What do you think?
Rate this book
This Lovely City
An atmospheric and utterly compelling debut novel about a Jamaican immigrant living in postwar London, This Lovely City shows that new arrivals have always been the prime suspects ― but that even in the face of anger and fear, there is always hope.
London, 1950. With the war over and London still rebuilding, jazz musician Lawrie Matthews has answered England’s call for labour. Arriving from Jamaica aboard the Empire Windrush, he’s rented a tiny room in south London and fallen in love with the girl next door.
Playing in Soho’s jazz clubs by night and pacing the streets as a postman by day, Lawrie has poured his heart into his new home ― and it’s alive with possibility. Until one morning, while crossing a misty common, he makes a terrible discovery.
As the local community rallies, fingers of blame point at those who were recently welcomed with open arms. And before long, London’s newest arrivals become the prime suspects in a tragedy that threatens to tear the city apart. Immersive, poignant, and utterly compelling, Louise Hare’s debut examines the complexities of love and belonging, and teaches us that even in the face of anger and fear, there is always hope.
London, 1950. With the war over and London still rebuilding, jazz musician Lawrie Matthews has answered England’s call for labour. Arriving from Jamaica aboard the Empire Windrush, he’s rented a tiny room in south London and fallen in love with the girl next door.
Playing in Soho’s jazz clubs by night and pacing the streets as a postman by day, Lawrie has poured his heart into his new home ― and it’s alive with possibility. Until one morning, while crossing a misty common, he makes a terrible discovery.
As the local community rallies, fingers of blame point at those who were recently welcomed with open arms. And before long, London’s newest arrivals become the prime suspects in a tragedy that threatens to tear the city apart. Immersive, poignant, and utterly compelling, Louise Hare’s debut examines the complexities of love and belonging, and teaches us that even in the face of anger and fear, there is always hope.
394 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 12, 2020
187 people are currently reading
7166 people want to read
About the author
Louise Hare
7 books297 followersLouise Hare is a London-based writer and has an MA in Creative Writing from Birkbeck, University of London. Originally from Warrington, the capital is the inspiration for much of her work, including This Lovely City, which began life after a trip into the deep level shelter below Clapham Common.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 510 reviews
March 6, 2020
‘This Lovely City ‘ follows a group of Windrush immigrants, recently arrived in the UK from Jamaica. In particular, it follows the lives of Lawrie Matthews and his friends in 1948 and 1950. Though this story is fictional, the so called Windrush immigrants were in reality brought over from the Caribbean by the British government, to cover severe labour shortages in the UK, in the wake of the Second World War. They were here to seek their fortunes, but as soon as most would be employers saw the colour of their skin, the job was no longer available, and the immigrants soon discovered that they weren’t going to be welcomed with open arms, indeed they were looked on with a great deal of suspicion, and suffered open racism.
In one way, Lawrie is one of the lucky ones, he manages to get himself a job as a postman, and he makes a little extra cash at night playing his clarinet in Soho’s nightclubs along with his friends. He even gets himself a girlfriend, Evie, and things are really looking up. Luck however soon turns to misfortune when he comes across a terrible discovery on Clapham Common, and from there on in, his life is on a downward spiral.
I loved Lawrie’s character - his good old fashioned values made me warm to him instantly. I loved the social history, the descriptions of the post war jazz era in the smoky nightclubs of Soho, the food during this time of rationing, and the culture both in relation to Britain, and the Caribbean.
Louise Hare has written a beautiful novel, best described as a murder mystery, but it’s so much more than that - she’s conjured up post war austerity in Britain perfectly, rich in its detail, with the many bombed out derelict homes, and rationing for food, clothing and fuel, to name but a few things, still very much in place. This debut novel is an absolute gem, and I seriously think it will be a best seller!
* Thank you to Netgalley and HQ for my ARC. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
In one way, Lawrie is one of the lucky ones, he manages to get himself a job as a postman, and he makes a little extra cash at night playing his clarinet in Soho’s nightclubs along with his friends. He even gets himself a girlfriend, Evie, and things are really looking up. Luck however soon turns to misfortune when he comes across a terrible discovery on Clapham Common, and from there on in, his life is on a downward spiral.
I loved Lawrie’s character - his good old fashioned values made me warm to him instantly. I loved the social history, the descriptions of the post war jazz era in the smoky nightclubs of Soho, the food during this time of rationing, and the culture both in relation to Britain, and the Caribbean.
Louise Hare has written a beautiful novel, best described as a murder mystery, but it’s so much more than that - she’s conjured up post war austerity in Britain perfectly, rich in its detail, with the many bombed out derelict homes, and rationing for food, clothing and fuel, to name but a few things, still very much in place. This debut novel is an absolute gem, and I seriously think it will be a best seller!
* Thank you to Netgalley and HQ for my ARC. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
April 25, 2020
It is 1950 and a worn torn Britain is lacking in able bodied men. Answering this call the Windrush docks with a new labor force. Problem is, that many consider them the wrong color and are not willing to openly accept them. When a body of a toddler of mixed race is found in the river, these men of color are the first to be questioned.
Although the death of the child and the who done it gives it the air of mystery, this book is so much more. It is about prejudice and the effort it takes to be accepted, in some cases to never be accepted. It is also a love story between a mixed race girl and a young man from the Windrush. The plot is a long, unwinding of lives lived before and the lives to come. It is as much historical as it is suspense. It shows how easy it is to accuse without anything to back it up just because one is different. Easy to ruin lives with just an accusation.
Even though this is set in the past, this is something that happens everyday. And unfortunately, will be unchanged in the future.
Although the death of the child and the who done it gives it the air of mystery, this book is so much more. It is about prejudice and the effort it takes to be accepted, in some cases to never be accepted. It is also a love story between a mixed race girl and a young man from the Windrush. The plot is a long, unwinding of lives lived before and the lives to come. It is as much historical as it is suspense. It shows how easy it is to accuse without anything to back it up just because one is different. Easy to ruin lives with just an accusation.
Even though this is set in the past, this is something that happens everyday. And unfortunately, will be unchanged in the future.
