A Home Like Ours

by Fiona Lowe

What really lies beneath the facade of this small town? Timely and topical, bestselling Australian author Fiona explores a moral debate of privilege and prejudice, perfect for readers who love Jodi Picoult.
Tara Hooper is at breaking point. With two young children, a business in a town struggling under an unexpected crime wave, and her husband more interested in his cricket team than their marriage, life is a juggling act. Then, when new neighbours arrive and they are exactly the sort of people the town doesn't want or need, things get worse.

Life has taught Helen Demetriou two being homeless is terrifying and survival means keeping your cards close to your chest. Having clawed back some stability through her involvement in the community garden, she dares to relax. But as she uncovers some shady goings-on in the council, that stability turns to quicksand.

For teenage mother Jade Innes, life can be lonely among the judgement of the town and the frequent absences of her boyfriend. A chance encounter draws her into the endangered community garden where she makes friends for the first time. Glimpsing a different way of life is enticing but its demands are terrifying. Does she even deserve to try?

Can such disparate women unite to save the garden and ultimately stop the town from tearing itself apart?

PRAISE FOR FIONA

'Rich, thought-provoking, and extremely absorbing, A Home Like Ours is yet another incredible read from the very talented Fiona Lowe.' - Better Reading

'The undisputed queen...' Canberra Weekly

'Fiona's insight into the fickle nature of life ... and how best intentions can so easily come undone makes it simple to identify with her characters and lends an authentic resonance to this roller-coaster story.' - Australian Country


'Fiona Lowe weaves an extraordinary story of loss, love, and forgiveness.' - GLAM Adelaide

'If you loved Big Little Lies, you'll want to devour Fiona Lowe's Just an Ordinary Family next.' - Mamamia

Genres: Contemporary, Fiction, Audiobook, Australia, Adult, Family, Novels

Paperback

First published March 1, 2021

About the author

Multi published, Fiona is very excited about her 2026 release, The Drowning a novel about a family, a holiday house and a dead body. Previously published with Berkley and currently with Harper Collins Australia, (HQ Fiction) Fiona's been the recipient of a RITA and two RuBY awards. Families and communities intrigue her and she loves creating characters you could meet on the street and enjoys putting them in unique situations where morals and values can blur and she begs the reader to ask themselves, 'What would you do?'
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Fiona loves to hear from her readers and you can contact her at her website

Reviews

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while) · Rating 2 out of 5]

EXCERPT: Riverbend picnic ground greeted her in a spectacular sherbet dawn with myriad shades of pink, purple and peach splaying across the sky in long graceful strands. The Murray River, wide at this bend, glinted violet in the light and a lone pelican glided towards her. Cockatiels shrieked and wheeled above, bursting yet another myth that the country was a quiet and peaceful place.

The wide sandy beach with its tall over-hanging trees - perfect for swinging and bombing into deep water - provided Helen with the real gift. Its existence meant the shire had spent the big bucks installing a boat ramp, gas barbecues, an instant hot water tap, picnic tables and a playground. There was also a state-of-the-art amenities block complete with a toilet for people with a disability, a sink, baby-change area and, miracle of miracles, a shower.

Despite her exhaustion, Helen whooped with delight. She lathered up and washed her hair, herself and then her clothes. Afterwards she fired up a barbecue, cooked an egg in bread and ate it sitting in the folding camping chair she'd found on a roadside collection weeks before. Soaking up the view, she pretended she was living in one of the impressive riverside homes, enjoying her custom-built outdoor kitchen on her deck.

Daylight meant no one would ask her to move on; she had a few hours reprieve. A few hours to luxuriate in normalcy and ignore her homelessness. Then the sun would inevitably sink, giving carte blanche to the insidious march of inky darkness and all the dangers that lurked within.

ABOUT 'A HOME LIKE OURS': Tara Hooper is at breaking point. With two young children, a business in a town struggling under an unexpected crime wave, and her husband more interested in his cricket team than their marriage, life is a juggling act. Then, when new neighbours arrive and they are exactly the sort of people the town doesn't want or need, things get worse.

Life has taught Helen Demetriou two things: being homeless is terrifying and survival means keeping your cards close to your chest. Having clawed back some stability through her involvement in the community garden, she dares to relax. But as she uncovers some shady goings-on in the council, that stability turns to quicksand.

For teenage mother Jade Innes, life can be lonely among the judgement of the town and the frequent absences of her boyfriend. A chance encounter draws her into the endangered community garden where she makes friends for the first time. Glimpsing a different way of life is enticing but its demands are terrifying. Does she even deserve to try?

Can such disparate women unite to save the garden and ultimately stop the town from tearing itself apart?

MY THOUGHTS: I really enjoyed the prologue, in which we meet the homeless Helen who is living in her car.

At 30% I was seriously considering abandoning this book. We have jumped forward in time several years and are introduced to Tara, Jade, and Bob and the various people in their circles. I wasn't connecting with any of the characters and was bored by the repetition, Tara's obsession with sex, and Jade's adoration of her deadbeat boyfriend and father of her baby. And then there's the machinations of the local council, vandalism, racism, prejudice, Tara's mainly horrible 'friends', her obsession with her gym instructor, and her husband's medical problem. Too much! It was like tipping several different salads into one bowl, mixing them up and then expecting people to eat them.

I finished the book mainly because of Helen. And Fiza. And Bob and his nephew Lachlan. In the end it was almost okay read, but only just. A Home Like Ours is a long book and frequently dragged. The author tries to address far too many issues at once and while we get a lot of information about some, others are virtually ignored after being introduced. And none of them were really done justice.

I would have loved this book to have focused on Helen's story, which is where it started. Each of the other main characters and issues deserves their own book.

I finished still feeling mostly dissatisfied. There were questions I had that remained unanswered, and the ending felt glib and shallow. I am glad that others have found this an uplifting read. I didn't.

Reading is a personal and subjective experience, and what appeals to one may not please another. So if you enjoyed the excerpt from A Home Like Ours, and the plot outline appeals, please do go ahead and read it. Many other people have read and enjoyed A Home Like Ours and rated it higher than I have. Please also check out their reviews.

⭐⭐.3

#AHomeLikeOurs #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: Fiona's been the recipient of a RITA and a RuBY award. Families and communities intrigue her and she loves creating characters you could meet on the street and enjoys putting them in unique situations where morals and values can blur and she begs the reader to ask themselves, 'What would you do?'

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harlequin Australia & MIRA for providing a digital ARC of A Home Like Ours by Fiona Lowe for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

[Veronica ⭐️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

*https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogsp...
Tara is concerned about her marriage. Her husband has become distant and in her hour of need those she thought were her friends have deserted her.

Helen has known homelessness and fears it could happen again at any time. She is passionate about the community garden and strives to help the less fortunate but she is up against a council that prefers profit before community.

Teenager Jade lives from week to week with a baby son to support and a boyfriend that comes and goes as he pleases. She wants to be the mum she never had, she struggles alone with no friends or family.

Fiza has arrived in Boolanga hoping for a better life for her three children after escaping the death and destruction of Sudan. However there are many in Boolanga that fear change and look on the new arrivals with suspicion.

A Home Like Ours follows these four women, all from very different backgrounds, as they overcome hurt, prejudice and pride to find they have much more in common than they ever realised. Lowe's characters aren't perfect, they are quite often judgey and temperamental but the women support each other and open up to heal and grow, restoring their faith in human nature and in themselves.

I did find A Home Like Ours a bit depressing to start off with as the background on the four women was introduced and they were all struggling with their lives. I book being a bit uncomfortable and confronting is a good thing as it makes you stop and think about your own life and the life of those around you.

Through these four families Fiona Lowe succinctly introduces many topics that not only affect small rural communities but people everywhere. She develops the story to give her readers hope for a brighter future for these women and the whole community.

A Home Like Ours highlights many social issues and each one is fully explored. I suppose that is why the book is so big, Fiona Lowe is not prepared to skimp on details with any of the issues featured. Her readers are given a fully rounded perspective from many different view points.

Set in a picturesque town on the banks of the Murray River in Northern Victoria what you would imagine to be an idyllic life harbours prejudice, anger, racism, fear, a crooked council and developers waiting to move in.
I feel A Home Like Ours will have diverse appeal and I can see it becoming a popular book club read.
*I received a copy from the publisher

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Home Like Ours offers an informative, occasionally troubling, but ultimately uplifting exploration of the lives of women in a small Australian rural community.
The story is told from three separate perspectives, those of Tara, Helen and Jade.
Tara Hooper is among Boolanga's more affluent citizens, sharing her beautifully renovated heritage home with her husband Jon and two gorgeous children. She and her husband own the district's profitable hardware & nursery business, are part of a tight circle of friends and, on the surface at least, appear to have it all. But appearances aren't everything - Jon works long hours to maintain their store's market share in the face of competition from multinational competitors further affield, and often appears bored or disinterested. Tara is feeling unappreciated and angry, suspicious of Jon's apparent lack of attraction to her. She's taken up running with a personal trainer as a distraction from her increasing worries about the future of her marriage.
Helen Demetriou is entering later middle age without the security she'd always expected to have. She's endured periods of homelessness and subsists from day to day on her meagre income earned from a local takeaway store and her stipend as caretaker of Boolanga's community garden. Her brusque demeanour hides a sensitive soul who is fearful for her future and wary of forming close bonds with others in case they let her down. An activist at heart, Helen antagonises the rather conservative members of the community garden committee by pushing for the inclusion of all members of the community, rather than just the privileged few. Her long term goal is to establish a "tiny house" village for the use of older women who, like herself, have become homeless due to changed family and/or employment circumstances.
Jade Innes is the 19-year-old single mother of baby Milo. She's desperate to do a better job of parenting than her own mother, but is rather hamstrung by the disinterested attitude of Milo's father, an itinerant farm worker who seems more interested in drinking with his mates than being there for Jade and Milo. Jade's making tentative steps to forge personal connections in Boolanga, joining the library to indulge her love of literature, and rather begrudgingly accepting a plot in the community garden, in which she can grow vegetables to eat and the flowers she's really more interested in.
The three women's lives intersect, and all three also make connections among the women from Boolanga's former refugee communities, originally from Afghanistan and Sudan. Initial prejudices and misconceptions are gradually broken down as new friendships are forged and each of the three main characters undergoes a sort of catharsis in terms of how they see themselves, their lives and their ideas of community.
Having grown up in a mid-sized rural town not too far north of fictional Boolanga's setting on the Victorian side of the great Murray River, I felt that Fiona Lowe's depiction of small town society, dynamics and xenophobia were well-described and representative of the reality many inhabitants experience. While there are many benefits of living in a smaller community, they can also be quite insular and offer limited opportunities for those who are struggling socially and/or financially.
The stories of all three women resonated with me, although my own present life circumstances probably most closely resemble those of the more privileged character, Tara. I found Lowe's storyline around the experience of unexpected chronic and debilitating illness particularly poignant.
At almost 600 pages, A Home Like Ours is a hefty tome and requires a reasonable degree of commitment from the reader. I haven't previously been a frequent reader of the "women's literature" genre beloved by so many of my friends and family, and it took me several chapters to really get into the feel of the book. However, by the halfway point I was well and truly hooked by the characters and their stories. I raced through the last portion of the book in a single sitting.
I'd recommend A Home Like Ours to readers interested in the lived experience of women, the challenges and wonderful gifts that come with living in an evolving multicultural community, and the importance of community in creating a sense of individual and group wellbeing.
My thanks to the author, Fiona Lowe, publisher Harlequin Australia (HQ Fiction / Mira) and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.
For additional information, see: A Home Like Ours

[Brooke - Brooke's Reading Life · Rating 5 out of 5]

*www.onewomansbbr.wordpress.com
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr

**4.5 stars**

A Home Like Ours by Fiona Lowe. (2021).

