The House We Called Home

by Jenny Oliver

Irresistible, feel-good fiction from Top 10 bestselling author Jenny Oliver…***Shortlisted for The Golsboro Books Contemporary Romantic Novel Award***

Bestselling author Debbie Johnson says Jenny Oliver writes about ‘love, humour, family and hope – the perfect ingredients for a summer read'.

Escape with Jenny Oliver’s next uplifting read, The Summer We Ran Away, available June 2020!!

The house where Stella and her sister Amy grew up never changes – the red front door, the breath-taking view over the Cornish coast, her parents in their usual spots on the sofa. Except this summer, things feel a little different…

Stella’s father is nowhere to be seen, yet her mother – in suspiciously new Per Una jeans – seems curiously unfazed by his absence, and more eager to talk about her mysterious dog-walking buddy Mitch.

Stella’s sister Amy has returned home with a new boyfriend she can barely stand and a secret to hide, and Stella’s husband Jack has something he wants to get off his chest too. Even Frank Sinatra, the dog, has a guilty air about him.This summer, change is in the air for the Whitethorns…

Warm, funny and gloriously feel-good, this is the perfect summer read for fans of Veronica Henry and Milly Johnson.

Praise for Jenny

‘Love, humour, family and hope – the perfect ingredients for a summer read' Debbie Johnson

‘This book made me want to fly to Spain and dance on the beach with a glass of sangria in my hand. The perfect summer read’ Sarah Morgan

‘Brilliantly written, this is packed full of humour and there is a wonderful thread of love… A perfect holiday read’ The Sun

‘Dramatic and fun!’ My Weekly

‘Heartwarming, funny and wonderfully observed, The House We Called Home explores one family's wake-up call with wit and wisdom. Jenny Oliver's characters are so real and relatable they could just walk off the page’ Fiona Harper

‘Jenny Oliver does a brilliant job’ Woman

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Fiction

385 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 28, 2018

About the author

Jenny Oliver is the bestselling author of The Summerhouse by the Sea - the PERFECT book for your summer reading! Out May 18th.
Her book The Sunshine and Biscotti Club, set in sunny Tuscany, was nominated for the Best Contemporary Romantic Novel at the RONA awards.
Jenny wrote her first book on holiday when she was ten years old. Illustrated with cut-out supermodels from her sister's Vogue, it was an epic, sweeping love story not so loosely based Dynasty.
Since then Jenny has gone on to get an English degree and a job in publishing that's taught her what it takes to write a novel (without the help of the supermodels). She wrote her first book The Parisian Christmas Bake Off on the beach in a notebook that would end up covered in sand each afternoon and damp from the sea. Nowadays her inspiration comes from her love of all things vintage, a fascination with other people’s relationships and an unwavering belief in happy ever after!
If you are looking for some bite-size reads why not try her Cherry Pie Island novella series. The first five books - The Grand Reopening of Dandelion Cafe, The Vintage Ice Cream Van Road Trip, The Great Allotment Proposal, One Summer Night at the Ritz and Four Weddings and a White Christmas are out NOW! Mouthwatering, feel-good and the ultimate escapism!
Follow her on Twitter @JenOliverBooks, Instagram jenoliverbooks or go to the website jennyoliverbooks.com to find out more about Jenny, her books and read her blog!

Reviews

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A man walks out, he goes missing and yet none of his family seem that bothered, he left a note so it was definitely voluntary. His wife doesn't seem to bothered, his children are a bit more worried, but even so there is a lack of urgency about finding him, even though no one has heard from him at all.

This is the story of the Whitethorn's family who I feel are a lot better for Graham walking away than they had been before.

As the book progresses we see all sorts of secrets come out, huge amounts of character development, especially for Stella and Amy, We also discover just what sort of a man Graham is, as well as discovering every last thing about this family.

They are complex, they are real, you probably know people like some of them. It is a very good story about how a family reacts when something unexpected happens.

When I was able to read for a while uninterrupted I was utterly gripped, and was eager to see what happened, but yet the book wasn't calling me back to it when I wasn't reading. Which is a shame, but could just be me, as I can't really fault anything about the story itself.

