When Brenda with her purple hair, mystical air and cheeky side arrived in the first few pages I knew I would love this book. The warm, honest writing style drew me into Lucy's life and kept me there until the last page. 

This charming, quirky story is driven by the collection of characters Jenni Keer has created and I loved them all.  Where I could relate to Lucy with her tendency to prefer crafting and reading than experiencing life or rock the boat by saying "no", it was Brenda who captured my heart. She is who I would like to be when I am old; full of life, humour and kind with a twist of magic.  I did not want the book to end because I did not want to leave her behind. Maybe a prequel of her youth is needed, I am sure she will have an interesting tale to tell. Her diagnosis of dementia is heartbreaking but it is dealt with sympathetically and gives an insight into the pressures of caring and the challenges it creates. 

The introduction of Scratcat and George create many memorable moments and no one can ever forget the knitted Poldarks which also feature in this tale of friendship, love and personal growth. I enjoyed Lucy's journey as she tackles the insecurities at work, her colleagues and potential relationships. It has got under my skin so I am still thinking about the characters a couple of weeks since I finished it.  I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

Favorite Quotes:

There was an inaudible twang as one of her heartstrings was plucked.

A man of few words, and even fewer talents.

She’s got me running around like a squirrel on speed.

Adam rubs people up the wrong way and doesn’t stop rubbing until there are friction burns.

I can imagine you’ll be the sort of parent who responds to a question about death with a PowerPoint presentation depicting the various stages of decay occurring in the human body – maggots and all.


My Review:

This debut author’s work was a delight to read, I was quickly enamored with her dynamic characters and vivid storytelling. I adored the friendship of the elderly yet feisty Brenda and her quiet yet kind neighbor Lucy. Brenda had purple streaks in her hair and was gifted with many talents. Young Lucy was a crafty knitter and an endearing and tenderhearted soul, yet timid and lacking in confidence. I enjoyed watching a stronger and more colorful Lucy evolve although Brenda’s deterioration squeezed my cold heart, put hot rocks in my throat, and caused my eyes to sting in a curious manner. The storylines were crisp, engaging, evocative, and laced with clever levity. Jenni Keer is one to watch and taught me a new Brit idiom of “big up,” which Mr. Google taught me was to praise or speak well of. I will gladly big up Jenni Keer anytime!

Isn't it funny how we automatically assume someones situation based on what things look like on the outside? As much as we all sit there and say 'nahhhhh' I don't judge, we still find ourselves doing it, intentionally or not. I mean, if you spotted people like Lucy and Brenda in real life, bonding over knitting, despite having over 50 years between the two of them - would you wonder?

An unlikely friendship may be, but Lucy and Brenda's friendship is as real as a beating heart. They look after each other. They listen to each other. They make each other laugh. To be honest, I would go as far as to say that they're each others lifelines. Brenda is such a heartwarming character whose personality makes you feel as though you're coming home. Every time she had a part in the story, I felt her presence as though I was getting hugged from deep within. She was such a special character, and I will hold her in my heart for a long time to come.

As for Lucy - I couldn't believe it when the story told me that she was 25! I don't know why though. Maybe it's because she acted like someone much older. I took a little while to gel to her because she wasn't someone who was so forthcoming with her emotions and feelings - she was someone who would say 'okay' to keep the peace which meant for a while, she wasn't showing exactly who she was. It was a shame that she felt like she couldn't be herself though, but the storyline does delve a little deeper into the reasoning behind that.

I will admit that something got into my eye in the last part of the book. I won't tell you exactly what it was though as it could be considered a spoiler and I'm not that mean!

I really enjoyed following Lucy's journey, especially when she was able to get that all important lightbulb moment when it came to her own dreams instead of living the life that was expected of her. I did find the storyline a little confusing at times though because there was a lot to keep track of, and sometimes I struggled to link all of the relevant information to the relevant characters as there was more information to digest than storage to file it in. If that makes sense.

I loved Jenni Keer's heartwarming style of writing as it was clear that she believed in her characters and wanted the best for them, even though she had to put them through a bit of heartache beforehand. Oh, and Scratbag deserves to get an uber special mention because he is just brilliant!!

'The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker' is a really uplifting, thought-provoking read which will have you reaching for your own hopes and dreams that you shelved long ago. Lucy Baker is proof that dreams can happen as long as you believe. Believe in what though? Social media? The latest fashion trends? No. As long as you believe in YOURSELF.

This has been a perfect weekend read for me, it’s the kind of book that is light-hearted and fun but really engaging, great if you’ve been in a bit of a reading funk which I certainly was before the new year.

I like that there is a lot going on in the book, it centres around the friendship between Lucy and Brenda but you are involved with all the aspects of Lucy’s life, her relationship with her family, her work life and then, of course, the quest to use the locket to try and get neighbour George to fall for her, even if it’s more for Brenda’s sake than her own.

I think because I found Lucy such an interesting character, almost a kindred spirit, I really enjoyed getting entangled in her life. She’s a bit shy to begin with and maybe isn’t living the kind of life that others would want for her but as the story progresses she gains some confidence and I liked getting to see how that changed her relationships with those around her, especially in her workplace.

Brenda was also a fascinating character and I loved that her friendship with Lucy managed to stay intact even though they were both having to deal with the difficulties that dementia throws up. I liked her quirky nature and that she was so outgoing to Lucy’s shy and reserved nature, and even when she had moments of confusion, getting muddled and almost losing herself, she still made you feel as if it was all as she planned. I admired that she was very honest and upfront with herself about her condition because that really is half the battle.

The antics that Lucy and her friend Jess get up to because of the locket were exceptionally entertaining, any time she finished one task I wondered what crazy thing she would have to do next. It was nice to see her start to enjoy it though and maybe to think that George wasn’t too bad a guy to set her sights on.

There were a few things that I guessed were going to happen, I know that some people say predictable and maybe see that as more of a negative, but with this book I liked it. I liked that I had an inkling of what might happen because I was never sure how Lucy would respond.

This is a very enjoyable read and a lovely story with wonderful characters who often surprised me. I’m looking forward to seeing what Jenni Keer comes up with next.

This is a light, cozy story that treats a heavy topic with a sensitive hand. It has a bit of magic and revolves around Lucy finding her true love. It's very solidly what you would call chick lit, so if that's your thing, you'll absolutely love it. I wasn't into the love story so much, but enjoyed how each character had their own, very distinct personality.

The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker is an exceptionally written debut novel full of warmth, pathos and laughter that will touch your heart and tickle your funny bone. Emotional, uplifting and feel-good, The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker heralds the arrival of a wonderful new voice in women’s fiction: Jenni Keer.

Lucy Baker is not your typical 25 year old. While other girls her age love nothing more than painting the town red every night of the week and getting up to all sorts of mischief, Lucy prefers to spend her time by herself, in her flat, with her nose in a book. When she fancies a change, Lucy can be found at home with her knitting needles clicking away, keeping everybody and everything at bay. Her cluttered little flat is her sanctuary, her refuge and her escape. Lucy has no interest in dating or socialising, however, little does she realise that her sedate little world is going to be shaken to its very core, thanks to her unlikely new friend and neighbour, 79 year old Brenda.

There might be an age gap of over five decades between the two of them, but Lucy and Brenda soon become fast friends. Lucy loves nothing more than to benefit from Brenda’s wise and witty advice, but there is heartache in store for her when her new friend is diagnosed with dementia. With her memories in danger of slipping away forever, Brenda finds herself asking Lucy for help with her final wish: to see Lucy happy. Brenda wants Lucy to step out of her comfort zone and experience life in all its glory. Lucy would do absolutely anything for her friend and having been gifted the locket that had helped Brenda find her one true love, Lucy decides to try and stop hiding in the shadows and live.

However, is Lucy ready for all the opportunities and heartbreak of the real world? Or should she have stuck to her knitting needles and left all the adventures to the fictional characters in her books?

The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker is absolutely sublime! A book that manages to be uproariously hilarious and wonderfully poignant, The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker is a fantastic tale about courage, renewal and friendship that is sure to strike a chord with readers everywhere. Jenni Keer has written an outstanding debut novel that celebrates women’s strengths and relationships that will have you laughing, crying and cheering in equal measures.

A book that is sure to stay with you long after the last page is turned, The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker is a triumphant debut that should not be missed!

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. This was a really enjoyable read about Lucy 25 year old and I would recommend this to other readers who are looking for a light hearted feel good read.

I’ll admit I’ve tended to avoid books that feature a dementia story-line recently – too close to home – but I must say that this lovely book dealt with the whole subject quite perfectly, with absolute authenticity but a very light touch. The friendship between Brenda and Lucy is just beautiful – Brenda needing love and care as she slowly loses her grasp, Lucy needing support and strength of a rather different kind. I do sometimes tend to avoid books that focus on the workplace too, and the toy distributor where Lucy works does feature quite a lot – but I really enjoyed the characters it introduced (particularly Adam with his political incorrectness and mangling of language, and the horrendous Darren). But I just loved the whole story – socially awkward but drop-dead gorgeous George, the touch of magic with the locket, Scratbag the stray cat, Lucy’s friendships and family (especially her rather demanding mother). Yes, I even loved the knitting – the whole idea of creating the knitted characters (Poldark a speciality…) and setting up a website to sell them…

There might not be that many surprises around the direction the story takes, but it’s immensely enjoyable – I just loved all the stumbles and misunderstandings along the way, and the way Lucy’s confidence grew (with or without magic), along with her changes in fortune. And I was really particularly impressed by the characterisation, the major and minor characters – George might be just a tad wooden, but I really enjoyed seeing his soft edges revealed, and Lucy herself has a complexity and warmth rarely seen in a 25 year old heroine, winning your heart with every new development. And there’s a perfect balance between the comedy – the whole book is very funny, with immense warmth – and those moments that tear at your heart. I laughed a lot, but there were copious – and real – tears too.

I’m incredibly impressed that this was a first novel from the author – the writing is very accomplished, and I’ll really look forward to seeing what Jenni Keer does next. I loved this one.

Amazing read! The author wrote a story that was interesting and moved at a pace that kept me engaged. The characters were easy to invest in.

The Hopes and Dreams Of Lucy Baker was another of Avon’s festive offerings and by far my favourite. I was a tiny bit worried initially as Lucy was a bit shy - why would you let someone park in front of your car and not ask them to move it when you want to go out? Like, stand up for yourself. But as soon as Barbara entered the picture, I was happy as Larry. I loved their friendship so much and this book just flew by for me, I loved it.

This is a beautifully written feel good story. Lucy and Brenda's friendship is wonderful. The story is an emotional rollercoaster and shows how important love and friendship are. This is a gem of a book and I hope Jenni Keer continues to write.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Introvert Lucy Baker is well and truly settled in her comfort zone. By day she works in an admin role at a local toy wholesaler and in the evenings she likes nothing better than to settle on her sofa in front of the TV with her crochet hook recreating the characters of the program she's watching (currently Poldark) in fabulous woolly form.
Her neighbour and close friend Brenda Pethybridge is 79, and while she likes to see the wonderful creations Lucy makes with her yarn related talent, she can't help but think that there should be something more in Lucy's life - like a nice young man for starters. Cue the arrival of dour yet tall, dark and handsome George Aberdour who moves into the beautiful, vacant neighbouring property. Sadly things don't get off to a great start between Lucy and George as he blocks her car in with his removal van for no less than 3 hours. Lucy however is far too nice to cause a fuss despite feeling mightily frustrated that he is stopping her from fetching her vital craft supplies. And while Lucy tells herself that she couldn't possibly be attracted to such a rude man, her interest is piqued and she can't help keeping one eye on George's comings and goings over the next few days.
Jenni Keer has crafted a lovely cosy 'will they,won't they' romance but while this is a strong main thread in the book there is far more going on in Lucy and Brenda's lives. With a shocking diagnosis of dementia for Brenda, Lucy's high-flying career minded sister (who can do no wrong and still have everything)
announces that as well as a fabulous work opportunity she is now expecting baby number 3 and the arrival of a loveable rogue of a stray cat causing chaos in Lancaster Road Lucy wonders just how much she can deal with. She just wants a quiet life. The final straw is the arrival of a new supervisor at work who is overseeing the restructure of the office, and Lucy feels her whole life is going to topple like a delicate house of cards.
Brenda however sees it all differently, and decides to give Lucy a helping hand. Not in a conventional way, oh no. Brenda is a very spiritual person, an apothecary, and starts using more quirky methods to get Lucy to see that confidence comes from within. I must admit I had my doubts about this part of the story but it's so nicely written that I found I could suspend my doubts and go with the flow.
There are some fabulous comedy moments throughout the book especially between Lucy, her best friend Jess (who I wasn't overly keen on) and the mysterious George. These are balanced by events later on which had my heartstrings well and truly pulled on and I have to admit that the pages went a bit blurry a few times as I read some of the scenes. Top tip: keep a tissue handy because you will need it (unless you have a heart of stone).
Overall a nice book to snuggle up with - after all, not everything that happens in life can be easily explained so maybe there are other forces at work to make us happy. Who knows eh?

All I can say is what a fantastic book. As debut novels go this is certainly something very special. The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker is a joy to behold, I was drawn into the storyline and immersed into a world of love and friendship with a side order of magic thrown in for good measure.

I loved everything about Lucy Baker. Her simple life and quirky hobbies are not the general set up for your average 25 year old but they all add up to create an instantly likeable character who you can't help but love and cheer on. Lucy's unlikely friendship with her elderly neighbour Brenda is by far my favourite element of the book. Brenda is gregarious, unique and colourful with an effervescence for life that is infectious. For me she is the shining light of this whole story as she marches to her own drum spreading joy and magic wherever she goes.

This story is built upon unlikely matches and Lucy's pull towards the elusive and moody George is another play on the power of opposite attraction. I didn't know what to make of George initially as he certainly doesn't carry the usual qualities found in a leading man and his charm offensive leaves a lot to be desired. But his character evolves as the story plays on pulling you towards him in a favourable light and before I knew it I found him endearing, uniquely charming and the perfect match for Lucy Baker.

Jenni Keer has created a beautiful story of unlikely connections that have all been woven together with love and magic. But it's not all light and breezy as the story tentatively touches on the difficult topic of dementia, which is handled with great care and consideration to keep the mood and feel of the book to a perfect balance.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent in the company of Lucy Baker and couldn't recommend this book enough. It's charming, unique and a little bit magical.....the perfect winning combination. I can't wait to see what Jenni has in store for us next.

Lucy isn’t very confident and spends most of her spare time knitting celebrities her latest being that hunky Poldark. She feels muddled at work despite being the one who gets asked to sort all the problem orders out in addition to being the tea maid and general office gofer. She is best friends with her elderly neighbour, Brenda, who has a bit of a spooky reputation making her own remedies and herbal teas. Brenda suggests working some love spells on Lucy’s mysterious new neighbour, George. Lucy isn’t so sure as she finds him a bit cold and abrupt. Very enjoyable story of love and kindness. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I'm so thrilled that my first review of 2019 is for a book by a lovely lovely lady. I first met Jenni a couple of years ago at the Romantic Novelist Association's conference and I'm proud to call her a friend who now and again gives me words of wisdom or a good kick up the backside to get on with my own writing. I'm even more proud of the fact that today sees the publication of her debut novel The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker.

Sometimes reviewing a friend's book can be fraught with danger! What if you hate the book? What if you hate the writing style? How can you be honest without hurting their feelings, particularly when you know how much hard work they put into it. Thankfully however I didn't encounter any of those problems because Jenni has written a simply wonderful book!

Lucy Baker is not your typical 25 year old. She's not into the latest fashions. She's all about the comfort. She's not out-going or interested in clubbing. She'd rather sit at home and knit copies of her fave celebrities (a little bit obsessed with Poldark!) or get lost inside a steamy bodice buster romance. She's in a steady job in a toy suppliers and is surrounded by a host of co-workers, each with their own little quirks and stories. Lucy just gets on with her job and never questions anything or stands up for herself. A new manager arrives and soon starts to shake things up and Lucy knows she needs to change to keep her job.

Lucy's friendship circle is fairly small, with her elderly neighbour Brenda right up there as her best friend. However, Lucy's life is to be tipped on its head with the arrival of a new neighbour, George. Tall, dark and super moody the elusive George isn't exactly initially viewed as a possible romantic partner but Brenda has other ideas for Lucy and with the help of a stray cat, an antique locket and a few spells, Lucy sets out to make George hers! Albeit, both do put up a bit of a fight and sometimes if feels as though the universe is conspiring against them!

This is such a beautiful book with a cast of characters that will make you instantly fall in love with each and every one of them, particularly the enigmatic Brenda who despite her memories slipping away is full of fun and mischief and her love for Lucy is evident. I adore her quirkiness and the little bit of mystery around her. Brenda is me in about 30 years time! I also particularly enjoyed how George's character evolved throughout the book and I really grew to like him.

The book very sensitively handles the issue of dementia. A difficult area to write about but Jenni has done this very well and in a very respectful way and in a way that makes the reader fall even more in love with Brenda. Lucy's kindness and her selflessness are portrayed beautifully. She is almost a younger, less quirky version of Brenda until the magic locket soon brings out the real Lucy who manages to get herself into all manner of hilarious situations in this book. This a beautiful, sad yet happy book about love, enduring friendships and overall kindness. It teaches us to never assume we know what a person's situation is. All may not be as it seems and we should always be mindful of that. This is such a wonderful and truly heartwarming read that I cannot recommend it highly enough. What a wonderful start to my year!

I have to hold my hand up and admit that I was totally drawn to this novel by the cover, the black cat drew me in to all the prettiness. I also love a story with characters from different ages as they bring a dynamic to the storyline with the wise of the mature generation and the effervescence of the younger.
This is a story about two socially awkward souls who are given a helping hand in love by a vivacious elderly neighbour and a scrappy looking black cat. A neighbour who all her life has practised in the art of apothecary using natural ingredients and who also believes in mystical powers.
I loved the relationship that Lucy had with her elderly neighbour Brenda. Brenda was a dream of a character, she had so much joy from her life and her history was fascinating. I also enjoyed reading about the natural potions and spells she believed were the answer to friend’s and neighbour’s prayers and ailments. Lucy was a quiet soul who felt under-shadowed by her elder sister, her mother was constantly belittling her. Lucy stuck with her joys in life which were her friendship with Brenda, her knitting (especially the celebrity-like dolls) and her job working at the toy wholesalers. When a new neighbour moves in who appears to be more socially awkward than Lucy, Brenda hatches out a plan to help Lucy and George become friends.
The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker is an utterly charming story that will entrance and entertain you. It was magical, romantic and full of fun. I adored it and it left me thoughtful, bewitched and a little emotional. I am so looking forward to more from Jenni Keer.

Rating: 4.0 solid stars
What a fun ride I had while joining Lucy Baker on a sliver of her life’s journey! At 25, Lucy is a bit of a social misfit struggling with low self-esteem. She has an unlikely friendship with her free-spirited 79 year-old neighbor, Brenda. Her life is chugging along a quiet, routine path. Then a few things happen to disrupt the status quo in Lucy’s life. George moves in next door; Brenda gives Lucy an amazing locket; and Brenda starts to lose her memory.

Lucy works at a toy wholesaler. Some of the work scenes there reminded me of the comedy, ‘The Office’. It’s a whacky free-wheeling place where inappropriate things are often done or said, usually at Lucy’s expense. On the family front, Lucy lets her opinionated mother roll right over her. Lucy can hardly get a word in edgewise when talking with her. Basically she doesn’t have much of a backbone in any area of her life. She has a hidden talent though. She creates fantastic knitted objects.

The apple cart of Lucy’s life is upset when George moves into the house between her and Brenda. George and Lucy have some really funny scenes together. She finds herself intrigued by him despite his brusqueness. He can’t even get her name right for the first third of the book. But slowly things start to thaw. Is it because Lucy is following the changing love spell instructions on the locket Brenda gave her? She doesn’t know, and she doesn’t want to stop following the spells just in case they are the reason for the changes in George.
This is a VERY British book. I’ve read lots of British books, but this one actually stumped me with some of the slang. (Or perhaps the words are used often in British vocabulary, but I hadn’t encountered them yet.) I had to look up some of the words which was a surprise for me. But I loved adding the new words to my vocabulary. Just be aware that if you’re not familiar with British English, (which can be very different from American English), you might spend some time ferreting out some word definitions.

It’s hard to pigeonhole this book. It’s a romance, a fairy tale, a warm-hearted example of how to deal with dementia patients, and a whole lot about growing up and believing in yourself. There were touching (not maudlin) scenes with Brenda and Lucy as they try to cope with Brenda’s worsening memory loss. Lucy reminded me a bit of Lucille Ball in “I Love Lucy” because of some screwball physical comedy scenes that just had me cracking up. She also sometimes reminded me of Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz”. Like Dorothy, she faced the question, “How much is already within yourself, if you just believe?” The fabulous part was that Lucy had me believing in her as she sought to find her own inner strength. This is a fun book!

‘Thank-You’ to NetGalley; the publisher, Avon Books UK; and the author, Jenni Keer; for providing a free e-ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
(Any quotes shown above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.)

What a wonderful heart - warming book this was. I just loved it. Highly recommended and too good to miss

The Hopes & Dreams of Lucy Baker is the first book I have read by this author. The story is about Lucy, a shy 25 years old, and her friendship with her elderly neighbour Brenda.

When Brenda is diagnosed with dementia, she wants to make sure Lucy finds happiness. She gifts Lucy a magical locket which is supposed to help her to find her true love.

This is a delightful story with wonderful characters which is heartwarming and fun and was a pleasure to read.

After reading the description of this book, I had a feeling I was in for a very emotional and heartfelt read and that's exactly what I got. This story is all about friendship and finding the courage to live your dreams. It's also about finding true love. The book is such a pleasant read and a perfect start to 2019. There was some great laugh out loud moments too. It's a charming story and I'm sure it will be very well received by the reading public.