Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley is a delightful read, and it will certainly strike a chord with anyone who is familiar with the trials of a daily commute. Ms Pooley has created characters who will stay with you, and have you looking at your fellow commuters in an entirely new light.

Iona Iverson is an advice columnist of a certain age who spends her daily commute observing her fellow passengers, and even assigning nicknames to some of the regulars. Most never speak or even make eye contact as that seems to be the unwritten rule of commuting. But a medical drama on the train one day will force nurse Sanjay into action, and a type of domino effect is initiated, causing the other passengers to finally interact. What they discover about each other, and themselves, is truly heartwarming.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for an ARC.

Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting was an experience! We meet a varied cast of characters who all have their own problems and motivations, and who never would have spoken to each other if not for one incident on their daily commuter train.

The book blurb doesn’t give a lot away so I mostly went into this one blind. I recommend you do the same! I ran the gauntlet of emotions: laughter, crying, anger, despair, but ultimately it had a very satisfying happy conclusion.

If you’re looking for a relatively quick read about the lives of characters you will love, look no further. This book was honestly beautiful.

This book caught me off guard and wrapped me up in a warm blanket of joy and heart. This cast of characters is so wonderfully delightful that I truly wish I could join their regular commute to meet each and every one of them.

I enjoyed “The Authenticity Project” from Pooley, but “Iona” is an absolute delight and outshines its predecessor.

If you want a feel-good read that will make you giggle, fall in love, and regain your faith in humanity (even for just a moment), then go grab this book and escape for a little while.

Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting reads like a thoughtful masterclass in how to write: sharp wit; brilliant prose; lovably eccentric and dynamic characters and a purposefully propelled plot with a beautifully gratifying conclusion.

I’ll be recommending this hilarious, hopeful and heartwarming tale to 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 — if you’re in the mood for a good laugh, levity and a whole lot of love do not wait to pick this up.

Clare’s character-driven story shares the experiences of an eclectic mix of train commuters centred on Iona’s to-and-fro’ work trips, steadily developing the ways in which their lives become enmeshed — on and off the tracks. Each vibrant character has their own chapters and I was equally enthralled in their stories — gleefully discovering how their stories and purpose interweave with Iona’s.

A highlight of this story is Iona’s sweet pupper Lulu, a French Bulldog with a bedazzled collar, who, uncontested, gets her own seat on the train and an invitation to every restaurant.

4.25 stars. Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting is a book you need to read this summer. The last few months have been so difficult and continues to be so for many of us, so If you want a heartwarming, fun, smartly written, feel good story, this is it.

I wasn’t sure if I’d be interested in a novel that focuses on a group of people who regularly ride the same train outside London, UK, but once I started the first chapter, I was hooked and became invested in each of these diverse characters, ranging from Sanjay the tongue-tied nurse looking for love, to young Martha who is bullied at school resulting from a poor decision. The protagonist, Iona Iverson, is such a hoot, her zany yet sophisticated persona had me laughing out loud. The characters violate the main rule of commuting which is to never talk to anyone else on the train when, by circumstance, they are thrown together into a unavoidable situation. This launches the story and we are swept up in their lives. From the fun nicknames they have secretly given each other to the struggles and difficulties encountered through life’s hurdles, this book will have you delighted.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada, Viking Canada, for the electronic advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this charming story about a group of commuters in London who break one of the rules of commuting and start talking to each other! Iona is a larger-than-life magazine columnist who commutes by train from Hampton Court to Waterloo Station in London with her dog, Lulu, each day but never speaks to her fellow passengers. Then one morning, an out-of-the-ordinary incident brings the disparate group of commuters together and they discover that wonderful things can happen when you connect with others. A wonderful, feel-good story about a group of people with very little in common who form a strong community of support!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a digital Advance Review Copy (ARC).

I loved this book! It was one of those feel-good, easy reads where you fall in love with the characters. I spent most of my 20's commuting on the Skytrain (in Vancouver) so could totally identify with the characters. I also would make up names or give people fake identities in my head to the people I saw every day. I also made a great, life-long friend on the train.

I think this story line would lend itself well to a sitcom like Friends. I'd love to see where the characters go from here.

Iona Iverson starts her mornings by taking the train into work with her precious dog, Lulu. She keeps her list of rules for commuting as close as the bone china teacup in her bag that seems to carry anything and everything she needs every day. She sits in the same seat every day, seeing the same daily commuters, while never breaking her rules for commuting. Until one day, where a grape changes everything.

Without giving too much away, I will say I adored this book. As someone who has commuted in the past, it gave me memories of the days I would sit and never speak to anyone during the ride, instead making up nicknames and backstories for them all. I feel like the world could use more people like Iona Iverson, and that they are out there.. we just may have to break a few of our own social norms and burst out of our own selfish bubbles to find them.

It was a cosy and heartwarming read, and likely one I would re-read when needing some warm feelings. The ride by very quickly and my only complaint was that I wanted more pages to read. A truly delightful novel!

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publish for the ARC of Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley in exchange for an honest review.

The main character, Iona, is an ‘aging’ magazine writer who used her 36 minute train journey into work as the perfect opportunity to prepare for her day ahead. Of course this journey had specific parameters such as a favourite seat (and one for her dog!), a bone china tea cup and saucer and of course, a list of Rules. The first rule is that you must have a job to go to—but her younger, hipper editor gives her an ultimatum to bring more ‘sizzle’ or there would no longer be a place for her at the magazine. The second rule was that you never, ever speak to someone. Until, that is, a fellow passenger almost dies in front of her. And so one by one, the rules seem to get less important and a community forms in the most unlikely of ways.
The people are diverse, and all have their own issues that come out through the journey. However, during the course of these every day commutes, the strength of community also shines forth. Amazingly, this togetherness helps to deal with the real issues presented and allow the characters to grow and be strengthened. Clare Pooley writes with empathy and care and her characters shine through.
This is a book with heart and compassion.

A nice, quick read! I do love a story that throws a random group of people together for some reason and then fleshes out each character's backstory. Will definitely be recommending to anyone who is looking for an uplifting/happy story which are frequently (and understandably) requested these days.

I loved this book. The way this diverse group of commuters started to interact and help each other was very engaging. I wanted to continue reading and find out what was going to happen. The characters were all different mainly well developed and likeable..

This book was so lovely, I enjoyed every page of it!

Each of the characters on the train with Iona came to life so beautifully, it was as if I was on their commute with them. Iona is a strong, independent character who you fall in love with immediately.

Another wonderful book by Clare Pooley, who is starting to become one of my favourite authors.

This story was very amusing. The characters are fun, especially Iona and her eclectic past and personality haha. It has great heart in it and it’s a great reminder of how strangers can come together and form a little family. I loved how all of the characters fought hard for each other and what they needed help with, and the humour tossed in.
Clare Pooley has a way of making the reader just dive into her stories and get lost among new friends found on the page.

If you’re looking for something fun and a bit different, pick this one up!

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada, Viking, Clare Pooley and NetGalley for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!

Oh man, I was so excited to read another Clare Pooley book and Clare did not disappoint!

I love the interconnecting stories, it was my favorite part of The Authenticity Project and it was my favorite part of Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting as well.

I love Iona, she is such a bada** and she projects such a tough exterior but really she is a cuddly teddy bear who has learned to protect herself over the years.

Can't wait to read more from Clare in the future.

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to take part in a readalong of Iona Iverson’s Rules For Commuting. Thank you so much @penguncanada and @tandemcollectiveglobal for having me along! It is so great to read a book along so many other Canadian Bookstagrammers.

You’ve probably seen this one around a lot recently, so I won’t give you tii much of a synopsis but: Iona commutes to work on the train. She never talks to anyone around her, until one day she does and the book follows the relationships that develop between the characters.

As I was reading, I really enjoyed this book. It was light and funny where it needed to be, but also dealt with heavier topics in an easy to digest fashion.

However, the more I think about it, the more it feels like this ended to easily, and the story lines sorted them out too nicely. I also find one of the sets of friendships to be pretty weird… To add to that I feel like one of the characters story lines was barely there, and could have been left out and the story would have gotten to the same conclusion.

This is a fun easy read if that’s what you’re looking for, but I wouldn’t go into it looking for anything too deep and don’t think too hard about it.

So pleased to have discovered this! Wholesome at its best, a tad cliche as well, but exactly what you need to get out of a reading slump or feel a bit of hope!

I haven’t read an adult book that made me say “I loved it” in a long time, but here it is: I loved Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting so much that I will rave about it for a very long time.
It gave me everything I wanted and needed and more; it touched my heart and soul; it made me laugh, reflect and appreciate the connections in my life.

For many years, I had long commutes on trains to and from university, and this book reminded me so much of that time. Because just like the characters, I, too, had fellow commuters that I only knew by my own created nicknames. It makes me wonder just how disconnected we are from the people around us. And maybe we should try to be more open to others? Imagine what doors this would open! The friends, mentors and relations we could find; the hearts we could touch.

I want to become more like Iona: the one that made it all possible, that holds it together. Her ability to see you for who you are, to create links between people without ever losing herself. Iona is the ultimate role model: full of perspectives, heart and authenticity. Not perfect, but admirable for her imperfections. I could go on forever about Iona because she is just such a grant character but of course, all the others are just as wonderful. Sanjay, Emmie, Piers, Martha, David, everyone is so unique and real; all of them are truly important to this book. Everyone and everything just made sense, some plots predictable, some surprising. I was never left bored or unengaged. In fact, I have found a true connection on the commute that was Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting.

QOTD: Do I want to see this on the screen? YES, YES, YES!

Now, I’m off to The Authenticity Project because I can’t let @clare_pooley go quite yet.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley!

If you are looking for a super cute, easy read then this is the book for you. It was a breathe of fresh air to cleanse my pallet from the horror and suspense stories that I usually read.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Anyone who has ever commuted, particularly in England knows how utterly impersonal it is. Even those people that you see day after day are strangers, never to break into another’s personal bubble. But one day, on her commute to a job she loves, as an agony aunt, but where she is viewed as an old dinosaur, Iona Iverson breaks all the rules. It turns out when Iona was young she was fearless and always broke the rules or at least bent them to her will. She breaks down one invisible wall after another and becomes the beating heart of a group of commuters who could not be more different but become a “family”.

Iona’s therapeutic skills are put to good use as each of the newfound friends is going through a crisis. Iona is the one that helps them adapt and deal with the challenges and in doing so, she is able to surmount her own personal defeats to rise again like a Phoenix. I found that I was swept along by the stories, which reminded me of Maeve Binchy. The reader cares about the characters who are richly drawn and very relatable. As. They each struggle through the turmoil of their lives, it is so uplifting. I did not want the book to end. I was transported, which considering how much of the book is set on a train is apt.

If you are looking for a wonderful summer read, I recommend this highly. Five purrs and two paws up.

DNF @ 40%

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC!

I’m sorry but I reached the point where I was dreading reading it and forcing myself to finish so I decided to call it quits.

This book was super cute, though. As someone who commutes, you do see the same people on your buses from time to time so that premise (and the grape-choking incident) really grabbed my interest. After that ... not so much. Many say it’s a quick read and I believe them (I am in the minority here), but it just took me forever to get through because it was kind of boring. I didn’t understand what the plot after the choking was supposed to be and I wasn’t interested in seeing why.