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Cows Can't Jump
Billy is desperate to escape. It’s 2016, and as a grave-digger, he’s working the ultimate dead-end job. To make matters worse, he’s a virgin, and there’s no hope of him meeting a girl any time soon. The only women at work are in coffins.
Billy’s home life isn’t any better. In the evenings, he observes his dysfunctional family: his grandad’s engaged to a woman half his age, his dad’s become obsessed with boxing, and he suspects his mum is having an affair. All the while, celebrities are dropping like flies and Britain is waiting for the EU referendum. Everything is changing, and Billy hates it.
Billy’s life gets a jump start when he falls in love with Eva. Just as things are looking up, Eva travels back to her home in Switzerland. But Billy won’t give up that easily. He gambles everything for a chance to be with her again.
When things start to go wrong, Billy’s journey across Europe involves hitch-hiking with truckers, walking with refugees, and an encounter with suicidal cows. But the further he goes, the harder it is to be sure what he’s chasing – and what he’s running from.
Billy’s home life isn’t any better. In the evenings, he observes his dysfunctional family: his grandad’s engaged to a woman half his age, his dad’s become obsessed with boxing, and he suspects his mum is having an affair. All the while, celebrities are dropping like flies and Britain is waiting for the EU referendum. Everything is changing, and Billy hates it.
Billy’s life gets a jump start when he falls in love with Eva. Just as things are looking up, Eva travels back to her home in Switzerland. But Billy won’t give up that easily. He gambles everything for a chance to be with her again.
When things start to go wrong, Billy’s journey across Europe involves hitch-hiking with truckers, walking with refugees, and an encounter with suicidal cows. But the further he goes, the harder it is to be sure what he’s chasing – and what he’s running from.
276 pages, Paperback
Published September 24, 2020
7 people are currently reading
244 people want to read
About the author
Philip Bowne
1 book30 followersPhil always wanted to write a book. He started early: at age 6 he penned a short story about an alien befriending a human and attempting to make a cup of tea in the oven. While this story didn't receive critical acclaim, Phil enjoyed the writing process and carried this passion forward through his formative years.
Phil went on to study English Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Gloucestershire in 2012. While studying, Phil published short stories in literary magazines and anthologies in the UK, US, Canada and Germany. After graduating, Phil spent time in Europe and the US, working and volunteering in various roles and settings: repairing boats at Lake Como, housekeeping at a mountain lodge in California and working with charity Care4Calais in the former Calais 'jungle' refugee camp.
Cows Can't Jump is Phil's debut novel, which he worked on while managing a bar in London. Phil now works as a writer for The Wombles, a children's entertainment brand. He also works on a number of independent writing projects, including a musical set in 1970's Soho and a sitcom set in a failing leisure centre.
Phil went on to study English Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Gloucestershire in 2012. While studying, Phil published short stories in literary magazines and anthologies in the UK, US, Canada and Germany. After graduating, Phil spent time in Europe and the US, working and volunteering in various roles and settings: repairing boats at Lake Como, housekeeping at a mountain lodge in California and working with charity Care4Calais in the former Calais 'jungle' refugee camp.
Cows Can't Jump is Phil's debut novel, which he worked on while managing a bar in London. Phil now works as a writer for The Wombles, a children's entertainment brand. He also works on a number of independent writing projects, including a musical set in 1970's Soho and a sitcom set in a failing leisure centre.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
November 8, 2020
Coming of age odyssey from Cheltenham via Switzerland to Bled
Our You Tube review: https://youtu.be/-p4L8LwXrbM
We read a huge number of books throughout the year. Sometimes we get a debut author with a stand out talent and I think this is one such example.
This is the story of Billy, who is living with his parents – post school – working as a grave digger. They are not his clan, they argue, he doesn’t understand his mother and his father distracts himself by boxing. They also voted in the Brexit referendum in a way that doesn’t impress him (the author has written that Brexit sounds like a breakfast cereal – which it indeed does – I am now forever doomed to think that, as you are probably too, now that I have shared that!).
He goes to work at a Summer Camp where he meets the indomitable Eva from Lucerne. He falls for her and although he hasn’t a penny to his name, he is determined to hop over to Switzerland in hot pursuit. At first she seems enamoured by the idea but then she promptly shifts the goalposts – as he is en route – and arranges a specific midnight meeting in Bled (that’s Slovenia), well East of Switzerland.
And this is the story of his adventures and of the encounters he has, through Switzerland to Croatia and on – eventually – to Bled. With each leg of the journey, his money gets depleted and all the while the clock is ticking.
This is a good and entertaining story, written by an author who has a terrific writing style. AND. Bled is now on my must-visit list, thank you Philip! I wonder what is next!
Our You Tube review: https://youtu.be/-p4L8LwXrbM
We read a huge number of books throughout the year. Sometimes we get a debut author with a stand out talent and I think this is one such example.
This is the story of Billy, who is living with his parents – post school – working as a grave digger. They are not his clan, they argue, he doesn’t understand his mother and his father distracts himself by boxing. They also voted in the Brexit referendum in a way that doesn’t impress him (the author has written that Brexit sounds like a breakfast cereal – which it indeed does – I am now forever doomed to think that, as you are probably too, now that I have shared that!).
He goes to work at a Summer Camp where he meets the indomitable Eva from Lucerne. He falls for her and although he hasn’t a penny to his name, he is determined to hop over to Switzerland in hot pursuit. At first she seems enamoured by the idea but then she promptly shifts the goalposts – as he is en route – and arranges a specific midnight meeting in Bled (that’s Slovenia), well East of Switzerland.
And this is the story of his adventures and of the encounters he has, through Switzerland to Croatia and on – eventually – to Bled. With each leg of the journey, his money gets depleted and all the while the clock is ticking.
This is a good and entertaining story, written by an author who has a terrific writing style. AND. Bled is now on my must-visit list, thank you Philip! I wonder what is next!
October 6, 2020
Philip Bowne's debut novel Cows Can't Jump is an adventure packed novel that is original and written so confidently with the perfect balance of humour and tradedgy.
This book follows Billy on an escapade to find love but instead he gets drunk with a diverse collection of characters, discovers suicidal cows, a flirtatious female truck driver and walks miles with refugees. The novel is so cleverly tied together at the end not leaving any loose ends - I was so relieved when the character Tuna's real name was revealed, I really didn't see that coming! Billy is depicted as helpless so you can't help but root for him as he travels across Europe to find his summer crush - Eva. As well as being helpless Billy is also pessimistic which isnt a great combination but wouldn't you be if you thought your mother was having an affair and sharing anonymous secrets with a group of women, your dad has strangely become obsessed with boxing and has a mentor called Tuna, your grandad is marrying someone half his age and to top it off Britians leaving the EU. There are so many stand out moments from this novel but I absolutely loved the Russian Dolls (gravediggers Billy works with before abruptly leaving) they were hilarious. Amongst all the humour Bowne oozes into this book he also provides us with moments of intrigue as he questions faith, race and Brexit. There is a couple dad jokes thrown in as well which I couldn't help but chuckle at.
Out now Cows Can't Jump gives you a real sense of adventure as Bowne takes us on a trip around Europe following protagonist Billy as he longs to find the love of his life.
I would just like to say thanks to Philip Bowne and Neem Tree Press for the gifted copy, I loved everything about it from the front cover to the back pages and everything in between.
This book follows Billy on an escapade to find love but instead he gets drunk with a diverse collection of characters, discovers suicidal cows, a flirtatious female truck driver and walks miles with refugees. The novel is so cleverly tied together at the end not leaving any loose ends - I was so relieved when the character Tuna's real name was revealed, I really didn't see that coming! Billy is depicted as helpless so you can't help but root for him as he travels across Europe to find his summer crush - Eva. As well as being helpless Billy is also pessimistic which isnt a great combination but wouldn't you be if you thought your mother was having an affair and sharing anonymous secrets with a group of women, your dad has strangely become obsessed with boxing and has a mentor called Tuna, your grandad is marrying someone half his age and to top it off Britians leaving the EU. There are so many stand out moments from this novel but I absolutely loved the Russian Dolls (gravediggers Billy works with before abruptly leaving) they were hilarious. Amongst all the humour Bowne oozes into this book he also provides us with moments of intrigue as he questions faith, race and Brexit. There is a couple dad jokes thrown in as well which I couldn't help but chuckle at.
Out now Cows Can't Jump gives you a real sense of adventure as Bowne takes us on a trip around Europe following protagonist Billy as he longs to find the love of his life.
I would just like to say thanks to Philip Bowne and Neem Tree Press for the gifted copy, I loved everything about it from the front cover to the back pages and everything in between.
October 15, 2021
Billy is stuck in a dead end job, no hopes, no future - he wants to escape.
And then he meets Eva.
But sadly Eva must go home to Switzerland which leads poor Billy into a race across Europe on a wild ride to meet her again.
Will he make it?
From having read this book I can say it was an experience from start to end. I never knew quite what was going to happen next. One minute I was gambling everything on one plan he had only for it to go in an entirely unexpected direction. The way every page seemed to go a different way made me want to keep on reading.
The range of characters in this book is diverse and wholesome. No darker, shoddier aspects of people are left untold which was good to read knowing that it wasn't going to gloss over anything to make it more cheery.
One minor point is that I had hoped for it to be slightly longer and have a bit more of an ending - not to say that this one isn't good!
Overall, it was a nice quick read at under 300 pages that gets you thinking about the wider world.
Favourite Quote - "Secretly, I wanted dad to get into fighting. I'd have loved to see him get punched in the face."
Favourite Character - Diana
And then he meets Eva.
But sadly Eva must go home to Switzerland which leads poor Billy into a race across Europe on a wild ride to meet her again.
Will he make it?
From having read this book I can say it was an experience from start to end. I never knew quite what was going to happen next. One minute I was gambling everything on one plan he had only for it to go in an entirely unexpected direction. The way every page seemed to go a different way made me want to keep on reading.
The range of characters in this book is diverse and wholesome. No darker, shoddier aspects of people are left untold which was good to read knowing that it wasn't going to gloss over anything to make it more cheery.
One minor point is that I had hoped for it to be slightly longer and have a bit more of an ending - not to say that this one isn't good!
Overall, it was a nice quick read at under 300 pages that gets you thinking about the wider world.
Favourite Quote - "Secretly, I wanted dad to get into fighting. I'd have loved to see him get punched in the face."
Favourite Character - Diana
May 8, 2021
Another book with Brexit as the backdrop and a tour across Switzerland, Italy, Croatia and Slovenia.
December 4, 2020
Buddha of Suburbia meets Heart of Darkness. Recommended!
October 13, 2020
REVIEW ‼️ Cows Can't Jump - Phillip Bowne 🐮
Huge thank you to @philipbowne & @neemtreepress for sending me this book to read and review! Also a big thank you to @mmbtours for organising the book tour which I am so chuffed to be a part of!
I had huge expectations for this book ever since I was first contacted about it in April, so I was nervous to get round to reading it. I wasn’t really sure what I was expecting when I first read the synopsis about suicidal cows and a grave digging virgin but this book is so so much more than that! I am a massive fan of character development and Bowne has done a fantastic job at portraying the journey (quite literally), of a naive love-struck teenage boy towards adulthood.
I became very invested in Billy throughout the book and was desperate to shake some sense into him at times, much like I wish I could have done to my 17/18 year old self for many questionable decisions I made. I found Billy very relatable in that sense. It was also really refreshing to read from the perspective of a male character in love as usually this is something quite female character driven, so I really appreciated that. Even if I did not approve. I’m sorry but I just need to get this out. I did not like Eva, she did not deserve Billy in the SLIGHTEST. I can’t say I was rooting for them, but I was absolutely rooting for Billy! Billy has my whole heart ❤️
Continuing with characters I loved, GG is a fucking g and I want to meet the real life version of him, I imagine he’s cool as fuck. Although I was terrified of Billy’s dad and his political opinions, I enjoyed witnessing the blossoming of Billy’s relationship with his Dad.
My absolute favourite and most memorable part of the book was reading about Billy’s journey to find Eva. UGH the second half of this book is so so beautiful! I loved reading about Billy’s travels and all the people he met. With every person Billy met you witness the growth and maturity of Billy and see how individually these people leave a lasting mark on Billy, his life, and his outlook on life! Its heart warming to say the least.
Billy's travels are described so vividly, I completely lost myself in the story. The stories surrounding the people he met were incredibly hilarious and moving. The part where he encounters the Syrian refugees really pulled on my heart strings as it reflected so closely my own experience at the Syrian border a while back.
Billy's encounters were also so detailed I had to check with the author if any of them were based on real life experiences! There are some LOVELY little details in the book which brought tears to my eyes but equally the sarcastic and frankly quite British humour is unmatched and will have you giggling to yourself.
I loved the little time travel back to 2016 as well. Although it was a strange year, it was refreshing to escape from 2020 for a while! I really would recommend you pick up this book if you want an addictive yet emotional escape from 2020! Reflective and character heavy books are one of my favourites but it’s so hard to find authors that do it well. Big props to Bowne though because he smashed it out of the park with his debut novel! Massive congratulations 🥳
Huge thank you to @philipbowne & @neemtreepress for sending me this book to read and review! Also a big thank you to @mmbtours for organising the book tour which I am so chuffed to be a part of!
I had huge expectations for this book ever since I was first contacted about it in April, so I was nervous to get round to reading it. I wasn’t really sure what I was expecting when I first read the synopsis about suicidal cows and a grave digging virgin but this book is so so much more than that! I am a massive fan of character development and Bowne has done a fantastic job at portraying the journey (quite literally), of a naive love-struck teenage boy towards adulthood.
I became very invested in Billy throughout the book and was desperate to shake some sense into him at times, much like I wish I could have done to my 17/18 year old self for many questionable decisions I made. I found Billy very relatable in that sense. It was also really refreshing to read from the perspective of a male character in love as usually this is something quite female character driven, so I really appreciated that. Even if I did not approve. I’m sorry but I just need to get this out. I did not like Eva, she did not deserve Billy in the SLIGHTEST. I can’t say I was rooting for them, but I was absolutely rooting for Billy! Billy has my whole heart ❤️
Continuing with characters I loved, GG is a fucking g and I want to meet the real life version of him, I imagine he’s cool as fuck. Although I was terrified of Billy’s dad and his political opinions, I enjoyed witnessing the blossoming of Billy’s relationship with his Dad.
My absolute favourite and most memorable part of the book was reading about Billy’s journey to find Eva. UGH the second half of this book is so so beautiful! I loved reading about Billy’s travels and all the people he met. With every person Billy met you witness the growth and maturity of Billy and see how individually these people leave a lasting mark on Billy, his life, and his outlook on life! Its heart warming to say the least.
Billy's travels are described so vividly, I completely lost myself in the story. The stories surrounding the people he met were incredibly hilarious and moving. The part where he encounters the Syrian refugees really pulled on my heart strings as it reflected so closely my own experience at the Syrian border a while back.
Billy's encounters were also so detailed I had to check with the author if any of them were based on real life experiences! There are some LOVELY little details in the book which brought tears to my eyes but equally the sarcastic and frankly quite British humour is unmatched and will have you giggling to yourself.
I loved the little time travel back to 2016 as well. Although it was a strange year, it was refreshing to escape from 2020 for a while! I really would recommend you pick up this book if you want an addictive yet emotional escape from 2020! Reflective and character heavy books are one of my favourites but it’s so hard to find authors that do it well. Big props to Bowne though because he smashed it out of the park with his debut novel! Massive congratulations 🥳
October 22, 2020
I've really enjoyed reading this book, it certainly kept me entertained and wondering what on earth would happen next.
We meet Billy as he is wondering what to do now he's left school. His Mum finds him a job through the Church and she sends him off to the local cemetery. Where it turns out he's going to be a grave digger! It's here we learn how naïve and unworldly Billy really is and this led me to I fear for him from this point on and throughout the whole book.
Billy gets another job and meets Eva. They have a whirlwind romance and eventually she returns home to Switzerland. As can happen with long distance relationships it's not going too well and Billy wants to join her in Switzerland. With no money and no job that's not going to be easy though.
Whilst Billy is naïve (he borrows and looses 3k!) he's very resourceful and through one means or another he scrapes enough together to set out for Switzerland. Although when he gets there the lovely Eva (not so sure she is that lovely in my eyes) has gone to Slovenia and asks him to meet her there. This is when Billy's education (and mine) really begins as he makes his way across Europe.
It's this part of the book that had me gripped. Who was he going to meet next, what was going to become of him? It all reads so true to life, that I wonder if the author hasn't experienced at least some of these same life events. Meanwhile back at home his Grandad is engaged to a woman half his age, his Father is obsessed with boxing and his Mum is having an affair!
I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. Brilliantly written with fantastic humour. I feel like I've been on a journey (in more ways than one) with Billy and it was great one too.
We meet Billy as he is wondering what to do now he's left school. His Mum finds him a job through the Church and she sends him off to the local cemetery. Where it turns out he's going to be a grave digger! It's here we learn how naïve and unworldly Billy really is and this led me to I fear for him from this point on and throughout the whole book.
Billy gets another job and meets Eva. They have a whirlwind romance and eventually she returns home to Switzerland. As can happen with long distance relationships it's not going too well and Billy wants to join her in Switzerland. With no money and no job that's not going to be easy though.
Whilst Billy is naïve (he borrows and looses 3k!) he's very resourceful and through one means or another he scrapes enough together to set out for Switzerland. Although when he gets there the lovely Eva (not so sure she is that lovely in my eyes) has gone to Slovenia and asks him to meet her there. This is when Billy's education (and mine) really begins as he makes his way across Europe.
It's this part of the book that had me gripped. Who was he going to meet next, what was going to become of him? It all reads so true to life, that I wonder if the author hasn't experienced at least some of these same life events. Meanwhile back at home his Grandad is engaged to a woman half his age, his Father is obsessed with boxing and his Mum is having an affair!
I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. Brilliantly written with fantastic humour. I feel like I've been on a journey (in more ways than one) with Billy and it was great one too.
October 24, 2020
Cows Can’t Jump is a really lovely coming-of-age story. After catastrophically failing to raise the money he needs to visit his girlfriend Eva in Switzerland, Billy impulsively embarks on a trip across Europe to meet her in Bled, Slovenia, on a specified date and time. As he only has a few hundred euros, it’s not going to be a straightforward journey, and he has to get creative in his methods of travel. This means he meets a lot of people, good and bad, he wouldn’t have encountered otherwise, and gets into a few sticky situations along the way.
This novel mixes humour and heartbreak to great effect. There are some hilarious sections - Billy’s genius scheme of stealing Moleskines from WHSmith by posting them to himself had me absolutely howling - and brilliantly funny observations throughout the book. But there are also moments when Billy hits rock bottom and you wonder how he can possibly come back from it. He also witnesses the struggles of refugees, the sad stories of some of the people he travels with, the fissures opened by the EU Referendum, and his parents’ racism towards his grandad’s fiancée. The kindness he receives from so many strangers who have problems of their own is really heartwarming.
Billy himself is a really sweet character. As he’s 17, he’s very naïve and immature, but at the same time he’s caring, means well and is endearing, so you want things to work out for him. Like many people of his age, he blows things out of proportion and regards setbacks as the end of the world, so it’s rewarding to see that, while they don’t give him a free pass for some of the stupid things he does, his parents and grandad always come through for him when he needs them, and everything is okay in the end.
I particularly enjoyed the domestic scenes - they are comforting and ordinary, yet surreal and funny because Billy’s parents aren’t acting in ways he expects or considers reasonable. This reminded me of other books I love for the same reason: Sue Townsend’s Adrian Mole books, Louise Rennison’s Georgia Nicolson books, and The Miseducation of Evie Epworth by Matson Taylor to name a few.
Cows Can’t Jump is funny and heartwarming, with a really sweet main character.
This novel mixes humour and heartbreak to great effect. There are some hilarious sections - Billy’s genius scheme of stealing Moleskines from WHSmith by posting them to himself had me absolutely howling - and brilliantly funny observations throughout the book. But there are also moments when Billy hits rock bottom and you wonder how he can possibly come back from it. He also witnesses the struggles of refugees, the sad stories of some of the people he travels with, the fissures opened by the EU Referendum, and his parents’ racism towards his grandad’s fiancée. The kindness he receives from so many strangers who have problems of their own is really heartwarming.
Billy himself is a really sweet character. As he’s 17, he’s very naïve and immature, but at the same time he’s caring, means well and is endearing, so you want things to work out for him. Like many people of his age, he blows things out of proportion and regards setbacks as the end of the world, so it’s rewarding to see that, while they don’t give him a free pass for some of the stupid things he does, his parents and grandad always come through for him when he needs them, and everything is okay in the end.
I particularly enjoyed the domestic scenes - they are comforting and ordinary, yet surreal and funny because Billy’s parents aren’t acting in ways he expects or considers reasonable. This reminded me of other books I love for the same reason: Sue Townsend’s Adrian Mole books, Louise Rennison’s Georgia Nicolson books, and The Miseducation of Evie Epworth by Matson Taylor to name a few.
Cows Can’t Jump is funny and heartwarming, with a really sweet main character.
October 19, 2020
A 4.5 star read bumped up to 5 stars
Today I’m taking sharing a second book review on my book blog as part of the Cow’s Can’t Jump by Philip Bowne, published by Neem Tree Press blog tour organised by the lovely Anne Cater at the Random Things Tours. Thank you for providing a copy of the book �� my thoughts are my own and not influenced by my gift.
Thanks for visiting my book blog today for my review on this debut novel by Philip Bowne. This book won the Spotlight First Novel Prize from Adventures in Fiction, has been long listed for the Not The Booker Prize from the Guardian and left me laughing, blushing and feeling sad in places.
This is one of a handful of books I’ve read this year with a male main character. Billy is turning 18 in 2016, the year of the Brexit referendum and the American Presidential election. As the synopsis mentions, Billy is in the ultimate dead end job as a grave digger at the start of the book. However his life changes when he starts work at an International School and falls for Eva.
We follow Billy as he struggles with his jobs, his parents and his first big romance. When he tries to put the money together to visit Eva in Switzerland he ends up in more trouble. When he finally flies out to Switzerland, he ends up on a grand tour of Europe to find Eva. In a year when many of us are unable to travel, then join Billy as he treks across mainland Europe to meet the love of his life.
This book is full of so many interesting characters, including Christoph, the owner of the cows who can’t jump. I enjoyed how the story looked at Billy’s relationships with his family, work colleagues and the people he met on his travels. This book is modern, funny, tragic and poignant, a stunning debut novel, and I look forward to reading more by Philip Bowne in the future.
Today I’m taking sharing a second book review on my book blog as part of the Cow’s Can’t Jump by Philip Bowne, published by Neem Tree Press blog tour organised by the lovely Anne Cater at the Random Things Tours. Thank you for providing a copy of the book �� my thoughts are my own and not influenced by my gift.
Thanks for visiting my book blog today for my review on this debut novel by Philip Bowne. This book won the Spotlight First Novel Prize from Adventures in Fiction, has been long listed for the Not The Booker Prize from the Guardian and left me laughing, blushing and feeling sad in places.
This is one of a handful of books I’ve read this year with a male main character. Billy is turning 18 in 2016, the year of the Brexit referendum and the American Presidential election. As the synopsis mentions, Billy is in the ultimate dead end job as a grave digger at the start of the book. However his life changes when he starts work at an International School and falls for Eva.
We follow Billy as he struggles with his jobs, his parents and his first big romance. When he tries to put the money together to visit Eva in Switzerland he ends up in more trouble. When he finally flies out to Switzerland, he ends up on a grand tour of Europe to find Eva. In a year when many of us are unable to travel, then join Billy as he treks across mainland Europe to meet the love of his life.
This book is full of so many interesting characters, including Christoph, the owner of the cows who can’t jump. I enjoyed how the story looked at Billy’s relationships with his family, work colleagues and the people he met on his travels. This book is modern, funny, tragic and poignant, a stunning debut novel, and I look forward to reading more by Philip Bowne in the future.
October 24, 2020
What can I say about this debut novel.
It has provided pure escapism over the last few evenings from what has been a pretty trying week so far (thanks covid). It's raised a much needed smile and chuckle from me.
I loved it - well I've loved the 3/4s I've read so far, as I haven't quite had time to finish it yet. But that said, it's all good and positive, and just what has been needed this week.
Released on 24th September by Neem Tree Press. The author is a writer for The Wombles (I loved them growing up!).
Set in 2016 the year of the Brexit referendum and the year many celebrities died (so not so distant) we follow Billy as he leaves his dead end job as a Grave Digger, and struggles to find his path in life, admist many jobs, his dysfunctional family and his first romance with Eva, an older girl from Switzerland. I loved Billy, although at times I wanted to give him a good shake!!
I've loved the style of writing, the front cover graphics and the pages in between.
It has provided pure escapism over the last few evenings from what has been a pretty trying week so far (thanks covid). It's raised a much needed smile and chuckle from me.
I loved it - well I've loved the 3/4s I've read so far, as I haven't quite had time to finish it yet. But that said, it's all good and positive, and just what has been needed this week.
Released on 24th September by Neem Tree Press. The author is a writer for The Wombles (I loved them growing up!).
Set in 2016 the year of the Brexit referendum and the year many celebrities died (so not so distant) we follow Billy as he leaves his dead end job as a Grave Digger, and struggles to find his path in life, admist many jobs, his dysfunctional family and his first romance with Eva, an older girl from Switzerland. I loved Billy, although at times I wanted to give him a good shake!!
I've loved the style of writing, the front cover graphics and the pages in between.
October 1, 2020
Finished in a single day.
I was hooked from the first page. The true to life issues explored in this book, the humour and the character development made this book a real pleasure to read.
The story of Billy is not to be missed.
I was hooked from the first page. The true to life issues explored in this book, the humour and the character development made this book a real pleasure to read.
The story of Billy is not to be missed.
October 24, 2020
Regular visitors to my blog know that I am always looking for funny books. Put the words ‘humour’ into a blurb, or ‘laugh-out-loud hijinx’ (as is mentioned on the back of this very book) and I am first in the queue. Take my money now!
So I jumped at the chance to take part in this blog tour and read a first novel by someone who I really hopes writes a whole lot more.
Right from the start, I was drawn to the character of Billy who – at the beginning of the story – totally lacks direction. He has quit school and his Mum has got him a job gravedigging at the local church. He has a dysfunctional family, including a dad with some anger issues and a grandad (GG) who is marrying what the family consider to be an unsuitable women. Brexit is looming on the horizon and celebrities seem to be dying in huge numbers.
So far, so many opportunities for black humour and Bowne does not hold back with the laughs, from the acquisition of Billy’s unfortunate nickname at work, GG’s unconventional way of making money and one of the most awkward fish and chip dinners I’ve ever had the (uncomfortable) pleasure to read!
However, even at these early stages, it is evident that Bowne is not going to shy away from serious issues as well and we do get a real sense of Billy’s confused and – at times – quite sad internal life through his first person narration.
The story then shifts to Eastbourne Summer School for International Students where Billy gets a job and meets Eva who is Swiss and unnerved by the anti-EU feeling emerging in the UK around the Brexit referendum. It absolutely isn’t love at first sight for Billy, but we see a developing relationship which feels very real and believable.
I really don’t want to give plot spoilers, but it is safe to say that the course of true love doesn’t run smoothly and Billy embarks on some fairly outlandish schemes in order to be reunited with Eva. This culminates in a trip across Europe which is full of interesting people (I loved Cooper in particular), strange events and a lot of growing up for Billy.
As I mentioned before, this book really does have some very funny moments and Billy is a fabulous – if slightly misguided – character who the reader does really root for. I found myself desperate for it to work out for him, while also not really knowing what that would look like for the best.
However, this book also has some very poignant moments that mean it isn’t a wholly comic novel. Little snippets of tragedy infiltrate Billy’s world – the Syrian refugees, the Museum of Broken Relationships, people whose problems are beyond anything in Billy’s experiences to that point. This all adds to the sense that Billy is being forced into maturing and his road trip – regardless of outcome – will be the making of him.
As a reader, the switches between the humour and tragedy are unnerving. One minute, you can be laughing out loud and the next shocked at the poignancy of what is being related. This makes the novel an absolutely compelling read, although it is not always a comfortable experience.
Overall, I would highly recommend the novel; I was totally invested in Billy’s story and raced through the book, always keen to find out the next scrape he found himself in and to meet the next set of quirky characters. I genuinely loved this book and look forward to seeing what Bowne produces next.
With thanks to Random Things Tours for inviting me onto this blog tour and for providing my copy of the novel in return for an honest review.
Http://thequickandtheread.net
So I jumped at the chance to take part in this blog tour and read a first novel by someone who I really hopes writes a whole lot more.
Right from the start, I was drawn to the character of Billy who – at the beginning of the story – totally lacks direction. He has quit school and his Mum has got him a job gravedigging at the local church. He has a dysfunctional family, including a dad with some anger issues and a grandad (GG) who is marrying what the family consider to be an unsuitable women. Brexit is looming on the horizon and celebrities seem to be dying in huge numbers.
So far, so many opportunities for black humour and Bowne does not hold back with the laughs, from the acquisition of Billy’s unfortunate nickname at work, GG’s unconventional way of making money and one of the most awkward fish and chip dinners I’ve ever had the (uncomfortable) pleasure to read!
However, even at these early stages, it is evident that Bowne is not going to shy away from serious issues as well and we do get a real sense of Billy’s confused and – at times – quite sad internal life through his first person narration.
The story then shifts to Eastbourne Summer School for International Students where Billy gets a job and meets Eva who is Swiss and unnerved by the anti-EU feeling emerging in the UK around the Brexit referendum. It absolutely isn’t love at first sight for Billy, but we see a developing relationship which feels very real and believable.
I really don’t want to give plot spoilers, but it is safe to say that the course of true love doesn’t run smoothly and Billy embarks on some fairly outlandish schemes in order to be reunited with Eva. This culminates in a trip across Europe which is full of interesting people (I loved Cooper in particular), strange events and a lot of growing up for Billy.
As I mentioned before, this book really does have some very funny moments and Billy is a fabulous – if slightly misguided – character who the reader does really root for. I found myself desperate for it to work out for him, while also not really knowing what that would look like for the best.
However, this book also has some very poignant moments that mean it isn’t a wholly comic novel. Little snippets of tragedy infiltrate Billy’s world – the Syrian refugees, the Museum of Broken Relationships, people whose problems are beyond anything in Billy’s experiences to that point. This all adds to the sense that Billy is being forced into maturing and his road trip – regardless of outcome – will be the making of him.
As a reader, the switches between the humour and tragedy are unnerving. One minute, you can be laughing out loud and the next shocked at the poignancy of what is being related. This makes the novel an absolutely compelling read, although it is not always a comfortable experience.
Overall, I would highly recommend the novel; I was totally invested in Billy’s story and raced through the book, always keen to find out the next scrape he found himself in and to meet the next set of quirky characters. I genuinely loved this book and look forward to seeing what Bowne produces next.
With thanks to Random Things Tours for inviting me onto this blog tour and for providing my copy of the novel in return for an honest review.
Http://thequickandtheread.net
October 17, 2020
I have to admit one of the reasons I wanted to review Philip Bowne’s debut Cows Can’t Jump is the fact he’s a writer for the Wombles. Childhood nostalgia goes a long way. I'm delighted then that Bowne’s novel doesn’t disappoint. It’s sharply observed, well-paced, funny and yet has a poignancy that’s at times surprising. One can easily imagine the book as a movie. It’s incredibly visual, Bowne deftly sketching his characters and landscape with the ease of a seasoned pro.
Set against the backdrop of referendum and pre-Brexit Britain, the story follows Billy, Bowne’s very appealing protagonist. Eighteen years old and desperate to begin life, Billy’s stuck working as a gravedigger, a job his mum got him, and dealing with a dysfunctional family. (Who isn’t?) Then he meets Swiss Eva, the girl of his dreams. But what will he do to get that chance at love? How far will he go? And so begins the adventure of a lifetime.
Cows Can’t Jump is a lovely bit of escapism, a romp across Europe, where Billy encounters all manner of peoples and things, against a landscape of political and economic shifting sands. It’s well done but it’s Bowne’s humour and lightness of touch that turns this book into the unexpected, a gem. Recommended.
See: https://www.theliteraryshed.co.uk/rea...
This review is based on one originally published as part of the virtual book tour. Thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of the book. All opinions are our own. All rights reserved.
Set against the backdrop of referendum and pre-Brexit Britain, the story follows Billy, Bowne’s very appealing protagonist. Eighteen years old and desperate to begin life, Billy’s stuck working as a gravedigger, a job his mum got him, and dealing with a dysfunctional family. (Who isn’t?) Then he meets Swiss Eva, the girl of his dreams. But what will he do to get that chance at love? How far will he go? And so begins the adventure of a lifetime.
Cows Can’t Jump is a lovely bit of escapism, a romp across Europe, where Billy encounters all manner of peoples and things, against a landscape of political and economic shifting sands. It’s well done but it’s Bowne’s humour and lightness of touch that turns this book into the unexpected, a gem. Recommended.
See: https://www.theliteraryshed.co.uk/rea...
This review is based on one originally published as part of the virtual book tour. Thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of the book. All opinions are our own. All rights reserved.
April 7, 2021
I flew through this and had proper laugh out loud moments, my other half often asking me "what are you sniggering at?"
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All the characters in this book were strong yet fragile in some way, harbouring their own secrets. Perhaps metaphors for the lives most of us live. We all have a wee secret or two in us don't we?
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I felt Billy was intimidated and in awe of Eva's intelligence and her head strong approach, which made her so attractive in his eyes. That reminded me of being an impressionable young lad, having an attraction for someone older and wiser than me.
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Billy's Dad was such a dick as well, and his parents relationship was terrible, which I think Billy saw and influenced his detachment from life.
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"Nobody can escape these days. The world has shrunk". I like this quote. I wanted to escape back in my mid to late 20s, I was trudging through dull jobs and needed more stimulation. Planet earth does feel like a small place nowadays, with how accessible countries are.
Quite simply though, to quit your humdrum life of home, and to travel somewhere on your own, will enrich your life like not many things can.
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Billy got to that point in his life when the harsh realities of life starting slapping him in the face, and he realised life is tough and everything isn't fun and easy like it seems when you're growing up. It's quite a realisation when you start to understand the world.
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The last few pages though, jeez, inside I was screaming at Billy. Really enjoyed this book and I hope Phil writes another one.
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All the characters in this book were strong yet fragile in some way, harbouring their own secrets. Perhaps metaphors for the lives most of us live. We all have a wee secret or two in us don't we?
.
I felt Billy was intimidated and in awe of Eva's intelligence and her head strong approach, which made her so attractive in his eyes. That reminded me of being an impressionable young lad, having an attraction for someone older and wiser than me.
.
Billy's Dad was such a dick as well, and his parents relationship was terrible, which I think Billy saw and influenced his detachment from life.
.
"Nobody can escape these days. The world has shrunk". I like this quote. I wanted to escape back in my mid to late 20s, I was trudging through dull jobs and needed more stimulation. Planet earth does feel like a small place nowadays, with how accessible countries are.
Quite simply though, to quit your humdrum life of home, and to travel somewhere on your own, will enrich your life like not many things can.
.
Billy got to that point in his life when the harsh realities of life starting slapping him in the face, and he realised life is tough and everything isn't fun and easy like it seems when you're growing up. It's quite a realisation when you start to understand the world.
.
The last few pages though, jeez, inside I was screaming at Billy. Really enjoyed this book and I hope Phil writes another one.
April 17, 2021
This is a fantastically written coming-of-age story where the reader will follow young, naive Billy across the European countryside as he chases after his girlfriend Eva.
I wanted to adore this story. I kept telling myself I should. It’s just the right genre for me! But for some reason, it never really clicked.
Pros:
I loved the ending of the book. The grand finale where everyone comes together for the wedding and amends are finally made. It was very well done and extremely satisfying. I also loved the scenes with the refugees. They absolutely broke my heart. As an American, that situation is something I’d read about but never really THOUGHT about, you know what I mean. Either way, I liked it.
Cons:
I wasn’t a fan of Eva. I know I’m not supposed to be because she’s almost like the antagonist of the book. Yet, most of the coming of age stories I’ve read (think Paper Towns, Looking for Alaska, Perks of Being a Wallflower) they’ve always had this girl they’re chasing who is “not like other girls” and “beautiful in an intriguing way.” Eva is those things. But there wasn’t anything that drew me in to actually like her. I am exceptionally glad for how things worked out for Billy and Eva. I hoped it would go that way.
I wanted to like this more than I did. It was well-written and parts of it were phenomenal. But some of the humor of it went right past me. Maybe it’s an American thing? Who knows.
I wanted to adore this story. I kept telling myself I should. It’s just the right genre for me! But for some reason, it never really clicked.
Pros:
I loved the ending of the book. The grand finale where everyone comes together for the wedding and amends are finally made. It was very well done and extremely satisfying. I also loved the scenes with the refugees. They absolutely broke my heart. As an American, that situation is something I’d read about but never really THOUGHT about, you know what I mean. Either way, I liked it.
Cons:
I wasn’t a fan of Eva. I know I’m not supposed to be because she’s almost like the antagonist of the book. Yet, most of the coming of age stories I’ve read (think Paper Towns, Looking for Alaska, Perks of Being a Wallflower) they’ve always had this girl they’re chasing who is “not like other girls” and “beautiful in an intriguing way.” Eva is those things. But there wasn’t anything that drew me in to actually like her. I am exceptionally glad for how things worked out for Billy and Eva. I hoped it would go that way.
I wanted to like this more than I did. It was well-written and parts of it were phenomenal. But some of the humor of it went right past me. Maybe it’s an American thing? Who knows.
October 9, 2020
Winner of the Spotlight First Novel Prize. The first thing to mention is that this a debut novel. I tend to avoid them, the writing is usually sloppy, and it takes a few books for authors to learn the craft and get a feel for their style and voice. That is not the case with this book. The writing is excellent. We have too many adverbs and the like. However, that aside, this writing is up there at Bestseller standard. I didn’t find a single typo or error in the book, not something I can say for most of the top names. I found half a dozen in the last King book I read. Browne is already at the top of his game. The story is sweet, the central character is an absolute tool, but you can’t help but love him, and you want the book to end well for him. He’s a character to root for. I sometimes smile, or have an inward chuckle, but I’m a tough nut to crack when it comes to humour. This book made me laugh out loud more than once. It’s not my usual genre, I have psychological thriller in my DNA, but I loved this as a change from the norm. Would read this author again and am looking forward to seeing what he does in the future. A solid 8 out of ten from me.
September 21, 2020
Thank you to the author for kindly gifting me a copy of this for a review on a book tour!
Firstly, this book was just so well written. As Billy (the main character) travelled around Europe I really felt as though I was with him. I loved his character so much.
He was such a warm, kindhearted character and his personality and situation was just really relatable. He was alone, struggling with money, employment, family life and relationships and I think we can all really relate to different things that Billy was going through at different times of our life. This book made me feel so many emotions. It made me giggle in so many different places but it also broke my heart and often left me feeling annoyed at certain characters (but no spoilers). There were also a variety of serious topics written about including depression, gambling, debt etc and I love how the author interlinked a range of serious topics within the novel and how they manifested in the characters.
Firstly, this book was just so well written. As Billy (the main character) travelled around Europe I really felt as though I was with him. I loved his character so much.
He was such a warm, kindhearted character and his personality and situation was just really relatable. He was alone, struggling with money, employment, family life and relationships and I think we can all really relate to different things that Billy was going through at different times of our life. This book made me feel so many emotions. It made me giggle in so many different places but it also broke my heart and often left me feeling annoyed at certain characters (but no spoilers). There were also a variety of serious topics written about including depression, gambling, debt etc and I love how the author interlinked a range of serious topics within the novel and how they manifested in the characters.
August 14, 2021
I was gifted this ebook several days ago by @thebooknetwork.co.uk.
A debut novel for Philip, this is an adventurous coming of age story. It is also the winner of the Spotlight First Novel Prize. Well written, humorous & heartbreaking, this is an impulsive journey of unrequited love across Europe.
Its the year 2016 & young gravedigger Billy is going nowhere, he's still a virgin, has a dead end job & the only women he meets are in coffins ⚰️
He falls in love with Eva, who moves back to Switzerland, determined to raise the money to be with her, Billy gambles, shoots a horse, sells his Grandmother's ring & gets a flight to Switzerland.
When things start to go wrong Billy has to decide what it is he's running from & what it is he's chasing.
Many thanks to The book network for my ARC in return for my honest review.
𝗜 𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮 4 ⭐ 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴
A debut novel for Philip, this is an adventurous coming of age story. It is also the winner of the Spotlight First Novel Prize. Well written, humorous & heartbreaking, this is an impulsive journey of unrequited love across Europe.
Its the year 2016 & young gravedigger Billy is going nowhere, he's still a virgin, has a dead end job & the only women he meets are in coffins ⚰️
He falls in love with Eva, who moves back to Switzerland, determined to raise the money to be with her, Billy gambles, shoots a horse, sells his Grandmother's ring & gets a flight to Switzerland.
When things start to go wrong Billy has to decide what it is he's running from & what it is he's chasing.
Many thanks to The book network for my ARC in return for my honest review.
𝗜 𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮 4 ⭐ 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2020
Despite what the title may suggest, “Cows Can’t Jump” is not a bovine-packed book, though cows feature at various points throughout.
Follow Billy as he attempts to break free from his dysfunctional family, dead-end job and Brexit. Risking it all for the girl who occupies his mind day and night, Billy encounters some fantastic and interesting characters who help show him what the world is truly like.
Bowne’s humour is spot-on and very relevant to 2020; the perfect book to escape into. I could honestly see this working as a theatre play one day, and I am so excited to see what Bowne does next!
Follow Billy as he attempts to break free from his dysfunctional family, dead-end job and Brexit. Risking it all for the girl who occupies his mind day and night, Billy encounters some fantastic and interesting characters who help show him what the world is truly like.
