I confess The Hopes of Dreams of Lucy Baker is a little lighter than my usual choice of read. However, it certainly fits the bill for those occasions when you fancy something undemanding that will give you a warm glow but is still well-written.

Lucy makes an engaging heroine who it’s easy to root for. She’s kind, thoughtful but, initially at least, inclined to underestimate herself and her abilities, and to think the best of others, even if they don’t necessarily deserve it. Because of this she’s a little easily manipulated and only gradually learns to assert herself and listen to those who genuinely have her best interests at heart. Chief amongst these is her elderly neighbour, Brenda, who having been a great support to Lucy in the past now finds it is her turn to need help. Brenda always knew she could count on Lucy but finds she has another more unlikely source of assistance as well.

In the scenes set in Lucy’s workplace (Tompkins Toy Workshop), the author captures the atmosphere of office life with its banter, gossip and cast of familiar characters – the practical joker, the mother figure and the Jack-the-Lad with his non-PC comments (who perhaps has hidden depths). Okay, there are no real surprises and it didn’t take a genius to work out the way things were heading when Lucy and her best friend, Jess, undertake to win over Lucy’s new next door neighbour, George.

Nevertheless The Hopes of Dreams of Lucy Baker is a heart-warming story about the nature of true friendship, finding the courage to fulfil your dreams and how the path of true love sometimes needs a little help from forces you can’t explain. If you don’t find yourself giving a little contented sigh of satisfaction on closing the book, I’ll be surprised. And, if at the end, you have no desire to own a hand-knitted Poldark, then you’re probably beyond my help.

I received an advance review copy courtesy of Elke at Avon Books UK, and NetGalley.

Narrative and plot
This is really a great book to start your reading year with. It is pleasant cheerful and doesn’t spend too much dwelling on the grim realities of life. The narrative is cheerful and full of hope. If you are someone who enjoys reading an optimistic book, I’m sure you will love this as much as I do.

The plot was weaved together nicely. It had a certain intrigue and mystic touch to it at some places. The hilarious events of Lucy pursuing her love of the life was queer yet enjoyable. The book delivers what it promises. It is a simple coming of age book. One that could be your comfort read.

Characters and Conflict
This book had quite a few interesting characters. First of all, there is Lucy who is your protagonist – a shy young woman content leading a simple life. Then you have Brenda, the vibrant old lady next door who is strong, confident and had a few tricks under the hat. I loved how Brenda appeared to be this mystery woman and how she turned out till the end. Yes, she had her own tragedies and conflict but you could relate to the strong people in your life who are experienced and demand certain respect just by being charming.

Jess- the BFF, I wasn’t quite sure of what to make of her. For one, I picked up the hints way too early and was hoping it wasn’t what I thought. But then again, that is good writing if you feel that strongly about a character and are conflicted. George- well, I for one am in for a guy who is awkward rather than the usual romantic hero who knows all the right gestures and makes the big speeches. From what I know, men are usually clueless when it comes to matters of heart which made George endearing to me.



As for conflict, the book was seeing the transformation of Lucy. Whether there was a mystery involved or not was open to debate and I’m glad the author chose to go that way. I mean, sometimes we attach ourselves to material things and call it our good luck charm – magic or not.

This book mentions the serious topic of dementia and at times it gives us a reminder of the harsh turns that life can take. It is how we deal with it that matters eventually. You could celebrate what you still had or you could mull over what life could have been. That is one excellent thought the author portrays.



Conclusion
This story is as breezy and light as the cover is. It makes you think about what is really important in life. It is those little moments of happiness that you eventually leave behind and sometimes a little something can mean everything.

Sometimes the unassuming-looking ones are those that get under your skin and leave you feeling...just right.
A very old-head on young shoulders, Lucy is 25 and her most exciting way of spending an evening is checking whether the nipples on her knitted Poldark doll match (yes, it’s a thing!) Not particularly confident, Lucy hides away from so much but she really comes into her own when chatting to her elderly neighbour, Brenda.
Lucy and Brenda share a bond, and their friendship certainly is full of moments that made me chuckle. Full of stories, Brenda is one of those figures that you can’t help but admire.
When Brenda is diagnosed with early onset dementia, it coincides with the arrival of a rather rude but rather attractive single gentleman. We know exactly where this is going, and there’s the inevitable glitches along the way, but ultimately everything works out as it should.
I was surprisingly affected by the final moments of the story, but it had a magical fairytale quality to it that you can’t help but enjoy.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with the chance to try something different and to read this prior to publication.

I have to start this blog post by saying that I finally found a friendship done right, in a way that I could sympathize and empathize with in this book. The last year had quite a few such relationships, friendships between octogenarians and young reclusive women. There will be more such in the coming year also (I am sure) because of the enormous potential of codependence between them and the scope of learning that can occur. I did not find any of them that appealing in 2018 and I am glad I started with the one book that felt right in 2019. 

The feel of the book varied from comic statements like 

"..made do with a stuffed Scooby-Do [instead of a real pet] (Great at the sit command-rubbish at fetch)"

to the more poignant

"..knowing she was loved, but possibly not understood."

This is the wide range that the book spans and I shed quite a lot of tears towards the end. Lucy Baker has a lot more in her than she gives herself credit for, she is a hard worker, a team player and part of a loving family. It takes a few nudges and a magical locket to give her the confidence to make the tiny changes in her life that can make all the difference. She is surrounded by people who are all not exactly as they seem at the first meeting (who usually is?) and discovering her life through her new found confidence is the focus of the story. The romance is but a blip in her life but brings her both joy and tears. I would have given this book 4.5 stars if that was an option and it would have been a five star read if I had but a little bit more of everybody! 

I recommend this book to all those who want to start their new year with a bounce in their step and a happy tear in their eye (if you are into that kind of thing). P.S: There is also a semi magical (or so I believe) cat as indicated on the cover.

This was a lovely read and I will be keen to look out for Jenni Keers next book.
The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker has some wonderful characters and is full of humour, great friendships and deals with the difficult subject of dementia in a very sensitive manner.
Lucy has a job with a toy company and is trying to ooze more confidence so that she can progress up the career ladder. Her neighbour Brenda provides some wonderful moments. She’s keen to see her get together with the new man who has moved in, even though he appears very taciturn. She sprinkles magic stardust into the mix and hopes to see Lucy sort out all aspects of her life.
She enjoys knitting and you can just imagine the glorious clutter and charm of her flat alongside the clean, stark lines of her new neighbour.
I enjoyed every page.

The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker is a charming story of Lucy ,a young 25 yr old girl and the friendship she has with Brenda her 79 yr old neighbour .This is a heartwarming ,uplifting book of love, hopes ,a magical locket and most of all friendship .A really enjoyable book .Many thanks to the Publisher ,the Author and Net Galley for my review copy in return for an honest review .

This debut novel from Jenni Keer is a charming and engaging story that will leave you feeling warm all over. Lucy Baker is 25 years old and is a homebody who loves to knit. One of her closest friends is her 79 year old neighbor Brenda whose only wish in life is to see Lucy happy.

At the start of this book, the reader is pulled right in with the opening two sentences— “Bloody hell. There’s a cat back here.” What cat? Back where? Who is speaking and who is listening? Why bloody hell? Now what happens?

We meet Lucy Baker at an inopportune moment in her life — her car is blocked for more than two hours by the moving truck delivering a new neighbor’s possessions. Because she doesn’t assert herself, Lucy keeps quiet while silently lamenting that the craft store is going to close before she can get there. Here we are on the first page and already, much of the story is set up — a handsome new male neighbor, a cat and a meek protagonist. In fact, that stray cat plays a central role in this book and has more of an impact than it first seems. Between a black cat and a magical locket, the story is a whimsical tour de force.

The reader spends a lot of time with Lucy at home as well as at her job with a toy company. Lucy struggles not just with a lack of confidence but an uncertain career path and the absence of a significant someone in her life. This absence is felt even more acutely because her mother is planning her own big birthday bash and Lucy will need a boyfriend in her life soon so she will have someone to accompany her to the party.

Lucy is a caring and endearing character who is extremely likable and personable. Her friendship with Brenda is touching and the reader cannot help but feel grateful that the two women have each other. Throw a handsome albeit socially awkward new neighbor George into the mix and an enchanting story ensues. The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker is a book that will warm your heart and touch your soul.

Thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Whimsical romance which was a pleasant read. I enjoyed this book with its mystical undertones and fanciful storyline. Gentle and feel good factor throughout.

Meet Lucy, aged 25, and Brenda, aged 79. Neighbours, and unlikely friends.

Lucy Baker is not your usual 25-year-old. She is more at home reading and knitting in her cluttered little flat than going out partying and socialising.

79-year-old Brenda is full of wise and wonderful advice, but when she’s diagnosed with dementia her life begins to change. Before her memories slip away for ever, Brenda is desperate to fulfil one last wish – to see Lucy happy.

Gifting Lucy the locket that helped Brenda find her own true love, she hopes to push her reticent neighbour in the right direction. But is Lucy Baker ready for the opportunities and heartbreaks of the real world? It’s about time she put her knitting needles aside and found out…

I loved Brenda: she’s very endearing, outrageous and lovely. How I wish I had someone like her in my life.

I adored this book and read it in one sitting. It had me laughing in many parts, especially when Brenda was being outrageous. I did not want this book to end. 5*

I loved everything about this book. It had everything. Brilliant writing, interesting characters and led the reader into the realms of magic, friendship and family.

Lucy is overshadowed by her successful sister. Her mother erodes her confidence my comparing her continually and even at work Lucy is the one everyone puts on, from making tea to sorting out their problems. Lucy prefers to knit and read rather than push herself forward. But Lucy is a kind and caring person who befriends her elderly neighbour and in return the old lady helps Lucy become more confident. She gives her a locket with 'magical powers' and together with her grumpy neighbour George, Lucy becomes not just a good neighbour to the old lady but the daughter she never had.

The writer touches thought provokingly on dementia and the lovely Lucy even makes Twiddlemitts for the local home. I loved Lucy's character but didn't much like her friend Jess. The ending is predictable but in an interesting way. As Lucy's confidence grows we watch her life at work and at home take on new challengers.

This is the first book I have read by Jenni Keer but I am now on the hunt for more

Overall a very touching story about Lucy finding love and letting go of a loving friend.
At times this book was plodding and very difficult to get through. Some of the plot twists were easy to see.
Not a bad book, but not an easy read either.
A good story, albeit one that spent too much time at the workplace and not enough time on the relationships between the characters.

In the first few pages I more or less knew how this book's love interest was going to finish, however, it gets there in a light easy read with many a humourous note, magical twists and some wonderful colourful characters. It captures one's attention and heart and makes for a cosy read especially warm hearted Lucy. There are some good observations especially in the office where, Lucy, the main character works. Overall a book with humanity, community and friendship in general plus the usual awkward family for good measure. Lucy's elderly neighbour is an absolute delight, her early dementia is dealt with sensitively and sympathetically being something we are all coming across all too frequently. Perfect holiday read or when feeling under the weather or being snowed in. It lifts the spirits.

Jenni Keer's first novel and I'm sure she'll be a very welcome addition to the Avon publishing house. A True story of love, friendship and a cat with a great name - Scratbags! This was just the right story to read the other side of Christmas and I'm very glad I waited.
My thanks to Netgalley for the copy.

The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker is such a feel-good story! Lucy has always felt something of a disappointment to her mother compared to her high-flying sister Emily. Emily seems to have it all - fabulously successful career, two beautiful daughters, a gorgeous house and an equally successful and handsome husband. Lucy by contrast, is single, works in a small toy company, lives in a tiny flat and spends her time with her elderly neighbour Brenda or knitting life size celebrities.

There are three main strands to this story, all equally enjoyable. First of all, is the friendship between Lucy and Brenda. This was so wonderfully drawn and very touching. Brenda is known for her home-made herbal remedies, giving relief to neighbours and friends. She is so perceptive and can see what people need often before they even know it themselves. She can see that Lucy is a young woman whose talents and personal qualities aren't always recognised by others or indeed by Lucy herself. She wants Lucy to be as happy as she was in her marriage to her late husband Jim. To give Lucy a bit of a nudge in the right direction, she gives her a very special locket and this leads to the second strand of the story.

This locket has more than a touch of magic about it. Only certain people can open the locket, Lucy being one of them, and inside are engraved some special words. By following these words, Lucy might just find her true love. Brenda is convinced that this will be her grumpy and handsome new neighbour George but Lucy isn't so sure! However, something about the locket convinces her to at least give the magic a go.

The locket seems to give Lucy more confidence than she usually has and this is the third strand of the story and the one which I perhaps enjoyed the most. It was lovely to see Lucy finally begin to develop that confidence in herself, to have the courage to stand up to people and put her ideas forward. Whether this was the result of the locket's magic or Lucy's own self-belief, who can say, but as she begins to come out her shell, life certainly started to change round about her.

The three main themes of this book all knit together beautifully, as beautifully as one of Lucy's celebrity creations. It is a poignant read at times, particularly as Brenda becomes more confused with dementia and the way Lucy looks after her was so touching. It is a very romantic read but also a terrific story of a young woman beginning to grow confident that she is important, valued and loved just the way she is. A wonderfully uplifting debut novel from an author I'm be watching out for in the future.

Sometimes you just need a book like this. One to make you smile, cry and think about things in life.

Lucy is 25 years-old, and Brenda is 79. Neighbours, and very soon, the best of friends.

Lucy is an old soul. She likes to read and knit at home. Brenda can give her advice and an insight into life that her peers can't. But then she is diagnosed with dementia.

Brenda has one wish, and that is to see her friend Lucy happy. She gives Lucy the very locket she holds dear as it gave her one true love.. Lucy is stubborn and Brenda hopes this will be the push she needs.

This is so not the kind of book I normally read but it's lovely. Just what I needed. Friendships across the ages, knitting celebrities and a lovely stray cat. No locations and the ones mentioned are fictional. But this is the very story where the characters and the story are more important and will stay with you wherever you go.

Perfect for a light, holiday read. The main characters of Lucy and Brenda are well written with plenty of backstory. The did like the male character too, he was grumpy with hidden depth that we find out throughout the book. The storyline is a slight twist on a romance novel with a bit of magic added!

Loved the book! I would give it 4.5 stars. It’s so heartwarming and loved every minute of it. I love the friendship between Brenda and Lucy. How could I resist George and Scratbag?!! Loved the part where George finds Lucy washing the dead bunny and styling its fur. Yes, it was sad, but funny at the same time. Pretty much Lucy and George have awkward interactions.

Brenda and Lucy are not only neighbors but also wonderful friends, even though Lucy is 25 and Brenda is 79. Lucy loves to knit and doesn’t have much of a social life. She loves her job at a toy company. Lucy feels like she doesn’t measure up to her perfect sister. With her mom’s big birthday party looming, Lucy is determined to find a boyfriend to bring to the party. Brenda gives Lucy a magic locket that will reveal spells to help her get her true love and give her the confidence she needs.

Loved everything about the book - the story, characters and writing style. I wanted to be friends with Lucy. She seemed like such a wonderful friend, especially the way she looked after Brenda. I couldn’t believe all the shenanigans that took place at Lucy’s office. I’m not sure how I feel about Jess. Lucy and George were my favorite characters, followed by Brenda. Brenda had quite the life. Definitely smiled when Lucy heard George baby talking to Scratbag. The book was full of friendship and love, a bit of magic and some romance. Brenda and Lucy were exactly what each other needed.

Definitely recommend this book. It had wonderful characters who would do anything to help each other plus an adorable kitty. I look forward to reading more books by the author.

Thanks to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and the author, Jenni Keer, for a free electronic ARC of this novel.

This is a cosy story filled with warmth, friendship, hope and romance. Just right for reading after the rush of Christmas and the New Year.
The characters are well described, many of us will have come across an office member who is not quite P.C. , and who knows what will happen when an unusual man moves in near an elderly lady who can mix up remedies for any complaint;, including heartache and love.

An accomplished debut with some memorable characters.

I adored Lucy's friendship with her older somewhat magical neighbour Brenda. From their friendship you could tell there was a close bond and just what sort of person she is.

Scratbags the stray cat is adorable and plays a key part in the story, by helping to soften the edges of the most unlikely of people.

I enjoyed seeing the developments in Lucy as she learnt to be more confident and the story with the locket is great.

Also enjoyed seeing just which celebrities Lucy could knit/

Its a heartwarming story from an author that I am most likely going to be keen to read more from.

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

Some books you read at just the right time.

Lucy is 25 years-old, and Brenda is 79. They are neighbors, and they are to become the best of friends.

Lucy is an old soul. She likes to read and knit at home. Brenda is a great friend and full of supportive advice and wisdom. Unfortunately, she is diagnosed with dementia.

Brenda has one wish, and that is to see her friend Lucy happy. She gives Lucy her locket that was integral in helping her find her own true love. But Lucy’s not ready...and it will take more than a little push from Brenda to get her there.

The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker is an enchanting and delightful story of friendship. It warmed my heart and lifted my spirits reading about Lucy and Brenda and their mutual devotion. Insert a stray cat, Scratbag, a handsome man, and Poldark-related knitting, and you have a hopeful, emotional, huggable, and most uplifting story. While it was a touch predictable in places, the overall message is an endearing one, and I highly recommend it.

Thanks to the publisher for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.