A really enjoyable story and I feel awful that I left it languishing on my kindle unread for as long as I did, given how much I tend to enjoy this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The House We Called Home by Jenny Oliver is a fabulous contemporary family novel that will awaken your senses to the world around you.
Life can easily slip into a mundane pattern. Everyone from children to teens to adults find life predictable and unexciting. Life, as shown online seems to be perfect and ideal for everyone but you. Life is passing you by, so what do you do? If you escape for a while, will anyone notice? Or care?
The novel explores that life is for living. It is for trying something new and for rediscovering old passions. It is for giving others permission to be themselves. Too often we settle into roles - daughter, wife, mother - when really we just want to be 'me.'
The House We Called Home shows what happens to relationships and dynamics when everyone, including the house, is remodeled.
This was a really fun and warm read. Highly amusing at times. Jenny Oliver explores family relationships and with her comprehensive descriptions, brings the novel to life. A perfectly wonderful read. Jenny Oliver left me smiling.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

[Silke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stella ist mit ihrer Familie auf dem Weg zu ihren Eltern, um dort ihren Sohn Sonny, der einige Zeit bei seinen Großeltern verbracht hat, abzuholen. Stellas Verhältnis zu ihren Eltern ist nicht das allerbeste und sie ist eigentlich froh, schnell wieder fahren zu können. Doch auf dem Weg zu ihrem Elternhaus teilt ihr ihre Mutter mit, dass Stellas Vater ohne ein Wort verschwunden ist. Stellas Schwester Amy befindet sich ebenfalls auf dem Weg nach Hause, um ihren Vater zu suchen - im Schlepptau ihren One-Night-Stand; und Vater ihres ungeborenen Kindes.

Ein bunter Haufen findet sich dort in Cornwall zusammen und jeder hat sein eigenes Päckchen zu tragen. Mir hat die Geschichte rund um diese Familie gut gefallen und sie konnte mich sehr unterhalten. Der Humor kam hier ebenfalls nicht zu kurz, auch das hat mir gefallen. Der Schreibstil war sehr angenehm und die Charaktere wie mitten aus dem Leben gegriffen. Und allen wird am Ende klar, das vieles leichter fällt, wenn die Familie zusammenhält. Eine Liebesgeschichte steht hier übrigens nicht im Vordergrund, was ich sehr erfrischend fand. Eine schöne Familiengeschichte.

[Sadie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't normally write reviews because I can't usually think of anything to say other than 'I loved it'. But with this book - I loved it! 😂 everything about this story just felt real, natural. The troubles within the family were relatable, the characters hilarious - Gus being a favourite, Rosie a close second. I was putting off the last couple of chapters because I didn't want it to end! I've liked all of Jenny Oliver's books but this one here is something else. Would highly recommend.

[Jane Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable, relaxing and in some places made me think, in others made me laugh out loud. Not a great book for anyone not au fait with social media, I won’t be passing my copy on to my Mum! But I enjoyed it, even though the fact that the cover artist had blatantly obviously not read the book really irritated me all the way through. The whole place was clearly and vividly described. The size, the colour of the walls, the plants and trees in the garden, the outbuildings. Yet the only things the illustrator had picked up on were the red door and the proximity to the sea. It jarred enough with me to lose a star, maybe someone less of a stickler for detail would let that pass over them

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Jenny Olivers writing style and love her books.
In this one when a father walks away from the family home, his daughters return home to their mum. Their mum seems to have a close friendship that they are unaware of and feels free rather than worried about his disappearance.
Amy brings a new partner whom she seems to dislike. The characters are so well drawn that you feel that you are there along with them.
It draws you in and keeps you turning the pages

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was alright but I found myself getting bored at times and I didn't really like any of the characters. Although I'd consider it a chick-lit book in a sense it's got no real romance but instead explores various family dynamics.

[Kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I've liked Jenny's books so far but I think is my favourite to date.

I particularly enjoyed what this book had to say about family and being true to yourself rather than putting on a front for others. There is so much in this book I could empathise with. The frustrated daughter home to deal with an emergency having been estranged for a while, the mother and her collection of mugs the family just keep buying because "she likes them" and the whole situation of a family who have struggled to save face for years and buried their head in the sand rather than facing issues that are less than ideal.

I particularly enjoyed who the book balanced the heartfelt against the really funny. The scene with the septic tank in particular made me laugh lots.

All in all a book I thoroughly enjoyed. I can't wait for more from Jenny.

[Nessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well 'The House We Called Home' has been a truly wonderful and interesting read throughout. The story is based around a family, Gus and Mitch, all of whom I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know and loved finding out how each of them plays a part within story itself.

It was an addictive read as I wanted to know what would happen with certain characters and to discover where Stella's Dad was & why he was missing, plus why is Moira acting so strange and who is this Mitch character. Well let me tell you it was certainly entertaining reading so as to discover those answers.

So final words, having read a couple of Jenny's books previously, I am happy to report that she is a wonderful author, has such a amazing way with words that just keeps you wanting more and the way she writes her characters and how they develop throughout a book, really makes them come alive.

