Meredith, alone

by Claire Alexander

PUBLICATION DATE: 9/6/22 in Hardback

PUBLISHER: PENGUIN MICHAEL JOSEPH

SYNOPSIS

Meredith Maggs hasn’t left her house in 1,214 days. But she insists she isn’t alone.

She has her cat, Fred. Her friend Sadie visits when she can. There’s her online support group, StrengthInNumbers. She has her jigsaws, favourite recipes, her beloved Emily Dickinson, the internet, the Tesco delivery man and her treacherous memories for company.

But something’s about to change.

First, new friends Tom and Celeste burst into her life. Then an estranged sister she hasn’t spoken to in years.

Suddenly her carefully curated home is no longer a safe place to hide.

Whether Meredith likes it or not, the world is coming to her door . . .

MY REVIEW

This is one of those books everyone will be reading and talking about over the summer. one if the most anticipated reads of 2022. As soon as I heard about it last September I knew I had to read it.

It was a pleasure to get to know Meredith. We join her at the time she has been in her house for 1214 days. She is quite happy pottering around with Fred, her cat, running up and down stairs for her exercise, doing jigsaws, reading her beloved books and baking. Her best and only friend, Sadie, keep a close eye on her and does any running around needed.

Meredith is hiding from the world following a dreadful experience which has made her retreat into her shell and stop seeing her controlling and abusive mother, and her sister with whom she was once very close.

We have plenty of flashbacks where we are taken back to her childhood to understand the way she feels about her mother. The awful experience she encountered is dealt with sensitively by the author.

When the lovely Tom, who has his own sad story, comes into her life from a befriending charity, then she meets Celeste, an internet chat room friend, face to face (in her home of course) she begins to consider it may be possible to leave her house again. Maybe. After all it is Celeste’s 30th birthday party in a few months – and she doesn’t know about Meredith’s problem.

A beautifully written and uplifting story with an unforgettable leading lady. I loved most of the ‘supporting’ characters, which are superbly written’ Meredith clearly has only a handful of close contacts but they are all hugely supportive. 

A story of family – the good and the bad – and friendship, and finding the strength to face our fears and carry on. 

Thank you to Jen at Penguin Michael Joseph for sending me a proof of this phenomenal debut. I’m looking forward to more from this author.