Tried reading this one and it just was not meant for me. This does not mean that it is not a good book, I just was not in the right place to be reading it and have decided to not try picking it up anytime in the near future.

A touching story about a brother and a sister separated at a young age and taken into the foster system, who meet again as adults under complex circumstances. Their lives have taken drastically different directions, but the biological connection remains. An emotional and uplifting read.

Mike Gayle has only improved during his two decades of writing novels about the highs and lows of love and friendship. In Half a World Away, Noah and Kerry are half- siblings who were separated early in life which results in two very different experiences. Kerry's personality as a child - protective, loving, scrappy and smart- informs her entire life and is central to her desire to reconnect with her brother. Kerry, a single mother to Kian and a housekeeper, is determined to reconnect with the grown man who last saw her when he was only a toddler. Noah, in the meantime, has married and had a daughter and become a barrister- and has little to no memories of the time before he was adopted.

Mike Gayle deftly tells the story alternately from Kerry’s and Noah’s points of view, giving insight to each character’s thoughts and conflicts and he introduces a very challenging hurdle for the siblings to address as they navigate their new relationship in the midst of their adult lives.

A moving reminder of the importance of having loving, supportive people in life- whether they are family by blood or by choice.

The story of two half-siblings living very different lives in London, "Half the World Away" explores family, privilege, and adoption.

Noah, raised by a well-off white family, with a good job as a barrister, and a wife and kid he loves, has never been one to look back at the past…unless he’s forced to. Meanwhile, Kerry, a white woman living in a less-than-great neighborhood, has raised her son just fine on her own despite her turbulent past, making a living off cleaning the houses of people like Noah. But since they were separated, Kerry has spent her entire life leaving letters and hoping that someday, Jason…Noah, will reach out and find her, the big sister who still loves her little brother so much.

"Half the World Away" takes the opportunity to switch between the two perspectives of Noah and Kerry as they discover each other, and as they do so, things about themselves they hadn’t known before.

Rife with opportunities for conversations about a multitude of topics, "Half the World Away" is surprisingly lacking in suspense and takes on more of a quiet drama approach to the problems that arise in Noah and Kerry’s lives. Some readers will like the slow burn of the story while others may find the progression of events somewhat boring. But the ability to get to know the characters, who are well-rounded and realistic, on such a deep level is at the forefront of "Half A World Away," and certainly its greatest strength.

Unfortunately, the suspense that is created is done so by skipping around in time and withholding information from the reader until it can make a good reveal. A cop-out of a writing tactic, the twists in the story completely cheapen the otherwise interesting exploration of the characters and more subtle look into privilege and poverty. And the ending does nothing to strengthen it.

Certainly, a writing style that will suit some readers, this one wasn’t my cup of tea. American readers should also beware of the many many Britisihisms that will likely miss their mark.

I rated "Half the World Away" 3 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review!

This book came out in the UK last summer, but was only released in the US on August 4th. I am new to Mike Gayle’s books and had no idea he’s written so many. I had only heard of Half a World a Way through Bookstagram and noted the emotion this book evoked in many.

I cannot say much about this book without giving the plot away - but in a nutshell, the book follows Kerry Hayes, a single mum, living on a tough south London estate. She provides for her son Kian by cleaning houses. Taken into care as a child, Kerry cannot ever forget her past.

Kerry’s point of view is alternated with Noah Martineau’s. Noah (nee Jason) is a successful barrister with a beautiful wife, daughter and home in fashionable Primrose Hill. Adopted as a child, Noah’s never looked into his past or origins. When Kerry reaches out to the sibling she lost on the day they were torn apart as children, she sets in motion a chain of events that will have life-changing consequences for them both.

Mike Gayle writes about human emotion in such a relatable and uplifting way and it’s safe to say this book packed an emotional punch. As a mother myself, I could especially relate to Kerry’s love and worry for her son. It’s not often books make me cry, but this book send me

Thank you so much @quercusbooks @hodderstoughton and @netgalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. Half a World Away is out now!

Thank you for the ARC for an honest review.
The story was slow. Although the characters I grew to like, there was no speed nor capture.

Sometimes I wonder if I’m going to pick up a book and it’s going to have the same or similar plot as something I’ve already read just with different names. I didn’t have to worry with ”Half a World Away”. This is a story of two siblings who are put into the system after their Mother can no longer care for them, and the baby (Noah née Jason) is adopted while the preteen (Kerry) is left to grow up in the home. Kerry never stops trying to find Noah though, who ends up becoming a successful barrister in London, while she lives in a council flat with her son and works as a cleaner.

This was a wonderful story about family, love, unconditional love, trust, and back to family. It was really a gut wrencher for me. I honestly wasn’t expecting the turn of events and I finished reading it on the anniversary of my Mom’s death. I’d like to thank Mr. Gayle for that ugly cry (just kidding, but think God I wasn’t in public somewhere!).

Absolutely loved this book. I have become a huge fan of Mr. Gayle and will be looking for his other books.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A wonderful novel drew me right in.An emotional story.Noah and Kerry separated as children and now reunited as adults.Their lives paths so different Kerry a single mom struggles to survive,Noah has a successful Career,When their paths cross life changes for both.Mike Gayle Writes warm emotional novels a delight to read.#netgalley#quercusbooks

Oh my gosh! This book! I loved it so much. I am new to Mike Gayle and I have no reasonable excuse why. The writing was easy to read, the plot kept me interested and turning the pages. This book was extraordinary. Talk about family dynamics...truly an original story-line. Believable characters I would like to know. Plots that twist but didn't confuse, very masterfully done and although this is an extremely emotional story it is heartwarming at the same time.