If you haven't read a Jenny Oliver book yet, then all I can say is don't delay any further, as I can highly recommend her books as truly heart-warming, entertaining and delightful reads.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stella’s dad has disappeared but thats not all that seems odd, Stella’s mum seems taken with her dog walker friend and Stella’s sister Amy has appeared with a mystery man.

I’ve read many books by this author and enjoyed them all, this one was no different but cut in a different groove. A compelling read each chapter peeling back the different layers. A book of family discovery and growth. I found it hard to put it down

[Justkeepreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always love Jenny’s books. You always know that you are in safe hands when you read one of her books and this one is simply no exception. I throughly enjoyed it.

[Gemma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven’t read a Jenny Oliver book since The Parisian Christmas Bake Off (do forgive me Jenny?!). So, when The House we called Homepopped up on my radar when I just needed something light and summery to read, it seemed it was fate calling and the perfect opportunity to jump back in there! I must admit, this one had a very different feel to the previous book, but not at all in a bad way.

Following the Whitethorn family, this story picks up as Stella and Jack are on their way to Cornwall to pick up their teenage son, Sonny, who was sent to his grandparents house as a form of punishment. Whilst on the way there, Stella receives a call from her mother saying her father has disappeared; her father who doesn’t go anywhere and since she left home at 18 have barely spoken to each other…

On arrival, the disappearance of her father isn’t the only one acting out of character; her mother not only looks different, but doesn’t seem to have much concern over her husbands whereabouts, and younger sister Amy arrives with a complete mystery man…

The House we called Home is a novel about a family who it seems have lost their way in both relationship and individual terms; that appear to no longer know how to communicate with each other and each of them holding back their secrets and fears from the people closest to them.

This story will be very relatable to many people reading; it explores social media and that picture perfect online life that everyone around you seems to be having but you; it looks at how life can fast become mundane, unexciting and begins to just pass you by; as a mother, as a father, as a husband, as a wife, the expectations along with these roles begin to take over life and the person you were before that becomes lost. You go on a journey alongside the wonderful little Whitethorn family and discover that you can still be yourself – re-kindling old passions, or discovering new ones, and also how lowering the expectations towards the ones you love and allowing them to be themselves may also reignite a little spark and enjoyment in relationships!

This is a lovely summer novel, perfectly set, light and easy to read and follow, but with lots of added depth to be found and taken away from the story. The characters are a real joy to be around; they just seemed such a normal family and many a scenario or interaction between them made me genuinely chuckle out loud! I particularly loved Amy’s mystery man and little Rosie. But as a reader with an almost 12 year old son (3 weeks away), who, like Sonny, loves gaming on the Xbox and of which causes so many arguments and me tearing my hair out on a regular basis, it was his and Stella’s relationship I related to so much! Even the little things about his hair etc�� made me just stop and think – expectations are funny things and I guess sometimes we don’t realise we’re putting them there.

The House we called Home is one family’s story of growth and discovery, forgiveness and letting people be who they want to be. It’s a warm, funny and thought provoking summer read and I’ll definitely be picking up more from Jenny Oliver in the future.

[Marjorie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Once I got around 50 pages in to the book I started to enjoy it, but it does take perseverance to get that far. There is a lot of information thrown at us initially and, to be perfectly honest, all of the characters are initially painted as being pretty much a complete bunch of horrors. The kind of people you cross the road to avoid in real life. Gloria(?) and Graham, the matriarch and patriarch of the family, have a stale marriage - she has a wandering eye and he just wanders off. Stella and Jack and their 2 children are, respectively, a narcissist and a fantasist. Amy is childlike and entitled and has got herself in to a bit of a pickle with a one night stand. There is some character progression through the book, fortunately, but I never really warmed to any of the characters or the situation they found themselves in, with the exception of Amy. Once you realise the reasons why she is like she is it starts to make sense and at least by the end of the book she is starting to shoulder the burden of being responsible for herself.

I'm not entirely sure where the tagline "The magical, laugh out loud..." comes from though. It is sheer hyperbole as there is nothing magical about watching families fracture and then try to rebuild - and it is very definitely try. I came away with the feeling that Gloria(?) and Graham may reconcile and that Amy was sorted but I give Stella and Jack 6 months - tops - before they snide each other to death. There is a little bit of humour but certainly not enough to make you snort let alone laugh out loud. Most of what little there is comes more from denigration of one character by another, whilst reflecting family life pretty accurately it doesn't work as well on the page because those sort of asides need body language to balance them out, in writing they just seem offensive.

