It seems there are secrets in Declan’s past, strange rumours that were never confronted and suddenly the house they shared takes on a more sinister significance. When it becomes clear Declan's condition will not improve, Declan's children quickly ask Carol to move out of the shared home so they can sell it. Don’t go into it expecting serious literary fiction; this is an easy, charming read that requires some suspension of disbelief. Another excellent read from Graham Norton who has the happy knack of being able to create totally real characters whilst simultaneously making a pretty unreal, implausible situation seem so normal it’s almost mundane. Graham William Walker is an Irish actor, comedian, television presenter and columnist, known by his stage name Graham Norton.

Graham Norton Books | Waterstones Graham Norton Books | Waterstones

He becomes institutionalized and Carol is forced out of "their" lovely home by his 2 uncaring children who sell the home immediately. Effortlessly readable, possessed of a super twist and full of rounded characters to keep close to your heart.But when Carol and Declan became something more and Carol moves into the house the tension is palpable. This costs Carol her job, bewilders her family, and alienates Declan’s two children, Killian and Sally. His story encompasses many poignant moments and serious themes interspersed with his trademark humour. There are more serious issues dealt with in the book (dementia, child pornography, gay couple having a child), but these are all handled with the lightest of touches so that the book never becomes bogged down but rather stays entertaining and gossipy.

FOREVER HOME | Kirkus Reviews FOREVER HOME | Kirkus Reviews

This sometimes dark, sometimes humorous story, provides a great build-up through detailed backstories in the first-half, that results in a suspenseful, thrilling, and a bit of a wacky second-half.Ballytoor is the fictional seaside town where Graham Norton has set his fourth novel, Forever Home, and from the opening pages, the landscape’s distinct, immersive remoteness is established with fluid ease.

Forever Home – HarperCollins Forever Home – HarperCollins

Years pass and the children are grown and out of the house when Carol sees Declan begin to show signs of dementia.It makes the motivations and actions of the characters in the third act feel inauthentic murder-mystery staples. Forever Home will be released in the UK and Ireland on September 29th but is slated for publication in Australia and New Zealand on September 27th. There’s some really nice stuff here about the ache of watching someone rapidly decline, childhood trauma and the suffocating meaning-of-life decisions about family, relationships and work. I would like to thank both Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. He’s seemingly revelling in a second chance at a relationship, too, given the wife of his two adult children mysteriously disappeared years ago.