I got to read this as my first e-book ARC from NetGalley and honestly, it may be one of my favorite reads of 2021 so far. It’s such a wholesome, heart-wrenching book. The characters, their developments, their relationships, the plot, the writing, all of it comes together to create this beautiful story showing us the hardships that we can be faced with at any age, and how they could be overcome by chance, meeting that one right person at the right time.  

Freddie is just the most adorable, caring character that your heart goes out to as he struggles with some inner demons of his own. Violet is a sweet and compassionate teenager, juggling a new school and trying to keep her family from falling apart while also trying to give the boy in the ceiling something that resembles a normal life, a home. 

This book deals with a lot of issues; homelessness, family, friendship, bullying, trauma, grief, mental health. It makes you feel for the characters and aware of these things that people face on a daily basis, that the suited person you pass on the street could have a huge amount going on in their lives, be really struggling, and hiding it all behind a smile.
It’s both heart-warming and heart-breaking, I cannot recommend it enough!

Thank you NetGalley for letting me discover this beautiful book!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC for an exchange of an honest review.

This was an enjoyable read. Very interesting story.

‘𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐲 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐈𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠’ 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲, 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞.

This book follows the POV of two different characters - Freddie, a homeless teen and Violet - a girl with her own personal struggles. Our story starts with meeting Freddie whose wandering the streets, lost in thought when he overhears Violet’s family announcing they are going away on holiday. What would of usually been an insignificant part of his day turned into one of the most pivotal moments of his life... The Johnson’s front door was left ajar, leaving Freddie to do the only thing that felt right - use the situation to his advantage...

“𝑯𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒂 𝒈𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒕, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑱𝒐𝒉𝒏𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒔’ 𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒖𝒓𝒈𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚.”

I really enjoyed delving into the lives of both characters - so many secrets emerged throughout that left me gaping at the page! A word of warning - this book contains some serious topics such as addiction / sexual assault / loss and grief; but each is dealt with brilliantly, highlighting the emotions that both parties face.

I loved the way the author targeted certain topics, such as the act of helping others.

“𝑶𝒏𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓...𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏. 𝑺𝒐, 𝒎𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒑 𝒎𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝑰’𝒎 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒑 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”

Homelessness is obviously a key focus with Freddie and the struggles he faces are so brilliantly worded, you gain a true concept of what it would be like to be less fortunate.

“𝑩𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆: 𝒊𝒏𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆. 𝑰𝒏 𝒂 𝒘𝒂𝒚, 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒕.”

One minor criticism I have is the inconsistency of the language. Words such as ‘Mum’ and ‘pound coin’ suggest that the story has a British setting, but then ‘soccer’ is used - which is an American term - it’s classed as football over here!

Freddie’s whole character is very thoughtful and caring which makes you just fall in love with him. Whilst Violet is a sensitive soul who is in touch with her inner uniqueness. The pair make an interesting duo but they just blend so smoothly.

𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭-𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐚 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐮𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐰𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I loved Freddie and Violet and the way their friendship and relationship developed. I love that the way they really began communicating was through books.

I loved the themes of friendship, love, hope, forgiveness and new beginnings.

Loved this book about being homeless, loss, grief, family, friends, and new beginnings. Told from alternating point of views, Freddie and Violet, we find Freddie is homeless after being kicked out of his house, and Violet, whose house Freddie ends up in accidentally when he sees the family leave for vacation. When the family comes back, Freddie finds a spot to live in in the ceiling. Eventually Violet finds out he’s up there and makes it easier for him to live there and tells no one. Violet and Freddie become friends! and they help each other through time times. Can Freddie turn his dream of being a carpenter apprentice into reality and find his own place?

Freddie is homeless and ends up accidentally living in Violets house when he sees their family leave on holiday but leave the front door open. He continues living there in the attic when they come back early. After saving Violet from a boy pushing himself on her, violet and Freddie become friends. This book follows their friendship and blossoming relationship.
I think it's a great portrayal of homelessness especially in youth. It really made me aware of how I treat homeless people, and what I can do to be better. I loved both main characters and the development of Violet's family, I loved that the family had their own issues with Jamie's speech problems and her dad's issues (no spoilers!)
Yes, the ending was predictable, but I'm happy it ended how it did.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily