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Home Stretch
A compelling new novel of stigma and secrecy from 'New York Times' best-selling author Graham Norton.
It is 1987, and a small Irish community is preparing for the wedding of two of its young inhabitants. They're barely adults, not so long out of school and still part of the same set of friends they've grown up with. As the friends head home from the beach that last night before the wedding, there is a car accident. Three survive the crash but three are killed. And the reverberations are felt throughout the small town.
Connor, the young driver of the car, lives. But staying among the angry and the mourning is almost as hard as living with the shame, and so he leaves the only place he knows for another life. Traveling first to Liverpool, then London, he eventually makes a home - of sorts - for himself in New York. The city provides shelter and possibility for the displaced, somewhere Connor can forget his past and forge a new life.
But the secrets, the unspoken longings and regrets that have come to haunt those left behind will not be silenced. And before long, Connor will have to meet his past.
©2021 Graham Norton (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers
8 hours and 45 minutes.
It is 1987, and a small Irish community is preparing for the wedding of two of its young inhabitants. They're barely adults, not so long out of school and still part of the same set of friends they've grown up with. As the friends head home from the beach that last night before the wedding, there is a car accident. Three survive the crash but three are killed. And the reverberations are felt throughout the small town.
Connor, the young driver of the car, lives. But staying among the angry and the mourning is almost as hard as living with the shame, and so he leaves the only place he knows for another life. Traveling first to Liverpool, then London, he eventually makes a home - of sorts - for himself in New York. The city provides shelter and possibility for the displaced, somewhere Connor can forget his past and forge a new life.
But the secrets, the unspoken longings and regrets that have come to haunt those left behind will not be silenced. And before long, Connor will have to meet his past.
©2021 Graham Norton (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers
8 hours and 45 minutes.
Audible Audio
First published January 1, 2020
1752 people are currently reading
19706 people want to read
About the author
Graham Norton
40 books2,777 followersGraham William Walker is an Irish actor, comedian, television presenter and columnist, known by his stage name Graham Norton. He is the host of the comedy chat show The Graham Norton Show and the BBC commentator of the Eurovision Song Contest.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,210 reviews
September 7, 2020
With this, his third Irish contemporary novel, Graham Norton has established his reputation as a serious writer, one who casts his eye on the limitations, judgementalism and prejudices of small town Irish communities whilst charting the more welcome shift in social attitudes through time in Irish society. In 1987, on the day before a wedding, a group of young friends get together to go to the beach, only for tragedy to occur in the form of an accident that leaves 3 dead and 3 survivors, wreaking devastation on a grieving and shattered community and the families, leaving them reeling, their lives left changed forever, the repercussions felt decades into the future. The driver, Connor, finds his life ripped apart as he faces blame for the tragedy, and his family the unbearable shame.
This instigates Connor's lonely move to Liverpool and then onto London, and a unexpectedly positive development in the situation in which he finds himself, where unlike home, he has the space to be who he is, and live as an openly gay man, who then goes on to live in New York, estranged from his family. His haunting past has been buried, but surprisingly bought to the fore with a coincidental meeting in a bar that brings it all slamming back into his life as he returns home to Ireland. In a narrative moving from the past and the present, Connor's sister, Ellen, marries Martin and has two children, but all is not right, in this coming of age story of secrets, lies, deception, survival, hidden desires, sexuality and prejudice.
A thoughtful, compassionate and human quintessentially Irish novel, that took a little while to settle into, with some great characterisation, of family, community, and emigration that was a pleasure to read. Many thanks to Hodder and Stoughton for an ARC.
This instigates Connor's lonely move to Liverpool and then onto London, and a unexpectedly positive development in the situation in which he finds himself, where unlike home, he has the space to be who he is, and live as an openly gay man, who then goes on to live in New York, estranged from his family. His haunting past has been buried, but surprisingly bought to the fore with a coincidental meeting in a bar that brings it all slamming back into his life as he returns home to Ireland. In a narrative moving from the past and the present, Connor's sister, Ellen, marries Martin and has two children, but all is not right, in this coming of age story of secrets, lies, deception, survival, hidden desires, sexuality and prejudice.
A thoughtful, compassionate and human quintessentially Irish novel, that took a little while to settle into, with some great characterisation, of family, community, and emigration that was a pleasure to read. Many thanks to Hodder and Stoughton for an ARC.
October 23, 2020
I liked this book, however, it did not move me as much as the other two by Mr Norton.
A terrible accident that has impact on the lives of those close to the victims. The truth that is revealed after decades and the need to face it. Complicated relations. Norton's writing style is in this novel, so if you are a fan of his, just like myself, read this book.
A terrible accident that has impact on the lives of those close to the victims. The truth that is revealed after decades and the need to face it. Complicated relations. Norton's writing style is in this novel, so if you are a fan of his, just like myself, read this book.
October 28, 2020
SUR IT WAS GRAND ...... comes to mind on finishing this one. An Ok read but didn't have the wow factor for me.
This is my second novel by Graham Norton and I enjoyed the setting of this one. A fictional small town in cork called Mullinmore, close to the coast. 1987 and six young people are driving home from a day trip to the beach. Packed into a car, the teenagers end up crashing into a roundabout and three passangers die, including a couple who’s wedding was due to take place the next day. Only two people come out unscathed from the accident and Conor and Martin must live with the consequences.
You almost feel there is a little piece of Norton the teenager in this novel and what it was like to be young and gay growing up in a small town in Ireland. I enjoyed this aspect of the novel and the fact that it was set in the 1980s which I could identify with.
I didn’t however connect with the characters and found them a little contrived and implausible. I made a mistake by listening to this one on audio as Graham Norton narrates the book himself and I struggled to separate the comedian from the narrator. It just didn't work for me and perhaps took away a little from the seriousness of the story.
This was a book club read and I think it will make a pretty good discussion book.
An easy read but not one for my favourites shelf.
This is my second novel by Graham Norton and I enjoyed the setting of this one. A fictional small town in cork called Mullinmore, close to the coast. 1987 and six young people are driving home from a day trip to the beach. Packed into a car, the teenagers end up crashing into a roundabout and three passangers die, including a couple who’s wedding was due to take place the next day. Only two people come out unscathed from the accident and Conor and Martin must live with the consequences.
You almost feel there is a little piece of Norton the teenager in this novel and what it was like to be young and gay growing up in a small town in Ireland. I enjoyed this aspect of the novel and the fact that it was set in the 1980s which I could identify with.
I didn’t however connect with the characters and found them a little contrived and implausible. I made a mistake by listening to this one on audio as Graham Norton narrates the book himself and I struggled to separate the comedian from the narrator. It just didn't work for me and perhaps took away a little from the seriousness of the story.
This was a book club read and I think it will make a pretty good discussion book.
An easy read but not one for my favourites shelf.
September 8, 2020
3.5 stars
A serious car crash occurs in the village of Mullinmore near Cork in 1987. On the eve of a wedding, three young people are tragically killed including the bride and groom. The driver, Connor Hayes is relatively physically unscathed and the book explores the devastating effect it has on him, his parents and sister Ellen among others. The novel covers the years 1987 to 2015 and includes many of the far reaching changes to Irish society.
I so wanted to love this latest novel from the excellent Irish talk show host although it’s fair to say that I loved two thirds of it. Initially there are so many characters to get your head around it’s bamboozling! This does thankfully slim down as the book progresses with the main focus on Connor and Ellen. It also jumps about in time which makes continuity hard although in fairness I can totally see why Graham Norton does this.
So, what are the positives? The differing effects of the crash on a small community are portrayed extremely well as are the attitudes of the time. A number of characters lives are totally shattered and they are never the same again. It does a really good job on demonstrating the liberalising of Irish law and attitudes towards the gay community - this is a key part of the storytelling. With the exception of the beginning which deals with the crash the pace is quite slow and uneven until about a third of the way through and then it most definitely ramps up. There are some jaw dropping shocks especially for Ellen and the reader! Her life and marriage to Martin Coulter who becomes the local doctor is very compelling reading and makes you feel a whole range of emotions for her. Ellen, like her brother is very likeable, Martin is not. I don’t think it’s unfair to describe him as a total jerk but I must admit I do like to have a character to loathe! Connors life makes for interesting reading especially in the USA and there are moments when his story becomes very moving and poignant. There is a really good ‘coup de grace’ when one character (mostly) gets what they deserve.
This is a novel that examines grief and the different ways it effects people, it looks at how a multitude of secrets and lies can be extremely destructive and one of the main messages is acceptance of who or what you are. It’s easy to read and becomes very absorbing after a while. Its easy to read and becomes an absorbing story. It’s maybe predictable but that is not necessarily a bad thing.
With thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the ARC for an honest review.
A serious car crash occurs in the village of Mullinmore near Cork in 1987. On the eve of a wedding, three young people are tragically killed including the bride and groom. The driver, Connor Hayes is relatively physically unscathed and the book explores the devastating effect it has on him, his parents and sister Ellen among others. The novel covers the years 1987 to 2015 and includes many of the far reaching changes to Irish society.
I so wanted to love this latest novel from the excellent Irish talk show host although it’s fair to say that I loved two thirds of it. Initially there are so many characters to get your head around it’s bamboozling! This does thankfully slim down as the book progresses with the main focus on Connor and Ellen. It also jumps about in time which makes continuity hard although in fairness I can totally see why Graham Norton does this.
So, what are the positives? The differing effects of the crash on a small community are portrayed extremely well as are the attitudes of the time. A number of characters lives are totally shattered and they are never the same again. It does a really good job on demonstrating the liberalising of Irish law and attitudes towards the gay community - this is a key part of the storytelling. With the exception of the beginning which deals with the crash the pace is quite slow and uneven until about a third of the way through and then it most definitely ramps up. There are some jaw dropping shocks especially for Ellen and the reader! Her life and marriage to Martin Coulter who becomes the local doctor is very compelling reading and makes you feel a whole range of emotions for her. Ellen, like her brother is very likeable, Martin is not. I don’t think it’s unfair to describe him as a total jerk but I must admit I do like to have a character to loathe! Connors life makes for interesting reading especially in the USA and there are moments when his story becomes very moving and poignant. There is a really good ‘coup de grace’ when one character (mostly) gets what they deserve.
This is a novel that examines grief and the different ways it effects people, it looks at how a multitude of secrets and lies can be extremely destructive and one of the main messages is acceptance of who or what you are. It’s easy to read and becomes very absorbing after a while. Its easy to read and becomes an absorbing story. It’s maybe predictable but that is not necessarily a bad thing.
With thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the ARC for an honest review.
May 5, 2022
4.5 Stars for Home Stretch (audiobook) by Graham Norton read by the author.
Another wonderful novel by my favorite UK TV host. This book feels like it’s a story that the author knows well. I would really like to hear an interview of Graham to see what events inspired this story.
Another wonderful novel by my favorite UK TV host. This book feels like it’s a story that the author knows well. I would really like to hear an interview of Graham to see what events inspired this story.
October 10, 2020
Graham Norton is a wonderful storyteller..... yes it is that Graham Norton. His characters are so real that you feel everything that they feel. You feel as if you are living it with them. This was a heartwarming but powerful story of family, friendships, lies and secrets.
One fateful day in 1987 will change the lives of so many in an instant. The small Irish village is preparing for a wedding he next day. But tragedy strikes when an accident on the way home from a day at the beach kills 3 of their own. The 3 survivors have to live with the guilt and shame. The village will never be the same again. The families and friends of the deceased changed forever. It is too much for the driver, Connor, to beat and he leaves the country for a new life, a fresh start where nobody knows what happened.
There is a lot more to it than that bu you will need to read it to find out. The 80s was a different, less tolerant time for many. This book is so cleverly written with all the characters playing their role in what happened and what is to happen in the future. A great afternoons read.
Thank you NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for my advanced copy of this book to read.
One fateful day in 1987 will change the lives of so many in an instant. The small Irish village is preparing for a wedding he next day. But tragedy strikes when an accident on the way home from a day at the beach kills 3 of their own. The 3 survivors have to live with the guilt and shame. The village will never be the same again. The families and friends of the deceased changed forever. It is too much for the driver, Connor, to beat and he leaves the country for a new life, a fresh start where nobody knows what happened.
There is a lot more to it than that bu you will need to read it to find out. The 80s was a different, less tolerant time for many. This book is so cleverly written with all the characters playing their role in what happened and what is to happen in the future. A great afternoons read.
Thank you NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for my advanced copy of this book to read.
November 9, 2020
I feel people rate this book (and his others) a lot more generously because Graham Norton is a household name. I preferred this book to Holding and it was an easy read but I spent so much time angry at Martin, who it’s safe to say we’re supposed to hate and at Ellen, who I think we’re supposed to feel sorry for. Reader, I did not.
Look, I’m not going to spend much time on Connor, he was very damaged by being the victim of a sexual assault at the hands of Martin, followed by the whole taking the rap for the crash. The decisions he made were all because he was running from that and that made a kind of sense, although this is never really resolved. The big thing with Connor is that it is utterly ludicrous that he spent nearly 20 years as an Irish man in London and New York going out drinking regularly before bumping in to another Irish person who knew him or his family in some way shape or form. And he gets so excited when he discovers an Irish barman in New York, so it’s not like he’s been deliberately dodging them.
Okay, Martin is a monster. Probably a psychopath. The fact that he takes it upon himself to pursue Connor’s sister makes absolutely no sense. He could have been off in Dublin , laughing at how he got away with the whole thing, but instead he saddles himself with Ellen, so he can make them both miserable in a sham marriage. Why? Who is this supposed to be helping? It makes no sense.
Ellen, however, is a piece of work. Yes, the abuse she suffers at Martins hands is bad, but several times she admits that she ‘doesn’t think she likes’ her daughter Aisling, and muses that she’s ‘making everything about herself as usual’. I’m sorry to break this to you, Ellen, but it’s not off a stone she’s licked it. Lest we forget how poor Ellen felt when her brother had apparently killed all those people in the car, how relieved she was when he decided to sod off to Liverpool, so maybe her life could go back to the way it was. Oh, how about how even when he’s away her parents spend too much time talking about him, even on Christmas Day.
But all of that is nothing compared to how, after over twenty years since Connor has disappeared without a trace (again, unlikely), upon hearing that her son has met him in a bar in New York, she does not tell her parents. J1 is usually a summer thing as far as I know, and it’s not until April the FOLLOWING YEAR that they finally get him over. More than six months. I’m sorry, but sneaking him into the the parents house and going “I’ve got somebody who’d like to meet you - tadaaaa” is how you announce a family member who has been working abroad, wasn’t due back for another two months but caught an early flight because it would be a nice surprise. It is absolutely not appropriate for a son who everyone thought was dead.
She didn’t even meet him at the airport! She made her long lost brother rent a car, and drive probably the bones of 3-4 hours from Shannon airport to west Cork. And then she wants to control who gets to hear the true story about the crash? Excuse me?
Where I thought the story was going, and would have actually much preferred, was that after Finbarr comes home, and everyone knows that Connor is in New York, Dan, Chrissie, Ellen and Finbarr make the trip to the Big Apple, and search for him in every gay bar and drag show until they find him. They beg him to come home with them, a twink (because every second gay guy was a twink,it seemed) to Connor’s left says that his dad is kind of cute, his dad is uncomfortable, but his very presence in this gay bar in New York proves that Connor will be accepted.
Back to the actual story though, and the wedding. Connor is asked if he’ll be alright with Martin being there. Has anyone asked Dan and Chrissie? I cannot believe that they stood in the same room as Martin and did not confront him. And the idea that maybe he was serving a sentence of his own by being stuck in their home town married to Connor’s sister. Am, sorry, no it doesn’t quite make up for the sexual assault, three dead, one paralysed, blackmailing someone to take the blame, domestic and psychological abuse. And are we supposed to believe that he’s some sort of saint over in London? Hardly! But at least he apologises which is more than Connor gets from Ellen.
This review has been way too long, so I’ll just make a last few points.
What was Robbo’s deal?
Sobar is an absolutely terrible name for a place where people go with the intention of getting drunk.
I like Graham Norton. He has a superb wit and is a brilliant host on his show. But he tries to write these old Irish country books which he clearly is far removed from. If he wrote a fictional book about a tv chat or sketch comedy show I would read it. But I can’t see myself going for another Irish countryside yarn.
Look, I’m not going to spend much time on Connor, he was very damaged by being the victim of a sexual assault at the hands of Martin, followed by the whole taking the rap for the crash. The decisions he made were all because he was running from that and that made a kind of sense, although this is never really resolved. The big thing with Connor is that it is utterly ludicrous that he spent nearly 20 years as an Irish man in London and New York going out drinking regularly before bumping in to another Irish person who knew him or his family in some way shape or form. And he gets so excited when he discovers an Irish barman in New York, so it’s not like he’s been deliberately dodging them.
Okay, Martin is a monster. Probably a psychopath. The fact that he takes it upon himself to pursue Connor’s sister makes absolutely no sense. He could have been off in Dublin , laughing at how he got away with the whole thing, but instead he saddles himself with Ellen, so he can make them both miserable in a sham marriage. Why? Who is this supposed to be helping? It makes no sense.
Ellen, however, is a piece of work. Yes, the abuse she suffers at Martins hands is bad, but several times she admits that she ‘doesn’t think she likes’ her daughter Aisling, and muses that she’s ‘making everything about herself as usual’. I’m sorry to break this to you, Ellen, but it’s not off a stone she’s licked it. Lest we forget how poor Ellen felt when her brother had apparently killed all those people in the car, how relieved she was when he decided to sod off to Liverpool, so maybe her life could go back to the way it was. Oh, how about how even when he’s away her parents spend too much time talking about him, even on Christmas Day.
But all of that is nothing compared to how, after over twenty years since Connor has disappeared without a trace (again, unlikely), upon hearing that her son has met him in a bar in New York, she does not tell her parents. J1 is usually a summer thing as far as I know, and it’s not until April the FOLLOWING YEAR that they finally get him over. More than six months. I’m sorry, but sneaking him into the the parents house and going “I’ve got somebody who’d like to meet you - tadaaaa” is how you announce a family member who has been working abroad, wasn’t due back for another two months but caught an early flight because it would be a nice surprise. It is absolutely not appropriate for a son who everyone thought was dead.
She didn’t even meet him at the airport! She made her long lost brother rent a car, and drive probably the bones of 3-4 hours from Shannon airport to west Cork. And then she wants to control who gets to hear the true story about the crash? Excuse me?
Where I thought the story was going, and would have actually much preferred, was that after Finbarr comes home, and everyone knows that Connor is in New York, Dan, Chrissie, Ellen and Finbarr make the trip to the Big Apple, and search for him in every gay bar and drag show until they find him. They beg him to come home with them, a twink (because every second gay guy was a twink,it seemed) to Connor’s left says that his dad is kind of cute, his dad is uncomfortable, but his very presence in this gay bar in New York proves that Connor will be accepted.
Back to the actual story though, and the wedding. Connor is asked if he’ll be alright with Martin being there. Has anyone asked Dan and Chrissie? I cannot believe that they stood in the same room as Martin and did not confront him. And the idea that maybe he was serving a sentence of his own by being stuck in their home town married to Connor’s sister. Am, sorry, no it doesn’t quite make up for the sexual assault, three dead, one paralysed, blackmailing someone to take the blame, domestic and psychological abuse. And are we supposed to believe that he’s some sort of saint over in London? Hardly! But at least he apologises which is more than Connor gets from Ellen.
This review has been way too long, so I’ll just make a last few points.
What was Robbo’s deal?
Sobar is an absolutely terrible name for a place where people go with the intention of getting drunk.
I like Graham Norton. He has a superb wit and is a brilliant host on his show. But he tries to write these old Irish country books which he clearly is far removed from. If he wrote a fictional book about a tv chat or sketch comedy show I would read it. But I can’t see myself going for another Irish countryside yarn.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2020
4.5 stars rounded up because it's mainly brilliant!
I am a huge fan of Graham Norton's writing - I've read all his books and his fiction is right up my street as it's very character focused.
This book begins in Ireland in 1987 where a devastating car crash occurs that impacts several families in a small town - two main characters Connor and Ellen carry the story before and after this point.
It's a bittersweet family drama with plenty of humour but some poignant moments of reflection and regret. It captures small town Ireland so well and some of the 'mad' decisions made become a little clearer as the narrative progresses.
Although I felt the ending was slightly disappointing, I really enjoyed this and would highly recommend this book (and all Graham's books especially if you are a fan of Irish fiction).
I am a huge fan of Graham Norton's writing - I've read all his books and his fiction is right up my street as it's very character focused.
This book begins in Ireland in 1987 where a devastating car crash occurs that impacts several families in a small town - two main characters Connor and Ellen carry the story before and after this point.
It's a bittersweet family drama with plenty of humour but some poignant moments of reflection and regret. It captures small town Ireland so well and some of the 'mad' decisions made become a little clearer as the narrative progresses.
Although I felt the ending was slightly disappointing, I really enjoyed this and would highly recommend this book (and all Graham's books especially if you are a fan of Irish fiction).
October 1, 2020
Ireland 1987: A small Irish community is preparing for the wedding of two of it's inhabitants. As the friends head home the night before the wedding, there is a car accident. Thee survive the crash but three are killed. Connor. the driver of the car, survives. But staying among the angry and mourning is almost as hard as living with the shame. He decides to go travelling. He eventually settles down in New York. But secrets and regrets have come to haunt those left behind and will not be silenced. Before long, Connor will have to face his past.
Graham Norton is a comedian, a TV chat show host and this is his third novel. The story takes us from 1987 through to the noughties. We don't know the full story when the book begins but it slowly unfolds whilst reading. This is quite an emotional read. There is quite a lot of characters but they all have their part to play. The book is written that well that you go through the emotions of the characters. I found this a thought provoking and enjoyable read. This is Graham Norton's best book so far.
Graham Norton is a comedian, a TV chat show host and this is his third novel. The story takes us from 1987 through to the noughties. We don't know the full story when the book begins but it slowly unfolds whilst reading. This is quite an emotional read. There is quite a lot of characters but they all have their part to play. The book is written that well that you go through the emotions of the characters. I found this a thought provoking and enjoyable read. This is Graham Norton's best book so far.
August 31, 2020
The story of a group of young friends in a small town in Cork Ireland. Set in the late 80s, the friends who are in their late teens/early 20s are involved in a car crash. Three of them lose their lives and the apparent young driver of the car Connor has to leave Ireland for Liverpool to work on a building site as he is blamed for the huge tragedy that has befallen the small town.
He eventually moves to London where he becomes comfortable in his own skin for the first time, as an open gay man. Something he wouldn’t dream of making public back home in 80s Ireland.
As time goes by, Connor has no contact with his family, trying to forget the events of that tragic day and the way that everyone blamed him and brought shame on his family.
Fast forward and Connor has moved to New York. 25 years have passed and Conor has never returned home or contacted his family except for one brief postcard, but a chance meeting will bring back all those memories and force him to decide whether to face up to the aftermath of that day and return home to see his family.
We also have the characters in the towns story through the years. Connors family, the families of the deceased, the survivors.
I know Graham Norton as a tv presenter, an actor and a talk show host. I’m aware that he has published some novels in the last few years but this is the first one I have read and it was enjoyable overall. Not quite a slow burner but the more I read it the more I enjoyed it.
I did find the first few chapters nearly unreadable as the author tries to introduce a huge cast of characters in a very short space of time. I mean, maybe just a page to introduce someone and then onto someone else. It wasn’t a good start for me and I really didn’t enjoy the first few chapters at all.
However as the book went on it found its feet and rhythm and I was eventually all in.
It hops back and forward a lot from character to character and back and forth in time. It worked well for the most part, although I did find the odd time that you were reading a very important part of the book that needed some time to develop but was cut short and we moved onto someone else.
Minor criticisms aside, this is a very well written book and a very enjoyable read. Some really meaty characters to get you teeth into and some minor ones that are more of a distraction than adding anything really to the story.
It is essentially the story of a small town tragedy and the deceit and lies around it. A story about a young mans sexuality and finding himself. A story of that hidden acceptance we sometimes let creep up on us in life and how time can pass in the blink of an eye. As I said I was unsure about it at the start but by the end I had thoroughly enjoyed it. If you start this and done take to it in the beginning, stick with it and it will pay off.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Hodder & Stoughton and Graham Norton for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
He eventually moves to London where he becomes comfortable in his own skin for the first time, as an open gay man. Something he wouldn’t dream of making public back home in 80s Ireland.
As time goes by, Connor has no contact with his family, trying to forget the events of that tragic day and the way that everyone blamed him and brought shame on his family.
Fast forward and Connor has moved to New York. 25 years have passed and Conor has never returned home or contacted his family except for one brief postcard, but a chance meeting will bring back all those memories and force him to decide whether to face up to the aftermath of that day and return home to see his family.
We also have the characters in the towns story through the years. Connors family, the families of the deceased, the survivors.
I know Graham Norton as a tv presenter, an actor and a talk show host. I’m aware that he has published some novels in the last few years but this is the first one I have read and it was enjoyable overall. Not quite a slow burner but the more I read it the more I enjoyed it.
I did find the first few chapters nearly unreadable as the author tries to introduce a huge cast of characters in a very short space of time. I mean, maybe just a page to introduce someone and then onto someone else. It wasn’t a good start for me and I really didn’t enjoy the first few chapters at all.
However as the book went on it found its feet and rhythm and I was eventually all in.
It hops back and forward a lot from character to character and back and forth in time. It worked well for the most part, although I did find the odd time that you were reading a very important part of the book that needed some time to develop but was cut short and we moved onto someone else.
Minor criticisms aside, this is a very well written book and a very enjoyable read. Some really meaty characters to get you teeth into and some minor ones that are more of a distraction than adding anything really to the story.
It is essentially the story of a small town tragedy and the deceit and lies around it. A story about a young mans sexuality and finding himself. A story of that hidden acceptance we sometimes let creep up on us in life and how time can pass in the blink of an eye. As I said I was unsure about it at the start but by the end I had thoroughly enjoyed it. If you start this and done take to it in the beginning, stick with it and it will pay off.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Hodder & Stoughton and Graham Norton for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 4, 2020
Sorry to anyone who enjoyed this, I'm clearly in the minority, but I bloody hated it. I found it was just full of underdeveloped, stereotypical, one dimensional characters. The story line was full of gaping holes, ridiculously coincidental, improbable and quite obvious from the start. It could have been a great read but honestly felt like something that was speed written for Netflix.
September 19, 2020
I really enjoy the writing of Graham Norton both his autobiographies and more recently his excellent novels. His writing is so good and I have read all three of his novels and can highly recommend them.
The story begins in 1987 when a small Irish community is preparing for a wedding. The day before the wedding tragedy strikes when a group of young friends, including bride and groom, drive out to the beach. There is an accident. Three survive, but three are killed. All the lives of the families are hit by the tragedy but non more than Connor. Connor is one of the survivors but now must live the shame of having been the driver. He leaves Ireland , taking his secrets with him to try and forget his past and start again. But these secrets cannot be left unspoken and sooner or later the truth will come out.
Graham Norton has the gift of making his characters so real and the more you read this book the more you feel you are sitting in the same room listening and watching the story unfold. Another excellent read and I can highly recommend reading all three of his novels.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Hodder Stoughton for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The story begins in 1987 when a small Irish community is preparing for a wedding. The day before the wedding tragedy strikes when a group of young friends, including bride and groom, drive out to the beach. There is an accident. Three survive, but three are killed. All the lives of the families are hit by the tragedy but non more than Connor. Connor is one of the survivors but now must live the shame of having been the driver. He leaves Ireland , taking his secrets with him to try and forget his past and start again. But these secrets cannot be left unspoken and sooner or later the truth will come out.
Graham Norton has the gift of making his characters so real and the more you read this book the more you feel you are sitting in the same room listening and watching the story unfold. Another excellent read and I can highly recommend reading all three of his novels.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Hodder Stoughton for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
September 13, 2021
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**3.5 stars**
Home Stretch by Graham Norton. (2020).
1987. A small Irish community is preparing for a wedding. The day before the ceremony a group of young friends, including the bride and groom, drive to the beach. There is an accident; 3 survive, 3 die. The lives of the families are shattered and rifts form. Connor is one of the survivors but staying in the angry town is as hard as living with the shame of being the driver. He leaves, taking his secrets with him. His journey leads to New York. The city is somewhere he can forget his past and forge a new life. But the secrets, unspoken longings and regrets that have come to haunt those left behind will not be silenced. Connor will have to confront his past.
I can definitely see why people describe this author as an amazing storyteller. For me though while I appreciated this particular story, parts of it were just a bit dull as I think I prefer a little more action throughout. The book starts by glossing over many different characters before the accident - I understand why this was done to set the scene but it was a bit confusing at first switching between so many people. This settles down quickly as after the accident we predominately alternate between Connor and his sister Ellen, and later on a character introduced as Finbarr, with some look-ins from various other characters. While the book begins by concentrating on the accident and the effect of this on the town, when we go further into Connor's timeline it is clear that he is ashamed of something else which results in him cutting everyone off for many years, which was quite sad really. Having been born in later years in a country on the other side of the world, I can only imagine that the author's depictions of the attitudes of the time and place are accurate; it certainly felt realistic reading it. With many high reviews, if the synopsis interests you I'd certainly recommend picking it up.
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**3.5 stars**
Home Stretch by Graham Norton. (2020).
1987. A small Irish community is preparing for a wedding. The day before the ceremony a group of young friends, including the bride and groom, drive to the beach. There is an accident; 3 survive, 3 die. The lives of the families are shattered and rifts form. Connor is one of the survivors but staying in the angry town is as hard as living with the shame of being the driver. He leaves, taking his secrets with him. His journey leads to New York. The city is somewhere he can forget his past and forge a new life. But the secrets, unspoken longings and regrets that have come to haunt those left behind will not be silenced. Connor will have to confront his past.
I can definitely see why people describe this author as an amazing storyteller. For me though while I appreciated this particular story, parts of it were just a bit dull as I think I prefer a little more action throughout. The book starts by glossing over many different characters before the accident - I understand why this was done to set the scene but it was a bit confusing at first switching between so many people. This settles down quickly as after the accident we predominately alternate between Connor and his sister Ellen, and later on a character introduced as Finbarr, with some look-ins from various other characters. While the book begins by concentrating on the accident and the effect of this on the town, when we go further into Connor's timeline it is clear that he is ashamed of something else which results in him cutting everyone off for many years, which was quite sad really. Having been born in later years in a country on the other side of the world, I can only imagine that the author's depictions of the attitudes of the time and place are accurate; it certainly felt realistic reading it. With many high reviews, if the synopsis interests you I'd certainly recommend picking it up.
March 7, 2021
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
‘But there was no going back, no changing what had happened, and so his whole life was ruined.’
Graham Norton is a UK based entertainer, who is best known for his television work. In 2016, the comedian released his debut fiction title, Holding, to great acclaim. Norton has followed up the success of this release with A Keeper in 2018 and Home Stretch in 2020. Home Stretch is a story of loss, desire, identity, belonging, tragedy and family ties. Graham Norton’s latest is an affective slice of fiction.
Long held secrets and issues from the past unfold in Graham Norton’s latest release Home Stretch. Taking the reader back to a small Irish town in 1987, we are swept up in the exciting preparations of an upcoming wedding. When a small group from the wedding party decide to take a relaxing trip to the beach the day before the wedding to settle their nerves, they do not expect a life altering tragedy to occur. On the trip home from the beach, a life shattering car accident occurs. In an instant, the families directly involved in the accident are irrevocably changed. The wider community also feels the weight of the accident, as blame and scorn is cast on the driver. It sends Connor, the driver of the car that fateful day away from his only home to the shores of England. Connor’s new life takes him from Liverpool, to London and eventually to the United States in search of a place to call home. But Connor is a man unsure of his identity and he continues to encounter a sense of regret for his past mistakes, no matter where he travels. Connor realises in a chance twist of fate decades after the car accident that he cannot bury the past forever.
Deemed a ‘magnificent writer’ by John Boyne, I have to nod my head in pure agreement of this worthy and correct statement. I completely underestimated Graham’s Norton as a writer. I approached his work with a sense of trepidation as I am not a viewer of his well-known television variety show. However, I am beyond impressed with his writing prowess. Graham Norton is an author I now hold in very high regard thanks to his 2020 release, Home Stretch.
In terms of suspense and mystery, Norton sure has a strong handle on things in this department. Norton manages to suspend the full truth as to the defining car accident that carries this narrative over from start to finish. The way that Norton teases out the details little by little in regards to the complete picture of this awful tragedy ensured that I turned page after page at breakneck speed. I know that while I had this book on my hands, real life had to wait! Home Stretch was an utterly absorbing read, that I consumed in less than twelve hours. I couldn’t pull myself away from Norton’s compelling tale.
There is so much more to this story than the life changing accident that ultimately propels the narrative in a forward motion. We are faced with a number of issues related to small, tight knit Irish communities of three decades ago. Norton teases out the politics, community scorn, harsh judgment and lack of acceptance of those who differ from the norm at this time. We are also privy to family issues, privacy, expectations and unconditional love. Norton uses Home Stretch as a vehicle to highlight changes in society’s norms, rules, morals and prejudice levels in terms of sexual preferences. I appreciated the sensitive and authentic exploration of this particular conflict in the novel. Readers will find themselves lost in a tale of mystery, past secrets, shock revelations that just keep coming until the final defining moment of retribution. I was completely amazed and seduced by the weight on this moving story, I know I won’t forget Home Stretch in a hurry.
‘But there was no going back, no changing what had happened, and so his whole life was ruined.’
Graham Norton is a UK based entertainer, who is best known for his television work. In 2016, the comedian released his debut fiction title, Holding, to great acclaim. Norton has followed up the success of this release with A Keeper in 2018 and Home Stretch in 2020. Home Stretch is a story of loss, desire, identity, belonging, tragedy and family ties. Graham Norton’s latest is an affective slice of fiction.
Long held secrets and issues from the past unfold in Graham Norton’s latest release Home Stretch. Taking the reader back to a small Irish town in 1987, we are swept up in the exciting preparations of an upcoming wedding. When a small group from the wedding party decide to take a relaxing trip to the beach the day before the wedding to settle their nerves, they do not expect a life altering tragedy to occur. On the trip home from the beach, a life shattering car accident occurs. In an instant, the families directly involved in the accident are irrevocably changed. The wider community also feels the weight of the accident, as blame and scorn is cast on the driver. It sends Connor, the driver of the car that fateful day away from his only home to the shores of England. Connor’s new life takes him from Liverpool, to London and eventually to the United States in search of a place to call home. But Connor is a man unsure of his identity and he continues to encounter a sense of regret for his past mistakes, no matter where he travels. Connor realises in a chance twist of fate decades after the car accident that he cannot bury the past forever.
Deemed a ‘magnificent writer’ by John Boyne, I have to nod my head in pure agreement of this worthy and correct statement. I completely underestimated Graham’s Norton as a writer. I approached his work with a sense of trepidation as I am not a viewer of his well-known television variety show. However, I am beyond impressed with his writing prowess. Graham Norton is an author I now hold in very high regard thanks to his 2020 release, Home Stretch.
In terms of suspense and mystery, Norton sure has a strong handle on things in this department. Norton manages to suspend the full truth as to the defining car accident that carries this narrative over from start to finish. The way that Norton teases out the details little by little in regards to the complete picture of this awful tragedy ensured that I turned page after page at breakneck speed. I know that while I had this book on my hands, real life had to wait! Home Stretch was an utterly absorbing read, that I consumed in less than twelve hours. I couldn’t pull myself away from Norton’s compelling tale.
There is so much more to this story than the life changing accident that ultimately propels the narrative in a forward motion. We are faced with a number of issues related to small, tight knit Irish communities of three decades ago. Norton teases out the politics, community scorn, harsh judgment and lack of acceptance of those who differ from the norm at this time. We are also privy to family issues, privacy, expectations and unconditional love. Norton uses Home Stretch as a vehicle to highlight changes in society’s norms, rules, morals and prejudice levels in terms of sexual preferences. I appreciated the sensitive and authentic exploration of this particular conflict in the novel. Readers will find themselves lost in a tale of mystery, past secrets, shock revelations that just keep coming until the final defining moment of retribution. I was completely amazed and seduced by the weight on this moving story, I know I won’t forget Home Stretch in a hurry.
January 6, 2024
4+ stars.
I've had very little exposure to Graham Norton on TV, but what I have seen is always raucously funny. When I saw he writes fiction and this was available on audio with his voice, I couldn't resist. I thought this was delightful, from the story execution to the great characters. I hope to find more of him from my library.
I've had very little exposure to Graham Norton on TV, but what I have seen is always raucously funny. When I saw he writes fiction and this was available on audio with his voice, I couldn't resist. I thought this was delightful, from the story execution to the great characters. I hope to find more of him from my library.
February 19, 2024
Feb 18, 1045am ~~ Review asap.
Feb 19, 930am ~~ Secrets and how they tear lives apart is a recurring theme for Graham Norton's fiction.
In this third novel the secret is hidden behind the wreckage of a car crash in a small Irish town. Some young lives are lost, others are changed forever. Some people flee the truth, running away to a fresh start in what may or may not be a better life in another country. Other people stay home and try to bury the truth, creating what on the surface is a respectable life.
Does anyone ever actually look the truth in the eye and accept it? What happens if they do?
I had marked this with four stars when I finished, but while doing this review I decided to change my rating to a more honest three instead. There was a pretty good chunk of reading time when I wondered if I wanted to keep going, considering the direction it seemed the book was going to be taking. I sometimes have such thoughts about a three star book that I liked, but hardly ever about a four star book that I really really liked.
Feb 19, 930am ~~ Secrets and how they tear lives apart is a recurring theme for Graham Norton's fiction.
In this third novel the secret is hidden behind the wreckage of a car crash in a small Irish town. Some young lives are lost, others are changed forever. Some people flee the truth, running away to a fresh start in what may or may not be a better life in another country. Other people stay home and try to bury the truth, creating what on the surface is a respectable life.
Does anyone ever actually look the truth in the eye and accept it? What happens if they do?
I had marked this with four stars when I finished, but while doing this review I decided to change my rating to a more honest three instead. There was a pretty good chunk of reading time when I wondered if I wanted to keep going, considering the direction it seemed the book was going to be taking. I sometimes have such thoughts about a three star book that I liked, but hardly ever about a four star book that I really really liked.
January 20, 2021
I always struggle to describe my favourite book genre but if I had to give an example of it, then this book would be it. A very real depiction of very real lives & told in a very relatable way.
On the eve of a ‘locals’ wedding in a small southern Irish town 6 of the wedding party are involved in a car accident. 3 die & 3 survive. What follows is the story of what happens next & the ramifications of the accident for the characters involved, their families & their town.
I enjoyed Graham Norton’s first two books but I didn’t love them. This one feels as if he’s really come in to his own. He’s a born writer & I hope in the future he does a lot more writing & a bit less telly ;)
On the eve of a ‘locals’ wedding in a small southern Irish town 6 of the wedding party are involved in a car accident. 3 die & 3 survive. What follows is the story of what happens next & the ramifications of the accident for the characters involved, their families & their town.
I enjoyed Graham Norton’s first two books but I didn’t love them. This one feels as if he’s really come in to his own. He’s a born writer & I hope in the future he does a lot more writing & a bit less telly ;)
April 18, 2024
5 stars - 7th 5 star rating this year 🎇
If you could combine John Boyne and Maeve Binchy ☘️ this would be the product. A Graham Norton novel. ❤️
To say I am a fan would be an understatement. This is the second Norton I have read this year, and both books took precedence over any other thing in my life while I was reading them. Who needs to work?
So bighearted. What a storyteller he is. Brilliant!
“This is what homecoming meant. Arriving in a place to discover you’re fluent in a language you’d forgotten you ever knew.”
If you could combine John Boyne and Maeve Binchy ☘️ this would be the product. A Graham Norton novel. ❤️
To say I am a fan would be an understatement. This is the second Norton I have read this year, and both books took precedence over any other thing in my life while I was reading them. Who needs to work?
So bighearted. What a storyteller he is. Brilliant!
“This is what homecoming meant. Arriving in a place to discover you’re fluent in a language you’d forgotten you ever knew.”
October 1, 2020
Ireland 1987: A small Irish community is preparing for the wedding of two of it's inhabitants. As the friends head home the night before the wedding, there is a car accident. Thee survive the crash but three are killed. Connor, the driver of the car survives. But staying among the angry and mourning is almost as bad as living with the shame. He decides to go travelling. He eventually settles down in New York. But secrets and regrets have have come to haunt those left behind and will not be silenced. Before long, Connor will have to face his past.
Graham Norton is a comedian, a TV chat show host and this is his third novel. The story takes us from 1987 through to the noughties. We don't know the full story when the book begins but it slowly unfolds whilst reading. This is quite an emotional read. There is quite a lot of characters but they all have their part to play. The book is written that well that you go through the emotions of the characters. I found this a thought provoking and enjoyable read. This is Graham Norton's best book so far. I loved it.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #Panmacmillian and the author #GrahamNorton for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Graham Norton is a comedian, a TV chat show host and this is his third novel. The story takes us from 1987 through to the noughties. We don't know the full story when the book begins but it slowly unfolds whilst reading. This is quite an emotional read. There is quite a lot of characters but they all have their part to play. The book is written that well that you go through the emotions of the characters. I found this a thought provoking and enjoyable read. This is Graham Norton's best book so far. I loved it.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #Panmacmillian and the author #GrahamNorton for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 14, 2020
3.5 Stars rounded up to 4.
A moving story of loss, guilt, blame, tolerance, acceptance, and how every choice (bad or good) can have long reaching consequences and affect many lives. RTC.
A moving story of loss, guilt, blame, tolerance, acceptance, and how every choice (bad or good) can have long reaching consequences and affect many lives. RTC.
September 29, 2020
I love The Graham Norton Show and ever since he released his first novel, I’ve been meaning to see if he writes as well as he performs. He does. He really does.
‘None of us are just the worst thing we ever did. We’re more than that.’
Home Stretch is a brilliant novel, layered and carefully arranged, rich in setting and intensity of emotion. The characters are flawed, crafted with an honesty that at times left me breathless. Graham knows how to tease out his story, breaking the narrative and shifting between eras with precision. He is a truly magnificent writer, far more so than I anticipated. There is wit within his work, but nothing comic, just a deep understanding of human nature and a love of all that is Irish.
‘This is what homecoming meant. Arriving in a place to discover you’re fluent in a language you’d forgotten you ever knew.’
This novel is a story about finding yourself and your place within this world, where you can exist easily within your own skin, without shame, regret, or longing. By the same token, it’s also a story about Ireland’s journey from intolerance through to progressive change and acceptance. This is done gently, alongside the main story, but reveals itself with significance. Home Stretch is a literary achievement that will appeal to fans of Irish fiction, both historical and contemporary. I loved it and will highly recommend it to all readers.
Thanks is extended to Hachette Australia for providing me with a copy of Home Stretch for review.
‘None of us are just the worst thing we ever did. We’re more than that.’
Home Stretch is a brilliant novel, layered and carefully arranged, rich in setting and intensity of emotion. The characters are flawed, crafted with an honesty that at times left me breathless. Graham knows how to tease out his story, breaking the narrative and shifting between eras with precision. He is a truly magnificent writer, far more so than I anticipated. There is wit within his work, but nothing comic, just a deep understanding of human nature and a love of all that is Irish.
‘This is what homecoming meant. Arriving in a place to discover you’re fluent in a language you’d forgotten you ever knew.’
This novel is a story about finding yourself and your place within this world, where you can exist easily within your own skin, without shame, regret, or longing. By the same token, it’s also a story about Ireland’s journey from intolerance through to progressive change and acceptance. This is done gently, alongside the main story, but reveals itself with significance. Home Stretch is a literary achievement that will appeal to fans of Irish fiction, both historical and contemporary. I loved it and will highly recommend it to all readers.
Thanks is extended to Hachette Australia for providing me with a copy of Home Stretch for review.
October 22, 2021
easy going read about events of 1987 in a small Irish village which effect the modern day as we go through the years with the characters who survived
May 24, 2025
Enjoyed this one! Norton really knows how to write about Irish life in the 80s.
February 28, 2021
In 1987, the day before a wedding in an Irish village, a car crashes and life will never be the same again. Told in flashbacks and present day, the families and community are forced to deal with the consequences and the impact that is felt in the decades ahead. The third book of fiction by Graham Norton, he intends as a tribute to Ireland’s “modern tolerant society”. Crossing the generations and oceans, this family saga lacks some gravitas given the light touch of the author. It was somewhat disappointing but an enjoyable enough read with a three-star rating.
April 3, 2021
It was ok
July 21, 2025
Audible audio
----
Was skeptical of the author narrating but he did a great job thumb of it.
This is a character driven piece.. they stand out more than the town and other settings but doesn't overshadow it either.
Everything and everyone is raw, flawed, and real.
Lots of secrets 🙊, some I guessed and some I didn't but didn't find all that surprising in the end.
Glad I have a couple of his others on ebook :) crossing fingers 🤞 can read all of em this year!
----
Was skeptical of the author narrating but he did a great job thumb of it.
This is a character driven piece.. they stand out more than the town and other settings but doesn't overshadow it either.
Everything and everyone is raw, flawed, and real.
Lots of secrets 🙊, some I guessed and some I didn't but didn't find all that surprising in the end.
Glad I have a couple of his others on ebook :) crossing fingers 🤞 can read all of em this year!
June 21, 2021
An enjoyable read, a kind of coming of age story filled with drama and heartache.
I like how it is set over a long period of years as you can see the community changes and the cultural shifts of acceptance. I liked the tone and overall message that the book was trying to convey.
I like how it is set over a long period of years as you can see the community changes and the cultural shifts of acceptance. I liked the tone and overall message that the book was trying to convey.
December 20, 2022
Could this be my worst 2022 read?
Doomed from the first page. That’s what happens when every prick thinks he can write.
Doomed from the first page. That’s what happens when every prick thinks he can write.
May 4, 2024
Review soon!
January 30, 2021
[2.5 STARS]
“Home Stretch” has made me more conflicted after finishing it than any other I’ve read in recent memory. There is so much good in this book that is marred by some truly abysmal choices and shoddy penmanship and it’s hard to come up with a coherent verdict.
“Home Stretch” is a very Irish novel set in a rural town in Cork that spans from 1987-2019, following Connor, a closeted gay man who is the sole survivor of a tragedy that kills a bride and groom and their friends the day before their wedding. It borrows directly from Graham Norton’s own adolescence in a lot of ways but is mostly fictionalised.
Pros:
- The story at the heart of “Home Stretch” is actually quite good, and caught me off guard with how invested I became.
- I loved the two main characters, Connor and his sister Ellen. The growth from the first time we see them to the last was truly touching and made me tear up.
- “Home Stretch” is unapologetically Irish and portrays the quirks of Irish society flawlessly, possibly sometimes at the risk of alienating those not from the country.
Cons:
- The reason why I didn’t rate this a 3 was because of one truly *awful* decision relating to Connor and a younger man he meets in a bar midway through the book. I won’t spoil, but the decision to put that in the novel was so ill advised and gross that it truly put me off the novel.
- I really hated the relationship between Ellen and her only daughter Aisling. It seemed so unnecessarily catty and spiteful, on the mother’s side! The fact that Ellen openly admits she does not even like her daughter is played for laughs or otherwise not seen as an issue but I couldn’t get over it. It seemed so vindictive of Ellen to dislike her daughter for being a young naive person.
- This was my first time reading a Graham Norton novel, and though the story itself is surprisingly good for a relatively new author, the actual writing style and prose leave a lot to be desired. This is at its worst in the first quarter of the novel, where you are bombarded with dozens of characters in a very shoddy overwhelming way. It took me nearly 70+ pages before I had a grasp on who everyone was and what was happening. I also took issue with how, even within chapters, Norton would jump from character to character and have sudden flashbacks (for instance having the whole chapter about Conor and then within that chapter having the narrator jump to Finnbar). Norton is a good storyteller but is not as polished with his structure.
So it’s hard to know what to rate this book. Do I recommend it? Yes? I guess? If you had asked me what I would have rated it up until the last chapter or two, I would have said 2/5, but the ending was sweet and at the end of the day I was touched and enjoyed “Home Stretch”, so I settled on 2.5/5. A perfectly middle of the road, average book with some above average elements that can’t lift it into “good” territory.
“Home Stretch” has made me more conflicted after finishing it than any other I’ve read in recent memory. There is so much good in this book that is marred by some truly abysmal choices and shoddy penmanship and it’s hard to come up with a coherent verdict.
“Home Stretch” is a very Irish novel set in a rural town in Cork that spans from 1987-2019, following Connor, a closeted gay man who is the sole survivor of a tragedy that kills a bride and groom and their friends the day before their wedding. It borrows directly from Graham Norton’s own adolescence in a lot of ways but is mostly fictionalised.
Pros:
- The story at the heart of “Home Stretch” is actually quite good, and caught me off guard with how invested I became.
- I loved the two main characters, Connor and his sister Ellen. The growth from the first time we see them to the last was truly touching and made me tear up.
- “Home Stretch” is unapologetically Irish and portrays the quirks of Irish society flawlessly, possibly sometimes at the risk of alienating those not from the country.
Cons:
- The reason why I didn’t rate this a 3 was because of one truly *awful* decision relating to Connor and a younger man he meets in a bar midway through the book. I won’t spoil, but the decision to put that in the novel was so ill advised and gross that it truly put me off the novel.
- I really hated the relationship between Ellen and her only daughter Aisling. It seemed so unnecessarily catty and spiteful, on the mother’s side! The fact that Ellen openly admits she does not even like her daughter is played for laughs or otherwise not seen as an issue but I couldn’t get over it. It seemed so vindictive of Ellen to dislike her daughter for being a young naive person.
- This was my first time reading a Graham Norton novel, and though the story itself is surprisingly good for a relatively new author, the actual writing style and prose leave a lot to be desired. This is at its worst in the first quarter of the novel, where you are bombarded with dozens of characters in a very shoddy overwhelming way. It took me nearly 70+ pages before I had a grasp on who everyone was and what was happening. I also took issue with how, even within chapters, Norton would jump from character to character and have sudden flashbacks (for instance having the whole chapter about Conor and then within that chapter having the narrator jump to Finnbar). Norton is a good storyteller but is not as polished with his structure.
So it’s hard to know what to rate this book. Do I recommend it? Yes? I guess? If you had asked me what I would have rated it up until the last chapter or two, I would have said 2/5, but the ending was sweet and at the end of the day I was touched and enjoyed “Home Stretch”, so I settled on 2.5/5. A perfectly middle of the road, average book with some above average elements that can’t lift it into “good” territory.
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