March 14, 2020
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
In 1948 to help with postwar Britain due to lots of buildings being destroyed and jobs needing filling, the UK advertised for people in the Caribbean to come to live here. The Empire Windrush arrived on the 22nd June 1948 carrying mainly young men.
Lawrie Matthews was one of these men hoping for a new start in the UK, the land he had heard so much about. However, the people of the UK weren’t quite so welcoming as they had all been lead to believe. This was a nation of people that didn’t welcome change, especially if that change came with a brown body. Racism was rife.
Having gotten himself a job as a jazz musician of a night-time, a postal worker during the day and a young lady, Evie, he was smitten with, Lawrie had hoped that people had come to accept him. Then he happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time as a woman noticed something in the pond of the local park and asked Lawrie for help.
What Lawrie pulled out of the pond would haunt him forever and also make him the prime suspect for murder. A baby wrapped in an embroidered blanket no older than 9/10 months was dead. She was also a child of colour and the fingers of the local people and the police began to point.
This Lovely City is a very poignant fictionalised novel about the arrival of the people from the Caribbean on the Empire Windrush focusing mainly on just one immigrant, Lawrie. These were people who left their beautiful Caribbean islands behind to come to the UK to help build Britain back up after the second world war and to fill jobs that had become vacant through casualties of the war. We invited these people here and then treated them like they were worth nothing.
The book did have me feeling enraged at what Lawrie was having to go through all because of the colour of his skin. He helped a woman out who noticed something in the water and whilst she was sent on her way being cleared of any wrongdoing Lawrie was taken to the police station and questioned and made to feel like he was guilty of a crime he hadn’t committed just because of the colour of his skin.
The book moves back and forth between 1948 and the boat’s first arrival in the UK and then 1950 where the main section plays out. There are letters and newspaper articles within the pages too.
There are some amazing characters, not only Lawrie and Evie but characters such as Derek who is a bit of a rascal, Mrs. Ryan who was Lawrie’s landlady and Arthur with his wise words.
I absolutely adored this book. It is beautifully written, embraces 1950’s Britain vividly, both it’s good and bad sides and was very touching. It is one of those books where you think that you will read just one more chapter and then an hour passes by and you still haven’t put it down. I can see Ms. Hare being an author to watch out for in the future if this debut novel is anything to go by as she can certainly write with passion.
In 1948 to help with postwar Britain due to lots of buildings being destroyed and jobs needing filling, the UK advertised for people in the Caribbean to come to live here. The Empire Windrush arrived on the 22nd June 1948 carrying mainly young men.
Lawrie Matthews was one of these men hoping for a new start in the UK, the land he had heard so much about. However, the people of the UK weren’t quite so welcoming as they had all been lead to believe. This was a nation of people that didn’t welcome change, especially if that change came with a brown body. Racism was rife.
Having gotten himself a job as a jazz musician of a night-time, a postal worker during the day and a young lady, Evie, he was smitten with, Lawrie had hoped that people had come to accept him. Then he happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time as a woman noticed something in the pond of the local park and asked Lawrie for help.
What Lawrie pulled out of the pond would haunt him forever and also make him the prime suspect for murder. A baby wrapped in an embroidered blanket no older than 9/10 months was dead. She was also a child of colour and the fingers of the local people and the police began to point.
This Lovely City is a very poignant fictionalised novel about the arrival of the people from the Caribbean on the Empire Windrush focusing mainly on just one immigrant, Lawrie. These were people who left their beautiful Caribbean islands behind to come to the UK to help build Britain back up after the second world war and to fill jobs that had become vacant through casualties of the war. We invited these people here and then treated them like they were worth nothing.
The book did have me feeling enraged at what Lawrie was having to go through all because of the colour of his skin. He helped a woman out who noticed something in the water and whilst she was sent on her way being cleared of any wrongdoing Lawrie was taken to the police station and questioned and made to feel like he was guilty of a crime he hadn’t committed just because of the colour of his skin.
The book moves back and forth between 1948 and the boat’s first arrival in the UK and then 1950 where the main section plays out. There are letters and newspaper articles within the pages too.
There are some amazing characters, not only Lawrie and Evie but characters such as Derek who is a bit of a rascal, Mrs. Ryan who was Lawrie’s landlady and Arthur with his wise words.
I absolutely adored this book. It is beautifully written, embraces 1950’s Britain vividly, both it’s good and bad sides and was very touching. It is one of those books where you think that you will read just one more chapter and then an hour passes by and you still haven’t put it down. I can see Ms. Hare being an author to watch out for in the future if this debut novel is anything to go by as she can certainly write with passion.
February 12, 2021
Actual rating 3.5 ⭐️
I liked the story and in particular the Windrush aspect and how people were treated, which as we know was appalling. But I had a few niggles along the way with how the characters reacted to each other.... Having said that, it was an enjoyable, very readable first book and I would definitely read another by this new author.
I liked the story and in particular the Windrush aspect and how people were treated, which as we know was appalling. But I had a few niggles along the way with how the characters reacted to each other.... Having said that, it was an enjoyable, very readable first book and I would definitely read another by this new author.
January 25, 2022
A really sweet, heartwarming historical fiction book
Watch me discuss this book in my January wrap up (part 1): https://youtu.be/x76AXw_Q-DY
Watch me discuss this book in my January wrap up (part 1): https://youtu.be/x76AXw_Q-DY
March 10, 2020
https://thecaffeinatedreader.com/2020...
4.5/5
I went into this thinking it looked like a fun lighthearted read, instead it was full of love, heartache and completely captured my heart.
After the population was depleted from the tragic losses of WWII, Britain opened its arms to those who claimed it to be ‘the motherland’ at the time, many men leaving their homes in the Caribbean leaving to try their fortune in England. England, after all, needed the manpower to fill the jobs that were left open.
Thinking they were being offered a new home, the men were cautiously hopeful, they were needed.
Unfortunately, England wasn’t as welcoming as it should have been.
This is the story of not just one man, but the community around him and the country he and others are trying to make their home, and what happens when tragedy strikes.
The writing style is full of life and the pacing makes it to where you never want to put it down.
It was a vividly written world built on history and harsh truths we sometimes like to cover up but at the end of the day, there was love and hope.
