Half a World Away

by Mike Gayle

Strangers living worlds apart.
Strangers with nothing in common.

But it wasn’t always that way…

Kerry Hayes is single mum, living on a tough south London estate. She provides for her son by cleaning houses she could never afford. Taken into care as a child, Kerry cannot forget her past.

Noah Martineau is a successful barrister with a beautiful wife, daughter and home in fashionable Primrose Hill. Adopted as a young child, Noah never looks back.

When Kerry contacts Noah, the sibling she lost on the day they were torn apart as children, she sets in motion a chain of events that will change both of their lives forever.

By turns funny and moving, Half a World Away is a story that will stay with you long after you read its final page.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Book Club, Chick Lit, Literary Fiction, Audiobook, Adult

318 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 13, 2019

About the author

I was born in the 70s — the 70s were great. I would recommend them to anyone.

I was also born in Birmingham — in my humble opinion the greatest city in the world with the nicest people too.

I used to live in London — a great city too. But a bit on the pricey side.

I also used to live in Manchester — another great city (although technically I lived in Salford which is next door but that’s sort of splitting hairs).

Before I went to university I wanted to be a social worker — I have no idea why. It didn’t last long.

After I left university I wanted to write for the NME — I’ve always loved music but it was only when I went to uni that it started loving me back. I can’t play any instruments or sing so writing about music seemed to make sense.

My first paid writing gig was for a listings magazine in Birmingham — (Actually my first unpaid writing gig was an interview with Kitchens of Distinction for Salford Student Magazine. I can’t begin to tell you how terrible it was.)

I used to write a music fanzine — it was called Incredibly Inedible and I co-edited it with my mate Jackie. We typed up the first issue on my dad’s olde worlde typewriter and then literally cut and paste on to A4 sheets using scissors and glue. Over the three years of its existence we interviewed many bands and artists including: Smashing Pumpkins, The Cranberries, Pavement, Bill Hicks and Blur.

Reviews

[Paromjit · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first contemporary fiction novel that I have read by Mike Gayle, and I absolutely loved it, despite the fact that I found myself emotionally wrung out from the experience. Kerry Hayes is in her early 40s, a single mom with young son, Kian, living on a tough and challenging London estate. She is a hardworking cleaner, determined to be a good role model for her son, and given where they live, she has her work cut out in steering Kian along a positive life path. Kian's father is the no hoper, Steve, not interested in his son, Kerry has no illusions where he is concerned, but it means that she and Kian are on their own in life. Her best friend, Jodi, from Milread Children's Home, is now living in the North East with her family, although the two of them remain close. The only other person that Kerry has loved unconditionally was her baby brother, Jason, who she cared for and looked after, before she was separated from him by a uncaring social services when they were taken away from their problematic mother, Mary.

Unable to find him, through the years Kerry has written him letters, sent to the adoption agency, even though she knows he will never get to read them. Jason is now Noah Martineau, adopted into a white middle class family, where he has been loved and given every opportunity in life that has culminated in him becoming a respected criminal barrister. His adopted parents are well off academics, and they and his siblings, support him unconditionally, but Noah has never wanted to find out about the family he originally came from, and he has no memories from that time. He is married to interior decorator, Rosalind, and has a daughter, Millie. Circumstances have finally conspired for Kerry, with her heart in her mouth, to finally contact Noah, with every hope they will get to know each other. Kerry and Noah are from different social and economic strata, will a shell shocked Noah, experiencing marital difficulties because of his closed off emotional nature, and Kerry be able to connect irrespective of all the obstacles they face? For Kerry, the stakes could not be higher.

Gayle writes the narrative from the perspectives of Kerry and Noah, his writing immediately so compulsive that the reader quickly becomes immersed in their lives. I loved both the main protagonists, Kerry, with her love of the sparkle, vibrant colours, and Mariah Carey, and Noah, who finally has his curiosity sparked about his blood family, triggering so many questions about where he came from and his parents. Watching their relationship develop is an absolute joy and simultaneously heartbreaking in all the challenges that life throws at the two of them. This is a brilliant character driven read, that I raced through, so gripping, shot through with hope and light amidst all the darkness. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Hodder and Stoughton for an ARC.

[Dem · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Half a Word away is a heartbreaking and beautiful story. An uplifting tale that is relatable and well written.

This is my second novel by Mike Gayle having recently read The Man I Think I Know which I also enjoyed. I love the ease of Mike Gayle books, they are well written, well rounded characters that the reader can connect with and a plot that is thought provoking and entertaining.

Kerry Hayes is a single mum, living on a tough south London estate. she works as a cleaner and provides for her son. Taken into care as a child Kerry cannon ever forget her past. Noah Martineau is a successful barrister with a beautiful wife , daughter and a home in a fashionable primrose hill. Adopted as a child Noah but raised in a loving family environment. Eventually Kerry decides to make contact with with the sibling she was separated from as a child and the consequences will change lives forever.

I enjoyed this story and the escapism of it, it is a little repetitive and predictable in places but overall a nice cozy story. I listened to this one on audible and the narrators were excellent.

Not one for my favorites shelf however a worthwhile read.

[Susan Atkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not read any of his before and it started off quite well. But then it got so predictable, to the point I was cringing and it was completely spoilt for me. it was so obvious what was going to happen to Kerry. If you like light reading and soppiness then go ahead and read but I’m not gonna bother with this author again I didn’t think if they are all along the same lines. It could’ve been so much better without it being cliched and unoriginal. The sad and inevitable bit happened and then everything was all neatly wrapped up with a big bow. Meh

[Lydia Bailey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I completely accept I’m in the minority here, particularly with fellow book club buddies, but this did very little for me at all. I have struggled with the author before. I found this one a chore to finish & had to speed read a few chapters in the middle. For me it read like a low grade chic-lit book (absolutely nothing wrong with the genre, it’s just not what I was expecting) with some dodgy first person writing & forced dialogue. On the plus side, I think the characters were well rounded & believable & the plot was original but from half way in I found it pretty predictable and felt the tragic storylines were a bit over cooked . Maybe I’d read too many rave reviews before I started and set myself up for a fall but the writing style really irritated & despite the emotional punch it just wasn’t my cup of tea.😬🙈

[Ken · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's been many takes on the traditional tale of the different paths those of a certain upbringing are able to take, that it's testament to Mike Gayles strong writing that I was instantly invested in siblings Kerry and Noah reunion after being parted during a traumatic childhood.

Single mum Kerry trys her best to support her young son Kian through various cleaning jobs, whist Noah is a successful barrister and happily married father.

Its great that the chapters jump between the two POVs as both are nervous about meeting after Kerry finally reaching out through the adoption agency.
Whilst I really liked the way both characters were depicted, Kerry was the easiest to like - her inadequacy compared to her successful younger brother was felt throughout.

Any story about a family reconnection will offer an emotional punch and this novel certainly delivered during the final third.

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The incredibly moving and uplifting novel "Half a World Away" is an acute observation of human nature and is written by Mike Gayle, bestselling author of "The Man I Think I Know".
"Kerry Hayes knows exactly who she is: a single mum, a cleaner and Mariah Carey's biggest fan. Noah Martineau thinks he knows who he is: a successful barrister, with a wife, daughter and big house in Primrose Hill. Strangers with nothing in common. Strangers living worlds apart. But it wasn't always this way...and Noah and Kerry are about to discover just who they really are....."
I really liked this incredibly moving story and although tremendously sad, the author knows how to convey very powerful emotions without depressing the reader. I loved Kerry and Noah/Jason, in fact all the characters were exceedingly well developed and a pleasure to engage with.
I particularly liked the way letters written by Kerry to her half brother were interspersed throughout the story and how we heard Kerry and Noah's true feelings through chapters written in their voice. Understanding Noah's feelings towards his adoption and growing up black in a white family made for an interesting read. I also thought the people Kerry cleaned for were diverse and interesting and helped give her story some depth. I admired her strength as a hardworking single parent and thought her relationship with her son Kian truly heartwarming.
I do need to warn readers that this is an intensely emotional book, although beautifully written and uplifting in parts, it does give cause to have tissues close by but I did enjoy it and I would definitely read more by this author again. A tug at the heartstrings but funny, endearing and uplifting and a story I won't forget. An absolute must read!

4 stars

[Lisa Regan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mostly...meh. Really poorly written dialogue, characters I didn't care about, no real plot twists, an ending I expected...I only kept reading because I thought something would happen to make it worthy of it having made it to print. But it didn't.

[Serena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I absolutely loved this book, I didn’t want it to end! Mike Gayle really takes you on a journey reading this. It was such a beautifully written story, I was so invested. Kerry and Noah are so wonderful and loveable with fantastic character development. Written in their perspectives, you can paint a clear picture in your mind of their very different personalities and backgrounds. Social class and race were prominent issues highlighted here which I found really added to the emotion of the story. I guarantee that this book will make you both laugh and cry.

Mike Gayle’s writing is so captivating, moving and easy to read. I couldn’t put it down at the end! This was my first read by this author and I cannot wait to read more by him!

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Words can't describe adequately what I feel about this book.

Without a doubt Mike Gayle's best book, and I've read them all, and its such a powerful but heartbreaking story,

I was almost in floods of tears for most of the last fifth of the book, and kept having to swallow the lump in my throat, purely as I didn't want people wondering why on earth I was crying poolside on holiday.

Kerry and Noah couldn't have had any more different upbringings if they tried, but yet there are a few similarities in their lives.

This is a story of siblings reconnecting after many years apart, but its also about family, and deals with tough subjects too, but in a sensitive manner.

i really don't want to say much about the plot, purely as I feel its best discovered for yourself. I went in completely blindly, having downloaded this purely because I love the author, and was rewarded with a fabulous experience.

Such a fantastic story that I feel has enriched my life for having read it

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton on Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

[Hannah Moore · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lovely story for the most part and ever so sad, though I kept hoping for a twist. I found the writing style a bit simple, too much like a diary though it wasn’t meant to be, and often found the dialogue unbelievable and not how people would speak. Felt like a chore at times and also felt the description was unnecessary and not authentic. For instance when someone is ill but still describes another person’s clothing. All in all nice story, unconvincing narration.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ✨
Two things:

1. I feel like I am quickly becoming Mike Gayle’s biggest cheerleader. And he needs one in America, as I feel he is relatively unknown here and therefore spectacularly under appreciated. So here I am, publicly appreciating him…squealing and bobbing up & down excitedly, encouraging you to give this British author a chance.

2. Gayle has a remarkable way of writing characters and stories that matter. His style is reminiscent of Catherine Ryan Hyde, whose books always leave readers hopeful. Oh, how I adored this one!!!

[Johanna Lundin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vilken överraskning detta var. Så varm, fin och gripande berättelse om vad som utgör en familj, hur ditt ursprung påverkar dig som vuxen och om att skapa sitt eget liv. Är helt söndergråten nu när den är utläst.

[Beth Sandland (Beth’s Book Club) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of Kerry and Noah, two siblings separated when they were taken from their mother in early childhood.
⠀
One pinballs from placement to placement before finally growing up in a care home. A rough start in life, a need to fend for herself and eventually, a determination to ‘make good’. Kerry lives a humble but happy life as the single mother of her son, Kian, in a west London council estate, working hard as a cleaner.
⠀
The other is adopted aged 2.5 and raised by a loving, wealthy white middle class family and eventually becomes a successful criminal barrister. Noah lives with his wife and daughter in Primrose Hill.
⠀
I wanted to like this book more than I did. I picked it up expecting an easy read but I found myself dragging my feet to get through it. It’s a sweet story of their reunion some 30+ years after being separated. But it’s slow and lacks any real depth.
⠀
The book attempts to explore big themes but I couldn’t help feel that it’s written like a YA novel. There’s a lack of complexity and sophistication in the dialogue and syntax that makes the characters seem overly simplistic. The chapters switch between Kerry and Noah’s first person perspective and there’s a ‘dear diary’ sing song to the narrative voice.
⠀
Overall I enjoyed reading a non-romantic love story. The premise was good but I found myself picking holes in some of the major plot points and at times it felt like an immature read.
⠀
Trigger warning: cancer (and some reference to miscarriage)

