Books-that-feel-like-a-warm-hug_Hero-Desktop_Penguin-1

Reading lists

Books that feel like a warm hug

The People on Platform 5

Don't miss Clare's new, utterly feel-good book How to Age Disgracefully - available now! 
 
No one speaks to strangers on the train. What would happen if they did? 
 
 
'Utterly gorgeous. A proper good pick-me-up of a book' RUTH JONES 
 
'Full of original characters and wisdom' KATIE FFORDE 
 
'Feel-good fiction at its best' SOPHIE COUSENS 
 
­­­----------------------- 
 
Every day at 8:05, Iona Iverson boards the train to go to work. As a seasoned commuter, she knows there are rules that everyone should follow: 
 
· You must have a job to go to 
· Don't consume hot food 
· Always pack for any eventuality 
· You must never speak to strangers on the train 
 
Iona sees the same group of people each day - ones she makes assumptions about, gives nicknames to, but never ever talks to. 
 
But then, one morning, Smart-but-Sexist-Surbiton chokes on a grape right in front of Iona. Suspiciously-Nice-New Malden steps up to help and saves his life, and this one event sparks a chain reaction. 
 
With nothing in common but their commute, an eclectic group of people learn that their assumptions about each other don't match reality. But when Iona's life begins to fall apart, will her new friends be there when she needs them most? 
 
­­­----------------------- 
 
Readers are falling in love with The People on Platform 5: 
 
'Incredible book, full of joy and warmth and love!' 
'A great novel with some truly wonderful characters' 
'The fantastic cast of eclectic characters will steal your heart & have you rooting for their happy endings' 
'A feel-good, once-in-a-lifetime story' 
 
Clare Pooley, The Bookseller bestseller, April 2023

Utterly gorgeous. A proper good pick-me-up of a book

Another totally original, thoroughly enjoyable and satisfying book from Clare Pooley. Full of original characters and wisdom, I absolutely loved it

A glorious triumph of a novel; warm, funny and moving, with an unforgettable cast of characters

Insightful, funny and full of warmth and relatable characters. A brilliant read

A gloriously entertaining and completely addictive read. The People on Platform 5 will be sure to steal your heart. Clare Pooley's writing is astute, wickedly funny, clever and charming. I adore this book

This book tackles so many interesting themes, all with Clare's trademark humour, wonderful writing, and vibrant, loveable characters - Feel-good fiction at its best. It almost made me miss the commute

Sophie Cousens, author of This Time Next Year

A joyous and uplifting story about unexpected friendships, and the chance connections that can change our lives

An uplifting and heart-warming book that champions friendship and community

I loved meeting the people on platform 5 - a delightful story about connection and friendship in a disconnected world

Marianne Cronin, author of The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot

A 1st class journey. Just wonderful

A magnificent, heart-warming novel celebrating the power of human connection - it's an absolute joy

Freya Sampson, author of The Last Library

Uplifting, joyful & funny, yet also poignant, perceptive & clever

This utterly joyful novel takes you on an unforgettable journey with characters you wish you could meet in real life... I loved The People on Platform 5 even more than The Authenticity Project - it's glorious

This book is bursting with the kindness of strangers, and I was bursting with hope by the end of it

Clare Pooley is the queen of feel-good fiction. She takes relatable situations and characters and somehow makes them magical. The People of Platform 5 is funny, tender and true-to-life while also being thought-provoking. It was magnificent and a joy to read

The People on Platform 5 is nothing short of sheer and utter delight. It presents the best of humanity - the sweet and bashful kindness and generosity that lives in all of us. I can't think of a more joyful book!