Fantastic read, four and a half cups of coffee and I now want to keep my eye on Louise Hare. Thank you to HQ for a copy of this in exchange for my honest review as part of the blog tour.
4.5/5
I went into this thinking it looked like a fun lighthearted read, instead it was full of love, heartache and completely captured my heart.
After the population was depleted from the tragic losses of WWII, Britain opened its arms to those who claimed it to be ‘the motherland’ at the time, many men leaving their homes in the Caribbean leaving to try their fortune in England. England, after all, needed the manpower to fill the jobs that were left open.
Thinking they were being offered a new home, the men were cautiously hopeful, they were needed.
Unfortunately, England wasn’t as welcoming as it should have been.
This is the story of not just one man, but the community around him and the country he and others are trying to make their home, and what happens when tragedy strikes.
The writing style is full of life and the pacing makes it to where you never want to put it down.
It was a vividly written world built on history and harsh truths we sometimes like to cover up but at the end of the day, there was love and hope.
Fantastic read, four and a half cups of coffee and I now want to keep my eye on Louise Hare. Thank you to HQ for a copy of this in exchange for my honest review as part of the blog tour.
February 13, 2025
A great read. Set in 1948 and 1950, it's a murder mystery with social commentary. It's about the Windrush community, where people answer the call for help from the British government coming over from Jamaica to assist with labour shortages. However, as soon as employers see the colour of the skin of an applicant, the job disappears. Interestingly the racism is very open, and post-war rationing is still in force. With wonderful, well developed characters, the main ones being Laurie Matthew, who is one of the lucky ones, getting a job in the post office, a jazz musician playing in his band in the evenings, and in love with Evie Coleridge, a mixed-race girl. He makes a horrible discovery, and the resulting fallout is described. For a bleak story, it is also somehow uplifting. As a debut novel, it's a tender, atmospheric, joyful, carefully crafted, heartbreaking storyline that gives you messages about love, grief, identity, and hope amongst the racism of the times. Wonderful stuff.
June 27, 2020
Sadly didn’t quite hit the mark for me. Enjoyable but not memorable.
My absolute favourite time period to read stories about but found this lacking in something. Not entirely sure what but I wasn’t gripped by it and found myself putting it down a lot. I wanted more, more London, more jazz, more character depth. Didn’t go far enough for me. Would have loved more just on Lawrie’s character alone.
My absolute favourite time period to read stories about but found this lacking in something. Not entirely sure what but I wasn’t gripped by it and found myself putting it down a lot. I wanted more, more London, more jazz, more character depth. Didn’t go far enough for me. Would have loved more just on Lawrie’s character alone.
February 29, 2020
Social history, murder mystery, love story, historical novel - it would be difficult to pigeonhole this brilliant story!
Lawrie, fairly recently arrived in London from the Caribbean on the Empire Windrush, discovers something terrible one morning that shakes the life he's been building for himself in the city. It ultimately send shock waves through the lives of everyone around him: housemates, neighbours, colleagues and friends.
This Lovely City is a complete page-turner, full of a fantastic cast of characters including London itself.
I was super stoked to get an advance copy of this wonderful book which was an absolute pleasure to read.
Lawrie, fairly recently arrived in London from the Caribbean on the Empire Windrush, discovers something terrible one morning that shakes the life he's been building for himself in the city. It ultimately send shock waves through the lives of everyone around him: housemates, neighbours, colleagues and friends.
This Lovely City is a complete page-turner, full of a fantastic cast of characters including London itself.
I was super stoked to get an advance copy of this wonderful book which was an absolute pleasure to read.
August 9, 2021
I listened to the audiobook version expertly narrated by Theo Solomon and Karise Yansen, both really capturing the Jamaican patois. The book alternates between 1948 and Lawrie’s arrival in England aboard the Empire Windrush from Jamaica, and 1950 which finds him working as a postman.
It becomes clear from the sections set in 1948 that he found a very different welcome from the one he expected. He and his fellow passengers are greeted not with open arms but placed in a cramped shelter and faced with overt racism as they seek employment. Only Rose, a volunteer at the shelter, offers any sign of friendship, but she has motives of her own. Then Lawrie meets Evie and their romance soon blossoms, although as the reader learns, Evie has secrets of her own. Anxious to raise sufficient money to marry Evie, he earns extra by transporting black market goods for his landlady’s son, Daniel Ryan, plus occasional gigs playing clarinet in a jazz band.
I thought Lawrie was a wonderful character. He’s sincere, polite and his tenderness towards Evie is touching. The way he is treated by the police when he comes under suspicion for involvement in a crime is shocking.
The atmosphere of post-war bomb-damaged London is brilliantly evoked. With rationing still in place, think spam fritters, fish paste sandwiches or, for a treat, egg and chips in a local cafe.
Part mystery, part love story, This Lovely City demonstrates London was anything but a lovely city for many black people. The book is a revealing insight into the stigma of illegitimacy and the prejudice faced by people of colour, in particular by the Windrush generation; sadly they have faced other injustices in recent years. The audiobook version provides a bonus final chapter that will get you tapping your feet.
It becomes clear from the sections set in 1948 that he found a very different welcome from the one he expected. He and his fellow passengers are greeted not with open arms but placed in a cramped shelter and faced with overt racism as they seek employment. Only Rose, a volunteer at the shelter, offers any sign of friendship, but she has motives of her own. Then Lawrie meets Evie and their romance soon blossoms, although as the reader learns, Evie has secrets of her own. Anxious to raise sufficient money to marry Evie, he earns extra by transporting black market goods for his landlady’s son, Daniel Ryan, plus occasional gigs playing clarinet in a jazz band.
I thought Lawrie was a wonderful character. He’s sincere, polite and his tenderness towards Evie is touching. The way he is treated by the police when he comes under suspicion for involvement in a crime is shocking.
The atmosphere of post-war bomb-damaged London is brilliantly evoked. With rationing still in place, think spam fritters, fish paste sandwiches or, for a treat, egg and chips in a local cafe.
