Honestly, Charlotte Levin has done it again with Outside. If you loved Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine or Sorrow and Bliss, this is going to be right up your street. I so wanted to read this book as I have read the other two and this one is so good .Outside follows Beatrice, a total rising star whose life completely derails after a massive tragedy. She ends up with severe agoraphobia, completely stuck inside her own house and terrified to cross the doorstep. What I love about Charlotte Levin’s writing is that she doesn't just use mental illness as a cheap plot point. You really feel the absolute panic and frustration Beatrice goes through, but it’s balanced with this incredibly sharp, dry humour that keeps it from feeling too heavy. I was laughing and crying in the same chapter, and it gave me all the feels. It's a gorgeous, messy look at grief, family drama, and how the walls we build to protect ourselves can turn into our own prisons. This is definitely one to add to your reading list if you love books about beautifully flawed, complicated people and you love Charlotte Levin’s writing, which is so brilliantly crafted with emotion and wit and humour. I’m being deliberately vague about plot because the best thing about this is how it unfolds and I don’t want to spoil a second of your reading .

Great book, I really loved this and all the characters. Bea was so likeable and relatable. The neighbour, Finn, Matisse and even the “therapist” and Gerard, she had such a good network and it just shows jr doesn’t matter what u have mental health can always show up. I would have liked slightly more from the ending and how she progressed though

This is an engrossing and immersive read that I devoured in a day. I loved the sensitive and authentic handling of the underlying issues that the protagonist experiences. I rooted for her but also loved that her storyline wasn't sacharine and predictable. I found this moving but also funny and loved the author's sharp and pithy observations.
Charlotte Levin has written her best book so far with this.

What a brilliant book. I cried and laughed out loud while reading this. All the characters are so sharply observed - who would have thought a parakeet could provoke such an emotional reaction? Charlotte writes with such a wonderful dark sense of humour and Outside is an absolute triumph. My favourite of this author's books so far.

This is the third book I have read by.Levin and, I think this is her third book. Levin breaks every muscle and bone of her characters, to only build them back with a surgical like precision.
A superb writer.
Matisse steals the show, but he was always going to.

An uplifting, beautifully written romance, which is an absolute delight from beginning to end. Beatrice is a wonderfully complex heroine whose struggles with grief, anxiety and isolation feel deeply authentic. I laughed out loud at her quick wit and broke down in tears on more than one occassion.

Her heartbreaking story is filled with a cast of unforgettable characters and the chemistry between Beatrice and Finn is tender and charming. I was so invested in them finding love and freedom in each other.

Charlotte, thank you for a wonderful story that will live on forever in my heart and for your bravery in sharing your emotions. I pray one day you see the ocean again.

Outside is an emotionally immersive and quietly devastating novel about grief, anxiety, and the desperate need for connection. Charlotte Levin captures spiralling thoughts and social anxiety with painful accuracy (so much so that, as a fellow sufferer, I cried), but still balances the heaviness with warmth, humanity, and humour.

There was such an emotional intimacy to the writing. The relationships felt nuanced and believable, particularly the maternal dynamics and feeling of lost safety, which added so much depth to the story. There’s a tenderness running through the novel even in its most uncomfortable moments, and I found myself completely invested in Bea’s emotional journey to ‘recovery’.

The atmosphere of isolation and grief is handled beautifully, but the book never feels hopeless. Instead, it becomes a thoughtful exploration of loneliness, vulnerability, and the ways people try to survive loss. It’s realistic and reassuring to see no such depiction of a miracle being performed, of a ‘cure’, but rather the little victories in overcoming, or handling, anxiety.

A deeply affecting and psychologically sharp read that stayed with me after I finished - along with many tear stains!

This could quite possibly be my favourite book of 2026 and one that will stay with me for a very long time.

Oh Beatrice… I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to you. I found myself completely invested in your story and desperate to know what happened next. Charlotte Levin has created such a memorable, beautifully written character that I genuinely need more.

The story is emotional, thought-provoking and utterly captivating. It pulled me in from the very first page and never let go. I laughed, I worried, I hoped, and I was left thinking about it long after I’d finished.

