I absolutely loved this book. Set in 1970s Brisbane, it beautifully captures the innocence and intensity of growing up, with a unique and heartfelt focus on greyhound racing. The writing is vivid and nostalgic, transporting you straight into the sun-soaked suburbs and under-the-house kennels where Andie Tanner's world revolves around her beloved dogs and her dreams of becoming a trainer.

As Andie’s life begins to unravel, the story takes a gripping turn, blending coming-of-age themes with deeper issues of family, loss, and resilience. I was completely absorbed—from the thrill of race night to the quiet heartbreak of Andie's shifting world.

A moving and unforgettable read.

Tenderfoot by Toni Jordan is releasing in late August, but I'm quite a fan of her work and couldn't wait until closer to that date to read it. This is the fourth novel by Toni I have read, and each of them have been five star reads.

'It becomes clear in those moments that childhood is as much a place as it is a time.'

Tenderfoot is a coming of age story told almost in the style of a memoir, from the perspective of Andie, looking back on the year she was 12, when her life went from being one thing into entirely another. The writing is everything I've come to love about Toni Jordan, witty, honest, deeply introspective, with time and place so neatly woven through the narrative, so much so, that as a reader, you are transported back to Queensland in the 1970s, that wild, corrupt, yet infinitely casual place.

'The truth is, of course, that everyone can be trusted and no one can be, depending on the circumstances.'

This is a story about Queensland childhoods in the 1970s, about greyhound racing, gambling, corruption, bad people who still have the capacity to do good things, mothers and fathers who fall off their pedestals in the most spectacular of ways. There are Boy Swallows Universe vibes with this one, and yet it sits firmly within a class of its own.

'Maturity does not rise smoothly like water filling a tank. Instead, our coming of age is a jerky, unpredictable process, a wild tide coming in on a ragged beach.'

Needless to say, I loved this novel. Towards the end, some truly brutal truths about the history of greyhound racing were disclosed, and these were not easy to read but were nonetheless essential to the telling of this magnificent story. I can't wait for this to be released and to watch the love pour in once again for Toni Jordan.

Tenderfoot by Toni Jordan is a beautiful coming of age story set in 1970's Australia . It would be hard not to feel invested in the main character Andie as she navigates the world of greyhound racing , divorce and addiction. It is so specific in some areas of greyhound racing that it feels like it must be first hand knowledge of the author .

I recently saw Toni Jordon interview Marion Keyes and thoroughly enjoyed it ! I have had some of her other books on my kindle for some time so will definitely be tackling them soon !

Thank you to Netgalley and Hachette for a copy to read and review !

I love Toni Jordan’s writing & I love greyhounds, so on one hand I desperately wanted to read this book, but was also tentative wondering how she would write about the racing industry in 1970’s Brisbane. Whilst there were some brutal facts revealed towards the end of the book, this book was so much more. A coming of age story but also memoir, featuring a young girl, Andie, whose life changed the year she turned 12.

Andie’s parents separate & as she is left with her mother she loses contact with her father & her life with the greyhounds she loves so much. Mourning their loss she has a fractious relationship with her mother & has to navigate a new life with her & her new boyfriend Steve. The writing is wonderful evoking the time & place so well, the heat, the suburbs, school, the corruption, family relationships, growing up & discovering who you are. A great read.