Book Review - Home by Penny Parkes - Blog Tour

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Title: Home

Author: Penny Parkes

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publication Date: 8th July 2021

Rating: 5 Stars

A gripping and heartfelt story about overcoming the past and finding where you belong.

 

Anna Wilson travels the world as a professional housesitter – stepping into other people’s lives - caring for their homes, pets and sometimes even neighbours. Living vicariously.

 

But all Anna has ever really wanted is a home of her own – a proper one, filled with family and love and happy memories. If only she knew where to start.

 

Growing up in foster care, she always envied her friends their secure and carefree lives, their certainty and confidence. And, while those same friends may have become her family of choice, Anna is still stuck in that nomadic cycle, looking for answers, trying to find the courage to put down roots and find a place to call home.

 

Compelling, rich and evocative, Home is Anna’s journey to discovering that it isn’t where you settle down that matters, but the people you have around you when you do. 

What a journey Anna is on, and I absolutely loved being there every step of the way. 

From the first time we get a glimpse into her childhood, I was gripped by the book, both the present day and the past, as we get to see just why Anna is the way she is. 

Anna is a professional house sitter and has been for 10 years, she is clearly looking for something, but not quite sure what, so has in the meantime spent years travelling around the world looking after some fabulous properties and also a lot of pet sitting. She also in each place attempts to fit in like a local, and makes fleeting connections to people. 

She has one constant in her life, best friend Kate who is straight talking and absolutely wonderful.  

The past sections show us the various placements Anna had as a child, growing up in foster care with no hope of adoption as both her parents were still alive, they just weren't able to care for her at all.  I suspect there was great research gone into what children at all the various ages would feel like care , as it made for realistic and compelling reading. 

We are also treated to some of Anna's most recent house sitting jobs in the present, and it's fascinating to see how different people treat her, and just what she has to deal with.  At times I started thinking that it would be a wonderful job to do for myself, especially if I was able to get any of the plum positions abroad that Anna loves. 

At the heart of it all Anna wants is a home to call her home but she is terrified of making any decisions, but will some of the people she meets at her latest placements start to get her thinking differently. 

It's a heartwarming story about finding your place in the world. I really loved it. 

Thank you to Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

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