That said I did enjoy the pacing of the story and finding out the history of the Whitethorn sisters. I did feel it was more of a kitchen sink drama-lite than a comedy though, fortunately I like that kind of book too. It does raise some interesting points about how families perceive each other and how it is all to easy to slot in to familiar childhood roles when everyone gets together.

[Noemi Proietti · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is 400 pages long and yet I read it in less than two days because I was completely addicted. First of all, I loved the characters. They are engaging, realistic, and very very likable. There is Stella, who left Cornwall and the family home at eighteen after a fallout with her father and, since then, she has been back just for quick visits. Now she is a journalist with her own successful column about motherhood, even though she can’t seem to understand her teenage son, Sonny, who is a tech genius and seemingly very wise for his age. Her husband Jack does everything she asks and their younger daughter Rosie is adorable in her own innocence. Her younger sister Amy has always been the baby of the family with everyone taking care of her. Now, she is living in London on her own, trying to prove to her family that she can do it on her own, especially now that she is pregnant after a one-night stand. When their father suddenly leaves the family home without an explanation, both women travel to Cornwall to figure out what is going on, Amy followed by Gus, the father of her baby, and my favourite character with his wittiness and charm. Their mother Moira doesn’t seem too concerned by the disappearance of her husband. She finally feels free from being the wife of a man who demanded all her attention and, for once, she is thinking just about herself.

I really liked the author’s writing. This is my first Jenny Oliver’s novel (I really need to catch up) and I found her writing clear and distinct. The narration flows easily with the right amount of descriptions and dialogues, with hilarity, emotional moments, and a few twists. Each character has their own stories and a few secrets that entertain and kept me glued to the page because, just like the characters, they are realistic and engaging.

THE HOUSE WE CALLED HOME is a story about family, about forgiveness, and about growing up and I loved everything about it, from the first to the last page. It’s a compulsive and refreshing read and I’d like to thank HQ and Lily Capewell for inviting me to take part in the blog tour and for providing me with a copy of this immersive summer read.

[Nuria · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are so many reasons why I love this book. If you are interested in the big story and the loooong list, head on over to the blog.

But to give you the whole thing in a nutshell, here it goes: the reason why I think you should read this book as well.

1. The Writing:
Jenny Oliver is an amazing writer and I felt like I was there with Stella and her family, joining them on their adventure to find their dad.

2. The Dialogue:
I'm not a fan of long descriptive passages. So The House We Called Home was perfect for me. The dialogue flows easily and makes it so much easier to keep up with everything and completely forget everything that is going on around you.

3. The Characters:
I consider them all my friends now. And Gus is welcome to look me up any day.
There are a lot of them, but Jenny Oliver still manages to go deeper and not just stay at the surface. You won't have a choice, but to fall in love with them all.

4. The Family:
I know the feeling of loving and hating your family at the same time. Screaming into a pillow because they make you so mad and you really don't want to love them. But you can't help it, because...well...they're your family.

So, if you love a story about family and the secrets we keep to protect others and ourselves, The House We Called Home will be the perfect book for you!

Full review over at UnwrappedDreams.com (https://wp.me/p95M0P-zF).

[Catsalive · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very pleasant, if unremarkable, tale. A little slow to get moving, & to get to know the characters, but a nice build towards all the family members working out their historical issues with each other.

Graham goes missing. His wife, Moira, doesn't seem particularly fussed about it but his children Stella & Amy are worried, as are his grandchildren, Sonny & Rosie. Everyone converges on Moira & Graham's home on the Cornish coast, all bringing other family issues with them. Stella, her husband, Jake, & her son, Sonny, are not getting along well, and Amy has brought a stranger with her; why on earth is Gus here at all?

I did enjoy Gus' sense of humour, & the way he used it to goad Amy into action. Stella is a lovely, strong character, set in her way but willing to see another point of view when pushed. Moira is just starting to take a deep breath, & control of her own life. It seems that everyone is a little better off without Graham, is that why he left?

I'm afraid I would feel extremely silly calling for a dog called Frank Sinatra on the beach, but I suppose one would really just call him Frankie.

[MetLineReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Badged as a feel-good story, this made me feel rather melancholy. Now I know that’s the point, but I can usually rely on Jenny Oliver to provide me with seaside escapism rather than the gritty reality of an absent father/grandfather.

The story starts out slowly, with teenage Sonny being ‘dumped’ at his grandparents whilst his mum Stella and dad Jack don’t quite know how to handle him. He also has a cute little sister.

Stella clearly has her issues with her parents and they unfold once her father disappears and her sister Amy plus one-night boyfriend Gus turn up. Add to that their mother Moira who delivers some cracking one-liners later in the book.

Once they are all assembled there’s a lot of to-ing and fro-ing but eventually the family take action to find their missing dad/grandfather ...

From there onwards, it becomes more like the Jenny Oliver books I love but I almost gave up as it is notably deeper and less frothy than her previous books.

However, she is a talented writer so I stuck with it and enjoyed the various outcomes. 3.5*...

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some spoilers ahead...



I was gifted this book and it's not my genre but I found myself enjoying it totally!

These characters feel so real, with their flaws and their insecurities, with the unresolved problems but also with their love for their family members.

I fell in love with Gus, with his funny ways and incredible wisdom, maybe given by the fact the he was with this family in this strange adventure but really from the outside looking in.
He was calm, collected, made everyone feel at ease with him even if he was nothing but a stranger.
The way he made Stella see what was going on with Sonny, the way he never dismissed Rosie as some little girl but enjoyed playing with her...

I called Amy all kinds of insults for not realising what a gem she had spent a one night stand with and who would now be the father of her child.
She slowly fell for him and it hurt when it seemed like he didn't feel the same...but he did!!

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great, quick, easy summer read. It focuses around a family, who like every family, have their issues, and even spans a few countries!

Oliver's dialogue flows, there's no over-described passages here, just simple, elegant writing that will immediately draw you in and keep you hooked. I found that I wanted to know the outcome for every character, and even Amy's new partner, who isn't painted that well at the beginning of the book, grew on me and his true nature and personality is uncovered throughout the book.

All of the characters are wonderfully crafted, with distinct personalities, but similar enough that you truly believe that they are a family. It creates such a warm atmosphere and it really is a feel-good read!

[Holly is Happy Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is about Stella and Amy, sisters who return to their parents house in Cornwall to discover that their father is missing. Their mother Moira is surprisingly calm and is not worried yet. Amy is pregnant with a guy called Gus whom she slept with drunk and Stella is married to Jack and has Son Sonny and Daughter Rosie. Sonny has been staying with Stella’s parents as he has not been behaving. This follows them trying to find their dad/husband/grandfather and also real relationships between each other. I liked Amy and Gus and I just thought that it needed a bit more excitement.

[Helen Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read most, if not all, of Jenny Oliver's books, and I think The House We Called Home marks a slight change in style. This book is less romantic I think. There is a lot of love evident, only it's explored within family dynamics. I liked all of the characters bar the missing father/grandfather, and I really enjoyed the group scenes. It's a good read.

With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Lorreine Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don’t think I had read anything by this author but it was on a bookcase in a hotel. Very easy read. Generally likeable characters although frustrating at times. Dominant father, mother who became invisible to her husband and children. I’m more of the age of the mum, so don’t always get the neurosis of modern women, but I stuck with it and found I was happy that I had read it. Would read another.

[Jan Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a perfectly ok book and I almost feel bad about just giving it three stars but for me it felt a bit formulaic and contrived. It dealt with all the family issues that came to light whilst Stella and her sister Amy try to locate their father who has disappeared. I didn’t connect with any of the characters and felt that each one was just drawn to represent a particular stereotype .

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a good read. It's all about underlying the importance of being honest within your family as honesty is the only path for meaningful and worthwhile relationships... even if honesty can be somewhat hurtful and challenging of one's behaviour.

I think that one way of summarising this book is: they were lost and did find each other again. They did not get the same, they got better.

[Nicola (Not Just Books) Barker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Jenny Oliver books but I found this one very slow. I got over half way before I got interested in the story and the characters. After that I couldn’t put it down. I found Gus to be my favourite character who entertained and intrigued me.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Told from the viewpoint of a mother and her two adult daughters. All three women are at a point in their lives where they are teetering on the edge of change, and it is unclear if it is for better or worse.

Not my favorite of Jenny Oliver's books, but a nice, enjoyable read.

[Charlotte Drury · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really struggled to get into this book. I was given it after my mum really enjoyed it but I personally found almost every character somewhat problematic and struggled to get into a flow whilst reading. The plot was okay and the last ten chapters were probably those that I enjoyed most.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved every page. It really kept me intrigued throughout. Loved the way it ended. One particular quote which struck me:
"for a relationship to work it's about remembering that the people in it once existed quite happily without the other" pg 369.

[EmmyLou Billingdoom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It reminded me of Liane Morarty's work, reflecting on complex family dynamics but in a humorous manner. The characters were well drawn and realistic, and the setting was beautiful throughout. Thoroughly enjoyable and very entertaining.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite simply, a brilliant book. Made me laugh, made me cry and gave me the feel good lift I needed. Lots of lovely characters - Gus in particular is my fave!