When three women with wildly different loyalties come together, what secrets and lies will be revealed? Tara is at breaking point: She has 2 young children, a business in a town with an unexpected crime wave, a husband seemingly not interested in her sexually. Helen has been homeless and gotten some stability through involvement with the community garden. But as she uncovers some shady goings-on in the council, that stability disappears. Teenage mum Jade is lonely and judged by many. A chance encounter draws her into the endangered community garden where she finally makes friends. Can such different women unite to save the garden and stop the town from tearing itself apart?

I've come to expect nothing less than a fantastic read from this author and she again does not disappoint. In this novel we centre around the three women mentioned in the above synopsis: Tara, Helen and Jade. These three women are all different ages, different backgrounds, different personalities and have walked different paths in life. They find themself connected by the local community garden which finds itself threatened. Helen in particular finds herself in the middle of controversy when she extends the garden to include plots for local refugee women; this small town is just full of judgmental people (is the kindest way I can put it). However, the storyline also demonstrated that people can in fact change their viewpoints and I really liked seeing some of the characters' personal growth.
I would highly recommend this engaging and well-written book that explores the concepts of prejudice and privilege in one small Australian town.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly let me say I loved this story, it is a story that takes in some issues that are with us always and handles them so well, this is the story of women and the struggle they have in their day to lives not only with family but homelessness, the upheaval of moving from war torn countries to start a new life and how a community garden help them come together, learn from each other, open up to each other and fight for justice and happiness.

We meet Helen, she is in her fifties and has been homeless for a few years now, although well-educated and willing to work that doesn’t mean that a job is easily given to her at her age, she has struggled but kept her dignity, when she arrives in the beautiful small country town of Boolanga she finds the community garden and things start to look up for her.

Then there is Jade a teenage single mother who has never known the true love of a family and that is one thing she is determined to give her beautiful son Milo with a drop in boyfriend Milo’s father never there to help she struggles but when she finds the community garden growing food and flowers gives her a well -deserved lift in life.

Fiza has arrived from war torn Sudan with her teenage son and young twins to make a fresh start in life, she is a nurse and works hard for her family but growing plants is what brings her closer to her past and the community garden is the place to start, here not only does she get to grow plants but she also meets strong woman like her.

Tara’s life is a struggle at the moment for her and her husband Jon they have two children and run a successful hardware store in town, their marriage seems to have lost its sparkle and with a series of break-ins from a crime spree the happy contended life is changing for her.

This story brings woman from totally different backgrounds together, things don’t always run smoothly and personalities can clash but the community garden, the joy at growing food and flowers brings them together, they learn so much from each other, they are there for each other in many ways and friendships and trusts are formed. Challenges are thrown up when their community garden is under threat and they band together to fight them, I loved these woman, MS. Lowe has made these woman come to life on the pages and I was cheering them on as their lives move forward in this beautiful town.

This story was an emotional journey for me, so beautifully written, it pulled at my heartstrings as we see Helen, Jade, Fiza and Tara find their happy place in life, to see them form such beautiful friendships that all started with a community garden, a place to bond and learn, yes I was left in tears at the end, tears of happiness, thank you MS. Lowe for another keeper, these ladies will stay with me for a long time to come. I do highly recommend this one.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Home Like Ours is the fifth novel by Australian author, Fiona Lowe. Some three and a half years after her inauspicious arrival in the little Murray River town of Boolanga, Helen Demetriou is deeply involved in community projects. She coordinates the Boolanga Community Garden, living in an old cottage adjacent, as well as bringing left-over food to the town’s parks for the homeless.

When Fiza Atallah, a Sudanese refugee, expresses interest in gardening a plot, and access is blocked by Judith Sainsbury, the Garden committee’s petty bureaucrat, Helen arranges an extension of the garden on some vacant land, and Fiza and a group of Hazara women establish new garden beds for their traditional foods. Helen reminds Judith: “the garden’s on shire land and it exists to reach the broader community regardless of age, gender or country of origin.”

At nineteen, Jade Innes is accustomed to critical comments about her youthful motherhood from people like the snooty Baby Time mums at her main refuge, the library, but she’s determined to do a better job of raising Milo than her mother did with her. In the flat she can barely afford on her Jobseeker allowance, scrimping and saving to feed and clothe her boy, she’s bored and lonely. Milo’s father is mostly absent except when he has needs to satisfy, and contributes nothing to Milo’s upkeep.

On a walk by the river, she spots the community garden, and helps out with harvest in exchange for some fresh veggies. She’s wary of the Hazara women, but soon finds they are genuinely friendly and never critical. Milo’s racist dad forbids their contact with his son, but in his absence, Jade makes her own judgement.

Tara Hooper is at a loss. The mother of two has worked hard to be trim and attractive for her husband, to no avail. Jonathon, owner Hooper’s Hardware, Timber and Steel, is so gorgeous that Tara is the envy of the town’s female population, but she begins to agonise over the reason their marriage seems to be failing: a number of unwelcome possibilities fill her mind… she distracts herself with more fitness activity with her dishy personal trainer.

Jon seems to value her business input more than any intimacy, and sends her off to the Community Garden to explore sponsorship with the Gardens’ coordinator. Meanwhile, their store seems to be the target of vandals and thieves, and the local cop is convinced that the African youths are to blame.

Lowe’s story touches on many topical themes, including racist attitudes towards refugees, poverty, chronic illness, and local council corruption, as well as the age-old subjects of prejudice, friendship, loyalty and betrayal. She easily evokes her setting and the small-town mindset.

She gives her characters passion: homelessness, its very existence in the little town denied by most, is an unenviable fate to which Helen is no stranger, and she tirelessly lobbies the shire council to approve a sustainable tiny houses project for homeless older women, who are the fastest-growing homeless demographic.

Tara’s preoccupation with her first-world problems, and her reaction to them, may paint her as shallow, but when it is blown out of the water by an unanticipated explanation, she finds her awareness of the issues troubling her neighbours and those less fortunate in the town, is heightened.

