Half a World Away: The heart-warming, heart-breaking Richard and Judy Book Club selection
Jun 2019 · Hachette UK
4.6star
60 reviewsreport
Ebook
320
Pages
family_home
Eligible
info
reportRatings and reviews aren’t verified Learn More
About this ebook
DON'T MISS MIKE'S BRAND NEW NOVEL, A SONG OF ME AND YOU - AVAILABLE TO ORDER NOW!
'His most accomplished and moving novel yet' Lisa Jewell
'Emotionally high-voltage' Metro
***
Strangers living worlds apart.
Strangers with nothing in common.
But it wasn't always that way...
Kerry Hayes is single mum, living on a tough south London estate. She provides for her son by cleaning houses she could never afford. Taken into care as a child, Kerry cannot forget her past.
Noah Martineau is a successful barrister with a beautiful wife, daughter and home in fashionable Primrose Hill. Adopted as a young child, Noah never looks back.
When Kerry contacts Noah, the sibling she lost on the day they were torn apart as children, she sets in motion a chain of events that will change both of their lives forever.
By turns funny and moving, Half a World Away is a story that will stay with you long after you read its final page.
***
Readers love Half a World Away!
'These are people who matter, situations one can believe. Most readers will find themselves caring very much. A life-affirming read.' Vine
'It isn't easy, it is heart-wrenching, but, oh, is it worth reading. I can't recommend this book highly enough.' Vine
'How have I not read a Mike Gayle book before? I want to give this book all of the starts in the universe. I cried my eyes out at the end. It is touching, heart-wrenching and thought-provoking.' Netgalley
'This story is raw and beautiful and sad. It puts lots of things into perspective and makes you think about what is important in life. Beautifully written, easy to read and will certainly bring tears to your eyes. A must read.' Netgalley
'This is a beautiful, beautiful book. It's about family, about class, about love, about choices and sacrifice. It's about letting go and learning to hold on. It's optimistic and heartbreaking and funny and emotional. It's the kind of book that will stay with you, long after you finish it. Buy it, read it, love it - and hang on to those tissues, you'll need them.' Netgalley
Authors love Half a World Away!
'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
'His most accomplished and moving novel yet' Lisa Jewell
'Emotionally high-voltage' Metro
***
Strangers living worlds apart.
Strangers with nothing in common.
But it wasn't always that way...
Kerry Hayes is single mum, living on a tough south London estate. She provides for her son by cleaning houses she could never afford. Taken into care as a child, Kerry cannot forget her past.
Noah Martineau is a successful barrister with a beautiful wife, daughter and home in fashionable Primrose Hill. Adopted as a young child, Noah never looks back.
When Kerry contacts Noah, the sibling she lost on the day they were torn apart as children, she sets in motion a chain of events that will change both of their lives forever.
By turns funny and moving, Half a World Away is a story that will stay with you long after you read its final page.
***
Readers love Half a World Away!
'These are people who matter, situations one can believe. Most readers will find themselves caring very much. A life-affirming read.' Vine
'It isn't easy, it is heart-wrenching, but, oh, is it worth reading. I can't recommend this book highly enough.' Vine
'How have I not read a Mike Gayle book before? I want to give this book all of the starts in the universe. I cried my eyes out at the end. It is touching, heart-wrenching and thought-provoking.' Netgalley
'This story is raw and beautiful and sad. It puts lots of things into perspective and makes you think about what is important in life. Beautifully written, easy to read and will certainly bring tears to your eyes. A must read.' Netgalley
'This is a beautiful, beautiful book. It's about family, about class, about love, about choices and sacrifice. It's about letting go and learning to hold on. It's optimistic and heartbreaking and funny and emotional. It's the kind of book that will stay with you, long after you finish it. Buy it, read it, love it - and hang on to those tissues, you'll need them.' Netgalley
Authors love Half a World Away!
'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
Ratings and reviews
4.6
60 reviews
Richard Austin
- Flag inappropriate
August 31, 2019
Mike Gayle is the reason I started reading books after a friend gave me turning thirty for my 30th. Once again he has created a book that you can not put down until final page has been read. Never predictable, always twists and turns that mirror real life. Being adopted myself I can identify with a lot of Noah's feelings, to many books that deal with this subject have clearly never been researched or focus on very negative outcomes. Excellent all round 5 stars just isn't enough cant wait for Mike's next book.
19 people found this review helpful
Roslyn Holman
- Flag inappropriate
January 9, 2022
A new author and the reviews that I read that drew me to this book are so true. This is a heart breaking, warm, and moving story that at times brought tears to my eyes. The characters are believable and draw you into the story. You ache for Noah's inability to open up about his feelings and Kerry's need to constantly be strong and keep in control. Such a lovely story. If I could have rated it with more stars I would have done so and I will definitely look for more stories by Mike Gayle.
Alison Brown
- Flag inappropriate
- Show review history
June 28, 2020
A captivating read from start to finish. It's a bit of an emotional roller-coaster and if you're a parent, you're definitely going to need tissues. Really well written with an engaging storyline.
4 people found this review helpful
About the author
MIKE GAYLE was born and raised in Birmingham. After graduating from Salford University with a degree in Sociology, he moved to London to pursue a career in journalism and worked as a features editor and agony uncle. He has written for a variety of publications including The Sunday Times, the Guardian and Cosmopolitan. Mike became a full-time novelist in 1997 following the publication of his Sunday Times top ten bestseller My Legendary Girlfriend, which was hailed by the Independent as 'full of belly laughs and painfully acute observations', and by The Times as 'a funny, frank account of a hopeless romantic'. Since then he has written eighteen novels, including The Man I Think I Know, selected as a World Book Night title, and Half A World Away, selected for the Richard and Judy Book Club. His books have been translated into more than thirty languages. In 2021, Mike was the recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Romantic Novelists' Association. He lives in Birmingham with his wife, kids and greyhound. You can find him online at mikegayle.co.uk and on Twitter @mikegayle.
Rate this ebook
Tell us what you think.
Reading information
Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.
