Description
‘His most accomplished and moving novel yet’ Lisa Jewell
From the author of The Man I Think I Know
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Strangers living worlds apart. Strangers with nothing in common. But it wasn’t always that way…
Kerry Hayes is a single mum, living on a tough south London estate. She provides for her son by cleaning houses she could never hope to afford. Taken into care as a child, Kerry cannot ever forget her past.
Noah Martineau is a successful barrister with a beautiful wife, daughter and home in fashionable Primrose Hill. Adopted as a child, Noah always looks forward, never back. When Kerry reaches out to the sibling she lost on the day they were torn apart as children, she sets in motion a chain of events that will have life-changing consequences for them both.
By turns funny and moving, Half a World Away is a story that will stay with you long after you read its powerfully emotional, heartbreaking final page.
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‘Mike Gayle has such a talent for delving into hearts, minds and contemporary issues. Half a World Away is supremely poignant, uplifting and heartwarming in equal measure – as well as being a real page-turner.’ Sophie Kinsella, author of Surprise Me
‘Mike has a prodigious talent for writing completely relatable characters who draw you into their world and tug at your heart strings. Half a World Away is an absolute triumph and a joy to read. Once again Mike tackles complex and thorny issues with a confident and compassionate hand.’ Ruth Hogan, author of The Keeper of Lost Things
‘Half a World Away is heartbreaking and beautiful, full of poignant moments and characters you fall for from page one. I couldn’t put it down.’ Libby Page, author of The Lido
Tracey Harriman (verified owner) –
As children, half-siblings Kerry and Jason are taken into care and placed with different families. Many years later we find that their lives have taken very different trajectories. Kerry is a single mum, working as a cleaner to support her own young son. Jason is no longer Jason. He has changed his name to Noah and is a barrister, married with a daughter.
Jason was only 2 years old when he was taken into care, and has no recollection of Kerry. He has never even been told of her existence, so it’s something of a surprise when she gets in contact with him.
This is the first book by Mike Gayle that I’ve read. I’ll be honest, I hadn’t even heard of him until I picked up this book. You know the saying ‘don’t judge a book by it’s cover’? Well that’s just what I did. I didn’t read the blurb, just thought the cover looked kind of funky. I will absolutely be hunting out more of Gayle’s writing. Regardless of the cover.
This is a story of love, relationships and family, in all it’s beauty and in all it’s heartache. I’ve been asked, as a single mum myself, what it’s like. I find it hard to put into words. Gayle had no such problem. As a reader you feel Kerry’s struggle, her frustrations, her sacrifices…but most of all you feel her love. She is so beautifully written it’s impossible not to feel empathy for her, I’ve rarely felt so much for a character.
Given certain similarities I have with Kerry, it’s not surprising I felt such a connection to her. What was more surprising was that, despite my not being wealthy, a barrister, married or black, I found I also felt immense empathy and understanding for Jason/Noah. This, I think is the greatest success of the book. That Gayle has written a beautiful human story. Social status, class, colour and upbringing are secondary to the story. This is about love.
I can’t remember a book ever making me cry. This one did. My heart went through the wringer. In so many ways this is a very uplifting book. The love of mother and son, father and daughter are enough to make your heart melt. The love that grows between brother and sister is a joy to share. But there is heartache and, because I felt as though I’d been on the journey with them, I shared their pain. I defy you not to do the same!
I’ve read so many great books this year so far. Many that I’ve enjoyed immensely and given 5*s to. But no book I’ve read in the past couple of years has made me feel as much as this has. This is as close to perfect as it’s possible to get.
Buy it. Borrow it. Put it on your birthday list. Just make sure you read it!