[Paula Sealey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartrending tale, this book pulled me in from the start with its wonderful ensemble of characters. The story is highly emotional but so beautifully written; I found myself completely invested in the two main characters, Kerry especially, and absorbed myself in their lives until I reached the conclusion. A touching family saga full of heart and soul that will have you reaching for the tissue box.

*I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Meagan (Meagansbookclub) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartwarming story.

[Bookread2day · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone is talking about this quite tearful read Half A World Away by Mike Gayle, anyone with the love of good books can see why everyone is talking this story.

Kerry Hayes is a single mother trying to earn a living house cleaning for people, because the job fits around her having a child at nursery school.

From the past, the most saddest thing ever is that when her mother couldn't look after Kerry and her brother, anymore, they went into separate care.

With now her mother has passed away, she decides to find her brother, Noah Martineau who is a successful barrister, with a posh voice and a wife and daughter living in a big house.

Two family members , living world's apart, like strangers really, with not much in common as one a cleaner and the other a barrister.

Will Kerry and Noah finally get to meet up? If they do after years of being separated would they stay in contact with each other.? What will happen I can't spoil.

A beautiful story that really makes you care for the characters and makes you appreciate what you have in life.

[Jessica Gilmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay. What you need to do is block out a whole afternoon. Make sure you have a full pot of tea, a plate of biscuits (or cake or fruit, delete as applicable), a cosy reading spot and preferably a pet to cuddle up to. Put your phone on silent and let yourself be immersed in this book. You won't regret it. Oh, you'll need tissues too...
Kerry is a hardworking single mother, who adores her son, Kian, and never bemoans the hand she's been dealt. And it's not an easy hand. Put into care as a child she bounced from foster parent to foster parent, ending up in a home. A few years of reckless living followed, only for her life to change when she got pregnant. Her son will have the loving, stable home she never had and she does everything she can to provide it for him, turning their little flat into a warm, colourful home and building up a cleaning business, keen for him to see her working for every penny. Her only regret is that she has never heard back from her brother, even though she wrote regular letters to him, letters sent to the adoption agency waiting for the day he decides to investigate his birth family. And when it becomes increasingly clear that that day will never come, Kerry takes matters into her own hands.
Noah lives in a gorgeous house in Primrose Hill with his gorgeous wife and gorgeous daughter. His career as a barrister is going well, his life seems perfect. But his wife has had enough. His refusal to open up is ruining their marriage - and although Noah knows this he is incapable of doing the one thing she needs him to do. He also knows everyone is surprised by his lack of interest in his birth family, his lack of angst at being adopted, at growing up as a black child in a white family, but Noah doesn't need to look back. He can't. Until a letter arrives and changes everything. He has a sister. And she wants to meet him. And that means he can't hide from his feelings- or his past - any longer.
This is a beautiful, beautiful book. It's about family, about class, about love, about choices and sacrifice. It's about letting go and learning to hold on. It's optimistic and heartbreaking and funny and emotional. It's the kind of book that will stay with you, long after you finish it. Buy it, read it, love it - and hang on to those tissues, you'll need them.

[Tracy Fenton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I begin with this review? Well firstly, I listened to it on Audible and the narrators Kayi Ushe and Joanna Brookes were absolutely incredible and I could see them quite clearly in my mind and to me Kerry was a very young Kathy Burke and Noah a young Adrian Lester!

Now in her early 40’s Kerry is a single mum to a young son, living on a rough estate, she has her own small business cleaning the houses of the rich and entitled. Having been put into the care system at a young age and separated from her younger brother Jason when he was 18 months old, she has spent her life determined to provide for her own child and give him the stability and direction she never had.