Part mystery, part love story, This Lovely City demonstrates London was anything but a lovely city for many black people. The book is a revealing insight into the stigma of illegitimacy and the prejudice faced by people of colour, in particular by the Windrush generation; sadly they have faced other injustices in recent years. The audiobook version provides a bonus final chapter that will get you tapping your feet.
February 17, 2020
This Lovely City by Louise Hare is a marvellous historical murder mystery. It is a fabulous debut novel set between 1948 and 1950.
The war is over. Britain needs rebuilding but hasn’t the population to do it so an invite is issued to Jamaican men to come over and start a glorious new life… but the reality is very different. “It didn’t matter what his passport said. A man with a black skin could never be considered British.” The Windrush men find that that they were lied to, racial prejudice is rife. “People looked and decided what he was without knowing a single thing about him.” There were terrible crimes committed against the men even from those in authority. Men were judged as guilty merely on the colour of their skin. It is horrifying to witness for the modern reader. These men were helping to rebuild Britain and yet they were judged and assaulted for the crime of being black.
Mixed race relationships did occur but they were frowned upon and any children were judged too. It was a terrible, shameful time.
Unmarried mothers were also looked down on and shipped off to the countryside to give birth and then forced to give babies up for adoption. They were seen as bringing shame to their families. It was awful for those poor women and babies.
There are some kind hearts within the novel who help where they can, seeing the goodness in others and not the colour of their skin.
This Lovely City introduces the reader to post war Britain. It should be a time of freedom but there is prejudice, poverty and rationing continues.
Louise Hare is a talented new author who elicits feelings from the reader as we travel through her book. She has captured the atmosphere of the time. I am looking forward to much more by her.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
The war is over. Britain needs rebuilding but hasn’t the population to do it so an invite is issued to Jamaican men to come over and start a glorious new life… but the reality is very different. “It didn’t matter what his passport said. A man with a black skin could never be considered British.” The Windrush men find that that they were lied to, racial prejudice is rife. “People looked and decided what he was without knowing a single thing about him.” There were terrible crimes committed against the men even from those in authority. Men were judged as guilty merely on the colour of their skin. It is horrifying to witness for the modern reader. These men were helping to rebuild Britain and yet they were judged and assaulted for the crime of being black.
Mixed race relationships did occur but they were frowned upon and any children were judged too. It was a terrible, shameful time.
Unmarried mothers were also looked down on and shipped off to the countryside to give birth and then forced to give babies up for adoption. They were seen as bringing shame to their families. It was awful for those poor women and babies.
There are some kind hearts within the novel who help where they can, seeing the goodness in others and not the colour of their skin.
This Lovely City introduces the reader to post war Britain. It should be a time of freedom but there is prejudice, poverty and rationing continues.
Louise Hare is a talented new author who elicits feelings from the reader as we travel through her book. She has captured the atmosphere of the time. I am looking forward to much more by her.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
June 27, 2020
Overall - 2.6/5
Story - 3/5
Writing - 3/5
Character - 2/5
Memorability - 2/5
Enjoyment - 3/5
Would I read again? No
A slightly lacklustre tale of 1950s London and the newly arrived Windrush generation. There just wasn't enough of anything in here. Not enough London, not enough Jazz, not enough focus. I could have done with more character development as I didn't find a couple of the characters actions very believable. I'm also not a fan of baddies having 'ugly' physical traits.
Story - 3/5
Writing - 3/5
Character - 2/5
Memorability - 2/5
Enjoyment - 3/5
Would I read again? No
A slightly lacklustre tale of 1950s London and the newly arrived Windrush generation. There just wasn't enough of anything in here. Not enough London, not enough Jazz, not enough focus. I could have done with more character development as I didn't find a couple of the characters actions very believable. I'm also not a fan of baddies having 'ugly' physical traits.
February 22, 2021
This Lovely City is a spirited and kinetic historical tale with a meaningful insight into the Windrush generation. As the blurb says, it “teaches us that even in the face of anger and fear, there is always hope.”
Lawrie is a Jamaican man, is fresh off the Empire Windrush, answering London’s call to help labour shortages. Lawrie expected to be welcomed with open arms and valued for his hard work, but quickly realised reality is far from what was promised. Still, he falls for Evie, a biracial girl who is finally among a community that makes her feel as though she belongs. Along with his friends, Aston, Sonny, and Moses, Lawrie find relief in music and jazz bars, as they navigate a racially tense city and search for a future of prosperity. But when a devastating discovery is made at Clapham Common, fingers point to the local Caribbean community, and more specifically to Lawrie.
It’s fascinating how Hare portrays the way Lawrie faces societal racism as he works as a postman by day and a musician by night. I also love the post-war, South London atmosphere she built from the beginning of the book. There’s vivid detailing of the actualities of bomb-ruined homes, changing neighbourhoods and rationing for necessities during 1948 and 1950. It feels deeply authentic, and very easy to picture. I really struggled to stomach some of the prejudice aggressions and phrases used towards the Black characters in the book, but sadly, it’s accurate. And Hare doesn't hold back from displaying the truths of hatred and violence in post-war Britain.
The characters of Evie and Lawrie make brilliant narrators for this book. Its chapters alternate between their POVs, as their young love blooms against the odds. I listened to the audiobook, and the use of Jamaican accents for Caribbean characters and jazz music between the chapters brought this book to life. The love between the two characters is an interesting backdrop to their own identity struggles, financial challenges, and other shortcomings. It inspires hope, and you can’t help but root for them.
I really like the way the murder mystery narrative was laced with prejudices in British society just after the war and Lawrie and Evie’s hopeful love story. The pace was occasionally too slow for me, and some chapters felt too long. However, it’s both grounding and stirring, and filled with emotion. On the whole, This Lovely City is a stellar debut.
For more book reviews and posts, check out my blog or follow along on Instagram 📚✨
Lawrie is a Jamaican man, is fresh off the Empire Windrush, answering London’s call to help labour shortages. Lawrie expected to be welcomed with open arms and valued for his hard work, but quickly realised reality is far from what was promised. Still, he falls for Evie, a biracial girl who is finally among a community that makes her feel as though she belongs. Along with his friends, Aston, Sonny, and Moses, Lawrie find relief in music and jazz bars, as they navigate a racially tense city and search for a future of prosperity. But when a devastating discovery is made at Clapham Common, fingers point to the local Caribbean community, and more specifically to Lawrie.
It’s fascinating how Hare portrays the way Lawrie faces societal racism as he works as a postman by day and a musician by night. I also love the post-war, South London atmosphere she built from the beginning of the book. There’s vivid detailing of the actualities of bomb-ruined homes, changing neighbourhoods and rationing for necessities during 1948 and 1950. It feels deeply authentic, and very easy to picture. I really struggled to stomach some of the prejudice aggressions and phrases used towards the Black characters in the book, but sadly, it’s accurate. And Hare doesn't hold back from displaying the truths of hatred and violence in post-war Britain.
The characters of Evie and Lawrie make brilliant narrators for this book. Its chapters alternate between their POVs, as their young love blooms against the odds. I listened to the audiobook, and the use of Jamaican accents for Caribbean characters and jazz music between the chapters brought this book to life. The love between the two characters is an interesting backdrop to their own identity struggles, financial challenges, and other shortcomings. It inspires hope, and you can’t help but root for them.
I really like the way the murder mystery narrative was laced with prejudices in British society just after the war and Lawrie and Evie’s hopeful love story. The pace was occasionally too slow for me, and some chapters felt too long. However, it’s both grounding and stirring, and filled with emotion. On the whole, This Lovely City is a stellar debut.
For more book reviews and posts, check out my blog or follow along on Instagram 📚✨
March 22, 2020
Visit the locations in This Lovely City
A fascinating read about the Windrush generation who come to London after the war. In search of a new life, they encounter poverty racism and more. This is a very timely read given the fact that the Windrush scandal has been in the news recently.
The story follows Lawrie who moves from Jamaica. He works as a postman and at night, the world of jazz and music come alive as we follow his time as an newly arrived immigrant. The new life takes some adjustment too but he copes well – it’s everyone else who seems to have a problem with ‘people like him’.
There’s another thread at the same time about a young mixed race woman who has been born and brought up in London by her white mother. With overtones of multiculturalism, racism and human endurance, this is one powerful read. This is a different time to now: we are in the 1940s in the novel, but in many ways it’s very similar. That is the sad thing. You could take the Windrush references and the references to music, politics etc and this could easily be a story in the modern day. Prejudice and discrimination have lingered throughout time and this is the sad realisation of the novel. How we treated people who were granted the chance to start afresh.
There’s one incident in the book in particular where an event tests the characters to the limit. This was very revealing in how the public and police treated ‘outsiders’. The book felt very sadly real at this point and I stopped reading. It made me think.
Having said that, this is also a novel of hope, human endurance and there’s quite a bit of humour here too. There’s a wonderful cast of characters who just jump from the page. And for a music/jazz lover like me, this was a cool chance to experience post-war London and the music which came from the Caribbean. I am still tapping my toes to it.
Recommended. I think this will provide a lot of discussion at bookclubs!
March 13, 2020
My review on my website. www.bookread2day.wordpress.com. Twitter@bookpage5
I simply am stunned that This Lovely City is Louise Hare’s first novel. I hope TV rights snap up this book and turn it into a film.
Immersive, poignant, and utterly compelling, Louise Hare’s debut examines the complexities of love and belonging, and teaches us that even in the face of anger and fear, there is always hope. Simply one of the best books combined with after the war and Empire Windrush, and a nightmare mystery dreadful discovery.
In 1948, men, women and children, from Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean, land in Tilbury in Essex.After the war, Empire Windrush, arrived at the Thames. The majority of the passengers were men of working age. A number of new rivals were bused to the Clapham area.
Lawrie Matthews who by night played Jaz at a clubs and by day he worked as a postman. He is in love with Evie the girl next door to him.
When Lawrie was cycling during his postman delivery job at Clapham Common, he came to help a woman who’s terrier was soaked from the pond barking urgently at him. There was something in the pond. Lawrie carried out a dirty blanket finding a dead baby with dark curly hair. It’s dreadful in the way that Detective Sergeant Rathbone treated Lawrie trying to pinpoint the dead baby’s muder on him. Lawrie knew that the baby had to have at least one black parent and Lawrie only knew there were only so many black people around and a few women whose skin was dark enough. The police widen their investigation to question other people. Lots of more storytelling is Waiting for you all to sit back and enjoy.
I simply am stunned that This Lovely City is Louise Hare’s first novel. I hope TV rights snap up this book and turn it into a film.
Immersive, poignant, and utterly compelling, Louise Hare’s debut examines the complexities of love and belonging, and teaches us that even in the face of anger and fear, there is always hope. Simply one of the best books combined with after the war and Empire Windrush, and a nightmare mystery dreadful discovery.
In 1948, men, women and children, from Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean, land in Tilbury in Essex.After the war, Empire Windrush, arrived at the Thames. The majority of the passengers were men of working age. A number of new rivals were bused to the Clapham area.
Lawrie Matthews who by night played Jaz at a clubs and by day he worked as a postman. He is in love with Evie the girl next door to him.
When Lawrie was cycling during his postman delivery job at Clapham Common, he came to help a woman who’s terrier was soaked from the pond barking urgently at him. There was something in the pond. Lawrie carried out a dirty blanket finding a dead baby with dark curly hair. It’s dreadful in the way that Detective Sergeant Rathbone treated Lawrie trying to pinpoint the dead baby’s muder on him. Lawrie knew that the baby had to have at least one black parent and Lawrie only knew there were only so many black people around and a few women whose skin was dark enough. The police widen their investigation to question other people. Lots of more storytelling is Waiting for you all to sit back and enjoy.
March 23, 2020
I received an ARC copy of this book in return for an honest review. This is a well written book about the early experiences of the Windrush immigrants set into a fictional narrative. This has a storyline which draws you in and good characterisation although the police leave much to be desired. I enjoyed it . as the blurb says a charming rood. Great for a rainy day but I am not sure that it deserves the ratings it is getting. Certainly the mystery of what happened to the baby is very predictable.
October 6, 2023
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but I really enjoyed this sort of romance, sort of murder mystery with a sprinkling of Jazz thrown in.
