This warmed my heart! Such a beautifully sweet and tender story, brilliant writing and charming insight into Henry and his life. This will give you all the positive feels - a hugely enjoyable read.

This was a charming story that delivered on what it promises, all the feel good vibes. Loved how we get to see Henry’s character development, his past and present from the vignettes of his interaction with the other characters. One complaint I have is the pace of the book. It dragged at many points, especially at the beginning and that’s why it took me sooooooo long to finish this book to be honest. I am going with 3/5 stars for it

I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

Loved the intimate approach of Celia’s writing - it did take me a while to get into the narrative because it was descriptive heavy (for me) but eventually it got going and I was hooked. The coincidences were sometimes a little unbelievable but then when you remember it is fiction and taking that out of the equation, it was a fabulous and delightful novel!

Ever since reading Phillip Larkin’s poem The Whitsun Weddings as a child, I’ve been fascinated by strangers on trains. I’ve always sat and imagined what was going on in these unknown lives, even better after dark when lit up rooms and open curtains give us a complete tableaux of how a family lives. This charming book was just like this, a great example of literary people watching with poignancy and the odd tear or two along the way. 

Two people meet on the London to Edinburgh train and start talking. An everyday occurrence for a lot of us becomes a story of how people meet and have an impact on each other. It’s joy of the journey that matters here as different characters meet and change one another. One of these characters is Henry and we follow a thread of who he meets, their influence on his life and what he gives to them in return. I’m between we take trips back in time and rather like the lit windows we see from the train, they work as glimpses into Henry’s past that illuminate the present moment. I loved these vignettes, they come and go rather like a flickering old film and I could see them a black and white films running in Henry’s mind. His early life comes and goes, especially his life in Blackpool. It gives us chance to build on his character, understand who he’s on this train and who he’s hoping to see when he reaches his journey’s end.

I particularly enjoyed his interaction with Ariel, who is troubled and young. He can give her a sense of wisdom and perhaps help this girl who’s a bit lost. I felt like a passenger, watching these people interact then hiding back behind my book. I loved how all the characters become entangled in some way and the reader becomes entangled with them in turn. They influence us as we learn more about them chapter by chapter. This novel was a delight and, for a counsellor like me, it fulfilled that curiosity and enjoyment I get from glimpsing into other people’s character and lives.
I really felt that the author had great empathy for human beings, because they’re written about from a loving perspective. This was an emotional book, caring and kind, with laughter as well as tears.

A lovely story about Henry who meets Ariel on the train on the way to Edinburgh. A charming story however it did move a bit too slow for me and was repetitive at times too.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a free ecopy Advanced readers cioy of this book. Unfortunately this book was not for me it was slow, boring, repetitive and depressing.

What a great story, I loved the different points of view and how all their stories linked together at the end.
I felt connected to the characters and was invested in their story.
I don’t know why I left it so long to read this one.

Reading about Henry Applebee was such a delight. At eight five years old he’s trying to fix a regret that’s was sixty five years ago. Add in a trip, a teen and Jazz musician and you are well on your way to a wonderful read.

A wonderful character driven novel, perfect for those who enjoy character-focused reads. Henry is a very sweet character, and I loved that the setting was on a sleeper train to Edinburgh.

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Finding Henry Applebee by Celia Reynolds is a General Fiction (Adult) novel. Eighty-five year old Henry Applebee has regretted something for 65 years and he’s decided to go on a quest to Edinburgh in order to make peace with those regrets. On the train to Edinburgh from London he is joined by troubled teen Ariel and jazz musician Travis and serendipitously there is a connection between these three supposed strangers. The story travels between Henry in 1948 and the present, and we also get the point of view from Ariel and Travis. This is a heartwarming story, and I enjoyed reading it.

This book is an easy read, but it just didn't catch my interest enough so have decided to not finish it, I may come back to it at another stage.

Thank you to one more chapter for my netgalley (and physical) copy of this book. This is a gorgeous story and one I would recommend to those who love character centred books

Such a cute story, well written and easy to get lost in (in a good way!!!)

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

Finding Henry Applebee is an enchanting and beautifully written story that makes one believe it is never too late to pursue our heartfelt desires and dreams. I absolutely loved every bit of this book. Highly recommended!

This was such a heartwarming story. I loved Henry Appleby, he was such a sweet character. I found myself rooting for him and hoping he’s find happiness. This book will capture your heart right from the very first page. It’s such a lovely and warm story, but it does end sadly. I highly recommend checking this one out!

What a fascinating book. I was impressed by the storyline and the characters were all well written and complex. Where there are complex storylines combined with intriguing characters the reader experience is magnified tremendously. To have a book that is well written as well as entertaining is a delight. Reading is about escaping your world and entering another one. Here I forgot about my own life and was immersed in the world created by the author. I would recommend this book.

What I read of this was well enough written, but I'm afraid I couldn't really get into it. It just wasn't for me and I couldn't finish it.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

An emotional reading experience. As 85 year old Henry Applebee is set to catch a train, he suddenly feels unwell and needs assistance. 18 yr old Ariel is the only person who steps up to help him. This one moment in time will join their two paths into one. Settling in for their long train ride, they are joined by a young American, Travis, whose story will amazingly add to theirs. Each of the three are on a journey, this train ride will change their lives and leave the reader sniffling with emotion. Celia Reynolds' skillful winding of each character's story reminds me of Fredrick Bachman's ability to bring readers along on the path to discovering how each of them affect the world. I loved this book and will definitely recommend it to all of my reading companions.

Nothing had prepared me for the warmth in this book. Finding Henry Applebee is a hug in pages.
An old man finally gets the chance to solve the mystery of his life, a very young adult is on a mission, and a young man is following his own path. Nothing links them at first sight, yet, struck by fate, they met on their way to Scotland.
The novel tells the tale of two journeys, a literal one from London to Edinburgh, and a figurative one, walked by each character throughout the book.

I think one of the reasons I felt so connected to the book were the locations. I was a Londoner, and Ariel’s thoughts on the city got to me. Celia Reynolds truly captured what this gigantic place does to you. The buzz of London, the loneliness that may engulf you when surrounded by nine million people, the resignation of commuters waiting for the Tube. I was hit by a wave of nostalgia, and then brought to London with young adult Ariel and Henry. King’s Cross was the last place I saw before leaving, and this is where they meet. This book really is special to me. How do two souls find each other in a crowded and impersonal place like a train station? A place of beginnings and endings. There is poetry both in the author’s prose and the characters’ lives.

On the train, Ariel and Henry meet the last part of this incongruous trio: Travis, musician from the US. Their friendship spark grows as the train rushes on the rails. You get to walk down memory lane, get to know each one of them better as the landscape changes and snow invites itself. Here again, I’d love to quote the book about meetings in train, but I’ll leave them for you to discover.

Once in Edinburgh, dots slowly connect, and each chapter had me “Oh so that’s…” Now, I know it worked very well for many readers, but this is where I felt myself taking a step back. Too many crime shows and novels have turned me into a skeptical woman who doesn’t believe in coincidences. If I was not convinced by the ending, I will admit its execution brings happiness, it wraps you into a blanket of bookish joy.

Henry, Ariel, and Travis will stay with me. I must thank the author for offering such a comforting read with deliciously spot-on remarks and descriptions.