I will definitely be reading more from this very talented author. All the feels and all the stars.

The pace of this book was too slow for me and I had a hard time paying attention, but that doesn't mean it was a bad book. Maybe part of it also was the British setting. There wasn't anything wrong with the writing it just wasn't the best for me.

Half a World Away is gorgeous. I’m so grateful to @mobius_books for putting this one in my hands.
It’s a story about race and privilege, the family you know and the family you don’t. I laughed and I cried and this story broke my heart. It’s so full of hope and love. I absolutely adored it. The writing and storytelling is just lovely. I love a book that makes me feel more appreciative of what I have in my own home and family.
I’ll be looking up more from @mikegaylethenovelist
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Synopsis:

Strangers living worlds apart.
Strangers with nothing in common.

But it wasn't always that way...

Kerry Hayes is single mum, living on a tough south London estate. She provides for her son by cleaning houses she could never afford. Taken into care as a child, Kerry cannot forget her past.

Noah Martineau is a successful barrister with a beautiful wife, daughter and home in fashionable Primrose Hill. Adopted as a young child, Noah never looks back.

When Kerry contacts Noah, the sibling she lost on the day they were torn apart as children, she sets in motion a chain of events that will change both of their lives forever.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I absolutely adored Half a World Away by Mike Gayle! The story focuses on half siblings, Kerry and Noah, with Noah having been adopted at. young age, and how both their lives took drastically different paths. Noah living a life of privilege/opportunities and Kerry always seeming down on her luck but will make the best out of what life dishes out to her.

I related so much to Noah's story and emotions throughout life as I also was adopted as a baby. Many of the questions he has while growing up I've had myself. There is no doubt that adoption brings up a vast range of emotions and you do in fact close off a part of yourself from your loved ones. This story also deals with family death and the grieving process. Grief reminds us that we really don't have all the time in the world and that we should never take one day for granted. This story will stay with me for a very long time and I urge anyone who was adopted to read this. By the end of the story you may walk away with a new outlook on life. And for those of us adopted kids you may just go in search of your adoption papers and learn something new about yourself.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Mobius Books, and especially Mike Gayle for putting this out into the world!

OMG! I loved it. It's emotional and laugh out loud funny. Has all the feels and very moving. You will cheer for Kerry and Noah. Can they come together as a family? You'll only find out by reading this beautiful book. It will stay with you long after you finish the last page. Happy reading!

I'm so glad I found this book! It took me a few chapters to get into it, but then I was hooked. This is the fictional story of two siblings separated by foster care and adoption. The older sibling, Kerry, has never forgotten her baby brother, Noah, and has written letters to him every year since she became an adult. Noah, however, has had little interest in his birth family and has never contacted the adoption agency and is unaware that he has a sibling. When Kerry and Noah, finally connect, both of their lives are forever changed. This book was both heartwarming and heartbreaking. It was a stay-up-past-midnight, 5-tissue read for me.

A bit too predictably soppy for me. Some of it felt rushed where other parts seemed to drag on forever.

Not bad but not great. The copy I read though had a preview of another Mike Gayle book that sucked me in so now I’m on to that one.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It is the first I have read by Mike Gayle but loved his writing style and plan to read his previous books. The characters were well fleshed out and the plot believable. We follow 2 siblings, separated as children and put into the foster system. Kerry, the oldest child remains in the system and struggles to provide a good life for her own son. Noah, the younger sibling is adopted by a wealthy, loving family who's support allows him to lead a life so very different from his sister. And yet, as the two siblings reconnect we find that they have much in common in the love for their families and each other. There are some very sad parts to this story but I find myself still thinking of days after I came to the end. Thank you to Net Galley for providing an e copy of the book for my review.

Thank you to Hodder and Stoughton and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy!

Available August 4th 2020

Like all good slice of life TV dramas, Mike Gayle's "Half a World Away" has all the elements to make for a good tea time story. From a young age, Kerry has had to carry the world on her back whether it was caring for her drug addled mother, fighting to find her younger brother in the foster care system or single-handedly raising her young child. She is the heart and soul of this engrossing drama set in the heart of London's estates and the wide, tree lined suburbs. Little did she know that her younger brother, Jason, had grown up just half a block away in a well to do upper middle class family. Even so, Jason, or Noah as he changed his name, has his own troubles at home. When the two reunite, it is clear to see how little of human nature changes even with class status. A warm, sprawling read that will leave you bawling unexpectedly.

Grab a box of tissues, because this book will make you cry. I loved Mike Gayle's writing style. I was super engaged in both Kerry and Noah's characters from the very beginning. It was interesting how two siblings could end up so different. But their bond when they were finally reunited was so special and unique. Although this book is sad, it is so beautiful. I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more books by this author!

Enjoyed this book, take of 2 children removed from their parent's home...and the tale of how they find each other years later

I went into "Half a World Away" expecting an insightful look at class differences in modern Britain. That's not what I got. Instead this is tearjerker "women's fiction." Whether that's good or bad is totally up to you. I was disappointed when, about a third of the way through, the soap suds started flooding the plot. That said, I admit that I cried my way through the end. This was a quick, effortless read. I wish the two voices of the two narrators had been more distinct—one was a male barrister, the other a minimally educated woman, so their vocabularies and sentence structures should have been much more diverse, imo—and that some of the issues such as interracial adoption had been given more than lip service. But if it's a good cry and some life-affirming messages you want, "Half a World Away" definitely fills the bill in a very skillful way.

Thank you, NetGalley and Quercus, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.