliet Ashton’s plot is sublime and so clever. Of course there are predictable outcomes for some in the house but for others she uses a masterstroke of surprise. I really want to explain why but I mustn’t spoil the story for other readers.

The themes presented are mature, thoughtful and totally, totally absorbing. Our relationships with others and how we impact on one another are elements that are written about seamlessly in the context of the narrative and yet seem to transcend the confines of the story so that I couldn’t stop thinking about them when I wasn’t actually reading The Woman at Number 24.

I’ve found it quite hard to review The Woman at Number 24 because I loved it so much. Basically I just want to move in to number 24 too so that I can meet these wonderful people in person! I thought The Woman at Number 24 was amazing.
https://lindasbookbag.com/2017/04/13/...

[Simona · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Book provided by the publisher on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

This book is all about the people living in a rather special house, number 24. we get introduced to all of these characters quickly and they are a great and diversified group.

First up we have Sarah, who’s husband cheated on her, they are divorced and he just got married to his affair. She is also mourning the loss of her friend Smith. Sarah is the main character in this story.

Then we have Leo, Sarah's ex husband, who is now married to Helena. They live in the flat together. Leo, I didn't like from the start, he had this unfaithful and arrogant vibe around him.

Boyces, Jane and Tom have just moved in and Sarah is very much attracted to Tom, but also thinks she still has feelings for Leo.

We also have Lisa and her daughter Una, who is going through some things, Sarah is there to help.

Last but nit least we have Mavis, an older woman who lives in the basement flat. She complains a lot and is always in a bad mood, but a friendship is built between her and Sarah throughout the book, this was lively to read about.

Sarah is forced to still see Leo from time to time and also spend time with him. I didn't like her around him, she became insecure and made weird decisions. She has a lot to do with renovating her flat, moving out soon and other things. Apart from spending time with Leo and old feelings coming up, she makes new friends and also flirts with other men. I struggled a bit with that part of the story, which seemed a bit unrealistic to me. Other than that I really adored the story, it's all about community and friendship in several ways. Juliet Ashton captured that beautifully in her writing.

the Woman at Number 24 is an absorbing story full of wonderful moments and cute scenes. This was my first Juliet Ashton book to read and I really fell in love with her accurate, vivid, cute and flowing writing.

[Iffat Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, the book has its own aesthetics and the heartwarming neighbourhood story was something to be appreciated.. But the main character was too much annoying for me...She was totally in love with a toxic person (which was acceptable at the first point)...But later on her tantrums and character got worst...Her ignorant behaviour, adamant about few points, etc. made her intolerable at many points...But overlooking that portion, the story had a huge potential though it seemed to be off tracked at many points...Still...I enjoyed the journey of Number 24..It has a cosy vibe and lovely portray of relationship among neighbours❤🏡

[Rosie Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Woman At Number 24 is a mix of romance and contemporary women’s fiction. The story is set in Notting Hill and begins in 2016. Number 24 is a series of flats and Sarah lives at the top in Flat A. She has recently attended the wedding of her ex-husband, who now, bizarrely, lives with his new wife in the Flat B, below Sarah.

Down in the other flats, there are new residents moving in, plus a single mother and daughter, and rude, grumpy Mavis.

This book is about Sarah and her relationship with the different residents of Number 24. See here for full review https://wp.me/p2Eu3u-bzO

[Isabella May · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning!

A cleverly devised tale, packed to the rafters with wonderfully eccentric characters and the richest, most decadent language. Some hugely witty moments too, yet this is a story with incredible depth. Quite different to anything I've read before. I'm looking forward to more by this author.

[Mary]

A nice story but,for me,one that was missing some essential ingredient that would have rendered it more compelling and satisfying.

While I enjoyed the various ways their lives entangled with each other and the wonderful twists that I happily didn't predict,I thought it somewhat repetitive.

[Sabrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I enjoyed how the ensemble cast was fleshed out throughout the book, the denouement was a trainwreck. Why practically start three new stories and start to rush through them while you're trying to wrap up your A plot?

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book is worthy of a 3 1/2 star rating.
The story is of residents living in a converted house in London. Each resident has their own secret, which are slowly revealed throughout the book. With a sprinkle of smiles, a touch of sadness and a few “ahh” moments this book makes a nice easy read.

[Vicki Bowles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publishers, Books and the City at Simon & Schuster for the exciting exclusive extract and then to them and Netgalley for the ARC.

You see so many big properties, once so grand, divided up into individual flats. I always think it's a shame; ripping the heart and character out of a home. But then it becomes home to more people, allowing room for more characters and their relationships to develop.

Number 24 is home to several inhabitants, including Sarah, and somewhat awkwardly, her ex husband and his new wife. The intricacies of such a relationship are explored, with Sarah desperate to win Leo back, and Leo himself doing nothing to dissuade her...

Then there's Mavis, a cantankerous old woman who lives in self-imposed poverty in the basement. When her sister dies, Sarah feels sorry for Mavis and decides no one can be that bad - apart from perhaps, Peck, the extremely foul-mouthed parrot.

Sarah is mourning the loss of her friend Smith, who Leo had ironically been so jealous of when he and Sarah were still married - until he left her for the glamorous Helena who had moved in.

Suffering so much loss in her life, and having to prepare to move out of the flat she adores, Sarah's life is crumbling. She is a child psychologist, but has even lost her connection to children and is so full of self-doubt. She is intrigued by new neighbours, Jane and Tom, becoming friends with Jane but disturbingly attracted to Tom...

It's a lovely story of community, which sadly seems to be lacking in much of today's society, friendships, loyalty, love and self-worth. Some have too much, whilst others are severely lacking.

Juliet writes wonderfully comforting stories which wrap themselves around you like a hug. Even the sad or uncomfortable parts where people are suffering are a delight to read, because you know the story will pan out in the end, even if it's not necessarily in the way you expect - and this is Juliet's talent. Beautiful stories which draw you right in, with great characterisation.

Now when can I move in?

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read Juliet Ashton’s previous novel I was looking forward to her next book as I adored ‘These Days of Ours’, especially when I received and read the sampler.

It sounded quite a light read but it was much more emotional and mysterious than I expected. This only added an extra layer of depth, to what was already a pretty fantastic book. It is so easy to read and find yourself consumed by this book, so much so I stayed up till the early hours of the morning, unable to put it down. While most of the book takes place in the house and it’s gaden, because it’s converted to flats you get a nice variety of characters and story all intertwined.

The main character is Sarah and it’s from her viewpoint we read the book. At times I really liked Sarah, she was naturally kind and willing to give people a chance, like Mavis from the basement flat. However this also extended to her ex husband, Leo. She wasn’t over him, and therefore was quite naive I think, especially in the hope that helping her paint the flat proved he still loved her. She accepted that his careless, hapless nature was the way he was, and made excuses for him. At the worst times he came off really creepy, and at best he was inconsiderate as to how Sarah may feel. I was begging Sarah to have more strength in her, and at times she did, seeing Leo squirm when she told him how ridiculous the situation was, was great, but then she went back to defending him to everyone else. It was easy to dislike Leo initially, but by the end I think Sarah somehow hypnotised me. I didn’t like him as such but thought that maybe he had changed, and could see growth in a character, that for the first part of the book, I saw no hope for.

Despite her grumpy exterior, I loved Mavis. Yes she was cantankerous, but at times her light shone through and you could see she wanted to change and make amends, and become and better neighbour and more importantly, a friend to everyone.

Jane was certainly a larger then life character, she was instantly someone trustworthy and you wanted to become best friends with.

This book delivered so much more than I expected. Emotion, laughs and mystery, I simply adored every minute of reading it.

[Daramegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://darameganknihy.blogspot.com/2...

[Damelapin · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the length of the book, i was afraid I'd get bored. But I haven't been, all characters are different and interesting. It's a really cute story

[Marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 🌟

[Debbie McWilliam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit of a slow starter but enjoyed it once it got going!