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lizziaha's review against another edition
4.0
Group of lonely misfits turned found family waged war against loneliness and Hubert Bird comes to grips with his past. I really enjoyed the beginning half of the book, but the ending fell a little flat for me. The main conflict of the book was not exactly resolved, it was sort of dissolved, which meant there was no payoff for the tension, which didn’t work for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Racism
Moderate: Addiction, Classism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Dementia, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Fatphobia
heartofhorrors's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, Car accident, Suicidal thoughts, Dementia, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Grief, Drug abuse, Racism, Addiction, and Death
louise010's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Death, Dementia, and Racism
ashenlar's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A quick, fun read with book club. Probably not something I would've picked up in terms of writing style, but I'm glad to have read it for the hopeful and positive message overall, and very diverse characters.
I do think generally everything things either a bit too easy or obvious for plot progression (eg the first woman Hubert really meets ends up being the love of his life with a pretty blandly perfect relationship) - or twists that come too out of nowhere and don't really feel convincing (Rose's death)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Dementia, Addiction, Mental illness, Racism, Grief, Racial slurs, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Death, and Drug use
lhodgson26's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
<spoiler > I adore Mike Gayles books and this one may be my favourite one yet. Like his others the characters are so real and they make their way into your heart. The book helps to make you believe in humanity again and that there are genuinely good people like Hubert and Asheligh out there. Some really important themes of loneliness, drug abuse, racism , alzhimers and grief were all showcased throughout this book. Told between the present day and the past we learn of Huberts life from how he left Jamaica and came to England to start a family and all of the heartbreak he experienced. The plot twist towards the end that Rose wasn't really alive and he'd been talking to a ghost for the last five years was heartbreaking. But I loved the sense of community andall his friends he then made as he tried to rebuild his life from his oldest friend Gus to his new friendship with Joyce. Just when you think he finally got his happy ever after it was then only eighteen months later when he died but no doubt reunited with his beloved wife and his daughter.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Dementia, Racial slurs, Racism, Drug abuse, and Child death
jenna_30's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Absolutely great read. Halfway through the book it got really emotional. I will definitely think about this book for a long time.
The characters are so diverse and absolutely lovable. Don’t hesitate to read it yourself!
The characters are so diverse and absolutely lovable. Don’t hesitate to read it yourself!
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug abuse and Addiction
alexisgarcia's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
this was very very similar to a man called ove, but with a twist. unsurprisingly, i loved it. it was a total cheese fest but if you’re okay with that, it’s really enjoyable and wholesome. there are also some darker themes which gives the book more substance
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Car accident, Chronic illness, Grief, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Child death, Classism, Cursing, Mental illness, Racism, Terminal illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexism, and Suicidal thoughts
aniglen's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Compared to a Man Called Ove, All the Lonely People is about Huburt Byrd, an elderly recluse who finds out his daughter is about to visit and decides to show her how full and fulfilling his life is.
At the heart, this novel is about finding friendships later in life and how we may all more in common than we first think.
There are plenty of twists to keep the plot moving the reader interested, however I felt the author was trying to cover far too many topics that I got a little tired and found that it lacked depth.
At the heart, this novel is about finding friendships later in life and how we may all more in common than we first think.
There are plenty of twists to keep the plot moving the reader interested, however I felt the author was trying to cover far too many topics that I got a little tired and found that it lacked depth.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Dementia, Drug abuse, and Racism
Minor: Dementia, Racial slurs, and Suicide
mshai's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is a very very strong 5 stars. Wow. This book really touched me, I was in tears for a large part of the end and just honestly felt so overwhelmed with emotion reading this. It felt so real and close to home it just honestly is a book I’ll hold dear to my heart for a very long time. One of my new favourites. Just extraordinary.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Drug abuse
Minor: Car accident
bookishnookish's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I had no idea I would find this book so very relatable. Mike Gayle is a brilliant writer!
Hubert Bird is a recluse for all intents and purposes. Something terrible happened to him 5 years ago and he has become a shut-in, losing contact with all his friends and secluding himself from his neighbors until a new neighbor, Ashleigh and her daughter Layla come knocking.
The chapters alternate between present times and the past and through the various timelines, we see Hubert as he was, fresh off the boat from Jamaica in a very racist backdated London, his falling in love with Joyce and the life they built together, the tragedies that struck his life, and him trying to take back his life in the present day. It's a beautiful book, albeit very sad at times. It deals with many painful topics such as racism, loss, and loneliness and how it isn't just affecting the elderly, but also young people from all walks of life. I picked it up on a whim and I am so very glad I did.
This is quite a relevant book in today's changed world where we are all trying to navigate to the people we were before the world changed so drastically and forced us all into seclusion and made so many of us into introverts.
Hubert Bird is a recluse for all intents and purposes. Something terrible happened to him 5 years ago and he has become a shut-in, losing contact with all his friends and secluding himself from his neighbors until a new neighbor, Ashleigh and her daughter Layla come knocking.
The chapters alternate between present times and the past and through the various timelines, we see Hubert as he was, fresh off the boat from Jamaica in a very racist backdated London, his falling in love with Joyce and the life they built together, the tragedies that struck his life, and him trying to take back his life in the present day. It's a beautiful book, albeit very sad at times. It deals with many painful topics such as racism, loss, and loneliness and how it isn't just affecting the elderly, but also young people from all walks of life. I picked it up on a whim and I am so very glad I did.
This is quite a relevant book in today's changed world where we are all trying to navigate to the people we were before the world changed so drastically and forced us all into seclusion and made so many of us into introverts.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs
Minor: Drug abuse and Death