Amazing, Phenomenal book. I enjoyed it so much and found myself smiling a lot. I was a commuter on a train for many years. Made and still have “train buddies” as friends. I loved Iona and all the other characters in this delightful story. Now I need to read The Authenticity Project. I highly recommend this book. Thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Random House Canada and the Author for allowing me to read and review this book.

Review posted on Barnes and Noble.

Delighted to include this uplifting title in the June edition of Novel Encounters, my regular column highlighting the month’s most anticipated fiction for the Books section of Zoomer magazine. (see review at link)

Thanks to the author, NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

"Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting" is a heartwarming read that's like a warm hug. I enjoyed reading the perspectives of the different commuters and getting to know each character - although I felt that we didn't really get to really explore each character in detail to get to the root of what makes them tick (which is why I didn't rate it a full 5 stars) but understand that it is not the easiest task to undertake as a writer. I didn’t dislike a single character, and feel like everybody could find at least one of them relatable. I really enjoyed this story - it’s equal parts funny and heartbreaking, but always with the aim to uplift both its characters and the readers.

This was a delightful read. I felt like I was a passenger on the train listening in on Iona's conversations, marvelling at her outfits and admiring Lulu (her dog). I love stories where individual characters have their own plot lines that then intersect together. I loved the diverse characters and I hope that there will be another book featuring them and their lives (and problems).

I loved this quirky novel! The author has given us a great cast of characters and it was a joy to see the transformation of this group from strangers who ride the train together, to friends who truly care for each other. At the centre of the group is Iona, who finds herself being pushed out of her job at a magazine. and feeling like she doesn’t really matter. But these new friends change her life as much as she changes theirs.

This is a perfectly woven story about a cast of quirky and relatable characters who form the most beautiful of friendships! Who would have thought that a couple of chance meetings on the local train could lead to such a charming and hilarious story??

What I loved most about this book was the range of characters! This story features people from all stages of life - all so different but somehow their stories blended so well and they fit together perfectly! I couldn’t help but get the warm fuzzies experiencing these unlikely friendships blossom as they supported each other through some of life’s biggest hurdles!

This book was a sweet, feel-good read - I haven’t read something that felt this much like a warm hug in a while!

Many thanks to the author, Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the opportunity to read an ARC of this amazing story in exchange for my honest review, I highly recommend checking this one out when it is published on June 7th, 2022 (less than one week to go!)

Five effortless stars!

This was such a heartwarming read. It was exactly what I needed to take my mind off the terrible things happening now.

Iona is larger-than-life, meddling, eccentric but so endearing. As is the whole supporting cast of characters. I never once forgot who is who, and I cared deeply about all of them (apart from the twat, however, no spoilers).
I love this kind of humor in books, not over the top but enough to make you giggle:

"Have you got a whole delicatessen in your bag, Iona?" said Piers.
"It's the Fifth Rule of Commuting," said Iona. "Always come prepared for any eventuality. I can also sort you out if you ladder your tights, get bitten by a mosquito or start your period unexpectedly."
"That would certainly be unexpected," said Piers.
"Same," said Iona. "That tampon's been in my bag since 2014."

This would make an amazing beach read, or anytime read, actually. Do yourself a favor and pick up this book. You'd be glad you did!

I didn’t know what to expect with this book and was pleasantly surprised. It didn’t take long before I was hooked on the unique characters and their unique friendships.

5 stars for this compassionate book! This is a delightful and heartwarming story of the power of human connection. An unlikely group of individuals taking a commuter train to work/ school find each other and themselves as they bond over their own vulnerabilities. Iona is the standout star of this novel and she is a flamboyant and gregarious advice columnist hiding her grief behind her larger than life personality. The other characters will have you rooting for them as their lives fall apart and then into place with the help of the others. This is a book about empathy and the resilient and healing power of a good group of diverse friends. Pick this up if you need your faith restored in humankind or if you want a warm cup of comfort. This book delivers so much between its covers that you will want to stay up late to get your dose. Thank you to the author for offering strong LGBTQ characters and for exploring topics such as grief, ageism, domestic abuse, compassion fatigue, and progressive illness. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

I have to start this review by confessing I almost DNF'ed "The Authencity Project". I found the characters to be unbelievable and some downright detestable. Story was disjointed.
The premise of "Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting" caught my eye, and I am so glad I gave the author a second chance. I loved the many characters, especially quirky Iona. This is such a sweet feel good story.

I loved this heartwarming quirky book, the writing was great and the characters were all so well written. I loved the interactions between everyone . Iona’s character was my favourite, being an outsider like many of the other characters this book shows you that you never know what is behind the faces you see everyday. It brings a group of unlikely people together and shows how reaching out can help to change their lives when the world has no idea what they are hiding behind.
I highly recommend this book to everyone

I received a free advanced copy from NetGalley and all opinions are my own .

4.5/5 stars. What a great read! This book centres around a 50 something newspaper advice columnist named Iona, struggling to remain relevant in a largely young, online world. Iona is a woman of routine, and takes the same train to and from work everyday. On the same train, there are several other commuters who all have interactions of some kind with Iona. This group of people is very diverse and the book is told from all their perspectives. I love a book told from multiple POV’s!

The main theme of this book is connections. It really drives home how you can have an impact on people’s lives and not even know it. Iona, though appearing very rigid, loud and outspoken, is going through some hidden internal struggles. But she still takes it upon herself to help all her new “band of misfits” through their various troubles in their lives, and in return they help Iona. I found the first half of the book intriguing, and the second half heartwarming. I absolutely loved this book, and I enjoyed watching the growth in all the already lovable characters. This was a great read, 10/10 recommend!

I received a ARC of Iona Iversons Rules for Commuting courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the ARC.

This book was exactly what I needed to read! I fell in love with every character for very different reasons. They are so true to life and they just jump off the page (even you, David). Their stories are so beautifully woven together, drawn by the light that is Iona Iverson. A brilliant story of friendship among strangers. This novel will stay with me for a long time.

Iona (along with her dog LuLu) rides the train every day to her job as a magazine advice columnist. She has nicknames for the ‘regulars’ she sees but has never spoken with any of them (as per her rules of commuting) until one of the nicknamed passengers chokes on a grape right in front of her and is saved by another passenger. What happens next kicks-off change for all involved.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. The story is told from the viewpoint of the various commuters on the train (with Iona being the thread that draws them together). It is lovely tale of how relative strangers make meaningful connections with each other. It was also neat to see how each character’s perspective changed as they learned more about themselves and each other. The novel tugged my heart strings, made me smile and caused me to laugh out loud at times. I’d recommend it to anyone who would like a light hearted/feel good read.

I received a copy of this book via a NetGalley request.

this was lovely!
It had really interesting and developed characters and I was rooting for all of them, even the slightly unlikeable ones (coughcoughpierscough).
The writing style is excellent and it was a pretty quick read!
also thanks to NetGalley for the arc!

This book is different than anything I normally read but it's pretty interesting. Handful of train regulars all only know each other by nicknames they've given each other based on appearance and the way they act on the train. After this event of choking on a grape, the main character actually start talking to each other everyday and Iona a magazine therapist meddles in their lives - setting up dates, recruiting contacts for her career, supporting characters to change career paths, and supporting a teenager through a case of high school bullying.

It's mulit pov and 3rd party, the MC Iona is an elder lady who's openly and loudly - not annoyingly, she's just not embarrassed? or ashamed? - gay (lesbian I believe, and her wife Bea is bi). She shares her story as an original IT girl party girl that launched her career as a magazine therapist where she can just share her opinions and advice. Although she's realizing that her views are maybe more outdated than Gen Z and through her new group on the train is looking to update her advice.

Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting is a lovely and heartwarming read. It shows us the possibilities that exist when we look up, reach out and connect with those around us. It encourages us to let go of our self imposed ‘rules of engagement’ in public situations and allow ourselves to get to know one another and become each other’s champion in life.

I enjoyed reading the different perspectives and getting to know each character’s strengths and struggles. Every character on the train became endearing once I learned their story. I think there’s a life lesson in that.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: June 7, 2022
Iona Iverson is an eccentric, middle-aged advice columnist, who travels by train every day to and from her job, with her little dog, Lulu, in tow. Although she travels with the same people each day, she knows nothing about them except for the nicknames she herself has given them. But when one of her fellow travelers- “Smart but Sexist Manspreader”- chokes on a grape during the morning commute, a chain reaction is sparked. Soon, Iona is known to all of her commuters as the go-to person for advice, and when Iona’s life starts to fall apart, she finds friendship and support in the same people she ignored for years.
“Iona Iverson Rules of Commuting” (the North American title), is Claire Pooley’s second novel, her previous one being “The Authenticity Project” was the winner of numerous awards and accolades, so she has a tough debut to follow.
The novel is told from the different perspectives of traveler’s on the train, not only their personal stories but also how their lives intersect with Iona’s. David, the lawyer; Sanjay, the nurse; Emmie, the ad ingénue; Martha, the student; Piers, the arrogant businessman and of course, Iona, the retired burlesque dancer and soon-to-be-obsolete magazine columnist, are all delightful and quirky in their own ways, connecting with each other in ways only human beings can when they make an effort to do so.
“Commuting” is uplifting and also emotional, as the struggles of each traveler is revealed and we see that images can in fact, be very deceiving. As Iona gets to know each passenger, connections are formed and we see how very different people can not only get along but can, in fact, make each other better.
Pooley’s novel will resonate with readers from all walks of life, and through her human and dysfunctional characters, Pooley will touch an emotional chord. A story about human connection, “Commuting” is a page-turning, heart-wrenching, laugh-out-loud sophomore novel that no doubt will leave readers wanting more from Pooley.

Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 💫
Start date: May 31, 2022
End date: June 2, 2022
Pub date: June 7, 2022

Thank you to the author, Netgalley, and Penguin Random House Canada for a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This book follows Iona, as she commutes on the train every day to her job as a magazine advice columnist. One day, one of the unspoken rules of London commuters - never speak to strangers on the train- is broken, when a fellow commuter almost chokes, causing a chain reaction of events and interactions.

This book felt like a warm hug. It was heart-warming, entertaining, and charming, all at the same time. Each character was so different and unique, and the character development was impeccable. I didn’t dislike a single character, and feel like everybody could find at least one of them relatable.

This book will be released on June 7, 2022. I absolutely adored it, and I think it would be hard not to!

The following review was posted today, Thursday, June 2nd, 5 days before publication. It will be shared on Twitter and Instagram between today and the publication date (Tuesday, June 7th), but the review has already been posted on Goodreads. The blog post includes links to pre-order the books and to its Goodreads page, so readers can add it to their to-be-read books.


“The advantage of boarding the train at Hampton Court was that it was the end of the line, or the beginning, depending, of course, on which way you were traveling. There was a life lesson there, thought Iona. In her experience, most endings turned out to be beginnings in disguise.”

Genre: Fiction, Women’s Fiction
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Content Warnings: Mentions medical emergencies (choking), and deals with homophobia and bullying.

“Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting” follows a set of characters that all commute on the same train—all getting on and off at different stops. After one eventful morning breaks the ice between them, one wonders: what would happen if you throw the rules of commuting away? What if you were to talk to a perfect stranger—who you see every day, through your silent commute? Told through different points of view, we get a glance at different realities, all being tied by their preferred mode of transport.

This book had so many funny, quirky, and diverse characters. Actually, I think it’s been the most diverse cast I’ve read this year. Contrary to what I expected, Iona is, in fact, not a millennial like myself—and that only made me realize that I can’t remember the last book I read where the character wasn’t a young woman. I loved Sanjay, I could relate so much to his inner narrative. I learned to love Piers, or “Smart-But-Sexist-Manapreader” as Iona would call him before meeting him formally. I feel like I am most like Emmie when commuting, always with a book in hand. I think the narrative I enjoyed the less was Martha’s, but even then I wouldn’t change a thing, because all these characters brought together a heartwarming story.

I dread human interaction with strangers but, strangely, this book kind of made me want to talk to a stranger. Connect a little. It made me realize that there are so many different lives being lived all around. It’d be a disservice to only focus on my own.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun, easy, fast-paced read with different points of view. If you’ve enjoyed books like “Anxious People” by Fredrik Backman, then “Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting” by Clara Pooley is for you.

If you click here, you’ll be redirected to Goodreads, so you can add the book to your TBR list.

Or you could click here, and be redirected to Amazon, so you can order the book.

ARC provided by NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: June 07, 2022