Lawrie has travelled to the UK as part of the Windrush and now finds work as a postman, by night he plays in a band and meets Evie, but love doesn't run smooth when they are both caught up in a local scandal.
This was a book about relationships, racism, family and friendship. It was interesting to learn a bit more about windrush and serendipitous that I was reading another book about the subject at the same time.
The murder mystery element left me guessing, but may not be for everyone due to the nature. I would definitely read another book by this author.
Lawrie has travelled to the UK as part of the Windrush and now finds work as a postman, by night he plays in a band and meets Evie, but love doesn't run smooth when they are both caught up in a local scandal.
This was a book about relationships, racism, family and friendship. It was interesting to learn a bit more about windrush and serendipitous that I was reading another book about the subject at the same time.
The murder mystery element left me guessing, but may not be for everyone due to the nature. I would definitely read another book by this author.
May 27, 2020
Novel set in 1948/50 LONDON
Catch our review on You Tube: https://youtu.be/LHEtT3Ugv5Y
This delightfully penned novel will transport you back to a post war London. The author was inspired to write this book after she had visited a deep-level shelter and uses it as early accommodation for Lawrie.
Lawrie is a young man who has come over with others from Jamaica. He is part of the Windrush generation, of whom we have recently heard a good deal. In 1950 he is courting his neighbour Evie in Clapham and things are going well until he happens to find the body of a small child, floating in a local lake, a young girl dubbed Ophelia. She is clearly of mixed heritage. The police are eager to pin the death on someone and why not the person who found her?! The incompetence and racism of the police threatens to destabilise what he has with Evie. Evie herself has secrets that in turn could send Lawrie running for the hills.
At the heart of the story of course is the mystery surround the little girl’s body. Who is she and who might her parents be? More than that this is a narrative of post war London, a city where rationing is still a thing, where people are trying to regain their places in the world. There is the thrum of music in the background as Lawrie earns an extra few bob performing as part of a band at places like the Lyceum. This novel certainly has atmosphere.
I occasionally had to do a double take on which year the particular chapter was set – it is a slightly unusual construct, jumping back and forth between the years 1948 and 1950 (which are very close together) but once I understood the pattern, I soon got into the swing of the style. The author has a terrific writing style and I am looking forward to her next novel!
Catch our review on You Tube: https://youtu.be/LHEtT3Ugv5Y
This delightfully penned novel will transport you back to a post war London. The author was inspired to write this book after she had visited a deep-level shelter and uses it as early accommodation for Lawrie.
Lawrie is a young man who has come over with others from Jamaica. He is part of the Windrush generation, of whom we have recently heard a good deal. In 1950 he is courting his neighbour Evie in Clapham and things are going well until he happens to find the body of a small child, floating in a local lake, a young girl dubbed Ophelia. She is clearly of mixed heritage. The police are eager to pin the death on someone and why not the person who found her?! The incompetence and racism of the police threatens to destabilise what he has with Evie. Evie herself has secrets that in turn could send Lawrie running for the hills.
At the heart of the story of course is the mystery surround the little girl’s body. Who is she and who might her parents be? More than that this is a narrative of post war London, a city where rationing is still a thing, where people are trying to regain their places in the world. There is the thrum of music in the background as Lawrie earns an extra few bob performing as part of a band at places like the Lyceum. This novel certainly has atmosphere.
I occasionally had to do a double take on which year the particular chapter was set – it is a slightly unusual construct, jumping back and forth between the years 1948 and 1950 (which are very close together) but once I understood the pattern, I soon got into the swing of the style. The author has a terrific writing style and I am looking forward to her next novel!
April 26, 2021
I recently listened to Louise Hare talking about this novel on a Zoom book festival. I found her very engaging and decided to give it a try. And I very much enjoyed it for the first 300 pages. I’m afraid it falls foul to my recurrent bugbear about so many modern novels - it’s around 100 pages too long.
However, with that caveat, it’s still well worth reading. It’s a story of jazz musician Lawrie and other West Indian immigrants arriving on the Windrush in 1948. The story moves backwards and forwards between 1948 and Lawrie’s struggle to find work and accommodation and get used to his new life in London, and 1950 when Lawrie and his girlfriend Evie get caught up in a murder mystery.
Louise Hare paints a vivid picture of post-war London with its bombsites, rationing, bad food and naked racism, but is careful not to overdo it. All her characters are sympathetically portrayed but the plot twists surrounding the ‘murdered’ baby are not always convincing, which is especially true of the denouement.
However, with that caveat, it’s still well worth reading. It’s a story of jazz musician Lawrie and other West Indian immigrants arriving on the Windrush in 1948. The story moves backwards and forwards between 1948 and Lawrie’s struggle to find work and accommodation and get used to his new life in London, and 1950 when Lawrie and his girlfriend Evie get caught up in a murder mystery.
Louise Hare paints a vivid picture of post-war London with its bombsites, rationing, bad food and naked racism, but is careful not to overdo it. All her characters are sympathetically portrayed but the plot twists surrounding the ‘murdered’ baby are not always convincing, which is especially true of the denouement.
August 22, 2024
3.5 rounded up because even though I thought the book was very good overall, I found the ending a little too incredulous.
October 14, 2020
I didn't get to finish this because my library loan expired. It was a perfectly decent story set in 1960s London, following the Windrush generation and their experiences with a bit of a mystery thrown in. I got about half way through before it had to go back.
The reason I was slow with it was that I didn't care for one of the voice actors. The male part was read very well by Theo Solomon but the female narrator,
Karise Yansen, sounded very stilted and unconvincing. It was a shame because it made me dread picking up the book again. It was made more noticeable by the obvious skill of the Theo who was a pleasure to listen to but I found I was loosing concentrate during the other parts and ended up not knowing what was going on.
The reason I was slow with it was that I didn't care for one of the voice actors. The male part was read very well by Theo Solomon but the female narrator,
Karise Yansen, sounded very stilted and unconvincing. It was a shame because it made me dread picking up the book again. It was made more noticeable by the obvious skill of the Theo who was a pleasure to listen to but I found I was loosing concentrate during the other parts and ended up not knowing what was going on.