Meanwhile over in an affluent part of London, Noah is a successful barrister with a wife and daughter he adores. Knowing he was adopted, he has always accepted this with no desire to look into where he came from and trace his birth mother. His refusal to accept his past is causing marital problems and when he receives a letter from someone claiming to be his sister his life is turned upside down.

This is a wonderful book about family, unconditional love and hope. It is joyful, tearful, emotional, moving and heart-warming and heart-breaking in equal measures. I made the mistake of listening to the book whilst shopping in Tesco’s and started sobbing in the pasta aisle!

This is the first book I have ever read or listened to by Mike Gayle and immediately upon finishing it I used up my Audible credits and bought The Man I Think I Know and All The Lonely People.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Arna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heart warming and heart breaking.

This book sucks you in from the start. Kerry is so relatable and you just want everything to work out as she deserves. I loved the dynamic of her relationship with Noah, reconnecting after so many years with her long lost brother whereas for Noah it was all new.

As the book went on it was quite clear where it was going so there weren’t any shock revelations but it is still a great read if you’re looking for something a little different.

[Ruth Carey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good story at first. Second half of the book dragged on. Really awful dialogue and no characters that I was particularly invested in

[Molly Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg this book !!!! My heart broke over and over and over again for them all 💔💔 I felt every single emotion good and bad through out this book; joy , hope, anger, and overwhelming sadness! I’ve never cried so hard finishing a book in my life, I’m a mess! This is a must read!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Half a World Away follows the heartbreaking story of two siblings, Kerry and Noah, who are taken into care and live very different lives.

This is my second Mike Gayle book, and this one is a clear favourite. It was beautifully written; both characters immediately come to life, their personality completely throws itself at you on the page. Kerry is down to earth, lovable and endlessly caring, whilst Noah is extremely intelligent and kind-hearted. As the book progresses, I became overwhelmingly invested in their blossoming relationship and hoped for a sweet ending.

Somewhere in the middle, this novel turns into a heart-wrenching example of how easily life can fall away from you. Kerry's struggle hit very close to home for me personally, and the raw, vivid descriptions of her illness brought me to tears. This novel is a beautiful telling of the strength of family, and whilst making me cry, brought hope to my heart. It won't leave me for a very long time, and in my opinion is a must-read for everyone.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book will make you cry.

It didn’t make me cry, because I’m pretty hard (a.k.a. heartless) when it comes to these types of books.

Half a World Away is about a woman called Kerry who, after years of trying to get back in touch, eventually manages to reunite with her long-lost half-brother, Noah. And that’s pretty much all you need to know.

At its heart, this book is primarily about family and what it means to be a family. I didn’t give it five stars because it ended up being a bit too ‘sweet’ for me, but if you like touching, heartfelt stories then you’ll love this.

Would definitely recommend.

[Fabulous Book Fiend · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow what a beautiful but heartbreaking novel. This book just covers so many aspects of life that can have a massive impact on people and yet people just go about continuing to live their lives despite having these things happening to/around them.

I love how this book delves into the topic of adoption and what can happen when siblings are separated in the process of being removed from their parent. It also deals really well with the circumstances under which a child might be removed from their parents and the steps that could be taken to avoid that. The concept of looking forward and never back is also one that I think isn't dealt with enough in novels and how that can affect people around you so I love the fact that Mike Gayle explores just what that can mean in this book.

Noah is a great character to read about and the way he is described, he absolutely leaps of the page and I can imagine him standing here in front of me. He is trying to be a good man, a good husband, a good father and a good son and he can't seem to see why he isn't getting it quite spot on. I loved his integrity and I love how fiercely he really wants to protect those around him but sometimes he just takes the wrong steps to make that happen. I would have loved to have had someone like him in my life!

Kerry is also an incredibly strong character, these two main characters really are alike and we get to find out why that might be as the novel progresses. I love the bond that Kerry has with her son Kian and also her friends that she has made as she has been forming and growing her own life. She really does know what it means to multi task and seems to wring the most she can out of life.