Bowne’s humour is spot-on and very relevant to 2020; the perfect book to escape into. I could honestly see this working as a theatre play one day, and I am so excited to see what Bowne does next!
Read
May 14, 2021I enjoyed this debut novel and looking forward to following this author. This coming of age novel, the angst of being a teenager and being adrift with no real structure is one that is very relatable thinking back to that age.
The turmoil of dealing with family, friends and relationships when you have limited experience or the maturity to articulate what you are feeling.
A lack of common sense, a rush of hormones and the stupidity of some of his actions kept the pace going.
I really enjoyed the travelling section and the spontaneity of that journey and sharing that experience with Billy.
The turmoil of dealing with family, friends and relationships when you have limited experience or the maturity to articulate what you are feeling.
A lack of common sense, a rush of hormones and the stupidity of some of his actions kept the pace going.
I really enjoyed the travelling section and the spontaneity of that journey and sharing that experience with Billy.
December 21, 2021
I didn’t get this book. Nothing seemed to happen.
A road trip or a coming of age story - possibly? Maybe I am just to wrapped up in my own self to read the meanings into this book that the author hoped, but I was left with a lack of insight into the lead character or the people he interacted with.
The lead character wasn’t very engaging or deep - but maybe that is the point for an eighteen year old embarking on life. He meets lots of people on his way - but they are often one dimensional characters who don’t necessarily spark anything in our lead.
The story just seems to drift - oh well.
A road trip or a coming of age story - possibly? Maybe I am just to wrapped up in my own self to read the meanings into this book that the author hoped, but I was left with a lack of insight into the lead character or the people he interacted with.
The lead character wasn’t very engaging or deep - but maybe that is the point for an eighteen year old embarking on life. He meets lots of people on his way - but they are often one dimensional characters who don’t necessarily spark anything in our lead.
The story just seems to drift - oh well.
July 18, 2025
Largely set in the immediate aftermath of the Brexit referendum this book clearly sees itself as a state of the nation novel. Despite this, the book is at its best when its protagonist leaves the UK and travels through the very Europe his own country has just voted to cleave itself from.
Often funny, and at times a genuinely poignant Bildungsroman, this book is enjoyable but has less to say than it imagines it does.
As an investigation into teenage love it hits the treble 20 more often than not, as a reflection on Brexit Britain it is more likely to leave holes in the wall of a suburban pub.
Often funny, and at times a genuinely poignant Bildungsroman, this book is enjoyable but has less to say than it imagines it does.
As an investigation into teenage love it hits the treble 20 more often than not, as a reflection on Brexit Britain it is more likely to leave holes in the wall of a suburban pub.
October 21, 2020
This is a brilliant debut novel from the extremely talented Philip Bowne. In Cows Can't Jump Mr Bowne has beautifully blended adventure, humour and poignancy into a story that is warm and lighthearted (a perfect tonic to the current depressing state of the world) and nearly impossible to put down.
I'll admit it's not my usual genre (I'm a historical fiction buff) but Cows Can't Jump is so well written and so entertaining that I loved every moment. I can't wait to see what Mr Bowne has for us in future...
I'll admit it's not my usual genre (I'm a historical fiction buff) but Cows Can't Jump is so well written and so entertaining that I loved every moment. I can't wait to see what Mr Bowne has for us in future...
Read
May 9, 2021A story of 18 year old Billy who's family are mixed up and frustrated. During his working summer job he falls for a fellow mentor and spends the main part of the story in hot pursuit of her. His journey to meet her finds him in some new and eye opening situations.
The story skips along well but does he find her or not. Will these new experiences change his out look on life or will his self aborsed youth leave him back where he started. You will have to read it to find out....
Great first novel.
The story skips along well but does he find her or not. Will these new experiences change his out look on life or will his self aborsed youth leave him back where he started. You will have to read it to find out....
Great first novel.
September 24, 2020
Warm, funny, thoughtful, adventurous. I so wanted Billy to fulfill his dreams and was rooting for him throughout his travels and madcap schemes. There were characters and events that were incredibly relatable, from talking to and making friends with strangers, making amends with annoying family members to being affected by politics even if you are oblivious to it. I would recognize Billy's family if I ever met them...and the infamous Eva! I want to know what Billy does next...post Brexit!
October 11, 2020
An amazing debut novel from a young author. Cows can’t jump is captivating and hilarious, whilst emotional at times. The main character Billy is everything you expect a young man to be, whilst being surprising with some of his actions and adventures. As you read you can’t wait to see what happens in his enthralling chase to find Eva. This book no doubt shows the talent of Philip Bowne, and I can’t wait to see what comes of him in the future.
August 19, 2021
An excellent debut novel from Phillip Browne; I enjoyed reading this book! Sad in places funny in others, it conveyed all the blind innocence and hopefulness Billy had to reconcile with his first love, Eva.
Along the way, Billy meets many people and gets a glimpse of their lives. The pervasive theme in this story seems to want to explore how people often put too much stock into striving for tomorrow whilst taking today for granted.
Along the way, Billy meets many people and gets a glimpse of their lives. The pervasive theme in this story seems to want to explore how people often put too much stock into striving for tomorrow whilst taking today for granted.
October 18, 2020
Funny, fantastic, brilliant book. Loads of sad and comical moments tied together. You just don't know what's going to happen next. This book doesn't follow any simple genre conventions, it flows between themes and emotions freely and I really enjoyed that, it was something very refreshing to me
I'd highly recommend this to anyone looking for a fun read. I flew through it!!
I'd highly recommend this to anyone looking for a fun read. I flew through it!!
April 13, 2021
I didn't expect to like this. . . but I absolutely loved it !! Fun, pacy, full of energy and juggles humour and tragedy. You have to get on-board with the episodic nature of the story . . enjoy the characters you meet and allow yourself to be carried across Europe with Billy - you wont regret it one bit
May 2, 2021
It’s a subtle one for me. I love gaining perspective via a novel or fiction than a research. The last few pages melted my heart I guess the whole book was building up to those pages. During the end of it I had an amazing feeling; fulfilled and happy!!
An utterly enjoyable read. Way to go Philip Browne 🙌🏽
An utterly enjoyable read. Way to go Philip Browne 🙌🏽
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