July 11, 2021
Lawrie is 21. He’s been living in London for two years, one of the first to arrive on the Empire Windrush from Kingston, Jamaica. “Welcome Home”, the headlines read, but subjected to the overt racism of 50’s Britain, Lawrie and his friends feel far from it.
Evie is 18. She’s mixed race - a fact which ostensibly ruined her socially outcast mother’s life - and intrigued by London’s newest residents; finally she feels less alone.
One day Lawrie makes a discovery that puts him and all other Black migrants under the scrutiny of a nasty police investigation. Fingers are pointed, secrets are exposed and relationships are tested…
I really, really enjoyed this book. The first half was relatively slow and repetitive but well written, but once I got past 60% I flew through it. There are moments that are genuinely heartbreaking, others that are joyous and at its core it begins to expose the plight of the Windrush generation. It’s also one of the few books that I’ve really liked and found closure in the ending!
This is our @bethsbookclub_ July 2021 read.
*Trigger warnings: infant death, racism*
Evie is 18. She’s mixed race - a fact which ostensibly ruined her socially outcast mother’s life - and intrigued by London’s newest residents; finally she feels less alone.
One day Lawrie makes a discovery that puts him and all other Black migrants under the scrutiny of a nasty police investigation. Fingers are pointed, secrets are exposed and relationships are tested…
I really, really enjoyed this book. The first half was relatively slow and repetitive but well written, but once I got past 60% I flew through it. There are moments that are genuinely heartbreaking, others that are joyous and at its core it begins to expose the plight of the Windrush generation. It’s also one of the few books that I’ve really liked and found closure in the ending!
This is our @bethsbookclub_ July 2021 read.
*Trigger warnings: infant death, racism*
April 6, 2020
This Lovely Life is a fascinating look into postwar London which manages to be both poignant and hopeful at the same time.
Firstly the author does a great job of setting the scene in this book and I felt completely transported to postwar London. As you could well imagine the atmosphere at the time was quite unsettled, tense and suspicious after so many years or fear which is vividly described in the book. I haven’t read much about this period so found all the historical details very interesting especially learning more about the windrush generation and their experiences here. The shabbiness of London is contrasted well with the fun and hopefulness of the time too which helped bring some light moments in an otherwise sad book.
There are some fantastic characters in this book who I enjoyed getting to know. Lawrie was definitely my favourite character and I loved how positive he tries to be even when faced with daily discrimination. DI Rathbone on the other hand- ooh how I hated him! He’s such a nasty, cruel and racist man that I wished I could have reached into the book to give him the slap he really deserved. I felt my blood rise with indignation for Lawrie as he was so horrible to him!
This is a book that is great to get lost in as there is always something going on to keep the reader absorbed in the story. There are some twists that took me by surprise but ultimately this is a story of joy and hope in a bleak time which was brilliantly written. I think this would make a great book club read as there would be lots to discuss.
Huge thanks to Joe Thomas for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.
Firstly the author does a great job of setting the scene in this book and I felt completely transported to postwar London. As you could well imagine the atmosphere at the time was quite unsettled, tense and suspicious after so many years or fear which is vividly described in the book. I haven’t read much about this period so found all the historical details very interesting especially learning more about the windrush generation and their experiences here. The shabbiness of London is contrasted well with the fun and hopefulness of the time too which helped bring some light moments in an otherwise sad book.
There are some fantastic characters in this book who I enjoyed getting to know. Lawrie was definitely my favourite character and I loved how positive he tries to be even when faced with daily discrimination. DI Rathbone on the other hand- ooh how I hated him! He’s such a nasty, cruel and racist man that I wished I could have reached into the book to give him the slap he really deserved. I felt my blood rise with indignation for Lawrie as he was so horrible to him!
This is a book that is great to get lost in as there is always something going on to keep the reader absorbed in the story. There are some twists that took me by surprise but ultimately this is a story of joy and hope in a bleak time which was brilliantly written. I think this would make a great book club read as there would be lots to discuss.
Huge thanks to Joe Thomas for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.
March 2, 2021
This Lovely City crosses several genres and manages to tackle racial prejudice head on while doing it. It is a love story on the surface between Windrush arrival Lawrie, postman by day and aspiring jazz musician at night and mixed race English young woman, Evie. Evie is literally the girl next door, and her and Lawrie are absolute soul mates. This all begins to unravel though when the corpse of a small baby is found near Clapham Common and the characters get pulled into the murder inquiry. The author very cleverly switches between the past and the present seamlessly, details and tiny clues are dropped and you find yourself trying to piece together what might have happened.
The mystery is gripping and Laurie and Evie are strong convincing characters, they want to do the right thing and torture themselves with mistakes they made in the past, however what is really masterful about this book is the skill with which Louise Hare looks at racism. The book is well researched and the racism faced by people of colour in this generation was horrific. It also cleverly makes it so relevant today.
I was always going to love this book as I adore historical fiction set in the 20th century.I did find it a little long and a few convenient twists towards the end but it's an absorbing read. Light and readable but tackling some heavy issues. Great book, I will be following what this author does next.
The mystery is gripping and Laurie and Evie are strong convincing characters, they want to do the right thing and torture themselves with mistakes they made in the past, however what is really masterful about this book is the skill with which Louise Hare looks at racism. The book is well researched and the racism faced by people of colour in this generation was horrific. It also cleverly makes it so relevant today.
I was always going to love this book as I adore historical fiction set in the 20th century.I did find it a little long and a few convenient twists towards the end but it's an absorbing read. Light and readable but tackling some heavy issues. Great book, I will be following what this author does next.
March 12, 2020
This is a fabulous murder mystery set in post war Britain.
1948, the war is finally over and bombed out Britain is set to rebuild, but to that they need people in London after so many were lost in the war, so the government send an invitation to its colonies asking for workers, in exchange for their help, these lucky people will be helped with accommodation and be part of something amazing!
Except, it doesn't quite work out like that.
Jazz musician Lawrie Matthews travels from Jamaica to the UK along with hundreds of other people on the Empire Windrush, thinking that his life was going to start, there was going to be so many different things for him to do, jobs for him to choose, friends for him to make, he was a British citizen now, and people were going to love him.
