At the outset I must confess that this was a little out-of-my-genre; however, it was a pleasant and light read.

Lucy Baker, all of 25, leads a simple life. She has a quirky hobby – knitting characters out of stories and also in real life. She has an amazing friendship with her 79-year old neighbour, Brenda, who is as quirky as Lucy and more. She seems to have “unique powers” of predicting things, and is a totally colourful person, with the adequate amount of humour and wit. She dishes out her “magical potions” and advice at the drop of a hat.

Lucy has never been high-flying, much to the dismay of her mom, who adores her older sister Emma. Lucy works in Tompkins Toy Workshop – where her work and talents are underestimated.

Enter George, their new handsome neighbour, and Brenda is convinced that he’s the perfect one for Lucy. She entrusts her with a little something, which apparently will see her non-existent love life take off.

You relate to Lucy – she’s kind and thoughtful but, seems to underestimate herself and her abilities.
When Brenda is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Lucy takes it on herself to ensure that she sees to all the needs of her closest friend.

At the core, this is a book of true friendship and the love associated with it. Perhaps a little push and a magical touch can also help you find the courage to fulfil your dreams, both at work and on the personal front.

If you’re looking for something undemanding, but well-written, that will make you go aaawwwww and smile in contentment, then this is a good choice.
There is an adequate amount of magic and spells – so if you do not believe in them, this is not your book.

3.5/5 for me

I found this book very charming. It had its sad parts along with its humorous parts which I liked. I loved how Lucy saw, in herself, her confidence and courage. I loved the friendship and bond her and Brenda had. Brenda was definitely a happy soul who bestowed sunshine and happiness amongst others. Definitely some vibrant characters with George being a hunk too. True love is definitely a magic worth exploring. I’m really glad I read this book as I was not disappointed and I would definitely recommend to others.

This was such a wonderful story. Funny, heart warming and at times emotional. The first line had me laughing and I was immediately hooked. The relationship between Lucy and Brenda was so lovely. A beautiful friendship that proves age really doesn't matter.
I loved the magical element to the story! The book definitely wouldn't be the same without Brenda and her (sometimes crazy) beliefs.
The book is very well written. It was easy to follow and I enjoyed every moment. My first (and definitely not my last!) Jenni Keer book. Highly recommended!

This was a beautiful story about love and friendship.
The story flows really well which made it an easy read and kept me engaged throughout.
I loved the interaction between Lucy and her elderly neighbour and it just shows that age does not matter between true friends.
I was curious to find out what the locket was all about and the magic behind it, and the effect it had on the characters.
This book has a bit of everything, love, laughter and tears, but ultimately it shows you the true meaning of unconditional love and the strong bond of friendship.
Highly recommended.

I found this lovely story to be a delightful romance with some very positive points made by several characters.

Lucy is an attractive 25 year old young woman, hopeful of finding her one true love, but she is also an avid knitter and much more of a homebody than a party girl. She does her best at her job and this often means she gets taken advantage of. Lucy is also a good person who has developed a friendship with her neighbor Brenda, the 79 year old widow of an old rock star. When George moves into their neighborhood, Lucy finds him very attractive and Brenda lends her a bit of magic in the form of an old locket to help Lucy win his heart. There are ups and downs to the process of Lucy and George's coming together but they are well written and a pure pleasure to read. I strongly recommend.

A lovely tale of friendship and romance with some magic and mystery thrown in. I love the friendship between young and old, the portrayal of a mother than most of us can identify with and how sensitively that old age is dealt with.

First off I have to say that I truly just enjoyed this novel. It made me laugh, cry, at points I was irritated due to some characters behavior and then my heart filled with joy between the love and kindness that was shown between many of the characters but especially the two main characters or Lucy and Brenda.

Since I was a little girl I have had a fondness to spend time with people that are older than me whether they be my relatives or the neighbors I was always chattting with(my Mom would say bothering) when I was young, so when I read the blurb to this book it had my name written all over it.

The story of Lucy Baker, toy distributor employee, knitter, daughter, sister and a neighbor everyone would want to have. The bond that is developed between her and her elderly neighbor Brenda is pure and honest and a joy to read. Enter George, the new neighbor, cranky and quiet and keeps to himself h til he meets Lucy and she slowly encourages him to be kind and decent to other people is not a horrible trait to have.

As you follow Lucy’s story and the everyday life she encounters you can’t help but open up your heart and fall in love with her and her neighbors, Co-workers and family. Fabulous must read for anyone who enjoys a rom-com of a novel that touches your heart.

Lovely story that tugs on the emotions. Definitely recommended to people who enjoy this type of book.

Loved this book!

The story of Lucy Baker, starting on the day a new neighbour moves in and a stray cat appears in the street.

Lucy is given a locket by neighbour Brenda, which has a series of tasks to help her find her true love and give her more confidence in life. Although sceptical she starts to carry out the tasks with help from her friend Jess, but will it work?

A quirky story full of interesting chracters.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a voluntary and honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It reminded me a lot of The Age of Misadventure by Judy Leigh. I sometimes read quite dark fiction and it’s good to step into the light every once in a while. I totally loved Lucy and Brenda, their friendship made me feel all warm and fuzzy. I loved the way the author tackled Brenda’s dementia. My Nan had dementia and it was quite bad at the end. The author does a very sensitive job of writing about this. At times Brenda reminded me of my Nan. I got upset reading a few times and had to stop because it felt so real which shows what a great job the author did. This is a great felt good book and well worth a read.

Initially, I was attracted to this book because of the cat on the cover; after all, what story is not improved by the presence of a cat? Lucy is a lovely girl, but lacking in self-confidence. This heart-warming and humorous tale of the power of friendship, and learning to stand up for yourself, boasts a cast of wonderfully drawn, quirky characters that will stay with you long after you have finished reading. I look forward to the next book by Jenni Keer.
Thanks to Avon and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Lucy works in sales for a local toy company and lives alone in a small flat next to her elderly neighbour and friend, Brenda.

When Lucy and Brenda gain a new neighbour, George, Brenda gives Lucy a locket and tries to convince her that it will bring love. Along with her friend, Jess, Lucy agrees to try and make George fall in love with her but does anything go to plan?

I immediately liked Lucy. She sounds like someone I would get on with. Brenda was also a wonderful character and one I immediately warmed to.

George, in my opinion had Mr Darcy like qualities and I (without giving too much away) knew there was going to be more to him. Misunderstood rather than grumpy.

I loved the magical aspects of this novel. It added additional romance to it. It’s a reminder to have faith in what you’re capable of and what you can achieve.

There are so many endearing qualities to this novel. The friendship between Lucy and Brenda proving that age is just a number and that shutting yourself off to that kind of friendship means you potentially miss out. I wanted so much to be able to talk to my late Grandmother whilst reading this novel.

There are plenty of laugh out loud moments along with heartfelt and bittersweet ones. Overall though, this book has a life affirming message.

The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker is just a feel good novel that is certainly worth picking up although I was already sold when I saw the cover and the cat. In my opinion, it handles the subject of Dementia in a sensitive manner.

If you want a novel that will have you smiling pretty much all the way through, I recommend this one.

What a super debut novel! I loved the characters, particularly Lucy and the mysterious Brenda. The office scenes had me reminiscing about my own time in the business world. The ‘will she, wont she?’ character of the chapters propelled you through the story and made it difficult to put the book down. Funny, sad and poignant, I can’t wait for the next novel from Jenni Keer.

This is a fabulous debut!

It's a heartwarming story of a young woman gaining her confidence, with the help of her best friend, octogenarian Brenda, and a sprinkling of magic.

A lovely story about an unusual friendship, colleagues in the workplace (including some with outdated ideas!), family, and love. The theme of dementia is handled with a gentle sensitivity, along with that of being an unofficial carer.

There are some great characters aside from Lucy, the eccentric Brenda and the knitted Poldarks; George is the love interest; a grumpy, rude character who soon unwittingly endears himself to Lucy and the reader. And there's more than meets the eye with some of Lucy's work colleagues.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and I look forward to Jenni's next one!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. This review is my own honest opinion.

I loved this title. The friendship that developed between the characters was touching and delightful. Being a home-body myself, I found I could relate to Lucy and the anxiety she felt as changes were made. This was a wonderful read with more than one moment bringing me to laughter and tears. Well worth the read!

This is a wonderful feel good story.
The characters are charming and interact superbly.
I just could not put it down.

The tgemes of dementia and death are carefully and sympathetically developed in this tale of Lucy Baker and her caring neighbour.
Easy reading, funny yet heartbreaking!

This was a really easy to read, funny rom-com book, despite the hard themes of dementia and death.

At times, I felt it was very predictable which was a shame because I enjoyed the characters but overall I enjoyed the book and would recommend for those looking for a light-hearted read.

The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker is the debut novel by Jenni Keer.
The three main characters are 25-year-old Lucy Baker, her best friend/neighbor 79-year-old Brenda, and her new neighbor/love interest George. Brenda is developing dementia and is desperate to see Lucy happy. With a little help for a locket, Lucy is on her way to becoming the person she was meant to be. I found the character George to be very humorous and also enjoyed the banter between her coworkers. The story was a little weak in developing the relationship between George and Lucy. Overall, a fun read.

Lucy is 25, Brenda is 79. They are next door neighbours and best of friends. An unlikely pairing you may think but as you delve into the pages it soon becomes apparent how special the relationship between the two women really is.

Lucy isn’t your typical 25-year-old woman. She enjoys her time with Brenda, sitting at the bistro set sipping one of her friend’s teas. Her collection of knitted dolls that she has made adorn her cosy little flat. Socialising and partying are really not the scene for this quiet, unassuming lady.

When George moves in a couple of doors down, they don’t get off on the right foot straight away. He’s surly and abrupt. Lucy it seems is destined to be involved with her new neighbour in some way or other as a stray cat has adopted him! The cat also befriends Lucy.

Lucy starts to worry for her dear friend when she notices little things not quite right. When Brenda is diagnosed with dementia, she has one desire before her memories leave her for good. She wants to see Lucy find love and be happy.

Brenda gifts Lucy a locket, claiming it helped her find love with her beloved Jim many years before. Lucy discovers newfound confidence that is noticed by those around her. It presents new opportunities both at work and in her home life as she starts to sell some knitted Poldarks!! Is the locket magical or is the real Lucy Baker emerging from her protective shell??

This is beautifully written and contains a little touch of magic. It has some hilarious one-liners, explores relationships between generations and is just incredibly heartwarming.