I found this lovely story to be a delightful romance with some very positive points made by several characters.  

Lucy is an attractive 25 year old young woman, hopeful of finding her one true love, but she is also an avid knitter and much more of a homebody than a party girl.  She does her best at her job and this often means she gets taken advantage of.  Lucy is also a good person who has developed a friendship with her neighbor Brenda, the 79 year old widow of an old rock star.  When George moves into their neighborhood, Lucy finds him very attractive and Brenda lends her a bit of magic in the form of an old locket to help Lucy win his heart.  There are ups and downs to the process of Lucy and George's coming together but they are well written and a pure pleasure to read.  I strongly recommend.

A lovely tale of friendship and romance with some magic and mystery thrown in. I love the friendship between young and old, the portrayal of a mother than most of us can identify with and how sensitively that old age is dealt with.

First off I have to say that I truly just enjoyed this novel.  It made me laugh, cry, at points I was irritated due to some characters behavior and then my heart filled with joy between the love and kindness that was shown between many of the characters but especially the two main characters or Lucy and Brenda. 

Since I was a little girl I have had a fondness to spend time with people that are older than me whether they be my relatives or the neighbors I was always chattting with(my Mom would say bothering) when I was young, so when I read the blurb to this book it had my name written all over it. 

The story of Lucy Baker, toy distributor employee, knitter, daughter, sister and a neighbor everyone would want to have.  The bond that is developed between her and her elderly neighbor Brenda is pure and honest and a joy to read.  Enter George, the new neighbor, cranky and quiet and keeps to himself h til he meets Lucy and she slowly encourages him to be kind and decent to other people is not a horrible trait to have. 

As you follow Lucy’s story and the everyday life she encounters you can’t help but open up your heart and fall in love with her and her neighbors, Co-workers and family. Fabulous must read for anyone who enjoys a rom-com of a novel that touches your heart.

This was such a lovely read and so well written, it tells us about Lucy who's is a very quiet 25 year old and Brenda who is 79 years old and on the  verge of dementia and before she loses her mind altogether she wants to see Lucy happy with life and so I guess their adve ture begins .. a great read x

Lovely story that tugs on the emotions. Definitely recommended to people who enjoy this type of book.

Loved this book!

The story of Lucy Baker, starting on the day a new neighbour moves in and a stray cat appears in the street.

Lucy is given a locket by neighbour Brenda, which has a series of tasks to help her find her true love and give her more confidence in life. Although sceptical she starts to carry out the tasks with help from her friend Jess, but will it work?

A quirky story full of interesting chracters.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a voluntary and honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It reminded me a lot of The Age of Misadventure by Judy Leigh. I sometimes read quite dark fiction and it’s good to step into the light every once in a while. I totally loved Lucy and Brenda, their friendship made me feel all warm and fuzzy. I loved the way the author tackled Brenda’s dementia. My Nan had dementia and it was quite bad at the end. The author does a very sensitive job of writing about this. At times Brenda reminded me of my Nan. I got upset reading a few times and had to stop because it felt so real which shows what a great job the author did. This is a great felt good book and well worth a read.

Initially, I was attracted to this book because of the cat on the cover; after all, what story is not improved by the presence of a cat?  Lucy is a lovely girl, but lacking in self-confidence. This heart-warming and humorous tale of the power of friendship, and learning to stand up for yourself, boasts a cast of wonderfully drawn, quirky characters that will stay with you long after you have finished reading.  I look forward to the next book by Jenni Keer.
Thanks to Avon and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Lucy works in sales for a local toy company and lives alone in a small flat next to her elderly neighbour and friend, Brenda.

When Lucy and Brenda gain a new neighbour, George, Brenda gives Lucy a locket and tries to convince her that it will bring love. Along with her friend, Jess, Lucy agrees to try and make George fall in love with her but does anything go to plan?

I immediately liked Lucy. She sounds like someone I would get on with. Brenda was also a wonderful character and one I immediately warmed to.

George, in my opinion had Mr Darcy like qualities and I (without giving too much away) knew there was going to be more to him. Misunderstood rather than grumpy.

I loved the magical aspects of this novel. It added additional romance to it. It’s a reminder to have faith in what you’re capable of and what you can achieve.

There are so many endearing qualities to this novel. The friendship between Lucy and Brenda proving that age is just a number and that shutting yourself off to that kind of friendship means you potentially miss out. I wanted so much to be able to talk to my late Grandmother whilst reading this novel.

There are plenty of laugh out loud moments along with heartfelt and bittersweet ones. Overall though, this book has a life affirming message.

The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker is just a feel good novel that is certainly worth picking up although I was already sold when I saw the cover and the cat. In my opinion, it handles the subject of Dementia in a sensitive manner.

If you want a novel that will have you smiling pretty much all the way through, I recommend this one.

What a super debut novel! I loved the characters, particularly Lucy and the mysterious Brenda. The office scenes had me reminiscing about my own time in the business world. The ‘will she, wont she?’ character of the chapters propelled you through the story and made it difficult to put the book down. Funny, sad and poignant, I can’t wait for the next novel from Jenni Keer.

This is a fabulous debut!

It's a heartwarming story of a young woman gaining her confidence, with the help of her best friend, octogenarian Brenda, and a sprinkling of magic. 

A lovely story about an unusual friendship, colleagues in the workplace (including some with outdated ideas!), family, and love. The theme of dementia is handled with a gentle sensitivity, along with that of being an unofficial  carer.

There are some great characters aside from Lucy, the eccentric Brenda and the knitted Poldarks; George is the love interest; a grumpy, rude character who soon unwittingly endears himself to Lucy and the reader. And there's more than meets the eye with some of Lucy's work colleagues.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and I look forward to Jenni's next one!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. This review is my own honest opinion.

I loved this title.  The friendship that developed between the characters was touching and delightful.  Being a home-body myself, I found I could relate to Lucy and the anxiety she felt as changes were made.  This was a wonderful read with more than one moment bringing me to laughter and tears.  Well worth the read!

This is a wonderful feel good story.
The characters are charming and interact superbly.
I just could not put it down.

The tgemes of dementia and death are carefully and sympathetically developed in this tale of Lucy Baker and her caring neighbour. 
Easy reading, funny yet heartbreaking!

This was a really easy to read, funny rom-com book, despite the hard themes of dementia and death. 

At times, I felt it was very predictable which was a shame because I enjoyed the characters but overall I enjoyed the book and would recommend for those looking for a light-hearted read.

The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker is the debut novel by Jenni Keer. 
The three main characters are 25-year-old Lucy Baker, her best friend/neighbor 79-year-old Brenda, and her new neighbor/love interest George. Brenda is developing dementia and is desperate to see Lucy happy. With a little help for a locket, Lucy is on her way to becoming the person she was meant to be. I found the character George to be very humorous and also enjoyed the banter between her coworkers. The story was a little weak in developing the relationship between George and Lucy.  Overall, a fun read.

Lucy is 25, Brenda is 79. They are next door neighbours and best of friends. An unlikely pairing you may think but as you delve into the pages it soon becomes apparent how special the relationship between the two women really is.

Lucy isn’t your typical 25-year-old woman. She enjoys her time with Brenda, sitting at the bistro set sipping one of her friend’s teas. Her collection of knitted dolls that she has made adorn her cosy little flat. Socialising and partying are really not the scene for this quiet, unassuming lady.

When George moves in a couple of doors down, they don’t get off on the right foot straight away. He’s surly and abrupt. Lucy it seems is destined to be involved with her new neighbour in some way or other as a stray cat has adopted him! The cat also befriends Lucy.

Lucy starts to worry for her dear friend when she notices little things not quite right. When Brenda is diagnosed with dementia, she has one desire before her memories leave her for good. She wants to see Lucy find love and be happy.

Brenda gifts Lucy a locket, claiming it helped her find love with her beloved Jim many years before. Lucy discovers newfound confidence that is noticed by those around her. It presents new opportunities both at work and in her home life as she starts to sell some knitted Poldarks!! Is the locket magical or is the real Lucy Baker emerging from her protective shell??

This is beautifully written and contains a little touch of magic. It has some hilarious one-liners, explores relationships between generations and is just incredibly heartwarming.

Lucy Baker is a reserved, knitting-obsessed 25-year-old, hoping to make her mark on the world but unsure how to go about it. Lucy shares a wonderful friendship with Brenda, her kind and eccentric elderly neighbour. When they gain a new neighbour in serious, handsome George, Brenda gives Lucy a mysterious locket which helped Brenda find her true love many years ago. With the help of the locket, Lucy is thrust into new and exciting challenges with family, friends, work, and love. 

This is a lovely heart-warming book about friendship, love, and gaining confidence to go after your dreams. Lucy is a very likable character, kind and caring but with recognisable flaws which inhibit her ability to have the life she desires. Brenda is a brilliantly written character, with a cheeky sense of humour and interesting tales to tell of her past.

There is a feeling of bittersweet throughout the story, with Brenda being diagnosed with dementia, and Lucy determined to do her best to care for her good friend. And while there is the distress and sadness of Brenda’s illness, there are always smiles and hope.

I enjoyed the sense of magic and mystery surrounding the locket which Lucy uses, along with the power of her belief, to propel her into the life of her dreams.

This is lovely story, full of heart.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for the opportunity to read and review this title.

Firstly, it has to be said, if this book doesn’t leave you with a very strong desire to start researching the purchase of your very own locket then I don’t believe you! I know I want one now for sure. This story starts weaving its personal magic into the very first page. The characters are warm and well-drawn, and you find yourself just wishing that a house would come up for sale on Lancaster road so that you could move in and be a permanent part of it all. The sensations of the seasons are carefully penned and at no point does life in Lucy’s world seem boring or dull. The universe seems to expand and contract around Lucy and yet her own personality conjures up its own funny, unique and final say on anything the universe tries to tell her. Thank goodness ‘the universe is cleverer than we give it credit for.’ Her heartfelt and haphazard approach to her quest to be her best and ‘embrace a bolder version of herself’ is so totally charming and effortlessly endearing. Just like the less experienced, but totally devoted celebrity, on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ you can’t help but cheer her on and think she is way more representative of yourself than the glitterball champ could ever be. 
Jenni Keer is wonderfully witty, has a way with words and leaves some hilarious visual images in the brain that leave you chuckling into your chocolat chaud of an evening. Her one liners weave something magical around your feet the same way that Scratbag, the moggy that mooches in and out of Lucy’s life, might wind his way around your legs.  I too am often ‘a lost woman in need of companionship’ and this lovely story was a wonderful way to wile away a restful hour or two with my sofa and slippers. The tag line of the tale that ‘sometimes a little something can mean everything’ is a sentiment that rings true with this brilliantly crafted and gripping story; one that any booklover craving some time with a good book can relate to.
Time spent in Lucy Baker’s company has a poignancy to it too; loneliness, sibling rivalry, parent-child relationships and the attachment that never dies even when a loved one is no longer present, are topics that the writer steers us through. The friendship we witness in the world of our heroine helps us to take courage in our own relationships and to never give up on people. The story is a shot of courage and confidence that will give you a welcome boost on the cusp of this new year. True love is the hero of the hour – the most admirable of goals and the capacity for which resides within each of us and must surely start with ourselves. Spending time with this lovely story is like a relaxing warm bath – you will come away feeling rested and restored, rebooted and revitalised and with a warm glow all of your own.
Coffee Cup Conversations and Teapot Talking Points:
If you and I dear reader were sitting down together today, settled around a cosy fire with our knitting in our laps, having both read the book, here are a few of the points we could mull over together.
Have you ever struck up an unusual friendship?
Lucy’s friendship with Brenda is at the heart of the story, a centrifugal force that magnetises us as a reader to Lucy and her journey. I love that the two of them ‘look to the other for qualities they wish to possess’ and I thought that this was a wonderful hope and dream to carry out into my own world as I aim to make new friendships and relate to those around me. Welcoming others into our lives, just as they are, making room for their own strengths to shine and for us to warm and complement each other with our own uniqueness is a stunning and deeply profound thought for the year ahead. Growing our own self-awareness and encouraging others in discovering themselves and extending love to us all equally, is what makes life worth living.
Lucy loves knitting – have you had any experience with this eternally popular craft?
I loved reading about the different creations that Lucy knits. I was reminded of my childhood knitting projects where I made knitted different characters such as scarecrows and even a roman in a toga. I remembered one particular school homework where I had to knit a version of myself. The little doll was actually quite good – but getting the hair just right was tricky – I put so much in that she really did have a wild look about her. Something about that doll made my own mother hoot with laughter and must have struck a chord as she kept that doll in the sitting room for years.

Are there any of life’s disasters that you can now look back at and see the funny side?
Brenda urges Lucy to ‘look back and laugh at life in order to move on.’ The old refrains to ‘always look on the bright side of life’ and not to ‘look back in anger’ feel like real British values to me – our good old Blighty sense of humour helps in the best of times and the worst of times. It’s a challenge that I feel the author frisbeed over to my feet as part of the story and I am going to give laughing at life’s banana skins a little go. I really believe that there is power in lightening up – and there is strength in shrugging off the pains of the past. Yes, it is important to acknowledge the truth of difficult emotions, but there is also a time to let go in order to move on up.

I received this book free from the publisher in return for my review.

There are many special things about this book -nicely knitted celebrities - who would have thought it?!  The fact that Lucy's best friend is a lady old enough to be her mum, and to be honest, is probably nicer than her mum, for a start. The locket that her friend gives her to help her find love. And her grumpy 'allergic to everything' new neighbour George.

George is a bit of an anti-hero, to start with at least - blocking the road with his removals van and then refusing to take in a stray cat that turns up in his house. But as time goes on, and perhaps with a little bit of magic, this story becomes charming and I really enjoyed it. It's not a taxing read - it's easy to pick up again if you haven't read it for a couple of days. Perfect for a holiday or. long train journey.