Lowe throws together unlikely allies who, when push comes to shove, bring the perfect mix of initiative, inventiveness, pragmatism, fieriness, stoicism and guts. She gives them wise words: “People think it’s the bad things that undo us. But in my experience, it’s often the good stuff that trips us up, reminding us what we had, and what we miss the most” and “When a crisis hits, it’s never the people you expect who step up,” are examples. A thought-provoking and heart-warming read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and HQ Fiction.

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Life was an unpredictable lottery. But surrounded by a community and a garden, the future was easier to face.”

An insightful, warm and engaging story, A Home Like Ours is another fabulous novel from award winning Australian author Fiona Lowe.

When Helen arrived in the small town of Boolanga in rural Victoria three years ago, she had been living in her car, searching for work, and a place to call home. Now, having secured a position as a caretaker of the town’s community garden which provides her with a small cottage, her new found stability is threatened when she insists a local group of refugee women be provided with plots.
Jade is a young mother with no family to speak of and a deadbeat, often absent, partner. To supplement her meagre pension, and provide her baby son with organic produce, she reluctantly agrees to assist Helen in the community garden. Though initially distrustful of everyone, especially the refugees, Jade slowly discovers a place she could belong.
Tara doesn’t understand why her husband, hardware store owner, Jon, seems to have lost interest in her. Wrapped up in her own self-pity, she is stunned when he is diagnosed with a debilitating condition, and is forced to consider what community really means.

The central theme of A Home Like Ours focuses on the effects of displacement. Like the protagonists of Lowe’s story, almost all of us are vulnerable to events such as illness, injury, relationship breakdown, unemployment, unplanned pregnancy, as well as extreme situations like war, which could result in a complete change of circumstance.

To face these sorts of unexpected challenges requires the support of a community - of family, of friends, and often even strangers. Lowe’s decision to centre the story on the town’s community garden is a clever one. Not only is it a site that allows her to reflect the population of the town at large, but it’s also a setting in which her very different characters can plausibly meet.

Portrayed with a realistic complexity, I really liked Lowe’s characters and found their stories to be engaging. It’s impressive that she is able to credibly depict women who are of widely disparate ages and backgrounds, and have diverse concerns. I would have liked for Fiza, a Sudanese refugee, to have had a larger role in the story, though I can understand why Lowe likely shied away from doing so.

Lowe also explores a range of specific issues relevant in Australia at the moment including racist attitudes towards refugees from African countries, the rise of homelessness experienced by women over 55, the inadequacy of current social support payments, the lack of support programs in rural areas, and government corruption. It seems like a lot, but these issues overlap and intertwine, enriching the story, and informing the reader.

I barely noticed that A Home Like Ours was almost 600 pages long, engrossed in the well-paced story I finished it in a day. This is a wonderful read that encourages empathy, compassion and community.

[Kylie H · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book I have read by Fiona Lowe and I am fast becoming a fan of her writing.
In this book Fiona touches on homelessness, young-single motherhood, racism, corruption and many other contemporary issues that will no doubt stir strong feelings in many.
The characters in the book are very engaging and I quickly was drawn into each of their plights. The main characters being Helen, who having been homeless now has a home provided by the 'Boolanga' council as part of her role as caretaker of the community garden. She is prickly and quite distrusting of others having been betrayed in her past by those closest to her but determined to try and help others who are homeless.
Then there is Jade a very young, single mother of a baby who lives from moment to moment when her boyfriend Corey might come to stay, but not to share any parenting responsibility or any of his income. He uses Jade shamelessly but she is so desperate to provide her son Milo with a family she puts up with it.
Then there is Tara, who feels that her husband is growing distant from her and is possibly having an affair. She is flirting with her personal trainer and contemplating the thought of having an affair herself.
Set in Northern Victoria in the region of Shepparton/Echuca, this is a great story told with a lot of heart and humanity. There is a lot of food for thought on how we judge others without knowing the full picture. I can highly recommend this book.
Thank you Harlequin Australia and Netgalley for my digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Home Like Ours is the fifth novel by Australian author, Fiona Lowe. The audio version is read by Rebecca Macauley. Some three and a half years after her inauspicious arrival in the little Murray River town of Boolanga, Helen Demetriou is deeply involved in community projects. She coordinates the Boolanga Community Garden, living in an old cottage adjacent, as well as bringing left-over food to the town’s parks for the homeless.

When Fiza Atallah, a Sudanese refugee, expresses interest in gardening a plot, and access is blocked by Judith Sainsbury, the Garden committee’s petty bureaucrat, Helen arranges an extension of the garden on some vacant land, and Fiza and a group of Hazara women establish new garden beds for their traditional foods. Helen reminds Judith: “the garden’s on shire land and it exists to reach the broader community regardless of age, gender or country of origin.”

At nineteen, Jade Innes is accustomed to critical comments about her youthful motherhood from people like the snooty Baby Time mums at her main refuge, the library, but she’s determined to do a better job of raising Milo than her mother did with her. In the flat she can barely afford on her Jobseeker allowance, scrimping and saving to feed and clothe her boy, she’s bored and lonely. Milo’s father is mostly absent except when he has needs to satisfy, and contributes nothing to Milo’s upkeep.

On a walk by the river, she spots the community garden, and helps out with harvest in exchange for some fresh veggies. She’s wary of the Hazara women, but soon finds they are genuinely friendly and never critical. Milo’s racist dad forbids their contact with his son, but in his absence, Jade makes her own judgement.

Tara Hooper is at a loss. The mother of two has worked hard to be trim and attractive for her husband, to no avail. Jonathon, owner Hooper’s Hardware, Timber and Steel, is so gorgeous that Tara is the envy of the town’s female population, but she begins to agonise over the reason their marriage seems to be failing: a number of unwelcome possibilities fill her mind… she distracts herself with more fitness activity with her dishy personal trainer.

Jon seems to value her business input more than any intimacy, and sends her off to the Community Garden to explore sponsorship with the Gardens’ coordinator. Meanwhile, their store seems to be the target of vandals and thieves, and the local cop is convinced that the African youths are to blame.

Lowe’s story touches on many topical themes, including racist attitudes towards refugees, poverty, chronic illness, and local council corruption, as well as the age-old subjects of prejudice, friendship, loyalty and betrayal. She easily evokes her setting and the small-town mindset.

She gives her characters passion: homelessness, its very existence in the little town denied by most, is an unenviable fate to which Helen is no stranger, and she tirelessly lobbies the shire council to approve a sustainable tiny houses project for homeless older women, who are the fastest-growing homeless demographic.

Tara’s preoccupation with her first-world problems, and her reaction to them, may paint her as shallow, but when it is blown out of the water by an unanticipated explanation, she finds her awareness of the issues troubling her neighbours and those less fortunate in the town, is heightened.

Lowe throws together unlikely allies who, when push comes to shove, bring the perfect mix of initiative, inventiveness, pragmatism, fieriness, stoicism and guts. She gives them wise words: “People think it’s the bad things that undo us. But in my experience, it’s often the good stuff that trips us up, reminding us what we had, and what we miss the most” and “When a crisis hits, it’s never the people you expect who step up,” are examples. A thought-provoking and heart-warming read.

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

A small rural town grappling with the new social environments and challenges of homelessness and refugees from several African countries. The author brings to light the very aspect of what Australians believe they are not; racist and prejudice exposing this as a false belief. Prejudice is also apparent regarding the treatment of the homeless women who are also now part of this community.

Helen is the driving force behind a new community garden for the refugee women for which there is a decided backlash by another committee member, a long time local woman who is intent on stopping this very worthwhile opportunity for the women. Having also experienced homelessness and discrimination Helen also tries in several ways to assist those women who are living in their cars or sleeping rough. Helen can be pretty tense at times due to her past life and for which seems to escalate around a young single mother who has a similar personality but Jade's issues are from maternal neglect and emotional abuse for which now with a young son she is determined to foster the love and caring she missed out on. Corey the father of Milo is a real loser and it takes sometime before Jade begins to recognise that there is no future with him.

The author expands the characters of the read for which all have their own very different personalities. Two of the other prominent ones are Tara and Jon who own the local hardware store. Tara's personality initially is self absorbed, lacks empathy and is obsessed with sex. This part of the read could have been edited by fifty percent as it is just plain boring. In order to aleviate her sex obsession she runs every morning to the point of exhaustion. Her marriage is in trouble from her obsession. Jon is anxious about the break-ins at the store and the graffiti for which the Police seem unable to find the culprits. Here is where racism raises its ugly head with the young male Africans being targeted as likely suspects. Jon is also suffering from extreme tiredness, drinking more than usual and is distant. After a few nasty incidents with hardware tools, knives and falling down with having no recollection of the incident, in hospital he is diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. The author redeems Tara giving her an almost turn around personality and for which in the long run also exposes almost all of her friends as shallow as she was giving her no caring or empathy for her change in fortunes now having to take a more major role in their business and added domestic duties to ensure Jon is kept physically safe. At the same time her new neighbour Fiza from Sudan becomes her real friend.

This new community garden and the old local home on the land becomes a minefield of controversy with apparent council corruption and with shenanigans left right and centre. Jade, skilled in social media, starts reporting events taking place while Helen starts writing to the local newspaper. Two of the other main characters are Bob and nephew Lachlan who begin to play a prominent part in Helen's and Jade's lives and very slowly personalities begin to soften.

[Jennifer (JC-S) · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Holding on means there’s still hope.’

The small (fictional) town of Boolanga provides the setting for Ms Lowe’s thoughtful and thought-provoking novel exploring prejudice and privilege. Helen, in her last fifties, has experienced tragedy, homelessness and employment-related ageism. Jade, a teenaged mother, is dealing with a frequently absent boyfriend who sees parenting their baby son Milo as Jade’s responsibility as well as with judgemental locals. Tara is struggling. She is juggling the demands of two small children and the family business and is concerned that her husband Jon is no longer interested in their marriage.

Boolanga has a community garden, but some of the locals want to keep that garden exclusive. Recent migrants are excluded. Others are convinced that ‘the Africans’ are responsible for the town’s recent crime wave. Through the stories of these three quite different women, Ms Lowe shines a light on the different ways people are displaced and regarded as ‘others’. While Helen, Tara, and Jade each must adapt to changed circumstances, they each learn to accept help without being defensive and to accept difference without automatically rejecting it.

Once again, Ms Lowe creates three-dimensional characters who tackle some difficult contemporary issues. And, in doing so, she invites the reader to think about their own attitudes and responses.

I loved this novel.

Note: My thanks to Better Reading Preview for an ARC.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

[Amanda - Mrs B's Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com

‘We don’t shy away from battles. We live them every day.’

Community relations, social problems and the pressures placed on women of any background is passionately presented in A Home Like Ours by Fiona Lowe. Australian author Fiona Lowe is a generous storyteller and she shows us just how powerful her contemporary issue-based stories can be to her readers. A Home Like Ours explores a myriad of conflicts that will ignite a sense of universal togetherness.

A Home Like Ours follows the lives of a small group of women who each have their own set of challenges and pressures. We meet Tara, a wife and mother who is at crisis point in all aspects of her life. With a faltering marriage, health issues and a business impacted by a recent spate of crime, Tara is a wreck. The arrival of a new set of neighbours adds more pressure to Tara’s life, as the local town is resistant to these new arrivals. Helen Demetriou is another resident of the local community of Boolanga who has seen hard times and continues in her fight to stay afloat. Helen’s involvement in a local community garden is godsend, but when Helen discovers something very unwelcome happening in her local area, she is compelled to take a stand. Meanwhile, a young mother named Jade continues in her daily fight to fend off local community scorn in regards to her situation as a teenage mother. With little support from her wayward boyfriend, Jade finds some unexpected solace in the Boolanga community garden. Can Jade break free from the pressures and judgement placed on her as a young mum? A Home Like Ours reiterates the power of friendship, acceptance, belonging and difference, in this moving new novel from one of Australia’s best storytellers.