Unfortunately, when the ship arrives, it seems that London wasn't ready at all for the people that they had invited, and had done very little to accommodate them, on arrival they are escorted to an old bomb shelter and told this is where they will be staying until further accommodation was provided!
After eventually being housed, Lawrie gets a job as a Postman, and falls in love with a girl called Evie, who is a neighbour.
Lawrie loves his job, and in the evenings he plays in a Jazz band around SoHo, but what he doesn't love is the blatant racism towards him and his friends, considering they were there to help, Lawrie doesn't feel appreciated at all, and even though he was now a British citizen, it didn't matter, as the colour of his skin said otherwise.
While doing his post round one morning, Lawrie makes an awful discovery, that sets the future plans that he has with Evie on very thin ice.
This was at times a very hard hitting book mixed in with the mystery, to see all of these people being treated so badly just because of the colour of their skin makes me so angry, and even more so because of the Windrush situation that came to light in the news back in 2018 and is still going on now.
Louise Hare has managed to create a very atmospheric story and I could almost hear the Jazz band, and smell the smoky bars as I listened to this audiobook
Narrated By Theo Solomon and Karise Yansen who did a wonderful job recreating the character voices
**Thank you to HQ Stories for giving me a free copy of this audiobook**
1948, the war is finally over and bombed out Britain is set to rebuild, but to that they need people in London after so many were lost in the war, so the government send an invitation to its colonies asking for workers, in exchange for their help, these lucky people will be helped with accommodation and be part of something amazing!
Except, it doesn't quite work out like that.
Jazz musician Lawrie Matthews travels from Jamaica to the UK along with hundreds of other people on the Empire Windrush, thinking that his life was going to start, there was going to be so many different things for him to do, jobs for him to choose, friends for him to make, he was a British citizen now, and people were going to love him.
Unfortunately, when the ship arrives, it seems that London wasn't ready at all for the people that they had invited, and had done very little to accommodate them, on arrival they are escorted to an old bomb shelter and told this is where they will be staying until further accommodation was provided!
After eventually being housed, Lawrie gets a job as a Postman, and falls in love with a girl called Evie, who is a neighbour.
Lawrie loves his job, and in the evenings he plays in a Jazz band around SoHo, but what he doesn't love is the blatant racism towards him and his friends, considering they were there to help, Lawrie doesn't feel appreciated at all, and even though he was now a British citizen, it didn't matter, as the colour of his skin said otherwise.
While doing his post round one morning, Lawrie makes an awful discovery, that sets the future plans that he has with Evie on very thin ice.
This was at times a very hard hitting book mixed in with the mystery, to see all of these people being treated so badly just because of the colour of their skin makes me so angry, and even more so because of the Windrush situation that came to light in the news back in 2018 and is still going on now.
Louise Hare has managed to create a very atmospheric story and I could almost hear the Jazz band, and smell the smoky bars as I listened to this audiobook
Narrated By Theo Solomon and Karise Yansen who did a wonderful job recreating the character voices
**Thank you to HQ Stories for giving me a free copy of this audiobook**
March 10, 2020
This is historical fiction set in London soon after WW2 and is so redolent with atmosphere you can almost smell it.
Lawrie had arrived in London on the ship, Empire Windrush, he’s now a postman by day and an aspiring musician at night. He’s also in love with Evie, but they face many difficult challenges to say the least. They just want a quiet life together.
One day, Lawrie hears a woman shouting and a baby is found in a pond, regrettably they baby doesn’t survive. The police immediately suspect the Jamaican community just because the baby had dark skin…….but can the truth be found?
While this is a murder mystery, I felt it so much more as it deals with the reality of the horrific discrimination and abuse the ‘Windrush’ generation deal with on a daily basis, truly shameful.
A beautifully written, emotional tale and one that will stay with me for a long time.
Thank you to Sian at HQ for the opportunity to take part in this Book Blog Tour, for the promotional material and a free copy of the the book. This is my honest and unbiased review
Lawrie had arrived in London on the ship, Empire Windrush, he’s now a postman by day and an aspiring musician at night. He’s also in love with Evie, but they face many difficult challenges to say the least. They just want a quiet life together.
One day, Lawrie hears a woman shouting and a baby is found in a pond, regrettably they baby doesn’t survive. The police immediately suspect the Jamaican community just because the baby had dark skin…….but can the truth be found?
While this is a murder mystery, I felt it so much more as it deals with the reality of the horrific discrimination and abuse the ‘Windrush’ generation deal with on a daily basis, truly shameful.
A beautifully written, emotional tale and one that will stay with me for a long time.
Thank you to Sian at HQ for the opportunity to take part in this Book Blog Tour, for the promotional material and a free copy of the the book. This is my honest and unbiased review
March 7, 2022
The title takes its name from main character Laurie's love interest Evie, who he calls "the most beautiful girl in this lovely city." Set in Brixton, London post Windrush migration the novel highlights the prejudices many of the immigrants from the West Indies faced when they came to the "Mother Country." Brockwell Lido makes an appearance as well just as it did in Queenie and The Lido and really brings this part of London to life no matter what time in history it is.
May 6, 2021
What a beautiful book 😍 Louise Hare crafted such an intriguing, heartfelt and complex story, which captivated me from the first chapter. There were so many secrets woven throughout, leading to intrigue, which made the story so unique. I loved reading a fiction about the Windrush generation - such a fascinating period, and so sad to read how these men and women were treated on arrival in Britain. Lawrie and Evie forever 💗
March 30, 2021
This book is set in London during 1948 and 1950 and is a really good depiction of that time and place. (There were a couple of inaccuracies that made me wince, but that's just me - lol).
The story features Jamaican immigrants who came over on the Empire Windrush and the racism is shocking even when you're expecting it. There is a crime to be solved when the body of a mixed race baby is found on Clapham common and the police automatically suspect the black community.
Well worth the read.
The story features Jamaican immigrants who came over on the Empire Windrush and the racism is shocking even when you're expecting it. There is a crime to be solved when the body of a mixed race baby is found on Clapham common and the police automatically suspect the black community.
Well worth the read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 510 reviews