Jesse Q. Sutanto, bestselling author of Dial A For Aunties

Heartwarming, funny, a delicious dive into the profound and ridiculous modern world in which we live. Clare Pooley reminds us why we need each other

Tara Conklin, New York Times bestselling author

Pooley delivers not only acerbic, enchanting Iona but a compelling, tangled cast of quirky, complicated characters so engaging, it's enough to make you miss crowded commuter trains

Laurie Frankel, New York Times bestselling author

This feel-good ensemble story will bring joy to readers who loved Anxious People and Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine-not to mention fans of quirky London-set fare such as Ted Lasso...a warm, fun pick-me-up of a book

Clare Pooley has found a delightful way to bring home the point that we need each other

Kelly Corrigan, New York Times bestselling author

Leaving you with that fuzzy feeling you want from a feel-good book

Filled with delightful characters... this heart-warming book explores relationships and the dilemmas of everyday life

Tackling many relevant issues, it's a heart-warming read

Poignant, totally joyful, this is a great read

A feel-good read, with great characters to care about, it takes current issues seriously but adds plenty of humour

[It leaves] the reader with that fuzzy feeling you want from a feel-good book. Fans of her previous hit, The Authenticity Project, will not be disappointed

A feel-good tale about the power of real-life connections

You can always rely on Pooley to deliver not just wonderful, lively characters but a story that leaves you feeling uplifted and hopeful

A celebration of multi-generational friendships and human resilience – and a lesson in not jumping to assumptions…There are laugh-out-loud moments and poignant ones too…it really brightened my day

Clare Pooley graduated from Newnham College, Cambridge and spent twenty years in the heady world of advertising, before becoming a full-time writer. 
 
Clare's dark but hilarious memoir, The Sober Diaries, has helped thousands of people around the world to quit drinking. 
 
The Authenticity Project, Clare's debut novel, was a BBC Radio 2 bookclub pick, a New York Times bestseller, the winner of the RNA debut novel award and a Babelio award. It's been translated into 29 languages. 
 
The People on Platform 5 is Clare's second novel, inspired by her fascination with inventing stories about her fellow passengers on her commute to work. 
 
Clare lives in Fulham, London with her husband, three children and two border terriers.

Every day at 8:05, Iona Iverson boards the train to go to work. As a seasoned commuter, she knows there are rules that everyone should follow: 
 
· You must have a job to go to 
· Don't consume hot food 
· Always pack for any eventuality 
· You must never speak to strangers on the train 
 
Iona sees the same group of people each day - ones she makes assumptions about, gives nicknames to, but never ever talks to. 
 
But then, one morning, Smart-but-Sexist-Surbiton chokes on a grape right in front of Iona. Suspiciously-Nice-New Malden steps up to help and saves his life, and this one event sparks a chain reaction. 
 
With nothing in common but their commute, an eclectic group of people learn that their assumptions about each other don't match reality. But when Iona's life begins to fall apart, will her new friends be there when she needs them most?

The bestselling uplifting, joyful and feel-good book of the year loved by readers everywhere

The Authenticity Project

The feel-good book of the year, about the importance of honesty, community and the kindness of strangers.

Don't miss Clare's new, utterly feel-good book How to Age Disgracefully - available now 
 
Treat yourself to the warm, poignant and uplifting Radio 2 Book Club pick, loved by hundreds of thousands of readers... 
 
'The first book which has made me laugh in a long time' 
'A charming, funny and uplifting story' 
'Full of optimism ... I defy anyone not to pick it up and be both transported and delighted' 
'This book helped to lift my spirits' 
'Well-written, great characters , a charming tale, and packed with feel-good factor' 
 
------------ 
 
Six strangers with one thing in common: their lives aren't always what they make them out to be. 
 
What would happen if they told the truth instead? 
 
Julian Jessop is tired of hiding the deep loneliness he feels. So he begins The Authenticity Project - a small green notebook containing the truth about his life. 
 
Leaving the notebook on a table in his friendly neighbourhood café, Julian never expects Monica, the owner, to track him down after finding it. Or that she'll be inspired to write down her own story. 
 
Little do they realise that such small acts of honesty hold the power to impact all those who discover the notebook and change their lives completely. 
 
-------------- 
 
Praise for The Authenticity Project: 
 
'A warm and endearing tale about truth, friendship and the power of connection' 
Mike Gayle 
 
'Original, engaging and unforgettable' 
Sarah Morgan 
 
'A joyous, funny read that leaves you all warm inside' 
Beth Morrey, Sunday Times bestselling author of Saving Missy

The feel-good story...that we all need to read right now

A reminder of the importance of friendships

'The Authenticity Project is a rich roast of great characters, even better relationships, wonderful entanglements, and a few surprises along the way. If Monica's Cafe were a real place, I'd stop by every day.'