I loved watching the relationship between Kerry and Noah form over the course of this story, the things that are thrown at each of them and how they each cope with those things. I liked the influence of th3e other people in their lives and as I previously said, I really felt like the issues covered in this novel are so well dealt with.

This book really is heartbreaking in parts but so honest and true to life it really is impossible not to read and rate it. Come to this one prepared with tissues but don't be put off picking it up because you'll regret it if you don't read this beautiful story!

[Ulrica Kulturladyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boken är en väldigt fin, känslosam och gripande berättelse om två syskon som svetsades samman som små, men som skildes åt under svåra omständigheter. Den ena fick ett liv som den andra bara kunde drömma om. Det väcker tankar som hur vårt ursprung präglar vår uppväxt och våra liv? Och att två syskon med samma start får olika förutsättningar i livet beroende på de sammanhang de omges av.

Det här är en bok jag länge velat läsa och när det var min tur att välja bok i vår bokklubb passade jag på att välja ”En halv värld bort” för det här är en bok man vill diskutera med andra. Det fanns såklart en risk att jag hade för höga förväntningar på boken, men så var det inte alls. Jag älskar boken. Kerry och Noah är så fina personer och boken växlar hela tiden mellan deras berättande. Jag tycker om att vi får historien berättad med deras olika perspektiv och tankar om det som händer. Och händer saker gör det verkligen. Det här är en bok som kommer stanna kvar och som jag rekommenderar.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

TW // Cancer, loss of loved one, grief

April 2020 //
Took me a while to get into but overall it was a lovely heart-warming story about family.

Reread 2021 // 5 stars!
I can't believe how much a star rating can jump! Rereading this book just made me realise just how beautifully written this book is. It focuses heavily on long lost families and rekindling relationships. I did tear up at the ending at how well Mike Gayle was able to capture the raw emotion of grieving and losing a loved one, it really hit home but think it was done beautifully.

Highly recommend for anyone who can 1) cope with the trigger warnings and 2) enjoy beautiful writing, character driven stories and a plot focusing around adoption and finding family.

Reread 2023 // 5 Stars!

Still one of my favs <3

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit too predictably soppy for me. Some of it felt rushed where other parts seemed to drag on forever.

Not bad but not great. The copy I read though had a preview of another Mike Gayle book that sucked me in so now I’m on to that one.

My copy was provided by NetGalley for review, all opinions are my own.

[kirsty gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what can I say, this book has left me emotionally traumatised!!! I have sobbed my heart out, huge ugly cries!!!! It was amazing and everyone should read this book!!!!

[Justine]

I finished this last night, couldn't stop reading. Ended up going to bed at 1 am, and spent about an hour crying my eyes out from the last 75 pages.

If you don't like stories that are made to be tear-jerkers with tragedies and lives being turned upside down at every occasion, I don't think you'll like this one. As much as I loved it, there's a part of me that thought: these characters are going through hell and back, and this is getting to a point where I'm not sure all of the ordeals were necessary. That being said, I know everyone goes through shit and sometimes you just can't catch a break but, I don't know how to explain it... it just felt obvious that all of the twists and all of the torments had purposefully been added to keep the pathos going, and it was just a tad much at times).

However, I can't lie, it totally got me. Not only did I find this book relatable in many ways, I found the characters endearing and I found myself really invested in their lives - which was also helped by the writing and the setting, as it really transported me into the story.

I would definitely recommend to those who love an emotional contemporary about life, family and loss.

[Gemma · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is nothing I can say that would do this book justice. Anyone that has asked me for a recommendation for a book that will make them cry, This is it.
This made me not just cry but totally destroyed my. Mike Gayle is a wonderful writer that takes great joy in ripping out a readers heart and stamping on it .
These characters are so real and so relatable, by then end of the book you feel you have gained and lost dear friends or new family members. This really needs more than 5 stars and makes me want to reconsider other books I've given 5 stars to.