This latest composition by one of our country’s most valued contemporary fiction novelists was simply amazing. Fiona Lowe has truly outdone herself with A Home Like Ours and I can honestly say this is her best title to date. I haven’t given away many five-star ratings this year but A Home Like Ours is deserving of each and every one of the five stars I am awarding this book.

A Home Like Ours is a book that spoke to me in so many ways. I am indebted to Fiona Lowe for penning a novel that I could connect with on so many levels. In particular, I connected with one of the lead protagonists of the story, Tara Hooper. When we meet Tara and follow her personal story, we learn that Tara is at utter breaking point. Which confession time, is how I have felt myself this year. A Home Like Ours and the character of Tara came to me at just the right time. Tara’s story was the wake-up call I needed. Tara’s story made me realise that I am not alone in my struggles. The pressures placed on modern women in our current busy society is immense, no wonder we reach breaking point. And that’s ok! Likewise, the character of Helen Demetriou reminded me that we have periods when life is just one big uphill struggle and the daily fight just to survive another day is all that matters. Helen was a remarkable woman and I had so much time for this feature protagonist. I liked the Aussie battler feel Helen’s character gave us, I think it makes this story more connective. We also have Jade Innes, a young teenage mother who made me reflect on my early days as a new mum. Jade’s struggles made me externally grateful that I had the support of my husband, family, friends and community during this pivotal time in my life. Jade is a character who exuded strength and the ability to triumph above adversity. I liked Jade’s tough resolve. My heart also went out to Fiza, a newcomer to Boolanga, who teaches the local township a thing or two about displacement, judgement, acceptance, generosity and resilience. Fiza’s story and the struggles her family face in assimilating into Boolanga offers the reader an opportunity to reflect on their own values, beliefs and world views in relation to those who seem different to us at first glance.

At the core of this tale is the beautiful and welcoming community garden of Boolanga. I loved this place, the garden represented a place of unity, where people of any position can simply get together and experience the natural world free from judgement. The friendships, support systems, level of acceptance, sense of belonging and assistance that comes from this soul nurturing location gave me hope. There are plenty of community tensions and personal conflicts that fill the pages of this very ambitious novel (almost 600 pages in length). Please don’t let the breadth of this novel prevent you from picking it up to read. I promise you, the pages will literally melt away! With themes of illness, personal injury, marriage breakdown, homelessness, poverty, racism, prejudice, disconnection, displacement, resettlement, trust, crime, small town tensions, underhanded activities, new love and friendship, A Home Like Ours is a wonderful hive of activity. I loved being a part of the fabric of this community.

Plenty of gratitude comes from the experience of reading A Home Like Ours by Fiona Lowe. I hope you can dedicate some time to experience all that this truly excellent five star read has to offer.

*I wish to thank Harlequin Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.

A Home Like Ours is book #40 of the 2021 Australian Women Writers Challenge

[Anna Loder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read A Home Like Ours earlier this year and have somehow missed my review. It’s a big beautiful read, full of contemporary issues and themes. I absolutely loved it! I remember thinking at the start how long it was and at the end wishing it wasn’t over..I loved it.
I loved the friendship I found between the women of all walks and ages. I loved the depth and range of social and political issues raised, and the fact these where overcome by ‘a young single mother and an older homeless woman’ was just so heart warming. I loved the development of the friendship throughout the novel, ‘from little things big things grow’. I really loved the sense of community I found with in these pages, these characters have nothing in common but their community garden, and it was just wonderful to be a part of the ‘strength…surrounded by a community and a garden, the future was easier to face…’ I also loved the romance and the image of holding hands through a lock-in…ahh so romantic…💕

[Craig and Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Harlequin for sending us a copy to read and review.
Society is a melting pot, ethnically, economically and religiously splintering into their own cells and seldom interacting and understanding life outside their own parameters.
The soil and it’s benefits are central to all parts of society to survive and thrive. Common ground, literally, to allow social growth, tolerance and empathy to flourish. Gardening is renowned for being one of the best equalisers.
Representing four distinct backgrounds we are introduced to women that each has her own powerful story and issues.
Facing biases, prejudice, stigma and embarrassment they discover their disparate lives have commonality.
Set in a small town the differences are extenuated and the insular attitudes a barrier setting the scene for confrontation and self discovery.
Fighting to save the community garden and historic orchard battle lines are drawn as the truth emerges.
Unlikely alliances formed and deep rooted beliefs eroded.
The prologue is one of the best I’ve read and really sets the scene for another outstanding story from Fiona.
Character development backed up with strong plot structures are always a winning formula and this has been done very well.
Relationships between characters so realistic you could feel cringe moments and awkwardness.
One stand out for me was the way Helen and Jade are with each other .
Not shying away from current social and political issues we are treated to a story that has depth, emotion and real moments and one that will have you feeling really satisfied by the end.
Contemporary fiction at its best.

[Helen - Great Reads & Tea Leaves · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5*

‘You never get a second chance to make a first impression.’

I am a fan of Fiona’s work as she often tackles important contemporary issues, inviting her readers to contemplate what their own attitude or response might be. On this occasion, in a rural setting, Fiona offers a range of social situations for consideration.

Once more Fiona has created a cast of characters with real depth and range. Whether it be the teenage single Mum, the married middle aged wife, or the older retiree. These women, with their individual problems, band together and create a community that is willing to support and provide for each other. It is rather a long tale, slow in some places, but Fiona obviously wished to bring her reader into each character’s plight and story.

The problem I have is that I feel Fiona took on way too many topical issues in this one book. You will read everything from displacement, racism, volunteering, chronic illness, homelessness, poverty, ageism, single mothers, refugees being the main ones. Is it possible to do justice to each even with the book pushing six hundred pages? Fiona certainly gives it a fair attempt, yet to my mind, I would have appreciated fewer issues with more concentrated detail.

I did enjoy the underlying dilemma that served to bring the community together and reached a good climax by the end to provide an all up engaging tale. Ultimately this is a book about hope, learning to break down social and cultural barriers to create a community worth living in. Would you be strong enough to take steps and make things right?

‘Your blind spot was underestimating a young single mother and an older homeless woman. We don’t shy away from battles. We live them every day.’





This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

[Britt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for an eARC of this book. The following review is my honest reflection on the text provided.

I'm struggling to find the words to write this review. Different from anything I'd read before, A Home Like Ours is a fictional story addressing homelessness, refugees, racism, single and teen mothers, spousal abuse, disability, extramarital affairs, small business ownership, and political corruption - to name a few of the themes. I think that may be the problem here; it's not possible to honestly address everything here and still feel like a responsible and accurate representation of these very real issues, even with almost 600 pages. This could, or should, have been several shorter novels within a series, each focusing on different characters and highlighting one or two specific issues.

Another problem was that I couldn't make myself feel any interest in any of the characters. They were clearly written to fit specific roles (protagonist/villain/underdog/saviour), I just didn't like any of them. They were all narcissistic, existing in their own bubbles, disregarding the feelings of others around them, and refusing to consider they may be rude, incorrect, racist, or just wrong. They all had this 'poor me' attitude, even after being forced to admit that they may be the ones at fault in their negative interactions with others. The only people I liked were the refugees who were all side characters and had to deal with the main characters' small-mindedness and egotism.

So why, with all of these problems, did I persevere through this longer than average novel? I suppose I was hoping that with time the characters would become more likeable and address their prejudices, that the story would simplify and focus on fewer topics, and the conclusion would provide some satisfaction. Whatever it was, something kept me reading. While the ending wasn't necessarily disappointing, the 'twist' was predictable from a mile away and it seemed to end on the same mediocre note consistent throughout the book.

Something worth mentioning is that I do believe it could be difficult, or at least irritating, for readers in the international community to follow along. The author likes to throw around common Australian vernacular and assumes that the reader will be aware of government programs and Victorian companies and regions without explanation. Having lived in Australia for the last seven years it was easy enough for me to follow along, but I can see others becoming discouraged from having to skip or google unknown concepts, ruining the flow of the story.

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[Katrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

To be honest I thought I'd be filing this one away under "gran-lit" but it surprised me with how quickly I was immersed in the story! Each of the main female characters all had their fair share of heartache, or growth and strength, and a generous array of incredibly annoying traits 😂 Fiza, the refugee, was given the least space but I found myself wanting more of her story. She and her fellow immigrants were the vehicle for the stark portrayal of small town racism, which, unfortunately, was all too realistic.

I had a few bones to pick with certain aspects of the story - like, as if a book club full of women in their 30s would choose and actually have time to read Anna Karenina within the space of a few weeks 😂 there was a lot about gardening in the story as well, so if thats something you dig (har har) you'll no doubt love this aspect. Would also like to point out that no Gen Zer cares about Facebook (you'll see what I mean).

I did enjoy this though, despite being 502 pages and a bit draggy in places. The overarching theme of finding a place to belong was heartwarming, and ultimately, hopeful. Thanks to Better Reading for the ARC - and yes I will be giving it to my Nan!

[Mel Tweedie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another five star read from one of my favourite Australian authors. I listened to the audiobook which was fantastically narrated by Rebecca Macauley. This heart-warming and captivating story compassionately and powerfully explored several very real and current issues including the refugee and migration experience, social disadvantage and chronic illness and with humanity and insightfulness. I adored all the leading characters (Jade not so much) as well as the men who adored them and felt moved by each of their personal journeys. Highly recommended!

[Lyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought Fiona Lowe tackled a lot of the big issues in Australia very well. Yes there is racism, homelessness, domestic violence and corruption. I really enjoyed the exploration of the impact of a chronic illness on a family. The interactions between the various characters were authentic and believable. This is a good way to walk a mile in another person’s shoes. Highly recommend ed!

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Home Like Ours is set in a small fictional town in Victoria, Australia. It's what I'd call an issues driven book. It's full of them! It is also filled with a wonderfully  eclectic range of characters. Many of them I fell for, and of course some of them are just not ready for redemption yet. We can always hope change one day might be possible! I mention a few of the central characters below who experience displacement of one kind or another and do grow through it, largely because of the support of others in the town and their own resilience.

The plot centres around a community garden, a group of women who want to keep it going and to admit those who others don't "approve". And there are some dastardly councillors who want to sell a plot of land adjacent to the garden to big developers. Of course lining their own pockets in doing so.

Helen is the caretaker of the garden - she has had a tough life, she is in her mid-fifties and while educated has found it difficult to find a job in the past. She also knows first hand what homelessness is all about. I loved spiky, tough talking, take no nonsense Helen. And its a matter of can she have her heart opened again and embrace  a second and better life.

Tara is a younger person with two children and a family owned business in town. She is about to find out what its like to deal with a big challenge and who her friends really are. I really felt for Tara and her husband Jon. I liked how their story develops.

Jade is a young single mother - to Milo. She lives on a benefit and if I thought Helen was spiky well Jade can give her a run for her money. Jade has had a tough life, however she is about to find out what trusting and opening up to new possibilities are all about.

Oh, I forgot to mention all of the above are white! Because in town there are also a number of refugees with pasts that none of us have ever had to live through and when they come to their new country everything is not as rosy as promised. 

You can't read this book and remain detached from all the issues presented. Mainly I think because they are so universal and we know them in our own towns. The book asks us to examine our own hearts. To name a few - homelessness, white privilege, prejudice towards those who are different, struggling single mothers, abusive partners, ageism, the sudden onset of a challenging disease.

Coupled with all that is true love and trust, hope, belief in what can be changed and how we can build a better place by being open to and learning about differences. And what true friendship looks like.

Fiona Lowe has written a rich, thought provoking book that will long remain with me.

[The Cats’ Mother · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Home Like Ours is a contemporary Australian drama published in 2021, about three women in a small town in Northern Victoria overcoming prejudice and finding friendship in the battle for an under-threat community garden. It came to me from Book Club, and I realised after I’d started it that I had abandoned a previous book by this author because I couldn’t stand the characters, but I’m glad I persisted with this one as while none of the three women were likeable at the start, their character evolution is the main point of the story and was well handled.

Helen is a divorcée in her late 50s who has found a precarious kind of stability in Boolanga after experiencing homelessness, and is on a mission to save other women from it. Tara lives an apparently charmed life with her family, but secretly her marriage is crumbling despite her attempts to regain her husband’s interest. Jade is a teenage mother struggling to pay the bills whose boyfriend drifts in and out of her life as he pleases. When their paths cross those of a group of recent refugee immigrants, they will learn that they have more in common than they think, and a cause to unite behind.

This was an enjoyable exploration of multiple social issues - some may say too many, but I thought the author blended them successfully. There’s single motherhood, the plight of the unhoused, racism, toxic friendships, marital stress, vandalism, political corruption, relationship difficulties, parenting issues… but despite this it’s not a heavy book and there is humour, romance and redemption galore. The plot was reasonably predictable and the twists - such as they were - well sign-posted, but I liked the way everything wrapped up and everyone got what they deserved.

[Karen ⊰✿ · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this small town saga, we meet four women who are all from very different parts of town, but cross over in the community garden.

- Tara. Mum to two small kids, not sure if her marriage is going to last and struggling to find her place in home and business.
- Helen. A middle-aged single woman who was homeless not so long ago (although she won't tell anyone that).
- Jade. Teenage mum to a 1 year old with a boyfriend who comes home every few weeks to take what he can.
- Fiza. A refugee who finds racism and prejudice in her new home, but some kindness too.

In different ways these 4 women are displaced and trying to find their home. The exploration of small town politics, families, prejudice and poverty was very well done. I would have enjoyed this book much more if the characters were... well... nicer. Helen, Jade and Fiza chapters were enjoyable, but Tara was very difficult to like and all of her friends were just as nasty. It took away from the novel for me.

Still, I recommend to those who enjoy character driven novels in a rural Australian setting.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A family is not always made up of blood members...and a home is not always made up of family members. Welcome to the home created by Fiona Lowe in A Home Like Ours. The loving and committed research within this story gives the reader so much food for thought. In this story, there are so many different insights into the three women around whom the story is set. It is yet another view of the prejudices and fears that in many cases are unfounded if we but learn to understand the lives, and embrace the differences, of those around us. It is in the understanding that we can discover the beauty and value of friendship...something we all need as we need to breathe. Thank you Fiona Lowe for the research, the love and the friendship contained within this story. You are one very committed writer. I have loved all of your books in the last five years and I cannot wait for the next one! I recommend this story to other readers, I know you will love it as I have.

[Liz Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had recently lost my love of reading and had plodded through very forgettable books in the last month. A home like ours reignited my love of a good story with interesting characters. They were contemporary and relatable and an easy book to read so much so I didn’t want to put it down once I got to the last 100 pages. No spoilers but 4 and 1/2 with no spoilers from me

[Larelle Frauenfelder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fiona Lowe, you have done it again. A Home like ours is a rich and wonderful story. I didn’t want it to end.

[Cassie Hamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fearless book from a writer who does not shy away from difficult topics. And all packaged within some highly polished prose. Very entertaining and thoughtful.

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written heart warming story with interesting characters and important social commentary.

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fiona Lowe shines again with another page turning book! This is a big book (almost 600 pages) but I honestly could not stop turning the pages and was quite surprised to learn the page count.

A small town story set up on the Victoria/New South Wales border about a colourful group of characters. There is Tara and Jon who are successful business owners in the town, they look like they have so much going for them to the outsider but there are issues brewing which will have life-changing consequences.

Helen has been rough sleeping in her car as a result of circumstances in her life but is given a life-line when she takes over care-taking of the local community garden. She encourages local refugee women to participate in the garden where they all develop strong friendships despite their ages and backgrounds, and learn a lot about each other as well as themselves. But this is not enough for power hungry councilors who are determined to look after their own interests and want the garden gone.

Enter Jade who is a young single mum with baby Milo to care for and his absent father Corey who appears infrequently, doesn't provide anything in the way of support. She has trouble seeing a future for themselves in their current circumstances.

All these characters make up an engaging and absorbing story which tackles many issues - friendship, racism, men's health, community, politics, romance, homelessness and much more. I absolutely loved being within the pages of this community for those many pages and would recommend this book to readers of Women's fiction and small town stories. Fiona's writing ticks all the boxes for a great read in A Home Like Ours.

Many thanks to Harper Collins/Harlequin Mira and Net Galley for a copy of this book for review in exchange for an honest opinion.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this was a rather long book, over 500 pages, it didn't take me too long to read. I was intrigued by the story set in a small Australian town and enjoyed meeting such vivid and real characters. There are a number of issues that come up in this book, but one in particular I could relate to more, and that was how people deal with change in their lives - changes that came about due to illness, friends showing their true colours, new people in town, the loss of good friends, making new friends, new perspectives on life and people around them, and changes in relationships. Tara was my least favourite character, I was irritated by her obsession with her gym instructor and that she seemed to be living a life that wasn't really her, and my favourite characters were Bob and Helen, I really enjoyed how they came together. Definitely a great read!

[Rosalie · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF
I have not really been attracted to any of Fiona Lowe’s books but I thought that I would give this one a try. I should have stuck to my original opinions. It felt too much like Fiona Lowe had a checklist and was ticking of issues as she included them. There was: racism; local council corruption; a young single mother with a loser boyfriend; an older homeless woman; and a couple facing a major health issue. This was just too much and a s a result the book was too long and none of the issues were dealt with in a deep manner, rather it was all very superficial. As a result, the book was too long, it dragged and got bogged down in too much detail. Each one of these themes could easily have a book of their own, perhaps as part of a series. The endings were also just too unbelievable to really do justice to the book. All in all, a waste of time.

Fiona Lowe stated in her acknowledgements that she has written five books in five years, and sadly I think it shows. She is just trying to do too much at once.