A slow burner but quick to pull on your heart strings. Tackles some very serious issues (suicide) making it a tough read, although beautifully written and leaves you with a sense of hope.

The story’s main character works in London lost property office and tries to reunite property with the owners. There’s some difficult subjects - suicide and dementia. I gave the book three stars. Eva use it was slow in places and could have been edited with narrative further.

Gorgeous book full of emotion and hope. Some very unexpected reveals and great characters. Can definitely recommend. Great narration.

Great story

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me access an ARC of this book in exchange for my feedback.

I thoroughly enjoyed this listening experience as it was such a beautiful book that was both thought provoking yet humorous. It was filled with hope and guilt with a focus on familial relationships. I felt I was really taken on a journey through life and really engaged and felt for the characters. I think this will really resonate with many and I can’t wait to recommend.

I have read the ebook version of Lost Property as well as listening to this audiobook read by Joanna Scanlon. In this case I preferred the audio version which is superbly read by the narrator. The book has a period charm about it (although it is set in contemporary times) and the voice of Dot is original and compelling. Although it might appear to be light listening it tackles issues such as grief and loss and the secrets families keep. I found the novel rather slow paced but the narrator really brings the cast of characters alive and this maintained my interest throughout. A recommended listen.
3 stars for the book, 5 stars for the narration.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital audiobook

This isn’t really the type of book that I would normally read but I did and I am glad I did. Lovely exploration of family relationships and the effect of secrets. Yes, this was a really great story and very well written.

Dot works in a lost property office and takes pride in reunites people with their lost items. What's really lost though, is herself, following the death of her father and her mother's fall into dementia.

This isn't as cheesy as it sounds and is actually a really lovely read. Perfect accompaniment for car journeys, holidays and pootling around in the house. It is very well written, especially the depiction of travel locations, it made me yearn for travel even more.
It touches on some very serious topics of depression, dementia, suicide and bereavement, but isn't a 'gritty' or gruesome book. There are lots of likeable characters and heartwarming connections. A real feel-good read, it had a similar feel to Eleanor Oliphant but not as dark.

I was fortunate enough to receive a free audiobook in exchange for this review, so would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for this. I would recommend for all chick-lit fans.

This was a lovely easy audio with great accents, although some of the wording was slightly different to the actual book. I loved Dot and her awkwardness. It is a witty story with some heart breaking stories along the way. This isn't my usual genre but I will definitely look into more by this author because the style of writing is beautiful. The setting was a bit drab and the book wasn't what I thought it would it be, but I'm far from disappointed. It's a roller coaster of Dot's emotions, and I didn't car for her sister much until the last few chapters. I will definitely recommend for a summer read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Helen Paris, Random House UK and Transworld Publishers for this ARC in exchange for a honest review

Thoroughly enjoyable story that I really became engaged with. It was bought to life in my mind even more by being an audiobook

Firstly let me start with the narrator Joanna Scanlan. Bravo! She did a fantastic job of reading this book to me. I thoroughly enjoyed her expressions, and dramatics of each of the characters she voiced throughout. Dot's sister Phillipa was acted out brilliantly and she truly brought her to life. The vivid imagery Helen has written really also helped Joanna narrate and bring the story settings to life for the listener. However with all that said, overall I just did not enjoy the story half as much as I would have liked. I just struggled to connect emotively to Dot throughout. Considering the sensitivity of all the subjects covered in the book, such poignant moments I should have easily connected and felt emotionally stirred but it just did not happen for me. Also the humor in the book I found a bit cringey.

Such a shame as I really wanted to love this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for this ACR in return for my honest review.

This book is beautiful. I don’t know how I would have felt about it if I had read it but Joanna Scanlan’s narration as Dot could not be more perfect.

Admittedly it is a slow start but once it gets going you realise Dot herself is lost and I couldn’t stop listening. There were times when I had goosebumps it was so provoking.

This book has a similar feel to The Midnight Library. Whilst not containing the supernatural element, this too deals with depression and learning how to take hold of your own life and make things happen. A beautiful book with a lovely end.

I really couldn't get into this book. I liked the narrator and felt her voice was well suited but I found it a real struggle to finish. It was slow and mundane and there was nothing to grip me. I found that I wasn't bothered by the main character and couldn't see where her story was going. The death of her father was tragic and I felt sympathy for Dot but I wasn't overwhelmed. I overall it was a pleasant listen and easy to tune in and out of whilst cooking but I'm not sure it will suit everyone.

This was excellent, beautiful narration and a wonderful but sad tale of loss. Dot was in need for help and a large hug and I was so glad to have discovered her and the amazing lost property service. Highly recommend.
Thank you.

This was a book of two halves for me. The first half I didn't gel with at all, and I feel could have benefited from a cut of about a 100 pages or so to eliminate a LOT of waffle and unnecessary lengthy descriptions. I also felt like this was supposed to be the more funny / quirky part, but it fell flat with me and just left me wondering where this was suppose to be heading.

The second half settled down and finally felt we were getting to the bones of the story. There were some touching and poignant moments, dealing with tough subjects such as grief, depression, suicide, strained family relationships and dementia, which were handled by the author with sensitivity and thoughtfulness. Vivid imagery was also conjured for all the settings in the story.

With those kind of topics I would have expected an emotional read but something was missing. The main character Dot was an enigma to me, and for such a personal story I really needed more connection. On top of that, we had too many side characters with too little time to get to know them.

I did appreciate the author's intentions but wish it had been streamlined to achieve more impact on the crux of the story.

Dot Watson is lost and much of what is missing is hidden in her past. This was a slow listen with much of it coming across as a monologue. There are heavy themes so not a light listen, but enjoyable all the same.

This is a slow burner of a read (or listen), one that pulls you along and you’re thinking it’s ok, but then the emotions sneak up on you. And it sucker punches you in the chest.

A word of caution (see trigger warning and potential spoiler below)!

I must admit at the start I wasn’t really feeling Dot’s story, but you really feel for her as Paris takes her time developing her story and character, you see glimpses of humour but also the heartbreaking grief and loss that Dot has endured and is still severely affected by. She carries so much guilt from her past.

But as you follow Dot on her mission, you see the power of secrets and how they were used to protect her when she was younger.

This is a beautifully, heartbreaking story as Dot starts to heal from her past loss, and understand the truth behind those secrets. Ultimately, it’s about hope, hope for the future, for being a better you, and of hope for your family. But it’s definitely not an easy read!

⚠️ Trigger Warning (and potential spoiler) ⚠️ Deals very heavily with suicide and the after effects on those bereaved, including suicidal thoughts and actions.

Dot used to think she had her life planned out, she was going to do anything she wanted, but as a grown up life hasn't worked out at all as she thought. Now she works at the Lost Property Office, taking as much loving care of all the items as if they were her own. She knows the value of something that has been lost and puts all her effort into looking after them and trying to reunite them with their owners.
It's so lovely how Dot describes all the items and imagines who each one could belong to. I liked Dot and was really rooting for her to do something and stand up for herself rather than just put up with some really awful colleagues and her bossy and annoying older sister.
The book was a pleasant read and the narrator had the perfect voice for Dot. It didn't really grip me though and I found some of the revelations a bit unconvincing.

I really loved this book, it's really well written. The characters are described so carefully and are gradually brought to life. Dot is a brilliant heroine and you fall in love with her, I was sad for it to end. Cant wait for the next title from this new author.