I can only hope Charlotte Levin gives us a sequel because I need to know where life takes Beatrice next.

A truly unforgettable read and an easy 5 stars from me.

Wow..

It seems weird to say you love a book when the subject matter is one that causes a lot of pain and grief for the person and their loved ones but this book deserves all the accolades. It would make for a powerful film or series and while I was reading it, it was being played out as a film in my head.

Charlotte Levin is an outstanding and gifted writer. Despite the subject matter, she finds time and the space to inject her humour and wit in this very human and emotional novel. She is wickedly funny and I laughed out loud many times throughout the book.

Charlotte wrote this book because she wanted to raise awareness of what it is like to have and live with agoraphobia. I think this book is a masterpiece and a triumph. I was rooting for Beatrice all the way through and lived through every single bit of joy and pain.. I loved the banter and the relationship she had with Finn.

This book deserves a wide audience. It's more than good. If I could give it ten stars I would.

Ever since a good book friend pestered me into reading If I Can’t Have You, Charlotte Levin has been a must read asap author.

Outside tells Beatrice’s story. She’s recently bereaved, her acting character was just about to take off and she’s agoraphobic. She can’t leave the house.

Charlotte Levin is truly gifted in empathetic, emotionally immersive writing. It’s meditative, thought provoking and deeply moving. Beatrice is one of the most memorable and complete characters you’ll meet in a book this year.

I know it won’t be for everyone but personally I loved it.

Thanks to Netgalley and Oneworld Publications

Superbly written - a moving & heartfelt novel about the difficult life of an agoraphobic. The reader can really understand the ramifications of what life is like for a sufferer and how this mental illness affects everyday life. It is a story of love too with phenomenal characters who will make you both laugh and cry. Highly recommended

4.5 stars

I had this pre-ordered but had to cancel it after having money issues so I'm thrilled I was sent an e-copy.

I found this instantly fabulous. Beatrice is a difficult character to like at times, but I found myself really warming to her. She has her issues yes, but they're not just used as a side story or just to tick a box. They're so deep and considered and done with such empathy, I loved her. Charlotte's talent at creating a character that has been through grief and other difficulties, and has struggled with coping with all of that - she's just a very familiar and well written character and I just wanted to hold her hand throughout.

It flits between the "now" and the "before". Whilst the "before" scenes are interesting and I enjoyed them, I preferred the present scenes. I felt there was more, personally, for me to get my teeth into.

It is so effortless to read and feels like it was effortless to write (although I don't want to dumb down the writing experience). The sentences are written well, the dialogue natural, the characters so deep and familiar, the chapters a reasonable length, the emotion deep and moving and identifiable and just, yeah, really effortless storytelling.

I love how intense it is. That sounds weird, let me explain. There's some difficult topics covered in this book, some intense feelings, but she's handled them so well. They're not hidden but now are they sensationalised. She's got the right balance. And she's injected humour into it. Not OTT humour and it's also not a morbid humour, it's a natural humour which helps lighten the tougher moments.

It's not a short book at nearly 400 pages but it's so easy to read that I finished it in just a day. It flows so well and it is so enjoyable that the page count just flies by.

My one...not negative, because it's not a negative, more of an observation and what I wanted. The ending was a little abrupt. It was really good, don't get me wrong, and I think it's because it was so good that I wanted more. I'd have liked the resolution and relationships just to be drawn out a bit more so I could enjoy it more. But what is there is very good, works well with the story, and leaves you satisfied.

I believe Charlotte has her own experiences with agoraphobia, which is why this book is so important to her and I can really see that personal touch. People think it's not as serious as it is, that you're lazy, you don't want to go out, you want to stay home - but that's simplifying it. It's not a condition that means you want to stay at home. It's a condition that means you can't leave the house. That's completely different and I think it will do a world of good to see it as a main plot point in a mainstream book by a popular author.

What I can't believe is this is the first of her books I've read. I would have put money on having read her others but apparently not. But this is a good thing because now it gives me an excuse to buy them.

Thank you to NetGalley and OneWorld Publications for an advanced copy of this book.

From the opening pages, I knew I was going to enjoy Outside. Charlotte Levin’s writing is beautifully lyrical and deeply thoughtful- qualities I always hope to find and rarely do. I highlighted so many passages, including this one:

“The room drinks the sun as though it’s been dying of thirst, and she stands, straight, within the bright rectangle on the floor and blinks, adjusting her eyes to the glare. Particles of dust dance around her as though she were a maypole.”

The prose is gorgeous, but it is also balanced by wonderfully dry humour. Lines such as, “Better therapy then. I know a Chinese doctor who helped my sister-in-law’s depression, God rest her soul,” and, “She pours the milk first. That’s how tormented she is. She’s pouring the milk in first,” made me laugh while also revealing so much about the character of Bea.

This is a novel with heavy subject matter. Agoraphobia can be life-changing and can present in many different ways. Levin approaches the subject, which I later discovered is incredibly close to her heart, with sincerity, compassion, humour and honesty. For those looking in from the outside, it is an illness that can be difficult to understand. Yet the novel also conveys the sense that even the person experiencing it may not understand why their mind and body will not cooperate. Bea’s frustration, and her need to control the smallest details when the larger things feel impossible to control, come through powerfully.

Bea is an actress who has always lived comfortably in the shadow of her mother. When a life-changing event occurs, she retreats completely into herself. Physically and mentally trapped inside her home, she is too afraid, and unable, to go outside. Then she meets Finn. Could he be the person who helps her find a way back to herself?

I hope this book does really well. It has a great deal to say, but never feels self-indulgent or preachy. Instead, it is delicate, considered and quietly affecting. I came away with more than just a memorable story and beautiful writing; I also felt more informed and compassionate about the subject at its heart.

Outside is one of those books that is difficult to describe but impossible to forget. Charlotte Levin has created a narrator who is lonely, vulnerable and often frustrating, yet I couldn’t help becoming invested in her story. The writing is sharp and atmospheric, with a creeping sense of unease running throughout.

I found myself constantly wondering where the story was going, and while some parts felt a little slow for me, the emotional payoff was worth it. Beneath the dark humour and awkward encounters is a thoughtful exploration of grief, isolation and what it means to belong.

This won’t be a book for everyone, but if you enjoy character-driven fiction with flawed protagonists and an offbeat edge, it’s well worth picking up. A memorable and thought-provoking read.

Outside
by Charlotte Levin
Publication Date: 6 August 2026

Charlotte Levin delivers a heartfelt and deeply moving story about grief, anxiety, healing, and the courage it takes to face the world again. Beatrice is an engaging and believable protagonist whose struggles feel authentic, making it easy to become emotionally invested in her journey from isolation towards hope.

The supporting cast adds warmth, humour and depth to the novel, particularly Finn, whose patience and kindness provide a gentle contrast to Beatrice's fears, while Matisse the foul-mouthed parakeet steals more than a few scenes with perfectly timed comic relief. The relationships throughout the story feel natural, balancing emotional moments with lighter ones that keep the narrative from becoming overwhelming.

The exploration of mental health is handled with sensitivity and compassion, never feeling forced or overly sentimental. Instead, the novel reminds readers that recovery is rarely straightforward, but that connection, understanding and love can make even the smallest steps forward feel like remarkable victories.

Outside is an emotional, uplifting and beautifully written novel that blends humour with heartfelt emotion. It's an inspiring story of resilience, second chances and rediscovering life beyond the walls we build around ourselves.

#OutsideBook #CharlotteLevin #BookReview #NetGalley #ContemporaryFiction

Outside is a novel about grief, guilt and how loss can completely derail a person’s life. Beatrice loses the human connections which are most vital to her wellbeing without much to replace them as her world shrinks to the space behind her own front door. Could the arrival of Finn, the gardener who undertakes to clear the overgrown garden which Beatrice can’t even look at, prove to be the start of a tentative re-engagement with the outside?
Charlotte’s writing is lyrical and absolutely beautiful, peppered with humour which balances the heavy emotional themes.
I liked the realistic ending; life is rarely neatly wrapped up a big bow.