Laurie Frankel, New York Times bestselling author of This Is How It Always Is

It's a heartwarming, laughter-and-tears story about the value of friendships and the importance of reaching out to each other.

Fans of Frederick Backman and Gail Honeyman - make room on your shelves for Clare Pooley. The Authenticity Project is a stunning debut and it left me inspired to share more of myself with the world.

Steven Rowley, bestselling author of The Editor

Insightful, timely, and utterly addictive, The Authenticity Project illuminates the importance of discovering - and honoring - our truest, most imperfect selves.

Georgia Hunter, New York Times bestselling author of We Were the Lucky Ones

'The Authenticity Project cracks the facades that people present to the world and shows what happens when you're willing to share your true self. This is a story of love, community, of found family, and of forgiveness. A beautiful book with a poignant message, perfect for our time.'

Jill Santopolo, bestselling author of The Light We Lost

'A lively story of revelations and self-realisations'

'With lessons on honesty and just how well you might know your neighbours (which feels extra pertinent right now), The Authenticity Project will have you pondering your own 'inner self'...If you're looking for reassurance about friendship and love, it's a great place to find it'

'Reminds you of the good in human nature, community and friendship... A lose-yourself, uplifting read with a serious theme to ponder'

'This debut is life-affirming . . . Charming'

'It's not difficult to see why this beautiful, tender novel has been such a hit with readers'

'If you're a fan of Eleanor Oliphant, read this!'

'A moving tale about loneliness, parenthood, addiction and the importance of living the best life you can'

'A heartening story about the importance of truth and friendship, with characters that spring to life on the page'

'A superb, life-affirming book . . . this is both funny and heartbreakingly sad'

'This is the feel-good story, full of hope, that we all need to read right now'

In this joyous read, we learn what it means to embrace who we really are

'A moving tale about living the best life you can'

'A wonderfully warm, feel-good novel about the power of friendship and connection'

In a heartfelt and ultimately joyous read, we learn what it means to open up to who we really are

I loved this uplifting, original tale

This is a reminder of the importance of friendships and reaching out to others

'Pooley handles her cast with brio as new relationships are formed and lives are changed in this poignant and uplifting read'

It's full of life's truths, funny, poignant and ultimately uplifting. I thoroughly enjoyed it

I loved The Authenticity Project. I powered through it and it was such a joy. It gave me that warm fuzzy feeling that I've so missed (since the days of Love Actually etc). It really reminded me of those classic Richard Curtis films... Fab characters and just the right amount of romance, humour and weepy moments

'Reading the book was like hanging out with a rowdy, affectionate bunch of friends where you don't want the party to stop. A joyous, funny read that leaves you all warm inside'

'One of the best books I've read in a long time. Original, engaging and unforgettable'

Sunday Times bestselling author, Sarah Morgan

Beautifully written, thought provoking and uplifting, The Authenticity Project is a warm and endearing tale about truth, friendship and the power of connection. Pooley's characters will stay with you long after you turn the final page. It was a joy to read

Six strangers with one thing in common: their lives aren't always what they make them out to be. 
 
What would happen if they told the truth instead? 
 
Julian Jessop is tired of hiding the deep loneliness he feels. So he begins The Authenticity Project - a small green notebook containing the truth about his life. 
 
Leaving the notebook on a table in his friendly neighbourhood café, Julian never expects Monica, the owner, to track him down after finding it. Or that she'll be inspired to write down her own story. 
 
Little do they realize that such small acts of honesty hold the power to impact all those who discover the notebook and change their lives completely.

Clare Pooley

Uplifting, heartwarming and joyful. Restored my faith in humankind, it’s the perfect book to escape to in these troubled times. So funny, so moving, and so glad I read it.

A feelgood comedy about the perils of underestimating OAPs. Clare Pooley's third novel is an affectionate swipe at ageism - her witty turn of phrase and gloriously British sense of humour makes this a breezily entertaining read, and Daphne is a scurrilous delight

How to Age Disgracefully is a celebration of life at every age and stage. I laughed, cried and cheered at this wonderful novel

Jennie Godfrey, Sunday Times bestselling author of The List of Suspicious Things

A warm and uplifting story about making friends, smashing stereotypes and the importance of community - I loved it

Clare Pooley weaves together the most cleverly flawed and lovable characters and then sets them free to prove that we are limitless at any age. How to Age Disgracefully is a love letter to the human spirit

Annabel Monaghan, author of Nora Goes Off Script

Clare Pooley writes the kind of characters that I want to be when I grow up! I laughed such a lot reading this book, even as my heart was breaking. It is another triumph; truthful, insightful and full of joy. I am in love with this book

Joyful, life-affirming and full of heart, How to Age Disgracefully is an absolute riot of a read, full of perfectly flawed characters who made me laugh, cry and cheer. . .you'll never look at a septuagenarian the same way again!

A roof-raising triumph! Bursting with heart . . . this is peak Pooley and I loved, loved, LOVED it!

Utterly hysterical and full of heart, with hugely loveable characters, a dialogue that had me in stitches and many profound moments. A totally wonderful, spirit-lifting read!

Funny, warm, wise and a total riot

Clare Pooley&rsquo;s books get better and better with every one. I absolutely loved this!

Another stunning book from Clare Pooley, How to Age Disgracefully is guaranteed to warm your heart and brighten your days. Enthralling, vibrant, deliciously eccentric and just so funny

Reading this book felt like a warm hug and its endearing, witty characters like old friends (Daphne is my hero!). I can’t recommend it enough

Pooley's characters will stay with you long after you turn the final page

A glorious triumph of a novel; warm funny and moving with an unforgettable cast of characters

Insighful, funny and full of warmth

'Uplifting, heartwarming and joyful. Restored my faith in humankind' - Ruth Jones 
 
When age makes you invisible, secrets are easier to hide 
 
Daphne knows that age is just a number. She also knows that society no longer pays her any attention – something she’s happy to exploit to help her hide a somewhat chequered past. 
 
But finding herself alone on her 70th birthday, with only her plants to talk to and neighbours to stalk online, she decides she needs some friends. Joining a Senior Citizen's Social Club she’s horrified at the expectation she’ll spend her time enduring gentle crafting activities. Thankfully, the other members – including a failed actor addicted to shoplifting and a prolific yarn-bomber – agree. 
 
After a tragic accident, the local council threaten to close the club – but they have underestimated the wrong group of pensioners...and with the help of a teenage dad and a geriatric, orphaned dog, the incongruous gang set out to prove it. 
 
As long as their pasts don't catch up with them first…

Clare Pooley

Praise for How to Age Disgracefully

Uplifting, heartwarming and joyful. Restored my faith in humankind, it’s the perfect book to escape to in these troubled times. So funny, so moving, and so glad I read it.

A feelgood comedy about the perils of underestimating OAPs. Clare Pooley's third novel is an affectionate swipe at ageism - her witty turn of phrase and gloriously British sense of humour makes ...

How to Age Disgracefully is a celebration of life at every age and stage. I laughed, cried and cheered at this wonderful novel

Uplifting, heartwarming and joyful. Restored my faith in humankind, it’s the perfect book to escape to in these troubled times. So funny, so moving, and so glad I read it.

A feelgood comedy about the perils of underestimating OAPs. Clare Pooley's third novel is an affectionate swipe at ageism - her witty turn of phrase and gloriously British sense of humour makes ...

How to Age Disgracefully is a celebration of life at every age and stage. I laughed, cried and cheered at this wonderful novel

Uplifting, heartwarming and joyful. Restored my faith in humankind, it’s the perfect book to escape to in these troubled times. So funny, so moving, and so glad I read it.

A feelgood comedy about the perils of underestimating OAPs. Clare Pooley's third novel is an affectionate swipe at ageism - her witty turn of phrase and gloriously British sense of humour makes ...

How to Age Disgracefully is a celebration of life at every age and stage. I laughed, cried and cheered at this wonderful novel

Books by Clare Pooley

Articles featuring Clare Pooley

Books that feel like a warm hug

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter